November 12, 2021

South African Qualification Authority and World Education Services Partner to Facilitate Qualifications Recognition for Refugees and Displaced People in South Africa

OTTAWA, Nov. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Last night, at the Groningen Declaration Network annual meeting, the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) and World Education Services (WES) signed a partnership agreement that will ensure eligible refugees and displaced individuals can have their qualifications assessed and recognized in South Africa.

A significant number of individuals seeking SAQA’s foreign evaluation services are refugees and those who have been forcibly displaced. They often face challenges in meeting SAQA’s application criteria to have their qualifications assessed for recognition.

WES will serve as a collaborative partner to SAQA in developing a pilot initiative in line with its Recognition Model for Refugees and Asylum Seekers to assess and recognize the credentials of those with incomplete or partial documentation. The one-year pilot will begin in 2022 to develop a customized model for South Africa that incorporates global best practices–including the methodology developed by WES through its Gateway Program, the UNESCO Qualifications Passport, as well as practices from the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). This unique pilot in South Africa will build on established practices and expand into the principles of RPL (recognition of prior learning)-informed documentation process used by WES in its assessment of credentials and qualifications of refugees and displaced individuals.

WES developed a recognized model for evaluating incomplete or partial documentary evidence in 2016. Canada was welcoming thousands of Syrian refugees who were educated and skilled but left their home with little to nothing. They faced challenges in proving their academic qualifications which was preventing them from being able to continue their education or find employment in Canada. After a successful pilot, the program scaled to what is now the WES Gateway Program that assesses the educational credentials of individuals in the U.S. and Canada who have been displaced due to adverse circumstances in their country of education and have limited proof of academic achievements.

“There are millions of people across the globe who are being forcibly displaced. It is imperative that there are appropriate systems in place to ensure that education and skills are recognized—no matter where someone lands. WES is honored to work with SAQA in building and testing a method that works for South Africa,” says WES’ CEO and Executive Director, Esther T. Benjamin.

In her statement, SAQA CEO, Dr Julie Reddy added, “SAQA is committed to providing lifelong learning opportunities, and enabling access to meaningful and sustainable livelihood opportunities to all people who live in South Africa. We welcome this opportunity to work with WES on this exciting and innovative project to validate and recognise the qualification achievements of the refugee community in South Africa.”

About WES

WES is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to helping international students, immigrants, and refugees to achieve their educational and career goals in the United States and Canada. For more than 45 years, WES has set the standard of excellence in the field of international academic credential evaluation. Through WES Global Talent Bridge, the organization joins with institutional partners, community-based organizations, and policymakers to help immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials fully to utilize their talents and education to achieve their academic and professional goals. Its philanthropic arm, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, supports catalytic leaders and organizations working to build inclusive economies and to ensure that immigrants and refugees can achieve their aspirations and thrive.

About SAQA

SAQA is a statutory entity that was established over 25 years ago to design and implement a transformative National Qualifications Framework to reform and integrate a fractured education and training system. It is the only entity mandated by the South African National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to provide an evaluation and advisory service to recognise the foreign qualifications of its citizens and foreign persons who seek to pursue further studies and work opportunities in South Africa. SAQA is a key player in the implementation of the Addis Ababa Convention which provides a framework for the recognition of academic qualifications throughout Africa and has a special clause on creating a special dispensation for the recognition of qualifications of refugees, asylum seekers, and other displaced persons.

For more information, contact: Anne Greenwood, Associate Director, Strategic Communications and Marketing, Canada, World Education Services. T: 416.972.5045 E: agreenwood@wes.org

November 12, 2021

Noteworthy Renal Research Progress Highlighted by George Clinical Scientific Leaders During ASN Kidney Week

OVERLAND PARK, KS., Nov. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New kidney and metabolic research involving George Clinical teams and scientific leaders has received global attention during the 2021 American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week including contributions featured as abstracts, poster sessions, publications and presentations.

Despite the restrictions of a global pandemic, meaningful renal clinical research has advanced with the support of the organization over the past year with a broad set of studies concluding or continuing in chronic kidney disease (CKD), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), and a large-scale pooled analyses on kidney health outcomes.

Scientific leaders Vivekanand Jha, MD and Hiddo Jan L Heerspink, PhD authored posters, oral abstracts and spoke on panels of international interest. Demonstrating the depth and breadth of ongoing renal research Professor Jha’s contributions included the Effects of daprodustat on Hemoglobin and Quality of Life in Patients with CKD: Results of the ASCEND-NHQ, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study for which George Clinical provided scientific leadership and project operations. Professor Heerspink’s widespread renal progress evaluated new therapies for IgAN, the effects of multiple medications for patients with CKD and biomarkers that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of new renoprotective drugs.

“This impressive collection of studies represent not only the vanguard of renal clinical research but also meaningful progress in the field that will positively impact patient care and advance subsequent research for years to come,” said Chief Medical Officer Maria Ali.

In addition, the work of several other George Clinical scientific leaders and cross-functional teams was presented comprising: Dr. Jonathan Barratt’s work with The ALIGN study, a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of Atrasentan in patients with IgAN for which George Clinical provides scientific leadership and Dr. David Wheeler’s work on the effects of canagliflozin (CANA) on kidney outcomes which is a pooled analyses from the CANVAS and CREDENCE programs where George Clinical provides global scientific leadership, steering committee management, endpoint adjudication, and operational support.

Kidney and metabolic scientific leaders Dr. Martin Gallagher Dr. Adrian Liew, Dr. Roberto Pecotis-Filho and Dr. Muh Geot Wong also were highlighted for their work in numerous studies during Kidney Week.

About George Clinical

George Clinical is a leading global clinical research organization founded in Asia-Pacific driven by scientific expertise and operational excellence. With over 20 years of experience and more than 350 people managing 38 geographical locations throughout the USA, Asia-Pacific region and Europe, George Clinical provides the full range of clinical trial services to biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic customers, for all trial phases, registration and post-marketing trials.

Contact: mreabold@georgeclinical.com

Website: https://www.georgeclinical.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/george-clinical-pty-ltd

Twitter: https://twitter.com/george_clinical

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgeclinical

For more information, contact:

Donna McDonnell

Business Development Administrator

M +1-901-229-5345

E dmcdonnell@georgeclinical.com

W georgeclinical.com | georgeinstitute.org

Donna McDonnell
George Clinical
901-229-5345
dmcdonnell@georgeclinical.com

November 12, 2021

Digihost to Commence Trading on Nasdaq on Monday, November 15

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Digihost Technology Inc. (“Digihost” or the “Company”) (TSXV: DGHI; OTCQB: HSSHD), an innovative North American-based Bitcoin self-mining company, today announced that the Company has been approved to list on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”), and that trading on Nasdaq is expected to begin on Monday, November 15, 2021, under the symbol “DGHI.” The ticker used for Digihost’s shares traded over-the-counter (OTC) under the current symbol “HSSHD” will seamlessly transition to the new ticker symbol “DGHI” on the first day of trading on Nasdaq. Digihost will also retain its listing on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “DGHI.”

The Company expects the Nasdaq listing to enhance its investor profile and increase liquidity for its shareholders.

“A key goal of Digihost has been to provide our investors with greater liquidity through the listing of our shares on a major United States stock exchange. We believe that uplisting the Company’s shares from the OTC market to Nasdaq will also provide the Company with increased access to capital and institutional recognition. We are excited about this significant milestone for the Company and our shareholders and look forward to continuing to implement our growth strategy and building value for our shareholders,” commented Michel Amar, the Company’s CEO.

H.C. Wainwright & Co. served as advisor to Digihost in connection with the Nasdaq listing, and Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP represented the Company as U.S. legal counsel in connection with the Nasdaq listing. Peterson McVicar LLP serves as Canadian counsel to the Company.

About Digihost Technology Inc.

Digihost Technology Inc. is a growth-oriented blockchain technology company primarily focused on Bitcoin mining. Through its self-mining operations and joint venture agreements, the Company is currently hashing at a rate of 400PH with plans to expand to a hashrate of 3.6 EH by the end of 2022.

For further information, please contact:

Digihost Technology Inc.
www.digihost.ca
Michel Amar, Chief Executive Officer
T: 1-818-280-9758
Email: michel@digihostblockchain.com

Cautionary Statement
Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) that are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Forward-looking information in this news release includes expectations in respect to listing and trading on Nasdaq and future plans and objectives of the Company. Other forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning: hashrate expansion, diversification of operations, potential further improvements to profitability and efficiency across mining operations, potential for the Company’s long-term growth, and the business goals of the Company factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: trading volume, volatility and other factors affecting liquidity and prices for the common shares on Nasdaq; continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s performance as supply chains are disrupted and prevent the Company from operating its assets; a decrease in cryptocurrency pricing, volume of transaction activity or generally, the profitability of cryptocurrency mining; further improvements to profitability and efficiency may not be realized; the digital currency market; the Company’s ability to successfully mine digital currency on the cloud; the Company may not be able to profitably liquidate its current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on the Company’s operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; and other related risks as more fully set out in the Annual Information Form of the Company and other documents disclosed under the Company’s filings at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

November 12, 2021

Barrows Hotel Enterprises Focuses on Hotel Improvements

Barrows Chairman Erwin Jager

Chairman and CEO Erwin Jager of Barrows Hotel Enterprises

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Barrows, the provider of hotel investment and advisory services for hotels in the Middle East and Africa is expanding its professional core activities with Property Improvement Projects and Hotel Improvement Projects As part of the preparations for the scheduled SPAC Merger in 2023.

The organization has been involved in hotel investments since 2008 and advising hotel operators on acquisitions and operational issues. Now that the market is moving strongly, the company sees enormous growth opportunities in the Middle East and Africa to accelerate the implementation of the PIP and HIP activities according to Barrows Chairman Erwin Jager.

Significant investments have been made in recent months in new software that monitors the project management processes of PIPs and HIPs. The first agreements for PIPs have been signed by the various hotel operators and will provide a lot of work for Barrows in the coming months.

“The company will undergo a transition in the next 6 months in its core activities that should increase sales and profits. In addition to the PIP and HIP activities, we are focusing strongly on restructuring 4 and 5 star hotels that have problems as a result of lack of succession, financing problems or other management issues. It is precisely with these activities that we can add our value. We know the market inside out and can apply a wide range of solutions that increase the value of real estate and the operational activities.

The company aims to grow in the coming years through acquisitions within the industry. There is an enormous oversupply of hotels in the market, making improvement plans an absolute necessity to guarantee guest satisfaction and continuity in occupancy. The technology offers so many opportunities that we need to scale up without any doubt. We have no time to lose if we want to achieve our goal,” said Erwin Jager.

Barrows Hotel Enterprises internationally manages over 10,000 hotel rooms in more than 10 countries. The company started in 2008 as a real estate investor in the residential market in Dubai. Since 2012, Barrows has changed its strategy and today the company is fully focused on the fast-growing hotel industry in the MENA region.

For more information:
media@barrowshotels.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9793e80e-4832-4c08-9369-ae1fa3710bfb

November 12, 2021

Subseasonal Weather Outlook (15 – 28 November 2021)

Issued 12 November 2021
First forecast week: 15 November – 21 November
Second forecast week: 22 November – 28 November

Figure 1: Rainfall Outlook

Figure 2: Temperature Outlook

Wetter conditions are expected over much of western and southern Mainland Southeast Asia in Week 1 (15 – 21 November). These wetter conditions are likely to persist over western Mainland Southeast Asia, but likely to ease over southern Mainland Southeast Asia, in Week 2 (22 – 28 November).

For the Maritime Continent, wetter conditions are expected over the southern parts in the next fortnight (15 – 28 November). Elsewhere, drier conditions are expected over the western and central equatorial region in Week 1 (15 – 21 November).

Warmer than usual temperature is expected over the western and central equatorial region in Week 1 (15 – 21 November), in line with the drier conditions predicted.

No clear MJO signal was present at the start of November. Most models predict the MJO to remain indiscernible based on the RMM Index during the forecast period.

The outlook is assessed for the region in general, where conditions are relative to the average conditions for the corresponding time of year. For specific updates on the national scale, the relevant ASEAN National Meteorological and Hydrological Services should be consulted.

November 12, 2021November 13, 2021

Malaysia’s Economy Contracts 4.5 Pct In Q3 Amidst COVID-19 Containment Measures

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia’s economy contracted by 4.5 per cent in the third quarter of 2021 (Q3 2021), as opposed to the 16.1 per cent growth recorded in Q2 2021, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM or Malaysia’s Central Bank).

This was attributed to the reimposition of the nationwide containment measures during the period — in line with economists’ expectations.

In Q3 2020, Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth was at -2.7 per cent.

“The performance was largely attributable to the strict containment measures — particularly in July — under Phase One of the National Recovery Plan (NRP).

“Economic activity subsequently picked up as more states transitioned into Phase Two with less restrictive containment measures,” said BNM Governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus during the BNM and the Statistics Department’s joint press conference on Malaysia’s Q3 2021 GDP performance.

She said the domestic economy is on track to expand by 3.0 per cent to 4.0 per cent this year, supported by the increase in economic activities as containment measures are progressively relaxed, as well as continued policy support.

The various relaxations of restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals, including for interstate travel, would also spur tourism-related activities.

Additionally, the strengthening global demand will continue to support export growth.

Year-to-date, headline inflation had averaged at 2.3 per cent, and is projected to average between 2.0 per cent and 3.0 per cent for 2021.

Headline inflation moderated to 2.2 per cent in Q3 2021, mainly due to the dissipation of the base effect from fuel prices and the implementation of the three-month electricity bill discounts, while core inflation remained at 0.7 per cent during the quarter.

Underlying inflation, as measured by core inflation, is expected to average below 1.0 per cent for the year, while headline inflation is projected to remain moderate in 2022.

“As economic activity normalises, core inflation is expected to edge upwards but remain benign, given the continued spare capacity in the economy and the slack in the labour market.

“The outlook, however, continues to be subject to global commodity price developments and some risk from prolonged supply-related disruptions,” said Nor Shamsiah.

On the supply side, all economic sectors registered a contraction with the construction sector contracted the most due to operating capacity limits.

She said on the expenditure side, domestic demand declined by 4.1 per cent (Q2 2021: +12.4 per cent), mainly weighed down by the contraction in private consumption and investment activities, while the continued increase in public sector consumption spending provided support to growth.

“Progressive lifting of containment measures and continued improvements in the labour market will be key to support the recovery, going forward,” she said.

On the ringgit, Nor Shamsiah said the local currency depreciated by 0.8 per cent against the US dollar in Q3 2021, reflecting the broad strengthening of the US dollar on greater clarity from the United States (US) Federal Reserve that it would likely begin tapering its asset purchase programme towards the end of the year.

Net financing to the private sector recorded an annual growth of 3.9 per cent in Q3 2021, reflecting the outstanding loans and outstanding corporate bonds’ lower growth, as both contracted to 2.9 per cent and 6.5 per cent, respectively, during the quarter, from 3.6 per cent and 6.9 per cent in Q2 2021.

Outstanding household loan growth moderated to 3.2 per cent from 5.3 per cent in Q2 2021, amid slower growth across all purposes.

“Going forward into 2022, Malaysia’s growth trajectory is expected to improve, given the resumption of economic activities, further improvement in the labour market, continued policy support and expansion in external demand.

“The progress and efficacy of vaccinations, compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as well as the ability to effectively contain outbreaks from any new COVID-19 variants of concern (VOCs) will be key to the expected recovery,” she added.

Source: NAM News Network