George Clinical Expands China Team with New Project Director and Cell Gene Therapy Head Helen Xu

BEIJING, Sept. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — George Clinical, a global clinical research organization with an extensive presence throughout the Asia-Pacific region, continues to expand the organization’s team in China with the addition of Helen Xu as Project Director and Cell Gene Therapy Head. She will be based in Beijing and joins a rapidly growing team responsible for expanding clinical research activity in China with biopharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic sponsors.

Dr. Xu obtained her MD in clinical medicine from Peking University Health Center. She is a licensed physician specialized in central nervous system (CNS) and has worked in the hospital setting for four years. Dr. Xu entered the pharmaceutical industry in 2007 starting as a clinical research associate (CRA) and has since accumulated 15 years of valuable clinical research experience in China.

“I am sure Helen will make an incredibly valuable contribution to the growth and development of clinical research operations and cell gene therapy studies across China,” said Zhenfei Yin, country head and regional head project operations, China.

Before joining George Clinical, Dr. Xu had served GSK, BI, Wuxiapp, a Chinese clinical research organization, CASI, and Carsgen, a CAR-T biotech firm. Her clinical trial experience covers the whole development lifecycle starting from phase I through PMS, the majority of the trial experiences being with pivotal trials. Therapeutic areas of expertise include cell therapy, immunotherapies, blood tumors (MM, AML, thalassemia), solid tumors (lymphoma, gastric and pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer), respiratory disease (IPF, asthma), SSc-ILD, CNS (stroke, schizophrenia, GAD), HCV, cirrhosis, psoriasis, and in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) devices. Her responsibilities spanned the full duration of studies from bid defense, strategic planning, feasibility, and start-up to project close-out. The majority of these pivotal global trials experienced global audits and authority inspections from entities such as FDA, EMA, and NMPA.

Additional new team members will be joining the organization to support the team in China with medical expertise

“With a growing presence across the country, it is an honor to be part of global CRO able to bring further clinical research to China that can positively impact cancer care around the world,” Xu said.

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 400 people managing 39 geographical locations throughout the Asia-Pacific region, USA, 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.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/george_clinical

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

Wechat: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/

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

Accruent, LLC and Havya Systems Announce Strategic Partnership

Partnership allows for widespread implementation of Maintenance Connection and effective digitization of data for customers in India and neighboring regions.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Accruent, the leading provider of solutions to manage the built environment, today announced that it is partnering with Havya Systems LLP, Pune (India), to resell Maintenance Connection computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) throughout India. Havya Systems LLP is a leading company in the procurement of technology infrastructure services across the globe. With many customers from various industries, including technology firms, SAAS, infrastructure organizations, e-commerce, and more. In joining forces, Accruent and Havya Systems aim to provide customers with a comprehensive CMMS for the digitization of the manufacturing, engineering, data center, healthcare, and infrastructure industries throughout India and other regions. They aim to help customers to lead maintenance programs as business enablers while reducing downtimes, adding preventive measures & focusing resources on critical assets.

Discussing the partnership, Swapnil Chaudhari, Managing Director of Havya Systems LLP, explains, “Havya Systems is excited to team up with Accruent in providing turnkey solutions adapted to customer needs for ever-greater efficiency. Our strong focus on data capture, data leverage & data-driven maintenance management decisions is adding value to production & process excellence. Huge amounts of untapped data can be utilized now proactively for preventive & precise maintenance. It will help our customers achieve true digitization of their maintenance programs through strong asset life cycle monitoring. We couldn’t be more pleased.”

As experts in technology infrastructure, Havya Systems will help customers adeptly utilize the Maintenance Connection asset management software to:

  • Ensure global and immediate access to all critical documentation and analytics
  • Seamlessly connect all internal and external stakeholders throughout the asset lifecycle
  • Reduce downtime through asset intelligence and preventive maintenance that minimizes costly unplanned outages
  • Decrease maintenance costs by streamlining work order completion and maximizing resource effectiveness
  • Improve labor efficiency with better resource scheduling and faster repair times

“Accruent actively looks for exceptional partners to expand our international footprint, and we’re excited to have another partner that can help us further expand our presence in India,” adds Elliott Welsch, VP of Global Channels Alliances and OEMs, Accruent. “Havya Systems LLP is a leading organization with the full range of knowledge and the technical expertise to build top-notch technology infrastructures that enables successful execution of business strategy and future growth requirements.”

About Accruent

accruent.com@accruentllc Accruent is the world’s leading provider of intelligent solutions for the built environment – spanning real estate, physical and digital assets, and the integrated technology systems that connect and control them. Accruent continues to set new expectations for how organizations can use data to transform how they manage their facilities and assets. With major office locations in Austin, New Orleans, London, and Amsterdam, Accruent serves more than 10,000 customers in a wide range of industries in more than 150 countries around the world.

About Havya Systems LLP

havyasystems.com Havya Systems LLP is a trusted partner to clients for technology infrastructure. Havya Systems LLP brings the right solutions & people together for organizations which, today, are under the constant pressure of ever-growing data & complex architecture around data for driving excellence. Havya Systems LLP helps SMBs as well as large enterprises to get maximum from their investment in technology & data. With its HQ in Pune (India), Havya Systems LLP is set to support India & APAC region primarily.

Contact information:
Barbara Ellis
Barbara.ellis@accruent.com

Announcing Reach Drop-In: The Fastest Way for Online Merchants to Sell Cross-Border

Reach Drop-In

CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Reach is excited to announce the launch of its first low-code cross-border ecommerce integration, Reach Drop-In. Drop-In allows online businesses of any size to quickly and securely overcome traditional international barriers to entry, expanding their potential customer base while capitalizing on Reach’s market-leading Merchant of Record model, guaranteed FX rates, and advanced multi-factor fraud prevention system.

Integration with an existing online storefront is quick and easy, as only a few lines of code are required. Deployable in 19 different programming languages, Reach Drop-In provides a customizable, branded checkout that is the most robust cross-border payments system on the market.

With Reach Drop-In, businesses can:

  • Accept all of the most popular payment methods, including all major credit cards, Paypal and Apple Pay, and specific locally trusted payment methods like Boleto, among many others.
  • Offer Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) to global customers through Reach’s partnership with Klarna.
  • Increase conversion rates by accessing Reach’s powerful intelligent routing system, which ensures the highest approval rates and the lowest fees by routing transactions through acquiring banks local to global customers.
  • Display pricing in local currencies.
  • Enable their checkout process to display in 36 different languages. Merchants can also take advantage of Reach Drop-In’s pre-built integrations for the world’s leading ecommerce platforms, such as WooCommerce and Magento. And best of all, Drop-In is not limited to retail ecommerce business. It is designed to empower all cross-border ecommerce transactions, whether those are B2C or B2B.

More detailed information, including a real-time interactive interface example, can be found at https://withreach.com/meet-drop-in.

ABOUT REACH

Reach simplifies cross-border ecommerce for forward-thinking organizations with ambitious global expansion goals. Its unique Merchant of Record model eliminates complexity, risk and compliance barriers around the world, turning every international buyer into a local buyer. By leveraging Reach as the Merchant of Record and accessing its vast payments network, businesses can increase conversions, reduce costs, and offset compliance and fraud risk.

For Media Inquiries:
Reach
Andrew Cunningham
Head of Marketing & Media
marketing@withreach.com

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Mullen Automotive and Bollinger Motors, Inc. to Discuss Acquisition on Live Webinar

David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive, and Robert Bollinger, CEO and founder of Bollinger Motors, will discuss Mullen’s majority acquisition of Bollinger and strategic vision for both EV companies on a live webinar scheduled for today, Thursday, Sept. 8, at 2 p.m. ET.

Mullen Automotive and Bollinger Motors Webinar is set for 2 p.m. Eastern
Today Mullen Announced Majority Acquisition of Bollinger Motors

BREA, Calif., Sept. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via InvestorWire — Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) (“Mullen” or the “Company”), an emerging electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturer, announces that it will be conducting a live webinar today at 2 p.m. ET., to discuss the majority acquisition of EV Truck Innovator Bollinger Motors, Inc.

Mullen announced earlier today that it acquired a controlling interest in Bollinger Motors, Inc. This is Mullen’s first EV acquisition and propels the company into the medium and heavy-duty truck classes 3-6, along with the B1 and B2 Sport Utility Vehicles. More details about the acquisition can be found on Mullen’s website and on the video created by Bollinger Motors here.

David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive, and Robert Bollinger, CEO and founder of Bollinger Motors, will be present on the call to introduce their respective companies and talk about what the partnership represents for both companies and the overall EV market.

Mullen Bollinger Webinar Details:
Date: Sept. 8, 2022
Time: 2 p.m. Eastern
URL: YouTube Link

“Mullen is on a very exciting trajectory, and this acquisition is one of the largest to date in the EV industry,” said David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive. “This webinar will allow Robert and I to provide insight into the acquisition and the strategic direction this brings to both Mullen and Bollinger.”

About Mullen
Mullen Automotive is a Southern California-based automotive company building the next-generation of premium electric vehicles (EVs) that are affordable and built entirely in the United States. With an end-to-end ecosystem that supports owners from test driving to financing and servicing through a unique hybrid dealership model, customers are supported through every aspect of EV ownership. The Mullen FIVE, the company’s first electric crossover, is slated for delivery in 2024 and features an award-winning design and its patented PERSONA technology that utilizes facial recognition to personalize the driving experience for every individual. To learn more about the company, visit www.MullenUSA.com.

About Bollinger Motors
Founded in 2015 by Robert Bollinger, Bollinger Motors is a U.S.-based company, headquartered in Oak Park, Michigan. Bollinger Motors manufactures all-electric platforms and chassis cabs for commercial vehicles in Classes 3-6. To learn more about the company, visit www.BollingerMotors.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Words such as “continue,” “will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “expected,” “plans,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, many of which are generally outside the control of Mullen and are difficult to predict. Examples of such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to whether the Bollinger majority ownership acquisition will be beneficial to the Company, whether Mullen will be successful in capturing market share the electric sport utility and commercial vehicle markets, whether combing Bollinger’s vehicles with the Company’s existing class 1 and class 2 EV cargo van programs will be successful and whether the Company will achieve its goal of achieving a significant stake in the class 1-6 commercial light, medium and heavy-duty truck segments. Additional examples of such risks and uncertainties whether Mullen’s Solid-State Battery technology development will be successful and will be able to be leveraged by Bollinger, if and when the Bollinger B1 and B2 sport utilities will be developed and whether the approximately 50,000 previous reservations for the B1 and B2 sport utilities will materialize. Further examples of such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: (i) Mullen’s ability (or inability) to obtain additional financing in sufficient amounts or on acceptable terms when needed; (ii) Mullen’s ability to maintain existing, and secure additional, contracts with manufacturers, parts and other service providers relating to its business; (iii) Mullen’s ability to successfully expand in existing markets and enter new markets; (iv) Mullen’s ability to successfully manage and integrate any acquisitions of businesses, solutions or technologies; (v) unanticipated operating costs, transaction costs and actual or contingent liabilities; (vi) the ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; (vii) adverse effects of increased competition on Mullen’s business; (viii) changes in government licensing and regulation that may adversely affect Mullen’s business; (ix) the risk that changes in consumer behavior could adversely affect Mullen’s business; (x) Mullen’s ability to protect its intellectual property; and (xi) local, industry and general business and economic conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements can be found in the most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K filed by Mullen with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mullen anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its plans, intentions and expectations to change. Mullen assumes no obligation, and it specifically disclaims any intention or obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by law. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing Mullen’s plans and expectations as of any subsequent date.

Contact:
Mullen Automotive, Inc.
+1 (714) 613-1900
www.MullenUSA.com

Corporate Communications:
InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
Los Angeles, California
www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
310.299.1717 Office
Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3c13eb57-d190-429e-8ce5-d395c104b1a6

Vietnamese authorities walk back decision ordering artist to destroy 29 paintings

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee reversed a decision ordering a popular Vietnamese poet and artist to destroy 29 of his works because he hosted an exhibition in July without a permit, he told RFA.

Bui Quang Vien, better known by his pen name Bui Chat, held the exhibition from July 15-30 at the city’s Alpha Art Station. Authorities on Aug. 9 fined him 25 million dong (about U.S. $1,000) and ordered the destruction of 29 of his abstract paintings, an unprecedented move critics called a “step backward” even in a country known for heavy censorship.

Authorities summoned the painter on Aug. 31 to inform him they had made a new decision on his case, and he received official notification on Monday, he told RFA’s Vietnamese Service.

“Assessments show that the 29 exhibited paintings do not have content that goes against the country’s fine customs or the party and government’s guidelines on culture and art,” the decision said.

“In addition, Mr. Bui Quang Vien is aware of his violations and has expressed his wishes that the paintings not be destroyed,” it said.

Chat told RFA he was happy about the decision.

“It means that [my paintings] can be freely moved from one place to another to be seen by art lovers. I am glad that I was able to get out of a difficult situation,” said Chat.

“The previous decision [of HCMC People’s Committee] asked me to destroy the paintings. Of course, it would be very difficult for an artist to ruin his own works. Additionally, even though I painted all of the paintings,  I no longer own all of them.”

Many of the exhibited paintings were sold to collectors and he did not have the right to destroy them, he said.

Chat said the new ruling showed that local government officials listened to people’s criticism of the original decision. He said that he would consider taking legal action against the People’s Committee in order to have his fine reduced.

Bui Chat, born in 1979, is no stranger to harassment by authorities in the one-party communist state. 

In 2011, he won the International Publishers Association’s 2011 Freedom to Publish Award. However, after returning from a trip to Argentina to receive the prize, he was detained and grilled by the police for two days.

Bui Chat also writes poetry. While Vietnam’s culture police have summoned him many times to discuss his poems but have never fined him for their contents.

Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Eugene Whong.

Verdict delayed as ailing Chinese rights lawyer refuses to ‘confess’, plead guilty

Since Chinese human rights lawyer Li Yuhan stood trial in the northeastern Chinese province of Liaoning in October 2021 for “fraud” and “picking quarrels and stirring up trouble,” a charge often used to target peaceful critics of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), there has been scant news of her fate.

There were concerns over Li’s worsening health at the time of Li’s trial at the Heping District People’s Court in Shenyang, provincial capital of Liaoning, while diplomats were denied permission to attend the trial.

But since the trial concluded, nearly a year has passed with no verdict or sentence being made public, her lawyer told RFA in a recent interview.

“They haven’t issued a verdict,” the lawyer said. “Her family and I have contacted the presiding judge many times, and the response we got is ‘we have to wait for the higher-ups [to decide]’.”

“They didn’t give a clear opinion, so they clearly didn’t dare to convict, so they have just kept on dragging their feet,” he said, adding that he has no reason to disbelieve this explanation.

“I don’t think the judge lied … because they will always want to close a case as soon as possible,” he said.

Li is widely believed to have been targeted for her defense of prominent rights lawyer Wang Yu, who was among the first people to be detained in a nationwide operation targeting rights lawyers and activists in July 2015.

Wang said the delay is likely because the authorities are trying to elicit a “confession” from Li.

“The reason why she can’t be sentenced is that the public prosecutor is still trying to force her to confess, and plead guilty,” Wang told RFA.

“Lawyer Li refuses to plead guilty, and so the authorities have been delaying her sentence ][meaning that] she will be held in a detention center instead of serving her time in prison,” she said.

The rights website Weiquanwang recently quoted Li’s son as saying that she had suffered multiple heart attacks at the detention center, and is currently seriously ill.

Her attorney said he has made repeated applications for medical parole, to no avail.

“She was actually born in 1949, so she’s 73 years old this year, and she has a number of health problems,” he told RFA in a recent interview. “The long period of detention has given her some serious health problems.”

“I applied to the court many times for her to be released on bail before her trial, but none of the applications was accepted.”

‘At risk of torture’

Li is believed to be being held in the Shenyang No. 1 Detention Center, where she has reportedly been on hunger strike.

The attorney said China’s police-run detention centers are often overcrowded and lack facilities to ensure adequate medical care for inmates.

“Mainland Chinese detention centers are pretty poor,” he said. “Sometimes, the rules say they can hold a dozen or 20 people, but in reality, they will hold a lot more than that.”

“Lawyer Li is pretty elderly and has a number of underlying conditions, so she was always going to run into problems being in a detention center for such a long time,” he said.

Her lawyer said he hadn’t confirmed reports of abuse by fellow inmates, but that medical care was “not very timely” and that there had been delays in administering Li’s medications.

“From what I saw, the detention center was actually treating her a little better than regular suspects, as she is elderly has some international influence,” he said.

“The detention center would have to bear the responsibility if something were to happen to her, so they will be trying to make things as good as they can for her.”

The European Bar Association wrote to CCP general secretary Xi Jinping in 2021, expressing concerns over Li Yuhan’s poor health and situation in detention.

Li has been hospitalized at least twice and given a number of medications, but applications for medical parole have been denied.

She initially went missing on Oct. 9, 2017, and has been “at risk of torture and other ill-treatment” in the police-run detention center, London-based Amnesty International said at the time.

Fellow activists said her detention came after she was particularly courageous in the wake of a nationwide police operation targeting rights lawyers, legal firms, and rights activists since July 2015.

Wang Yu was the first of a group of lawyers at the Beijing Fengrui law firm to be detained on the night of July 9-10, 2015, kicking off a nationwide police operation that detained, questioned or sentenced more than 300 lawyers and their associates.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.