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Minister Champagne announces a new governance framework for cleantech funding

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Government of Canada resumes investments to cleantech sector with heightened due diligence  

OTTAWA, ON, June 4, 2024 /CNW/ – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, made the following statement:

“Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) has played a critical role in the growth and success of the clean technology sector in Canada. Established by an Act of Parliament more than 20 years ago, SDTC has a unique governance model that places most of its activities at arm’s length. While this model may have appeared suitable at the time, a new governance approach will strengthen oversight and accountability to meet today’s expectations of stewardship.

“The various reviews conducted ―including the Auditor General’s report ―have revealed serious weaknesses in SDTC’s governance, prompting a new delivery approach to government support for the cleantech sector.

“As soon as allegations were brought forward, my Department acted swiftly to address the situation. We immediately froze new funding to SDTC and initiated two separate independent reviews to thoroughly examine the claims, and invited the Auditor General to conduct an audit. These actions were rooted in our commitment to transparency, accountability, and upholding the highest standards of integrity.

“The government welcomes and agrees with the findings of the Auditor General’s report. We support the recommendations in the report, and many measures have already been implemented or are underway to address them. Our goal is to strengthen governance, enhance accountability, and ensure robust conflict of interest practices within SDTC and across all government operations.

“In light of the above, over the coming months, SDTC programming will transition to the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The NRC’s vast experience supporting innovative, tech-focused SMEs, under programs such as the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), makes it an ideal choice to take on the responsibility of supporting homegrown clean technology companies. As a Government of Canada organization, the NRC is subject to rigorous and stringent oversight of its personnel and finances. This structure will help rebuild public trust while increasing accountability, transparency and integrity.

“To support this transition process, the Government has named a new SDTC Board Chairperson and two new Directors who will lead the SDTC in the transfer of its programming to the NRC.

“For their part, SDTC employees will be offered employment with the NRC. Employees at SDTC have gone through a difficult and challenging period. Their dedication and hard work will ensure the continued success of our cleantech startups.

“Effective immediately, SDTC will also resume funding, under a reinforced contribution agreement with ISED, for eligible projects in a sector vital to our country’s economy and clean growth transition. In line with the Auditor General’s findings, my Department will enhance oversight and monitoring of funding during the transition period.

“SDTC programming as well as the NRC’s IRAP, will come together under the previously announced new Canada Innovation Corporation (CIC), creating a national-scale integrated platform to support business research and development, and innovation-driven growth. Once the CIC is established, by 2026-27, SDTC and IRAP employees will be transitioned seamlessly, and their employment will continue under the CIC.”

“Our government is committed to ensuring that organizations which receive federal funding adhere to the highest of standards and always act in the best interest of all Canadians.”

Quick facts

SDTC is an arm’s length, not-for-profit foundation that was established by the Government of Canada in 2001 and its mission is to support the growth and development of precommercial cleantech companies. In October 2023, ISED tasked SDTC with a Management Response and Action Plan in response to a fact-finding report from the third-party organization, Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton.Following allegations of a toxic workplace and inappropriate practices at SDTC, ISED―via the Department of Justice―hired a third-party law firm, McCarthy-Tétrault, to conduct a rigorous review of SDTC’s human resources practices and conduct voluntary interviews with current and former employees. The report concluded that SDTC’s leadership has not contributed to a toxic workplace and there was no improper employment-related conduct in SDTC’s human resources practices.The Office of the Auditor General conducted an audit of SDTC and ISED to determine whether funds were managed in accordance with the contribution agreement (CA) and with proper oversight. The report identified issues around project eligibility and conflict of interest at STDC. The report also recommended enhanced oversight by ISED to ensure SDTC’s full compliance with the CA and the proper allocation of funds.Three new appointments have been made to the SDTC Board: Paul Boothe as the new Chair, and Catherine (Cassie) Doyle and Marta Morgan as Directors. All three have been appointed for 1-year terms. These former senior public servants bring with them the experience required to direct SDTC as its programming transitions to the NRC.The NRC is a Government of Canada organization formed in 1916 that partners with Canadian industry to take research impacts from the lab to the marketplace, where people can experience the benefits. 

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SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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2024 Financial Oscars: Waton Securities International Honored as “Outstanding Digital Empowerment Institution” of the Year

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SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In early December, at the 18th Huaxia Institutional Investor Annual Conference of 2024, the 18th Golden Cicada Awards were announced. Waton Securities International was awarded the “Outstanding Digital Empowerment Financial Institution of 2024” for its significant achievements in securities brokerage and fin-tech sector.

The selection for the “Outstanding Digital Empowerment Financial Institution” focused on evaluating companies based on financial performance, market competitiveness, customer recognition, digital strategy planning and implementation, digital transformation outcomes, and risk control capabilities. Particularly, it highlighted cases that have made significant strides in digital empowerment.

The evaluation also emphasized the outstanding performance of financial institutions in their own digital transformation and the sound risk control abilities demonstrated during this process, ensuring that while pursuing innovation, companies can effectively manage and control risks. Waton Securities International distinguished itself among the contenders with its sophisticated technology platform, well-defined digital strategy, substantial transformation achievements, and commendable risk control mechanisms.

Established in Hong Kong in 1989, Waton Securities International has steadily grown with a deep understanding of professional financial services and regulatory compliance. It has obtained licenses 1/4/5/9 from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission, becoming a fully licensed brokerage with comprehensive financial service qualifications. Through continuous technological innovation and digital transformation, it has successfully built a one-stop brokerage cloud service platform, promoting advanced digital financial technology globally. Its pioneering SaaS product, “Broker Cloud”, allows corporate clients to independently deploy and operate high-performance digital customer information management and trading systems without their own IT teams. The solution is relatively low-cost and adaptive to industry, which is the core competitiveness of Waton Securities International.

Data reveals that of the 1,100 securities firms in Hong Kong, approximately 600 are actively trading, yet fewer than 50 have developed their own mobile applications. On a global scale, among the 30,000 securities companies, only a handful—less than 300—feature brokerage trading Apps in App stores. This underscores a significant market demand for the digital enhancement of the securities sector.

With the swift growth of technologies like generative AI LLMs, blockchain, big data, and cloud computing, the securities industry can use these tools to streamline trading strategies, assess risks more accurately, and forecast market trends. These technologies also help the industry to move towards more integrated, platform-focused, and digital operations. The main goal of technology in finance is to increase the efficiency of financial institutions. A good starting point for applying technology is to focus on financial services and build a solid technical foundation for these institutions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2024-financial-oscars-waton-securities-international-honored-as-outstanding-digital-empowerment-institution-of-the-year-302339091.html

SOURCE Waton Securities

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Mega Matrix Announced that the English Version of “Getting Even: The Secret Prodigy’s Playbook” Now Streaming on FlexTV

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SINGAPORE, Dec. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The highly anticipated English adaptation of the revenge rebirth series, Getting Even: The Secret Prodigy’s Playbook, officially premiered on December 19th on FlexTV, the world-leading short drama streaming platform operated by Mega Matrix Inc. (NYSE American: MPU). The series delves into the intricacies of power struggles within the White family, chronicling the protagonist’s journey of rebirth and empowerment to rewrite her destiny.

Audrey White, the legitimate daughter of the White family, was sent abroad at a young age due to family circumstances, gradually estranging her from her kin. When she finally returns home, eager to reunite with her family, she unexpectedly becomes the target of jealousy from Ruby White, the family’s adopted daughter. Harboring deep resentment, Ruby orchestrates a kidnapping plot, culminating in a devastating fire designed to test the loyalty and affection of the White family.

Left to perish in the flames, Audrey is abandoned by her family but heroically rescued by her uncle. Miraculously, she is granted a second chance at life, returning three years prior with the power to alter her fate. Determined to expose Ruby’s schemes, rebuild her family bonds, and claim her rightful respect and happiness, Audrey embarks on a journey of resilience and redemption.

FlexTV, operated by MPU, is a global leader in short drama streaming, delivering content in over 100 countries in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Arabic. Known for its premium-quality dramas and unparalleled user experience, FlexTV has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. The English version of Getting Even: The Secret Prodigy’s Playbook, now streaming on FlexTV, offers a compelling exploration of familial power dynamics, the complexities of human nature, and the protagonist’s growth and self-redemption in adversity. For more exciting content, please visit https://www.flextv.cc/.

#WealthyFamily #Revenge #Rebirth #ShortDrama #FlexTV #MPU

About Mega Matrix Inc.: Mega Matrix Inc. (NYSE American: MPU) is a holding company and operates FlexTV, a short-video streaming platform and producer of short dramas, through its subsidiary, Yuder Pte, Ltd.. Mega Matrix Inc. is a Cayman Island corporation headquartered in Singapore. For more information, please contact info@megamatrix.io or visit: http://www.megamatrix.io.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements that are purely historical are forward looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose,” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees for future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, are: the ability to manage growth; ability to identify and integrate future acquisitions; ability to grow and expand our FlexTV business; ability to execute the strategic cooperation with TopReels, ability to obtain additional financing in the future to fund capital expenditures; ability to establish the investment fund with 9 Yards Communications under the memorandum of understanding; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions; costs or other factors adversely affecting the Company’s profitability; litigation involving patents, intellectual property, and other matters; potential changes in the legislative and regulatory environment; a pandemic or epidemic; the possibility that the Company may not succeed in developing its new lines of businesses due to, among other things, changes in the business environment, competition, changes in regulation, or other economic and policy factors; and the possibility that the Company’s new lines of business may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. The forward-looking statements in this press release and the Company’s future results of operations are subject to additional risks and uncertainties set forth under the “Risk Factors” in documents filed by the Company’s predecessor, Mega Matrix Corp., with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, and are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. In addition, such risks and uncertainties include the Company’s inability to predict or control bankruptcy proceedings and the uncertainties surrounding the ability to generate cash proceeds through the sale or other monetization of the Company’s assets. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Disclosure Channels

We announce material information about the Company and its services and for complying with our disclosure obligation under Regulation FD via the following social media channels:

The Company will also use its landing page on its corporate website (www.megamatrix.io) to host social media disclosures and/or links to/from such disclosures. The information we post through these social media channels may be deemed material. Accordingly, investors should monitor these social media channels in addition to following our website, press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. The social media channels that we intend to use as a means of disclosing the information described above may be updated from time to time as listed on our website.

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SOURCE Mega Matrix Corp.

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Xinjiang Kashgar distribution grid achieves “minute-level self-healing” for the first time

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KASHGAR, China, Dec. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On December 23, the State Grid Kashgar Power Supply Company successfully implemented the operation of accurate isolation of fault areas and rapid restoration of power supply in non-fault areas on the 10kV Zao Line and Zazhen Line, marking a major breakthrough in the fault handling of the Kashgar power grid and achieving “minute-level self-healing” for the first time.

In the past, when the 10 kV distribution line failed, the emergency repair personnel needed to patrol the site, judge the fault location, and then manually operate to restore the power supply in the non-fault area. The whole process took a long time. The construction and commissioning of the self-healing line has greatly shortened the time of fault search and isolation through network topological analysis, from “hourly level” to “minute level”, effectively reducing the power outage perception of users in non-fault sections. Since the beginning of this year, the State Grid Kashgar Power Supply Company has closely focused on the practical construction of distribution network automation, so as to achieve the goal of “non-stop power, less power failure, and fast power recovery” for users, and continued to promote the automation construction of the distribution network. A total of 3,200 “three remote” terminal access and debugging have been completed, achieving a terminal access rate of 98.28%, and the online rate has been steadily increased to 95.8%. Combined with the maintenance plan, mode adjustment, accident remote control disposal operation 825 times, and the remote control success rate is 90.68%.

In the next step, the State Grid Kashgar Power Supply Company will summarize the experience of the construction of feeder automation, steadily improve the effective coverage of feeder automation, and make every effort to promote the construction of power distribution automation, aiming to comprehensively improve the intelligence level of the Kashgar distribution grid and provide more reliable and efficient power services for local residents.

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/xinjiang-kashgar-distribution-grid-achieves-minute-level-self-healing-for-the-first-time-302339085.html

SOURCE State Grid Kashgar Power Supply Company

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