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Indonesia to offer 80/160-year building (HGB) permits in IKN Nusantara to incentivise investment

JAKARTA, Oct 14, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Indonesia's Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) is offering building use permits (HGBs) of up to 80 years, extendable to 160 years, as an incentive for investors to join in the construction of the Indonesian new capital (IKN) Nusantara, to be built in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.Balang Island Short Span Bridge connecting the IKN in Penajam, North Paser Regency, East Kalimantan (ANTARA/HO-ATR BPN/rst)Minister of Agrarian & Spatial Planning (ATR) and head of National Land Agency (BPN), Hadi Tjahjanto. (ANTARA/HO-ATR BPN/rst)"The HGB permits will benefit all parties, both the welfare of those who live in the city, and the business actors themselves," ATR Minister and BPN head Hadi Tjahjanto said to Antara here on Monday. The 80-year HGB will be divided into three stages: the first phase will span 30 years, the second phase 30 years, and the third phase 20 years.During the first stage, the investor must submit an assessment report, after which the "The permit will continue up to 80 years," said Hadi, and can be extended if it is productive for the community. "If it is still used properly and beneficially for the community, we can still extend it for another 80 years, up to 160 years," the minister informed.He further said that his ministry has completed four regional spatial planning plans (RDTR) for IKN Nusantara, which will be submitted to the IKN Authority for immediate approval. Furthermore, RDTRs are being prepared for the five regions of IKN Nusantara and are targeted to be completed by the end of 2022.The ministry will provide facilities related to land, spatial planning, and business licensing in the IKN Nusantara area, which will then be submitted to the IKN Authority. "We will facilitate it, and we will hand it over to the head of the IKN Authority, including RDTR, spatial planning, and land issues. We will help the process," Hadi said.The IKN Nusantara Authority is preparing a government regulation draft (RPP) on incentives for business, to make it easier to invest in the new capital city, while another measure will be preparing an IKN Authority-owned enterprise (BUMO). The IKN Authority will carry out market sounding of domestic and international investors later in October.A number of Asian countries have shown interest in the development of the new Indonesian capital (IKN) Nusantara. Japan, China, Malaysia, Australia, Hong Kong, and South Korea have all evinced an interest in investment, East Kalimantan Governor Isran Noor has disclosed.Earlier this year, President Joko Widodo said, "The new capital city is not merely a move of government offices. The goal is to build a new smart city that is competitive at the global level. Building a new locomotive for the transformation of Indonesia into an Indonesia based on innovation, technology, green economy. This is where we will start." See the original article: https://en.antaranews.com/news/254193/Written by: Rini Utami, Aditya Ramadhan, Resinta S, Editor: Suharto (c) ANTARA 2022 Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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80-160 year building use rights in IKN to attract investors: Minister

JAKARTA, Oct 12, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The Ministry of Agrarian and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) is offering building use rights (HGB) of up to 80 and extendable to 160 years to attract investors to the new capital (IKN) Nusantara.Balang Island Short Span Bridge in Penajam North Paser Regency, East Kalimantan (ANTARA/HO-ATR BPN/rst)"The efforts will benefit all parties, both to the welfare of those who live in the city or the business actors themselves," ATR Minister and BPN head, Hadi Tjahjanto, said to Antara here on Monday evening.The 80-year HGB permit is meant as an incentive for investors to invest in IKN Nusantara, he added. The 80-year HGB will be divided into three stages: the first phase will span 30 years, the second phase 30 years, and the third phase 20 years.In the first phase, the ministry will ask the investor to submit a report assessment. "The permit will continue up to 80 years," he said. The permit can be extended if it is profitable to the community. "If it is still used properly and beneficial to the community, we can still extend it for another 80 years, up to 160 years," the minister informed.He further said that his ministry has completed four regional spatial planning plans (RDTR) for IKN Nusantara, which will be submitted to the IKN Authority for immediate approval. Furthermore, RDTRs are being prepared for five regions and are targeted to be completed by the end of 2022.The ministry will provide facilities related to land, spatial planning, and business licensing in the IKN Nusantara area, which will then be submitted to the IKN Authority, he stated."We will facilitate it, and we will hand it over to the head of the IKN Authority, including RDTR, spatial planning, and land issues. We will help the process," he added.Written by: Rini Utami, Aditya Ramadhan, Resinta S, Editor: Suharto (c) ANTARA 2022 Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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F.C.C. TSR Honda France Fights Back to Win Second FIM Endurance World Championship Title

Le Castellet, France, Sep 19, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - F.C.C. TSR Honda France, running second in the 2022 FIM* Endurance World Championship (EWC), made a comeback to win this year's championship in the final round, the Bol d'Or 2022, held at Circuit Paul Ricard on September 17 - 18. The team has won the title for the second time, its first in the 2017-2018 season.F.C.C. TSR Honda France kicked off its 2022 campaign with riders Josh Hook (29 years old, Australia), Geno Rea (33 years old, UK) and Mike Di Meglio (24 years old, France) on a Honda CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP.In the season-opener, the 24 Heures Motos held at Le Mans, the team qualified third, and finished third. In Round 2, the 24H SPA EWC Motos, the team started fourth on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps grid, and although down to tenth place mid-race, made a dramatic comeback to fourth, and a last lap charge by Rea gave them third in the final results.In Round 3, the Suzuka 8 Hours, held for the first time in three years, Rea crashed during free practice and was transported by helicopter to a hospital. Hook and Di Meglio was left to ride the eight-hour classic at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie. They qualified fourth, and although they faced numerous problems throughout the race, reclaimed places and finished tenth.F.C.C. TSR Honda France headed into the final round, the Bol d'Or 2022, second overall, 23 points behind the series leader. Alan Techer (28 years old, France), one of the riders in the team's previous victory in 2017-2018, stood in for Rea, in the hope that his experience will help them reclaim the title. The team started from fourth on the grid at 3:00 pm on the 17th. Two incidents sent their placing down to 28th, but consistent and determined riding brought the team back up to 4th place by the time the race ended at 3:00 pm on the 18th. As other championship contenders fail to complete the race, F.C.C. TSR Honda France won the overall championship.Josh Hook | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"I have learned from the past to never take a result for granted before the chequered flag. We have come back from complicated situations in the past and nothing is ever certain. Like everyone else, we did our race and never gave up. We did very well, all three of us were fast, especially at night. We were quickly no longer in a position to fight for victory, so we focused on the championship, which was clearly the priority goal. We chose to take care of the engine as much as possible to avoid the problems that most of our competitors have. And it's done!"Mike Di Meglio | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"I'm very happy to finally be World Endurance Champion! I came so close with GMT94 and I'm really proud of this title after so many years of fighting for it. It was a really tough race. We had some problems and our opponents were forced to stop one after the other. When Tati Team #4 was fighting at the front, we decided to build up enough of a gap to our chaser to get out of trouble. But when they dropped down the rankings, we changed our strategy to preserve the engine as much as possible by shifting earlier on the straight. It was the best thing to do because the world championship was more important than a podium finish."Alan Techer | F.C.C. TSR Honda France"It was a complicated race for everyone, we also had some mechanical problems. The team worked hard to reduce the time spent in the pits and, with my teammates, we did our best to respect the race plan. The objective was clearly the title, and after the Suzuki's retirement, we battled with the Tati Team, my former team. This is a special emotion for me, because I win this title with the team that had already given me the chance to be champion in 2018. We also have a big thought for Gino to whom we dedicate this title."* FIM: Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Therapeutic Goods Administration Grants Provisional Approval for Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine in Children Aged Six Months to Five Years

Cambridge, MA, Jul 19, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, today announced that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has granted provisional registration for the use of Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, in a two-dose series of 25 ug per dose for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in children aged 6 months to 5 years. Until now, children under six were the only age group not eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 in Australia."We are pleased that our vaccine for children under six years of age has received provisional approval by the TGA," said Michael Azrak, General Manager of Moderna for Australia and New Zealand. "The continued evolution of COVID-19 represents an emergent threat to global public health, including young children. Since the onset of the pandemic, we have worked with a deep sense of responsibility to deliver on the promise of mRNA science to all Australians. The approval from TGA helps extend an opportunity to all parents and caregivers in Australia to protect their young children against SARS-COV-2."Positive interim results from the Phase 2/3 KidCOVE study, announced on March 23, 2022, showed a robust neutralizing antibody response in the 6-month to 5 years of age group after a two-dose primary series of mRNA-1273, along with a favorable safety profile. The antibody titers in the pre-specified 6 month to 23 month and 2 years to 5 years of age sub-groups met the statistical criteria for similarity to the adults in the COVE study, which satisfied the primary objective of the study. Preliminary efficacy analysis on PCR-confirmed cases collected during the Omicron wave showed similar efficacy estimates against Omicron in the 6-month to 5 years of age group to those in adults after two doses of mRNA-1273.The KidCOVE study is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT04796896.Moderna is committed to supporting the Australian Government on the COVID-19 program implementation in children aged 6 months to five years upon receiving a recommendation from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).The TGA previously approved the use of Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax (elasomeran mRNA vaccine), for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals aged six years or over.Authorized UseTherapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved the use of Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax (elasomeran mRNA vaccine), for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 6 months of age and older.About ModernaIn 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a science research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across seven modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for rapid clinical and commercial production at scale. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both ground-breaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna's capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use and approval of one of the earliest and most-effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.Moderna's mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and auto-immune diseases. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past seven years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.Forward Looking StatementsThis post contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including regarding: the development of the Company's COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA-1273, or Spikevax); the approval of the vaccine in children ages 6 months to 5 years by the Therapeutic Goods Administration; and the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of the vaccine in children ages 6 months to 5 years of age. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Moderna's control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include those other risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in Moderna's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in subsequent filings made by Moderna with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, Moderna disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this post in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Moderna's current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.Moderna ContactsMedia:Luke Mircea-WillatsDirector, Media Relations & CommunicationsLuke.mirceawillats@modernatx.comInvestors:Lavina TalukdarSenior Vice President & Head of Investor Relations617-209-5834Lavina.Talukdar@modernatx.comSOURCE: Moderna, Inc. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. 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Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia Authorizes Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine in Children (6-11 Years)

Cambridge, MA, Feb 17, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Moderna, Inc., (NASDAQ:MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, today announced that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has granted provisional registration for the use of Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, in a 50 ug dose, two-dose series, for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in children aged 6-11 years."The TGA authorization for the use of our COVID-19 vaccine in children 6-11 years old in Australia is an important milestone for Moderna as it is the first regulatory authorization for the use of our vaccine in this age group. We are grateful to the TGA for their diligence and the Government of Australia for its continued confidence in our mRNA platform," said Stephane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. "We are grateful for the opportunity to provide protection against COVID-19 to this important age group, keeping children safe and able to continue life as normally as possible."Professor Robert Booy from the Immunisation Coalition commented, "I welcome this decision by the TGA and look forward to the uptake of vaccination in children increasing even more to provide protection of children and maximize school attendance."Moderna's vaccine was investigated in the ongoing Phase 2 "KidCOVE" study, a randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled expansion study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, reactogenicity, and effectiveness of two 50 ug doses of Spikevax (mRNA-1273) given to healthy children 28 days apart. The study population was divided into three age groups (6 to under 12 years, 2 to under 6 years, and six months to under 2 years).Data submitted to the TGA demonstrated that vaccination of children 6 to under 12 years of age with a 50 ug mRNA-1273 primary series is associated with non-inferior anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses when compared to that in individuals 18-25 years old from the Phase 3 Cove study. The geometric mean ratio (GMR) comparing the response in children to the response in young adults from the Phase 3 COVE study was 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3, 1.8), with a seroresponse rate of 99.3%. Two 50 ug doses of mRNA-1273 were generally well tolerated.The study is being conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT04796896.Moderna's vaccine has already received regulatory approval for adults and adolescents in Australia. On 9 August 2021, the TGA granted provisional registration to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus in individuals 18 years of age and older. On 3 September 2021, the provisional registration was extended to individuals 12 years of age and older.About ModernaIn 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across seven modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for both clinical and commercial production at scale and at unprecedented speed. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna's capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use and approval of one of the earliest and most-effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.Moderna's mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and auto-immune diseases. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past seven years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.AUTHORIZED USEThe Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia has granted provisional registration for the use of Moderna's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals six years of age and older.Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including regarding: the Company's development of a vaccine against COVID-19 (mRNA-1273, or Spikevax); the ability of Spikevax to trigger a neutralizing antibody response in children similar to that in older populations and to protect against COVID-19; and the safety and tolerability profile for Spikevax. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Moderna's control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include those risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in Moderna's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in subsequent lings made by Moderna with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by law, Moderna disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Moderna's current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof.Moderna Contacts:Media:Luke Mircea WillatsDirector, Corporate CommunicationsLuke.Mirceawillats@modernatx.comInvestors:Lavina TalukdarSenior Vice President & Head of Investor Relations617-209-5834Lavina.Talukdar@modernatx.comSOURCE: Moderna, Inc. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Football: CAF backs holding World Cup every two years

CAIRO (AFP) - The Confederation of African Football on Friday (Nov 26) gave its support to the "decision of the Fifa Congress to conduct a feasibility study" for a World Cup every two years. CAF is the first confederation to officially and publicly approve the controversial plan to hold a World Cup every two years, at the same pace as its Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The 54-strong confederation, at its extraordinary general assembly in Cairo, also voted in favour of establishing a Super League for African clubs. Fifa will hold a summit in December with president Gianni Infantino still hoping to find consensus on plans to stage the men's tournament more often than the current four-year cycle. It is an incendiary topic given the various interests at stake, between clubs and national teams, domestic leagues and international competitions. Opposition has been so widespread from leagues, players and supporters groups that the chances of a biennial World Cup actually happening appear remote. The World Cup has been played every four years, apart from cancellations during World War II, since the inaugural edition in 1930. The new biennial proposals were put forward by Arsene Wenger, Fifa's head of global development. The World Cup is expanding regardless in another way - the men's version to 48 teams from 2026 and the women's to 32 teams from 2023. CAF president Patrice Motsepe insisted that the biennial African Cup of Nations (AFCON) would be unaffected. "The main competition for Africa, which is AFCON, will definitely continue," Motsepe told a press conference. "Part of the process is to ensure that the players do not play more matches or games than they did historically. "There will be a fundamental review of the competitions as well as the structure that has existed over many years." Motsepe added: "In this review of the competitions in totality there will be a focus on ensuring the competitions of the future are the most exciting, the most popular and the ones that the viewers and the spectators find to be most attractive." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Premier League clubs oppose biennial World Cup plan   Related Story Sporting Life: A two-yearly football World Cup? Is nothing sacred in sport?

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Tennis: Hosts for 2022 Davis Cup Finals to be announced next week, says ITF

LONDON (REUTERS) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) expects to announce the host cities for next year's Davis Cup Finals before the end of this year's event which begins on Thursday (Nov 24). This year's 18-nation competition is being staged across three cities - Madrid, Turin and Innsbruck. The men's team competition, which began in 1900, has undergone various changes to the format, the most recent being in 2019 when the old 'home and away' ties were largely scrapped and replaced by a World Cup-style finals held in Madrid. Last year's edition was not held because of the pandemic. A report published in the Daily Telegraph on Thursday said the ITF, together with co-owners Kosmos, had opted to take the competition to the United Arab Emirates for five years. The ITF issued a response to the speculation later on Thursday. "Speculation about a host for Davis Cup Finals in the Middle East is nothing new," an ITF spokesperson said. "The ITF Board is reviewing host cities for 2022 together with Kosmos and expect to make a decision by the end of the Finals." The move away from the old format home and away ties that were played over the course of a year, culminating in a final staged at a venue of one of the competing teams, attracted widespread criticism from within the sport. While the inaugural Madrid finals in 2019, won by Spain, were deemed a success with some high-quality action, the format was problematic with late finishes to matches and a lack of recovery time for players at the end of a long season. There were also paltry crowds at some of the matches played on three courts inside the Caja Magica - a far cry from the partisan crowds that were a trademark of Davis Cup ties. US$3 billion deal Kosmos, a Spanish investment group founded by soccer player Gerard Pique, agreed a 25-year US$3 billion (S$4.11 billion) deal with the ITF in 2018 to transform the competition. Germany captain Michael Kohlmann said the present format needs to be given time. "Two years ago in Madrid the event was something special but the audience was missing," he said on Wednesday in Innsbruck, where his team are in a group with Austria and Serbia. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Zverev dethrones Medvedev to win second ATP Finals title   Related Story Tennis: Teen Ostapenkov stuns Schwartzman in Davis Cup "I think that this format has to be given a chance, but I don't think that the fans will travel around the world each and every year. It's not like football." Britain's captain Leon Smith said the players and captains should be involved in the decision-making process. "Everybody wants the Davis Cup to have an important part going forward. Talking to anybody: the atmosphere, the environment is so important. I know that things have to change. Kosmos will try to find what's best, but there's got to be an open dialogue about the future of the competition." Austria captain Stefan Koubeck said the Davis Cup would never be the same again. "It's not what it used to be when I was still playing. The home matches are sorely missed and you can't compensate for that," he said from Innsbruck where the ties will be staged without fans because of a Covid-19 lockdown. This year's Finals concludes on Dec 5 in Madrid.

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296 people nabbed for alleged involvement in over 1,000 scams, victims lost over $6.4m

SINGAPORE - The police have arrested 296 people for suspected involvement in more than 1,000 scams, where victims lost over $6.4 million. The suspects, aged between 16 and 80, were involved as scammers or money mules, said the police on Friday (Nov 5) night. The scams comprise mainly Internet love, e-commerce, government-official impersonation, job and loan types. The 194 men and 102 women were arrested after officers conducted a two-week operation between Oct 22 and Nov 5. The suspects are being investigated for cheating, money laundering or providing payment services without a licence. Those found guilty of cheating can be jailed up to 10 years and fined. Those found guilty of money laundering can be jailed up to 10 years, fined up to $500,000, or both. Those found guilty of carrying on an unlicensed business of providing payment service can be fined up to $125,000, jailed up to three years, or both. The police said: "To avoid being an accomplice to crimes, members of the public should always reject requests by others to use your bank account or mobile lines as you will be held accountable if these are linked to crimes." For more information, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline on 1800-722-6688. More on this topic   Related Story Cash-on-delivery scams: She orders perfume online, but gets water bottle instead   Related Story S'pore and Malaysia police cripple two job scam syndicates that cheated over 390 of $5m

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PM Lee, US commerce secretary, TikTok CEO and others to attend Bloomberg New Economy Forum in S’pore

SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and TikTok chief executive officer Chew Shou Zi are just some of the high-profile guests who will attend the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in person in Singapore from Nov 16 to 19. The elite forum, which gathers top businessmen and government leaders to discuss global challenges, went virtual last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Launched by US media mogul Michael Bloomberg in 2018, the forum was relocated to Singapore from Beijing that year amid the fallout from the United States-China trade war. China hosted the forum in 2019. More than 300 current and former heads of state, public sector leaders and global CEOs from 51 countries are expected to turn up at this year's event. Other guests include former US treasury secretary Lawrence Summers, former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Medtronic chief Geoffrey Martha, Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, NYSE Group president Stacey Cunningham, UBS chairman Axel Weber, PayPal CEO Dan Schulman, and Panama President Laurentino Cortizo. Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong said the forum is an important event for Singapore and that the country is pleased to host it here physically despite the pandemic. He added that it affirms Singapore's role as a leading business events capital and a global node for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) and businesses. "The Government will continue to support the Mice industry as it adapts and transforms to unlock new value and business opportunities," he said. "We are working with the Bloomberg team to ensure a safe and fruitful forum." This year's forum is built around the themes of "Rebuilding the Global Economy, Innovating Out of Crisis" and "Navigating a Divided World", as well as the five pillars of finance, climate, trade, cities and health. The organisers are working closely with the Government on protocols to provide a safe environment for delegates, said Bloomberg Media in a statement released on Tuesday (Oct 12) announcing updates to the programme and participants. In-person delegates will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and undergo mandatory daily pre-event testing. Other measures include TraceTogether-only SafeEntry check-ins, and mandatory mask wearing while maintaining 1m safe distancing between individuals. Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith said the forum will provide a platform for action while also modelling a blueprint for "safe, yet highly networked, in-person convening". "We've never seen such a sense of urgency among global leaders to get together and mobilise solutions. This spirit of collaboration crosses all business segments and, most encouragingly, governments from both developed and developing economies." This will be the first gathering involving global private sector leaders after the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), to be held in Glasgow from Oct 31 to Nov 12. More on this topic   Related Story UN General Assembly will shape outcome of COP26 climate summit Mr Bloomberg, founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News, who will also attend this year's forum, said: "The global economic challenges deepened by the pandemic bring a special level of urgency to this year's New Economy Forum. "The transition from COP26 to the forum... gives us a unique window of opportunity - and we plan to seize it by working together to accelerate our recovery in ways that build a stronger, healthier and sustainable economy."

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Football: Wenger criticises ’emotional’ response to biennial World Cup plan

LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger has criticised the "emotional" response to his controversial proposal to hold the World Cup every two years. Former Arsenal manager Wenger, now working as Fifa's head of global development, caused dismay in many quarters by suggesting the World Cup should be played more often. The tournament is currently held every four years, with the next edition set for Qatar in 2022. Wenger's idea to stage the World Cup once every two years led to widespread criticism from managers, while Uefa issued a scathing response. "There are real dangers associated with this plan. The dilution of the value of the No. 1 world football event, whose quadrennial occurrence gives it a mystique that generations of fans have grown up with," European football's governing body said. Uefa urged Fifa to stop "promotional campaigns" for the scheme before they have consulted the relevant stakeholders. But Wenger believes those who study his suggestion properly begin to see the merit in it. "I'm confident, but I do not know the forces who are for or against. I just make that proposal because I think it's good for the game," Wenger told the BBC's Sports Desk podcast. "After the proposal for the World Cup every two years sometimes (there is an) emotional response. "I'm not surprised. Many people who were completely against it changed their mind after having seen my proposal. "Some people have judged only based on every two years of World Cup and it was more emotional because 'we've all grown up in that cycle', and I can understand that. "But many responses who were negative came out because they had not completely seen the whole concept. "This concept of course, every two years a World Cup makes only sense if you see the whole proposal and if you regroup the qualifiers." More on this topic   Related Story Football: Uefa raises 'serious concerns' about Fifa plans for biennial World Cup   Related Story Football: Klopp says biennial World Cup plan 'all about money'

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Honda: Takahisa Fujinami to End 26-Year Trial World Championship Career

TOKYO, Sep 15, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Honda announced that Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) contract rider Takahisa Fujinami (Repsol Honda Team), the first Japanese rider to win the FIM* Trial World Championship in 2004, will be retiring from the championship at the end of this season. Honda is truly grateful for all of the support given to the Japanese rider throughout his career.Born 1980 in Mie, Japan, 41-year-old Takahisa Fujinami began riding motocross at age 3, and after experiencing bicycle trials, started competing in the All Japan Trial Championship at age 13 in 1993, in which he became the youngest champion at age 15 in 1995.The following year, he began his career on the world championship stage, winning his first trial in the 1997 German round, becoming the youngest world championship trial winner at 17 years and 237 days old. In 1998 he was ranked fifth overall, and from the next year to 2003, was ranked second for five consecutive years. In 2004 he became the first Japanese champion in the series. From there on to 2017, he has been in the top five for 21 consecutive years, an astounding record. In the 2021 season-opener in Italy, he won Day 2, not only his fist victory in five years, but a record for the oldest rider to win at 41 years and 151 days old. TrialGP Portugal this weekend will mark Fujinami's 355th and final trial.* FIM: Federation Internationale de MotocyclismeTakahisa Fujinami | Repsol Honda Team"I firmly believe that the time has come to close the curtain on my career as a world trial championship rider after 26 years in the competition. Thanks to everyone's support, over this period, I have been able to make trial my profession and perform at a more than satisfactory level for over a quarter of a century. Thank you very much.They have been 26 great years. And I have to also thank my family, who supported me from the first moment, my team-mates, the brand, the sponsors and also the fans who have cheered me on throughout. I would like to greet each of my fans one by one, and I hope to do it someday, to thank them for the enormous support they have given throughout this time.Honda Racing and Montesa-Honda gave me a bike to participate in the world championship when I was 16 years old and, since then, I am proud to have battled with this team right through to the very end.I still remember the shouts and applause of support at my debut in Japan and also in Spain: 'Fujigas' was born there! The first victory in Germany, the tough, complicated years, but also the joy of the world title in 2004. It's a long time ago, but it's my particular treasure...I would also like to particularly remember the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, which started in 2000 and has always had such an enthusiastic crowd. Thank you again.As for what I will do from now on... I don't really know yet. I haven't made up my mind yet what I will do after retiring from competition, but I hope to stay involved in trials in some way. I'm confident that everything will go well in my new life."Shinya Wakabayashi | Honda Racing Corporation President"I would like to thank Takahisa [Fujinami] for the 26 years of his life he devoted to Trial World Championship competition. He has competed in the premier class of trial competition not only always representing Honda, but Japan, and his illustrious career deserves nothing but the greatest of praise. I believe it must have been a Herculean challenge for him to focus on his inner self, and to continue to compete at the pinnacle of motorsport for such a long time. He has suffered on many occasions from injuries which prevented him from performing at his peak. However, his unequalled love for trials has enabled him to overcome difficulties and keep on competing over the years. I would like to thank the team, who have supported him throughout his racing career, our sponsors, and all of his fans everywhere."Takahisa Fujinami ProfileBirthdate: January 13, 1980 (41 years old)Birthplace: Mie, JapanFujinami's Trial RecordsTrials: 354 (Trials record)Wins: 34 (5th)Total championship points: 4,722 (Trials record)Youngest winner: 17 years and 237 days oldOldest winner: 41 years and 151 days old (as of September 15, 2021) Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Tennis: Tokyo Olympic champs Zverev, Bencic advance at US Open

NEW YORK (AFP) - Tokyo Olympic champions Alexander Zverev and Belinda Bencic advanced to the US Open quarter-finals on Monday (Sept 6) with straight-set triumphs. German fourth seed Zverev stretched his win streak to 15 matches by beating Italian 13th seed Jannik Sinner 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) and Swiss 11th seed Bencic eliminated Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek, last year's French Open champion, 7-6 (14/12), 6-3. Zverev, last year's US Open runner-up, reached his seventh career Slam quarter-final and fourth in the past five Slams. "Was a very high-level match from the start to the end, a lot of hard hitting," Zverev said. "I'm happy to be through to the quarter-finals and we'll see where it goes." Sinner missed his chances with two set points on Zverev's serve in the 12th game of the third set and three more foiled in the tie-breaker before Zverev won when Sinner netted a forehand after two hours and 25 minutes. "That's the last few months for me," Zverev said. "Players with confidence know what to do in these situations. I'm happy to get through in straight sets." Zverev said his Olympic gold medal is with him as inspiration and to snuggle. "I cuddle with it at night," he said. "I don't have a girlfriend so the gold medal sleeps next to me. "It's with me here, a little reminder of what happened last month to give me some energy here." Zverev will next face the winner of a later match between American 22nd seed Reilly Opelka and 46th-ranked Lloyd Harris of South Africa. Swiatek beat Bencic in their only prior meeting in February's Adelaide final, but the Swiss hasn't dropped a set this week and has been broken only three times. "I've improved my game a lot," Bencic said. "I'm glad to turn it around and get through." A key was taking the last three points in a 23-minute tie-breaker. "In the tie-breaker, it's always a little bit about luck," she said. "I started the second set a little more relaxed." More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Zverev advances to fourth round after Sock retires   Related Story Tennis: Zverev eyes US Open after Olympic triumph Djokovic chases Slam Early action set the stage for Novak Djokovic in the night feature, where the 34-year-old Serbian star attempts to move within three matches of completing the first men's singles calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years. World number one Djokovic will face 99th-ranked Jenson Brooksby, a 20-year-old American wildcard, for a berth in the quarter-finals. Djokovic would become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to sweep all four major titles in the same year by capturing his fourth career US Open crown. He is also going for a men's singles record 21st Slam trophy, which would boost him one ahead of "Big Three" rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both absent with injuries. Djokovic is on a 20-match win streak against Americans entering his first meeting with Brooksby, who would be the lowest-ranked player to beat a top-ranked rival at the US Open since the rankings began in 1973. If Djokovic advances to the last eight, his quarter-final could be a rematch of the Wimbledon final, where he defeated Italy's Matteo Berrettini. Sixth-seeded Berrettini faces 144th-ranked German qualifier Oscar Otte in a fourth-round matchup. The Italian beat Otte in the first round at this year's French Open. Otte would be the lowest-ranked man in the US Open's last eight since 174th-ranked Jimmy Connors in 1991 and together with Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp become the first pair of qualifiers in a Slam quarter-final in the Open era (since 1968). More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: Bencic serves up masterclass to reach US Open fourth round   Related Story Olympics: Switzerland's Bencic beats Vondrousova to win women's tennis title Raducanu faces Rogers British 18-year-old qualifier Emma Raducanu, a 150th-ranked US Open debutante, was to face 43rd-ranked American Shelby Rogers, who ousted world number one Ashleigh Barty, for a spot against Bencic. Raducanu would be only the third qualifier into the US Open women's quarter-finals after Estonia's Kaia Kanepi in 2017 and American Barbara Gerken in 1981. Czech fourth seed Karolina Pliskova, the Wimbledon runner-up to Barty in July, seeks a last-eight berth against Russian 14th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The last women's fourth-round match has 2019 US Open winner Bianca Andreescu, the sixth seed from Canada, facing Greek 17th seed Maria Sakkari. Andreescu is 10-0 at the US Open, having skipped last year's event.

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Former LTA deputy group director jailed 5½ years for $1.24 million graft case

SINGAPORE - A former Land Transport Authority (LTA) deputy group director was on Thursday (Sept 2) sentenced to 5½ years' jail for taking about $1.24 million in bribes in the form of loans from contractors and sub-contractors. Henry Foo Yung Thye, 47, who chalked up debts from his gambling addiction, was also ordered to pay a penalty of $1,156,260. He had earlier pleaded guilty to seven counts of corruption. Another 29 charges, including cheating offences, were taken into consideration for sentencing. District judge Jennifer Marie said during sentencing that Foo had persistently asked contractors and sub-contractors for loans, and the bribes involved in the proceeded charges are more than $100,000 for each offence. The judge added that his gambling disorder has limited mitigating weight as he had others ways of settling his debt. Foo's offences came to light in October 2018, when the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau received an anonymous complaint that Foo had been soliciting loans from LTA subcontractors. For corruption, Foo could have been fined up to $100,000 and jailed for up to five years for each offence. If the offence is related to a matter or contract with the Government or a public body, the maximum jail term for each offence can be increased to seven years. More on this topic   Related Story 8 months' jail for 2 men who bribed LTA director   Related Story Ex-PUB officer charged with accepting around $45,000 in bribes and falsifying invoices

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GF Securities Fully Support the Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Hong Kong Youths, Sponsored HKUST Entrepreneurship Competition for 5 Years

HONG KONG, Aug 10, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The HKUST-Sino One-Million-Dollar Entrepreneurship 2021 sponsored by GF Securities Co., Ltd. ("GF Securities", stock code: 1776.HK; 000776.SZ) for 5 consecutive years was successfully held recently. After fierce competition, the winner of the competition was granted to The Able Company, which collects surplus and unused bread from Hong Kong bakeries and restaurants and turns them into local craft beer, and the "GF Innovation Award" sponsored by GF Securities was granted to Solid-X Limited, which focuses on the development of next-generation solid-state batteries.Mr. Shen Minggao, the General Manager of GF Holdings (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., a Hong Kong subsidiary of GF Securities, said, "This is the fifth year that GF Securities has participated in the competition. As a global investment bank rooted in the Greater Bay Area, GF Securities is committed to making full use of domestic and overseas capital markets to provide assistance to outstanding companies at different stages of development, we will also continue to fully support outstanding entrepreneurs, promote the development of start-ups, and help more young people realize their ideas and ambitions on the road to entrepreneurship. ". Mr. Shen also said, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has initiated about 30 sustainability-related projects which is believed that universities can become a laboratory for exploration and sustainable development. It is gratified to see that the school also wants to cultivate students' ability to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. The shift from traditional education to active experience teaching allows students to acquire skills to deal with the difficulties and challenges in their careers.HKUST-Sino One-Million-Dollar Millions Entrepreneurship 2021 was established in 2011 and has been held for 11 sessions. As the platinum sponsor of the competition for 5 consecutive years, GF Securities fully supports innovation and entrepreneurship of youths, and has established the "GF Innovation Award" for 3 consecutive years to encourage and commend outstanding entrepreneurial teams in the field of innovation. The competition has expanded from a single-region match in Hong Kong to other regions in China since 2016, and has become a well-known entrepreneurial competition in Greater China. The competition regions of this year also include Macau, Beijing, Foshan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and the Yangtze River Delta. The top 3 teams from Hong Kong will compete with the winning teams from the other 6 regions for the exclusive million-dollar championship.This competition was mainly held online in four rounds, attracting a total of 185 participating teams, the entrepreneurship plans focused on hotly discussed topics such as waste reduction, smart technology, and financial technology. The winner of the "GF Innovation Award" of the competition is Solid-X Limited. The team focuses on the development of next generation solid-state batteries and aims to provide a safe, reliable and sustainable energy storage solution for business and society, outerperformed other teams in the fierce competition. The team of Solid-X Limited expressed that they are very happy to receive the award and hope that the battery can be launched on the market as soon as possible.As a sponsor of the competition for many years, GF Securities participated in the entire competition and provided support beyond funding. For this competition, Mr. Zhou Hang, Vice President of the Private Equity division of GF Investment (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., participated as an adjudicator in the final, providing professional advice and guidance to the participating teams. Mr. Zhou said, "It is a great honor to represent GF Securities as an adjudicator of the competition. As a company that focuses on equity investment in domestic and overseas SME and is committed to assisting enterprises in rapid growth through capital and management, GF Investment (Hong Kong) has always concerned about outstanding start-ups in various fields. This year's competition has been very intense which gathered many excellent entrepreneurial teams, fully felt the enthusiasm of entrepreneurship of Hong Kong youths and reflected that Hong Kong is a place full of entrepreneurial opportunities.".As one of the most influential securities companies in China's capital market, GF Securities has always exerted its influence and devoted itself to committing to charity with actual deeds. In China, GF Securities has also carried out the campaign of "Micro-entrepreneurs in Universities" for 7 consecutive years through "GF Securities Social Charity Foundation", and it attracted the participation of the "Shanghai Stock Exchange Charity Foundation" this year. In the past 6 years, GF Securities has already donated RMB5.5 million in the support funds for 300 projects through the campaign. There are currently more than 200 micro-entrepreneurship tutors and nearly 40 high schools, including Peking University and Tsinghua University, have profoundly participated in the campaign, impacting tens of millions of people through various online and on-site activities. This campaign aims to increase support for the scientific and technological innovation achievements of youths, encourage more young students to actively participate in innovative and entrepreneurial projects, and promote the integrated development of industry and university. In the future, GF Securities will always adhere to its community motto of "Gathering love and giving from the heart", actively fulfil its social responsibilities, and fully to promote the vigorous development of entrepreneurship of domestic and foreign youths.About GF Securities Co. LtdEstablished in 1991, GF Securities Co., Ltd. is one of the first, full-service securities firms in China. The Company was successfully listed on the main boards of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (Stock code: 000776.SZ), and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock code: 1776.HK), in 2010 and 2015, respectively. Relying on excellent business performance, continuously improved risk management and quality services, the company achieves sustained and steady development, and is one of the most influential securities companies in China. The Company possesses industry-leading innovation capabilities and has built a diversified business portfolio serving various corporations, individuals, institutional investors, financial institutions and government clients. As of December 31, 2020, the Company operated 282 brokerage branches, covering 31 provinces, cities, and autonomous regions throughout China. For six consecutive years from 2015 to 2020, GF Securities ranked in the forefront of "Hurun's Top Brands List" amongst listed Chinese securities companies. The Company is actively committed to social responsibility and caring, focusing on education and poverty alleviation through "GF Securities Social Charity Foundation", and as a result has enjoyed a continuously growing reputation and an influential brand. Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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“Tanegashima Loggerhead Sea Turtle Survey 2021” Takes Place amid Covid Restrictions

TOKYO, Jul 29, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Since 2015 MHI Group has supported the "Tanegashima Loggerhead Sea Turtle Survey," a program overseen by Earthwatch Japan, a Tokyo-based incorporated nonprofit organization (NPO).(1) The program, conducted annually on Tanegashima, an island south of Kyushu, is targeted at protecting loggerhead sea turtles, currently under threat of extinction, and creating a healthy environment for nesting by clarifying adult female homing rates, size measurements, and egg-laying success rates.Loggerhead sea turtle digging a nest to lay eggsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, every year several dozen volunteers, both MHI employees and members of the general public, participated in the survey. This year, participation was limited to only six individuals: research specialists and staff of Turtle Crew, a local NPO. The survey was carried out on eight nights in late June, in three areas in the northern sector of Tanegashima's Nagahama Beach.(1) A total of 26 turtles were encountered, and 20 Nesting events were confirmed.The results of this year's survey indicated a further decline in the number of loggerhead sea turtles landing on Tanegashima to lay eggs. Also, measurements of the nesting females revealed a decline in the number of turtles under 80 centimeters long, which normally feed on plankton in the Pacific Ocean, and an increasing number of turtles of larger size, which generally feed on nutrient-rich shrimp and other seabed fauna on the continental shelf centered on the East China Sea. The cumulative number of turtles identified since 2015 reached 177, adding useful data relating to the loggerhead sea turtle?s ecology.For the first time, drone technology was used in this year?s survey. In addition to giving the survey team an aerial understanding of conditions on the beach before the survey, the drone?s GPS function was used to identify nesting locations, thereby aiding coordination by the survey team working under nocturnal limitations. From next year's survey, the team is considering expanding drone surveillance to include photography offshore, to permit visual identification of turtles on the ocean surface waiting to go ashore at night to nest.Yoshimasa Matsuzawa, chairman of the Sea Turtle Association of Japan and head of the project?s research members, was pleased with this year?s results. ?Blessed with favorable weather, we were able to achieve a productive survey despite the limited number of participants. Unfortunately, the number of nesting turtles continues to decrease, not just where we conducted the survey but at other locations in Japan as well, so we need to urgently investigate the causes for this. This year, surveys at some onshore locations were suspended because of the pandemic, so next year we hope to resume surveys, with help from volunteers, on the normal scale, to acquire meaningful data for clarifying the loggerhead sea turtle's ecology."MHI Group looks forward to participating in the Tanegashima Loggerhead Sea Turtle Survey again starting next year as the Company continues to carry out activities to help protect the global environment and biodiversity, toward achieving a sustainable society.(1) For further information on the survey program:Supporting conservation survey for loggerhead turtles in danger of extinction(2) Loggerhead sea turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs. This year's survey was conducted between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. with the aims of confirming nesting events, attaching identification tags and measuring shell dimensions. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Elderly wheelchair-using recalcitrant offender jailed for molesting 2, including child

SINGAPORE - An elderly recalcitrant offender, who has been in and out of jail since 2018 over multiple counts of molestation, is back behind bars for molesting two people, including an 11-year-old girl. Poh Seng Khian, 86, who is also hard of hearing, had been sentenced to 18 weeks' jail last year for a similar offence. He did not learn his lesson after his release and pleaded guilty on Wednesday (July 28) to two molestation charges. The Singaporean was then sentenced to 10 months' jail. Poh, who was unrepresented, had earlier pleaded for the court to sentence him to a fine, adding: "I'm old and about to die." He appeared in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, but was not using one when he committed his latest offences. He was sitting in bus service number 30 on Oct 23 last year when he targeted a 27-year-old woman, who was standing beside him. Poh touched the victim's arm about five times and she shifted back slightly as she assumed that the touches were accidental. Deputy Public Prosecutor Lim Woon Yee said: "In total, the accused touched (the woman) on her left bicep repeatedly for about 15 seconds, before he slowly got up from his seat with the help of his walking aid. "After which, the accused stood on the small step near the victim while holding his walking aid in his left hand." Poh then pretended to fall and used his hand to stroke her right inner thigh at around 1.30pm. The woman grabbed his forearm and he apologised to her. She lodged a police report after she alighted. At around 2.20pm on March 11, Poh boarded bus service number 98 and sat beside an 11-year-old girl. He then placed the handle of his walking aid on her lap and molested her. The shocked girl immediately shoved his hand away and removed the walking aid from her lap. She got off the bus and told her mother about what had happened. The woman took her daughter to Jurong Neighbourhood Police Post to lodge a report. For molesting a child below 14 years old, an offender can be jailed for up to 10 years and caned. Poh cannot be caned as he is over 50 years old. More on this topic   Related Story 9 months' jail for man who molested 11-year-old girl in cinema   Related Story School bus driver jailed for 2 years for molesting autistic student

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Tennis: Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest ATP finalist in 13 years

UMAG, CROATIA (AFP) - Spain's Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest player in 13 years to reach an ATP final when he defeated compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the semi-finals of the Umag claycourt tournament on Saturday (July 24). The 18-year-old Alcaraz defeated the top seed 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) and will face French veteran Richard Gasquet, 17 years his senior, for the title on Sunday. World number 73 Alcaraz is the youngest man to reach a tour final since 2008 when Kei Nishikori made the Delray Beach championship match when he was also 18. Gasquet, 35, reached his first final in three years when he defeated German qualifier Daniel Altmaier 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-3 after three hours and 11 minutes on court. Fourth seed Gasquet, whose last final appearance was at Bastad in 2018, will be seeking a 16th career title on Sunday. More on this topic   Related Story Tennis: France's Gasquet ends three-year wait for final spot

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