For spearfishing champions Ian Puckeridge and his daughter Lara, the Berejiklian government's plan to limit fishing at 25 key sites would put an unnecessary halt to a healthy pastime. Reported by Brisbane Times 6 hours ago.

According to the report, global hydrophilic coating market was valued at USD 9.91 billion in 2017, is expected to reach USD 14.70 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% between 2018 and 2024.

New York, NY, Sept. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled *“Hydrophilic Coating Market by Substrate Type (Metals, Polymers, Glass/Ceramics, Nanoparticles, and Others) and by Application (Medical Devices, Optics, Automotive, Aerospace, Marine, and Other Applications): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2017 – 2024”*. According to the report, global hydrophilic coating market was valued at USD 9.91 billion in 2017, is expected to reach USD 14.70 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% between 2018 and 2024. 

Hydrophilic coatings are extensively used in a wide range of applications such as medical devices, optics, automotive, aerospace, marine, and others. Hydrophilic coatings offer versatile properties like high lubricity and flexibility; it is widely used in medical devices to form lubricious surface to prevent injury while inserting the device into the body. Moreover, growing industrialization and urbanization in several emerging countries such as India, China, and Japan is expected to boost the hydrophilic coating market demand in the coming years.

*Browse through 71 Tables & 39 Figures spread over 110 Pages and in-depth TOC on “Global Hydrophilic Coating Market Size, Share, Industry Trends, Growth Analysis and Forecast, 2017 – 2024”.*

*Request Free Sample Report of Global Hydrophilic Coating Market Report @ *https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/hydrophilic-coating-market

The global hydrophilic coating market is projected to grow at the fastest pace during the forecast period, owing to the increasing usage of hydrophilic coatings in the automotive industry. The hydrophilic coating is largely used as a major substitute for coating materials, especially in automotive application due to its versatile properties. Moreover, increasing awareness regarding the new medical practices is estimated to increase the demand for hydrophilic coating. However, fluctuating prices of raw material may hamper the growth of hydrophilic coating market in future. Additionally, lack of scratch resistance of the coatings and waviness appearance in the presence of water is anticipated to hinder the market growth. Nevertheless, the demand for hydrophilic coating is expected to grow gradually in the aerospace industry as these coatings are widely used on several types of aircraft in order to ensure additional protection and create a smooth outer surface.    

The global hydrophilic coating market can be segmented on the basis of substrate type, application, and regions. On the basis of substrate type, the global hydrophilic coating market is classified into polymers, glass/ceramics, nanoparticles, metals, and others. Polymer segment of the substrate type accounted for about 34.7% and was the most dominating type amongst others, in 2016. Due to its versatile properties like lightweight, low cost, high durability, portability, and flexibility, it is being widely used in a varied range of industrial applications. Glass and nanoparticles type of substrates are expected to grow moderately in the upcoming years. Moreover, polymers can be easily made lubricious to facilitate its smooth application and removal. On the basis of application, the hydrophilic coating market is segregated into medical devices, optics, automotive, aerospace, marine, and other applications. Moreover, medical devices and automotive are the major applications of hydrophilic coating market. Increasing demand for hydrophilic coating in manufacturing automotive components is expected to contribute to the market growth in the forecast period.   

*Download Free PDF Report Brochure: *https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/hydrophilic-coating-market

In 2016, North America and Western Europe contributed the largest share in global hydrophilic coating market in terms of revenue and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. The hydrophilic coatings market in the region is projected to show the largest growth, owing to the high demand from medical and automotive industries. This is expected to drive the market growth in upcoming years. The U.S. leads the North American hydrophilic coatings market and is the leading consumer of hydrophilic coatings. Moreover, technological advancements in medical devices are expected to contribute to the market growth in the future.

The Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest pace during the upcoming years. It is projected to show rising demand for hydrophilic coating owing to a varied range of applications in the automotive and medical devices. Therefore, growing demand in the aerospace industry is expected to boost the demand for hydrophilic coating, as these coatings are widely used on several types of aircraft in order to ensure additional protection and create a smooth outer surface. Furthermore, use of hydrophilic coated glass for optical lenses, mirrors, eyeglasses, and on instruments in humid environments positively influences the market. Increasing usage of polymeric hydrophilic coatings in various industrial applications is expected to raise the hydrophilic coatings market in the region. However, the prices of raw material used to manufacture hydrophilic coating are fluctuating and hence it is anticipated to affect the market growth in the near future.

Browse the full *"Hydrophilic Coating Market by Substrate Type (Metals, Polymers, Glass/Ceramics, Nanoparticles, and Others) and by Application (Medical Devices, Optics, Automotive, Aerospace, Marine, and Other Applications): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecast, 2017 – 2024" *report at https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/hydrophilic-coating-market

Latin America is expected to grow substantially in the forecast period. Brazil is expected to witness a moderate growth in the market, which is attributed to the significant use of hydrophilic coating in the automotive application. Growing construction industry in the region is estimated to witness an extreme change in market growth. Moreover, increasing demand for hydrophilic coating in the automotive industry is the prime factor to drive the market growth in the region.

The Middle East & Africa is projected to register moderate growth in the upcoming years due to the rising industrialization. In addition, increasing demand for building & construction in the region is expected to propel the hydrophilic coating market. Increasing urbanization, population growth, and rising demand from the healthcare industry have led to increasing demand for population market within the region.

*Inquire more about this report before purchase @ *https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/hydrophilic-coating-market

The hydrophilic coating market consists of a large number of manufacturers. The key companies operating in the hydrophilic coating market include Henniker Plasma, Teleflex Incorporated, Aculon, Inc., Surface Solutions Group, LLC, Surmodics, Inc., Koninklijke DSM N.V., Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Pangolin Medical, BioInteractions Ltd., Dontech, Inc., and Harland Medical Systems, among others. 

*Request customized copy of report @ *https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/1203
 
*The report segments the global hydrophilic coating market as follows:*

*Global Hydrophilic Coating Market: Substrate Type Analysis*

· Polymers
· Glass/Ceramics
· Metals
· Nanoparticles
· Others

*Global Hydrophilic Coating Market: Application Analysis*

· Medical Devices
· Optics
· Automotive
· Aerospace
· Marine
· Others

*Global Hydrophilic Coating Market: Regional Analysis*

· North America

· The U.S.

· Europe

· UK
· France
· Germany

· Asia Pacific

· China
· Japan
· India

· Latin America

· Brazil

· The Middle East and Africa

*Related Reports:*

· *EMI Shielding Market:* https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/emi-shielding-market
· *Concrete Admixture Market:* https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/concrete-admixtures-market
· *Benzoic Acid Market:* https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/benzoic-acid-market
· *Coating Pretreatment Market:* https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/coating-pretreatment-market
· *Bio-Based Materials Market:* https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/bio-based-materials-market

*About Us:*

Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client’s needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to us—after all—if you do well, a little of the light shines on us.

*Follow Us LinkedIn: *https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research
*Follow Us Twitter: *https://twitter.com/zion_research

*Blog:* http://www.intenseresearch.com | http://www.mrsresearchgroup.com | http://www.marketresearchtrade.com | https://qyresearchgroup.com | http://marketnreports.com | https://zmrnewsjournal.us | http://www.e-marketresearch.com

*Contact Us:*

Joel John
244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202
New York, 10001, United States
Tel: +49-322 210 92714
USA/Canada Toll-Free No.1-855-465-4651
*Email:* sales@zionmarketresearch.com

*Website:* https://www.zionmarketresearch.com

* Blog:* http://zmrblog.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.

KEMP, Texas, Sept. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Larson Electronics LLC, a leader in explosion proof lighting and accessories, has added an explosion proof mini momentary push button test switch replacement for explosion proof units. This replacement switch is 125/250 volt rated and constructed of stainless steel, and is suitable for Class I, Divisions 1 and 2, Class II, Division 1 and 2 rated environments.The EXP-MPB-SPST-MO is an explosion proof mini momentary push button with an SPDT contact configuration and 125/250 voltage rating. This black stainless-steel test switch replacement offers 5 amps at 125 volts and 3 amps at 250 volts and features a 1000 megaohm insulation resistance. The button has a 3/8”-16 thread size and is NEMA 4, 7 and 9 rated for industrial locations. This push button is simple to replace on existing units.

*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.

*For further information, please contact:*
Rob Bresnahan, *President and CEO
*Toll-free: 1-800-369-6671
Phone: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.

BBC Local News: Highlands and Islands -- Newtonmore take another step towards regaining the Marine Harvest Premiership title with victory over champions Kinlochshiel. Reported by BBC Local News 3 hours ago.

KEMP, Texas, Sept. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Industrial lighting leader, Larson Electronics LLC, has released a no-drill magnetic steel mounting plate for use with magnetic base lighting fixtures up to 20 pounds. This lightweight mounting plate requires absolutely no drilling to install and is compatible with 2017+ Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty aluminum body pickup trucks, offering fleet and utility vehicle operators a convenient mounting location for security, property management, construction and farming operations.The MMP-V2-FSD-2017 from Larson Electronics is a no drill magnetic steel mounting plate designed for 2017+ Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty aluminum body pickup trucks. The mount works for any light with a magnetic mounting base up to 20 pounds, including spotlights, flood lights, strobe lights, beacons, warning lights, signal lights, flashers, turn signals, brake lights, hunting lights, fishing lights, off-roading lights and more. This mount requires absolutely no drilling, so vehicles are left damage-free.

Constructed of durable power-coated aluminum and steel this magnetic mounting plate is rugged and built to last in harsh outdoor conditions. A weatherproof seal ensures the installation is dry and secure and protects the body of the vehicle against scratches. Additionally, this mount features windload okay for highway speeds. The magnetic mounting plate is installed via the third brake light on the back of the vehicle by simply removing the brake light, positioning the bracket and reinstalling the light through the bracket.

“This magnetic no-drill mounting plate gives operators both flexibility in the placement of their equipment, as well as the ability to remove and move the mount with no damage to any surface,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “This is a great mount for fleet vehicles and utility workers who need a temporary light source that has flexible positioning.”

*About Larson Electronics LLC:* Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.

*For further information, please contact:*
Rob Bresnahan, *President and CEO*
Toll-free: 1-800-369-6671
Phone: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ccd95d7c-6207-4bde-99c3-e2f9aa136b94

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6116fba2-6cf6-4c4c-ba58-6ba51d7e1f21

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3b1b9749-d90b-4142-b5fd-7cbb91c53ff3

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/528a916b-6700-4de3-b1ac-2686be504c21 Reported by GlobeNewswire 1 day ago.

Pablo Trujillo was reported missing Saturday after he did not show up for his job at Luke Air Force Base Saturday morning.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Reported by azcentral.com 22 hours ago.

SAN FRANCISCO — It's finally in the water.

For five years now, The Ocean Cleanup, an organization founded by 24-year-old Dutch innovator Boyan Slat, has been trying to create a system that can clean plastic out of the world's oceans.

There's a mind-boggling amount of plastic in the oceans, and that amount grows every day. At least 8 million metric tons of plastic pours into the sea every year — a number that's considered a low estimate, since it doesn't include commonly found debris like fishing nets.  As this trash breaks down into tinier and tinier bits, much of it is eventually carried into one of five massive ocean regions, where plastic can be so concentrated that areas have garnered names like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

On Saturday, Slat's organization began the journey out to sea with their first official 2,000-foot-long plastic cleaning array, System 001. The ship the Maersk Launcher towed the device through the San Francisco Bay out under the Golden Gate Bridge, en route to a final testing site and then — if everything goes well — they'll head to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, where the cleanup crew hopes that first system will be able to collect 50 tons of plastic in its first year.

Slat and colleagues hope The Ocean Cleanup's plastic-collecting arrays can help at least remove large debris from these swirling vortexes. They say their models show that with a full deployment of 60 arrays, they could be able to remove 50% of the garbage patch region's plastic within five years.

But so far, their technology is still unproven, and no one knows for sure whether it'll work as planned.

The Ocean Cleanup's plan is an inspiration for many, as an effort to try to confront what seems like an impossibly large and ugly problem.

But it's also received significant criticism from members of the scientific community who study plastics. Those researchers say the system may not be effective since it can't reach most ocean plastic that has started to break into tiny pieces and sink into the waters. They fear that it could have negative impacts on marine wildlife or could be broken up by harsh ocean conditions, or that it could be a distraction from stopping the overall use of plastics and the management that prevents them from getting into the ocean in the first place.

Slat says stopping plastic pollution in the first place needs to be a global priority, but that they believe cleaning up what's out there already has to be done as well. Yet he knows the world and the scientific community are watching as the system begins its first real test.

"It's still not proven technology and in the next months, it has to do what it has to do," he told Business Insider. The group has run models and simulations and they've tested systems in the water, but this is the first time a full size array will be assembled and hopefully functioning in the Pacific.

As he said Saturday, "models are models"— helpful, but still not perfect demonstrations of reality.

"It'll be an exciting six months," said Slat.

Here's what the initial deployment looked like.

*SEE ALSO: The giant garbage vortex in the Pacific Ocean is over twice the size of Texas — here's what it looks like*

-The system was assembled in Alameda, California, in a shipyard in the San Francisco Bay Area.--Hard-walled pipe makes up the floating component of the cleanup array.--The Ocean Cleanup says the floating array is equipped with lanterns, radar reflectors, navigational signals, GPS, and anti-collision beacons.-
See the rest of the story at Business Insider Reported by Business Insider 20 hours ago.

*M**r.** Sanjeev Sinha*, President of India Japan Partnership Fund & Group led a series of bilateral interactions on healthcare in Tokyo including multiple focused meetings and a round table during July and August 2018.

 
 

*IJPG** - India Japan Healthcare Forum*

 

Opening the forum Mr. Sinha pointed out the strong appetite for funding and technology transfer from Japan to India in the healthcare domain. He emphasized on the Japanese government support on the matter as well, referring to his discussions with Japanese Prime Minister’s Office and other ministries and government agencies for collaboration with India.

 

Mr. Sinha outlined the challenges and the solutions as evidenced in his interactions with the wide-ranging stake holders in many on-going efforts from Japan to build hospitals overseas. He advocated a holistic approach of funding the premium quality Japanese technology in India by the abundant low-cost Japanese capital for enhanced overall feasibility, as undertaken by India Japan Partnership Fund headed by himself, he noted. Mr. Sinha elaborated on the sophisticated funding models involving equipment leases, services outsourcing, REITs, SPVs, combining private equity and debt, for the right legal and compliance in the healthcare field. Mr. Sinha also pointed out need for high quality logistics, diagnostics, medical IT, skill development and even the hospital architecture to efficiently deploy Japanese technology as a package, a model on which various entities within India Japan Partnership Group are working on. This complements very well with India’s fast growing demand for high quality healthcare and insufficient supply as yet, Mr. Sinha continued to nail his point in.

 

Mr. Sinha recalled the participation from Mr. Satish Reddy of Dr. Reddy’s on the IIT Alumni Conference www.iitjapan.org he led in 2007 and India Japan Pharma interaction with Dr. Rajiv Modi of Cadila, which significantly contributed to fast growing presence of Indian pharma companies in fast growing and very lucrative Japanese generic medicine market, a strategic move by Japanese government to reduce the health care costs. Mr. Sinha also recalled the request from Japanese Science and Technology agency for other measures for cost reduction in the predominant innovation drugs sector, including direct CRO for clinical trials in India, unlike hitherto route via USA, and the subsequent role of GVK Biosciences and other leading companies of India in the process.

 

The forum held in Marunouchi was also attended by Ambassador Hirabayashi former Ambassador of Japan to India and member of the board of Dai Ichi Sankyo and Toshiba, a leading medical equipment manufacturer, who shared his experiences from Dai Ichi Sankyo and Ranbaxy affair.

 

*Mr.** Kikuchi Yukihiko*, President of Sun and Sands Innovation, former MD of Morgan Stanley and UBS Japan, shared his experiences of managing a hospital in Japan and advising other Japanese hospital developments overseas. This was followed by *Mr.** Komiya Yuji* President of IJPG Asia Capital and former Managing Partner of Tokio Marine Capital who also have a JV with Edelweiss on health insurance in India advised by Mr. Sinha during 2008-2010. The Forum was well attended by presidents and executives of healthcare management funds and investors and academicians including professors of Medicinal Chemistry and Regenerative Medicine from Osaka and Kyoto Universities. Leading figures from Indian healthcare industry also joined and shared their views in an interactive roundtable format. *Mr.** Sunil Rajput *President of IJPG Kyoto Kashi working on pharmaceutical technology transfer from Japan to India, among other domains, made the closing remarks.

 

In a separate interview, Mr. Sinha shared that India Japan Partnership Group is at advanced stages of discussion for building hospitals in India with Japanese collaboration and also helping India Medical AI companies with market and funding in Japan.

 

Mr. Sinha President of India Japan Partnership Fund Group and an early stage promoter and advisor for the Indian Bullet Train Project is a prominent resident of Japan for 21 years, formerly with Goldman Sachs, Mizuho, UBS, PwC and as Chief Country Representative of Tata Asset Management and Tata Realty and Infrastructure in Japan raising a billion USD. Graduate of IIT Kanpur and now Founding President of IIT Alumni in Japan, Mr. Sinha started and significantly contributed to many bilateral initiatives as Founding President of Sun and Sands Group, President India Japan Partnership Fund, Kyoto Kashi Co, Director, Fuji Tiger Advisors, Sakura Buddha, Asia Capital, Oriental Investments, India Japan Finance and Infrastructure Research Institutes, Japan India China Biosciences Research Institute, Advisor to Nagareyama City and Kyoto University, commentator on national TV, columnist at NIKKEI and author of four best-selling books from leading publishers in Japanese on India.

  Reported by NewsVoir 19 hours ago.

Stereotypes can be difficult to live down – even when it comes to marine life. In Chatham, Mass., educators are working to help residents and vacationers shed their misconceptions about sharks. Reported by Christian Science Monitor 18 hours ago.

By Jim Garamone

The consequences of a Russian-Syrian regime offensive into Idlib, Syria, against terrorists hiding there would almost certainly be a humanitarian disaster, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

U.S. military planners believe there are better, more focused ways to go after terrorists who have taken shelter in Idlib. “The consequences of a major offensive operation in Idlib will almost certainly be the suffering of a large number of innocent civilians,” Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford told reporters traveling with him.

A meeting in Tehran, Iran,, yesterday among Turkey, Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime failed. Russian and regime forces have been building up around the enclave for days, and most observers expect the forces to attack into the area.

An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 terrorists entered Idlib to hide among the hundreds of thousands of people who went to the northwestern Syria city to escape violence.

*‘Disappointed, But Not Surprised’*

Dunford said he is “disappointed, but not surprised” by the failure of the Idlib talks. The city was declared as a designated deconfliction zone. “People were committed to approaching it as such,” he said. “It looks to us as if people are walking away from an agreed-upon approach to deal with Idlib.”

U.S. military officials believe there is a more effective way to do counterterrorism operations than major conventional operations in Idlib. The chairman said the United States was not talking about cooperating, but about using U.S. capabilities to spot the terrorists – even in an urban environment – and take them out with a minimum of civilian casualties.

The chairman said he has not spoken with Gen. Valery Gerasimov, his Russian counterpart, since the crisis over Idlib began, and that he is not scheduled to speak with him. Reported by Eurasia Review 16 hours ago.

Edie Widder sat quietly in the dark for half an hour.

All around her, critters floated and glided by as she peered through the thick glass bubble of a submersible, perched on a rocky ledge nearly 2,000 feet under the sea. 

Everywhere, the creatures glowed.

"It was like an incredible starfield sky," said Widder, the marine scientist who famously attracted a legendary giant squid to the same deep sea submarine, six years earlier. "It was all of these little frothy lengths of luminescence that lit up all around us, and above us."

That August evening, Widder descended down to these depths off the Eastern Bahamas not to seek out any enormous tentacled creatures, but to watch the sea glow.   Read more...

More about Science, Oceans, Exploration, Earth Science, and Deep Sea Reported by Mashable 10 hours ago.

KEMP, Texas, Sept. 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Larson Electronics LLC, a leader in industrial lighting, has released a rechargeable, slim profile, portable LED floodlight that offers high and low settings, a single sealed push button and convenient carrying handle that doubles as a hanging hook. This rugged and durable floodlight has a powerful magnetic base and is ideal for a range of applications including general task lighting, construction, emergency services, fire and rescue, security and bay lighting.The RL-16-LED-M from Larson Electronics is a rechargeable and portable LED area light that features a rechargeable lithium ion battery and a variety of mounting options. This LED light has two settings: high, which produces 1,000 lumens of high intensity light and low, which produces 500 lumens.  A single push button switch allows operators to easily switch between the two settings.

This LED area light is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery which has a runtime of 4 hours on high and 8 hours on low. Charging from a fully depleted state takes 6 hours, and both AC and DC charger power supplies are included.

The RL-16-LED-M is designed for lightweight, easy maneuverability – weighing just 3.3 pounds and measuring just 1 foot high by 6 inches long and 3.5 inches wide. The RL-16-LED-M is also designed to withstand daily heavy-duty wear and tear, constructed of lightweight 6061-T6 aluminum with a protective powder coating. The light is IP67 waterproof rating and meets the requirements of NFPA-1971-8.6 and has an impact and vibration resistant tempered glass lens.

This portable LED lamp is fixed to a trunnion bracket that permits front to back tilting, as well as side to side pivoting. This flexibility allows precise beam aiming. The trunnion bracket is mounted to a magnetic base that can be attached to any ferrous metal surface including walls, ceilings and machines. An ergonomic, no-slip handle at the top of the light can be used for handheld carrying, or as an adjustable hook to the hang the lamp in an overhead position. 

“This rechargeable LED is extremely lightweight and a convenient option for temporary portable lighting needs in garages, on construction sites, for emergency services, military applications and more,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “It can be magnetically mounted, hung or carried, and the high and low settings give users flexible light output depending on the application’s requirements.”

*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.

*For further information, please contact:*
Rob Bresnahan, *President and CEO
*Toll-free: 1-800-369-6671
Phone: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f6c5591-2dd0-4d19-ada7-973d7de4b0af

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/644d751f-2cd8-4cb2-9022-4ff95100c854

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1bf3d857-17f2-4ddd-a72f-532eef139c87

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/784d73fd-6d40-4665-a417-62e656da202b Reported by GlobeNewswire 6 hours ago.

The U.S. has long maintained that freedom of navigation (FON) for warships in foreign 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) is essentially ‘absolute’.   China and some other countries disagree and have placed some restrictions on the activities of foreign warships and aircraft in their EEZ.  But the U.S. is undermining its own position by placing restrictions on its own military’s activities –and by extension those of foreign militaries—in its own EEZ.

Military activities in the EEZ were a controversial issue during the negotiation of the text of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/convention_overview_convention.htm and continue to be so in state practice.  Some coastal states contend that other states cannot carry out military exercises or maneuvers in or over their EEZ without their consent.  Indeed, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cape Verde, Pakistan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Uruguay, and most recently, US ally Thailand have declared that such military activities are not permitted in their EEZ without their consent. This is an extreme position that is protested and often tested by the U.S. and other maritime powers.

A more moderate but still contentious aspect of this debate is whether or not coastal states like China have the right to limit foreign military activities in their own EEZs if they present a threat to its marine environment.  For the U.S. to impose its own restrictions on such activities in its own EEZ is contrary to its position that FON for warships and warplanes in foreign EEZs cannot be restricted.

However, that is exactly what has happened. The U.S. has now designated a critical habitat for the main Hawaiian Islands insular false killer whale encompassing 17,500 square miles of waters around Hawaii extending well into the US EEZ.  https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-07-24/pdf/2018-15500.pdf.   The habitat must be “free of anthropogenic noise that would significantly impair the value of the habitat for false killer whale use or occupancy.”  This presumably includes the use of explosives and potentially damaging sonar. This is a significant signpost in this long-standing debate in the U.S.—and the world at large. It is not the first such step– and it won’t be the last.

Applicable US law provides that “all U.S. armed forces activities and exercises shall be carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with operational requirement, adverse impacts on resources and qualities” https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-07-24/pdf/2018-15500.pdf In 2013, a federal judge sided with environmental groups in their lawsuit against the U.S. government over Navy training exercises off the West Coast involving sonar that they say harms endangered whales, dolphins and other protected marine mammals.   Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council v. National Marine Fisheries Service; http://www.allgov.com/usa/ca/news/california-and-the-nation/federal-judge-tells-navy-to-back-off-north-coast-sonar-testing-plan-130927?news=851241  . Under a negotiated agreement, the US Navy will no longer carry out these tests or training exercises, nor set off explosives, in specified habitats around the Hawaiian Islands and southern California.

The U.S. also has a total of 14 national marine protected areas encompassing nearly 800,000 square miles.  Much of that is in its EEZ and includes sensitive marine ecosystems in waters off American Samoa, Hawaii, California and Texas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_System_of_Marine_Protected_Areas.  Designation as a protected area does not automatically prohibit military activities.  But some protected areas do ban activities that disturb marine mammals, seabirds and sea turtles and even operation of aircraft over certain zones.

Restrictions on military activities in EEZs to protect the environment is a legal trend—at least in the U.S.—and may serve as a precedent and model for other countries –including China. Environmental groups say mid-frequency sonar use by the US Navy has been linked to fatal mass strandings of marine mammals around the world, including in the Bahamas, Greece, the Canary Islands, and Spain.

The balance between protection and activities necessary to maintain ‘military readiness’ is subject to “consultation” between the Pentagon and the appropriate agency to “minimize the impacts of their activities and ensure they are not likely to jeopardize the species.”  Of course this clause opens a large loophole.  Nevertheless it is clear that the U.S. military and that of other nations are being ‘encouraged’ to avoid environmentally deleterious activities within the designated areas – like mammal-damaging sonar, live fire and the detonation of explosives.

However, the U.S. continues to assert its expansive interpretation of FON as well as and to carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions in others’ EEZs. They do this despite protests by some countries including China that say some of these activities may be violating its domestic laws regarding, among others,  protection of its environment.  They also say that such activities do not pay ‘due regard’ to the rights and duties of the coastal state as required by UNCLOS, especially their right and duty to protect their environment including its fish,  mammals and their habitat and ecosystems. The U.S. vigorously protests in word and deed these attempts to limit FON.

But what does the international Law of the Sea community say about this issue? State practice and authoritative commentators are divided on whether military maneuvers, and particularly those involving the use of weapons, in the EEZ of a foreign state without its consent are internationally lawful uses of the sea.  They generally agree that simple naval transit and maneuvers are part of FON.  But they do not agree on whether an extended test of weapons, such as laying of depth charges, launching torpedoes, firing artillery or the laying of mines within an EEZ are included among the ‘normal uses associated with the operation of ships and aircraft.’  But if the military activities involve live firing, explosives or sonar that may interfere with or damage mammals and fisheries directly or indirectly, the balance of interests established by UNCLOS (Article 59, Basis for the resolution of conflicts regarding the attribution of rights and jurisdiction in the exclusive economic zone http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf) would likely weigh in favor of the coastal state.  While the latter could easily justify its right and responsibility to ensure the management of its resources and the protection of its marine environment, the user state would have the more difficult task of  explaining why its operations have to be conducted within that particular EEZ, and not on the high seas or within its own EEZ.

Indeed, one of the lead negotiators on the Law of the Sea for the developing countries, Orrego Vicuna, has stated “that the limitations of military uses in the exclusive economic zone are greater than those applied to similar activities carried out on the high seas”, and that a coastal state could “demand that a warship abandon the exclusive economic zone” if it failed to respect coastal state concerns. (O.F. Vicuna, The Exclusive Economic Zone, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1989, p. 111); http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a457969.pdf

The U.S. or other countries may invoke customary international law that warships have immunity from coastal state jurisdiction.  But UNCLOS provides that countries operating such warships are liable for any environmental or other damage caused by their operations.  The fact that user states would be liable for damages is an ‘encouragement’ to refrain from such activities.

Clearly, constraints on military activities in foreign EEZs to protect the environment are expanding and the U.S. is contributing to this movement.  The U.S. Navy should try to get ahead of the curve and cease its resistance to this trend and act preemptively to alter or relocate its more egregious environmentally damaging activities in other states’ EEZs. It should then negotiate guidelines that it can live with.

**Mark J. Valencia*, Adjunct Senior Scholar, National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Haikou, China

This piece appeared in the IPP Review https://ippreview.com/index.php/Blog/single/id/784.html Reported by Eurasia Review 20 hours ago.

BOSTON, Sep 10, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide estimates that industry insured losses from Typhoo Jebi, which made landfall in Japan on September 4, will be between JPY 257 billion (USD 2.3 billion) and JPY 502 billion (USD 4.5 billion). AIR Worldwide is a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business.

Typhoon Jebi, which struck Japan midday on September 4 on the island of Shikoku at the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane, was the strongest typhoon to make landfall in Japan in 25 years, with 1-minute sustained wind speeds of 180 km/h (112 mph). It rapidly made a second landfall on the main island of Honshu striking the major urban centers of Kobe and Osaka with winds which, flipped vehicles, ripped cladding off buildings, and downed trees and power lines.

Four days before landfall, Jebi explosively intensified to become a super typhoon with wind gusts of over 190 mph, the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane. As it headed north toward Japan, Jebi encountered wind shear and cooler water, which caused it to lose some strength but it was still an intense and potentially dangerous storm as it approached Japan. The ground was still saturated from previous storms as Jebi drew close, prompting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to issue warnings for potential flash floods and landslides.

Storm surge inundated parts of Osaka Prefecture, with a potentially record-breaking storm tide reported in that area and intense rainfall accompanied the storm, with a recorded rate of 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain in an hour at the tourist city of Kyoto, and more than 500 millimeters (nearly 20 inches) of rain total was measured in some areas. The storm maintained its typhoon strength over the Sea of Japan as it tracked north along the coast, only weakening to tropical storm intensity early Wednesday, local time, as it passed the island of Hokkaido. Wind and torrential precipitation continued to affect the western coast up to Hokkaido overnight.

Along with major damage to buildings and infrastructure, there has been significant business interruption, particularly to manufacturing and tourism, with widespread shipping and transportation impacts. Kansai Airport plays a significant shipping role in the region, and the closure could disrupt supply chains.

AIR's modeled insured loss estimates include:

- Insured damage to property (residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural/mutual), both structures and their contents, and automobile

AIR's modeled insured loss estimates do not include:

- Losses from precipitation-induced flood
- Landslide
- Losses to land
- Losses to infrastructure
- Losses to CAR/EAR, marine hull, or marine cargo lines of business
- Business interruption losses
- Loss adjustment expenses
- Demand surge-the increase in costs of materials, services, and labor due to increased demand following a catastrophic event

About AIR Worldwide

AIR Worldwide (AIR) provides risk modeling solutions that make individuals, businesses, and society more resilient to extreme events. In 1987, AIR Worldwide founded the catastrophe modeling industry and today models the risk from natural catastrophes, terrorism, pandemics, casualty catastrophes, and cyber incidents. Insurance, reinsurance, financial, corporate, and government clients rely on AIR's advanced science, software, and consulting services for catastrophe risk management, insurance-linked securities, longevity modeling, site-specific engineering analyses, and agricultural risk management. AIR Worldwide, a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business, is headquartered in Boston, with additional offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.air-worldwide.com.

For more information, contact:
Kevin Long
AIR Worldwide
617-267-6645
klong@air-worldwide.com

###

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.
Source: AIR Worldwide via Globenewswire

Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com Reported by ACN Newswire 16 hours ago.

For Immediate Release:

*AIR Worldwide Releases Severe Thunderstorm Model for Europe *

BOSTON, Sept. 10, 2018 - Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide today announced that it has released a new state-of-the-art severe thunderstorm model for Europe. The AIR Severe Thunderstorm Model for Europe captures the effects of straight-line winds and hail, enabling companies to assess their risk from the local scale to the macro level on insured properties, including residential, commercial, automobiles, and specialty lines of business-in 22 countries. Together with AIR's Extratropical Cyclone Model for Europe and European flood models, this new model now allows for a comprehensive assessment of atmospheric risk in this region. AIR Worldwide is a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business.

"Though typically associated with the summer months, severe thunderstorms can strike Europe at any time of the year, and their loss potential is increasing," said Dr. Eric Robinson, manager and principal scientist, AIR Worldwide. "A severe thunderstorm event can, over the course of several days, produce multiple outbreaks. Depending upon the region, high-frequency severe thunderstorms can contribute up to 50 percent to overall wind-related insured losses in Europe."

The scientifically advanced severe thunderstorm model realistically simulates the highly localized effects of individual hail and straight-line winds (microevents)-from a meteorological perspective the key drivers of loss from severe thunderstorms-and the spatial extent of macroevents (combinations of microevents). This is achieved by replicating daily activity based on a comprehensive analysis of historical storm outbreaks. The model reflects emerging scientific and engineering research and leverages data from many sources, including storm report databases, numerical weather prediction, and an unprecedented amount of radar data from recent events. To validate the model, AIR used a large set of claims data, including detailed claims from some of the largest insurers in Europe.

"Because of the localized nature of individual hailstorms and straight-line winds as well as potential for major outbreaks affecting the ever-changing built environment, using historical losses for risk assessment and management is not sufficient," said Dr. Cagdas Kafali, senior vice president, research and modeling, AIR Worldwide. "The model was built to meet the wide spectrum of severe thunderstorm risk management needs of all stakeholders, including the insurance and reinsurance industry, and accounts for insurance policy conditions specific to each modeled country."

In addition, AIR announced that it updated its Extratropical Cyclone Model for Europe, including the expansion of the model domain covering a total of 22 countries. The updated model includes support for several new risk types, including large industrial facilities, wind turbines, marine cargo, and builder's risk. The AIR Extratropical Cyclone Model for Europe also features a new stochastic event set, updated hazard and vulnerability modules, and industry exposure databases.

Dr. Kafali concluded, "Used in concert, the AIR Extratropical Cyclone Model for Europe, the AIR Inland Flood Model for Europe, and the new severe thunderstorm model provide a comprehensive view of atmospheric peril risk for effective risk management. Together, they can help insurers identify opportunities for growth and make more informed underwriting decisions. Reinsurers also benefit from this toolkit, which enables them to better understand and effectively price the risk that they may be assuming on their books."

The AIR Severe Thunderstorm Model for Europe and the AIR Extratropical Cyclone Model for Europe are currently available in the Touchstone^® and CATRADER^® catastrophe risk management systems.

*About AIR Worldwide*
AIR Worldwide (AIR) provides risk modeling solutions that make individuals, businesses, and society more resilient to extreme events. In 1987, AIR Worldwide founded the catastrophe modeling industry and today models the risk from natural catastrophes, terrorism, pandemics, casualty catastrophes, and cyber incidents. Insurance, reinsurance, financial, corporate, and government clients rely on AIR's advanced science, software, and consulting services for catastrophe risk management, insurance-linked securities, longevity modeling, site-specific engineering analyses, and agricultural risk management. AIR Worldwide, a Verisk (Nasdaq:VRSK) business, is headquartered in Boston, with additional offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.air-worldwide.com.

###

For more information, contact:
Kevin Long
AIR Worldwide
+1-617-267-6645
klong@air-worldwide.com Reported by GlobeNewswire 15 hours ago.

Reference is made to the stock exchange notice published on 24 August 2018 regarding publication of a prospectus and with further information regarding a subsequent offering with gross proceeds of up to NOK 20 million directed towards eligible shareholders (the "Subsequent Offering").

The subscription period for the Subsequent Offering ends today, 10 September 2018 at 16.30 hours (CEST). Subscription rights that are not utilized within the end of the subscription period will lapse automatically and hold no value.

For further information, please contact:

Jon Olav Ødegård, CFO of Hofseth BioCare ASA

Mob: +47 936 32 966

E-mail: joo@hofsethbiocare.no

About Hofseth BioCare ASA:

HBC is a Norwegian biotech company that offers high-value ingredients and finished products for humans and pets. The company is founded on the core values of sustainability, traceability and optimal utilization of natural resources. Through an innovative hydrolysis technology, HBC is able to preserve the quality of salmon oil, proteins and calcium, prepared of fresh salmon off-cuts. HBC's objective is to contribute to the efficient use of marine resources and deliver quality products for ingredients and finished consumer products in the nutrition market.

Hofseth BioCare's headquarters are located in Ålesund, Norway with branches in Oslo, Chicago, Mumbai, Palo Alto and Tokyo. HBC is listed on Oslo Stock Exchange Axess list with ticker "HBC". More information about Hofseth BioCare at www.hofsethbiocare.com and www.facebook.com/hofsethbiocare

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Reported by GlobeNewswire 15 hours ago.

HONG KONG, Sept. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Jebsen Group (Jebsen), a leading brand builder in Greater China, releases the CSR Report 2018 today, a review of its corporate social responsibility efforts in 2017. Social responsibility is part of the Jebsen 123-year heritage, where it is always looking to optimise both its commercial and social value. This year marks the 10^th annual issue of the Jebsen CSR report. Jebsen will continue to keep its commitment to support the growth of its people, organisation, and local community.Jebsen Group Releases Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2018

This report summarises Jebsen's current efforts and future aspirations to the environment, its staff and local community -- across its six business lines: Beverage, Consumer, Industrial, Motors, Logistics and Jebsen Capital.

Jebsen's total investment in CSR climbed to HKD 5 million in 2017. It organised a total of 77 volunteer and philanthropic events, attracting 806 attendees. Activities like the sight saving programme "Project Morning Star", arts for children with autism's "Life is Art", educational programmes with well-regarded universities in Greater China, staff development programmes, and environment conservation programmes were organised in 2017.

*"Project Morning Star"*

"Project Morning Star" was launched in 2011 in partnership with Orbis. After achieving great success in the partnership's first past five years, Jebsen decided to continue its partnership for the next five years with Phase 2 of the project.

In the current second phase of "Project Morning Star", Jebsen is investing RMB 7.4 million to fund China's first "National Model of Comprehensive Rural Eye Care Network Building Project" -- initiated by the National Institute of Hospital Administration (NIHA), in collaboration with Orbis.

By the end of 2017, a total of 11 field trips with over 125 Jebsen volunteers visited project sites in Yunnan, Guangdong, Gansu, Shandong, Liaoning, Heilongjiang and Anhui provinces.

*"Life is Art"*

Launched in 2014, Jebsen's "Life is Art" Programme has focused on providing care to children with autism. Through art experiences, Jebsen hopes to break the barrier between the public and these children, so that they can live more fulfilling and positive lives.

In 2017, Jebsen carried out a series of art activities in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. In the past four years, the "Life is Art" programme has benefited 384 children by offering 286 art courses with the support of 341 Jebsen volunteers.

*Supporting Education*

As always, Jebsen continued its support of higher education. Jebsen plans to donate RMB 1 million in total, from 2015 till 2019, to Nankai University for the second phase of the Nankai-Jebsen Education Fund, awarding remarkable students and teachers in their fields.

As a long-term supporter of HKUST, Mr. Hans Michael Jebsen, the Group Chairman, has served on the HKUST Business School Advisory Council since 2011. In September 2017, Mr. Jebsen was appointed as the council's Chairman. Jebsen believes it is important to cultivate students' creativity and help them reach their full potential.

*Commitment to staff*

Jebsen always considers its employees as one of its most valuable assets for sustainable growth. In 2017, Jebsen launched the "Polish Your Hero Gadget" campaign, encouraging employees to nominate their workmates who bring vitality to their jobs and lives as Jebsen Heroes. A total of 115 employees were awarded.

In 2017, Jebsen invested almost HKD 16.8 million in staff training, and 756 people were trained with over 4,000 shared training hours. In 2016, Jebsen launched a brand-new training programme named "J Inspire", expanding employees' exposure to the latest knowledge about their work. In 2017, Jebsen organised 11 "J Inspire" lectures with a total of 373 participants.

Jebsen keeps its commitment of offering equal employment opportunities and attracting diverse talents. In 2017, among 2,204 employees in Greater China, a total of 47.8% of the employees and 45.4% of management staff were female.

In 2017, the Group continued the 3C model (Care, Cheers, and Celebrate), advocating for positive attitudes towards work and life. Jebsen organised 36 staff activities, plus 11 lunch time seminars, attracting a total of 3,275 participants, to foster happier minds and healthier bodies to guide employees in maintaining their physical and mental wellness.

*Environmental Conservation*

Commitment to the environment is another core area of Jebsen's CSR endeavours as it aims to strengthen sustainable development in five focus areas like Carbon Management, Green Office, Green Initiation, and Nature Experience. In 2017, Jebsen Group emissions of CO[2]-e totalled 9,626 tonnes, with carbon intensity having decreased by 10% compared to the 2009 baseline level. Meanwhile, Jebsen continues to invest in two climate friendly projects, and purchased 9,145 tonnes of carbon credit to achieve carbon neutrality.

To promote green and healthy living, Jebsen offers consumers a variety of green products and services including home and building products, as well as water purifiers. Internally, Jebsen organised a series of environmental protection activities like soap DIY workshops and marine education. As a founding member and double Diamond Member of the WWF Corporate Membership Program (CMP) in Hong Kong since 2000, Jebsen has proudly participated in Earth Hour for nine consecutive years – turning off non-essential lights, neon signs, billboards and computers at Jebsen locations across the region for an hour during the global event.

Jebsen has been honoured to receive the consistent positive perception of its CSR programs by its staff, as expressed in the company's 2018 Employee Insight Surveys.

Helmuth Hennig, Group Managing Director of Jebsen said, "Anything we did, we said, we shared has been with our best wishes to the society. After over 120 years in business, we are very convinced that being an active and positive contributor to the communities we operate in is the right thing to do."

Jebsen's efforts in corporate social responsibility received recognition from our communities in 2017. The accolades included "CarbonCare^® Label", "10 Years Plus Caring Company", "2017 China Enterprise Social Responsibility Project Excellence", "2017 Responsible Brand Award", "Excellent CSR Practices of Foreign-Invested Enterprises in China", "2017 Hong Kong Community Volunteers Highest Participation Bronze Award", and "2016/2017 Hong Kong Sustainability Award".

For more details, please click below links to download Jebsen CSR Report 2018.

https://www.jebsen.com/UploadedFiles/Jebsen/09/0911a18a-8d47-4cce-a9f9-4ffc064b79e0.pdf

*About Jebsen Group*

Founded in 1895, Jebsen Group is a focused marketing, distribution and investment organisation. With a long, unique established presence and deep understanding of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, the Jebsen Group is committed to supporting our partners' needs in building market demand, generating and supporting sales, and serving as an important link to customers throughout the region. Under the unified master brand of Jebsen, the Group has six business lines including Beverage, Consumer, Industrial, Motors, Logistics and Jebsen Capital. Jebsen offers some 200 of the world's leading products extensive local market access with a high degree of specialisation. Outside the region, the Jebsen Group enjoys close ties with sister companies in Australia, South East Asia, Denmark, Germany, Middle East and the United States. For more information, visit www.jebsen.com, or follow us on Sina Weibo (weibo.com/jebsengroup), WeChat (id:jebsen1895) and LinkedIn (id:jebsen group).

Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180910/2232488-1-a

Related Links :

http://www.jebsen.com Reported by PR Newswire Asia 15 hours ago.

DGAP-News: Hannover Rück SE / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

10.09.2018 / 09:00
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
--------------------

*Press Release*

*Hannover Re anticipates stable prices and conditions **for 2019 following last year's large loss events*

Monte Carlo, 10 September 2018: The market environment in worldwide property and casualty reinsurance remains challenging. The enormous natural catastrophe losses of the past year led to an increase of reinsurance rates in affected regions and programmes, which however were lower than expected. At loss-free programmes, rates tend to stabilize.

Competition continues to be intense and is clearly shaping the pricing situation. At the same time, the capital resources available to most insurers can be described as good, as is also reflected in retention levels. These are still high, suppressing demand for reinsurance coverage. The ILS (insurance-linked securities) market also continues to provide considerable capacities, adding to the pressure on prices and conditions.

A gradual shift in sentiment can nevertheless be discerned in the industry. The results posted by some companies deteriorated sharply in 2017. Some reinsurers' results in 2018 were also impacted by follow-up losses from natural disasters. Furthermore, diminished run-off profits must be expected. Rising inflation - fuelled in part by new trade barriers - is pressuring the industry to increasingly implement rate adjustments in some segments.

Merely moderate rate increases overall have so far emerged out of the price negotiations within the year. In the case of natural catastrophe business, which had been hard hit in the previous year, more appreciable mark-ups were nevertheless recorded for loss-impacted treaties. All in all, the rate quality in the reinsurance market is slightly improved year-on-year, albeit remaining on a low while still adequate level.

"The further development of the loss amounts from last year's hurricanes as well as the minimal large losses incurred in the current year to date will be crucial in determining prices in property and casualty reinsurance", CEO Ulrich Wallin commented during a press conference in Monte Carlo. "The lower the strains from catastrophe losses turn out to be this year, the more difficult it will be to push through requisite additional price increases in the coming year. Nevertheless, we are seeing strong demand and hence rather favourable opportunities for growth in certain segments."

Hannover Re anticipates increasing demand in, among other areas, covers for cyber risks as well as solutions designed to provide solvency relief under structured reinsurance.

For the treaty renewals as at 1 January 2019 the Group therefore expects - despite the overabundance of reinsurance capacity - stable prices and conditions for the most part. Similarly, an industry-wide softening in profitability as well as a higher burden of attritional losses point to a need for improved market conditions.

For the three pillars of its property and casualty reinsurance - namely target markets, specialty lines and global reinsurance - Hannover Re anticipates the following developments in the treaty renewals as at 1 January 2019:*I. Target markets:*

*North America*
The economy and the North American primary insurance market continue to develop favourably. The rate level remains stable overall and further steady growth can therefore be anticipated. Markets are still fiercely competitive, with both property and casualty business seeing vigorous competition despite the ongoing trend of mid-sized losses.

The hurricanes and Californian wildfires of the previous year caused very significant losses on both the insurance and reinsurance side. Capacity in the market nevertheless remains unaffected, as a consequence of which the price adjustments even under loss-impacted programmes were moderate. While appreciable increases were recorded, the similarly anticipated impact on loss-free programmes failed to materialise.

The market is currently preoccupied with the issue of sustainable coverage concepts for flood and terrorism risks.

In the case of proportional reinsurance covers Hannover Re expects to see - especially in property insurance - a slight reduction in commissions and stable treaty conditions, which will continue to be driven by losses from forest fires and windstorm events. Non-proportional reinsurance is in a robust state that promises risk-appropriate treaty conditions for the upcoming renewals as well, with further modest price adjustments anticipated in property insurance overall. Interest in covers offering solvency relief is picking up again, with the result that here too Hannover Re expects to see stronger demand.

*Continental Europe*
The markets of Northern, Eastern and Central Europe are grouped together under Continental Europe. The largest single market is Germany.

Germany: Hannover Re expects to see continued growth on the German property and casualty primary insurance market. It is open to question, however, whether the previous year's level can be matched, in part because of the increasing competition emerging on the motor insurance market. Homeowners' comprehensive insurance is still in need of remedial action. As things currently stand, the strains caused by events such as winter storm Friederike in January of this year and various heavy rainfall events are likely to have reinsurance implications only in isolated instances because in many cases they remained within the retention run by primary insurers.

In motor insurance the earnings situation is clouded by the onset of more lively competition. For 2019 Hannover Re currently anticipates growth of just under two percent for the total market in terms of policy numbers, with at most a break-even result. Average claim amounts in motor third party liability insurance are continuing to rise. Claims frequency continues to decline, though less pronounced than in the previous years. Against this backdrop Hannover Re sees a need for adjustments with respect to some customer accounts depending on the performance of motor reinsurance cessions. The influence of telematics tariffs and developments relating to self-driving vehicles on the market as a whole continues to be assessed as relatively slight.

Growth opportunities can be discerned in the area of cyber insurance. It is Hannover Re's expectation that insurers will focus more closely on commercial customers and small and mid-sized enterprises in this segment over the coming year.

Central and Eastern Europe: In primary insurance the market in Europe continues to be shaped by surplus capacities. Reinsurance markets consequently also remain fiercely competitive, even though prices are more stable than in the previous year. Most notably, covers for risks in the fire, industrial and motor insurance lines are seeing sustained intense competition.

In France the rivalry among primary insurers in motor business remains focused primarily on the pricing side, while at the same time the claims incidence is high. Industrial risks are seeing continued price erosion. Many insurers are therefore concentrating on SMEs, thereby increasing the pressure on prices in this area too. As a further factor, rising inflation rates are adding to the cost of settling claims, as is also true of other markets. Thanks to the improved state of the economy, modest growth can nevertheless be observed in primary insurance business. The upturn in construction activity noted in the previous year has been sustained, which Hannover Re should continue to benefit from in view of its leading position in builder's risk insurance.

Competition on the reinsurance side remains fierce, just as it is on the primary market, not least given the absence of extraordinary losses in the first half of the year. The frequency of more minor natural catastrophe events was, however, on an unchanged high level.

Growth rates in the countries of Eastern Europe, on the whole, continue to be higher than the overall European average. This is true of both the primary and reinsurance market. New rules governing compensation for relatives will lead to further premium hikes in motor insurance. The brisk demand for top-quality reinsurance solutions remains undiminished across the entire region. Key drivers here include tighter requirements placed on insurers' capital resources by Solvency II as well as more rigorous regulatory oversight and anticipated changes in accounting principles. Despite intense competition, sizeable growth opportunities can be expected in Eastern Europe over the medium to long term - against a backdrop of continuing broadly adequate reinsurance prices and conditions.

In view of its robust position in the market, it is Hannover Re's assumption that the company will be able to further expand its customer relationships. Demand for high-grade reinsurance solutions remains strong.*II. Specialty lines:*

*Aviation*
The stabilising tendencies that could already be discerned on the primary market for aviation insurance last year have been sustained. In certain segments, such as the market for small planes and corporate jets, it was possible to secure rate increases in some cases. At the same time, the capacity available on the primary market was lower than in the previous year due to the discontinuation of business activities by some players, especially on the London Market.

On the reinsurance side capacity remains unchanged, although here too a trend towards stabilisation can be detected thanks to the disciplined underwriting approach adopted by some market participants. Very much as in the original market, therefore, Hannover Re anticipates a longer-term and piecemeal improvement in the market environment.

Particularly when it comes to globally operating airlines, initial indications can be observed on the primary insurance market of a stabilisation in prices. Over the short to medium term, however, Hannover Re does not expect to see any significant change in the overall situation owing to the continued abundant supply of insurance and reinsurance capacity. The pricing level in the space segment remains under pressure due to an excess of capacity and the consistent success of proven space launch systems.

*Marine*
The losses incurred from natural catastrophe events in the second half of 2017 brought about some stabilisation in marine business. Moderate and in some instances appreciable price increases were obtained on the particularly hard-hit London Market in the renewals during the first half of 2018. It remains to be seen, however, whether this trend will be sustained in 2019. While overall results for the marine insurance segment continue to be inadequate on the primary side, the very low loss experience to date in 2018 may further ease the pressure for additional price increases in the short term.

In the offshore energy sector the upswing in the price of oil in 2017 and 2018 prompted a slow resurgence in demand for primary insurance covers. Nevertheless, the premium volume for this sub-segment of marine insurance is still well below the highs of 2014. Unlike in 2015 and 2016, large losses were absent in 2017 and also thus far in the first half of 2018, hence enabling primary insurers and reinsurers to report at least good results. Hannover Re only expects to see a sustained improvement in the premium and rate trend in this segment over the medium term.

*Credit and surety *
Compared to prior years, the loss ratios in credit and surety insurance as well as political risks business are slightly higher. The loss experience is characterised by a stable claims frequency on a good level and modestly rising loss amounts in individual cases. The elevated claim costs witnessed in emerging markets in previous years have now retreated again, although they are still on the high side viewed from a multi-year perspective. With this in mind, prices for insurance and reinsurance should remain stable; demand for reinsurance covers in the area of credit, surety and political risks is either stable or trending slightly higher.

*United Kingdom / Ireland*
The climate on the primary insurance market in the United Kingdom and Ireland continues to be intensely competitive. Thanks also in part to the initiative launched by Lloyd's to take a critical look at the business results reported by syndicates, Hannover Re expects at least a stable environment in this market.

In property reinsurance, too, Hannover Re was able to secure double-digit price increases on business impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. Stable rates and conditions were negotiated in all other lines of reinsurance.

Further price increases on liability reinsurance business covering private customer portfolios - and hence affected by the 2017 cut in the Ogden rate - are unlikely in 2019. The rate improvements obtained in the various rounds of renewals since the spring of 2017 were well into the double-digit percentage range.

 

*III. Global reinsurance:*

*Catastrophe business *
Even after what can certainly be described as the historic hurricane losses of the past year, there has been no change in the prevailing oversupply of reinsurance capacity shaping worldwide natural catastrophe business. As a further factor, the considerable capacities originating from the ILS market remain undiminished. Overall, this led to a merely modest increase in prices for property catastrophe business that was driven by loss-impacted programmes, although here too the rate increases came in below market expectations.

Hannover Re anticipates the following developments on individual markets for natural catastrophe risks:

North America: The recent mid-year treaty renewals brought modest rate rises. In Florida increases of around 20 percent were generated under loss-affected programmes, with improvements otherwise in the low single digits. If there are no appreciable losses in the current year, it will likely be difficult to push through further rate increases for the coming year. Growing demand for reinsurance coverage can be observed from state-backed programmes offering protection against flood risks. Subject to commensurate prices, Hannover Re would be prepared to make capacity available for such covers.

Europe: European reinsurance markets have seen less change in the sustained pressure on prices. The protracted soft market is most striking in United Kingdom but is also evident for Germany, where there are currently no grounds to anticipate a shift in market conditions. The losses caused by the forest fires in Sweden are unlikely to be reflected on the pricing side.

Japan: Modest price reductions for catastrophe covers were observed here in the current year. The flood losses in Hiroshima prefecture will probably have no appreciable effect on demand for reinsurance capacity or prices. In the next round of treaty renewals for Japan on 1 April 2019 the price level is therefore expected to remain roughly stable.

Australia / New Zealand: The earthquake losses in New Zealand from 2016 have stabilised rates there; negative run-offs are still being seen, however, prompting some providers to take a rather cautious approach. In Australia, on the other hand, prices remain under pressure - although the pain threshold for further price reductions has now been reached. Reinsurers with a very good rating, long-standing expertise and excellent business relationships - such as Hannover Re - have opportunities to secure more attractive prices than the market as a whole, especially in Australia.

Latin America: The markets of Central and South America continue to post above-growth rates, albeit with substantial differences from country to country. Most markets are still seeing elevated demand for high-quality reinsurance protection, enabling financially robust reinsurers to book business at adequate prices. Recent acquisitions of sizeable portfolios by primary insurers in Latin America have generated a greater need for reinsurance capacity, a development from which Hannover Re is also benefiting.

Caribbean: Caribbean nations were hit hard by the hurricane losses of the past year. The renewals as at 1 July consequently saw price increases of up to 40 percent under loss-affected programmes, while the figure was around 10 percent for programmes that had escaped unscathed. Hannover Re is a well-established market player in this region. Further price increases after the sharp rises seen in the current year are, however, rather unlikely if no additional losses are incurred.

*Worldwide treaty business*
Developments in worldwide treaty business varied across markets and regions.

Asia-Pacific: In what is a very mixed region from a reinsurance standpoint, Hannover Re continues to trust in its strategy of diversification - both in terms of the coverage offered and its regional positioning. Through special extensions of the book of business written with selected target customers Hannover Re is able to secure profitability and growth for the medium term. This is backed by further strengthening of the local network.

Latin America: Larger ceding companies, in particular, prefer to work with only a limited number of reinsurers, primarily the major providers. One reason here is the significant natural disasters of 2017, which showed which reinsurers were in a position to promptly meet their payment obligations. Consequently, Hannover Re benefited considerably from an increased demand for natural catastrophe coverage in Latin America.

Agricultural risks: The growing need for agricultural commodities and foodstuffs as well as the increased prevalence of extreme weather events continue to stimulate demand for insurance and reinsurance solutions, especially in emerging and developing countries. The "InsuResilience" initiative launched by the G7 countries has, for example, set itself the goal of improving access to insurance coverage against climate risks for millions of particularly poor and vulnerable people in developing countries by 2020.

The increasingly widespread implementation of public-private partnerships is opening up new opportunities for Hannover Re to write profitable business in markets that have still to establish themselves. Furthermore, the growing availability of new technologies, including for example remote sensing by satellites, is enabling continuing expansion of this segment with innovative and efficient insurance products such as parametric covers.

In Germany the dry and arid conditions of the summer of 2018 have not as yet become an issue for the insurance industry because agricultural covers here are focused virtually exclusively on hail risks.

Insurance-Linked Securities: Hannover Re accesses the ILS market both to obtain protection for its own catastrophe risks and to transfer its clients' life & health and property & casualty risks to the capital market. The latter primarily takes the form of collateralised reinsurance, which is still the largest business segment within Hannover Re's ILS activities, but is also supplemented by the issuance of catastrophe bonds. In 2018, for example, the company has so far brought four catastrophe bonds to market for US clients with a total volume of around USD 1.4 billion. Over the coming years Hannover Re expects demand to show moderate growth overall. The company is also itself an investor in catastrophe bonds, thereby maximising all the opportunities offered by the ILS market.

Structured reinsurance/Advanced Solutions: This business delivered strong growth in the current year across all regions, especially in North and South America as well as in Europe. Not only did the average premium per contract increase, but also the number of contracts in absolute terms. Going forward, Hannover Re expects a further rise in demand for innovative and tailor-made reinsurance solutions.

Growth opportunities on a continuing high level are anticipated in North America, Europe and Asia. The purchasing habits of many clients have changed of late, reflecting a shift towards holistic reinsurance solutions. This trend shows no sign of abating and will mean that in the future, too, more and more customers will be calling for increasingly complex reinsurance solutions. It is still too early to foresee what effect the adoption of IFRS 17 will have on structured reinsurance business. Nevertheless, implementation should generate stronger demand for reinsurance solutions, driven by the further increase in the complexity of capital and risk management faced by customers.

*Outlook *

Hannover Re expects to see stability in prices and conditions overall for the treaty renewals as at 1 January 2019. While improvements should be possible under loss-impacted programmes, covers that were spared any losses have reached the minimum level from a technical standpoint. Ultimately, though, when it comes to determining prices it still remains to be seen how the major loss situation for 2018 ends up, how large losses from the previous year continue to develop, how inflation turns out and whether the run-off results from reserves in the US casualty market deteriorate.

As has been apparent from the renewals over the course of the year, broadly diversified reinsurers with expertise and a very good rating are able to profit from the current state of the market. Hannover Re has thus been highly satisfied with the business renewed to date in 2018. Looking ahead to 2019, further promising possibilities should open up. Along with the opportunities arising out of digitalisation, demand for coverage of cyber risks - not just from large corporations but now also from SMEs - is on the rise. Similarly, business in the Asian growth markets (China, India) should also present some openings. Structured reinsurance offers further scope for growth in covers taken out for capital relief as a consequence of the implementation of risk-based solvency systems.

In the present climate Hannover Re will stay focused on its core competence: traditional reinsurance, supplemented by individual coverage concepts such as product-oriented cooperation arrangements with primary insurance customers. As in the previous year, the company is concentrating on consistently growing its existing high-quality book of business, complemented by strategic partnerships. In addition, Hannover Re will take advantage of opportunities that arise in niche and specialty segments. As was true of earlier soft market phases, the guiding principle is to only write business that satisfies margin requirements; at the same time, though, it remains important to offer customers alternative solutions at an appropriate price level.

"The positive future prospects for the global reinsurance market are the cornerstone of our success over the medium and long term. With this in mind, we are concentrating quite deliberately on the products and services typically associated with a reinsurer", Mr. Wallin asserted. "We have no doubt that this is the right course to pursue when it comes to generating sustainable value for our clients, our shareholders and our employees."

In view of the business development so far in the current financial year and the company's very good positioning in the market, Hannover Re considers itself well on track to achieve its 2018 year-end targets. Based on constant exchange rates, the company anticipates an increase of more than 10% in its gross premium volume and net income in excess of EUR 1 billion for its total business. This is conditional upon major loss expenditure not significantly exceeding the budgeted level of EUR 825 million and assumes that there are no unforeseen distortions on capital markets.

*Hannover Re, *with gross premium of EUR 17.8 billion, is the fourth-largest reinsurer in the world. It transacts all lines of property & casualty and life & health reinsurance and is present on all continents with around 3,300 staff. Established in 1966, the Hannover Re Group today has a network of more than 140 subsidiaries, branches and representative offices worldwide. The Group's German business is written by the subsidiary E+S Rück. The rating agencies most relevant to the insurance industry have awarded both Hannover Re and E+S Rück outstanding financial strength ratings: Standard & Poor's AA- "Very Strong" and A.M. Best A+ "Superior".

Please note the disclaimer:
https://www.hannover-re.com/535917*Contact*
 
*Corporate Communications:*
Karl Steinle
tel. +49 511 5604-1500
karl.steinle@hannover-re.com
 
*Media Relations: *
Oliver Suess
tel. +49 511 5604-1502
oliver.suess@hannover-re.com
 
Saskia Ahrens
tel. +49 511 5604-6322
saskia.ahrens@hannover-re.com
 
*Investor Relations: *
Julia Hartmann
tel. +49 511 5604-1529
julia.hartmann@hannover-re.com
 
www.hannover-re.com
 
 
--------------------

10.09.2018 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Archive at www.dgap.de --------------------

Language: English
Company: Hannover Rück SE
Karl-Wiechert-Allee 50
30625 Hannover
Germany
Phone: +49-(0)511-5604-1500
Fax: +49-(0)511-5604-1648
Internet: www.hannover-re.com
ISIN: DE0008402215
WKN: 840 221
Indices: MDAX
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hanover; Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; Luxembourg Stock Exchange
 
End of News DGAP News Service Reported by EQS Group 14 hours ago.

A man from south Mumbai was arrested for repeatedly raping and blackmailing a woman for several months. He is currently remanded in police custody. He has been booked by two police stations – LT Marg and Vashi police station.

According to initial reports, the police has filed an FIR based on the complaint of the victim, who said that she was raped and stripped on September 9 for resisting the accused, identified as Dharan Shah, who she was previously in a relationship with.

According to the FIR, four people, reportedly accomplices of the Shah, forcibly entered the victim’s home on September 9 and attacked her with a sharp object and stripped her off her clothes after she fell unconscious. After she woke up, the victim went to the police station, located a kilometer from her home, and filed a complaint. Medical reports revealed injury marks on her chest and neck.

 The victim also said that on September 3, the accused attacked and raped her for rejecting his advances. She had filed a complaint regarding this.

In her September 9 complaint, the victim told the police that she had suspected that the latest attack was after the accused threatened her and demanded that she withdraw the case against him.

The victim also said that the accused had taken advantage of her between March and September on the pretext of marriage. When she asked him about marriage, he changed his attitude and began blackmailing her. Following this, the woman moved from her South Mumbai home to Navi Mumbai in fear that she would be tracked down by the accused. It was from here that she filed the police complaint on September 3.

The accused is the son of a secretary of a posh south Mumbai club – Mafatlal Hindu Bath Club – located at Marine Drive. Sources said that he would use his father’s clout and position to sexually assault women in the club premises. While he was with the victim, he allegedly would forcefully take pictures and videos of her. He also took Rs 3.02 lah and gold ornaments worth Rs 1.13 lakh, as well as a Dell laptop, an iPad and headphones.

On September 3, Shah called the victim and demanded money so that he can go to Canada. When she refused, he allegedly told her to sleep with his friends who in turn would give him money. He added that if she refused, then he would circulate her images and videos on social media.

A complaint has been filed at LT Marg police station following which Shah was arrested and booked under Sections 376, 354 , 420,  385, 504, 506 applied (rape, blackmail and cheating). He has been remanded in custody. Another case has been registered at the Vashi police station where Shah has been booked for attacking and stripping the victim.

Article Type: 
Report
Sections: 
India
Authors: 
Rakesh Trivedi
Agencies: 
DNA webdesk
Tags: 
Navi Mumbai
South Mumbai
Canada
Dell
Vashi
Mon, 10 Sep 2018-12:53pm
Date updated: 
Monday, 10 September 2018 - 12:55pm
Article Images: 
Short URL: 
dnai.in/2
Embargo: 
Syndicate: 
Hide lead image: 
Page views: 
1
From Print Edition: 
Highlights:  Reported by DNA 14 hours ago.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka has deployed hundreds of coast guard and navy personnel to clean oil slicks on a coastal stretch near the capital following a spill caused by a pipeline leak. Saumya Ekanayake, a spokesman for the government’s Marine Environment Protection Authority, says the leak occurred Saturday night in a pipeline […] Reported by Seattle Times 12 hours ago.