Latest news with #FGC
Reuters
29-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Brazil to discuss adjustments to credit guarantee fund as reserves fall short of target
BRASILIA, May 29 (Reuters) - Brazil's Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC) should hold accounting reserves equivalent to 1% of eligible deposits but is currently at 0.35%, the fund's head Daniel Lima said on Thursday. Discussions on necessary adjustments will take place in the coming months, Lima stressed. Speaking at an event hosted by payment industry group Abipag, Lima also noted that the FGC's liquidity indicator stands at around 2.3% of eligible deposits, compared to a target range of 2.3% to 2.7%. The FGC is a private nonprofit entity created to manage protection mechanisms for clients of financial institutions in the event of bank resolution. The fund has drawn renewed attention following the high-profile acquisition of lender Banco Master by BRB ( opens new tab, a deal currently being analyzed by the central bank. The transaction has sparked scrutiny as it involves two similarly sized banks, with Master having grown rapidly in recent years through an aggressive funding model based on high-yield debt distributed via investment platforms. Lima noted that addressing potential contagion risks from mid-sized banks requires more timely access to information from each institution. The central bank said earlier this year that it would carry out a scheduled review of the FGC next year as part of its regular four-year cycle on the matter. Debt securities issued by banks are insured by the FGC up to a limit of 250,000 reais ($44,028) per financial institution.
Broadcast Pro
07-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Grass Valley partners with SBA for technology upgrade at Makkah facility
The latest deployment is part of a long-term SBA project to upgrade its broadcasting capabilities with state-of-the-art systems to deliver world-class media content across radio, television and digital platforms. Grass Valley has announced a partnership with the Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA) to deliver a major broadcast technology upgrade at SBA's key facility in the holy city of Makkah (Mecca). The project, executed in collaboration with local systems integrator First Gulf Company (FGC), represents a substantial enhancement of SBA's live production capabilities, particularly for continuous online coverage from the Grand Mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram). SBA, the official state broadcaster of Saudi Arabia, is responsible for delivering high-quality news, cultural and entertainment programming to audiences both within the Kingdom and internationally. Its Makkah facility serves as a central hub for religious broadcasts, especially during key events such as Ramadan and Hajj. The latest upgrade is part of a broader, long-term initiative to modernise SBA's infrastructure across television, radio and digital platforms with advanced, scalable solutions. Grass Valley's equipment was selected for the project after detailed technical planning and assessments. Delivered in December, the systems are currently being installed by FGC. 'SBA chose Grass Valley for its proven broadcast technology, reliability, and seamless integration,' explained Joe Chbat, Executive Vice President at FGC. 'The solution ensures high-quality video switching, scalable infrastructure, and efficient signal processing, which are critical for SBA's current and future broadcasting needs. Grass Valley's strong track record in the region, alongside its renowned long-term support and competitive pricing, made it the ideal technical partner for a project of such importance.' At the heart of the upgrade is a 12G technology platform, which dramatically increases capacity, boosts performance and positions the facility for future high-definition and 4K production demands. The system includes Grass Valley's flagship Kayenne K-Frame XP 3ME switcher paired with the XP ELITE Performance Suite and 12G license, along with a compact K-Frame XP system for secondary operations. Also featured are the Sirius 850 dual-frame router, Kaleido multiviewers within Densité modular frames, advanced audio and video processing units via the Densité glue platform, the XIP-3911 SDI/IP processing solution and the Masterpiece 12G-SDI Master Control Switcher. Hany Bartella, VP of Sales for MEA at Grass Valley, added: 'This project has been years in the making, and we're proud to be a collaborative, enabling partner of SBA's growth journey. The deployment of the Kayenne switcher, Sirius 850 Router, and Densité processing at the Makkah facility enhances live production capabilities for a location of immense global significance. These state-of-the-art solutions from Grass Valley will modernise SBA's infrastructure and enable it to fully realise its commitment to delivering world-class religious and cultural programming both now and into the future.' The company will showcase its full portfolio at CABSAT 2025, taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 13–15, where visitors can explore how the GV Media Universe is shaping the future of live broadcasting. Stand S1-H10
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Mad Catz Announces New Community-Designed Arcade Controller
KOWLOON, Hong Kong--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mad Catz Global Limited, a leading innovator in gaming hardware, is pleased to announce the N.E.K.O. all-button arcade controller. N.E.K.O. is the first Mad Catz arcade controller designed in collaboration with FGC pro gamers and our core fans in the Japanese fighting game community. Incorporating professional and community-driven input at every stage of development, the N.E.K.O. offers players an arcade controller that delivers a competitive advantage. Design Architecture & Advanced Ergonomics In close consultation and collaboration with FGC professional and casual gamers in Japan, the N.E.K.O. was designed to deliver superior comfort and performance through an ergonomically positioned faceplate, additional and optimally placed programmable inputs, precisely calibrated weight and dimensions, an enhanced non-slip base, and precision-engineered buttons that allow for smooth transitions from button to button—ensuring combos hit effortlessly every time. Dual Firmware — Competition Ready The N.E.K.O. can be easily configured with standard or competition-ready firmware. Standard firmware is meant for casual players and enables turbo, macro programming, and command remapping. Competition ready firmware has been configured to ensure easy compliance with international FGC competition standards. Customization Switches, art, and inputs are customizable on the N.E.K.O. Get the right feel and extend device longevity with swappable low-profile Kailh mechanical switches. Easily customize panel artwork for a personalized aesthetic. Reassign commands to optimally positioned programmable buttons or assign up to 16 commands in custom macros for an elevated gaming experience. Three SOCD modes allow for additional customization and flexibility. The N.E.K.O. is compatible with PC, PS4, and Switch. For further information regarding pricing and regional availability, please reach out to Mad Catz at the contacts below. The N.E.K.O. is scheduled to be exhibited and will be available for sale at the Mad Catz booth at EVO Japan 2025, which is being held at Tokyo Big Sight from Friday, May 9th.
USA Today
11-04-2025
- General
- USA Today
Iguanas have invaded a Florida island. One man is on a quest to stop them.
Iguanas have invaded a Florida island. One man is on a quest to stop them. Show Caption Hide Caption Patrol Marco Island with iguana hunter John Johnson Follow along as John Johnson of Down Goes Iguana patrols the island the morning of April 7, 2025. Invasive green iguanas are a growing problem in Marco Island and elsewhere in Florida. John Johnson, a licensed hunter, has killed approximately 1,500 iguanas since he began removing them. Iguanas damage infrastructure, eat native plants plus owl and tortoise eggs, and can spread disease. MARCO ISLAND, Fla. – The battle lines were drawn the day John Johnson saw an iguana emerging from a burrowing owl hole. On this barrier island off southwest Florida, Johnson had enjoyed watching the owl family next door, the little male 'so cute, flying around gathering ribbon and tinfoil to dress up their burrow,' while mama bird saw to the business of nesting. Then the big bully arrived. 'I watched this thing crawling out of their hole – iguanas are mostly vegetarians, but they'll opportunistically eat eggs,' Johnson says, 'while the parents were screeching and dive-bombing it." More: Python Q&A: What does it mean when you say 'every python removed makes a difference'? It wasn't a fair fight, Johnson realized: a spiky, clawed dragon versus a teeny-feathered critter weighing in at 8 ounces, tops. And though the owls tried to defend their home, the iguana had done its damage. Eventually, the birds abandoned the burrow. The reptiles, like the Burmese python, are an invasive species in Florida and have seen an explosive growth in population. The issue has persisted for more than a decade, prompting state and local officials to allow hunters – including Johnson – to put a dent in their surging populations and mitigate their threat to the state's native wildlife and ecosystems. Johnson has embraced this mission: 'I looked (iguanas) up and I saw they have no natural predators here. And I said, 'That's not right … but maybe there is one. There's me.'' If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em Johnson, who runs a golf ad agency, knew he could make a difference in the field of iguana hunting. He was familiar with triggers and scopes from his time hunting as a young boy in the Pacific Northwest and figured he'd put his knowledge to use. 'I invested and I plinked around, and in 2023, I'd killed 255," he said. A new business, Down Goes Iguana, was born, with Johnson as its chief hired (air)gun. All with the blessing of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission state agency, which credentials Johnson and his fellow removers of invasive exotic pests. Different hunters have different tools and techniques, but Johnson favors pneumatic guns like the .25 caliber Brocock Sniper XR because it is powerful and humane, he says. "A soft lead pellet through the brainstem ... they never know what hit them." Johnson shares the harvest. Crabbers use them to bait traps, Tampa Bay Discovery Center uses them to dissect, and he's supplied an FGCU class studying worldwide cuisines with the raw materials for taquitos de iguana. And sometimes he supplements his own protein intake. Last month, as egg prices spiked, Johnson demonstrated his home-grown solution, iguana egg scramble, in a TV news segment that made its way around the country, from Philadelphia to Chicago. It's a free breakfast, if you know where to find the iguanas, and just as tasty, he promises. 'Eggs are eggs." What do they eat? 'Almost anything they can get in their mouths' Like Burmese pythons, veiled chameleons and Nile monitors, iguanas have joined a growing list of reptilian invaders in the Sunshine State, which has 'more established nonnative reptile and amphibian species than anywhere else in the world,' the University of Florida reports. 'Over 60 species of introduced reptiles and amphibians have established breeding populations (and) Florida has three times as many established species of introduced lizards as native lizards.' Two iguana species in particular plague southwest Florida. The black spiny-tailed iguana has colonized Gasparilla Island, where they outnumber humans five to one, undermining sea walls and dunes, gobbling native plants and gopher tortoise eggs and pooping all over the place. In 2006, Lee County paid renowned FGCU biologist Jerry Jackson $16,000 to study and strategize removal. It's an uphill battle, Jackson told islanders: 'These animals eat almost anything they can get in their mouths.' Farther south, the green iguana has settled on Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral and Marco Island, spawning a cottage industry in trapping, removal and even guided hunts (for a fee, the Lizard Kings will take you out to bag your own trophy). On Marco, the fight's dragged on more than a decade, with the city sometimes budgeting for an official removal program, supplemented by private operators like Johnson. Though he's only been in business a few years, he has an ever-increasing supply. Last year, a friend bet Johnson he couldn't average one a day (made even harder by the leap year) but turned out it wasn't much of a challenge. 'By the end of May, I passed the 366 mark and by the end of the year, I was at 730,' he says. Since he started, Johnson estimates he's taken out around 1,500. Prolific a killer as he is, 'You'll never pay the mortgage with iguana money,' Johnson says, 'but you can buy the coolest toys' like air guns with night vision, video-recording scopes and breathtaking precision. 'My PCP air gun at more than 50 yards can hit a fingernail over and over again,' Johnson says. Johnson's bread and butter is photographing golf courses around the world. It just so happens he enjoys a bite of eggs to go with that bread and butter – iguana eggs. And why not? Iguanas themselves are often found on tables in their home range of Mexico through South America. 'Chicken of the trees, they call them,' Johnson says. Client Sally Riley shudders at thought, she just wants them gone. 'They're gross to look at and I don't want them on my house." Or in it. That's why she's happy to have found Johnson, after two false starts with other companies. 'He came right out and killed two the first time, at least." Safety first is Johnson's policy. After telling the police department where he'll be, he arrives in a bright visibility vest. The idea is to be as obvious to humans as he can, lest he be mistaken for something sinister, Johnson says. 'Every time I pull out the gun, I try to be as conspicuous as possible so people know what I'm doing.' Then he gets to work. He's picked them off docks, seawalls and roofs charging by the head: $50 for first; $25 each additional per trip. "And if I come and I miss, no charge." Johnson's got that work cut out for him. Iguanas are prolific breeders, with each female capable of producing up to 70 eggs once or twice a year. The larger males, often with spiky manes and leathery beardlike adornments called dewlaps, keep harems of a dozen or so females. 'Do the math,' Johnson says. 'It's hard to make a dent.' Watch: Video shows cold iguana falling from tree in Florida then getting bit by cat Fighting against a 'crazy increase' Marco's iguanas have only been a problem for about 50 years, when they started stowing away in produce shipments or getting turned loose by disgruntled pet owners. "You don't hear any old boy iguana stories because they were never here before the 1960s," Johnson says. "In the last 10 years, Marco has seen a crazy increase." Besides Johnson and his colleagues, the only thing that stops them is cold weather, which stuns, then kills the creatures. But as the freeze line moves north, so can the iguanas, he says. "They're now in central Florida, devastating crops." He realizes they'll likely never be completely eradicated, but he's happy to make a hearty dent. "Some guys fish; some guys golf – everybody's got their thing," he says. "I'm also vested in the fact that this is not good and I have some skills and some tools to help eradicate this problem ... people are just so grateful. "I walk onto a property, they've got these creepy things and I can get rid of them. So it's fun." Contributing: Christopher Cann, USA TODAY
Broadcast Pro
17-03-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
SMF and FOMEX bring top industry leaders together in Riyadh
The Saudi Media Forum and the accompanying Future of Media Exhibition (FOMEX) concluded last month with more than 30,000 visitors attending the show, according to the show organiser. BroadcastPro ME brings you show highlights and sound bites from exhibitors. Saudi Media Forum President Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi met with a group of high-profile international experts and industry leaders in Riyadh to explore strategic collaborations and innovative content production opportunities that align with Saudi Arabia's 2030 vision of becoming a global media powerhouse. Al-Harthi emphasised Saudi Arabia's commitment to fostering a dynamic media ecosystem, highlighting the investment in accelerators, incubators and production funds designed to support international partnerships. 'The future of media is built on collaboration, innovation and cross-border content creation. We are excited to work with global leaders to shape a new era of storytelling,' he commented. The meeting also addressed the importance of AI in content creation, the evolving landscape of streaming platforms and the role of the Kingdom as a hub for global media projects. There was a lot of enthusiasm about potential partnerships, particularly in film, animation and immersive media experiences. This dialogue marks a significant step in strengthening Saudi Arabia's position in the global media industry, paving the way for co-productions, content distribution agreements and knowledge exchange between local and international players. Maya Shokor, Key Account Manager, FGC FGC took a prominent spot at FOMEX because we play an integral role in the Saudi and regional market. FGC primarily operates in the broadcasting and TV sector, working with some of the most prominent clients in the region. Our portfolio includes industry leaders like MBC, Saudi Broadcasting Authority (SBA), Bloomberg and Asharq, as well as major corporate clients. Broadcasting is expanding beyond traditional media, and we're seeing a growing demand from corporate sectors. Companies like Aramco and SABIC are now setting up their own studios, which is a trend we're actively supporting. As the first and biggest local systems integrator in Saudi Arabia, FGC enjoys a distinct advantage. Unlike international competitors, we've been deeply embedded in the industry from the start. We've grown alongside our clients, adapting to technological shifts and pushing them to evolve with us. For example, we've been instrumental in modernising SBA and Bahrain TV. We've led their transition into the new IP-based ST2110 infrastructure. There is a lot of competition now but we're also constantly improving our services, strengthening our teams and reminding clients why having a Saudi-based integrator matters. International firms may open an office here but they lack on-the-ground support. Our team is here, our engineers are here and our technology is here. That kind of immediate access and support is something global competitors can't replicate. We're also one of the largest systems integrators in the region. In our office alone, we have around 2,600 employees across various business units. If you factor in our facility management division, which handles maintenance, that number exceeds 3,600 people. Our scale allows us to support clients in every aspect, from civil engineering to broadcasting, facility management and maintenance. This is why FGC remains a leader in the industry. We're not just keeping up with change, we're driving it. Amrit Pandrangi, Division Head (Optical Devices), Fujifilm Middle East The minister came by and we gave him a full demo at our booth. We were really happy to have been able to do that. We have a lot of clients in Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Broadcasting Authority is one of our most high-profile clients. A lot of production houses in Saudi use our technology as well. The highlight of our stand was the Fujinon Duvo 24- 300, a native PL mount lens. This is a dual format, which means it's both large format but also offers native Super 35mm sensor coverage. Sensors equivalent to full-frame can be covered via the built-in expander. This function expands the lens' image circle by 1.5x, maintaining the same optical quality and angle of view. We believe this is the future of broadcast, where we start getting cinematic quality shots, but with familiar broadcast server operation.
