CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 5 /PRNewswire/ --

Overall, the global economic downturn has affected sub-Saharan countries less severely than the rest of the world. Despite a slowing in growth in the short term, economies such as Nigeria are expected to show resilience.

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Boosted by this relative stability, demand for chemicals across most sectors of the market in Nigeria will increase over the next five years. Furthermore, the non-oil sector will increase its share of the total chemicals market.

GENEVA, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In April 2009, ACM (ac-markets.com) was awarded Best Online Currency Trading Services by World Finance at the London Stock Exchange

The World Finance Awards were created in 2007 to identify industry leaders that represent the benchmark of achievement and best practices in the Financial Business World.

Based on criteria such as innovation, quality of products and market development established by the World Finance panel of independent awards adjudicators, 40'000 industry decision-makers designated ACM as the 2009 winner.

ACM considers this prestigious award as an incentive to continue exceeding its clients' expectations.

LONDON, May 5 /PRNewswire/ --

Investors in electronic manufacturing services (EMS) are no longer confining themselves to Asia, as Eastern Europe - with its impressive gross domestic product (GDP) growth and low rates of inflation and population expansion - is emerging as an investor-friendly destination. The reduced working capital, immediate availability of trained staff, and the ability to offer after-sales and 'product after-care' services have further endeared Eastern Europe to potential investors.

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BEIJING, May 5 /PRNewswire/ --

The prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts is now accepting enrollment for its first-ever International Foundation Course, a highly anticipated pre-bachelor's degree program developed in conjunction with China's Ministry of Education.

CAFA is the leading institution for modern art education in China and is the only art academy of higher learning directly under the Ministry of Education. The China Education Center ( http://www.chinaeducenter.com/en/ ) is officially authorized by CAFA to handle foreign students' applications to its International Foundation Course.

NOIDA, India, May 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- Research Collaboration to Provide AstraZeneca With New Preclinical Drug Candidates

Jubilant Organosys Ltd, headquartered in India, announced today that its Bangalore, India, based subsidiary,Jubilant Biosys Ltd, has signed a research collaboration agreement with, AstraZeneca, and focused on delivering novel drug candidates into the international pharmaceutical company's pre-clinical pipeline. Under the shared risk-reward collaboration, which will initially focus on the neuroscience area, Jubilant aims to deliver a steady stream of discovery programs to AstraZeneca.

GENEVA, May 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- Innovative Powder Formulation of Metformin Designed to Facilitate Adherence by Increasing Patient Choice in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes, Now Available in France and the United Kingdom

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that Glucophage(R) Powder for Oral Solution in Sachets, (metformin hydrochloride in 500mg, 850mg and 1000mg strengths) indicated for the first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, is now licensed in France and the United Kingdom(1), the first European countries to launch this new formulation of Glucophage. Launches in other European countries are expected to take place in the coming months, once individual marketing authorizations are granted.

CLEVELAND Ohio, and WASHINGTON DC, May 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- Simulation Technology Leader and the Leading Developer of Simulation-based Healthcare Training Platforms Form Cooperative Agreement

Simbionix USA Corporation and B-Line Medical, LLC, today announced a strategic agreement enabling the data integration of Simbionix Mentor(TM) simulation systems with B-Line Medical's SimCapture(R) product.

The collaboration will combine Simbionix' unique data collected during a simulation session with video streams into the SimCapture system for debriefing, assessing and centralizing multiple types of simulated encounters.

LONDON, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- VocaLink, the European payment specialist and central provider of services to the UK's Bacs, Faster Payments and LINK transactions, has announced today it has received an investment of GBP60 million in equity capital from its shareholders. This new funding will strengthen its resilient services for existing clients while supporting the company's continued growth in Europe.

BRUGG, Switzerland, May 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- Plans for an Area Covering Over 10,000 m2 and a Modern Office Block

- Note:Picture will be distributed Europe-wide and can be downloaded under: http://www.presseportal.ch/de/pm/100009189 -

Toddlers with autism appear more likely to have an enlarged amygdala, a brain area associated with numerous functions, including the processing of faces and emotion, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. In addition, this brain abnormality appears to be associated with the ability to share attention with others, a fundamental ability thought to predict later social and language function in children with autism.