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Leverages Company's technological expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) as core foundational technologies to link and make a broad array of information sources and data discoverable.
Adds $1.3 Million to Annual Recurring Revenue
HENDERSON, Nev., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS), a trusted partner providing cloud-based workflow solutions to accelerate research for R&D-driven organizations, today announced its acquisition of ResoluteAI, an advanced search platform aimed at equipping organizations with search, discovery, analysis, and knowledge management tools powered by AI and NLP technologies. ResoluteAI's state-of-the-art integrations of taxonomies, ontologies, and knowledge graph technology, together with the latest Large Language Models ("LLM"), make information discovery and retrieval highly efficient.
"At Research Solutions, we empower research-intensive organizations to accelerate innovation," said Roy W. Olivier, CEO of Research Solutions. "This strategic acquisition allows us to broaden our technological expertise, transforming our solutions by leveraging the latest technology to help researchers power their innovation workflows, saving time and enabling users to make decisions confidently as they seek to achieve the next innovative breakthrough. This technological foundation will enable Research Solutions to provide specific solutions for use cases throughout the Innovation process from Strategy to Research & Development to Post-Market and Commercial solutions."
The transaction will enable Research Solutions to deliver true enterprise search capabilities across a comprehensive suite of data sources and extend their reach into effective knowledge management, including search across customer internal datasets. ResoluteAI's current suite of integrated datasets, while providing a comprehensive resource for Life Science companies, including Pharma, Biotech, and MedTech, also includes datasets relevant to all other industries, such as engineering and chemical-focused innovation. Integration between the two companies' solutions will allow the combined company to offer a comprehensive product ecosystem that delivers insights to users throughout the innovation process. The acquisition also represents a strong cross-selling opportunity, stemming from highly complementary products and technology that cater to key sectors and market segments.
Integrating the advanced search capabilities of ResoluteAI into Research Solutions' Article Galaxy platform and rapid access to every scientific journal article into ResoluteAI's Foundation platform will be the immediate first steps that will translate into an upgraded customer experience for existing and new customer bases.
"The advanced search technology of ResoluteAI, in combination with Research Solutions' expertise in reference management and document delivery, creates tremendous opportunities to leverage strategic technology synergies," said Steven Goldstein, CEO of ResoluteAI. "We are excited to join Research Solutions and apply our expertise to deliver best-in-class research workflow solutions."
Together, the companies will continue to deepen their understanding of the innovation value chain and the specific needs of users and customers to create a product ecosystem that allows for the flexibility to adapt products and business models to the needs of industry leaders and researchers.
"ResoluteAI shares our mission to support the innovation process from end to end with the most comprehensive information and knowledge tool on the market," shared Michiel van der Heijden, Chief Product Officer of Research Solutions. "We are transforming how people discover and acquire information and how they analyze and manage the data they need for their work as part of an overall workflow."
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York, New York, ResoluteAI develops advanced search and discovery tools covering several workflows, including but not limited to, Research & Development, Competitive & Market Intelligence, IP Management, Clinical Operations & Analysis, Post Market Surveillance, and Business Development. As of June 30, 2023, ResoluteAI had approximately $1.3 million in Annual Recurring Revenue under contract.
For further information, please contact Steven Hooser or John Beisler at (214) 872-2710 or shooser@threepa.com; jbeisler@threepa.com.
Media inquiries can be directed to Joseph Tracy, Vice President of Marketing, at jtracy@reprintsdesk.com.
About Research Solutions
Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS) provides cloud-based technologies to streamline the process of obtaining, managing, and creating intellectual property. Founded in 2006 as Reprints Desk, the company was a pioneer in developing solutions to serve researchers. Today, more than 70 percent of the top pharmaceutical companies, prestigious universities, and emerging businesses rely on Article Galaxy, the company's SaaS research platform, to streamline access to the latest scientific research and data with 24/7 customer support. For more information and details, please visit www.researchsolutions.com.
About ResoluteAI
ResoluteAI is an award-winning intelligent search platform. Used by scientific organizations around the world, Foundation lets commercial science enterprises search aggregated scientific, regulatory, and business databases simultaneously. Nebula is our enterprise search tool for science. Combined with our interactive analytics and downloadable visualizations, ResoluteAI helps make connections that lead to breakthrough discoveries.
Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may contain "forward-looking statements" regarding future events and our future results. All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the markets in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects", "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "endeavors," "strives," "may," or variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, estimate or verify. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include those factors described in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as such may be amended or supplemented by subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding additional customers, potential acquisitions and the Company's prospects for growth, profitability, and cash flow. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements. For more information, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE Research Solutions, Inc. | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/research-solutions-acquires-resoluteai-transform-ai-powered-innovation-workflows/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:45 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/research-solutions-acquires-resoluteai-transform-ai-powered-innovation-workflows/ |
ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (AP) — Idaho mother Lori Vallow Daybell faces up to life in prison without parole Monday as she is sentenced in the murders of her two youngest children and a romantic rival in a case that included bizarre claims that her son and daughter were zombies and that she was a goddess sent to usher in the Biblical apocalypse.
Vallow Daybell was found guilty in May of killing her two youngest children, 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, as well as conspiring to kill Tammy Daybell, her fifth husband’s previous wife.
The husband, Chad Daybell, is awaiting trial on the same murder charges. Vallow Daybell also faces two other cases in Arizona — one on a charge of conspiring with her brother to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and one of conspiring to kill her niece’s ex-husband. Charles Vallow was shot and killed in 2019, but her niece’s ex survived an attempt later that year.
Monday’s sentencing will take place at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho. Judge Steven W. Boyce is expected to hear testimony from several representatives of the victims, including Vallow Daybell’s only surviving son, Colby Ryan.
The case began in July 2019, when Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed her estranged husband, Charles Vallow, in a suburban Phoenix home. Cox told police he acted in self-defense. He was never charged in the case and died later that year of what authorities determined were natural causes.
Vallow Daybell was already in a relationship with Chad Daybell, a self-published author who wrote doomsday-focused fiction loosely based on Mormon teachings. She moved to Idaho with her kids and brother to be closer to him.
The children were last seen alive in September 2019. Police discovered they were missing a month later after an extended family member became worried. Their bodies were found buried in Chad Daybell’s yard the following summer.
Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow married in November 2019, about two weeks after Daybell’s previous wife, Tammy, was killed. Tammy Daybell initially was described as having died of natural causes, but an autopsy later showed she had been asphyxiated, authorities said.
Defense attorney Jim Archibald argued during the trial that there was no evidence tying Vallow Daybell to the killings, but plenty showing she was a loving, protective mother whose life took a sharp turn when she met Chad Daybell and fell for his “weird” apocalyptic religious claims. He suggested that Daybell and Vallow Daybell’s brother, Alex Cox, were responsible for the deaths.
Daybell told her they had been married in several previous lives and she was a “sexual goddess” who was supposed to help him save the world by gathering 144,000 followers so Jesus could return, Archibald said.
Vallow Daybell’s former friend Melanie Gibb testified during the trial that Vallow Daybell believed people in her life had been taken over by evil spirits and turned into “zombies,” including JJ and Tylee. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/ap-idaho-mom-lori-vallow-daybell-faces-sentencing-in-deaths-of-2-children-and-her-romantic-rival/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:45 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/ap-idaho-mom-lori-vallow-daybell-faces-sentencing-in-deaths-of-2-children-and-her-romantic-rival/ |
Michael Beasley was a McDonald’s All-American, a highly touted college recruit and the No. 2 pick of the 2008 NBA Draft.
Now, four years removed from his last game in the league, Beasley has become an advocate for mental health in hopes of helping athletes who come after him.
"Your mental health journey doesn’t have to start when something goes wrong or when something isn’t right," Beasley told Fox News Digital. "Mental health doesn’t have to be a negative thing. You can literally start working on your mind now."
"I really do want to share my story, so maybe the next player doesn’t have to go through it so late," he added. "If I could have realized this from day one, maybe a lot could have been different. I just want to be vulnerable for the next guy."
LEBRON JAMES SHARES VIDEO OF SON BRONNY SMILING, PLAYING PIANO DAYS AFTER CARDIAC ARREST
Beasley, who played one year at Kansas State before turning pro, discussed the need for athletes to work on their mental health with the same level of energy they put into honing their physical skills.
"As a basketball player, we know [how] to get stronger, to get quicker. We lift weights, we take the same jump shot a thousand, a million times. We do the same crossover. But there wasn’t anything in place for my mind, or for our mind," Beasley told Fox News Digital when asked if there was anything in place at Kansas State to help with mental wellness. "And that’s just as important as your jump shot or as your squats if not more.
"So, no there wasn’t anything in place, but that’s not to anyone’s fault, I don’t think. Mental health, especially in the Black community, was such a taboo thing. We were all just taught to be tough and to get strong. So, there wasn’t anything put in place in college aside from discipline, and things like that."
During his 11 seasons in the NBA with seven different teams, Beasley said the topic of mental health was not openly discussed.
"Same thing in the NBA. For me personally, I grouped everything into the anger category. There really wasn’t anyone to talk to," Beasley said.
"Until recently, there really wasn’t anybody to talk to because it was such a taboo topic," he continued, "that everybody was hiding their feelings, or dealing with their own things, that there wasn’t an open discussion."
DAMAR HAMLIN LEADS OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR BRONNY JAMES FOLLOWING CARDIAC ARREST
The conversation around mental health in the NBA seemingly began to open up when two All-Stars discussed their struggles with the world in 2018.
DeMar DeRozan, now a six-time All-Star, admitting to dealing with depression during the NBA’s 2018 All-Star break.
NBA champion Kevin Love, then with the Cleveland Cavaliers, also discussed his mental health for the first time, telling the story of a panic attack he suffered during a 2018 regular season game.
Beasley said Love and DeRozan revealing their mental health struggles sent a "bigger message" by showing the world that it is ok to be vulnerable, a message that resonated with Beasley as it came from two players at the top of their professions.
"One-hundred percent because you're talking about two All-Stars, talking about two guys who made it to heights that people can only imagine, let alone players," Beasley said when asked if Love and DeRozan speaking out helped players in the NBA to open up regarding their mental health. "So, to see somebody that good, that strong, that lucrative, to come out and say they have something not right – I don’t like to call it a problem – I think it sends a bigger message than they tried to send.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
"Them wanting to get help for themselves just showed the rest of the world, not just the rest of the players, that it’s ok. Sometimes it’s ok to cry, sometimes it’s ok to be vulnerable, sometimes it’s ok to not know what’s going on."
Nowadays, Beasley works on his mental wellness with help from Aura Health, an all-in-one mental wellness app, which offers easy, accessible, and personalized meditations.
"It’s really been a process and Aura has really made it easy these last 18 months, two years, to really have a place to categorize everything," Beasley told Fox News Digital. "From sleep to anxiety to stress, I love to listen to the chants. People see me and see confidence, but it’s not always that. Sometimes I need something to rely on. Like I said, It’s been a process, but Aura has helped me all the way through."
While Beasley last played in the NBA during the 2018-2019 season, his basketball career has not come to an end.
Beasley is currently competing in the Big3, a 3-on-3 league founded by Ice Cube, and told Fox News Digital he has not given up on playing at the highest level again. | https://www.foxbangor.com/sports/national-sports/michael-beasley-advocates-for-mental-health-commends-two-all-stars-for-speaking-up/article_87160948-92f2-5f00-8413-9352074a23b6.html | 2023-07-31T13:11:47 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/sports/national-sports/michael-beasley-advocates-for-mental-health-commends-two-all-stars-for-speaking-up/article_87160948-92f2-5f00-8413-9352074a23b6.html |
Reward offered for information on fugitive accused of being in connection to 2021 Euclid murder
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 8:40 AM EDT|Updated: 30 minutes ago
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force on Monday offered a reward for information on a man accused of being in connection to a 2021 Euclid murder that killed a teenager.
The U.S. Marshals said 18-year-old Jayvonne Stewart allegedly was involved in the Dec. 11, 2021 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 13-year-old Maurco Toler.
Marshals said Stewart is approximately 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs about 174 pounds.
Stewart is known to frequent the Euclid and Cleveland areas, Marshals said.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts has been asked to call 1-866-4WANTED, or submitting a web tip by clicking here.
Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Copyright 2023 WOIO. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/31/reward-offered-information-fugitive-accused-being-connection-2021-euclid-murder/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:48 | 0 | https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/31/reward-offered-information-fugitive-accused-being-connection-2021-euclid-murder/ |
The fashion show on September 13, 2023, hosted by Shaquem Griffin, will feature Adaptive and Universally Designed apparel, footwear, and products from: Zappos, Kohl's, Target, JCPenney, Tommy Hilfiger, Stride Rite, Steve Madden, French Toast Adaptive, adidas, and a runway debut of Victoria's Secret and PINK's first-ever Adaptive Intimates.
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Runway of Dreams™ Foundation, a nonprofit organization leading the charge on inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity in the fashion and beauty industries for people with disabilities, announced today their return to the runway during New York Fashion Week. This one-of-a-kind Adaptive fashion show, aptly titled A Fashion Revolution, is presented by online retailer Zappos, and will take place on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York. Shaquem Griffin, former NFL linebacker, will be hosting. Griffin was featured this summer in the Runway of Dreams' Campaign for Inclusion, the first multi-brand fashion and beauty campaign featuring people with disabilities wearing Adaptive & Universally Designed products. "I'm honored to continue my journey with Runway of Dreams. This organization is a trailblazer for change, and advocates for millions of people across the globe like myself, who need accessible clothing, which so many people take for granted every day of their lives," - he said. Mr. Griffin will be dressed in looks provided by Neiman Marcus and Tommy Hilfiger.
A Fashion Revolution will highlight the groundbreaking work that leading and emerging companies, from lingerie to luxury, are doing in the Adaptive and Universally Designed space, showcased on 70 models with varying disabilities and backgrounds. The show brings together 500+ leaders and champions of DEI under one roof during New York Fashion Week with the same mission: celebrate inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries.
"The Runway of Dreams stage is where brands have chosen to celebrate the debut of their Adaptive designs over the years, and I am thrilled and so honored to welcome Victoria's Secret and Pink Adaptive to the Adaptive family. Knowing the Victoria's Secret and PINK Adaptive products were developed with and for people with disabilities proves their commitment to true inclusion, and understanding the work that needs to go into making these products authentically," said Mindy Scheier, Founder of Runway of Dreams.
"We are excited to debut our first-ever Adaptive collection during New York Fashion Week on the Runway of Dreams' runway. Runway of Dreams advocates for industry change by empowering people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through inclusion in fashion and beauty. We are honored to join the many brands who have decided to debut their Adaptive apparel on this runway adding to the historic timeline that is the future of fashion," said Lydia Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, Victoria's Secret & Co.
In addition to brands on the runway, innovative small brands will showcase their products onsite during the evening. Brands included: MAI We Care, Spoonie Threads, One Leg Up, Reboundwear, and Silverts Adaptive.
Zappos will be awarded the esteemed Pioneer of Change Award, presented to Zappos CEO Scott Schaefer and Zappos Adaptive Business Development Manager Dana Zumbo. Billy Price of BILLY Footwear will also be awarded with the Inspirational Achievement Award for their innovative zippered Adaptive shoes. Two scholarships will be awarded as part of the Foundation's commitment to educate and inspire the next generation of Adaptive designers.
"We've been proud partners of Runway of Dreams since the launch of our Zappos Adaptive shopping experience in 2017," said Dana Zumbo, Business Development Manager for Zappos Adaptive. "Together, we have grown in our shared commitment to make fashion more functional and fashionable for all. This is the stage to be on, and we are humbled to be returning this year as the 2023 Presenting Sponsor."
Following the show, September 14th to 16th is a free and open-to-the-public and first-of- its-kind Adaptive exhibit at Hudson Yards in New York City. This curated display will feature Adaptive and Universally Designed collections from mainstream brands committed to inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries and the history of Runway of Dreams as a trailblazer in the Adaptive space. The event is an opportunity for the public to learn about available Adaptive and Universally Designed products, and to emphasize the need for true inclusion in our mainstream world.
Sponsorship and Corporate Seating Packages Available. Please contact corporaterelations@runwayofdreams.org for more details. Public ticket sales and information about the public exhibit will be announced at runwayofdreams.org and on the Runway of Dreams' social channels.
ABOUT RUNWAY OF DREAMS:
Runway of Dreams is a non-profit (501c3) organization leading the movement of disability inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries. ROD raises awareness and inspires change through programming that celebrates people's differences, challenges stereotypes, and highlights the need for Adaptive & Universally designed apparel.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Runway of Dreams Foundation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/runway-dreams-foundation-returns-new-york-fashion-week-with-runway-show-public-exhibit-recognizing-adaptive-amp-universally-designed-apparel-footwear-products/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:48 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/runway-dreams-foundation-returns-new-york-fashion-week-with-runway-show-public-exhibit-recognizing-adaptive-amp-universally-designed-apparel-footwear-products/ |
The fashion show on September 13, 2023, hosted by Shaquem Griffin, will feature Adaptive and Universally Designed apparel, footwear, and products from: Zappos, Kohl's, Target, JCPenney, Tommy Hilfiger, Stride Rite, Steve Madden, French Toast Adaptive, adidas, and a runway debut of Victoria's Secret and PINK's first-ever Adaptive Intimates.
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Runway of Dreams™ Foundation, a nonprofit organization leading the charge on inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity in the fashion and beauty industries for people with disabilities, announced today their return to the runway during New York Fashion Week. This one-of-a-kind Adaptive fashion show, aptly titled A Fashion Revolution, is presented by online retailer Zappos, and will take place on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York. Shaquem Griffin, former NFL linebacker, will be hosting. Griffin was featured this summer in the Runway of Dreams' Campaign for Inclusion, the first multi-brand fashion and beauty campaign featuring people with disabilities wearing Adaptive & Universally Designed products. "I'm honored to continue my journey with Runway of Dreams. This organization is a trailblazer for change, and advocates for millions of people across the globe like myself, who need accessible clothing, which so many people take for granted every day of their lives," - he said. Mr. Griffin will be dressed in looks provided by Neiman Marcus and Tommy Hilfiger.
A Fashion Revolution will highlight the groundbreaking work that leading and emerging companies, from lingerie to luxury, are doing in the Adaptive and Universally Designed space, showcased on 70 models with varying disabilities and backgrounds. The show brings together 500+ leaders and champions of DEI under one roof during New York Fashion Week with the same mission: celebrate inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries.
"The Runway of Dreams stage is where brands have chosen to celebrate the debut of their Adaptive designs over the years, and I am thrilled and so honored to welcome Victoria's Secret and Pink Adaptive to the Adaptive family. Knowing the Victoria's Secret and PINK Adaptive products were developed with and for people with disabilities proves their commitment to true inclusion, and understanding the work that needs to go into making these products authentically," said Mindy Scheier, Founder of Runway of Dreams.
"We are excited to debut our first-ever Adaptive collection during New York Fashion Week on the Runway of Dreams' runway. Runway of Dreams advocates for industry change by empowering people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through inclusion in fashion and beauty. We are honored to join the many brands who have decided to debut their Adaptive apparel on this runway adding to the historic timeline that is the future of fashion," said Lydia Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, Victoria's Secret & Co.
In addition to brands on the runway, innovative small brands will showcase their products onsite during the evening. Brands included: MAI We Care, Spoonie Threads, One Leg Up, Reboundwear, and Silverts Adaptive.
Zappos will be awarded the esteemed Pioneer of Change Award, presented to Zappos CEO Scott Schaefer and Zappos Adaptive Business Development Manager Dana Zumbo. Billy Price of BILLY Footwear will also be awarded with the Inspirational Achievement Award for their innovative zippered Adaptive shoes. Two scholarships will be awarded as part of the Foundation's commitment to educate and inspire the next generation of Adaptive designers.
"We've been proud partners of Runway of Dreams since the launch of our Zappos Adaptive shopping experience in 2017," said Dana Zumbo, Business Development Manager for Zappos Adaptive. "Together, we have grown in our shared commitment to make fashion more functional and fashionable for all. This is the stage to be on, and we are humbled to be returning this year as the 2023 Presenting Sponsor."
Following the show, September 14th to 16th is a free and open-to-the-public and first-of- its-kind Adaptive exhibit at Hudson Yards in New York City. This curated display will feature Adaptive and Universally Designed collections from mainstream brands committed to inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries and the history of Runway of Dreams as a trailblazer in the Adaptive space. The event is an opportunity for the public to learn about available Adaptive and Universally Designed products, and to emphasize the need for true inclusion in our mainstream world.
Sponsorship and Corporate Seating Packages Available. Please contact corporaterelations@runwayofdreams.org for more details. Public ticket sales and information about the public exhibit will be announced at runwayofdreams.org and on the Runway of Dreams' social channels.
ABOUT RUNWAY OF DREAMS:
Runway of Dreams is a non-profit (501c3) organization leading the movement of disability inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries. ROD raises awareness and inspires change through programming that celebrates people's differences, challenges stereotypes, and highlights the need for Adaptive & Universally designed apparel.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Runway of Dreams Foundation | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/runway-dreams-foundation-returns-new-york-fashion-week-with-runway-show-public-exhibit-recognizing-adaptive-amp-universally-designed-apparel-footwear-products/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:51 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/runway-dreams-foundation-returns-new-york-fashion-week-with-runway-show-public-exhibit-recognizing-adaptive-amp-universally-designed-apparel-footwear-products/ |
Leading Fertility Clinic Network Extends Offering of TMRW's Automated Platform for the Safe Management & Storage of Frozen Eggs & Embryos to More Clinics Across the United States
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ivy Fertility, a globally-recognized innovator in advanced reproductive technology, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and third-party reproduction, announced today that it will expand its partnership with TMRW Life Sciences, a fertility technology company. TMRW is automating the IVF lab with the world's first and only automated platform for the safe management and storage of frozen eggs and embryos – a process that since the dawn of the industry has been run completely manually. TMRW's technology is currently available at two Ivy Network clinics. With this expanded partnership, TMRW's on-site and off-site specimen management platform will be available for full adoption at all of Ivy Fertility's 13 clinics across the United States.
Ivy Fertility's San Diego Fertility Center was one of the first clinics in the United States to adopt TMRW's platform and Utah Fertility Center went live this month. TMRW's platform reduces potential points of failure by 94% compared with manual systems, providing new levels of safety, efficiency and transparency for Ivy Fertility's clinics. The partnership demonstrates Ivy Fertility's continued commitment to delivering personalized fertility services using advanced technology by making state-of-the-art solutions available to all of their clinics.
"Providing enhanced security and peace of mind to our patients is one of our core values," said Lisa Van Dolah, Ivy Fertility's CEO. "With our TMRW partnership, we're able to offer patients and our practice even greater security and that is paramount as we continue to grow."
The network's clinicians will now have the opportunity to modernize their specimen management and storage practices with TMRW's digital tools onsite and, in addition, by transferring patient specimens offsite to and from TMRW Cryobanks. The technology upgrade provides clinics with new levels of safety, standardization and scalability, and it helps reduce the risk of specimen mix-up, error, and loss.
"After years of working together with San Diego Fertility Center, and more recently with Utah Fertility Center, we're thrilled to expand our partnership to support the potential for full adoption of both on-site and off-site specimen management across the Ivy Fertility network," said Louis Villalba, CEO of TMRW.
TMRW is now the storage platform used by clinics that see nearly 20% of all patients in the United States. The future of fertility is automated and, together with its clinic partners, TMRW is rapidly becoming the standard of care.
About Ivy Fertility
Ivy Fertility is globally recognized as pioneers and innovators in the field of advanced reproductive technologies, in vitro fertilization, third-party reproduction, andrology, and fertility research. The Ivy Fertility network includes Virginia Fertility & IVF, Fertility Associates of Memphis, Fertility Centers of Orange County, IVF Fertility Center, Los Angeles Reproductive Center, Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine, Nevada Fertility Center, Pacific Northwest Fertility, Reproductive Partners Medical Group, San Diego Fertility Center, and Utah Fertility Center. By developing new procedures, achieving scientific breakthroughs, and teaching the latest techniques, Ivy Fertility upholds its commitment to successful outcomes. It continually contributes to the development of the entire fertility community. The Ivy team is passionate about its family-building mission and works tirelessly each day to help patients become parents.
For more information, visit ivyfertility.com.
TMRW Life Sciences
Founded in 2018, TMRW Life Sciences, Inc., is a fertility technology company that automates the management and storage of frozen eggs and embryos. For the first time, frozen specimens can be digitally identified and tracked, safely managed with automated robotics, and remotely monitored around the clock. TMRW's next-generation technology platforms set a new standard of care, reducing potential points of failure by 94% compared to manual systems. TMRW delivers peace of mind by helping reduce the risk of specimen mix-up, damage, or loss. Named Fast Company's #1 Most Innovative Biotech company in 2022, TMRW has been adopted by leading clinics across the United States and will soon be available in the UK and Europe.
For more information, visit tmrwlifesciences.com.
View original content:
SOURCE TMRW Life Sciences | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ivy-fertility-network-expands-partnership-with-tmrw-life-sciences-demand-grows-fertility-clinic-lab-automation/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:50 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ivy-fertility-network-expands-partnership-with-tmrw-life-sciences-demand-grows-fertility-clinic-lab-automation/ |
KHAR, Pakistan (AP) — Hundreds of mourners attended funerals in Pakistan on Monday after a suicide bombing killed at least 54 people at an election rally for a pro-Taliban cleric, carrying caskets draped in colorful cloths to burial sites in the hills.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bombing in Bajur that killed at least five children and wounded nearly 200 people.
The attack appeared to reflect divisions between Islamist groups, which have a strong presence in the district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. It targeted the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, which has ties to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban.
At least 1,000 people, according to police, were crowded into a tent near a market for the rally ahead of fall elections.
“People were chanting God is Great as the leaders arrived,” said Khan Mohammad, a local resident who said he was standing outside the tent, “and that was when I heard the deafening sound of the bomb.”
Mohammad said he heard people crying for help, and minutes later ambulances arrived and began taking the wounded away.
Police said their initial investigation suggested that the Islamic State group’s regional affiliate, a rival of the Taliban, could be responsible, while a Pakistan security analyst pointed to breakaway factions of the Pakistani Taliban as possible suspects.
The Pakistani military spent years fighting the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in Bajur before declaring the district clear of militants in 2016. But the Jamiat Ulema Islam party, headed by hard-line cleric and politician Fazlur Rehman, has remained a potent political force.
On Monday, police recorded statements from some of the wounded at a hospital in Khar, the district’s principal town.
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province, which police identified as a suspect in the attack, is based in neighboring Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province and is a rival of the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida.
Pakistani security analyst Mahmood Shah said some TTP members have been known to disobey their top leadership to carry out attacks, as have breakaway factions of the group.
Shah said such factions could have perpetrated the attack to cause “confusion, instability and unrest ahead of the elections.”
On Monday, female relatives and children wailed and beat their chests at family homes as the dead were taken for funerals, following local customs. Hundreds of men followed the caskets to mosques and open areas for special funeral prayers and then into the hills for burial.
As condolences continued to pour in from across the country, dozens of people who had lesser injuries were discharged from hospital, while the critically wounded were taken to the provincial capital of Peshawar by army helicopters. The death toll continued to rise as some critically wounded people died in hospital, physician Gul Naseeb said.
Gul Akbar, the father of an 11-year-old boy who was wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press that his entire family was in a state of shock after hearing about the bombing Sunday. He said he first went to the scene of the attack, and later found his son Taslim Khan being treated in a hospital in Khar.
“What would I have done if he had also been martyred? Five children died in this barbaric attack, and we want to know what our children did wrong,” he said.
Rehman’s party is preparing to contest elections, which are expected in October or November. Abdul Rasheed, one of the party’s senior leaders, said the bombing was aimed at weakening the party but that “such attacks cannot deter our resolve.”
Rehman’s party is part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition government, which came to power in April 2022 by ousting former Prime Minister Imran Khan through a no-confidence vote in the legislature.
Sharif called Rehman to express his condolences and assure the cleric that those who orchestrated the attack would be punished. Khan condemned the bombing Sunday, as did the U.S. and Russian embassies in Islamabad.
The Pakistani Taliban also distanced themselves from the bombing, saying that it was intended to set Islamists against each other. Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, wrote in a tweet that “such crimes cannot be justified in any way.”
The bombing came hours before Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng arrived in Islamabad, where he signed new agreements to boost trade and economic ties to mark a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a sprawling package under which China has invested $10 billion in Pakistan over 10 years, according to Sharif.
“We will not tolerate any obstacles in the way of friendship with China,” Sharif said, as he stood next to He.
But the government canceled a cultural event that had been arranged in honor of He, according to Sharif, while the nation mourns.
Some Chinese nationals have also been targeted by militants in northwestern Pakistan and elsewhere.
Rehman, who has long supported Afghanistan’s Taliban government, survived at least two known bomb attacks in 2011 and 2014, when bombings damaged his car at rallies.
Sunday’s bombing was one of the worst in northwestern Pakistan in the last decade. In 2014, 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar.
In January, 74 people were killed in a bombing at a mosque in Peshawar. And in February, more than 100 people, mostly policemen, died in a bombing at a mosque inside a high-security compound housing Peshawar police headquarters.
___
Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed contributed to this story from Islamabad. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/ap-pakistan-holds-funerals-as-government-vows-to-hunt-down-those-behind-the-weekends-suicide-bombing/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:51 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/ap-pakistan-holds-funerals-as-government-vows-to-hunt-down-those-behind-the-weekends-suicide-bombing/ |
Magnus White, a 17-year-old American cyclist who was training in Colorado ahead of the upcoming world championships in Scotland, was struck by a vehicle and died near his home over the weekend.
USA Cycling confirmed White’s death on Sunday.
"He was a rising star in the off-road cycling scene and his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community," the organization said in a statement.
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"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time."
White was on a training ride in Boulder, Colorado, when he was struck by a vehicle and later died.
He was a rising multidisciplinary star in the sport. He won a junior national championship in cyclocross in 2021 and earned a place on the U.S. national team. He competed as a member of Team USA in Europe ahead of last year’s cyclocross world championships.
CYCLING EVENT ALTERS CATEGORY POLICY AFTER FUROR OVER TRANSGENDER COMPETITOR'S WIN IN WOMEN'S RACE
He was picked to represent the U.S. again at this year’s cyclocross worlds in the Netherlands.
White started to participate in road cycling and mountain biking this year. He was on one of his final training rides before the junior world mountain bike championships in Scotland when the incident occurred.
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time," USA Cycling said.
"We ride for Magnus."
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxbangor.com/sports/national-sports/rising-cycling-star-magnus-white-dead-at-17-after-incident-while-training-for-major-event/article_08c8ce7b-8968-53c4-bada-b919cb472398.html | 2023-07-31T13:11:54 | 0 | https://www.foxbangor.com/sports/national-sports/rising-cycling-star-magnus-white-dead-at-17-after-incident-while-training-for-major-event/article_08c8ce7b-8968-53c4-bada-b919cb472398.html |
Kensho Technologies and S&P Global Market Intelligence Recognized for Industry-Leading platforms S&P Global Marketplace and Capital IQ Pro
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) announced today Kensho Technologies and the S&P Global Market Intelligence division were named 2023's Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology Provider by Waters Rankings. Voted on by thousands of end users, the Waters Rankings are the only awards program where WatersTechnology's readers determine category winners.
"The rapid acceleration of technology innovation at S&P Global has been powered in large part by the acquisition of Kensho Technologies in 2018," said Ewout Steenbergen, Chief Financial Officer of S&P Global and President of Kensho Technologies. "This early decision and further investments in Artificial Intelligence have improved process efficiencies and enabled us to deliver valuable customer offerings such as S&P Global Marketplace and enhanced AI capabilities to S&P Capital IQ Pro, among many examples. It is an honor to be recognized by WatersTechnology as we strive to uphold S&P Global as an innovative and trusted brand that powers global markets."
The annual Waters Rankings celebrate and recognize the initiatives, innovation and achievements of the industry's leading technology and data providers over the past 12 months. The Waters Rankings are a true reflection of the industry's best-in-class vendors and service providers across 34 categories.
Kensho's suite of AI solutions transform messy, unstructured data, including audio and text, into high-value structured data that powers downstream business and financial decision making. These offerings are made available through S&P Capital IQ Pro and S&P Global Marketplace, both operated by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Unlike traditional AI capabilities, Kensho's AI solutions are trained on top of S&P Global's vast amounts of domain-specific proprietary data and designed with client-to-S&P Global data linkage in mind. Proprietary data training enables Kensho's AI model to outperform generic AI models in business-specific use cases, while data linkage enables deeper, richer and more integrated decision-making insights.
About Kensho Technologies Inc.
Kensho is an artificial intelligence company that builds solutions to unlock insights hidden in messy and unstructured data. Kensho's products are powered by state-of-the-art machine learning techniques that allow customers to unlock insights faster using AI, including voice-to-text transcription, data extraction, data enrichment, and natural language processing, which gives computers the ability to comprehend and analyze human language. The company was acquired by S&P Global in 2018 and continues to operate independently, retaining its distinct brand and culture. For more information, visit www.kensho.com.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.
Media Contacts
Josh Goldstein
S&P Global
Josh.goldstein@spglobal.com
Amanda Oey
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Amanda.oey@spglobal.com
Suzanne Block on Behalf of Kensho
block@shapeandscale.co
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SOURCE S&P Global | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sampp-global-named-best-artificial-intelligence-technology-provider-by-waterstechnology/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:55 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sampp-global-named-best-artificial-intelligence-technology-provider-by-waterstechnology/ |
Kensho Technologies and S&P Global Market Intelligence Recognized for Industry-Leading platforms S&P Global Marketplace and Capital IQ Pro
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) announced today Kensho Technologies and the S&P Global Market Intelligence division were named 2023's Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology Provider by Waters Rankings. Voted on by thousands of end users, the Waters Rankings are the only awards program where WatersTechnology's readers determine category winners.
"The rapid acceleration of technology innovation at S&P Global has been powered in large part by the acquisition of Kensho Technologies in 2018," said Ewout Steenbergen, Chief Financial Officer of S&P Global and President of Kensho Technologies. "This early decision and further investments in Artificial Intelligence have improved process efficiencies and enabled us to deliver valuable customer offerings such as S&P Global Marketplace and enhanced AI capabilities to S&P Capital IQ Pro, among many examples. It is an honor to be recognized by WatersTechnology as we strive to uphold S&P Global as an innovative and trusted brand that powers global markets."
The annual Waters Rankings celebrate and recognize the initiatives, innovation and achievements of the industry's leading technology and data providers over the past 12 months. The Waters Rankings are a true reflection of the industry's best-in-class vendors and service providers across 34 categories.
Kensho's suite of AI solutions transform messy, unstructured data, including audio and text, into high-value structured data that powers downstream business and financial decision making. These offerings are made available through S&P Capital IQ Pro and S&P Global Marketplace, both operated by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Unlike traditional AI capabilities, Kensho's AI solutions are trained on top of S&P Global's vast amounts of domain-specific proprietary data and designed with client-to-S&P Global data linkage in mind. Proprietary data training enables Kensho's AI model to outperform generic AI models in business-specific use cases, while data linkage enables deeper, richer and more integrated decision-making insights.
About Kensho Technologies Inc.
Kensho is an artificial intelligence company that builds solutions to unlock insights hidden in messy and unstructured data. Kensho's products are powered by state-of-the-art machine learning techniques that allow customers to unlock insights faster using AI, including voice-to-text transcription, data extraction, data enrichment, and natural language processing, which gives computers the ability to comprehend and analyze human language. The company was acquired by S&P Global in 2018 and continues to operate independently, retaining its distinct brand and culture. For more information, visit www.kensho.com.
About S&P Global
S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world. We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today.
Media Contacts
Josh Goldstein
S&P Global
Josh.goldstein@spglobal.com
Amanda Oey
S&P Global Market Intelligence
Amanda.oey@spglobal.com
Suzanne Block on Behalf of Kensho
block@shapeandscale.co
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE S&P Global | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sampp-global-named-best-artificial-intelligence-technology-provider-by-waterstechnology/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:57 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sampp-global-named-best-artificial-intelligence-technology-provider-by-waterstechnology/ |
IXL's teaching and learning platform will be used district wide to close knowledge gaps, improve academic achievement and provide equitable educational experiences
LEXINGTON, Ky., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IXL, the personalized learning platform used by more than 14 million students, has announced a new partnership with Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) in Kentucky. As part of the collaboration, the state's second-largest K-12 school system will now use IXL's award-winning platform district-wide to boost academic achievement in math, English language arts, science, social studies and Spanish. IXL is used by nearly 40 percent of all K-12 students in Kentucky, accounting for more than 283,000 learners.
Fayette County Public Schools strives to provide a world-class education
and positive learning environment to more than 40,000 students from the Lexington area. FCPS began using IXL to support its special education and English language learner communities, and recently expanded its implementation district-wide after successfully piloting the platform.
The district highly values IXL Analytics because it provides educators with data that allows them to track student achievement across schools and identify any gaps in knowledge. This information can then be used to quickly intervene and provide students with the support they need to succeed.
FCPS also appreciates IXL's comprehensive curriculum and instructional resources because they give educators the flexibility to create personalized learning pathways for students. These pathways allow students to learn at their own pace and in their own way, which helps them grow independently. Additionally, IXL provides FCPS with custom math skill plans that are aligned to the district's scope and sequence, as well as test preparation for Kentucky's Summative Assessment. These plans reinforce standards-aligned instruction, which helps students master the concepts they need to know to succeed.
"IXL is an immersive learning tool that helps students master content at school, on-the-go and at home. Insights provided by IXL help teachers track growth and target recommendations for next steps, and research shows that students who use IXL perform better on state assessments," said Brooke Stinson, Director of Assessment, Fayette County Public Schools. "We are excited for this partnership and to provide this resource for all of our students."
"We are delighted to continue our partnership with Fayette County Public Schools. By using IXL's platform district-wide, educators will be able to more effectively track student progress, close achievement gaps and empower all students to reach their full potential," said Paul Mishkin, CEO of IXL Learning. "We are proud to be an important resource to our partners, and we look forward to working with FCPS' team so that all of its learners have even more opportunities to succeed."
Recover learning and boost achievement with IXL's award-winning platform
IXL gives school districts everything that they need to make a bigger positive impact on learning. The all-inclusive platform provides thousands of curriculum and instructional resources, actionable analytics and a state-of-the-art assessment suite. In addition to helping schools and students succeed academically, IXL can even uncover hidden obstacles to learning, develop students' intrinsic motivation to learn and more.
IXL's state-of-the-art assessment suite
IXL's assessment suite works in concert with its curriculum to give educators and students real-time insight into performance, pinpoint gaps in knowledge and provide specific next steps that help recover learning. IXL's adaptive assessment, the Real-Time Diagnostic, accurately measures students' grade-level proficiency and growth in key math and ELA strands, helping educators understand exactly what learners know and what they can do to improve. Additionally, IXL's universal screener flags at-risk students in as little as 20 minutes to help educators plan district-wide math interventions.
Comprehensive curriculum for deeper learning
Teachers use IXL's comprehensive curriculum to provide students with tailored support and ensure that they master essential concepts. More than 10,000 rigorous, mastery-based skills deeply engage students, build a strong foundation of knowledge and prepare learners for higher-level thinking. Based on students' previous work in the curriculum, IXL generates personalized recommendations in real time that guide learners to the skills that will help them grow the fastest. Additionally, IXL's skill plans simplify lesson planning by providing teachers with skills that match their state standards and textbooks. IXL also provides test preparation skill plans and personalized study plans for the SAT and ACT.
Instructional resources and classroom engagement tools
IXL's built-in instructional resources include nearly 2,400 math and English language arts video tutorials, corrective feedback, educational games for young learners and step-by-step lessons that support students when they're working independently. Classroom engagement tools, like Group Jams and Leaderboards, make classroom learning engaging and create collaborative learning opportunities.
Actionable analytics for districts, schools, classrooms and individual learners
IXL Analytics is an essential daily tool that allows teachers to easily identify trouble spots, monitor performance on skills, deliver data-driven instruction and use limited class time more effectively. Administrators can use IXL District Analytics and IXL School Analytics to track student progress and teacher engagement, enabling them to improve IXL's impact on their school or district.
About Fayette County Public Schools
Fayette County Public Schools serves over 40,000 students from the Lexington metro area, with the goal of providing a world-class education for every child. The mission of Fayette County Public Schools is to create a collaborative community that ensures all students achieve at high levels and graduate prepared to excel in a global society.
About IXL Learning
Currently used by 14 million students and in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts, IXL is an all-inclusive educational platform that provides a comprehensive PK-12 curriculum and instructional resources, actionable analytics and a state-of-the-art assessment suite. IXL's end-to-end teaching and learning solution supports personalized instruction in math, English language arts, science, social studies and Spanish. With more than 130 billion questions asked and answered around the world, IXL is helping schools and parents successfully boost student achievement. The IXL Learning family of products also includes Rosetta Stone, TPT, SpanishDictionary.com, inglés.com, Wyzant, Vocabulary.com, ABCya, Education.com and Emmersion. To learn more about IXL, visit www.ixl.com, facebook.com/IXL and twitter.com/IXLLearning.
Press Contact
Eric Bates
IXL Learning
press@ixl.com
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SOURCE IXL Learning | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ixl-fayette-county-public-schools-partner-boost-academic-achievement-personalize-learning-all-students/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:57 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ixl-fayette-county-public-schools-partner-boost-academic-achievement-personalize-learning-all-students/ |
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African nations have given Niger’s coup leaders one week to reinstate the country’s democratically elected president and have threatened to use force if the demands aren’t met.
The announcement came at the end of an emergency meeting of West African countries Sunday in Nigeria, where the regional bloc, known as ECOWAS, convened to respond to last week’s military takeover. President Mohamed Bazoum remains under house arrest and has yet to resign.
“In the event the authority’s demands are not met within one week, (the bloc will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force,” said the statement.
The bloc also imposted strict sanctions, including suspending all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger and freezing of assets in regional central banks.
Economic sanctions could have a deep impact on Nigeriens, who live in the third-poorest country in the world, according to the latest U.N. data. The country relies on imports from Nigeria for up to 90% of its power, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The sanctions could be disastrous and Niger needs to find a solution to avoid them, the country’s Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou told French media outlet Radio France Internationale on Sunday.
“When people say there’s an embargo, land borders are closed, air borders are closed, it’s extremely difficult for people … Niger is a country that relies heavily on the international community,” he said.
The 15-nation ECOWAS bloc has unsuccessfully tried to restore democracies in nations where the military took power in recent years. Four nations are run by military governments in West and Central Africa, where there have been nine successful or attempted coups since 2020.
In the 1990s, ECOWAS intervened in Liberia during its civil war. In 2017, it intervened in Gambia to prevent the new president’s predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, from disrupting the handover of power. Around 7,000 troops from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal entered, according to the Global Observatory, which provides analysis on peace and security issues.
If the regional bloc uses force, it could trigger violence not only between Niger and ECOWAS forces but also civilians supporting the coup and those against it, Niger analysts say.
“While this remains to be a threat and unlikely action, the consequences on civilians of such an approach if putschists chose confrontation would be catastrophic,” said Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based think tank.
Lyammouri also said he does not see a “military intervention happening because of the violence that could trigger.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commended ECOWAS’ leadership Sunday to “defend constitutional order in Niger” after the sanctions announcement, and joined the bloc in calling for the immediate release of Bazoum and his family.
The military junta, which seized power on Wednesday when members of the presidential guard surrounded Bazoum’s house and detained him, is already cracking down on the government and civil liberties.
On Sunday evening it arrested four government officials, including Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, the minister of petroleum and son of former President Mahamadou Issoufou; Kassoum Moctar, minister of education; Ousseini Hadizatou Yacouba, the minister of mines, and Foumakoye Gado, the president of the ruling party. That’s according to someone close to the president, who was not authorized to speak about the situation, and a Nigerien analyst who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal.
The same night, junta spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said on state television that all government cars need to be returned by midday Monday and banned the use of social media to diffuse messages against state security. He also claimed that Bazoum’s government had authorized the French to carry out strikes to free Bazoum. The Associated Press can’t verify his allegations.
In anticipation of the ECOWAS decision Sunday, thousands of pro-junta supporters took to the streets in the capital, Niamey, denouncing its former colonial ruler, France, waving Russian flags and telling the international community to stay away.
Demonstrators in Niger are openly resentful of France, and Russia is seen by some as a powerful alternative. The nature of Moscow’s involvement in the rallies, if any, isn’t clear, but some protesters have carried Russian flags, along with signs reading “Down with France” and supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The situation of this country is not good … It’s time for change, and change has arrived,” said Moussa Seydou, a protester. “What we want from the putschists — all they have to do is improve social conditions so that Nigeriens can live better in this country and bring peace,” he said. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/ap-west-african-nations-threaten-to-use-force-if-nigers-president-isnt-reinstated-within-a-week/ | 2023-07-31T13:11:59 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/ap-west-african-nations-threaten-to-use-force-if-nigers-president-isnt-reinstated-within-a-week/ |
Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected today. Expect development to occur by late morning and last through the afternoon hours. No severe weather is expected, but heavy downpours could occur. High temperatures today will reach for the mid 70s. A few showers and thunderstorms are possible early tonight. We'll then become partly cloudy with lows in the mid 50s. Partly cloudy Friday with highs in the low 70s. Looking ahead, we're dry Wednesday and Thursday with a partly cloudy sky and highs in the upper 70s. Chances for showers and thunderstorms move back in Friday with highs in the mid 70s. MAKE it a GREAT Week! Devin Biggs | https://www.foxbangor.com/weather/weather_discussions/weather-discussion-7-31-23/article_974b7e08-9d00-11ed-b0e1-7328eafb5927.html | 2023-07-31T13:12:00 | 1 | https://www.foxbangor.com/weather/weather_discussions/weather-discussion-7-31-23/article_974b7e08-9d00-11ed-b0e1-7328eafb5927.html |
BURLINGTON, Mass., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SEKISUI Diagnostics announces the launch of the OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Home Test to diagnose COVID-19 at home.
The OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Home Test is a lateral flow immunoassay device intended for the qualitative detection of nucleocapsid protein antigen from SARS-CoV-2 virus. As with other OSOM Rapid Tests, it is made in the USA and supported by a highly skilled technical support team of medical technologists/professionals.
"We are excited to be able to provide consumers with more tools to help diagnose COVID-19 in a fast, easy-to-use format that can be purchased over the counter. This supports our goal of bringing diagnostics to where they are needed most, which in this case is at home, so people do not have to travel to medical facilities and can treat or quarantine quickly", said Erica Blight, VP of Client Services, Clinical Research & Marketing.
SEKISUI Diagnostics is a well-known provider of many rapid testing solutions to the professional market through a portfolio of point-of-care tests under the OSOM and Acucy® brands. These simple, high performing tests have provided flexibility to healthcare professionals for decades and are now being brought to the home testing market.
"Our entrance into the home testing market is another way we are providing solutions to enhance life with science to improve the health of all people. We understand home testing is a valuable tool and becoming more accepted and necessary, especially when we are experiencing significant waves of respiratory infections as we have seen in previous seasons", said Bob Schruender, President & CEO.
About the OSOM® COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
This product has not been FDA cleared or approved but has been authorized by FDA under a conditional EUA. This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and the conditional emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated, or authorization is revoked sooner.
About SEKISUI Diagnostics:
With over 40 years of experience, SEKISUI Diagnostics' mission is to provide intelligent solutions to enhance life with science and improve the health of all people. We supply innovative medical diagnostics globally to physicians, hospitals, laboratories and alternate testing locations.
Our product lines include clinical chemistry reagents, point-of-care tests, pre-analytic systems as well as enzymes and specialty biochemicals.
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SOURCE SEKISUI DIAGNOSTICS, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sekisui-diagnostics-announces-launch-osom-covid-19-antigen-home-test/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:01 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sekisui-diagnostics-announces-launch-osom-covid-19-antigen-home-test/ |
BEIJING, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SANY Group ("SANY") has announced the 2023 employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). This is the fourth consecutive year that SANY has launched the ESOP, which gives employees an opportunity to own shares in the company through the setting up of incentive funds. The 2023 ESOP has set up a fund size of around 590 million yuan (USD 82 million) with a share repurchase price planned at 16.13 yuan per share (USD 2.24). The capital will be from the incentive funds accrued following relevant provisions of the group.
SANY has always focused on improving employee benefits and adhering to the principle of "growing together, pursuing common development, and sharing achievements." By establishing a comprehensive incentive and restraining mechanism, it aims to inspire employees' enthusiasm and creativity and align the interests of shareholders, the listed company, and individuals. This encourages all parties to join efforts to boost SANY's long-term development.
SANY's annual ESOP aims to share the fruits of the group's achievements with employees. The number of employees awarded with stock ownership incentives is growing annually, and the proportion of mid-level and key position employees is increasing year by year:
- 2020: SANY awarded 8.31 million shares to 2,264 employees, 71.52 percent were employees in mid-level management, key positions, and core business (technical) positions.
- 2021: SANY awarded 7.54 million shares to 4,205 employees, 91.33 percent were employees in mid-level management, key positions, and core business (technical) positions.
- 2022: SANY awarded 20.5 million shares to 6,996 employees, 94.26 percent were employees in mid-level management, key positions, and core business (technical) positions.
- 2023: SANY is awarding 36.62 million shares to 7,131 employees, 95.69 percent were employees in mid-level management, key positions, and core business (technical) positions.
The source of shares for the 2023 ESOP is the shares that have already been repurchased by SANY's special account. It does not exceed 36.62 million shares in total and is within one percent of SANY's current total capital stock.
In the meantime, SANY Renewable Energy (SH688349) released an announcement relating to exercising of the second exercise period of the 2020 stock option incentive plan, with 16.0368 million granted options to be exercised, with a three-year restricted period. The subsidiary is committed to becoming a global leader of clean energy equipment and services, and contributing to reaching the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.
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SOURCE SANY Group | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sany-announces-2023-employee-stock-ownership-plan/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:03 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sany-announces-2023-employee-stock-ownership-plan/ |
Initial agreement to include 10 battery-electric and three hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 trucks
PHOENIX and LOWELL, Ark., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy supply and infrastructure solutions, via the HYLA brand, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (Nasdaq: JBHT), one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, today announced an agreement in which subsidiary J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. will purchase 13 Nikola zero-emission Class 8 trucks as the transportation company focuses on its sustainability efforts and reducing the intensity of its carbon emissions.
"It's important for us to be at the forefront of new technologies and innovative solutions that have the potential to change the way we move freight," said Nick Hobbs, chief operating officer and president of contract services at J.B. Hunt. "These zero-emission trucks from Nikola advance our progress towards achieving our ambitious goal to reduce carbon emission intensity through viable solutions."
The initial truck order will include 10 battery-electric and three hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles, with delivery of the first vehicles expected in August 2023. These trucks will be strategically located at facilities servicing J.B. Hunt's key routes, including in the greater Los Angeles and Phoenix areas. Nikola's hydrogen arm, HYLA, will supply the hydrogen and fueling infrastructure.
"We are thrilled that the industry leader for supply-chain solutions has chosen our Nikola Class 8 battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks to use for their operations," said Nikola CEO Michael Lohscheller. "Their purchase and use of these zero-emissions trucks are a testament to the hard work of our engineering, development and manufacturing teams, who created a robust, highly advanced truck lineup, as well as our HYLA hydrogen infrastructure solutions, which are designed to benefit companies such as J.B. Hunt."
J.B. Hunt is committed to helping drive the industry toward a low-carbon future and reducing its environmental impact. In November 2022, the company set an ambitious goal to reduce carbon emission intensity 32% by 2034 (with a 2019 baseline). Incorporating alternative powered equipment into its fleet is one of three key focus areas in reaching the goal.
J.B. Hunt continually evaluates opportunities to utilize emerging technologies in exhaust-free vehicles. In the fourth quarter of 2022, the company took delivery of its first company-owned Class 8 electric vehicle. In 2017, J.B. Hunt was one of the first companies to place an order for an all-electric heavy-duty Class 8 truck and began incorporating electric vehicles into operations in 2023. In addition to electric vehicles, J.B. Hunt is helping reduce carbon emissions through intermodal conversion. Over the past decade, J.B. Hunt's intermodal service has helped avoid an estimated 30 million metric tons of CO2e emissions from over-the-road truck transportation.
ABOUT NIKOLA CORPORATION
Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, via the HYLA brand, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com , Facebook @nikolamotorcompany, Instagram @nikolamotorcompany, YouTube @nikolamotorcompany, LinkedIn @nikolamotorcompany or Twitter @nikolamotor.
ABOUT J.B. HUNT
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is on a mission to create the most efficient transportation network in North America. The company's industry-leading solutions and mode-neutral approach generate value for customers by eliminating waste, reducing costs and enhancing supply chain visibility. Powered by one of the largest company-owned fleets in the country with more than 162,000 pieces of trailing equipment and nearly one million accessible trucks through its J.B. Hunt 360°® digital freight marketplace, J.B. Hunt can meet the unique shipping needs of any business, from first mile to final delivery, and every shipment in-between. Through disciplined investments in its people, technology and capacity, J.B. Hunt is delivering exceptional value and service that enable long-term growth for the company and its stakeholders.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. is a Fortune 500 company, an S&P 500 company and a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average. Its stock trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol JBHT. J.B. Hunt Transport Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of JBHT. The company's services include intermodal, dedicated, refrigerated, truckload, less-than-truckload, flatbed, single source, last mile, transload and more. For more information, visit www.jbhunt.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws with respect to Nikola Corporation (Nikola"), including statements relating to the truck order, expected delivery timing and expected benefits of Nikola's zero-emissions trucks; Nikola's expectations regarding the production of hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks; and Nikola's ability to provide sufficient volumes of hydrogen to support hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle demand. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: design and manufacturing changes and delays, including global shortages in parts and materials; general economic, financial, legal, regulatory, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; demand for and customer acceptance of Nikola's trucks; the terms of the agreement; the risk of cancellation of orders; risks associated with development and testing of fuel-cell power modules and hydrogen storage systems; risks related to the rollout of Nikola's business and milestones and the timing of expected business milestones; Nikola's availability of and need for capital; and the factors, risks and uncertainties regarding Nikola's business described in the "Risk Factors" section of Nikola's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 filed with the SEC, in addition to Nikola's subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as required by law, Nikola assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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SOURCE Nikola Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jb-hunt-purchase-13-zero-emission-nikola-trucks/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:04 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/jb-hunt-purchase-13-zero-emission-nikola-trucks/ |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An escalating dispute over a gas field in the Persian Gulf poses an early challenge to a Chinese-brokered agreement to reconcile regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Saudi Arabia and neighboring Kuwait jointly claim the offshore Al-Durra gas field. Iran says it has rights to the field, which it refers to as Arash. The two sides held talks in Iran in March but were unable to agree on a border demarcation.
A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, said the country would not tolerate any infringement on its rights, echoing remarks by the country’s oil minister the previous day.
“We have expressed our readiness to engage in dialogue with the Kuwaiti side,” Kanaani told reporters Monday. “But if there is no interest in mutual utilization of this joint field, the Islamic Republic of Iran has naturally put the exploration and utilization of the resources on its agenda.”
Kuwait’s oil minister told Sky News Arabia last week that his country would commence drilling and production without waiting for a deal.
Saudi Arabia has sided with Kuwait, saying the two countries have exclusive ownership of the field, and has called on Iran to return to negotiations.
Saudi Arabia and Iran, which have backed opposite sides in conflicts across the Middle East and accused each other of destabilizing the region, formally restored diplomatic relations in April following a seven-year freeze. They have since reopened embassies and welcomed senior officials on visits.
But they continue to back opposite sides in Yemen’s civil war, which is ongoing despite a 15-month cease-fire. Saudi Arabia is also in negotiations with the United States over potentially normalizing relations with Israel, which Iran’s leaders have said should be wiped off the map.
“Any step in the direction toward normalization of ties with this aggressive regime will only serve to give it more leeway to commit more atrocities against the Palestinian nation,” Kanaani, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said.
It’s unclear whether the dispute over the gas field, which goes back to the 1960s, will escalate beyond rhetoric. But tensions are already high in the Persian Gulf, where the U.S. is building up military forces in response to what it says is Iran’s unlawful seizure of oil tankers and harassment of commercial vessels.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait agreed last year to jointly develop the gas field. Kuwait said at the time that they aimed to produce 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 84,000 barrels of liquefied gas per day. Iran denounced the agreement as illegal and said it should be included in any such plans. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-dispute-over-persian-gulf-gas-field-poses-early-challenge-to-saudi-iranian-rapprochement/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:05 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-dispute-over-persian-gulf-gas-field-poses-early-challenge-to-saudi-iranian-rapprochement/ |
SALT LAKE CITY, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sera Prognostics Inc., The Pregnancy Company® (NASDAQ: SERA), focused on improving maternal and neonatal health by providing innovative pregnancy biomarker information to doctors and patients, today announced that it will report second quarter fiscal year 2023 financial results on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, after the close of the market. The Company will host a corresponding conference call and live webcast to discuss operational highlights, financial results and key topics at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A press release outlining the financial results and highlights will be publicly distributed before the call.
Conference Call Details:
US domestic callers: (866) 218-2405
International callers: (412) 902-6607
Webcast Registration Link: https://app.webinar.net/5ZK3j2xMqY7
Live audio of the webcast will be available online from the Investors page of the Company's website at www.seraprognostics.com. The webcast will be archived on the Investors page and will be available for one year.
About Sera Prognostics, Inc.
Sera Prognostics is a leading health diagnostics company dedicated to improving the lives of women and babies through precision pregnancy care. Sera's mission is to provide early, pivotal pregnancy information to improve the health of mothers and newborns, resulting in reductions in the costs of healthcare delivery. Sera has a robust pipeline of innovative diagnostic tests focused on the early prediction of preterm birth risk and other complications of pregnancy. Sera's precision medicine PreTRM® Test reports to a physician the individualized risk of spontaneous premature delivery in a pregnancy, enabling earlier proactive interventions in women with higher risk. Sera Prognostics is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
About Preterm Birth
Preterm birth is defined as any birth before 37 weeks' gestation and is the leading cause of illness and death in newborns. The 2022 March of Dimes Report Card shows that, for the last four consecutive years, more than one in ten infants is born prematurely. Prematurity is associated with a significantly increased risk of major long-term medical complications, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory illness, intellectual disability, seizures, and vision and hearing loss, and can generate significant costs throughout the lives of affected children. The annual health care costs to manage short- and long-term complications of prematurity in the United States were estimated to be approximately $25 billion for 2016.
About the PreTRM® Test
The PreTRM® Test is the only broadly validated, commercially available blood-based biomarker test that provides an early, accurate and individualized risk prediction for spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic singleton pregnancies. The PreTRM® Test measures and analyzes proteins in the blood that are highly predictive of preterm birth. The PreTRM® Test permits physicians to identify, during the weeks 18 through 20 of pregnancy, which women are at increased risk for preterm birth and its complications, enabling more informed, personalized clinical decisions based on each woman's individual risk. The PreTRM® Test is ordered by a medical professional.
Sera Prognostics, the Sera Prognostics logo, The Pregnancy Company, and PreTRM are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sera Prognostics, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the date, time and content of the Company's quarterly earnings release and conference call; and the company's strategic directives under the caption "About Sera Prognostics, Inc." These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: net losses, cash generation, and the potential need to raise more capital; revenues from the PreTRM Test representing substantially all Company revenues to date; the need for broad scientific and market acceptance of the PreTRM Test; a concentrated number of material customers; our ability to introduce new products; potential competition; our proprietary biobank; critical suppliers; the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential lingering impact on our operations, as well as the business or operations of third parties with whom we conduct business; estimates of total addressable market opportunity and forecasts of market growth; potential third-party payer coverage and reimbursement; new reimbursement methodologies applicable to the PreTRM Test, including new CPT codes and payment rates for those codes; changes in FDA regulation of laboratory-developed tests; the intellectual property rights protecting our tests and market position; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in our Final Prospectus on Form S-1, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2021, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
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SOURCE Sera Prognostics, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sera-prognostics-announces-conference-call-webcast-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results-august-9-2023/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:08 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sera-prognostics-announces-conference-call-webcast-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results-august-9-2023/ |
BURLINGTON, Mass., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SEKISUI Diagnostics announces the launch of the OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Home Test to diagnose COVID-19 at home.
The OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Home Test is a lateral flow immunoassay device intended for the qualitative detection of nucleocapsid protein antigen from SARS-CoV-2 virus. As with other OSOM Rapid Tests, it is made in the USA and supported by a highly skilled technical support team of medical technologists/professionals.
"We are excited to be able to provide consumers with more tools to help diagnose COVID-19 in a fast, easy-to-use format that can be purchased over the counter. This supports our goal of bringing diagnostics to where they are needed most, which in this case is at home, so people do not have to travel to medical facilities and can treat or quarantine quickly", said Erica Blight, VP of Client Services, Clinical Research & Marketing.
SEKISUI Diagnostics is a well-known provider of many rapid testing solutions to the professional market through a portfolio of point-of-care tests under the OSOM and Acucy® brands. These simple, high performing tests have provided flexibility to healthcare professionals for decades and are now being brought to the home testing market.
"Our entrance into the home testing market is another way we are providing solutions to enhance life with science to improve the health of all people. We understand home testing is a valuable tool and becoming more accepted and necessary, especially when we are experiencing significant waves of respiratory infections as we have seen in previous seasons", said Bob Schruender, President & CEO.
About the OSOM® COVID-19 Antigen Home Test
This product has not been FDA cleared or approved but has been authorized by FDA under a conditional EUA. This product has been authorized only for the detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2, not for any other viruses or pathogens; and the conditional emergency use of this product is only authorized for the duration of the declaration that circumstances exist justifying the authorization of emergency use of in vitro diagnostics for detection and/or diagnosis of COVID-19 under Section 564(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 360bbb-3(b)(1), unless the declaration is terminated, or authorization is revoked sooner.
About SEKISUI Diagnostics:
With over 40 years of experience, SEKISUI Diagnostics' mission is to provide intelligent solutions to enhance life with science and improve the health of all people. We supply innovative medical diagnostics globally to physicians, hospitals, laboratories and alternate testing locations.
Our product lines include clinical chemistry reagents, point-of-care tests, pre-analytic systems as well as enzymes and specialty biochemicals.
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SOURCE SEKISUI DIAGNOSTICS, LLC | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sekisui-diagnostics-announces-launch-osom-covid-19-antigen-home-test/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:09 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sekisui-diagnostics-announces-launch-osom-covid-19-antigen-home-test/ |
Expert shares advice for navigating dating and relationships in the digital age, from distractions to jealousy and more
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dating.com – part of Dating Group, the company behind over 40 online dating sites – today released newly collected survey data that sheds light on the impact that social media has had on dating in recent years. According to the findings, it's going down in the DMs, with 47% of respondents admitting that their relationship began because their partner decided to shoot their shot in a private social media message. Additionally, 55% of men reported that they believe "sending likes" is an effective tactic to make a connection online that can move into real life.
Other key survey findings include:
- 58% of respondents shared that they have used a social networking site that is not primarily for dating (such as Instagram and LinkedIn) to find and meet new partners.
- 60% looked through their partner's social media apps without that person's knowledge.
- 40% felt their current significant other's social media profile was "an ick."
- 72% shared that social media has been a cause of conflict either in their current or previous relationship.
- 42% have experienced infidelity from a partner as a result of connections made through social media.
- 79% used social media to "hard launch," or announce, their relationship.
- 40% found out their current partner had been leaving "thirsty" comments under someone else's posts, before their relationship started.
- 50% admitted to fighting with their partner about still having an ex's photos visible on their Facebook or Instagram pages.
- 55% say their partner is often distracted by social media on their cell phone while they are trying to have a conversation with them.
"In some cases, social media sites can still be seen as the cause of conflict in relationships," said Maria Sullivan, Vice President and Dating Expert of Dating.com. "However, social media use should not consistently be a cause of stress in a healthy relationship. Instead, it should mostly be a fun way to connect with friends and family - and to show off your relationship, if that's your vibe - without creating worries about your partner making new romantic connections. It can even serve as another way to bond with your partner if you're using it to send funny memes or informational posts about your shared interests. Socials are often blamed as the root cause of conflict, however a person's overall behavior while they're in a committed relationship is what should be under the microscope. Whether they're using their social media profiles to creep on other prospects is only a reflection of what their true larger intentions are, on and off these platforms."
Maria's tips for preventing social media-related conflict in your relationship include:
- Communicate your concerns. What your partner doesn't know about, they can't fix. If you find that aspects of their social media activity (accounts they follow, posts they like, pages they view, etc.) are an issue, you should communicate those concerns to your significant other clearly. Whether they're too interested in sexy influencers, other men or women, or comedians with poor taste, secretly letting it bother you will likely lead to it becoming a bigger conflict, and you and your SO might both be surprised by how angry you are when it all comes to light.
- Leave old social media behavior behind. If you have a situation where you really trust your partner, but you uncovered their shady social media activity from the past, you should set new boundaries for them to adhere to from this point on. Ask them to please unfollow accounts that make you uncomfortable, to refrain from liking photos that are focused on physical appearance, and to delete any old thirsty comments they left under someone else's posts before your relationship started. Whether they acquiesce or resist will speak volumes about their intentions.
- Set boundaries. In order to prevent conflict, communicate with your partner to understand what does and does not work for both of you when it comes to social media usage. For example, if your partner is actively following their ex on social media and having conversations with them in the DMs, and if there is a boundary you want to set here, you should draw the line. And to be fair, both you and your significant other should be able to adhere to the same guidelines.
- Don't look too far into it. While there are many cases where social media interactions can be a cause for concern, it is important to recognize that sometimes it's just not that deep. If you think you have a real problem on your hands, bring it to your partner's attention before it gets worse. However, if you are simply bothered by small or harmless things - like your significant other following people of the opposite gender on social media - you might have to recognize that you are creating an issue where there isn't one. If your SO isn't using their socials to make new romantic connections, and is focusing on you IRL, then consider putting more weight into how their actions make you feel out in the real world.
To learn more and meet your match, please visit www.dating.com.
About Social Discovery Group: Social Discovery Group (formerly SDVentures) is a global tech company comprising over 40 brands, an investment fund, and a venture studio. It focuses on solving issues of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection through social discovery companies. With offices on five continents and a team of more than 700 professionals, the company serves 250+ million users across 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.socialdiscoverygroup.com.
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SOURCE Dating.com | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/likes-love-dating-era-social-media/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:10 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/likes-love-dating-era-social-media/ |
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Europe’s economy has grown modestly after months of stagnation, but higher interest rates designed to fight inflation are casting a shadow as they make it more expensive for households and businesses to borrow, invest and spend.
The 20 countries that use the euro currency and their 346 million people saw 0.3% growth in the April-to-June period, compared with the first three months of the year, the EU statistics agency Eurostat reported Monday.
That’s an improvement over zero growth in the first quarter and a slight decline in fourth quarter of last year — but not by much. Plus, one-time factors and an outsized bump from Ireland made things look better than they really were.
The eurozone got a boost by 0.5% growth in France and 0.4% in Spain, where lower inflation has helped lift consumer spending power.
Yet the French figure was increased by the delivery of one very large manufactured item — a cruise ship. That statistical quirk flattered French growth but does little to disguise weak demand for goods in the eurozone’s second-largest economy.
Ireland’s growth of 3.3%, largest in the eurozone, also distorted the overall picture. Its growth figures often show large swings due to major international companies housing their headquarters there, including tech giants like Meta, Google and Apple.
Without Ireland, euro-area growth would have been only 0.1%, said Franziska Palmas, senior Europe economist at Capital Economics.
The overall figure “was driven by a few country idiosyncrasies and masks an underlying momentum that is likely much closer to stagnation,” said Marc de Muizon, senior European analyst at Deutsche Bank Research.
Europe’s largest economy, Germany, struggled in the second quarter, recording zero growth after two straight quarters of falling output as it grappled with high energy costs tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Italy, the No. 3 economy, shrank by 0.3%.
The eurozone growth figures for the first quarter were revised from a decline of 0.1%, statistically erasing what had been two straight quarters of contraction — one definition of recession.
Inflation in the eurozone, meanwhile, continued its gradual decline, falling to 5.3% in July from 5.5% in June.
Europe is still struggling with the aftershocks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including Moscow cutting off most of its natural gas to the continent that sharply raised prices for the fuel and the electricity it generates.
In Germany, Europe’s manufacturing powerhouse, Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck has proposed capping energy prices for industry with government help.
The worst of the price spike is over, but costs are still higher than before the war began. Energy has faded as a main driver of inflation, but price rises are hitting Europeans when they shop for groceries, clothes and more, and the rebound for services companies — such as hotels and restaurants that suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic — has mostly run its course.
Food prices rose 10.8% in July from a year earlier, an improvement from June and previous months but still a pain point for households. Energy, meanwhile, kept dropping, falling 6.1%. Stripping out volatile food and energy prices, core inflation held steady at 5.5% — a key indicator that has not fallen as much as central bankers want.
In a bright spot for Europe, rebounding travel, especially in the Mediterranean countries that heavily rely on tourism, is expected to support growth in the upcoming third quarter as people flock to the beach for their summer holidays in Greece, Spain and Italy, despite recent heat waves and wildfires.
Other than that, prospects for the rest of the year are muted. Another drag on the economy is the rapid series of interest rate increases that the European Central Bank has unleashed to knock down inflation.
The ECB made its ninth straight hike Thursday, bringing its key deposit rate from minus 0.5% to 3.75% in just one year, a record pace since the creation of the euro in 1999. The result has been higher mortgage rates and canceled construction plans due to expensive or unavailable credit.
The central bank’s lending survey shows the lowest level of business loans and credit lines since the statistics started in 2003.
Bank President Christine Lagarde left open whether the bank will keep hiking rates at its next meeting on Sept. 14, saying the decision will depend on incoming inflation data.
Since the rate hikes began, inflation has steadily fallen from a peak of 10.6% in October, but July’s figure of 5.3% is still well above the ECB’s 2% target.
Bank officials say tough action now will spare even more painful restriction of credit later if inflation gets completely out of control. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-europes-economy-shows-modest-growth-after-months-of-stagnation-as-rate-hikes-weigh-on-businesses/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:11 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-europes-economy-shows-modest-growth-after-months-of-stagnation-as-rate-hikes-weigh-on-businesses/ |
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating potential shareholder derivative claims on behalf of shareholders of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC).
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing toxins and other combustible liquids, which ultimately led to a controlled burn of toxic chemicals. The derailment prompted the evacuation of residents from the surrounding area. Upon returning to their homes, residents reported hazardous air quality and other health and environmental concerns.
On February 8, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that Norfolk Southern "created the problem" and that it was "their liability" and "ought to pay for it." On February 21, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the site, stating that it "will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they've inflicted on this community." The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report stated that the derailment was 100% preventable, and it later opened a special investigation into Norfolk Southern's safety practices because it had experienced five significant accidents since December 2021. On March 14, 2023, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern alleging a wide range of violations in connection with a series of Norfolk Southern train derailments. On March 16, 2023, purchasers of Norfolk Southern stock filed securities fraud class action claims against the company. On March 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Norfolk Southern seeking penalties and injunctive relief for the unlawful discharge of pollutants, oil, and hazardous substances under the Clean Water Act, and declaratory judgment for past and future costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
The Schubert Firm is investigating potential wrongdoing by Norfolk Southern's officers and directors in connection with these allegations. Norfolk Southern previously recognized $387 million in expenses related to these matters, and on July 27, 2023 announced another $416 million charge, for a total of $803 million.
If you own Norfolk Southern stock and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at
https://www.classactionlawyers.com/norfolk.
About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP
Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide.
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SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/shareholder-alert-norfolk-southern-corporation-nsc-officers-directors-face-shareholder-investigation-potential-wrongdoing-related-february-2023-east-palestine-train-derailment-which-has-resulted-803-million-charges/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:14 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/shareholder-alert-norfolk-southern-corporation-nsc-officers-directors-face-shareholder-investigation-potential-wrongdoing-related-february-2023-east-palestine-train-derailment-which-has-resulted-803-million-charges/ |
SALT LAKE CITY, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sera Prognostics Inc., The Pregnancy Company® (NASDAQ: SERA), focused on improving maternal and neonatal health by providing innovative pregnancy biomarker information to doctors and patients, today announced that it will report second quarter fiscal year 2023 financial results on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, after the close of the market. The Company will host a corresponding conference call and live webcast to discuss operational highlights, financial results and key topics at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. A press release outlining the financial results and highlights will be publicly distributed before the call.
Conference Call Details:
US domestic callers: (866) 218-2405
International callers: (412) 902-6607
Webcast Registration Link: https://app.webinar.net/5ZK3j2xMqY7
Live audio of the webcast will be available online from the Investors page of the Company's website at www.seraprognostics.com. The webcast will be archived on the Investors page and will be available for one year.
About Sera Prognostics, Inc.
Sera Prognostics is a leading health diagnostics company dedicated to improving the lives of women and babies through precision pregnancy care. Sera's mission is to provide early, pivotal pregnancy information to improve the health of mothers and newborns, resulting in reductions in the costs of healthcare delivery. Sera has a robust pipeline of innovative diagnostic tests focused on the early prediction of preterm birth risk and other complications of pregnancy. Sera's precision medicine PreTRM® Test reports to a physician the individualized risk of spontaneous premature delivery in a pregnancy, enabling earlier proactive interventions in women with higher risk. Sera Prognostics is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
About Preterm Birth
Preterm birth is defined as any birth before 37 weeks' gestation and is the leading cause of illness and death in newborns. The 2022 March of Dimes Report Card shows that, for the last four consecutive years, more than one in ten infants is born prematurely. Prematurity is associated with a significantly increased risk of major long-term medical complications, including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory illness, intellectual disability, seizures, and vision and hearing loss, and can generate significant costs throughout the lives of affected children. The annual health care costs to manage short- and long-term complications of prematurity in the United States were estimated to be approximately $25 billion for 2016.
About the PreTRM® Test
The PreTRM® Test is the only broadly validated, commercially available blood-based biomarker test that provides an early, accurate and individualized risk prediction for spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic singleton pregnancies. The PreTRM® Test measures and analyzes proteins in the blood that are highly predictive of preterm birth. The PreTRM® Test permits physicians to identify, during the weeks 18 through 20 of pregnancy, which women are at increased risk for preterm birth and its complications, enabling more informed, personalized clinical decisions based on each woman's individual risk. The PreTRM® Test is ordered by a medical professional.
Sera Prognostics, the Sera Prognostics logo, The Pregnancy Company, and PreTRM are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sera Prognostics, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the date, time and content of the Company's quarterly earnings release and conference call; and the company's strategic directives under the caption "About Sera Prognostics, Inc." These "forward-looking statements" are based on management's current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: net losses, cash generation, and the potential need to raise more capital; revenues from the PreTRM Test representing substantially all Company revenues to date; the need for broad scientific and market acceptance of the PreTRM Test; a concentrated number of material customers; our ability to introduce new products; potential competition; our proprietary biobank; critical suppliers; the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential lingering impact on our operations, as well as the business or operations of third parties with whom we conduct business; estimates of total addressable market opportunity and forecasts of market growth; potential third-party payer coverage and reimbursement; new reimbursement methodologies applicable to the PreTRM Test, including new CPT codes and payment rates for those codes; changes in FDA regulation of laboratory-developed tests; the intellectual property rights protecting our tests and market position; and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in our Final Prospectus on Form S-1, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 2021, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, or Current Reports on Form 8-K. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and the Company undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.
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SOURCE Sera Prognostics, Inc. | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sera-prognostics-announces-conference-call-webcast-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results-august-9-2023/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:16 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sera-prognostics-announces-conference-call-webcast-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2023-financial-results-august-9-2023/ |
SHANGHAI, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- LovelyWholesale (LW or the company), the international quick-to-market online women's fashion brand, successfully concluded its customer visit in four cities in the United States this month. The visit lasted for one month. In total, 30 customers were visited in four cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Miami.The visit represents not only LW's commitment to customer-centricity, but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of its customer base.
Celebrating its 12th anniversary this year, LovelyWholesale aims to thank all customers who accompanied LW's growth over the years and dedicates to delivering exceptional customer experiences. This visit is also the delivery of LW's value of "Customer Satisfaction". "Our customers told us that no brand has ever done such a thing before. LovelyWholesale is the first brand they have met face-to-face. What they felt the most is the sincerity of the company. The company is doing things on the customer satisfaction aspect. " Said Jovan Mo, head of marketing.
Over the past year, LovelyWholesale has made efforts in reducing the customer complaint rate and the return rate, shortening the package delivery time, and fabric upgrades. Within the past year, LovelyWholesale has achieved a 17% decrease in the return rate and a 13% decrease in customer complaints. These improvements are all due to LovelyWholesale's pursuit of better customer service and strict quality control.
"We have continuously raised our requirements for fabrics, aiming to provide our customers with higher quality and more comfortable fabrics without price raising. For some products, we even iterate them three or more times. For products that do not meet our expected quality, we would rather delay their launch day and cover the cost until they meet the standards," said Monica, the head of the design department. "We are pleased to see more and more customers spontaneously giving five-star rates and posting their photos as reviews on our website. Customers are more satisfied with our products than before."
"Looking back at the 12 years we have journeyed; we have faced numerous challenges. We have remained loyal to our company value and brand mission, which is customer satisfaction and letting customers can find any fashion trend they want at ultra-affordable prices," said Leon, CEO of LovelyWholesale. "In the past year, we have also been committed to expanding LovelyWholesale across multiple platforms. We have established partnerships with Amazon, Aliexpress, Temu, and Shein, opening LovelyWholesale stores on their platforms. This gives our consumers more shopping options and enables more customers to know us. LovelyWholesale's Temu shop has already become one of the top-selling women's fashion stores in the United States area. We look forward to better ongoing development of LovelyWholesale in the future and will continue to work hard for it."
About LovelyWholesale:
Founded in 2010, LovelyWholesale supplies more than 10 thousand types of fashionable clothing, shoes, sexy lingerie, and accessories. The company focuses on providing higher-quality products at competitive prices to customers all over the world. LovelyWholesale customers know they can trust us for everything they need from the latest trend-led pieces to celebrity inspired looks, to the everyday wardrobe staples and that ultimate party piece. LovelyWholesale expects every customer can find their loved style and enjoy shopping here.
LovelyWholesale has factories and warehouses all around the world. With the great advantage of fabric resources and hundreds of fashion buyers, LovelyWholesale can provide customers with the latest fashion trends and affordable prices for the first time. Over the past 12 years of operation, LovelyWholesale has become one of the most popular online fashion stores in North America.
To learn more about LovelyWholesale, follow us at lovelywholesale.com and instagram.com/lovelywholesale_online
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SOURCE Lovelywholesale | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lovelywholesale-visits-30-customers-new-york-city-los-angeles-atlanta-miami-appreciate-12-years-they-have-been-with-company/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:16 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lovelywholesale-visits-30-customers-new-york-city-los-angeles-atlanta-miami-appreciate-12-years-they-have-been-with-company/ |
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Greece’s prime minister said Monday that his government wants to take full advantage of a developing positive political climate with neighboring Turkey in order to improve bilateral relations despite a string of decades-old disputes.
But Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that doesn’t mean Turkey has “substantially changed” its stance on key differences between the two countries and needs to “decisively abandon its aggressive and unlawful conduct” against Greece’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Turkey and Greece remain at odds over maritime boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean, a dispute that affects irregular migration into the European Union, mineral rights and the projection of military power.
Mitsotakis said that he agreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12 to initiate new “lines of communication” and to maintain “a period of calm.”
High-level talks between the the two countries are expected to take place in the Greek city of Thessaloniki later this year.
However, the Greek prime minister said that Erdogan’s outreach to the EU can’t come at the expense of efforts to heal Cyprus’ nearly half-century ethnic division.
Speaking after talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Mitsotakis said that he told Erdogan that improved European-Turkish ties can’t exclude a Cyprus peace accord and that the issue can’t be “left by the wayside.”
Turkey and the breakaway Turkish Cypriots have insisted on a two-state solution since July 2017 when the most recent round of U.N.-facilitated peace talks collapsed.
That position overturned a long-standing agreement sanctioned by the U.N. Security Council in numerous resolutions that any peace deal would aim for a reunified Cyprus as a federation made up of Greek and Turkish speaking zones.
Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island’s northern third, where more than 35,000 Turkish troops are stationed.
On Friday, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar repeated that peace talks could resume only if Greek Cypriots recognize the Turkish Cypriots’ “sovereign equality.”
Christodoulides said Monday that any improvement in European-Turkish relations should be based on reciprocal action by Turkey, adding that the EU prioritizes a Cyprus peace deal in line with U.N. resolutions. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-greek-prime-minister-seeks-improved-relations-with-turkey-but-says-ankara-needs-to-drop-aggression/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:19 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-greek-prime-minister-seeks-improved-relations-with-turkey-but-says-ankara-needs-to-drop-aggression/ |
SHENZHEN, China, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AMIRO ("the Company"), a leading beauty and skincare technology brand, is thrilled to announce that its research facility, AMIRO LAB, has successfully obtained the Qualified Testing Location (QTL) certification after a comprehensive audit conducted by SGS.
SGS, a globally recognized testing, inspection and certification organization with thousands of branches and laboratories worldwide, introduced the QTL certification for laboratory witness testing. As an SGS-accredited testing location, AMIRO LAB will undergo witness testing by SGS during the certification process, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the test data. This reduces the time required for companies to transport samples to SGS-designated laboratories for testing, thus effectively shortening the product testing cycle.
"As we receive the QTL certification for AMIRO LAB, it signifies a resounding acknowledgment of our research center's testing capabilities and management efficiency," Jason Chen, Quality Management Director, said. "This milestone propels us into a new phase of strategic cooperation with SGS. Looking ahead, we will forge closer ties in product testing, inspection, certification, and industry standard-setting to drive the high-quality and sustainable development of the skincare technology industry."
Widely recognized as a technology-driven and innovation-focused skincare enterprise, AMIRO has always prioritized research and development. From its inception, AMIRO has established its AMIRO LAB to focus on innovative applications of photonic and medical technologies in the beauty and skincare field. The center boasts a wide array of state-of-the-art equipment, facilitating effective quantitative evaluations.
In a bid to enhance its research and development capabilities, AMIRO has also actively engaged in collaborations between industry, academia, and research institutions, partnering with renowned universities to set up joint R&D centers. These collaborations have enabled AMIRO to advance fundamental research and create products that precisely cater to users' skincare needs.
One exemplary collaboration involves the establishment of the Smart Photonic Medical Technology Joint Research Center with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Biomedical Engineering. This center explores the application and commercialization of photonic therapy in relevant fields. Additionally, the Company has also collaborated with Zhejiang University's School of Pharmacy that led the research on transdermal permeation technology combined with photonic energy. AMIRO has also worked with Sichuan University on a precise skin measurement and evaluation development platform, and with Chongqing University on skin photonic science to study anti-aging skincare solutions for consumers.
AMIRO's prominent position in the industry is further cemented by its active participation in establishing industry standards. The Company has taken an active role in standard-setting initiatives by leveraging its profound R&D capabilities. AMIRO has led the formulation of several industry group standards, including "Guidelines for Face Masks Used in Conjunction with RF Beauty Devices" and "Guidelines for Skincare Products Used in Conjunction with RF and Microcurrent Home Beauty Devices." Moreover, AMIRO has participated in the development of the national standard "Special Requirements for the Safety of Electrical Skin Beauty Devices" to help with the standardization of the industry.
The latest SGS' awarding of the QTL certification to AMIRO is a testament to the brand's advanced laboratory equipment and robust quality management system. This certification represents not only the assurance of product quality but signifies The Company's commitment to enhancing product certification efficiency and accelerating its product launch process to benefit more consumers.
Looking ahead, AMIRO remains committed to optimizing its quality management system as well as its product inspection and testing processes. The Company will continue to translate scientific research achievements into practical applications, delivering simple, safe, and effective products. AMIRO's ultimate goal is to offer precise and tailored skincare solutions for every individual, allowing consumers to experience the beauty of life to the fullest.
For more information about AMIRO and its range of facial devices, please visit their official website.
Or connect with them on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiroglobal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMIRO-Global-103502195623795/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amiroglobal/featured
About AMIRO
AMIRO, a beauty and skincare technology brand founded in 2015, has been delivering joy and harmony through its technologically advanced home beauty and personal care electronic products. With over 38 international design awards, AMIRO is your trusted skincare partner that offers portable, short-acting, and long-lasting solutions to improve skincare efficiency.
Upholding the idea of "Revitalize beauty through science", AMIRO's products are designed to be affordable, high-quality, and supported by clinical data. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, AMIRO is dedicated to providing skincare solutions that make women of all ages feel confident and beautiful.
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SOURCE AMIRO | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/skincare-tech-brand-amiro-receives-qtl-certification-sgs-strengthen-rampd-efforts/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:21 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/skincare-tech-brand-amiro-receives-qtl-certification-sgs-strengthen-rampd-efforts/ |
Bonifacino and Grothe Previously Served as Senior Members of the Proxy Contest and M&A Research Groups at Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, Respectively
David Whissel Promoted to Managing Director
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotlight Advisors, LLC, a leading financial and strategy advisory firm focused on guiding public companies and their investors in high-stakes situations, today announced the expansion of its senior leadership ranks with the addition of two accomplished professionals, Juan Bonifacino and Mark Grothe. Spotlight is also promoting David Whissel to Managing Director.
During the last eight years, Spotlight has become the leading advisory practice assisting public companies in responding to shareholder activists and other contentious shareholder matters, including challenged M&A transactions, controversial compensation plans and contested director elections. In the first half of 2023, according to data compiled by FactSet Research Systems, Spotlight had the most assignments as financial and strategy advisor in high-stakes shareholder activism matters in the United States.
"The addition of Juan and Mark to the Spotlight team will ensure our clients continue to receive best-in-class advice and achieve the remarkable outcomes they expect from us," said Gregory P. Taxin, Managing Member of Spotlight Advisors.
Juan Bonifacino, CFA, joins Spotlight as a Managing Director after having served as head of the shareholder activism practice at Stifel, where he advised more than three dozen public companies on activism response and preparedness, corporate governance, ESG and institutional investor outreach.
Previously, Juan was a Vice President of M&A and Proxy Contest Research at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), where he evaluated and made voting recommendations to institutional shareholders on the financial and strategic implications of over one hundred proxy contests, contentious mergers and economic proposals.
Mark Grothe, CFA, joins Spotlight as a Senior Director after 14 years as a senior member of the M&A and Contested Situations research team at Glass, Lewis & Co., where he provided institutional shareholders with in-depth research and evaluated the strategic and financial merit in thousands of special situations across all industries and markets. As a part of that work, Mark served as Glass Lewis' primary analyst and issued voting recommendations for more than 200 contested director elections and M&A transactions, including many of the most closely watched situations of the last decade.
"The Spotlight team has known Juan and Mark for many years, and we are very excited to be working with them directly as we grow our client base further," said Mr. Taxin. "I am also thrilled to announce David Whissel has been promoted to Managing Director. Over the last three years, Dave has demonstrated sound judgment, encyclopedic knowledge of activism and shareholders and an incredible work ethic. His contributions have meaningfully driven the success of our firm and great results for our clients."
Spotlight is consistently ranked as the top advisor to companies and investors, having served as a financial and strategy advisor in 118 shareholder activist campaigns in the United States since the beginning of 2020, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Finance LP. By deal volume, Spotlight advised in 25% more campaigns than its closest rival, Goldman, Sachs & Co., and in 50% more activism situations than each of the next three advisors: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan.
Mr. Taxin concluded, "With a team of seven senior professionals with experience at the world's foremost investment banks, law firms, institutional investors and proxy advisory firms, Spotlight is well placed to continue to drive great results for our clients in shareholder activism and other high-stakes corporate matters."
About Juan I. Bonifacino
Prior to joining Spotlight, Juan Bonifacino founded and led the Shareholder Advisory & Activism practice at the investment bank Stifel. In 2022, Juan was named a Rising Star Dealmaker by the Global M&A Network as well as an Emerging Leader by M&A Advisor. Previously, Juan was a Principal at CamberView Partners (now PJT CamberView), a governance advisory firm. Juan previously served as a Vice President of M&A and Proxy Contest Research at ISS, where he evaluated and made voting recommendations on the financial and strategic implications of over one hundred proxy contests, contested and contentious mergers, and other proposals with an immediate economic impact for institutional investor clients. Juan is a CFA charterholder and received an M.B.A. from Georgetown University where he was the valedictorian of his class, as well as a B.A. from Princeton University.
About Mark Grothe
Prior to joining Spotlight, Mark was a Senior Analyst on the M&A and Contested Situations research team at Glass Lewis for 14 years, where he provided institutional shareholders with in-depth research and voting recommendations on proxy contests, M&A transactions, shareholder activism campaigns and capital-related shareholder proposals. In his role at Glass Lewis, Mark frequently engaged with corporate directors and senior executives, activist investors, director candidates, institutional asset managers, and activism advisors. During his tenure, Mark served as the primary analyst on dozens of notable Glass Lewis research reports. Mark began his career as an analyst on Glass Lewis' accounting and forensic research teams, where he performed deep-dive analysis to uncover hidden or underappreciated risks at public companies related to business strategy, accounting methods, earnings quality and governance. Mark is a CFA charterholder and has a double master's degree in finance and accounting from the University of Colorado Denver, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in business and economics.
About David Whissel
David has been named a Managing Director after serving as a Senior Director of Spotlight Advisors since September 2020, where he has advised clients in dozens of proxy contests and contested M&A transaction votes. He was previously Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Governance at MacKenzie Partners, where he represented clients in proxy contests and shareholder activism situations, friendly and contested mergers and acquisitions, and annual meetings. David also advised clients on general corporate governance, investor relations, shareholder proposals, and executive compensation matters. Prior to joining MacKenzie in 2016, David was CEO and Director of Research at Proxy Mosaic, a corporate governance research and proxy advisory firm that focused on shareholder activism, M&A, and executive compensation. David received his BA from Denison University, and his JD from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
About Spotlight Advisors, LLC
Spotlight Advisors, LLC, is a leading financial and strategy advisory firm focused on guiding public companies and their investors in high-stakes situations, such as contested director elections and contentious M&A transactions. Spotlight has provided advice in more than 150 situations involving shareholder activists seeking changes in the composition of public company boards (and has served as an advisor in approximately one-fourth of all proxy fights that went to a final vote in the United States since 2016) and in dozens of complex M&A and Special Committee situations, including unsolicited bids, bear hug letters and management buyouts. These complex situations often draw intense scrutiny from shareholders, the media and regulators, raising the stakes for executives and directors as their actions and decisions are placed in the spotlight. More about the firm is available at www.SpotlightAdvisors.com.
CONTACT: Greg Taxin, gtaxin@spotlightadvisors.com
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SOURCE SPOTLIGHT ADVISORS, LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/spotlight-advisors-adds-new-expertise-with-appointment-juan-i-bonifacino-mark-grothe/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:22 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/spotlight-advisors-adds-new-expertise-with-appointment-juan-i-bonifacino-mark-grothe/ |
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP is investigating potential shareholder derivative claims on behalf of shareholders of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC).
On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing toxins and other combustible liquids, which ultimately led to a controlled burn of toxic chemicals. The derailment prompted the evacuation of residents from the surrounding area. Upon returning to their homes, residents reported hazardous air quality and other health and environmental concerns.
On February 8, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that Norfolk Southern "created the problem" and that it was "their liability" and "ought to pay for it." On February 21, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the site, stating that it "will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they've inflicted on this community." The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report stated that the derailment was 100% preventable, and it later opened a special investigation into Norfolk Southern's safety practices because it had experienced five significant accidents since December 2021. On March 14, 2023, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a complaint against Norfolk Southern alleging a wide range of violations in connection with a series of Norfolk Southern train derailments. On March 16, 2023, purchasers of Norfolk Southern stock filed securities fraud class action claims against the company. On March 31, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Norfolk Southern seeking penalties and injunctive relief for the unlawful discharge of pollutants, oil, and hazardous substances under the Clean Water Act, and declaratory judgment for past and future costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
The Schubert Firm is investigating potential wrongdoing by Norfolk Southern's officers and directors in connection with these allegations. Norfolk Southern previously recognized $387 million in expenses related to these matters, and on July 27, 2023 announced another $416 million charge, for a total of $803 million.
If you own Norfolk Southern stock and wish to obtain additional information about your legal rights, please contact us today or visit our website at
https://www.classactionlawyers.com/norfolk.
About Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP
Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe represents shareholders, employees, and consumers in class actions against corporate defendants, as well as shareholders in derivative actions against their officers and directors. The firm is based in San Francisco, and with the help of co-counsel, litigates cases nationwide.
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SOURCE Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/shareholder-alert-norfolk-southern-corporation-nsc-officers-directors-face-shareholder-investigation-potential-wrongdoing-related-february-2023-east-palestine-train-derailment-which-has-resulted-803-million-charges/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:22 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/shareholder-alert-norfolk-southern-corporation-nsc-officers-directors-face-shareholder-investigation-potential-wrongdoing-related-february-2023-east-palestine-train-derailment-which-has-resulted-803-million-charges/ |
Customers dream of fast, flexible networking; Lumen now delivers in minutes
DENVER, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) launched its flagship capability on its Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform today. It's the first important step toward the company's bold vision to disrupt the telecom industry. By offering customers radical flexibility in how they buy, use, and manage networking services, Lumen is cloudifying traditional telecom.
"We have been preparing for this moment for a long time, building a world-class telecom network with state-of-the-art fiber, broad coverage and unsurpassed route diversity and scalability," said Kate Johnson, Lumen CEO. "Lumen's Network-as-a-Service offering takes the next step to deliver on our customers' networking dreams: the ability to fire up any port, with any service, at any time. It's your network, your way."
The Lumen NaaS Vision
Lumen® Internet On-Demand is the first and flagship service added to the Lumen NaaS platform, starting with limited availability. Over time, Lumen NaaS will expand to include security services, such as DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service), SASE (Secure Access Service Edge), and Edge services. The platform's fully digital, consumption-based model will set a new standard for customer experience and expectations.
"Lumen is putting the customer at the center of our Network-as-a-Service platform, creating a cloud-like experience for buying, consuming, and managing our network services," said Andrew Dugan, Lumen CTO. "Businesses are looking for a dynamic, dedicated internet connection, but they want it from a reliable and flexible network. Unlike some Network-as-a-Service players, Lumen can deliver on this promise because we own and manage our network."
Delivering on the Customer Dream
"Lumen plays an important role in helping content providers move video content to AWS," said Evan Statton, Sr. Principal Architect in M&E at AWS. For example, Fox Sports was able to bring its live sports content to AWS by using an on-demand connection aligned with Lumen's Network-as-a-Service platform. We look forward to continued work with Lumen to help AWS customers achieve their live cloud production goals."
Customers win big with Lumen's NaaS experience. They will use a digital portal or APIs (Application Program Interface) to order Lumen Internet On-Demand and future services for instant internet connections to public data centers and port-enabled business locations. They can quickly assign an existing port at a new enterprise building, connecting them to Lumen's network. Once established, the digital experience begins, including:
- A dedicated connection to one of the largest, most connected and secure networks in the world
- Ability to scale capacity in minutes
- Internet speeds from 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps
- A consumption-based billing model; pay only for the time services are active, starting at hourly rates
- Real-time visibility into service performance and network usage
- Quick enablement of new capabilities
"Lumen has taken a pragmatic approach when it comes to understanding the evolving needs of the Network-as-a-Service market, in terms of matching user experience with capabilities offered," said Rohit Mehra, group vice president, Network and Telecommunications, IDC. "Using its high-capacity, global backbone network, Lumen Internet On-Demand delivers flexible network services for a customer-first approach. Lumen's commitment to providing an effortless operational experience holds promise for enterprises in terms of consuming, managing and upgrading their networks.
Aligning with Key Partners
Lumen NaaS will leverage a broad digital ecosystem of partners – including data center, cloud, technology, and managed service providers - to maximize impact and reach. Digital Realty is one of the first third-party data center providers to join the Lumen Network-as-a-Service Alliance Partner program. Joint customers can provision on-demand services using a digital portal or API in real-time and increase or decrease bandwidth as needed.
"We're delighted to be partnering with Lumen to redefine the enterprise digital transformation landscape," said Chris Sharp, CTO, Digital Realty. "Lumen's cutting-edge Network-as-a-Service solution combined with our global network of highly connected facilities and orchestration platform ServiceFabric™, empowers enterprises with on-demand, personalized experiences, revolutionizing the way networks are consumed and managed. This highlights our shared vision, as we unite to meet the evolving needs of our customers."
Lumen's new on-demand services will be updated and shared throughout the year. More information on Lumen Internet On-Demand can be found at https://www.lumen.com/en-us/networking/internet-on-demand.html.
About Lumen Technologies:
Lumen connects the world. We are dedicated to furthering human progress through technology by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. Everything we do at Lumen takes advantage of our network strength. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, and managed service capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, Twitter: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies, and YouTube: /lumentechnologies.
This release may include forward-looking statements (as defined by the federal securities laws), which are subject to the "safe harbor" protections thereunder. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and are based on current expectations only, are inherently speculative, and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied by us in those statements. Factors that could affect actual results include, but are not limited to, each of the matters and risks referenced from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason, which speak only as of the date made.
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SOURCE Lumen Technologies | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lumen-shakes-up-telecom-industry-with-network-as-a-service-offering/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:23 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/lumen-shakes-up-telecom-industry-with-network-as-a-service-offering/ |
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo’s journalists on Monday protested against the government’s decision to suspend a private television station’s operations.
Authorities made the move last week because they said there were irregularities concerning the registration of Klan Kosova’s business license that violated the country’s constitution.
Scores of journalists and members of civil society organizations gathered in downtown Pristina in front of the main government building to protest the suspension of the broadcaster’s operations.
The demonstrators said it was a “politically motivated” action taken by the government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. It was the first closure of a media outlet since the end of Kosovo’s 1998-1999 war, they said, holding a banner that read “Democracy dies in darkness.”
Last week, Kosovo’s Ministry of Industry and Trade suspended Klan Kosova’s license, after the documentation of its business registration in neighboring North Macedonia showed that its owners had named Kosovo’s municipalities as if belonging to Serbia, “which is a violation of our constitution,” according to a statement released Monday.
The journalist accused the government’s decision as “an open and unprecedented war … against the media,” urging owners of Klan Kosova to continue its legal fight at the court.
Klan Kosova’s editor-in-chief, Gazmend, Syla called the suspension “unfair.”
“We consider this a kind of pressure to stop us doing of what we are doing,” he told The Associated Press, adding they would challenge the government’s decision in court.
Last month, Kosovo’s Agency of Business Registration found the alleged fault and decided to suspend the operations of the television station, a move supported last week by the ministry.
The station has said it had already fixed the problems as requested.
Klan Kosova was launched in 2009 to become the country’s biggest private television station.
The embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the European Union in Kosovo, expressed “their deep concern” about the suspension of Klan Kosova’s business license considering it “a disproportionate decision that will have repercussions on media plurality in Kosovo.”
Kosovo is a former province in Serbia, which doesn’t recognize Pristina’s 2008 declaration of independence. Kosovo’s sovereignty is backed by the U.S. and most EU nations, but not by Russia and China.
Serbia pulled out of Kosovo in 1999 after NATO bombed the country to stop the onslaught against ethnic Albanian separatists. At least 10,000 civilians, most of them ethnic Albanians, were killed in the conflict.
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Llazar Semini reported from Tirana, Albania. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-kosovo-journalists-protest-governments-suspension-of-private-television-station/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:25 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-kosovo-journalists-protest-governments-suspension-of-private-television-station/ |
Retrospective Research Demonstrates Potential of FeelBetter in Optimizing Medication Regimens of Senior Patients and Reducing Avoidable Healthcare Utilization and Spending
BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FeelBetter, the leading provider of medication management technology and pioneer of Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence, today announced the findings of retrospective research conducted by investigators in Boston. Presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) 2023 Annual Meeting and the 2023 Annual Research Meeting (ARM) of AcademyHealth, the results of the retrospective study demonstrate that FeelBetter's Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence accurately and appropriately predicts senior patients at high risk of medication-related adverse events.
The study, conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, concluded that FeelBetter can be used to effectively risk stratify emergency department use and hospitalizations among patients over the age of 65 with multiple chronic conditions and complex medication regimens. Study results also indicate that when paired with a medication management intervention, FeelBetter's technology could potentially reduce healthcare utilization and expenses, and aid in improving patient outcomes.
"Medication-related issues contribute to 10-30% of hospitalizations in the elderly. Preventing these issues is critical to improving patient outcomes and reducing avoidable healthcare utilization and expenses. However, current intervention methods and alert systems have numerous limitations," said Lisa Rotenstein, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Population Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital and principal investigator of the study. "What's exciting about this solution is that it enables a targeted view of those individuals who may most benefit from medication management interventions and the alteration of their medication regimens. These warnings and recommendations have the potential to aid clinicians and other healthcare providers in optimizing medication regimens, which could lead to downstream improvement in patient outcomes and cost reductions.
The population for the retrospective study included 108,817 of Brigham and Women's Hospital's senior patients (mean age of 77.1) who were taking an average of nine medications to treat multiple chronic conditions. Among the key study findings, the FeelBetter algorithm successfully incorporated a wide variety of data from the electronic health records and accurately stratified patients into risk groupings with distinct demographic and utilization characteristics. Patients in successive risk strata, as identified by FeelBetter, incurred incrementally more emergency department visits and hospitalizations one-, three-, and six-months post prediction. Patients in the highest risk percentile (99%) incurred a mean of 0.531 hospitalizations three-months post prediction.
The study also estimated a total of $4.8 million in potential savings in three months following the use of FeelBetter to risk stratify patients, when considering only the top 5% of high-risk patients and specific hospitalizations that may have been avoided pending medication changes. Based on the results of the retrospective analysis, the study team has begun conducting prospective research to further assess the capabilities of FeelBetter's technology to impact patient trajectories and costs of care.
"Our AI-powered solution leverages data on medications, demographics, social history, diagnoses, lab results, procedures, allergies, emergency department and hospitalization patterns, and costs, among other sources of information. It's comprehensively designed to help clinicians risk stratify patients and proactively personalize medication regimens," said Dr. Adva Tzuk Onn, FeelBetter's Chief Medical Officer, and a physician with more than 15 years of experience in geriatric and family medicine. "We're pleased to see the growing body of evidence for our Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence and look forward to beginning prospective research with the team at Brigham and Women's Hospital to further assess FeelBetter's impact on improving patient outcomes and driving value-based care."
About FeelBetter
FeelBetter is the pioneer of Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence, changing the polypharmacy paradigm on both an individual and population health level with a comprehensive solution designed to tackle the challenges associated with suboptimal medication management.Powered by AI and machine learning capabilities, FeelBetter's Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence drives personalized medication management, helping healthcare professionals ensure that their patients' medication regimens are safe, effective, and appropriate. The technology pinpoints patients at high risk of deterioration and preventable hospitalization due to suboptimal medication management, and proactively suggests immediate and actionable interventions to reduce these risks. Provider organizations use FeelBetter to monitor their patients' progress and more proactively deliver the right follow-up care, as well as to efficiently allocate resources and minimize preventable, costly use of healthcare services.
Led by an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, clinical pharmacists, and technologists, FeelBetter is headquartered in Boston and Tel Aviv, Israel. Investors include Firstime Ventures, Shoni Health Ventures, Triventures, Random Forest VC, The Group Ventures, and GoodCompany Ventures. To learn more, visit feelbetter.healthcare.
Media Contact
Nicole Pariser
nicole@i-feelbetter.com
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SOURCE FeelBetter | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-shows-accuracy-appropriateness-benefit-using-feelbetter-risk-stratify-elderly-polypharmacy-patients/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:28 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-shows-accuracy-appropriateness-benefit-using-feelbetter-risk-stratify-elderly-polypharmacy-patients/ |
SHENZHEN, China, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AMIRO ("the Company"), a leading beauty and skincare technology brand, is thrilled to announce that its research facility, AMIRO LAB, has successfully obtained the Qualified Testing Location (QTL) certification after a comprehensive audit conducted by SGS.
SGS, a globally recognized testing, inspection and certification organization with thousands of branches and laboratories worldwide, introduced the QTL certification for laboratory witness testing. As an SGS-accredited testing location, AMIRO LAB will undergo witness testing by SGS during the certification process, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the test data. This reduces the time required for companies to transport samples to SGS-designated laboratories for testing, thus effectively shortening the product testing cycle.
"As we receive the QTL certification for AMIRO LAB, it signifies a resounding acknowledgment of our research center's testing capabilities and management efficiency," Jason Chen, Quality Management Director, said. "This milestone propels us into a new phase of strategic cooperation with SGS. Looking ahead, we will forge closer ties in product testing, inspection, certification, and industry standard-setting to drive the high-quality and sustainable development of the skincare technology industry."
Widely recognized as a technology-driven and innovation-focused skincare enterprise, AMIRO has always prioritized research and development. From its inception, AMIRO has established its AMIRO LAB to focus on innovative applications of photonic and medical technologies in the beauty and skincare field. The center boasts a wide array of state-of-the-art equipment, facilitating effective quantitative evaluations.
In a bid to enhance its research and development capabilities, AMIRO has also actively engaged in collaborations between industry, academia, and research institutions, partnering with renowned universities to set up joint R&D centers. These collaborations have enabled AMIRO to advance fundamental research and create products that precisely cater to users' skincare needs.
One exemplary collaboration involves the establishment of the Smart Photonic Medical Technology Joint Research Center with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Biomedical Engineering. This center explores the application and commercialization of photonic therapy in relevant fields. Additionally, the Company has also collaborated with Zhejiang University's School of Pharmacy that led the research on transdermal permeation technology combined with photonic energy. AMIRO has also worked with Sichuan University on a precise skin measurement and evaluation development platform, and with Chongqing University on skin photonic science to study anti-aging skincare solutions for consumers.
AMIRO's prominent position in the industry is further cemented by its active participation in establishing industry standards. The Company has taken an active role in standard-setting initiatives by leveraging its profound R&D capabilities. AMIRO has led the formulation of several industry group standards, including "Guidelines for Face Masks Used in Conjunction with RF Beauty Devices" and "Guidelines for Skincare Products Used in Conjunction with RF and Microcurrent Home Beauty Devices." Moreover, AMIRO has participated in the development of the national standard "Special Requirements for the Safety of Electrical Skin Beauty Devices" to help with the standardization of the industry.
The latest SGS' awarding of the QTL certification to AMIRO is a testament to the brand's advanced laboratory equipment and robust quality management system. This certification represents not only the assurance of product quality but signifies The Company's commitment to enhancing product certification efficiency and accelerating its product launch process to benefit more consumers.
Looking ahead, AMIRO remains committed to optimizing its quality management system as well as its product inspection and testing processes. The Company will continue to translate scientific research achievements into practical applications, delivering simple, safe, and effective products. AMIRO's ultimate goal is to offer precise and tailored skincare solutions for every individual, allowing consumers to experience the beauty of life to the fullest.
For more information about AMIRO and its range of facial devices, please visit their official website.
Or connect with them on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiroglobal/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AMIRO-Global-103502195623795/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@amiroglobal/featured
About AMIRO
AMIRO, a beauty and skincare technology brand founded in 2015, has been delivering joy and harmony through its technologically advanced home beauty and personal care electronic products. With over 38 international design awards, AMIRO is your trusted skincare partner that offers portable, short-acting, and long-lasting solutions to improve skincare efficiency.
Upholding the idea of "Revitalize beauty through science", AMIRO's products are designed to be affordable, high-quality, and supported by clinical data. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, AMIRO is dedicated to providing skincare solutions that make women of all ages feel confident and beautiful.
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SOURCE AMIRO | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/skincare-tech-brand-amiro-receives-qtl-certification-sgs-strengthen-rampd-efforts/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:29 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/skincare-tech-brand-amiro-receives-qtl-certification-sgs-strengthen-rampd-efforts/ |
Parties Interested in Joining the Case Can Contact Milberg Attorneys
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- If a video advertisement autoplays for a bot on an unlisted webpage, does anyone hear it?
Apparently, they do—and Google "charges advertisers hefty amounts for the privilege of autoplaying their advertisements into the void," according to a putative class action filed by attorneys for Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman ("Milberg").
Google charges advertisers for proprietary "TrueView" video ads that appear on YouTube, apps, and websites. When a TrueView ad is served, users are asked with a visual prompt if they want to skip the ad after 5 seconds. Google policy states TrueView ads must be skippable, audible, and cannot be initiated by passive user scrolling.
Media buyers only pay for actual ad views—not impressions—Google promises. Google also tells advertisers TrueView ads will run on high-quality sites, before the page's main video content, with the audio on, and that advertisers will only pay for ads that are not skipped.
Milberg's lawsuit alleges, however, that Google broke these promises and, in the process, unlawfully enriched itself while robbing businesses of billions of dollars spent on digital ads.
"Many of the TrueView advertisements are, in fact, displayed as muted, auto-playing videos either 'out-stream' or obscured on independent sites," the lawsuit states.
Ads were played on sites with copyright violations, "made-for-advertising" sites, sites delisted for copyright and piracy violations, and were even served to Google's own web-crawling bots, the lawsuit also claims.
As evidence, the suit cites a report from Adalytics, an ad campaign analytics firm, suggesting that Google has violated its TrueView policies for years, serving ads on hundreds of thousands of low-quality websites and apps. For some brands, between 42 – 75% of TrueView ad spend was on video ads that did not meet Google's standards, Adalytics found, including ads not meeting Google's definitions of "in-stream."
The lead plaintiffs in the case, like many of the marketers who spoke to Adalytics, say they would not have purchased TrueView skippable in-stream video ads if they had known beforehand the true nature of Google's deceptive policies. They are seeking refunds from Google, in addition to punitive damages and attorneys' fees, for themselves and all advertisers who paid for TrueView in-stream advertisements.
Milberg, a national leader in class action litigation, is seeking clients who paid Google to run advertisements through the TrueView program and believe they were misled about the service.
Inquiries should be sent to Gary M. Klinger (gklinger@milberg.com / 866-252-0878).
About Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC:
For over 50 years, Milberg and its affiliates have been fighting to protect victims' rights and have recovered over $50 billion for clients. A pioneer in class action litigation, Milberg is widely recognized as a leader in defending the rights of victims of corporate wrongdoing.
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SOURCE Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/milberg-lawsuit-accuses-google-misleading-trueview-advertisers/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:29 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/milberg-lawsuit-accuses-google-misleading-trueview-advertisers/ |
Wall Street pointed modestly higher early Monday as investors look ahead to another busy week of corporate earnings while digesting a mixed bag of economic data from abroad.
Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 each rose about 0.1% before the bell.
Shares were mixed in Europe after data released Monday showed Europe’s economy has grown modestly after months of stagnation.
The 20 countries that use the euro currency and their 346 million people saw 0.3% growth in the April-to-June period, compared with the first three months of the year, the EU statistics agency Eurostat said.
That’s a slight improvement over zero growth in the first quarter and a slight decline in fourth quarter of last year.
Germany’s DAX was up 0.1% while the CAC 40 in Paris gained 0.5% and Britain’s FTSE 100 was essentially unchanged.
Another heavy slate of corporate earnings will consume markets this week, with Pfizer, Starbucks, CVS Health, Amazon, Apple and Airbnb all releasing financial results in the coming days.
In Asia, most markets logged gains Monday on hopes for more stimulus from Beijing for the sluggish Chinese economy.
Worries over China’s slowdown have tempered optimism recently over the possibility that inflation is cooling enough to get the Federal Reserve to stop hiking interest rates.
Adding to pressure on the ruling Communist Party to reverse an economic slowdown, Chinese factory activity contracted in July as export orders shrank, a survey showed,
A purchasing managers’ index issued by the national statistics agency and an industry group improved to 49.3 from June’s 49 on a 100-point scale but was below the 50-point level that shows activity contracting.
“The PMI surveys suggest that China’s economic recovery continued to lose momentum in July,” Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics said in a commentary. “Looking forward, policy support is needed to prevent China’s economy from slipping into a recession, not least because external headwinds look set to persist for a while longer.”
The Hang Seng in Hong Kong rose 0.8% to 20,078.94, while the Shanghai Composite index advanced 0.5% to 3,291.04.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index closed 1.3% higher at 33,172.22. In Seoul, the Kospi climbed 0.9% to 2,632.58.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.1% higher, to 7,410.40 and the SET in Bangkok was up 0.8%. The Sensex in India rose 0.4% to 66,419.66.
Wall Street closed out another winning week on Friday, as the S&P 500 rose 1%. The Dow added 0.5% and the Nasdaq climbed 1.9% as Big Tech stocks led the market.
If inflation is cooling enough to get the Federal Reserve to stop hiking interest rates, that might allow the economy to continue growing and avoid a long-predicted recession.
Though critics say the stock market’s rally may have gone too far, too fast, hopes for a halt to rate hikes helped technology stocks and others seen as big beneficiaries from easier rates to rally.
A report on Friday showed the inflation measure the Fed prefers to use slowed last month by a touch more than expected. Data also showed total compensation for workers rose less than expected during the spring. While that’s discouraging for workers, investors see it adding less upward pressure on inflation.
The hope among traders is that the slowdown in inflation means Wednesday’s hike to interest rates by the Federal Reserve will be the final one of this cycle. The federal funds rate has leaped to a level between 5.25% and 5.50%, up from virtually zero early last year. High interest rates work to lower inflation by slowing the entire economy and hurting prices for stocks and other investments.
In other trading Monday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 81 cents to $81.39 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It gained 49 cents to $80.58 on Friday.
Brent crude, the international standard, added 67 cents to $85.08 a barrel.
The U.S. dollar rose to 142.23 Japanese yen from Friday’s 141.01 yen. The euro was at $1.1026, up from $1.1019.
___
Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok; Ott reported from Silver Spring, Maryland.
AP Business Writer Joe McDonald in Beijing contributed. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-stock-market-today-asia-shares-gain-after-wall-st-rally-as-investors-pin-hopes-on-china-stimulus/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:31 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/business/ap-stock-market-today-asia-shares-gain-after-wall-st-rally-as-investors-pin-hopes-on-china-stimulus/ |
Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Today's top stories
A massive bombing at a political rally near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border killed at least 54 and wounded nearly 200 on Sunday. NPR's Diaa Hadid says the attack spotlights how "violence has been spilling over into Pakistan since the Taliban seized Afghanistan nearly two years ago."
The Taliban has been killing suspected Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan, and the Islamic State has been fighting back, Hadid says on Up First this morning. But she says this attack was "politically sensitive" because the targeted party is part of the current Pakistani government coalition. Pakistan is preparing for elections this fall, and Hadid reports that the stakes are high, as voting will be difficult if political parties are targeted like this.
Ukrainian forces have recaptured the southeastern village of Staromaiorske during their counteroffensive against Russia.
A Ukrainian soldier tells NPR's Joanna Kakissis that progress has been slow and hard-fought, but reclaiming the village was a strategic win, as it's one line of attack that aims to cut off Russia's resupply routes. Russia has also blamed Ukraine for recent drone attacks. Though Ukraine hasn't officially claimed responsibility, Zelenskyy has said the drone attacks are "absolutely fair" considering Russia's attacks.
The shipping company Yellow is expected to file for bankruptcy as early as today. The move would put some 30,000 jobs at stake, according to the Teamsters union. Yellow received a $700 million federal loan and was deemed essential to national security during the pandemic. Here's everything we know about the situation so far.
The expected shutdown would be the largest trucking bankruptcy in U.S. history, an analyst tells NPR's Camila Domonoske. Legal filings say the Teamsters union intentionally "triggered a death spiral" by blocking Yellow's restructuring efforts and scaring away customers with threats of a strike. The Union blames gross mismanagement at the company. Domonoske adds that a Congressional Oversight Board raised red flags about the loan given to Yellow and why it was deemed essential.
Ashley Hemmers, the tribal administrator for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, got heatstroke while driving to a meeting to present her people's concerns about climate change. She didn't make the meeting, but tells NPR's Leila Fadel how climate change is impacting indigenous communities.
"For us, it's one of the highest threats," she says on Morning Edition. "If we keep extracting from our environment, it won't just be heat stroke and second and third-degree burns — it's going to be losing people's lives."
Picture show
The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City is showcasing work from living West African artists for the first time as part of an ongoing series the museum says will focus on "specific art scenes across the globe." The current collection of photographs captures the colonial past, beautiful beaches and boisterous protests of Lagos, Nigeria. The exhibition runs through Sept. 16. Check out some of the photographs if you can't make it.
Life advice
When Keisha "TK" Dutes lost her cat Feisty Misses Peabody, she wasn't prepared for the grief she felt. She spoke with her friend Alexander Hardy about how to cope with pet loss.
Give yourself space and time to process the loss.
Don't go through it alone, and find a way to channel your grief.
Don't forget the good times, and honor your pet in a way that resonates with you.
3 things to know before you go
Soccer fans in Malawi might see a person dressed as a colorful tsetse fly on the field. But it's not a team mascot — the fly's performance teaches residents about sleeping sickness.
Scientists revived a tiny roundworm frozen in the Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years. The remarkable discovery could help researchers understand how other animals adapt to extreme temperatures.
Jeffrey Gibson, a multimedia artist who fuses together American, Native American and queer perspectives in visual culture, will be the first Indigenous artist to represent the U.S. at the 2024 Venice Biennale, a prestigious international arts event. | https://www.wvia.org/news/2023-07-31/up-first-briefing-pakistan-bombing-yellow-trucking-meltdown-grieving-pet-loss | 2023-07-31T13:12:35 | 1 | https://www.wvia.org/news/2023-07-31/up-first-briefing-pakistan-bombing-yellow-trucking-meltdown-grieving-pet-loss |
Bonifacino and Grothe Previously Served as Senior Members of the Proxy Contest and M&A Research Groups at Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, Respectively
David Whissel Promoted to Managing Director
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spotlight Advisors, LLC, a leading financial and strategy advisory firm focused on guiding public companies and their investors in high-stakes situations, today announced the expansion of its senior leadership ranks with the addition of two accomplished professionals, Juan Bonifacino and Mark Grothe. Spotlight is also promoting David Whissel to Managing Director.
During the last eight years, Spotlight has become the leading advisory practice assisting public companies in responding to shareholder activists and other contentious shareholder matters, including challenged M&A transactions, controversial compensation plans and contested director elections. In the first half of 2023, according to data compiled by FactSet Research Systems, Spotlight had the most assignments as financial and strategy advisor in high-stakes shareholder activism matters in the United States.
"The addition of Juan and Mark to the Spotlight team will ensure our clients continue to receive best-in-class advice and achieve the remarkable outcomes they expect from us," said Gregory P. Taxin, Managing Member of Spotlight Advisors.
Juan Bonifacino, CFA, joins Spotlight as a Managing Director after having served as head of the shareholder activism practice at Stifel, where he advised more than three dozen public companies on activism response and preparedness, corporate governance, ESG and institutional investor outreach.
Previously, Juan was a Vice President of M&A and Proxy Contest Research at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), where he evaluated and made voting recommendations to institutional shareholders on the financial and strategic implications of over one hundred proxy contests, contentious mergers and economic proposals.
Mark Grothe, CFA, joins Spotlight as a Senior Director after 14 years as a senior member of the M&A and Contested Situations research team at Glass, Lewis & Co., where he provided institutional shareholders with in-depth research and evaluated the strategic and financial merit in thousands of special situations across all industries and markets. As a part of that work, Mark served as Glass Lewis' primary analyst and issued voting recommendations for more than 200 contested director elections and M&A transactions, including many of the most closely watched situations of the last decade.
"The Spotlight team has known Juan and Mark for many years, and we are very excited to be working with them directly as we grow our client base further," said Mr. Taxin. "I am also thrilled to announce David Whissel has been promoted to Managing Director. Over the last three years, Dave has demonstrated sound judgment, encyclopedic knowledge of activism and shareholders and an incredible work ethic. His contributions have meaningfully driven the success of our firm and great results for our clients."
Spotlight is consistently ranked as the top advisor to companies and investors, having served as a financial and strategy advisor in 118 shareholder activist campaigns in the United States since the beginning of 2020, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Finance LP. By deal volume, Spotlight advised in 25% more campaigns than its closest rival, Goldman, Sachs & Co., and in 50% more activism situations than each of the next three advisors: Bank of America, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan.
Mr. Taxin concluded, "With a team of seven senior professionals with experience at the world's foremost investment banks, law firms, institutional investors and proxy advisory firms, Spotlight is well placed to continue to drive great results for our clients in shareholder activism and other high-stakes corporate matters."
About Juan I. Bonifacino
Prior to joining Spotlight, Juan Bonifacino founded and led the Shareholder Advisory & Activism practice at the investment bank Stifel. In 2022, Juan was named a Rising Star Dealmaker by the Global M&A Network as well as an Emerging Leader by M&A Advisor. Previously, Juan was a Principal at CamberView Partners (now PJT CamberView), a governance advisory firm. Juan previously served as a Vice President of M&A and Proxy Contest Research at ISS, where he evaluated and made voting recommendations on the financial and strategic implications of over one hundred proxy contests, contested and contentious mergers, and other proposals with an immediate economic impact for institutional investor clients. Juan is a CFA charterholder and received an M.B.A. from Georgetown University where he was the valedictorian of his class, as well as a B.A. from Princeton University.
About Mark Grothe
Prior to joining Spotlight, Mark was a Senior Analyst on the M&A and Contested Situations research team at Glass Lewis for 14 years, where he provided institutional shareholders with in-depth research and voting recommendations on proxy contests, M&A transactions, shareholder activism campaigns and capital-related shareholder proposals. In his role at Glass Lewis, Mark frequently engaged with corporate directors and senior executives, activist investors, director candidates, institutional asset managers, and activism advisors. During his tenure, Mark served as the primary analyst on dozens of notable Glass Lewis research reports. Mark began his career as an analyst on Glass Lewis' accounting and forensic research teams, where he performed deep-dive analysis to uncover hidden or underappreciated risks at public companies related to business strategy, accounting methods, earnings quality and governance. Mark is a CFA charterholder and has a double master's degree in finance and accounting from the University of Colorado Denver, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in business and economics.
About David Whissel
David has been named a Managing Director after serving as a Senior Director of Spotlight Advisors since September 2020, where he has advised clients in dozens of proxy contests and contested M&A transaction votes. He was previously Executive Vice President and Director of Corporate Governance at MacKenzie Partners, where he represented clients in proxy contests and shareholder activism situations, friendly and contested mergers and acquisitions, and annual meetings. David also advised clients on general corporate governance, investor relations, shareholder proposals, and executive compensation matters. Prior to joining MacKenzie in 2016, David was CEO and Director of Research at Proxy Mosaic, a corporate governance research and proxy advisory firm that focused on shareholder activism, M&A, and executive compensation. David received his BA from Denison University, and his JD from the University of Tennessee College of Law.
About Spotlight Advisors, LLC
Spotlight Advisors, LLC, is a leading financial and strategy advisory firm focused on guiding public companies and their investors in high-stakes situations, such as contested director elections and contentious M&A transactions. Spotlight has provided advice in more than 150 situations involving shareholder activists seeking changes in the composition of public company boards (and has served as an advisor in approximately one-fourth of all proxy fights that went to a final vote in the United States since 2016) and in dozens of complex M&A and Special Committee situations, including unsolicited bids, bear hug letters and management buyouts. These complex situations often draw intense scrutiny from shareholders, the media and regulators, raising the stakes for executives and directors as their actions and decisions are placed in the spotlight. More about the firm is available at www.SpotlightAdvisors.com.
CONTACT: Greg Taxin, gtaxin@spotlightadvisors.com
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SOURCE SPOTLIGHT ADVISORS, LLC | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/spotlight-advisors-adds-new-expertise-with-appointment-juan-i-bonifacino-mark-grothe/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:35 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/spotlight-advisors-adds-new-expertise-with-appointment-juan-i-bonifacino-mark-grothe/ |
CLEVELAND, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) today said it will report fiscal 2023 third quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
A conference call will follow at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call telephonically, please register for the call here. Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in information and a unique pin to access the call. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com.
The webcast will be archived on the website and available for replay later that day.
About TransDigm Group
TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, engineered audio, radio and antenna systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, cargo loading, handling and delivery systems and specialized flight, wind tunnel and jet engine testing services and equipment.
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SOURCE TransDigm Group Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/transdigm-third-quarter-earnings-report-conference-call-set-tuesday-august-8-2023/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:35 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/transdigm-third-quarter-earnings-report-conference-call-set-tuesday-august-8-2023/ |
Forester Wilderness Ad Showcases 'A Beautiful Silence' and Partnership with the National Park Foundation
CAMDEN, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Subaru of America, Inc. today unveiled a new creative spot focused on the automaker's efforts to expand access to the outdoors for all. Featuring the all-new 2023 Subaru Forester Wilderness, the advertisement stars Keivonn Woodard, the Emmy-nominated, 10-year-old Deaf actor and showcases the automaker's long-standing partnership with the National Park Foundation.
In the creative, titled "A Beautiful Silence," a father and his young son, who is Deaf, drive through Yosemite National Park, with the wonders of the park's beauty surrounding them. Featuring audio elements and American Sign Language (ASL), the spot shows how the pair experience the park's natural wonders in different ways, but share the special feeling that nature brings forth.
"The outdoors are for everyone, and whether it's a trip to a national park or a walk in the woods, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to experience its beauty," said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. "Through our partnership with the National Park Foundation and our commitment to making safe and capable vehicles like the Forester Wilderness, we're hoping that even more people will be inspired to explore the wonders of nature, just like the father and son in our new creative."
Through the National Park Foundation's Outdoor Exploration initiative and ParkVentures program, Subaru is helping more people create life-long relationships with the outdoors. The campaign seeks to make the outdoors more accessible to communities that have been historically excluded from parks, either through a community's physical presence on public lands or through the narrative of who belongs outdoors.
Last year, with support from Subaru, ParkVentures supported the efforts of more than 55 organizations to connect more people, including those with differing abilities, to meaningful experiences in United States national parks. Subaru also developed a direct relationship with ParkVentures grantee Black People Who Hike, which aims to help address the lack of representation in parks by empowering, educating and engaging Black people in the outdoors. Subaru provided the vehicles, gear, and experiences for an enhanced retreat in Acadia National Park to help create safe, welcoming spaces and cultivate lasting relationships with the outdoors.
Subaru is the largest corporate donor to the National Park Foundation and has provided over $70 million to organizations working to conserve national parks. To learn more about the automaker's partnership with National Park Foundation and over 20 years of environmentally focused initiatives, please visit Subaru.com/earth.
The new Subaru Forester Wilderness spot, created in collaboration with agency partner Carmichael Lynch, celebrates the automaker's devotion to adventure and environmental stewardship. Beginning today, "A Beautiful Silence" will run in 30-second format on national television and be featured in 15-second format in targeted digital and social media promotions throughout August, while a 60-second version will be available on YouTube.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Media Contacts:
Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com
Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
aleiter@subaru.com
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SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/new-subaru-creative-celebrates-access-outdoors-all/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:36 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/new-subaru-creative-celebrates-access-outdoors-all/ |
The last time Niecy Nash-Betts and I spoke, she was just Niecy Nash, and sitting here with her in a corner booth on the covered patio at Porta Via in Calabasas — her favorite spot, her favorite table — I’m wondering if she’s using her hyphenated name professionally, the one she took when she married singer-actor Jessica Betts in 2020.
“Like ... when they announce ...” I stop myself. We’re having lunch the week before Emmy nominations and I don’t finish the thought, knowing actors can be superstitious about putting something out into the world before it happens.
Nash-Betts fixes me with a stare. “No. Say what you were about to say.” So I say it, asking if, should they announce her as an Emmy nominee for her moving portrayal of Glenda Cleveland on the Netflix limited series “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” if it’d be Niecy Nash or Niecy Nash-Betts.
“My prayer is that they say Niecy Nash-Betts,” she replies. (They did.)
She isn’t finished. She’s never finished.
“How can someone who spoke her whole life and had it manifest be superstitious?” Nash-Betts, 53, continues. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to jinx it.’ If you are a person who goes by the Bible, it says, ‘God says it.’ It doesn’t say ‘He hoped’ or ‘He imagined’ or ‘He dreamed.’ He said it. And that’s what I’m gonna say. And that’s that.”
For actors Riley Keough, Emily Blunt, Kathryn Hahn, Niecy Nash-Betts, Murray Bartlett and Paul Walter Hauser, learning new skills come with the job.
Nash-Betts and I have been spending time talking about living in gratitude. When she was 5, she saw Lola Falana on TV and started wearing fancy dresses, Mickey Mouse sunglasses and scarves because that’s what ladies do. That’s what Lola Falana does. Nash-Betts’ family thought she was a bit ... touched ... for good and for bad because she would no longer answer to her name. Only to Lola. She believed her destiny was stamped on the canvas of her imagination and told her grandmother as much.
“I want to be Black, fabulous and on TV,” she said. “The Black part I couldn’t do anything about. But the fabulous and the being on TV ... I got to work on that.”
You probably know how that turned out — plum roles on TV series that showcased her comedic talent (“Reno 911,” “The Soul Man,” “Getting On”) and, over time, opportunities to prove her worth as a dramatic actor in shows like “Claws” and projects with filmmaker Ava DuVernay (“Selma,” “When They See Us”).
“I’m blessed beyond measure, you know what I mean?” Nash-Betts says. “Which is not to say that I have not had a life that has been filled with a lot of pain. That is true too. But it still does not take away from the fact that in the moment, it is so charming. It is so divine. And the cherry on top is that I get to share my success with someone I love.”
She’s giving off strong still-in-the-honeymoon vibes. I ask how long it was between her second and third marriages. Nash-Betts laughs. “Five minutes.” Five minutes?
“Let me tell you why,” she says, leaning in. “The reason why is they don’t let me stay single. Let me tell you something: I’m a hot ticket. If I want to be with you, I’m going to make your experience feel custom and not off-the-rack. A lot of people show up and say, ‘This is just how I am.’ No. I’m going to show up and make sure I provide the proper provision for the patient. What do you require? What do you need? And once people know that you regard them that way, they’re swirly-eyed, they don’t want to let you out of their clutches and they always want to marry you. What can I say?”
She doesn’t have to say anything. She’s convincing. So convincing that, without knowing all the facts, I feel sorry for her first two husbands. How did they let her leave?
“You mean, why didn’t they do more to keep me?” Nash-Betts answers. I apologize. Yes, that’s exactly what I meant. “Well, you know what they say. When a woman is finished with you, by the time you find out about it, she was gone months ago.”
I’m beginning to understand why Oprah recently asked her to write a book on relationships and love. She met Betts, a.k.a. Nash-Betts’ “better half,” a.k.a. her “hersband,” years ago. They were friends — until they weren’t.
“I had never been friends with anyone” before starting a relationship, she tells me. “I always started,” Nash-Betts lowers her voice to a sultry tone, “‘Hello, stranger.’ And I’d give them the eyes and bat my eyelashes. I never was friends with anyone. I was like, ‘I have friends. I need a lover.’ This time was different. It’s so different and good and special.”
And unexpected, I imagine?
“I surprised a lot of people,” she says, laughing. “Surprised myself. You could have bought me with a penny and got change back if you had told me I was gonna be married to a woman. I never saw it coming. But I am open to love. Period. I just didn’t know it was gonna come like that. But I’m proud that I didn’t limit myself. I was just like, ‘This is the person and I’m gonna go for it and I don’t care what anybody thinks.’”
I had read that there were people — because there are always people — who advised Nash-Betts against the marriage, telling her that it would damage her professionally. Which makes it all the more delicious that she’s thriving professionally, working more than ever and just earned the best reviews of her career for her portrayal of Cleveland, the woman who alerted police about her neighbor, Jeffrey Dahmer. (Her repeated calls to authorities about Dahmer’s suspicious activities went unheeded.)
Those who have watched “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” want to talk with Nash-Betts about one scene and pretty much one scene only, what she calls the “sandwich thing.” It’s in the seventh episode when Dahmer (played by Evan Peters) pays Cleveland a visit after the apartment building’s manager has evicted him based on Cleveland’s concerns. Dahmer brings along a gift, a plate wrapped in tin foil that contains a sandwich — white bread, the meat of uncertain origin. (“I used to be a butcher. I made it just for you.”)
“Everyone wants to tell me what they would have done in that situation,” Nash-Betts says. “I wanted Dahmer to believe that I was unafraid, but I wanted the audience to know that I was in fear for my life. I needed the audience to get both, but Dahmer to get just the one thing.”
The acclaim she won for her work in “Dahmer,” along with a lead role in the ABC crime drama “The Rookie: Feds” as well as hosting Fox’s game show “Don’t Forget the Lyrics!” and voice work on animated series “Agent Elvis” and “Human Resources” and a key part in DuVernay’s next movie, “Origin,” would seem to suggest that those people telling Nash-Betts that her marriage would hurt her career got it backward.
“Say it louder for the people in the back,” she says, when I point this out.
“It is not lost on me that being in the best relationship I’ve ever been in in my life comes with a side order of the best moment in my career,” Nash-Betts continues. “When you are loved properly, you can show up in the world as your full self. You show up appreciated. You show up not wanting anything. You don’t need affirmation. You are feeling your full self.”
“She’s unlike anyone else I know in the most beautiful way,” observes DuVernay, who counts Nash-Betts as not only a collaborator, but one of her closest friends. “She’s a very consistent person. What you see is what you get. Nothing is an act. She is herself and herself is made up of a lot of things, a lot of really rare things and she brings all of that to the screen. That’s why she connects. People can sense that there’s something real there.”
Nash-Betts grew up in the church, though she was the only member of her house to go. She sang in the adult choir at Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Compton, not because she was a prodigy but for the simple fact that she couldn’t get a ride with her neighbor when the youth choir was singing. Noticing a glittering cross necklace she’s wearing with her burgundy jumpsuit and Goorin Bros. fedora, I ask if she’s still a churchgoer.
“I live in a space now where it’s more about the spirit and your relationship with a higher power, whomever he or she may be in your life,” Nash-Betts says, noting that the necklace was a gift from Betts, the daughter of a pastor.
“We know ‘the word’ — and I’m pulling these air quotes from heaven — but it’s interesting because being in a same-sex marriage, what I can tell you for sure is that there’s no hate like Christian love,” Nash-Betts says. “People will come to your page and damn you to hell but never invite you to church. People will say you are not living right and that you’re an abomination but will never say you a Scripture or pray for you. And if that’s what you stand on, I don’t want no part of it.”
I tell her that I’ve never understood people who take the time to write hateful comments on social media.
“But you know what that means?” Nash-Betts says. “You’re not happy. Because if you were happy, if you were somewhere skinny-dipping and drinking Champagne, you wouldn’t have time to be on my page telling me what I’m not. In my mind, I’m already on my way back home right now, taking off my jumpsuit to see if the pool is still warm.”
Nash-Betts lets out a boisterous laugh, the effervescence that DuVernay says is a “massive blessing” to anyone who knows her, a joy that comes from loving life and a genuine desire to live in gratitude. She’s happy. And she wants everyone else to be happy. She looks around the restaurant, pointing out couples, some of whom are probably friends, some of whom are probably related, some of whom might be romantically involved. Who knows which box they check, she asks. Who cares?
“I don’t have to like your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your comings, your goings. You happy, baby? Salud! That’s the point,” she says. “Because nobody has come back from the other side to tell us nothing. You only got this go-around. And if you live your life in service to other people and what they think, you’re wasting precious time.”
Leaving the restaurant takes a bit of time, as well-wishers (is that Elizabeth Berkley ... yes it is!) greet Nash-Betts, basking in her energy and enthusiasm. After we part, I’m standing by my car, checking messages, when she drives past in her gold convertible sedan, honking her horn and telling me to have a blessed day. Who am I to refuse?
From the Oscars to the Emmys.
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-07-31/niecy-nash-betts-happy-marriage-joins-career-high | 2023-07-31T13:12:36 | 1 | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-07-31/niecy-nash-betts-happy-marriage-joins-career-high |
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The Australian army helicopter that crashed Friday during a multinational exercise hit the water with a “catastrophic impact” and there is no chance its four crew members survived, officials said Monday.
Australia’s fleet of more than 40 of the MRH-90 Taipan helicopters, made by French Airbus, has been grounded since the crash and there are doubts any will fly again.
They will be grounded until crash investigators determine what caused the tragedy. The government announced in January it plans to replace them with 40 U.S. Black Hawks. The Taipans’ retirement date of December 2024 would be 13 years earlier than Australia had initially planned.
Defense Minister Richard Marles said the search and rescue effort changed Monday to a victim recovery operation with no chance that Capt. Danniel Lyon, Lt. Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Joseph Laycock or Cpl. Alexander Naggs had survived.
“There was a catastrophic incident and with every passing hour, it is now clear that any hope of finding (the four crew) alive has been lost,” Marles told reporters.
The helicopter crashed during a nighttime exercise with the United States and other nations near the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef.
Marles had said on Saturday the helicopter “ditched,” which refers to an emergency landing. But on Monday he would not rule our pilot error or disorientation in the dark causing the crash into the water. He urged against speculation about potential causes.
“There was a catastrophic impact on the helicopter when it hit the water,” Marles said.
“We will move through the process of putting the Black Hawks into service as quickly as we can … and we will not be flying MRH90s until we understand what has happened,” Marles added.
The lost Taipan had been taking part in Talisman Sabre, a biennial U.S.-Australian military exercise that is largely based in Queensland state. This year’s exercise involves 13 nations and more than 30,000 military personnel.
The exercise was continuing on Monday with some changes near the recovery operation, Australian Defense Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell said.
Campbell thanked the United States and Canada for their help in the search and recovery efforts, which he said was “not an easy operation.”
The wreckage lay in the path of strong currents and tidal movements. It was too deep for standard diving operations.
Part of the airframe had been retrieved by Monday but most of the helicopter remained on the seabed, Campbell said.
It was the second emergency involving an Australian Taipan since March. The fleet was grounded after one ditched into the sea off the New South Wales state coast near the naval base at Jervis Bay during a nighttime counterterrorism training exercise. All 10 passengers and crew members were rescued.
Retired Maj. Gen. Fergus McLachlan was involved in integrating the Taipan into the Australian army when they arrived in 2007 and had been responsible for keeping them airworthy. He said the Taipan did not have the proven record of the Lockheed Martin-designed Black Hawks.
“We bought into an unproven system. In real terms, it was a developmental aircraft and it has never really matured,” McLachlan told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
“It was always a battle to maintain it and keep it flying,” McLachlan added. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-4-crew-members-on-australian-army-helicopter-that-crashed-off-coast-didnt-survive-officials-say/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:37 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-4-crew-members-on-australian-army-helicopter-that-crashed-off-coast-didnt-survive-officials-say/ |
A half-century ago, the nation's top health experts urged the federal agency in charge of mine safety to adopt strict rules protecting miners from poisonous rock dust.
The inaction since — fueled by denials and lobbying from coal and other industries — has contributed to the premature deaths of thousands of miners from pneumoconiosis, more commonly known as “black lung." The problem has only grown in recent years as miners dig through more layers of rock to get to less accessible coal, generating deadly silica dust in the process.
One former regulator called the lack of protection from silica-related illnesses “stunning” and one of the most “catastrophic” occupational health failures in U.S. history.
Now the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has proposed a rule that would cut the current limit for silica exposure by half — a major victory for safety advocates. But there is skepticism and concern about the government following through after years of broken promises and delays.
James Bounds, a retired coal miner from Oak Hill, West Virginia, said nothing can be done to reverse the debilitating illness he was diagnosed with at 37 in 1984. But he doesn't want others to suffer the same fate.
“It’s not going to help me — I’m through mining,” said Bounds, 75, who now uses supplemental oxygen to breathe. “But we don’t want these young kids breathing like we do."
The rule, published in the Federal Register this month, cuts the permissible exposure limit for silica dust from 100 to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an 8-hour shift in coal, metal and nonmetal mines such as sand and gravel.
The proposal is in line with exposure levels imposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on construction and other non-mining industries. And it’s the standard the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was recommending as far back as 1974.
Silicosis is an occupational pneumoconiosis caused by the inhalation of crystalline silica dust present in minerals like sandstone. The U.S. Department of Labor began studying silica and its impact on workers’ health in the 1930s, but the focus on stopping exposure in the workplace largely bypassed coal miners.
Instead, regulations centered on coal dust, a separate hazard created by crushing or pulverizing coal rock that also contributes to black lung.
In the decades since, silica dust has become a major problem as Appalachian miners cut through layers of sandstone to reach less accessible coal seams in mountaintop mines where coal closer to the surface has long been tapped. Silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust and causes severe forms of black lung disease even after a few years of exposure.
An estimated one in five tenured miners in Central Appalachia has black lung disease; one in 20 has the most disabling form of black lung.
Miners are also being diagnosed at younger ages — some in their 30s and others with the advanced kind in their 40s. "That’s just nuts,” said Dr. Carl Werntz, a West Virginia physician who conducts black lung examinations and described cases as “skyrocketing."
United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts said there's no reason a 35-year-old miner should be diagnosed with a disease "that's going to cost him his life.”
"Nobody should be dying because of a job they have," Roberts said.
The federal mine safety agency's existing silica standards were developed in the 1970s, around the time of the U.S. Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.
Chris Williamson, assistant labor secretary for mine safety and health, said the proposed rule would protect miners’ health. “Miners should never be forced to choose between preserving their health and providing for themselves and their families,″ he said.
West Virginia University law professor Pat McGinley, who was part of a state team investigating the 2010 Upper Big Branch mining disaster that killed 29 miners, called the resurgence of black lung “unparalleled” when it comes to occupational health failures. In the Upper Big Branch mine, 71% of the 24 miners who received autopsies were found to have black lung.
“I can’t think of any occupation where there has been such devastation that’s been ignored" by corporations and the government, he said. “It's stunning.”
The new rule is supported by Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Bob Casey and John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia, who pushed for the change and released a joint statement saying protecting miners from "dangerous levels of silica cannot wait.”
The Mine Safety and Health Administration will be collecting comments on the proposal through Aug. 28, with a final rule expected next year. Three hearings scheduled in Arlington, Virginia, Beckley, West Virginia, and Denver.
One issue expected to come up: the use of respiratory protection equipment.
The National Mining Association, which represents mine operators, wants workers to be permitted to use respirators as a method of compliance with the rule.
“These are recognized industrial hygiene practices utilized by″ federal regulators in other industries, “but not in mining,″ spokesman Conor Bernstein said, adding that better ventilation controls, safety awareness and regulations on coal dust have all contributed to ”exponentially lower dust levels” inside U.S. mines in recent years.
The mine workers' union and others, however, say respirators are ineffective while performing heavy labor in hot, confined spaces common in mines. The proposed rule allows for the use of respirators on a temporary basis while operators are implementing engineering controls. But advocates say inspectors aren't present often enough to ensure they don't become a permanent solution.
“The history of miner safety and health enforcement teaches us that exceptions become the rule,” said Sam Petsonk, a West Virginia attorney who represented miners who were diagnosed with black lung after operators knowingly violated regulations.
The proposed rule also includes a provision that allows companies to self-report silica levels. Federal inspectors conduct spot checks to ensure accuracy, but mine operators still have leeway to manipulate reporting data, said Willie Dodson, Central Appalachian field coordinator for Appalachian Voices, an advocacy group.
Ideally, federal inspectors should take samples day after day in a given mine to determine compliance, he said.
A coal dust examiner who worked for a Kentucky mining company was sentenced to six months in prison last month for falsifying dust samples and lying to federal officials.
In rural Nickelsville, Virginia, near the Tennessee line, Vonda Robinson says miners and their families are owed more accountability from the federal government and mine operators. Her husband John was diagnosed with black lung about a decade ago at 47. Now, his doctors say he will need a lung transplant.
Vonda Robinson said her husband doesn't know what to say when his 5-year-old granddaughter asks why he can't run and play with her, why even walking down the end of the driveway leaves him physically spent.
"He’ll tell her ‘Honey, papaw can't do that,' " she said.
During his 28 years mining, John Robinson would come home with his face covered with dust. But she tried not to worry. Everyone in the community mined coal.
“He was one of those that wanted to go in the mines to give his family the American dream — the nice house, vehicles, put our kids through college,” she said. "And this is what he got." | https://www.wvia.org/news/pennsylvania-news/2023-07-31/after-decades-of-delays-and-broken-promises-coal-miners-hail-rule-to-slow-rise-of-black-lung | 2023-07-31T13:12:39 | 1 | https://www.wvia.org/news/pennsylvania-news/2023-07-31/after-decades-of-delays-and-broken-promises-coal-miners-hail-rule-to-slow-rise-of-black-lung |
Retrospective Research Demonstrates Potential of FeelBetter in Optimizing Medication Regimens of Senior Patients and Reducing Avoidable Healthcare Utilization and Spending
BOSTON and TEL AVIV, Israel, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FeelBetter, the leading provider of medication management technology and pioneer of Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence, today announced the findings of retrospective research conducted by investigators in Boston. Presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) 2023 Annual Meeting and the 2023 Annual Research Meeting (ARM) of AcademyHealth, the results of the retrospective study demonstrate that FeelBetter's Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence accurately and appropriately predicts senior patients at high risk of medication-related adverse events.
The study, conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, concluded that FeelBetter can be used to effectively risk stratify emergency department use and hospitalizations among patients over the age of 65 with multiple chronic conditions and complex medication regimens. Study results also indicate that when paired with a medication management intervention, FeelBetter's technology could potentially reduce healthcare utilization and expenses, and aid in improving patient outcomes.
"Medication-related issues contribute to 10-30% of hospitalizations in the elderly. Preventing these issues is critical to improving patient outcomes and reducing avoidable healthcare utilization and expenses. However, current intervention methods and alert systems have numerous limitations," said Lisa Rotenstein, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Medical Director of Population Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital and principal investigator of the study. "What's exciting about this solution is that it enables a targeted view of those individuals who may most benefit from medication management interventions and the alteration of their medication regimens. These warnings and recommendations have the potential to aid clinicians and other healthcare providers in optimizing medication regimens, which could lead to downstream improvement in patient outcomes and cost reductions.
The population for the retrospective study included 108,817 of Brigham and Women's Hospital's senior patients (mean age of 77.1) who were taking an average of nine medications to treat multiple chronic conditions. Among the key study findings, the FeelBetter algorithm successfully incorporated a wide variety of data from the electronic health records and accurately stratified patients into risk groupings with distinct demographic and utilization characteristics. Patients in successive risk strata, as identified by FeelBetter, incurred incrementally more emergency department visits and hospitalizations one-, three-, and six-months post prediction. Patients in the highest risk percentile (99%) incurred a mean of 0.531 hospitalizations three-months post prediction.
The study also estimated a total of $4.8 million in potential savings in three months following the use of FeelBetter to risk stratify patients, when considering only the top 5% of high-risk patients and specific hospitalizations that may have been avoided pending medication changes. Based on the results of the retrospective analysis, the study team has begun conducting prospective research to further assess the capabilities of FeelBetter's technology to impact patient trajectories and costs of care.
"Our AI-powered solution leverages data on medications, demographics, social history, diagnoses, lab results, procedures, allergies, emergency department and hospitalization patterns, and costs, among other sources of information. It's comprehensively designed to help clinicians risk stratify patients and proactively personalize medication regimens," said Dr. Adva Tzuk Onn, FeelBetter's Chief Medical Officer, and a physician with more than 15 years of experience in geriatric and family medicine. "We're pleased to see the growing body of evidence for our Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence and look forward to beginning prospective research with the team at Brigham and Women's Hospital to further assess FeelBetter's impact on improving patient outcomes and driving value-based care."
About FeelBetter
FeelBetter is the pioneer of Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence, changing the polypharmacy paradigm on both an individual and population health level with a comprehensive solution designed to tackle the challenges associated with suboptimal medication management.Powered by AI and machine learning capabilities, FeelBetter's Pharmaco-Clinical Intelligence drives personalized medication management, helping healthcare professionals ensure that their patients' medication regimens are safe, effective, and appropriate. The technology pinpoints patients at high risk of deterioration and preventable hospitalization due to suboptimal medication management, and proactively suggests immediate and actionable interventions to reduce these risks. Provider organizations use FeelBetter to monitor their patients' progress and more proactively deliver the right follow-up care, as well as to efficiently allocate resources and minimize preventable, costly use of healthcare services.
Led by an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, clinical pharmacists, and technologists, FeelBetter is headquartered in Boston and Tel Aviv, Israel. Investors include Firstime Ventures, Shoni Health Ventures, Triventures, Random Forest VC, The Group Ventures, and GoodCompany Ventures. To learn more, visit feelbetter.healthcare.
Media Contact
Nicole Pariser
nicole@i-feelbetter.com
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SOURCE FeelBetter | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-shows-accuracy-appropriateness-benefit-using-feelbetter-risk-stratify-elderly-polypharmacy-patients/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:42 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-shows-accuracy-appropriateness-benefit-using-feelbetter-risk-stratify-elderly-polypharmacy-patients/ |
10 books to add to your reading list in August
On the Shelf
10 books for your August reading list
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Critic Bethanne Patrick recommends 10 promising titles, fiction and nonfiction, to consider for your August reading list.
When Shakespeare wrote “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date,” he didn’t know about August 2023, which follows the hottest July in recorded history. Whether you prefer sweltering in sand or sheltering in place, you’ll need the distraction of a good book or two (or 10). This month’s crop includes books about dynamic ghosts, a privileged woman reckoning with the environment, an under-appreciated tennis great and a jolly grifter’s comeuppance. Keep cool and read on.
FICTION
Witness: Stories
By Jamel Brinkley
FSG: 240 pages, $26
(Aug. 1)
Brinkley’s second short-story collection is superb. At a time when second books often fail and few publishers risk short fiction, Brinkley returns (after 2018’s “A Lucky Man”) with a must-read: stories about how our actions and inaction change everyone’s lives. Set in New York City, these tales of witness involving Black characters insist on attention as they love, lose, succeed, fail and live extraordinary ordinary lives.
The Apology
By Jimin Han
Little, Brown: 304 pages, $28
(Aug. 1)
Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, you might still be haunted by the memory of lost loved ones. In her second novel, Han shows how busy a family ghost can be. Hak Jeonga, a Korean matriarch, dies at 105 before she’s able to intervene in a disturbing family situation. Her past life of privilege often clashes humorously with the errands of her afterlife, but it’s her strong and serene sense of purpose that will delight anyone with relatives who tend to micromanage.
Edan Lepucki breaks down the influences on ‘Time’s Mouth,’ her forthcoming epic on motherhood, magic, California cults and L.A.’s complicated charms.
Time’s Mouth
By Edan Lepucki
Counterpoint: 416 pages, $28
(Aug. 1)
Ursa leads a 1970s Northern California commune, raising her son Ray and introducing women to a method of time travel she discovered as an abused teenager in Connecticut. Ursa ran away then, and later Ray and his girlfriend, Cherry, do the same, absconding to Los Angeles. In order to help Ray and his young child, Ursa will have to engage with Time itself. The novel that results is weird and wacky and wonderful to read.
Mobility
By Lydia Kiesling
Crooked Media Reads: 368 pages, $28
(Aug. 1)
Elizabeth Glenn can’t quite shake her childhood moniker “Bunny,” nor her childhood legacy as the daughter of a U.S. diplomat whose postings awakened her to the importance of fossil fuels in world politics. As she climbs the corporate ladder of a Texas-based oil company, Bunny slowly realizes that energy isn’t just a matter of machines, but also the toughest and scarcest commodity for all modern women.
Lydia Kiesling’s second novel, ‘Mobility,’ is a political novel in the tradition of Upton Sinclair. That made it a great fit for Crooked Media’s publishing imprint
Happiness Falls
By Angie Kim
Hogarth: 400 pages, $28
(Aug. 29)
Kim, whose 2019 novel “Miracle Creek” was an incendiary courtroom drama, returns with a novel (again set in northern Virginia) that will change the way you think about communication. Mia, 20 years old and a chatterbox, narrates a story about a missing person: her father. Does Adam Parson’s disappearance have something to do with his son Eugene, whose Angelman syndrome has left him mute?
NONFICTION
The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean
By Susan Casey
Doubleday: 352 pages, $32
(Aug. 1)
Casey’s writing about the world’s oceans has been captivating ever since her 2005 book “The Devil’s Teeth,” about the Farallon Islands off the coast of San Francisco and sharks that gather there. In “The Underworld,” Casey proves to be an exceptional adventurer and chronicler but also a member of a community dedicated to exploration and conservation of our least-understood aquatic wild places.
The Many Lives of Mama Love: A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing
By Lara Love Hardin
Simon & Schuster: 320 pages, $29
(Aug. 1)
Once a privileged suburban mom, Hardin funded her heroin addiction by stealing neighbors’ credit cards, was convicted of 32 felonies, and became Inmate S32179. After negotiating prison politics and being released, she found success as a ghostwriter — but her shame tainted her achievements and her dazzling life of encounters with stars including Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Hardin’s narrative to self-acceptance is dazzling too, as momentous as the road she’s traveled.
The 14 most essential works of nonfiction include histories by Kevin Starr, Carey McWilliams, Reyner Banham and, ruling them all, Mike Davis’ ‘City of Quartz.’
Pulling the Chariot of the Sun: A Memoir of a Kidnapping
By Shane McCrae
Scribner: 272 pages, $27
(Aug. 1)
The award-winning poet was kidnapped at age 3 from his white mother and Black father by his maternal grandparents, who were white supremacists. They hid his heritage from him as much as they could — or taunted him for it when they couldn’t. The legacy McCrae had to pull into adult life is here told honestly, the author’s lyrical writing heightening the facts and feelings rather than softening them.
Althea: The Life of Tennis Champion Althea Gibson
By Sally H. Jacobs
St. Martin’s Press: 464 pages, $32
(Aug. 15)
Harlem-born Althea Gibson knocked the tennis world’s lily-white country-club socks off with her powerful game in the early 1950s. She won at Wimbledon, she won at Forest Hills, she became No. 1 in her sport and was the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Jacobs, a Boston Globe journalist, shows how Gibson endured too much racism and too little admiration while setting the precedent for a more diverse and interesting sport.
Jim Thorpe won two golds at the 1912 Olympics, then had them stripped (and posthumously restored this year). David Maraniss’ new biography honors him.
Anansi’s Gold: The Man Who Looted the West, Outfoxed Washington, and Swindled the World
By Yepoka Yeebo
Bloomsbury: 400 pages, $30
(Aug. 29)
Dr. John Ackah Blay-Miezah told investors he could access Kwame Nkrumah’s Oman Ghana Trust Fund, billions of dollars the country’s first president had supposedly funneled to Swiss banks. He was a classic fraudster, neither a doctor nor operating under his real name. But Ghanaian journalist Yeebo takes it to another level, tracing Blay-Miezah’s scams to the lies of British colonial administrators who toppled Nkrumah. It’s a juicy, wild ride.
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VATICAN CITY (AP) — When Pope Francis made the first foreign trip of his papacy, to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day in 2013, he urged young people to make a “mess” in their local churches, to shake things up even if it ruffled the feathers of their bishops.
As he embarks this week on another edition of World Youth Day, in Lisbon, Portugal, Francis in many ways has taken his own advice to heart. After 10 years as pope, Francis is accelerating his reform agenda and making revolutionary changes in personnel and policy that are definitely shaking things up.
Unencumbered by the shadow of Pope Benedict XVI, who died seven months ago, and despite recovering from a second intestinal surgery in as many years, the 86-year-old Francis is opening a frenetic second half of the year with his Portugal visit. He seems aware that he has a limited sweet spot of time to solidify the changes he believes are necessary for the 21st century church, and is looking to the next generation of faithful and leaders to execute them.
“The sense I get is that this is the consolidation phase of the pontificate,” said papal biographer Austen Ivereigh. “He’s laying the basis now, laying the ground, for the future.”
And no better place to put it on display than at a World Youth Day. The international rally, which St. John Paul II launched in 1986 to galvanize young Catholics in their faith, is expected to draw up to 1 million people for the first post-pandemic event of its kind. Francis’ perennial social justice concerns about climate change, social inequality and fraternity, as well as Russia’s war in Ukraine, are expected to be major themes.
Beyond Portugal, though, Francis’ multifold strategy for laying the groundwork for the future is coming together and will hit significant marks in the coming months.
His global canvassing of rank-and-file Catholics about their vision for the future comes to fruition this October with a big synod at the Vatican. The meeting is intended to give direction on such hot-button issues as the place of LGBTQ+ Catholics and women in the church, and for the first time will feature women and young people voting on proposals alongside bishops.
“I really think that for Pope Francis, he felt that ‘OK, now it’s mature’ and it would be good really to involve all the members, all the people in the synod as members” with the right to vote, said Sister Nathalie Becquart, who is one of the key synod organizers.
To then implement the vision that emerges from the synod, Francis has been naming a slew of unusually young bishops for key archdioceses — in his native Buenos Aires, Madrid and Brussels, among others. At the same time, he’s elevated several cardinals in their 50s — and in some cases their 40s — including the auxiliary bishop of Lisbon who is organizing World Youth Day.
Putting such young clerics in such important positions ensures a generation’s worth of likeminded leadership in the Vatican and archdioceses around the world. While not all are cookie-cutter proteges of Francis, many are seen as similarly pastorally minded and thus more game to implement his reforms, especially as the older generation of bishops and cardinals dies out.
After Francis is gone, the youngest of these new cardinals will have some three decades’ worth of local leadership and conclave votes to select future popes, suggesting a generational and ideological shift in the church leadership is very much underway.
Francis’ most important young “legacy” appointment was that of the Vatican’s new doctrinal czar, Argentine Cardinal-elect Victor Manuel Fernandez, 61. Francis’ theological ghostwriter ran into Vatican problems in the past over questions about his doctrinal orthodoxy, and his appointment sent shockwaves through the conservative and traditionalist wings of the church.
Fernandez sees his appointment as part of Francis’ longer-term agenda. “He is proposing a more inclusive church, more respectful of different ways of living, even of thinking,” Fernandez said in an interview.
Portuguese Cardinal-elect Americo Aguiar, who is in charge of World Youth Day, is another young churchman who also understands his appointment as part of a generational turning point for the Catholic hierarchy.
At age 49 he will become the second-youngest member of the College of Cardinals when he is installed Sept. 30. He is just six months older than the current youngest cardinal, whom Francis elevated this time last year: Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, head of the church in Mongolia where Francis will travel at the end of August.
“My reading of it is that this has to do with young people, it has to do with youth, it has to do with Portugal, it has to do with World Youth Day, it has to do with all of that,” Aguiar said in an interview. “I think that his objective and his underlining was exactly to send a signal to the young people, to every young person who is preparing the day, whether in Portugal or in the world, to feel identified with this decision.”
Francis said as much in his monthly prayer intentions for August, this time dedicated to the Lisbon event.
“In Lisbon, I would like to see a seed for the world’s future,” Francis said. “A world where love is at the center, where we can sense that we are sisters and brothers.”
His wish in many ways echoed his words at the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio, which now seem prescient in outlining many of the key pastoral messages Francis has emphasized over the past decade. Delivering a spontaneous, off-the-cuff exhortation to a gathering of Argentine pilgrims that was organized at the last minute, Francis urged the young to get out into the streets, spread their faith and “make a mess.”
“I want to see the church get closer to the people,” Francis said then, speaking in his native Spanish. “I want to get rid of clericalism, the mundane, this closing ourselves off within ourselves, in our parishes, schools or structures.”
Realizing the radical nature of his message, Francis apologized to the bishops for what was about to come, even though in the 10 years since, he has only gone further than anyone could have imagined at the time.
“The true reform of the church, you know, is not a revolution bringing something completely from outside,” said Becquart, the French nun, as she reflected on Francis’ agenda. “It’s a path of change that is a way to unfold tradition, but in a very dynamic way.”
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AP reporters Helena Alvez in Lisbon, Portugal, and Almudena Calatrava in Buenos Aires contributed.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-as-the-pope-heads-to-portugal-he-is-laying-the-groundwork-for-the-churchs-future-and-his-legacy/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:43 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-as-the-pope-heads-to-portugal-he-is-laying-the-groundwork-for-the-churchs-future-and-his-legacy/ |
Report Outlines Company's Progress Toward Its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Goals
ST. LOUIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global packaging leader TricorBraun today published its inaugural Sustainability report, outlining its progress toward its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
"We are pleased to present our first-ever Sustainability Report, which brings to life our commitments to sustainable and ethical practices," said Court Carruthers, president and CEO, TricorBraun. "Our team is guided by the principle that we do things the right way always, and this naturally extends to our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts—including helping our customers with their own ESG goals by offering sustainable packaging options while improving our own environmental footprint."
Key highlights from the report include these 2022 milestones:
- Reduced our carbon footprint and incorporated international operations into our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory
- Sourced renewable energy to further reduce negative climate impacts
- Piloted our first Zero-Waste program in multiple locations across North America
- Further protected our team members by creating a Warehousing Roundtable which emphasizes dock, forklift, and 5S safety programs
- Supported open communications channels that are accessible for all team members by relaunching the TricorBraun Ethics Hub to include additional languages, international access, and mobile reporting
- Established exclusive agreements to offer sustainable packaging options to customers in the US, Canada, and Europe
"The release of our first Sustainability report is a significant milestone as our team continues to work tirelessly in pursuit of achieving our ESG goals," said Susan Bergethon, SVP & general counsel, and leader of the Company's ESG strategy. "We are pleased with our progress to date, and we look forward to making continued progress toward our intentional ESG goals for the benefit of our team members, our customers, our business—and our planet."
To read the full report and learn more about TricorBraun's ESG goals, visit https://www.tricorbraun.com/about-us/esg-at-tricorbraun/2022-sustainability-report.html.
About TricorBraun
Founded in 1902, TricorBraun is a global packaging leader. We provide innovative solutions across a wide array of customer end markets in plastic, glass, and aluminum containers, closures, dispensers, tubes, and flexibles. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Center provides forward-thinking design, driven by consumer insight and creative solutions. TricorBraun is comprised of more than 2,000 packaging professionals operating from more than 100 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
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Proceeds to Continue Advancing Community Goals and Vital Life-Saving Initiatives for New Yorkers In Need
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In just six months of sales, Housing Works Cannabis Co, a CAURD licensee and the first adult-use cannabis dispensary in the state of New York, has directed millions in cannabis proceeds toward some of New York City's most urgent community needs. As part of parent organization Housing Works, the dispensary's sales proceeds go directly to helping New Yorkers with healthcare, housing, job training, harm reduction, case management, advocacy for health equity and social justice initiatives, LGBTQ+ youth programs and sexual health services.
"Our goal, going back over 30 years ago through Housing Works, has been to empower New Yorkers through advocacy and bridge communities to life saving services," said Sasha Nutgent, Retail Manager at Housing Works Cannabis Co. "From the resources we've rolled out, to the brands we carefully select for our customers, everything we do here has a greater purpose and we're humbled to see the support our mission is receiving."
Sales & Consumer Trends
Within three hours of opening on Dec. 29, 2022, Housing Works Cannabis Co saw an estimated $40,000 in sales—amounting to over $1.6 million in the first month and an estimated $12 million in the first six months of operations. Conversion rates, sales and customer retention continue to be strong, with as many as 1,000 unique visitors on busy days.
Consumer trend insights from the Housing Works Cannabis Co team show that customers continue to make decisions based on potency, reflecting a need for more education on cannabis and its numerous uses. New Yorkers and tourists alike also tend to prefer sativa and sativa-leaning hybrid strains, with flower representing the top-selling product category. In addition, the team also found that those who come in seeking edibles typically look for products that promote sleep and mitigate anxiety.
Menu Expansion
More recently, the dispensary added 200 new products to its menu, bringing more options from queer-, BIPOC- and women-owned and led companies into the store for customers to discover. Housing Works Cannabis Co currently carries seven social equity brands, with more coming soon.
"One unforeseen challenge and a pain point for both retailers and customers has been product rollout," said Nutgent. "There have been major improvements with the state's product testing timeline, for example, but the feedback we still hear from some Black-owned brands is that there is not enough funding to get their products into the market."
Last month, Housing Works Cannabis Co introduced its first Black-owned brand, Brelixi—which is also woman- and queer-owned—onto its shelves. Other social equity brands include Fat Nell (women-led), The Weekenders (BIPOC-owned and -led), as well as Flamer and Drew Martin (queer-owned).
Delivery Service
With accessibility as another focal point for the nonprofit, Housing Works Cannabis Co also became the first legal cannabis delivery service to launch in the state. Handled fully in-house thanks to 30+ years of Housing Works' experience through its thrift furniture donation and pick-up program, deliveries currently account for about 5-7% of sales.
Spanning select ZIP codes in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, anyone over the age of 21+ with a valid ID can secure same-day and next-day delivery slots directly on Housing Works Cannabis Co's website.
"We've seen our delivery programs over the years forge meaningful and trusting relationships between our staff and thrift store patrons," said Charles King, CEO of Housing Works. "To see the same positive dynamic emerge between customers and budtenders reflects our roots in the city, our deep understanding of New York City culture and the community trust we continue to nurture."
For more information on Housing Works Cannabis Co, please visit: hwcannabis.co
About Housing Works Cannabis Co
Housing Works Cannabis Co is a recipient of New York State's CAURD social equity license initiative and the first legal cannabis dispensary to open in the state. Founded in 2022 as a bold new extension of Housing Works' established retail outlets—which include thrift store locations across the city and a bookstore in SoHo—proceeds from Housing Works Cannabis Co go directly to the nonprofit organization's mission to end social injustices through the provisioning of lifesaving services and relentless advocacy. For thirty years, Housing Works has provided housing, healthcare and other critical services to New Yorkers affected by AIDS, homelessness, substance abuse and criminal justice system involvement. The Housing Works Cannabis Co not only generates additional funding for these services, it does so while modeling the positive role cannabis can play in our communities. Learn more at hwcannabis.co
Media Contact:
Martha N. Marshall
Grasslands: A Journalism-Minded Agency
martha@mygrasslands.com
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BEIJING (AP) — China imposed restrictions Monday on exports of long-range civilian drones, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and concern that drones might be converted to military use.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government is friendly with Moscow but says it is neutral in the 18-month-old war. It has been stung by reports that both sides might be using Chinese-made drones for reconnaissance and possibly attacks.
Export controls will take effect Tuesday to prevent use of drones for “non-peaceful purposes,” the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement. It said exports still will be allowed but didn’t say what restrictions would apply.
China is a leading developer and exporter of drones. DJI Technology Co., one of the global industry’s top competitors, announced in April 2022 it was pulling out of Russia and Ukraine to prevent its drones from being used in combat.
“The risk of some high specification and high-performance civilian unmanned aerial vehicles being converted to military use is constantly increasing,” the Ministry of Commerce said.
Restrictions will apply to drones that can fly beyond the natural sight distance of operators or stay aloft more than 30 minutes, have attachments that can throw objects and weigh more than seven kilograms (15½ pounds), according to the ministry.
“Since the crisis in Ukraine, some Chinese civilian drone companies have voluntarily suspended their operations in conflict areas,” the Ministry of Commerce said. It accused the United States and Western media of spreading “false information” about Chinese drone exports.
The government on Friday defended its dealings with Russia as “normal economic and trade cooperation” after a U.S. intelligence report said Beijing possibly provided equipment used in Ukraine that might have military applications.
The report cited Russian customs data that showed Chinese state-owned military contractors supplied drones, navigation equipment, fighter jet parts and other goods.
The Biden administration has warned Beijing of unspecified consequences if it supports the Kremlin’s war effort. Last week’s report didn’t say whether any of the trade cited might trigger U.S. retaliation.
Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin declared before the February 2022 invasion that their governments had a “no-limits” friendship. Beijing has blocked efforts to censure Moscow in the United Nations and has repeated Russian justifications for the attack.
China has “always opposed the use of civilian drones for military purposes,” the Ministry of Commerce said. “The moderate expansion of drone control by China this time is an important measure to demonstrate the responsibility of a responsible major country.”
The Ukrainian government appealed to DJI in March 2022 to stop selling drones it said the Russian ministry was using to target missile attacks. DJI rejected claims it leaked data on Ukraine’s military positions to Russia. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-china-imposes-curbs-on-drone-exports-citing-ukraine-and-concern-about-military-use/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:49 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-china-imposes-curbs-on-drone-exports-citing-ukraine-and-concern-about-military-use/ |
CLEVELAND, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE: TDG) today said it will report fiscal 2023 third quarter earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
A conference call will follow at 11:00 a.m., Eastern Time. To join the call telephonically, please register for the call here. Once registered, participants will receive the dial-in information and a unique pin to access the call. A live audio webcast of the call can also be accessed online at http://www.transdigm.com.
The webcast will be archived on the website and available for replay later that day.
About TransDigm Group
TransDigm Group, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a leading global designer, producer and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components for use on nearly all commercial and military aircraft in service today. Major product offerings, substantially all of which are ultimately provided to end-users in the aerospace industry, include mechanical/electro-mechanical actuators and controls, ignition systems and engine technology, specialized pumps and valves, power conditioning devices, specialized AC/DC electric motors and generators, batteries and chargers, engineered latching and locking devices, engineered rods, engineered connectors and elastomer sealing solutions, databus and power controls, cockpit security components and systems, specialized and advanced cockpit displays, engineered audio, radio and antenna systems, specialized lavatory components, seat belts and safety restraints, engineered and customized interior surfaces and related components, advanced sensor products, switches and relay panels, thermal protection and insulation, lighting and control technology, parachutes, high performance hoists, winches and lifting devices, cargo loading, handling and delivery systems and specialized flight, wind tunnel and jet engine testing services and equipment.
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An ‘alpha vagina’ gets top billing in YA star Elizabeth Acevedo’s first (very) adult novel
On the Shelf
Family Lore
By Elizabeth Acevedo
Ecco: 384 pages, $30
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If you’re a fan of bestselling YA novelist Elizabeth Acevedo — and there are many; her book “The Poet X” won a National Book Award in 2018 — you might be in for a surprise. “Family Lore,” her first novel for adults, has plenty of magic, but it also has plenty of very adult pleasure. Its fusion of Latin American tradition and streetwise steaminess — she says she wanted to take magical realism and “make it hip-hop” — can be traced to Acevedo’s background as a Dominican American poet raised in Harlem.
“Family Lore” follows the Marte family as they prepare for a wake arranged by Flor, who can predict when someone dies; but can she predict her own death? Most of Flor’s sisters and their children have special powers, but they all have secrets. Together, they are a team of horny mothers, truth-seekers and one possessor of an “alpha vagina.” (More on that soon.)
Acevedo uses an innovative storytelling structure to mirror oral traditions. It makes for a wild narrative, but the real journey is interior — a quest to reclaim the body and the pleasure that comes with it, and to answer the question: Just how far will you go to be known, and once you arrive, what will you say?
“How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water,” by “Dominicana” author Angie Cruz, is a funny, sharp character study set in Manhattan’s Washington Heights.
Acevedo spoke to The Times from her home in Washington, D.C., over Zoom about writing for adults, fictional sexuality and the medical emergency that inspired the book. The conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
This is your first adult novel. How did that affect your approach to the writing and subject matter?
I was really interested in taking risks. That doesn’t mean I’m not taking risks with YA, but young people might not have been exposed to as many different forms of literature, and so I’m making sure they can stay in the story. I think I’m less interested in playing it safe with adult readers.
And this is the way oral storytelling works; it is kind of hodgepodge and mosaic, interrupted by asides. I knew that that might be off-putting to some readers. And so, for YA, I might have erred a little bit more on the side of like, let’s not make anyone feel like this isn’t super warm and welcoming for them, and for this book it’s kind of like, yeah, f— it. If you’re the kind of reader that needs a really linear, really Western kind of story, this might not be for you. There are some of us who come from traditions that aren’t so clean-cut, and you’re welcome.
Tell me about those interviews and parenthetical asides. Why were they always from the point of view of one character, Ona?
Originally they were abstracts in lieu of the interviews that represented Ona’s work. But what ended up happening is that I didn’t want an interruption, but [something] more like: Here’s the way that you are constantly reminded that there is a person crafting the story that you are being told.
Bay Area novelist Ingrid Rojas Contreras tells of how a head injury led her to revisit the shamans in her life — and her native Colombia.
Each family member has a unique relationship to their body, including intuition that can be difficult to find language for. How did you decide to evoke the supernatural in your characters?
Originally I wanted Flor to have the ability to see when death will happen. And then one day I was on the phone with my best friend and she’s like, “Everybody in my job got their period because I have my period and I have an alpha vagina.” That’s not how menstruation works, but I love that term. There was just so much that felt so subversive and rich there. And so I had those two characters and I knew from there, everybody’s gonna have a thing, and then there’s going to be the one character that doesn’t have this innate thing.
But what does it mean when you have to craft your own magic, when you have to cobble it together? The magic became a big part of how I understood the characters, but also how I understood the world. It’s not magic that is safe in anyone. It’s not magic that they’re making money off of. It’s just as critical a talent as walking or breathing. There are so many Latin American writers that have written magical realism, and I wanted to make [it] hip-hop, I wanted to make it a thing that we haven’t seen.
Many of the sisters come into their own relationships with pleasure. What inspired your candid approach to sex and sexuality?
I’m so happy to hear you say that because it’s the one thing that keeps me up at night. It’s like, my mom is going to read this book and know I watch porn, right? But it’s coming from a really Catholic, really Dominican background, where purity culture is upheld to the utmost, but then also a culture that loves sensual music and loves form — like the way we dress, the way we move, the language is all very sensual. There’s such contradiction there that has never made sense to me.
It could’ve been a book that had no sex, right? But I read all these books by white women who are having sex and orgasms and it’s fantastic. And I’m like, why? You have to see it on the page. It feels honest to just be like, yeah, they have sex, and it is and isn’t everything we expect from the “spicy Latina” stereotype.
A Times analysis has found that Latino representation in film and TV has stagnated for a decade-plus, even as Latinos’ share of the population has grown.
Strained mother-daughter relationships and a deep, unspoken desire for connection are huge themes here. Where did Ona’s ambivalence about fertility and motherhood come from?
I started this story [in 2020] in the middle of isolation, in the midst of realizing that I was going to have to have abdominal surgery to remove a fibroid that, you know, changed the chances of fertility. A lot of Ona’s relationship to her body reflected my relationship to my body. Ona’s understanding of the body is cut open and light enters. And what that did to the character, I had not thought of it that way. It was like I was cut open and cold came in and then like my whole surgery was f—. Ona has a different understanding.
Can you tell me a bit about your approach to writing queer characters?
All of my books have queer representation, and that just feels important to me. Ona’s queerness is very clear on the page and spoken, but not a coming-out story. There is not a huge explanation. Not a “does my mother love me?” It just is as it is. I think the largest nod is her mom being like, “I always thought you were going to marry that girl,” right? And that is enough to recognize that her parent knew and she is OK, and everything is still intact. I think that there are a lot of parents who maybe are more open than we give them credit for within the Latine community. And there’s a way to write those parents too.
When dealing with subjects like queerness and sexuality, how does shame manifest, either in the text or as you were writing?
Shame for me often manifests as fear and anxiety, and a hiding and not wanting anyone to know, not wanting anyone to see. Ona specifically writes about the moment where she is watching [porn] and it’s a private moment, and it is where her desires are driven to, and the moment after coming she has to grapple with: What does it mean that I find pleasure in what I find pleasure in? Shame is interesting in that it is often rooted in what we have been told needs to be secret, and even if it is hurting no one we still confront it as this painful wound you can’t look at.
I think for me, the best way to process shame is to look at it, let the light in. We can’t even recognize what’s at play until we just put eyes on it. And I think in writing all of this, it was just letting it out. Like, yeah, my mom is going to read this. She’s going to have concerns. And it’s also like, yeah, mom, and that is what I write. I hope it is OK with you to know me fully. That is the peace I have to make at the end of the day, that at least I was known.
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“This is definitely a career highlight,” said David Yeany II, an avian ecologist in the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy,
Yeany and Nick G. Liadis, executive director of Bird Lab, made the discovery of a family group of Swainson’s warblers at the Bear Run Nature Reserve in the Laurel Highlands. The group included a male, female, and juvenile, which had hatched this year.
“It’s not every day that a state gets a new breeding bird,” Liadis said.
Yeany added that Swainson’s warblers have been documented only about 60 times in the state since they were first recorded at Bear Run in 1975 and that western Pennsylvania is at the most northern edge of its range.
The timeline of discovery
Liadis first recognized the warbler’s song at the Conservancy’s nature reserve last year while camping there with a group of people. It was along a stream, when he first heard a Louisiana waterthrush, then Liadis heard a similar but succinct song — a Swainson’s warbler. He texted Yeany as soon as he got back to an area with cell service.
“The project sort of unfolded from that one moment where I was just kind of in the right place at the right time for this very special bird and decided that it was worth studying,” he said.
They ended up capturing and banding four males of the species last summer, two at Bear Run, one each in Indiana and Blair counties. The special metal ID bands around the birds’ legs have a unique number and are with the birds throughout their lifetimes, and a color band makes it possible to identify individual birds by sight with just a pair of binoculars so the birds don’t have to be recaptured. This is helpful for the often hard-to-see Swainson’s warbler, especially because the plumage of the male and female birds is the same.
Liadis and Yeany knew the warblers they banded weren’t what are known as “overshoots,” where a warbler migrates too far north and then doubles back to a more common, southern location to breed. These birds persisted throughout the summer, though the scientists couldn’t find a nest.
Then this May, they were tipped off by a birder about a potential Swainson’s warbler at Bear Run, where they again banded a male bird. Soon after, another birder texted a photo of an unbanded male bird at the reserve.
So on July 12, Liadis and Yeany went to Bear Run to try to band that second male and to survey the habitat where warblers would likely breed. They did band another male that day, but perhaps more exciting, they spotted the male they had banded in May with a female and a juvenile — a family group.
The birds disappeared in the dense brush, and Liadis and Yeany couldn’t photograph them. Two days later they returned with nets and were able to capture and band the juvenile hatched this year — the first proof that the species has bred successfully in Pennsylvania.
About Swainson’s warbler
As songbirds go, Swainson’s warblers are somewhat drab. Brown, with a yellow underbelly, the little birds are well camouflaged in the dense underbrush of rhododendron and mountain laurel, where, unlike many other warblers that are in the treetops, they forage for insects amid the leaf litter with their straight bills.
“Nick and I have said that it would be more aptly named the sword-billed warbler because of that feature,” Yeany said.
Yeany said there are two different breeding populations for the species. One set breeds in bottomland forests and wetlands within the southeastern United States. A separate population breeds in the forests of the Appalachian Mountains, like West Virginia, and Yeany said presumably the birds found in Pennsylvania are from that group.
In August and September, Liadis said, the warblers migrate from their breeding grounds to winter in either the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico or Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica.
These birds are often described as “secretive” because they spend so much of their time on the forest floor, hidden in the understory. Kate St. John, a longtime birder and author of the “Outside My Window” blog calls them “skulkers.” She said she’s driven as far as 200 miles to try to see one, but has only ever heard their calls.
“It’s a tribute to David Yeany and Nick Liadis’ knowledge, skill, and persistence that they have documented the first breeding record in Pennsylvania,” St. John said.
Habitat and climate change
According to the American Bird Conservancy, Swainson’s warbler numbers may be increasing, but the bird is threatened by habitat loss.
Yeany said the warbler is predicted to lose about a quarter of its current range under future climate scenarios. But it’s also predicted to gain about 60% of new range because of climate change. It could be like the yellow-throated warbler and red-bellied woodpecker which have had northward range expansions.
Yeany said Swainson’s warbler is vulnerable in West Virginia and critically imperiled and endangered in Maryland.
“Our surrounding states to the south have elevated their conservation status, which means if we get an established population, we’re going to need to have a responsibility to conserve that as well,” Yeany said.
Bear Run Nature Reserve is already a well-preserved, over 5,000-acre property owned by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Yeany said he’s already spoken with the stewardship director there about putting up some signage to alert visitors and birders about the importance of the habitat.
“I think that this will place greater emphasis on maintaining that mature forest condition, keeping invasives out, and maintaining that dense shrub layer,” Yeany said. “I think what we’re doing there now is the reason why the birds are there.”
Liadis said this discovery of Swainson’s warbler breeding in Pennsylvania underscores the need to conserve habitat and encourage people to make their yards bird-friendly.
“I’m really big on encouraging folks to do a number of things that can benefit songbirds,” he said.
He said collaboration with the area’s birders will also be key as he and Yeany continue to search for and study the species at Bear Run and other properties with suitable habitats. They will also be sharing feather samples with researchers looking for genetic information to study migration and breeding patterns.
What’s in a name
Swainson’s warbler was named in 1834 by John J. Audubon after his friend, the British naturalist William John Swainson. Swainson has several other birds named for him, including a sparrow, hawk, thrush, and a subspecies of toucan, among others.
Swainson’s warbler is on a list of 155 birds with honorific or eponymous names that the group Bird Names for Birds would like to see re-named. The idea is to decouple bird names from the colonialism and the racism associated with them, and instead call birds by their characteristics.
For example, Swainson’s antcatcher is now known as the white-bellied antbird and Swainson’s fire-eye as fringe-backed fire-eye, though not as a result of the current Bird Names for Birds movement. | https://www.wvia.org/news/pennsylvania-news/2023-07-31/scientists-discover-first-proof-of-swainsons-warbler-breeding-in-pennsylvania | 2023-07-31T13:12:50 | 0 | https://www.wvia.org/news/pennsylvania-news/2023-07-31/scientists-discover-first-proof-of-swainsons-warbler-breeding-in-pennsylvania |
DUBLIN, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive and flexible human capital management (HCM) solutions for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), today announced its plan to launch a fixed price tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to repurchase approximately $640 million in value of shares of TriNet common stock (the "shares") at a price of $107.00 per share, which is expected to commence on August 1, 2023. In addition, the Company signed a separate agreement on July 30, 2023 (the "Repurchase Agreement") to repurchase a minimum of approximately $360 million in value of shares from affiliates of its largest stockholder, Atairos Group, Inc. (collectively, "Atairos"). Assuming the Tender Offer is fully subscribed, both transactions together will result in the repurchase of approximately $1 billion in shares.
"Today is an exciting day for TriNet as we announce our intention to launch transactions to buy back $1 billion of TriNet stock," said Burton M. Goldfield, TriNet's President and CEO. "For some time, we have believed that TriNet's stock represents significant value, especially in light of our recent financial and operating performance. With our optimism around our long-term outlook, we believe now is a great time to take bold action around our capital structure."
"We have long valued Atairos' share ownership and Board of Directors participation," Goldfield continued. "As a part of these buybacks, Atairos intends to maintain its current approximate pro rata percentage ownership, but has also agreed to sell additional shares if our tender offer is undersubscribed, potentially reducing their ownership to no less than 30%. We welcome their continued ownership and Board participation."
"TriNet is a dynamic growth company with a proven business model and strong corporate cash flows," said Kelly Tuminelli, TriNet's Chief Financial Officer. "Through this action, we are using our financial resources to reduce TriNet's overall weighted average cost of capital. This is in line with our recently announced financial policy, while accreting long term value for all of our shareholders."
The Tender Offer will provide that the Company repurchase for cash up to 5,981,308 shares (representing approximately $640 million in value of shares) at a price of $107.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest. The Tender Offer is expected to commence on August 1, 2023 and expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of the day on August 28, 2023 (the "Expiration Date"), unless extended or terminated.
The Repurchase Agreement, which was executed on July 30, 2023, provides that TriNet will repurchase for cash a minimum of 3,364,486 shares (representing approximately $360 million in value of shares) from Atairos at the purchase price set forth in the Tender Offer, but not less than $107.00 per share (the "Atairos Commitment Amount"). Atairos beneficially owns 21,450,259 shares as of the date hereof (representing approximately 36% of the Company's outstanding shares as of July 27, 2023) and, assuming the full subscription of the Tender Offer, Atairos will continue to own approximately 36% of the Company's outstanding shares following the repurchase.
If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed, but at least 3,644,859 shares are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer, Atairos has agreed to increase the number of shares to be sold to the Company under the Repurchase Agreement and will sell an additional number of shares equal to the difference between the number of shares offered to be repurchased pursuant to the Tender Offer and the number of shares actually repurchased in the Tender Offer such that the total share value of both transactions remains $1 billion; provided that such increase does not cause Atairos to beneficially own less than 33% of the Company's outstanding shares immediately following the closing of the Share Repurchase (taking into account the shares purchased in the Tender Offer), which percent may be further reduced to 30% at Atairos' sole discretion. If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed and fewer than 3,644,859 shares are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer, the Company will repurchase that number of shares properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer and, unless Atairos agrees to further reduce its ownership level, the Company will repurchase only the Atairos Commitment Amount from Atairos under the Repurchase Agreement.
The Share Repurchase is expected to close on the 11th business day following the Expiration Date, or September 13, 2023. The Share Repurchase is conditioned upon, among other matters, the completion of the Tender Offer, which, in turn, is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of financing. These transactions will be made under TriNet's $1 billion stock repurchase program increase announced on July 26, 2023.
Assuming that the conditions to the Tender Offer are satisfied or waived and the Tender Offer is fully subscribed, the Company would purchase 5,981,308 shares pursuant to the Tender Offer and 3,364,486 shares pursuant to the Share Repurchase for an aggregate of 9,345,794 shares, representing approximately 16% of the Company's outstanding shares as of July 27, 2023.
The Tender Offer and the Share Repurchase have been authorized and approved by the Company's Board of Directors, the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the members of the Board of Directors who are independent of Atairos. However, neither the Company nor any member of the Board of Directors has made, or is making, any recommendation to stockholders as to whether they should tender or refrain from tendering their shares. Stockholders must make their own decision as to whether to tender their shares and, if so, how many shares to tender. Stockholders are urged to discuss their decisions with their tax advisor, financial advisor and/or broker.
Certain Information Regarding the Tender Offer
The information in this press release describing the Tender Offer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell shares in the Tender Offer. TriNet has not yet commenced the Tender Offer described herein, and there can be no assurance that TriNet will commence the Tender Offer on the terms described in this press release. The Tender Offer will be made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and the related materials that the Company will file with the SEC, and will distribute to its stockholders, as they may be amended or supplemented, on the commencement date of the Tender Offer. Stockholders should read the Offer to Purchase and related materials carefully and in their entirety because they will contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer. When they are available, stockholders of the Company may obtain a free copy of the Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO, the Offer to Purchase and other documents that the Company will file with the SEC from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. When they are available, stockholders also will be able to obtain a copy of these documents, without charge, from D.F. King & Co., Inc., toll free at (800) 431-9643. Stockholders are urged to carefully read all of those materials when they become available prior to making any decision with respect to the Tender Offer.
About TriNet
TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and medium-size businesses with full-service industry-specific HR solutions, providing both professional employer organization and human resources information system services. TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and R&D tax credit services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll and time & attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most-growing their business and enabling their people.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on TriNet's current expectations. Such statements include TriNet's plan to initiate the Tender Offer and ability to complete the Share Repurchase on the terms and timing described herein, or at all. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including investor demand, market conditions, customary closing conditions and other factors. There can be no assurance that TriNet will complete the Share Repurchase or initiate the Tender Offer. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. More information about potential risk factors that could affect TriNet and its results is included in TriNet's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023. TriNet does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
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SOURCE TriNet Group, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trinet-group-inc-announces-intention-launch-combined-1-billion-fixed-price-tender-offer-repurchase-atairos-each-price-107-per-share-common-stock/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:49 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trinet-group-inc-announces-intention-launch-combined-1-billion-fixed-price-tender-offer-repurchase-atairos-each-price-107-per-share-common-stock/ |
First new nuclear unit in three decades is now online, providing safe, reliable,emission-free energy for electric cooperative consumers
TUCKER, Ga., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Oglethorpe Power, on behalf of the Georgia electric cooperatives it serves, commended the safe and successful achievement of commercial operation for Plant Vogtle Unit 3, which marks a historic accomplishment for the energy industry, the state of Georgia and the entire nation. Now in service, the Unit is available for safe and reliable dispatch and will provide emission-free, baseload power for Georgians for the next 60 to 80 years.
"Nuclear energy is increasingly important to the clean energy transition, and Oglethorpe Power's significant ownership in the Vogtle construction project is a testament to the important investments we're making that drive us toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future," said Oglethorpe Power President & CEO Mike Smith. "We understand the importance of keeping the lights on in a way that preserves both affordability and reliability – and we are proud that the clean energy generated by Unit 3 will help us deliver on that mission for years to come."
Nuclear power is a reliable, baseload energy resource. Unit 3 can generate emission-free electricity at full power 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When Unit 4 enters service, emission-free nuclear energy will account for nearly half of the energy Oglethorpe Power generates for its member cooperatives and the 4.4 million Georgians they serve. The company's investment in the new nuclear units underscores its commitment to fuel diversity and price stability.
As one of the largest clean energy projects in the nation, Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 represent the first advanced commercial nuclear project in the United States in more than thirty years. Once Unit 4 reaches commercial operation, Plant Vogtle will become the largest producer of emission-free energy in the United States.
"Oglethorpe Power commends the efforts of the dedicated men and women who make up the Plant Vogtle workforce. With Unit 3 online and operating safely, homes and businesses across Georgia will be powered by reliable, emission-free nuclear energy for decades," added Smith. "Additionally, with the recent receipt of the 103(g) finding for Unit 4, the site has achieved another critical milestone toward loading fuel, which means we are one step closer to Unit 4 joining Unit 3 in safe commercial operation."
Learn more at opc.com/nuclear.
About Oglethorpe Power
Oglethorpe Power is one of the nation's largest power supply cooperatives with more than $16 billion in assets serving 38 Electric Membership Corporations which, collectively, provide electricity to approximately 4.4 million Georgia residents. A proponent of conscientious energy development and use, Oglethorpe Power balances reliable and affordable energy with environmental responsibility and has an outstanding record of regulatory compliance. Its diverse energy portfolio includes natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric and coal generating plants with a combined capacity of more than 7,800 megawatts. Oglethorpe Power was established in 1974 and is owned by its 38 member systems. Its headquarters are in Tucker, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb. For more information, visit www.opc.com.
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SOURCE Oglethorpe Power Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oglethorpe-power-celebrates-commercial-operation-plant-vogtle-unit-3/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:49 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/oglethorpe-power-celebrates-commercial-operation-plant-vogtle-unit-3/ |
A new report from PennEnvironment shows local and state governments in Pennsylvania could save up to $360 million over the next 10 years by switching retiring fleet vehicles to electric models.
The report says converting Pennsylvania’s more than 26,000 light-duty fleet vehicles to electric would also cut over 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide and carbon equivalents from the air. As of 2021, the transportation sector is the top source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, according to the EPA. In Pennsylvania, transportation accounted for 22% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019.
David Masur, the executive director at PennEnvironment, said electrifying those vehicles would have significant effects on the transportation sector’s contribution to climate change.
“”The big takeaway is there’s a real opportunity here with real financial values as well as value for our planet,” he said.
Switching the fleet vehicles to electric models would also reduce nitrogen oxide and fine particulate emissions by 30% and 21%, respectively, the study says. The American Lung Association has found lowering them can reduce asthma attacks and lung cancer.
In Pennsylvania, the alternative fuels incentive grants program helps municipalities transition vehicles to electric vehicles or other clean fuel options, which could help an EV transition. Then-Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration contributed $2.1 million to the program in 2021, and the Shapiro administration announced $1.5 million in funding to the program earlier this year. The program has helped cities across the Commonwealth fund transition programs, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Scranton. Harrisburg also has a fleet transition plan.
Though electric vehicles cost more to buy than gasoline-powered vehicles, they have lower fuel and maintenance lifetime costs compared to gasoline or diesel-powered vehicles, according to data from the Argonne National Laboratory. Still, transitioning light-duty government fleet vehicles would be a large up-front cost for municipalities and others. PennEnvironment acknowledged that, and recommended switching out vehicles as older ones are retired.
Paulina Jaramillo, a professor of engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University and wasn’t involved in the report, said the strategy of transitioning government fleets to EVs is reasonable. However, she pointed out the cost-savings could be reduced where more infrastructure for these vehicles is needed to be built.
“The problem is that those benefits are spread over time but you need to pay for the infrastructure now, so how are you gonna get that cash in hand?” she said.
She mentioned the report identified state and federal incentives for electrification in the Inflation Reduction Act – such as the Commercial Clean Vehicle Tax Credit– that could help make the switch to EVs. The incentives could also help to build the needed charging infrastructure for EVs.
The report does note that increasing electricity use for vehicle charging can increase sulfur oxide emissions from power plants that rely on coal. However, those emissions would be reduced if more power comes from renewable sources such as solar and wind.
PennEnvironment recommends state and local governments set fleet electrification commitments with detailed plans. | https://www.wvia.org/news/pennsylvania-news/2023-07-31/switch-to-evs-could-save-state-and-local-governments-up-to-360-million-study-says | 2023-07-31T13:12:52 | 0 | https://www.wvia.org/news/pennsylvania-news/2023-07-31/switch-to-evs-could-save-state-and-local-governments-up-to-360-million-study-says |
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A Cyprus court on Monday sentenced a British man who killed his ailing wife in their retirement home to two years in prison, rejecting a defense request to hand down a suspended sentence after convicting him earlier of manslaughter.
State prosecutor Andreas Hadjikyrou said the three-judge bench imposed the prison term as a “deterrent,” although the judges had earlier ruled that David Hunter’s decision to suffocate his wife Janice in December 2021 was made on the spur of the moment because he could no longer stand seeing her weeping in pain.
Hadjikyrou told The Associated Press the court took into account that Hunter, 76, acted “out of love” to save his wife, who was suffering from a blood ailment when he closed her mouth and nose with his hands as she sat in a recliner in their Paphos home.
It also took into consideration Hunter’s advanced age and that he had no previous criminal record.
Justice Abroad, a group that defends Britons facing legal troubles in foreign countries, said in a statement that Hunter could be released by Aug. 18 after already having spent more than 18 months in custody.
“This has been a tragic case and difficult for all of those involved with it, but today’s decision was the right one and allows David and his family to grieve together,” said Michael Polak from Justice Abroad.
Hunter had faced a charge of premeditated murder, but the court found in its July 21 ruling that the prosecution didn’t prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was premeditation in his actions.
The court had accepted witness testimony that Janice feared her blood ailment would develop into full-blown leukemia and had repeatedly pleaded with her husband to take her life because she didn’t want to share the fate of her sister, who died of the disease.
Hunter attempted to take his own life by consuming a large amount of pills after suffocating his wife, but medical staff saved his life.
The court cited expert testimony that Janice Hunter suffered from myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of blood cancer which “to a large degree” — as much as 45% — could turn into leukemia, although there was no proof that she had indeed developed the disease because no definitive tests were conducted.
But the court said both husband and wife believed that Janice would develop it because of her sister’s fate.
David Hunter’s earlier assurances to Janice that he would help her fulfill her wish to end her life and not suffer anymore didn’t indicate any premeditation, the court said.
Hadjikyrou said defense lawyers had rejected a plea deal in December 2022 for the defendant to plead guilty to manslaughter because they insisted the facts of the case include an agreement Hunter and his wife allegedly made for him to take her life.
The state prosecutor said the court didn’t accept that such an agreement had indeed been made. He said the Cyprus attorney-general has 10 days to decide whether to appeal the sentence. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-cyprus-court-hands-british-man-a-2-year-prison-term-for-killing-his-ailing-wife-to-spare-her-pain/ | 2023-07-31T13:12:55 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-cyprus-court-hands-british-man-a-2-year-prison-term-for-killing-his-ailing-wife-to-spare-her-pain/ |
Report Outlines Company's Progress Toward Its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Goals
ST. LOUIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global packaging leader TricorBraun today published its inaugural Sustainability report, outlining its progress toward its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
"We are pleased to present our first-ever Sustainability Report, which brings to life our commitments to sustainable and ethical practices," said Court Carruthers, president and CEO, TricorBraun. "Our team is guided by the principle that we do things the right way always, and this naturally extends to our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts—including helping our customers with their own ESG goals by offering sustainable packaging options while improving our own environmental footprint."
Key highlights from the report include these 2022 milestones:
- Reduced our carbon footprint and incorporated international operations into our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory
- Sourced renewable energy to further reduce negative climate impacts
- Piloted our first Zero-Waste program in multiple locations across North America
- Further protected our team members by creating a Warehousing Roundtable which emphasizes dock, forklift, and 5S safety programs
- Supported open communications channels that are accessible for all team members by relaunching the TricorBraun Ethics Hub to include additional languages, international access, and mobile reporting
- Established exclusive agreements to offer sustainable packaging options to customers in the US, Canada, and Europe
"The release of our first Sustainability report is a significant milestone as our team continues to work tirelessly in pursuit of achieving our ESG goals," said Susan Bergethon, SVP & general counsel, and leader of the Company's ESG strategy. "We are pleased with our progress to date, and we look forward to making continued progress toward our intentional ESG goals for the benefit of our team members, our customers, our business—and our planet."
To read the full report and learn more about TricorBraun's ESG goals, visit https://www.tricorbraun.com/about-us/esg-at-tricorbraun/2022-sustainability-report.html.
About TricorBraun
Founded in 1902, TricorBraun is a global packaging leader. We provide innovative solutions across a wide array of customer end markets in plastic, glass, and aluminum containers, closures, dispensers, tubes, and flexibles. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Center provides forward-thinking design, driven by consumer insight and creative solutions. TricorBraun is comprised of more than 2,000 packaging professionals operating from more than 100 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
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Sean Hannity is rarely on the same frequency as liberal Democratic lawmakers. Nor does he usually support legislation that makes demands on the private sector.
But the conservative Fox News star and radio host is cheering on the efforts of Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., to require car manufacturers to keep the AM dial in their vehicles.
Hannity’s daily program reaches more than 13 million terrestrial radio listeners a week, mostly on AM stations, which face obsolescence as major car manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Volvo and Tesla remove the band from their electric vehicles.
“What they’re trying to do would impact political opinion to a very big extent,” Hannity said in a recent phone interview. “Thankfully, there are even Democrats who see the importance of this.”
It’s not just conservative hosts who would feel the sting of losing AM, a communications source for more than 100 years. While AM stations have seen their audience migrate to podcasts, satellite radio and streaming, they still provide a free-to-listen voice for underrepresented communities and remain a reliable source of public safety information in emergencies.
Markey has responded to the threat with the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would require all cars sold in the U.S. to provide the band in their dashboards. The bill — co-sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and supported by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle — will go to the Senate floor in some form for a full vote later this year. The bill last week passed the Senate Commerce Committee.
The legislation would place a burden on automakers. Car manufacturers say motors in electric vehicles generate electromagnetic interference that causes static in AM station signals. Instead of investing in workarounds that would solve the interference problem, they have chosen to eliminate the band, noting the other audio options that are available to consumers.
Scott A. Schmidt, vice president of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a lobbying group for the auto industry, told Washington legislators at a June hearing that there are safety alert systems included in digital audio services that can serve drivers who don’t have AM radio.
As for the proposed requirement to keep AM in cars, Schmidt said “mandates are a blunt instrument” especially for a technology that “has declining listenership.”
Markey supports the move to electric vehicles as a way to address the climate crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but doesn’t believe AM should be sacrificed as a result. The National Assn. of Broadcasters, the lobbying group that represents TV and radio station owners, threw its support behind the bill.
Turner, known as “The Burner,” was one of the most listened-to DJs in the country in the ‘70s and ‘80s, through L.A.’s KMET-FM and syndicated programming.
Michael Harrison, a consultant and editor of the radio industry journal Talkers, said technological obsolescence is a fact of life in media. But he believes it’s a miscalculation to give up on AM radio in cars when one in three Americans tune in to the band every month, according to Nielsen data. Plus, it still functions as a platform for free speech and information vital to the public.
Three-quarters of AM listening occurs in cars, so losing its place on the dashboard would ultimately chip away at the available audience and disrupt listener habits. Losing more audience would intensify the financial pressure on AM station owners, some of whom have shut their outlets down in recent years.
“The car makers got rid of 8-track tape players, they got rid of cassette players, they got rid of CD players and rightfully so,” Harrison said. “They didn’t realize that the AM radio has far more cultural roots and underpinnings and far more meaning and applicability than those other dashboard devices.”
AM stands for amplitude modulation, used to transmit information in a radio wave. The very first commercial radio broadcast — a report on the results of the 1920 presidential election won by Warren Harding — was transmitted over Pittsburgh’s AM station KDKA.
The most powerful AM signals can be heard over several states. They dominated broadcasting for more than 50 years, bringing listeners Bing Crosby’s crooning, Bob Hope’s comedy routines and Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s fireside chats in the 1930s and ‘40s.
During the Cold War era of the 1950s, AM frequencies were designated to provide civil defense information in the event of a nuclear attack. In the 1960s, top 40 stations such as KHJ-AM (930) — “Boss Radio” in Los Angeles — gave baby boomers the sound of the Beatles and Motown.
The FCC passed a rule in 1965 that limited how much AM programming could be duplicated on jointly owned FM stations, which provided better sound fidelity but not the same geographical reach. The rule opened up a proliferation of new music formats on the FM dial and by the 1980s, the band had more listeners than AM outlets.
As FM grew in popularity, AM stations continued to provide news and sports programming, but even those formats have shifted to FM in recent years. KNX, the longtime all-news radio station serving Southern California, now airs on FM and calls itself KNX News 97.1, even though it’s still heard on its old AM frequency of 1080 as well.
The AM band’s association with political talk radio is in large part due to the success of Rush Limbaugh, the bombastic commentator who became a phenomenon in the 1990s and set a template for many hosts who followed.
‘L.A.’s Morning News’ with Mike Simpson, Vicky Moore and Jennifer York starts Monday on Audacy’s all-news radio station.
While conservative talk radio is what gets attention on AM, other constituencies would also be disenfranchised if the band goes away. Markey noted last week that many AM stations have Latino and Black ownership — such as KBLA-AM (1580) in Los Angeles — providing programming their communities can access for free.
“They shouldn’t just disappear during the electric vehicle revolution just because some companies say they can’t figure out how to do this,” Markey said at a Senate committee hearing last week. “Some companies say we know how to have a space rocket and go to the moon and we know how to invent electric vehicles, but we can’t figure out how to keep AM radios and those new cars. Come on.”
Amador Bustos is a Portland, Ore.-based station owner whose main business is Spanish language FM outlets. Along the way he acquired AM stations that serve ethnic communities, including KZSJ-AM (1120) in San Jose, which has one of the country’s largest concentration of Vietnamese immigrants, many of whom came to the U.S. as refugees.
“They are getting news and information in their language,” Bustos said.
Bustos also owns AM stations that offer Russian-language religious programming aimed at Christians who have left Russia because of persecution.
AM stations remain a vital part of the Emergency Alert System, which the federal government uses to provide information during a crisis or disaster.
Seventy-seven stations in the system, most of which are AM and cover 90% of the country, are equipped with backup communications equipment and generators that allow them to continue broadcasting during and after an emergency.
Federal agencies have praised the reliability of AM, which is able to reach rural areas where broadband internet service can be spotty or nonexistent.
Ford Motor Co. was among the automakers that planned to drop AM, not only in electric vehicles but in internal combustion engine models as well. But the maker of the best-selling truck in the U.S. reversed its decision after public safety officials raised concerns.
If the auto companies don’t fall in line, Hannity said he is ready to alert his audience.
“If they’re being obstinate about this, I’m just gonna name the names and let people know that they’re silencing conservative voices here,” Hannity said. “I don’t think they’ve put a lot of thought into it.”
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New dispensary delivers on brand promise of product quality and variety with convenient locations
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, announced the relocation of a medical dispensary in Kissimmee, Fla. located at 2647 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. The dispensary will be open 9AM – 8:30PM Monday through Saturday and 11AM – 8PM on Sunday.
"Trulieve is committed to offering our Florida patients a broad selection of convenient locations and top-quality products to choose from, while also providing for best-in-class customer service," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "This new location delivers on that commitment and we will continue to seek new opportunities to better serve this community."
Trulieve invites the Kissimmee community to join in celebrating this new dispensary on Friday, August 4 with partner giveaways, music, food trucks, specials discounts and more, starting at 9 AM. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering and in-store pickup. As always, all first-time guests are eligible for a 60% new customer discount at any Florida-based location.
Designed to meet every patient's needs, our portfolio of in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk and Trekkers. Customers also have access to beloved brands such as Alien Labs, Bhang, Binske, Black Tuna, Blue River, Connected Cannabis, DeLisioso, Khalifa Kush, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, Old Hippie Stash, O.Pen, Seed Junky and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.
For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About Trulieve
Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with established hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, anchored by leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.
Facebook: @Trulieve
Instagram: @Trulieve_
Twitter: @Trulieve
Investor Contact
Christine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations
+1 (424) 202-0210
Christine.Hersey@Trulieve.com
Media Contact
Teresa Coulter, VancoreJones Communications
+1 (407) 808-6139
TCoulter@vancorejones.com
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NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Smirta, a New Jersey-based digital health company committed to improving cancer patient care, is pleased to announce that OneOncology has selected Smirta as a preferred vendor to provide Smirta's OncoSmart® oncology infusion schedule optimization platform to the OneOncology network of physician practices. OneOncology is a national partnership created by independent community oncologists to strengthen oncology practices by helping them grow and deliver high-value cancer care services. The network includes more than 300 sites of care, empowering oncologists to learn from their peers and leverage their collective experience to address the pressures facing community oncology today and innovate for the future of cancer care delivery.
OncoSmart® is a data-driven digital transformation platform developed by Smirta, in close collaboration with Tennessee Oncology, that optimizes resources, increases capacity, and simplifies the complexities of cancer treatment clinic operations. OncoSmart®'s clinic management, optimization, nurse assignment, business intelligence, and resource management modules empower infusion centers to better manage critical clinical resources and deliver the best in cancer care.
"Understandably, every patient wants to be the first to get their infusion and every doctor wants to start their day early," said Jeff Patton, MD, CEO, OneOncology. "Consequently, we found our clinics contending with a tremendous, daily bottleneck through the afternoon. Smirta's OncoSmart® platform has been invaluable in establishing a superior scheduling process to smooth out the day and boost patient care by flattening the utilization curve so that the ratio of clinical staff to patients remains consistent and ramps more evenly throughout the day. We are thrilled to partner with Smirta and sponsor their technology, which will exponentially improve the standard of care and the scheduling metrics of cancer treatment clinics nationwide."
Stephen Schleicher M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Tennessee Oncology, a OneOncology partner practice, added: "The Smirta team are amazing to work with. They tailor their software to precisely what we need for our clinics and staff and have been incredibly responsive during the onboarding process. The software itself is very intuitive. Outside of the clinic level where it helps with treatment room capacity and nurse assignments, it also offers a system-wide look across the company, allowing us to see how all of our clinics are doing in terms of overtime, staffing, volume, and so on. Through Smirta and OncoSmart®, we really get to understand which clinics need help through a birds-eye view of how the company's doing from a patient experience and staff experience standpoint."
The A.I.-generated solutions provided by the OncoSmart® platform were created to support a diverse group of clinics with varying sizes and volume, as well as to optimize all service types including lab, MA, MD, treatment, and injections. OncoSmart® products have:
- reduced patient appointment delays and wait times
- unlocked infusion chair capacity
- reduced infusion treatments that extend beyond operating hours
- reduced overtime costs
- created a radically more balanced nurse load through schedule optimization
"Cancer care is inherently complex, with a confluence of problems manifesting most pronouncedly during peak times," said Ram Iyengar, Smirta, CEO. "Through our OncoSmart® platform, we can address and neutralize preventable bottlenecks, nursing attrition, and increased operational expenses while significantly improving patient satisfaction and quality of care. We are proud to partner with OneOncology in our combined mission to ensure the best possible treatment for cancer patients through enabling the most supportive, productive setting for all clinic staff."
Smitra has also already worked with another OneOncology partner practice, Piedmont Cancer Institute. The Atlanta-based cancer center's Chief Clinical Officer, Stephanie Braatz said: "The Smirta team has been so responsive and are very easy to work with. Their OncoSmart platform offers tools that streamline our infusion center operations, and their optimization tool has helped us effectively utilize our resources by balancing the patient load across different types of service.
"The business intelligence tool has identified bottlenecks, such as provider schedules, and has helped us find solutions to fix them. The nurse assignments tool has tremendously, and positively, affected the reduction of manual effort while showing us a view of the treatment room that we simply weren't able to see before. The entire team and suite of tools have added value," said Braatz.
About OneOncology
OneOncology was founded by community oncologists, for community oncologists, with the mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer. Its goal is to enable community oncology practices to remain independent and to improve patient access to care in their communities, all at a lower cost than in the hospital setting. OneOncology supports its platform of community oncology practices through group purchasing, operational optimization, practice growth, and clinical innovation. The network's 960 cancer care providers care for approximately 528,000 patients at more than 300 sites of care nationwide. To learn more, visit oneoncology.com or LinkedIn.
About Tennessee Oncology
Tennessee Oncology, PLLC is one of the nation's leading teams of cancer care specialists, nationally recognized for improving patient outcomes and driving quality of life innovation. In 2018 it created a partnership with OneOncology, a technology-powered, data-driven, alliance of America's foremost community oncologists. Its comprehensive range of cancer care services includes specialized oncology nursing care, laboratory services, pharmacy, outpatient chemotherapy, PET/CT services, palliative care, patient and family education, and financial support services. Founded in 1976, the practice's unique vision, introducing patient-driven care with a clinical trial focus, propelled Tennessee Oncology to lead one of the largest, physician-owned, community oncology practices in the country. Currently over 95 physicians in more than 30 locations share the privilege of serving adult cancer patients from South Central Kentucky through Middle Tennessee to Northwest Georgia. For a complete list of Physicians, locations, and services please visit: www.tnoncology.com
About Smirta
Smirta is a digital health company providing next-generation technology solutions to the healthcare industry. Its OncoSmart® suite of products are at the core of cancer treatment clinical operations optimizing millions of services annually.
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An actor’s heart problems highlight health insurance concerns amid SAG-AFTRA strike
The SAG-AFTRA strike is showing how industry uncertainty leads to actors losing their health insurance or not qualifying in any given year.
When Brooklyn McLinn nearly died of a heart attack in his kitchen he felt a sense of peace that his health troubles –– the open heart surgeries, the pacemaker, the fear of the next big one –– could finally be over.
This is the sentiment the actor and former college basketball player, 50, has after surviving two heart attacks, a stroke and a heart transplant. The first heart attack happened a few years earlier while playing basketball in Los Angeles in 2016. He was home taking a quick break from filming as a cast member for Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and Have Nots” before he flew back to Atlanta.
But the heart attack changed everything. He couldn’t go back to work and at the time he had –– naively –– stopped paying for his insurance under the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan. McLinn’s life was almost cut short due to his heart trouble. Without his health insurance, he wouldn’t be alive today.
“It really wasn’t a lot of money but in my mind I’m wasting money because I don’t use the insurance and you’re trying to hold on to every dollar because you don’t know when the next job is coming,” McLinn said. “I was thinking more in scarcity and lack like I better hold on to every dollar as opposed to I’m gonna have some insurance to take care of myself just in case.”
Thousands of SAG-AFTRA members joined Writers Guild Association members earlier this month in striking together for the first time since 1960. The last actors’ strike was in 1980 back when the union sought profit sharing from studios over videocassettes and premium television like HBO. The current SAG-AFTRA strike focused on streaming residuals and artificial intelligence has illuminated how the uncertainty of the industry leads to actors losing their health insurance or not qualifying at all in any given year.
Learn which jobs are impacted by the SAG-AFTRA strike, which movies and TV shows have shut down and where actors can get help.
When SAG-AFTRA members work, companies report their qualified earnings and how many days they worked to the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan. Companies are also responsible for contributing funds to the health plan. Right now, the two ways members can qualify for a year of health coverage are working eligible jobs for 102 days or earning $26,470 annually. Under the plan, members pay their premiums every three months. Individuals pay $375 each quarter for their coverage. Plan members covering themselves and a dependent pay $531 while members with two or more dependents pay $747.
SAG-AFTRA officials said 86% of their members do not earn enough to qualify for the health plan.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director for SAG-AFTRA and chief negotiator for its union, said he anticipates there will be “a substantial impact” for members on strike being able to keep or qualify for health insurance coverage since they cannot work.
“It’s not automatic by virtue of just having a job on a project or being a member of the union,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “You have to be mindful and make sure you’re earning enough to qualify and that’s a real source of anxiety and concern for many members.”
Major points of contention for SAG-AFTRA members include self-taped auditions, how AI may be used in the future, and wanting a third-party company to measure the success of shows and that residual payments be tied to how they perform.
SAG-AFTRA is also asking for an increase in pension and health plan contribution caps but the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has not offered the substantial increase they’re looking for. SAG-AFTRA officials have not disclosed the exact amount that AMPTP offered. The SAG-AFTRA proposal calls for money that goes above the contribution cap to either go to the pension and health plan or directly to the performers. AMPTP has rejected this proposal.
For McLinn, heart problems seemed inevitable. His father and grandmother both died from heart attacks. He was able to get to the hospital in time after his first heart attack. The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan allowed him to make payments again so he would have coverage. He talked to multiple doctors after his heart attack. Some encouraged him to keep taking heart medication while others said there was nothing they could do. Eventually, he found a doctor at USC who suggested he have open heart surgery. McLinn had to have the surgery in 2017 and again in 2018.
McLinn was starting to panic about not being able to work while recovering until his residuals came in. He also booked a job with a McDonald’s commercial and acting in shows like ‘Goliath’ and ‘Black-ish’. He also landed a recurring role in the Marvel show ‘Cloak and Dagger’ as Andre Deschaine also known as D’Spayre, who passes his pain on to other people.
“Things that I thought were done, like a commercial might have got brought back after it hadn’t been playing and so I got paid residuals again, a TV show that I had done re-aired,” McLinn said. “Those residuals were instrumental in helping me keep the insurance.”
Workers in film and TV, most of whom are pro-union, have been trying to make ends meet amid a dual strike of Hollywood actors and writers.
His second heart attack knocked him to floor of his kitchen in 2020 while he was on the phone with his mother. McLinn said he kept pausing during the conversation because he felt himself getting increasingly hot. When his mom suggested he sit down he suddenly felt like “somebody had dumped a bucket of water on me” and he started sweating profusely. He didn’t think he was having a heart attack but he felt his head become heavy with sleepiness as his mother called 911.
“All I was thinking was I could just go to sleep and be done with all this because it didn’t hurt,” McLinn said. “I was like, ‘man, I’m tired of living my life with a bad heart’...I could just go to sleep, nobody will say I didn’t try.”
The paramedics urged him to stay awake or else he might not wake up again. He flatlined on the way to the hospital but paramedics were able to shock him back to life.
He was given a pacemaker before he left the hospital. In early 2021, McLinn had a heart transplant but it took time for him to consider it because he didn’t think he would ever need one.
“I struggled with the idea you’re waiting for somebody to die,” McLinn said.
But he was in the hospital for two months to recover from a stroke he had during the surgery. He couldn’t use the left side of his body and he was unable to brush his teeth, wash his face, bathe himself, or go to the bathroom on his own.
“I know most men are ego driven and prideful and it just broke me all the way down to the point where I couldn’t do anything for myself,” McLinn said. “I’m just like man, this is my life, like, oh my God, I should have just died on the floor, you have so many thoughts. And the nursing staff was awesome. They’re like ‘look, this is our job, this is what we do…you’re going to get better.’”
Nearly a year after he got out of the hospital McLinn had a letter from the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan that his coverage was running out at the end of the month.
If SAG-AFTRA members lose health coverage because they did not work enough days or meet the earnings threshold, they qualify for continued coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. While they would have insurance for 18 months, it’s at a much higher price and due monthly. Individuals today pay $1,005 per month. People covering themselves and one dependent would have to pay $1,784 each month and members covering two or more other people would have to pay $2,501 monthly.
Long-time members who have qualified for the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan coverage at least 12 times can elect to pay a reduced monthly amount for COBRA if they made at least $20,400 for up to a year. Members who have qualified 20 times or more and made at least $20,400 can be eligible for 18 months of COBRA coverage at a lower price.
When McLinn was on the verge of losing his health insurance he called the plan’s membership phone number immediately. He needed the insurance to continue getting his medication that helped prevent his body from rejecting his new heart. He was also cleared to go back to work.
“They were pretty stern on their line of ‘well you haven’t earned enough money’,” McLinn said. “And I was like I understand that, I’m just looking for an extension, because this is what happened, you guys are seeing the hospital bills.”
They still said no.
As SAG-AFTRA members join writers on picket lines, the fallout will disrupt Hollywood film and TV productions worldwide. ‘There’s going to be blood in the water,’ said one analyst. ‘This will not end well.’
One of McLinn’s friends encouraged him to reach out to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation for help. The foundation asked McLinn to try calling the health plan again but this time they said if he were disabled and unable to work anymore then they might be able to help. But other than that there was nothing they could do.
McLinn had to get coverage under COBRA but was able to get his health insurance covered by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and the Motion Picture Fund. He had six months to earn enough again to qualify for the lower priced SAG-AFTRA health plan. He booked a pharmaceutical commercial and then his recurring role as Doc Hightower on Peacock’s show “Bel-Air”. He was grateful that work picked up again.
“To have to pay $1,000 a month, as a regular citizen, I feel for people that actually have to do this,” McLinn said. “We have this foundation and we have the Motion Picture Fund that are able to provide some assistance to help through these times…I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say, for that period, I feel like the foundation threw me a lifeline.”
SAG-AFTRA members can turn to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s emergency assistance program when they need help. The foundation has to raise money through grants and donations to fund the program and limits each member to receiving $6,000 in assistance over their lifetime. Members are also not automatically given help under the program and can be denied aid.
Cyd Wilson, executive director of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, said the organization normally processes between 15 and 20 emergency assistance applications in a week. Since the strike started they’re processing roughly 35 applications a day.
“It’s very reminiscent of what happened during COVID for us, it feels like deja vu all over again,” Wilson said. “When you have a significant number of people that are already living paycheck to paycheck, and they’re working a job as an actor, plus maybe driving Uber and a bartending job at the same time…the slightest bit of change in their income, even if it’s losing $1,000, can be the difference between their struggling and their not being able to survive.”
Disabled workers say they’re a canary in the coal mine: “If disability is on the caboose of the writing chain, we will be the first people to get pushed out.”
Wilson and others who review the applications typically see people who are facing financial distress like being months behind on their utility bills, are on the verge of eviction from their home or have medical and dental bills they cannot pay. Wilson said the foundation looks at each application’s circumstances to determine what to give. When there are health issues involved, applicants may receive more than the lifetime limit of $6,000.
Members who are applying due to medical distress often have chronic health issues they need help with like undergoing cancer treatment, needing dialysis or recovery after a heart attack. Some also need dental work. Wilson said members who apply for emergency assistance may have the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan but they cannot cover the extra costs for their care.
The SAG-AFTRA Health Plan notes that members who lose their coverage have potential options including: getting covered through the Artists Health Insurance Resource Center or the Entertainment Health Insurance Solutions; using Medicare if they qualify; applying for Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance program for low-income and disabled people; getting insurance through a state insurance marketplace; or getting on their partner’s health plan.
California’s budget from the legislature provided $2 million for Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, to provide subsidies to people who lose their health insurance coverage as part of a labor dispute. The subsidies will help offset the cost of medical care and monthly health insurance premiums.
Craig Tomiyoshi, a spokesperson for Covered California, said in an email statement that they are not aware of any SAG-AFTRA members who have lost health coverage, but if someone has they should contact them right away.
“Covered California is aware of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and should the labor dispute necessitate action, Covered California will work with individuals to help them enroll in a plan with the appropriate subsidies,” Tomuyoshi said. “As these enhanced subsidies will only be available once an individual loses their employer-based coverage, we are monitoring this ongoing situation with this in mind.”
McLinn said part of the problem is people assume it’s all wealthy people out on the picket lines but that’s far from the truth. He pointed out that people do not see the background actors, stand-ins, stunt performers, camera operators and other people who make television and films happen and need residuals to stay financially afloat.
For now, McLinn says his health issues have led him to be more aware of how he’s feeling everyday and grateful he can work, walk and take care of his nephew. He has been out on the picket line and has been able to do commercial work while the strike continues since it’s separate from television and theatrical contracts. But he said the industry is not set up fair as actors and other SAG-AFTRA members try to get paid and stay in a business where people are often working to be seen for the right opportunities.
“I hesitate to say you got to believe in something unseen, but really, that’s what it is,” McLinn said. “But how do you tell somebody who’s struggling? They don’t want to hear that...this business is not set up for the faint of heart.”
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-07-31/an-actors-heart-problems-highlight-health-insurance-concerns-amid-sag-aftra-strike | 2023-07-31T13:13:01 | 1 | https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-07-31/an-actors-heart-problems-highlight-health-insurance-concerns-amid-sag-aftra-strike |
HONG KONG (AP) — A French man is believed to have fallen to his death from a high-rise residential building in Hong Kong last week, police said on Monday, with local media outlets identifying him as daredevil Remi Lucidi.
Police said a 30-year-old man’s body was found on a patio in the city’s upscale Mid-Levels area. He was believed to have engaged in extreme sports, police said, without identifying him.
Officers conducted an initial investigation and said he apparently fell from a rooftop. No suicide note was found at the scene, they said. The cause of his death would have to be verified by an autopsy, they added.
Local media, including the South China Morning Post, said the man was Lucidi, 30. The Post cited an unnamed source saying he was last seen alive knocking on a penthouse window on the 68th floor of a residential tower on Thursday evening. The Associated Press has not been able to verify his identity.
Lucidi, who used the name “Remi Enigma” on social media, last posted a photo of Hong Kong’s night view a week ago on Instagram and tagged the location as Times Square in shopping district Causeway Bay. The photo appeared to be taken from above.
Supporters mourned him on social media.
Lucidi posted to Instagram as he climbed various tall structures around the world and took selfies, including one he captioned, “Above the Sky, 425m” and tagged Dubai as the location. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-french-daredevil-who-climbed-towers-around-world-believed-to-have-fallen-to-his-death-in-hong-kong/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:01 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-french-daredevil-who-climbed-towers-around-world-believed-to-have-fallen-to-his-death-in-hong-kong/ |
DUBLIN, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNet Group, Inc. (NYSE: TNET), a leading provider of comprehensive and flexible human capital management (HCM) solutions for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs), today announced its plan to launch a fixed price tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to repurchase approximately $640 million in value of shares of TriNet common stock (the "shares") at a price of $107.00 per share, which is expected to commence on August 1, 2023. In addition, the Company signed a separate agreement on July 30, 2023 (the "Repurchase Agreement") to repurchase a minimum of approximately $360 million in value of shares from affiliates of its largest stockholder, Atairos Group, Inc. (collectively, "Atairos"). Assuming the Tender Offer is fully subscribed, both transactions together will result in the repurchase of approximately $1 billion in shares.
"Today is an exciting day for TriNet as we announce our intention to launch transactions to buy back $1 billion of TriNet stock," said Burton M. Goldfield, TriNet's President and CEO. "For some time, we have believed that TriNet's stock represents significant value, especially in light of our recent financial and operating performance. With our optimism around our long-term outlook, we believe now is a great time to take bold action around our capital structure."
"We have long valued Atairos' share ownership and Board of Directors participation," Goldfield continued. "As a part of these buybacks, Atairos intends to maintain its current approximate pro rata percentage ownership, but has also agreed to sell additional shares if our tender offer is undersubscribed, potentially reducing their ownership to no less than 30%. We welcome their continued ownership and Board participation."
"TriNet is a dynamic growth company with a proven business model and strong corporate cash flows," said Kelly Tuminelli, TriNet's Chief Financial Officer. "Through this action, we are using our financial resources to reduce TriNet's overall weighted average cost of capital. This is in line with our recently announced financial policy, while accreting long term value for all of our shareholders."
The Tender Offer will provide that the Company repurchase for cash up to 5,981,308 shares (representing approximately $640 million in value of shares) at a price of $107.00 per share (the "Purchase Price"), less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest. The Tender Offer is expected to commence on August 1, 2023 and expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, at the end of the day on August 28, 2023 (the "Expiration Date"), unless extended or terminated.
The Repurchase Agreement, which was executed on July 30, 2023, provides that TriNet will repurchase for cash a minimum of 3,364,486 shares (representing approximately $360 million in value of shares) from Atairos at the purchase price set forth in the Tender Offer, but not less than $107.00 per share (the "Atairos Commitment Amount"). Atairos beneficially owns 21,450,259 shares as of the date hereof (representing approximately 36% of the Company's outstanding shares as of July 27, 2023) and, assuming the full subscription of the Tender Offer, Atairos will continue to own approximately 36% of the Company's outstanding shares following the repurchase.
If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed, but at least 3,644,859 shares are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer, Atairos has agreed to increase the number of shares to be sold to the Company under the Repurchase Agreement and will sell an additional number of shares equal to the difference between the number of shares offered to be repurchased pursuant to the Tender Offer and the number of shares actually repurchased in the Tender Offer such that the total share value of both transactions remains $1 billion; provided that such increase does not cause Atairos to beneficially own less than 33% of the Company's outstanding shares immediately following the closing of the Share Repurchase (taking into account the shares purchased in the Tender Offer), which percent may be further reduced to 30% at Atairos' sole discretion. If the Tender Offer is not fully subscribed and fewer than 3,644,859 shares are properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer, the Company will repurchase that number of shares properly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer and, unless Atairos agrees to further reduce its ownership level, the Company will repurchase only the Atairos Commitment Amount from Atairos under the Repurchase Agreement.
The Share Repurchase is expected to close on the 11th business day following the Expiration Date, or September 13, 2023. The Share Repurchase is conditioned upon, among other matters, the completion of the Tender Offer, which, in turn, is subject to certain conditions, including the receipt of financing. These transactions will be made under TriNet's $1 billion stock repurchase program increase announced on July 26, 2023.
Assuming that the conditions to the Tender Offer are satisfied or waived and the Tender Offer is fully subscribed, the Company would purchase 5,981,308 shares pursuant to the Tender Offer and 3,364,486 shares pursuant to the Share Repurchase for an aggregate of 9,345,794 shares, representing approximately 16% of the Company's outstanding shares as of July 27, 2023.
The Tender Offer and the Share Repurchase have been authorized and approved by the Company's Board of Directors, the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the members of the Board of Directors who are independent of Atairos. However, neither the Company nor any member of the Board of Directors has made, or is making, any recommendation to stockholders as to whether they should tender or refrain from tendering their shares. Stockholders must make their own decision as to whether to tender their shares and, if so, how many shares to tender. Stockholders are urged to discuss their decisions with their tax advisor, financial advisor and/or broker.
Certain Information Regarding the Tender Offer
The information in this press release describing the Tender Offer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell shares in the Tender Offer. TriNet has not yet commenced the Tender Offer described herein, and there can be no assurance that TriNet will commence the Tender Offer on the terms described in this press release. The Tender Offer will be made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and the related materials that the Company will file with the SEC, and will distribute to its stockholders, as they may be amended or supplemented, on the commencement date of the Tender Offer. Stockholders should read the Offer to Purchase and related materials carefully and in their entirety because they will contain important information, including the terms and conditions of the Tender Offer. When they are available, stockholders of the Company may obtain a free copy of the Tender Offer statement on Schedule TO, the Offer to Purchase and other documents that the Company will file with the SEC from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. When they are available, stockholders also will be able to obtain a copy of these documents, without charge, from D.F. King & Co., Inc., toll free at (800) 431-9643. Stockholders are urged to carefully read all of those materials when they become available prior to making any decision with respect to the Tender Offer.
About TriNet
TriNet (NYSE: TNET) provides small and medium-size businesses with full-service industry-specific HR solutions, providing both professional employer organization and human resources information system services. TriNet offers access to human capital expertise, benefits, risk mitigation, compliance, payroll, and R&D tax credit services, all enabled by industry-leading technology. TriNet's suite of products also includes services and software-based solutions to help streamline workflows by connecting HR, benefits, employee engagement, payroll and time & attendance. Rooted in more than 30 years of supporting entrepreneurs and adapting to the ever-changing modern workplace, TriNet empowers SMBs to focus on what matters most-growing their business and enabling their people.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on TriNet's current expectations. Such statements include TriNet's plan to initiate the Tender Offer and ability to complete the Share Repurchase on the terms and timing described herein, or at all. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including investor demand, market conditions, customary closing conditions and other factors. There can be no assurance that TriNet will complete the Share Repurchase or initiate the Tender Offer. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. More information about potential risk factors that could affect TriNet and its results is included in TriNet's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023. TriNet does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
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BEIJING, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. (NASDAQ: WIMI) ("WiMi" or the "Company"), a leading global Hologram Augmented Reality ("AR") Technology provider, today announced that an algorithm of nonlinear optical holography was developed. This is an algorithm that uses nonlinear optical effects to reconstruct a holographic image of an object. The laser beam is modulated using nonlinear optical materials to encode information about the object under test into an optical interference pattern, and then this interference pattern is recorded and processed using holography. In this process, the optical interference pattern has spatial and temporal features of high complexity, which can be used to realize nonlinear interactions between photons through the use of nonlinear optical effects (e.g., optical phase conjugation effects) to achieve the three-dimensional reconstruction of the object. It utilizes the nonlinear properties of light in optics to realize the processing and conversion of optical signals, and has the advantages of high resolution, no damage, and fast reconstruction.
This algorithm developed by WiMi is to use the characteristics of nonlinear optical materials to realize the self-modulation of light waves, self-frequency conversion and other processing, through holographic technology recorded light field information can provide richer optical information, to achieve better holographic image reconstruction effect. The laser beam and the reference beam are first constructed, and they are interfered with through the nonlinear crystal. In the interference region, the modulation of parameters such as refractive index, absorption, and refraction angle of the material that will be self-modulated is generated, and to obtain the hologram, the phase modulation of the signal beam is required. During the propagation of the laser wave in the material, the frequency of the wave changes due to the presence of nonlinear effects, forming a new non-planar wave called a differential frequency wave. The differential frequency wave is then recorded by holographic technology, and the corresponding data processing and reconstruction are carried out to obtain the hologram image of the original information. Finally, the desired image is obtained by processing the hologram.
Compared with traditional holographic algorithms, this technology can realize a variety of nonlinear optical effects, eliminate interference fringes and noise in traditional holographic technology, improve image clarity and signal-to-noise ratio, and obtain higher holographic imaging quality and resolution. It can also realize real-time imaging by adjusting the control factors such as laser power and material parameters, and can realize image modulation and enhancement by controlling different optical parameters, which improves the flexibility and applicability, and has higher practical value of application.
With the rapid development of computer technology and optical technology, WiMi's algorithm will also be continuously improved and enhanced, and its scope of application will be further expanded. It is foreseeable that the holographic algorithm will play an important role in the fields of medical imaging, education, entertainment, etc. At the same time, it will be one of the directions of future development of optical technology, which can provide important technical support for scientific research and industrial manufacturing.
About WIMI Hologram Cloud
WIMI Hologram Cloud, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIMI) is a holographic cloud comprehensive technical solution provider that focuses on professional areas including holographic AR automotive HUD software, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR, head-mounted light field holographic equipment, holographic semiconductor, holographic cloud software, holographic car navigation and others. Its services and holographic AR technologies include holographic AR automotive application, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR technology, holographic vision semiconductor technology, holographic software development, holographic AR advertising technology, holographic AR entertainment technology, holographic ARSDK payment, interactive holographic communication and other holographic AR technologies.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release and the Company's strategic and operational plans contain forward−looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases, and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition, and results of operations; the expected growth of the AR holographic industry; and the Company's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services.
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and the current report on Form 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required under applicable laws.
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SOURCE WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:02 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ |
New Oracle Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone solution reduces barriers to cloud adoption and enables mission owners to rapidly build compliant architectures
AUSTIN, Texas, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) has introduced a new Secure Cloud Computing Architecture (SCCA) for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The solution helps make security compliance and cloud adoption for mission-critical workloads easier, faster, and more cost effective by using a framework of cloud native services.
SCCA is a DoD security framework designed to provide a standard approach for boundary and application-level security for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Impact Level 4 and 5 data hosted in commercial cloud environments. Historically, SCCA compliance has required significant investment from DoD mission owners in the form of independent development efforts and third-party software licensing. The cost and time result in a significant challenge during cloud migrations.
Oracle Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone provides a framework for securely running DoD mission workloads and storing Impact Level 2, 4, and 5 data in OCI government regions. The automation provided by the solution enables DoD mission owners to establish a compliant security architecture in just a few hours or days, instead of months. It uses cloud native infrastructure services, significantly accelerating the time to deployment of mission critical workloads by reducing architecture time and minimizing decision points.
"Oracle Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone is a game changer for our customers. What we are doing is fundamentally different,"said Rand Waldron, vice president, OCI Global Government Sector. "We will deliver all the capabilities necessary for SCCA completely in native OCI services. Our customers will no longer have to manage multiple licenses, multiple vendor relationships, or multiple kinds of security configurations. Our SCCA solution will provide everything the customer needs to stand up an SCCA-compliant workload in the cloud.".
Learn more about Oracle's new Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone solution in the OCI SCCA Architecture Guide.
Simplifying and accelerating DoD security compliance
The Oracle Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone includes baseline configurations, rules, and templates that meet DISA Impact Level 2, 4 and 5 accreditation requirements. This is delivered using a standardized Infrastructure-as-Code (IAC) template that meets a set of SCCA controls in a simplified and repeatable way. Based on Terraform, OCI Landing Zones allow OCI customers to perform one click, best-practice deployments of multiple Oracle services at once. Customers can launch the templates from the Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone, answer a few simple questions about their configuration, and have an architecture set up same day.
The solution also addresses the four primary technical components of the SCCA framework; Cloud Access Point (CAP), Virtual Data Center Security Stack (VDSS), Virtual Data Center Management Service (VDMS), and Trusted Cloud Credential Manager (TCCM). Customers who deploy the secure baseline using the Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone are provided with an architecture guide, implementation guide, requirements checklist, reference architecture, and best practices to accelerate the accreditation of their application on OCI.
Security, compliance, consistent high performance, and simple, predictable pricing
The Oracle Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone script and associated technical documentation are provided at no separate or additional charge under a customer's contract. Underlying consumable cloud services used to stand up Oracle Cloud Native SCCA in a customer's tenancy may be billable in accordance with the customer's contract. Oracle Cloud for DoD services are priced at the same, consistent global pricing as Oracle's commercial public cloud regions and meet DISA Impact Levels 2, 4, and 5 and FedRAMP+ authorization standards.
Commercial customers can also take advantage of the automated security posture outlined above. All OCI customers can leverage custom security zones with the SCCA and other OCI Landing Zones that allow organizations to apply security policies and prevent changes that could weaken a customer's security configuration quickly and easily. Learn more about Oracle Landing Zones here.
Oracle Cloud Native SCCA Landing Zone scripts are available within the OCI Console, through GitHub, and from the Hosting and Compute Center (HaCC) website.
Additional Resources
- Oracle Cloud for DOD
- DISA IL5 Authorized Oracle Cloud for Government for U.S. Defense and Intelligence
- Oracle FedRAMP Authorizations
- Government Region Service Catalog
- Oracle and U.S. Defense Department continue their partnership with JWCC
About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at oracle.com.
Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL, and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company--ushering in the new era of cloud computing.
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(The Hill) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a 2024 GOP presidential candidate, said that fellow presidential candidate and rival, former President Donald Trump’s, “juvenile insults” toward him have helped him.
DeSantis made the remarks during a campaign stop in New Hampshire on Sunday.
“First of all, I mean, I think a lot of this stuff when he hits me with it with juvenile insults, I think that helps me,” DeSantis told reporters. “I don’t think voters like that. I think they look at it and they realize, like, you know what, that’s not effective. And so I don’t think it’s effective.”
DeSantis also said Trump’s insults are just another reminder that millions of voters will not vote for him during this election cycle.
“So I actually don’t mind that at all,” DeSantis added. “I think it’s just a reminder, why there’s so many millions of voters who will never vote for him going forward.”
Trump has targeted DeSantis with a slew of insults throughout the campaign cycle, referring to the governor as “Ron DeSanctimonious”. Trump took his latest shot at DeSantis during the Iowa GOP’s Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines, Iowa last week, telling constituents that he “wouldn’t take a chance on that one.”
This comes as DeSantis, who was once seen as a real rival to Trump for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2024, has fallen in polls since announcing his presidential campaign in May.
The 44-year-old politician recently laid off 38 staff members as his campaign seeks to revamp itself in the race for the presidency. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/desantis-says-trumps-juvenile-insults-help-him/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:06 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/desantis-says-trumps-juvenile-insults-help-him/ |
Prep Rally: Southern Section football teams to keep an eye on
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. My name is Eric Sondheimer. Southern Section teams begin football practice this week. Can anyone break up the Mater Dei-St. John Bosco-Corona Centennial stranglehold as the best teams in SoCal?
The challengers
Official football practice begins this week for Southern Section teams. The only real question is which team can break into the top four in Southern California?
Sierra Canyon will certainly get a shot. The Trailblazers won Division 2 last season after stumbling early on and not being able to get back into the Division 1 picture until it was too late. This time, with games against JSerra and Orange Lutheran, Sierra Canyon knows it needs to win immediately and there will be no excuses. Few teams are better prepared to run the ball with Dane Dunn and the passing game should be much improved with Sherman Oaks Notre Dame transfer Wyatt Becker at quarterback. The secondary can’t be any stronger with four future college players in the lineup.
Orange Lutheran is preparing for the Trinity League with a daunting schedule but most of its top players are back, led by quarterback TJ Lateef. An opening game against Gardena Serra should provide an early glimpse where the Lancers stand.
Los Alamitos has loaded up on transfers, so who knows how long it takes for the Griffins to develop chemistry.
Mission Viejo has inexperience at quarterback but that shouldn’t be an issue. The Diablos have a solid defense and improving offensive line. They also added an elite receiver last week in, a junior who moved from Sacramento to Bishop Alemany last semester and but is now at Mission Viejo. Here’s the updated high school football transfer tracker.
Long Beach Poly loves its quarterback, Colorado State commit Darius Curry, and there’s plenty of fast, athletic players to build around. Warren knocked off Mater Dei in a summer passing tournament. That means nothing when the Monarchs add their offensive and defensive lines to the mix, but beware of receiver Jordan Ross.
JSerra has a new coach in former Asuza Pacific head coach Victor Santa Cruz. Don’t underestimate what he can do. If the Lions can upset Sierra Canyon in their opener, they’ll be off to the races.
Gardena Serra is always good when the season begins. It’s just a matter of depth. Can the Cavaliers avoid injuries? Quarterback Jimmy Butler is ready for a breakout junior season with Zacharyus Williams serving as his big target. And don’t forget that running back Cincere Rhaney is back to bowl over some linebackers.
So those are the candidates to secure the fourth-best team label in Southern California.
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Nine-part series
The Times’ annual nine-part series previewing the top high school football players in Southern California begins Sunday with a profile of Murrieta Valley junior quarterback Bear Bachmeier. He has one brother, Hank, playing quarterback at Louisiana Tech, and another brother, Tiger, playing receiver at Stanford. He has grown up on a three-acre plot of land on top of a hill in Lake Elsinore.
The complete schedule of profiles will appear in next Monday’s Prep Rally.
Shoulder pads go on
After being dropped off at Reseda Cleveland by his mother, sophomore Tristan Cordero was carrying his new shoulder pads from the parking lot to the locker room Thursday afternoon, on the first day City Section players could wear helmets and shoulder pads at practices.
Cordero had never put on shoulder pads before, but he was confident he wouldn’t have trouble.
“The coaches showed us a video,” he said.
Thank goodness for YouTube.
Assistant coach Mario Guzman still said it was about an hour of chaos helping players with shoulder pads, helmets and mouthpieces. The big issue with helmets is the chin straps. Some were ending up over the player’s lip, not allowing them to speak. Players were supposed to have molded their mouthpieces by taking them home, putting them in boiling water, then cool water and biting down to get them to fit.
And just wait until the tackling drills begin.
A look at the opening day for shoulder pads and helmets for the City Section.
Early morning practices
For two years, linebacker Edwin Torres was unable to become academically eligible to play football at Chatsworth. Being late to class. Lack of discipline. Lack of commitment.
“I overslept a lot,” he said.
Apparently his sleeping habits have changed. He’s been getting up at 4:30 a.m. to prepare for 6 a.m. football practices. He’s finally eligible to play his junior season.
“I feel I have to wake up earlier,” he said. “It was lack of discipline. Now I feel committed and proving everyone who doubted me wrong.”
Coach Marvin Street has been using early morning practices to help with safety concerns related to the extreme heat. But he has found additional reasons to schedule the early morning work. Parents like it. It gets their kids up early to begin the day and keeps them available for chores or family responsibilities later. And the kids are learning about how much they want to play football.
A look at Street teaching life lessons.
Summer preview: Defensive backs
Defensive backs who make plays and can cover receivers have become invaluable at all levels of football.
Continuing a summer look at players to watch for the upcoming high school football season, it’s clear that Southern California has lots of quality defensive backs. And it starts with players named Peyton.
Peyton Waters of Birmingham is committed to the University of Washington. He’s moving to safety this season, his projected position in college, after starring as a cornerback. He also plays receiver and wildcat quarterback and uses his instincts, athleticism and versatility to make an impact.
Peyton Woodyard of St. John Bosco is committed to Georgia. He’s a safety who plays with a physicality and confidence hard to duplicate.
Here’s a rundown of other defensive backs to watch.
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Girls’ volleyball
The girls’ volleyball season begins next week, but Huntington Beach, with seven of its top eight players returning, is already serving notice that it intends to compete with Division 1 powers Mira Costa, Sierra Canyon and Mater Dei.
Huntington Beach won a summer tournament last week at Oxnard, knocking off defending Division 1 champion Sierra Canyon in the final.
Coach Craig Pazanti said setter Dani Sparks, outside hitter Haylee LaFountaine and libero Olivia Foye were on top of their games.
The team is set to leave for Hawaii on Aug. 8 for a season-opening tournament in Honolulu Aug.10-12 that will also include Sierra Canyon and Mira Costa.
Sierra Canyon, which returns four starters, has picked up a talented transfer from Saugus in 6-foot-2 Taylor Treahy.
Notes . . .
Andrew Moore has resigned after four seasons as basketball coach at Crespi. . . .
Derrick Taylor, associated with the Taft basketball program since 1987 and head coach from 2001-2011 and 2015 until last season, won’t be coming back as head coach after guiding the Toreadors to the City title. Here’s the report.
St. Francis tight end/linebacker Preston Jernegan has committed to the admission process at Princeton. . . .
Kristen Sherman is the new girls’ flag football coach at Orange Lutheran. She’s the wife of 11-man coach Rod Sherman. . . .
Former Harvard-Westlake pitcher Lucas Giolito was acquired by the Angels in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. It will be a homecoming for Giolito, who grew up in Santa Monica. He’s a free agent next season. It’s an interesting time for the Harvard-Westlake pitchers in the majors. Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals also will be a free agent and Max Fried of the Braves is two years away.
Allen Caveness is the new basketball coach at St. Monica. He was an assistant at Long Beach State and head coach at St. Anthony for seven years. . . .
BS High, a documentary on the Bishop Sycamore high school football scandal, is scheduled to premiere on HBO and Max on Aug. 23. It was two years ago Bishop Sycamore faced IMG Academy on national television losing 58-0. Then came the revelations about the program. . . .
Setter Charlie Fuerbringer of Mira Costa will begin playing this week for the USA U19 girls’ volleyball team competing at the FIVB Girls U19 World Championships Aug. 1-11 in Osijek, Croatia and Szeged, Hungary. . . .
In what could be huge basketball news, Bryce James, the younger son of LeBron James, has made inquires about transferring to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame instead of Campbell Hall. Nothing has been finalized. James has played the last two seasons with older brother Bronny at Sierra Canyon. Notre Dame defeated Sierra Canyon four times last season. . . .
Sean Kelly of Loyola has been selected to be captain for the USA U19 volleyball team that will play this week at the FIVB boys U19 World Championships in Argentina. Also on the team are Kellen Larson from Woodbridge, Marek Turner from Long Beach Wilson, Victor Loiola from Mira Costa, Trent Taliaferro from JSerra, Sterling Foley from Corona del Mar, Josh Aruya from Mission Viejo, Tread Rosenthal from Mira Costa and Kaumana Carreira from Tesoro. . . .
Former Newbury Park cross-country coach Sean Brosnan will not have his contract renewed as distance coach at UCLA. . . .
From the archives: Milan Tolentino
Former Santa Margarita infielder Milan Tolentino, a fourth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Guardians in 2020, continues to progress in the minor leagues. He has five home runs, 24 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and a .265 average.
Here’s a story from 2022 describing his rise in the Guardians’ farm system.
Tolentino was the Trinity League player of the year as a junior in 2019. He was committed to UCLA but signed with the Guardians.
Recommendations
From wusa9.com, a story on travel ball and the rising costs for parents.
From Pantherswire, a story on former Mater Dei quarterback Bryce Young‘s singing skills.
Tweets you might have missed
Until next time...
Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.
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Get our high school sports newsletter
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/sports/newsletter/2023-07-31/high-school-football-southern-section-prep-rally | 2023-07-31T13:13:07 | 1 | https://www.latimes.com/sports/newsletter/2023-07-31/high-school-football-southern-section-prep-rally |
The House and Senate left Washington for the month of August with a lengthy, time-sensitive to-do list waiting when they return, including multiple key health care priorities.
There will only be three weeks before the end of the fiscal year to get everything done, and just 11 legislative days when both chambers will be in session at the same time.
Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize a sweeping pandemic preparedness bill, fund community health centers and renew opioid addiction services.
But the largest looming deadline is the appropriations bills to fund the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which are tied up in the House amid disagreements over abortion and spending levels.
GOP leaders scuttled a vote planned for Friday on legislation funding the FDA and the Department of Agriculture after moderate Republicans objected to a provision that would reverse the FDA’s decision to allow the abortion pill mifepristone drug to be dispensed through the mail and in retail pharmacies.
House Freedom Caucus members have also been demanding even deeper spending cuts than agreed to in the bipartistan debt ceiling deal.
The Labor-HHS bill advanced through a House Appropriations subcommittee earlier this month, but hadn’t even made it to the full committee before recess. The Republican-led House bill would slash or eliminate funding from a range of programs that deal with everything from family planning to teen pregnancy and even HIV.
Both FDA and HHS funding bills face a major fight in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where the Appropriations Committee has already passed its own version by near unanimous margins, owing to an agreement by Democratic and Republican leaders not to insert “poison pill” amendments.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.) argued in a floor speech that lawmakers should stay in Washington to strip out the “toxic, divisive, bigoted riders” in the bills, and ripped Republicans for delaying votes until September.
Pandemic preparedness
The House and Senate are taking different tracks in the reauthorization of the pandemic preparedness bill, complicating its path forward.
The Senate advanced a bipartisan version of the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act out of committee, but the House is divided. House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans advanced a bill on party lines after Democrats introduced their own version.
The primary disagreement is over drug shortages. Democrats are clamoring to give FDA more oversight authority to address the shortages, but Republicans are insisting on keeping the issues separate.
The Senate version contains some provisions addressing drug shortages, but only one involves beefing up FDA authority.
Congress is under pressure to stem drug shortages amid reports of doctors rationing cancer drugs and other medicine. Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee have said they are committed to dealing with the problems, but that it shouldn’t be part of the preparedness bill.
Energy and Commerce Committee GOP leaders released a discussion draft on Friday of drug shortage legislation focusing on the economic reasons for shortages, including giving some generic drug manufacturers the ability to raise the cost of their drugs if hospitals keep prices “artificially low” to the point where there’s no economic incentive.
Health centers
Legislation to reauthorize funding for community health centers also faces partisan challenges. But in this case, the House cleared its bill on a bipartisan basis, while the Senate is still working through disagreements, highlighting the work to be done.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, originally wanted tens of billions of dollars more for the centers. He was asking for $130 billion to fund the centers over the next five years as well as $60 billion to help grow the health care workforce.
But Sanders ended up canceling a planned markup during the last week of July. Raising some eyebrows, Sanders said he is working with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to craft a bipartisan bill that will be “ready by the first week of September.”
Separately, Sanders and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued a joint statement pledging to partner and work towards legislation in the fall aimed at addressing primary care and other health care workforce shortages.
Opioids
At issue are several provisions of sweeping legislation signed into law in 2018 called the Support Act, which aimed to tackle the country’s drug overdose epidemic.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced a bipartisan reauthorization and expansion bill, but advocates are concerned the Senate is behind.
HELP Committee ranking member Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced his own version of the bill on July 20, but hearings won’t be scheduled until September. Cassidy has warned that the committee is wasting time on partisan bills instead of easy bipartisan wins, such as the Support Act.
Insulin/PBM reform
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said for months that he wants to move legislation that would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for people with private insurance.
There’s hope to combine it with legislation reforming the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry into a package that could get bipartisan support.
But there’s no looming deadline and no guarantee it will get taken up in September.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is a co-sponsor of one of the insulin bills with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), said she still has Schumer’s support heading into the fall, but has not heard anything about timing.
Multiple committees have advanced PBM reform bills in both the House and Senate, so they will all need to be combined into one floor-friendly package. | https://www.wdtn.com/hill-politics/lawmakers-set-to-face-ticking-clock-on-health-care-priorities/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:06 | 1 | https://www.wdtn.com/hill-politics/lawmakers-set-to-face-ticking-clock-on-health-care-priorities/ |
New dispensary delivers on brand promise of product quality and variety with convenient locations
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, announced the relocation of a medical dispensary in Kissimmee, Fla. located at 2647 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. The dispensary will be open 9AM – 8:30PM Monday through Saturday and 11AM – 8PM on Sunday.
"Trulieve is committed to offering our Florida patients a broad selection of convenient locations and top-quality products to choose from, while also providing for best-in-class customer service," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "This new location delivers on that commitment and we will continue to seek new opportunities to better serve this community."
Trulieve invites the Kissimmee community to join in celebrating this new dispensary on Friday, August 4 with partner giveaways, music, food trucks, specials discounts and more, starting at 9 AM. Trulieve also offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering and in-store pickup. As always, all first-time guests are eligible for a 60% new customer discount at any Florida-based location.
Designed to meet every patient's needs, our portfolio of in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk and Trekkers. Customers also have access to beloved brands such as Alien Labs, Bhang, Binske, Black Tuna, Blue River, Connected Cannabis, DeLisioso, Khalifa Kush, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, Old Hippie Stash, O.Pen, Seed Junky and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.
For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
About Trulieve
Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with established hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, anchored by leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.
Facebook: @Trulieve
Instagram: @Trulieve_
Twitter: @Trulieve
Investor Contact
Christine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations
+1 (424) 202-0210
Christine.Hersey@Trulieve.com
Media Contact
Teresa Coulter, VancoreJones Communications
+1 (407) 808-6139
TCoulter@vancorejones.com
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SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trulieve-opening-relocated-medical-marijuana-dispensary-kissimmee-florida/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:08 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/trulieve-opening-relocated-medical-marijuana-dispensary-kissimmee-florida/ |
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s embattled central bank governor stepped down on Monday under a cloud of investigation and blame for his country’s economic crisis as several European countries are probing his alleged financial crimes.
Riad Salameh, 73, ended his 30-year tenure as tearful employees took photos and a band played celebratory music with drums and trumpets as he left the building.
His four vice governors, led by incoming interim governor Wassim Mansouri, quickly pivoted to urge fiscal reforms for the cash-strapped country.
“We are at a crossroads,” Mansouri said at a news conference. “There is no choice, if we continue previous policy … the funds in the Central Bank will eventually dry up.”
Salameh kicked off his tenure as governor in 1993, three years after Lebanon’s 15-year civil war came to an end. It was a time when reconstruction loans and aid was pouring into the country, and Salameh was widely celebrated for his role in Lebanon’s recovery.
Now, he leaves his post a wanted man in Europe, accused by many in Lebanon of being responsible for the country’s financial downfall since late 2019.
It was a steep fall for a leader whose policies were once hailed for keeping the currency stable. Later, many financial experts saw him as setting up a house of cards that crumbled as the country’s supply of dollars dried up on top of decades of rampant and corruption and mismanagement from Lebanon’s ruling parties.
The crisis has pulverized the Lebanese pound and wiped out the savings of many Lebanese, as the banks ran dry of hard currency.
With the country’s banks crippled and public sector in ruins, Lebanon for years has run on a cash-based economy and relied primarily on tourism and remittances from millions in the diaspora.
Mansouri said previous policies that permitted the central bank to spend large sums on money to prop up the Lebanese state is no longer feasible. He cited years of spending billions of dollars to subsidize fuel, medicine, wheat and more to keep the value of the Lebanese pound stable.
He proposed a six-month reform plan that included passing long awaited reforms such as capital controls, a bank restructuring law, and the 2023 state budget.
“The country cannot continue without passing these laws,” Mansouri explained. “We don’t have time, and we paid a heavy price that we cannot pay anymore.”
The reforms Mansouri mentioned are among those the International Monetary Fund set as conditions on Lebanon in April 2022 for a bailout plan, though he did not mention the IMF. None have been passed.
France, Germany, and Luxembourg are investigating Salameh and his associates over myriad financial crimes, including illicit enrichment and the laundering of $330 million. Paris and Berlin issued Interpol notices to the central bank chief in May, though Lebanon does not hand over its citizens to foreign countries.
Salameh has repeatedly denied the allegations and insisted that his wealth comes from his previous job as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, inherited properties, and investments. He has criticized the probe and said it was part of a media and political campaign to scapegoat him.
In his final interview as governor, Salameh said on Lebanese television that the responsibility for reforms lies with the government.
“Everything I did for the past 30 years was to try to serve Lebanon and the Lebanese,” he said. “Some — the majority —- were grateful, even if they don’t want to say so. And there are other people, well, may God forgive them.”
Salameh’s departure adds another gap in crisis-hit Lebanon’s withering and paralyzed institutions. The tiny Mediterranean country has been without a president for nine months, while its government has been running in a limited caretaker capacity for a year. Lebanon has also been without a top spy chief to head its General Security Directorate since March.
Lebanese officials in recent months were divided over whether Salameh should stay in his post or whether he should step down immediately in the remaining months of his tenure.
Caretaker Economy Minister Amin Salam wanted an immediate stepdown, given that the central bank chief had a “legal question mark.”
“I cannot explain anyone holding on to a person while a nation is failing unless there is something wrong or hidden,” Salam told The Associated Press. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-lebanons-central-bank-governor-ends-30-year-tenure-under-investigation-during-dire-economic-crisis/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:08 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-lebanons-central-bank-governor-ends-30-year-tenure-under-investigation-during-dire-economic-crisis/ |
Leveraging artificial intelligence, Mumbai-based IT services firm Yodaplus is catalyzing industry transformations, from nutraceuticals to retail, by streamlining business operations and boosting decision-making capabilities.
MUMBAI, India, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yodaplus, a Mumbai-based IT services firm, is at the forefront of empowering organizations worldwide with advanced technological capabilities. Today, the company sheds light on the evolving global landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its growing adoption within its service portfolio.
With its wide range of services and deep industry knowledge, Yodaplus has been a game changer – enabling organizations to focus on their core operations and achieve sustainable growth. And now, by integrating AI into services, Yodaplus helps businesses navigate the complex digital transformation landscape more efficiently, creating a competitive edge.
AI continues to transform business operations globally, powering automation, analytics, decision-making, and enhancing user experiences. This ultimately delivers safer and more effective products to meet the growing global demand.
Yodaplus is known for its expansive roster of clients - from development banks and blockchain companies to EdTech startups and HRMS providers. With such a diverse clientele, embracing AI is more necessary than a choice, and Yodaplus has promptly addressed this need.
"As we navigate the digital age, the integration of AI into our service offerings has become an undeniable necessity," commented Vishrut Srivastava, MD, Yodaplus. "AI is here to stay, poised to make our lives more efficient and free mankind from the burden of mundane tasks. At Yodaplus, we are committed to embracing AI to drive growth and innovation for our clients while we continue to explore new horizons in this transformative technological landscape."
In line with this commitment, Yodaplus has developed an AI engine transforming the global nutraceutical supply chain. Addressing the complexities of generating differentiated nutraceutical label claims necessitates a well-mapped global database and the application of AI. To solve this problem, Yodaplus developed an AI-driven smart labels function via the NutrifyGenie AI engine.
NutrifyGenie uses sophisticated algorithms that facilitate simplified and precise decision-making, authenticating label claim validation and enabling real-time regulatory compliance. This feature provides users with pre-made labels, including correct dosage values for nutraceutical products, significantly expediting product development.
Enabling companies to effortlessly commercialize their innovations in essential markets fulfills the continuously increasing demand for nutraceutical products. As the nutraceutical industry continues to grow, Yodaplus's AI engine will play a crucial role in accelerating the new product development process and helping businesses bring innovative and differentiated products to market faster than ever before.
Not just that, the company has also recently deployed advanced invoice parsing for a retail giant. This smart solution facilitates operations by accurately extracting and collating relevant information from invoices, thus automating a previously laborious task. Furthermore, Yodaplus uses sophisticated AI tools to assist an asset management client in conducting comprehensive financial records analysis, rendering them outstanding financial decision-making capabilities.
About Yodaplus
An ever-evolving, highly specialized technology solutions company, Yodaplus offers an array of services designed to address the unique needs of businesses globally, extending beyond its Mumbai base to the US, UK, UAE, and Singapore. The company's mission, steered by MD Vishrut Srivastava, is dedicated to providing top-tier IT services and aims to propel businesses toward unprecedented growth and success. With this commitment, Yodaplus becomes your duly trusted tech partner.
For more information about Yodaplus, please visit www.yodaplus.com.
Press Contact:
Amit Pareek
Senior Marketing Manager
amitp@yodaplus.com
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2163861/Vishrut_Srivatava_MD_Yodaplus.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2144978/4185052/Yodaplus_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Yodaplus Technologies | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yodaplus-shaping-future-industries-with-powerful-ai-integration/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:09 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yodaplus-shaping-future-industries-with-powerful-ai-integration/ |
BUFFALO, N.Y., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
SUMMARY NOTICE OF (I) PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION, CERTIFICATION OF SETTLEMENT CLASS, AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION; (II) SETTLEMENT HEARING; AND (III) MOTION FOR AN AWARD OF
ATTORNEYS' FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF LITIGATION EXPENSES
TO: All persons and entities who, during the period from February 18, 2016 through July 31, 2019, inclusive (the "Settlement Class Period"), purchased or otherwise acquired 22nd Century Group, Inc. ("22nd Century") common stock and were allegedly damaged thereby (the "Settlement Class").
PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY, YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE AFFECTED BY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING IN THIS COURT.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, that the above-captioned litigation (the "Action") has been certified as a class action on behalf of the Settlement Class, except for certain persons and entities who are excluded from the Settlement Class as set forth in the full printed Notice Of (I) Pendency Of Class Action, Certification Of Settlement Class, And Proposed Settlement of Class Action; (II) Settlement Hearing; And (III) Motion For An Award Of Attorneys' Fees And Reimbursement Of Litigation Expenses (the "Notice").
YOU ARE ALSO NOTIFIED that Lead Plaintiffs in the Action have reached a proposed settlement of the Action for $3,000,000.00 in cash (the "Settlement"), that, if approved, will resolve all claims in the Action.
This Summary Notice relates to the proposed Settlement of claims in a pending securities class action lawsuit brought by investors alleging, among other things, that Defendants 22nd Century, Henry Sicignano, III, and John T. Brodfuehrer (collectively, the "Defendants") violated the federal securities laws by making alleged misrepresentations or omissions regarding certain alleged stock promotion articles and Defendants' alleged failure to disclose an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") into a material weakness in 22nd Century's internal controls, which Defendants deny.
A hearing will be held on October 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., before the Honorable Michael J. Roemer, United States Magistrate Judge, at the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse, 2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, New York 14202, or by telephonic, video conferencing or other electronic means, as posted on the website of the Claims Administrator. The hearing will determine (i) whether the proposed Settlement should be approved as fair, reasonable, and adequate; (ii) whether the Action should be dismissed with prejudice against Defendants, and the Releases specified and described in the Stipulation And Agreement Of Settlement (and in the Notice) should be granted; (iii) whether the proposed Plan of Allocation should be approved as fair and reasonable; (iv) whether Lead Counsel's application for an award of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses should be approved, and (v) whether to award Lead Plaintiff for reimbursement of Lead Plaintiffs' time and expenses out of the Settlement Fund and pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §78u-4(a)(4) in connection with their representation of the Settlement Class and, if so, in what amount.
If you are a member of the Settlement Class, your rights will be affected by the pending Action and the Settlement, and you may be entitled to share in the Settlement Fund. If you have not yet received the Notice and Claim Form, you may obtain copies of these documents by contacting the Claims Administrator at 22nd Century Securities Litigation, c/o Epiq, P.O. Box 3839, Portland, OR 97208-3839. Copies of the Notice and Claim Form can also be downloaded from the website maintained by the Claims Administrator, www.22ndCenturySecuritiesLitigation.com.
If you are a member of the Settlement Class, in order to be potentially eligible to receive a payment under the proposed Settlement, you must submit a Claim Form either online at the Settlement website, www.22ndCenturySecuritiesLitigation.com, by October 10, 2023, or by first class postage prepaid U.S. mail postmarked no later than October 10, 2023. If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not timely submit a proper Claim Form, you will not be eligible to share in the distribution of the net proceeds of the Settlement but you will nevertheless be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action.
If you are a member of the Settlement Class and wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must submit a request for exclusion such that it is received no later than September 12, 2023, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice. If you properly exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action and you will not be eligible to share in the proceeds of the Settlement.
Any objections to the proposed Settlement, the proposed Plan of Allocation, or Lead Counsel's motion for attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses, must be filed with the Court and delivered to representatives of Lead Counsel and Defendants' counsel such that they are received no later than September 12, 2023, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice.
Please do not contact the Court, the Clerk's office, 22nd Century, or Defendants' counsel regarding this notice. All questions about this notice, the proposed Settlement, or your eligibility to participate in the Settlement should be directed to Lead Counsel or the Claims Administrator.
Requests for the Notice and Claim Form should be made to:
22nd Century Securities Litigation
c/o Epiq
P.O. Box 3839
Portland, OR 97208-3839
Inquiries, other than requests for the Notice and Claim Form, should be made to Lead Counsel:
POMERANTZ LLP
Jeremy A. Lieberman
Brian Calandra
600 Third Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10016
jalieberman@pomlaw.com
bcalandra@pomlaw.com
Dated: August 7, 2023
By Order of the Court
United States District Court
Western District of New York
URL: www.22ndCenturySecuritiesLitigation.com
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pomerantz-llp-announces-pendency-class-action-proposed-settlement-involving-purchasers-22nd-century-group-inc-common-stock/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:09 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pomerantz-llp-announces-pendency-class-action-proposed-settlement-involving-purchasers-22nd-century-group-inc-common-stock/ |
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — U.S. national team cyclist Magnus White was killed over the weekend when he was struck by a vehicle on a training ride near his home in Boulder, Colorado.
USA Cycling announced his death in a statement Sunday. The 17-year-old was on a final training ride before competing in the junior mountain bike world championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
He is survived by his parents, Michael and Jill, and his brother, Eero.
White was a rising multidisciplinary star, winning a junior national championship in cyclocross in 2021 and earning a place on the U.S. national team.
He had begun to dabble in road racing and mountain biking this year. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/17-year-old-american-cyclist-killed-while-training-for-mountain-bike-world-championships/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:11 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/17-year-old-american-cyclist-killed-while-training-for-mountain-bike-world-championships/ |
New Zillow survey finds 80% of mortgage holders report having a rate of less than 5%
SEATTLE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new Zillow® survey has identified the mortgage rate tipping point that makes homeowners more likely to move, which is key in unlocking the housing market and slowing price growth. Homeowners with a mortgage rate above 5% are nearly twice as likely to say that they plan to sell their home than those paying a rate below 5%.
Zillow's survey finds that about 80% of mortgage holders reported having a rate of less than 5%, and about 90% have a rate of less than 6%. Almost one-third reported a rate of less than 3%.
As today's mortgage rates near 7%, a vast majority of homeowners would need to finance a new home at a higher rate than the rate they currently hold, adding hundreds of dollars a month to their mortgage payment and creating an incentive to hold on to their home rather than move. This helps explain why Zillow data finds that 28% fewer new for-sale listings hit the market in June than a year ago.
"We expect mortgage rates may notch down slightly as inflation comes under control, but they are unlikely to return to 5% in the near future," said Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow Home Loans. "That means many homeowners will move only for major life events, like a new baby or retirement. Over time, homeowners will likely accept higher rates as the new normal, but until then, the market could remain challenging for home shoppers, who will see fewer options and higher prices."
There is reason to be optimistic that more homes could hit the market in the next few years. Zillow's survey finds that nearly one-quarter of homeowners are considering selling their home in the next three years or currently have their home listed for sale (23%), which is significantly higher than the 15% of homeowners who said the same one year ago. The share is even greater among mortgage holders who have a rate above 5%. Nearly 40% of those homeowners say they would consider selling their home in the next three years (38%).
In the meantime, the shortage of for-sale homes is pushing up prices. Zillow's latest monthly market report finds that home values hit a record high in June, topping $350,000 for the first time nationally. Home values climbed in all of the 50 largest metro areas for a second month in a row.
Higher prices are compounding affordability challenges for buyers who are also facing today's higher mortgage interest rates. A typical monthly mortgage payment is more than twice as much as it was in 2020 and 13% higher than a year ago.
While these challenges have tempered demand, buyers are persisting and getting creative to achieve homeownership. A recent survey from Zillow Home Loans finds that nearly half of all buyers are buying points to lower their interest rate and reduce their monthly mortgage payment (45%). Mortgage points give buyers an option to pay an upfront fee to buy down the interest rate on a loan. Buyers are also making compromises on their wish lists and competing for smaller, more affordable homes.
There are tools to help buyers better understand what they can afford and to make homeownership more attainable. Buyers can find out if they're eligible for down payment assistance programs, which are listed on every for-sale home on Zillow. Buyers can also use mortgage and affordability calculators to understand what they can afford on a monthly basis, and then search for homes by monthly cost to land a home they can afford.
About Zillow Group:
Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, great partners, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences.
Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®; Zillow Premier Agent®; Zillow Home Loans℠; Trulia®; Out East®; StreetEasy®; HotPads®; and ShowingTime+℠, which includes ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, and dotloop®.
All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2023 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.
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SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/rate-lock-tipping-point-homeowners-are-nearly-twice-willing-sell-if-their-mortgage-rate-is-5-or-higher/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:13 | 0 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/rate-lock-tipping-point-homeowners-are-nearly-twice-willing-sell-if-their-mortgage-rate-is-5-or-higher/ |
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic because of his strident opposition to vaccines. Yet, he insists he’s not anti-vaccine. He has associated with influential people on the far right – including Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn – to raise his profile. Yet, he portrays himself as a true Democrat inheriting the mantle of the Kennedy family.
As he challenges President Joe Biden, the stories he tells on the campaign trail about himself, his life’s work and what he stands for are often the opposite of what his record actually shows.
Though Kennedy’s primary challenge to a sitting president is widely considered a long-shot, he’s been sucking up media attention due to his famous name and the possibility that his run could weaken Biden ahead of what is expected to be a close general election in 2024. He’s drawn praise from Republican presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Meanwhile, Trump supporters, including his longtime ally Roger Stone, have ginned up interest by floating a Trump-Kennedy unity ticket.
Debra Duvall, 62, who lives in Fort Myers, Florida, and said she serves on the Lee County GOP executive committee, described herself as a longtime Trump supporter, but said she’s torn for 2024.
“I’ll take Trump or RFK. Either one,” she said, explaining that she was drawn to both because she believes they can’t be bought.
That kind of support has demonstrated some of the contradictions in Kennedy’s candidacy. He has said he wants to “reclaim” the Democratic Party, while aligning himself with far right figures who have worked to subvert American democracy. He touts his credentials as an environmentalist, yet pushes bitcoin — a cryptocurrency that requires massive amounts of electricity from supercomputers to generate new coins, prompting most environmental advocates to loudly oppose it.
And though he peppers his speeches, podcast appearances and campaign materials with invocations of the Democratic Party legacies of his uncle President John F. Kennedy and his father Robert F. Kennedy, his relatives have distanced themselves from him and even denounced him.
“He’s trading in on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories and conflict for personal gain and fame,” Jack Schlossberg, President Kennedy’s grandson, said of his cousin in an Instagram video earlier this month. “I’ve listened to him. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president. What I do know is, his candidacy is an embarrassment.”
Kennedy’s recent comments that COVID-19 could have been “ethnically targeted” to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people — which he denies were antisemitic but concedes he should have worded more carefully — also drew a condemnation from his sister, Kerry Kennedy.
The contradictions between what Kennedy says and his track record were nowhere more apparent than when he testified before a congressional committee this month at the invitation of Republican members.
Anti-vaccine activists, some who work for Kennedy’s nonprofit group Children’s Health Defense, sat in the rows behind him, watching as he insisted “I have never been anti-vaxx. I have never told the public to avoid vaccination.”
But that’s not true. Again and again, Kennedy has made his opposition to vaccines clear. Just this month, Kennedy said in a podcast interview that “There’s no vaccine that is safe and effective” and told FOX News that he still believes in the long-ago debunked idea that vaccines can cause autism. In a 2021 podcast he urged people to “resist” CDC guidelines on when kids should get vaccines.
“I see somebody on a hiking trail carrying a little baby and I say to him, better not get them vaccinated,” Kennedy said.
That same year, in a video promoting and anti-vaccine sticker campaign by his nonprofit, Kennedy appeared onscreen next to one sticker that declared “IF YOU’RE NOT AN ANTI-VAXXER YOU AREN’T PAYING ATTENTION.”
A close examination of Kennedy’s campaign finance filings shows that the anti-vaccine movement lies at the heart of his campaign.
Several of his campaign staff and consultants have worked for his anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, including Mary Holland, the group’s president on leave, campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear, and Zen Honeycutt, who hosted a show for the group’s TV channel, CHD TV.
Children’s Health Defense currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines.
The campaign paid KFP Consulting, a Texas-based company run by Del Bigtree, head of the anti-vaccine group ICAN, and a leading voice in the movement, more than $13,000 for communications consulting, the AP found. Bigtree appeared to still be working for the campaign last week, when an AP reporter saw him helping facilitate a Kennedy event in New York.
Kennedy also has received substantial support from activists who have spread misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines, including Steve Kirsch, an entrepreneur who has falsely claimed COVID-19 vaccines kill more people than they save, chiropractors Patrick Flynn and Kevin Stillwagon, and others.
Ty and Charlene Bollinger, who run an anti-vaccine business and who the AP has previously reported have had a financial relationship with Kennedy, gave more than $6,000. The couple, along with Kennedy’s communication consultant Bigtree, were involved in hosting a rally near the Capitol on Jan. 6, and Ty Bollinger has said he was among the people who crowded at the Capitol doors in an attempt to get inside, though he said he did not enter.
American Values 2024, a super PAC supporting Kennedy, is run by close associates to Kennedy who have propped up anti-vaccine ideas — the former head of the New York chapter of Children’s Health Defense John Gilmore is its CEO and Kennedy’s publisher Tony Lyons is its co-chair.
The Kennedy campaign did not return emails seeking comment about a number of questions, including how he can say he is not anti-vaccine given his record and his support from anti-vaccine activists.
Kennedy’s run is also getting plenty of financial support from the right. A super PAC supporting Kennedy’s presidential run, called Heal the Divide PAC, has deep ties to Republicans, F ederal Election Commission records show.
The committee’s address is listed in the care of RTA Strategy, a campaign consulting firm that has been paid for its work to help elect Republicans including Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and the former Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker.
The PAC’s treasurer, who works for RTA Strategy, is Jason Boles, a past donor to Trump and many other Republicans who includes “MAGA” and “AmericaFirst” in his bio on the platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Kennedy denied knowing Boles or the Heal the Divide PAC when it came up at the congressional hearing, saying, “I’ve never heard of Mr. Boles, and I’ve never heard of that super PAC.”
But video available online shows he was a guest speaker at a Heal the Divide event just two days earlier. The video features a “Heal the Divide 2024” logo with clips of him speaking at length about plans to back the U.S. dollar with bitcoin and precious metals.
Kennedy says that as president, he would fight for government honesty and transparency, heal the political divide, reverse economic decline, end war and preserve civil liberties. He has made freedom of speech a major part of his platform, arguing that the government’s communication with social media companies unfairly censors protected speech.
Kennedy’s press office did not respond to several messages asking about his support from the far right.
It also did not respond to questions about whether his stance on bitcoin was at odds with being an environmentalist.
Kennedy lists the environment as one of six top priorities on his campaign website and has spent many years speaking against pollution and climate change as an environmental lawyer. Yet he has made supporting the energy-intensive cryptocurrency bitcoin a key part of his platform.
Bitcoin mining, the process of generating new coins, uses massive amounts of electricity — more than some entire countries use, said Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group.
That’s because it works by tasking a network of supercomputers with solving complex mathematical puzzles — even as some other cryptocurrencies have adopted far more energy efficient mining methods.
“No one who claims to be an environmentalist could support a digital asset that needlessly consumes more electricity than all Americans use to power the lights in our homes,” Faber said. “In fact, bitcoin produces more climate pollution than any other digital asset.”
Despite the environmental downsides of bitcoin, some Democrats, including elected officials, have advocated for the currency.
Kennedy, for his part, told a crowd at Bitcoin 2023 that environmentalists like himself “will continue to pressure you to improve.” Online, he has promoted the argument that demand for bitcoin will boost investment in new renewable energy projects.
Regardless, his financial disclosure documents show he has already personally invested between $100,001 and $250,000 in bitcoin, and he promised at Bitcoin 2023 that he wouldn’t let the environmental argument hinder the currency’s use.
“As president, I will make sure that your right to hold and use bitcoin is inviolable,” he said.
During the past several years, Kennedy has cultivated his ties to the far right. He has appeared on Infowars, the channel run by Sandy Hook conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. He has granted interviews to Trump ally Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson. After he headlined a stop on the ReAwaken America Tour, the Christian nationalist road show put together by former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn, he was photographed backstage with Flynn, Charlene Bollinger and Trump ally Roger Stone.
Those appearances have led to goodwill on the right, and he has found enthusiastic support among a segment of Trump’s base, with some suggesting him as a potential vice presidential pick.
At a July 1 rally in the tiny town of Pickens, South Carolina, Adrian Palashevsky – a small businessman who described himself as more of a “libertarian” than a Republican – posited a unity ticket, with Kennedy as his top pick for Trump’s VP.
“I think they would get along just fine,” he said. “They’re both anti-establishment, and that’s why they’re under so much attack.”
DeSantis, one of Trump’s Republican challengers, has also indulged in praise for the fringe candidate, saying in a recent interview that while he wouldn’t make Kennedy vice president, he would consider appointing him to one of the federal agencies that regulates vaccine safety and protects public health.
“If you’re president, you know, sic him on the FDA if he’d be willing to serve, or sic him on CDC,” DeSantis said.
Not everyone is buying the Kennedy mystique.
At the annual meeting of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials in New York earlier this month, Kennedy leaned heavily on his family legacy, mentioning his father’s alliance with labor leader Cesar Chavez and his uncle’s work in Latin American countries.
But in his nearly 20-minute speech, he didn’t lay out any plan or policy proposals of his own, or talk about specific issues facing the Latino community. He spent most of his time telling a story about getting arrested with the Mexican American actor Edward Olmos in 2001, an attempt at relating with the community that disappointed both Republicans and Democrats in the audience.
Mario Ceballos, president of a PAC representing LGBTQ+ Latinos, said Kennedy’s speech — and the candidate’s conspiracy theory beliefs — saddened him.
“When I was living in Mexico, Kennedy was an American president that my whole family respected,” Ceballos said. “And what he is presenting are esoteric, dangerous options that are actually going to hurt the same people that his father and uncle wanted to help.”
___
Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in West Palm Beach, Florida, and Meg Kinnard in Pickens, South Carolina, contributed to this report. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/rfk-jr-says-hes-not-anti-vaccine-his-record-shows-the-opposite-its-one-of-many-inconsistencies/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:13 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/rfk-jr-says-hes-not-anti-vaccine-his-record-shows-the-opposite-its-one-of-many-inconsistencies/ |
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military-controlled government has extended the state of emergency it imposed when the army seized power from an elected government 2 1/2 years ago, state-run media said Monday, forcing a further delay in elections it promised when it took over.
MRTV television said the National Defense and Security Council met Monday in the capital, Naypyitaw, and extended the state of emergency for another six months starting Tuesday because time is needed to prepare for the elections. The NDSC is nominally a constitutional government body, but in practice is controlled by the military.
The announcement amounted to an admission that the army does not exercise enough control to stage the polls and has failed to subdue widespread opposition to military rule, which includes increasingly challenging armed resistance as well as nonviolent protests and civil disobedience, despite the army having a huge advantage in manpower and weapons.
The state of emergency was declared when troops arrested Aung San Suu Kyi and top officials from her government and members of her National League for Democracy party on Feb. 1, 2021. The takeover reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule.
The military said it seized power because of fraud in the last general election held in November 2020, in which Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide victory while the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development party did poorly. Independent election observers said they did not find any major irregularities.
The army takeover was met with widespread peaceful protests that security forces suppressed with lethal force, triggering armed resistance that U.N. experts have described as a civil war.
As of Monday, 3,857 people have been killed by the security forces since the takeover, according to a tally kept by the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
The army-enacted 2008 constitution allows the military to rule the country under a state of emergency for one year, with two possible six-month extensions if preparations are not yet completed for new polls, meaning that the time limit expired on Jan. 31 this year.
However, the NDSC allowed the military government to extend emergency rule for another six months in February, saying the country remained in an abnormal situation. The announcement on Monday is the fourth extension.
The state of emergency allows the military to assume all government functions, giving the head of the ruling military council, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, legislative, judicial and executive powers.
Monday’s report did not specify when the polls might be held, saying only that they would occur after the goals of the state of emergency are accomplished.
According to the constitution, the military must transfer government functions to the president, who heads the NDSC, six months before the polls. That would mean Acting President Myint Swe, a retired general.
The military originally announced that new polls would be held a year after its takeover and later said they would take place in August 2023. But the extension of the emergency in February made that timing impossible.
The MRTV report said Myint Swe told members of the NDSC that the government still needs to do more to achieve stability and the rule of law to prepare for the election.
Critics say the polls will be neither free nor fair under the military-controlled government, which has shut independent media and arrested most of the leaders of Suu Kyi’s party.
Her party was dissolved along with 39 other parties by the election commission in March for failing to re-apply under a political party registration law enacted by the military government early this year. The law makes it difficult for opposition groups to mount a serious challenge to army-backed candidates.
Suu Kyi, 78, is serving prison sentences totaling 33 years after being convicted in a series of politically tainted cases brought mostly by the military government. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-myanmars-military-led-government-extends-state-of-emergency-forcing-delay-in-promised-election/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:15 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-myanmars-military-led-government-extends-state-of-emergency-forcing-delay-in-promised-election/ |
DENVER (AP) — As Denver neared triple-digit temperatures, Ben Gallegos sat shirtless on his porch swatting flies off his legs and spritzing himself with a misting fan to try to get through the heat. Gallegos, like many in the nation’s poorest neighborhoods, doesn’t have air conditioning.
The 68-year-old covers his windows with mattress foam to insulate against the heat and sleeps in the concrete basement. He knows high temperatures can cause heat stroke and death, and his lung condition makes him more susceptible. But the retired brick layer, who survives on about $1,000 a month largely from Social Security, says air conditioning is out of reach.
“Take me about 12 years to save up for something like that,” he said. “If it’s hard to breathe, I’ll get down to emergency.”
As climate change fans hotter and longer heat waves, breaking record temperatures across the U.S. and leaving dozens dead, the poorest Americans suffer the hottest days with the fewest defenses. Air conditioning, once a luxury, is now a matter of survival.
As Phoenix weathered its 27th consecutive day above 110 degrees (43 Celsius) Wednesday, the nine who died indoors didn’t have functioning air conditioning, or it was turned off. Last year, all 86 heat-related deaths indoors were in uncooled environments.
“To explain it fairly simply: Heat kills,” said Kristie Ebi, a University of Washington professor who researches heat and health. “Once the heat wave starts, mortality starts in about 24 hours.”
It’s the poorest and people of color, from Kansas City to Detroit to New York City and beyond, who are far more likely to face grueling heat without air conditioning, according to a Boston University analysis of 115 U.S. metros.
“The temperature differences … between lower-income neighborhoods, neighborhoods of color and their wealthier, whiter counterparts have pretty severe consequences,” said Cate Mingoya-LaFortune of Groundwork USA, an environmental justice organization. “There are these really big consequences like death. … But there’s also ambient misery.”
Some have window units that can offer respite, but “in the dead of heat, it don’t do nothing,” said Melody Clark, who stopped Friday to get food at a nonprofit in Kansas City, Kansas, as temperatures soared to 101, and high humidity made it feel like 109. When the central air conditioning at her rental house went on the fritz, her landlord installed a window unit. But it doesn’t do much during the day.
So the 45-year-old wets her hair, cooks outside on a propane grill and keeps the lights off indoors. She’s taken the bus to the library to cool off. At night she flips the box unit on, hauling her bed into the room where it’s located to sleep.
As far as her two teenagers, she said: “They aren’t little bitty. We aren’t dying in the heat. … They don’t complain.”
While billions in federal funding have been allocated to subsidize utility costs and the installation of cooling systems, experts say they often only support a fraction of the most vulnerable families and some still require prohibitive upfront costs. Installing a centralized heat pump system for heating and cooling can easily reach $25,000.
President Joe Biden announced steps on Thursday to defend against extreme heat, highlighting the expansion of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which funnels money through states to help poorer households pay utility bills.
While the program is critical, said Michelle Graff, who studies the subsidy at Cleveland State University, only about 16% of the nation’s eligible population is actually reached. Nearly half of states don’t offer the federal dollars for summer cooling.
“So people are engaging in coping mechanisms, like they’re turning on their air conditioners later and leaving their homes hotter,” Graff said.
While frigid temperatures and high heating bills birthed the term “heat or eat,” she said, “we can now transition to AC or eat, where people are going to have to make difficult decisions.”
As temperatures rise, so does the cost of cooling. And temperatures are already hotter in America’s low-income neighborhoods like Gallegos’ Denver suburb of Globeville, where people live along stretches of asphalt and concrete that hold heat like a cast-iron skillet. Surface temperatures there can be roughly 8 degrees hotter than in Denver’s wealthier neighborhoods, where a sea of vegetation cools the area, according to the environmental advocacy group American Forests.
This disparity plays out nationwide. Researchers at the University of San Diego analyzed 1,056 counties and in over 70%, the poorest areas and those with higher Black, Hispanic and Asian populations were significantly hotter.
About one in 10 U.S. households have no air conditioning, a disparity compounded for marginalized groups, according to a study by the Brookings Institution. Less than 4% of Detroit’s white households don’t have air conditioning; it’s 15% for Black households.
At noon on Friday, Katrice Sullivan sat on the porch of her rented house on Detroit’s westside. It was hot and muggy, but even steamier inside the house. Even if she had air conditioning, Sullivan said she’d choose her moments to run it to keep her electricity bill down.
The 37-year-old factory worker pours water on her head, freezes towels to put around her neck, and sits in her car with the air conditioner on. “Some people here spend every dollar for food, so air conditioning is something they can’t afford,” she said.
Shannon Lewis, 38, lived in her Detroit home for nearly 20 years without air conditioning. Lewis’s bedroom was the only place with a window unit, so she’d squeeze her teenager, 8-year-old and 3-year-old-twins into her queen-size bed to sleep, eat meals and watch television.
“So it was like cool in one room and a heat stroke in another,” Lewis said. For the first time, Lewis now has air conditioning through a local non-profit, she said. “We don’t have to sleep or eat in the same room, we are able to come out, sit at the dining room table, eat like a family.”
After at least 54 died during a 2021 heat wave, mostly elderly people without air conditioning, in the Portland area, Oregon passed a law prohibiting landlords from placing blanket bans on air conditioning units. By and large, however, states don’t have laws requiring landlords to provide cooling.
In the federal Inflation Reduction Act, billions were set aside for tax credits and rebates to help families install energy-efficient cooling systems, but some of those are yet to be available. For people like Gallegos, who doesn’t pay taxes, the available credits are worthless.
The law also offers rebates, the kind of state and federal point-of-sale discounts that Amanda Morian has looked into for her 640-square-foot home.
Morian, who has a 13-week-old baby susceptible to hot weather, is desperate to keep her house in Denver’s Globeville suburb cool. She bought thermal curtains, ceiling fans and runs a window unit. At night she tries to do skin-to-skin touch to regulate the baby’s body temperature. When the back door opens in the afternoon, she said, the indoor temperature jumps a degree.
“All of those are just to take the edge off, it’s not enough to actually make it cool. It’s enough to keep us from dying,” she said.
She got estimates from four different companies for installing a cooling system, but every project was between $20,000 and $25,000, she said. Even with subsidies she can’t afford it.
“I’m finding that you have to afford the project in the first place and then it’s like having a bonus coupon to take $5,000 off of the sticker price,” she said.
Lucy Molina, a single mom in Commerce City, one of Denver’s poorest areas, said her home has reached 107 degrees without air conditioning. Nearby, Molina’s two teenage children slurped popsicles to cool off, lingering in front of the open freezer.
For Molina, who bustled around her kitchen on a recent day when temperatures reached 99 degrees outdoors, it’s hard to see any path to a cooling respite.
“We’re just too poor,” she said. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/were-just-too-poor-record-heat-waves-reveal-plight-of-americans-without-air-conditioning/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:15 | 1 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/were-just-too-poor-record-heat-waves-reveal-plight-of-americans-without-air-conditioning/ |
BEIJING, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. (NASDAQ: WIMI) ("WiMi" or the "Company"), a leading global Hologram Augmented Reality ("AR") Technology provider, today announced that an algorithm of nonlinear optical holography was developed. This is an algorithm that uses nonlinear optical effects to reconstruct a holographic image of an object. The laser beam is modulated using nonlinear optical materials to encode information about the object under test into an optical interference pattern, and then this interference pattern is recorded and processed using holography. In this process, the optical interference pattern has spatial and temporal features of high complexity, which can be used to realize nonlinear interactions between photons through the use of nonlinear optical effects (e.g., optical phase conjugation effects) to achieve the three-dimensional reconstruction of the object. It utilizes the nonlinear properties of light in optics to realize the processing and conversion of optical signals, and has the advantages of high resolution, no damage, and fast reconstruction.
This algorithm developed by WiMi is to use the characteristics of nonlinear optical materials to realize the self-modulation of light waves, self-frequency conversion and other processing, through holographic technology recorded light field information can provide richer optical information, to achieve better holographic image reconstruction effect. The laser beam and the reference beam are first constructed, and they are interfered with through the nonlinear crystal. In the interference region, the modulation of parameters such as refractive index, absorption, and refraction angle of the material that will be self-modulated is generated, and to obtain the hologram, the phase modulation of the signal beam is required. During the propagation of the laser wave in the material, the frequency of the wave changes due to the presence of nonlinear effects, forming a new non-planar wave called a differential frequency wave. The differential frequency wave is then recorded by holographic technology, and the corresponding data processing and reconstruction are carried out to obtain the hologram image of the original information. Finally, the desired image is obtained by processing the hologram.
Compared with traditional holographic algorithms, this technology can realize a variety of nonlinear optical effects, eliminate interference fringes and noise in traditional holographic technology, improve image clarity and signal-to-noise ratio, and obtain higher holographic imaging quality and resolution. It can also realize real-time imaging by adjusting the control factors such as laser power and material parameters, and can realize image modulation and enhancement by controlling different optical parameters, which improves the flexibility and applicability, and has higher practical value of application.
With the rapid development of computer technology and optical technology, WiMi's algorithm will also be continuously improved and enhanced, and its scope of application will be further expanded. It is foreseeable that the holographic algorithm will play an important role in the fields of medical imaging, education, entertainment, etc. At the same time, it will be one of the directions of future development of optical technology, which can provide important technical support for scientific research and industrial manufacturing.
About WIMI Hologram Cloud
WIMI Hologram Cloud, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIMI) is a holographic cloud comprehensive technical solution provider that focuses on professional areas including holographic AR automotive HUD software, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR, head-mounted light field holographic equipment, holographic semiconductor, holographic cloud software, holographic car navigation and others. Its services and holographic AR technologies include holographic AR automotive application, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR technology, holographic vision semiconductor technology, holographic software development, holographic AR advertising technology, holographic AR entertainment technology, holographic ARSDK payment, interactive holographic communication and other holographic AR technologies.
Safe Harbor Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release and the Company's strategic and operational plans contain forward−looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases, and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development, financial condition, and results of operations; the expected growth of the AR holographic industry; and the Company's expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services.
Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and the current report on Form 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required under applicable laws.
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SOURCE WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:15 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/wimi-hologram-cloud-developed-algorithm-nonlinear-optical-holography/ |
GUANGZHOU, China, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Against the backdrop of sustainable development around the globe, excellent ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance is a new measure for the quality and sustainable prospect of an enterprise. In the future, driven by the "dual carbon" strategic goal, ESG indicators will be new focus for domestic consumer goods companies.
Recently, the fast-growing beauty group YSG released its Environmental, Social and Governance Report of 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the ESG Report). This is the second consecutive year for the Company to release the ESG Report, which thoroughly demonstrates the actions and achievements of YSG in practicing the ESG framework in multiple dimensions in the past year.
YSG's good ESG performance has won the recognition of an authoritative third party institute— in December 2022, the world's largest index company, Morgan Stanley Capital International, MSCI, upgraded the rating of YSG to A, which is an internationally recognized leading level. The rating report shows that YSG is an industry leader in the management of packaging materials and wastes, and is committed to reducing the impact of packaging materials through green packaging, lightweight packaging and recycling, etc.
Expanding "Carbon Footprint" Assessment Category, Embarking on Sustainable Path of Beauty Products
Under the guidance of "dual carbon" national strategy, the beauty industry is actively participating in sustainable development and green growth. Domestic beauty enterprises rise to implement the ESG goals. With the long-term vision of "health and beauty explorer in the era of new technology", YSG has been adhering to low-carbon development, and has always been practicing its commitment to environmental friendliness.
Following Perfect Diary's core product "Rouge Intense Velet Slim Lipstick" launched in 2021, YSG has continued to expand the scope of categories covered by carbon footprint verification. The ESG report shows that in 2022, the Company conducted carbon footprint assessment on Perfect Diary's ace products, "Weightless Velvet Lip Stain" and "Translucent Blurring Loose Powder (Anti-dullness Version)". Through this process, YSG can ascertain the carbon emissions of products in the whole life cycle, identify the potential for emission reduction at each stage, and continue to upgrade its products in the future to reduce the impact on the environment.
In addition, YSG also focuses on issues such as suppliers' carbon emissions and energy management in order to realize low-carbon and sustainable development of the entire supply chain. The Company encourages suppliers to take the initiative to meet the challenge of carbon emission reduction and to seize the opportunity to set feasible and challenging carbon emission reduction goals, so as to work together with YSG to continuously reduce the total amount of carbon emissions of the supply chain. By the end of 2022, all seven core suppliers of YSG have implemented carbon emission management.
At the same time, the consumption of packaging materials, possible pollutions and other issues have drawn more concern; plastic reduction, lightweight packaging, recycling has become the direction advocated by the government and expected by consumers. In 2022, Yatsen's brands, including Perfect Diary, Pink Bear, and Little Ondine, adjusted the weight and size of their product cartons, switched from offset-printed cardboard boxes to watermarked ones, and adopted eco-friendly kraft paper materials, reducing paper consumption by 25%;at the same time, plastic films have been removed for all paper boxes, further reducing the use of plastic packaging materials. Galénic's plastic packaging in China is 100% replaced by degradable bio-based paper plastics. EVE LOM's product packaging achieved 100% recyclability (obtaining The Green Dot logo).
Committed to Scientific Research and Innovation, Laying Solid Foundation for Brand R&D
In the past year, the cosmetic industry has been speeding into the era of detailed brand building with quality as the focus, and the attention paid to R&D by domestic beauty brands has risen significantly, as the beauty industry has entered a new stage of competing for "internal strength". According to the ESG report, YSG attaches great importance to product innovation and R&D, and has invested RMB 127 million in R&D in 2022, accounting for 3.4% of its total revenue. The R&D expense ratio continues to rank among the top in the world.
With the support of the Open Lab R&D system, YSG has formed cooperation with many renowned research institutions, universities and colleges and hospitals home and abroad, identifying, studying and transferring for commercial applications worldwide— all for quality beauty products. Multiple types of achievements of technology-supported cosmetics have been made. Perfect Diary cooperated with the Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology of Chinese Academy of Sciences and developed the SmartLOCK, which is used in the Translucent Blurring Loose Powder for its high efficiency in keeping look fresh with antioxidant capacity.
What is more noteworthy is that YSG understands that R&D innovation is the way to long-term development of an enterprise, drives category innovation, which in turn brings R&D breakthrough. In 2022 June, YSG R&D Center officially obtained the Laboratory Accreditation Certificate issued by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS), which marks that the Center's product testing capabilities, equipment and devices have reached national approved standards. In November of the same year, the Company established the Sun Yat-sen University-Yatsen Group (YSG) Skin Health Precise Research Joint Laboratory,which has now built two major platforms, namely, the Chinese Skin Aging Research Platform for Chinese and the Bio-Fermentation Research Platform of Sun Yat-sen University.
Shouldering Public Welfare, Setting Benchmark for Sustainable Development
As young listed beauty enterprise, YSG spares no effort on public welfare while promoting its own development, deepening its enterprise and brand value. The Company explores actively the new path of beauty, aiming to discover female beauty, guard natural beauty and pass on the beauty of goodwill. The on-going "Create a beautiful life" and other training programs have witnessed YSG's endeavour in public welfare.
Since the establishment of the Company, YSG has been committed to involving more people to enjoy beauty as part of its corporate social responsibility practice. In 2020, YSG, with the goal of "helping women to discover and create beauty", joined hands with the China Women's Development Foundation to launch "Creating a beautiful life" public welfare training program. A total of RMB 2 million has been invested in the program in three years. As of March 2023, 5 training sessions have been completed, empowering 202 women to start their own business/employment in the field of beauty through the learning of beauty skills, quality enhancement, in-person visits and practice, industry exchanges, and mentor support.
At the same time, the Company is also expanding the depth and breadth of public welfare practices, actively contributing to social welfare such as education and research, child care, rural revitalization, public welfare for the disabled, shouldering a sense of social responsibility and mission, insisting on giving back real benefits to the society, and spreading the beauty of goodwill even farther.
Promoting high-quality development is the core in YSG's transformation process and the fundamental guideline for the Company's ESG practices. Mr. Huang Jinfeng, Founder, Chairman and CEO of YSG, said, "2022 is a year for YSG to deepen its transformation and reform in a comprehensive manner. Good ESG governance is an important driving force to promote the sustainable development of enterprises. In the future, YSG will focus on three aspects of optimization: continue to give full play to the value of ESG to create new momentum for development; continue to improve the green management to create sustainable products; and promote more public welfare programs to give full play to their own strengths and social influence, and actively give back to the society."
On the road of sustainable and high-quality development, YSG will continue to enhance its professional ability, improve itself through reformation, apply new technology and new thinking to the field of beauty, drive product upgrading with innovation, provide high-quality and innovative products to global consumers, and bring new vitality and confidence to the beauty industry.
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SOURCE Yatsen Global | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:16 | 1 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ |
Debate over legacy college admission comes to California
Hello, it’s Monday, July 31, and here are the stories you shouldn’t miss today:
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A fight over legacy and donor admissions preferences is brewing. The battle over legacy and donor admissions to college — the practice of giving special treatment to family of alumni and contributors — is about to heat up in California as critics take aim at what they see as a longstanding barrier for less privileged students to access elite institutions.
State Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) plans to renew efforts to deny state financial aid to any college or university that gives an admissions advantage to such applicants, who research has shown are overwhelmingly white and affluent. Ting’s plan comes as the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down race-based affirmative action in college admissions reignited a national outcry over the use of preferential treatment for legacy applicants.
USC, along with Stanford and Santa Clara universities, are the largest providers of legacy and donor preferences in California, according to annual data.
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Healing a shattered community: Monterey Park shooting survivors return to dance. Six months after the deadly shooting at Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park killed 10 people, the tragedy has left many survivors in the depths of depression and anxiety. But it also has brought fellow dancers together, forging new relationships. Some have joined in the fight for stronger gun control measures. Others have realized how much they need dancing in their lives.
Along the way, three survivors found their way back to the dance floor, determined not to let that horrific act of violence define them and destroy a community they had worked so hard to build.
Advocates urge resolve in unending war over LGBTQ+ legal rights. Combined with a massive wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being put forward in conservative state houses in recent years, the Supreme Court’s June 30 ruling in 303 Creative vs. Elenis and the more recent efforts to swiftly expand its scope have caused resentment, anger, frustration and fear in the queer community.
But those in the thick of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights say such feelings — though legitimate — shouldn’t lead people to give up on the fight for queer rights, or on the role the American legal system has to play in bolstering the demands of protesters and organizers.
Because, they said, that same legal system has laid the foundation for queer rights for decades.
More politics
- Tensions flare as California GOP gives Trump a boost by overhauling state primary rules.
- Members of Congress break for August with no clear path to avoiding a shutdown this fall.
- Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. says Congress lacks power to impose ethics code on Supreme Court.
- It’s not just Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s episode highlights the age and vulnerability of U.S. leaders.
Sign up for our California Politics newsletter to get the best of The Times’ state politics reporting and the latest action in Sacramento.
$600,000 in stolen wine: Inside one of California’s biggest high-end alcohol heists. In surveillance footage, the masked man dropped down into Lincoln Fine Wines’ climate-controlled cellar, which housed the Venice store’s priciest vintages.
In about 3½ hours, the burglar managed to commit one of the biggest California wine crimes in memory, making off with about 800 bottles — a haul worth around $600,000.
Meanwhile, as the Los Angeles Police Department’s investigation continues, and Lincoln Fine Wines tries to move forward, a question has been reverberating across Southern California’s wine scene at dinner parties and in WhatsApp group chats.
How exactly will the thieves turn all those stolen bottles into profit? And how do you locate loot that can be sipped into intoxicating oblivion?
CALIFORNIA
California bar suspends 1,600 attorneys for violating rules set up after Tom Girardi allegedly stole millions. The Client Trust Account Protection Program, which went into effect last year, imposed new requirements on attorneys who work with client trust accounts.
Riverside County fire breaks containment, surging near evacuated homes. The Bonny fire, which ignited Thursday afternoon near Aguanga southeast of Temecula, has grown steadily amid changing wind patterns.
L.A. looks to tighten rules for single-family homes in part of Santa Monica Mountains. The city is poised to crack down again on home building in the hills, this time in the name of preserving wildlife habitats.
Fruit fly outbreak prompts agricultural quarantine in Santa Clarita Valley. California agricultural officials have placed a 79-square-mile area in Los Angeles County under quarantine because of the presence of an invasive fruit fly.
Are we in a summer surge? What to do if you get COVID now. It’s starting to look that way. In Los Angeles County, the test positivity rate has ticked up in recent weeks.
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NATION-WORLD
A drought alert for receding Lake Titicaca has Indigenous communities worried for their future. The highest navigable lake in the world has receded to what Bolivian authorities say are critically low levels because of a persistent drought.
China says U.S. military aid to Taiwan will not deter its will to unify with the island. China accused the United States of turning Taiwan into an “ammunition depot” after the White House announced a $345-million military aid package for Taipei, and the self-ruled island said Sunday that it tracked six Chinese navy ships in waters off its shores.
A bomb in Pakistan kills at least 44 people and wounds nearly 200. The bomb interrupted a rally by supporters of a hard-line cleric and political leader Sunday in the country’s northwestern Bajur district in one of the worst attacks in recent years.
HOLLYWOOD AND THE ARTS
Kevin Hart doesn’t have a brand. He is the brand. Hart is successful as a comedian and an actor, but it’s his portfolio that makes him peerless. He has always laid his ambition bare and it was no different when he allowed a journalist to shadow him during Hartbeat Weekend, a four-day, alcohol-fueled extravaganza highlighting the many facets of Kevin Hart.
‘Talk to Me’ directors Danny and Michael Philippou spill the secrets of their horror hit. The Aussie YouTubers-turned-filmmakers spoke to The Times about their buzzy Gen-Z supernatural horror-thriller, in which an embalmed hand is the gateway to the spirit world for thrill-seeking teens.
What’s fact and what’s fiction in Apple TV’s telling of the Beanie Baby phenomenon. “The Beanie Bubble” stars Zach Galifianakis as real-life toy titan H. Ty Warner, but shifts its perspective away from him to three pivotal women in his life.
BUSINESS
There’s a new instant payment service called FedNow. Here’s how it works. The Federal Reserve has launched FedNow, which allows banks and credit unions to sign up to send real-time payments so they can offer customers a quicker way to send money between banks.
A ‘rolling recession’ or a ‘richcession’ might spare the U.S. economy from a full-scale downturn. The latest snapshot of the economy coincides with rising sentiment that it may achieve an elusive “soft landing,” as analysts point to two trends that might help stave off an economic contraction.
Santa Barbara News-Press bankruptcy brings uneasy end to an owner’s bitter tenure. In 2000, when one of the state’s richest women bought the venerable newspaper, local residents cheered at the notion of having a local in charge. Within a few years, her relationship with newsroom leaders — and then with many readers — began to crumble.
SPORTS
How U.S. soccer stars had the support to thrive as moms. Many of the 32 teams that started this World Cup 2½ weeks ago have players who are mothers. Few have incorporated their children into the team like the U.S. has done.
Cancer taught Brandon Staley he can overcome Jacksonville fiasco. Staley watched his parents battle cancer and then had his own bout, but the Chargers coach believes the experience can help him be a stronger coach.
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OPINION
Our family of four shared a cramped studio for 25 years. L.A. housing costs nearly kept us there forever. “Families should not have to live in cramped, small living spaces to afford rent — and tolerating these conditions should not be the only option renters have when trying to save up for a down payment.”
Dying from the heat is not a political statement. Heat is an invisible killer and wildfires don’t distinguish between socialists and free-marketeers. And yet, in some quarters, climate-change denialism continues to flourish.
ONLY IN L.A.
Bear takes a dip in Burbank backyard as heat wave continues. Think you can’t bear the heat? Well, you’re not the only one. On Friday afternoon, with the mercury peaking at around 92 degrees, one Burbank household discovered a bear trying to escape the heat in their backyard spa. By 6 p.m., authorities said, the animal was “peacefully sleeping” in the tree.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Getting your photo taken didn’t come without danger back in the day. In July 1948, Doris Mae Normandine, a babysitter, provided testimony during high-profile divorce proceedings. Los Angeles Times photographer Bruce Cox was preparing to take her photo when the flashbulb on a fellow photographer’s camera exploded. The resulting image ran in the July 30, 1948, edition of The Times.
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Must-read stories from the L.A. Times
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You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. | https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/newsletter/2023-07-31/debate-over-legacy-college-admission-comes-to-california-todays-headlines | 2023-07-31T13:13:17 | 1 | https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/newsletter/2023-07-31/debate-over-legacy-college-admission-comes-to-california-todays-headlines |
Pitstick brings product, operations, and value-based care expertise to leading behavioral health provider
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- aptihealth, the leading tech-driven behavioral healthcare provider built for higher acuity care, today announced that Regina Pitstick has joined the organization as Senior Vice President of aptihealth Medical Group.
Most recently, Pitstick was VP Advocacy Product & Innovation for the Employer and Individual segment at UnitedHealth Group, where she drove the company's product strategy and vision, focused on delivering a seamless, personalized patient experience. Responsible for product development initiatives, Pitstick's leadership and experience fueled successful long-range strategies, broader market penetration and deeper engagement for over 15M consumers.
"Regina brings more than twenty years of extremely relevant experience in the healthcare industry to aptihealth—including a deep skillset in digital health start-ups, product development, operations, process improvement and value-based care," said Tim Koehler, President and Chief Operating Officer of aptihealth. "Regina's patient-centered approach, insightful understanding of the health care landscape, innovate approach, and impeccable ability to execute strategic initiatives will greatly enhance our medical group. She's ideal for this critical role at aptihealth as we continue to pursue our mission of becoming the nation's preeminent provider of behavioral health services."
Pitstick joins aptihealth at a time of significant growth, having served nearly 15,000 patients for leading national and regional health plans. aptihealth expects to more than double its patients in 2023, with a majority covered by value-based care contracts.
"The value that aptihealth is providing to health plans, physicians groups, health systems and higher-acuity patients simply can't be underestimated," indicated Pitstick. "Whether it's the company's commitment to engaging new patients at any point of care, to their proprietary screening and assessment tools, to their proven ability to improve outcomes and decrease the overall cost of care, it's not hyperbole to state that aptihealth is changing the behavioral healthcare game. I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to help aptihealth continue to improve its care model, meet its strategic goals, and intelligently achieve its considerable opportunities for growth."
About aptihealth
aptihealth is improving higher acuity behavioral healthcare for populations who need it most—one patient at a time. The company's virtual-first model and proprietary screening, assessment, and treatment programs give members fast, convenient access to precise, personalized care. Headquartered in Saratoga Springs and employing over 150, aptihealth has raised over $70 million in funding from leading international private equity firms. The company's care program and data insights are driving breakthroughs in mental health understanding, treatment, outcomes, and cost reduction. Learn more at: www.aptihealth.com.
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SOURCE aptihealth | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/regina-pitstick-named-senior-vp-aptihealth-medical-group/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:19 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/regina-pitstick-named-senior-vp-aptihealth-medical-group/ |
BEIJING (AP) — A zoo in eastern China is denying suggestions some of its bears might be people in costumes after photos of the animals standing like humans circulated online.
The sun bears from Malaysia are smaller than other bears and look different but are the real thing, the Hangzhou Zoo said Monday on its social media account.
“Some people think I stand like a person,” said the posting, written from the bear’s point of view. “It seems you don’t understand me very well.”
An employee who answered the phone at the zoo declined to talk about the bears but said visits were being arranged for reporters Monday to see them.
Internet users questioned whether the zoo’s bears were real after photos circulated showing one standing upright on slender hind legs.
“Because of the way they stand, some people online question whether they are ‘humans in disguise,’” the newspaper Hangzhou Daily said.
Sun bears are the size of large dogs, standing at most 1.3 meters (50 inches) tall on their hind legs, compared with up to 2.8 meters (9 feet) for grizzlies and other species, according to the zoo.
Other Chinese zoos have been accused of trying to pass off dogs dyed to look like wolves or African cats, and donkeys painted to look like zebras. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-our-bears-are-real-a-chinese-zoo-says-denying-they-are-humans-in-disguise/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:20 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-our-bears-are-real-a-chinese-zoo-says-denying-they-are-humans-in-disguise/ |
(The Hill) — A popular narrative suggests young people are liberal and getting more liberal. Thus, social media buzzed when a chart surfaced in spring that seemed to suggest that 12th-grade boys had become overwhelmingly conservative.
As with many Reddit posts and viral tweets, the truth was more complicated. But the numbers do say this: Twelfth-grade boys are nearly twice as likely to identify as conservative versus liberal, according to a respected federal survey of American youth.
In annual surveys over the last three years, roughly one-quarter of high school seniors self-identified as conservative or “very conservative” on the Monitoring the Future survey, a scholarly endeavor that dates to the 1970s. Only 13 percent of boys identified as liberal or very liberal in those years.
The figures represent a striking shift in the political views of boys. As recently as the late 2000s, liberal boys occasionally outnumbered conservatives. Back in the Carter era, both boys and girls leaned liberal.
Nowadays, it is girls who are drifting to the left. The share of 12th-grade girls who identified as liberal rose from 19 percent in 2012 to 30 percent in 2022. Only 12 percent of girls identified as conservative in last year’s survey, administered by the University of Michigan.
Young women, too, are trending liberal. Women ages 18 to 29 are more likely to identify as liberal now than at any time in the past two decades, according to Gallup surveys. Young women are almost twice as likely as young men to claim the liberal tag, a widening gender gap in political beliefs.
The political leanings of young men have changed little over the past two decades, according to an analysis by the Survey Center on American Life. Last year, 43 percent of young men identified as moderate, 31 percent as conservative and 24 percent as liberal. Twenty years earlier, the numbers were more or less the same.
But the leftward drift of young women alone has sufficed to move the needle on young adults as a whole. Generation Z favors liberalism over conservatism by a 48-to-33 margin, according to NBC News polling from 2022. Ten years earlier, young adults split evenly between the two political camps.
The rightward drift of high school boys is comparatively subtle. Indeed, when it comes to politics, most boys seem reluctant to pick a side. In the 2022 Monitoring the Future survey, the largest group of senior boys, more than two-fifths, claimed no politics at all, answering the liberal-conservative question with “none of the above” or “I don’t know.” Nearly one-fifth identified as moderate. Only 36 percent selected liberal or conservative as an ideology, and only there did the trend emerge.
Jean Twenge, an author and professor of psychology at San Diego State University, presented the data in her new book, “Generations.” To spotlight the growing gender gap, she couched the numbers in a chart that split boys and girls along ideological lines, omitting moderates and the undecided.
“Among liberals, the future is female,” she wrote. “And among conservatives, the future is male.”
In April, someone posted Twenge’s chart to Reddit. The image also circulated widely on Twitter, the platform formerly known as X. Other researchers took note.
The chart gave the impression, at least on first glance, that two-thirds of 12th-grade boys were now conservative. In the small print beneath, Twenge noted that she had omitted moderates.
The full story is messier and murkier. High school seniors, boys and girls alike, are more likely to claim no political identity than to throw in with either liberals or conservatives.
Much has been written about the liberal drift of young women. The Donald Trump presidency mobilized millions of women, outraged over words and alleged deeds that, to Trump’s critics, suggested unrepentant misogyny. More women embraced liberal politics in response to the conservative drift of the U.S. Supreme Court, a movement emblemized by a 2022 ruling that struck down the constitutional right to abortion.
Less has been said about the politics of 12th-grade boys.
Trump himself may be a key to the conservative trend in that group. The 45th president energized male voters with his rhetoric: his “overt hypermasculinity,” as one NPR analysis put it, and his frequent use of language one might overhear in a high school cafeteria.
“Donald Trump talks like a high school student. Maybe there’s a connection there,” said Robert Palacios, 21, a student at the Catholic University of America and president of District of Columbia College Democrats.
“If you grew up playing video games that were not age-appropriate, and you were sitting in the [virtual] lobby, screaming at the mic, Trump was your president,” said Ethan Benn, also 21, a student at the George Washington University (GWU). “He really channeled that energy.”
More broadly, the conservative wing of the Republican party has made pointed appeals to disaffected men of all ages.
Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other conservative beacons have derided “woke” ideology, accusing the left of overreach in seeking redress for injustices involving race, gender and sexual orientation.
Liberal politicians, of course, are just as eager to win the vote of young men. Yet, the progressive agenda seeks equality in gender and race, a platform that costs them some male support, especially among white people. In the 2020 election, Black and Hispanic men voted for Joe Biden at much higher rates than non-Hispanic white people, according to Pew Research data.
As one recent Politico article put it, Democrats have a masculinity problem.
“I believe that traditional notions of masculinity are much more accepted within conservativism,” while feminist values “are clearly one of the driving forces of liberalism,” said Delano Squires, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.
“I could see male and female students saying, ‘I’m choosing sides.’ Do you want matriarchy, or do you want patriarchy?”
Defenders of the patriarchy reach young men where they live, on social media and in gaming circles. Benn, the GWU student, notes a “sort of intersection of Internet culture and gaming culture with conservative politics” that draws some apolitical young men into conservatism.
Conservative icons Dennis Prager, Ben Shapiro and Steven Crowder boast millions of followers on YouTube, a platform whose ads and viewing suggestions make it easy for a young, male YouTuber “to get sucked into a very conservative sphere of politics and media,” Benn said.
“You could be watching a video about the latest Star Wars movie, and then the next video would be, ‘Here’s how women are ruining Star Wars,’” he said, referencing his own experience. “Even if you aren’t seeking it out, it will come and find you.”
That said, Benn doesn’t remember many of his high school friends talking much about politics.
Neither does Tyler Brown-Dewese, 20, a student at American University (AU).
Brown-Dewese identifies as a “Bill Clinton Democrat.” Back in high school, however, he was a conservative.
“I went to an all-boys Catholic school in New York, and so, a majority of us were Republicans,” he said. Classmates took their cues from parents, friends and social media sites such as Millennial Republicans. “That’s an Instagram page I still follow,” Brown-Dewese said.
But that is not to say he and his friends spent the lunch hour discussing politics. “A lot of them weren’t politically active,” he said. “They didn’t want to talk politics. But if you brought it up, they were going to defend Trump.”
Brown-Dewese’s own politics drifted left when he arrived at AU. “What changed me was, I go to the most liberal university,” he laughed. “Had I known that, I probably wouldn’t have gone.”
Though he is now a Democrat, Brown-Dewese doesn’t really like the word “liberal,” and he suspects other young men feel the same way. Generations of conservatives have equated liberalism with weakness.
Asked to estimate the quotient of liberal women at AU, he laughed again.
“Oh, my goodness. All of them?” | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/high-school-boys-are-trending-conservative/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:20 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/high-school-boys-are-trending-conservative/ |
Leveraging artificial intelligence, Mumbai-based IT services firm Yodaplus is catalyzing industry transformations, from nutraceuticals to retail, by streamlining business operations and boosting decision-making capabilities.
MUMBAI, India, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yodaplus, a Mumbai-based IT services firm, is at the forefront of empowering organizations worldwide with advanced technological capabilities. Today, the company sheds light on the evolving global landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its growing adoption within its service portfolio.
With its wide range of services and deep industry knowledge, Yodaplus has been a game changer – enabling organizations to focus on their core operations and achieve sustainable growth. And now, by integrating AI into services, Yodaplus helps businesses navigate the complex digital transformation landscape more efficiently, creating a competitive edge.
AI continues to transform business operations globally, powering automation, analytics, decision-making, and enhancing user experiences. This ultimately delivers safer and more effective products to meet the growing global demand.
Yodaplus is known for its expansive roster of clients - from development banks and blockchain companies to EdTech startups and HRMS providers. With such a diverse clientele, embracing AI is more necessary than a choice, and Yodaplus has promptly addressed this need.
"As we navigate the digital age, the integration of AI into our service offerings has become an undeniable necessity," commented Vishrut Srivastava, MD, Yodaplus. "AI is here to stay, poised to make our lives more efficient and free mankind from the burden of mundane tasks. At Yodaplus, we are committed to embracing AI to drive growth and innovation for our clients while we continue to explore new horizons in this transformative technological landscape."
In line with this commitment, Yodaplus has developed an AI engine transforming the global nutraceutical supply chain. Addressing the complexities of generating differentiated nutraceutical label claims necessitates a well-mapped global database and the application of AI. To solve this problem, Yodaplus developed an AI-driven smart labels function via the NutrifyGenie AI engine.
NutrifyGenie uses sophisticated algorithms that facilitate simplified and precise decision-making, authenticating label claim validation and enabling real-time regulatory compliance. This feature provides users with pre-made labels, including correct dosage values for nutraceutical products, significantly expediting product development.
Enabling companies to effortlessly commercialize their innovations in essential markets fulfills the continuously increasing demand for nutraceutical products. As the nutraceutical industry continues to grow, Yodaplus's AI engine will play a crucial role in accelerating the new product development process and helping businesses bring innovative and differentiated products to market faster than ever before.
Not just that, the company has also recently deployed advanced invoice parsing for a retail giant. This smart solution facilitates operations by accurately extracting and collating relevant information from invoices, thus automating a previously laborious task. Furthermore, Yodaplus uses sophisticated AI tools to assist an asset management client in conducting comprehensive financial records analysis, rendering them outstanding financial decision-making capabilities.
About Yodaplus
An ever-evolving, highly specialized technology solutions company, Yodaplus offers an array of services designed to address the unique needs of businesses globally, extending beyond its Mumbai base to the US, UK, UAE, and Singapore. The company's mission, steered by MD Vishrut Srivastava, is dedicated to providing top-tier IT services and aims to propel businesses toward unprecedented growth and success. With this commitment, Yodaplus becomes your duly trusted tech partner.
For more information about Yodaplus, please visit www.yodaplus.com.
Press Contact:
Amit Pareek
Senior Marketing Manager
amitp@yodaplus.com
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2163861/Vishrut_Srivatava_MD_Yodaplus.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2144978/4185052/Yodaplus_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Yodaplus Technologies | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yodaplus-shaping-future-industries-with-powerful-ai-integration/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:21 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yodaplus-shaping-future-industries-with-powerful-ai-integration/ |
PARIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yubo, the live social discovery app for Gen Z, has become a member of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) to support its mission to prevent terrorist and violent extremist exploitation online through research, technical collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Through its membership, Yubo will leverage GIFCT's hash-sharing database to identify and remove content shared on Yubo that is associated with United Nations-designated terrorist entities, attacker manifestos, terrorist publications, and other violent extremist groups. GIFCT is an NGO designed to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms.
Since 2017, GIFCT has run a safe and secure industry database of hashes – or "digital fingerprints'' – of known terrorist and violent extremist material, which GIFCT members have identified and removed from their platforms. With users in over 140 countries around the world, Yubo will play a key role in helping GIFCT further scale its international hash-sharing database.
"GIFCT's hash database provides Yubo with a powerful tool to further strengthen our multifaceted approach to content moderation and more effectively identify and eliminate violent extremist content at scale," said Yubo co-founder and CEO Sacha Lazimi. "We look forward to expanding our support of GIFCT through this initiative and working with other member organizations to leverage technology to combat terrorism and enhance safety for all, on- and offline."
GIFCT's hash-sharing database works first by enabling member companies, like Yubo, to identify and "hash" content, such as photos, videos, or PDFs, ensuring a privacy-by-design approach to recording content for reporting or removal without linking to any personally identifiable information. Hashes appear as digital signatures or numerical representations of the original content, which means they cannot be easily reverse engineered to recreate the content.
"The lifecycle of violent extremism is often extended through the dissemination of content online, and the support of member organizations like Yubo is crucial to breaking these cycles," said GIFCT Executive Director Naureen Chowdhury Frink. "We are grateful to our GIFCT member companies for their continued collaboration in our shared mission to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms, and we welcome the important investments Yubo has made for the safety of its community."
Yubo's integration of the GIFCT hash-sharing database follows the platform's support of the Take It Down initiative by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in February. Take It Down is NCMEC's free online service that, like GIFCT, leverages a hash-sharing system to help minors remove their nudes from the internet and combat the online spread of child sexual exploitation.
ABOUT YUBO
Yubo is a live social discovery app making it easy for Gen Z to expand their social circles and hang out online with new friends from around the world. By eliminating likes and follows, we empower young people to show up as their true selves and connect as authentically as they would offline. Safety is a cornerstone of our platform, and we are proud to be the first social app in the world to introduce comprehensive user-age verification tools and real-time video and audio moderation for livestreams. Founded in France in 2015, Yubo is used in more than 140 countries by over 60 million users. Visit us at yubo.live to learn more and follow our journey.
ABOUT GIFCT
GIFCT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and tech-led initiative with over 20 member tech companies offering unique settings for diverse stakeholders to identify and solve the most complex global challenges at the intersection of terrorism and technology. GIFCT's mission is to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms through our vision of a world in which the technology sector marshals its collective creativity and capacity to render terrorists and violent extremists ineffective online. In every aspect of our work, we aim to be transparent, inclusive, and respectful of the fundamental and universal human rights that terrorists and violent extremists seek to undermine.
Media Contact:
Debora Lima, Yubo U.S. Media Director
debora@ext.yubo.live
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SOURCE Yubo | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:22 | 0 | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ |
(NEXSTAR) – When it comes to retirement, where you live can greatly affect just how golden your post-career years actually are.
A new study from Bankrate ranks all 50 U.S. states when it comes to affordability, overall well-being, healthcare quality/cost, weather and crime. With soaring inflation and a volatile stock market, affordability was given the most statistical weight, with the others decreasing respectively.
Iowa is the best state in which to retire, the study found, thanks to its affordability (3), quality/cost of health care (11) and crime (12).
“Choosing where to retire is deeply personal, but Iowa’s affordable cost of living, inexpensive but high-quality health care and low crime make it a compelling option for retirees looking to stretch their retirement income in this economy,” said Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey. “In our overall ranking, the best and worst states for retirees are split geographically. The Midwest and the South claim the top five states, while the Northeast and West claim the bottom five states, primarily because of the differences in cost of living.”
For some residents nearing retirement in Alaska – ranked 50 out of 50 – New York (49), California (48), Washington (47) and Massachusetts (46), a move toward the middle of the country could pay off, Bankrate’s findings suggest.
While all five of the least favorable states scored poorly when it came to affordability, Alaska also ranked last for weather and 49th for crime.
“For many Americans, a comfortable retirement may feel out of reach,” Gailey said. “After battling elevated inflation over the last two years, relocating to find cheaper housing or a lower cost of living may be a good alternative for retirees who have tighter budgets but want to retire comfortably. If you’re considering a late life move to lower your cost of living in retirement, our rankings provide some food for thought.”
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) reports that an increasing number of retirees left their home state to find cheaper housing in 2022.
The annual study from Hire A Helper, an online moving-services marketplace, found that 12% of American retirees moved for that reason in 2022, the highest percentage since 2014.
“That kind of cost consciousness is something we haven’t seen at this level since 2014,” Miranda Marquit, chief data analyst at Hire A Helper, told AARP, citing Census data. | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/these-are-the-5-worst-states-to-retire-in-study-finds/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:26 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/nextstar-news-wire/these-are-the-5-worst-states-to-retire-in-study-finds/ |
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea (AP) — The dogs bark and stare as Kim Jong-kil approaches the rusty cages housing the large, short-haired animals he sells for their meat. Kim opens a door and pets one dog’s neck and chest.
Kim says he’s proud of the dog meat farm that has supported his family for 27 years, but is upset over growing attempts by politicians and activists to outlaw the business, which he is turning over to his children.
“It’s more than just feeling bad. I absolutely oppose these moves, and we’ll mobilize all our means to resist it,” Kim, 57, said in an interview at his farm in Pyeongtaek city, just south of Seoul.
Dog meat consumption is a centuries-old practice on the Korean Peninsula and has long been viewed as a source of stamina on hot summer days. It’s neither explicitly banned nor legalized in South Korea, but more and more people want it prohibited. There’s increasing public awareness of animal rights and worries about South Korea’s international image.
The anti-dog meat campaign recently received a big boost when the country’s first lady expressed her support for a ban and two lawmakers submitted bills to eliminate the dog meat trade.
“Foreigners think South Korea is a cultural powerhouse. But the more K-culture increases its international standing, the bigger shock foreigners experience over our dog meat consumption,” said Han Jeoungae, an opposition lawmaker who submitted legislation to outlaw the dog meat industry last month.
Prospects for passage of an anti-dog meat law are unclear because of protests by farmers, restaurant owners and others involved in the dog meat industry. Surveys suggest that one in three South Koreans opposes such a ban, though most people don’t eat dog meat anymore.
Dogs are also eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, North Korea and some African countries, including Ghana, Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria.
Earlier this month, Indonesian authorities announced the end of dog and cat slaughter at an animal market on the island of Sulawesi following a yearslong campaign by local activists and world celebrities. The Tomohon Extreme Market will become the first such market in Indonesia to go dog and cat meat-free, according to the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society International.
South Korea’s dog meat industry receives more international attention because of its reputation as a wealthy, ultra-modern democracy. It is also the only nation with industrial-scale farms. Most farms in South Korea have more than 500 dogs, according to a dog farmers’ association.
During a recent visit, Kim’s farm, one of the country’s largest with 7,000 dogs, appeared relatively clean but there was a strong stench in some areas. All dogs are kept in elevated cages and are fed with food waste and ground chicken. They are rarely released for exercise and typically are sold for meat one year after they are born.
Kim said two of his children, age 29 and 31, are running the farm with him, and that business has been going pretty well. He said the dogs bred for their meat are different from pets, an idea opposed by activists.
It’s difficult now to find dog meat restaurants in Seoul’s bustling downtown, though many still exit in the countryside.
“I only earn one-third of the money I used to make. Young people don’t come here. Only ailing old people come for lunch,” said Yoon Chu-wol, 77, the owner of a dog meat restaurant in Seoul’s Kyungdong traditional market. “I tell my elderly customers to come and eat my food more frequently before it’s banned.”
Farmers also face growing scrutiny from officials and increasingly negative public opinion. They complain that officials visit them repeatedly in response to complaints filed by activists and citizens over alleged animal abuse and other wrongdoing. Kim said more than 90 such petitions were filed against his farm during a recent four-month span.
Son Won Hak, general secretary of the dog farmers’ association, said many farms have collapsed in recent years because of falling dog meat prices and weaker demand. He thinks that’s a result of activist campaigns and unfair media reports focusing on farms with inferior conditions. Some observers, however, say consumption of dog meat was already declining, with younger people staying away from it.
“Quite honestly, I’d like to quit my job (as a farmer) tomorrow. We can’t confidently tell our children that we’re raising dogs,” Son said. “When my friends called me, they said ‘Hey, are you still running a dog meat farm? Isn’t it illegal?’”
The number of farms across South Korea has dropped by half from a few years ago to about 3,000 to 4,000, and about 700,000 to 1 million dogs are slaughtered each year, a decline from several million 10 to 20 years ago, according to the dog farmers’ association. Some activists argue that the farmers’ estimates are an exaggeration meant to show their industry is too big to destroy.
In late 2021, South Korea launched a government-civilian task force to consider outlawing dog meat at the suggestion of then-President Moon Jae-in, a pet lover. The committee, whose members include farmers and animal rights activists, has met more than 20 times but hasn’t reached any agreement, apparently because of disputes over compensation issues.
Agriculture officials refused to disclose the discussions in the closed-door meetings. They said the government wants to end dog meat consumption based on a public consensus.
In April, first lady Kim Keon Hee, the wife of current President Yoon Suk Yeol, said in a meeting with activists that she hopes for an end to dog meat consumption. Famers responded with rallies and formal complaints against Kim for allegedly hurting their livelihoods.
Han, the lawmaker, said she “highly positively appraises” influential figures speaking out against dog meat consumption.
Han said her bill offers support programs for farmers who agree to close their farms. They would be entitled to money to dismantle their facilities, vocational training, employment assistance and other benefits, she said.
Ju Yeongbong, an official of the farmers’ association, said farmers want to continue for about 20 more years until older people, their main customers, die, allowing the industry to naturally disappear. Observers say most farmers are also in their 60s to 70s.
Borami Seo, a director of the South Korea office of the Humane Society International, said she opposes the continued killing of millions of dogs for such a prolonged period. “Letting this silent cruelty to (dogs) be committed in South Korea doesn’t make sense,” Seo said.
“(Dog meat consumption) is too anachronistic, has elements of cruelty to animals and hinders our national growth,” said Cheon JinKyung, head of Korea Animal Rights Advocates in Seoul. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-south-korean-dog-meat-farmers-push-back-against-growing-moves-to-outlaw-their-industry/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:26 | 0 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-south-korean-dog-meat-farmers-push-back-against-growing-moves-to-outlaw-their-industry/ |
Leverages Company's technological expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) as core foundational technologies to link and make a broad array of information sources and data discoverable.
Adds $1.3 Million to Annual Recurring Revenue
HENDERSON, Nev., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS), a trusted partner providing cloud-based workflow solutions to accelerate research for R&D-driven organizations, today announced its acquisition of ResoluteAI, an advanced search platform aimed at equipping organizations with search, discovery, analysis, and knowledge management tools powered by AI and NLP technologies. ResoluteAI's state-of-the-art integrations of taxonomies, ontologies, and knowledge graph technology, together with the latest Large Language Models ("LLM"), make information discovery and retrieval highly efficient.
"At Research Solutions, we empower research-intensive organizations to accelerate innovation," said Roy W. Olivier, CEO of Research Solutions. "This strategic acquisition allows us to broaden our technological expertise, transforming our solutions by leveraging the latest technology to help researchers power their innovation workflows, saving time and enabling users to make decisions confidently as they seek to achieve the next innovative breakthrough. This technological foundation will enable Research Solutions to provide specific solutions for use cases throughout the Innovation process from Strategy to Research & Development to Post-Market and Commercial solutions."
The transaction will enable Research Solutions to deliver true enterprise search capabilities across a comprehensive suite of data sources and extend their reach into effective knowledge management, including search across customer internal datasets. ResoluteAI's current suite of integrated datasets, while providing a comprehensive resource for Life Science companies, including Pharma, Biotech, and MedTech, also includes datasets relevant to all other industries, such as engineering and chemical-focused innovation. Integration between the two companies' solutions will allow the combined company to offer a comprehensive product ecosystem that delivers insights to users throughout the innovation process. The acquisition also represents a strong cross-selling opportunity, stemming from highly complementary products and technology that cater to key sectors and market segments.
Integrating the advanced search capabilities of ResoluteAI into Research Solutions' Article Galaxy platform and rapid access to every scientific journal article into ResoluteAI's Foundation platform will be the immediate first steps that will translate into an upgraded customer experience for existing and new customer bases.
"The advanced search technology of ResoluteAI, in combination with Research Solutions' expertise in reference management and document delivery, creates tremendous opportunities to leverage strategic technology synergies," said Steven Goldstein, CEO of ResoluteAI. "We are excited to join Research Solutions and apply our expertise to deliver best-in-class research workflow solutions."
Together, the companies will continue to deepen their understanding of the innovation value chain and the specific needs of users and customers to create a product ecosystem that allows for the flexibility to adapt products and business models to the needs of industry leaders and researchers.
"ResoluteAI shares our mission to support the innovation process from end to end with the most comprehensive information and knowledge tool on the market," shared Michiel van der Heijden, Chief Product Officer of Research Solutions. "We are transforming how people discover and acquire information and how they analyze and manage the data they need for their work as part of an overall workflow."
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York, New York, ResoluteAI develops advanced search and discovery tools covering several workflows, including but not limited to, Research & Development, Competitive & Market Intelligence, IP Management, Clinical Operations & Analysis, Post Market Surveillance, and Business Development. As of June 30, 2023, ResoluteAI had approximately $1.3 million in Annual Recurring Revenue under contract.
For further information, please contact Steven Hooser or John Beisler at (214) 872-2710 or shooser@threepa.com; jbeisler@threepa.com.
Media inquiries can be directed to Joseph Tracy, Vice President of Marketing, at jtracy@reprintsdesk.com.
About Research Solutions
Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS) provides cloud-based technologies to streamline the process of obtaining, managing, and creating intellectual property. Founded in 2006 as Reprints Desk, the company was a pioneer in developing solutions to serve researchers. Today, more than 70 percent of the top pharmaceutical companies, prestigious universities, and emerging businesses rely on Article Galaxy, the company's SaaS research platform, to streamline access to the latest scientific research and data with 24/7 customer support. For more information and details, please visit www.researchsolutions.com.
About ResoluteAI
ResoluteAI is an award-winning intelligent search platform. Used by scientific organizations around the world, Foundation lets commercial science enterprises search aggregated scientific, regulatory, and business databases simultaneously. Nebula is our enterprise search tool for science. Combined with our interactive analytics and downloadable visualizations, ResoluteAI helps make connections that lead to breakthrough discoveries.
Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release may contain "forward-looking statements" regarding future events and our future results. All statements other than statements of historical facts are statements that could be deemed to be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the markets in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "targets," "goals," "projects", "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "endeavors," "strives," "may," or variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, estimate or verify. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include those factors described in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as such may be amended or supplemented by subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Examples of forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding additional customers, potential acquisitions and the Company's prospects for growth, profitability, and cash flow. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements. For more information, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE Research Solutions, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/research-solutions-acquires-resoluteai-transform-ai-powered-innovation-workflows/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:26 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/research-solutions-acquires-resoluteai-transform-ai-powered-innovation-workflows/ |
GUANGZHOU, China, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Against the backdrop of sustainable development around the globe, excellent ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance is a new measure for the quality and sustainable prospect of an enterprise. In the future, driven by the "dual carbon" strategic goal, ESG indicators will be new focus for domestic consumer goods companies.
Recently, the fast-growing beauty group YSG released its Environmental, Social and Governance Report of 2022 (hereinafter referred to as the ESG Report). This is the second consecutive year for the Company to release the ESG Report, which thoroughly demonstrates the actions and achievements of YSG in practicing the ESG framework in multiple dimensions in the past year.
YSG's good ESG performance has won the recognition of an authoritative third party institute— in December 2022, the world's largest index company, Morgan Stanley Capital International, MSCI, upgraded the rating of YSG to A, which is an internationally recognized leading level. The rating report shows that YSG is an industry leader in the management of packaging materials and wastes, and is committed to reducing the impact of packaging materials through green packaging, lightweight packaging and recycling, etc.
Expanding "Carbon Footprint" Assessment Category, Embarking on Sustainable Path of Beauty Products
Under the guidance of "dual carbon" national strategy, the beauty industry is actively participating in sustainable development and green growth. Domestic beauty enterprises rise to implement the ESG goals. With the long-term vision of "health and beauty explorer in the era of new technology", YSG has been adhering to low-carbon development, and has always been practicing its commitment to environmental friendliness.
Following Perfect Diary's core product "Rouge Intense Velet Slim Lipstick" launched in 2021, YSG has continued to expand the scope of categories covered by carbon footprint verification. The ESG report shows that in 2022, the Company conducted carbon footprint assessment on Perfect Diary's ace products, "Weightless Velvet Lip Stain" and "Translucent Blurring Loose Powder (Anti-dullness Version)". Through this process, YSG can ascertain the carbon emissions of products in the whole life cycle, identify the potential for emission reduction at each stage, and continue to upgrade its products in the future to reduce the impact on the environment.
In addition, YSG also focuses on issues such as suppliers' carbon emissions and energy management in order to realize low-carbon and sustainable development of the entire supply chain. The Company encourages suppliers to take the initiative to meet the challenge of carbon emission reduction and to seize the opportunity to set feasible and challenging carbon emission reduction goals, so as to work together with YSG to continuously reduce the total amount of carbon emissions of the supply chain. By the end of 2022, all seven core suppliers of YSG have implemented carbon emission management.
At the same time, the consumption of packaging materials, possible pollutions and other issues have drawn more concern; plastic reduction, lightweight packaging, recycling has become the direction advocated by the government and expected by consumers. In 2022, Yatsen's brands, including Perfect Diary, Pink Bear, and Little Ondine, adjusted the weight and size of their product cartons, switched from offset-printed cardboard boxes to watermarked ones, and adopted eco-friendly kraft paper materials, reducing paper consumption by 25%;at the same time, plastic films have been removed for all paper boxes, further reducing the use of plastic packaging materials. Galénic's plastic packaging in China is 100% replaced by degradable bio-based paper plastics. EVE LOM's product packaging achieved 100% recyclability (obtaining The Green Dot logo).
Committed to Scientific Research and Innovation, Laying Solid Foundation for Brand R&D
In the past year, the cosmetic industry has been speeding into the era of detailed brand building with quality as the focus, and the attention paid to R&D by domestic beauty brands has risen significantly, as the beauty industry has entered a new stage of competing for "internal strength". According to the ESG report, YSG attaches great importance to product innovation and R&D, and has invested RMB 127 million in R&D in 2022, accounting for 3.4% of its total revenue. The R&D expense ratio continues to rank among the top in the world.
With the support of the Open Lab R&D system, YSG has formed cooperation with many renowned research institutions, universities and colleges and hospitals home and abroad, identifying, studying and transferring for commercial applications worldwide— all for quality beauty products. Multiple types of achievements of technology-supported cosmetics have been made. Perfect Diary cooperated with the Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology of Chinese Academy of Sciences and developed the SmartLOCK, which is used in the Translucent Blurring Loose Powder for its high efficiency in keeping look fresh with antioxidant capacity.
What is more noteworthy is that YSG understands that R&D innovation is the way to long-term development of an enterprise, drives category innovation, which in turn brings R&D breakthrough. In 2022 June, YSG R&D Center officially obtained the Laboratory Accreditation Certificate issued by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS), which marks that the Center's product testing capabilities, equipment and devices have reached national approved standards. In November of the same year, the Company established the Sun Yat-sen University-Yatsen Group (YSG) Skin Health Precise Research Joint Laboratory,which has now built two major platforms, namely, the Chinese Skin Aging Research Platform for Chinese and the Bio-Fermentation Research Platform of Sun Yat-sen University.
Shouldering Public Welfare, Setting Benchmark for Sustainable Development
As young listed beauty enterprise, YSG spares no effort on public welfare while promoting its own development, deepening its enterprise and brand value. The Company explores actively the new path of beauty, aiming to discover female beauty, guard natural beauty and pass on the beauty of goodwill. The on-going "Create a beautiful life" and other training programs have witnessed YSG's endeavour in public welfare.
Since the establishment of the Company, YSG has been committed to involving more people to enjoy beauty as part of its corporate social responsibility practice. In 2020, YSG, with the goal of "helping women to discover and create beauty", joined hands with the China Women's Development Foundation to launch "Creating a beautiful life" public welfare training program. A total of RMB 2 million has been invested in the program in three years. As of March 2023, 5 training sessions have been completed, empowering 202 women to start their own business/employment in the field of beauty through the learning of beauty skills, quality enhancement, in-person visits and practice, industry exchanges, and mentor support.
At the same time, the Company is also expanding the depth and breadth of public welfare practices, actively contributing to social welfare such as education and research, child care, rural revitalization, public welfare for the disabled, shouldering a sense of social responsibility and mission, insisting on giving back real benefits to the society, and spreading the beauty of goodwill even farther.
Promoting high-quality development is the core in YSG's transformation process and the fundamental guideline for the Company's ESG practices. Mr. Huang Jinfeng, Founder, Chairman and CEO of YSG, said, "2022 is a year for YSG to deepen its transformation and reform in a comprehensive manner. Good ESG governance is an important driving force to promote the sustainable development of enterprises. In the future, YSG will focus on three aspects of optimization: continue to give full play to the value of ESG to create new momentum for development; continue to improve the green management to create sustainable products; and promote more public welfare programs to give full play to their own strengths and social influence, and actively give back to the society."
On the road of sustainable and high-quality development, YSG will continue to enhance its professional ability, improve itself through reformation, apply new technology and new thinking to the field of beauty, drive product upgrading with innovation, provide high-quality and innovative products to global consumers, and bring new vitality and confidence to the beauty industry.
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SOURCE Yatsen Global | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:28 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ysg-releases-its-second-esg-report-setting-benchmark-industry/ |
Biden goes west to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat climate change
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Arizona, New Mexico and Utah next week and is expected to talk about his administration’s efforts to combat climate change as the region endures a brutally hot summer with soaring temperatures, the White House said Monday.
Biden is expected to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act, America’s most significant response to climate change, and the push toward more clean energy manufacturing. The act aims to spur clean energy on a scale that will bend the arc of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
July has been the hottest month ever recorded. Biden last week announced new steps to protect workers in extreme heat, including measures to improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible.
Members of Biden’s administration also are fanning out over the next few weeks around the anniversary of the landmark climate change and health care legislation to extol the administration’s successes as the Democratic president seeks reelection in 2024.
Vice President Kamala Harris heads to Wisconsin this week with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to talk about broadband infrastructure investments. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack goes to Oregon to highlight wildfire defense grants, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will go to Illinois and Texas, and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona heads to Maryland to talk about career and technical education programs.
The Inflation Reduction Act included roughly $375 billion over a decade to combat climate change and capped the cost of a month’s supply of insulin at $35 for older Americans and other Medicare beneficiaries. It also helps an estimated 13 million Americans pay for health care insurance by extending subsidies provided during the coronavirus pandemic.
The measure is paid for by new taxes on large companies and stepped-up IRS enforcement of wealthy individuals and entities, with additional funds going to reduce the federal deficit.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/31/biden-goes-west-talk-about-his-administrations-efforts-combat-climate-change/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:31 | 1 | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/31/biden-goes-west-talk-about-his-administrations-efforts-combat-climate-change/ |
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A state-run oil giant in the United Arab Emirates said Monday it has moved up its target for achieving net zero emissions in its operations to 2045, as the country prepares to host U.N. climate talks later this year.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, known as ADNOC, said it is also committed to acheiving zero methane emissions by 2030. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term.
Earlier this year, ADNOC earmarked $15 billion for an array of green initiatives, including the development of hydrogen power, carbon capture facilities and the planting of mangroves.
The company had previously committed to net zero — the balancing of greenhouse gas emissions to the point that the amount removed from the atmosphere is equal to the amount emitted — by 2050.
The UAE, an OPEC member that produces over 3 million barrels of crude oil a day, will host the global climate talks known as COP28 from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 in Dubai. It has appointed Sultan al-Jaber, the head of ADNOC, to chair the meeting, a move that drew criticism from some environmentalists.
Al-Jaber has emphasized the need to cut emissions, rather than end fossil fuel use itself. It’s prompted fears that he might seek loopholes for untested carbon-capture technologies and so-called offsets that experts say distract from the need to end the release of greenhouse gases.
Governments agreed eight years ago in Paris to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) — ideally no more than 1.5C (2.7F). With average global temperatures already about 1.2C (2.2F) above pre-industrial levels, experts say the window to meet the more ambitious target is closing fast and even the less stringent goal would be missed if emissions aren’t slashed sharply soon.
The UAE, a global hub for business and tourism, has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050 — a target that remains difficult to assess and one that authorities haven’t fully explained how they’ll reach. Analysts believe the Emirates is trying to maximize its profits as the world turns to renewables. | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-uae-state-oil-firm-moves-up-net-zero-climate-target-to-2045/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:32 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-uae-state-oil-firm-moves-up-net-zero-climate-target-to-2045/ |
LAS VEGAS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UFC®, the world's premier mixed martial arts organization, and Roobet.fun, a completely free-to-play social casino where the Roobet.fun community competes every day for cash and real-world prizes, today announced a multi-year partnership that provides Roobet.fun with significant exposure through some of UFC's biggest events and digital platforms.
BRANDED INTEGRATIONS AND ENTITLEMENTS
Under the terms of the agreement, Roobet.fun will receive prominent branding in the world-famous Octagon® at select UFC Pay-Per-Views and Fight Nights and will be featured as a Presenting Partner of select episodes of Embedded, UFC's all-access video content series featuring top UFC athletes preparing for upcoming events. UFC and Roobet.fun will also collaborate on a variety of custom and original content that will be distributed across UFC-owned social media channels and digital platforms, which reach more than 243 million users worldwide.
In addition, UFC and Roobet.fun will also give fans the chance to experience the excitement of UFC in-person by competing for sweepstakes packages that will feature exclusive in-person prizes, such as tickets to UFC events, post-fight tours of the Octagon, meet and greets with UFC athletes and legends, and VIP tours of the UFC Performance Institute -- the state-of-the-art sports research, innovation, and mixed martial arts training facility in Las Vegas.
The agreement also provides for an annual Brand Ambassador fund that will bring the partnership to life through appearances, content, and creative campaigns with UFC athletes.
"We're thrilled to welcome Roobet.fun as an official UFC partner," said Grant Norris-Jones, Senior Vice President of Global Partnerships. "Roobet.fun is an innovative online gaming platform that offers an incredibly compelling user engagement experience via a free-to-play social casino. It's a forward-thinking approach to gaming we believe UFC fans will enjoy."
"Roobet.fun originally entered the fight space to support some of the best UFC fighters on the planet, and now as the official social casino of the UFC, we will provide exciting, free games and prizes to the greatest fans in the world," said Anthony Brennan, Roobet.fun Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships. "With this partnership, Roobet.fun will create groundbreaking experiences that UFC fans have never seen before."
The Roobet.fun brand already has deep roots within the MMA community, as they individually support several of UFC's best fighters through multi-faceted sponsorships of former champions Alex Pereira, Charles Oliveira, Brandon Moreno and Marlon "Chito" Vera. The company also produces several MMA podcasts, including Champions Corner with former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno; Chute Boxe hosted by Diego Lima, head coach and manager of the famed Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil; and On the House with MMA agent Jason House.
About UFC®
UFC® is the world's premier mixed martial arts organization (MMA), with more than 700 million fans and 243 million social media followers. The organization produces more than 40 live events annually in some of the most prestigious arenas around the world, while broadcasting to over 900 million TV households across more than 170 countries. UFC's active fighter roster features the world's best MMA athletes representing more than 75 countries. The organization's digital offerings include UFC FIGHT PASS®, one of the world's leading streaming services for combat sports. UFC is owned by global sports and entertainment company Endeavor and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, visit UFC.com and follow UFC at Facebook.com/UFC, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok: @UFC.
About Roobet.fun
Roobet.fun is the official social casino of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is designed with the next generation of gamer in mind. A crypto faucet with a twist, Roobet.fun provides a player-centric, free-to-play experience on an immersive and secure platform accessible to eligible gamers worldwide. Roobet.fun is a pillar brand which exemplifies the brand's values of empowering the crypto and web3 community, while leveraging cutting-edge technologies to make it happen.
Roobet.fun is creating a space for every type of gamer. With Roobet.fun catering to those trying out crypto or simply enjoying free-to-play games, and Roobet.com continuing its industry-leading innovation in the crypto casino space, the Roobet.fun brand is redefining the entertainment landscape and leading the way in inclusive and creator-led gaming. What started as a haven for crypto enthusiasts has hit the mainstream: with over 300M views on TikTok, the drumbeat from Gen Z and Millennials is building – Roobet.fun is a brand "for the internet, by the internet."
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SOURCE UFC; Roobet.fun | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/roobetfun-named-official-social-casino-ufc/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:32 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/roobetfun-named-official-social-casino-ufc/ |
PARIS, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yubo, the live social discovery app for Gen Z, has become a member of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) to support its mission to prevent terrorist and violent extremist exploitation online through research, technical collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Through its membership, Yubo will leverage GIFCT's hash-sharing database to identify and remove content shared on Yubo that is associated with United Nations-designated terrorist entities, attacker manifestos, terrorist publications, and other violent extremist groups. GIFCT is an NGO designed to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms.
Since 2017, GIFCT has run a safe and secure industry database of hashes – or "digital fingerprints'' – of known terrorist and violent extremist material, which GIFCT members have identified and removed from their platforms. With users in over 140 countries around the world, Yubo will play a key role in helping GIFCT further scale its international hash-sharing database.
"GIFCT's hash database provides Yubo with a powerful tool to further strengthen our multifaceted approach to content moderation and more effectively identify and eliminate violent extremist content at scale," said Yubo co-founder and CEO Sacha Lazimi. "We look forward to expanding our support of GIFCT through this initiative and working with other member organizations to leverage technology to combat terrorism and enhance safety for all, on- and offline."
GIFCT's hash-sharing database works first by enabling member companies, like Yubo, to identify and "hash" content, such as photos, videos, or PDFs, ensuring a privacy-by-design approach to recording content for reporting or removal without linking to any personally identifiable information. Hashes appear as digital signatures or numerical representations of the original content, which means they cannot be easily reverse engineered to recreate the content.
"The lifecycle of violent extremism is often extended through the dissemination of content online, and the support of member organizations like Yubo is crucial to breaking these cycles," said GIFCT Executive Director Naureen Chowdhury Frink. "We are grateful to our GIFCT member companies for their continued collaboration in our shared mission to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms, and we welcome the important investments Yubo has made for the safety of its community."
Yubo's integration of the GIFCT hash-sharing database follows the platform's support of the Take It Down initiative by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in February. Take It Down is NCMEC's free online service that, like GIFCT, leverages a hash-sharing system to help minors remove their nudes from the internet and combat the online spread of child sexual exploitation.
ABOUT YUBO
Yubo is a live social discovery app making it easy for Gen Z to expand their social circles and hang out online with new friends from around the world. By eliminating likes and follows, we empower young people to show up as their true selves and connect as authentically as they would offline. Safety is a cornerstone of our platform, and we are proud to be the first social app in the world to introduce comprehensive user-age verification tools and real-time video and audio moderation for livestreams. Founded in France in 2015, Yubo is used in more than 140 countries by over 60 million users. Visit us at yubo.live to learn more and follow our journey.
ABOUT GIFCT
GIFCT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and tech-led initiative with over 20 member tech companies offering unique settings for diverse stakeholders to identify and solve the most complex global challenges at the intersection of terrorism and technology. GIFCT's mission is to prevent terrorists and violent extremists from exploiting digital platforms through our vision of a world in which the technology sector marshals its collective creativity and capacity to render terrorists and violent extremists ineffective online. In every aspect of our work, we aim to be transparent, inclusive, and respectful of the fundamental and universal human rights that terrorists and violent extremists seek to undermine.
Media Contact:
Debora Lima, Yubo U.S. Media Director
debora@ext.yubo.live
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SOURCE Yubo | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:34 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yubo-joins-gifct-combat-spread-violent-extremist-content-online/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian missiles slammed into an apartment complex and a university building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih Monday, killing four people and wounding scores of others as the blasts trapped residents beneath rubble, Ukraine’s interior minister said.
One of the two missiles destroyed a section of the apartment building between the fourth and ninth floors, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said. Video showed black smoke billowing from corner units and burned out or damaged cars on a tree-lined street.
A 10-year-old girl was among those killed, officials said. Dnipro Gov. Serhii Lysak said 53 people were wounded in the morning attack, which also destroyed part of the four-story university building.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian artillery strike on partially occupied Donetsk province killed two people and wounded six in the regional capital, according to Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-installed leader of the illegally annexed province.
A bus was also hit as Ukrainian forces shelled the city of Donetsk multiple times Monday, Pushilin said.
Neither side’s claims could be independently verified.
A recent Ukrainian counteroffensive, deploying weaponry supplied by Kyiv’s Western allies and aimed at driving Russian forces out of occupied areas, intensified last week. At the same time, Ukraine has sought to take the war deep into Russia, reportedly using drones to hit targets as far away as Moscow.
Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia and Moscow-annexed territory, especially Crimea, have become more frequent. The latest strike, on Sunday, damaged two office buildings a few miles (kilometers) from the Kremlin.
Russia has tightened security in the aftermath of that attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, describing the assault as an “act of desperation.”
“The Kyiv regime is in a very, very difficult situation,” Peskov said, “as the counteroffensive is not working out as planned.”
“It’s obvious that the multibillion-dollar resources that have been transferred by NATO countries to the Kyiv regime are actually being spent inefficiently,” Peskov said.
“This raises big questions in Western capitals and great discomfort among taxpayers in Western countries.”
Another Ukrainian drone targeted a district police department early Monday in Russia’s Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, but there were no casualties, the local governor said.
In Kryvyi Rih, which is the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rescue crews searched Monday for people who were trapped in the wreckage of the two hit buildings. The Kremlin’s forces have occasionally targeted the city since they invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Bombarding populated areas with missiles, artillery and drones has been a hallmark of Moscow’s military strategy during the war, an approach that has continued during the Ukrainian counteroffensive that started in June.
Russian officials insist they only take aim at legitimate military targets, but Ukraine and its supporters say mass civilian deaths during previous attacks provide evidence of war crimes.
“In recent days, the enemy has been stubbornly attacking cities, city centers, shelling civilian objects and housing,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on social media. “But this terror will not frighten us or break us.”
Russian shelling Monday also killed a 70-year-old woman in her home in a Kharkiv province village near Izyum, as well as a civilian in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, local authorities said.
In eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province, one person was reported killed and seven people were injured after Russia shelled 12 cities and villages, according to Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko.
Ukrainian officials didn’t acknowledge Sunday’s drone attacks in the Moscow region. In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said: “Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia — to its symbolic centers and military bases, and this is an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process.”
Meanwhile, Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said Monday his Wagner Group is not currently recruiting fighters.
In an audio message published on a Telegram channel associated with the Wagner chief, Prigozhin said the company had suspended recruitment as there is currently “no shortage of personnel.”
Prigozhin previously agreed with Western estimates that he lost more than 20,000 men in the long battle for the Ukrainian city Bakhmut.
Prigozhin last month led a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, demanding a leadership change in the Russian military. In an attempt to control him, Russian authorities insisted that Wagner fighters can only return to Ukraine if they join Russia’s regular army.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-ukraine-says-russian-missiles-hit-another-apartment-building-and-likely-trapped-people-under-rubble/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:38 | 1 | https://www.binghamtonhomepage.com/news/international/ap-ukraine-says-russian-missiles-hit-another-apartment-building-and-likely-trapped-people-under-rubble/ |
SUV driver intentionally hit 6 migrant workers, police say
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 7:26 AM CDT|Updated: 47 minutes ago
LINCOLNTON, N.C. (AP) — Six migrant workers were intentionally hit by an SUV in a Walmart parking lot in North Carolina on Sunday, police said.
The workers were hit at a Walmart in Lincolnton in what appears to have been an intentional assault with a vehicle, but the Lincolnton Police Department said in a statement posted on social media that the driver’s motives are still under investigation. The workers were taken to a hospital with various injuries, but police said none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.
Police are asking the public for help identifying the driver and the vehicle, described as an older model black sport utility vehicle with a luggage rack.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/31/suv-driver-intentionally-hit-6-migrant-workers-police-say/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:38 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/2023/07/31/suv-driver-intentionally-hit-6-migrant-workers-police-say/ |
The owner of Helping Hands for Furry Paws animal rescue in Butler County, Ohio, was issued an arrest warrant after a raid of her home led to the discovery of nearly 120 dogs, 30 of which were found dead in freezers on Friday.
The remaining 86 dogs were taken to the Animal Friends Humane Society of Butler County for evaluation and treatment.
Rescue owner Rhonda Murphy had been hospitalized and, at the time of publication, had not been taken into police custody.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said the conditions were some of the worst ever seen by sheriff's deputies and dog warden investigators.
"Five sets of puppies. No food," Jones said. "This one was nursing other pups, and you can see ribs hanging out, so, pretty nasty stuff."
SEE MORE: Why are custody battles over pets on the rise?
The conditions at Helping Hands for Furry Paws were completely different from Cincinnati Animal Care. Volunteers spent Saturday afternoon beautifying the property as 40 to 50 employees, like Ray Anderson, work daily to care for roughly 8,000 animals who pass through their facility annually.
"A lot of folks, they don't know the difference between a shelter and a rescue," Anderson said.
He said rescues can range from large operations dealing with hundreds of animals to a single person housing a couple of dogs off the street, but a person attempting to surrender their pet may never know what they're dealing with if they don't do their due diligence.
"Go some place where you can actually see the living conditions of the animals," Anderson said. "If someone is telling you they'll meet you at the Ikea parking lot or some other public space versus seeing how the animal is living, that would be a red flag for me."
If a person can't make a trip to see a property with their own eyes, Anderson suggested doing thorough research online.
He said reputable rescues should be posting recent pictures or videos of multiple animals around their facility, and the same should be true for any rescue's social media presence.
"Really, that's the big thing," Anderson said, "transparency."
Anderson said amateur rescues that get out of control usually start with the good intentions of helping animals in need, but become too much to handle.
He said shelters exist to help people before it reaches that point, and suggested people reach out to their local shelter before it reaches the point of criminality.
This story was originally published by Sean DeLancey for Scripps News Cincinnati.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kxxv.com/animal-rescue-owner-charged-after-grisly-discovery | 2023-07-31T13:13:40 | 0 | https://www.kxxv.com/animal-rescue-owner-charged-after-grisly-discovery |
The fashion show on September 13, 2023, hosted by Shaquem Griffin, will feature Adaptive and Universally Designed apparel, footwear, and products from: Zappos, Kohl's, Target, JCPenney, Tommy Hilfiger, Stride Rite, Steve Madden, French Toast Adaptive, adidas, and a runway debut of Victoria's Secret and PINK's first-ever Adaptive Intimates.
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Runway of Dreams™ Foundation, a nonprofit organization leading the charge on inclusion, acceptance, and opportunity in the fashion and beauty industries for people with disabilities, announced today their return to the runway during New York Fashion Week. This one-of-a-kind Adaptive fashion show, aptly titled A Fashion Revolution, is presented by online retailer Zappos, and will take place on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at Powerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York. Shaquem Griffin, former NFL linebacker, will be hosting. Griffin was featured this summer in the Runway of Dreams' Campaign for Inclusion, the first multi-brand fashion and beauty campaign featuring people with disabilities wearing Adaptive & Universally Designed products. "I'm honored to continue my journey with Runway of Dreams. This organization is a trailblazer for change, and advocates for millions of people across the globe like myself, who need accessible clothing, which so many people take for granted every day of their lives," - he said. Mr. Griffin will be dressed in looks provided by Neiman Marcus and Tommy Hilfiger.
A Fashion Revolution will highlight the groundbreaking work that leading and emerging companies, from lingerie to luxury, are doing in the Adaptive and Universally Designed space, showcased on 70 models with varying disabilities and backgrounds. The show brings together 500+ leaders and champions of DEI under one roof during New York Fashion Week with the same mission: celebrate inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries.
"The Runway of Dreams stage is where brands have chosen to celebrate the debut of their Adaptive designs over the years, and I am thrilled and so honored to welcome Victoria's Secret and Pink Adaptive to the Adaptive family. Knowing the Victoria's Secret and PINK Adaptive products were developed with and for people with disabilities proves their commitment to true inclusion, and understanding the work that needs to go into making these products authentically," said Mindy Scheier, Founder of Runway of Dreams.
"We are excited to debut our first-ever Adaptive collection during New York Fashion Week on the Runway of Dreams' runway. Runway of Dreams advocates for industry change by empowering people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through inclusion in fashion and beauty. We are honored to join the many brands who have decided to debut their Adaptive apparel on this runway adding to the historic timeline that is the future of fashion," said Lydia Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, Victoria's Secret & Co.
In addition to brands on the runway, innovative small brands will showcase their products onsite during the evening. Brands included: MAI We Care, Spoonie Threads, One Leg Up, Reboundwear, and Silverts Adaptive.
Zappos will be awarded the esteemed Pioneer of Change Award, presented to Zappos CEO Scott Schaefer and Zappos Adaptive Business Development Manager Dana Zumbo. Billy Price of BILLY Footwear will also be awarded with the Inspirational Achievement Award for their innovative zippered Adaptive shoes. Two scholarships will be awarded as part of the Foundation's commitment to educate and inspire the next generation of Adaptive designers.
"We've been proud partners of Runway of Dreams since the launch of our Zappos Adaptive shopping experience in 2017," said Dana Zumbo, Business Development Manager for Zappos Adaptive. "Together, we have grown in our shared commitment to make fashion more functional and fashionable for all. This is the stage to be on, and we are humbled to be returning this year as the 2023 Presenting Sponsor."
Following the show, September 14th to 16th is a free and open-to-the-public and first-of- its-kind Adaptive exhibit at Hudson Yards in New York City. This curated display will feature Adaptive and Universally Designed collections from mainstream brands committed to inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries and the history of Runway of Dreams as a trailblazer in the Adaptive space. The event is an opportunity for the public to learn about available Adaptive and Universally Designed products, and to emphasize the need for true inclusion in our mainstream world.
Sponsorship and Corporate Seating Packages Available. Please contact corporaterelations@runwayofdreams.org for more details. Public ticket sales and information about the public exhibit will be announced at runwayofdreams.org and on the Runway of Dreams' social channels.
ABOUT RUNWAY OF DREAMS:
Runway of Dreams is a non-profit (501c3) organization leading the movement of disability inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries. ROD raises awareness and inspires change through programming that celebrates people's differences, challenges stereotypes, and highlights the need for Adaptive & Universally designed apparel.
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SOURCE Runway of Dreams Foundation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/runway-dreams-foundation-returns-new-york-fashion-week-with-runway-show-public-exhibit-recognizing-adaptive-amp-universally-designed-apparel-footwear-products/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:39 | 1 | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/runway-dreams-foundation-returns-new-york-fashion-week-with-runway-show-public-exhibit-recognizing-adaptive-amp-universally-designed-apparel-footwear-products/ |
The House and Senate left Washington for the month of August with a lengthy, time-sensitive to-do list waiting when they return, including multiple key health care priorities.
There will only be three weeks before the end of the fiscal year to get everything done, and just 11 legislative days when both chambers will be in session at the same time.
Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize a sweeping pandemic preparedness bill, fund community health centers and renew opioid addiction services.
But the largest looming deadline is the appropriations bills to fund the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which are tied up in the House amid disagreements over abortion and spending levels.
GOP leaders scuttled a vote planned for Friday on legislation funding the FDA and the Department of Agriculture after moderate Republicans objected to a provision that would reverse the FDA’s decision to allow the abortion pill mifepristone drug to be dispensed through the mail and in retail pharmacies.
House Freedom Caucus members have also been demanding even deeper spending cuts than agreed to in the bipartistan debt ceiling deal.
The Labor-HHS bill advanced through a House Appropriations subcommittee earlier this month, but hadn’t even made it to the full committee before recess. The Republican-led House bill would slash or eliminate funding from a range of programs that deal with everything from family planning to teen pregnancy and even HIV.
Both FDA and HHS funding bills face a major fight in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where the Appropriations Committee has already passed its own version by near unanimous margins, owing to an agreement by Democratic and Republican leaders not to insert “poison pill” amendments.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (Mass.) argued in a floor speech that lawmakers should stay in Washington to strip out the “toxic, divisive, bigoted riders” in the bills, and ripped Republicans for delaying votes until September.
Pandemic preparedness
The House and Senate are taking different tracks in the reauthorization of the pandemic preparedness bill, complicating its path forward.
The Senate advanced a bipartisan version of the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act out of committee, but the House is divided. House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans advanced a bill on party lines after Democrats introduced their own version.
The primary disagreement is over drug shortages. Democrats are clamoring to give FDA more oversight authority to address the shortages, but Republicans are insisting on keeping the issues separate.
The Senate version contains some provisions addressing drug shortages, but only one involves beefing up FDA authority.
Congress is under pressure to stem drug shortages amid reports of doctors rationing cancer drugs and other medicine. Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee have said they are committed to dealing with the problems, but that it shouldn’t be part of the preparedness bill.
Energy and Commerce Committee GOP leaders released a discussion draft on Friday of drug shortage legislation focusing on the economic reasons for shortages, including giving some generic drug manufacturers the ability to raise the cost of their drugs if hospitals keep prices “artificially low” to the point where there’s no economic incentive.
Health centers
Legislation to reauthorize funding for community health centers also faces partisan challenges. But in this case, the House cleared its bill on a bipartisan basis, while the Senate is still working through disagreements, highlighting the work to be done.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, originally wanted tens of billions of dollars more for the centers. He was asking for $130 billion to fund the centers over the next five years as well as $60 billion to help grow the health care workforce.
But Sanders ended up canceling a planned markup during the last week of July. Raising some eyebrows, Sanders said he is working with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) to craft a bipartisan bill that will be “ready by the first week of September.”
Separately, Sanders and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued a joint statement pledging to partner and work towards legislation in the fall aimed at addressing primary care and other health care workforce shortages.
Opioids
At issue are several provisions of sweeping legislation signed into law in 2018 called the Support Act, which aimed to tackle the country’s drug overdose epidemic.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced a bipartisan reauthorization and expansion bill, but advocates are concerned the Senate is behind.
HELP Committee ranking member Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced his own version of the bill on July 20, but hearings won’t be scheduled until September. Cassidy has warned that the committee is wasting time on partisan bills instead of easy bipartisan wins, such as the Support Act.
Insulin/PBM reform
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has said for months that he wants to move legislation that would cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for people with private insurance.
There’s hope to combine it with legislation reforming the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry into a package that could get bipartisan support.
But there’s no looming deadline and no guarantee it will get taken up in September.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is a co-sponsor of one of the insulin bills with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), said she still has Schumer’s support heading into the fall, but has not heard anything about timing.
Multiple committees have advanced PBM reform bills in both the House and Senate, so they will all need to be combined into one floor-friendly package. | https://www.wric.com/hill-politics/lawmakers-set-to-face-ticking-clock-on-health-care-priorities/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:40 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/hill-politics/lawmakers-set-to-face-ticking-clock-on-health-care-priorities/ |
Braves vs. Angels: Betting Trends, Odds, Records Against the Run Line, Home/Road Splits
Matt Olson and the Atlanta Braves will square off against Hunter Renfroe and the Los Angeles Angels at Truist Park in the first of a three-game series, on Monday at 7:20 PM ET.
The favored Braves have -225 moneyline odds to win against the underdog Angels, who are listed at +180. The total is 10 runs for the matchup.
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Braves vs. Angels Odds & Info
- Date: Monday, July 31, 2023
- Time: 7:20 PM ET
- TV: BSSO
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia
- Venue: Truist Park
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
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Braves Recent Betting Performance
- In 10 games as the favorite over the last 10 matchups, the Braves have a record of 6-4.
- The Braves and their opponents have combined to hit the over five times in their last 10 games with a total.
- The Braves have not played a game with a spread over their last 10 outings. Atlanta and its opponent have gone above the over/under in three consecutive games, with the average total set by bookmakers during that stretch being 10.3.
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Braves Betting Records & Stats
- The Braves have won 59 of the 90 games they were listed as the moneyline favorite this season (65.6%).
- When playing as moneyline favorites with odds of -225 or shorter, Atlanta has an 18-7 record (winning 72% of its games).
- Based on this game's moneyline, the Braves' implied win probability is 69.2%.
- In the 103 games in which bookmakers have set an over/under for Atlanta, it has combined with opponents to go over the total 55 times (55-45-3).
- The Braves have put together an 8-8-0 record ATS this season.
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Braves Splits
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/31/braves-vs-angels-mlb-betting-trends-stats/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:41 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/sports/betting/2023/07/31/braves-vs-angels-mlb-betting-trends-stats/ |
Brewers vs. Nationals: Betting Trends, Odds, Records Against the Run Line, Home/Road Splits
The Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals will send Corbin Burnes and Jake Irvin, respectively, to the mound when the two squads play on Monday at Nationals Park, at 7:05 PM ET.
The Brewers are -200 moneyline favorites in this matchup with the Nationals (+165). The total is 9 runs for this game.
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Brewers vs. Nationals Odds & Info
- Date: Monday, July 31, 2023
- Time: 7:05 PM ET
- TV: MASN2
- Location: Washington D.C.
- Venue: Nationals Park
- Live Stream: Watch on Fubo!
Bet with King of Sportsbooks and use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers! Check out the latest odds and place your bets with BetMGM Sportsbook. Use bonus code "GNPLAY" for special offers!
Brewers Recent Betting Performance
- The Brewers have played as the favorite in three of their past 10 games and won two of those contests.
- In their last 10 games with a total, the Brewers and their opponents have combined to hit the over four times.
- There has not been a spread set for any of the Brewers' last 10 games. Milwaukee and its opponent have finished above the over/under in three games in a row, with the average total set by oddsmakers during that span being 10.3.
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Brewers Betting Records & Stats
- The Brewers are 29-20 in games they were listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 59.2% of those games).
- When it has played as moneyline favorites with odds of -200 or shorter, Milwaukee has a 2-2 record (winning 50% of its games).
- Based on this matchup's moneyline, the Brewers have an implied win probability of 66.7%.
- In the 106 games in which oddsmakers have set an over/under for Milwaukee, it has combined with opponents to go over the total 44 times (44-57-5).
- The Brewers have a 4-6-0 record against the spread this season (covering 40% of the time).
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Brewers Splits
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© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbay.com/sports/betting/2023/07/31/brewers-vs-nationals-mlb-betting-trends-stats/ | 2023-07-31T13:13:43 | 0 | https://www.wbay.com/sports/betting/2023/07/31/brewers-vs-nationals-mlb-betting-trends-stats/ |
Crawford football has returned as the Pirates held their first official practice of the 2023 season.
"I'm just as excited in year 40 as I was year one and this is year 40," Head Coach Greg Jacobs said.
For Jacobs, coaching football means a lot more than just playing a game.
"It's a fun time. The thing I enjoy about coaching sports, especially football is you see young men that have to learn to deal with adversity on a daily basis and they have to learn to get along with each other and mold themselves as a team as a unit," Jacobs said.
Last year, Crawford finished 14-1 and were 7-0 in district plays and were semi-finalists. A near perfect resume that they want to build off of. Each team is different each year.
"We graduated some really special kids last year. We had 13 seniors that we lost. We've got a number of kids that are coming up. We've got 10 that will be seniors this year. It's their time, it's their opportunity and they realize that the times that they had to participate and be a part of it last year, they just learned from it and they know the expectations are high," Jacobs said.
This season, like all football seasons comes with new players and with new Pirates coming in, the veterans have to step up.
"Over the years, I've seen kids that were juniors that, weren't really difference makers. By this time, being seniors, they became a completely different person. They invest a lot of effort and hard work into that last senior year. So, I think I see that from a number of this year's seniors. It'll be a growing process. We understand that. I don't want to be perfect day one and I don't expect to be," he said.
The Crawford Pirates first game of the season will be against the Goldthwaite Eagles on August 25. | https://www.kxxv.com/sports/high-school-sports/redzone-preview-the-crawford-pirates-return-to-shore | 2023-07-31T13:13:46 | 0 | https://www.kxxv.com/sports/high-school-sports/redzone-preview-the-crawford-pirates-return-to-shore |