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HONG KONG (AP) — Fans of singer and songwriter Coco Lee, who was known for her powerful voice and live performances, were gathering with flowers to pay their respects to their idol at her funeral in Hong Kong on Monday.
The memorial services was attended by her family and friends, including singers Elva Hsiao and Jenny Tseng, as well as other supporters. Lee died July 5 at age 48.
She was born in Hong Kong and attended school in San Francisco before releasing her first album in 1994 at age 19. She began her career as a Mandopop singer but branched out to release albums in Cantonese and English.
She was the first Chinese singer to break into the American market, and her English song “Do You Want My Love” climbed to #4 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Breakouts chart in December 1999. In 2001, she sang “A Love Before Time” from Ang Lee’s movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” at the Academy Awards, becoming the first Chinese American to perform at the Oscars.
Lee was also the voice of heroine Fa Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney’s “Mulan,” and sang the Mandarin version of the movie’s theme song “Reflection.”
Lee was married to Bruce Rockowitz, former CEO of Hong Kong supply chain company Li & Fung. She had two stepdaughters.
Her death had shocked fans. Her siblings posted on Facebook that she had depression for years and had attempted suicide at home on July 2. She died a few days later.
On Monday afternoon, more than 100 fans dressed in black were waiting outside the funeral home.
Lin Jing, a fan from Fujian province in the southeast, said she admired Lee’s smile and appearance, adding: “She was really talented. She always tried to improve and she inspired women to feel independent.”
Inside the funeral hall, three pink hearts made of flowers and other floral decorations were displayed below Lee’s photo.
Her close friend, Hsiao, said during the ceremony that Lee was perfect idol to her even when she watched her performances as a student. After they became friends in the entertainment industry, Lee encouraged her when she was lost and treated her as “a little sister.”
“She brightened my life with her happiness and bravery. I will keep preserving her spirit,” she said in a quavering voice.
In a video for her memorial service, actors and singers from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan recalled their memories with Lee and mourned her death.
Action star Jackie Chan said in the video that everyone was proud of her when she sang at the Oscars.
“To friends like us, Coco was a passionate and kind friend who showed care to us. She was really a good person. That’s why we are so reluctant to accept she has left us,” he said.
Award-winning director Ang Lee recalled his exchanges with the late singer before the Oscars and said it was a pity she died so young. “We miss her very much. Coco, rest in peace,” he said in the video.
In Coco Lee’s recent social media posts, she kept spreading positivity. In March, she posted about having to relearn how to walk after undergoing surgery for an old leg injury.
“Successful surgery. Even though I’m in a lot of pain and I have to re-learn how to walk again, I know I can do it,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “Yes I can and I will!”
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Associated Press video journalist Alice Fung and news assistant Annie Cheung contributed to this report. | https://www.kxnet.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-fans-pay-tribute-to-coco-lee-hong-kong-singer-who-had-international-success/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:42 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-fans-pay-tribute-to-coco-lee-hong-kong-singer-who-had-international-success/ |
- Learners can enroll for these Microsoft Certifications with any of the existing programs offered by Great Learning in Cloud Computing, Data Science and Data Engineering.
- The Microsoft Certification aligned learning paths will be delivered by Great Learning faculty and Microsoft Certified Trainers.
- Great Learning programs are designed to help learners advance their skills in Microsoft technologies and Azure focused careers and complete the corresponding Microsoft Certification exams.
SEATTLE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Learning, a leading global edtech company for higher education and professional training is collaborating with Microsoft to offer their learners various Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Power BI learning paths aligned to Microsoft Certifications. These 6-week online programs are designed and developed by Microsoft and delivered by Great Learning faculty and Microsoft Certified Trainers. The programs are relevant for young graduates and working professionals aspiring to build careers in high-demand domains such as Cloud Computing, Data Science and Data Engineering.
The relevance of Azure in today's technology landscape cannot be overstated. As businesses increasingly migrate to the cloud, Azure has emerged as a leading cloud infrastructure platform, providing a wide range of services and solutions to meet diverse business needs. Organizations that use Azure gain scalability, agility, and cost-efficiency, enabling them to accelerate innovation and drive digital transformation. The rapid adoption of Azure has created a significant demand for professionals skilled in Azure technologies. These skilling programs aligned to Azure certifications are designed for professionals aspiring to build a career in Cloud Computing and wanting to gain technical skills in Azure-based solutions.
As part of this relationship, Great Learning will initially deliver three Microsoft Certification aligned skilling programs, with plans to expand the offering to include seven more programs throughout the year. Launching immediately are the Azure Fundamentals, Azure Administrator, (as a bolt on with the Great Learning Cloud Computing program) and Power BI Data Analyst programs. The Microsoft Azure Administrator certification is relevant for mid-level professionals in the IT and cloud domain and will provide them with a comprehensive understanding of Azure infrastructure and management tools. Power BI Data Analyst, is designed for young graduates who want to kick-start their career in Data Analytics.
Sharing his views about the collaboration, Mohan Lakhamraju, Founder & CEO, Great Learning said, "We are thrilled to join forces with Microsoft to provide our learners with access to world-class training aligned to Microsoft Certifications. Microsoft Azure is a prominent cloud infrastructure platform, revolutionizing the way businesses operate. However, there is a noticeable dearth of professionals equipped with the necessary skills to effectively leverage the capabilities of Azure. This collaboration will enable professionals at various stages of their careers to get these highly relevant skills and stay ahead in today's competitive job market."
Geoffrey Hirsch, Microsoft Senior Director, Worldwide Learning said, "Great Learning's expertise in professional training aligns to our goal to enable individuals to enhance their skill sets and pursue rewarding careers in the technology industry. We are pleased about this collaboration and the opportunity to offer specialized technical skilling through Great Learning that helps individuals prepare for Microsoft Certifications."
These certification-aligned programs will be delivered in a unique way under this collaboration. Learners will learn the Microsoft certified content over six weeks with weekly mentorship sessions with Great Learning's expert mentors. They will also have a dedicated program manager to assist and address any challenges faced during the course of the programs. Through this journey, they will also receive exam focused simulations and mock tests to prepare them for the certification exam. Upon completion of the program, learners will also obtain certification vouchers to cover the cost of the corresponding certification exam fee.
Great Learning is a leading global ed-tech company for professional training and higher education. It offers comprehensive, industry-relevant, hands-on learning programs across various business, technology and interdisciplinary domains driving the digital economy. These programs are developed and offered in collaboration with the world's foremost academic institutions like Stanford Graduate School of Business, MIT Professional Education, The University of Texas at Austin, National University of Singapore, Wharton Online, The University of Arizona, Deakin University, IIT-Roorkee, IIIT-Hyderabad & Delhi, and Great Lakes Institute of Management. Great Learning is able to leverage the highly qualified, world-class faculty at these universities together with its vast network of 6200+ industry expert mentors to deliver an unmatched learning experience for over 8.2 million learners from over 170+ countries around the world.
Media Contact
Navami Ajayan
Corporate Communications
press@mygreatlearning.com
Navami.ajayan@greatlearning.in
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1458111/2766407/Great_Learning_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Great Learning | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/great-learning-offer-microsoft-azure-microsoft-power-bi-certifications-its-learners/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:43 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/great-learning-offer-microsoft-azure-microsoft-power-bi-certifications-its-learners/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — This year Whitney Houston would have turned 60, and a special celebration to raise money for a good cause is being planned for her birthday.
Houston’s estate, Sony and Primary Wave Music will host the 2nd annual Whitney Houston Legacy of Love on Aug. 9, which will benefit the late singer’s foundation aimed at helping young people.
Houston’s close friends BeBe Winans and Kim Burrell will perform at the gala at Atlanta’s St. Regis Hotel, as will Whitney’s brother, Gary, who toured with her for three decades.
“When I turned 50, Whitney gave me two celebrations — one in Ireland and one in London. I always tell everyone now that one of them was for her,” says Pat Houston, Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law and the executor of her estate. Houston died in February 2012 at age 48. “This year is Whitney at 60 — we’re all looking forward to being a part of the power of love in that room.”
Houston found the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children in 1989 with the goal of empowering youth, providing resources to unhoused children, giving out college scholarships, and raising funds for charities like the Children’s Defense Fund and St. Jude Children’s Research.
A charity auction will raise money for the foundation, which is now called the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.
“We’re going to auction off a beautiful lavender dress Dolly Parton wore when she sang ‘I Will Always Love You’ at Country Music Television’s ‘100 Greatest Love Songs of Country Music’ special in 2004,” says Pat Houston. “This dress is particularly special because it’s lavender, and lavender is Whitney’s favorite color.”
The song, originally written by Parton, was recorded by Houston and became one of her great, everlasting hits. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it diamond early last year, which means the track has sold and streamed 10 million equivalent units in the United States. It became her first diamond single, and made Houston the third woman to ever achieve diamond-status with both a single and an album, following Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift.
Clive Davis will serve as honorary chairman. Recording Academy President Harvey Mason jr. is scheduled to attend. Also expected are Gamma’s Larry Jackson and Whitney Houston’s musical director Rickey Minor.
“I always tell people, Whitney is the star,” Pat Houston said. “Everybody in that room is royalty, but she’s loyalty — and she’s still showing that.” | https://www.kxnet.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-whitney-houstons-estate-announces-second-annual-legacy-of-love-gala-with-bebe-winans-kim-burrell/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:49 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-whitney-houstons-estate-announces-second-annual-legacy-of-love-gala-with-bebe-winans-kim-burrell/ |
Customer stories from Boeing, Bell Canada, CVS Health, and ServiceNow added to 2023 SAFe Summit Nashville lineup
BOULDER, Colo., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Scaled Agile, Inc. has announced the lineup of keynotes and speakers for the 2023 SAFe® Summit Nashville which takes place August 15 - 18, 2023 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The event represents the world's largest convergence of SAFe professionals and industry thought leaders focused on using SAFe to stay resilient amidst a rapidly-changing world by practicing Agile methods and cultivating strong organizational cultures.
The multi-day event offers keynotes, technical talks, customer stories, Lighting Talks, post-event workshops, and the popular SAFe Experts Coaching Station. Other opportunities include Partner Marketplace, Product Labs, Industry Roundtables, and Women in Agile.
Key Dates
- August 16 - 17: Main conference and evening receptions
- August 18: Post-conference workshops
"With tech modernization a critical focus for business leaders, smart portfolio management has become increasingly important to ensure that technology improvements impact the entire organization," said Chris James, CEO of Scaled Agile, Inc. "With that in mind, we're delighted to welcome leaders from FedEx and Accenture to share how FedEx's innovative approach to portfolio management at the top level of the corporation enabled them to apply full force to the most important investments in a way that would make a big difference to the whole company."
Highlights include:
- Keynote: The Power of True Enterprise Business Agility. FedEx's EVP Global IT, Ken Spangler, and Steve Davis, Managing Director, Accenture, will explore the challenges faced by FedEx, the breakthroughs that made agility possible, and the powerful results they achieved with SAFe
- Keynote: Vinicius Pabon, CDO GM Digital Transformation of Petrobras, shares how one of the world's largest producers of oil and gas leveraged SAFe to shift mindsets and language among leaders and engineers
- Customer stories from Boeing, Bell Canada, CVS, and ServiceNow provide rare behind-the-scenes stories of collaboration, challenges, and wins
- Keynote: Chief Methodologists Dean Leffingwell and Andrew Sales will present "The Secret to Empowering Teams and Accelerating Flow"
- Post-conference workshops: Applying SAFe Across the Enterprise, Coaching Flow & Kanban in SAFe, Measure What Matters, Unsticking Your SAFe Transformation: A Change Leadership Perspective, and Value Stream Identification for Really Big Systems
Attendees seeking SAFe consulting, training, or platform solutions can connect with more than 30 sponsor exhibitors, including Accenture, Apptio, Broadcom, Inc., Cornerstone Agility, Inc., monday.com, NTT Data, and Seibert Media GmbH (Agile Hive).
Registration is open at safesummit.com/2023nashville.
About Scaled Agile, Inc.:
Scaled Agile, Inc. is the provider of SAFe®, the world's most trusted system for business agility. Through integrated solutions that help teams unlock better ways of working, Scaled Agile is redefining the way the world's leading organizations identify and deliver customer value, capitalize on emerging opportunities, and improve business outcomes. Over 20,000 businesses and government agencies rely on SAFe and Scaled Agile's Global Partner Network to accelerate digital innovation and compete in a fast-changing marketplace. Learn more at scaledagile.com.
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SOURCE Scaled Agile, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/leaders-fedex-petrobras-headline-2023-safe-summit-nashville-august-15-18/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:49 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/leaders-fedex-petrobras-headline-2023-safe-summit-nashville-august-15-18/ |
TAMPA, Fla. and WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthEdge Investment Partners, LLC ("HealthEdge") and United Western Group ("United Western") announced today that in partnership with Advantage Capital Holdings, LLC ("A-CAP"), they have completed a recapitalization of Veridian Healthcare, LLC ("Veridian" or the "Company"), a leading outsourced manufacturer of private label and branded in-home diagnostic, pain care management, and personal care products.
Veridian, which was founded in 2009 and is based in Gurnee, IL, has distinguished itself as a preeminent distributor of home health and diagnostic products for leading national and regional chain stores, pharmacies, wholesalers, distributors, and e-commerce businesses. The Company's custom private labeling capabilities, robust overseas procurement knowledge and relationships, purchase volumes, and well-established supplier relationships enable Veridian to deliver highly competitive pricing and unmatched service across its wide breadth of product categories. Furthermore, the Company's end-to-end procurement solutions adeptly manage quality testing, compliance, shipping, warehousing, and other logistical intricacies, relieving customers of these administrative burdens. These differentiators underpin Veridian's long-term success and impressive growth rate.
Veridian's products are sold into the large and growing retail in-home diagnostic and pain care management consumer end markets. These categories have demonstrated strong historical growth which is expected to continue due to multiple market tailwinds. These include the COVID-19 impact on increased monitoring of consumers' health at home, a growing interest in personal care, an increasing prevalence of chronic disease states, and an aging US population.
Veridian's Founder and President Steve Bisulca retained a meaningful ownership position in the Company and will continue in his role as Veridian's President. Concurrent with the recapitalization, United Western operating partners Robert Friedberg and John Aldridge will also undertake key C-suite roles at Veridian. Mr. Friedberg will serve as Chief Executive Officer with vast experience leading healthcare delivery platforms, including hospitals, health systems, physician practices, and ancillary services ranging from $50M to $1.3B in revenue. Mr. Aldridge will serve as Chief Digital Health Officer, expanding Veridian's capabilities and client base in the digital health sector through deep experience in remote patient monitoring and healthcare IT.
Jacob Atkinson, Managing Partner of United Western Group, commented, "We are privileged to partner with the Veridian Healthcare management team, HealthEdge, and A-CAP to expand Veridian's capabilities into digital healthcare through the development of remote patient monitoring, kitting, and telehealth programs. Veridian is highly regarded for its expansive SKU portfolio, strong supply chain, and logistical support. They have proven themselves to be an industry leader with a strong management team and an exceptional employee-centric culture."
Scott Heberlein, Partner with HealthEdge added, "We are excited to add Veridian and its talented team as the second platform investment in our fourth fund. The Company, its market position, historical growth, and future potential represent many of the attractive attributes we seek with our investments. We believe the addition of United Western's experienced operators, Robert and John, will help drive Veridian into new, growing markets, and provide key healthcare constituents with cost effective solutions for monitoring patients in the home, ultimately driving superior outcomes."
Holland & Knight LLP served as lead legal counsel to United Western Group. Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP served as legal counsel to HealthEdge. William Blair and Company, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Veridian Healthcare, LLC. Dentons US, LLP served as legal advisor to Veridian Healthcare, LLC.
ABOUT VERIDIAN HEALTHCARE
Veridian Healthcare is a nationally recognized distributor of in-home diagnostics and pain relief products. Since its establishment in 2009, Veridian has consistently provided innovative products to the growing healthcare market, focusing on brand development and strategic partnerships while expanding its blue-chip wholesale and retail customer portfolio. Veridian offers over 50 years of combined management and sales experience, providing competitively priced and high-quality products designed to meet the standards of today's healthcare professionals.
For more information on Veridian, visit www.VeridianHealthcare.com.
ABOUT UNITED WESTERN GROUP
United Western Group is a private equity firm based in Washington, D.C. that partners with managers and entrepreneurs to invest in strategically viable, market-leading companies across a wide range of industries. United Western employs a collaborative value creation model through aggressive organic and inorganic growth strategies. United Western seeks investment targets in North American companies with $10 to $200 million in revenue.
For more information on United Western Group, visit www.UnitedWestern.com.
ABOUT HEALTHEDGE
HealthEdge Investment Partners, LLC is an operating-oriented private equity firm founded in 2005 that focuses exclusively on the healthcare industry. HealthEdge seeks to achieve superior returns by investing in businesses that benefit from the knowledge, experience, and network of relationships of its partners. HealthEdge's partners have more than 100 years of combined operating experience in healthcare as CEOs and investors.
For more information on HealthEdge, visit www.HealthEdgePartners.com.
ABOUT A-CAP
Advantage Capital Holdings, LLC is a premier risk solution and service provider to policyholders, insurers, and capital partners. A-CAP owns multiple businesses within the insurance company vertical, including primary carriers, reinsurance vehicles, an investment adviser, and a marketing organization. Additionally, A-CAP offers both debt and equity investment opportunities in businesses meeting desired return profiles and mitigating downside risks. With a diverse and successful management team, A-CAP excels across the insurance, reinsurance, and investment sectors.
For more information on ACAP, visit www.ACAP.com.
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SOURCE HealthEdge Investment Partners, LLC; United Western Group | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/healthedge-united-western-group-partner-with-advantage-capital-holdings-complete-recapitalization-veridian-healthcare/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:50 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/healthedge-united-western-group-partner-with-advantage-capital-holdings-complete-recapitalization-veridian-healthcare/ |
A super PAC that works to help Democrats get elected to the House is calling on them to promote the economy and the party’s successes as Congress goes on recess for the next month.
House Majority PAC said in a memo to congressional Democrats on Monday that the party must emphasize its accomplishments at the national and local level heading into the 2024 election. The memo said the PAC conducted research showing Democrats “dramatically” improve their position when they are proactive in speaking about the economy.
“Go on offense, and build the contrast with the MAGA House Republicans immediately,” it states.
The memo, which was first reported by Politico, references several key legislative accomplishments of the Biden administration, including the bipartisan infrastructure package, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.
The chips legislation provided billions of dollars in incentives for manufacturers to build domestic semiconductor plants, while the Inflation Reduction Act made significant investments in climate programs, allowed Medicare to negotiate on some drug prices and raised taxes on large corporations, among other initiatives.
The memo also states that “month after month” has shown President Biden’s “Bidenomics” economic policy is working.
The push to highlight economic issues comes as Biden’s approval rating, especially on the economy, remains underwater. A CNBC All-America Economic Survey earlier this month found that 37 percent of Americans approved of Biden’s handling of the economy, compared to 58 percent who disapproved.
The PAC said Democrats need to point to continued job growth that dropped the unemployment rate to 3.6 percent last month and declining inflation as evidence of the party’s success.
The memo also urges Democrats to target Republicans as “extremist” and threatening economic progress. It said they should note the battle over raising the debt ceiling in the spring and the potential government shutdown in September if Congress does not pass the 12 annual appropriations bills to fund the government.
The PAC also called on Democrats to go on offense over abortion, pointing to the annual defense bill the Republican-controlled House passed that would prohibit the Department of Defense from reimbursing service members who travel to receive an abortion. | https://www.kxnet.com/hill-politics/top-house-democratic-pac-urging-members-to-lean-into-economy/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:55 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/hill-politics/top-house-democratic-pac-urging-members-to-lean-into-economy/ |
SHELTON, Conn., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Logicbroker, a premier Supply Chain Experience Management (SCXM) eCommerce platform providing industry-leading drop ship, marketplace, and supply chain visibility solutions, is excited to announce that Matt Ramsbottom has joined the executive team as Chief Financial Officer.
Ramsbottom joins the Logicbroker executive team with over 14 years of experience scaling software companies through rapid expansion and driving significant ARR growth through organic and inorganic strategies.
"We are thrilled to welcome Matt to our team at Logicbroker," said the CEO of Logicbroker, Justin Hartanov. "His exceptional financial expertise and strategic vision will undoubtedly strengthen our position as an industry-leading supply chain experience platform. With Matt on board as our new CFO, we are confident in his ability to drive rapid financial growth and guide us through new avenues of success. Joining Logicbroker so close to one another, we are excited to seize the opportunities ahead and continue our commitment to delivering unparalleled white-glove service to our clients and partners."
As a technology partner for hundreds of enterprise retailers across the globe, Logicbroker is constantly working with our customers to improve core functions and increase their speed-to-market strategies, all while managing every evolving cost of operating as an API-driven Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) organization. Ramsbottom brings a proven track record in building the financial foundation of high-growth businesses, managing mergers and acquisitions, and executing financial strategies.
Under Ramsbottom's guidance, Logicbroker is poised to continue its surge as an industry leader and bolster its already proven drop ship and marketplace programs through increased hyper-growth strategies.
"I am honored and excited to join the remarkable team at Logicbroker as their new CFO," Ramsbottom said. "From my very first interactions with the company's leadership, I was deeply impressed by their unwavering dedication to innovation and customer-centricity. Being part of an industry-leading drop ship and marketplace eCommerce solution provider is an incredible opportunity, and I am eager to contribute my financial expertise and strategic insights to fuel the company's growth."
Join the Logicbroker team in providing a warm welcome for Ramsbottom as he comes into his own in his role as CFO and the team looks forward to working with him as we continue to scale our eCommerce solutions to meet the ever-changing eCommerce market.
To learn more about our comprehensive D2C and B2B drop ship, marketplace, and supply chain visibility offerings, please visit our website.
About Logicbroker
Logicbroker is the premier Supply Chain Experience Management (SCXM) eCommerce platform. Our unique B2B and D2C offerings give manufacturers and retailers a single source of truth for their supply chain, yielding real-time visibility and communications, higher compliance rates, lower transaction costs, and exceptional customer experiences. Through drop ship, marketplace, and supply chain visibility solutions, Logicbroker processes $6.3 billion in GMV each year and can help your organization achieve Supply Chain Excellence
Our integrated suite connects all participants of an organization's supply chain regardless of the type of business model: owned inventory, drop ship, or marketplace. We work with mid-market and Enterprise manufacturers and retailers across a number of verticals including Health & Wellness, Home Improvement, Consumer Electronics, Toys & Babies, and Consumer Packaged Goods and service brands such as Samsung, 1-800-Flowers, Victoria Secret, The Vitamin Shoppe, Walgreens, and RiteAid.
Media Contact:
Name: Becca McCarthy
Title: Director of Marketing
Email: bmccarthy@logicbroker.com
Phone: 203.751.1166
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SOURCE Logicbroker | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/logicbroker-appoints-matt-ramsbottom-chief-financial-officer-continuing-high-growth-initiative/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:56 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/logicbroker-appoints-matt-ramsbottom-chief-financial-officer-continuing-high-growth-initiative/ |
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX) ("Ideanomics" or the "Company") will release its 2023 first-quarter financial results on Friday, August 4, 2023 at approximately 4:00 p.m. ET, followed by a prerecorded conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET. A link of the conference call and earnings materials will be available on the Company's investor relations website: https://investors.ideanomics.com
About Ideanomics
Ideanomics (NASDAQ: IDEX) is a global group with a simple mission: to accelerate the commercial adoption of electric vehicles. By bringing together vehicles and charging technology with design, implementation, and financial services, we provide the completeness of solutions needed for the commercial world to commit to an EV future. To keep up with Ideanomics, please follow the company on social @ideanomicshq or visit https://ideanomics.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," or similar expressions, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and include the statement regarding the completion of the business combination within a certain period of time, if ever. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, such as risks related to: our ability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and similar disclosures in subsequent reports filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
Contact:
Tony Sklar, SVP of Investor Relations
1441 Broadway, Suite 5116, New York, NY 10018
ir@ideanomics.com
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SOURCE Ideanomics | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ideanomics-announces-q1-2023-earnings-conference-call-details/ | 2023-07-31T14:53:56 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ideanomics-announces-q1-2023-earnings-conference-call-details/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-dispute-over-persian-gulf-gas-field-poses-early-challenge-to-saudi-iranian-rapprochement/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:01 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-dispute-over-persian-gulf-gas-field-poses-early-challenge-to-saudi-iranian-rapprochement/ |
Survey: Nearly one third would talk to robots if feeling lonely and almost half would share their medical history with AI
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than a year since the launch of the popular Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT, Americans are embracing AI-based care as they age. One third of Americans and over half (58%) of millennials believe AI and robotics will provide their future in-home long-term care.
According to the annual Nationwide Retirement Institute Long-Term Care survey, conducted in partnership with LIMRA in May 2023, this survey of 1,439 U.S. adults aged 24 or over found that younger generations were particularly apt to embrace the technology.
Among the key findings:
- Daily functions: More than one in three (35%) Americans would accept help from a robot for activities such as toileting, dressing and transferring. This rises to 52% among millennials and declines with older generations (23% for boomers and 36% for Gen Xers).
- Companionship: Nearly the same amount (32%) say they would talk to robots/AI if they are feeling lonely. This increases to about half (52%) of millennials.
- Physical safety: Almost seven out of ten (68%) Americans would use AI to alert family/friends if they were to experience a fall or physical danger (63% boomers, 70% Gen X, 72% millennials).
- Medical history: Nearly half (48%) of Americans say they would share their medical history with AI to help support their care needs. This figure increases to 65% for millennials.
In response to the increasing acceptance and adoption of AI-based care, Nationwide is testing eldercare robots in homes of select policyholders with mobility issues. The goal of this trial is to assess if the robots increase the potential for policyholders to age in their home and remain independent.
"It is difficult for many families to find quality care for their loved ones. We are considering AI and robotics as potential solutions for this and are identifying if eldercare robots could become credible, compelling examples of extraordinary care for our members," said Holly Snyder, president of Nationwide's Life Insurance business. "As we continue to see advancements in AI and an uptick in consumer adoption, AI and robotics could permanently change how people receive their long-term care and provide them with more opportunity to safely remain independent for longer."
Many adults mistakenly believe they have long-term care coverage
The survey reveals that 18% of adults report that they currently own long-term care insurance, including 27% of millennials. However, industry data shows only 3.1% of Americans have purchased long-term care insurance and most of those are older consumers.*
More than half (51%) who mistakenly thought they owned long-term care insurance confused it with long-term disability insurance. Almost a third (30%) confused it with health insurance.
In conjunction with the survey, Nationwide conducted focus groups made up of four different demographics: baby boomers, Gen Xers, millennials and those who believe they had long-term care coverage. Unsurprisingly, these sessions revealed that like survey respondents, focus group participants also often mistakenly confused long-term care insurance with their long-term disability insurance or health insurance. Neither of these cover long-term care expenses.
"Many Americans – mostly millennials – mistakenly believe they have long-term care coverage, usually in their company's benefit package, when in fact they do not," said Snyder. "Though this misconception is understandable, it puts them at danger of discovering that they don't have coverage much later on when they really need it."
Americans have concerns about how to manage aging
Though many Americans don't own long-term care policies, they do have very real concerns about how to manage the aging process and its associated costs.
For example:
- Nearly half of respondents (49%) are worried they'll become a burden to their family as they age
- Almost a third (28%) say they would rather die than live in a nursing home
- More than a quarter (26%) believe paying for long-term care will diminish their children's inheritance
"Too many Americans are missing crucial planning steps to make sure they're set up for success as they age," said Snyder. "The first step is to understand what's important to you and your family. From there, we recommend talking to a financial professional to help build a plan."
Financial professionals need to bring up long-term care planning
While more than half (51%) say it is important that a financial professional discuss long-term care costs with them, fewer than one in five adults (18%) say they have actually discussed long-term planning with their financial professional. In fact, more than one in four adults (27%) across all age groups have not discussed long-term care costs with anyone. The good news is 30% say they would discuss long-term care costs with a financial professional in the future.
"Financial professionals need to be proactive in helping families plan for important long-term care issues, including how to pay for it," Snyder added. "Even if a client believes they are covered, we suggest probing them with some follow-up questions to be sure they are, in fact, protected. If not, financial professionals have an important role in helping them put together a plan of action."
To encourage discussions around long-term care costs in retirement, Nationwide's Health Care/LTC Cost Assessment tool uses proprietary health risk analysis and updated actuarial cost data to provide a meaningful, personalized cost estimate to help financial professionals and clients plan for future medical and long-term care expenses.
To learn more about the importance of long-term care planning, visit www.nationwide.com/LTCbasics. Financial professionals can learn more in this blog and at www.nationwidefinancial.com/LTC.
Methodology
The 2023 Nationwide Retirement Institute/NCOA Long-term Care survey was conducted online within the United States between adults aged 25 and over by LIMRA on behalf of The Nationwide Retirement Institute. Survey participants were drawn from a nationwide consumer panel and data collection occurred between 4/25/2023 and 5/12/2023. The sample was weighted by race/ethnicity and income and included quotas for age and gender to approximate U.S. general population representation.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and ETFs; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow the firm on Facebook and Twitter.
*"Do Consumer Really Understand Long-Term Care Insurance". LIMRA.com. 11/15/2022.
This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.
This information is general in nature and is not intended to be tax, legal, accounting or other professional advice. The information provided is based on current laws, which are subject to change at any time, and has not been endorsed by any government agency.
Nationwide and LIMRA are separate and non-affiliated companies.
Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, OH. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC.
Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide Retirement Institute are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company © Nationwide 2023
LAM-5157AO
Contact:
Charley Gillespie
(614) 249-6349
charley.gillespie@nationwide.com
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SOURCE Nationwide | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/many-americans-believe-ai-will-provide-their-in-home-care-they-age/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:02 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/many-americans-believe-ai-will-provide-their-in-home-care-they-age/ |
The FBI should face new limits on its use of US foreign spy data, a key intelligence board says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI should stop using a U.S. spy database of foreigners’ emails and other communications for investigating crimes that aren’t related to national security, a group of White House intelligence advisers recommended in a report released Monday.
The President’s Intelligence Advisory Board’s findings come as the White House pushes Congress to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before its expiration at the end of this year. U.S. intelligence officials say Section 702 enables investigations of Chinese and Russian espionage, potential terrorist plots, and other threats.
But spy agencies also end up capturing the communications of U.S. citizens and businesses, and a series of intelligence mistakes at the FBI has fanned bipartisan criticism of the bureau that has strongly colored the debate over renewing the law.
The advisory board says the FBI made “inappropriate use” at times of Section 702 information. Those include queries for a U.S. senator and state senator’s names without properly limiting the search, looking for someone believed to have been at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and doing large queries of names of protesters following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
“Unfortunately, complacency, a lack of proper procedures, and the sheer volume of Section 702 activity led to FBI’s inappropriate use of Section 702 authorities, specifically U.S. person queries,” the board said in its report. “U.S. person queries” generally mean searches for U.S. citizens and businesses.
The board recommends the FBI no longer search the data when it is seeking evidence of a crime not related to national security. Currently, the FBI conducts fewer than two dozen such searches a year, a senior administration official told reporters Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.
The White House has not decided whether it will accept the recommendation but is studying the board’s work and report, the official said.
The board’s report largely lines up with the White House’s positions on other changes being debated in Congress. The board opposed requiring the FBI to obtain a warrant before it searches Section 702 data, saying that change would be impractical. It also says the FBI needs to maintain access to foreign spy collection because unlike other intelligence agencies, it has law enforcement authorities inside the U.S. and can warn Americans that they are being targeted by foreign spies or criminals.
Already, both Republicans and Democrats have called for broader changes affecting the FBI, including a handful of lawmakers in both parties who want to require warrants for any search.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., sharply questioned Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen in June about how it searches Section 702 data and signaled he would push for new protections.
“I don’t think you’ve effectively made the case that there shouldn’t be a warrant requirement, whether or not it is constitutionally required, for a U.S. person search that is crime only,” he said.
Many in the GOP, meanwhile, are furious about the FBI’s investigations of former President Donald Trump and mistakes found by the Justice Department inspector general and other reviewers.
In a statement, the FBI said the report highlighted “how crucial” foreign intelligence was to the bureau’s mission.
“We agree that Section 702 should be reauthorized in a manner that does not diminish its effectiveness, as well as reassures the public of its importance and our ability to adhere rigorously to all relevant rules,” the bureau’s statement said.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/31/fbi-should-face-new-limits-its-use-us-foreign-spy-data-key-intelligence-board-says/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:03 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/31/fbi-should-face-new-limits-its-use-us-foreign-spy-data-key-intelligence-board-says/ |
SEATTLE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
On September 18, 2018, the SEC filed a Complaint against SeaWorld and Atchison. The SEC alleged that the defendants made untrue and/or misleading statements or omissions in SEC filings, earnings releases and calls, and other statements to the press regarding the impact of the documentary film Blackfish on the Company's reputation and business (i.e., "Blackfish effect"). According to the Complaint, released in July 2013, Blackfish criticized SeaWorld's treatment of its orcas (killer whales) and received significant media attention that escalated as the film became more widely distributed. The SEC alleged that, in connection with the offer and sale of SeaWorld stock, the defendants engaged in a course of business that by failing to disclose the Blackfish effect to investors they should have known would operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchasers of the Securities.
According to the Complaint, from January through March 2014, Atchison sold shares of SeaWorld stock, resulting in the inflation of the Security and allowed Atchison to avoid losses of approximately $730,860. As alleged in the Complaint, on August 13, 2014, SeaWorld acknowledged for the first time that its declining attendance was, among other factors, partially caused by negative publicity connected to Blackfish. According to the Complaint, SeaWorld's stock price fell approximately 33% following this announcement, causing a loss of approximately $830 million in shareholder value.
On September 18, 2018, the SEC also filed a Complaint against Jacobs. The SEC alleged that, on January 13, 2014, Jacobs made an untrue statement of material fact and/or omitted material facts from his statement just before selling his SeaWorld stock and avoided losses of approximately $84,885.
On October 4, 2018, the Defendants, without admitting or denying the allegations, consented to the entry of final judgments against each of them that imposed a total of approximately $5.1 million in financial remedies. The Court ordered SeaWorld to pay a civil penalty of $4,000,000; Atchison to pay disgorgement of $730,860, prejudgment interest of $119,323 and civil penalty of $150,000; and Jacobs to pay disgorgement of $84,885 and prejudgment interest in the amount of $14,720. The Defendants paid in full, and the funds have been deposited in a Commission designated account at the United States Department of Treasury. On December 4, 2020, the Court entered an Order consolidating the two civil actions for the purposes of distributing the funds paid by the Defendants to harmed investors.
On December 15, 2020, the Court entered an Order establishing a Fair Fund for the $5,266,679.31 in funds collected from Defendants, appointing Miller Kaplan Arase LLP as Tax Administrator, appointing JND Legal Administration as the Distribution Agent, and authorizing payment of administrative fees and expenses and tax obligations without further order of the Court.
Company (Trading Symbol) [Relevant Period start and end dates (inclusive)]:
- SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (SEAS) [12/20/13 through 8/12/14]
If you purchased the security set forth above during the Relevant Period and would like to be considered for eligibility for a distribution from the SeaWorld Fair Fund, you must submit a completed and signed Proof of Claim Form ("Claim Form"), including adequate supporting documentation of your transactions and a completed tax certification, to the Distribution Agent by the Claims Bar Date.
The Claim Form is available at www.SeaWorldFairFund.com. You may send your Claim Form to the Distribution Agent; Claim Forms must be postmarked no later than October 19, 2023, if sent by First Class Mail; and if not by First Class Mail, received by the Distribution Agent by October 19, 2023. Claim Forms should be directed to the following address:
SeaWorld Fair Fund
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91190
Seattle, WA 98111
Brokers, Dealers and other nominees that may have records of purchasers of the Eligible Security during the Relevant Period must notify the respective beneficial owners within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the Notice Packet so that beneficial owners may timely file a claim or provide to the Distribution Agent within fourteen (14) days of receipt a list of last known names and addresses for all beneficial owners for whom the record holders purchased the Eligible Security during the Relevant Period.
Additional information regarding the SeaWorld Fair Fund, including the Distribution Plan, the Distribution Plan Notice, the Claim Form, relevant deadlines, and related materials are available on the Distribution Website at www.SeaWorldFairFund.com. You may obtain additional information or request copies of the Claim Form by contacting the Distribution Agent toll-free at (855) 533-0228 or by emailing info@SeaWorldFairFund.com or writing to:
SeaWorld Fair Fund
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91190
Seattle, WA 98111
Please check the website www.SeaWorldFairFund.com frequently for updates.
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SOURCE JND Legal Administration | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/if-you-purchased-seaworld-securities-between-december-20-2013-august-12-2014-you-may-be-eligible-distribution-seaworld-fair-fund/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:03 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/if-you-purchased-seaworld-securities-between-december-20-2013-august-12-2014-you-may-be-eligible-distribution-seaworld-fair-fund/ |
Wayward dachshund returns home after days on the run
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WJAR) - It is not uncommon for dogs to run away, but that doesn’t make it any easier for their worried owners.
So when the owners of a lost Massachusetts dog asked their community for help, their neighbors stepped up.
What started out as a nightmare for Dorothy and Glenn Haskell has turned into a happy ending.
“It was an absolute dream,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Positioned peacefully in her arms now, this 14-month-old daredevil dachshund named Chelsea is back home safe and sound after being on the run literally for almost four days.
“Knowing your dog is on Route 95, it’s a nightmare,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Last Sunday, Chelsea was playing with her sister Coco in their backyard when she escaped through a small hole in the fence.
They tried to get her, but she took off.
Glenn Haskell had been out for a jog. “Veered off my run and went after her, you know, but she went into the woods and gone,” he said.
From there, they posted on social media.
“(Neighbors were) coming out their doors, they were hiking through the woods. They were leaving their lights on. They were leaving water out,” Dorothy Haskell said.
They were pleading to the public to help find her as day turned to night.
“This is not going to, it’s not going to end well between her and a fox or a raccoon,” Glenn Haskell said.
The next morning, they made flyers, stuffing them in mailboxes all over. Then that night, a call came in.
“A woman is yelling, ‘Your dachshund, I know she’s up on Route 295. There’s a driver pulled over on the side of the road,’” Dorothy Haskell said.
That same driver called state police. They all tried to grab her, following her across an on ramp.
“And across three lanes of Route 95,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Spooked, the dog went back into the woods.
On Tuesday, Dorothy Haskell went back out there desperately with police, realizing there was a river nearby.
“To the officer and I said, ‘I think it’s time to call it.’ And suddenly he yelled, ‘Oh my God, she’s right there in the bushes,’” she said.
Chelsea ran back to the median and onto the highway again. Drivers began to pull over. One woman stopped traffic, but Chelsea kept going.
Having exhausted nearly all resources, the Haskells got help from Missing Dogs of Massachusetts, a volunteer-run group that help owners get their dogs back.
“A trap in our side yard. And she had me put out dirty laundry…” Dorothy Haskell said.
Just after midnight Wednesday, prayers for the pooch were answered.
“Dogs in Massachusetts, the woman called me, and she said, ‘She’s in the trap. Go out and get her.’ Because they had a camera,” Dorothy Haskell said.
The Haskells are so happy to have Chelsea back home and can’t thank the community enough for caring.
“It definitely restored your faith in humanity,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Copyright 2023 WJAR via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/31/wayward-dachshund-returns-home-after-days-run/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:09 | 0 | https://www.weau.com/2023/07/31/wayward-dachshund-returns-home-after-days-run/ |
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Glossier's vision is to change how the world sees beauty — and that means changing the industry itself. The Glossier Grant Program invests in Black beauty entrepreneurs to address legacies of inequity, exclusion, and barriers to fundraising. Since 2020, Glossier has given $1.4M to this program, partnered with 35+ founders leading 30+ innovative beauty brands in the US + UK, sharing grant funding, curated business programming, resources and time.
After months of review, including a final panel with Glossier's CMO, Kleo Mack, Chief Creative Officer, Marie Suter, and Into the Gloss Editorial Director, Ashley Weatherford, Glossier is pleased to share the 2023 Grantees which range from halal-certified skincare to feminine hygiene to wellness. These six visionary founders stood out amongst hundreds of talented applicants, building incredible brands, innovative products, and changing the future of beauty.
Glossier will spend the next four months in partnership with these founders, pairing them with a Glossier advisor for mentorship, giving access to business programming, and participating in 1:1 meetings with Glossier's CEO Kyle Leahy, experts across the company, grantee alumni, and even with Glossier's community of partners like Shopify and Google.
Here are the 2023 Glossier Grantees:
Founded by Jordan Karim, Flora & Noor is the only halal-certified skincare brand made and based in the US. It's an inclusive, vegan skincare brand for those who appreciate clean skincare, those needing to treat the skin concerns of melanin-rich skin, and those with chronic skin conditions starting with eczema and hyperpigmentation.
Founders OB/GYN Dr. Barb and ex-Pharmaceutical Sales Consultant, Kimba created Kushae with a mission to whip up effective yet gentle, pH-balanced and naturally-based feminine care products—created by women, for women.
Mela Vitamins is the world's first vitamin designed for melanated people. Melanin impacts the way bodies produce certain nutrients, which creates unique nutritional needs that other multivitamins don't prioritize. Founder Ashley Harmon was inspired to create the brand after her own health issues led her to learn that 80% of Black Americans are Vitamin D deficient.
Moodeaux believes self-expression is the best self-care. This fragrance brand was founded by Brianna Arps in 2021 to introduce a new standard: longer-lasting, skin-nurturing, earth-friendly blends that give subpar scents, questionable ingredients, and wasteful packaging the side eye.
Of Other Worlds is a different kind of beauty brand that doesn't make you choose between "clean" and clinical. Founder Simedar Jackson (they/them) became an esthetician to join the ranks of skincare professionals making treatments safe and effective for all skin tones, body types and genders.
Soss makes elevating grooming essentials for Black men. Founders Vernon Yancy and Jeremiah Regis translate love of self into uplifting and affirming grooming routines to help you embrace who you are, and welcome who you are growing to be.
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SOURCE Glossier | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/meet-grantees-glossiers-2023-grant-program-black-owned-beauty-businesses/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:09 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/meet-grantees-glossiers-2023-grant-program-black-owned-beauty-businesses/ |
- BDT & MSD Partners to acquire stake from BC Partners in IMA Group
- Investment to accelerate IMA's growth as a leader in the global processing and packaging machinery industry
- IMA Group EBITDA grew 70% during the course of its partnership with BC Partners
BOLOGNA, Italy, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IMA Group ("IMA" or "the Company"), a world leader in the design and manufacture of automatic packaging machines, today announced that BDT & MSD Partners, a merchant bank built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors, has entered into a definitive agreement to make a minority investment in the Company through its affiliated funds. BDT & MSD Partners will acquire its position from BC Partners, a leading international investment firm, among other investors. The Vacchi family remains the majority owner of IMA.
Founded in 1961, IMA's offering includes automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, tea, coffee, other food products, and e-mobility solutions, as well as solutions for the automation of industrial processes. The Company is present in more than 80 countries and operates 53 production facilities, enabling it to serve a strong blue-chip customer base across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. IMA has an installed base of approximately 60,000 machines and currently holds more than 3,000 patents and patent applications. In 2022, the Company had approximately €2 billion in revenue.
"This investment from BDT & MSD Partners will enable IMA to start a new phase of growth and position us to play a leadership role in the transition to sustainable packaging materials. Our customers are focused on minimizing their environmental impact, and we are committed to providing a new generation of reliable and innovative packaging solutions," said Alberto Vacchi, Chairman and CEO of IMA. "We believe BDT & MSD's long-term view and deep expertise in supporting family enterprises makes it an ideal partner to help us reach these goals and accelerate global growth, including in the U.S. market."
Alberto Vacchi continued, "BC Partners has been a true strategic partner, providing thought leadership through its sector insights and owner-operator mindset helping us execute on our vision. BC Partners supported us in delisting IMA during the turbulent period of the Covid pandemic, enhancing our global leadership position, and ultimately assisting us in selecting the right investment partner for our next chapter of growth."
"Guided by the Vacchi family over the past six decades, IMA has distinguished itself as a leader in the global processing and packaging machinery industry," said Byron Trott, Chairman & Co-CEO of BDT & MSD Partners. "IMA has demonstrated an exceptional track record of success, and we believe it is well positioned for the significant opportunities ahead in the industry. This investment is emblematic of our flagship strategy of providing long-term, aligned capital to family business owners and founders to help them achieve their objectives."
"IMA has a strong network of blue-chip clients and a longstanding, highly experienced management team whose stewardship and sharp focus on innovation and sustainable operations have cemented the Company's reputation as a trusted partner and technological leader," said Mariafrancesca Carli, Managing Director at BDT & MSD Partners. "We are thrilled to partner with Alberto, the Vacchi family, and the entire IMA team to support the Company's continued growth."
"Our investment in IMA demonstrates our unique ability to be the partner of choice for entrepreneurs and management teams, leveraging the strength of our sector expertise and operational value add. With our support, IMA has increased its focus on R&D, expanded its employee base, positioned itself as a mission-critical partner to its customers, and generated significant growth and investment returns. It was important for us to help the Vacchi family find the right partner for the next stage of their growth, and we are confident that BDT & MSD is well positioned to do this. We are grateful to Alberto Vacchi and the whole IMA Group management team for their partnership," said Stefano Ferraresi, Partner at BC Partners.
BC Partners partnered with the Vacchi family to take the Company private from the Milan stock exchange in 2020 during the height of the Covid pandemic. Over the course of BC Partners' co-ownership, IMA executed five bolt-on acquisitions, developed new product lines and a world-leading automation division, increased investment in R&D by 30%, and strengthened its supply chain. These initiatives have helped deliver strong financial performance, with sales and EBITDA growth of over 50% and 70%, respectively, since the delisting of the Company. IMA is well positioned to continue its strong growth, achieving record backlog in orders and underpinned by attractive financing terms arranged by BC Partners.
IMA is committed to supporting the U.N.'s 17 Sustainable Development Goals through its operations, including adopting initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its production processes. Among them are IMA NoP (No-Plastic Program), which aims to introduce eco-sustainable materials across the Company's supply chain, and IMA Low (Low-Impact Program), which seeks to reduce the Company's waste, minimize energy and water consumption, and more.
The transaction is expected to close in late 2023, subject to the timing of customary regulatory approvals. The transaction was conceived, originated, and led by IMA's management team and by Poggi & Associati as lead financial advisor. Mediobanca and BofA Securities also acted as financial advisor to the Company in the context of the transaction. JPMorgan Chase & Co. provided financial advice to BC Partners. White & Case and FRM acted, respectively, as legal and tax advisors to IMA Group and Chiomenti as legal advisors to BDT & MSD Partners. Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal advisors to BC Partners.
Notes to Editors
About IMA Group
Founded in 1961, IMA Group is a world leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, tea, coffee, other food products, and e-mobility solutions, as well as in the automation of industrial processes. Over more than 60 years, IMA has built a reputation as a trusted partner and technological leader delivering innovative solutions and products to customers around the world. In 2022, IMA had approximately €2 billion in revenue, with more than 86% from exports, and it currently holds more than 3,000 patents and patent applications. IMA has approximately 6,900 employees and is present in more than 80 countries, supported by a 30-branch network offering sale and post-sale services across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and the Middle East. IMA is committed to using its position to advance sustainability goals. For more information, visit https://ima.it/en/.
About BDT & MSD Partners
BDT & MSD Partners is a merchant bank with an advisory and investment platform built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. The firm is distinguished by its decades of experience advising at the intersection of founders, families, and businesses, as well as by its differentiated capital base and culture of aligned investing. Its funds are managed by its affiliated investment advisers, BDT Capital Partners and MSD Partners. For more information, visit www.bdtmsd.com.
About BC Partners
BC Partners is a leading investment firm with over €40 billion in assets under management across private equity, private debt, and real estate strategies. Established in 1986, BC Partners has played an active role for over three decades in developing the European buy-out market. Today BC Partners integrated transatlantic investment teams work from offices in Europe and North America and are aligned across our four core sectors: TMT, Healthcare, Services & Industrials, and Consumer. Since its foundation, BC Partners has completed over 127 private equity investments in companies with a total enterprise value of over €160 billion and is currently investing its eleventh private equity buyout fund. For more information, visit https://www.bcpartners.com/
Media Contacts
IMA Group
Andrea Baldani, IR Manager
T: +39 051 6514111
E: andrea.baldani@ima.it
Maria Antonia Mantovani, Press Office
T: +39 051 783283
E: mariaantonia.mantovani@ima.it
BDT & MSD Partners
Sara Evans / Matthew Glasser
T: (312) 529-6548 / (312) 385-2883
E: communications@bdtmsd.com
BC Partners
Simren Priestley, Head of Communications
T: +44 20 7009 4722
E: simren.priestley@bcpartner.com
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SOURCE BDT & MSD Partners; IMA Group | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ima-group-announces-strategic-investment-bdt-amp-msd-partners/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:09 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ima-group-announces-strategic-investment-bdt-amp-msd-partners/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-europes-economy-shows-modest-growth-after-months-of-stagnation-as-rate-hikes-weigh-on-businesses/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:09 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-europes-economy-shows-modest-growth-after-months-of-stagnation-as-rate-hikes-weigh-on-businesses/ |
MVA6853 is the First Extractor Adoptable for Diesel Fuel or Gasoline
LANSDALE, Pa. , July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its evolution of fluid extractors, Mityvac, part of the SKF Group, has launched the MVA6853. The new Mityvac MVA6853 is a fuel/fluid extractor and priming kit that can quickly and cleanly extract, prime or dispense diesel fuel, kerosine or gasoline.
This easy-to-use manual syringe tool comes with five different adapters for both diesel fuel or gasoline to aid in prime, flush or maintenance needs. The MVA6853 has the capacity to manage 1.5 liters of fluid and its integrated valve system is designed specifically for diesel and gasoline without eroding the gaskets. The compact, streamlined design allows easy access into tight spaces under the hood or in areas of limited access.
The kit is designed with fuel capable seals and an integrated valve in cap to prevent spills and leaks. The hose and seals are also simple to replace if needed. The tool is easy to clean and compatible with other Mityvac fuel system connectors.
This all makes the new handheld Mityvac MVA6853 the perfect solution for flushing and priming fuel lines, priming fuel filters and quickly emptying tanks.
To learn more, visit www.skf.com/mityvac.
About SKF
SKF is a world-leading provider of innovative solutions that help industries become more competitive and sustainable. By making products lighter, more efficient, longer lasting and repairable, we help our customers improve their rotating equipment performance and reduce their environmental impact. Our offering around the rotating shaft includes bearings, seals, lubrication management, condition monitoring, and services. Founded in 1907, SKF is represented in approximately 129 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2022 were SEK 96,933 million and the number of employees was 42,641. www.skf.com® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.
® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.
Media Contact:
Maria Orlando
Marketing Manager, Tools and Lubrication
maria.orlando@skf.com
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SOURCE SKF Group | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/mityvac-announces-newest-fluid-extractor/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:15 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/mityvac-announces-newest-fluid-extractor/ |
England vs. China: Live Stream, TV Channel & Game Info - August 1
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 8:46 AM CDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
England will play China in Adelaide, Australia, in the last round of group-stage games at the 2023 Women's World Cup, on August 1 at 7:00 AM ET.
This matchup will be available on FOX US,Fox Sports 1.
Watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Fubo! Sign up for a free trial and start watching live sports without cable today!
How to Watch England vs. China
- Game Day: Tuesday, August 1, 2023
- Game Time: 7:00 AM ET
- TV Channel: FOX US,Fox Sports 1
- Location: Adelaide, Australia
- Venue: Coopers Stadium
Sign up for a Fubo free trial now to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and more live sports!
England Group Stage Schedule
England's Recent Performance
- England picked up a victory in its last match 1-0 over Denmark on July 28. was outshot in the matchup, 11 to seven.
- England was led by Lauren James, who netted her side's goal versus .
- James' Women's World Cup statline through two appearances for England includes one goal.
- Rachel Daly has no goals, but has one assist for England in Women's World Cup action.
- In two Women's World Cup matchups, Georgia Stanway has one goal.
Get your 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup gear at Fanatics!
England's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Mary Earps #1
- Lucy Bronze #2
- Niamh Charles #3
- Keira Walsh #4
- Alex Greenwood #5
- Millie Bright #6
- Lauren James #7
- Georgia Stanway #8
- Rachel Daly #9
- Ella Toone #10
- Lauren Hemp #11
- Jordan Nobbs #12
- Hannah Hampton #13
- Lotte Wubben-Moy #14
- Esme Morgan #15
- Jessica Carter #16
- Laura Coombs #17
- Chloe Kelly #18
- Bethany England #19
- Katie Zelem #20
- Ellie Roebuck #21
- Katie Robinson #22
- Alessia Russo #23
China Group Stage Schedule
China's Recent Performance
- In its most recent action on July 28, China claimed a 1-0 victory over Haiti. China outshot Haiti nine to six.
- Wang Shuang scored the lone goal for China on one shot.
- In two Women's World Cup matches for China, Shuang has one goal (16th in the 2023 Women's World Cup).
China's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Zhu Yu #1
- Mengwen Li #2
- Jiaxing Dou #3
- LinLin Wang #4
- Wu Haiyan #5
- Xin Zhang #6
- Wang Shuang #7
- Yao Wei #8
- Mengyu Shen #9
- Zhang Rui #10
- Wang Shanshan #11
- Xu Huan #12
- Lina Yang #13
- Lou Jiahui #14
- Qiaozhu Chen #15
- Lingwei Yao #16
- Wu Cheng Shu #17
- Jiali Tang #18
- Linyan Zhang #19
- Yuyi Xiao #20
- Gu Yasha #21
- Hongyan Pan #22
- Chen Gao #23
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/08/01/2023-womens-world-cup-england-china-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:15 | 1 | https://www.weau.com/sports/betting/2023/08/01/2023-womens-world-cup-england-china-live-stream-tv/ |
SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohawk Global, a leading supply chain services provider, is excited to announce their collaboration with worldwide leaders in the freight forwarding industry to start a new sister company, MGL Europe. The first MGL Europe office opened in Stuttgart, Germany in April 2023. This month, the European team expanded by welcoming Master International Logistics to the joint venture—with their rebrand to MGL Europe Italy.
Gar Grannell, Mohawk Global CEO says, "This partnership is the result of trusting relationships built over the last 30 years with people of like values and growth strategy. We are excited about the business we will develop together, while focusing on enriching the lives of our people."
MGL Europe has officially begun operations and has become Mohawk Global's exclusive partner for client's cargo in and out of Europe. MGL Europe currently has three German offices located in Stuttgart, Bremen, and Munich, in addition to three Italian offices located in Milan, Genova, and Vincenza.
"Having our own offices in Germany and now Italy, gives us a presence at key port locations for both North Europe and Mediterranean trade," says Chris Lindstrand, Mohawk Global Director of International Transportation. "Through these key gateways, we're strategically positioned to enhance our offerings not just in these countries or throughout continental Europe, but in all regions that utilize these important trade centers."
Mohawk Global is excited to elevate its client's experience through the expansive network this growing partnership provides. "Our strategic partnerships in Asia align well with our move into Germany and Italy, allowing Mohawk Global to seamlessly bridge North America, Asia, and Europe with diverse transportation solutions in a rapidly expanding global supply chain," says Anthony Pagnotto, Mohawk Global Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing.
Mohawk Global is a team of experts in supply chain solutions and trade compliance. Since its foundation in 1993, Mohawk Global has grown beyond its headquarters in Syracuse, New York to nine offices in six states, with a worldwide reach. We strive to create an environment of growth, and as a family-owned and operated business, everything we do is guided by our core values – Enrich. Care. Deliver. Please contact us for further information.
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SOURCE Mohawk Global | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/introducing-mgl-europe-mohawk-global-european-venture/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:16 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/introducing-mgl-europe-mohawk-global-european-venture/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-greek-prime-minister-seeks-improved-relations-with-turkey-but-says-ankara-needs-to-drop-aggression/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:17 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-greek-prime-minister-seeks-improved-relations-with-turkey-but-says-ankara-needs-to-drop-aggression/ |
Two Icons at the Heart of Pop Culture and Celebrations Come Together for a Stella-r Campaign of Sips and Sweetness this Summer
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Life is a collection of small moments and America's #1 imported wine, Stella Rosa® Wines, is proud to announce another exciting milestone: a collaborative campaign of two industry powerhouses. According to a recent study, celebrating positive life events increases perceived social support. Stella Rosa and country music star, Lainey Wilson, are on a mission to spread positive vibes by inspiring consumers to gather, raise a glass, and #stellabrate every moment. Stella Rosa proudly offers 30+ wines in its portfolio, a glass for every occasion on the good 'ole journey.
Stella Rosa® Wines recently released the 'Moments Made Sweeter' campaign featuring Lainey Wilson. The campaign emphasizes celebrating the journey, not just the destination. Stella Rosa® was there to celebrate with Lainey Wilson when she set off on her first solo headlining tour, won Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, and of course, raised a glass on National Wine Day.
Stella Rosa Wines' impact on pop culture today is undeniable - from trendy cocktail recipes to new innovations like canned wines, spicy flavors, non-alcoholic wine and more, Gen Z and Millennials are embracing the moments to #stellabrate.
Stella Rosa Wines' nostalgic yet ever-evolving presence is what initially attracted Wilson to team up with the brand, but it was Stella Rosa Wines' commitment to supporting her journey, and that of other women in music, that gave her endorsement deeper meaning for both Stella Rosa and Lainey Wilson fans.
"Whether I'm at home or on the road, I'm always dreaming up new ways to express myself through more than just my music," said Wilson "There are so many small moments along this crazy journey that have helped build my story, which is why I love to savor them, and Stella Rosa makes them that much sweeter."
Whether she's entertaining at home or on the road, Lainey Wilson is a proud fan of Stella Rosa's various collections, including but not limited to:
- Stella Rosa Semi-Sparkling and Fully-Sparkling Wines
- Stella Rosa Non-Alcoholic Wines
- Stella Rosa Single-Serving Canned Wines
"Everyone has a story to tell, a reason to celebrate, or a tradition to keep alive and our hope is that Stella Rosa Wines can be there to make those moments sweeter," says Stella Rosa® Wines President, Steve Riboli. "Lainey Wilson is the ultimate example of perseverance and authenticity. She is comfortable in her journey, and we hope that can serve as an inspiration to other Stella Rosa fans."
To learn more about the 'Moments Made Sweeter' campaign, visit our Stella Rosa website. For the official commercial, watch here. Follow Stella Rosa Wines on Instagram at @StellaRosa for the latest happenings.
More about Stella Rosa Wines
Stella Rosa® is a selection of semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Italian wines, evolving with the spirit of the times when it comes to wine trends and popular culture. Among its impressive achievements are a 10x Impact Magazine Hot Brand award and its position as the #1 imported wine in America. Most recently, Stella Rosa® curated a collection of hand-crafted premium and fruit-flavored Brandy made from high-quality grapes grown in Northern Italy. Stella Rosa® is created by Riboli Family Wines, a Los Angeles-based establishment founded in 1917. For more information, visit www.stellarosawines.com.
Instagram: @StellaRosa
Twitter: @StellaRosaWines
More about Lainey Wilson
As the leading female winner at the 2023 ACM awards, Billboard Women in Music's "Rulebreaker", CMA's 2022 Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year, Lainey Wilson has made a name for herself as one of music's most buzzed-about new artists. Her critically acclaimed album, "Bell Bottom Country," has amassed over 430 million streams and continues to reach new heights across charts and with hits like "Heart Like A Truck" and "Watermelon Moonshine". Most recently, she made her acting debut on the hit series "Yellowstone", where she showcased other hits off her recent album. For more information visit www.laineywilson.com.
Instagram:@laineywilsonmusic
Twitter: @laineywilson
PR/Media Contacts
Daniela Garrido, Communications Director for Stella Rosa Wines: dgarrido@riboliwines.com
JONESWORKS: TeamLainey@jonesworks.com
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SOURCE Riboli Family Wines | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/moments-made-sweeter-with-stella-rosa-wines-lainey-wilson/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:22 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/moments-made-sweeter-with-stella-rosa-wines-lainey-wilson/ |
The giveaway of an original digital badge designed by Yusuke Kozaki, a Japan leading character designer, has just begun.
SINGAPORE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AnotherBall (CEO: Captain), providing virtual entertainment experiences for a new era, today launched their new project "SAI by IZUMO" in collaboration with some of the top artists in the Japanese anime and game industries. This project has begun with the first giveaway of non-transferable digital badges, illustrated by Yusuke Kozaki.
IZUMO, launched in February 2023, is a VTuber project in the age of AI and Web3 with the mission to build a sustainable place where everyone can live as they want to be. IZUMO offers the avatar assets of its symbolic character, "Ailis," to the public free of charge for both commercial and non-commercial use. With this, IZUMO continues to support all creators to maximize their potential creativities with emerging technologies.
The project "SAI by IZUMO," is a challenge to expand the possibilities of expression through emerging technologies with leading Japanese artists in the entertainment industry. The artists illustrated "Ailis" using their own unique style and expression, and IZUMO offers it as an original digital badge.
This collaboration project features six incredible artists: Yusuke Kozaki, a prolific illustrator, manga creator, and character designer who has worked on the character design for the AR game Pokémon GO; Aoi Yuki, a Japanese voice actress who won the Best Voice Actress Award at the 6th Seiyu Awards in 2012; KEI, a character designer known for a virtual character Hatsune Miku series; Ryu Nakayama, an animation director of Chainsaw Man; Shingo Adachi, an animator, character designer, and director known for numerous notable works such as the Japanese original anime TV series Lycoris Recoil and the Sword Art Online series; Naoki Saito, an illustrator, and YouTuber, known for his work in Pokémon Card Game and Duel Masters.
The exclusive illustrations drawn by each artist will be issued as digital badges using "Soul Bound Token (SBT)" technology, which makes it a non-transferable digital asset. The badges will be permanently owned and serve as proof of support for each artist.
Overview of "SAI by IZUMO"
Official website: https://sai.izumo.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IZUMOofficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/izumo
◼️ Introduction of the great artists:
Yusuke Kozaki
Character designer, illustrator, and manga artist. Yusuke Kozaki has designed and illustrated characters for a number of popular gaming titles, including Fire Emblem, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon: Sword & Shield.
Aoi Yuki
Voice actress. Aoi Yuki voiced the roles of Madoka Kaname in Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Iris in Pokémon: Best Wishes!, Hibiki Tachibana in Senki Zesshō Symphogear, and Maomao in Yakuya no Hitorigoto. She is also in charge of the YUKI×AOI Chimera Project, from planning to drafting and character design.
KEI
Illustrator. KEI has designed many characters for the Vocaloid series such as Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin/Len, and Megurine Luka. He also created the character design for the VTuber Mirai Akari.
Ryu Nakayama
Animator and animation director. Ryu Nakayama is best known for directing Chainsaw Man. He has worked as a director and storyboarding for Jujutsu Kaisen and original drawings for the movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0. He was also a key animator for Yattarman Night and a main animator for Macross Delta.
Shingo Adachi
Animator, character designer, and animation director. The anime Lycoris Recoil is an original work by Shingo Adachi, who composed and directed the series. He has also worked on Working!!, Sword Art Online (as a character designer and animation supervisor), POMPO: THE CINEPHILE (as a character designer) and so on
Naoki Saito
YouTuber and illustrator. Naoki Saito is in charge of illustrations for Pokémon and Pokémon Trading Card Game. He shares the illustration techniques cultivated as a professional illustrator on YouTube. He also has a deep understanding of NFTs and is involved in the creation and sale of original NFTs.
◼️The distribution order of digital badges:
Part 1 Yusuke Kozaki July 28 (Fri) ~ August 3 (Thu)
Part 2 Aoi Yuki early August
Part 3 KEI Mid-August
Part 4 Ryu Nakayama mid-August
Part 5 Shingo Adachi late August
Part 6 Naoki Saito early September
About AnotherBall
AnotherBall is a venture company founded in May 2022, led by Captain, CEO, and Ramen, CTO. The management members are serial entrepreneurs who in the past launched "mamari," the information-hub website for families, and the multinational VTuber agency called "PRISM Project." The company's current focus is on IZUMO, a VTuber project in the age of AI and Web3, with a mission "Live as you want to be." AnotherBall raised 2.2M USD in its angel round from renowned investors in May 2023.
Furthermore, Anotherball is currently hiring. If you're interested in the new era of the virtual entertainment business, please visit the careers page listed below.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IZUMOofficial
Official website: https://sai.izumo.com
Discord: https://discord.gg/izumo
Careers: https://bit.ly/IZUMO-Recruitment
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SOURCE AnotherBall Pte. Ltd. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/izumo-launches-sai-by-izumo-collaboration-project-with-top-artists-japanese-anime-gaming-industry/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:22 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/izumo-launches-sai-by-izumo-collaboration-project-with-top-artists-japanese-anime-gaming-industry/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — For more than a year, the U.S. economy has defied predictions of a forthcoming recession. It has withstood 10 interest rate hikes in 16 months from an inflation-fighting Federal Reserve. In June, America’s employers added a healthy 209,000 jobs.
Will the economy remain resilient? Can the Fed achieve a notoriously difficult “soft landing” — slowing growth just enough to tame inflation without causing a recession?
The Associated Press spoke recently with Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: The job market is cooling but remains strong. Does that suggest a soft landing?
A: What we have seen in the job market so far in 2023 is consistent with a soft landing. Over the past three months, we’ve added 244,000 jobs per month. That’s still too high from the Fed’s perspective but much better than what we had at the end of last year. Although it’s consistent with a soft landing, it’s also consistent with a story where job growth continues to slow, the economy continues to weaken and we get a recession at the end of 2023. We don’t know what the outcome will be. It’s more likely than not that we get a recession.
Q: When would a downturn begin?
A: A few months ago, we were seeing it starting in the second half of 2023. Now we’re seeing late 2023 or early 2024. The labor market is still holding up. Consumers are still in decent shape. But I do think we will continue to feel the impact of the Fed’s monetary tightening. By the end of this year or sometime early next year, those higher rates will be a significant drag on economic activity and lead to recession. But the economy has held up somewhat better than we were expecting.
The economy just can’t continue to add this many jobs per month. We just don’t have the labor force out there.
Q: Where is inflation headed?
A: We will see slowing inflation. If you go back to 2021, 2022, a lot of that inflation was coming on the goods side. Now, the inflation is coming on the services side. Services inflation tends to be stickier, and it tends to be more driven by what’s going on in the labor market. So the tight labor market is contributing to high services inflation. That will contribute to inflation remaining higher than the Fed would like in the near term. By the end of this year, early next year, we will see a significant softening in the labor market that will help bring inflation down to the Fed’s 2% target.
Q: Will the job market continue to favor workers over the longer term?
A: We have seen structural changes. The pandemic pushed forward a lot of retirements. You had people who were close to retirement in 2020 and planning on working a few more years. But when the pandemic came along, they decided to retire. The remaining workers have more bargaining power. Businesses are going to need to rethink a lot of things about pay, about benefits, about workplace flexibility. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-insider-qa-an-economist-who-sees-a-recession-coming-despite-economys-resilience-so-far/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:24 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-insider-qa-an-economist-who-sees-a-recession-coming-despite-economys-resilience-so-far/ |
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 9 Lives Interactive, formerly Rude Robot Studios, the developers behind the upcoming cats-and-mech multiplayer shooter, Nyan Heroes, are thrilled to announce their collaboration with Razer™, the leading lifestyle brand for gamers. Amid the gaming industry's transformational integration of gaming and Web3 technologies, this alliance signifies an innovative stride towards bridging this divide. Through their zVentures Web3 Incubator (ZW3I), Razer reiterates its dedication to blockchain adoption and commitment to providing diverse gaming experiences.
"Our collaboration with Razer is a major milestone in our journey," reveals Max Fu, CEO of Nyan Heroes. "With Razer by our side, we're emboldened to deliver gaming experiences that brim with joy and create lasting memories for our players."
Pre-alpha sign-ups are open, giving gamers an opportunity to experience the exciting adventure that awaits in the game. "We invite gamers to be part of the Nyan Heroes narrative as it evolves by joining us ahead of the official game release," says Fu.
Alongside this newfound collaboration with Razer, Nyan Heroes has embarked on a visual transformation. The rejuvenated graphics, underscored by joy, exploration, and camaraderie, encapsulate the spirit of the brand's refreshed gaming philosophy. The shift signals a departure from the traditional cyberpunk era, towards an enchanting, multiplayer adventure that beckons gamers worldwide to partake in the excitement.
Nyan Heroes' mission extends beyond gaming - they're committed to real-world change too. With a lofty goal to save one billion cats in real life, the company has already donated over $350,000 to animal welfare organizations, and they pledge to continue developing in-game features that enable players to participate in this impactful mission.
For more information or to sign up to playtest, visit nyanheroes.com or follow the developers on Twitter and Discord.
About Nyan Heroes
Nyan Heroes is a free-to-play hero shooter that combines fast-paced, competitive gameplay with a real-world impact. Developed by a remote team of seasoned game developers and powered by Unreal Engine 5 and blockchain technology, Nyan Heroes pays homage to cats and offers a AAA multiplayer experience with epic mech character classes, thrilling cat-like movement, and unique gameplay abilities.
The studio is committed to making a difference in saving one billion cats. $350K USD has already been donated to charitable organizations, including the Best Friends Animal Society. You can be a hero for cats everywhere and join the movement!
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SOURCE 9 Lives Interactive | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/nyan-heroes-razer-team-up-marking-an-exciting-new-chapter/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:28 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/nyan-heroes-razer-team-up-marking-an-exciting-new-chapter/ |
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- J.P. Morgan Asset Management today announced the firm has successfully completed the conversion of four mutual funds to ETFs. The conversion of these funds to actively managed ETFs will provide investors with active investment options in markets traditionally available to ETF investors through mostly passive solutions.
The following four ETF conversions means shareholders will benefit from intraday trading, liquidity and reduced fees and may benefit from greater tax efficiency.
"Investors are looking for differentiated active capabilities in the ETF wrapper. As conversions, these ETFs have a track record and scale from Day 1 and add to our active range of ETF providing tools for investors to meet their investment goals," said Bryon Lake, Global Head of ETF Solutions, J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "We are excited to provide shareholders with greater choice and access to the benefits that active ETFs can provide, including additional trading flexibility, increased transparency and reduced fees through transparency at attractive price points."
The combined assets of the four active, transparent funds converted are approximately $1.5 billion. J.P. Morgan Asset Management ranks as a top ten ETF issuer in the U.S. with respect to AUM1, and number one year to date2 in net active flows across active ETFs in the U.S.
About J.P. Morgan Asset Management
J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of $2.67 trillion (as of 3/31/2022), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information: www.jpmorganassetmanagement.com. J.P. Morgan Asset Management is the marketing name for the asset management businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co., and its affiliates worldwide.
J.P. Morgan Asset Management is the marketing name for the asset management businesses of JPMorgan Chase & Co., and its affiliates worldwide.
J.P. Morgan ETFs are distributed by JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc., which is an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Affiliates of JPMorgan Chase & Co. receive fees for providing various services to the funds. JPMorgan Distribution Services, Inc. is a member of FINRA. More information is available at https://am.jpmorgan.com/us/en/asset-management/gim/adv/products/etfs.
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives and risks as well as charges and expenses of the funds before investing. The summary and full prospectuses contain this and other information about the funds and should be read carefully before investing. Call 1-844-4JPM-ETF or visit www.jpmorganETFs.com to obtain a prospectus.
1 Data according to ETF.com as of 06/09/2022
2 Data according to Simfund as of 06/10/2022
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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.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-kosovo-journalists-protest-governments-suspension-of-private-television-station/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:30 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-kosovo-journalists-protest-governments-suspension-of-private-television-station/ |
Survey: Nearly one third would talk to robots if feeling lonely and almost half would share their medical history with AI
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than a year since the launch of the popular Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT, Americans are embracing AI-based care as they age. One third of Americans and over half (58%) of millennials believe AI and robotics will provide their future in-home long-term care.
According to the annual Nationwide Retirement Institute Long-Term Care survey, conducted in partnership with LIMRA in May 2023, this survey of 1,439 U.S. adults aged 24 or over found that younger generations were particularly apt to embrace the technology.
Among the key findings:
- Daily functions: More than one in three (35%) Americans would accept help from a robot for activities such as toileting, dressing and transferring. This rises to 52% among millennials and declines with older generations (23% for boomers and 36% for Gen Xers).
- Companionship: Nearly the same amount (32%) say they would talk to robots/AI if they are feeling lonely. This increases to about half (52%) of millennials.
- Physical safety: Almost seven out of ten (68%) Americans would use AI to alert family/friends if they were to experience a fall or physical danger (63% boomers, 70% Gen X, 72% millennials).
- Medical history: Nearly half (48%) of Americans say they would share their medical history with AI to help support their care needs. This figure increases to 65% for millennials.
In response to the increasing acceptance and adoption of AI-based care, Nationwide is testing eldercare robots in homes of select policyholders with mobility issues. The goal of this trial is to assess if the robots increase the potential for policyholders to age in their home and remain independent.
"It is difficult for many families to find quality care for their loved ones. We are considering AI and robotics as potential solutions for this and are identifying if eldercare robots could become credible, compelling examples of extraordinary care for our members," said Holly Snyder, president of Nationwide's Life Insurance business. "As we continue to see advancements in AI and an uptick in consumer adoption, AI and robotics could permanently change how people receive their long-term care and provide them with more opportunity to safely remain independent for longer."
Many adults mistakenly believe they have long-term care coverage
The survey reveals that 18% of adults report that they currently own long-term care insurance, including 27% of millennials. However, industry data shows only 3.1% of Americans have purchased long-term care insurance and most of those are older consumers.*
More than half (51%) who mistakenly thought they owned long-term care insurance confused it with long-term disability insurance. Almost a third (30%) confused it with health insurance.
In conjunction with the survey, Nationwide conducted focus groups made up of four different demographics: baby boomers, Gen Xers, millennials and those who believe they had long-term care coverage. Unsurprisingly, these sessions revealed that like survey respondents, focus group participants also often mistakenly confused long-term care insurance with their long-term disability insurance or health insurance. Neither of these cover long-term care expenses.
"Many Americans – mostly millennials – mistakenly believe they have long-term care coverage, usually in their company's benefit package, when in fact they do not," said Snyder. "Though this misconception is understandable, it puts them at danger of discovering that they don't have coverage much later on when they really need it."
Americans have concerns about how to manage aging
Though many Americans don't own long-term care policies, they do have very real concerns about how to manage the aging process and its associated costs.
For example:
- Nearly half of respondents (49%) are worried they'll become a burden to their family as they age
- Almost a third (28%) say they would rather die than live in a nursing home
- More than a quarter (26%) believe paying for long-term care will diminish their children's inheritance
"Too many Americans are missing crucial planning steps to make sure they're set up for success as they age," said Snyder. "The first step is to understand what's important to you and your family. From there, we recommend talking to a financial professional to help build a plan."
Financial professionals need to bring up long-term care planning
While more than half (51%) say it is important that a financial professional discuss long-term care costs with them, fewer than one in five adults (18%) say they have actually discussed long-term planning with their financial professional. In fact, more than one in four adults (27%) across all age groups have not discussed long-term care costs with anyone. The good news is 30% say they would discuss long-term care costs with a financial professional in the future.
"Financial professionals need to be proactive in helping families plan for important long-term care issues, including how to pay for it," Snyder added. "Even if a client believes they are covered, we suggest probing them with some follow-up questions to be sure they are, in fact, protected. If not, financial professionals have an important role in helping them put together a plan of action."
To encourage discussions around long-term care costs in retirement, Nationwide's Health Care/LTC Cost Assessment tool uses proprietary health risk analysis and updated actuarial cost data to provide a meaningful, personalized cost estimate to help financial professionals and clients plan for future medical and long-term care expenses.
To learn more about the importance of long-term care planning, visit www.nationwide.com/LTCbasics. Financial professionals can learn more in this blog and at www.nationwidefinancial.com/LTC.
Methodology
The 2023 Nationwide Retirement Institute/NCOA Long-term Care survey was conducted online within the United States between adults aged 25 and over by LIMRA on behalf of The Nationwide Retirement Institute. Survey participants were drawn from a nationwide consumer panel and data collection occurred between 4/25/2023 and 5/12/2023. The sample was weighted by race/ethnicity and income and included quotas for age and gender to approximate U.S. general population representation.
About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities, mutual funds and ETFs; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow the firm on Facebook and Twitter.
*"Do Consumer Really Understand Long-Term Care Insurance". LIMRA.com. 11/15/2022.
This material is not a recommendation to buy or sell a financial product or to adopt an investment strategy. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.
This information is general in nature and is not intended to be tax, legal, accounting or other professional advice. The information provided is based on current laws, which are subject to change at any time, and has not been endorsed by any government agency.
Nationwide and LIMRA are separate and non-affiliated companies.
Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, OH. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC.
Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide Retirement Institute are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company © Nationwide 2023
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Contact:
Charley Gillespie
(614) 249-6349
charley.gillespie@nationwide.com
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IRVINE, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacific Companies, a leading healthcare staffing and recruiting firm specializing in locum tenens and permanent hire opportunities for physicians and advanced practice providers, is pleased to announce its inclusion in the 2023 Largest Locum Tenens Staffing Firms in the US list compiled by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA). This ranking coincides with Pacific Companies' recent expansion into new office facilities in Irvine, CA, and Dallas, TX, to accommodate its expanding team and growth.
As the global research and advisory firm focused on staffing and workforce solutions, SIA releases an annual list ranking healthcare staffing firms by estimated revenue in the latest full calendar year. Pacific Companies' inclusion on the locum tenens segment of the list demonstrates its leadership in the locum tenens industry and its dedication to delivering superior healthcare staffing solutions to hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities nationwide.
"We are delighted to rank as one of the largest locum tenens staffing firms in the US," said Gary Cook, CEO of Pacific Companies. "This achievement is a testament to our team's hard work, dedication, and commitment to providing exceptional locum tenens services to our clients. We remain focused on our mission to connect healthcare systems with the highly skilled and qualified physicians they need to deliver quality patient care."
"Locum tenens continues to be an area of tremendous growth for our organization as more healthcare systems find locums as an efficient way to fill in any staffing gaps quickly," said John Paulk, COO of Pacific Companies. "Our commitment to providing top-notch locum tenens services has allowed us to forge strong partnerships with healthcare facilities nationwide. As we move forward, Pacific Companies remains dedicated to expanding our network of highly skilled locum tenens professionals and delivering comprehensive staffing solutions that address the evolving needs of the healthcare industry."
Pacific Companies has been at the forefront of the locum tenens staffing industry, leveraging its extensive network of expert recruiters to match highly qualified physicians with healthcare facilities in need. With a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape, Pacific Companies has consistently demonstrated its ability to meet the evolving staffing demands of the industry and maintain strong relationships with clients and providers.
As Pacific Companies celebrates this prestigious accolade, the company remains dedicated to delivering innovative staffing solutions, fostering long-term partnerships, and upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity in the locum tenens industry.
For more information about Pacific Companies and its services, please visit www.pacificcompanies.com.
About Pacific Companies:
Pacific Companies is a leading healthcare staffing and recruiting firm specializing in locum tenens and permanent placement. With over 20 years of experience, Pacific Companies offers comprehensive staffing solutions to healthcare facilities across the United States. The company's team of industry experts is committed to providing exceptional service and matching highly skilled healthcare professionals with healthcare facilities in need.
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SOURCE Pacific Companies | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pacific-companies-ranked-sias-2023-largest-locum-tenens-staffing-firms-list/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:35 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pacific-companies-ranked-sias-2023-largest-locum-tenens-staffing-firms-list/ |
DETROIT (AP) — People who were catastrophically injured in car wrecks before the summer of 2019 can continue to bill insurance companies for ongoing care, the Michigan Supreme Court said Monday in a decision that provides critical relief for thousands of people.
For decades, people injured in crashes were entitled to lifetime payment for “all reasonable charges” related to care and rehabilitation. But a new state law set a fee schedule and a cap on reimbursements not covered by Medicare.
Suddenly, benefits were at risk for roughly 18,000 people.
In a 5-2 opinion, the Supreme Court said a “vested contractual right” to ongoing benefits “cannot be stripped away or diminished,” especially when lawmakers failed to declare an intent to do so when they changed the law.
In an effort to lower Michigan’s insurance rates, which were among the highest in the U.S., the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agreed to sweeping changes in 2019. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-michigan-court-affirms-critical-benefits-for-thousands-badly-hurt-in-car-wrecks/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:38 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-michigan-court-affirms-critical-benefits-for-thousands-badly-hurt-in-car-wrecks/ |
MVA6853 is the First Extractor Adoptable for Diesel Fuel or Gasoline
LANSDALE, Pa. , July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its evolution of fluid extractors, Mityvac, part of the SKF Group, has launched the MVA6853. The new Mityvac MVA6853 is a fuel/fluid extractor and priming kit that can quickly and cleanly extract, prime or dispense diesel fuel, kerosine or gasoline.
This easy-to-use manual syringe tool comes with five different adapters for both diesel fuel or gasoline to aid in prime, flush or maintenance needs. The MVA6853 has the capacity to manage 1.5 liters of fluid and its integrated valve system is designed specifically for diesel and gasoline without eroding the gaskets. The compact, streamlined design allows easy access into tight spaces under the hood or in areas of limited access.
The kit is designed with fuel capable seals and an integrated valve in cap to prevent spills and leaks. The hose and seals are also simple to replace if needed. The tool is easy to clean and compatible with other Mityvac fuel system connectors.
This all makes the new handheld Mityvac MVA6853 the perfect solution for flushing and priming fuel lines, priming fuel filters and quickly emptying tanks.
To learn more, visit www.skf.com/mityvac.
About SKF
SKF is a world-leading provider of innovative solutions that help industries become more competitive and sustainable. By making products lighter, more efficient, longer lasting and repairable, we help our customers improve their rotating equipment performance and reduce their environmental impact. Our offering around the rotating shaft includes bearings, seals, lubrication management, condition monitoring, and services. Founded in 1907, SKF is represented in approximately 129 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2022 were SEK 96,933 million and the number of employees was 42,641. www.skf.com® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.
® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.
Media Contact:
Maria Orlando
Marketing Manager, Tools and Lubrication
maria.orlando@skf.com
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Pep Boys further expands its footprint in the Raleigh market as it celebrates its 14th location and pledges its support to the community.
PHILADELPHIA, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pep Boys, a leading U.S. automotive service provider, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location in Raleigh at the Triangle Town Center tomorrow, August 1, 2023. The 7320 Old Wake Forest Rd Raleigh, NC 27616 location will join 13 other locations in the Raleigh market. Customers can expect a full range of automotive maintenance and repair services at this newest location.
Pep Boys will celebrate this monumental opening with residents and special guests at 11am. As a testament to the Company's commitment to its community, Pep Boys will be presenting a donation to two local non-profit organizations, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of North Carolina and the Haven House Society.
"Pep Boys takes pride in extending our automotive service experience to an even larger customer base in Raleigh," said Scott Collette, Pep Boys CEO. "Our team of technicians and service advisors are looking forward to connecting with the local community and providing quality car care to its drivers."
The Raleigh location provides both individual customers and the area's fast-growing fleets with preventative maintenance, tire installations and both routine and major repairs performed by certified technicians. In addition to being equipped with the latest technology to handle today's complex vehicles, Pep Boys offers every driver a Courtesy Vehicle Inspection as well as an entirely digital customer experience from online appointment booking to service tracking and mobile pay.
Pep Boys also offers a broad range of opportunities and career paths for today's auto service technician. With a commitment to supporting technical education and training and development, a Pep Boys auto service technician can pursue several different career paths. For more information on a career with Pep Boys, visit www.careers.pepboys.com.
About Pep Boys
Founded in 1921 by military veterans, generations of drivers have counted on Pep Boys ASE-certified Pros to care for their cars. With a national network of Service and Tire Centers, millions of vehicles and fleets pass through Pep Boys bays each year. Our commitment to being the one our communities count on is demonstrated through our exceptional customer experience and technical expertise. For more information, visit www.pepboys.com/corporate.
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SOURCE The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe and Jack LLC | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pep-boys-celebrates-new-auto-service-tire-center-raleigh-august-1-with-celebration-community-commitment/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:41 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pep-boys-celebrates-new-auto-service-tire-center-raleigh-august-1-with-celebration-community-commitment/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are drifting Monday as Wall Street rolls toward the close of another winning month.
The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in early trading and on track for a fifth straight month of gains, which would be its longest streak in nearly two years. The index is still close to its highest level in nearly 16 months after rallying on hopes cooling inflation will mean the economy can avoid a long-predicted recession.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was also flipping between modest gains and losses and was up 13 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 10 a.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was 0.1% lower.
To be sure, critics have been saying Wall Street’s seemingly growing consensus for a soft landing for the economy has come too quickly. Several reports this upcoming week could poke holes in the theory that inflation will keep coming down enough for the Federal Reserve to not only stop hiking interest rates but to begin cutting them early next year.
High rates undercut inflation by slowing the overall economy and dragging on prices for stocks and other investments. The Fed has already hiked its main rate to its highest level in more than two decades, a jolting shock after the rate began last year at virtually zero. A growing number of investors seem to be seeing it going no higher.
But big names in the market, such as Rob Arnott at Research Affiliates, are warning not to be “overly hasty in popping the champagne corks.” Arnott sees the possibility of inflation rebounding again later this year, even though it’s cooled considerably recently.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell himself has pointed to Friday’s upcoming report on the overall U.S. job market as a key datapoint. Growth needs to be strong enough to keep a lid on worries about a possible recession. But a reading that’s too hot could also mean upward pressure on inflation, which could push the Fed to get more aggressive about rates.
Two of Wall Street’s most influential stocks are also set to report their earnings for the spring. Amazon and Apple are both scheduled to release their latst quarterly results on Thursday. Because they’re two of the most massive stocks on Wall Street, their stock movements pack much more punch for the S&P 500 and other indexes than other stocks.
Both stocks have soared this year, in part on expectations for strong continued growth, and they’ll need to deliver to justify the big moves. Both Apple and Amazon are up more than 50% so far this year.
Roughly halfway through the earnings reporting season, more companies than usual have topped analysts’ profit expectations than usual, according to FactSet. Companies also seem to be more optimistic about their upcoming results, giving better-than-expected profit forecasts more often than usual, according to strategists at Bank of America.
“While economic uncertainty remains, we believe the profit cycle is inflecting higher,” the strategists wrote in a BofA Global Research report.
ON Semiconductor rose 2.9% for one of the larger gains in the S&P 500 after reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than expected. The company, known as onsemi, also gave a forecast for profit in the current quarter that topped analysts’ expectations.
In stock markets abroad, indexes were a bit higher higher in Europe after data showed Europe’s economy has grown modestly after months of stagnation.
In Asia, stocks rose in Hong Kong and Shanghai amid hopes Beijing will deliver more stimulus for the sluggish Chinese economy.
In the bond market, U.S. Treasury yields slipped after a report suggested manufacturing in the Chicago region is weakening a bit more than economists expected. Manufacturing has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the economy by high interest rates, which work with a notoriously long lag effect.
The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 3.94% from 3.96% late Friday.
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AP Business Writers Matt Ott, Elaine Kurtenbach and Joe McDonald contributed. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-stock-market-today-asia-shares-gain-after-wall-st-rally-as-investors-pin-hopes-on-china-stimulus/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:44 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-stock-market-today-asia-shares-gain-after-wall-st-rally-as-investors-pin-hopes-on-china-stimulus/ |
Two Icons at the Heart of Pop Culture and Celebrations Come Together for a Stella-r Campaign of Sips and Sweetness this Summer
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Life is a collection of small moments and America's #1 imported wine, Stella Rosa® Wines, is proud to announce another exciting milestone: a collaborative campaign of two industry powerhouses. According to a recent study, celebrating positive life events increases perceived social support. Stella Rosa and country music star, Lainey Wilson, are on a mission to spread positive vibes by inspiring consumers to gather, raise a glass, and #stellabrate every moment. Stella Rosa proudly offers 30+ wines in its portfolio, a glass for every occasion on the good 'ole journey.
Stella Rosa® Wines recently released the 'Moments Made Sweeter' campaign featuring Lainey Wilson. The campaign emphasizes celebrating the journey, not just the destination. Stella Rosa® was there to celebrate with Lainey Wilson when she set off on her first solo headlining tour, won Female Artist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards, and of course, raised a glass on National Wine Day.
Stella Rosa Wines' impact on pop culture today is undeniable - from trendy cocktail recipes to new innovations like canned wines, spicy flavors, non-alcoholic wine and more, Gen Z and Millennials are embracing the moments to #stellabrate.
Stella Rosa Wines' nostalgic yet ever-evolving presence is what initially attracted Wilson to team up with the brand, but it was Stella Rosa Wines' commitment to supporting her journey, and that of other women in music, that gave her endorsement deeper meaning for both Stella Rosa and Lainey Wilson fans.
"Whether I'm at home or on the road, I'm always dreaming up new ways to express myself through more than just my music," said Wilson "There are so many small moments along this crazy journey that have helped build my story, which is why I love to savor them, and Stella Rosa makes them that much sweeter."
Whether she's entertaining at home or on the road, Lainey Wilson is a proud fan of Stella Rosa's various collections, including but not limited to:
- Stella Rosa Semi-Sparkling and Fully-Sparkling Wines
- Stella Rosa Non-Alcoholic Wines
- Stella Rosa Single-Serving Canned Wines
"Everyone has a story to tell, a reason to celebrate, or a tradition to keep alive and our hope is that Stella Rosa Wines can be there to make those moments sweeter," says Stella Rosa® Wines President, Steve Riboli. "Lainey Wilson is the ultimate example of perseverance and authenticity. She is comfortable in her journey, and we hope that can serve as an inspiration to other Stella Rosa fans."
To learn more about the 'Moments Made Sweeter' campaign, visit our Stella Rosa website. For the official commercial, watch here. Follow Stella Rosa Wines on Instagram at @StellaRosa for the latest happenings.
More about Stella Rosa Wines
Stella Rosa® is a selection of semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Italian wines, evolving with the spirit of the times when it comes to wine trends and popular culture. Among its impressive achievements are a 10x Impact Magazine Hot Brand award and its position as the #1 imported wine in America. Most recently, Stella Rosa® curated a collection of hand-crafted premium and fruit-flavored Brandy made from high-quality grapes grown in Northern Italy. Stella Rosa® is created by Riboli Family Wines, a Los Angeles-based establishment founded in 1917. For more information, visit www.stellarosawines.com.
Instagram: @StellaRosa
Twitter: @StellaRosaWines
More about Lainey Wilson
As the leading female winner at the 2023 ACM awards, Billboard Women in Music's "Rulebreaker", CMA's 2022 Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year, Lainey Wilson has made a name for herself as one of music's most buzzed-about new artists. Her critically acclaimed album, "Bell Bottom Country," has amassed over 430 million streams and continues to reach new heights across charts and with hits like "Heart Like A Truck" and "Watermelon Moonshine". Most recently, she made her acting debut on the hit series "Yellowstone", where she showcased other hits off her recent album. For more information visit www.laineywilson.com.
Instagram:@laineywilsonmusic
Twitter: @laineywilson
PR/Media Contacts
Daniela Garrido, Communications Director for Stella Rosa Wines: dgarrido@riboliwines.com
JONESWORKS: TeamLainey@jonesworks.com
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SOURCE Riboli Family Wines | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/moments-made-sweeter-with-stella-rosa-wines-lainey-wilson/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:47 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/moments-made-sweeter-with-stella-rosa-wines-lainey-wilson/ |
Damola Adamolekun to Step Down as CEO; Rohit Manocha Appointed Interim CEO
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. (the "Company") today announced that Damola Adamolekun has decided to step down as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") effective August 1st, 2023. The Board has appointed Rohit Manocha, a shareholder representative and P.F. Chang's board member since 2019, to serve as interim CEO and is working with an independent recruitment firm to conduct a comprehensive search for a successor. Mr. Adamolekun will return to Paulson & Co. Inc. ("Paulson") as a Partner focusing on investments.
"On behalf of the Board and the entire P.F. Chang's team, I want to thank Damola for his invaluable contributions since he joined the Company," said John Paulson, Board Chairman and President of Paulson. "Damola stepped in as CEO in the midst of the Covid-induced economic shut down and successfully pivoted the business to off-premise dining to continue to serve customers and stabilize cash flow. Subsequently, he returned the Company to growth through a total brand refresh and new restaurant openings that position P.F. Chang's for long-term success. We are grateful for his leadership of the Company during this period."
"I'm immensely proud of all that we've accomplished to elevate the customer experience, to build-out the Company's technology infrastructure to enable a robust takeout and delivery business, and to expand our international footprint," said Mr. Adamolekun. "It's been an honor to lead P.F. Chang's, and I wholeheartedly believe the strong team we have in place will continue to drive success in the future."
Mr. Manocha said, "The P.F. Chang's brand and restaurant network are in a great position, and I look forward to working closely with our talented team to build on our momentum, drive increased traffic and transition the Company to its next world class leader. Most importantly, we will continue to make our customers' lives better through iconic, authentic food and joyful hospitality."
Mr. Manocha is a seasoned leader with deep experience in the restaurant, retail and investment industries. He is the Co-founder of TriArtisan Capital Advisors, a private investment firm, and his responsibilities include serving as chairman of TGI Fridays and a board member of Dover Saddlery and of Mears Transportation.
In the four and half years since acquisition, the Company has invested more than $200mm to open more than ten bistros and two flagships, revitalized the existing store fleet, and upgraded the menu and experience in restaurants to provide customers with the highest quality Asian food in an entertaining and celebratory setting. The Company has significantly expanded its takeout and delivery business, launching a small-footprint P.F. Chang's To Go format so more customers can enjoy P.F. Chang's anywhere. The Company is now in an ideal position to continue to grow and take advantage of the substantial opportunity to bring the P.F. Chang's experience worldwide.
About P.F. Chang's
Founded in 1993 by Philip Chiang and Paul Fleming, P.F. Chang's is the first internationally recognized multi-unit Asian culinary brand to honor and celebrate the 2,000-year-old tradition of wok cooking as the center of the guest experience. With roots in Chinese cuisine, today's menu at P.F. Chang's spans across all of Asia, honoring cultures and recipes from Japan, Korea, Thailand, and beyond. Each item offers a unique exploration of flavor, whether it's a handcrafted cocktail, wok-fired lunch bowl, or celebratory multi-course dinner. Worldwide, P.F. Chang's has more than 300 restaurants in 22 countries and U.S. airport locations, including a growing number of convenient P.F. Chang's To Go locations offering takeout and delivery. For more P.F. Chang's news, visit pfchangs.com.
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SOURCE P.F. Chang’s | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pf-changs-announces-ceo-transition/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:48 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pf-changs-announces-ceo-transition/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Troubled trucking company Yellow Corp. is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday.
An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. Its expected liquidation would mark a significant shift for the U.S. transportation industry and shippers nationwide.
“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government. This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.
The Associated Press reached out to Yellow for comment on Monday. No bankruptcy filings were found as of the early morning.
The company’s collapse arrives just three years after Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide, Inc., received $700 million in pandemic-era loans from the federal government. But the company was in financial trouble long before that — with industry analysts pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back decades.
Former Yellow customers and shippers will face higher prices as they take their business to competitors, including FedEx or ABF Freight, experts say — noting that Yellow historically offered the cheapest price points in the industry.
Yellow is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. The 99-year-old Nashville, Tennessee-based company had 30,000 employees across the country as of earlier this year.
On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal and FreightWaves reported that Yellow was preparing for bankruptcy — with some noting that customers had already started to leave the carrier in large numbers. And the company reportedly stopped freight pickups earlier in the week.
Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to The Wall Street Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday.
The bankruptcy preparation reports arrived just days after Yellow averted a strike from the Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, amid heated contract negotiations. On July 23, a pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, avoiding a planned walkout — and giving Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably $50 million that Yellow failed to pay the Central States Health and Welfare Fund on July 15.
Yellow has racked up hefty bills over the years. As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 million pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. Last month, a congressional probe concluded that the Treasury and Defense departments “made missteps” in this decision — and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.”
The government loan is due in September 2024. As of March, Yellow had made $54.8 million in interest payments and repaid just $230 million of the principal owed, according to government documents.
The current financial chaos at Yellow “is probably two decades in the making,” said Stifel research director Bruce Chan, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.”
A Wednesday investors note from financial service firm Stephens estimated that Yellow was burning daily amount of $9 million to $10 million in recent days.
According to Satish Jindel, president of transportation and logistics firm SJ Consulting, Yellow handled an average of 49,000 shipments per day in 2022. On Friday, he estimated that number was down to between 10,000 and 15,000 daily shipments.
Yellow’s prices have historically been the cheapest compared to other carriers, Jindel said. “That’s why they obviously were not making money,” he added. “And while there is capacity with the other LTL carriers to handle the diversions from Yellow, it will come at a high price for (current shippers and customers) of Yellow.”
—-
AP Business Writer Matt Ott contributed to this report. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-teamsters-say-yellow-corp-is-ceasing-operations-filing-for-bankruptcy/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:52 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-teamsters-say-yellow-corp-is-ceasing-operations-filing-for-bankruptcy/ |
Pep Boys further expands its footprint in the Raleigh market as it celebrates its 14th location and pledges its support to the community.
PHILADELPHIA, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Pep Boys, a leading U.S. automotive service provider, will celebrate the grand opening of its newest location in Raleigh at the Triangle Town Center tomorrow, August 1, 2023. The 7320 Old Wake Forest Rd Raleigh, NC 27616 location will join 13 other locations in the Raleigh market. Customers can expect a full range of automotive maintenance and repair services at this newest location.
Pep Boys will celebrate this monumental opening with residents and special guests at 11am. As a testament to the Company's commitment to its community, Pep Boys will be presenting a donation to two local non-profit organizations, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of North Carolina and the Haven House Society.
"Pep Boys takes pride in extending our automotive service experience to an even larger customer base in Raleigh," said Scott Collette, Pep Boys CEO. "Our team of technicians and service advisors are looking forward to connecting with the local community and providing quality car care to its drivers."
The Raleigh location provides both individual customers and the area's fast-growing fleets with preventative maintenance, tire installations and both routine and major repairs performed by certified technicians. In addition to being equipped with the latest technology to handle today's complex vehicles, Pep Boys offers every driver a Courtesy Vehicle Inspection as well as an entirely digital customer experience from online appointment booking to service tracking and mobile pay.
Pep Boys also offers a broad range of opportunities and career paths for today's auto service technician. With a commitment to supporting technical education and training and development, a Pep Boys auto service technician can pursue several different career paths. For more information on a career with Pep Boys, visit www.careers.pepboys.com.
About Pep Boys
Founded in 1921 by military veterans, generations of drivers have counted on Pep Boys ASE-certified Pros to care for their cars. With a national network of Service and Tire Centers, millions of vehicles and fleets pass through Pep Boys bays each year. Our commitment to being the one our communities count on is demonstrated through our exceptional customer experience and technical expertise. For more information, visit www.pepboys.com/corporate.
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SOURCE The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe and Jack LLC | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pep-boys-celebrates-new-auto-service-tire-center-raleigh-august-1-with-celebration-community-commitment/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:53 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/pep-boys-celebrates-new-auto-service-tire-center-raleigh-august-1-with-celebration-community-commitment/ |
VALLEJO, Calif., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A Plus Tree, LLC ("A Plus Tree" or the "Company"), a portfolio company of Hyperion Capital Partners LLC ("Hyperion"), announced it has completed the acquisitions of Tree Preservation and Landscaping, The Tree Men, and Treecology. These three acquisitions reflect the Company's commitment to building a best-in-class tree care business for commercial and residential clients.
Tree Preservation and Landscaping and The Tree Men bolster A Plus Tree's presence in Southern California, and Treecology strengthens the Company in Portland, Oregon. Both geographies are key to the Company's growth plan and these three acquisitions will serve as beachheads through which A Plus Tree can better serve clients in these markets. Cyrus DeVere, the CEO of A Plus Tree, said, "Growth fueled by great partnerships allows for true synergies. Tree Preservation, Tree Men, and Treecology are all wonderful additions to the A Plus Tree culture of love and respect. Onward!"
Tree Preservation and Landscaping is based in Los Angeles, California, where founder David Sims has been serving clients since 2001. David said, "A Plus Tree is a great company to be affiliated with. The culture and work environment at A Plus Tree are great, I am all in. It has been my pleasure to work through the transition period with team members who are knowledgeable, personable, and proficient at their jobs."
The Tree Men is based in Los Angeles, California. Founders Mark and Kandi Dunning have provided tree care services to their clients since 1969. Mark and Kandi said, "We started The Tree Men over 45 years ago—our clients are amazing and are like family. We found a perfect fit with A Plus Tree, they are professional and caring."
Treecology operates in Portland, Oregon, where Damon Schrosk will continue to serve his clients as part of the A Plus Tree team. Damon said, "Through my conversations with the folks at A Plus Tree, I developed an understanding of their culture of trust and integrity. That, coupled with their innovative projects like urban wood utilization through milling and bio-char generation, and their non-profit A Plus Cares, helped me understand that this was a company that matched our culture and ethics. I felt comfortable that the reputation I developed through my efforts with Treecology would be honored and preserved. In the time since I have become a team member, I have seen the dedication and growth-oriented mindset that each of the upper-level leaders bring to their work."
Cyrus DeVere further stated, "With the addition of incredible team members and leaders from great companies, it is truly energizing to be able to expand our service offering of professional tree care to more clients."
The Partners of Hyperion said, "We are thrilled to support Cyrus and his team in their acquisition of these three excellent companies. These businesses complement A Plus Tree's strategy and will strengthen its ability to provide best-in-class tree care services by growing its client base, augmenting its yard footprint, increasing its focus on residential clients, and inviting enthusiastic team members into the A Plus Tree family. It speaks to the sellers' trust in Cyrus and his team that they joined the Company. We are excited to continue helping A Plus Tree grow organically and through acquisitions."
About A Plus Tree
Headquartered in Vallejo, California, A Plus Tree is a leading provider of tree care services for commercial and residential clients. A Plus provides specialized services to property owners and managers, including tree trimming, pruning, and removal; plant and tree healthcare; and arborist consulting. The Company employs a team of highly skilled tree care professionals, and operates across Northern and Southern California, Washington, Oregon, and Utah.
About Hyperion
Hyperion Capital Partners is a private investment firm based in Los Angeles that establishes and utilizes partnerships with management to produce substantial long-term value. Hyperion makes control investments in companies that generate between $20 and $200 million of revenue and are headquartered in North America.
For more information, please contact info@hyperion-cp.com or visit hyperion-cp.com.
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SOURCE Hyperion Capital Partners | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/plus-tree-completes-acquisition-three-tree-care-companies-west-coast/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:54 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/plus-tree-completes-acquisition-three-tree-care-companies-west-coast/ |
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Real American Hardwood Coalition (RAHC), the domestic hardwood industry's consumer promotion initiative, recently launched its new Build Your World™ advertising campaign to promote Real American Hardwood® flooring, cabinetry, furniture, and millwork. In partnership with Magnolia Network, the integrated, digital campaign will run through January 29, 2024.
"An advertising campaign on this scale is a first for the American hardwood industry," says Michael Martin, president and CEO of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). "For decades, misinformation has spread and the industry has seen market share slip away to alternative products that offer the wood look, without any of the benefits of real wood. Through the Build Your World campaign, our industry is showing how Real American Hardwood products offer unmatched aesthetics, natural durability, and lasting value—as well as why they are healthier for our homes and environment. And Magnolia Network is the perfect partner to share these stories."
Developed by CANVAS United, the campaign relates the authenticity and attributes of Real American Hardwood products to the uniqueness and lifestyles of consumers. Five different vignettes capture the spirit of individuality in real-life settings, encouraging consumers to envision how they can build their world with hardwood.
"As long-time partners to the RAHC, we're excited to see the Build Your World campaign launch. We're particularly proud of this campaign's capacity to highlight both the emotional and rational benefits of hardwood," said Mark Lainas, president of CANVAS United. "Leveraging entertaining yet poignant storytelling in the creative will feel relatable to consumers across the country, and allows us to showcase not just the beauty of American hardwoods, but the lasting value of the products."
The ad campaign will run on the Magnolia Network channel, as well as on Magnolia and discovery+ digital streaming platforms. Magnolia Network is available through cable and satellite providers; Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV services; and Magnolia, HGTV, discovery+, and Max streaming apps. The campaign also includes digital and social media components.
To learn more about the Build Your World campaign and Real American Hardwood products, visit realamericanhardwood.com/build-your-world.
Editor's Notes: Photography is available upon request. Real American Hardwood is a registered trademark and Build Your World is a trademark of the Real American Hardwood Coalition.
Media Contact:
Real American Hardwood Coalition
info@RealAmericanHardwood.org
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SOURCE Real American Hardwood Coalition | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/real-american-hardwood-coalition-launches-build-your-world-campaign-partnership-with-magnolia-network/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:59 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/real-american-hardwood-coalition-launches-build-your-world-campaign-partnership-with-magnolia-network/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Trucking company Yellow Corp. has shut down operations and is headed for a bankruptcy filing, according to the Teamsters Union and multiple media reports.
After years of financial struggles, reports of Yellow preparing for bankruptcy emerged last week — as the Nashville, Tennessee-based trucker saw customers leave in large numbers. Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to the Wall Street Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday.
In an announcement early Monday, the Teamsters said that the union received legal notice confirming Yellow was ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy.
“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government,” Teamsters general president Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry.”
The Associated Press reached out to Yellow for comment on Monday. No bankruptcy filings had gone live as of the early morning.
The bankruptcy reports have renewed attention around Yellow’s ongoing negotiations with unionized workers, a $700 million pandemic-era loan from the government and other bills the trucker has racked up over time. Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide Inc., is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. The company’s reported closure puts 30,000 jobs at risk.
Here’s what you need to know.
According to Satish Jindel, president of transportation and logistics firm SJ Consulting, Yellow handled an average of 49,000 shipments per day in 2022. Last week, he estimated that number was down to between 10,000 and 15,000 daily shipments.
With customers leaving — as well reports of Yellow stopping freight pickups last week — bankruptcy would “be the end of Yellow,” Jindel told The Associated Press, noting increased risk for liquidation.
“The likelihood of them surviving and remaining solvent diminishes really by the day,” added Bruce Chan, a research director at investment banking firm Stifel.
Yellow declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press on Friday. In a Wednesday statement to The Journal, the company said it was continuing “to prepare for a range of contingencies.” On Thursday, Yellow said it was in talks with multiple parties about selling its third-party logistics organization.
Even if Yellow was able to sell its logistics firm, it would “not generate a sufficient amount of cash to keep them operational on any sort of permanent basis,” Chan said. “Without a major equity injection, it would be very difficult for them to survive.”
As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 million pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. Last month, a congressional probe concluded that the Treasury and Defense Departments “made missteps” in this decision — and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.”
The government loan is due in September 2024. As of March, Yellow had made $54.8 million in interest payments and repaid just $230 million of the principal owed, according to government documents.
Yellow’s current finances and prospect of bankruptcy “is probably two decades in the making,” Chan said, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.”
In May, Yellow reported a loss of $54.6 million, a decline of $1.06 per share, for its first quarter of 2023. Operating revenue was about $1.16 billion in the period.
A Wednesday investors note from financial service firm Stephens estimated that Yellow could be burning between $9 million and $10 million each day. Using a liquidity disclosure from earlier this month, Yellow had roughly $100 million in cash at the end of June, the note added — estimating that the company has been burning through increasing amounts of money through July.
“It is reasonable to believe that the Company could breach its $35 mil. liquidity requirement at any moment,” Stephens analyst Jack Atkins and associate Grant Smith wrote.
Last week’s reports of bankruptcy preparations arrived just days after a strike from the Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, was averted.
A series of heated exchanges have built up between the Teamsters and Yellow, who sued the union in June after alleging it was “unjustifiably blocking” restructuring plans needed for the company’s survival. The Teamsters called the litigation “baseless” — with O’Brien pointing to Yellow’s “decades of gross mismanagement,” which included exhausting the $700 million federal loan.
On July 23, a pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, averting a strike — and giving Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably $50 million that Yellow failed to pay the Central States Health and Welfare Fund on July 15, the union said. While the strike didn’t occur, talks of a walkout may have caused some Yellow customers to pull back, Chan said.
“The financial struggles of Yellow are not related to the union and the contracts,” Jindel said, pointing to management’s responsibility around its services and prices. He added the union wages from Yellow are “lower than any competitor.”
As Yellow customers take their shipments to other carriers, like FedEx or ABF Freight, prices will go up.
Yellow’s prices have historically been the cheapest compared to other carriers, Jindel said. “That’s why they obviously were not making money,” he added. “And while there is capacity with the other LTL carriers to handle the diversions from Yellow, it will come at a high price for (current shippers and customers) of Yellow.”
Chan adds that we’re in an interesting time for the LTL marketplace — noting that, if Yellow liquidates, “the freight would find a home” with other carriers, which may not have been true in recent years.
“It may take time, but there’s room for it to be absorbed,” he said. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-yellow-is-shutting-down-and-headed-for-bankruptcy-the-teamsters-union-says-heres-what-to-know/ | 2023-07-31T14:54:59 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/business-beat/ap-business/ap-yellow-is-shutting-down-and-headed-for-bankruptcy-the-teamsters-union-says-heres-what-to-know/ |
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Real American Hardwood Coalition (RAHC), the domestic hardwood industry's consumer promotion initiative, recently launched its new Build Your World™ advertising campaign to promote Real American Hardwood® flooring, cabinetry, furniture, and millwork. In partnership with Magnolia Network, the integrated, digital campaign will run through January 29, 2024.
"An advertising campaign on this scale is a first for the American hardwood industry," says Michael Martin, president and CEO of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). "For decades, misinformation has spread and the industry has seen market share slip away to alternative products that offer the wood look, without any of the benefits of real wood. Through the Build Your World campaign, our industry is showing how Real American Hardwood products offer unmatched aesthetics, natural durability, and lasting value—as well as why they are healthier for our homes and environment. And Magnolia Network is the perfect partner to share these stories."
Developed by CANVAS United, the campaign relates the authenticity and attributes of Real American Hardwood products to the uniqueness and lifestyles of consumers. Five different vignettes capture the spirit of individuality in real-life settings, encouraging consumers to envision how they can build their world with hardwood.
"As long-time partners to the RAHC, we're excited to see the Build Your World campaign launch. We're particularly proud of this campaign's capacity to highlight both the emotional and rational benefits of hardwood," said Mark Lainas, president of CANVAS United. "Leveraging entertaining yet poignant storytelling in the creative will feel relatable to consumers across the country, and allows us to showcase not just the beauty of American hardwoods, but the lasting value of the products."
The ad campaign will run on the Magnolia Network channel, as well as on Magnolia and discovery+ digital streaming platforms. Magnolia Network is available through cable and satellite providers; Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV services; and Magnolia, HGTV, discovery+, and Max streaming apps. The campaign also includes digital and social media components.
To learn more about the Build Your World campaign and Real American Hardwood products, visit realamericanhardwood.com/build-your-world.
Editor's Notes: Photography is available upon request. Real American Hardwood is a registered trademark and Build Your World is a trademark of the Real American Hardwood Coalition.
Media Contact:
Real American Hardwood Coalition
info@RealAmericanHardwood.org
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SOURCE Real American Hardwood Coalition | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/real-american-hardwood-coalition-launches-build-your-world-campaign-partnership-with-magnolia-network/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:01 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/real-american-hardwood-coalition-launches-build-your-world-campaign-partnership-with-magnolia-network/ |
Teresa Lancaster, who was featured in The Keepers documentary on Netflix,
is an attorney and sex abuse survivor turned advocate for victims of abuse
BALTIMORE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. today announced that the leading Maryland medical malpractice, personal injury and civil litigation law firm has secured nationally recognized advocate for sexual abuse victims, Teresa Lancaster, as a client of the firm.
Lancaster, a sex abuse victim who was featured in the Netflix documentary, The Keepers, will be represented by the firm and will also serve as a well-respected spokesperson for the thousands of other sex abuse victims across Maryland.
"We are honored to have our firm chosen to represent such a powerful advocate and voice in the fight against sexual abuse in all its forms across Maryland and the entire country," said Jonathan Schochor, Founding Partner and Chairman of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. "Teresa Lancaster has bravely shared her powerful story as a survivor overcoming sexual abuse and has proven to be a compassionate, articulate and impactful spokesperson for all fellow victims fighting for justice. We look forward to working together to share her message and to help bring closure for her and all other sex abuse victims that have had the courage to come forward."
Teresa Lancaster is an attorney and vocal advocate for victims of sexual abuse. She is known for her story being featured in The Keepers, the seven-part documentary on Netflix, which examines decades old sexual abuse cases in Maryland within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Lancaster was the second sexual assault victim to come forward against the Archdiocese of Baltimore for sexual abuse she suffered from a priest while a student at Archbishop Keough High School in the 1970s.
Later in life, Lancaster received her bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and worked as a social work intern at the Baltimore Public Defender's Office in the Juvenile Division where she advocated for juvenile offenders. She later graduated from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and dedicated herself to representing survivors of child sexual abuse seeking justice. As an advocate, Lancaster also worked for years to help pass the bill in the Maryland General Assembly to eliminate the statute of limitations to file lawsuits against alleged sexual abusers across the state.
On April 11, 2023, the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 was passed to eliminate the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse to bring forth civil lawsuits against their alleged abusers. The new law will take effect on October 1, 2023.
About Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A.
Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. has been fighting for patients' rights as a leading medical malpractice law firm since 1984. Additionally, the firm is a recognized leader in sexual abuse cases as well as class action and mass tort litigation. Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. has offices in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Its lawyers are licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and they have been specially admitted on a case-by-case basis by courts in Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia and other states. On special motion and with approval of courts elsewhere, the firm's lawyers are available to participate in cases throughout the United States. To learn more, visit: sfspa.com.
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SOURCE Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/schochor-staton-goldberg-cardea-pa-announce-nationally-recognized-advocate-sex-abuse-victims-new-client-spokesperson/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:06 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/schochor-staton-goldberg-cardea-pa-announce-nationally-recognized-advocate-sex-abuse-victims-new-client-spokesperson/ |
BEIJING, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by China.org.cn on a researcher's perception on the achievements and strategies of urban ecology in three mega urban agglomerations in eastern China.
Nowadays, urban agglomerations in China have ushered in a new era as the pace setter of global urban agglomerations, and the multi-dimensional, long-term systematic and objective evaluation on the temporal change in eco-environment of three mega urban agglomerations in eastern China is crucial for promoting sustainable development of urban agglomerations, said Tang Lina, researcher of Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in an article released by the Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (BCAS, in Chinese), a think tank journal supervised and sponsored by the CAS, which focuses on strategic and decision-making research.
According to the article, from 2000 to 2020, under the multiple effects of ecological protection policies, pollution prevention and control policies at the national and regional levels, the mega urban agglomerations in eastern China demonstrated a fluctuating upward trend of overall eco-environmental quality.
Since 2012, there have been historic, transitional, and comprehensive changes in the eco-environment of three mega urban agglomerations, including significant improvement in the ecological quality, environmental quality, efficiency of resource and energy utilization, and eco-environment management capabilities of the mega urban agglomerations. These changes have laid a solid foundation for the regional ecological progresses and high-quality sustainable development, and provided the best practice for the development of eco-environment in other urban agglomerations in China.
Why does China attach great importance to the protection of urban ecology?
Tang points out in the article, "as the main destinations for the shift of the world economic center, urban agglomerations represent the strategic core areas for national new urbanization and economic growth." The mega urban agglomerations, including the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, the Yangtze River Delta, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with 5.05% of national land area, 25.05% of the total population, and nearly 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP), serve as the core engines of China's economic growth and an important carrier for China's participation in global competition.
However, the article mentions, "intensive human activities have placed enormous pressure on the eco-environment of the three mega urban agglomerations, thus crippling the sustainable development of urban agglomerations." For many years, research institutions such as Chinese Academy of Sciences and relevant scientific research institutes in universities have carried out a lot of research, providing strong technological support for the ecological progress of urban agglomerations.
A report released at 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012 noted, "We should make scientific plans for the scale and layout of urban agglomerations; and we should make small and medium-sized cities and small towns better able to develop industries, provide public services, create jobs, and attract population." Meanwhile, in order to improve the eco-environment of urban agglomerations, enhance their people's well-being, and achieve their sustainable development, China has introduced a series of policies on ecological protection and pollution prevention and control at the national and local levels, and put in place numerous measures and actions for environmental protection.
Specifically, since the 18th CPC National Congress, ecological conservation has become part of the "Five in One" overall layout of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The overall layout refers to the coordination of economic development, political building, cultural development, social progress and ecological conservation. President Xi Jinping's thought on ecological conservation has provided fundamental strategic guidance for the practice of the efforts to keep our skies blue, our waters clear, and our land pollution-free in the three major urban agglomerations in eastern China. In 2018, China incorporated ecological conservation into the Constitution, providing fundamental legal support for the ecological conservation in urban agglomerations.
Thanks to the efforts made by the central government and the Chinese people, China has achieved significant improvement in the quality of atmospheric environment and sustained improvement of the quality of water environment. The average annual concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of the three mega urban agglomerations increased first and then decreased. It shows sustained improvement in the proportion of good quality of surface water and in the efficiency of resource and energy utilization, accompanied by a remarkable decrease in the pollutant emissions per unit GDP. Moreover, its eco-environmental infrastructure became much better.
To promote the further high-quality development of the mega urban agglomerations, five solutions and prospects are proposed as follows.
First, China should seize the opportunity to stimulate economic transformation and structural reform through low-carbon development, so as to put the mega urban agglomerations into a virtuous cycle of green and low-carbon development.
Second, it is necessary to strengthen regional alignment and inter-department collaboration, to ensure the coordination of multiple elements of the eco-environment and cross-regional coordination.
Third, the country should strengthen the full-life cycle environmental risk management of chemical substances, and build a policy and standard system for environmental risk management of toxic chemical substances.
Fourth, it is needed to promote the implementation of targeted policies tailored to different categories and zones of the mega urban agglomerations and implement targeted policies based on their development orientation.
Finally, China should keep leveraging the role of technological progress in supporting ecological management.
Researcher shares insights into achievements and strategies of urban ecology in E China
http://belt.china.org.cn/2023-07/31/content_96918334.htm
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SOURCE China.org.cn | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/researcher-shares-insights-into-achievements-strategies-urban-ecology-e-china/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:08 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/researcher-shares-insights-into-achievements-strategies-urban-ecology-e-china/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-4-crew-members-on-australian-army-helicopter-that-crashed-off-coast-didnt-survive-officials-say/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:07 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-4-crew-members-on-australian-army-helicopter-that-crashed-off-coast-didnt-survive-officials-say/ |
LINCOLN, Neb., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sophie Norman joined Assurity Life Insurance Company as its new Senior Director of Assurity Ventures Inc (AVI). Norman will focus on recruiting and developing new non-traditional distribution partners for Assurity through Assurity Ventures, the company's business arm dedicated to building relationships with insurtech and fintech startups to harness new methods of interacting with prospective customers.
"Sophie brings significant insurance experience and is strategic in her approach, with an eye on long-term growth," said Todd Reimers, Assurity's Senior Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer. "We welcome Sophie to Assurity and look forward to accomplishing great things together."
Norman comes to Assurity with a background as an independent broker, agency manager and a benefits strategist. She brings industry expertise as a Director of Operations at a well-respected actuarial firm, has launched technology platforms for her clients and is an experienced public speaker. Norman studied Business and Finance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she earned her bachelor's degree. She enjoys spending time with her family.
About Assurity: As a mutual organization, Assurity was founded on the simple concept of people coming together to support each other in moments of need. We help people through difficult times by providing affordable insurance protection that's easy to understand and buy. We all share in the future we create, and we believe in using our business as a force for good.
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SOURCE Assurity | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sophie-norman-joins-assurity-ventures-senior-director/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:12 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sophie-norman-joins-assurity-ventures-senior-director/ |
- Highly Accomplished Fintech Executive with Proven Track Record of Delivering Superior Performance and Innovation
- Bob Walters, Rocket Companies Executive and Rocket Mortgage CEO to Retire Effective September 5
- Krishna to Succeed Walters as Rocket Mortgage CEO in dual role; Bill Emerson to Become President and Chief Operating Officer of Rocket Companies
DETROIT, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), a Detroit-based fintech platform company consisting of tech-driven mortgage, real estate and financial services businesses, including Rocket Mortgage, Rocket Homes, Rocket Loans and Rocket Money, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed accomplished fintech executive Varun Krishna as the company's Chief Executive Officer, effective September 5, 2023.
Krishna will succeed Bill Emerson, who has served as interim Chief Executive Officer since June. Emerson will continue in his interim role until Krishna joins the Company, and will remain on the Rocket Companies Board while also working with Krishna to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
Krishna has more than 20 years of experience building consumer platform strategies for leading global fintech companies. Most recently, Krishna served as Executive Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Group of Intuit, Inc., where he oversaw the organization's end-to-end suite of consumer and tax products and services, including TurboTax and TurboTax Live. During his tenure, TurboTax Live became the fastest growing product in Intuit's history. Prior to Intuit, Krishna served as Senior Director of Product at PayPal, where he managed the company's global consumer product team.
"Varun is a visionary leader with a proven track record of helping consumers achieve financial freedom. Throughout his career, he has delivered innovative, technology-driven client experiences for complex personal transactions in large, fragmented markets," said Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Rocket Companies. "Varun's experience aligns perfectly with Rocket's vision, making him the ideal person to drive growth, strong performance and operational excellence at Rocket. On behalf of the entire Board and our team members, I welcome Varun as Rocket's new CEO."
"We also thank Bill for his support in stepping up to serve as our interim Chief Executive," added Gilbert. "Having served as CEO of Rocket Mortgage, our flagship business, for 15 years, he is the right person to work alongside Varun going forward to ensure a seamless transition."
"I am honored to join the Rocket Companies team," said Krishna. "Rocket has a rock-solid foundation and tremendous potential, with its comprehensive ecosystem and industry-renowned technology, strong brand and award-winning client service. I look forward to working with Bill, the Board and Rocket's exceptionally talented team members to drive the company's future success and create long-term value for our stakeholders."
The company also announced that Bob Walters has informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire on September 5, when he will step down from his roles as CEO of Rocket Mortgage and as President and Chief Operating Officer of Rocket Companies. Krishna will succeed Walters at that time as Rocket Mortgage CEO and Emerson will assume the roles of President and Chief Operating Officer for Rocket Companies.
"Since joining Rocket Mortgage more than 26 years ago, Bob has built an exceptional team and strengthened our foundation to enable the company to grow in any market," said Gilbert. "His legacy as a leader and an expert in Capital Markets will leave a lasting impact on Rocket Mortgage and I thank him for the years of dedication to our business."
"For the last 27 years, I have been honored to work alongside many special and talented people who are also some of the very best anyone could ever hope to spend a career with," Walters said. "I'm excited about the next chapter, but I will deeply miss the camaraderie, passion and excellence of everyone who has built Rocket into the great company that it is. I am proud to be able to leave with the business in great hands, knowing, as Dan Gilbert often reminds us, 'Our best days are most certainly ahead.'"
"Dan's impact on numerous industries, the cities of Detroit and Cleveland and so much more has been, and continues to be, profound. I couldn't have known so many years ago when I started that I'd have a front row seat to history. Working closely with Dan and learning from him has been the privilege of a lifetime," Walters added.
About Varun Krishna
Krishna has served as Executive Vice President & General Manager of Intuit's Consumer Group since his appointment in May of 2022. Prior to this role, he served in a variety of leadership roles within the TurboTax and Mint businesses, most notably as its Senior Vice President and GM from 2020-2022. Before Intuit, he served as Senior Director of Product at PayPal, where he managed the global consumer product organization. Prior to these roles, Krishna held a myriad of product leadership roles at Groupon and Betterworks and spent nine years at Microsoft, where he was named to several positions of increasing responsibility.
Krishna holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Waterloo in Canada.
About Rocket Companies
Founded in 1985, Rocket Companies is a Detroit-based fintech platform company consisting of personal finance and consumer technology brands including Rocket Mortgage, Rocket Homes, Amrock, Rocket Money, Rocket Loans, Rocket Mortgage Canada, Lendesk, Core Digital Media, Rocket Central and Rocket Connections.
Rocket Companies' mission is to be the best at creating certainty in life's most complex moments so its clients can pursue their financial dreams. The Company helps clients achieve the goal of home ownership and financial freedom through industry-leading client experiences powered by its simple, fast and trusted digital solutions. J.D. Power has ranked Rocket Mortgage, part of Rocket Companies, #1 in client satisfaction for both primary mortgage origination and servicing 21 times – the most of any mortgage lender.
For more information, please visit the Company's Corporate Website or Investor Relations Website.
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SOURCE Rocket Companies, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/rocket-companies-appoints-varun-krishna-chief-executive-officer/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:14 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/rocket-companies-appoints-varun-krishna-chief-executive-officer/ |
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.”
___
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-as-the-pope-heads-to-portugal-he-is-laying-the-groundwork-for-the-churchs-future-and-his-legacy/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:14 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-as-the-pope-heads-to-portugal-he-is-laying-the-groundwork-for-the-churchs-future-and-his-legacy/ |
Leveraging AI, Topline Pro Scales to Help the Millions of Small Home Service Businesses Succeed
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Topline Pro, a Generative AI platform enabling home services professionals to manage and scale their businesses online, today announced $12M in Series A funding led by Forerunner Ventures (Brian O'Malley) along with support from Bonfire Ventures (Jim Andelman), TMV (Soraya Darabi), BBG Ventures (Susan Lyne).
Topline Pro is democratizing the key building blocks for managing and growing a Home Services business, which is uniquely possible through AI advancements. The platform enables pros, from general contractors to landscapers, to be discovered, trusted and booked — repeatedly. Topline Pro's mission is to ensure more home service business owners succeed by providing all the tools and resources they need, so pros can focus more on their craft versus the operational overhead of running a small business.
Topline Pro's intuitive interface empowers pros to efficiently and seamlessly manage and grow business by helping them:
- Build a thriving online presence through custom generated content, from personalized social media content to a custom website and online ads, while syncing content to and from local listings
- Gain trust and showcasing experience through robust reviews collection, response and showcasing capabilities
- Get paid online, schedule and book business, and develop meaningful customer relationships
Topline leverages generative AI across its suite of offerings so business owners can focus more on their craft and doing work in the field, instead of sinking time and energy into growing and managing the business in the background. To date, the platform has generated over $180M in business across thousands of businesses in nearly all 50 states.
"Topline Pro is akin to a Shopify for Home Services businesses," said Brian O'Malley, Managing Director at Forerunner Ventures. "By building a vertical stack for this ecosystem, Topline has the opportunity to bring this underserved category online and empower greater economic opportunity."
Until the creation of Topline Pro, the home service market was mostly served through marketplaces and intermediaries for connecting homeowners with service providers. The prevailing system and solutions has been inefficient and expensive, where business owners have no other option but to pay significantly for leads without any guarantee of winning the work. Topline Pro believes in tipping the power back towards Home Services small business owners, where they have more control and resources to grow and operate their business directly.
"Home Services businesses are part of the backbone of the American economy and an industry that consumers rely on for the safety and comfort of their home, but the space has been overlooked for far too long due to structural and cultural dynamics, such as market fragmentation and misplaced stigma," said Nick Ornitz, CEO and Co-founder of Topline Pro. "Topline Pro is on a mission to help millions of home service business owners in the more than $500Bn market be more likely to succeed.".
Topline Pro will use the recent funding to further expand Generative AI capabilities across the existing suite of tools, build out additional product offerings, and expand their team across multiple roles in engineering, product, customer success, marketing and sales.
Topline Pro
Topline Pro (toplinepro.com) is a platform that empowers service based small businesses to get discovered, build trust, and get booked, repeatedly. Topline Pro utilizes generative AI to automate the creation of a SEO optimized website and ongoing online engagement along with tools that streamline operations from booking to payment. Topline Pro enables the business owner to own the relationship with their customers and grow their business while focusing on what they do best, exceptional service in the field. Topline Pro has generated over $180M in business across thousands of businesses in nearly all 50 states.
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SOURCE Topline Pro | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/topline-pro-announces-12m-series-funding-reshape-economic-opportunity-home-services/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:18 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/topline-pro-announces-12m-series-funding-reshape-economic-opportunity-home-services/ |
Teresa Lancaster, who was featured in The Keepers documentary on Netflix,
is an attorney and sex abuse survivor turned advocate for victims of abuse
BALTIMORE, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. today announced that the leading Maryland medical malpractice, personal injury and civil litigation law firm has secured nationally recognized advocate for sexual abuse victims, Teresa Lancaster, as a client of the firm.
Lancaster, a sex abuse victim who was featured in the Netflix documentary, The Keepers, will be represented by the firm and will also serve as a well-respected spokesperson for the thousands of other sex abuse victims across Maryland.
"We are honored to have our firm chosen to represent such a powerful advocate and voice in the fight against sexual abuse in all its forms across Maryland and the entire country," said Jonathan Schochor, Founding Partner and Chairman of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. "Teresa Lancaster has bravely shared her powerful story as a survivor overcoming sexual abuse and has proven to be a compassionate, articulate and impactful spokesperson for all fellow victims fighting for justice. We look forward to working together to share her message and to help bring closure for her and all other sex abuse victims that have had the courage to come forward."
Teresa Lancaster is an attorney and vocal advocate for victims of sexual abuse. She is known for her story being featured in The Keepers, the seven-part documentary on Netflix, which examines decades old sexual abuse cases in Maryland within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Lancaster was the second sexual assault victim to come forward against the Archdiocese of Baltimore for sexual abuse she suffered from a priest while a student at Archbishop Keough High School in the 1970s.
Later in life, Lancaster received her bachelor's degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and worked as a social work intern at the Baltimore Public Defender's Office in the Juvenile Division where she advocated for juvenile offenders. She later graduated from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and dedicated herself to representing survivors of child sexual abuse seeking justice. As an advocate, Lancaster also worked for years to help pass the bill in the Maryland General Assembly to eliminate the statute of limitations to file lawsuits against alleged sexual abusers across the state.
On April 11, 2023, the Maryland Child Victims Act of 2023 was passed to eliminate the statute of limitations for adult survivors of sexual abuse to bring forth civil lawsuits against their alleged abusers. The new law will take effect on October 1, 2023.
About Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A.
Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. has been fighting for patients' rights as a leading medical malpractice law firm since 1984. Additionally, the firm is a recognized leader in sexual abuse cases as well as class action and mass tort litigation. Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. has offices in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Its lawyers are licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and they have been specially admitted on a case-by-case basis by courts in Florida, Nevada, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia and other states. On special motion and with approval of courts elsewhere, the firm's lawyers are available to participate in cases throughout the United States. To learn more, visit: sfspa.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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-china-imposes-curbs-on-drone-exports-citing-ukraine-and-concern-about-military-use/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:22 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-china-imposes-curbs-on-drone-exports-citing-ukraine-and-concern-about-military-use/ |
BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VICE Media Group today announced the completion of its sale to a consortium of its former lenders (the "Investor Group"), which consists of funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC ("Fortress"), Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital.
"This marks the start of an exciting new chapter for VICE," said Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, VICE's Co-Chief Executive Officers. "With the support of our Investor Group, we now have the resources to strengthen our business, our partnerships and our content creation across all platforms. Under new ownership and with this leadership team, VICE is positioned to drive our uniquely differentiated brand of news, entertainment and lifestyle content that makes VICE a trusted brand for global audiences and a valued partner to brands, agencies and platforms."
"We are very pleased to complete the acquisition of VICE and we are excited to build upon the achievements of one of the most iconic brands in news and entertainment," the Investor Group said in a joint statement. "We look forward to growing a strong business that is committed to serving audiences, brands and partners with award-winning content. With a strong management team in place, VICE is well-positioned to grow its uniquely compelling world class businesses and drive value during its next chapter."
VICE Media Group is a multi-platform media company with a global reach of over 400 million people. Its Emmy and Peabody award-winning News division is one of the most trusted news sources among Gen Z and is watched on TikTok and other social platforms by hundreds of millions of people. Its studio group, including VICE Studios and Pulse Films, produced Bamarush for HBO Max, Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now for Netflix, The American Gladiators Documentary for ESPN, Gangs of London for Sky, and Tell Me Lies for Hulu. Its award-winning publishing division includes VICE.com, Refinery29 and the fashion bible i-D. Its advertising, commercial and music video teams, including the creative agency Virtue, work with brands including Coke and Target and artists such as Harry Styles, and has created award-winning campaigns such as "Backup Ukraine" and "Unfiltered History." VICE TV is home to shows including Tales from the Territories, produced by Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and the Dark Side franchise, including the breakout hit Dark Side of the Ring.
About VICE Media Group
VICE Media Group is a global multi-platform media company. Launched in 1994, VICE has offices across multiple countries and a focus on five key businesses: An award-winning network of digital content; an Oscar-nominated feature film and television production studio; an Emmy-winning international television network, VICE TV; a Peabody and Emmy award-winning News division; and a global, full-service creative agency, Virtue. VICE Media Group's portfolio includes Refinery29, a leading global media and entertainment company focused on women; Pulse Films, a London-based next-generation production studio with an office in Los Angeles; and i-D, a global digital and quarterly magazine defining fashion and contemporary culture and design.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Bing
jonathan.bing@vice.com
(818) 643-0146
or
Sophie Throsby / Lyle Weston
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449
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SOURCE VICE Media Group | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/vice-media-group-completes-sale-lenders/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:25 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/vice-media-group-completes-sale-lenders/ |
SAN DIEGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics Inc. today revealed pricing and availability for the new Sony BRAVIA XR A95L QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV. This model comes in 55" (54.6" diag.), 65" (64.5" diag.) and 77" (76.7" diag.) class sizes with suggested retail price starting at $2,799.99. The A95L offers Sony's best color ever and will be available for pre-order starting August 21 at Sony authorized dealers nationwide.
U.S. pricing and availability details:
- 77" Class (76.7" diag): $4,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 65" Class (64.5" diag): $3,499.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 55" Class (54.6" diag): $2,799.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
Canada pricing and availability details:
- 77" Class (76.7" diag): $6,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 65" Class (64.5" diag): $4,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
- 55" Class (54.6" diag): $3,999.99 MSRP (Available to pre-order on 8/21/2023)
For full A95L specifications, please visit: https://electronics.sony.com/tv-video/televisions/all-tvs/p/xr65a95l
BRAVIA XR A95L QD-OLED 4K HDR Google TV Key Features:
Enjoy the brightest and widest range of colors and hues, powered by the intelligent Cognitive Processor XR™. With a QD-OLED screen enhanced by XR Triluminos Max™, experience color performance with up to 200% as much color brightness of a conventional OLED TV. Individually lit pixels produce pure black, so your favorite movies, shows, and games burst to life on screen with extraordinary detail and depth.
- Google TV: Get access to all your favorite streaming apps in one place with Google TV™, and simply use your voice to search and ask questions with Google Assistant. 1
- Intelligent and powerful TV processing: Powered by Sony's intelligent Cognitive Processor XR™, hundreds of thousands of individual on-screen elements are processed and remastered in the blink of an eye, boosting color, contrast, and clarity.
- Sony's widest palette of colors: With QD-OLED panel technology and enhanced by XR Triluminos Max™, millions of self-illuminating individual pixels deliver more saturation and brightness to every color.
- Definitive contrast: By pairing the QD-OLED panel and XR OLED Contrast Pro™, see up to 200% color brightness compared to conventional OLED TVs, bringing scenes to life with pure black and our brightest colors.
- Multi View: Exclusively on the A95L, use Multi View to split your screen and enjoy watching content from two different sources at the same time. Such as playing a game on one side and watching a walkthrough on the other.2,3
- Perfect for PlayStation® 5: Take your gaming to the next level with exclusive features Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode for optimized picture quality while gaming and streaming on your PS5® console.4
- All game settings in one place: With Game Menu, quickly manage your gaming picture settings and exclusive assist features in a single convenient interface.
- With Acoustic Surface Audio+™, actuators behind the TV vibrate to produce audio from the entire screen elevating the sound and improving dialogue. An integrated subwoofer delivers powerful bass to round out the sound.
- Pairs perfectly with Sony soundbars: Paired with select Sony soundbars, Acoustic Center Sync synchronizes the TVs speakers with the soundbar, boosting the center channel for clearer, fuller vocals. When connected, soundbar settings automatically appear on the TV's Quick Settings menu for easy to control of volume, sound field, and other soundbar features.5
- Enhanced TV experience with included BRAVIA CAM: Connect the supplied BRAVIA CAM to unlock Ambient Optimization Pro which automatically optimizes the picture and sound to where you're sitting in the room. You can also enjoy video chat with friends and family on the big screen.6
- All Eco settings in one place: With the Eco Dashboard, energy saving settings can now be centrally managed. You can easily customize energy saving settings for your TV usage, viewing environment, and the content you are watching.
Sony is keeping its commitment to decreasing plastic usage through its Road to Zero initiative. To reduce environmental impact, Sony is working on multiple aspects of the product life cycle, such as reduction of virgin plastic use, improvement of transportation efficiency and reviewing energy consumption during use. Additionally, the new Eco Dashboard included on all 2023 BRAVIA XR models allows users to easily customize energy saving preferences and settings.
About Sony Electronics, Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation, one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics, and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.
1 User must accept Google Terms of Service (http://www.google.com/policies/terms/), Play Terms of Service (https://play.google.com/intl/en-US_us/about/play-terms/index.html) and Privacy Policy (http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/) to use TV. User must connect to a Google Account to use certain advertised features, including voice to activate linked apps, and install certain apps and operating software during setup. Use of TV without connecting to a Google Account allows only basic TV features and certain apps. Wireless connectivity requires 802.11 home network (802.11n recommended). Network services, content, operating system, and software of this product may be subject to separate or third-party terms and conditions and changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require fees, registration and credit card information. Apps must be compatible with TV. App availability varies by region and device. Google TV is the name of this device's software experience. Google, Google TV and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
2 Screen Size feature will be available via future firmware update.
3 Multi View feature will be available via future firmware update.
4 To activate Auto HDR Tone Mapping, must enable feature when pairing TV and PS5 for the first time; or will need to disconnect TV and PS5, perform factory reset on PS5 and enable the feature during initial setup. Auto Genre Picture Mode works when Auto Picture Mode on the TV is set to ON. Both features are supported only when PS5 and TV are directly connected. Applicable models: All BRAVIA XR models, X85K, X80K.
5 Acoustic Centre Sync works with compatible Sony soundbars and AV receivers. For full compatibility list visit https://www.sony.net/hav_faq.
6 Other than video chat, some BRAVIA CAM features may require future firmware update.
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SOURCE Sony Electronics, Inc. | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sony-electronics-announces-pricing-availability-sony-bravia-xr-a95l-qd-oled-4k-hdr-google-tv/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:27 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sony-electronics-announces-pricing-availability-sony-bravia-xr-a95l-qd-oled-4k-hdr-google-tv/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-cyprus-court-hands-british-man-a-2-year-prison-term-for-killing-his-ailing-wife-to-spare-her-pain/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:30 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-cyprus-court-hands-british-man-a-2-year-prison-term-for-killing-his-ailing-wife-to-spare-her-pain/ |
Timely discussion specifies how hospice provides compassionate care to the nation's most vulnerable while driving substantial Medicare cost savings
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VITAS Healthcare's Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Joseph Shega, MD, along with Dianne Munevar, Vice President of Health Care Strategy at NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC), and Susan Lloyd, MSN, RN, Chief Executive Officer of Delaware Hospice, participated in a Capitol Hill briefing on Thursday, July 27, to educate Congress about a recent study by NORC that illustrates the value of hospice in Medicare. Specifically, the panelists highlighted how the research demonstrates that earlier referral to hospice benefits patients and families while simultaneously delivering more cost savings to Medicare.
"As a fundamentally patient- and family-centered care model," says Dr. Shega, "hospice provides patients with improved clinical outcomes and pain management, reduced physical and emotional distress, and the ability to spend their last days with dignity at home among loved ones."
The NORC report was released in March 2023. The in-depth study found that greater utilization of hospice during the last six months of life is associated with increased patient satisfaction and quality of life, while also reducing Medicare costs—with $3.5 billion in savings in a single year.
The research identified an opportunity to deliver value through greater access to hospice care for patients with chronic and serious diseases such as cancer, respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease/end-stage renal disease, with a projected savings to Medicare of 17% to 25%.
For patients with dementia, NORC's analysis found that, within the study period, end-of-life care continues to generate cost savings related to neurodegenerative disease. The panelists presented these findings and more during the briefing in Washington, D.C., in coordination with the two national trade associations, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC).
One opportunity brought to light by the NORC study, according to the panelists, is the need for a community-based palliative care benefit to support earlier transitions to hospice which will, in turn, continue to drive quality and Medicare savings. Investing in serious illness care increases the quality of end-of-life care for millions of patients, families and caregivers across the country.
"Former President Jimmy Carter's hospice journey is a testament to the value of longer hospice stays," says Dr. Shega. "He is an excellent example of someone who sought out hospice care earlier in his advanced disease state so he could spend his remaining time in comfort and surrounded by family."
One of the nation's first hospice and palliative care providers, VITAS has devoted 45 years of compassionate care to patients and their families throughout 14 states and the District of Columbia. As an organization, VITAS supports the ethic that all hospice-eligible patients should have the opportunity to access hospice in a way—and for a length of time—that allows them to fully benefit from this person- and family-centered care model.
About VITAS® Healthcare
Established in 1978, VITAS Healthcare is a pioneer and leader in the American hospice movement. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 50 hospice programs in 14 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia. VITAS employs 10,328 professionals who care for patients with advanced illness, primarily in the patients' homes, and also in the company's 25 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities for the elderly. At the conclusion of the first quarter of 2023, VITAS reported an average daily census of 18,542. Visit www.vitas.com.
Media inquiries contact: media@vitas.com, 877-848-2701
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SOURCE VITAS Healthcare | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/vitas-healthcare-co-leads-value-hospice-panel-briefing-congress/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:31 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/vitas-healthcare-co-leads-value-hospice-panel-briefing-congress/ |
The magic of McDonald’s? You always know what you’re going to get. No matter which one you walk into — whether in Islip, New York, or Istanbul, Turkey — you can order a Big Mac and fries. And it will taste the same.
But will it cost the same? No.
Recently, a man named Sam Learner was traveling on the Connecticut Turnpike when he discovered just how variable the prices can be. After pulling into a rest stop in Darien, Connecticut, he was astounded by the prices he saw on the McDonald’s menu. A Big Mac combo meal with fries and a soft drink costs $17.59. So he snapped a photo and posted it to Twitter.
This was at a rest stop, but these McDonald’s prices are nuts right??? pic.twitter.com/0qq8Ima3ZA
— Sam Learner (@sam_learner) July 18, 2023
MORE: McDonald’s Indonesia launches wedding packages with McNuggets
Why so expensive? Since about 90% of McDonald’s franchises are independently operated, the owners can set their own prices. If you own a McDonald’s at a rest stop along a highway (where people are hungry and in unfamiliar territory), you can charge more for the same product. And franchise owners in areas with a high per-capita income also tend to charge higher prices.
Learner did some more sleuthing and quickly followed this tweet up with a second one:
Ok, I did a little digging and I think I might have stumbled into the country’s most expensive McDonald’s. Its $8.29 Big Mac is missing from this map, which lists $8.09 in Lee, MA as the country’s most expensive (though from a few months ago to be fair): https://t.co/SjbQh2N1UF pic.twitter.com/q3zvTFHJuv
— Sam Learner (@sam_learner) July 19, 2023
Unsurprisingly, Learner’s tweets sparked a lively Twitter debate about the economics of fast food.
“I downloaded the mcdonald’s app to check – same items are just about half the price less than 2 miles away at a different store,” commented Bad Gibbon @Mostlymonkey. “Wow, that is a hell of a convenience premium!”
Many people commented on the injustice of price gouging, with others urging people not to eat at McDonald’s anymore.
“Rest stops are literally highway robbery,” wrote Bella @imbellawonder.
But the most depressing response came from ednycinc44, who shared what McDonald’s prices were in 1972, when a Big Mac cost $.65 cents:
Those were the days…. Hamburger, Fries, & a Coke plus change back from you pic.twitter.com/yhhshDSMRP
— ednycinc44 (@ednycinc44) July 21, 2023
MORE: This recipe features McDonald’s Big Mac flavors in a salad
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Check out Simplemost for additional stories. | https://www.abcactionnews.com/a-nearly-18-big-mac-meal-is-creating-a-stir-on-social-media | 2023-07-31T14:55:34 | 0 | https://www.abcactionnews.com/a-nearly-18-big-mac-meal-is-creating-a-stir-on-social-media |
NEW YORK (AP) — Troubled trucking company Yellow Corp. is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday.
An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. Its expected liquidation would mark a significant shift for the U.S. transportation industry and shippers nationwide.
“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government. This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.
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The Associated Press reached out to Yellow for comment on Monday. No bankruptcy filings were found as of the early morning.
The company's collapse arrives just three years after Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide, Inc., received $700 million in pandemic-era loans from the federal government. But the company was in financial trouble long before that — with industry analysts pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back decades.
Former Yellow customers and shippers will face higher prices as they take their business to competitors, including FedEx or ABF Freight, experts say — noting that Yellow historically offered the cheapest price points in the industry.
Yellow is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. The 99-year-old Nashville, Tennessee-based company had 30,000 employees across the country as of earlier this year.
On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal and FreightWaves reported that Yellow was preparing for bankruptcy — with some noting that customers had already started to leave the carrier in large numbers. And the company reportedly stopped freight pickups earlier in the week.
Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to The Wall Street Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday.
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The bankruptcy preparation reports arrived just days after Yellow averted a strike from the Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, amid heated contract negotiations. On July 23, a pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, avoiding a planned walkout — and giving Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably $50 million that Yellow failed to pay the Central States Health and Welfare Fund on July 15.
Yellow has racked up hefty bills over the years. As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 million pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. Last month, a congressional probe concluded that the Treasury and Defense departments “made missteps” in this decision — and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.”
The government loan is due in September 2024. As of March, Yellow had made $54.8 million in interest payments and repaid just $230 million of the principal owed, according to government documents.
The current financial chaos at Yellow “is probably two decades in the making,” said Stifel research director Bruce Chan, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.”
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A Wednesday investors note from financial service firm Stephens estimated that Yellow was burning daily amount of $9 million to $10 million in recent days.
According to Satish Jindel, president of transportation and logistics firm SJ Consulting, Yellow handled an average of 49,000 shipments per day in 2022. On Friday, he estimated that number was down to between 10,000 and 15,000 daily shipments.
Yellow’s prices have historically been the cheapest compared to other carriers, Jindel said. “That’s why they obviously were not making money,” he added. “And while there is capacity with the other LTL carriers to handle the diversions from Yellow, it will come at a high price for (current shippers and customers) of Yellow.”
—-
AP Business Writer Matt Ott contributed to this report. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/business/teamsters-say-yellow-corp-is-ceasing-operations-filing-bankruptcy/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:34 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/business/teamsters-say-yellow-corp-is-ceasing-operations-filing-bankruptcy/ |
LINCOLN, Neb., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sophie Norman joined Assurity Life Insurance Company as its new Senior Director of Assurity Ventures Inc (AVI). Norman will focus on recruiting and developing new non-traditional distribution partners for Assurity through Assurity Ventures, the company's business arm dedicated to building relationships with insurtech and fintech startups to harness new methods of interacting with prospective customers.
"Sophie brings significant insurance experience and is strategic in her approach, with an eye on long-term growth," said Todd Reimers, Assurity's Senior Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer. "We welcome Sophie to Assurity and look forward to accomplishing great things together."
Norman comes to Assurity with a background as an independent broker, agency manager and a benefits strategist. She brings industry expertise as a Director of Operations at a well-respected actuarial firm, has launched technology platforms for her clients and is an experienced public speaker. Norman studied Business and Finance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she earned her bachelor's degree. She enjoys spending time with her family.
About Assurity: As a mutual organization, Assurity was founded on the simple concept of people coming together to support each other in moments of need. We help people through difficult times by providing affordable insurance protection that's easy to understand and buy. We all share in the future we create, and we believe in using our business as a force for good.
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SOURCE Assurity | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sophie-norman-joins-assurity-ventures-senior-director/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:34 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/sophie-norman-joins-assurity-ventures-senior-director/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-french-daredevil-who-climbed-towers-around-world-believed-to-have-fallen-to-his-death-in-hong-kong/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:36 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-french-daredevil-who-climbed-towers-around-world-believed-to-have-fallen-to-his-death-in-hong-kong/ |
Roar's passion for creating virtual, immersive social experiences brings talent and technology to Yuga that greatly complements Yuga's expansive vision for Otherside.
Roar Studios' Founder and CEO, Eric Reid, to join Yuga as the General Manager of Otherside.
MIAMI, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yuga Labs, web3 leader and home of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), CryptoPunks, Meebits, 10KTF, and Otherside today announced it has agreed to acquire Roar Studios, a company at the convergence of gaming, social media, and the metaverse with deep technology and AI roots.
Roar Studios is the developer of ROAR, an immersive media experience where artists and fans connect, collaborate, and compete in real time from anywhere.
Developed by Roar's leading team of audio, game, and AI engineers, ROAR combines innovative proprietary technology with established MMO game and platform systems to produce an entirely new product category: an experiential, semi-autonomous music and entertainment world driven by individual content creators and community consensus.
As Yuga Labs develops Otherside – its ambitious, interoperable metaverse – the Roar team will contribute their innovative technology, specialized expertise, and leadership.
"Roar Studios has redefined what it means to experience media content in the metaverse," said Daniel Alegre, CEO of Yuga Labs. "Yuga's North Star is creating new ways for communities to connect and express themselves, and I am excited to welcome Roar's talented team to our Yuga family. Roar's dedication to creative content creation and social connections will accelerate our execution of our bold vision for Otherside and Yuga's ecosystem more broadly."
Roar Studios' Founder and CEO, Eric Reid, added, "Our team's mission is to empower players to create and be social in a community-driven, open media experience, so our work fundamentally aligns with Yuga's larger web3 metaverse strategy. When Daniel and Mike Seavers opened the door for us to contribute to Yuga's paradigm-shifting approach to content and immersive experiences, we jumped at the opportunity."
Following the acquisition, Reid will join Yuga as the General Manager of Otherside. He will be charged with evolving the vision and leading the development and production of the platform, together with the highly experienced Yuga executive team. Prior to Roar, Reid spent more than two decades building teams and creating and distributing film, television, and music content for audiences worldwide (including film franchises such as UNDERWORLD).
About Yuga Labs
Yuga Labs is a web3 company shaping the future through storytelling, experiences, and community. Guided by the belief that the potential of web3 can be realized when we start with imagination, not limitations, Yuga's initiatives aim to reinvent what real-world utility for NFTs look like and push the space forward as a whole. Since their launch in April 2021 with flagship collection Bored Ape Yacht Club, they've made headlines as one of the first companies to release IP licenses to their NFT holders, acquired and released rights to other top collections (CryptoPunks and Meebits), and made web3 history with record-breaking synchronized player participation in their newest initiative, Otherside. One of the most ambitious interactive metaverse projects to date, Otherside is built with the community, rebelling against traditional walled gardens in gaming spaces. In March 2022, Yuga Labs raised a $450M seed round at a $4B valuation.
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SOURCE Yuga Labs | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yuga-labs-agrees-acquire-technology-innovator-roar-studios/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:37 | 0 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yuga-labs-agrees-acquire-technology-innovator-roar-studios/ |
The Police Department in Lake Station, Indiana, said that a van's air conditioning unit was to blame for a number of canines succumbing to heat stroke.
The police did not give specific numbers on how many canines died, but NBC Chicago reported that eight dogs died inside the van. There were 18 canines being transported inside the van, the report said.
The incident occurred on July 27. According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature in the Chicago area reached 93 degrees.
Police said the van was in transit from Chicago's O'Hare Airport to a K-9 training facility Michigan City, Indiana, when it got caught in a two-hour traffic jam. While this was occurring, police said the driver was unaware that the air conditioning in the cargo area was not functioning.
"The driver’s attention as to what was going on inside the cargo area was alerted to him by some of the canines barking," the police said. "Once inside the the cargo area, he observed the canines in distress and began to remove the canines who were crated. This prompted 911 calls to the Lake Station Fire Department and EMS along with the Lake Station Police Department."
SEE MORE: Animal rescue owner charged after grisly discovery
Police said that the canines were transported to area veterinarians for treatment.
In June, two police K9s died in separate incidents that also involved air conditioning units malfunctioning. On June 6, K-9 Chase of the Cobb County Police Department in Georgia died from a heat stroke. A week later, Aron died from heat exhaustion after being left in a hot police cruiser.
In 2022, the Officer Down Memorial Page reported that two K-9s died in a similar fashion with departments claiming their cruisers’ heat monitoring systems failed.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.abcactionnews.com/eight-k9s-dead-after-van-s-ac-unit-fails | 2023-07-31T14:55:40 | 1 | https://www.abcactionnews.com/eight-k9s-dead-after-van-s-ac-unit-fails |
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — A woman is in serious condition at Rhode Island Hospital after her husband allegedly shot her in her right thigh early Monday, before killing himself.
Police confirmed that the alleged shooter was Walter Lopez, 52, who was pronounced dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Lopez’s wife, who police have identified only as a 34-year-old woman, was found injured from the gunshot wound inside a home at 765 Fairmount St. Officers applied tourniquets to her leg to control bleeding, and she was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, said Deputy Chief Thomas A. Calouro.
Investigators responded to the home shortly after receiving a 911 call at 2:13 a.m. Monday from a 20-year-old family member who said he was awoken by the sound of a gunshot, Calouro told the Globe.
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The unidentified 20-year-old man and his 3-year-old sister were unharmed, police said. An animal control unit removed the family’s dog from the home.
Police have responded to at least three incidents at the Fairmount Street home in the last week.
Calouro said police received complaints of larceny on July 25 and on Saturday, both of which were arguments over a vehicle and “civil in nature.” On Friday, police also responded to the home over a domestic argument.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigations and Detective Division were at the home investigating the incident as of 9:45 a.m. Monday.
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/metro/husband-shot-ri-woman-thigh-before-killing-himself-police-say/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:40 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/metro/husband-shot-ri-woman-thigh-before-killing-himself-police-say/ |
CHICAGO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Stafford Capital Partners ("Stafford") is pleased to announce the appointment of Joe Carrabes as Head of Client Solutions in North America. Joe's appointment signals an important moment for Stafford's business development as it expands its operations in the US and North America.
Joe brings over 25 years' experience to the role, where he has previously held senior institutional leadership, sales and relationship management positions across a variety of products and strategies, including alternatives, ESG strategies and long only equity and fixed income.
Prior to Stafford, Joe was responsible for managing some of the largest institutional relationships at Amundi US. Joe also spent 12 years at Jennison Associates where he was Head of Institutional Sales and Client Service and was responsible for managing the institutional distribution efforts.
Commenting on the appointment, Stafford's Global Head of Client Solutions Valentina Abbott said: "We are delighted to welcome Joe to the team. He is an impressive executive with an incredible track record in capital raising and is highly regarded for his ability to build strategic partnerships with institutional investors.
Stafford recognizes its responsibility as an investor to contribute to a more sustainable financial system by taking a long-term, responsible approach to investing across alternatives. Joe's experience will be invaluable for Stafford in supporting our clients across the region with their net zero efforts.
This is a landmark moment for Stafford in the US and North America and signals a significant step forward in our commitment to the region."
Speaking about his appointment, Joe Carrabes said: "I am delighted to join Stafford, and I am looking forward to delivering on the firm's growth ambitions in the North American region. I see great potential for Stafford to support high-quality investors on their net zero journeys and believe the firm is well positioned to tackle the opportunities in the North American market."
Media enquiries
Georgina Whittle
Partner
Camarco
07835 770967
Georgina.whittle@camarco.co.uk
Amrith Uppuluri
Senior Consultant
Camarco
07763 083058
amrith.uppuluri@camarco.co.uk
Sean Palmer
Associate Partner
Camarco
07591 760844
sean.palmer@camarco.co.uk
Alexandra Lawrence
Associate Consultant
APCO Worldwide
404-254-7641
alawrence@apcoworldwide.com
About Stafford Capital Partners
Stafford is an independent private markets investment and advisory firm with USD 7.9 billion in assets under management and advice for more than 150 institutional clients worldwide. Founded in 2000, Stafford has a global team of 80+ professionals investing in infrastructure, timberland & agriculture, and sustainable private equity through secondaries, primaries, and co-investments. Stafford has been a UN PRI signatory since 2010 and has committed to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative. It puts sustainability at the centre of its investment process and implements a well-defined ESG program across all strategies. In the UK, Stafford is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number: 225586).
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SOURCE Stafford Capital Partners | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/stafford-capital-partners-expands-us-operations-appoints-joe-carrabes-head-client-solutions-north-america/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:40 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/stafford-capital-partners-expands-us-operations-appoints-joe-carrabes-head-client-solutions-north-america/ |
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Zefr's third-party brand suitability verification solution for Instagram Feed is now available. This AI-powered measurement solution provides marketers with even more transparency into their Meta campaigns, measuring GARM brand safety and suitability across both Instagram and Facebook Feed placements.
Additionally, the verification solution will now be available in more global territories, supporting advertisers in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese speaking countries. Advertisers will have full access to their Instagram Feed measurement via their Atrium dashboard, which provides full transparency across platforms including Meta, TikTok and YouTube.
Meta recently announced new inventory filters for Facebook and Instagram Feeds that are now rolling out to advertisers in these additional global markets. Both the added inventory filters and expanded third-party brand suitability verification developments underscore Zefr and Meta's ongoing commitment to critical innovation within the industry, powered by AI technology that deepens advertiser transparency and brand suitability controls.
"Earlier this year we began rolling out our third party brand suitability verification solution with Zefr for Facebook Feed as a part of the launch of our AI-powered brand suitability controls. We are excited to expand this offering to Instagram Feed, offering businesses another solution to help meet their brand safety and suitability needs. In addition to English and Spanish, our brand suitability verification solution is also being expanded to four additional languages and testing for third party brand suitability verification for Reels will begin in August. We look forward to sharing more expansion offerings for the brand suitability verification solution in the coming months." Samantha Stetson, Vice President, Client Council and Industry Trade Relations.
"We're excited to announce our AI-powered, third-party brand suitability verification for Instagram Feed. This innovation marks another important step forward in the industry, providing brands with transparency into their adjacencies across both Facebook & Instagram Feed. Our continued collaboration with Meta, expanded global coverage, and commitment to transparency mapped to the GARM standards enables more responsible media investment for advertisers worldwide," said Rich Raddon, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Zefr.
For more detail on Zefr's brand suitability verification product for Meta, please visit www.zefr.com/atrium, or reach out to measurement@zefr.com.
CONTACT: Hank Kim, hank@m8media.net
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SOURCE Zefr | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zefr-meta-expand-ai-powered-brand-suitability-measurement-instagram-feed-additional-languages/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:43 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zefr-meta-expand-ai-powered-brand-suitability-measurement-instagram-feed-additional-languages/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-lebanons-central-bank-governor-ends-30-year-tenure-under-investigation-during-dire-economic-crisis/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:43 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-lebanons-central-bank-governor-ends-30-year-tenure-under-investigation-during-dire-economic-crisis/ |
A woman in her 20s reported being attacked by a man in Waltham on Sunday night as she walked along the Charles River, according to State Police.
The attack occurred around 8 p.m. on the Riverwalk in the area of a footbridge between Newton and Farewell streets, State Police said.
“She heard footsteps come up behind her and then she was grabbed from behind by someone who tried to put his hand over her mouth,” said the agency in a statement.
“The victim was able to scream and take evasive action,” State Police said. “The assailant then let go of her and ran off. The woman turned and saw the assailant fleeing.”
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The man, State Police said, was described as being in his 30s or 40s, with tan skin of average height, and with an athletic build. He also wore a baseball cap, according to the statement.
“Units from MSP and Waltham Police responded and searched the area but were not able to locate the suspect,” the statement said. “The investigation into the assault is active.”
This breaking news story will be updated when more information is released.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/metro/woman-attacked-in-waltham/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:46 | 1 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/metro/woman-attacked-in-waltham/ |
AI demonstrated high accuracy, reduced non-diagnostic outputs, and identified HFpEF patients with worse outcomes.
OXFORD, England, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Applying AI to a single apical four chamber (A4C) view echocardiogram provides accurate information to detect heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), according to research published today in JACC Advances.1
The study, presented at the American Society of Echocardiography Annual Scientific Session, demonstrates the platform could improve the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of a condition that currently often goes undetected, or requires additional invasive procedures to confirm.
Ultromics' EchoGo® Heart Failure accurately detected HFpEF and provided fewer non-diagnostic outputs than current clinical scores, using just the routinely acquired A4C view from a transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE). The novel technology, which was recently granted clearance and Breakthrough Device designation by the FDA, identifies radiomic signatures of disease that are not evident to the human eye.
Senior study author, Patricia A. Pellikka, M.D, Vice Chair in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic, said: "HFpEF can be difficult to detect, but left undetected and untreated, can result in hospitalization and mortality. As the first AI platform cleared to detect the condition, EchoGo® Heart Failure can fill a significant unmet need."
"With more than 32 million people living with HFpEF, and the incidence increasing, clinicians will benefit from having another means to recognize this disease."
Based on the AI findings, patients could potentially be started on medications to treat their condition earlier than if they had to wait for an invasive diagnostic assessment of the disease.
The AI model was trained and developed on 6,756 patients who underwent a comprehensive TTE at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, between January 2009 to December 2020. It was then independently tested in geographically distinct areas within Mayo Clinic enterprise System sites across the United States, on a dataset that included 1,284 patients.
EchoGo® Heart Failure demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, detecting 87.8% of patients who had HFpEF, and 81.9% of patients that did not.1 These results exceed what is usually observed in routine clinical practice.
It was also able to assign a correct diagnosis to 74% of patients who had returned non-diagnostic results on the commonly used HFA-PEFF and H2FPEF clinical scores.1 This improvement could translate to more patients receiving accurate and timely diagnoses and management.
During the follow-up period of up to 5 years, 444 patients died, highlighting the poor outcomes associated with HFpEF.1 The AI model was able to identify patients with worse survival, demonstrating its capacity to meaningfully improve patient outcomes.
Ross Upton, PhD, CEO and Founder of Ultromics, said: "Our research demonstrates the tremendous potential of AI in revolutionizing the detection of HFpEF. EchoGo® Heart Failure's exceptional discrimination capabilities combined with its ability to identify patients with higher mortality risks holds great promise for improving patient outcomes and enabling faster access to treatment."
"In a large number of cases, diagnostic data are often missing or discordant, making HFpEF detection challenging. AI can enhance echocardiography capabilities to help practices overcome the cumbersome intricacy of diastolic assessment. It is particularly useful for clinical centers that lack the time, resources, or expertise to perform comprehensive, diagnostic-quality, assessments."
By streamlining the screening process for this complex clinical syndrome, EchoGo® Heart Failure paves the way for more patients to receive the care they need sooner, potentially preventing more severe outcomes, and reducing HFpEF's significant burden on patients and healthcare.
Ultromics remains committed to advancing AI technology to transform cardiovascular healthcare. The groundbreaking findings from this study underscore the company's dedication to empowering healthcare professionals with tools that overcome existing bottlenecks and enhance patient care.
For more information on EchoGo® Heart Failure, visit Ultromics.com
Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this press release. Mayo Clinic will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education and research.
Notes to editors
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of Mayo Clinic, USA and St. George's University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, UK, and supported by a grant from the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).
References:
1 - Akerman AP, Porumb M, Scott CG, et al. Automated Echocardiographic Detection of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction using Artificial Intelligence. JACC Advances, 2023:100452.
About Ultromics:
Ultromics is a pioneer in advanced heart failure detection. The ground-breaking platform, EchoGo ®, is transforming the way heart failure is diagnosed using artificial intelligence and cardiac ultrasound as a modality. The technology empowers clinicians to make precise, efficient, and accurate assessments of heart failure, leveraging the largest known heart disease outcomes dataset in echocardiography, accurately interpreting echocardiograms and predicting cardiac outcomes. The technology has been built in collaboration with Mayo Clinic and NHS England, and has over $50 million raised capital to support continued innovation with the likes of Blue Venture Fund, Optum Ventures, Oxford Science Enterprises, and GV. They are backed by the largest US health insurance firms with 4 FDA clearances. Ultromics' mission is to stop heart failure in its tracks with its precision detection platform. https://www.ultromics.com
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2143328/Ultromics_AI.jpg
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2165745/Ultromics.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1961827/4141591/Ultromics_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Ultromics | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-confirms-ultromics-ai-can-improve-hfpef-detection-using-single-echocardiogram-view/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:48 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/study-confirms-ultromics-ai-can-improve-hfpef-detection-using-single-echocardiogram-view/ |
England vs. China: Live Stream, TV Channel & Game Info - August 1
Published: Jul. 31, 2023 at 9:46 AM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
England will play China in Adelaide, Australia, in the last round of group-stage games at the 2023 Women's World Cup, on August 1 at 7:00 AM ET.
This matchup will be available on FOX US,Fox Sports 1.
Watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup on Fubo! Sign up for a free trial and start watching live sports without cable today!
How to Watch England vs. China
- Game Day: Tuesday, August 1, 2023
- Game Time: 7:00 AM ET
- TV Channel: FOX US,Fox Sports 1
- Location: Adelaide, Australia
- Venue: Coopers Stadium
Sign up for a Fubo free trial now to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and more live sports!
England Group Stage Schedule
England's Recent Performance
- England picked up a victory in its last match 1-0 over Denmark on July 28. was outshot in the matchup, 11 to seven.
- England was led by Lauren James, who netted her side's goal versus .
- James' Women's World Cup statline through two appearances for England includes one goal.
- Rachel Daly has no goals, but has one assist for England in Women's World Cup action.
- In two Women's World Cup matchups, Georgia Stanway has one goal.
Get your 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup gear at Fanatics!
England's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Mary Earps #1
- Lucy Bronze #2
- Niamh Charles #3
- Keira Walsh #4
- Alex Greenwood #5
- Millie Bright #6
- Lauren James #7
- Georgia Stanway #8
- Rachel Daly #9
- Ella Toone #10
- Lauren Hemp #11
- Jordan Nobbs #12
- Hannah Hampton #13
- Lotte Wubben-Moy #14
- Esme Morgan #15
- Jessica Carter #16
- Laura Coombs #17
- Chloe Kelly #18
- Bethany England #19
- Katie Zelem #20
- Ellie Roebuck #21
- Katie Robinson #22
- Alessia Russo #23
China Group Stage Schedule
China's Recent Performance
- In its most recent action on July 28, China claimed a 1-0 victory over Haiti. China outshot Haiti nine to six.
- Wang Shuang scored the lone goal for China on one shot.
- In two Women's World Cup matches for China, Shuang has one goal (16th in the 2023 Women's World Cup).
China's 2023 Women's World Cup Roster
- Zhu Yu #1
- Mengwen Li #2
- Jiaxing Dou #3
- LinLin Wang #4
- Wu Haiyan #5
- Xin Zhang #6
- Wang Shuang #7
- Yao Wei #8
- Mengyu Shen #9
- Zhang Rui #10
- Wang Shanshan #11
- Xu Huan #12
- Lina Yang #13
- Lou Jiahui #14
- Qiaozhu Chen #15
- Lingwei Yao #16
- Wu Cheng Shu #17
- Jiali Tang #18
- Linyan Zhang #19
- Yuyi Xiao #20
- Gu Yasha #21
- Hongyan Pan #22
- Chen Gao #23
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved. | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/08/01/2023-womens-world-cup-england-china-live-stream-tv/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:49 | 1 | https://www.wflx.com/sports/betting/2023/08/01/2023-womens-world-cup-england-china-live-stream-tv/ |
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.
Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the National Unity Government, an underground group that calls itself the country’s legitimate government and serves as an opposition umbrella group, said the extension of emergency rule was expected because the military government hasn’t been able to annihilate the pro-democracy forces.
“The junta extended the state of emergency because the generals have a lust for power and don’t want to lose it. As for the revolutionary groups, we will continue to try to speed up our current revolutionary activities,” Nay Phone Latt said in a message Monday.
The military government labels the NUG and its armed wing, the People’s Defense Forces, as “terrorists.”
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 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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-myanmars-military-led-government-extends-state-of-emergency-forcing-delay-in-promised-election/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:50 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-myanmars-military-led-government-extends-state-of-emergency-forcing-delay-in-promised-election/ |
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.
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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.
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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.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/nation/lori-vallow-daybell-sentencing/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:53 | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/nation/lori-vallow-daybell-sentencing/ |
BELLEVUE, Wash., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Coinstar® for Financial is proud to announce its partnership with Suncoast™ Credit Union as they implement Coinstar self-service kiosks for in-lobby coin counting in 72 of its branches. Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in Florida and the 10th largest in the US based on membership, serving more than one million members across the state.
The partnership began with a 90-day pilot, allowing Suncoast to trial Coinstar's Anthony kiosks designed for financial institutions in a few of its busier branches. Surpassing Suncoast's goals of increasing transactions and efficiency, the pilot was a success. Coinstar for Financial will complete the rollout to all branches by the end of July.
"Coinstar's impact on productivity and member experience was felt within the first week of the pilot. There were just a few short days between signing the contract and seeing the improvement in our coin operations," said Jennifer Bolivar, Senior Vice President of Business Transformation and Retail Branching. "We are excited to roll out Coinstar's best-in-class kiosks across our branch network and continue seeing the positive impact."
The Anthony kiosks are replacing Suncoast Credit Union's previous coin machines that were managed by branch staff, which often interrupted valuable time spent with members. Coinstar for Financial relieves branch staff of that burden by handling every aspect of their coin counting program. Suncoast staff can now better support their members with more time to work face-to-face and ensure members' needs are met.
Coinstar's turnkey program takes care of coin pickup, kiosk maintenance, and administration, meaning Suncoast's branch staff no longer need to worry about emptying the machines, hauling heavy bags of coin, or coordinating repairs. Members can turn their coins into cash through the convenient and highly accurate self-service Coinstar kiosks. In the future, Suncoast also plans to add coin-to-deposit functionality, where members can insert their debit card and deposit coins directly to their account.
"Coinstar is thrilled to partner with Suncoast Credit Union and proud to be a part of their culture of superior focus on the member experience," said Kevin McColly, CEO of Coinstar. "We look forward to a long, prosperous relationship with Suncoast Credit Union and supporting their success into the future."
Implementing the Anthony kiosks is one of Suncoast's steps in its journey toward continuous branch transformation. Having recently installed Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) at most of its branches, Suncoast had seen how automating some of its more mundane transactions improved the day-to-day for members and employees. With Coinstar as the latest addition to its branch technology, Suncoast has reached a new level of efficiency and member satisfaction.
About Coinstar for Financial
Coinstar for Financial provides a turnkey coin management service that strengthens existing customer loyalty, increases deposits, and attracts and retains new branch traffic. With no capital investment and no maintenance fees, your staff can focus on customers instead of coin counting. Our entire fleet of kiosks is owned, maintained, and serviced by Coinstar, which means there is virtually no financial or reputational risk for your business. If you are a financial institution leader and are curious about how a fully managed coin program can assist in your branch transformation, contact the experts at Coinstar for Financial. To learn more, visit financial.coinstar.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Suncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 10th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $17 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 76 full-service branches and serves more than one million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union's service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union's field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida's 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $40 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit www.suncoastcreditunion.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
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SOURCE Coinstar for Financial | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/suncoast-credit-union-partners-with-coinstar-financial-achieving-branch-transformation-with-fully-managed-coin-counting/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:55 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/suncoast-credit-union-partners-with-coinstar-financial-achieving-branch-transformation-with-fully-managed-coin-counting/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-our-bears-are-real-a-chinese-zoo-says-denying-they-are-humans-in-disguise/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:56 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-our-bears-are-real-a-chinese-zoo-says-denying-they-are-humans-in-disguise/ |
HONG KONG (AP) — The discovery of a whale carcass in Hong Kong waters on Monday has sparked an outpouring of grief on social media, with many comments blaming the mammal’s death on sightseers.
Many residents thought the dead mammal was the whale that has attracted groups of sightseers since it was first spotted in the city’s waters in mid-July.
Compass Chan, scientific officer of Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong, didn't confirm whether it was the same whale. But he said an initial check on the dead whale found a new wound on its back, in addition to two old wounds.
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“It's a pity," Chan said at a media briefing. “If it really died, I think it's a good chance to let everyone to think seriously how we should get along with other species in the nature.”
Its cause of death would have to be confirmed by a necropsy, he said.
After the carcass was found in the waters in Sai Kung — a district known for known for its hiking trails, beaches and islands — many residents have taken issue with the whale-watching activities seen over the past two weeks.
They accused the sightseers of causing the death of the whale because of their ignorance. Some reposted a Canto-pop song whose title translated as “Whale Eater” on their social media.
The foundation said in its previous statement that a crowd of people was spotted approaching the animal, believed to be a Bryde’s whale and to be around seven metres (23 feet) long. It warned that human activities can cause stress and lead to life-threatening consequences, saying the whale already had propeller wounds.
The government said Friday night that the necropsy might take several days and the results would serve as a reference for it to handle the emergence of whales in Hong Kong in the future.
Advertisement | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/science/discovery-whale-carcass-hong-kong-sparks-anger-over-potential-damage-done-by-sightseers/ | 2023-07-31T14:55:59 | 0 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/31/science/discovery-whale-carcass-hong-kong-sparks-anger-over-potential-damage-done-by-sightseers/ |
Leveraging AI, Topline Pro Scales to Help the Millions of Small Home Service Businesses Succeed
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Topline Pro, a Generative AI platform enabling home services professionals to manage and scale their businesses online, today announced $12M in Series A funding led by Forerunner Ventures (Brian O'Malley) along with support from Bonfire Ventures (Jim Andelman), TMV (Soraya Darabi), BBG Ventures (Susan Lyne).
Topline Pro is democratizing the key building blocks for managing and growing a Home Services business, which is uniquely possible through AI advancements. The platform enables pros, from general contractors to landscapers, to be discovered, trusted and booked — repeatedly. Topline Pro's mission is to ensure more home service business owners succeed by providing all the tools and resources they need, so pros can focus more on their craft versus the operational overhead of running a small business.
Topline Pro's intuitive interface empowers pros to efficiently and seamlessly manage and grow business by helping them:
- Build a thriving online presence through custom generated content, from personalized social media content to a custom website and online ads, while syncing content to and from local listings
- Gain trust and showcasing experience through robust reviews collection, response and showcasing capabilities
- Get paid online, schedule and book business, and develop meaningful customer relationships
Topline leverages generative AI across its suite of offerings so business owners can focus more on their craft and doing work in the field, instead of sinking time and energy into growing and managing the business in the background. To date, the platform has generated over $180M in business across thousands of businesses in nearly all 50 states.
"Topline Pro is akin to a Shopify for Home Services businesses," said Brian O'Malley, Managing Director at Forerunner Ventures. "By building a vertical stack for this ecosystem, Topline has the opportunity to bring this underserved category online and empower greater economic opportunity."
Until the creation of Topline Pro, the home service market was mostly served through marketplaces and intermediaries for connecting homeowners with service providers. The prevailing system and solutions has been inefficient and expensive, where business owners have no other option but to pay significantly for leads without any guarantee of winning the work. Topline Pro believes in tipping the power back towards Home Services small business owners, where they have more control and resources to grow and operate their business directly.
"Home Services businesses are part of the backbone of the American economy and an industry that consumers rely on for the safety and comfort of their home, but the space has been overlooked for far too long due to structural and cultural dynamics, such as market fragmentation and misplaced stigma," said Nick Ornitz, CEO and Co-founder of Topline Pro. "Topline Pro is on a mission to help millions of home service business owners in the more than $500Bn market be more likely to succeed.".
Topline Pro will use the recent funding to further expand Generative AI capabilities across the existing suite of tools, build out additional product offerings, and expand their team across multiple roles in engineering, product, customer success, marketing and sales.
Topline Pro
Topline Pro (toplinepro.com) is a platform that empowers service based small businesses to get discovered, build trust, and get booked, repeatedly. Topline Pro utilizes generative AI to automate the creation of a SEO optimized website and ongoing online engagement along with tools that streamline operations from booking to payment. Topline Pro enables the business owner to own the relationship with their customers and grow their business while focusing on what they do best, exceptional service in the field. Topline Pro has generated over $180M in business across thousands of businesses in nearly all 50 states.
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SOURCE Topline Pro | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/topline-pro-announces-12m-series-funding-reshape-economic-opportunity-home-services/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:01 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/topline-pro-announces-12m-series-funding-reshape-economic-opportunity-home-services/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-south-korean-dog-meat-farmers-push-back-against-growing-moves-to-outlaw-their-industry/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:04 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-south-korean-dog-meat-farmers-push-back-against-growing-moves-to-outlaw-their-industry/ |
Innovative community bank with $2.4 billion in assets to provide award-winning BaaS offering
SAN FRANCISCO, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Treasury Prime, a leading embedded banking software company, today announced it is partnering with Academy Bank to bring embedded finance services to its customers in the financial services industry. This partnership addresses the increasing demand for flexible and scalable solutions that effectively meet the evolving needs of businesses and customers.
The objective of this partnership is to provide businesses with seamless access to Academy Bank's deposit services, enabling them to offer FDIC-insured accounts to their customers while staying fully compliant with regulatory requirements. Treasury Prime's award-winning BaaS platform, coupled with Academy Bank's established banking infrastructure, will empower businesses to rapidly launch and scale their payment and deposit products, driving strong customer engagement and retention.
"Academy Bank's ability to service deposit customers in a highly personalized manner, combined with their unwavering commitment to innovation, forms a strong foundation for our partnership," said Jeff Nowicki, VP of Banking at Treasury Prime. "We are proud to welcome Academy Bank to our bank network and work together to deliver transformative banking experiences."
"This collaboration aligns perfectly with our commitment to innovation and focus on the fintech industry," said David Robinson, Director of Fintech Partnerships at Academy Bank. "By leveraging Treasury Prime's technology, we can enhance our offerings and provide our fintech partners with the tools they need to accelerate their growth and deliver innovative financial services."
This partnership follows Treasury Prime's success in rapidly expanding its bank network, which now exceeds 15 financial institutions nationwide.
For more information about Treasury Prime, visit treasuryprime.com.
About Treasury Prime
Treasury Prime is building the future of finance. Leveraging its award-winning APIs and versatile embedded banking products, Treasury Prime enables banks and enterprise partners to innovate, adapt, grow and scale to stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace. The company helps enterprises with a range of complex services including money transfer, risk mitigation and access to a chartered bank's infrastructure. Treasury Prime works with forward-thinking banks to innovate responsibly and increase access to banking products and services to all segments of the population Treasury Prime was named Best Banking-as-a-Service Platform in the Tearsheet Embedded Awards 2021 and 2022, and was named to CB Insights' annual 2021 Fintech 250 list.
About Academy Bank
Academy Bank is a full-service bank with $2.4 billion in assets and over 70 branch locations in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. Honored as one of Fortune Magazine's "2023 Most Innovative Companies," Academy Bank provides a wide range of financial solutions for business and individuals, including commercial and business banking, treasury management and mortgage services. Academy Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dickinson Financial Corporation, a $3.6 billion holding company headquartered in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Academy Bank's sister bank, Armed Forces Bank, headquartered in Leavenworth, Kansas, proudly serves active and retired military and civilian clients across the country and around the world. Armed Forces Bank is recognized as one of the top-three strongest banks in Kansas City by the Kansas City Business Journal.
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SOURCE Treasury Prime | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/treasury-prime-academy-bank-join-forces-address-growing-market-demand-through-banking-as-a-service-partnership/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:08 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/treasury-prime-academy-bank-join-forces-address-growing-market-demand-through-banking-as-a-service-partnership/ |
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-uae-state-oil-firm-moves-up-net-zero-climate-target-to-2045/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:11 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-uae-state-oil-firm-moves-up-net-zero-climate-target-to-2045/ |
BROOKLYN, N.Y., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VICE Media Group today announced the completion of its sale to a consortium of its former lenders (the "Investor Group"), which consists of funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group LLC ("Fortress"), Soros Fund Management and Monroe Capital.
"This marks the start of an exciting new chapter for VICE," said Bruce Dixon and Hozefa Lokhandwala, VICE's Co-Chief Executive Officers. "With the support of our Investor Group, we now have the resources to strengthen our business, our partnerships and our content creation across all platforms. Under new ownership and with this leadership team, VICE is positioned to drive our uniquely differentiated brand of news, entertainment and lifestyle content that makes VICE a trusted brand for global audiences and a valued partner to brands, agencies and platforms."
"We are very pleased to complete the acquisition of VICE and we are excited to build upon the achievements of one of the most iconic brands in news and entertainment," the Investor Group said in a joint statement. "We look forward to growing a strong business that is committed to serving audiences, brands and partners with award-winning content. With a strong management team in place, VICE is well-positioned to grow its uniquely compelling world class businesses and drive value during its next chapter."
VICE Media Group is a multi-platform media company with a global reach of over 400 million people. Its Emmy and Peabody award-winning News division is one of the most trusted news sources among Gen Z and is watched on TikTok and other social platforms by hundreds of millions of people. Its studio group, including VICE Studios and Pulse Films, produced Bamarush for HBO Max, Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now for Netflix, The American Gladiators Documentary for ESPN, Gangs of London for Sky, and Tell Me Lies for Hulu. Its award-winning publishing division includes VICE.com, Refinery29 and the fashion bible i-D. Its advertising, commercial and music video teams, including the creative agency Virtue, work with brands including Coke and Target and artists such as Harry Styles, and has created award-winning campaigns such as "Backup Ukraine" and "Unfiltered History." VICE TV is home to shows including Tales from the Territories, produced by Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and the Dark Side franchise, including the breakout hit Dark Side of the Ring.
About VICE Media Group
VICE Media Group is a global multi-platform media company. Launched in 1994, VICE has offices across multiple countries and a focus on five key businesses: An award-winning network of digital content; an Oscar-nominated feature film and television production studio; an Emmy-winning international television network, VICE TV; a Peabody and Emmy award-winning News division; and a global, full-service creative agency, Virtue. VICE Media Group's portfolio includes Refinery29, a leading global media and entertainment company focused on women; Pulse Films, a London-based next-generation production studio with an office in Los Angeles; and i-D, a global digital and quarterly magazine defining fashion and contemporary culture and design.
Media Contact:
Jonathan Bing
jonathan.bing@vice.com
(818) 643-0146
or
Sophie Throsby / Lyle Weston
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
(212) 355-4449
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SOURCE VICE Media Group | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/vice-media-group-completes-sale-lenders/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:15 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/vice-media-group-completes-sale-lenders/ |
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian ballistic missiles slammed into an apartment complex and a university building in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih on Monday, killing five people and wounding 64 others as the blasts trapped residents beneath rubble, Ukrainian officials 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.
The dead included a 10-year-old girl and her mother, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who comes from Kryvyi Rih. More than 350 people were involved in the rescue operation, he said in a Telegram post.
The morning attack 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 others 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.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, analysts say, is wagering that Western support for Kyiv will wane as the war drags on and its cost mounts.
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.
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. “But this terror will not frighten us or break us.”
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday that his forces have increased the intensity of attacks on Ukrainian military facilities.
It wasn’t immediately clear which military facilities he was referring to, as Russia’s recent missile strikes have hit civilian infrastructure.
In the southern city of Odesa, Russian strikes in recent weeks targeted port infrastructure and grain silos, after Moscow broke off an export agreement for Ukrainian grain. The Ukrainian foreign ministry estimated Monday that about 180,000 metric tons of grain have been destroyed by Russia in the past nine days.
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.”
China introduced restrictions Monday on the export of long-range civilian drones. Authorities cited the war in Ukraine and concern that drones could be converted for military purposes.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government is friendly with Moscow, but says it’s neutral in the war. It has been stung by reports that both sides might be using Chinese-made drones for reconnaissance and possibly attacks.
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.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-ukraine-says-russian-missiles-hit-another-apartment-building-and-likely-trapped-people-under-rubble/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:19 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-ukraine-says-russian-missiles-hit-another-apartment-building-and-likely-trapped-people-under-rubble/ |
Timely discussion specifies how hospice provides compassionate care to the nation's most vulnerable while driving substantial Medicare cost savings
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VITAS Healthcare's Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Joseph Shega, MD, along with Dianne Munevar, Vice President of Health Care Strategy at NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC), and Susan Lloyd, MSN, RN, Chief Executive Officer of Delaware Hospice, participated in a Capitol Hill briefing on Thursday, July 27, to educate Congress about a recent study by NORC that illustrates the value of hospice in Medicare. Specifically, the panelists highlighted how the research demonstrates that earlier referral to hospice benefits patients and families while simultaneously delivering more cost savings to Medicare.
"As a fundamentally patient- and family-centered care model," says Dr. Shega, "hospice provides patients with improved clinical outcomes and pain management, reduced physical and emotional distress, and the ability to spend their last days with dignity at home among loved ones."
The NORC report was released in March 2023. The in-depth study found that greater utilization of hospice during the last six months of life is associated with increased patient satisfaction and quality of life, while also reducing Medicare costs—with $3.5 billion in savings in a single year.
The research identified an opportunity to deliver value through greater access to hospice care for patients with chronic and serious diseases such as cancer, respiratory disease and chronic kidney disease/end-stage renal disease, with a projected savings to Medicare of 17% to 25%.
For patients with dementia, NORC's analysis found that, within the study period, end-of-life care continues to generate cost savings related to neurodegenerative disease. The panelists presented these findings and more during the briefing in Washington, D.C., in coordination with the two national trade associations, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC).
One opportunity brought to light by the NORC study, according to the panelists, is the need for a community-based palliative care benefit to support earlier transitions to hospice which will, in turn, continue to drive quality and Medicare savings. Investing in serious illness care increases the quality of end-of-life care for millions of patients, families and caregivers across the country.
"Former President Jimmy Carter's hospice journey is a testament to the value of longer hospice stays," says Dr. Shega. "He is an excellent example of someone who sought out hospice care earlier in his advanced disease state so he could spend his remaining time in comfort and surrounded by family."
One of the nation's first hospice and palliative care providers, VITAS has devoted 45 years of compassionate care to patients and their families throughout 14 states and the District of Columbia. As an organization, VITAS supports the ethic that all hospice-eligible patients should have the opportunity to access hospice in a way—and for a length of time—that allows them to fully benefit from this person- and family-centered care model.
About VITAS® Healthcare
Established in 1978, VITAS Healthcare is a pioneer and leader in the American hospice movement. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, VITAS (pronounced VEE-tahs) operates 50 hospice programs in 14 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia. VITAS employs 10,328 professionals who care for patients with advanced illness, primarily in the patients' homes, and also in the company's 25 inpatient hospice units as well as in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living communities/residential care facilities for the elderly. At the conclusion of the first quarter of 2023, VITAS reported an average daily census of 18,542. Visit www.vitas.com.
Media inquiries contact: media@vitas.com, 877-848-2701
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ATLANTA (AP) — A new reactor at a nuclear power plant in Georgia has entered commercial operation, becoming the first new American reactor built from scratch in decades.
Georgia Power Co. announced Monday that Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle, southeast of Augusta, has completed testing and is now sending power to the grid reliably.
At its full output of 1,100 megawatts of electricity, Unit 3 can power 500,000 homes and businesses. Utilities in Georgia, Florida and Alabama are receiving the electricity.
Nuclear power now makes up about 25% of the generation of Georgia Power, the largest unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co.
A fourth reactor is also nearing completion at the site, where two earlier reactors have been generating electricity for decades. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Friday said radioactive fuel could be loaded into Unit 4, a step expected to take place before the end of September. Unit 4 is scheduled to enter commercial operation by March.
The third and fourth reactors were originally supposed to cost $14 billion, but are now on track to cost their owners $31 billion. That doesn’t include $3.7 billion that original contractor Westinghouse paid to the owners to walk away from the project. That brings total spending to almost $35 billion.
The third reactor was supposed to start generating power in 2016 when construction began in 2009.
Vogtle is important because government officials and some utilities are again looking to nuclear power to alleviate climate change by generating electricity without burning natural gas, coal and oil.
“This project shows just how new nuclear can and will play a critical role in achieving a clean energy future for the United States,” Southern Co. CEO Chris Womack said in a statement. “Bringing this unit safely into service is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our teams at Southern Company and the thousands of additional workers who have helped build that future at this site.”
In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle. Georgia Power currently owns 45.7% of the reactors. Smaller shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electricity to member-owned cooperatives, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Oglethorpe and MEAG plan to sell power to cooperatives and municipal utilities across Georgia, as well in Jacksonville, Florida, and parts of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Georgia Power’s 2.7 million customers are already paying part of the financing cost and elected public service commissioners have approved a monthly rate increase of $3.78 a month for residential customers as soon as the third unit begins generating power. That could hit bills in August, two months after residential customers saw a $16-a-month increase to pay for higher fuel costs.
Commissioners will decide later who pays for the remainder of the costs of Vogtle, including the fourth reactor. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-first-american-nuclear-reactor-built-from-scratch-in-decades-enters-commercial-operation-in-georgia/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:27 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-first-american-nuclear-reactor-built-from-scratch-in-decades-enters-commercial-operation-in-georgia/ |
Walker Healthcare and Walker Healthcare IT rebrand as Walker Healthforce, revolutionizing the industry through expertise and innovation in healthcare nursing, IT and allied health solutions
BOSTON, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker Healthforce, the newly formed brand resulting from the integration of Walker Healthcare and Walker Healthcare IT, is excited to announce its debut as the leading provider of healthcare IT and clinical solutions. With end-to-end healthcare consulting services and a renewed vision, Walker Healthforce is set to redefine staffing and consulting solutions in the healthcare industry, offering unparalleled value to the workforce, healthcare payers, and clinical ecosystems.
Under the leadership of Founder and CEO Tifiany Walker, Walker Healthforce has dedicated nearly two decades to transforming healthcare through specialized services. The rebranding signifies the company's commitment to advancing the industry and providing comprehensive solutions that meet the evolving needs of its clients.
"We are delighted to introduce Walker Healthforce as the result of our years' of expertise in the healthcare domain," said Tifiany Walker. "Our unwavering focus on healthcare, combined with our investment in cutting-edge technology, top-tier talent, and robust infrastructure, positions us as the ultimate resource for hospital networks, healthcare organizations, nurses, IT professionals, and payer systems. We are proud to usher in a new era of innovation in healthcare solutions."
Walker Healthforce stands out by embracing the belief that specialists outperform generalists in the healthcare landscape. By merging the core competencies of IT, clinical expertise, and allied health services, the company offers a comprehensive suite of 360-degree solutions. The company's proprietary vetting-2-validation process yields the top 20%, ensuring that every client's needs are met, emphasizing a solutions-oriented mindset that sets Walker Healthforce apart.
The industry expertise of Walker Healthforce includes in-depth IT and clinical experience, catering to the requirements of Healthcare Payer and Provider organizations to address the challenges within healthcare today. A team of dedicated experts delivers customizable recruitment solutions with unrivaled timeliness and efficiency, providing immediate and lasting value-added results in areas such as Care Management, Case Management, Data Analytics, Utilization Review, and NCQA &/or HEDIS audits.
According to recent industry reports, healthcare staffing needs have become increasingly challenging, with demand consistently outpacing supply. The healthcare sector faces a shortage of skilled professionals across various disciplines, including physicians, nurses, and allied health workers. This trend is further compounded by the aging population, driving up the demand for healthcare services.
Additionally, the rapid advancement of technology in healthcare has created a demand for specialized IT professionals capable of effectively implementing and managing complex systems. These staffing challenges have significant implications for healthcare organizations, as they strive to maintain high-quality patient care and meet regulatory requirements. Walker Healthforce is leading the way in addressing the evolving staffing needs of the healthcare industry by providing tailored solutions and accessing top-tier talent.
The success of Walker Healthforce is rooted in its proven methodologies. The company's 10-Step vetting-2-validation process guarantees the selection of the most qualified candidates, resulting in an unmatched industry completion rate of 95%. Furthermore, Walker Healthforce proudly boasts a remarkable 94% Dun & Bradstreet score for customer satisfaction, support, and reliability, underscoring the trust clients place in the company's services. By attracting and nurturing exceptional talent, Walker Healthforce ensures the delivery of outstanding results to its valued clients.
With the rebranding to Walker Healthforce, the company paves the way for a future defined by innovative solutions, unrivaled expertise, and an unwavering commitment to the healthcare industry. To learn more about Walker Healthforce and its comprehensive offerings, please visit www.walkerhealthforce.com.
About Walker Healthforce
Walker Healthforce is a premier healthcare clinical solutions provider (formerly Walker Healthcare and Walker Healthcare IT). With a dedicated focus on healthcare, Walker Healthforce offers end-to-end healthcare solutions that combine IT, clinical expertise, and allied health services to address the unique challenges of the industry. By attracting top talent and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Walker Healthforce delivers extraordinary value to healthcare payers, providers and other audiences. For more information, visit www.walkerhealthforce.com.
For Media:
Andrew Jennings, JConnelly
ajennings@jconnelly.com
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PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix sizzled through its 31st consecutive day of at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius) and other parts of the country grappled Sunday with record temperatures after a week that saw significant portions of the U.S. population subject to extreme heat.
The National Weather Service said Phoenix climbed to a high of 111 F (43.8 Celsius) before the day was through.
July has been so steamy thus far that scientists calculate it will be the hottest month ever recorded and likely the warmest human civilization has seen. The World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service on Thursday proclaimed July beyond record-smashing.
The historic heat began blasting the lower Southwest U.S. in late June, stretching from Texas across New Mexico and Arizona and into California’s desert.
On Sunday, a massive wildfire burning out of control in California’s Mojave National Preserve spread rapidly amid erratic winds, while firefighters reported progress against another major blaze to the south that prompted evacuations.
The York Fire that erupted Friday near the remote Caruthers Canyon area of the preserve sent up a huge plume of smoke visible nearly 100 miles (160 kilometers) away across the state line in Nevada.
Flames 20 feet (6 meters) high in some spots have charred more than 110 square miles (284 square kilometers) of desert scrub, juniper and Joshua tree woodland, according to a Sunday update.
“The dry fuel acts as a ready ignition source, and when paired with those weather conditions it resulted in long-distance fire run and high flames, leading to extreme fire behavior,” authorities said. No structures were threatened, but there was also no containment.
To the southwest, the Bonny Fire was holding steady at about 3.4 square miles (8.8 square kilometers) in rugged hills of Riverside County. More than 1,300 people were ordered to evacuate their homes Saturday near the remote community of Aguanga, California.
Triple-digit heat was expected in parts of the central San Joaquin Valley through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
And in Burbank, California, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, the summer heat may have been responsible for some unusual behavior in the animal kingdom: Police in the city responded to a report of a bear sighting in a residential neighborhood and found the animal sitting in a Jacuzzi behind one of the homes.
As climate change brings hotter and longer heat waves, record temperatures across the U.S. have killed dozens of people, and the poorest Americans suffer the most. Air conditioning, once a luxury, is now a matter of survival.
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. metro areas.
Back in Phoenix, slight relief may be on the way as expected seasonal thunderstorms could drop temperatures Monday and Tuesday.
“It should be around 108 degrees, so we break that 110 streak,” meteorologist Tom Frieders said. “Increasing cloud cover will put temperatures in a downward trend.”
The relief could be short-lived, however. Highs are expected to creep back to 110 F (43.3 C) Wednesday with temperatures reaching 115 F (46.1 C) by the end of the week.
Phoenix has also sweated through a record 16 consecutive nights when the lows temperature didn’t dip below 90 F (32.2 C), making it hard for people to cool off after sunset.
Meanwhile, Las Vegas continues to flirt with its hottest July ever. The city is closing in on its 2010 record for the average of the high and low each day for July, which stands at 96.2 F (35.5 C).
The extreme heat is also hitting the eastern U.S, as soaring temperatures moved from the Midwest into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, where some places recorded their warmest days so far this year. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-july-keeps-sizzling-as-phoenix-hits-another-110-degree-day-and-wildfires-spread-in-california/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:33 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/ap-july-keeps-sizzling-as-phoenix-hits-another-110-degree-day-and-wildfires-spread-in-california/ |
PRINCETON, N.J., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WCG, the global leader in providing solutions that measurably improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of clinical research, today announces the appointment of Donna Snyder, MD, MBE, as Executive Physician. Dr. Snyder's extensive experience and leadership in clinical research, including over a decade with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will increase WCG's expertise and capabilities to accelerate and advance clinical trials.
As Executive Physician, Dr. Snyder will play a pivotal role in collaborating with clients and stakeholders across WCG's business units. With her training in pediatrics, bioethics, and product and drug development, she brings invaluable expertise gained during her tenure with the FDA and as a practicing physician.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Snyder to WCG," said Sam Srivastava, chief executive officer, WCG. "Dr. Snyder's expertise in drug development and ethical considerations will further strengthen the partnership and solutions WCG offers our clients to support their goals to be more efficient and effective throughout their trials. Her focus on patient-centric care and how it relates to enhanced clinical outcomes will undoubtedly benefit our clients and the patients they serve."
Dr. Snyder has earned widespread recognition as an expert in applying scientific and ethical regulations related to the inclusion of children in clinical research and the development of pediatric products. She has co-authored numerous books and publications, solidifying her position as a respected thought leader in her field. She holds a Master's in Bioethics (MBE) from the University of Pennsylvania, in addition to her MD and Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Virginia. Furthermore, she completed a fellowship in General Academic Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University.
"I'm delighted to join the exceptionally talented, mission-driven team at WCG," remarked Dr. Snyder. "Additionally, the company's commitment to innovation in clinical research is inspiring. I look forward to playing a role in helping to accelerate clinical research for our clients, while upholding the ethical standards for which WCG is known."
About WCG
WCG is a global leader of solutions that measurably improve and accelerate clinical research. Biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, contract research organizations (CROs), research institutions, and sites partner with us for our unmatched expertise, data intelligence, and purpose-built technology to make informed decisions and optimize study outcomes, while maintaining the highest standards of human participant protection. WCG raises the bar by pioneering new concepts, reimagining processes, fostering compliance and safety, and empowering those who perform clinical trials to accelerate the delivery of medical therapies and devices that improve lives. For more information, please visit wcgclinical.com or follow us on Twitter @WCGClinical or LinkedIn.
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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.kxnet.com/news/national-news/eat-my-food-dog-meat-farmers-in-s-korea-resist-push-to-ban-industry/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:39 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/eat-my-food-dog-meat-farmers-in-s-korea-resist-push-to-ban-industry/ |
Roar's passion for creating virtual, immersive social experiences brings talent and technology to Yuga that greatly complements Yuga's expansive vision for Otherside.
Roar Studios' Founder and CEO, Eric Reid, to join Yuga as the General Manager of Otherside.
MIAMI, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yuga Labs, web3 leader and home of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), CryptoPunks, Meebits, 10KTF, and Otherside today announced it has agreed to acquire Roar Studios, a company at the convergence of gaming, social media, and the metaverse with deep technology and AI roots.
Roar Studios is the developer of ROAR, an immersive media experience where artists and fans connect, collaborate, and compete in real time from anywhere.
Developed by Roar's leading team of audio, game, and AI engineers, ROAR combines innovative proprietary technology with established MMO game and platform systems to produce an entirely new product category: an experiential, semi-autonomous music and entertainment world driven by individual content creators and community consensus.
As Yuga Labs develops Otherside – its ambitious, interoperable metaverse – the Roar team will contribute their innovative technology, specialized expertise, and leadership.
"Roar Studios has redefined what it means to experience media content in the metaverse," said Daniel Alegre, CEO of Yuga Labs. "Yuga's North Star is creating new ways for communities to connect and express themselves, and I am excited to welcome Roar's talented team to our Yuga family. Roar's dedication to creative content creation and social connections will accelerate our execution of our bold vision for Otherside and Yuga's ecosystem more broadly."
Roar Studios' Founder and CEO, Eric Reid, added, "Our team's mission is to empower players to create and be social in a community-driven, open media experience, so our work fundamentally aligns with Yuga's larger web3 metaverse strategy. When Daniel and Mike Seavers opened the door for us to contribute to Yuga's paradigm-shifting approach to content and immersive experiences, we jumped at the opportunity."
Following the acquisition, Reid will join Yuga as the General Manager of Otherside. He will be charged with evolving the vision and leading the development and production of the platform, together with the highly experienced Yuga executive team. Prior to Roar, Reid spent more than two decades building teams and creating and distributing film, television, and music content for audiences worldwide (including film franchises such as UNDERWORLD).
About Yuga Labs
Yuga Labs is a web3 company shaping the future through storytelling, experiences, and community. Guided by the belief that the potential of web3 can be realized when we start with imagination, not limitations, Yuga's initiatives aim to reinvent what real-world utility for NFTs look like and push the space forward as a whole. Since their launch in April 2021 with flagship collection Bored Ape Yacht Club, they've made headlines as one of the first companies to release IP licenses to their NFT holders, acquired and released rights to other top collections (CryptoPunks and Meebits), and made web3 history with record-breaking synchronized player participation in their newest initiative, Otherside. One of the most ambitious interactive metaverse projects to date, Otherside is built with the community, rebelling against traditional walled gardens in gaming spaces. In March 2022, Yuga Labs raised a $450M seed round at a $4B valuation.
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SOURCE Yuga Labs | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yuga-labs-agrees-acquire-technology-innovator-roar-studios/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:41 | 1 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/yuga-labs-agrees-acquire-technology-innovator-roar-studios/ |
BRIGHTON, Iowa (AP) — You-pick farms are struggling through heat, drought and haze as customers cancel picking appointments and crops across Iowa refuse to grow.
These farms offer visitors the chance to harvest their own produce straight from the tree, bush or ground.
But this summer marks Iowa’s third year in a row of drought. And that is hurting farmers who grow water-intensive crops like blueberries and strawberries that are particularly sensitive to heat and drought, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported.
Kim Anderson told The Gazette that her well started faltering during last summer’s heat and drought at her 5-acre Blueberry Bottom Farm near Brighton in southeastern Iowa.
Many of her blueberry bushes became parched. And recently, for the first time in the farm’s five-season history, she had to cancel a day of picking appointments because there weren’t enough ripe berries.
“I just never anticipated something like this, that the well wouldn’t have enough water,” she said.
Similarly, Dean Henry told The Gazette that these are the worst conditions he has seen in his 56 years of operating the Berry Patch Farm in Nevada in central Iowa.
Henry said the Iowa Department of Natural Resources restricted his well water usage from 20 acres a day to 1 acre a day. But his strawberry plants need lots of water.
This year, his entire crop failed.
The heat has affected customers too. Some you-pick farms reported a decrease in customer visits, according to The Gazette. If people do come, they aren’t staying as long as normal to take in the entertainment at the farms, like picnic tables or games.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires also caused Iowa skies to grow hazy and air quality to be poor several times this summer. Customers canceled their appointments on especially hazy days, Anderson said. | https://www.yourbasin.com/business/ap-you-pick-farms-lose-customers-and-crops-through-heat-drought-and-haze-in-iowa/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:43 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/business/ap-you-pick-farms-lose-customers-and-crops-through-heat-drought-and-haze-in-iowa/ |
HIALEAH, Fla. (WFLA) — A federal judge in Florida has thrown out a multi-million dollar lawsuit involving microwavable mac and cheese.
The $5 million lawsuit claimed the Kraft Heinz Food Company misled the public about the time it takes to prepare Velveeta microwavable mac and cheese cups.
According to court records, a West Palm Beach-based law firm filed the lawsuit on behalf of a woman from Hialeah, Florida, on Nov. 18.
The lawsuit alleged that the Kraft Heinz Food Company violated federal law by saying the mac and cheese cups take 3½ minutes to prepare, arguing that the time limit does not include the time it takes to remove the lid, add water and stir in the cheese sauce.
The lawsuit had claimed Amanda Ramirez bought the product for a “premium price” of $10.99 “between October and November 2022, among other times.” However, it did not say how long it actually took Ramirez to prepare the mac and cheese.
The suit described Ramirez as someone who “looks to bold statements of value when quickly selecting groceries”, and “like many consumers who seek to stretch their money as far as possible when buying groceries.”
Despite the arguments, a Miami district judge threw out the lawsuit. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/florida-judge-tosses-5-million-lawsuit-over-microwavable-mac-and-cheese/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:45 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/florida-judge-tosses-5-million-lawsuit-over-microwavable-mac-and-cheese/ |
The FBI should face new limits on its use of US foreign spy data, a key intelligence board says
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI should stop using a U.S. spy database of foreigners’ emails and other communications for investigating crimes that aren’t related to national security, a group of White House intelligence advisers recommended in a report released Monday.
The President’s Intelligence Advisory Board’s findings come as the White House pushes Congress to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before its expiration at the end of this year. U.S. intelligence officials say Section 702 enables investigations of Chinese and Russian espionage, potential terrorist plots, and other threats.
But spy agencies also end up capturing the communications of U.S. citizens and businesses, and a series of intelligence mistakes at the FBI has fanned bipartisan criticism of the bureau that has strongly colored the debate over renewing the law.
The advisory board says the FBI made “inappropriate use” at times of Section 702 information. Those include queries for a U.S. senator and state senator’s names without properly limiting the search, looking for someone believed to have been at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and doing large queries of names of protesters following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
“Unfortunately, complacency, a lack of proper procedures, and the sheer volume of Section 702 activity led to FBI’s inappropriate use of Section 702 authorities, specifically U.S. person queries,” the board said in its report. “U.S. person queries” generally mean searches for U.S. citizens and businesses.
The board recommends the FBI no longer search the data when it is seeking evidence of a crime not related to national security. Currently, the FBI conducts fewer than two dozen such searches a year, a senior administration official told reporters Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.
The White House has not decided whether it will accept the recommendation but is studying the board’s work and report, the official said.
The board’s report largely lines up with the White House’s positions on other changes being debated in Congress. The board opposed requiring the FBI to obtain a warrant before it searches Section 702 data, saying that change would be impractical. It also says the FBI needs to maintain access to foreign spy collection because unlike other intelligence agencies, it has law enforcement authorities inside the U.S. and can warn Americans that they are being targeted by foreign spies or criminals.
Already, both Republicans and Democrats have called for broader changes affecting the FBI, including a handful of lawmakers in both parties who want to require warrants for any search.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., sharply questioned Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen in June about how it searches Section 702 data and signaled he would push for new protections.
“I don’t think you’ve effectively made the case that there shouldn’t be a warrant requirement, whether or not it is constitutionally required, for a U.S. person search that is crime only,” he said.
Many in the GOP, meanwhile, are furious about the FBI’s investigations of former President Donald Trump and mistakes found by the Justice Department inspector general and other reviewers.
In a statement, the FBI said the report highlighted “how crucial” foreign intelligence was to the bureau’s mission.
“We agree that Section 702 should be reauthorized in a manner that does not diminish its effectiveness, as well as reassures the public of its importance and our ability to adhere rigorously to all relevant rules,” the bureau’s statement said.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/31/fbi-should-face-new-limits-its-use-us-foreign-spy-data-key-intelligence-board-says/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:47 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/31/fbi-should-face-new-limits-its-use-us-foreign-spy-data-key-intelligence-board-says/ |
PHOENIX — President Joe Biden will be visiting Arizona as part of a multi-state trip in August. White House staff haven't released more information about the visit's purpose.
The tour will last from Monday, Aug. 7 to Thursday, Aug. 10, and the President will travel to Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah as part of the visit, White House staff announced Monday.
More details are expected to be released later in the day.
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Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/president-biden-arizona-visit-august/75-eae56ccc-001b-40ee-b262-2408479b2cb4 | 2023-07-31T14:56:47 | 0 | https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/president-biden-arizona-visit-august/75-eae56ccc-001b-40ee-b262-2408479b2cb4 |
WASHINGTON – For more than a year, the U.S. economy has defied predictions of a forthcoming recession. It has withstood 10 interest rate hikes in 16 months from an inflation-fighting Federal Reserve. In June, America's employers added a healthy 209,000 jobs.
Will the economy remain resilient? Can the Fed achieve a notoriously difficult “soft landing” — slowing growth just enough to tame inflation without causing a recession?
The Associated Press spoke recently with Gus Faucher, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: The job market is cooling but remains strong. Does that suggest a soft landing?
A: What we have seen in the job market so far in 2023 is consistent with a soft landing. Over the past three months, we’ve added 244,000 jobs per month. That’s still too high from the Fed’s perspective but much better than what we had at the end of last year. Although it’s consistent with a soft landing, it’s also consistent with a story where job growth continues to slow, the economy continues to weaken and we get a recession at the end of 2023. We don’t know what the outcome will be. It’s more likely than not that we get a recession.
Q: When would a downturn begin?
A: A few months ago, we were seeing it starting in the second half of 2023. Now we’re seeing late 2023 or early 2024. The labor market is still holding up. Consumers are still in decent shape. But I do think we will continue to feel the impact of the Fed’s monetary tightening. By the end of this year or sometime early next year, those higher rates will be a significant drag on economic activity and lead to recession. But the economy has held up somewhat better than we were expecting.
The economy just can’t continue to add this many jobs per month. We just don’t have the labor force out there.
Q: Where is inflation headed?
A: We will see slowing inflation. If you go back to 2021, 2022, a lot of that inflation was coming on the goods side. Now, the inflation is coming on the services side. Services inflation tends to be stickier, and it tends to be more driven by what’s going on in the labor market. So the tight labor market is contributing to high services inflation. That will contribute to inflation remaining higher than the Fed would like in the near term. By the end of this year, early next year, we will see a significant softening in the labor market that will help bring inflation down to the Fed’s 2% target.
Q: Will the job market continue to favor workers over the longer term?
A: We have seen structural changes. The pandemic pushed forward a lot of retirements. You had people who were close to retirement in 2020 and planning on working a few more years. But when the pandemic came along, they decided to retire. The remaining workers have more bargaining power. Businesses are going to need to rethink a lot of things about pay, about benefits, about workplace flexibility. | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/07/27/insider-qa-an-economist-who-sees-a-recession-coming-despite-economys-resilience-so-far/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:47 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/07/27/insider-qa-an-economist-who-sees-a-recession-coming-despite-economys-resilience-so-far/ |
DETROIT – People who were catastrophically injured in car wrecks before the summer of 2019 can continue to bill insurance companies for ongoing care, the Michigan Supreme Court said Monday in a decision that provides critical relief for thousands of people.
For decades, people injured in crashes were entitled to lifetime payment for “all reasonable charges” related to care and rehabilitation. But a new state law set a fee schedule and a cap on reimbursements not covered by Medicare.
Suddenly, benefits were at risk for roughly 18,000 people.
In a 5-2 opinion, the Supreme Court said a “vested contractual right” to ongoing benefits “cannot be stripped away or diminished,” especially when lawmakers failed to declare an intent to do so when they changed the law.
In an effort to lower Michigan’s insurance rates, which were among the highest in the U.S., the Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agreed to sweeping changes in 2019. | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/07/31/michigan-court-affirms-critical-benefits-for-thousands-badly-hurt-in-car-wrecks/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:47 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/07/31/michigan-court-affirms-critical-benefits-for-thousands-badly-hurt-in-car-wrecks/ |
Wayward dachshund returns home after days on the run
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass. (WJAR) - It is not uncommon for dogs to run away, but that doesn’t make it any easier for their worried owners.
So when the owners of a lost Massachusetts dog asked their community for help, their neighbors stepped up.
What started out as a nightmare for Dorothy and Glenn Haskell has turned into a happy ending.
“It was an absolute dream,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Positioned peacefully in her arms now, this 14-month-old daredevil dachshund named Chelsea is back home safe and sound after being on the run literally for almost four days.
“Knowing your dog is on Route 95, it’s a nightmare,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Last Sunday, Chelsea was playing with her sister Coco in their backyard when she escaped through a small hole in the fence.
They tried to get her, but she took off.
Glenn Haskell had been out for a jog. “Veered off my run and went after her, you know, but she went into the woods and gone,” he said.
From there, they posted on social media.
“(Neighbors were) coming out their doors, they were hiking through the woods. They were leaving their lights on. They were leaving water out,” Dorothy Haskell said.
They were pleading to the public to help find her as day turned to night.
“This is not going to, it’s not going to end well between her and a fox or a raccoon,” Glenn Haskell said.
The next morning, they made flyers, stuffing them in mailboxes all over. Then that night, a call came in.
“A woman is yelling, ‘Your dachshund, I know she’s up on Route 295. There’s a driver pulled over on the side of the road,’” Dorothy Haskell said.
That same driver called state police. They all tried to grab her, following her across an on ramp.
“And across three lanes of Route 95,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Spooked, the dog went back into the woods.
On Tuesday, Dorothy Haskell went back out there desperately with police, realizing there was a river nearby.
“To the officer and I said, ‘I think it’s time to call it.’ And suddenly he yelled, ‘Oh my God, she’s right there in the bushes,’” she said.
Chelsea ran back to the median and onto the highway again. Drivers began to pull over. One woman stopped traffic, but Chelsea kept going.
Having exhausted nearly all resources, the Haskells got help from Missing Dogs of Massachusetts, a volunteer-run group that help owners get their dogs back.
“A trap in our side yard. And she had me put out dirty laundry…” Dorothy Haskell said.
Just after midnight Wednesday, prayers for the pooch were answered.
“Dogs in Massachusetts, the woman called me, and she said, ‘She’s in the trap. Go out and get her.’ Because they had a camera,” Dorothy Haskell said.
The Haskells are so happy to have Chelsea back home and can’t thank the community enough for caring.
“It definitely restored your faith in humanity,” Dorothy Haskell said.
Copyright 2023 WJAR via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/31/wayward-dachshund-returns-home-after-days-run/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:47 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/07/31/wayward-dachshund-returns-home-after-days-run/ |
LOS ANGELES, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Zefr's third-party brand suitability verification solution for Instagram Feed is now available. This AI-powered measurement solution provides marketers with even more transparency into their Meta campaigns, measuring GARM brand safety and suitability across both Instagram and Facebook Feed placements.
Additionally, the verification solution will now be available in more global territories, supporting advertisers in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese speaking countries. Advertisers will have full access to their Instagram Feed measurement via their Atrium dashboard, which provides full transparency across platforms including Meta, TikTok and YouTube.
Meta recently announced new inventory filters for Facebook and Instagram Feeds that are now rolling out to advertisers in these additional global markets. Both the added inventory filters and expanded third-party brand suitability verification developments underscore Zefr and Meta's ongoing commitment to critical innovation within the industry, powered by AI technology that deepens advertiser transparency and brand suitability controls.
"Earlier this year we began rolling out our third party brand suitability verification solution with Zefr for Facebook Feed as a part of the launch of our AI-powered brand suitability controls. We are excited to expand this offering to Instagram Feed, offering businesses another solution to help meet their brand safety and suitability needs. In addition to English and Spanish, our brand suitability verification solution is also being expanded to four additional languages and testing for third party brand suitability verification for Reels will begin in August. We look forward to sharing more expansion offerings for the brand suitability verification solution in the coming months." Samantha Stetson, Vice President, Client Council and Industry Trade Relations.
"We're excited to announce our AI-powered, third-party brand suitability verification for Instagram Feed. This innovation marks another important step forward in the industry, providing brands with transparency into their adjacencies across both Facebook & Instagram Feed. Our continued collaboration with Meta, expanded global coverage, and commitment to transparency mapped to the GARM standards enables more responsible media investment for advertisers worldwide," said Rich Raddon, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Zefr.
For more detail on Zefr's brand suitability verification product for Meta, please visit www.zefr.com/atrium, or reach out to measurement@zefr.com.
CONTACT: Hank Kim, hank@m8media.net
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SOURCE Zefr | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zefr-meta-expand-ai-powered-brand-suitability-measurement-instagram-feed-additional-languages/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:48 | 0 | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/zefr-meta-expand-ai-powered-brand-suitability-measurement-instagram-feed-additional-languages/ |
Troubled trucking company Yellow Corp. is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy, the Teamsters said Monday.
An official bankruptcy filing is expected any day for Yellow, after years of financial struggles and growing debt. Its expected liquidation would mark a significant shift for the U.S. transportation industry and shippers nationwide.
“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising. Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government. This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien.
The Associated Press reached out to Yellow for comment on Monday. No bankruptcy filings were found as of the early morning.
The company's collapse arrives just three years after Yellow, formerly known as YRC Worldwide, Inc., received $700 million in pandemic-era loans from the federal government. But the company was in financial trouble long before that — with industry analysts pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back decades.
Former Yellow customers and shippers will face higher prices as they take their business to competitors, including FedEx or ABF Freight, experts say — noting that Yellow historically offered the cheapest price points in the industry.
Yellow is one of the nation’s largest less-than-truckload carriers. The 99-year-old Nashville, Tennessee-based company had 30,000 employees across the country as of earlier this year.
On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal and FreightWaves reported that Yellow was preparing for bankruptcy — with some noting that customers had already started to leave the carrier in large numbers. And the company reportedly stopped freight pickups earlier in the week.
Yellow shut down operations on Sunday, according to The Wall Street Journal, following the layoffs of hundreds of nonunion employees on Friday.
The bankruptcy preparation reports arrived just days after Yellow averted a strike from the Teamsters, which represents Yellow’s 22,000 unionized workers, amid heated contract negotiations. On July 23, a pension fund agreed to extend health benefits for workers at two Yellow Corp. operating companies, avoiding a planned walkout — and giving Yellow “30 days to pay its bills,” notably $50 million that Yellow failed to pay the Central States Health and Welfare Fund on July 15.
Yellow has racked up hefty bills over the years. As of late March, Yellow had an outstanding debt of about $1.5 billion. Of that, $729.2 million was owed to the federal government.
In 2020, under the Trump administration, the Treasury Department granted the company a $700 million pandemic-era loan on national security grounds. Last month, a congressional probe concluded that the Treasury and Defense departments “made missteps” in this decision — and noted that Yellow’s “precarious financial position at the time of the loan, and continued struggles, expose taxpayers to a significant risk of loss.”
The government loan is due in September 2024. As of March, Yellow had made $54.8 million in interest payments and repaid just $230 million of the principal owed, according to government documents.
The current financial chaos at Yellow “is probably two decades in the making,” said Stifel research director Bruce Chan, pointing to poor management and strategic decisions dating back to the early 2000s. “At this point, after each party has bailed them out so many times, there is a limited appetite to do that anymore.”
A Wednesday investors note from financial service firm Stephens estimated that Yellow was burning daily amount of $9 million to $10 million in recent days.
According to Satish Jindel, president of transportation and logistics firm SJ Consulting, Yellow handled an average of 49,000 shipments per day in 2022. On Friday, he estimated that number was down to between 10,000 and 15,000 daily shipments.
Yellow’s prices have historically been the cheapest compared to other carriers, Jindel said. “That’s why they obviously were not making money,” he added. “And while there is capacity with the other LTL carriers to handle the diversions from Yellow, it will come at a high price for (current shippers and customers) of Yellow.”
—-
AP Business Writer Matt Ott contributed to this report. | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/07/31/teamsters-say-yellow-corp-is-ceasing-operations-filing-for-bankruptcy/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:48 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/business/2023/07/31/teamsters-say-yellow-corp-is-ceasing-operations-filing-for-bankruptcy/ |
Full Brain Solution Sets New Industry Standard in Stroke Care
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aidoc, a pioneering force in clinical AI, announced today the launch of its revolutionary Full Brain Solution. This new solution will significantly expand the anatomy analyzed by AI to identify suspected strokes, allowing for identification and care coordination of patients with medium vessel occlusions (MeVOs) as well as posterior and anterior large vessel occlusions (LVOs).
The Full Brain Solution represents a significant advancement in medical technology aiding patient care, being the first and only AI technology to identify suspected posterior and anterior LVOs and MeVOs. The prevalence of the newly covered conditions, posterior LVO and MeVO, is significant. 795,000 strokes take place each year in the United States, of which, 87% are ischemic strokes. Approximately 25-40% of ischemic strokes are MeVOs and 24-46% of all ischemic strokes are LVOs. 20-25% of LVOs are posterior.1,2,3,4
The addition of posterior LVO and MeVO enables approximately twice as many patients to receive faster access to life-saving therapy with AI-powered care coordination.1,2,3,4
"AI has shown remarkable success in enhancing workflow for patients with anterior LVOs, nearly halving the time to treatment. However, this is just the beginning. With Aidoc's Full Brain Solution, we can now broaden these advancements to benefit a significantly larger patient population, leading to improved care and ultimately better patient outcomes," shared Dr. Brian Mason, Associate Professor NeuroEndovascular Surgery at University of Illinois Champaign, one of the leading AI-healthcare experts in the country.
Extending beyond acute ischemic stroke, the Full Brain Solution employs diverse artificial intelligence technologies such as image-based identification and natural language processing to identify and orchestrate care for patients suffering from intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage, and brain aneurysms, making it the most complete neurovascular AI solution.
Aidoc's Full Brain Solution is delivered through the company's proprietary operating system (aiOS™) that enables organizations to reliably deploy AI solutions in high volumes and overcome the challenges associated with legacy IT systems and separate physician workflows. The aiOS™ seamlessly integrates with existing IT infrastructure, enabling the scale needed to realize the full potential of AI in healthcare. Aidoc's aiOS™ is also the only platform integrated into electronic health records (EHR).
"AI continues to drive significant gains and contributions in addressing the challenges health systems are facing," stated Elad Walach, CEO, Aidoc. "Our groundbreaking Full Brain Solution is propelling AI into new and needed territories and proving impact to facilities by cutting the time to treatment nearly in half for twice as many patients. Our vision is to continue pushing boundaries, transforming the lives of a significantly larger patient population, elevating the standard of care, and driving remarkable improvements in patient outcomes."
Aidoc's Full Brain Solution will be showcased during the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) Annual Meeting in San Diego, California from July 31 to August 4. If interested in seeing a demonstration register here.
About Aidoc
Aidoc is a pioneering force in clinical AI. We focus on aiding and empowering healthcare teams to optimize patient treatment, which results in improved economic value and clinical outcomes. Our clinically proven AI solutions eliminate silos, increase efficiencies and improve outcomes by delivering critical information when and where care teams need it leading to immediate collective action. Built on Aidoc's proprietary aiOS™, we analyze and aggregate medical data to enable care teams to operationalize the unexpected and work seamlessly with a continued focus on the patient. Used in more than 1,000 medical centers worldwide, Aidoc has the most FDA clearances (13) in clinical AI and its AI-based solutions cover 75 percent of patient populations, enabling physicians to make informed decisions based on real-time data. Aidoc AI is always on, running in the background to change the foreground. Visit Aidoc.com to see how we are connecting all points of care with always on AI.
- https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.028956
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6584910
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170115/#:~:text=Approximately%2020%E2%80%9325%25%20of%20all,mistaken%20for%20more%20benign%20entities.
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2163484/Full_brain_comparison.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2015772/4183551/Aidoc_Always_On_AI_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Aidoc Medical LTD | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/aidoc-introduces-first-only-ai-powered-solution-identify-suspected-posterior-anterior-large-medium-vessel-occlusions/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:48 | 1 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/aidoc-introduces-first-only-ai-powered-solution-identify-suspected-posterior-anterior-large-medium-vessel-occlusions/ |
NEW YORK – When actor Casey Likes watched “Back to the Future” growing up, his mom would always say he reminded her a lot of the film’s star, Michael J. Fox. Something in the universe agrees: He’s taken on Fox’s classic movie role on Broadway.
The rising stage star plays Marty McFly for a musical adaptation of the beloved 1985 sci-fi comedy about a time-traveling duo who go back to the 1950s in a souped-up, gull-winged DeLorean.
“I remember growing up and just really, really loving the film. It kind of sat in that realm of like ‘E.T.’ and ‘Close Encounters’ — movies that came at a time when film was magical,” says Likes, 21. “I hope we accomplish something kind of similar with Broadway.”
The show, which won the Olivier Award for best new musical last year in London, arrives at the Winter Garden Theatre this summer with a story by Bob Gale, who previously co-created and co-wrote the movie with Robert Zemeckis. It hews very closely to the original, including having a DeLorean onstage and the shout “Great Scott!”
Broadway veteran and Tony Award-winner Roger Bart takes on Christopher Lloyd’s role of Doc Brown, the oddball scientist with a knack for inventions. Bart recalls seeing “Back to the Future” in his early 20s when it first appeared in movie theaters. He watched with three friends from theater school and they were all secretly jealous of Fox.
“None of my friends — even knowing each other as well as we did — none of them, including my mother, ever nudged me and said, ‘No, no, kid. You’re Doc Brown. Just be patient,’” the Tony-winner says laughing.
Like the film, the musical centers on Marty McFly traveling back to his hometown in 1955. Once there, he gets caught up in the soap opera lives of his own teenage parents, including his mom, who develops a crush on her future son. He must reconnect mom and dad or he risks disappearing from history.
“We feel like it’s very important – I’m sure Casey would agree — for the public to come to the show and recognize that they are seeing that story in a different form but with all of its charms very deeply intact,” says Bart, whose Broadway credits include “The Producers,” “Disaster!” and “Young Frankenstein.”
New songs have been crafted by the film’s composer Alan Silvestri and songwriter and producer Glen Ballard. Some Huey Lewis and the News songs from the movie also have been included, like the theme tune “The Power of Love” and “Back in Time,” as well as Marty McFly’s futuristic rendition of “Johnny B. Goode.”
“We go back to the ‘50s, you get some songs that sound like ’Grease,' like ‘Bye Bye Birdie.’ And then we have some ‘80s moments in there that are very ’Footloose,'” says Likes. “It feels kind of like the greatest hits of not only rock ‘n’ roll, but of musical theater.”
While both men are fans of the films — and both got to meet the original stars at a gala last week — neither Bart nor Likes want to straightjacket themselves into the way Fox and Lloyd performed their roles.
“I don’t want to impersonate the movie. I want to remind you of the movie,” says Likes, who made his Broadway debut last year as the Cameron Crowe-inspired lead character of the musical “Almost Famous.”
“There’s a lot of things that Roger is doing that are similar, and there’s a lot of things that I’m doing that hopefully are similar to Michael. But we’re really just reminding you of their brilliance. Hopefully, at the same time, you’re able to kind of go along the journey with our Marty and Doc.”
In addition to being a cultural touchstone, “Back to the Future” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry and the American Film Institute listed it as the No. 10 best science-fiction film. Bart thinks the movie's staying power is because it manages to straddle many worlds.
There's a time travel story and one about getting to know your parents as peers. There's a love story between Marty's parents and there's also a buddy movie — Marty and Doc putting their friendship on the line.
“Between all of these elements, it answers so many of the things that we love about that era of moviemaking and storytelling,” says Bart. “I think that’s one of the reasons why it is has sort of stuck around so long.”
Not to mention the fact that audiences can appreciate the story at different parts of their lives. Kids can enjoy the thrills and special effects; adults can be moved by the notion of meeting their own moms and dads. “Part of its sustaining power is the fact that it can mean one thing at one age and another at another,” says Bart.
Likes also adds another reason: Marty initially only wants to get back to his own time period to reconnect with his girlfriend. But his reasons start to change — save Doc, save his family, save the world.
"As the show goes on, there’s more stacked up reasons as to why he has to get back. And I think that’s a really interesting thing to think about in our own life," he says. “What would be our reasons to to get back to our current life?”
___
Mark Kennedy can be reached at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits | https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2023/07/31/the-stars-of-broadways-back-to-the-future-musical-happily-speed-into-the-past-every-night/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:49 | 0 | https://www.wsls.com/entertainment/2023/07/31/the-stars-of-broadways-back-to-the-future-musical-happily-speed-into-the-past-every-night/ |
WASHINGTON – The FBI should stop using a U.S. spy database of foreigners' emails and other communications for investigating crimes that aren't related to national security, a group of White House intelligence advisers recommended in a report released Monday.
The President's Intelligence Advisory Board's findings come as the White House pushes Congress to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before its expiration at the end of this year. U.S. intelligence officials say Section 702 enables investigations of Chinese and Russian espionage, potential terrorist plots, and other threats.
But spy agencies also end up capturing the communications of U.S. citizens and businesses, and a series of intelligence mistakes at the FBI has fanned bipartisan criticism of the bureau that has strongly colored the debate over renewing the law.
The advisory board says the FBI made “inappropriate use” at times of Section 702 information. Those include queries for a U.S. senator and state senator's names without properly limiting the search, looking for someone believed to have been at the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and doing large queries of names of protesters following the 2020 death of George Floyd.
“Unfortunately, complacency, a lack of proper procedures, and the sheer volume of Section 702 activity led to FBI’s inappropriate use of Section 702 authorities, specifically U.S. person queries,” the board said in its report. “U.S. person queries” generally mean searches for U.S. citizens and businesses.
The board recommends the FBI no longer search the data when it is seeking evidence of a crime not related to national security. Currently, the FBI conducts fewer than two dozen such searches a year, a senior administration official told reporters Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House.
The White House has not decided whether it will accept the recommendation but is studying the board's work and report, the official said.
The board's report largely lines up with the White House's positions on other changes being debated in Congress. The board opposed requiring the FBI to obtain a warrant before it searches Section 702 data, saying that change would be impractical. It also says the FBI needs to maintain access to foreign spy collection because unlike other intelligence agencies, it has law enforcement authorities inside the U.S. and can warn Americans that they are being targeted by foreign spies or criminals.
Already, both Republicans and Democrats have called for broader changes affecting the FBI, including a handful of lawmakers in both parties who want to require warrants for any search.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., sharply questioned Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen in June about how it searches Section 702 data and signaled he would push for new protections.
“I don't think you've effectively made the case that there shouldn't be a warrant requirement, whether or not it is constitutionally required, for a U.S. person search that is crime only,” he said.
Many in the GOP, meanwhile, are furious about the FBI's investigations of former President Donald Trump and mistakes found by the Justice Department inspector general and other reviewers.
In a statement, the FBI said the report highlighted “how crucial” foreign intelligence was to the bureau's mission.
“We agree that Section 702 should be reauthorized in a manner that does not diminish its effectiveness, as well as reassures the public of its importance and our ability to adhere rigorously to all relevant rules,” the bureau's statement said. | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/31/the-fbi-should-face-new-limits-on-its-use-of-us-foreign-spy-data-a-key-intelligence-board-says/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:50 | 1 | https://www.wsls.com/news/politics/2023/07/31/the-fbi-should-face-new-limits-on-its-use-of-us-foreign-spy-data-a-key-intelligence-board-says/ |
The Official Committee of Talc Claimants Applauds Decision to Dismiss LTL Management Second Bankruptcy Attempt
NEW YORK, July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Official Committee of Talc Claimants (the "Committee"), which has been tirelessly pursuing justice for its constituency of talc victims injury by Johnson & Johnson's ("J&J's") talc products, is pleased with the court's decision to dismiss the second bankruptcy attempt. We believe the decision of the Honorable Chief Judge Kaplan was thoughtful, well-reasoned, and well-supported by the facts and law. This outcome now frees tens of thousands of victims to seek their justice through the tort system and, either before juries of their peers or by settlement on terms acceptable to them. The Committee has consistently contended the tort system is the rightful place for these claims to be resolved. Today's ruling validates the Committee's belief that J&J manipulated the bankruptcy system by using the "Texas Two-Step" legal maneuver and wrongfully sought to manufacture financial distress in its "Legacy Talc Liabilities" (LTL) Management subsidiary, solely to carry out a bad faith bankruptcy case. The company will now face the full weight of its conduct in the appropriate judicial forums.
"This ruling sends a clear message: multibillion-dollar, wholly solvent companies like J&J should not be allowed to use and in fact abuse bankruptcy laws to avoid accountability," said Brown Rudnick's David Molton, one of the co-counsels representing the Committee. "We are reassured by the Bankruptcy Court's reaffirmation that it will not allow solvent corporations to abuse the system and impose coercive, low-value and cram-down solutions on nonconsenting claimants. Justice should and now will triumph over corporate greed and legal chicanery."
"The claimants have waited long enough. Untold numbers of cancer victims have died while Johnson & Johnson attempted to manipulate the bankruptcy system to limit its liabilities," added Molton. "Now victims and their families can seek justice through the tort system – by presenting their case before a jury of their peers in courts of their own choosing."
The TCC filed its motion to dismiss on April 24, 2023, alongside several other movants, including the Office of the United States Trustee, numerous State Attorneys General, and other plaintiff groups, who shared a vision for this outcome. Chief Judge Kaplan's Opinion can be viewed on the case docket, available at: https://document.epiq11.com/document/getdocumentbycode?docId=4202926&projectCode=LCN&source=DM
About The Official Committee of Talc Claimants
The Official Committee of Talc Claimants (TCC), appointed by the Office of the United States Trustee (UST), an arm of the US Department of Justice, represents and acts as a fiduciary for all mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims, as well as all subrogation claimants who have claims based on or derivative to the victims' talcum powder claims. For more information about the TCC, please view our website at https://www.ltltalccommittee.org/
The TCC is advised by counsel, an investment banker, a financial advisor, and claims estimation experts well-versed in mass tort, asbestos, talc, bankruptcy, and victim advocacy. These entities include Genova Burns L.L.C., Brown Rudnick L.L.P., Otterbourg PC, Massey & Gail L.L.P., Miller Thomson L.L.P., MoloLamken L.L.P., Compass Lexecon, FTI Consulting, and Houlihan Lokey.
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SOURCE Ashcraft & Gerel | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ashcraft-amp-gerel-llp-partners-michelle-parfitt-james-green-two-co-counsels-representing-committee-members-share-thoughts-expressed-by-tcc-committee-their-public-statement/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:50 | 0 | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/07/31/ashcraft-amp-gerel-llp-partners-michelle-parfitt-james-green-two-co-counsels-representing-committee-members-share-thoughts-expressed-by-tcc-committee-their-public-statement/ |
HAZLET, N.J. (WPIX) – A New Jersey family is suing a movie theater chain after the mother and her son, who has autism, were thrown out.
Their offense? The mother took her son into the women’s restroom when he needed to go to the bathroom.
“All this time, it was humiliating and scary for my son,” Christine Gallinaro, of Holmdel, told WPIX.
It was supposed to be a fun trip to the movies for Gallinaro and her 15-year-old son, John.
Gallinaro‘s husband wasn’t with them, so when John, who is nonverbal, had to go to the bathroom, she took him into the ladies’ room at Cinemark‘s Hazlet 12. There was no family restroom.
Gallinaro said no one in the ladies’ room complained. She said many understood that her son has special needs and needed an adult to help him. But the theater manager let her and her son know she disapproved.
“I asked her if there was a problem. I explained that he was disabled, and she said a grown man should not be in this bathroom,” Gallinaro said.
Gallinaro said the manager called security and then the police to eject them from the movie theater. On the cellphone video, Gallinaro said it was clear to her that the security and police were sympathetic to her plight.
The Gallinaros filed a lawsuit last week against the movie theater chain.
“What happened that day was unlawful, wrong, and bizarre,” said Austin Tobin, the Gallinaro family’s lawyer.
“Since this happened and has been made public, there has been an overwhelming response of support, particularly from mothers of disabled children,” Gallinaro said.
A few days after the June 16 incident, Gallinaro said the movie theater regional manager reached out to offer a refund, but the mother said the humiliation was too great.
WPIX contacted the movie theater for comment on the allegations but did not receive a response. | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/humiliating-mom-son-with-autism-thrown-out-of-nj-theater-for-using-ladies-room/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:51 | 1 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/humiliating-mom-son-with-autism-thrown-out-of-nj-theater-for-using-ladies-room/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — A week later, the “Barbenheimer” boom has not abated.
Seven days after Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” conspired to set box office records, the two films held unusually strongly in theaters. “Barbie” took in a massive $93 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. “Oppenheimer” stayed in second with a robust $46.2 million. Sales for the two movies dipped 43% and 44%, respectably — well shy of the usual week-two drops.
“Barbenheimer” has proven to be not a one-weekend phenomenon but an ongoing box-office bonanza. The two movies combined have already surpassed $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales. Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore, call it “a touchstone moment for movies, moviegoers and movie theaters.”
“Having two movies from rival studios linked in this way and both boosting each other’s fortunes — both box-office wise and it terms of their profile — I don’t know if there’s a comp for this in the annals of box-office history,” said Dergarabedian. “There’s really no comparison for this.”
Following its year-best $162 million opening, the pink-infused pop sensation of “Barbie” saw remarkably sustained business through the week and into the weekend. The film outpaced Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” to have the best first 11 days in theaters of any Warner Bros. release ever.
“Barbie” has rapidly accumulated $351.4 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, a rate that will soon make it the biggest box-office hit of the summer. Every day it’s played, “Barbie” has made at least $20 million.
And the “Barbie” effect isn’t just in North America. The film made $122.2 million internationally over the weekend. Its global tally has reached $775 million. It’s the kind of business that astounds even veteran studio executives.
“That’s a crazy number,” said Jeff Goldstein, distribution chief for Warner Bros. “There’s just a built-in audience that wants to be part of the zeitgeist of the moment. Wherever you go, people are wearing pink. Pink is taking over the world.”
Amid the frenzy, “Barbie” is already attracting a lot of repeat moviegoers. Goldstein estimates that 12% of sales are people going back with friends or family to see it again.
For a movie industry that has been trying to regain its pre-pandemic footing — and that now finds itself largely shuttered due to actors and screenwriters strikes — the sensations of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” have showed what’s possible when everything lines up just right.
“Post-pandemic, there’s no ceiling and there’s no floor,” Goldstein said. “The movies that miss really miss big time, and the movies that work really work big time.”
Universal Pictures’ “Oppenheimer,” meanwhile, is performing more like a superhero movie than a three-hour film about scientists talking.
Nolan’s drama starring Cillian Murphy as atomic bomb physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer has accrued $174.1 million domestically thus far. With an additional $72.4 million in international cinemas, “Oppenheimer” has already surpassed $400 million globally.
Showings in IMAX have typically been sold out. “Oppenheimer” has made $80 million worldwide on IMAX. The large-format exhibitor said Sunday that it will extend the film’s run through Aug. 13.
The week’s top new release, Walt Disney Co.’s “Haunted Mansion,” an adaptation of the Disney theme park attraction, was easily overshadowed by the “Barbenheimer” blitz. The film, which cost about $150 million, debuted with $24 million domestically and $9 million in overseas sales. “Haunted Mansion,” directed by Justin Simien (“Dear White People,” “Bad Hair”) and starring an ensemble of LaKeith Stanfield, Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito and Rosario Dawson, struggled to overcome mediocre reviews.
“Talk to Me,” the A24 supernatural horror film, fared better. It debuted with $10 million. The film, directed by Australian filmmakers Danny and Michael Philippou and starring Sophie Wilde, was a midnight premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January and received terrific reviews from critics (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes). It was made for a modest $4.5 million.
While theaters being flush with moviegoers has been a huge boon to the film industry, it’s been tougher sledding for Tom Cruise, the so-called savior of the movies last summer with “Top Gun: Maverick.” “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I,” which debuted the week before the arrival of “Barbenheimer,” grossed $10.7 million in its third weekend. The film starring Cruise and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, has grossed $139.2 million domestically and $309.3 million oveseas.
Instead, the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom” has been the best performing non-“Barbenheimer” release in theaters. The Angel Studios’ release, which is counting crowdfunding pay-it-forward sales in its box office totals, made $12.4 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its haul thus far to nearly $150 million.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “Barbie,” $93 million.
2. “Opppenheimer,” $46.2 million.
3. “Haunted Mansion,” $24.2 million.
4. “Sound of Freedom,” $12.4 million.
5. “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” $10.7 million.
6. “Talk to Me,” $10 million.
7. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” $4 million.
8. “Elemental,” $3.4 million.
9. “Insidious: The Red Door,” $3.2 million.
10. “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani,” $1.6 million.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP | https://www.yourbasin.com/entertainment-news/ap-the-barbie-bonanza-continues-at-the-box-office-oppenheimer-holds-the-no-2-spot/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:50 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/entertainment-news/ap-the-barbie-bonanza-continues-at-the-box-office-oppenheimer-holds-the-no-2-spot/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — This year Whitney Houston would have turned 60, and a special celebration to raise money for a good cause is being planned for her birthday.
Houston’s estate, Sony and Primary Wave Music will host the second annual Whitney Houston Legacy of Love on Aug. 9, which will benefit the late singer’s foundation aimed at helping young people.
Houston’s close friends BeBe Winans and Kim Burrell will perform at the gala at Atlanta’s St. Regis Hotel, as will Whitney’s brother, Gary, who toured with her for three decades.
“When I turned 50, Whitney gave me two celebrations — one in Ireland and one in London. I always tell everyone now that one of them was for her,” says Pat Houston, Whitney Houston’s sister-in-law and the executor of her estate. Houston died in February 2012 at age 48. “This year is Whitney at 60 — we’re all looking forward to being a part of the power of love in that room.”
Founded by the singer in 1989, the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children aims to empower youth, by providing resources to unhoused children, giving out college scholarships, and raising funds for charities like the Children’s Defense Fund and St. Jude Children’s Research.
A charity auction will raise money for the foundation.
“We’re going to auction off a beautiful lavender dress Dolly Parton wore when she sang ‘I Will Always Love You’ at Country Music Television’s ‘100 Greatest Love Songs of Country Music’ special in 2004,” says Pat Houston. “This dress is particularly special because it’s lavender, and lavender is Whitney’s favorite color.”
The song, originally written by Parton, was recorded by Houston and became one of her great, everlasting hits. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it diamond early last year, which means the track has sold and streamed 10 million equivalent units in the United States. It became her first diamond single and made Houston the third woman to ever achieve diamond status with both a single and an album, following Mariah Carey and Taylor Swift.
Clive Davis will serve as honorary chairman. Recording Academy President Harvey Mason jr. is scheduled to attend. Also expected are Gamma’s Larry Jackson and Whitney Houston’s musical director Rickey Minor.
“I always tell people, Whitney is the star,” Pat Houston said. “Everybody in that room is royalty, but she’s loyalty — and she’s still showing that.” | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/whitney-at-60-houston-estate-announces-2nd-annual-gala/ | 2023-07-31T14:56:57 | 0 | https://www.kxnet.com/news/national-news/whitney-at-60-houston-estate-announces-2nd-annual-gala/ |