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It’s hard enough to get a man to roll over on his side when he’s sleeping to stop his snoring. Now you’re asking a fully woke Black man to lie on his side while he’s conscious and allow somebody he doesn’t know to stick a finger up his butt for a prostate exam? Good luck with that one.
We’re kings of the phrase “I’m aight” while the women in our lives are screaming, “Babe, why don’t you go get that checked out? It’s been three months now.” Men don’t like going to the doctor unless they absolutely have to. That dissonance gets especially greater when there are major checkups on the horizon such as prostate and colon cancer screenings.
A new national survey commissioned by Orlando Health found that nearly half (48%) of men made an excuse for NOT making their yearly doctor’s visits, with the top excuses being:
I’m too busy to go
I’m afraid to find out what might be wrong
I don’t want to get uncomfortable body exams
With the life expectancy of men being five years shorter than women, doctors are urging men to stop making excuses. The deaths of Phife Dawg, PM Dawn’s Prince Be, Doug Banks and countless other Black men have led many to start rethinking their beliefs about going to the doctor.
Dr. Michele Reed is a board-certified family medicine physician who has done tremendous work surrounding the prevention of chronic diseases in the Black community. She provides insight into the top reasons why Black men don’t go to the doctor for major health screenings.
1. Stigma of Having a Disease
We would rather limp than get an ankle brace. Men don’t want to feel or appear weak in any capacity. The stigma of “having something” is often too great for our Black men who are constantly labeled in society already. In addition to being Black, male, this age, this weight, from this place, you now mean to tell me I have X, Y and Z conditions?
The pressure is too great for our Black men who would rather suffer in silence because of this stigma. Dr. Reed believes part of this stigma is affected by a level of shame in being diagnosed with a condition or disease.
2. We Don’t Know Our Family History
Our bloodline is a gateway to the story of our health’s present and future. If your family has a history of high blood pressure it could help inform you on your next steps to either prevention or maintenance of this condition.
Dr. Reed recommends talking to your family once a year about their current and past medical history to get an overview of what’s going on. Awareness can provide you with some prevention strategies to extend your life.
3. Lack of Awareness
It’s one thing to go to the doctor, but it’s another to be completely knowledgeable about what your doctor said. Men are often passive participants once they hit the doctor’s office.
A brother can go to the doctor and still walk out clueless as to what happened during that visit. Men don’t know how real things can get until it’s too late, so it’s important to ask questions and understand completely why you’re there.
Here are Dr. Michele Reed’s tips to overcome these issues. Pass these on to the men in your care:
Find a doctor you feel comfortable with.
Guys don’t like discussing anything that’s too personal. We’re not the emotional beings that will give you our whole life story. We get especially private when it comes to our health issues. Finding a physician that you feel comfortable speaking to about your concerns is one of the most important steps to developing a healthy lifestyle. Men, we have to let that guard down. Find a doctor that makes you feel at ease.
Hold community leaders accountable for speaking up.
Anybody who has a vested interest in the community and has power needs to speak up about the importance of health screenings. Dr. Reed speaks to church leaders all the time about how their voice has the potential to affect the outcomes of their congregations. She believes that if you can get them to tithe, fast and volunteer their time, they’ll also work out and treat their bodies as temples as well.
Stop being a guinea pig.
Dr. Reed says that oftentimes men are too passive when they go to the doctor. Men need to start asking questions about what’s exactly going on at every step of the process during their doctor visits. If you’re unsure of something have the doctor write it down for you. Stop them and ask for clarification if they’re going too fast or speaking in medically exclusive ways.
Make it a family affair
It’s a good idea to take a family member to the doctor with you. Dr. Reed says that bringing someone else to the table who loves you will bring out questions that you might not ask. You can’t rely on the medical summary to tell you everything!
Derrick M. Lane is a columnist for BlackDoctor.org, where this article was originally published. | https://www.stlamerican.com/your_health_matters/health_opinion/four-ways-to-get-black-men-to-see-a-doctor/article_14016d34-2198-11ed-8814-bbd1f7f47115.html | 2022-08-22T04:49:34Z | stlamerican.com | control | https://www.stlamerican.com/your_health_matters/health_opinion/four-ways-to-get-black-men-to-see-a-doctor/article_14016d34-2198-11ed-8814-bbd1f7f47115.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Homer Glen village trustee Nicole La Ha Zwiercan wins Mrs. America crown
HOMER GLEN, Illinois - A Homer Glen village trustee is the new Mrs. America.
Nicole La Ha Zwiercan won the crown Saturday night in Las Vegas, competing against 51 national contestants.
Earlier this year, FOX 32 spoke with her about her efforts to make Homer Glen more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. Zwiercan’s five-year-old daughter Ashlynn was born with cerebral palsy. Zwiercan has encouraged the village to make three public playgrounds more accessible.
She has also worked with local stores to provide special grocery carts to carry children with a physical disability.
Zwiercan will compete for Mrs. World in December, in Las Vegas, | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/homer-glen-village-trustee-nicole-la-ha-zwiercan-wins-mrs-america-crown | 2022-08-22T05:02:45Z | fox32chicago.com | control | https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/homer-glen-village-trustee-nicole-la-ha-zwiercan-wins-mrs-america-crown | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MASON, Ohio -- Caroline Garcia made history at the Western & Southern Open, becoming the first qualifier to ever win a WTA 1000 title. The former World No.4 will surge back into the Top 20 on Monday after a week that saw her win eight matches in nine days, defeat three Top 10 opponents, and out-hit Petra Kvitova to win her 10th career title, third of the season, and first WTA 1000 since 2017.
Garcia soars past Kvitova to win 10th career title
The key to Garcia's 2022 resurgence - no player has won more Hologic WTA Tour matches since the start of June than Garcia - is clarity. The 28-year-old Frenchwoman has always had the flair and athleticism to adapt her game to any situation, but after hiring coach Bertrand Perret, Garcia has embraced a swarming offensive game that is leaving her opponents flummoxed.
"I think when I arrived on tour, I was definitely playing like that," Garcia told reporters. "That's the way it was working for me. That's the way I learned to play tennis. Sometimes I did doubt it, because it was not always working, and you try to forget about what people are saying, but it's always coming to your ears one way or another, and sometimes from people who are well-known, things like that. So it always affects you."
"Then I doubted. And then I did it kind of half and half, and it was not working anymore. You try to do less unforced error, you go back, but then you do less winners because you are less inside the court."
That lack of clarity combined with injuries derailed Garcia after her breakout 2017 season, which saw her win back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Wuhan and Beijing and qualify for her first WTA Finals. She started 2022 just inside the Top 75 and was sidelined this spring due to a foot injury, making her return at Roland Garros.
Garcia has been a force ever since. Her three titles were won on three different surfaces and she is now 4-0 against the Top 10 since she returned.
Garcia sat down with WTA Insider to reflect on her week in Cincinnati and to explain her path to rediscovering her best tennis. Listen to the full interview on the WTA Insider Podcast below:
On playing so aggressively in Cincinnati:
"You know, sometimes I don't really realize how aggressive is it, how inside the court, how much pressure it is putting on the other one. I don't really realize it always, but that's really the way it's been working for me in the past and is definitely working this year so far since I've been healthy and able to train That's the only where we are doing things. I enjoy it. I trust myself more and more.
"I try to let go and just trust it and it's definitely a lot of fun to play this way. I definitely enjoy it a lot, to do winners, to move forward, to go to the net, do volleys. It's the way I like to play tennis. I like to watch tennis played like that. And it's working. So it's even more confidence for me, for the team to keep going that way."
On hiring coach Bertrand Perret and a full-time traveling physio, Laura Legoupil:
"It's always a tough decision, a tough investment in your project and your goals. She's doing the fitness part and physio. The last couple of years I've been injured and I was not able to get through it. There is a physio doing a great job at the WTA, but when you get something over and over, we had the belief that it was better to have someone who was a constant feeling of how things are going, which way you are going.
"So I'm definitely very happy that it's working. Everyone is doing a good job to work together as a team, trying to see where we can improve, what can we do, what is the most important things to do because sometimes you have to choose to pick one way.
"And Bertrand was completely agreeing with my game style. It was quite funny because obviously, my dad is always in the team, traveling less, but really a big part of it. He was calling Bertrand every single day to see how it is going. It proved to me that the decision and the game style was right and it was great to see someone from the outside believe it as much as we did and as much as we do."
On the ups and downs of her career since her breakout 2017 season:
"It was tough. It was not easy because obviously as an athlete, you want to be healthy, you want to be able to compete, but you also want to win. And when you don't get the win, when you don't get that kind of reward, it's harder to go back to practice. It's harder to accept the troubles. It's harder to accept the fact that you cannot live a normal life. You don't have friends you can see every weekend. And when it's not working, this part is really harder to deal with it.
"You have to remember, why did you start to play tennis? Because you kind of forget about it.
"So some months and weeks were really complicated, but I got the chance that positive people were behind me, my friends, my family, trying to change a little bit what I was doing, make me live some new experiences. And it definitely helped me to realize things, to see another part of the life and see that I was lucky enough to be able to play tennis for the last years. It was a great lifestyle, we are not going to lie about it. And it was something I was still enjoying and gave me energy again to practice, to find solutions and to have people and a good team behind me to feel there was really a strong connection between them. It gave me strength to train, to believe in them."
Listen to the full interview on the WTA Insider Podcast. | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2755105/champions-corner-garcia-casts-aside-her-doubts-to-make-history-in-cincy | 2022-08-22T05:08:11Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2755105/champions-corner-garcia-casts-aside-her-doubts-to-make-history-in-cincy | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Stand-up's pasta pun one liner named best joke of the Fringe
It is a pithy one-liner that left audiences ravioling on the floor.
A stand-up who specialises in quickfire puns has joined a select band of comedians who have won the high-profile Joke of the Fringe award more than once.
Masai Graham, who has been playing to crowds at the Laughing Horse at Dropkick Murphys this month, secured the award thanks to one of more than 100 jokes he reels out over the space of his half hour show.
The joke in question, ‘I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn’t get pasta’, secured more than half the votes (52 per cent) in a survey of more than 2,000 people.
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It means that Mr Graham joins another veteran punner, Tim Vine, in winning the award, sponsored by the comedy channel, Dave, multiple times.
The comedian, from West Bromwich, won in 2016 thanks to his gag about organ donation: ‘My dad suggested I register for a donor card, he’s a man after my own heart.”
Mr Graham, whose current show is entitled ‘Aaaaaaaaaargh! It's 101 Clean Jokes in 30 minutes’, said: “It's great to see the Edinburgh Fringe festival back up and running again, it's my spiritual home.
“I was so delighted to find out I'd won the Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe award for a second time - I thought, ‘this is getting pasta joke’.”
Other lauded one liners and jokes shortlisted by a panel of leading comedy critics before the public vote include veterans of the Fringe.
Mark Simmons, who also made the shortlist back in 2017, took more than a third (37 per cent) of the votes thanks to his one liner, ‘Did you know, if you get pregnant in the Amazon, it’s next day delivery?’
The comedian and children’s author, Olaf Falafel, had two lines shortlisted, and came a close third with another culinary-themed joke: ‘My attempts to combine nitrous oxide and Oxo cubes made me a laughing stock.’
In eighth place was his deadpan remark: ‘I spent the whole morning building a time machine, so that’s four hours of my life that I’m definitely getting back.’
Mr Vine, a two-time winner of the award, was shortlisted for ‘I used to live hand to mouth. Do you know what changed my life? Cutlery’.
The award, now in their 13th year, saw the panel of critics attend hundreds of shows across the Fringe over recent weeks, listening out for those jokes which tickled them the most. Each critic then submitted their six favourite jokes.
In order to ensure that there is no bias towards well-known stand-ups during the public vote, the jokes are listed with no reference to the comedian who wrote and performed them.
Cherie Cunningham, Dave’s channel director, said “What a pleasure to be back in Edinburgh. This is Dave’s first Joke of the Fringe in three years and the quality of submissions has been incredibly strong.
“It’s a fantastic top 10 full of newcomers and comedy veterans, and it’s a delight to crown Masai Graham as winner once more.”
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/stand-ups-pasta-pun-one-liner-named-best-joke-of-the-fringe-3813853 | 2022-08-22T05:26:44Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/stand-ups-pasta-pun-one-liner-named-best-joke-of-the-fringe-3813853 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
-- Ascletis is China's first biotech company which has obtained IND approvals of an oral RdRp inhibitor from both China NMPA and the U.S. FDA
-- Ascletis has filed multiple patent applications for ASC10 and its use globally. Compared with molnupiravir, ASC10 has a new and differentiated chemical structure
-- ASC10 is an oral double prodrug. After administration, both ASC10 and molnupiravir are rapidly and completely converted in vivo into the same active metabolite ASC10-A. Ascletis is actively communicating with regulatory authorities to explore the possibility of further accelerating the clinical development of ASC10
HANGZHOU, China and SHAOXING, China, Aug. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascletis Pharma Inc. (HKEX: 1672, "Ascletis") today announces that the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved the Investigational New Drug (IND) application of ASC10, an oral inhibitor drug candidate targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) for COVID-19. Ascletis is China's first biotech company which has obtained IND approvals of an oral RdRp inhibitor from both China NMPA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
ASC10 is an oral double prodrug which has a new and differentiated chemical structure from the single prodrug molnupiravir. After oral administration, both ASC10 and molnupiravir are rapidly and completely converted in vivo into the same active metabolite ASC10-A, also known as β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (NHC). ASC10 was discovered and developed in-house. Ascletis has filed multiple patent applications for ASC10 and its use globally. ASC10 oral tablet formulation for the clinical study was developed with in-house proprietary technology of Ascletis.
By applying a double prodrug strategy, ASC10's permeability in Caco-2 cells (human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells) and active metabolite exposure in monkeys reached 3.2-fold and 2.1-fold of molnupiravir's, respectively. In the SARS-CoV-2 infected mouse models, ASC10 at 240 mg/kg twice daily led to a 4.0 log reduction in viral titer in lungs, equivalent to molnupiravir at 500 mg/kg twice daily[1]. Preclinical studies demonstrated that ASC10-A has potent cellular antiviral activity against Omicron variant (EC50 = 0.3 µM), Delta variant (EC50 = 0.5 µM) and wildtype virus (EC50 = 0.7 µM). It also suggested that there were no drug-drug interactions between ASC10 and other common medicines.
Ascletis is actively communicating with regulatory authorities to explore the possibility of further accelerating the clinical development of ASC10.
"The IND approvals of ASC10 from both China NMPA and U.S. FDA mark a great recognition to our in-house R&D capabilities. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause huge social and economic implications globally, we will continue to advance the clinical development of our proprietary COVID-19 pipeline including ASC10 (RdRp inhibitor) and ASC11 (3CLpro inhibitor) to fight against the pandemic." said Dr. Jinzi J. Wu, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ascletis.
[1] Wahl, et al., Nature. 2021 March ; 591(7850): 451 -457.
About Ascletis
Ascletis is an innovative R&D driven biotech listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (1672.HK), covering the entire value chain from discovery and development to manufacturing and commercialization. Led by a management team with deep expertise and a proven track record, Ascletis focuses on three therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs from a global perspective: viral diseases, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and oncology. Through excellent execution, Ascletis rapidly advances its drug pipeline with an aim of leading in global competition. To date, Ascletis has three marketed products, i.e. ritonavir tablets, GANOVO® and ASCLEVIR®, and 20 drug candidates in its R&D pipeline. The most advanced drug candidates include ASC22 (CHB functional cure), ASC10 and ASC11(oral small molecules for COVID-19 treatment), ASC40 (recurrent glioblastoma), ASC42 (PBC, primary biliary cholangitis), and ASC40 (acne).
For more information, please visit www.ascletis.com.
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SOURCE Ascletis Pharma Inc. | https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/ascletis-announces-ind-approval-oral-rdrp-inhibitor-asc10-covid-19-by-china-nmpa/ | 2022-08-22T05:38:52Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/ascletis-announces-ind-approval-oral-rdrp-inhibitor-asc10-covid-19-by-china-nmpa/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HONG KONG, Aug. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MioTech, the AI-based sustainability data and technology provider, announced today the appointment of finance veteran Jack Lin as President effective immediately. With over 20 years of experience and leadership in the financial industry, Lin will provide MioTech with further depth and strategic guidance to accelerate international growth and innovation plans.
Jack Lin was previously Managing Director and Head of APAC Client Coverage at MSCI (MSCI:US), the world-renowned index, ESG and portfolio analytics provider. He was also a member of MSCI's Global Executive Committee. Prior to MSCI, Lin was a member of the Asia regional senior management team of the French asset management company Amundi, one of the world's largest investment managers by assets under management, which acquired Pioneer Investments, where Lin was its longtime Head of Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. He spent decades leading and managing teams in the global asset management industry, including as Head of Asia Pacific and Co-CEO International at US-based Janus Capital and Managing Director in Asia at Franklin Templeton. In 2003, Lin was seconded by Franklin Templeton to be the founding CEO of Franklin Templeton Sealand Fund Management, one of the first Sino-Foreign JV Asset Management companies in China. Since 1994, Lin has helped Franklin Templeton to establish its operations in markets such as Japan, Vietnam, China and Korea.
At MioTech, Lin will provide visionary and strategic leadership as well as drive expansion across different markets. As President, Lin will also lead key partnerships and enrich MioTech's green finance offerings to financial institutions as the company continues to advance its growing pipeline.
"MioTech is a pioneer in the ESG industry in Asia," said Jack Lin. "Its proprietary AI-driven data and methodology offer clients unparalleled insights into the key factors that drive the trends of ESG metrics for individual institutions as well as the market overall. I am honored to play a role in helping MioTech to increase transparency and adoption of ESG standards to the benefit of its clients and their underlying constituents."
Co-founder and CEO of MioTech, Jason Tu, added: "Jack's experience pioneering businesses across APAC and his strong background in the financial industry will accelerate MioTech's presence and growth in the entire APAC region. We are thrilled to see his profound industry knowledge combined with MioTech's innovation and technology to boost our growth."
About MioTech
MioTech uses artificial intelligence to solve the sustainability, climate change, carbon emissions reduction, and social responsibility challenges faced by financial institutions, corporations, governments and individuals. Its comprehensive coverage of ESG data helps financial institutions make the right decisions in green finance and responsible investments. Its software helps corporations manage ESG reporting, improve energy efficiency, track and reduce carbon emissions. Its app builds green-conscious communities and promotes low-carbon lifestyles among individuals.
Founded in Hong Kong, MioTech also has offices in Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore. Its world-renowned investors include ZhenFund, Horizons Ventures, TOM Group, Moody's, HSBC, Guotai Junan International, GIC, and J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
For more information, please visit https://www.miotech.com
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SOURCE MioTech | https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/miotech-strengthens-regional-international-leadership-with-appointment-ex-mscis-jack-lin/ | 2022-08-22T05:39:25Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/miotech-strengthens-regional-international-leadership-with-appointment-ex-mscis-jack-lin/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Kochi: Justice Ziyad Rahman will hear the survivor's plea against the trial of the actress assault case being transferred back to the Principal Sessions Court.
The new bench stepped in after Kauser Edappagath recused from hearing the case last Friday.
Earlier too, Kauser has withdrawn from hearing the survivor's plea in the case.
The survivor, in 2019, had requested the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, which was hearing the case then, that the trial be presided over by a woman judge. Following her plea, the trial was moved to the Ernakulam Special Additional Sessions Court.
However, based on the office memorandum issued by the administrative department of the High Court, the case was transferred back to the Principal Sessions Court.
As per the survivor, this action was taken not in accordance with the law.
A woman judge had been appointed to hear the case as per the survivor's request. However, the complainant's present stance is that it does not matter whether the judge is a woman or a man.
Justice Ziyad Rahman will hear the plea on Monday.
The case pertains to the actor being abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car in Kochi on February 17, 2017. Actor Dileep, charged with conspiracy, is the 8th accused in the case.
The trial began in January 2020 but is being delayed due to various reasons, including frequent pleas filed by the defendant and the COVID-19 lockdown. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/actor-assault-case-new-justice-to-hear-survivor-plea.html | 2022-08-22T05:39:53Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/actor-assault-case-new-justice-to-hear-survivor-plea.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Kozhikode: Throwing his weight behind IUML leaders on the raging debate in the state over the Left government's gender neutral policy in schools, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan on Sunday said making girls and boys sit together in the classroom will not lead to gender equality.
Terming the Left government's gender neutral policy in education as a "wayward reform", the Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP said that when there was already a system in place which was functioning properly, what was the need to change it.
"Not everyone would welcome it. It is not just the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which is against it. Lot of people in Kerala have not accepted that concept. It is unnecessary," Muraleedharan said, while speaking to reporters here.
He also said that the policy was also against the norms and beliefs of some and therefore, it should not be forced upon anyone.
Instead, the state government should focus on ensuring safety and security of women.
Recently, Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty had criticised the stand of certain IUML leaders on the state government's gender neutral policy, alleging that they were trying to mislead the people and sought to know why they are afraid of equal opportunity for women in the society.
Sivankutty had also made it clear that if it was the case of gender neutral uniform or mixed schools, the CPM-led government does not impose any compulsion on anyone.
(With inputs from PTI) | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/congress-muraleedharan-on-cpm-gender-neutral-classrooms.html | 2022-08-22T05:40:05Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/congress-muraleedharan-on-cpm-gender-neutral-classrooms.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Thiruvananthapuram: The fisherfolk, who have been laying siege to the under-construction of the Vizhinjam port on land, announced their decision to intensify their protest by blocking it from the sea as well.
The decision was announced before a TV channel by one of the priests of the Latin Archdiocese two days after the state government failed to persuade them to withdraw the agitation.
The priest said that from Monday as fisherfolk protest on land in front of the Vizhinjam port gates, others from their community would block the port from the sea using their boats.
He said that the protest would not be withdrawn till all of their seven demands are met.
He said that while the state government said it would meet five of their demands, it was only an oral assurance and they wanted it in writing.
The priest also said that the construction of the port should be stopped and a study be carried out regarding its environmental impact and representatives of the fisherfolk, who are experts in such matters, be also consulted.
He also said that subsidy on kerosene, as provided by the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, should also be given by the Kerala government to the fisherfolk who are facing severe financial constraints.
Meanwhile, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), a powerful church body, on Sunday declared its full support to the coastal residents "who are fighting for their survival and the Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese which is leading their struggle".
In a statement, the KCBC said the people living in the coastal belt were going through "a very serious situation" and urged the authorities to take a democratic and constructive approach towards the people's struggle for their survival.
The state government had held talks with the protesters on Friday hours after a tense situation prevailed in the Vizhinjam port area as hundreds of fisherfolk, mainly women from the nearby coastal hamlets, pushed their way into the under-construction port site demanding the authorities to address their long-pending demands regarding livelihood issues.
A large number of coastal people have been staging an intense protest outside the main entrance of the multi-purpose seaport, located at nearby Mulloor, since last week pressing their seven-point charter of demands including to stop the construction work and to conduct a coastal impact study in connection with the multi-crore project.
The protesters have been alleging that the unscientific construction of groynes, the artificial sea walls known as "pulimutt' in local parlance, as part of the upcoming Vizhinjam port was one of the reasons for the increasing coastal erosion in the district.
(With inputs from PTI) | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/fisherfolk-stir-vizhinjam-port-blockade.html | 2022-08-22T05:40:17Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/fisherfolk-stir-vizhinjam-port-blockade.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Panangad (Kochi): Several postings at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) were made by the varsity Governing Council without securing the sanction of the Government. The Audit report for 2019-20 has detected 46 non-teaching staff and 41 teaching staff appointments were made violating rules.
Though the Governing Council has the power to create posts, prior government sanction has to be secured for making the appointments. The report also directed the varsity authorities to explain why the qualifications for teachers in the Fisheries faculty were fixed without conforming to norms.
Auditors have objected to the payment of Rs 1.33 crore towards salary and other benefits to teachers who were appointed in violation of rules during 2019-20. The salaries of seven assistant professors, three associate professors, and two professors and assistant professors each were blocked.
Allowing an associate professor, who attained the age of 60 years on March 9, 2021, and is due to retire on the date, to continue in service till the last working day of March was also found to be illegal. The Audit has directed the authorities to reclaim the additional wages given to the said person.
The appointment of university school directors also violated norms. The executive engineer and overseer appointees were allowed to continue on daily wages basis even after the expiry of their contracts.
Irregularities have also been detected in the upkeep of stock registers of answer books and additional sheets used in examinations. The Audit report says that even though a letter was given seeking an explanation on October 21, 2021, no reply was received. The report has been prepared under the leadership of Audit Department Joint Director Dhanya Balakrishnan. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/illegal-posting-at--kufos-too--salary-of-teaching-staff-blocked-.amp.html | 2022-08-22T05:40:23Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/illegal-posting-at--kufos-too--salary-of-teaching-staff-blocked-.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The dollar is keeping more mixed on the day, with major currencies mostly little changed. The antipodeans are holding decent gains but I wouldn't look too much into that as risk tones are rather defensive for the most part. AUD/USD is up 0.4% to 0.6900 as a test of the 5 August low at 0.6869 is still holding for now.
S&P 500 futures are down 0.4% while Treasury yields are little changed, though 10-year yields are hovering near the 3% mark (2.98% currently). But as highlighted last week, the more important thing to note is that the bond market is actually starting to budge as we see 10-year yields climb above its 100-day moving average.
Looking ahead today, we might not get much in terms of fresh catalysts with there being little on the agenda. Market participants will keep their focus on the Jackson Hole symposium on 25 to 27 August. All eyes will be on Powell's messaging after we saw a hot jobs report, a slight drop in inflation, and ongoing developments with regards to recession risks.
0800 GMT - SNB total sight deposits w.e. 19 August
That's all for the session ahead. I wish you all the best of days to come and good luck with your trading! Stay safe out there. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/a-quiet-one-on-the-agenda-in-europe-today-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T05:41:00Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/a-quiet-one-on-the-agenda-in-europe-today-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Kozhikode: Yet another person undergoing treatment after being bitten by a dog has died despite being administered anti-rabies vaccines.
The deceased has been identified as Chandrika, a native of Koothali. She was 53.
She was bitten by a stray dog near Perambra on July 21. Besides Chandrika, eight others were also bitten by the same dog.
It is unclear if rabies is the reason for death. Tests are on to find out, the District Medical Officer informed.
If it is indeed a case of rabies, then this would be the second such death in the state in the span of just two months.
In July, a 19-year-old girl - Sreelakshmi, hailing from Mangara in Palakkad - died due to rabies attack after she was bitten by a dog while going to college.
Sreelakshmi died despite being administered four rounds of vaccines. Health Minister Veena George had ordered a probe then.
Rampant stray dog menace
There is no end to the stray dog menace in Kerala. In Vaikom, as many as 10 people were bitten by a stray dog at Chembu panchayat on Saturday.
The dog was later run over by a vehicle when the locals tried to catch hold of it.
Those who came under attack are worried about whether the stray dog had rabies. The carcass of the dog was sent to the Virology Lab in Thiruvalla for testing.
On August 18, eight people were bitten by a stray dog in Thalayolaparambu near Vaikom. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/woman-dies-after-dog-bite-kozhikode.amp.html | 2022-08-22T05:41:01Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/08/22/woman-dies-after-dog-bite-kozhikode.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
First seized superyacht to be sold at auction
A superyacht formerly owned by sanctioned Russian tycoon Dmitry Pumpyansky will be sold on Tuesday, according to the website of auction house Howe Robinson Partners.
The big picture: The 240-foot Axioma is the first of several superyachts seized in response to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine to be sold at auction, Nigel Hollyer, a Howe Robinson Partners broker told Bloomberg.
Driving the news: The yacht that features an infinity swimming pool and 3D cinema was seized in Gibraltar last March as the United Kingdom and European Union added Pumpyansky to its sanctions list.
- JPMorgan successfully argued in a court in the British overseas territory at the time that Pumpyansky did not pay a $20.6 million loan, per Bloomberg.
By the numbers: The Axioma is valued at $75 million, according to the BBC.
What we're watching: While there have been calls by governments including the U.S. to give the proceeds of assets seized from Russian oligarchs for military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, in this case the Axioma sale is expected to go to JP Morgan, the BBC reports.
- Representatives for Howe Robinson Partners and JP Morgan did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/22/first-seized-russian-super-yacht-auction | 2022-08-22T05:56:08Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/22/first-seized-russian-super-yacht-auction | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Giants’ 2022 NFL Draft class is taking a beating.
Outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (first round) and inside linebacker Darrian Beavers (sixth round) were forced out of Sunday night’s 25-22 preseason victory over the Bengals at MetLife Stadium with knee injuries. This continued a trend this summer, as the rookies are having great difficulty staying on the field.
Already, offensive lineman Marcus McKethan (fifth round) is lost for the season after he tore his ACL. Safety Dane Belton (fourth round) is out with a fractured collarbone. Two third-round picks, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (groin) and offensive lineman Josh Ezeudu (injury undisclosed) have not been practicing.
Late in the game, defensive lineman D.J. Davidson (fifth round) had to come out of the game.
Perhaps the Giants should take right tackle Evan Neal (first round) and wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson (second round) and secure them in bubble wrap until the regular season.
Blake Martinez started at one of the inside linebacker spots. It was his first game action since tearing his ACL in Week 3 last season.
C.J. Board did not help his cause in his quest to stick on the roster. He lost a fumble on a kickoff return and was forced out of the game in the second quarter with an injury to his ribs. Board did have a long kickoff return brought back by a holding penalty on Oshane Ximines. Meanwhile, WR Richie James had a 17-yard punt return. It was a rough night for the Giants special teams, as Chris Evans broke off a 73-yard kickoff return. On the play, kicker Graham Gano dove to get involved with the tackle and had to leave the game with a concussion.
With Gano out, punter Jamie Gillan was forced into kickoff duties and sent his kick to start the second half out of the end zone for a touchback. Gillan early in the fourth quarter was sent out to attempt a 31-yard field goal, which he nailed with ease. Safety Julian Love was the holder, filling in for Gillan, who usually handles that assignment.
Gillan had not kicked field goals since his college days at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.“You don’t lose the natural ability to kick the ball,’’ Gillan said. “But I don’t really work on it. I do some drop kicks for fun but that’s about it.’’
It was another quiet evening for Kenny Golladay, who was on the field for 21 snaps with Daniel Jones and did not get targeted once. Guard Max Garcia, No. 6 on the depth chart, started at center because of the rash of injuries at the position. Garcia remained in the game once the starters on the line were pulled. The second-unit offensive line, from left to right, was Devery Hamilton, Will Holden, Garcia, Chris Owens and Eric Smith.
The Bengals have a bit of a Giants flavor, with three former Giants players — defensive lineman BJ Hill, cornerback Eli Apple and safety Michael Thomas and two former Giants assistant coaches — defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and linebackers coach James Bettcher. Anarumo this offseason interviewed for the head coaching position that went to Brian Daboll. | https://nypost.com/2022/08/22/injury-situation-for-giants-rookies-starting-to-get-ridiculous/ | 2022-08-22T06:06:48Z | nypost.com | control | https://nypost.com/2022/08/22/injury-situation-for-giants-rookies-starting-to-get-ridiculous/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A man is fighting for his life in hospital after an assault in Maidstone. Kent Police was called along with ambulance crews to the Hare and Hounds pub in Lower Boxley Road just after 8.35pm on Saturday. (August 20)
The man was taken to a London hospital with "life-threatening injuries following an altercation", said a police spokesperson. A 25-year-old man from Maidstone has been arrested on suspicion of affray and taken into custody, said police at 5.30pm yesterday. (Sunday)
Police investigating the assault want to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information which could help officers. Witnesses should call Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting 46/162838/22.
Members of the public can also make contact with police through Crimestoppers without giving their name or on 0800 555111, or by using the online form on their website crimestoppers-uk.org.
Get more Maidstone news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE .
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Kent's bison making 'remarkable impact' on their new home one month on | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/man-left-life-thyreatening-injureis-7492703 | 2022-08-22T06:12:04Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/man-left-life-thyreatening-injureis-7492703 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
By 5:15 p.m. on August 20, hundreds of students had gathered in front of the Kansas Union to celebrate the commencement of the school year.
Various clubs and intramural sports, such as Aerial Arts at KU and the Kansas Jayhawks Rugby Football Club, handed out beverages, T-shirts and other back-to-school paraphernalia in an effort to involve students and draw the student body closer together.
"I feel like if you're in college, you should get involved and have fun, because if not, you're just going to school, and that's boring," Jaray Gaskins, a freshman studying human biology, said.
Mark Harely, a freshman studying secondary education, agreed, saying that knowing people is important.
“Just knowing everybody on my floor is very important to me,” Harley said. “I think it’s very important: making friends, making sure you fit in.”
However, a few obstacles stand in the way of student involvement.
“I feel like sometimes, nowadays, people don’t want to get involved because it’s too hard,” Leyla Sajadi, a freshman studying biology, said.
Maya Hayles, a freshman studying strategic communications, agreed.
“I think it’s just fear – fear of not being accepted into new groups,” Hayles said.
Perhaps the variety of prospective clubs can help students overcome these obstacles. Students were surprised to see an e-sports club, a taxidermy club, and a large number of religious organizations at UnionFest. There seemed to be something for everyone.
Harely, comparing the range of activities to high school, said that the vast amount of clubs was different.
"There's so many clubs you can join,” Harley said. “There's something you can do. I feel like high school kinda limited that."
The assortment of clubs offered students a way to diversify their interests. Freshman Ryland Edwards said that he was exploring his interests despite his major.
"I know I'm in computer science," said freshman Ryland Edwards, "but I am interested in photography or film."
UnionFest offered Ryland and others a chance to branch out, find people with similar interests, and make new friends. | https://www.kansan.com/news/ku-freshmen-find-their-niche-at-unionfest/article_94b0611e-20fe-11ed-aad0-cfbb10824eee.html | 2022-08-22T06:13:52Z | kansan.com | control | https://www.kansan.com/news/ku-freshmen-find-their-niche-at-unionfest/article_94b0611e-20fe-11ed-aad0-cfbb10824eee.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LEADING financial institution, Union Bank of Nigeria, has awarded the first set of winners in the second edition of its Save & Win Palli promo.
The first live draw of this season, which took place at Union Bank’s Head Office in Lagos, saw 50 customers win cash prizes of N105,000 each.
The winners were selected randomly through a transparent and electronically generated draw supervised by relevant regulatory bodies.
Save & Win Palli Promo is a nationwide campaign aimed at rewarding customers with cash prices and other exciting gifts worth over N55,000,000. The goal is to encourage and promote a healthy savings culture. The promo is open to new and existing customers who save a minimum amount of N10,000 monthly.
Savers who qualify to participate in the monthly draws stand a chance to win N105,000 each, while five winners would go home with N500,000 each in two of the quarterly draws. One lucky customer would snag the star price of N5 million during the grand finale set to hold in December alongside other consolation prices.
Speaking concerning the draw, the Head of Retail Deposits at Union Bank, John Obichie, said, “Union Bank is pleased to reward our customers through initiatives like this that encourages them to save. This promo was introduced to support our customers during these trying times and to reward them for being consistent with their saving habits.
“The savings promo, which kicked off in July, will run until the end of the year and will see more winners emerge during the monthly, quarterly and end of year draws so there’s still a chance to participate and win.
“If you are an existing Union Bank customer, you can continue to top up your savings in multiples of N10,000 monthly to increase your chances of winning. Prospective customers can download the UnionMobile app on their mobile phones to open an account or they can simply walk into any Union Bank branch,” the bank said in a statement.
To reactivate existing accounts, returning customers can call the 24-hour Contact Centre or also visit any of Union Bank’s branches across the country.
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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lognetics, a tech space brand agency, Light Ihesiulo has stated that funding is the major challenge hindering the growth of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in Nigeria.
Speaking in Abuja at the weekend, Ihesiulo lamented that lack of access to finance has made it difficult for start-up businesses in the tech sector to grow.
According to him, “most of the challenges of start-up businesses in the tech industry is funding. I have friends who have brilliant ideas but don’t have the finance to power those ideas”.
He shared an experience of how Lognetics company also struggled for survival at the infancy level but was able to over due to strong determination. “Lack of commitment from government is affecting the rate at which start-ups in the tech space grow in Nigeria.
“Organization like ours, imagine if we had funding from government, we would have been able to achieve a lot. In the course of building this product brand agency, the factor that would have limited us would have been financing, but we had to put in so much personal effort to make sure we succeed” he stated.
Lognetics company is bringing up products like the visual reality system which will offer customers the opportunity to have access to online products that they want to buy before paying for them.
“The Company is strictly a product branding agency with a vision to solve human problems in accessing products online by incorporating visual reality system.
“Visualreality systems are currently none existent in most of the products in Nigeria”.
He explained that the use of visual reality system with the implementation of augmented reality creates a 3D dissemination of an unreal world in a real world.
“For instance, one will not necessarily have to go to a shop to buy new clothing. All you need to do is scan your body and the outfit you want will automatically appear on you.
“So you know how the cloth looks on you before you buy it. This is in line with e-commerce in clothing and fashion. What we are basically doing is that we are linking all the platforms into one system, converting most of the jackets online into visual elements that humans can interact with”.
Ihesiulo said the innovation will eliminate cases of getting something different from what was ordered online.
This product and many more will be launched on September 1, 2022, in Abuja.
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THE Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), one of the companies undertaking the construction of roads under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme has received its Tax Credit Certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for the construction of the Bonny – Bodo Road, in Rivers State.
The certificate was received last week by the Company’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr Olalekan Ogunleye, who represented the CEO of NLNG, Mr. Philip Mshelbila at the handover ceremony at the FIRS Headquarters in Abuja.
Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman, FIRS (Media & Communication) said in a statement issued on Sunday that while issuing the Tax Credit Certificate, the Executive Chairman, FIRS, Muhammad Nami commended the NLNG for its increased investments in Nigeria.
“The Service has faith in your Company and the increased investments it is making in our country. We look forward, with optimism, to the completion of your Train Seven Project for it to join the country’s tax revenue streams,” Mr. Nami said.
He also used the ceremony to highlight how the Service was improving on its relations with stakeholders, as well as building a customer-centric tax authority for improved revenue generation.
“In order to efficiently deliver on our mandate, the Board and Management of the Service is focused on the following strategic planks and action areas: we are energising our consultations and regular engagements with stakeholders; we are building a customer centric and data centric organisation while also restructuring the administrative framework and processes of the Service; we are driving towards full automation of core tax operations.
“You may recall that the FIRS started with the development and deployment of an in-house digital solution – The Taxpromax Solution. This solution allows taxpayers to sit in the comfort of their offices or homes to file returns, pay taxes and conduct all forms of tax processes with us.
“At the heart of our customer-centric reforms is the setting up of a multi-lingual Call Centre for enquiries and report from taxpayers.
“Consequent upon these strategic moves, the Service recorded an unprecedented collection of over N6 trillion in 2021 and has set its sight on higher performance this year. There is no doubt that the Service can achieve its targets with taxpayers like the NLNG.
“I wish to assure you that the Service is ever ready to attend to any issue that will enable you and taxpayers like you to comply with statutory tax obligations,” the FIRS Executive Chairman stated.
The CEO Nigeria LNG in his remarks noted that the company was a major contributor to the country’s economic development and is working towards building a better Nigeria, and also commended the FIRS for being at the forefront of economic resuscitation and progress the country is experiencing.
“I also want to put on record our appreciation for the expedited issuance of the tax credit certificate. As you know, this tax credit is in relation to the Bonny-Bodo Road, which is itself a landmark project and a pilot scheme in this initiative.
“This would be the first time the Island of Bonny will be linked by road to the rest of the country, and this is very significant to the development and advancement of the country because it will open new opportunities for economic activities,” Mr. Mshelbila noted.
The Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, also referred to as the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme is a public-private partnership scheme signed by President Muhammadu Buhari under Executive Order 007, in January 2019, that enables the Federal Government of Nigeria to leverage private sector capital and efficiency for construction, refurbishment and maintenance of critical road infrastructure in the country.
Under the Scheme, participants are entitled to tax credits against their future Companies Income Tax to the tune of the project cost incurred in the construction or refurbishment of eligible roads.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), MTN, Transcorp Group, Access Bank, GZI industries, among others are some of the entities currently participating in the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme under the Executive Order 007.
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A lot of effort goes into planning a wedding. From the choice of event centres to the choice of the bride and groom’s wears, to the picking a colour for invited guests to the decision on the meals to be served for the day, and so on.… | https://tribuneonlineng.com/nlng-gets-road-infrastructure-tax-credit-certificate-for-bonny-bodo-road-from-firs-2/ | 2022-08-22T06:16:28Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/nlng-gets-road-infrastructure-tax-credit-certificate-for-bonny-bodo-road-from-firs-2/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
YOKOSUKA, Japan (Aug, 22, 2022) — Capt. Les Sobol, Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), delivers remarks to approximately 3,000 students and their families gathered for the first day of school celebration. Monday, Aug. 22 marked the first day of the 2022-2023 school year for almost all Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific schools. For more than 75 years, CFAY has provided, maintained, and operated base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, tenant commands, and thousands of military and civilian personnel and their families. (U.S. Navy Photo by Ryo Isobe)
This work, Fist Day of School at the Sullivans School onboard CFAY [Image 10 of 10], by Ryo Isobe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7381456/fist-day-school-sullivans-school-onboard-cfay | 2022-08-22T06:18:04Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7381456/fist-day-school-sullivans-school-onboard-cfay | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
- Bringing Unprecedented Medical Experience by Strengthening Partnerships with Pharmaceutical Companies in Japan and U.S. to Build Medical Data Platform -
TOKYO and SINGAPORE, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubie, Inc., a healthcare AI startup with the mission "To develop a healthcare guide for everyone," announced that it has raised $26.2 million (*1) in the 1st round of Series C funding. New investors in the round include Norinchukin Capital Co., Ltd., NVenture Capital Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Capital Solutions Limited), The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited, and Egg FORWARD, Inc., while existing investors include SUZUKEN CO., LTD. To date, Ubie has raised $59.8 million (*2).
Ubie is one of the few startups in the world with a medical data platform that has direct contact with both patients and medical institutions. Ubie offers two services that focus on the "medical questionnaire" as a gateway to healthcare, using AI as its core technology.
The "AI-powered symptom checker," provided for patients, asks around 20 questions about their symptoms to discover related diseases and provide more detailed actionable health information. Since its launch, it has been trusted by 5 million monthly users worldwide, including in Japan and the U.S.
Ubie offers "AI-powered patient intake," a service that streamlines the medical interview process for medical institutions. This service is based on a database of approximately 50,000 medical articles from around the world, created by more than 50 active physicians. The service has been introduced to more than 1,000 medical institutions worldwide and continues to improve the operational efficiency of these institutions.
Ubie will aim to bring a new medical experience to Japan and the U.S. by connecting patients, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies through the medical data platform it is building to solve the following medical issues;
- ensuring that patients visit the right medical institution at the right time,
- ensuring that physicians can access relevant, up-to-date knowledge from the vast amount of the latest information on diseases and rare diseases that are not their specialty, and,
- ensuring that pharmaceutical companies continue to provide patients with the appropriate information and scientific findings related to their conditions.
Series C funding will be used to fuel business growth in Japan and the U.S. to build a medical data platform that connects patients, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies.
Ubie Co-founder and CEO Yoshinori Abe, MD, said: "Not only in Japan, but also in other countries, the current healthcare system is suffering from various losses due to the fragmentation of information held by patients, medical institutions, and pharmaceutical companies. This fundraising aims to accelerate collaboration with pharmaceutical companies and create an unprecedented consumer-centered medical experience utilizing Ubie's data platform. Ubie already has business with more than 20 major pharmaceutical companies in Japan and other countries, and this brings Ubie closer to realizing its mission 'To develop a healthcare guide for everyone,' both in Japan and the U.S."
Notes:
(*1) $26.2 million = JPY 3.5 billion (as of August 12, 2022)
(*2) $59.8 million = JPY 7.98 billion (same as above)
About Ubie
Ubie is a Japanese health-tech startup founded by a medical doctor and an engineer in 2017. Using AI as its core technology, the company develops and provides an AI-powered patient questionnaire that guides patients from symptoms to appropriate medical care and improves operational efficiency in the medical field. Ubie is promoting the creation of a society in which anyone can access medical care that suits them best.
For more information, please visit: http://company.ubiehealth.com
AI-powered symptom checker: https://ubiehealth.com
(Japanese version: https://ubie.app/ )
View original content:
SOURCE Ubie, Inc. | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/ubie-japanese-health-tech-startup-raises-262-million-series-c-598-million-total/ | 2022-08-22T06:26:35Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/ubie-japanese-health-tech-startup-raises-262-million-series-c-598-million-total/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST MONDAY FOR SOUTH
FACING SHORES OF ALL ISLANDS...
.A south-southwest swell (190 degrees) has built larger than
expected late this afternoon and evening, leading to advisory
level surf for south facing shores. The large surf will continue
into Monday afternoon.
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM HST MONDAY...
* WHAT...Surf of 7 to 10 feet.
* WHERE...South facing shores of all Hawaiian Islands.
* WHEN...Until 6 PM HST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Moderate. Expect strong breaking waves, shore break,
and strong longshore and rip currents making swimming
difficult and dangerous.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Beachgoers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by
ocean safety officials and exercise caution.
&&
WAIKIKI(KITV4) - City and County of Honolulu now owns the privately owned area between Leahi Avenue and Noela Street – affective Monday.
Some residents said it has been a long road to victory and they're ready for both convenient and safer roads.
"We're very grateful to mayor Blangiardi and his administration for making an exception to a long-time city policy of not accepting private roads that weren't already built to code," said Mary Jones, advocate for safer roads.
Jones and her non-profit “Safe Leahi” bought the area in 2020 and added renovations that many residents didn't agree with like "no parking signs”, reduced the speed limit, and created paid parking spots to raise funds for sidewalks.
She said too many families and children were walking to school on the street.
"There’s more people, more cars and no parking and what they want is more parking but at what cost? It’s not safe to walk on the street and have no sidewalks," said Christine Brown, Diamond Head resident.
However, those changes did create controversy in the neighborhood. Jones said several neighbors were upset because it limited parking and interrupted traffic flow which also sparked protests.
"There were a lot of standoffs and it wasn't us, it was just people going down the streets playing chicken with each other to see who could get around the cars the fastest. We had to call the police very often. Their safety rules created a lot of harm and potential danger more than it created safety," said Linda Wong, Diamond Head board member.
Now that the City and County of Honolulu has taken over, residents expect to see safety measures as well as traffic calming methods.
Do you have a story idea? Email news tips to news@kitv.com | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/city-of-honolulu-takes-ownership-of-controversial-area---leahi-avenue/article_05edc1fc-21d9-11ed-8f11-c7dba7d0b58a.html | 2022-08-22T06:27:35Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/business/city-of-honolulu-takes-ownership-of-controversial-area---leahi-avenue/article_05edc1fc-21d9-11ed-8f11-c7dba7d0b58a.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Assam Govt Is Suspending Internet Services to Prevent Cheating in Exams
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The Assam government is temporarily imposing a mobile internet shutdown across 24 districts as an anti-cheating measure for examinations. Two entrance exams — one conducted yesterday and one to be held next Sunday, August 28th — are part of the biggest recruitment drive in the state for sundry government positions. And the internet suspension was imperative “in the interest of holding free, fair, and transparent” exams, the government order stated.
While social media and other digital corridors have in the past allowed for malpractices, the internet suspension citing examinations as a reason dangerously incorporates internet blockades into mainstream government use. It not only raises questions about “digital disciplining” as an anti-cheating measure, but also renews concerns about the rise of arbitrary internet shutdowns in India that are invoked without due process. When imposed with increasing frequency and with questionable intent, shutdowns have a deleterious impact on free speech and access to information.
Almost 14 lakh candidates will be appearing for these exams that are scheduled for August 21st, 28th, and September 11th. The decision involves the Indian Telegraph Act, section 5(2) of which allows for temporary suspension of mobile internet for public safety or during public emergency. This effectively means that for four hours on two days, people in Assam would not be able to access mobile data services.
Government officials have justified the necessity of internet suspensions to prevent cheating. In the past, “unscrupulous elements resorted to unfair means using different mobile applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube, etc. which are based on internet connectivity,” the order noted. Question papers leaked on WhatsApp have the potential to cause “chaos.”
This incident is not unique. State governments like West Bengal have previously dealt with cheating and unfair means in recruitment examinations by way of installing internet jammers or CCTV cameras on the premises. Even this year the West Bengal government is contemplating suspending internet services to prevent cheating during its Madhyamik (class 10) exams. Earlier this year, the Rajasthan government also suspended mobile internet and texting services during the state’s teacher recruitment exams, the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (the exam papers were leaked and sold online for more than Rs. 1 crore).
Some restrictions transcend the digital space; in Karnataka, students were asked to wear cardboard boxes over their heads, with one left for open visibility during a school examination. The National Eligibility Entrance Test in Kerala has a sexist history of asking candidates to remove their undergarments.
Cheating is unfair and warrants action. But the Assam government imposing internet shutdowns under the abstract cause of “public safety” misses the point of how internet restrictions are forms of surveillance, violating people’s privacy and autonomy. Moreover, it allows for a culture of normalizing intrusive disciplining.
Related on The Swaddle:
Indian Economy Lost Rs. 20,000 Crores Due to Government’s Internet Bans in 2020
“… a confluence of extreme competitiveness, resource scarcity in education, and the convergence of exam performance with self-identity have all led to a situation where examiners stop at nothing to prevent ‘cheating,'” as Rohitha Naraharisetty wrote in The Swaddle. “In other words, there are so few opportunities for good education available and so many people competing for them that the public examination system pits young people against one another, gladiator-style, to fight for their right to receive quality education.” The response to internet shutdowns is then presumed to be submissive, where people are expected to see it as a necessity to curb the malaise of frauds and scams. But never is there further introspective questioning on what makes the competition so prone to “unscrupulous elements” in the first place.
Even before it happened in Assam, internet shutdowns on the grounds of conducting exams have previously been held to be “disproportionate and unjustified” by Indian courts too. The Calcutta High Court in March said the order to suspend mobile internet to prevent cheating “lacks proper reasoning.” The order also did not “provide reasons that establish that alternative measures were unavailable or unsuitable and thus did not satisfy the test of proportionality.”
Referring to the present incident, politician Pradyut Bordoloi also wrote to the Assam government, noting that “the disproportionate nature of this measure has an impact on right to speech, right to livelihood, access to information, education, and health.”
India has notoriously earned the reputation of being the “internet shutdown capital of the world.” In 2020, our shutdown orders accounted for over 70% of the world’s, with many imposed to curb communal tension and protests (shutdowns also led to an economic loss of Rs. 20,000 crores). Internet shutdowns are an “often-used tool the government relies upon to silence dissent and limit the rights to freedom of press and expression under the guise of maintaining law and order,” a report authored by the Centre for Human Rights of the American Bar Association noted.
India’s use of internet suspensions is also worrying for the lack of centralized records detailing the efficacy and scope of such restrictions. There is no data, survey, or expert undertaking to analyze how much — or how little — these suspensions actually serve the cause of “public emergency” or “safety.” Moreover, many of these suspensions violate the Supreme Court directive passed in 2020. Based on a response to Kashmir Times editor Anuradha Bhasin’s petition, the court mandated Union and state governments to publish internet shutdown orders on official government websites before they imposed it and to retain the orders on their websites. These guidelines have been violated on several occasions. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) also found that internet shutdown orders in response to Rajasthan’s REET “also refer to ‘anti-social elements’ spreading misinformation on the internet.”
“The harm caused by these internet shutdowns outweigh any speculative benefit,” IFF noted. “To suspend internet services on a vague, tenuous, and unsubstantiated apprehension that the protest or an exam ‘may adversely affect the public safety and law and order situation’ is to violate the constitutional rights of the residents of the affected districts. A vague apprehension of a law and order problem does not satisfy the legal threshold of a public emergency or a threat to public safety.” | https://theswaddle.com/assam-govt-is-suspending-internet-services-to-prevent-cheating-in-exams/ | 2022-08-22T06:28:52Z | theswaddle.com | control | https://theswaddle.com/assam-govt-is-suspending-internet-services-to-prevent-cheating-in-exams/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
How is fog formed?
There are several different types, but the basic principle is the same.
Fog is made up of molecules of water vapour, suspended in the air as tiny droplets of water but lingering close to the surface. Essentially, fog is just cloud that touches Earth’s surface and it forms the same way that clouds do. High humidity is a major contributing factor to the formation of fog, and depending on the percentage (as well as temperature), fog can appear and disappear very suddenly.
Water in the vapour state is transparent and invisible. The warmer the air, the more kinetic energy it has, and so the more water molecules it can keep jostling around as vapour.
If warm air containing lots of water vapour cools down suddenly, the water molecules slow down too much and are unable to stay in vapour form. Instead, they clump together into tiny droplets of liquid water. The droplets are still small enough to hang suspended in the air currents, but now they appear opaque because light reflects off the air/water interface.
Fog occurs when air saturated with water vapour is cooled suddenly, and there are several different ways this can happen.
Radiation fog
Radiation fog forms over land on calm, clear nights when heat absorbed by the Earth’s surface during the day is radiated into the air. As the heat escapes upwards, air close to the surface is cooled until it reaches saturation.
Cold air holds less water vapour than warm air, and the water vapour condenses into fog. Radiation fog will usually ‘burn off’ as the ground begins to warm again, but during winter months it can persist all day.
Radiation fog is also known as shallow fog or ground fog when it occurs in a narrow enough layer, situated below average eye-level on land (around 2m), or below around 10m at sea.
Valley fog
Valley fog usually forms in the lowest parts of a valley as cold, dense air settles and condenses, forming fog. It’s confined by local topography, such as hills or mountains, and can persist for several days.
Advection fog
Advection fog forms when horizontal winds push warm, moist, air over a cool surface, where it condenses into fog. It’s common at sea, where warm, tropical air moves over cooler water. Advection fog can cover wide areas, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay is often shrouded in advection fog.
Sea fog, a type of advection fog, can occur when warm, wet, air rolls off the land and onto the colder sea, or when a warm weather front hits a cold ocean current. In the UK, the north-east coast is very prone to sea fog because of the cold waters of the North Sea.
Upslope fog
Upslope fog is a type of hill fog and forms when the wind blows moist air up a slope, hill, or mountain, which cools as it rises. As it cools, the moisture condenses, and fog is formed as it continues to drift up the slope.
Evaporation fog
Evaporation fog is similar to advection fog, and forms as cold air passes over moist land or warm water. When the warmer water evaporates into the low bands of air, it warms the air and causes it to rise. As this warm, moist air rises, it mixes with the colder air until its humidity reaches 100 per cent, and fog is formed. You'll often see evaporation fog over lakes, ponds and even outdoor swimming pools.
Why does altitude affect air temperature?
Imagine the atmosphere made up of parcels of air: the higher they are, the less strongly they’re compressed by the weight of the overlying atmosphere, and so the bigger their volume can be. Such expansion requires energy, and as the total energy in the parcel of air is fixed, it comes at the expense of thermal energy – thus lowering the temperature.
Does sound travel further on foggy days?
"Sound travels through the air as pressure waves rhythmically moving air molecules back and forth. Fog contains water droplets that scatter more of the sound energy, thus damping the sound and reducing the distance at which you can hear it," explains physicist Robert Matthews.
So, case closed? Not quite – because both the basic theory and experiments don’t take account of all the conditions under which fog forms.
"On warmer days where the humidity is especially high, the water molecules in the air are more agitated and can only form the tiniest droplets, which have a negligible effect on the sound waves."
"This damp air also has a higher density than dry air, which means that the sound waves can travel more effectively and be heard over a greater distance," Matthews adds.
About our expert, Professor Robert Matthews
After studying physics at Oxford, Robert became a science writer. He’s visiting professor in science at Aston University.Read more about fog:
Asked by: Rich French, London
To submit your questions email us at questions@sciencefocus.com (don't forget to include your name and location)
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- Receive every issue delivered direct to your door with FREE UK delivery. | https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/fog/ | 2022-08-22T06:47:56Z | sciencefocus.com | control | https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/fog/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Hearts debrief: Ross Stewart proving critics wrong; Peter Haring's tackle; Game of two halves; And red card verdict
A look back at Hearts’ 2-0 cinch Premiership defeat by Celtic in Glasgow, where a much-changed team rallied in the second half and threatened to snatch a point before being floored by two red cards and an injury-time goal.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
A toss up between Ross Stewart and Kye Rowles, but let’s give it to the much-maligned back-up goalkeeper given his lack of match practice and experience. Coming in to play at Celtic Park in only his fourth start was never going to be easy and there were a couple of sticky moments with this ball at his feet early on. But the 26-year-old grew in confidence after dealing competently with a couple of high balls and made two very good saves in the second half to deny Matt O’Riley and Giorgos Giakoumakis.
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Josh Ginnelly had a decent game in attack, but his decision-making and execution let him down in the 29th minute when he got on the end of a very slick move to race through on the inside right channel. Joe Hart came rushing out and Ginnelly rushed his shot, dragging it wide from well outside the box when he could have dinked it over the keeper or taken another touch forward. It was Hearts’ best chance and you don’t get many at Celtic Park. Although Ginnelly played well, it was a lack of composure and quality when it really mattered.
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
Captain for the day, Peter Haring is a big player for Hearts and put in another decent shift in the middle of the park. There are those who feel his mobility is a problem, particularly on a big pitch like Celtic Park, but he showed plenty of mobility to race back and cover his defenders as Greg Taylor broke through down Celtic’s inside left channel in the 35th minute. Haring timed his challenge to perfection, hooking the ball away from the Celtic full-back as he prepared to pull the trigger.
BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT
Robbie Neilson won’t regret the team selection, with several key men given a rest ahead of the Zurich tie on Thursday and many squad players coming in and giving a decent account of themselves. Hearts sat deep and were on the back foot throughout the first half, but were much, much better in the second half when Neilson shoved his team up the pitch and put Celtic under pressure in their own half. Perhaps a higher press earlier in the much would have asked more questions of Celtic.
REF WATCH
Kevin Clancy dished out cards to Hearts players like confetti – seven yellows altogether for 12 fouls, two of them resulting in reds. When given 50-50 calls on whether or not to show Alex Cochrane and Toby Sibbick a second caution, he chose the hard-nosed option that ended any prospect of Hearts nicking a point. Cochrane and Sibbick can’t have any complaints about their first booking. But the second yellows for Cochrane’s trip on Reo Hatate on the touchline and Sibbick’s innocuous foul on Liel Abada as cut across him in the centre circle were harsh. Hearts were, however, fortunate to have Kyogo flagged for offside when right through after 10 minutes and clearly played on by Cochrane. | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-debrief-ross-stewart-proving-critics-wrong-peter-harings-tackle-game-of-two-halves-and-red-card-verdict-3814005 | 2022-08-22T06:58:14Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-debrief-ross-stewart-proving-critics-wrong-peter-harings-tackle-game-of-two-halves-and-red-card-verdict-3814005 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON — The story of an enslaved woman who went to court to win her freedom more than 80 years before the Emancipation Proclamation had been pushed to the fringes of history.
A group of civic leaders, activists and historians hope that ended Sunday in the quiet Massachusetts town of Sheffield with the unveiling of a bronze statue of the woman who chose the name Elizabeth Freeman when she shed the chains of slavery 241 years ago to the day.
Her story, while remarkable, remains relatively obscure.
State Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli grew up not far from Sheffield in the Berkshires of western Massahusetts yet didn't hear her story until about 20 years ago. He found that many of his colleagues in the Statehouse were also largely in the dark about the significance of her case, which set the legal precedent that essentially ended slavery in Massachusetts.
“She’s clearly a hidden figure in American history, and I really believe Black history is American history,” said Pignatelli, a Democrat. “But unfortunately, Black history is what we haven’t been told and taught.”
The enslaved woman, known as Bett, could not read or write, but she listened.
And what she heard did not make sense.
While she toiled in bondage in the household of Col. John Ashley, he and other prominent citizens of Sheffield met to discuss their grievances about British tyranny. In 1773, they wrote in what are known as the Sheffield Resolves that “Mankind in a state of nature are equal, free, and independent of each other."
Those words were echoed in Article 1 of the Massachusetts Constitution in 1780, which begins “All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights.”
It is believed that Bett, after hearing a public reading of the constitution, walked roughly 5 miles from the Ashley household to the home of attorney Theodore Sedgwick, one of the citizens who drafted the Sheffield Resolves, and asked him to represent her in her legal quest for freedom, said Paul O’Brien, president of the Sheffield Historical Society.
Sedgwick and another attorney, Tapping Reeve, took the case.
Women had limited legal rights in Massachusetts courts at the time, so a male slave in the Ashley household named Brom was added to the case.
The jury agreed with the attorneys, freeing Bett and Brom on Aug. 21, 1781.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, and his wife, Diane, are residents of the Berkshires and have been instrumental in fundraising and organizational efforts. They led Sunday’s ceremony.
“What I love about the story is that this remarkable woman, enslaved, sometimes brutalized, unable to read, listened carefully to the conversation around the table as the men she was serving discussed the concepts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as ‘inalienable rights,'" Patrick, the state's first Black governor, said in an email. “I love that this powerless woman could imagine these powerful ideas as her own, and could persuade others to test that question. And I love that the Massachusetts courts had the integrity of purpose to take her question seriously.”
Pignatelli was inspired to raise a statue of Freeman last year when he attended the unveiling of a statue of Susan B. Anthony in Adams, the Berkshire County community where the suffragist was born.
He brought together stakeholders and raised about $280,000, enough money for the roughly 8-foot statue, as well as a scholarship fund in Freeman's honor for area high school students.
Gwendolyn VanSant, the CEO of BRIDGE, an area nonprofit that fosters racial understanding and equity, is overseeing the scholarships.
She called Freeman an icon and a trailblazer. “For me as an African American woman, it's amazing to be walking in her footsteps,” she said.
After the court case, Ashley asked Freeman to return to his household as a paid servant, but she refused and instead went to work for Sedgwick, where she helped raise his children and was known by the affectionate name, Mumbet.
She was a healer, a nurse and a midwife, who bought her own property in nearby Stockbridge, VanSant said.
The Sedgwicks had such a deep respect for Mumbet that when she died in 1829 at about the age of 85 she was buried with them, the only non-family member in the family plot. Much of what historians know about her was written by one of Theodore Sedgwick’s daughters, the novelist Catharine Maria Sedgwick, O'Brien said.
The statue, cast by renowned sculptor Brian Hanlon, was placed on the property of the First Congregational Church in Sheffield, not far from the Sedgwick home.
“We don’t know if Elizabeth Freeman went to the church, but we know Ashley did, and it was common for enslavers to bring enslaved people to look after their children at church," said O'Brien.
Although some 200 people were expected to attend Sunday's unveiling, the culmination of three days of celebrations, organizers have been unable to find any of Freeman's descendants.
VanSant hopes a permanent memorial will spur interest into Freeman's story. “Maybe her descendants will find us,” she said. | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/statue-of-enslaved-woman-who-won-freedom-in-court/507-9f67fb25-b315-43b7-bf98-85d2833238e2 | 2022-08-22T06:59:58Z | krem.com | control | https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-world/statue-of-enslaved-woman-who-won-freedom-in-court/507-9f67fb25-b315-43b7-bf98-85d2833238e2 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A Cheektowaga woman with four children in her vehicle is facing felony DWI charges following a hit-and-run accident in the Town of Niagara Sunday night.
Niagara County Sheriff’s officials said about 9:30 p.m. Sunday they received reports for an accident in the area of Porter Road and Niagara Falls Boulevard, near Williams Road. It was reported that a vehicle had driven through a median, causing damage to several signs.
Deputies searched the area and found a ’21 Chevy Silverado in the rear parking lot of a business on the 10000 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard.
Deputies said the driver, Heather E. Kirst, 34, of Cheektowaga, appeared intoxicated and she failed field sobriety tests. A breath-screening device also detected the presence of alcohol. Deputies noted that she was driving with four children under the age of 16 in the vehicle.
Kirst was charged with aggravated DWI as a Leandra’s Law offense, DWI, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and multiple other vehicle and traffic offenses.
Kirst was held in the Niagara County Correctional facility pending her arraignment, the report said. | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/crime/cheektowaga-woman-charged-with-leandras-law-dwi-after-town-of-niagara-hit-and-run/article_bcde97a4-21d6-11ed-b2ba-43d0ce8b06e8.html | 2022-08-22T07:09:23Z | lockportjournal.com | control | https://www.lockportjournal.com/news/crime/cheektowaga-woman-charged-with-leandras-law-dwi-after-town-of-niagara-hit-and-run/article_bcde97a4-21d6-11ed-b2ba-43d0ce8b06e8.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Eamonn had the story out here. But just wanted to give it a fresh airing as we head towards European trading today. Russia's planned move comes as the pipeline has already seen flows dwindle to roughly 20% capacity, so this just piles on more pressure on European countries ahead of winter.
In any case, the news is another blow to the euro with there being already almost little to no reason to be optimistic on the currency and regional outlook at the moment. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/icymi-nord-stream-pipeline-to-be-halted-for-three-days-for-maintenance-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T07:12:36Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/icymi-nord-stream-pipeline-to-be-halted-for-three-days-for-maintenance-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Christopher Bell (eighth) was the highest finishing Toyota in Sunday afternoon’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International.
Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Watkins Glen International
Race 25 of 36 – 220.5 miles, 90 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Kyle Larson*
2nd, AJ Allmendinger*
3rd, Joey Logano*
4th, Chase Elliott*
5th, Tyler Reddick*
8th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
20th, DENNY HAMLIN
23rd, MARTIN TRUEX JR.
26th, TY GIBBS
32nd, KYLE BUSCH
35th, BUBBA WALLACE
36th, DANIIL KVYAT
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 DeWalt Toyota Camry TRD, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 8th
How was your race today?
“The DeWalt Camry TRD struggled some today, but I feel like an eighth-place finish was good for us today for the car that we had and we’ll try to build on it.”
TRD PR | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72251-bell-brings-his-toyota-home-eighth-at-the-glen | 2022-08-22T07:15:13Z | speedwaydigest.com | control | https://speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/nascar-cup-series-news/72251-bell-brings-his-toyota-home-eighth-at-the-glen | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
- Eurostoxx -0.5%
- Germany DAX -0.4%
- France CAC 40 -0.7%
- UK FTSE -0.2%
- Spain IBEX -0.6%
The Nord Stream pipeline news isn't providing much help to the regional outlook as gas prices continue to surge in Europe. The softer mood in US futures also isn't helping, with S&P 500 futures seen down 0.5% on the day currently. In FX, the dollar is steady with EUR/USD slipping to the lows for the day and closing in on parity at the moment. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/european-equities-lower-at-the-open-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T07:25:26Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/european-equities-lower-at-the-open-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MASON, Ohio -- Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko captured their biggest team title at the Western & Southern Open, defeating Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez 7-6(5), 6-3 in the final. Having captured their second title of the season, Kichenok and Ostapenko surged up the Porsche Race to the WTA Finals Leaderboard to sit at No.2.
The giddy duo joined the WTA Insider Podcast after the win to talk about the keys to their winning week, the secrets of their successful partnership, and the new addition to Team Ostapenko, her new puppy Balenciaga.
Kichenok & Ostapenko capture Cincinnati doubles title
WTA Insider: It was a tough draw for you to get through. What was the key?
Ostapenko: I never get easy draws, to be honest (laughing). It reminds me of the Dubai singles title. We're just trying to play every match and fight and we always expect from our opponents that they're going to play a good match. So we try to be ready for every single match. A couple of matches were really tough but we were fighting and I think that's the way. It paid off.
WTA Insider: You've both played so well all year. What makes you such a formidable team?
Kichenok: It's a secret! Jelena is a very good singles player...
Ostapenko: Doubles also (laughs).
Kichenok: I just feel great support playing with her. I know in key moments she can play her best tennis and that gives me extra confidence as well. That's the key.
Swift hustle from Ostapenko 💨@JelenaOstapenk8 | @LKichenok | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/gKm8ZVq8rX
— wta (@WTA) August 21, 2022
Ostapenko: We're really good friends off the court and I think that chemistry and connection helps us in tough moments. We always spend good times off the court and on the court we feel more good with each other and relaxed in a good way. I think that helps us in the key moments.
WTA Insider: What do you do off the court that makes you such good friends?
Ostapenko: We can always do something together, chat, talk, go for dinner. If either of us needs a talk we always can talk to each other.
Kichenok: We give good advice to each other.
WTA Insider: Jelena, it's your first title with Balenciaga.
Ostapenko: She's such an amazing dog and she's so calm. She's been behaving unbelievable all week. I'm really lucky to have such an amazing dog.
Kichenok: She's so quiet and patient.
Ostapenko: She's my anti-stress after the match. | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2755157/champions-corner-fun-and-friendship-the-key-for-kichenok-and-ostapenko | 2022-08-22T07:41:21Z | wtatennis.com | control | https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2755157/champions-corner-fun-and-friendship-the-key-for-kichenok-and-ostapenko | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Thiruvananthapuram: The learner's test for driving will be conducted at the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) and sub-RTOs in Kerala from Monday (August 22) onwards. Applicants have to visit the office to take the online test.
During the Covid pandemic, the learner's test was shifted to online mode. But this was found to have led to widespread irregularities.
The irregularities came to light after migrant workers, including West Bengal natives, passed the test by taking it in Malayalam and secured licences. It was found that the OTP number sent to the applicants were forwarded to the driving schools, and the test was written by those at driving schools. Subsequently, it was decided to conduct the exams at offices.
Arrangements will be made for 46-60 candidates to take the exam at the sub-RTOs and for 90 candidates at the RTOs.
One's knowledge of road rules and regulations, signals and signs, road manners, defensive driving, etc are checked in the learner’s test. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/20/learners-license-rt-office-kerala.html | 2022-08-22T07:41:35Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/business/2022/08/20/learners-license-rt-office-kerala.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
There should be plenty of sun this morning across Kent, but cloud will be around in many parts. The clouds will start to come as early as noon.
And that cloud is forecast by the Met Office to stay for the rest of the day. There's a fair chance of rain at varying times in the afternoon and evening in parts of Kent, but it is forecast to be short bursts. Temperatures in Kent around the 21C to 23C. In Dartford, a sunny start until around 11am to noon, when the cloud will set in.
There's a 50 per cent to 40 per cent chance of rain in the early evening, then again at 7pm. Top temperature of 23C. Ramsgate will have a sunny and cloudy start and this will continue until 2pm, when it will be cloudy for the rest of the day.
Read more: Herne Bay: How £13million 'levelling up' fund bid is set to transform town
The sun may come out at around 4pm with a fair chance of rain at 7pm. But expect a good blast of full sun at 10am. Top temperature of 22C.
Tunbridge Wells will see a sunny start this morning until the clouds start to come from between 11am and noon. It will be cloudy for the rest of the day, with a 40 per cent of rain at 7pm. Top temperature of 21C today.
New Romney will see a cloudy and sunny start to the morning, although there will be full sun for around an hour at 9am. Cloudy from noon for the rest of the day Top temperature of 21C.
Get more weather news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE .
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- Kent's bison making 'remarkable impact' on their new home one month on | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/sunny-start-monday-forecast-kent-7492741 | 2022-08-22T07:45:41Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/sunny-start-monday-forecast-kent-7492741 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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Families from Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo and the Sasebo community play games during the National Night Out event at CFAS Nimitz Park Aug. 22, 2022. National Night Out is an annual event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie and takes place across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jeremy Graham)
This work, CFAS National Night Out 2022 [Image 21 of 21], by PO1 Jeremy Graham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7381657/cfas-national-night-out-2022 | 2022-08-22T07:58:48Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7381657/cfas-national-night-out-2022 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A firefighter from the Sasebo Fire Bureau interacts with a member of the Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo community during the National Night Out 2022 event at CFAS Nimitz Park Aug. 22, 2022. National Night Out is an annual event that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie and takes place across thousands of communities from all fifty states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jeremy Graham)
This work, CFAS National Night Out 2022 [Image 21 of 21], by PO1 Jeremy Graham, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7381658/cfas-national-night-out-2022 | 2022-08-22T07:58:55Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7381658/cfas-national-night-out-2022 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Who benefits from Scotland's natural capital? - Calum MacLeod
Earlier this month, supporters of the Langholm Initiative, the south of Scotland’s largest community buyout, welcomed the news it had completed another successful fundraising campaign.
In raising £3.8m, the team is now in a position to start the process of purchasing around 5,300 acres of land and three properties from the current owner, the Duke of Buccleuch. Last year, the Initiative completed the purchase of more than 5,200 acres of moorland from the same owner, a transaction in which we took great pride in being involved as the solicitors acting for the Langholm Initiative.
The team behind the Langholm Initiative hopes to double the size of the current Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, aiming to confront nature and climate crises, while at the same time enhancing community regeneration.
Their efforts should be applauded.
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The backdrop to the Langholm Initiative’s efforts is a review by the Scottish Government on how land, and land management, contribute to the green economy agenda and climate change goals while supporting communities.
Last month the Scottish Government opened a consultation ahead of a new Land Reform Bill to be introduced by the end of 2023. This would replace the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016, and indicates the Scottish Government’s aim to introduce more regulation in large-scale land transfers.
Subject to the views expressed in response to this consultation, the proposed measures include:
the introduction of a public interest test for transfers of large-scale landholdings;a requirement on owners of large-scale holdings to give prior notice to community bodies of their intention to sell; anda requirement on those seeking land-based subsidies to have the land registered in the Land Register
The draft legislation, which is likely to only impact larger holdings over the size of 3,000 hectares, aims to address concerns about the highly concentrated pattern of land ownership in rural areas of Scotland and ensure greater benefit to communities and the environment.
The consultation is said to be a result of the impact of natural capital on land values and the rural land market. One trend in rural Scotland is that emerging value associated with carbon and natural capital is contributing to soaring demand.
Reports suggest this sustained demand has resulted in an increase in off-market activity for forestry and plantable land, with off-market sales accounting for as much as a third of all transactions in 2020.
The consultation also seeks to capture broader views on how to ensure communities benefit from future investment in Scotland’s natural capital and how to ensure there is greater transparency around land and asset ownership.
Another specific part of the rural community who will be hoping for much needed reform during this current parliamentary term is crofters.
Whilst it may have gone off the Scottish Government's radar during the previous parliamentary term, the issue of crofting law reform has continued to bubble away, and there are now signals that the Scottish Government is considering putting crofting reform back on the agenda.
One question is whether the crofting communities, other stakeholders and the Scottish Government, can reach an agreement on whether it is a specific package of legislative changes that are required or whether any crofting reform touches on wider policy issues surrounding crofting that are being debated in communities throughout the Highlands and Islands, such as policies to tackle depopulation.
Some stakeholders want to see the Crofting Commission have greater powers in regulating the market in selling croft tenancies. On the other hand, others argue that as a matter of policy, owner-occupier crofters should be entitled to escape the regulatory duties that go along with crofting by way of decrofting their crofts as a whole.
Scotland’s natural capital undoubtedly presents opportunities and it would be easy to dismiss these opportunities as being solely for the larger estates or landowners. Local communities should be mindful of the opportunities that may be available to them. As the Land Reform Bill consultation shows, the Scottish Government is keen to ensure that as the value of land increases, all communities can benefit, no matter how big or small.
Calum MacLeod is a partner in the rural economy team at Harper Macleod, and an accredited specialist in crofting law
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/who-benefits-from-scotlands-natural-capital-calum-macleod-3809994 | 2022-08-22T07:59:37Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/who-benefits-from-scotlands-natural-capital-calum-macleod-3809994 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
220815-N-CZ893-1001 OKINAWA, Japan (Aug. 15, 2022) U.S. Air Force Airmen from 353rd Special Operations Wing conduct water survival training off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 15, 2022. The purpose of water survival training is to ensure the survival of any aircrew in case of an emergency evacuation over water or similar disastrous events. (U.S. Navy video by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Isaacs)
This work, 353rd SOW Water Survival Training, by PO2 Jason Isaacs, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/854928/353rd-sow-water-survival-training | 2022-08-22T08:14:41Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/854928/353rd-sow-water-survival-training | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Robert Lewandowski scored a brace as Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 victory at Real Sociedad on Sunday, their first win of the LaLiga season.
Spanish teenage sensation Ansu Fati, who has been struggling to recover after a series of knee surgeries to repair a November, 2020, injury to his left knee, came off the bench in the second half and took charge of the proceedings with two assists and a goal.
The Polish striker scored his first goal in competition for Barcelona when he opened the scoring in the first minute, rifling in a shot after a great pass from Alejandro Balde inside the penalty area.
But Alexander Isak equalised five minutes later after latching onto a pass from David Silva.
Barca struggled to break the deadlock until coach Xavi Hernandez sent on Raphinha and Fati in the 64th minute, with both proving crucial to Barca's success.
First, Fati assisted Ousmane Dembele with a brilliant heel pass after a fine piece of individual play from Raphinha.
Than Fati finished off a beautiful team effort to assist Lewandowski for Barca's third.
Barca new signing returned the favour 10 minutes later, enabling 19-year-old Fati to score Barca's fourth to wrap up the points in a game that Barca delivered what was expected from them after a host of strong signings this summer.
"We took a risk with the substitutions as we needed to be aggressive and I'm glad that it worked," coach Xavi Hernandez told Movistar Plus.
"With Raphinha and Fati we played almost with five players up front, but we talked in the locker room during half-time about how we needed to attack more within the spaces.
"Last week (a goalless home draw against lowly Rayo Vallecano) was a major disappointment, but this victory strengthens us because it's about insisting and having the will to overcome challenges".
It was also a chance for redemption for Fati, who inherited Barcelona’s No. 10 jersey from Lionel Messi when the Argentine left for Paris St Germain.
Fati has been plagued by injuries since bursting onto the scene for Barcelona at the age of 16 when he became the second-youngest player in LaLiga history, after coming through the youth system at the Catalan club.
He quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young talents in the world, becoming the youngest player to score in the Champions League as well as the youngest to score for Spain. | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/football/2022/08/22/lewandowski-brace-fires-barca-past-real-sociedad.html | 2022-08-22T08:20:42Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/football/2022/08/22/lewandowski-brace-fires-barca-past-real-sociedad.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic had begun, I served as captain of a trivia team competing in both live events at bars and online tournaments on both coasts. We’ve done fairly well, our intrepid band. Players have come and gone, in-person events went on hiatus as COVID spread, but we remained competitive, wracking up various prizes ranging from six-packs of beer to gift certificates to simple nods of approval. The secret? We try to keep a good mix of ages and interests among our players, some of whom even brush up regularly on common topics like world capitals and national flags. And rarely do we go into battle without at least one lawyer and one doctor. Pride plays a factor, too. As does the fact that I’ve made it clear to all offspring on the team that disinheritance is always on the table.
But there is one asset we never go without, and it’s proven extremely helpful time and time again. It’s my personal B.S. detector. That puppy may have a lot of miles on it — that’s just the nature of my day job — but boy, it sure comes in handy. Everyone should have one.
For those who don’t play trivia, the game works like this. The host asks a question. It is usually not too hard nor too easy. It may be related to current events or it may be historic. Arts, humanities, the sciences, politics, pop culture, any subject matter may be involved. You have some limited time to confer with your teammates — often as little as 30 seconds — and then you must submit an answer. And here’s the tough part: During those brief ticking seconds, your teammates will shout out their best guesses. Some will be right, some may be close, and some may be a complete moon shot. The captain (that’s me) must decide who knows what they are talking about and who is just making it up as they go along.
Do you see where I’m going with this?
Sometimes, it’s easy. A health professional probably knows medicine better than a writer. But sometimes, it’s not so obvious, as when you’re asked to name the highest grossing movie to star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (the ludicrous-by-any-standard ”Furious 7,” duh). Do you trust the nerdy MIT grad, the college professor, the lawyer, the computer geek?
No, you go with the unemployed 23-year-old with a taste for action flicks and who has plenty of time to watch cable when not raiding your freezer for frozen pizza. Ding-ding-ding!
When you’re a captain, you have to know this instinctively. There’s no time for debate. And people will shout things like “Jumanji: The Next Level” thinking they are being helpful when, of course, they are not.
I offer this life lesson not because I wish our trivia opponents to succeed but because I believe my well-honed B.S. detector may have other applications.
Take, for example, when an ex-president who has spent a lifetime running cons and whose top White House message-manager coined the term “alternative facts” to describe lying for political advantage is visited by FBI agents. Are you more likely to believe his immediate claims of victimhood and moral outrage over a “break in” and “ABUSE,” or are you inclined to believe authorities with the attorney general-supervised and court-approved search warrant in hand to look for, among other things, classified documents related to nuclear weapons?
OK, that’s too easy. Let’s try a tougher one.
Again, let’s say an ex-president who lives in Palm Beach, Fla., is the subject of multiple state and federal investigations, including one stemming from an effort to seize control of the United States with an organized assault on the U.S. Capitol and false claims of a stolen election. FBI agents show up at the fellow’s door to look for documents he’s not supposed to have and the right-wing media immediately starts blathering without a shred of actual evidence that the whole thing is an attempt to prevent the guy from running in the 2024 election and perhaps an end to U.S. democracy as we know it. Meanwhile, the United States attorney general offers to unseal the search warrant.
Whom do you believe — oh, darn, that’s too obvious as well.
OK, final question. Some guy who lives at Mar-a-Lago and has a tortured history with law enforcement but does have an extraordinary skill at convincing his loyal followers to take violent action as happened on Jan. 6, 2021. A search is conducted of his home and agents find numerous classified and secret documents in apparent violation of federal law.
Do you at least have some concerns about what the heck is was planning to do with these various documents, or do you spring into action and threaten bodily harm to FBI agents nationwide in what appears to represent an unparalleled act of domestic terrorism? Is that tough? Seriously?
Look, I’m not claiming my B.S. detector is perfect. I’ve been wrong before. I once thought Donald Trump was a harmless reality TV character. But I’m just recommending you have one installed.
At least before 2024. | https://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/commentary-it-s-not-trivial-to-have-a-b-s-detector/article_d060f8fe-1ff0-11ed-85e8-437a792cd8ad.html | 2022-08-22T08:21:39Z | yakimaherald.com | control | https://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/commentary-it-s-not-trivial-to-have-a-b-s-detector/article_d060f8fe-1ff0-11ed-85e8-437a792cd8ad.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Nokia successfully pilots Africa’s first Fixed Wireless Access 5G slicing trial with Safaricom
- Country:
- Kenya
Nokia said Monday it has successfully completed Africa's first Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network slicing deployment on a live 4G and 5G commercial network across RAN, transport and core with mobile operator, Safaricom.
The multi-vendor pilot took place in Kenya's Western Region and it shows that the African operator is now poised to support new types of enterprise network services, including fast lane internet access and application slicing.
"It is great to have successfully completed this pilot with Safaricom, which is a huge step forward in providing Safaricom with state-of-the-art connectivity. Early experience of new slicing technology is invaluable in understanding the new business opportunities it enables," said Ramy Hashem, Head of Safaricom Customer Team at Nokia.
According to Nokia, network slicing enables operators the ability to divide a network into multiple virtual slices, which can be optimized for a specific target application or service. The end user of each network slice can then be serviced with different priorities, routing, levels of network performance and security capabilities.
The pilot demonstrated a number of solutions including Nokia's AirScale 4G/5G base stations, the NetAct network management and assurance system and Nokia's FastMile 4G/5G CPE.
"We are proud to have hosted Africa's first successful pilot of 4G/5G FWA slicing on our network, and looking forward to tailoring our service offerings to individual customers and industries, to meet their needs for high-speed connectivity precisely and without unnecessary cost. Nokia's expertise has been key to this success, and we anticipate many more strategic wins in this area as our business expands," said James Maitai, Network Director, Safaricom. | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/2151453-nokia-successfully-pilots-africas-first-fixed-wireless-access-5g-slicing-trial-with-safaricom | 2022-08-22T08:22:53Z | afar.com | control | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/2151453-nokia-successfully-pilots-africas-first-fixed-wireless-access-5g-slicing-trial-with-safaricom | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Light week ahead for the FX market but trading summer conditions might make it a difficult one. The most awaited event is no doubt the Jackson Hole Symposium where Fed Chair Jerome Powell is expected to deliver a speech.
On Tuesday, we'll have several surveys for the eurozone and for the UK, such as the manufacturing PMI and flash services PMI.
The PMIs for the euro area are expected to print lower as it reflects the economic situation, lower consumer confidence and the fact that Europe is facing a higher risk of a deeper recession than the US. The war in Ukraine and the energy prices that are expected to rise further will put pressure on the economy. The outlook is not very promising for Europe as businesses and consumers will have to deal with higher energy prices and the impact of drought on production.
The ECB is expected to continue hiking rates to fight inflation. Analysts believe that for the September ECB meeting a 45 bps rise is priced in.
UK PMI on Tuesday is expected to come below expectations -- at 52.0 from 52.6. The economic situation in the UK is still bleak, the inflation doesn't show signs of cooling down and the high energy prices will continue to have a negative impact until the end of the year. For the next BOE meeting the markets are pricing in a 50 bps rate hike with a 89% probability.
Also, on Tuesday we have new home sales and durable goods orders indicators for the U.S. The housing market was negatively impacted by the higher mortgage rates and it is under severe pressure. Demand has dipped more than expected and will add to the economic slowdown. Durable goods orders are expected to have advanced 1.1% according to Wells Fargo, supported by aircraft orders in particular. However, when weighing in transportation and the price jump, the real gain is expected to actually be slightly negative.
On Thursday, USD traders will be watching the prelim GDP q/q and the first day of the Jackson Hole Symposium. Fed Chair Powell speech is on Friday so markets will be eyeing any clues regarding upcoming monetary policy decisions. Analysts from Nomura expect Powell to reiterate his previous speech with a focus on price stability above everything else.
Last week, the July Fed minutes gave us some hints that the Fed is cautious about declaring a victory over inflation prematurely and is more likely to rely on data-driven responses, Barclays analysts said.
It's worth keeping in mind that until the September meeting there will be another jobs report on Sept. 2 and the August inflation data on Sept. 13th.
Wells Fargo expects the Fed to hike the rate by another 75 bps at the September meeting, to be followed by 50 bps in November and 25 bps in December. After that the Fed is likely to pause and see how the broader economy has been impacted by the hikes.
GBP/CHF expectations
On the H1 chart the pair looks good for selling opportunities. A correction until the 1.1400 level of resistance is to be expected. If that level doesn't hold, the next resistance is at 1.1470. From there, the downtrend should resume. On the upside the next level of resistance is at 1.1515.
From a technical point of view a bullish divergence seems to be forming on the H4 chart and it might indicate a bigger correction if fundamentals also support the move, so it's worth keeping an eye on. The pair still has room to depreciate further until the end of the month targeting 1.1165 -- the March 2020 low.
EUR/USD expectations
The pair closed the week near the 1.0025 level of support. A correction is then expected until 1.0130 or 1.0165. From there the downtrend should resume, targeting 0.9965. From a fundamental point of view, the EU economy is showing signs of slowdown and is prone to a deeper recession.
This article was written by Gina Constantin. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/market-outlook-for-the-week-of-august-22-26-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T08:44:12Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/market-outlook-for-the-week-of-august-22-26-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
Tuesday: US PMIs.
Thursday: Jackson Hole Symposium (25-27 August).
Friday: Fed Chair Powell speaks and US PCE.
Last week the USD came back with a vengeance. The market completely reversed the USD losses out of the CPI report and increased momentum as bad Chinese data reaffirmed the bleak global economic outlook for the next 6/12 months, which ultimately benefit the US Dollar as a safe haven. Fed members also reaffirmed their commitment in fighting inflation and the desire to front-load rate hikes to the 3.50%-4.00% range by year end with a 50 or 75 bps hike coming in September. I think the USD still has a lot of room to run with the EUR/USD chart in particular giving quite a high conviction of a break of the July 14th low at 0.9952. US Dollar strength of course will be seen in the other major pairs since they have USD on one side of the pair, but EUR, GBP and AUD likely to lead the losses against the USD.
On Tuesday we get Prelim PMIs from the S&P Global for Eurozone, UK and US. They are all expected to contract further as high inflation, tighter monetary conditions and synchronised global slowdown weight on economic activity. US PMIs will have a greater significance for the market and bad data should be taken as positive for the USD as its safe haven status coupled with rising interest rates should add to the gains. We may also see a spike against USD due to the narrative that the Fed will pivot soon as economic conditions worsen fast, but that should be just a fade opportunity.
On Thursday starts the Fed’s annual economic policy symposium at Jackson Hole and it will run for three days until Saturday. This event is often used to signal policy changes. In fact, back in 2020, Fed Chair Powell announced a revision to the Fed’s monetary policy framework by reframing the 2% annual inflation goal as an average inflation target (AIT) of 2% over the long-run to compensate for the years they missed their target. They’ve done this to increase market inflation expectations and signal a great commitment to keep monetary policy loose for longer. This is one of the reasons they let inflation to overshoot their target even though it led to too much inflation as they acted too late.
The market focus will be on Fed Chair Powell expected to speak on Friday at 15:00BST/10:00EDT. As of now we know that the Fed wants to front-load hikes and reach a 3.50%-4.00% rate by year-end as most Fed officials signalled with their comments up to now. The market also misinterpreted or just cheered too much when Powell signalled that he thinks they reached the neutral rate and from now on they will be data-dependent and it will likely be appropriate to slow the pace of rate increases to assess their effects on inflation and the economy. They also see a risk of overtightening and market conditions becoming too lose forcing them to take stronger actions. We heard from other Fed members these past weeks about a 50 or 75 bps hike coming in September with the market pricing a higher chance of a 50 bps. If the Fed wants to let the market know that it shouldn’t fight them, they could go for an out of consensus hike, which in this case would be a 75 bps.
Finally, on Friday we will see the latest US PCE report. The Core PCE M/M is expected to slow to 0.3% from the prior 0.6%. The Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, the Core PCE Y/Y, will also be of focus keeping in mind that the last time it increased to 4.80%. The expectation is for a decline to 4.70%.
This article was written by Giuseppe Dellamotta. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/fx-majors-weekly-outlook-22-26-august-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T08:56:50Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/fx-majors-weekly-outlook-22-26-august-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It is just beyond petrifying to look at the charts and to see how historical prices over the past decade compare to the latest surge in European energy prices. Dutch TTF futures have jumped up by over 12% to €288/MWh today after Russia has said that they will close the Nord Stream pipeline for maintenance for three days at the end of August. Here's a look at the chart:
And when you look over to French and German year-ahead baseload power prices, it is even more daunting as prices hit €775/MWh and €624/MWh (a new record) respectively to start the week (h/t @ YanQinyq):
This is Europe heading towards devastation and I can't imagine how this is going to translate to consumers as we look towards the winter months. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/the-staggering-surge-in-european-energy-prices-continues-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T08:56:56Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/the-staggering-surge-in-european-energy-prices-continues-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It is absolutely impossible to build a great organization without having great goals. This is because a vision encapsulates the aspiration of the organization; where it wants to be and what it wants to become. Without a compelling vision, a company cannot record unending success.
However, while visions create the future of an organization in the imaginations of all concerned, it is strategy that actually drives the organization to the envisioned future. Strategy is the bridge between a company’s present and its future. Without an appropriate strategy, a company’s envisioned future will at best be a mirage. It is for this reason that Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes, in their book, Exploring Corporate Strategy, submit that it is strategy which determines the direction and scope of an organization over the long term.
Strategy is vital to the actualization of corporate objectives because it bridges the gap between means and end. Strategy involves the deployment of resources at the disposal of an organization for the actualization of corporate goals.
According to Michael Porter, a Harvard Business School professor, strategy should determine how organizational resources, skills and competencies are combined to create competitive advantage.
That is why many have argued that any corporate failure is traceable to failure of strategy. Those of this school of thought insist that when a company goes down it is because it has employed the wrong strategy; if the strategy is inappropriate, the result will be unsatisfying.
Essence of strategy
Strategy is a game plan deployed by an organization to achieve its long-term objectives. A strategy is a corporate blueprint for winning and for achieving predetermined goals. The raison d’être of a strategy is winning. When strategies are carefully thought out and painstakingly implemented, success becomes a cinch. But when a strategy is put together haphazardly and implemented half-heartedly, failure will be the end result.
Components of a strategy
These are components of strategy.
Corporate aspiration
The most important component of a strategy is corporate aspiration. That is the starting point. It is only when the aspiration is expressed and shared that a strategy can be put in place for its actualization. Since strategy is about winning, what winning means must be stated unequivocally so that everyone knows what the objective is.
Former General Electric (GE) chairman, Jack Welch, wanted to build an agile and profitable business, so he espoused a corporate objective that all the company’s subsidiaries must be either number one or number two in the industries where they operated. The objective was clear to everyone. There was no hiding place for any manager. It was so clear that even managers could assess themselves. So, when Welch moved to sell off companies that failed to be number one or number two in their industries, the people knew they had been forewarned, though not many of them liked the idea.
SWOT analysis
SWOT analysis is a breakdown of an organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. To come up with a good strategy, an organization must have a firm understanding of these.
Strengths – The strengths reveal areas in which the organization has competitive advantage and identifying these will help it to firm up its hold in those areas.
Weaknesses make clear to an organization the areas where it is not as strong as its competitors. Engaging in the analysis helps it to know what it can do to manage the weak points and minimize the damage that can emanate from such areas.
Opportunities – An organization needs to know what the emerging opportunities are in its industry. These are usually found out through observing the trend in the industry and through research into customers’ behaviours.
Threats – These are developments that may negatively affect the fortunes of an organization. These require serious attention because they may lead to a company losing its competitive edge or even being brought to its knees.
Coke, Pepsi and Bigi
When Bigi Cola emerged on the nation’s beverage market a few years ago, neither the Nigerian Bottling Company nor Seven Up Bottling Company, bottlers of Coca Cola and Pepsi respectively, paid the new product any attention because there had been other carbonated beverages that attempted to break into the league of Coke and Pepsi only to fizzle out after a while. So, the management of both companies did not see the drink, bottled by Rites Food Limited, as a threat. But through creative marketing and competitive pricing, Bigi Cola has forced itself into the consciousness of fizzy drink consumers and now poses a serious threat to both Coke and Pepsi’s dominance of the market. Bigi has penetrated into areas which the giants sparsely serviced and has made them its strongholds. It has also surreptitiously sneaked into the major markets. So much is the threat posed by the new drink that both Coke and Pepsi have been forced to revert to packaging their products in glass bottle, after several years of moving into plastic, just to be able to compete with Bigi on prices.
Every organization must always pay attention to emerging threats and take definite steps to mitigate the damage that could be foisted by the treats.
People
The people element is the most critical of the components because a strategy does not drive itself, strategies are driven by men. If the people element is right, the strategy stands a very good chance of working.
Definitive steps to achieve goals
This is where the rubber meets the road, where the real work is. Once the end is determined, the strengths identified, the opportunities recognized and the threats known, the next thing is to outline the specific steps to be taken, deploying the strengths towards the appropriation of the opportunities. This is usually broken down into units’ activities with the time line for the actualization clearly stated. This is important because, according to the Parkinson’s Law, propounded by C. Northcote Parkinson, work expands to fill the time available for its completion. The import of the law is that a task will never get to the concluding stage unless a time is set for its completion. To make the most of the time and get the best out of a task, a deadline must be set for it right from the outset. Failure of which will leave the work to continue almost ad infinitum.
Communication
Before the strategy is rolled out, it is important for the leadership to get a buy-in from the people. For this to happen, the leadership has to communicate with the people explaining what is intended, why it is important and their role in it. When the leadership and the people are on the same page, success becomes easy. As put by Friedrich Nietzsche, he who has a why can bear almost anyhow. If the team members are made to comprehend what the organization is doing, why it is doing it and why their own role in it is important, it is almost certain that they will give their all to its success.
Execution
A strategy is only as good or otherwise as its execution. Until it is executed, a strategy is of no benefit. Therefore, it is important that execution must be embedded in the strategic planning and should not be treated as something different from the overall plan. With that, thoughts about implementation are factored into the planning right from the outset.
Why strategies fail
Strategies fail for a number of reasons. Here are some of them.
Wrong personnel
Strategies are nothing but plans. However, a plan is not self-driven. So, a strategy is only as good as the people behind it. Thus, while it is important to come up with a good strategy, it is equally important to raise a competent team to drive it.
As observed by Jim Collins in Good to Great, packing a company full of people with the wrong skill sets will kill the company fast for the simple reason that a person cannot give what he lacks. To make a company great, an individual must have the seed of greatness in him or her. A mediocre team cannot produce great results with a great strategy because like will always produce like. A mediocre team will always have a mediocre result.
Then, it is not enough to have a team with the right skills; the people must also be assigned the right tasks. Round peg must be made to fill round hole.
Failure to execute
Credible statistics show that between 60 and 90 per cent of organizations never execute their plans. It is odd but true that organizations do deploy quality time and copious resources to fashion out strategic plans which they hope will give them an edge in their industry only to leave undone that which is critical to their effecting a change in their narrative. While many organizations are gung-ho about coming up with plans and policies, they are not as excited with the implementation. This is one of the major reasons for failure experienced by organizations. It is to guard against such that experts now advocate the inclusion of execution in the strategy right from the beginning.
Failure to monitor
Compliance does not just happen, it is made to happen. That is the premise of the statement by Louis V. Gartner, former IBM CEO, that a leader should not expect what he does not regularly inspect. So, the onus is on the team leader to ensure that he monitors the progress of the strategy. The tendency is for people to slow down and do what is convenient when there is no premium placed on the provision of feedback. To ensure that no room for failure is allowed, the leadership of the organization must put measures in place to assess progress.
Not tweaking strategies
One thing about strategy is that it should be dynamic. A strategy is not supposed to last a lifetime. But the thinking among some business leaders is that it is un-strategic to change a winning strategy. So, no matter how obsolete the strategy becomes because it keeps fulfilling the original expectations of the company leaders they do not change it until it becomes too late.
Last line
The journey to organizational success takes off with a good strategy.
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PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — The 95th annual Pawtucket Grecian Festival continued into its third and final day Sunday, following a weekend of celebrations.
The event, hosted every year by the Assumption of The Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Pawtucket, offered traditional Greek food like gyros, Greek coffee and baklava.
There were also several dancing performances by the Greek Pride Dance Troupe, who perform in traditional Greek costumes representing the various regions of Greece.
Attendees also enjoyed several family-friendly activities, including face painting, rock climbing and baking demonstrations. | https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/blackstone-valley/pawtucket-grecian-festival-celebrates-95-years/ | 2022-08-22T09:07:30Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/blackstone-valley/pawtucket-grecian-festival-celebrates-95-years/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Good Morning Britain fans have praised weather presenter Laura Tobin's return to the show today (August 22), following a week's absence. The popular ITV presenter announced she would be back on viewers' screens this morning after enjoying a well-deserved summer break.
However, she did say that the return would 'hurt' after a week off. The 40-year-old posted a short boomerang video to her 200,000 Twitter fans showing her back in the TV studio with co-hosts Ranvir Singh and Judge Rinder visible in the background.
Laura wore a stunning multi-coloured dress and left her brunette locks flowing freely as she beamed at the camera. However the return to early mornings hasn't impressed the weather presenter.
Sharing a Twitter post last night, she told fans: "Eek-This is going to hurt in the morning after a week off on holiday. See you tomorrow @gmb" from 6am."
But things were a bit more cheerful today (August 22), as fans were delighted to see Laura return. Taking to social media once again, the star captioned her morning post: "[Waving emoji] morning, back on GMB after a week off. Did I miss anything?"
Her fans were quick to welcome Laura back to the popular daytime show, with many admitting they had missed the meteorologist.
Read more: GMB's Kate Garraway shares health update for husband Derek Draper after A&E visit
@1912graham confirmed Laura hasn't missed anything, but added "we all missed you". @billhassall echoed: "Good to see you back Laura x." @Iainmii commented: "Morning Laura, missed you."
One fan even joked about how Laura managed to look beautiful early in the morning. @RichardOverty said: "It’s not fair to look that good sooooo early!"
Returning to her presenting duties, Laura told viewers the weather would be "warm, humid and largely dry" in the south-east today.
GMB continues tomorrow from 6am on ITV.
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- Kent weather: Thousands of households told to pack valuables to prepare for floods | https://www.kentlive.news/news/celebs-tv/good-morning-britains-laura-tobin-7492748 | 2022-08-22T09:14:38Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/celebs-tv/good-morning-britains-laura-tobin-7492748 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Love Island winner Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu amused her partner Davide Sanclimenti with her strange choice of nightclub snack while the pair were celebrating her 28th birthday. The couple had been enjoying a weekend in London and posting updates on their time together on Instagram.
First off, Ekin-Su acted as Davide's tour guide, taking him to Tower Bridge, The Mirror reports. Later on her story, she shared her shock reaction a romantic gesture from her man.
She re-shared Davide's story, in which he filmed her entering their lavish hotel room filled with birthday gifts and surprises. He captioned the post: "She thought I didn't get anything for her birthday."
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As well as the presents, there was also a light-up floor spelling her name, a bunch of white balloons tied with gold ribbon, a number of designer bags and a selection of pictures from their time together. He followed up the video saying: "Love to see her happy."
He asked Ekin-Su if she was happy with her surprise while she sat on the yellow bean bag which was the location of many villa chats on the ITV2 show. She replied: " I'm just chilling on my yellow bean bag, what else can I be doing? Honestly this is the best birthday ever."
Later on in the birthday weekend, Davide, 27, posted a video of Ekin-Su's strange choice of food in a nightclub. With R&B music playing in the background, he spun the camera onto her tucking into a plate of food and wasclearly highly amused by her choice, saying: "@ekinsuofficial Broccoli on a night out. You ok baby girl?"
She looked camera shy in the clip, covering her face with her hand while Davide kept filming. The couple had been apart for a while as they caught up with their families and business errands after their time in the villa. Fans were able to see the moment they reunited, with a sweet video showing Davide knocking on Ekin-Su's hotel door.
The touching moment they finally set eyes on each other again was set to the tune of Let Me Love You by Mario. She appeared shocked to see him as he stood at the door with his suitcase.
Ever since the hit show ended they have gushed over each other on social media. It shows exactly why the public voted for them to win the £50k prize fund on Love Island.
READ NEXT: | https://www.kentlive.news/news/celebs-tv/love-islands-ekin-su-mocked-7492993 | 2022-08-22T09:14:48Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/celebs-tv/love-islands-ekin-su-mocked-7492993 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
British households could earn money by turning off their washing machines and other appliances during peak hours this winter, according to inside reports at the National Grid. Officials are reportedly brainstorming ways to tackle expected energy shortages ahead of the colder winter months.
As the temperatures drop and energy usage goes up, there are concerns that the power network could be overloaded during autumn and winter. These worries have led to officials at the National Grid seemingly devising the new 'rebate' scheme.
Although the scheme would still need approval from energy regular Ofgem, it would be launched in late October. The plan would involve payments of up to £6 per kWh to households which cut down their energy usage during the peak times of between 5pm and 8pm, the Mirror reports.
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A National Grid spokesman said: "We are developing a new service that will be available for consumers to benefit from across this winter and will be announcing further information soon."
Another industry source told Express.co.uk that the scheme was not designed to make people uncomfortable during colder, darker days, saying: "It is definitely not about people sitting in the dark, or volunteering to be cold. It is about doing the washing at a different time of day, that sort of stuff.”
This is not the first time such measures have been put in place. The rebates were first trialled among 105,000 Octopus Energy customers back in February and March 2022, asking households to turn down appliances for two hours on eight separate occasions. Octopus then issued a payment of 22.7p for every kWh saved to households who cut their usage by 30 to 40 percent.
According to the Energy Savings Trust, as much as 14% of a typical household energy bill is accounted for by washing machines, dishwashers, and tumble dryers. Consumer electronics such as laptops, TVs, and gaming consoles also make up around 6%.
In a separate measure announced by the government, millions of households will also receive the Energy Bill Support Scheme (EBSS) to help with rising energy bills this winter. Under the scheme, households will receive £400 which will be paid over six months from October 2022 and are implemented automatically by each supplier.
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A popular beachside restaurant in Folkestone has been named in The Guardian's top ten list of the UK's best pubs, cafes and restaurants with a view. Little Rock restaurant in Folkestone was recently listed among nine other eateries around the UK with 'spectacular views'.
Little Rock fish restaurant is located beachside, on the Harbour Arm at Folkestone and is the perfect place to enjoy your favourite seafood and a glass of wine with a stunning view over the beach and out to sea. They serve fresh, local and seasonal fish and seafood supplied straight from the Folkestone Trawlers operating out of the Harbour and surrounding Hythe Bay area.
The restaurant is housed within a repurposed shipping container, and guests can choose to be seated inside or outdoors on the terrace area (which is best-placed for the view). Most of the tables are available on a walk in basis, however they do take a limited number of reservations for indoor seating each day.
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Little Rock was listed in the article among other locations across the country such as Cornwall, Norfolk and Snowdonia. Guardian writer, Stephen Emms, said: "Of all Folkestone’s foodie spots with a view, none channels Mediterranean vibes better than this beachside fish joint.
"A repurposed shipping container, Little Rock squats right on the shingle, with palm trees, boardwalks, sun sails (requisite on a sizzling lunchtime) and dreamy sea views from its terrace. Working with trawlers operating from the harbour, it focuses on the catch of the day – pan-fried, grilled or baked as you prefer.
Or go for local crab, mackerel fillets or pale-ale-battered cod cheeks (£12.50) with tangy, caper-laden tartare sauce. Cold vinho verde and a chilled soundtrack all add to the holiday feel."
Sign up to get the latest stories from Kent direct into your inbox here.
READ NEXT: | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/little-rock-folkestone-restaurant-named-7475295 | 2022-08-22T09:15:09Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/little-rock-folkestone-restaurant-named-7475295 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Alan Cumming: Scots have gone off talking about prospect of independence
Alan Cumming, the Scottish star of Broadway and Hollywood, has admitted Scots have gone off the independence debate because it has become such a “divisive” issue.
The Perthshire-born performer, one of the country’s most high-profile supporters of independence, suggested the response of many Scots to the mention of the issue was that “immediately sphincters tighten.”Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cumming said he was “really sad” that the country had become so “polarised” that the very meaning of independence had been forgotten about.
Cumming is touring Scotland at the moment with Burn, a dance-theatre show inspired by the life of Robert Burns, based on archives of his letters, which he says explore the poet’s own thoughts on “the idea of independence.”
Cumming was asked whether he felt that the new stage about Burns would help encourage Scots to have “difficult discussions” about the country’s future.
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He said: “As an artist, I think you should provoke people. I feel like I am a provocateur, as well as an actor and a writer. I feel like I want to make people think and reassess.
"The whole thing with Burn was that I really wanted people to look again at something we all thought we understood and maybe didn’t understand the full picture.
“I am a big proponent of Scottish independence. I understand that as soon as you say that immediately sphincters tighten, because not everyone is.
“I feel that, in a funny way, it has been so much in our culture, and it has been so divisive, that I think we’ve stopped wanting to talk about it. It’s a bit like: ‘I don’t do politics.’ I think we need to talk about it a bit more.
“We’re so polarised in this country about Scottish referendums that we’ve stopped being able to actually understand what independence means. I find that really sad. I just wish we should stop thinking it’s one of these subjects we can’t talk about.
“Burns talks so much about the idea of independence, the importance of independence of the mind, of being independent in the world and as an individual, and of not being led or reliant on people you don’t necessarily respect or who don’t respect you.“If Burn has done anything to open up that dialogue again I would be very very happy. There are elements in it that are completely about the way how he, as a Scottish man, was not able to be the person he wanted to be because of the fact that he did not have independence himself. That is definitely part of the story."
Cumming, who was being interviewed by National Theatre of Scotland artistic director Jackie Wylie, urged Scots to talk, argue and “listen to each other” more on whether or not Scotland should be independent.
He added: “We should also make sure we have the facts because the last time we did not. We were all misled.
“It didn’t go the way I would liked. But look at what happened after that – Brexit and we all voted a certain way because we thought we were going to stay in Europe and – guess what? – we’re not.
“So I feel like we need to talk about it more – don’t be quiet and don’t tighten your sphincter.” | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/alan-cumming-scots-have-gone-off-talking-about-prospect-of-independence-3814185 | 2022-08-22T09:18:14Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/alan-cumming-scots-have-gone-off-talking-about-prospect-of-independence-3814185 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Within the "next week or so."
That's when US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Americans can expect a decision from the Biden administration on student loans.
Millions of borrowers are anxiously waiting to hear whether President Joe Biden will extend the pause on federal student loan payments, which is set to expire August 31, or possibly forgive any of their debts. As a reminder, borrower balances have effectively been frozen since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, with no payments required on most federal student loans since March 2020.
"We've been talking daily about this, and I can tell you the American people will hear within the next week or so from the President and the Department of Education on what we're going to be doing around that," Cardona told NBC's Chuck Todd on "Meet the Press."
He did not elaborate, saying he would not get ahead of the announcement. "I don't have any news to announce today," Cardona said.
Here's what you need to know.
What is Biden weighing?
The White House has previously said that Biden will have something to announce ahead of the August 31 deadline. And Biden has already extended the pause four times, most recently in April, arguing that it was necessary to allow federal student loan borrowers to get back on their feet. The question is whether there'll be a fifth time.
But that's not all. Democratic lawmakers and advocates have also been calling on Biden to broadly cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt per borrower, although the President has said he would not consider that number.
Instead, along with potentially extending the pause, the White House has suggested Biden is considering canceling $10,000 per borrower, excluding those who earn more than $125,000 a year, which is something he campaigned on in 2020.
How severe is America's student debt problem?
Borrowers hold $1.6 trillion in outstanding federal student loan debt, more than Americans owe in either credit card or auto loan debt.
- About 54% of borrowers with outstanding student loan debt owed less than $20,000 as of March 2021, according to the College Board.
- About 45% of the outstanding debt was held by the 10% of borrowers owing $80,000 or more.
What's the downside of broad forgiveness?
While broad student loan debt cancellation could deliver financial relief to millions of Americans, the implications of such a significant policy move are complicated, CNN's Katie Lobosco writes.
And on its own, the action would do nothing to bring down the cost of college for future borrowers or help those who have already paid for their degrees.
How does the Supreme Court come into this?
A recent decision from the high court limiting the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to fight the climate crisis could complicate Biden's authority to cancel federal student loan debt.
That's because the court's ruling -- along with those in other recent cases on eviction moratoriums and Covid-19 vaccination mandates -- signaled that the justices may be inclined to constrain federal agencies' authority to make significant policy changes if that power is not explicitly laid out by Congress.
How has Biden addressed student debt to this point?
As Lobosco has reported, the President has largely taken a targeted approach to student debt relief.
For example, earlier this month, the Department of Education said it would cancel $3.9 billion in student loan debt for 208,000 students who attended the now-defunct for-profit ITT Technical Institute. That brings the total amount of loan discharges approved under Biden to nearly $32 billion.
Biden has also temporarily expanded the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives the debt of government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of payments, and made changes to income-driven repayment plans, bringing millions of borrowers closer to forgiveness.
What do Americans think of student loan forgiveness?
As might be expected, attitudes toward student debt relief are sharply divided along partisan and generational lines.
A majority of Democrats in a May CNN poll (56%) -- and an even wider majority of self-described liberals (69%) -- said the government is doing too little on student loan debt, while only a third of Republicans and self-described conservatives alike said the same.
Seventy percent of adults younger than 35 said the government is doing too little, a figure that dropped to 50% among those in the 35-49 age bracket, and 35% among those age 50 or older.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/this-could-be-a-momentous-week-for-millions-of-young-people/article_ee1fdd43-3f12-5848-8b05-cc52352d31c5.html | 2022-08-22T09:19:03Z | local3news.com | control | https://www.local3news.com/regional-national/this-could-be-a-momentous-week-for-millions-of-young-people/article_ee1fdd43-3f12-5848-8b05-cc52352d31c5.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A surveillance technology used by the Kansas City Police Department to detect the location of gunshots is coming under increasing criticism for failing to reduce the city’s high homicide rate and for its placement in minority neighborhoods.
The Board of Police Commissioners approved another two-year, $370,000 contract for ShotSpotter last October after its representatives told the board that it “could help reduce gun violence in this city.”
But ShotSpotter has been in use in Kansas City since 2012, and in the decade since the city's homicide rate has only climbed and set new records.
The California company that manufactures ShotSpotter promotes it by saying “gunshot detection by itself is not a panacea for gun violence, but if used as part of a comprehensive gun crime response strategy, it can contribute to a reduction."
Kansas City Police defend its use, saying it can help get to victims faster, as well as show the community that officers are responding to gunshots and thus care about the community. Sgt. Jake Becchina, a KCPD spokesman, acknowledged Kansas City's high homicide rate, but said there are multiple factors that contribute to it.
"There isn't any one thing that makes people kill each other and there isn't any one thing to take away or mitigate that will stop everybody from killing each other," Becchina said. "We believe as law enforcement that if we know where there is gunfire and we can get there faster, then that inherently gives us an opportunity to provide for the safety of that situation better."
At least one national study looked at ShotSpotter’s impact in 68 large metropolitan U.S. counties from 1999 to 2016 and found that the technology “had no significant impact” on homicides or arrests.
A police reform group called Campaign Zero did a year-long study of ShotSpotter and is now working to “Cancel ShotSpotter,” a campaign aimed at citizens and local governments who approve funding for the technology. Jacob Wourms, a research manager with Campaign Zero, said ShotSpotter causes police to rush into a neighborhood on high alert when there may be no trouble.
“The biggest reason why we have a problem with it is how drastically it increases interactions between police and civilians with no measurable impact on public safety,” he said.
Another criticism of the program is that it’s used solely in minority neighborhoods. The KCPD wouldn’t disclose just where ShotSpotter’s sensors are placed, citing state law. But 2012-2018 data obtained by the Justice Tech Lab at Texas A & M University shows the sensors picking up shots fired in Kansas City along both sides of U.S. Highway 71 from Truman Road to East 63rd St.
Anthony Vibbard, a Kansas City assistant public defender, first learned of ShotSpotter during a 2020 case. Police said his client had violated his parole by firing a weapon at his ex-partner near 41st and The Paseo, citing a ShotSpotter alert from that area. Vibbard tried to get information about ShotSpotter from police, who wouldn’t give specifics.
“Well, if I fired my gun in Lee’s Summit, would you hear it?,” Vibbard remembered asking a police technician. “If I fired my gun in in Overland Park would you hear it? North of the river in north KC, would you hear it? We kind of got to the point where we were like, ‘Oh, you put it in the southeast, right in the low-income neighborhoods, didn't you?’ But there was never a definitive answer.”
Ultimately, Vibbard proved that his client was more than 12 miles away from that area during the time of the ShotSpotter alert and his case was dropped. But Vibbard was left with more questions than answers about ShotSpotter — and concerns about how people are treated in neighborhoods where the program sends police. He wondered how police respond to data that doesn't send them to a specific address but rather to a designated area.
“So (police) just cruise around a few-block radius looking to see if they can see anyone who looks suspicious and then they shake them down,” Vibbard said. “They have prettier language.”
How it works
ShotSpotter is an “acoustic surveillance technology,” according to its manufacturer, with audio sensors placed in strategic areas — typically on rooftops or utility poles — that detect gunfire, locate the area, then send the real-time data to police. The company says it has contracts with 130 cities for the technology with a high rate of customer satisfaction.
When a microphone detects the noise, an alert is sent to one of the company’s “acoustic technicians,” who are located in the company’s “incident review centers” on the east and west coasts, who make sure it’s gunfire and not a false positive, Ron Teachman, ShotSpotter’s director of public safety solutions, told the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners at its Oct. 26, 2021 meeting.
“(The alert is) put out immediately to the police so they can respond in real time,” Teachman said. “The average is about 45 seconds from trigger pull.”
The data is sent to the KCPD 911 call center, as well as to officers’ desktops, smartphones or smart watches, he said.
Teachman, a 38-year law enforcement veteran, told the board that ShotSpotter is needed in large part because 80 percent of people who hear gunshots don’t call 911.
ShotSpotter was initiated here in 2012 by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, which used a federal grant aimed at providing more safety for public transportation to pay for it. The grant was used to help expand the Troost Max route, buy new lighting, glass bus stop shelters and obtain ShotSpotter, Becchina said.
Becchina, who was the ShotSpotter administrator when he was assigned to KCPD's Real Time Crime Center from 2015-2018, said the decision where to place the ShotSpotter sensors was related to a the 3.5 square miles where the buses travel.
"Under the umbrella of safety of the bus lines, they also chose to explore and purchase a service of a gunshot detection system," he said. "So the decision about where to place them was largely due to the mission of the system safety of the bus lines."
During the October Board of Police Commissioners meeting, Commissioners Cathy Dean and Don Wagner asked then-Chief Rick Smith if he could look at placing ShotSpotter in other high-crime areas of the city, and Smith said he'd be happy to. But there are currently no plans to move or add to the system, Becchina said.
Other criticisms of ShotSpotter stem from the false positives it can generate. Although the company promises a 97 percent audio accuracy rate, critics suggest other sounds can trigger the system, like fireworks, a slammed door or a car’s back-fire. A ShotSpotter study done in St. Louis showed “tepid” results, with police response skyrocketing but officers ending up in neighborhoods where nothing was happening.
“High-volume agencies will likely experience substantial increases in their call volumes with remarkably little to show for it, at a cost that might have taxpayers questioning the logic behind the expense,” the report’s authors wrote in “Police Chief” magazine.
ShotSpotter said via email that there has been no published study on its impact in Kansas City. But it pointed to preliminary results of a study by Eric Piza, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice associate professor who is looking at ShotSpotter in Chicago and Kansas City.
In a video produced by VOA TEK, a Voice of America TV program on technology, Piza says on average, gunshots are detected by ShotSpotter about 1.5 minutes before a call comes in to 911.
"So if you think about it, that's giving police a one and a half minute head start on responding to the scene, identifying victims and transporting victims to the hospital," he said.
Piza also said the risk of false positives in Kansas City appeared to be low.
Is it effective?
Publicly traded ShotSpotter, which has been in business for more than 25 years, pulled in $58.2 million in revenues in 2021 and expects to make $83 million this year, according to company financial statements.
Even as the company does well financially, homicides and gun assaults have trended upward nationally, according to the Council on Criminal Justice.
In Kansas City, there have been 104 homicides so far this year, according to KCPD. Last year was the second-deadliest in city history, with 157 homicides, following a record 182 killings in 2020, according to a Kansas City Star tracker.
Campaign Zero began looking at the ShotSpotter program after the March 2021 killing of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by Chicago police, said Wourms, of Campaign Zero.
Police were sent to the predominantly Latino neighborhood by a ShotSpotter alert. Last August, a Chicago watchdog agency issued a report that said ShotSpotter had cost the city tens of millions of dollars but rarely produced evidence of a gun-related crime.
After a year of study, including talking to researchers and ShotSpotter representatives, Wourms said his group reached the conclusion that it is not a public safety tool.
“It doesn't reduce gun violence and it increases interactions between police and innocent civilians who just happen to be at the location of an alert five, 10, maybe more minutes after the fact,” he said. “Our concern is that it drastically increases the footprint of police, predominantly in Black and Brown neighborhoods.”
KCPD's Becchina, however, said he believes ShotSpotter is an effective way to respond to gunshots. Officers are sent nearly 100% of the time in response, he said, letting neighborhoods see that police are responding to their problems.
"It's a philosophical thing. It's not something you can measure in statistics," he said. "You can't measure care and relationships and statistics, but we believe it matters."
The Midwest Newsroom's Daniel Wheaton analyzed data for this report. | https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-22/in-the-decade-since-kansas-city-installed-a-gunshot-detection-system-homicides-only-went-up | 2022-08-22T09:23:17Z | kcur.org | control | https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-08-22/in-the-decade-since-kansas-city-installed-a-gunshot-detection-system-homicides-only-went-up | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Independent candidates are rarely successful in America’s two-party election system — in fact, an independent hasn’t been elected in Missouri in the post-Civil War era.
But none of that is stopping John Wood, who used to be a Republican congressional staffer. While the GOP selected Attorney General Eric Schmitt as their nominee from a field of Trump-supporting options, the less known Wood is offering himself as a mainstream conservative. Wood talked about his chances and his views with KCUR’s Steve Kraske.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Trevor Grandin, and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate | https://www.kcur.org/podcast/kansas-city-today/2022-08-22/09 | 2022-08-22T09:23:23Z | kcur.org | control | https://www.kcur.org/podcast/kansas-city-today/2022-08-22/09 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Teen hit-and-run victim ‘will not be the same’ after brain injury, mother says
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The mother of a 13-year-old girl badly injured in a hit-and-run crash wrote on GoFundMe that her daughter “will not be the same” due to extensive, inoperable damage to her brain stem.
Lilly, a 13-year-old from Osprey, Florida, is fighting to survive after Florida Highway Patrol reported she was hit by a car while riding her bike in a crosswalk Tuesday, according to WWSB.
The family asked that Lilly’s last name not be published to protect her privacy.
Her mother wrote in an update on GoFundMe that doctors say the teen “will not be the same Lilly that we all know and love ever again” because of extensive damage to her brain stem, which she said is “inoperable” after the crash.
Her mother’s post goes on to write she’s unsure if Lilly will ever be “aware as you and I are,” as the family waits for the results of an MRI scheduled for Monday.
Despite the seriousness of her brain injuries, the family is hoping the 13-year-old can recover to the best of her abilities. However, she is expected to need long term care for the rest of her life.
Investigators say Lilly, a student at Pine View School, was on her bike in a school crosswalk, marked with flashing yellow lights and yellow signage, about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday when a dark silver sedan approached her, heading west.
The sedan hit the 13-year-old before fleeing the scene westbound.
Suspect David Chang was arrested the next day after he and his heavily damaged car were found at an auto-repair shop in Tampa. He bonded out of jail but is facing a string of charges, including leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of a crash causing property damage and destroying evidence.
Lilly’s mother is feeling both gratitude toward community members who have stepped forward to donate tens of thousands of dollars to aid her daughter’s recover and other powerful emotions aimed at the man accused of putting her in the hospital.
“I am struggling with feelings of anger at this horrible man who is walking around our community while Lilly is fighting for her life,” she wrote in the post. “The overwhelming feeling of unfairness comes in waves.”
The GoFundMe, set up for medical and travel expenses, has raised more than $85,000. Any money left over will be donated to All Children’s Hospital, Lilly’s mother says.
Chang is expected to appear in court on Sept. 30.
Copyright 2022 WWSB via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/22/teen-hit-and-run-victim-will-not-be-same-after-brain-injury-mother-says/ | 2022-08-22T09:27:46Z | wave3.com | control | https://www.wave3.com/2022/08/22/teen-hit-and-run-victim-will-not-be-same-after-brain-injury-mother-says/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Investment supports customer demand across Europe in attractive segments, including coffee and pet food
ZURICH, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor (NYSE: AMCR) (ASX:AMC), a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, today announced that it has closed the acquisition of a world-class flexible packaging plant located in the Czech Republic.
The strategic location of the site immediately increases Amcor's ability to satisfy strong demand and customer growth across its flexible packaging network in Europe.
"With this acquisition we are investing to accelerate the organic growth momentum of our flexibles business in Europe in attractive segments," said Michael Zacka, President, Amcor Flexibles Europe, Middle East & Africa. "The scalable nature of the acquired site and its attractive location further bolsters our ability to service strong customer demand and generate strong returns for Amcor shareholders."
The plant is a greenfield development commissioned by DG Pack in 2019 and features state-of-the-art specialized equipment for attractive segments including coffee and pet food. The land and buildings acquired also provide the option to significantly scale up operations and establish a highly efficient production hub.
About Amcor
Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly lighter weight, recyclable and reusable, and made using an increasing amount of recycled content. In fiscal year 2022, 44,000 Amcor people generated $15 billion in annual sales from operations that span 220 locations in 43 countries. NYSE: AMCR; ASX: AMC
www.amcor.com I LinkedIn I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube
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SOURCE Amcor | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/amcor-buys-world-class-scalable-flexible-packaging-plant-central-europe/ | 2022-08-22T09:32:27Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/amcor-buys-world-class-scalable-flexible-packaging-plant-central-europe/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
FORNEBU, Norway, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mainstream Renewable Power ("Mainstream"), the global renewable energy company majority-owned by Aker Horizons, and Ocean Winds, the international company dedicated to offshore wind energy, have been appointed preferred bidder by Crown Estate Scotland for an area with the potential for a 1.8 GW offshore wind farm off the Shetland Islands in Scotland.
Mainstream and Ocean Winds, as the preferred bidders, are now offered the opportunity to enter into an option agreement for the site which is located east of the Shetland Islands in approximately 100m water depth and is well suited for floating offshore wind. The project partners, which hold a 50-50 ownership, are committed to developing floating offshore wind on an industrial scale in Scotland, generating local jobs and opportunities in Scotland and the Shetland Islands. The site output is expected to power for the equivalent of over 2 million homes.
"We are proud of Mainstream and Ocean Winds' success in the ScotWind process. It is a testament to the strength of the partnership, and to Mainstream's standing as a leading developer of gigawatt-scale renewables platforms with significant offshore technology expertise. This was further reinforced by the company's recent combination with Aker Offshore Wind," said Kristian Røkke, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Horizons and Chairman of Mainstream.
"This is a very significant win for Mainstream, which plays to our key strengths as a global leader in floating offshore wind technology as well as our track record in offshore wind project development," said Mainstream's Chief Executive Officer Mary Quaney. "In Scotland, we have already developed the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe Offshore Wind Farm and we now look forward to working with all stakeholders to further develop and strengthen Scotland's offshore wind industry and help position it as a global leader in floating offshore wind power."
Mainstream and Aker Offshore Wind in August 2022 completed a transaction to combine the two companies to create a stronger renewable energy company with more than 27 GW net portfolio. Combining Aker Offshore Wind's strong technical and engineering capabilities and early mover position in floating offshore wind with Mainstream's proven project development methodology, execution track record and global presence unlocks new opportunities worldwide. The company is currently bringing forward multi-gigawatt scale developments of offshore wind assets in markets including Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Ireland and Sweden.
Mainstream, through its combination with Aker Offshore Wind, has already partnered with Ocean Winds in the joint venture KF Wind in South Korea and are in consortium to bid in the upcoming leasing round for floating wind at Utsira Nord in Norway. Mainstream and Ocean Winds are also major shareholders of the leading floating wind technology provider Principle Power.
"We are proud of the strength that Ocean Winds and Mainstream Renewable Power teams have combined to secure this major new project," said Bautista Rodriguez, Ocean Winds' chief executive officer. "As Ocean Winds, we are looking forward to using our more than 10-year expertise as pioneer in floating offshore wind farms from development to operation to progress this large floating project awarded with Mainstream, as well as the 500 MW floating project also awarded to Ocean Winds during this clearing round. Both will bring major benefits to Shetland and Scotland, and an important contribution to Net Zero."
Ocean Winds was created as a 50-50 joint venture in 2020 by EDP Renewables and ENGIE. The company is one of Scotland's leading offshore wind developers, with 950 MW currently in operation at Moray East and 882 MW in late development stage at Moray West. In January 2022, Ocean Winds was successful in its ScotWind bid, the Caledonia Offshore Wind Farm, with a plan for up to 2 GW.
About Mainstream Renewable Power
Mainstream Renewable Power is a leading pure-play renewable energy company, with wind and solar assets across global markets, including in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Mainstream is one of the most successful developers of gigawatt-scale renewables platforms, across onshore wind, offshore wind, and solar power generation. It has successfully delivered 6.5 GW of wind and solar generation assets to financial close-ready and has a global portfolio of more than 27 GW.
In May 2021, Aker Horizons acquired a majority stake in Mainstream and, in April 2022, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. joined Aker Horizons as a long-term strategic investor. In August 2022, the transaction to integrate Aker Offshore Wind into the Mainstream Group was completed.
Mainstream is one of the leading developers of offshore wind at scale globally. It has successfully consented Hornsea One (1.2 GW), the largest operational offshore wind plant in the world today; and developed the Hornsea 2 project (1.4 GW) before selling these projects and the entire Zone in 2015. Mainstream fully consented the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind project in Scotland, where 450 MW is currently under construction. Overall, it has developed and consented 20% of the UK's offshore wind capacity either in operation or under construction. The company is currently bringing forward multi-gigawatt scale developments of offshore wind assets in markets including Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Norway, Ireland, the UK, and Sweden.
Mainstream, through Aker Horizons' ownership and its combination with Aker Offshore Wind, will leverage the decades of offshore energy development experience through the Aker group. Aker has been instrumental in the design and deployment of more than half of all semisubmersible floating offshore installations in the world and has over four decades of experience in Scotland, including a global subsea centre of excellence.
About Ocean Winds
Oceans Wind (OW) is an international company dedicated to offshore wind energy and created as a 50-50 joint venture, owned by EDP Renewables and ENGIE. Based on our belief that offshore wind energy is an essential part of the global energy transition, we develop, finance, build and operate offshore wind farm projects all around the world.
When EDP and ENGIE combined their offshore wind assets and project pipeline to create OW in 2019, the company had a total of 1.5 GW under construction and 4.0 GW under development; OW has been adding rapidly to that portfolio and is now on a trajectory to reach the 2025 target of 5 to 7 GW of projects in operation, or construction, and 5 to 10 GW under advanced development. In 2022, OW's offshore wind gross capacity already operating, in construction or with advanced development rights granted reaches 14.5 GW.
OW, headquartered in Madrid, is currently present in 8 countries, and primarily targets markets in Europe, the United-States, selected parts of Asia, and Brazil.
For more information: www.oceanwinds.com
About Aker Horizons
Aker Horizons develops green industrial projects and technologies that accelerate the net zero transition. The company holds assets across renewable energy and carbon capture, and develops green industrial hubs that combine low-cost renewable energy with hydrogen production and downstream applications. As part of the Aker group and its 180-year industrial heritage, Aker Horizons applies industrial, technological and capital markets expertise to solve fundamental challenges to sustainable existence. Aker Horizons is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and headquartered in Fornebu, Norway. Through its portfolio companies, Aker Horizons employs over 1,200 people across 18 countries and five continents. www.akerhorizons.com
For further information, please contact:
Ivar Simensen, Communications, Tel: +47 46 40 23 17,
ivar.simensen@akerhorizons.com
Christian Yggeseth, Investor Relations, Tel: +47 915 10 000,
christian.yggeseth@akerhorizons.com
This information is considered to include inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation article 17 and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement was published by Ivar Simensen, Communications at Aker Horizons ASA, on August 22, 2022 at 10:20 CEST.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Aker Horizons | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/mainstream-renewable-power-ocean-winds-win-18-gw-scotwind-site/ | 2022-08-22T09:32:47Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/mainstream-renewable-power-ocean-winds-win-18-gw-scotwind-site/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Three law enforcement officers in Arkansas have been suspended over what appeared to be the beating of a suspect that was caught on video.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Three law enforcement officers in Arkansas have been suspended over what appeared to be the beating of a suspect that was caught on video.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/arkansas-officers-are-suspended-after-social-media-video-shows-a-police-beating | 2022-08-22T09:38:57Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/arkansas-officers-are-suspended-after-social-media-video-shows-a-police-beating | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The drought is forcing western states to rethink how much water they use — including dozens of coal-fired power plants that provide electricity to millions.(NOTE: The word "shit" is bleeped.)
Copyright 2022 NPR
The drought is forcing western states to rethink how much water they use — including dozens of coal-fired power plants that provide electricity to millions.(NOTE: The word "shit" is bleeped.)
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/how-drought-threatens-electricity-producing-coal-fired-power-plants | 2022-08-22T09:39:09Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/how-drought-threatens-electricity-producing-coal-fired-power-plants | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Have the primaries given hints about the upcoming midterms? Terrorism charges are filed against Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. A car bomb near Moscow killed the daughter of a key Putin ally.
Copyright 2022 NPR
Have the primaries given hints about the upcoming midterms? Terrorism charges are filed against Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. A car bomb near Moscow killed the daughter of a key Putin ally.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/morning-news-brief | 2022-08-22T09:39:27Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/morning-news-brief | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Max Seddon, Moscow bureau chief for The Financial Times, about a weekend car bombing outside of Moscow that killed the daughter of a key ally of President Putin.
Copyright 2022 NPR
NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Max Seddon, Moscow bureau chief for The Financial Times, about a weekend car bombing outside of Moscow that killed the daughter of a key ally of President Putin.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/the-daughter-of-putin-ally-alexander-dugin-is-killed-in-a-car-bomb-explosion | 2022-08-22T09:39:39Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/the-daughter-of-putin-ally-alexander-dugin-is-killed-in-a-car-bomb-explosion | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A look inside one of Pennsylvania's 13 centers taking calls for 988, the new national suicide prevention hotline. Centers across the U.S. need more money and staffers for the increase in calls.
Copyright 2022 NPR
A look inside one of Pennsylvania's 13 centers taking calls for 988, the new national suicide prevention hotline. Centers across the U.S. need more money and staffers for the increase in calls.
Copyright 2022 NPR | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/the-national-988-hotline-is-up-and-running-but-local-centers-need-workers-funding | 2022-08-22T09:39:45Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/the-national-988-hotline-is-up-and-running-but-local-centers-need-workers-funding | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A Navy program helped to bring home the remains of an Ohio sailor who died at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. Musician First class Joseph Hoffman was aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack.
Copyright 2022 WYSO
A Navy program helped to bring home the remains of an Ohio sailor who died at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. Musician First class Joseph Hoffman was aboard the USS Oklahoma during the attack.
Copyright 2022 WYSO | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/the-remains-of-an-ohio-man-who-died-in-the-pearl-harbor-attack-are-buried | 2022-08-22T09:39:57Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/2022-08-22/the-remains-of-an-ohio-man-who-died-in-the-pearl-harbor-attack-are-buried | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Two astrophotographers have teamed up to produce an out of this world photo of the moon, capturing over 200,000 shots to create a single image.
Andrew McCarthy and Connor Matherne collaborated last November to push their photography skills to the limit. Their finished product was posted online Saturday, and is currently gaining lots of attention on Reddit.
The two stargazers first connected over Reddit and then Instagram, sharing and commenting on each other's work over the past three or four years. After recognizing one another's strengths in photography, they decided to team up for a photoshoot of Earth's moon.
"When he and I put our heads together we were able to make something a little off brand for both of us, which is cool," McCarthy told NPR. "The whole thing is assembled like a mosaic, and each tile is made up of thousands of photos."
McCarthy said he specializes in detailed photographs, taking tens of thousands of photos to capture the geographical features on the moon's surface. Matherne, who prefers to shoot deep space photos, specializes in colors.
Over the course of a single evening, McCarthy shot over 200,000 detailed photos of the moon from Arizona, while Matherne shot another 500 images from Louisiana to capture color data. They combined their work by stacking the photos on top of one another to create a detailed image of the moon in spectacular color.
"Andrew aimed purely for the detail side whereas I aimed purely for the color side," Matherne said. "That allowed us to get the full moon."
They spent the next nine months bouncing edits and ideas off one another about the edits, using photo editing programs to help produce the best image possible.
Matherne and McCarthy said though their work is technical, it's not out of reach for other photo enthusiasts. All that's required is a camera, tripod and a star tracker. Aspiring astrophotographers can take their work to the next level by purchasing a telescope, but the two said it's best to develop basic photo skills before taking that next step.
But astrophotography isn't as simple as point and shoot. One of the most difficult parts of the job, McCarthy said, is practicing patience.
A successful shoot relies heavily on clear skies and limited light pollution. Most nights McCarthy walks away empty handed, but that makes successful shoots all the more meaningful.
"If you can't handle that, then you're not going to get to the point where you're getting these great pictures," he said. "Anybody can do it, but it takes a special temperament."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-22/how-2-astrophotographers-teamed-up-to-capture-a-stellar-image-of-the-moon | 2022-08-22T09:40:03Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-22/how-2-astrophotographers-teamed-up-to-capture-a-stellar-image-of-the-moon | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Students across the country are moving into dorms or getting ready to board school buses for their first day of class.
But unlike the past two years, COVID-19 numbers are down nationally and most students are walking in the school doors without masks. From kindergarten all the way through college, educators are trying to convey a sense of normalcy, and for Dr. Richard Martini, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the University of Utah, that push comes with added baggage.
"For some of these kids, [there is] a good bit of anxiety around getting back into the classroom on a regular basis," he says, "They're understanding and trying to deal with everything that has happened over the last two years."
While the pandemic caused widespread disruption to learning, one of the biggest concerns, for students of all ages, has been how it has affected their mental health. High numbers of teenagers have reported persistently feeling sad or hopeless, and the Biden Administration has tried to make student mental health a priority.
For parents concerned about how their students are handling the new school year, here are five suggestions mental health experts say can help them monitor their child's mental health:
1. Be proactive
Whether your student is starting pre-K or high school, there are many ways to be proactive. Martini says a lot of anxiety for students comes from the unknown, so help walk them through the steps – sometimes literally.
"Give the child an opportunity to walk around the school grounds," he says. "If you're talking about kindergartners ... if there's a playground that's adjacent to it, get used to being around the building."
If you don't have access to the actual school grounds early, looking at a map in "street view" on your phone or computer can help. Get them used to talking about class or recess. Ask them what they want to eat for lunch. The more questions, Martini says, the more real it becomes: "What are they excited about? What are they looking forward to?"
Athletics and arts programs can help, too. Even if students are nervous about the classroom, he says, getting them to pinpoint other aspects of school life that excite them can relieve the academic stress and provide outlets for students to express themselves.
2. Ask about the good and the bad
Asking questions is the best way to understand how students are doing. But for older students, especially, if you're only asking about the good things, you may not get the full picture.
"When you're talking to your student, ask them about what's going well, but also be very clear and ask what isn't going as well," says Nathaan Demers. He's a clinical psychologist in Denver and helps run YOU at College, an app designed to connect students with mental health resources. He says, don't shy away from the hard questions with your kids – ask them about the challenges they're facing, too.
Demers tell parents: Pay particular attention to how you phrase the questions. Using "what" instead of "why" can remove any hint of accusation. That leaves room for students to open up about their feelings and relieves the pressure some students feel to be having a good time.
For example, you might want to ask "What isn't going well?" instead of "Why aren't you enjoying [school]?' "
3. Keep an eye on changing behavior
"One thing that can admittedly be challenging," Demers acknowledges, is that "a lot of the common signs of the onset of mental health symptoms are very much those of major transitions."
Things like changes in sleep, increased irritability, increased weight gain or changes in appetite can signal to clinicians that there may be an underlying issue. But for incoming college students, he adds, "a lot of those things can naturally happen ... with students going away from home for the first time."
There is no perfect answer, so Demers says to trust your gut. "Parents know their kids better than anyone else," and often they can sense when something isn't right. "There's a difference between, 'Oh, my son or daughter is having a challenging day or a challenging week' versus 'something just seems off.' "
For younger students, one of the most common warning signs is irritability with school or teachers, says Martini at the University of Utah. He notes that for younger students, irritability with teachers has been a recent trend in classrooms. "Particularly when you're dealing with young children, there is a tendency to blame the school teachers and principals for some of the challenges they're having," he says.
4. It's not just COVID
The increase in anxiety and mental health issues isn't solely a result of the pandemic. The number of students struggling with mental health has been rising for years, says Sarah Lipson, an assistant professor of public health at Boston University. She helps lead an annual survey of hundreds of colleges around the country to get a better picture of student mental health.
"You wouldn't look at a bar chart and say, you know 'what started to happen in spring of 2020?' " she explains. "That's not the case. We instead see this gradual but problematic trend that continued through COVID."
According to her department's survey, the number of college students experiencing mental health issues first spiked in the 2015-2016 school year and has been going up since.
While the past two years have been especially challenging, Lipson says not to belittle students' feelings by explaining them away with the pandemic. In an academic year where there is a push for normalcy some students may not be ready to return to business as usual.
Lipson says to keep an eye on those students in particular: "One of the most powerful specific symptoms that we see— it's also the strongest predictor of students dropping out — and that's a lack of interest in their usual activities."
5. Lend a hand
Parents can help by identifying the problem and offering solutions. Ultimately, resources are there to help students of all ages deal with their mental health, but the daunting task of finding the right one can keep students away.
"If you cut off your finger right now," Demers says. "You know to go to the emergency room. But a lot of times when students have changes in their appetite, aren't sleeping or feeling more frustrated, a lot of times students don't know that [those are] signs of depression or anxiety."
All of the experts we spoke with recommend that parents know about the resources available, and be ready to step in to help their children find the help they need.
Some in-person resources include talking with a counselor at school or finding an on-campus group like Active Minds. But often virtual resources are the easiest first step. Demers' app YOU at College is one example – students can input their symptoms and find recommendations for nearby resources. In a crisis situation the easiest option for families is to text HOME to 741741 to connect via phone with a trained counselor.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-22/keep-an-eye-on-your-students-mental-health-this-back-to-school-season | 2022-08-22T09:40:10Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-22/keep-an-eye-on-your-students-mental-health-this-back-to-school-season | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The big climate and health care bill signed into law by President Biden has what at first sight looks like a big incentive for those shopping for a car: a revamped $7,500 tax credit if you buy a new electric vehicle, or $4,000 if you get a used one.
Although tax credits for electric cars have been offered before, the new bill revamps those incentives. But there are so many caveats – on everything from the buyers' income level to which models can qualify – that many electric cars may actually not be eligible for the tax credit.
Nonetheless, the caveats are there for two key reasons: to eventually make electric cars more affordable for more Americans and to bring more of the production across the supply chain to the U.S.
If the bill succeeds in accomplishing those two goals, experts believe the law could catapult the electric vehicle market into the mainstream in ways the country hasn't seen before.
Here's what to know about the tax credits.
So, who qualifies for the revamped tax credits?
Not everybody.
Only singles with incomes up to $150,000 a year and couples who file taxes jointly who earn up to $300,000 will qualify.
This income cap requirement is meant to help less affluent people afford electric cars – and incentivize automakers to expand their customer base.
The high cost of electric cars has long been seen as a major impediment to the adoption of these vehicles. Currently the average price of an electric vehicle is $66,000.
What about the requirements for the electric vehicles?
There are some major requirements, both on how the car – and its battery – is produced and the overall price of the vehicle.
To start with, to get the full tax credit, the car has to be assembled in North America. This provision of the law went into effect when President Biden signed the legislation into law last week. There are more than two dozen vehicles that meet this requirement, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but dozens more have already been disqualified from the tax credit with this requirement alone.
Starting Jan. 1, 2023, more caveats come into effect.
Sedans have to be under $55,000 to qualify, and the cost of trucks, vans, and sports utility vehicles can't exceed $80,000.
The price caps for used electric vehicles is $25,000, but the cars won't have to comply with the made-in-America requirements.
Are there requirements for the batteries as well?
Yes, and that's important because batteries are the most important part of any electric car
A certain percentage of minerals in the EV battery must come from North America or a country that has a free trade agreement with the U.S.
Much of the battery components must also be manufactured or assembled in North America.
That's expected to complicate things for auto companies.
"That's going to be a huge burden and hurdle to overcome," says Carla Bailo, CEO of the Center for Automotive Research. "We don't have the mining, we don't have the critical minerals that are needed in North America or from our free trade partners, and almost 90% of the refining is done in China."
Currently, no electric vehicle on the market will qualify for the full tax credit when battery requirements take effect in 2023, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
Is it possible qualify for a partial tax credit?
It is.
A buyer could get a partial credit of $3,750 if 40% of the critical minerals in EV batteries are sourced from countries with which the U.S. has a free trade agreement.
The other $3,750 is linked to battery components. Starting in 2023, 50% of components will have to be manufactured or assembled in North America.
Over time, the required amount of minerals in the EV batteries sourced from the U.S. or trading partners will increase. So too will the required amount of components manufactured or assembled in North America.
Which automakers win and lose under this law?
Based on what's currently available on the market, higher-end electric car companies like Rivian stand to lose customers who qualify for the tax credit based on the cost of their vehicles.
Companies like Tesla or General Motors that have been producing cars in the U.S. and have already shifted their supply chains are better poised to meet the many requirements.
"They're probably at the forefront of this technology right now with some vehicles on the market and many more on the way," says Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights at Edmunds.
Meanwhile, international automakers, like Toyota or Hyundai, face some big decisions.
"For the Asian and European automakers who have some limited production in North America, that's where we might see some more weighing of the scales in terms of, 'Is it worthwhile for us to shift production of vehicles or sourcing of materials to qualify for this, or do we just walk away?,'" says Michael Fiske, associated director of Powertrain and Compliance for S&P Global Mobility.
Don't these caveats make it hard to get the tax credit?
Initially, yes.
It will be difficult, if not impossible, for buyers to qualify for the full $7500 tax credit as automakers rethink their operations to meet the various requirements.
But this is a long-term play by the Biden administration. By incentivizing automakers to cater to a less affluent crowd and by pushing automakers to bring their supply chains to the U.S., the administration believes it can make EVs more mainstream and accelerate toward an ambitious goal: to have half of all new car sales be for electric models by 2030, up from only 3% today.
Another motivating factor is China.
China controls about three-quarters of the market for the minerals that are essential for batteries and the Biden administration has been worried about continued access to those minerals. By bolstering domestic supply chains, the administration intends to reduce China's ability to roil the electric vehicle market.
"This is about protecting American national security" says Fiske. " We've seen a lot of the challenges that have come from being reliant on the Middle East and for oil for the last half century or more. Now, I think there are valid concerns about becoming overly reliant on Asian countries for processing and manufacturing of batteries and battery-related materials for the next decade or 50 years."
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-22/you-can-get-a-7-500-tax-credit-to-buy-an-electric-car-but-its-really-complicated | 2022-08-22T09:40:28Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/2022-08-22/you-can-get-a-7-500-tax-credit-to-buy-an-electric-car-but-its-really-complicated | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Eric Alvarez remembered what it felt like to hear his fiance was coming home from prison: overwhelming relief.
Alvarez has heart trouble and he's struggled to take care of his four kids and his fiance's daughter through their long separation. When Eva Cardoza returned from the federal correctional institution in Danbury, Connecticut, she shouldered a lot of burdens.
"She was doing everything at home. She was cooking, cleaning, taking care of the kids, helping them with homework," Alvarez said.
More than 11,000 people like Cardoza have been released from federal prison in the last couple of years, to ride out the pandemic at home, often with their families and loved ones. But that situation can be precarious.
In June 2021, Alvarez and Cardoza took a 90-minute cab ride into the Bronx, so she could meet with staffers in charge of her supervision. Cardoza, who had tested positive for marijuana, never came out of the building. Alvarez ended up forking out $433 to cover the hours the taxi meter ran as he waited in vain.
Cardoza's return to prison turned the family upside down. She's now been back at Danbury for 14 months. Alvarez said she never got the chance to explain herself or challenge that single positive drug test.
"That's just mind boggling to me," Alvarez said. "Where is the judicial system? Where is the fairness? Where is the 50-50? I don't see it."
Less than 0.2% of the people released committed new crimes while they were out
This week, the Bureau of Prisons told NPR that 442 people who were released during the pandemic have now returned to prison. Only 17 people out of more than 11,000 who were released committed new crimes, mostly drug related ones, while they were out. More than half, some 230 people including Eva Cardoza, got sent back for alleged alcohol or drug use. Other cases involved technical violations.
Sakira Cook of the racial justice group Color of Change explained what that means.
"It could be as simple as failing to answer the phone when your probation officer calls you. It could be as simple as the ankle monitor giving an incorrect signal about your location," Cook said.
Cook has personal experience with that last problem: a relative recently left federal prison on home confinement, only to get an ankle monitor that didn't work. Fortunately, she said, the probation officer understood the situation.
Kevin Ring advocates for people in prison and their families at the group FAMM, formerly known as Families Against Mandatory Minimums.
"In a normal circumstance, somebody who violates the terms of their home confinement is sent back to the halfway house or to prison, but the stakes are much lower," Ring said. "They're only going back for a month or two."
But some of the people released from prison under the bipartisan pandemic legislation called the Cares Act have years remaining on their prison terms.
"Is it really worth sending people back for years because they missed a phone call or they had alcohol in their urine?" Ring asked.
Hoping for due process as a judge rules the current procedures are unconstitutional
Most of the monitoring of people on home confinement is being done by private contractors, said Quinnipiac University School of Law professor Sarah Russell.
"There can be a lot of room for miscommunications and misunderstandings," Russell said.
Russell said that's all the more reason to ensure due-process rights for people at risk of being sent back: the opportunity to see the evidence against them and to have a hearing before a neutral arbiter.
Last week, one of Russell's clients won those rights in court. The decision by Judge Omar Williams is the first in the nation to hold that the current process for returning people to federal prison after home confinement is un-constitutional.
Russell said her other clients — moms with young children-- are still nervous about having to leave their lives behind unexpectedly.
"My real hope is that this gets addressed at the national level through the Bureau of Prisons and through the Department of Justice," Russell said. "They have a real opportunity to set clear procedures and criteria."
More lawsuits from people returned to prison are under way. The Bureau of Prisons said it can't talk about that pending litigation. But it is considering a new federal rule to make the process more clear.
For Eric Alvarez, 46, that can't come too soon. He's been diagnosed with colon cancer--the same disease that took his uncle years ago.
"And my heart is not up to par to take this kind of abuse and now I'm going through it on my own," he said. "It's just I'm afraid that I'm going to die alone."
Alvarez talks to his fiance in prison on the phone, or with video calls. But he said it's not the same as having her home.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-22/released-during-covid-some-people-are-sent-back-to-prison-with-little-or-no-warning | 2022-08-22T09:40:34Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-08-22/released-during-covid-some-people-are-sent-back-to-prison-with-little-or-no-warning | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Two Crawford County Sheriff's deputies suspended over beating caught on video
One Mulberry officer is on leave
A video showing a man beaten that has surfaced on social media has resulted in two Crawford County Sheriff's deputies being suspended and a Mulberry police officer placed on leave, the sheriff and Mulberry police chief reported.
The Arkansas State Police are investigating the incident after the video was posted on social media by Naomi Ruth Johnson.
The man, identified as Randall Worcester, 27, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, is seen in the video on the ground under two deputies and a Mulberry police officer about 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the Kountry Xpress, 1107 Georgia Ridge Drive.
A news release from the Arkansas State Police Sunday night stated:
"The Arkansas State Police has opened an investigation into the use of force by two Crawford County sheriff’s deputies and a Mulberry police officer in the arrest of a South Carolina man. The incident occurred about 10:40 a.m. today (Sunday) outside a Crawford County convenience store in Mulberry. The investigation was initiated at the request of the 21st Judicial District prosecuting attorney."
Worcester was taken to an area hospital for examination and treatment, then he was later booked at the Crawford County Jail in Van Buren, state police reported.
Worcester was jailed on complaints of second degree burglary, resisting arrest, refusal to submit, possessing an instrument of crime, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, terroristic threatening, and second degree assault, according to Arkansas state police.
"The state police investigation will be limited to the use of physical force by the deputies and police officer. Upon completion of the investigation, the case file will be submitted to the Crawford County prosecuting attorney who will determine whether the use of force by the law enforcement officers was consistent with Arkansas laws," the statement reads.
The identity of the officers was not released.
"Questions relating to the identity of the three law enforcement officers and their administrative status should be directed to their respective departments where they are employed."
The incident reportedly started in Alma Sunday where police there reported a man had threatened convenience store employees and then rode a bicycle to Mulberry.
In a statement Sunday evening, Mulberry Police Chief Shannon Gregory said the officer involved is on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
In a social media post Sunday, Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante stated, "In reference to the video circulating social media involving two Crawford County deputies, we have requested that Arkansas State Police conduct the investigation and the deputies have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. I hold all my employees accountable for their actions and will take appropriate measures in this matter."
The video shows three law officers on top of a man who is punched in the head and kneed several times. An officer points at the person with the camera and orders it turned off.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson commented on the arrest in a tweet Sunday.
"I have spoken with Col. Bill Bryant of the Arkansas State Police, and the local arrest incident in Crawford County will be investigated pursuant to the video evidence and the request of the prosecuting attorney," Hutchinson tweeted.
Celina Tebor, USA Today breaking news reporter, contributed to this report. | https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/2022/08/21/crawford-county-arkansas-sheriffs-deputies-officers-suspended-over-beating-caught-video/7862025001/ | 2022-08-22T09:54:35Z | swtimes.com | control | https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/2022/08/21/crawford-county-arkansas-sheriffs-deputies-officers-suspended-over-beating-caught-video/7862025001/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
5 freshmen to watch from Arkansas football recruiting's highest-ranked class since 2015
Arkansas football's 2022 recruiting class was its highest-ranked since 2015. With an overall ranking of No. 22 and seven four-star prospects, coach Sam Pittman's latest class came with plenty of hype.
Now, those prospects are preparing for their first season in Arkansas uniforms. Of the more than 30 freshmen on the 2022 roster, a handful have made an impression in preseason practices and have a chance to be impact players as freshmen.
Here's a look at five new Razorbacks to watch in 2022.
LB Jordan Crook
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 227 pounds
Hometown: Duncanville, Texas
What to know: Arkansas' top linebackers are returning standout Bumper Pool and Alabama transfer Drew Sanders. But behind them, don't count out Crook. The "high-energy" player is a viable option as the Razorbacks' third linebacker. Linebackers coach Michael Scherer said he's working with Crook on shaking bad habits and learning the defense, but he expects big things from the former three-star.
"We're going to need Jordan Crook in a lot of different situations, and he's ready for it," Scherer said. "You'll see Jordan Crook a lot this year, no doubt about it."
DL Nico Davillier
Height: 6-4
Weight: 240
Hometown: Maumelle
What to know: Pittman said after Arkansas' first scrimmage that the defensive lineman would play this season rather than redshirt. With interior lineman Cam Ball out because of an injury, Davillier has moved inside, but Pittman said he can play at either spot. Defensive line coach Deke Adams praised the former three-star's physicality and ability to get to the ball.
FIGHT NIGHT:Why Arkansas football introduced boxing gloves to preseason practice drills
D-LINE PROGRESS:How new Arkansas football defensive line coach Deke Adams wants to improve pass rush
MORE:How strength coach Jamil Walker has Arkansas looking ‘like an SEC football team’
"You don’t find many guys that big that are that athletic at his age," Pittman said. "I’m really high on him. I think he’s going to be really good for us.”
OL E'Marion Harris
Height: 6-7
Weight: 362
Hometown: Little Rock
What to know: The second-highest rated recruit in Arkansas' 2022 class, Harris is a big lineman who Kennedy said can play at guard or tackle. His listed weight is more than 360 pounds, but Kennedy said he had worked to get down to about 330. Harris is fighting for a spot on the depth chart with an offensive line that returned all but one starter from last season. Harris' versatility helps in that regard, Kennedy said.
"He’s a large, powerful kid," Kennedy said. "We’ve been flexing him in at guard, but man, he also is athletic enough to flex out to tackle."
OL Patrick Kutas
Height: 6-5
Weight: 305
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
What to know: Kutas has played just about every spot on the offensive line in preseason practice thanks to minor injuries among the group. Pittman said if he had to choose one spot for Kutas, he'd be at left guard battling redshirt freshman Jalen St. John. He's also been getting work at center of late.
"I've always thought (center would) be a great place to play one of your best young kids, because he has to learn the game in there," Pittman said. "He's done a really good job. He's starting on some special teams for us, too. We're going to travel him and expect him to be in the 2-deep at some point."
WR Isaiah Sategna
Height: 5-11
Weight: 173
Hometown: Fayetteville
What to know: What Sategna lacks in height, he makes up for in speed and ball skills. The top-rated recruit in Arkansas' 2022 class, Sategna has impressed in practice. Although older players such as Oklahoma transfer Jadon Haselwood, returner Warren Thompson and sophomore Ketron Jackson Jr. will lead the way at receiver, Sategna has an opportunity to get in the mix. He's also in the running for kickoff and punt return duties, Pittman said.
"If you’re not the biggest guy, you have to have special skills, and he has them," Pittman said. "He can separate. Really good hands. ... I like him a lot. When he runs by people, I like him a little bit more. He’s got super speed.”
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Southwest Times Record and USA Today Network. You can follow her on Twitter @christinalong00 or email her at clong@swtimes.com. | https://www.swtimes.com/story/sports/college/2022/08/22/arkansas-razorbacks-football-recruiting-ranking-2022-class-sam-pittman/10312791002/ | 2022-08-22T09:54:41Z | swtimes.com | control | https://www.swtimes.com/story/sports/college/2022/08/22/arkansas-razorbacks-football-recruiting-ranking-2022-class-sam-pittman/10312791002/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Fire crews were able to save a person and their dog from a house fire in New Bedford on Sunday.
Crews responding to Garrison Road around 6 p.m. saw a large plume of smoke billowing from the roof of a one-story ranch.
Firefighters had to be extra cautious when extinguishing the flames near solar panels on the roof because of the electricity flowing through them, according to officials.
No injuries were reported and the Red Cross has been called in to assist the person.
The cause of the fire has been deemed accidental. | https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/1-person-saved-from-new-bedford-house-fire/ | 2022-08-22T09:55:13Z | wpri.com | control | https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/se-mass/1-person-saved-from-new-bedford-house-fire/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Technology bigwig Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Senior Vice President and CFO Luca Maestri sold shares worth $16.9 million on August 17, as per a regulatory filing.
Per the Form 4 filing, the shares were sold in two parts. One lot of 66,390 shares was sold at a weighted average sales price of $174.66 per piece. The other lot, which contained 30,345 shares, was sold at a slightly higher weighted average sales price of $175.6 per piece. The total sales aggregated $16,924,259. Notably, Maestri still has 110,673 shares of Apple stock following the latest sale.
TipRanks’ Insider Trading Activity Tool also provides a comprehensive list of daily insider transactions and shows which top corporate insiders are buying or selling shares of a publicly listed company. Interestingly, TipRanks also includes a list of hot stocks that boast either a Very Positive or Positive insider confidence signal.
Apple Issues Security Alerts
In another development, Apple has warned consumers to immediately update their iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices to guard against hacks. A new security breach allows hackers to take control of Apple hardware and run their own code. In response, Apple has released new software patches to protect against the breach.
Is Apple a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
On TipRanks, AAPL stock commands a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 23 Buys, four Holds, and one Sell. The average Apple price forecast of $183.07 implies 6.7% upside potential to current levels. Meanwhile, the stock has lost 5.4% so far this year.
Similarly, hedge funds are bullish on the AAPL stock. TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool shows that confidence in Apple is currently Positive, as 102 hedge funds increased their cumulative holdings of AAPL stock by 11.4 million shares in the last quarter.
Ending Thoughts
Even though the CFO has sold a part of his AAPL stock holdings, he still has more shares in his closet. Moreover, both Wall Street analysts and hedge funds are highly optimistic about Apple’s stock trajectory. Despite the uncertain macroeconomic backdrop, Apple reported strong Q3 results that beat analyst expectations. This proves the technology giant’s command of the market and resilience to headwinds, supporting a good investment case. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/apple-nasdaqaapl-cfo-sells-shares-worth-16-9m | 2022-08-22T09:57:35Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/apple-nasdaqaapl-cfo-sells-shares-worth-16-9m | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Hedge funds are known for beating the average market returns. Thus, keeping a tab on which stocks hedge funds are buying becomes important. With several top stocks trading at a significant discount from their highs, let’s leverage TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool (it uses data from Form 13-F to offer hedge fund signals) to look at the top five stocks that hedge fund managers bought the most in the last three months.
What are the Most Popular Hedge Fund Stocks?
Here are the Top 5 Most Bought Stocks:
Evelo Biosciences (NASDAQ:EVLO)
Rank: #5
Number of Shares Bought By Hedge Funds: 27.4M
Evelo Biosciences is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing orally delivered products for treating inflammatory diseases and cancer. EVLO stock is down about 57% year-to-date. The equity dilution from issuing new shares is the primary reason behind the significant decline in EVLO stock.
TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool shows that hedge funds bought 27.4M EVLO stock last quarter. Noubar Afeyan of Flagship Pioneering accumulated EVLO stock on the pullback.
EVLO stock has received two Buy recommendations for a Moderate Buy rating consensus. Further, the average price target of $10 implies 286.10% upside potential. EVLO stock has a Neutral Smart Score of 4 out of 10.
Cazoo Group (NYSE:CZOO)
Rank: #4
Number of Shares Bought By Hedge Funds: 28.5M
Cazoo Group is an online car retailer across the UK and Europe. CZOO stock has witnessed one of the worst falls and is down about 89% year-to-date. Hedge fund managers used this massive dip to accumulate the stock.
According to TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool, hedge funds bought 28.5M CZOO shares last quarter. Pelham Capital’s Charles Hadyn Cunningham invested in CZOO stock. Meanwhile, Greenvale Capital’s Bruce Emery increased his holding.
While CZOO stock has a positive signal from hedge funds, analysts remain sidelined. CZOO stock has received one Buy and three Hold recommendations for a Hold rating consensus. Further, the average price target of $1.58 implies 136.35% upside potential. Overall, CZOO stock has a Neutral Smart Score of 7 out of 10.
General Electric Company (NYSE:GE)
Rank: #3
Number of Shares Bought By Hedge Funds: 30.8M
General Electric is a multinational conglomerate with businesses across various sectors, including renewable energy, aviation, power, and healthcare. GE stock is down about 18% year-to-date. Meanwhile, hedge funds used the weakness in GE stock to build their positions.
TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool shows that hedge funds bought 30.8M GE stock last quarter. Several hedge fund managers, including Bridgewater Associates’ Ray Dalio, Gotham Asset Management’s Joel Greenblatt, and Pzena Investment Management’s Richard Pzena increased their holdings in GE stock. Meanwhile, two hedge fund managers took a new position in GE stock.
GE stock has received nine Buy and five Hold recommendations for a Moderate Buy rating consensus. Moreover, analysts’ average price target of $86.31 implies 11.05% upside potential. What’s more, GE stock sports a maximum Smart Score of 10.
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE:DNA)
Rank: #2
Number of Shares Bought By Hedge Funds: 31.9M
Ginkgo Bioworks is a biotech company that offers a platform to program cells with broad industrial applications. While DNA’s business is growing rapidly, its stock has declined about 66% year-to-date.
Hedge fund managers used this dip to acquire DNA stock in the last three months. Per the TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool, hedge funds bought 31.9M DNA shares. ARK Investment Management’s Catherine Wood and Bridgewater Associates’ Ray Dalio took a new position in the stock. Meanwhile, Gotham Asset Management’s Joel Greenblatt increased his holding in DNA stock.
DNA stock has received four Buy recommendations for a Strong Buy rating consensus. Moreover, analysts’ average price target of $9.21 implies 223.16% upside potential. While analysts’ price target shows significant upside, DNA stock has a Neutral Smart Score of 7 out of 10.
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD)
Rank: #1
Number of Shares Bought By Hedge Funds: 87.4M
Warner Bros. Discovery is a leading global media and entertainment company. It owns some of the most iconic media and entertainment brands, including Discovery Channel, CNN, DC, and HBO. However, challenges following the Discovery merger continue to hurt its stock, which is down about 42% year-to-date.
Capitalizing on this dip in price, hedge funds have accumulated WBD stock. According to TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity, hedge funds bought 87.4M WBD stock last quarter.
Several hedge fund managers, including Bridgewater Associates’ Ray Dalio, took a new position in WBD stock. Meanwhile, Erica Lau of North Growth Management increased the holding in WBD stock.
WBD stock has received seven Buys, seven Holds, and one Sell recommendation for a Moderate Buy rating consensus. Moreover, analysts’ average price target of $25.62 implies 86.60% upside potential. WBD stock also has an Outperform Smart Score of 8 out of 10.
Bottom Line
Hedge fund managers accumulating stocks on the dip represents a positive signal. Besides tracking the buying activities, investors can also use TipRanks’ Top Hedge Fund Managers tool to discover the performance and ranking of hedge funds.
Meanwhile, investors could also leverage TipRanks’ other valuable tools to know about analysts’ recommendations, investor sentiment, and insider signal to make an informed investment decision.
Built with the help of TipRanks’ Stock Comparison tool, here is the summary of how these stocks stack up on TipRanks’ valuable datasets.
Continue to watch this space to keep a tab on hedge fund trading activities. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/buying-the-dip-here-are-top-5-stocks-hedge-funds-bought-the-most | 2022-08-22T09:57:41Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/buying-the-dip-here-are-top-5-stocks-hedge-funds-bought-the-most | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
In our “Expert Spotlight” piece today, the TipRanks Expert Center brings top picks from notable financial blogger, Zvi Bar. Zvi Bar provides advisory services to companies, trusts, and individuals, including consulting expert services regarding retirement and estate planning. Moreover, he is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York specializing in cash management, Bitcoin, and Trust Protector services.
Amid uncertain times for the capital markets, simplicity can be an effective tool to separate the wheat from the chaff. Financial bloggers are adept at this as they convey complex market movements in simple terms for investors. Zvi Bar is one such blogger who has been doing this with much success, as can be gauged from his track record.
Bar’s Standing Among TipRanks Experts
According to the TipRanks Star Ranking System, Zvi Bar ranks #25 out of 13,619 bloggers in the TipRanks universe and #99 among 21,639 overall experts, including hedge fund managers, Wall Street analysts, corporate insiders, financial bloggers, and individual investors.
Bar’s success rate in picking stocks stands at 72%, whereas his average return per rating is an impressive 16.50%.
The analyst’s average returns relative to the S&P 500 and the benchmark sector stand at 4.50% and 3.90%, respectively.
Among Bar’s picks, 98.23% are Buys and 1.77% have a Sell rating.
Notably, according to TipRanks, Bar’s most profitable pick has been Riot Blockchain (RIOT) between November 9, 2020, to November 9, 2021, generating an impressive return of 490.2%.
Now, let’s look at a couple of his top picks.
Bar Remains Optimistic About Disney
Founded in 1923, the media behemoth Disney has been a bellwether in the entertainment industry for decades. The company’s interests lie in fields ranging from animation to streaming platforms, from movie productions to theme parks. Presently, the company commands a market cap of $218.83 billion.
The company posted strong numbers in its latest results for the third quarter, as both revenue and earnings surpassed Street expectations. While revenues of $21.5 billion witnessed year-over-year growth of 26%, earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter came in at $1.09, growing 36.3% from the previous year.
Notably, Bar remains bullish about the stock. The blogger opines that the company’s revival in its Parks & Experiences business along with its continued rise in net subscribers gives it a strong footing to grow in the future.
Meanwhile, the blogger enjoys a success rate of 67% and an average profit of 24.97% on the stock.
Overall, 87% of bloggers on TipRanks are bullish on Disney, compared to the sector average of 69%.
AbbVie Gets Endorsement from Bar
Originating as a spin-off of Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie is a biopharmaceutical company established in 2013. The company is focused on key therapeutic areas like immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women’s health, and gastroenterology. The company’s market cap stands at a mammoth $250.8 billion.
The company posted strong results for the second quarter, with both revenue and earnings rising from the prior year. Net revenues of $14.58 billion represent year-over-year growth of 4.5%. EPS for the quarter stood at $3.37, up 11.2% from the previous year.
Notably, Bar retains his confidence in the stock. He reckons that AbbVie’s high dividend yield of 3.9% and regular share repurchases make it an attractive choice for investors. Further, the company’s robust domestic cash flows and increased market strength of its Humira drug are expected to support its share price.
Meanwhile, the blogger enjoys a success rate of 75% and an average profit of 20.67% on the stock.
Overall, 91% of bloggers on TipRanks are bullish on AbbVie, compared to the sector average of 69%.
Final Thoughts
Zvi Bar’s top picks cover a media conglomerate and a pharmaceutical major, two industries expected to have an impressive growth trajectory going forward. Along with this, Bar’s stellar track record in picking stocks that have risen considerably provides investors with an option to ponder over his picks.
Read full Disclosure | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/five-star-financial-blogger-zvi-bar-is-bullish-on-these-2-stocks | 2022-08-22T09:57:47Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/five-star-financial-blogger-zvi-bar-is-bullish-on-these-2-stocks | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Pfizer (PFE) is racing to supply the U.S. with upgraded COVID-19 vaccines targeting the Omicron variant for the fall booster campaign. While Pfizer stock has plummeted recently, the top-performing portfolios on TipRanks have been adding the stock to their holdings ahead of the release of the Omicron booster shots.
The existing COVID-19 vaccines need to be retooled to become more effective against the stubborn Omicron strain. U.S. health authorities asked Pfizer and Moderna (MRNA) to come up with modified shots that target particular Omicron variants that are dominant in the country. The upgraded Omicron booster shots from Pfizer and Moderna for the U.S. market could be ready for distribution by mid-September.
Pfizer secured a $3.2 billion deal for fall supply of vaccines, including the shots targeting the specific Omicron strains the U.S. requested, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Its rival Moderna has a $1.74 billion deal for upgraded vaccine doses for the U.S., according to the report. Pfizer and Moderna are among the leading COVID-19 vaccine providers. Aside from the vaccine, Pfizer also has the Paxlovid pill for COVID-19 treatment.
What Is the Target Price for PFE Stock?
Pfizer shares have declined about 4% over the past month. Wall Street is cautiously optimistic on the stock. According to TipRanks’ analyst rating consensus, PFE stock is a Moderate Buy based on four Buys and eight Holds. The average PFE stock price target of $61.75 implies nearly 26% upside potential.
Even as some investors recently cut their exposure to Pfizer, the stock has remained a favorite among the top retail TipRanks portfolios. The TipRanks Stock Investors tool shows that investor sentiment is currently Positive on Pfizer. In the past 30 days, 2.7% of the best-performing portfolios tracked by TipRanks increased their exposure to PFE stock.
Final Thoughts
The Omicron vaccine booster program is likely to influence trading in Pfizer stock over the next several weeks. The company has secured a huge deal from the U.S. government for the booster shots supply. Many bullish investors are likely to take advantage of any dip in the stock to accumulate more shares.
Read full Disclosure | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/omicron-booster-race-renews-focus-on-pfizer-nysepfe-stock | 2022-08-22T09:58:00Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/omicron-booster-race-renews-focus-on-pfizer-nysepfe-stock | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK.A) (BRK.B) request to purchase up to 50% stake in Occidental Petroleum (OXY). Warren Buffett’s Berkshire has been slowly increasing its stake in Occidental over the past couple of weeks.
On July 11, Berkshire proposed to the FERC to buy up to 50% of OXY, which was approved last Friday. At the time, the former owned 18.72% of the oil major. Following the news, OXY shares jumped 9.9% to close at $71.29 on August 19.
Propelled by high fuel prices and Berkshire’s interest in the oil driller, Occidental’s stock price has skyrocketed 131% so far this year.
Currently, Berkshire owns a little over 20% in Occidental, but it won’t stop there. If the Oracle of Omaha’s intention is to be presumed, speculators suggest that he will end up buying the whole of Occidental. Buffett has shown his confidence in OXY’s CEO Vicki Hollub on previous occasions, calling her one of the best in business.
As per a WSJ report, both Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Occidental feed the same grid in Louisiana. However, Occidental’s power plant represents only 0.48% of the capacity connected to the region’s grid, and combining with Berkshire “will not have an adverse effect on competition,” the FERC noted.
Carlos D. Clay from the FERC’s Office of Energy Market Regulation added, “It is concluded that the Proposed Transaction is consistent with the public interest.”
Notably, both Berkshire Energy and Occidental’s Oxy Low Carbon Ventures unit have entered majorly into renewable energy, a synergy expected to boost once Berkshire buys Occidental.
Is OXY Stock a Buy Now?
Buffett’s investment choices and long-standing history of making profitable bets surely make for a good investment case in Occidental. Nonetheless, Wall Street analysts remain cautiously optimistic about OXY stock, with a Moderate Buy consensus rating. This is based on six Buys, seven Holds, and one Sell. The average Occidental Petroleum price target of $76.85 implies 7.8% upside potential to current levels.
Moreover, Occidental scores a Perfect 10 on the TipRanks Smart Score Rating system. This implies that the stock is highly likely to outperform market expectations. Financial bloggers’ and News Sentiment is also bullish on the stock. Furthermore, hedge funds have increased their holdings in OXY stock by 18.8 million shares in the last quarter.
Also, TipRanks’ Stock Investors tool shows that investor sentiment is currently Very Positive on Occidental, with 4.9% of portfolios tracked by TipRanks increasing their exposure to OXY stock over the past 30 days. All these factors point to a very positive outlook for Occidental stock’s trajectory. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/berkshire-can-buy-up-to-50-of-occidental-nyseoxy-now-what | 2022-08-22T09:58:12Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/berkshire-can-buy-up-to-50-of-occidental-nyseoxy-now-what | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Online retail giant Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has joined the race to acquire Signify Health, Inc. (NYSE:SGFY), per a Wall Street Journal report. Also, the company is taking initiatives to boost its top line and operating performance.
Shares of $1.4-trillion Amazon slipped 2.9% to close at $138.23 on Friday. The stock has declined 18.9% so far this year.
Amazon’s Pursuit of Signify Health
Signify Health, a Texas-based healthcare technology provider, has been a hot buyout target since it expressed its intention to explore strategic alternatives earlier this month. Citing people with knowledge of the matter, the WSJ report stated that a possible sale could value Signify Health at $8 billion. This could give a big boost to the shareholders of Signify Health, which presently has a market capitalization of just $5 billion. Interestingly, the company started trading on the stock exchange in February 2021.
The buyout of Signify Health is expected to help Amazon expand its footprints in the healthcare market, especially in medical services. The retail giant’s interest in the healthcare market was confirmed after it agreed to acquire 1Life Healthcare Inc. (NASDAQ: ONEM) in July this year. The deal has been valued at $3.9 billion.
Before Amazon, Rhode Island-based CVS Health Corporation (NYSE: CVS) showed interest in Signify Health. It is worth noting that CVS Health is already an established player in the medical services market.
The $136.6-billion company provides insurance and pharmacy benefits manager-related healthcare services. Also, it operates a network of retail pharmacy chains.
Amazon Is Focusing on Boosting Its Revenues
Inflation in transportation, fuel, and energy costs is eating into the company’s profits. To deal with this issue, the e-commerce company has decided to hike fees for third-party sellers (Canada and the U.S.) operating from its platform. For its shipping services, Amazon will levy a holiday peak fulfillment fee for a period starting from October 15, 2022, and ending on January 14, 2023, says the report.
Additionally, Amazon might consider hosting a second event, like Prime Day, for its Prime customers in the fourth quarter. After its annual Prime Day in July, this initiative could significantly boost the company’s top line in the fourth quarter.
Is Amazon Stock Rated a Buy?
On TipRanks, analysts are unanimously optimistic about the prospects of Amazon, which commands a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 39 Buys and one Hold. AMZN’s average price target of $176.04 reflects 27.35% upside potential from the current level.
Investor sentiments are also Very Positive on AMZN, as evident from a 3.9% increase in the number of portfolios holding the stock in the last 30 days. Notably, the top portfolio count has grown 6.6% in the same period.
Prospects of this online retail giant appear bright for the third quarter of 2022. According to TipRanks, the total estimated visits to the company’s websites (including amazon.com) have increased 11.9%, as of July 22, month-over-month. The company’s monthly growth was 9.7% in June 2022.
For the third quarter of 2022, the company forecasts revenues to be within the $125-$130 billion range. This represents year-over-year growth of 13% to 17%. However, the company anticipates operating income of $0-$3.5 billion for the quarter versus $4.9 billion recorded in the year-ago quarter.
Read full Disclosure | https://www.tipranks.com/news/now-amazon-nasdaq-amzn-joins-the-race-to-buy-signify-health-boost-revenues | 2022-08-22T09:58:18Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/now-amazon-nasdaq-amzn-joins-the-race-to-buy-signify-health-boost-revenues | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Pagaya (PGY) is an Israeli fintech company working to reshape the lending marketplace by using machine learning, big data analytics, and sophisticated AI-driven credit and analysis technology. PGY stock, which showed up in the headlines a few weeks ago due to its massive stock price appreciation, could see a sell-off in the near future, as the lock-up period could be ending sooner than expected.
That massive increase in stock price is speculated to have been caused by the lack of actual shares of the company that are available to trade, known as the “Free-Float.” Low “Free-Float” can occur in cases where large portions of the total outstanding shares of a company are owned by insiders of the company, such as Directors, C-Level executives, etc.
The Free-Float can also be low due to the amount of restricted shares that are granted to employees as part of their compensation package. The shares are restricted because they haven’t vested yet or are still in their lock-up period.
Additionally, low Free-Float can result from a high number of restricted shares of early investors following an IPO (Initial Public Offering) or a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle) merger. Those shares are also subject to lock-up period restrictions.
PGY Stock and the Low Free-Float Phenomenon
The low free-float phenomenon can be easily manipulated and taken advantage of by sophisticated participants in the stock market. That might explain the recent astronomical growth of Pagaya.
Pagaya went public through a SPAC merger with EJF Acquisition Corp. Due to the special structure of SPAC mergers, at the end of the Pagaya’s merger there were only about 0.1% of shares that were left to actual trading (“Free-Float”). This happened because many (96.7%) of the SPAC early investors chose to exercise their right to redeem their shares for cash at a redemption price of approximately $10.00 per share, prior to the completion of the merger.
In the case of Pagaya this could be particularly interesting. Usually, when a stock goes public through an IPO or a SPAC, there is a certain amount of waiting time until the investors and the employees in the company can be allowed to sell their stock or exercise their stock options. This waiting time is called the “Lock-up” period.
With regards to Pagaya, the company went public through a SPAC on June 22, 2022. This is known as the “Closing Date,” similar to an IPO date.
In its filing with the SEC, Pagaya has stated the terms under which the first 50% of the locked-up equity could be sold. In Pagaya’s case, the earliest date in which locked-up shares could be sold is 90 days after the “Closing Date.” For this clause to come into effect, the VWAP has to be above $12.50 for 20 trading days during any 30 consecutive trading days commencing on the Closing Date (June 22).
What is VWAP?
VWAP is “Volume weight Average Price.” it’s a term mostly used in day trading, and basically means the average price at which most of the trading volume occurred.
When is PGY’s Lock-Up End Date?
Tipranks has calculated that since July 27, 2022 the VWAP of Pagaya has been above $12.50, so the count is on. Today, August 22, 2022 we mark the 20th consecutive day in which Pagaya’s VWAP has been above $12.50. This means that the condition to end the lock-up period time for 50% of the locked equity will come into effect, and we therefore expect the lock-up period to end early, on the week starting September 18th 2022.
It will be interesting to observe the stock’s reaction once the VWAP clause is fulfilled, and it will be even more intriguing to see PGY’s reaction once the lock-up period is over. The expected behavior would be volatile price action favoring the downside, as stockholders like early investors and employees would like to “cash out” as soon as possible. That’s especially likely, considering Pagaya’s inflated price and market value.
Who is likely to cash out and earn big from the earlier end to the lock-up date? Among the early investors in Pagaya are Chase Coleman from Tiger Global Management, who holds about 15% of Pagaya, and Oak HC who holds about 14.29%, as well as insider Emanuel J. Friedman (EJF Acquisition Corp., from the SPAC merger), who holds about $75M worth of stocks. You can follow Friedman’s portfolio here. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/pagaya-stock-nasdaqpgy-sell-offs-predicted-as-lock-up-period-ends-early | 2022-08-22T09:58:24Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/pagaya-stock-nasdaqpgy-sell-offs-predicted-as-lock-up-period-ends-early | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
People on these three specific DWP benefits, including Universal Credit could be entitled to a COVID cash compensation worth up to £1,500. The Department for Work and Pensions could have to pay out in compensation as they may have been in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights by not giving out a top up to people on "legacy benefits".
Legacy benefits are being replaced by Universal Credit. They include Income-based Jobseekers Allowance. Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
During the COVID pandemic, people on Universal Credit were given extra money from March 30, 2020, to October 5, 2021. The standard allowance was raised by £86 a month, first for one year and then for another six months.
Read more: Urgent petrol warning issued to drivers buying at Tesco, Asda and Morrisons
The increase, paying about £20 a week on top of the normal amount, meant claimants received an extra £1,560 over that period. Those on legacy benefits say the decision not to give them a top-up as well was discriminatory and in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, Birmingham Live reports.
In February, a High Court judge ruled in favour of the DWP, saying its intention of providing support to people who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and were forced to claim Universal Credit for the first time was fully justified. The legal team decided to take the battle further and has now been granted permission for a hearing at the Court of Appeal later this year. Paul Spencer, policy and campaigns manager at Mind, said: "The UK Government must end this two-tier benefits system, by backdating payments to the hundreds of thousands of people on legacy benefits."
The three benefits involved in the court case are:
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Edward Brown, representing the DWP, said the Universal Credit uplift was "an appropriate and effective response to the emergency facing society in the period since March 2020".
In his written submissions to the original High Court hearing, he said: "Careful consideration has been given to the specific issue, namely whether or not to uplift legacy benefits. The reasons why the Government has decided not to uplift legacy benefits are because it would be contrary to the specific fiscal and social policy goals... and it would be inefficient and not capable of delivery via legacy payment systems."
Two disabled people on ESA launched the original legal challenge and were joined by one person on Income Support and one on JSA. Around 2.4 million people would be in line to receive the extra cash.
That's made up of 1,846,000 people claiming Employment and Support Allowance, 264,000 on Jobseeker's Allowance and a further 247,000 on Income Support. If the appeal is won, the money paid out would amount to a staggering £3.74billion in Covid cash compensation.
William Ford, solicitor for the claimants, said: "If the court finds in favour of that and makes a declaration, the Government has to go away and then decide how to rectify that. But the court can't tell the DWP what to do so we have to wait and see. The hope would be that the Government comes up with some sort of package of support for those on legacy benefits."
He said this would likely be back payments because the Universal Credit uplift to the standard allowance was not maintained beyond 18 months. If it had been kept in place, then lawyers would be asking for an equivalent amount to be added to the other benefits.
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- Jet2, easyJet, BA, Ryanair: Brits travelling to Spain will melt under 'alien' new air-con laws | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/over-24-million-dwp-claimants-7493167 | 2022-08-22T09:58:27Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/cost-of-living/over-24-million-dwp-claimants-7493167 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
U.S. stock futures dipped early Monday morning amid renewed fears of another aggressive interest rate hike.
Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) inched 0.46% lower, while those on the S&P 500 (SPX) lost 0.58%, as of 2.59 a.m. EST, Monday. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq 100 (NDX) futures dipped 0.79%.
At the end of Friday’s regular trading session, the S&P 500 closed 1.29% lower, the Dow slipped 0.86%, and the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.95%.
Fed Firmly Hawkish
The Federal Reserve is most likely to make another 75 basis point appraisal on interest rates in its September meeting. Last week, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard commented that he is supportive of a large interest rate hike next month, adding that he is not fully convinced that the worst of the inflation is over.
Moreover, on Friday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell hinted at a significant rate lift intended for the September round, which will be held at the Jackson Hole economic symposium. Stressing the need to bring down inflation on an immediate basis, Powell explained that reaching an inflation range of 2.25%-2.5% as soon as possible is critical to achieving optimal and sustainable employment. The Fed is ready to risk a recession in order to reach its target inflation rate.
China Cuts Rates Again
Meanwhile, the People’s Bank of China reduced its interest rates again, a week after its surprise rate cut. The one-year and five-year benchmark lending rates were trimmed by 5 basis points and 15 basis points, respectively.
This strategic move was made in a further attempt to stabilize a contracting economy by boosting demand. Inflation, stringent trade policies, and the recent bout of Covid-related lockdowns have hurt the economy worse than expected. However, some leading experts are of the opinion that the current interest rate cuts are still not enough to bring back consumers to their previous level of spending, and the economy needs a stronger stimulus to rise again.
This is worrisome for the U.S. economy, as it might be staring at its own future. While the second largest economy in the world is struggling to revive its economy after a severe economic slowdown, the central bank of the world’s largest economy is considering a step that could increase the risk of recession, in order to bring down inflation. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/stock-market-today-monday-august-22-what-you-need-to-know | 2022-08-22T09:58:31Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/stock-market-today-monday-august-22-what-you-need-to-know | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Gone are the days that politicians testing positive for COVID-19 would have done something to move markets. Still, it's best to stay abreast of the latest developments in case of anything. We do wish Kishida a speedy recovery and he says that he plans to be back in office by 31 August.
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ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW | https://www.forexlive.com/news/japan-pm-kishida-tests-positive-for-covid-19-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T10:11:09Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/japan-pm-kishida-tests-positive-for-covid-19-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Edinburgh Festival Fringe dance, physical theatre & circus reviews: And | Sense of Centre | FEMME | Shoes | Casting Off
A jaw-droppingly bold Scottish contemporary dance show, plus cerebral dance about belonging, and contrasting conceptions of womanhood. Reviews by Andrew Eaton-Lewis, Kelly Apter, Fiona Shepherd and Fergus Morgan
And *****
Dance Base, until 28 August
It begins with a traditional Scottish sword dance (“to break the ice”) and then a brief history of Highland dancing and Charlotte McLean’s childhood in Arbroath. Later on there’s another, very different sword dance, but to say more about that would be to spoil the many surprises in this exhilarating, occasionally jaw-droppingly bold and clever show.
Most Popular
McLean describes And as, among other things, “a homage to the earth, the cosmos, the miniscule, the magic, the meaning, the moment, the moments before and all that’s yet to come”. At its heart is a piece of contemporary dance that McLean began creating while studying ballet in London, and which she intends to continue performing into old age. It soon becomes clear that the dance is life itself, with all its pleasures, disappointments, anxieties, fears and constant motion, sometimes joyful, sometimes traumatic. As the choreography shifts from moment to moment, so do McLean’s themes, as the twentysomething reels off an ever evolving list of contemporary preoccupations: climate change, feminism, Brexit, friendship, love, family, belonging, all those things that cumulatively can make you feel overwhelmed. And then, just as the show reaches its most intense and exposing moment, and you’re wondering if she’s ok, there’s a cheeky joke to break the ice again, a phone call to her granny (an unexpected highlight), and the Spice Girls.
And deserves recognition for its ambition, its humour, and McLean’s expert handling of its constant shifts in tone. It’s an impressively audacious show from a talent to watch. Andrew Eaton-Lewis
Sense of Centre ****
Dance Base, until 28 August
Who among us hasn’t sought, but failed to find, a feeling of belonging? Whether it’s to a place or to people, we spend most of our lives trying to connect in one way or another. Which is why Jack Webb’s Sense of Centre, despite citing circumstances very particular to his own life, feels easy to latch on to.
The work brings together four distinct parts – Webb’s recorded voice, reminiscing about places he has lived and his desire to feel at home there; a video backdrop of ‘white noise’ visuals that give way to footage of waves and forests; a table of miniature trees, hands and torsos that sit still on a tray or spin on a bespoke turntable; and Webb himself sharing his cerebral brand of graceful contemporary dance.
The action at the table is fascinating. After spells of movement, Webb returns to it time and again with renewed intent – as if this time, he’ll finally get it right and find solace. The tiny revolving figures projected onto a TV screen no doubt have specific relevance for Webb, but we can make of them what we will. Certainly the trees, both static on the tray and speeding past on screen, evoke a sense of nature calling us home.
Some will find the slow movement of the second half over-extended and soporific, others will find it hypnotic. I was somewhere in between. But when he does move, Webb’s wide arms and pain-racked face pull as back in immediately. This is a man trying to find his place in the world, geographically and emotionally, and in this intimate space at least, he fosters a connection with us. Kelly Apter
FEMME ***
House of Oz, until 25 August
Taking us from “good girl” in a pretty dress playing with soft toys to a strapped-up dominatrix wielding a whip, Erin Fowler runs the gamut of feminine stereotypes. Each costume change takes place in a brightly lit tent, casting shadows of her quickly pulling on a pair of heels or tying up her hair. When she emerges, Fowler traverses the catwalk, smiling or pouting, depending on which version of womanhood she’s portraying. Overhead, we hear testimonials from boys and girls, men and women, about the pressures of gender conforming – or, less easy to listen to, of how to get a woman sufficiently stocious so you can do what you want with her.
Some sequences hit home, in particular one where Fowler – dressed in an everyday top and skirt – is having fun dancing to David Bowie until she’s pawed at by an invisible unwanted presence. Others feel too obvious or don’t tell us anything we don’t already know. Plus those costume changes really eat up the minutes.
But Fowler has a strong stage presence, and her closing monologue about the kind of world she’d like to live and work in is both personal and heartfelt. Kelly Apter
Shoes ***
PBH’s Free Fringe @ The Street, until 28 August
Standing over six feet tall, Kristen Helen Poppe is definitely not your traditional petite dancer. She has even had to ditch the retractable stage in her venue to avoid hitting the ceiling with her raised arms. Poppe came late to dancing as a discipline and is not the greatest technician, but her dancing has always been a way of reckoning with her identity, and the routines she performs in this intimate space are replete with her love of movement.
Just as she wanted to drum with the boys in the school band, she loves the feeling of masculine power she gets from rhythmic tap dancing – none of your jazz hands/toes Broadway tap here. Ballet allows her to express her feminine side, while she also demonstrates the fun of Irish dancing, the groundedness of Appalachian flat footing and the expressive freedom of contemporary dance.
All these facets of her identity are represented by the different types of shoes she wears to execute her moves. Poppe favours the word “queer” in all its reclaimed positivity and her arrival at a non-binary, less traditionally gendered sense of self is recounted with charming informality. Fiona Shepherd
Casting Off ****
Assembly Roxy, until 28 August
Australian circus troupe A Good Catch has brought two shows to Edinburgh this August: Zoё, an abstract exploration of the climate crisis that ran during the first two weeks of the festival, and Casting Off, the company’s hit show that first visited Scotland in 2018, which is on at Assembly Roxy until the end of the month.
To be blunt, A Good Catch should have just done Casting Off for the entire month, because Zoё was awkward and underwhelming, and this is anything but: it is a playful, poignant and ultimately spectacular show about inter-generational female relationships.
A Good Catch’s three core members – Debra Batton, in her 60s; Sharon Gruenert, in her 40s; and Spenser Inwood, in her 30s – spend an hour performing various acrobatic feats and balancing acts using little more than a table, three chairs and their highly trained and finely tuned bodies. It is really watchable, well-choreographed stuff.
What makes Casting Off stand out, though, is the brilliantly funny chat that Batton, Gruenert and Inwood have while they are performing. They bicker and banter like old friends – or, more accurately, like the grandmother, mother and daughter they kind-of are.
They play silly games, they get mad at each other, they take the piss out of each other, but always with laughter and love. Some of it is rehearsed – little songs and sketches full of wit and wisdom – and some of it is evidently improvised, and all of it gently explores – for want of a better phrase – the female experience.
It is that sense of humour that turns Casting Off from a good circus show into a great one, and it is always there, even at Casting Off’s remarkable conclusion, when Inwood and Gruenet perform some spectacular, swinging stunts on the static trapeze, Inwood humming a happy tune to herself until she is completely out of breath. It is an amusing and impressive end to an amusing and impressive show. Fergus Morgan | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/edinburgh-festival-fringe-dance-physical-theatre-circus-reviews-and-sense-of-centre-femme-shoes-casting-off-3814255 | 2022-08-22T10:17:59Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/edinburgh-festival-fringe-dance-physical-theatre-circus-reviews-and-sense-of-centre-femme-shoes-casting-off-3814255 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Alan Cumming: Scots have gone off talking about prospect of independence
Alan Cumming, the Scottish star of Broadway and Hollywood, has admitted Scots have gone off the independence debate because it has become such a “divisive” issue.
The Perthshire-born performer, one of the country’s most high-profile supporters of independence, suggested the response of many Scots to the mention of the issue was that “immediately sphincters tighten.”Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Cumming said he was “really sad” that the country had become so “polarised” that the very meaning of independence had been forgotten about.
Cumming is touring Scotland at the moment with Burn, a dance-theatre show inspired by the life of Robert Burns, based on archives of his letters, which he says explore the poet’s own thoughts on “the idea of independence.”
Cumming was asked whether he felt that the new stage about Burns would help encourage Scots to have “difficult discussions” about the country’s future.
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He said: “As an artist, I think you should provoke people. I feel like I am a provocateur, as well as an actor and a writer. I feel like I want to make people think and reassess.
"The whole thing with Burn was that I really wanted people to look again at something we all thought we understood and maybe didn’t understand the full picture.
“I am a big proponent of Scottish independence. I understand that as soon as you say that immediately sphincters tighten, because not everyone is.
“I feel that, in a funny way, it has been so much in our culture, and it has been so divisive, that I think we’ve stopped wanting to talk about it. It’s a bit like: ‘I don’t do politics.’ I think we need to talk about it a bit more.
“We’re so polarised in this country about Scottish referendums that we’ve stopped being able to actually understand what independence means. I find that really sad. I just wish we should stop thinking it’s one of these subjects we can’t talk about.
“Burns talks so much about the idea of independence, the importance of independence of the mind, of being independent in the world and as an individual, and of not being led or reliant on people you don’t necessarily respect or who don’t respect you.“If Burn has done anything to open up that dialogue again I would be very very happy. There are elements in it that are completely about the way how he, as a Scottish man, was not able to be the person he wanted to be because of the fact that he did not have independence himself. That is definitely part of the story."
Cumming, who was being interviewed by National Theatre of Scotland artistic director Jackie Wylie, urged Scots to talk, argue and “listen to each other” more on whether or not Scotland should be independent.
He added: “We should also make sure we have the facts because the last time we did not. We were all misled.
“It didn’t go the way I would liked. But look at what happened after that – Brexit and we all voted a certain way because we thought we were going to stay in Europe and – guess what? – we’re not.
“So I feel like we need to talk about it more – don’t be quiet and don’t tighten your sphincter.”
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/alan-cumming-scots-have-gone-off-talking-about-prospect-of-independence-3814185 | 2022-08-22T10:19:32Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/alan-cumming-scots-have-gone-off-talking-about-prospect-of-independence-3814185 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Boston-based OSJ Affiliates with Advisor Group Through SagePoint Financial From Securian Financial Services
PHOENIX, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group Inc., the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced the successful recruitment of Brian Falconer and his team of 16 registered representatives to its platform. Wealth Management Resource Group, with $203 million in total client assets, joins the Advisor Group network from Securian Financial Services, a provider of financial services offering retirement planning, investment advisory, insurance and financial planning.
Mr. Falconer, based in Braintree, Mass., joins Advisor Group through member firm SagePoint Financial, a firm with approximately 1,300 advisors across the United States. Mr. Falconer is a coach and team leader to independent financial advisors and has more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry. Advisor Group's network of firms also includes FSC Securities, Royal Alliance Associates Inc., Securities America, Triad Advisors and Woodbury Financial Services.
Desireé Sii, President and CEO at SagePoint Financial, said, "We are delighted to welcome Brian and his team of talented professionals to SagePoint Financial and Advisor Group. Brian's passion for mentoring independent advisors searching for solutions as they grow amplifies SagePoint's mission of providing technology, marketing, practice management and investment solutions to the firms we serve. We look forward to working with Brian and his team."
Mr. Falconer began his career as a financial services representative for New England Financial, where he served in leadership positions of increasing responsibility. As managing partner at Securian Advisors of New England, he maximized opportunities for advisors at every stage of the growth cycle, providing high levels of support to promote their practice, from onboarding to practice development.
"Wealth Management Resource Group has built its reputation on delivering high value to entrepreneurial advisors seeking a peerless support system and remains committed to coaching advisors to be the best as they take their business to the next level in partnership with our talented team," Mr. Falconer said. "We chose SagePoint Financial because of shared values around leadership and cultivating relationships. Our advisors need to feel seen and heard, and SagePoint offers the network we need to grow our business."
Greg Cornick, President of Advice and Wealth Management at Advisor Group, said: "We congratulate SagePoint Financial on bringing Brian and his remarkable team to our firm. We look forward to working closely with Brian, whose record of collaborating with outstanding advisors has enabled them to become highly regarded professionals who understand the importance of collaborating closely with their clients. We look forward to welcoming Brian and his affiliates, and to another notable year for Advisor Group."
SagePoint Financial, Inc. is part of one of the nation's largest independent broker-dealer organizations and a Registered Investment Advisor, member FINRA and SIPC. SagePoint is supported by Advisor Group, one of the largest truly independent broker-dealer networks in the industry. The firm has approximately 1,400 advisors across the U.S. For more information, please visit www.sagepointfinancial.com.
Advisor Group, a portfolio company of Reverence Capital Partners, is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 9,700 financial professionals and overseeing approximately $515 billion in client assets*. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that financial professionals can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com.
Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379.
*Based on end-of-year 2021 data
Media Inquiries
Joseph Kuo / Donald Cutler
Haven Tower Group
jkuo@haventower.com or dcutler@haventower.com
424 317 4851 or 424 317 4864
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SOURCE Advisor Group | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/advisor-group-welcomes-brian-falconer-with-203-million-assets-its-platform/ | 2022-08-22T10:23:52Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/advisor-group-welcomes-brian-falconer-with-203-million-assets-its-platform/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
FOSHAN, China, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited ("Bright Scholar" or the "Company") (NYSE: BEDU), a global premier education service company, today announced that it held its 2022 annual general meeting of shareholders on August 22, 2022. At the meeting, the shareholders resolved by ordinary resolution to ratify the appointment of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2022.
About Bright Scholar Education Holdings Limited
Bright Scholar is a global premier education service company, which primarily provides quality international education to global students and equip them with the critical academic foundation and skillsets necessary to succeed in the pursuit of higher education. Bright Scholar also complements its international offerings with Chinese government-mandated curriculum for students who wish to maintain the option of pursuing higher education in China.
IR Contact:
GCM Strategic Communications
Email: BEDU.IR@gcm.international
Media Contact:
Email: media@brightscholar.com
Phone: +86-757-6683-2507
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SOURCE Bright Scholar Education Holdings Ltd. | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/bright-scholar-announces-results-2022-annual-general-meeting/ | 2022-08-22T10:24:05Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/bright-scholar-announces-results-2022-annual-general-meeting/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ROSEMONT, Ill., Aug 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Catalog Manager is a Product-led-growth model SaaS software that is on a mission to "make eCommerce effortless". The SaaS product is making waves in the retail world by providing retailers with cleaned, structured, standardized manufacturer catalogs that can be accessed by retailers in several formats tailored for each business. Catalog Manager aims to enable retailers to sync up-to-date catalogs directly onto their online storefronts.
"On average, we've seen retailers save 50+ hours a month using Catalog Manager."
- Avinash Reddy, Head of Product
As the global B2B eCommerce industry continues to grow exponentially, online sellers are under immense pressure to keep their websites up to date. The reason is – today 73.7% of B2B buyers' research that precedes any purchase begins on an online platform. And a large part of their sales journey happens online across a multitude of online channels with no intervention from the seller.
However, with retailers juggling dozens of product feeds every day from multiple suppliers, manually checking for data accuracy and uploading them to the website in real-time can be a daunting task.
And that's where Catalog Manager comes into the picture for it serves to bridge the gap between suppliers and sellers by automating the catalog management process so online retailers can publish consistent, standardized data on their eCommerce portals.
Catalog Manager works by sourcing latest product information from 130+ brands scrubs data and pushes it to eCommerce stores of subscribing retailers. All retailers have to do is subscribe for catalog updates to their choice of suppliers, and automatically receive the latest product information to feature on their online stores.
Top Reasons to Use Catalog Manager to Keep Your Webstore Up-to-date
- Subscribe to 130+ uniform brands
- Integrates with Shopify, Volusion, WooCommerce & BigCommerce
- Get daily inventories updates
- Access catalogs via XML, FTP or APIs
- Stay on top of every product update or pricing change
"Catalog Manager is freaking amazing! I'm super glad to not have my team tangled up in scrubbing spreadsheets anymore and do some real business. In the past 2 months, our website traffic has gone by 37% resulting in a significant increase in sales."
- Sarah Corbynn, Shopify Seller
The current version of Catalog Manager can be used by uniform retailers and distributors to receive updated catalogs for their eCommerce stores.
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SOURCE SellersCommerce | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/catalog-manager-is-making-ecommerce-effortless-with-real-time-product-updates-online-retailers/ | 2022-08-22T10:24:12Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/catalog-manager-is-making-ecommerce-effortless-with-real-time-product-updates-online-retailers/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Weber Inc. ("Weber") (NYSE: WEBR) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors. This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Weber Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's August 2021 initial public offering.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Weber, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Weber includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Weber was reasonably likely to implement price increases; (2) as a result, consumer demand for Weber's products was reasonably likely to decrease; (3) due to the resulting inventory buildup, Weber was reasonably likely to run promotions to "enhance retail sell through"; (4) the foregoing would adversely impact Weber's financial results; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects, were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
Aggrieved Weber investors only have until September 27, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-weber-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-27-2022/ | 2022-08-22T10:25:40Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/prnewswire/2022/08/22/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-weber-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-27-2022/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
- A recession is increasingly likely
- Inflation will continue to accelerate and could peak above 10% this autumn
- Upside risk for inflation is high
- High degree of uncertainty over gas supplies and sharp price increases likely to weigh heavily on households, companies
That's a fair assessment and one that isn't quite clouded by political bias for the most part. It almost seems inevitable now especially when you look at how energy prices have gone parabolic in Europe. The set of PMI data releases tomorrow could be what it takes to tip the euro over the edge as it holds on the brink of parity at the moment. | https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/bundesbank-says-german-recession-is-looking-increasingly-likely-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T10:28:13Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/centralbank/bundesbank-says-german-recession-is-looking-increasingly-likely-20220822/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It is being reported that sanctions on some members and low investment by others hindered the bloc from producing as it should. For some context, the compliance with production targets stood at 546% in July - that compares with 320% in June.
In other words, OPEC+ is producing nowhere near their output targets (which have been increased over the course of the year) and even with Saudi Arabia and UAE believed to be the only ones with spare capacity, they aren't pressing the pumps either. As a reminder, the bloc agreed to increase its output target by 100k bpd for September in what was a rather trivial gesture. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/opec-reportedly-miss-output-target-by-29-mil-bpd-in-july-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T10:28:20Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/opec-reportedly-miss-output-target-by-29-mil-bpd-in-july-20220822/ | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It is being reported that sanctions on some members and low investment by others hindered the bloc from producing as it should. For some context, the compliance with production targets stood at 546% in July - that compares with 320% in June.
In other words, OPEC+ is producing nowhere near their output targets (which have been increased over the course of the year) and even with Saudi Arabia and UAE believed to be the only ones with spare capacity, they aren't pressing the pumps either. As a reminder, the bloc agreed to increase its output target by 100k bpd for September in what was a rather trivial gesture. | https://www.forexlive.com/news/opec-reportedly-miss-output-target-by-29-mil-bpd-in-july-20220822/ | 2022-08-22T10:28:20Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/opec-reportedly-miss-output-target-by-29-mil-bpd-in-july-20220822/ | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | null |
What's the lowest note ever sung?
Paul Mealor’s De Profundis includes a note thought never to have been sung
Composer Paul Mealor, whose Ubi Caritas was performed at the royal wedding in April in 2011, wrote a piece which includes the lowest note ever included in a choral work.
His work De Profundis features the E more than two octaves below middle C. It is six semi-tones below the note that was previously the lowest ever written in a choral piece – a B flat in Rachmaninov’s Vespers.
According to Guinness World Records the lowest note ever sung is the F sharp three semi-tones above the note in Mealor’s De Profundis. The record was set by George Menees in 2010 (see video).
The De Profundis text comes from one of the penitential psalms and the opening translates – appropriately enough – as 'Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.'
Mealor and his producer, Anna Barry, along with record company Decca will be searching for a bass to sing the note. The closing date for entries is 24 February and any bass who thinks they might be able to sing the note is asked to contact Danny Roberts on danny.roberts@umusic.com. The recording is expected to take place this spring.
For more information go to www.howlowwillyougo.com.
Elizabeth Davis | https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/whats-the-lowest-note-ever-sung/ | 2022-08-22T10:34:21Z | classical-music.com | control | https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/whats-the-lowest-note-ever-sung/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Business economists give soft landing the side-eye
A new survey shows business economists are skeptical the Fed can bring inflation down to its target without sinking the economy.
Why it matters: The survey offers a bit of insight into the way the Fed's actions can affect the psychology of people who help make decisions in corporate America.
Driving the news: The numbers, published on Monday morning, are from the National Association of Business Economists — a group of people who work largely for private-sector companies, rather than academia.
- Results show roughly three-quarters of respondents don't think the Fed can bring inflation down to its stated target of 2% without setting off a recession.
The impact: If private-sector economists are advising executives that a recession is likely around the corner, that could create something of a self-fulfilling prophecy — as executives delay new projects and investment, both of which make a recession more likely to come to pass. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/22/business-economists-give-soft-landing-the-side-eye | 2022-08-22T10:34:33Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/22/business-economists-give-soft-landing-the-side-eye | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Surprise billing rule gets new rules for working out disputes
A year and a half after Congress protected patients from surprise medical bills, the Biden administration has finalized the process for deciding who'll actually pick up the tab.
Why it matters: Billions of dollars are at stake — either for providers or for insurers and employers.
The big picture: It's the latest chapter in efforts to protect patients from facing unexpected charges from doctors who are not in their insurance networks.
- Except the final rules issued late Friday issued could trigger new skirmishes over how to resolve billing differences while holding the patient harmless.
Details: The rules from the Labor Department, the Health and Human Services Department and the IRS define the factors arbitrators have to weigh in settling disputes over out-of-network care.
- For some context, the administration had already made one attempt at working out the process.
- But providers successfully challenged it in court saying it unfairly favored insurers by telling arbiters to select the rate closest to the health plans' median in-network rates for the same or similar services in the geographic region — and preventing meaningful negotiation.
- In a move that tips the scales toward making the rule more provider-friendly, HHS said arbiters no longer have to start with that median in-network rate and must consider "all additional permissible information submitted by each party to determine which offer best reflects the appropriate out-of-network rate."
- Arbiters "should select the offer that best represents the value of the item or service under dispute after considering the [qualifying payment amount] and all permissible information submitted by the parties."
Keep in mind: Many of the doctors involved in the surprise billing fight are employed by private equity-backed companies. Studies have shown that the doctors that tend to send the most surprise bills tend to get paid more than other specialties.
What they're saying: The feds "watered down" the surprise billing law, according to the ERISA Industry Committee, or ERIC, which represents large employers that provide health plans.
- "Instead of adhering to Congress's original intent, the administration back-tracked on limiting out-of-network payments to reasonable market-driven rates," said Annette Guarisco Fildes, CEO of ERIC.
On the other side: "This moves more in the direction of the original intent of the legislation," said Chip Kahn, CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals. "The proof will be how this works in practice."
What we're watching: How arbitrators apply the new rules and weigh the evidence each side submits — and whether the process establishes a measure of predictability in health costs.
The bottom line: We may be getting closer but this likely isn't the final word on surprise billing. When it comes to payment rates, there will always be winners and losers. | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/22/surprise-billing-rule-out-disputes | 2022-08-22T10:34:52Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/08/22/surprise-billing-rule-out-disputes | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Bus driver shortage plagues Atlanta school districts
Schools are facing a critical shortage of bus drivers. In districts like Cobb County where the majority of students take the bus, if left unchecked, the problem could inhibit schools' ability to hold class.
Driving the news: Facing a shortage of 200 bus drivers, the Cobb County Board of Education approved boosting pay for the position.
- The increase of $5.25 will bring the starting pay to $25 per hour, making Cobb among the highest paying systems in metro Atlanta.
Why it matters: A shortage of bus drivers forces existing employees to run double routes, which could delay the time when students arrive at school and home.
- The Cobb County School District has about 700 drivers and says it needs around 900 to be fully staffed.
What they're saying: Cobb County superintendent Chris Ragsdale also said the increase won't be the "silver bullet" needed to get the district back to being fully staffed.
- He says this is "pretty much the last option" the district has before it would make operational changes.
- "Because we have over 70% of our 108,000 students ride the bus to and from school every day, that if you can’t get the kids to school, we can’t have school,” Ragsdale said.
Marc Smith, the district's chief technology and operations officer, told board members that bus drivers who went through exit interviews say the workload was a factor.
Flashback: Last year, Cobb schools awarded $1,200 bonuses to bus drivers and another $1,200 retention bonus for current drivers and bus monitors. The district earlier this year also approved pay raises for bus drivers, as well as teachers and other staff members.
- Ragdsale told board members the bonuses did not have the desired effect of retaining drivers.
Zoom out: Bus driver shortages have for the past year plagued districts across the country.
By the numbers: Spokespeople for districts across Atlanta confirm to Axios they too are experiencing bus driver shortages.
- Atlantic Public Schools: Around 40 openings
- Fulton County Schools: Nearly 200 shortages
And while there are currently no vacancies at Gwinnett County Public Schools, district spokesperson Bernard Watson told Axios that bus driver applications are still being accepted.
The DeKalb County School District has about 200 bus driver vacancies to fill, according to the personnel report presented earlier this month to the school board.
- Along with advertising the positions on its website and social media, district spokesperson Donald Porter said DeKalb also has a $350 incentive for employees who help recruit drivers.
Atlanta Public Schools, which has 311 drivers, is trying to fill about 40 openings, spokesperson Seth Coleman told Axios.
- The district is offering a $1,000 signing bonus and a starting pay of $21 an hour with an overtime rate of $31.50 an hour.
Fulton County Schools is also "aggressively recruiting bus drivers" to fill about 200 shortages, spokesperson Anne Boatwright told Axios.
An outlier among metro districts, Gwinnett County Public Schools has no bus driver vacancies, district spokesperson Bernard Watson told Axios.
- But, Watson said the district knows everyone who is hired won’t complete training or might decide "driving a school bus isn’t for them," so applications for bus driver positions are still being accepted.
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Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Atlanta. | https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/08/22/bus-driver-shortage-cobb-fulton-atlanta | 2022-08-22T10:35:11Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/08/22/bus-driver-shortage-cobb-fulton-atlanta | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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