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ROME (AP) — The New York Yankees have purchased a minority stake in Italian soccer champion AC Milan, which announced the closing of its latest ownership change Wednesday.
RedBird Capital Partners completed the deal to purchase a controlling interest in the seven-time European champion for 1.2 billion euros ($1.2 billion).
It’s the second soccer team the Yankees partially own after MLS’s New York City.
Gerry Cardinale, who founded RedBird in 2014 and is the managing partner, announced a preliminary agreement in June to buy Milan from fellow American firm Elliott Management.
Yankees Global Enterprises, the baseball team’s parent company led by the Steinbrenner family, will take a stake of about 10%, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity before the final deal had been announced.
Details of the Yankees’ involvement were not divulged in the announcement.
The Yankees agreed in 2013 to purchase a 20% stake in the New York City Major League Soccer team that launched in 2015. City Football Group, Manchester City’s parent company, is the controlling owner.
“We have a multi-decade relationship with the New York Yankees and the Steinbrenner family that has resulted in the creation of some of the most successful businesses in sports, entertainment and hospitality,” Cardinale said in a statement on Milan’s website.
“We are very pleased to continue our partnership with them and will look to explore opportunities together to broaden our fan reach and expand commercial opportunities that are only available to franchises that operate at the highest levels of sports globally.”
The closing comes just in time for Cardinale to make his debut as Milan’s new president at Saturday’s derby against city rival Inter Milan.
“Our vision for Milan is clear: we will support our talented players, coaches and staff to deliver success on the pitch and allow our fans to share in the extraordinary experiences of this historic club,” Cardinale said.
“We will look to leverage our global sports and media network, our analytics expertise, our track record in sports stadium developments and hospitality to deliver one goal — maintaining Milan’s place at the summit of European and world football.”
The Yankees, 27-time World Series champions, are signing a separate marketing agreement with Milan, a 19-time Italian champion, that will include broadcasting replays of games on the YES Network, as Manchester City does. There also will be cross-merchandising between the pinstripes and the Rossoneri.
Milan is coming off its first Italian title in 11 years.
The Financial Times reported Tuesday that Main Street Advisors, the Los Angeles-based fund supported by LeBron James, is also investing in Milan.
RedBird also has a stake in Fenway Sports Group, the parent company of Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox. Champions League rules prohibit two clubs in the competition from being under the same ownership to protect the integrity of games on the field. UEFA likely will have to make a judgment on the extent of RedBird’s influence on decision-making at Liverpool.
RedBird is Milan’s fourth owner in five years.
Milan was owned from 1986 to 2017 by a former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who sold to a company controlled by Sino-Europe Sports Investment Management Changxing Co. The American hedge fund Elliott provided financing and took control of the team in 2018 when loan payments were not made.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Andrew Dampf is at https://twitter.com/AndrewDampf | https://www.wwlp.com/sports/ap-ac-milan-announces-ownership-change-involving-the-ny-yankees/ | 2022-09-01T10:08:06Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/sports/ap-ac-milan-announces-ownership-change-involving-the-ny-yankees/ | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 41 |
The Religious Ministries Team at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) supports the Bahrain military community and U.S. 5th Fleet mission in ways many may not expect.
“Our mission is diverse and may surprise folks,” said Capt. Maurice Buford, NAVCENT’s lead chaplain. “How we care for one another has a ripple effect and our goal is to ensure we inject care and heart into the mission.”
Comprised of nearly two dozen military and civilian personnel stationed across the Middle East, Buford’s team is strategically positioned to assist service members and their families with personal and professional challenges.
“Sometimes a Sailor just needs to be heard and a chaplain can provide a confidential ear,” said Religious Programs Specialist 1st Class Mauricio Melo. “When needed, we provide referrals to the Fleet and Family Support Center, career counseling office or financial aid office to address specific issues.”
Taking care of Sailors is their primary focus, but the Religious Ministries Team also contributes to the U.S. 5th Fleet mission in other areas. For instance, they regularly organize community service opportunities to strengthen regional relationships.
Over the past year Buford’s team has coordinated more than 40 community service events with 800 volunteers. These efforts included the donation of $13,000 worth of educational, medical and personal care items to organizations that support communities in need.
“I worked alongside other Sailors during a general clean-up at a school and also read to patients with special needs,” said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Darryl Taylor. “The experience was profound. For the first time, I was not only able to step outside of my rate but also step outside of my personal comfort zone to contribute to a good cause.”
In addition to leading community service initiatives, the Religious Ministries Team regularly interacts with counterparts from other nations.
Most recently, Buford’s team met with military officials and civilian medical personnel in Jordan to share best practices on caring for service members dealing with life challenges. The discussions covered trauma care, warrior toughness, spiritual readiness and compassion fatigue.
“It is truly a privilege to care for our own Marines and Sailors, but it’s especially an honor to advise others on a global platform.” said Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Box, a military chaplain who specializes in counseling individuals coping with moral injuries.
One of the newest initiatives led by the Religious Ministries Team is Treasures of the Nation, a leadership course for service members and civilians that encourages self-reflection, offers practical leadership tools and supports open dialogue in professional settings.
The course specifically encourages Sailors to model principles that reinforce standards of professional excellence. Presenters teach participants signature behaviors the Navy encourages 21st Century Sailors to emulate. At its core, the course emphasizes treating one another with dignity and respect.
“Treasures of the Nation training reminds people that we are all valuable and should be treated as such,” said Information System Technician 1st Class Devon Pace. “I am deeply grateful for this initiative.”
So far, the Religious Ministries Team and five volunteers have facilitated 15 courses with more than 150 participants since October 2021.
“Religious and pastoral care is just one service we proudly provide but we are so much more,” said Buford. “Come volunteer, interact with the community and see first-hand how every service member and family member here is truly a global ambassador while stationed in U.S. 5th Fleet.”
This work, NAVCENT Religious Ministries Team Impacts 5th Fleet, by PO2 Adelola Tinubu, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/news/428470/navcent-religious-ministries-team-impacts-5th-fleet | 2022-09-01T10:08:46Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/news/428470/navcent-religious-ministries-team-impacts-5th-fleet | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
New Delhi: The Department of Telecom has sought views of sector regulator Trai to prepare a framework for regulating internet calling and messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Google Meet etc, a government official said on Wednesday.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) has last week sent back a recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on internet telephony issued in 2008, for review, and has asked the sector regulator to come up with comprehensive reference due to the change in technical environment amid the emergence of new technologies.
"The Internet Telephony recommendation of Trai was not accepted by the DoT. The Department has now sought comprehensive reference from Trai for internet telephony and over-the-top players," the official, who did not wish to be named, told PTI.
Telecom operators have been asking the government to apply the principle of "same service same rules" for the industry.
They have frequently asked that internet calling and messaging apps should pay the same level of licence fee, comply with regulation of legal interception, quality of service etc, as applicable on telecom operators and internet service providers (ISPs).
In 2008, Trai had recommended that ISPs shall be allowed to provide internet telephony including calls on normal telephone networks but they will have to pay interconnection charges, install lawful interception equipment as per the requirement of security agencies etc.
The issue was raised by telecom operators in 2016-17 as well, when the issue of net neutrality was being discussed by the regulator and the government.
However, the government did not impose any restriction on call and messaging service being provided by apps.
The regulator, however, eased the cost burden on telecom operators by removing interconnect usage charges to bring their calling cost at par with that of calling apps.
IUC is a charge that is paid by a telco to another operator when its customers make voice calls to subscribers of the rival network.
However, calling and messaging apps never had to pay any such charge. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2022/09/01/internet-calling-whatsapp-signal-regulation.amp.html | 2022-09-01T10:10:02Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2022/09/01/internet-calling-whatsapp-signal-regulation.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Nimmo made an amazing grab, Timmy Trumpet blew his horn and Edwin Díaz shut the door.
Starting with another stingy performance by Jacob deGrom, the New York Mets hit every note Wednesday night in a scintillating show at pulsing Citi Field.
Nimmo saved the Mets with a breathtaking catch atop the center-field fence, and Díaz entered to Trumpet’s live tune before closing out the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 2-1 victory.
“It was awesome,” deGrom said. “That was a great atmosphere out there. The fans were in it the whole time.”
Starling Marte hit a two-run homer off All-Star lefty Tyler Anderson (13-3) as the Mets evened a three-game showdown between the top two teams in the National League.
Mookie Betts connected off deGrom (4-1) for his 32nd home run, but it wasn’t enough for the Dodgers in a tight pitching duel with a playoff feel that took only 2 hours, 19 minutes.
“That was fun,” New York manager Buck Showalter said.
Making his sixth start of the season after returning from injury, deGrom hit 102 mph on the radar gun and struck out nine in seven innings. He allowed three hits and walked one.
“Maybe the best to ever pitch,” Betts said. “So, he’s a tough task.”
The two-time Cy Young Award winner was nursing a 2-1 lead when ex-Met Justin Turner sent a drive to deep center in the seventh.
Knowing it might tie the game, deGrom turned around and went into a worried crouch on the mound. Nimmo, however, raced back and plucked the ball right off the top of the wall to rob Turner of a home run with a sensational leaping grab.
“Jumped up, the ball hit my glove and I knew it didn’t bounce out once it got in there. And then all the emotions spilled out,” Nimmo said. “I’m still really ecstatic about it. It was one of the best plays I’ve ever made.”
A fired-up Nimmo landed on his feet, pumped his fist hard and screamed in excitement as deGrom held both arms high and then tipped his cap.
“What a play,” Showalter said. “I don’t have much to compare it to.
“I think the toughest part of it is it didn’t hang up there. He had to totally commit to it. And it was a huge play.”
The outfielder received two standing ovations and a warm greeting from deGrom and other teammates as he approached the dugout after the inning.
“Great play by Nimmo,” Turner said. “Not a whole lot you can do about it.”
When the game moved to the ninth, Trumpet and Díaz took center stage.
The Australian-born musician was at the ballpark with trumpet in hand for the second consecutive night to accompany Díaz’s appearance with a live version of his song “Narco,” which has become wildly popular as the reliever’s entrance tune during a dominant season.
Díaz didn’t get into Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss, so Trumpet was relegated to a more muted version of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” during the seventh-inning stretch as fans sang along.
But he came back Wednesday and this time, the buzzing crowd of 41,799 got what it was waiting for.
As fans rose from their seats in anticipation, Trumpet emerged from under the stands on the third base side wearing Díaz’s No. 39 on a black Mets shirt and blared the familiar “Narco” notes to roars from the crowd as the All-Star closer jogged in from the bullpen.
“I tried to look up a little bit when I was running to see what was the reaction of the fans,” Díaz said. “It was pretty fun. I can feel the vibe from the fans. It was really exciting. … Everybody was getting into it.”
New York mascots Mr. and Mrs. Met danced and played along with their toy trumpets, too, before Díaz made quick work of the 2-3-4 hitters in the Dodgers’ powerful lineup for his 29th save in 32 chances.
“The pressure to deliver in that part of the order with all that coming on is remarkable,” Showalter said. “Been doing it all year for us.”
Nimmo singled with two outs in the third and Marte followed with his 16th homer, a drive that cleared the 380-foot sign on the right-center fence.
Betts went deep in the sixth, tying his career high for homers set during his AL MVP season in 2018 with Boston. The reigning NL player of the week has five homers, three doubles and eight RBIs in his last five games.
HISTORY LESSON
A contingent of Dodgers players and coaches, including manager Dave Roberts, spent about 90 minutes Wednesday visiting the Jackie Robinson Museum in lower Manhattan that opens to the public Monday.
“We got kind of the VIP tour. It was fantastic,” Roberts said. “Pretty inspiring.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Blake Treinen, sidelined since mid-April with a shoulder injury, is expected back Friday. … LHP David Price is nursing a sore arm.
Mets: Rookie 3B Brett Baty has a torn ligament in his right thumb that will likely sideline him for the rest of the regular season. He is scheduled for surgery Thursday. … RHP Tylor Megill (shoulder strain) makes his first rehab start Thursday at Double-A Binghamton. Megill, a regular in the rotation early this season, could return in a bullpen role. … RHP Drew Smith (right lat strain) is not far behind Megill in his recovery, Showalter said. … INF Luis Guillorme (left groin strain) was set to run the bases. If all goes well, the plan is for him to play a minor league rehab game Sunday.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw (7-3, 2.64 ERA) comes off the injured list in the finale of the three-game series Thursday afternoon to make his first start since Aug. 4. The left-hander, sidelined by lower back pain, will probably be limited to four or five innings, Roberts said.
Mets: RHP Chris Bassitt (11-7, 3.34) tries to win his fifth straight decision. He’s lost both career starts against the Dodgers, including June 3 in Los Angeles, where he gave up three earned runs over six innings.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wwlp.com/sports/ap-timmy-trumpet-plays-after-big-nimmo-catch-mets-beat-dodgers/ | 2022-09-01T10:10:07Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/sports/ap-timmy-trumpet-plays-after-big-nimmo-catch-mets-beat-dodgers/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
TOKYO (AP) — A small robot with a clip-like hand and enough smarts to know which drinks are popular is part of an effort to make convenience stores even more convenient.
On a recent day in Tokyo, the robot named TX SCARA slid back and forth behind the refrigerated shelves in the back of a FamilyMart store.
The hand on the end of its mechanical arm grasped a bottle or can from the stacks to the side, then the robot slithered to the right spot and placed the drink on the shelf — in a place chosen after its artificial intelligence and tiny cameras matched the kind of beverage to what’s running short.
TX SCARA is filling a needed role in Japan’s “conbini,” as the ubiquitous tiny stores selling snacks, drinks and knick-knacks are called.
Most such stores are open 24-seven, filled with 3,000 kinds of products, but have relatively few workers. The beverage shelves in the back are farthest from the cash register, keeping workers running back and forth. And the beverage space is refrigerated, uncomfortably cold for people to stay there too many hours.
TX SCARA, which goes at an undisclosed price, can restock up to 1,000 bottles and cans a day. Its artificial intelligence, called “GORDON,” knows when and where products need to be placed on shelves, according to Tokyo-based Telexistence, which created TX SCARA.
“We want to automate all the repetitive jobs and boring jobs done by humans. That is the direction we are going. And the best way to do that is to use the robots,” Chief Executive Jin Tomioka said.
Industrial robots are already common in factories, but Tomioka’s 50-employee company sees great potential at warehouses and home centers, he said. His robots are far more affordable than industrial robots, such as those at auto plants, but can prove just as crucial for social needs, designed to coexist and collaborate with people, helping out with routine and rudimentary tasks.
Tomioka’s robots are tailored for existing stores, which don’t have to change their layout or routine. Their hardware uses Nvidia GPU-accelerated AI technologies to allow for remote control over Azure, the cloud computing service operated by Microsoft.
A Telexistence operator wearing virtual reality glasses can see problems when they occur, such as a dropped beverage, and fix them from the company office.
TX SCARA is now at 300 of the 16,000 FamilyMart stores in Japan. There are 40,000 more conbini in Japan, and the U.S. has about 150,000 convenience stores.
With its aging population, Japan has a labor shortage that’s expected to only get more severe in coming years.
FamilyMart Executive Officer Tomohiro Kano referred to the Japanese expression “seeking even a cat’s paw for help” to describe how desperate a situation might get. “At FamilyMart, we are seeking a robot’s arm for help,” he said with a laugh.
While modern robots are taking on serious work like mapping disaster zones and helping doctors perform surgery, the humble TX SCARA tirelessly does the unglamorous work of stocking shelves with bottled tea and orange drinks.
IT worker Taisuke Miyaki watched the robot working as he peered into the beverage shelf. He acknowledged he hadn’t noticed it before although he shops at FamilyMart often, especially for his favorite bottled jasmine tea.
“Come to think of it, the shelves are always nicely stocked lately,” he said.
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Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter https://twitter.com/yurikageyama | https://www.wwlp.com/business/ap-business/ap-robot-that-stocks-drinks-is-newest-thing-at-the-corner-store/ | 2022-09-01T10:10:35Z | wwlp.com | control | https://www.wwlp.com/business/ap-business/ap-robot-that-stocks-drinks-is-newest-thing-at-the-corner-store/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
New Research Endorses Wood Cities for Sustainability. Environmentalists Say It’s a ‘Terrible Idea.’
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Of the 7.7 billion humans on earth, more than half inhabit urban areas, and this number is predicted to rise in the coming years. According to a 2018 United Nations projection, more than 68% of the global population will occupy urban spaces like towns and cities. Cities will have to ramp up housing construction to accommodate this increasing population.
However, with global warming and climate change looming large, construction faces a serious challenge as steel and concrete have a massive carbon footprint. To address this issue, a group of scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, New York, suggested substituting these traditional construction materials with wood in a recent study. Published recently in Nature Communications, their research made a case for wooden cities on the basis of wood’s low carbon footprint and the fact that timber doesn’t produce any extra carbon dioxide till the timber is completely destroyed.
Environmentalists, however, have voiced criticism of the idea, noting that shifting the bulk of construction to wood will require huge tracts of timber plantations, that threaten to destroy biodiversity. Sini Eräjää, Greenpeace’s Food and Forests Campaign Lead in Europe, told The Guardian that the study’s suggestion “to double the world’s tree plantations at the expense of priceless nature is just bonkers when modest reductions in meat and dairy farming would free up the land needed.”
The research and the environmentalists’ reaction then highlight two different strands of approach in answering the climate question. While the climate researchers in the current study center human growth and housing in their research, Eräjää’s reaction points to a greater concern for environmental interdependence and how human consumption is harming this. Biodiversity loss represents an upset to delicate ecologies that sustain life on Earth.
For their study, the researchers used a framework that helps assess land distribution and competition for resources in future scenarios of rising population and material demand. Titled ‘Model for Agricultural Production and its Impact on the Environment’ (MAgPIE), the model also examines the consequences for sustainable development and climate change impacts in these scenarios. According to MAgPIE, switching to mid-rise (4-12 floors) houses made of timber instead of steel and concrete could prevent up to 106 billion tons of carbon emissions by 2100.
As a natural carbon sink, wood has the least carbon footprint among all construction materials. It is already the most common material used for building houses in the US.
Related on The Swaddle:
Yet, environmentalists point out that shifting to wood for construction to bring down carbon emissions comes with its own environmental concerns. The biodiversity risks associated with homogenous timber plantations aside, wood is combustible, which would keep both timber plantations and timber cities at a higher fire risk than current urban areas. The current research does not assess the possibility of city wildfires and other “bio-physical risks.” City wildfires could significantly raise the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
In a press release, the authoring scientists acknowledged the risks to the environment and biodiversity that the transition to wood for mass construction could cause, and called for “strong governance and careful planning to limit negative impacts to biodiversity.” The authors maintained that their intention was to highlight how changing land use patterns and construction methods together “could store and reduce carbon in the atmosphere without food security or biodiversity.”
The shift to wooden cities may then be desirable or realistically able to help reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere only if followed up with ample regulations to protect existing natural forests and biodiversity. But the tussle between environmentalists and technocratic sustainability solutions represents a bigger problem with respect to our climate response: that dialogue among all stakeholders is critical to achieving sustainability that’s equitable. | https://theswaddle.com/new-research-endorses-wood-cities-for-sustainability-environmentalists-say-its-a-terrible-idea/ | 2022-09-01T10:19:11Z | theswaddle.com | control | https://theswaddle.com/new-research-endorses-wood-cities-for-sustainability-environmentalists-say-its-a-terrible-idea/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A successful meeting is not only about the business that gets done, but the intangibles that create memories that last long after the event. Off-site venues can elevate the experience. Omaha offers unique settings that can do just that.
Here are just four of them.
Lied Jungle, Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium
The Lied Jungle is the largest indoor rainforest in North America. Waterfalls crash, gibbons swing from trees, and look forward to the tapirs, macaws, pygmy hippos, and other animals roaming the rainforest. Wow guests at the Durham TreeTops Restaurant, with its 90-foot window overlooking the Lied Jungle. It’s three tiers and seats nearly 300 for dinner or a cocktail reception that will impress.
Truhlsen African Lodge
You’ll impress your guests with an event at the zoo’s Truhlsen African Lodge. They’ll feel like they’re in Africa with elephants, zebra, and impala. The lodge is reminiscent of what you would find in the African savanna. Cool features include an extended ceiling with uniquely themed lighting fixtures and an oversized stone faux fireplace. You can seat 100 inside and there’s additional seating outside for a perfect cocktail space overlooking the four-acre elephant yard and wading pool.
Harper Event Center
This is the zoo’s newest venue. It’s upscale, private and has an expansive floorplan. For panache there are large windows and the option to open floor-to-ceiling glass doors that transform your event to an indoor-outdoor experience. You can host up to 250 guests with an additional covered patio and outdoor event lawn to expand guest count. Stingray Beach is right next to the Harper Event Center.
Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront
The new Gene Leahy Mall at The RiverFront, in the heart of downtown, boasts buzz-worthy amenities like a performance pavilion with lawn space accommodating around 5,000 people, interactive water features, a sculpture garden, and many spaces to gather and relax.
For more information and to plan a site visit, go to www.visitomaha.com/meetings | https://www.pcma.org/elevate-your-meeting-with-omahas-off-site-venues/ | 2022-09-01T10:23:32Z | pcma.org | control | https://www.pcma.org/elevate-your-meeting-with-omahas-off-site-venues/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Creating accessible events is not only the right thing to do, but also can help you reach 20% more attendees and achieve 30% higher profit margins. Yet many events professionals fall short when it comes to planning experiences that are accessible to all, hurting both attendees and long-term goals.
During this webinar, we’ll discuss some key considerations to produce accessible events that benefit not only individuals with disabilities, but also help to ensure that all participants are able to fully engage with your events and your organization as a whole.
Learner Outcomes:
- Understand that planning an accessible event takes time and is not a zero-cost effort.
- Understand what to consider for venue and event accessibility.
- Understand a personal perspective from a low-vision attendee at an assistive technology conference.
This webinar will use Zoom’s live transcription feature for captioning. ASL interpretation is provided courtesy of PCMA’s official accessibility partner, Diamond.
DES Program Sponsor:
Information
- Duration: 00:29:03
- Date: 08/22/2022
- Speaker:
CMP Certification
- EIC Status: Submitted
- CMP-IS Domain: G. Meeting or Event Design
- Clock Hours: 0.5 | https://www.pcma.org/webinar-accessibility-considerations-for-event-planners-2/ | 2022-09-01T10:23:32Z | pcma.org | control | https://www.pcma.org/webinar-accessibility-considerations-for-event-planners-2/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Mitsubishi Ralliart performance division will return to the United States in 2023, Mitsubishi confirmed Wednesday in a press release.
The automaker said it will launch limited-edition Ralliart versions of each of its models—including the Outlander, Outlander PHEV, Eclipse Cross, Outlander Sport, and Mirage—but it appears the changes for these new Ralliart models will be primarily cosmetic.
Ralliart models will receive “unique body effects, graphics, and other rally-inspired touches,” the release said, with White Diamond paint and a black roof. But there was no specific mention of performance upgrades.
It’s possible these models will echo the Outlander PHEV and Eclipse Cross Ralliart concepts Mitsubishi showed at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon, which also featured cosmetic upgrades but no apparent mechanical changes.
Established in the 1980s, Ralliart was responsible for various Mitsubishi motorsports programs, including successful entries in the Dakar Rally and World Rally Championship. Mitsubishi also slapped the Ralliart name on road cars, such as the Lancer Ralliart.
Mitsubishi put Ralliart on ice in 2010 due to the fallout from the global financial crisis. It didn’t disband the division, however, describing the move at the time as a “scale down.” This left the door open for Ralliart’s revival, which Mitsubishi first confirmed in 2021 with teasers for a Ralliart version of the Triton pickup truck (also known as the L200) sold in other markets. Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kate said at the time to expect new performance accessories and a return to motorsports.
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- 2023 BMW X5 M, Zenvo’s next hypercar, Belgian Grand Prix: Today’s Car News | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/mitsubishi-ralliart-returns-to-us-in-2023/ | 2022-09-01T10:27:03Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/automotive/internet-brands/mitsubishi-ralliart-returns-to-us-in-2023/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The water pressure at James Brown’s home in Jackson was so low the faucets barely dripped. He couldn’t cook. He couldn’t bathe. But he still had to work.
The 73-year-old tree-cutter hauled bags of ice into his truck at a gas station on his way to a job Wednesday after several days without water.
“What can I do? I’m just a pawn in a chess game,” he said during one of multiple trips to and from the store. “All I’ve got to do is just try and live.”
People waited in lines for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets Wednesday in Mississippi’s capital. The city water system partially failed early this week after Pearl River flooding exacerbated longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants.
President Joe Biden late Tuesday approved an emergency declaration for the state of Mississippi. On Wednesday, he called Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba to discuss response efforts, including support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. The mayor also said he had a separate telephone conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Beyond addressing the immediate crisis, Biden said he wants to provide federal support for the long-term effort to rebuild Jackson’s aging water infrastructure, which has been unreliable for years.
Lumumba said Jackson’s water system is troubled by short staffing and “decades of deferred maintenance.” He said the influx of water from torrential rain changed the chemical composition needed for treatment, which slowed the process of pushing water out to customers.
A city news release said the main water-treatment plant had “challenges with water chemistry” Wednesday, which led to a drop in output of water. That caused depletion of water tanks and a sharp decrease in water pressure.
Even before the service disruption, Jackson’s 150,000 residents had been boiling their drinking water for the past month because officials said it could cause digestive problems.
Brown said Wednesday that he’d stopped at the grocery store to buy four cases of water before picking up the ice. A lifelong Jackson resident, he said people there have been living without access to consistent water for years — even when there is pressure, residents often have to boil it to drink and cook.
A cold snap in 2021 left tens of thousands of people without running water after pipes froze. Similar problems happened again early this year, on a smaller scale.
“It will get right one day,” Brown said. “When, I have no idea.”
Like many cities, Jackson faces water system problems it can’t afford to fix. Its tax base has eroded the past few decades as the population decreased — the result of mostly white flight to suburbs that began after public schools integrated in 1970. The city’s population is now more than 80% Black, with about 25% of its residents living in poverty.
Lumumba said Tuesday that fixing Jackson’s water system could run to “quite possibly the billions of dollars.” Mississippi is receiving $75 million to address water problems as part of a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Jackson is receiving about $31 million through the EPA’s revolving loan funds for treatment and distribution system improvements.
During a Wednesday news conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the EPA is deploying personnel to Jackson for an emergency assessment of the treatment plants and to streamline the delivery of repair equipment. FEMA has personnel at the state emergency operations center and is coordinating with the state emergency management team to identify needs, she said.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency for Jackson’s water system Tuesday. The state will try to help resolve problems by hiring contractors to work at the O.B. Curtis water treatment plant — the facility at the root of Jackson’s water woes. The plant was operating at diminished capacity with backup pumps after the main pumps failed “some time ago,” Reeves said.
In a video posted to Twitter, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said an emergency rental pump had been installed Wednesday at the O.B. Curtis. Broken pumps at the plant resulted in decreased water pressure and some outages.
In a news conference Wednesday, Lumumba said city officials expected water pressure to start increasing later in the evening.
Bobbie Fairley, who has lived in Jackson her entire life, owns Magic Hands Hair design in south Jackson. The 59-year-old said she had to cancel five appointments Wednesday because she needs high water pressure to wash chemicals out of hair during treatments.
She has had to purchase water to shampoo hair to try fit in whatever appointments she can. When clients aren’t coming in, she’s losing money.
“That’s a big burden,” she said. “I can’t afford that. I can’t afford that at all.”
Jackson State University had to bring in temporary restrooms for students and was waiting on the delivery of portable showers Wednesday, President Thomas Hudson said.
Hudson said the city’s water issues have been an ongoing challenge for the historically Black university as it has worked to attract students.
“It does make it difficult in terms of what we’re trying to do, our core mission, which is education,” Hudson said.
He said the university is starting work on a plan for a standalone water supply system using some of the federal funding made available to historically Black colleges and universities.
Shannon Wilson, whose daughter just started her sophomore year at Jackson State, said her daughter’s dorm regained some pressure, but the water coming out is brown. Her daughter left to stay with a friend off campus. But Wilson, who lives in St. Louis, can’t help but worry about her.
“We are feeling helpless,” Wilson said. “Being over 500 miles away from Jackson, there is nothing I can do but worry.”
___
Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mikergoldberg.
___
AP White House correspondent Josh Boak contributed to this report. | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-jackson-water-crisis-forces-residents-to-find-alternatives/ | 2022-09-01T10:28:13Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-jackson-water-crisis-forces-residents-to-find-alternatives/ | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 31 |
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The water pressure at James Brown’s home in Jackson was so low the faucets barely dripped. He couldn’t cook. He couldn’t bathe. But he still had to work.
The 73-year-old tree-cutter hauled bags of ice into his truck at a gas station on his way to a job Wednesday after several days without water.
“What can I do? I’m just a pawn in a chess game,” he said during one of multiple trips to and from the store. “All I’ve got to do is just try and live.”
People waited in lines for water to drink, bathe, cook and flush toilets Wednesday in Mississippi’s capital. The city water system partially failed early this week after Pearl River flooding exacerbated longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants.
President Joe Biden late Tuesday approved an emergency declaration for the state of Mississippi. On Wednesday, he called Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba to discuss response efforts, including support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. The mayor also said he had a separate telephone conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris.
Beyond addressing the immediate crisis, Biden said he wants to provide federal support for the long-term effort to rebuild Jackson’s aging water infrastructure, which has been unreliable for years.
Lumumba said Jackson’s water system is troubled by short staffing and “decades of deferred maintenance.” He said the influx of water from torrential rain changed the chemical composition needed for treatment, which slowed the process of pushing water out to customers.
A city news release said the main water-treatment plant had “challenges with water chemistry” Wednesday, which led to a drop in output of water. That caused depletion of water tanks and a sharp decrease in water pressure.
Even before the service disruption, Jackson’s 150,000 residents had been boiling their drinking water for the past month because officials said it could cause digestive problems.
Brown said Wednesday that he’d stopped at the grocery store to buy four cases of water before picking up the ice. A lifelong Jackson resident, he said people there have been living without access to consistent water for years — even when there is pressure, residents often have to boil it to drink and cook.
A cold snap in 2021 left tens of thousands of people without running water after pipes froze. Similar problems happened again early this year, on a smaller scale.
“It will get right one day,” Brown said. “When, I have no idea.”
Like many cities, Jackson faces water system problems it can’t afford to fix. Its tax base has eroded the past few decades as the population decreased — the result of mostly white flight to suburbs that began after public schools integrated in 1970. The city’s population is now more than 80% Black, with about 25% of its residents living in poverty.
Lumumba said Tuesday that fixing Jackson’s water system could run to “quite possibly the billions of dollars.” Mississippi is receiving $75 million to address water problems as part of a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Jackson is receiving about $31 million through the EPA’s revolving loan funds for treatment and distribution system improvements.
During a Wednesday news conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the EPA is deploying personnel to Jackson for an emergency assessment of the treatment plants and to streamline the delivery of repair equipment. FEMA has personnel at the state emergency operations center and is coordinating with the state emergency management team to identify needs, she said.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency for Jackson’s water system Tuesday. The state will try to help resolve problems by hiring contractors to work at the O.B. Curtis water treatment plant — the facility at the root of Jackson’s water woes. The plant was operating at diminished capacity with backup pumps after the main pumps failed “some time ago,” Reeves said.
In a video posted to Twitter, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said an emergency rental pump had been installed Wednesday at the O.B. Curtis. Broken pumps at the plant resulted in decreased water pressure and some outages.
In a news conference Wednesday, Lumumba said city officials expected water pressure to start increasing later in the evening.
Bobbie Fairley, who has lived in Jackson her entire life, owns Magic Hands Hair design in south Jackson. The 59-year-old said she had to cancel five appointments Wednesday because she needs high water pressure to wash chemicals out of hair during treatments.
She has had to purchase water to shampoo hair to try fit in whatever appointments she can. When clients aren’t coming in, she’s losing money.
“That’s a big burden,” she said. “I can’t afford that. I can’t afford that at all.”
Jackson State University had to bring in temporary restrooms for students and was waiting on the delivery of portable showers Wednesday, President Thomas Hudson said.
Hudson said the city’s water issues have been an ongoing challenge for the historically Black university as it has worked to attract students.
“It does make it difficult in terms of what we’re trying to do, our core mission, which is education,” Hudson said.
He said the university is starting work on a plan for a standalone water supply system using some of the federal funding made available to historically Black colleges and universities.
Shannon Wilson, whose daughter just started her sophomore year at Jackson State, said her daughter’s dorm regained some pressure, but the water coming out is brown. Her daughter left to stay with a friend off campus. But Wilson, who lives in St. Louis, can’t help but worry about her.
“We are feeling helpless,” Wilson said. “Being over 500 miles away from Jackson, there is nothing I can do but worry.”
___
Michael Goldberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mikergoldberg.
___
AP White House correspondent Josh Boak contributed to this report. | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-jackson-water-crisis-forces-residents-to-find-alternatives/ | 2022-09-01T10:28:13Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/ap-top-headlines/ap-jackson-water-crisis-forces-residents-to-find-alternatives/ | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 31 |
BOSTON (AP) — There is a silver lining to the drought affecting the northeastern U.S. that has frustrated farmers, dried up rivers and reservoirs, and brought water use restrictions and brush fires to the region.
The arid conditions have benefited amusement parks, minor league baseball teams, construction contractors and other businesses that need warm, dry weather to attract paying customers and get jobs completed on time.
While several factors have affected the bottom line this summer, including inflation, staffing shortages, and supply chain issues, some businesses say, yes, things are generally going well, in part because of the weather.
“Sunny days at the ballpark are the best days,” said Geoff Iacuessa, president and general manager of the Portland Sea Dogs minor league baseball team, which is seeing fewer rainouts and higher attendance.
Large tracts of the Northeast from Pennsylvania to Maine are experiencing drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A swath of the region from southern New Hampshire, across much of eastern Massachusetts and including nearly all of Rhode Island and into eastern Connecticut is suffering from extreme drought conditions, the fourth worst out of five drought stages.
In some areas, rainfall amounts in the last 90 days are about 6 inches (15 centimeters) lower than normal, according to the Drought Monitor.
The Sea Dogs, the Maine-based Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, have averaged more than 5,700 fans per game, and while season-to-season attendance comparisons are imprecise, that’s about 100 more per game than in the pre-pandemic years of 2018 and 2019, Iacuessa said. The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and home field capacity was limited at the start of last season.
Another advantage of hot weather: beer, water and ice cream sales soar.
At Groundskeeper Inc., an Ashland, Massachusetts, commercial landscape design company, the dry weather has allowed the crew to get a lot more work done, especially when it comes to so-called hardscaping — the installation of patios, walkways, retaining walls and the like — company president Brian Churchill said.
Working with concrete, mortar, and brick adhesives is nearly impossible during a steady rain, he said.
“I would say it has been a very productive year,” said Churchill, who is also the past president of the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals. “No rain days, no delays in the schedule. We’re able to work five days a week and get a lot of work done.”
And that benefits everyone.
“When you meet schedule and the developers can meet closing dates, they’ve got happy clients, they get the money in the bank, we get money in the bank, and that means everyone’s happy,” he said.
There is a downside for landscapers during the drought, however, said Miriam Hellweg, director of maintenance at a Blade of Grass LLC, a Sudbury, Massachusetts, landscape design company.
“The drought is stressful for plants, so first we have more plants dying,” she said. “The other piece is with a drought the plants aren’t growing as much, so we’re not doing as much mowing.”
The weather, along with an increase in the self-imposed capacity restrictions put in place to prevent overcrowding, has helped pull more people to Santa’s Village, a Christmas-themed amusement park in Jefferson, New Hampshire, said Jim Miller, a spokesperson for the 15-acre family-owned facility.
“Everybody likes the perfect weather, and we’ve been at capacity on most days,” he said.
The park founded in 1953 only sells advance tickets online, so when families are checking the weather forecast several days out before booking their visit, all they have seen this summer is blue skies, he said.
The drought has been a mixed bag for Tom Bukowski, owner of Safari Golf, a miniature golf course in Berlin, Connecticut. Yes, dry weather is good for business, but brutal heat can be a detriment. Connecticut had a six-day stretch in July when temperatures were 90 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and another eight-day stretch in early August with 90-degree plus temperatures.
“If it gets too hot, not many people play, but it’s still better than rain, because when it rains, no one comes out,” he said.
Business this year has been tempered by inflation, he said. In the past, the whole family would play. He’s noticed that this year, parents are paying for their kids, but sitting out themselves to save a little. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-silver-lining-northeast-drought-benefits-some-businesses/ | 2022-09-01T10:29:30Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-silver-lining-northeast-drought-benefits-some-businesses/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — The parent company of social media platform Snapchat said Wednesday that it is letting go of 20% of its staff as it reorganizes and tries to reduce costs in the face of declining ad sales.
In a letter to staff posted on Snap Inc.’s website, CEO Evan Spiegel said sales were not keeping up with earlier projections.
“Unfortunately, given our current lower rate of revenue growth, it has become clear that we must reduce our cost structure to avoid incurring significant ongoing losses,” Spiegel wrote.
Spiegel said Snap was restructuring its business to focus on community growth, revenue growth and augmented reality. Anything that doesn’t contribute to those three areas “will be discontinued or receive substantially reduced investment,” Spiegel said.
Last fall, Snap said its ad sales were being hurt by a privacy crackdown that rolled out on Apple’s iPhones, which raised investor fears about the app’s potential for growth. Most social media platforms rely heavily on advertising revenue, one reason that Facebook has been an outspoken critic of Apple’s recent changes to privacy controls.
Since Snap posted its first-ever profitable quarter in the last quarter of 2021, there has been little good news from the company.
On May 24, Snap shares lost nearly half their value, falling 43% after the company said in an SEC filing that the “macroeconomic environment has deteriorated further and faster than anticipated” and that it would not meet its own sales and profit targets in the period. Shares tumbled another 39% on July 22, a day after Snap posted quarterly results that fell short of projections.
Snap’s staff has grown to more than 5,600 employees in recent years and the company said even after laying off more than 1,000 people, its staff will be larger than it was a year ago.
Snapchat is a video messaging platform best known for a feature that automatically deletes messages after they’ve been viewed by recipients. It now offers other forms of video content as well.
Like most other social media companies, Snap boomed during the pandemic when workers and students spent longer hours online at home. Snap shares peaked in late September of 2021 at more than $83 per share.
Snap shares gained about 10% on Wednesday, to $11 per share, after the layoffs were reported.
Snap said it was halting investment in Snap Originals, Minis, Games, Pixy, and other segments. It also said it is “winding down” the standalone apps Zenly and Voisey.
Santa Monica, California-based Snapchat also announced the promotion of Jerry Hunter to chief operating officer effective immediately, as well as other regional leadership changes. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-snap-cutting-20-of-staff-as-ad-sales-continue-to-dry-up/ | 2022-09-01T10:29:37Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-snap-cutting-20-of-staff-as-ad-sales-continue-to-dry-up/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Stoked by the largest surplus in state history, Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature devised a $500 million plan to send one-time tax refunds to millions of households. In a shock to some, GOP Gov. Mike Parson vetoed it.
Parson’s objection: He wanted a bigger, longer-lasting tax cut.
“Now is the time for the largest income tax cut in our state’s history,” Parson declared as he called lawmakers back for a September special session to consider a $700 million permanent tax reduction.
Upon its likely approval, Missouri will join at least 32 states that already have enacted some type of tax cut or rebate this year — an astounding outpouring of billions of tax dollars back to the people. Idaho lawmakers are convening Thursday to consider more tax breaks, and Montana lawmakers also are weighing a special session for tax relief.
Flush with federal pandemic aid and their own surging tax revenue, states have cut income tax rates for individuals and businesses, expanded tax deductions for families and retirees, pared back property taxes, waived sales taxes on groceries and suspended motor fuel taxes to offset inflationary price spikes. Many also have provided immediate tax rebates.
Republicans and Democrats alike have joined the tax-cutting trend during a midterm election year.
Yet divisions have emerged about how far to go. While Democrats generally have favored targeted tax breaks and one-time rebates, some Republicans have pressed for permanent income tax rate reductions that could lower tax bills — and state revenue — for years to come. Parson describes it as “real, lasting relief.”
Some budget analysts warn that permanent tax cuts could strain states during a future recession. The U.S. economy has shrunk for two straight quarters this year, meeting one informal sign of a recession.
“Quite simply, relying on the current surplus to fund permanent tax changes isn’t fiscally sustainable, or responsible, and will ultimately require cuts to state services,” said Amy Blouin, president and CEO of the Missouri Budget Project, a nonprofit that analyzes fiscal policies.
For some states, the current surpluses are unlike anything they’ve previously seen.
The 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30 for most states, marked the second straight year of large growth in tax collections after economic shutdowns triggered declines early in the coronavirus pandemic. Many states reported their largest-ever surpluses, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers.
“I don’t think there’s been a time in history where states are better equipped to ride out a potential recession,” said Timothy Vermeer, senior state tax policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “A majority, if not all, of the rainy day funds are in a really healthy position.”
Income tax rate cuts have passed in 13 states this year, already equaling last year’s historic total, according to the Tax Foundation. Republicans control the legislatures in all of those states except New York, where Democrats who wield power accelerated the timetable for a previously approved tax rate reduction.
Republican-led Arkansas was the most recent to take action during an August special session. A new law will speed up a gradual income tax rate reduction enacted last year and provide a one-time inflationary tax credit. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson described the $500 million package as “a transfer of wealth from the government to the taxpayer” that “could not have come at a more important time.”
Nationwide, inflation is at a 40-year-high, raising prices on most good and services and squeezing incomes.
At least 15 states have approved one-time rebates from their surpluses, including 10 led by Democratic governors and legislatures, four by Republicans and one — Virginia — with split partisan control.
Democratic-led California, which posted a record $97 billion surplus, is sending rebates of between $200 and $1,050 to individuals earning less than $250,000 annually and households earning less than $500,000.
All four GOP-controlled states providing rebates — Georgia, Indiana, Idaho and South Carolina — also made permanent income tax rate cuts.
Though often popular, tax rebates do little to fight inflation and “may actually be counterproductive” by enabling additional consumer spending on items in scarce supply and thus contributing to higher prices, said Hernan Moscoso Boedo, an economist at the University of Cincinnati.
Still, big surpluses coupled with inflation make rebates a tempting option for politicians, especially during an election year.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican facing a re-election challenge from Democrat Stacey Abrams, has been among the most aggressive tax-cutters. He signed legislation gradually reducing the income tax rate from 5.75% to 4.99%. He also signed a measure providing a $1.1 billion tax rebate, with up to $250 for individuals and $500 for couples. He has proposed an additional $2 billion in income and property tax rebates. And after a law temporarily suspending the state’s gas tax expired in May, Kemp extended the gas tax break through mid-September.
“We’re trying to help Georgians fight through this tough time,” Kemp said.
In Colorado, legislative staff estimate it will cost $2.7 million to carry out legislation expediting an income tax refund of $750 for individuals and $1,500 for couples. The constitutionally mandated refund of surplus revenue was originally due to be paid next year but is being distributed now — along with a letter from Democratic Gov. Jared Polis touting it as inflation relief.
Polis, who is up for re-election in November, had been a previous critic of the automatic refund provision. His Republican challenger, Heidi Ganahl, is accusing him of “hypocrisy.”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, has called the Legislature back for a special session starting Thursday to consider more tax breaks.
He’s proposing to use part of the state’s projected $2 billion budget surplus for a $500 million income tax rebate this year. He also wants to cut more than $150 million annually by creating a flat 5.8% income tax rate starting next year. That comes after the state reduced the top tax rate each of the last two years.
“Folks, this is conservative governing in action,” Little said while asserting the tax cuts still would leave enough money to boost education funding by hundreds of millions of dollars.
Montana lawmakers are weighing whether to convene a special session later in September to provide tax breaks from a budget surplus. A proposal calls for giving $1,000 rebates to homeowners who paid property taxes during the past two years. It also would provide income tax rebates of $1,250 for individuals and $2,500 for couples.
Montana’s Republican House and Senate majority leaders said in a joint statement that the rebates would offer help “as soon as possible with expenses such as gas, groceries, school supplies and so much more.” But some lawmakers, including term-limited GOP Rep. Frank Garner, have expressed reluctance.
“My first concern is if this proposal is driven by an imminent emergency or by those wanting to write checks to voters because their emergency is merely an imminent election,” Garner wrote in an opinion column.
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Associated Press writers Jeff Amy in Atlanta; Jim Anderson and Jesse Bedayn in Denver; Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Ark.; Amy Beth Hanson in Helena, Mont.; and Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this report. | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-states-tapping-historic-surpluses-for-tax-cuts-and-rebates/ | 2022-09-01T10:29:57Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-states-tapping-historic-surpluses-for-tax-cuts-and-rebates/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
GENEVA (AP) — The number of new coronavirus cases and deaths reported globally continued to fall nearly everywhere in the world in what the World Health Organization described as a “welcome decline” at a media briefing on Wednesday.
The U.N. health agency said there were 4.5 million new COVID-19 cases reported last week, a 16% drop from the previous week. Deaths were also down by 13%, with about 13,500 fatalities. WHO said COVID-19 infections dropped everywhere in the world while deaths decreased everywhere except for Southeast Asia, where they climbed by 15% and in the Western Pacific, where they rose by 3%.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that with the coming onset of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the possible emergence of a more dangerous new COVID-19 variant, experts expect to see a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. Tedros said vaccination rates, even in rich countries, were still too low, noting that 30% of health workers and 20% of older people remain unimmunized.
“These vaccination gaps pose a risk to all of us,” he said. “Please get vaccinated if you are not and a booster if it’s recommended that you have one.”
In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration cleared its first update to COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday, booster doses that target today’s most common omicron strain. Authorities said shots could begin within days.
Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or “bivalent,” shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, which are considered the most contagious yet.
Earlier this month, Britain decided it would offer adults 50 and over a different booster option from Moderna, a combo shot targeting that initial BA.1 omicron strain.
On Friday, the European Medicines Agency will consider whether to authorize the combination COVID-19 vaccine including BA.1 made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Another version of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine incorporating the BA.5 subvariant of omicron is also under review by the EU regulator.
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Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/ | 2022-09-01T10:30:11Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/business/ap-business/ap-who-new-covid-cases-deaths-keep-falling-nearly-everywhere/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A once obscure Michigan elections panel is back in the spotlight after rejecting a ballot initiative asking voters whether abortion rights should be enshrined in the state’s constitution and another to expand voting in the state.
The Michigan Board of State Canvassers deadlocked 2-2 on party lines on both initiatives Wednesday.
Abortion rights supporters have already said they will ask the state Supreme Court to intervene to place the measure on the November ballot. The organization backing the voting measure is expected do the same.
The board last came under national scrutiny in November 2020 when then-President Donald Trump and his supporters tried to convince Republican members not to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the state. One GOP member abstained, but the other joined Democrats in voting to certify.
It highlighted the possibility that the panel — charged with largely clerical duties, not investigating elections — could become another hyperpartisan battleground.
The stakes of the abortion rights proposal are particularly high. Its backers are aiming to negate a 91-year-old state law that would ban abortion in all instances except to save the life of the mother.
Michigan’s 1931 law — which abortion opponents had hoped would be triggered by a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade in June — remains blocked after months of court battles.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF STATE CANVASSERS?
Michigan’s state constitution of 1850 created the board to handle administrative duties before and after an election. The board’s structure has changed over time.
Current law provides for four members — two from each political party that earned the most votes in the latest secretary of state election. Michigan’s 1908 Constitution was the first to mandate that a majority of the board could not be made up of members of the same political party. There’s no process to break a 2-2 deadlock; typically that leads to a court challenge.
Election experts say similar structures arose elsewhere during the Progressive Era as reformers hoped a system of “mutual policing” would cut down on the influence of party machines on election outcomes.
Since then, federal courts have gained more legal authority to examine evidence and question witnesses, and to address claims related to state-level elections, said Kevin Johnson, executive director of the Election Reformers Network. The nonpartisan group advocates for ranked choice voting and independent redistricting among other election reforms.
“Mutual policing is a system that becomes risky in a hyperpartisan environment, so it needs some new thinking,” Johnson said.
WHAT DOES THE BOARD DO?
Michigan courts have repeatedly described the board’s responsibilities as administrative or clerical, while Michigan’s elected secretary of state is the chief election official.
But the board’s potential to dramatically influence elections has come to the fore in recent years.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin have a board or a commission that fully oversees elections. Most of those states require a certain numbers of members from each major political party, according to NCSL research.
Key responsibilities of the Michigan board include: canvassing and certifying statewide elections, judicial elections and legislative elections that cross county lines; conducting statewide office recounts; and approving electronic voting systems.
The board meets after elections to determine official results based on reports from local clerks. The board members do not audit election results or investigate accusations of fraud.
The board also has a significant role in statewide ballot proposals. Aided by state elections staff, it reviews petitions seeking to put a proposal on ballots and approves the exact language that voters will see on those ballots.
Christopher Thomas, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections for 36 years until retiring in 2017, said that process became more heated during his career as attorneys representing battling groups sought to win board members over, largely playing to their political alliances.
“It’s unfortunate,” Thomas said. “I’ve heard board members say they’re there to represent their party, and I found that so antithetical to their purpose.”
Still, prior to 2020, the dynamic rarely captured wide public attention.
WHAT CHANGED?
Following the 2020 presidential election, then-President Donald Trump and his allies targeted Michigan’s Board of State Canvassers as part of a broad and futile attempt to challenge his loss in several states. Trump and his backers, despite no evidence of fraud, demanded that the board refuse to certify the results.
But ultimately, one Republican board member joined two Democrats in certifying Joe Biden’s 154,000 vote victory in Michigan. The other Republican board member abstained from voting.
Election experts worry the unsuccessful attempt has fueled efforts to further politicize Michigan’s canvassing system, pointing to people with a history of backing Trump’s unproven claims of fraud getting appointed to county-level canvassing slots.
That heightens the chance of local canvassing boards deadlocking or members refusing to vote, undercutting voters’ confidence in the system and even risking “agitation or spillover into the streets,” said Johnson, with the Election Reformers Network.
WHO’S ON THE BOARD NOW?
State parties provide a list of potential candidates to Michigan’s governor, who selects a member from those options. Four-year terms are staggered.
Both Republicans who held the party’s seats in 2020 are gone. Aaron Van Langevelde, who voted to certify the results despite pressure from Trump supporters, was not nominated again by the state GOP when his term ended that winter. The board member who abstained from a vote in 2020, Norman Shinkle, resigned in June to run for a state legislative seat.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer selected Tony Daunt from three nominees submitted by the GOP to replace Van Langevelde. Daunt, a longtime party activist, was an outspoken critic of Trump’s bid to challenge the 2020 results.
Whitmer appointed Richard Houskamp, another longtime activist, to replace Shinkle. Houskamp told the Detroit Free Press in July that he hadn’t seen any evidence of fraud in the 2020 election and that continuing to make those claims “is not healthy for the country.”
One of the two Democrats who voted to certify the 2020 election results is still on the board: Jeannette Bradshaw, an electrician and elected leader within Detroit’s International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
The other, Julie Matuzak, resigned in December 2020 after 10 years on the board. Mary Ellen Gurewitz, an attorney who represented Michigan Democrats before the board in 2020, was appointed to replace her. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-abortion-vote-returns-spotlight-to-obscure-michigan-board/ | 2022-09-01T10:30:25Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-abortion-vote-returns-spotlight-to-obscure-michigan-board/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — The family of a Marine killed in Afghanistan has revived a defamation lawsuit against Alec Baldwin over comments the actor made online.
The sisters and widow of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum allege Baldwin subjected them to online threats and harassment after he posted and commented on a photo shared online by one of McCollum’s sisters, Roice McCollum, who had been in Washington during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
Baldwin had donated $5,000 to the family after learning of the death of Rylee McCollum in a bombing at the airport in Kabul in August 2021, just weeks before his daughter was born. Baldwin had contacted Roice McCollum via Instagram, according to the lawsuit.
In January 2022, Baldwin saw that Roice McCollum posted a picture of demonstrators from former President Donald Trump’s rally taken on the day Congress counted the Electoral College votes from the 2020 presidential election, according to the complaint.
Baldwin sent her a private message and confirmed she had organized the fundraiser for her brother, the lawsuit said. She responded that her participation in the protest was “perfectly legal,” according to court documents.
Baldwin told Roice McCollum he would share her photo with his 2.4 million Instagram followers and wrote: “Good luck,” according to the lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, Roice McCollum said she “did not take part in, nor did she support or condone the rioting that erupted” at the Capitol, and was cleared of any wrongdoing after meeting with the FBI.
The family’s lawsuit was initially filed in Wyoming but dismissed by a judge there in May for lack of jurisdiction because Baldwin made the posts in New York and they weren’t directed specifically at a Wyoming audience.
The current lawsuit was filed in New York on Friday and seeks a combined $25 million in punitive and compensatory damages.
Baldwin had asked for the case to be dismissed in Wyoming, saying he was expressing his political opinion and that claims by McCollum’s sister Cheyenne McCollum and his widow Jiennah McCollum should be dismissed because he did not make any statements about them.
In an email, Luke Nikas, an attorney representing Baldwin, said “Mr. Baldwin donated several thousand dollars to Ms. McCollum to honor her husband, and now she’s suing him for more because she disagrees with his political opinion about the insurrection that occurred on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol Building. We expect to prevail in this lawsuit, as we did the last time they filed it.” | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-family-of-slain-marine-revives-defamation-suit-vs-baldwin/ | 2022-09-01T10:30:53Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-family-of-slain-marine-revives-defamation-suit-vs-baldwin/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A 19-year-old man was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in a series of apparently random shootings over roughly two hours last weekend in Detroit that left three people dead and a fourth wounded.
Dontae Ramon Smith was arraigned later in the day in 36th District Court on the three murder counts as well as other counts, including assault and firearms charges. In ordering Smith held without bond, Magistrate Jeffrey Kleparek said he found him “to be a danger to the community” and had concerns about his mental health.
“It is not an overstatement to say that on Sunday morning … this … defendant reigned real terror on the citizens northwest Detroit,” Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement while announcing charges. “Normal, everyday life was brought to a standstill as he moved east to his next victim.”
Police spent 12 hours searching for the man and peacefully arrested him Sunday at his home following a tip from someone close to him. Police said a gun was found that matched shell casings at the shooting scenes.
Detroit Police Chief James White has said the man may have a mental illness and “terrorized our community.”
Mayor Mike Duggan has said that the man may have been emboldened after not encountering officers following the first shooting about 4:45 a.m. Sunday when a 28-year-old man was slain less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from a police station. At that early hour, no calls were made to 911, Duggan said.
The prosecutor’s office said police found the man’s body in the doorway of a church.
About 30 minutes later someone called 911 after finding a woman shot about three blocks from the first shooting. She has not yet been identified.
Another woman, Lari Brisco, a 43-year-old single mother of five children, was waiting nearby for a city bus when she was shot multiple times. Both women died.
Then, about 7:10 a.m., 76-year-old John Palik was shot in the leg while walking his dog. The dog was shot in a paw. Both survived.
Wallace Pleasant told WXYZ-TV that an armed bystander saw the fourth shooting and fired his own weapon at the suspect who then fled.
___
Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-man-charged-in-random-detroit-shootings-that-killed-3/ | 2022-09-01T10:31:14Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-man-charged-in-random-detroit-shootings-that-killed-3/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
ATLANTA (AP) — Lawyers for John Eastman, a lead architect of some of Donald Trump’s efforts to remain in power after the 2020 election, said Wednesday they advised their client to assert attorney-client privilege and invoke his constitutional right to remain silent when testifying before a special grand jury investigating possible illegal election interference in Georgia.
Charles Burnham and Harvey Silverglate confirmed in a statement that Eastman had appeared before the panel in Fulton County, complying with a summons from the district attorney. They declined to comment on the questions or testimony, citing respect for the secrecy of the grand jury process.
Eastman is one of a number of Trump advisers, attorneys and allies whose testimony Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has sought to compel in the case. Former New York mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, who’s been told he may face criminal charges in the investigation, testified in mid-August. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, is fighting his subpoena. Willis filed petitions last week seeking the testimony of former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump-allied attorney Sidney Powell, among others. And conservative attorney L. Lin Wood Jr. said this week he’s been told Willis wants him to appear.
Willis’ investigation began early last year, shortly after a recording of a Jan. 2, 2021, phone call between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger became public. In that call, Trump suggested the state’s top election official could “find” the votes needed to overturn his narrow loss in the state. But it has become clear that the scope of the probe has broadened considerably since then.
In their statement Wednesday, Eastman’s attorneys accused Willis of embarking on “an unprecedented path of criminalizing controversial or disfavored legal theories.”
As Trump and his allies began a campaign to spread false claims about the election, Eastman circulated what was essentially an academic proposal challenging the workings of the 130-year-old Electoral Count Act that governs the process for tallying the election results in Congress.
The first part of the plan was to put in place a slate of “alternate” electors in seven battleground states to sign certificates falsely stating that Trump, not Democrat Joe Biden, had won their states. Willis has told the 16 Georgia Republicans who joined that effort that they are targets of her investigation.
The second part of the proposal involved convincing then-Vice President Mike Pence to refuse to count some of the electoral votes won by Biden when presiding over Congress the certification of election results on Jan. 6, 2021. But Pence refused to stray from his ceremonial role that day, even as Trump supporters broke into the Capitol, chanting for him to be hung.
Wood, who sued unsuccessfully to block the certification of Georgia’s election results, said Wednesday that he’s willing to testify before the special grand jury.
Wood said a lawyer who represents him in a separate matter told him late last week that Willis’ office wants to subpoena him to testify. But he said he hadn’t received a formal request and didn’t know when they would want to see him.
“If they want to ask me questions, I’m happy to answer them,” Wood told The Associated Press by phone. “I have nothing to hide.”
Wood has long been known for his representation of high-profile clients — including Richard Jewell, who was wrongly accused in the 1996 Olympic bombing in Atlanta — particularly in defamation cases.
In a document filed last week seeking to compel Powell’s testimony, Willis noted that Wood hosted meetings at his home in South Carolina “for the purpose of exploring options to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.” Powell asked Wood, who’s licensed as a lawyer in Georgia, to help find Georgia residents who would be willing to serve as plaintiffs in lawsuits contesting the election results in the state, the petition says.
Wood said he didn’t know Powell well at the time but that she got in touch and asked if a group could meet at his home in late November 2020. He agreed to reach out to some prominent Georgia Republicans on Powell’s behalf, but said he doesn’t remember exactly who he called and whether they ended up joining any lawsuit filed by Powell.
The lawsuits filed by Powell and Wood were among many that were filed around the country in the wake of the 2020 election, many of them claiming that widespread election fraud had occurred. The lawsuits were ultimately dismissed, and state and federal election officials have consistently said there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the election.
___
Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri in Washington contributed to this report.
___
More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump | https://www.wspa.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-lawyers-eastman-advised-to-plead-the-fifth-in-georgia-probe/ | 2022-09-01T10:31:55Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-lawyers-eastman-advised-to-plead-the-fifth-in-georgia-probe/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia is suffering “severe manpower shortages” in its 6-month-old war with Ukraine and has become more desperate in its efforts to find new troops to send to the front lines, according to a new American intelligence finding disclosed Wednesday.
Russia is looking to address the shortage of troops in part by compelling soldiers wounded earlier in the war to return to combat, recruiting personnel from private security companies and even recruiting from prisons, according to a U.S. official who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss the downgraded intelligence finding.
The official added that the intelligence community has determined that one step that Russia’s Defense Ministry is expected to take soon is recruiting convicted criminals to enlist “in exchange for pardons and financial compensation.”
The U.S. government highlighted its finding as Russian President Vladimir Putin last week ordered the Russian military to increase the number of troops by 137,000 to a total of 1.15 million.
Putin’s decree, which takes effect on Jan. 1, didn’t specify whether the military would beef up its ranks by drafting a bigger number of conscripts, increasing the number of volunteer soldiers or using a combination of both. But some Russian military analysts predicted it would rely heavily on volunteers, a cautious stand reflecting the Kremlin’s concerns about possible fallout from an attempt to increase the draft.
The presidential decree aims to boost the overall number of Russian military personnel to 2,039,758, including 1,150,628 troops. A previous order put the military’s numbers at 1,902,758 and 1,013,628, respectively, at the start of 2018.
Colin Kahl, the U.S. Defense Department undersecretary for policy, told reporters earlier in August that the U.S. estimates Russia took heavy casualties in the first months of the war.
“There’s a lot of fog in war, but I think it’s safe to suggest that the Russians have probably taken 70 or 80,000 casualties in the less than six months,” Kahl said. “Now, that is a combination of killed in action and wounded in action and that number might be a little lower, a little higher, but I think that’s kind of in the ballpark.”
The U.S. has frequently downgraded and unveiled intelligence findings over the course of the grinding war to highlight plans for Russian misinformation operations or to throw attention on Moscow’s difficulties in prosecuting its war against Ukraine, whose smaller military has put up a stiff resistance against the militarily superior Russian forces.
The Biden administration unveiled findings earlier this week that Russia has faced technical problems with Iranian-made drones acquired from Tehran this month for use in its war with Ukraine.
Russia picked up Mohajer-6 and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles over several days this month as part what the Biden administration says is likely part of a Russian plan to acquire hundreds of Iranian UAVs for use in Ukraine.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday that Russia has been having “some difficulties” and experiencing “the limits on some of the capabilities” of the Iranian drones since receiving them. | https://www.wspa.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-us-russian-military-facing-severe-manpower-shortages/ | 2022-09-01T10:32:38Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/politics/ap-politics/ap-us-russian-military-facing-severe-manpower-shortages/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
PORT CHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — Several live lizards were wrongly delivered to a residence in a village north of New York City.
“Needless to say the addressee was quite startled when they opened the box,” Port Chester police wrote on Facebook.
Police received the call about the reptiles just after noon on Saturday. They posted a picture on Sunday of three dark-colored lizards held in a large white container. It was not immediately clear whether there were more reptiles not pictured.
“If you lost your lizards and iguanas we have them at the police department,” police wrote.
They said they held the animals until a local animal sanctuary could pick them up for safekeeping. | https://www.wspa.com/news/weird-news/ap-box-of-reptiles-mailed-to-the-wrong-address-in-new-york/ | 2022-09-01T10:32:52Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/weird-news/ap-box-of-reptiles-mailed-to-the-wrong-address-in-new-york/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
LONDON (AP) — It was a warm Saturday evening and a group of journalists had gathered at a Paris restaurant to enjoy the last weekend of summer. At sometime past midnight, phones around the table began to ring — seemingly all at once — as news desks contacted reporters and photographers to alert them that Princess Diana’s car had crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel.
Here’s how the news of Diana’s death unfolded in the early hours of Aug. 31, 1997, and the days that followed as told by journalists who covered the story for The Associated Press.
_____
Jocelyn Noveck, then Associated Press news editor in Paris:
“We were paying the bill and all of a sudden there was this cacophony of mobile phones going off. The first one that went off was a British reporter’s, a British cameraman, and he just got up and started running. And the rest of us called out, `What happened?’ And he just said, `The Princess of Wales! Crash!’ And then kept running.”
“The first thought there was oh, maybe one of the boats that go up and down the Seine, the Bateaux Mouches, maybe one of them is called the Princess of Wales and it crashed into the banks of the river. That sounded like a digestible story to imagine. But, of course, soon we realized that Diana had been in a car, in a limousine … the Mercedes had crashed.”
___
Stuart McAlister, former Associated Press cameraman in Paris:
“I got down to the tunnel and it was chaos, absolute chaos. There were late-night revelers and tourists who, of course, were walking at that time of night to go back to their hotels. They were on top of the Pont de l’Alma looking down. They couldn’t see anything because they were on the top of the bridge. … The police were doing what they could to keep people back. Of course, having a press pass, I just jumped into the road, ran into the center of the road … I could very clearly see emergency vehicles and the Mercedes down in the tunnel. So I stood on this intersection and started filming what I could.”
___
Jerome Delay, AP photographer:
“I parked my motorcycle, and as I parked it, I saw a police van pull out and with windows you could see through. And I saw some colleagues in that police van. My first thought was, ‘Well, if there is a picture to be made, they were there before — they have it. I’m just going to be here to pick up the pieces.’ Well, it turned out they made some pictures, that the rest of their film had been seized and everything. And I started to shoot from afar what was pretty much a car accident, of all things. … I don’t like to call it luck because this was not a very pleasant situation. People got hurt. People died. But they brought a tow truck and a crane to remove the vehicle, at which point I just moved. It was very easy. I mean, there was no real police blockade or anything like that stopping me from doing my work. I guess I was very discreet because I was not carrying 20 cameras around my neck and screaming to the world, ‘Let me go through, I’m a journalist, I have rights, blah, blah, blah.’ I was just making my way slowly to where I was supposed to be to be able to see. And I shot some pictures from the overhead as the car was pulled out of the tunnel on that flatbed truck. And it turns out, I think, over my 30 years at The Associated Press, that might be the worst picture I ever shot, but also the most published picture I ever shot, because, I guess, its historical value.”
___
Chris Burns, former AP reporter:
“I went to the hospital, Salpetriere, where Diana was taken. And there we were watching as the flowers and the mourners were gathering outside and were waiting for news, waiting to hear something from the hospital, and it seemed like hours and it was hours. And finally they called a press conference before sunrise. And there the anesthesiologist was describing all the medical procedures that they went through to try to revive her. It was sort of painstaking. It took a while. We thought, ‘OK, well, well, is she alive? Is she dead?’ And then finally, after this long description, he said, ‘We were unable to revive her. We declared her deceased at …’ I think it was 4 a.m. And there was this moment of silence, this sort of pause. The way I felt was: Princesses don’t die this way anyway, do they? … And then everybody was scrambling for their phones. But that sort of moment of denial was quite moving, actually. Moving.”
___
Yves Dam Van, former AP cameraman in Paris:
“My first memory is that it felt like the sky had fallen on us. As a journalist, you kind of think of all the events that could happen. Diana was not on the list because she was an icon for everybody, and icons don’t die. When the phone rang after midnight and I was told the news, I remained bewildered. I thought: ‘It’s not possible, it cannot happen. It’s impossible, someone is playing a joke on me.’”
__
After Diana’s death, the story shifted to London, where members of the public gathered outside her home to mourn the loss of a young woman they had watched grow from a shy teenager into a glamorous princess who championed causes ranging from AIDS treatment to land mine removal.
___
Ted Anthony, AP reporter who traveled from New York to help cover the story:
“I remember walking through Kensington Gardens and seeing all these flowers and drawings. I remember one vividly from Moomina from the Maldives that stuck out to me, and they were all just talking about how important Diana was in their life and in the way that they saw the world in her work on AIDS, her work with charities, and simply her status as a woman who had persevered and endured. … The thing I remember the most was that people who wouldn’t normally have been affected by this type of thing told me that they were deeply affected. And the whole people’s princess notion and (former Prime Minister) Tony Blair speaking about her and all of that, it all came together to form this — the word surreal is overused — but I think that it was a surreal few days where you felt like you were sort of caught up in something and carried along on a wave. And your job was to watch and chronicle and try to understand. But you knew that it was bigger than any one person around you.”
___
Maureen Johnson, former AP London reporter:
“I do remember being out on the streets around Westminster and a bit further away and just the sheer numbers of people that had come. There seemed to be very little traffic and just people of all colors and backgrounds … and carrying these heaps and heaps of flowers. And it was almost unreal. There was a sort of silence in the center of London. And it went on for a number of days.”
___
Myron Belkind, former London bureau chief
“It just shows you the impact that one person could have and she did it from 1981 until 1997. Hard to imagine she died at age 36. And I think also going back to Westminster Abbey, how could we ever forget Elton John playing and singing “Goodbye, English Rose”? It was a moment that I think united the country and the world. Here I am at age 82. I think it’s hard to imagine that could have happened with anyone else (other) than Princess Diana … It’s a lesson for us to watch in the future. There are others who will come to the fore of the public and it will have impact, but hard to imagine it will rise to the level of the life of Princess Diana.” | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-a-moment-in-time-ap-journalists-remember-dianas-death/ | 2022-09-01T10:33:13Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-a-moment-in-time-ap-journalists-remember-dianas-death/ | 0 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | 31 |
LONDON (AP) — It was a warm Saturday evening and a group of journalists had gathered at a Paris restaurant to enjoy the last weekend of summer. At sometime past midnight, phones around the table began to ring — seemingly all at once — as news desks contacted reporters and photographers to alert them that Princess Diana’s car had crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel.
Here’s how the news of Diana’s death unfolded in the early hours of Aug. 31, 1997, and the days that followed as told by journalists who covered the story for The Associated Press.
_____
Jocelyn Noveck, then Associated Press news editor in Paris:
“We were paying the bill and all of a sudden there was this cacophony of mobile phones going off. The first one that went off was a British reporter’s, a British cameraman, and he just got up and started running. And the rest of us called out, `What happened?’ And he just said, `The Princess of Wales! Crash!’ And then kept running.”
“The first thought there was oh, maybe one of the boats that go up and down the Seine, the Bateaux Mouches, maybe one of them is called the Princess of Wales and it crashed into the banks of the river. That sounded like a digestible story to imagine. But, of course, soon we realized that Diana had been in a car, in a limousine … the Mercedes had crashed.”
___
Stuart McAlister, former Associated Press cameraman in Paris:
“I got down to the tunnel and it was chaos, absolute chaos. There were late-night revelers and tourists who, of course, were walking at that time of night to go back to their hotels. They were on top of the Pont de l’Alma looking down. They couldn’t see anything because they were on the top of the bridge. … The police were doing what they could to keep people back. Of course, having a press pass, I just jumped into the road, ran into the center of the road … I could very clearly see emergency vehicles and the Mercedes down in the tunnel. So I stood on this intersection and started filming what I could.”
___
Jerome Delay, AP photographer:
“I parked my motorcycle, and as I parked it, I saw a police van pull out and with windows you could see through. And I saw some colleagues in that police van. My first thought was, ‘Well, if there is a picture to be made, they were there before — they have it. I’m just going to be here to pick up the pieces.’ Well, it turned out they made some pictures, that the rest of their film had been seized and everything. And I started to shoot from afar what was pretty much a car accident, of all things. … I don’t like to call it luck because this was not a very pleasant situation. People got hurt. People died. But they brought a tow truck and a crane to remove the vehicle, at which point I just moved. It was very easy. I mean, there was no real police blockade or anything like that stopping me from doing my work. I guess I was very discreet because I was not carrying 20 cameras around my neck and screaming to the world, ‘Let me go through, I’m a journalist, I have rights, blah, blah, blah.’ I was just making my way slowly to where I was supposed to be to be able to see. And I shot some pictures from the overhead as the car was pulled out of the tunnel on that flatbed truck. And it turns out, I think, over my 30 years at The Associated Press, that might be the worst picture I ever shot, but also the most published picture I ever shot, because, I guess, its historical value.”
___
Chris Burns, former AP reporter:
“I went to the hospital, Salpetriere, where Diana was taken. And there we were watching as the flowers and the mourners were gathering outside and were waiting for news, waiting to hear something from the hospital, and it seemed like hours and it was hours. And finally they called a press conference before sunrise. And there the anesthesiologist was describing all the medical procedures that they went through to try to revive her. It was sort of painstaking. It took a while. We thought, ‘OK, well, well, is she alive? Is she dead?’ And then finally, after this long description, he said, ‘We were unable to revive her. We declared her deceased at …’ I think it was 4 a.m. And there was this moment of silence, this sort of pause. The way I felt was: Princesses don’t die this way anyway, do they? … And then everybody was scrambling for their phones. But that sort of moment of denial was quite moving, actually. Moving.”
___
Yves Dam Van, former AP cameraman in Paris:
“My first memory is that it felt like the sky had fallen on us. As a journalist, you kind of think of all the events that could happen. Diana was not on the list because she was an icon for everybody, and icons don’t die. When the phone rang after midnight and I was told the news, I remained bewildered. I thought: ‘It’s not possible, it cannot happen. It’s impossible, someone is playing a joke on me.’”
__
After Diana’s death, the story shifted to London, where members of the public gathered outside her home to mourn the loss of a young woman they had watched grow from a shy teenager into a glamorous princess who championed causes ranging from AIDS treatment to land mine removal.
___
Ted Anthony, AP reporter who traveled from New York to help cover the story:
“I remember walking through Kensington Gardens and seeing all these flowers and drawings. I remember one vividly from Moomina from the Maldives that stuck out to me, and they were all just talking about how important Diana was in their life and in the way that they saw the world in her work on AIDS, her work with charities, and simply her status as a woman who had persevered and endured. … The thing I remember the most was that people who wouldn’t normally have been affected by this type of thing told me that they were deeply affected. And the whole people’s princess notion and (former Prime Minister) Tony Blair speaking about her and all of that, it all came together to form this — the word surreal is overused — but I think that it was a surreal few days where you felt like you were sort of caught up in something and carried along on a wave. And your job was to watch and chronicle and try to understand. But you knew that it was bigger than any one person around you.”
___
Maureen Johnson, former AP London reporter:
“I do remember being out on the streets around Westminster and a bit further away and just the sheer numbers of people that had come. There seemed to be very little traffic and just people of all colors and backgrounds … and carrying these heaps and heaps of flowers. And it was almost unreal. There was a sort of silence in the center of London. And it went on for a number of days.”
___
Myron Belkind, former London bureau chief
“It just shows you the impact that one person could have and she did it from 1981 until 1997. Hard to imagine she died at age 36. And I think also going back to Westminster Abbey, how could we ever forget Elton John playing and singing “Goodbye, English Rose”? It was a moment that I think united the country and the world. Here I am at age 82. I think it’s hard to imagine that could have happened with anyone else (other) than Princess Diana … It’s a lesson for us to watch in the future. There are others who will come to the fore of the public and it will have impact, but hard to imagine it will rise to the level of the life of Princess Diana.” | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-a-moment-in-time-ap-journalists-remember-dianas-death/ | 2022-09-01T10:33:13Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-a-moment-in-time-ap-journalists-remember-dianas-death/ | 1 | 0 | green-iguana-35 | 31 |
GENEVA (AP) — China’s discriminatory detention of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups in the western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity, the U.N. human rights office said in a long-awaited report Wednesday, which cited “serious” rights violations and patterns of torture in recent years.
The report seeks “urgent attention” from the U.N. and the world community to rights violations in Beijing’s campaign to root out terrorism.
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet, facing pressure on both sides, brushed aside multiple Chinese calls for her office to withhold the report, which follows her own, much-criticized trip to Xinjiang in May. Beijing contends the report is part of a Western campaign to smear China’s reputation.
The report has fanned a tug-of-war for diplomatic influence with the West over the rights of the region’s native Uyghurs and other ethnic groups.
The report, which Western diplomats and U.N. officials said had been all but ready for months, was published with just minutes to go in Bachelet’s four-year term. It was unexpected to break significant new ground beyond sweeping findings from researchers, advocacy groups and journalists who have documented concerns about human rights in Xinjiang for several years.
But the 48-page report comes with the imprimatur of the United Nations and its member countries — notably including rising superpower China itself. The report largely corroborates earlier reporting by advocacy groups and others and injects U.N heft behind the outrage that victims and their families have expressed about China’s policies in Xinjiang.
“Beijing’s repeated denial of the human rights crisis in Xinjiang rings ever-more hollow with this further recognition of the evidence of ongoing crimes against humanity and other human rights violation in the region,” Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary-general, said in a statement.
The run-up to the report’s release fueled a debate over China’s influence at the world body and epitomized the on-and-off diplomatic chill between Beijing and the West over human rights, among other sore spots.
China shot back, saying the U.N. rights office ignored human rights “achievements” made together by “people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang.”
“Based on the disinformation and lies fabricated by anti-China forces and out of presumption of guilt, the so-called ‘assessment’ distorts China’s laws, wantonly smears and slanders China, and interferes in China’s internal affairs,” read a letter from China’s diplomatic mission in Geneva issued in response to the U.N. report.
China released a 122-page report titled “Fight Against Terrorism and Extremism in Xinjiang: Truth and Facts” that defended its record and was distributed by the U.N. with its assessment.
The U.N. report says “serious human rights violations” have been committed in Xinjiang under China’s policies to fight terrorism and extremism, which singled out Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim communities, between 2017 and 2019.
The report cites “patterns of torture” inside what Beijing called vocational training centers, which were part of its reputed plan to boost economic development in region, and it points to “credible” allegations of torture or ill-treatment, including cases of sexual violence.
Above all, perhaps, the report warns that the “arbitrary and discriminatory detention” of such groups in Xinjiang, through moves that stripped them of “fundamental rights … may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”
The report called on China to release all individuals arbitrarily detained and to clarify the whereabouts of individuals who have disappeared and whose families are seeking information about them.
The report was drawn in part from interviews with former detainees and others familiar with conditions at eight detention centers. Its authors suggest China was not always forthcoming with information, saying requests for some specific sets of information “did not receive formal response.”
The rights office said it could not confirm estimates of how many people were detained in the internment camps in Xinjiang, but added it was “reasonable to conclude that a pattern of large-scale arbitrary detention occurred” at least between 2017 and 2019.
According to investigations by researchers and journalists, the Chinese government’s mass detention campaign in Xinjiang swept an estimated million or more Uyghurs and other ethnic groups into a network of prisons and camps over the past five years.
Beijing has closed many of the camps, but hundreds of thousands continue to languish in prison on vague, secret charges.
The report said that reports of sharp increases in arrests and lengthy prison sentences in the region strongly suggested a shift toward formal incarceration as the principal means for large-scale imprisonment and deprivation of liberty — instead of the use of the “vocational training centers” once touted by Beijing.
“This is of particular concern given the vague and capacious definitions of terrorism, ‘extremism’ and public security related offenses under domestic criminal law,” the report said, saying it could lead to lengthy sentences, “including for minor offenses or for engaging in conduct protected by international human rights law.”
Some countries, including the United States, have accused Beijing of committing genocide in Xinjiang. The U.N. report made no mention of genocide.
In Tokyo, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno welcomed the publication of the report and said, “We will continue asking China to explain with transparency as well as requesting them to make a clear positive move.”
Bachelet said in recent months that she received pressure from both sides to publish — or not publish — the report and resisted it all, treading a fine line while noting her experience with political squeeze during her two terms as president of Chile.
In June, Bachelet said she would not seek a new term as rights chief and promised the report would be released by her departure date on Aug. 31. That led to a swell in back-channel campaigns — including letters from civil society, civilians and governments on both sides of the issue. She hinted last week her office might miss her deadline, saying it was “trying” to release it before her exit.
Bachelet had set her sights on Xinjiang on taking office in September 2018, but Western diplomats voiced concern in private that over her term, she did not challenge China enough when other rights monitors had cited abuses against Uyghurs and others in Xinjiang.
In a statement from her office early Thursday, Bachelet said she had wanted to take “the greatest care” to deal with responses and input received from the Chinese government last week. Such reports are typically shared with the concerned country before final publication, but generally to check facts — not to allow vetting or influence of the final report.
“I said that I would publish it before my mandate ended and I have,” she said after the report was published.
Critics had said a failure to publish the report would have been a glaring black mark on her tenure, and the pressure from some countries made her job harder.
“To be perfectly honest, the politicization of these serious human rights issues by some states did not help,” said Bachelet, who early on staked out a desire to cooperate with governments.
“I appeal to the international community not to instrumentalize real, serious human rights issues for political ends, but rather to work to support efforts to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights,” she added.
Her trip to the region in May was widely criticized by human rights groups, the U.S. administration and other governments as a public relations exercise for China.
Hours before the publication, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said the U.N. chief had “no involvement” in how the report was drafted or handled, citing his commitment to Bachelet’s independence.
Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said Bachelet’s “damning findings explain why the Chinese government fought tooth and nail to prevent the publication of her Xinjiang report, which lays bare China’s sweeping rights abuses.”
Richardson urged the 47-member Human Rights Council, whose next session is in September, to investigate the allegations and hold those responsible to account.
___
Lederer reported from the United Nations. Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report. | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-deadline-looming-china-vies-to-block-un-report-on-xinjiang/ | 2022-09-01T10:33:27Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-deadline-looming-china-vies-to-block-un-report-on-xinjiang/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi paramilitary forces killed in heavy clashes with the supporters of a powerful Shiite cleric were laid to rest on Wednesday as Iraq’s parliament speaker announced three days of mourning.
Normal life crept back in Baghdad after a bloody 24 hours when the supporters of populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr clashed with Iraqi security forces inside the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq’s government.
At least 30 people, both al-Sadr’s loyalists and Iraqi security forces, were killed, and over 400 people were wounded after trading fire for hours this week. Al-Sadr later called on his supporters to withdraw on Tuesday, spurring a de-escalation of hostilities.
The White House said that U.S. President Joe Biden expressed condolences and support to Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi during a phone call on Wednesday.
Still, the threat of more clashes loomed as the political rivalry between al-Sadr and his Iran-backed rivals in the Coordination Framework have not been settled. Tensions between the two camps are still palpable and a way out of Iraq’s 10-month political vacuum does not appear within reach.
Both camps disagree over the appropriate mechanism to dissolve parliament and hold early elections, key demands of al-Sadr. His party won the 2021 federal election but was not able to reach the legislative quorum to vote in a government that excluded his Iran-friendly rivals.
Al-Sadr’s representative, who goes by the Twitter moniker Mohammed Saleh al-Iraqi, called on Iran to “rein in her camel” in Iraq — a reference to the Framework — or face the consequences. The strong language was unusual from al-Sadr’s camp, indicating tensions are still simmering.
The statement came in response to an earlier plea from the Framework calling on the parliament to convene, a move al-Sadr’s supporters prevented by storming the legislative assembly in July.
A funeral procession for four members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a state-sanctioned umbrella of paramilitaries among which Iran-backed Shiite militias are the most powerful, was held in Baghdad. Key leaders from the Framework attended.
Iraq’s Parliament Speaker Mohammed Halbousi declared three days of mourning for those killed in the clashes, according to a statement from his office.
Shop-owners in the capital’s markets said they were relieved the army lifted the curfew, fearing a drawn-out conflict would have undermined their livelihoods. Many residents said they feared a return to clashes. | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-political-crisis-continues-in-baghdad-after-bloody-clashes/ | 2022-09-01T10:34:44Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/news/world-news/ap-international/ap-political-crisis-continues-in-baghdad-after-bloody-clashes/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Which slipper chair is best?
Are you trying to decide what seating to go with for your home? Slipper chairs are accent chairs that are versatile, fun and often convenient for smaller spaces. They’re armless, low to the ground and upholstered for comfort. With short legs and a high back, they’re typically medium-sized chairs that tend to be less bulky than sofa chairs. For the best of both fashion and comfort, check out the Lark Manor Burchfield Wide Tufted Linen Slipper Chair.
What to know before you buy a slipper chair
Dimensions
Similar to many dining chairs, slipper chairs are high-backed and armless. The most important dimensions are how high they are off the ground and how wide they are. Slipper chairs don’t tend to be very big, but these measurements can make the difference between the chair fitting under a table or being big enough to be a stand-alone chair.
Materials
Popular materials for the main body of slipper chairs include:
- Leather: Upholstered leather is timeless, handsome and classic. It’s also durable and more expensive than fabric or linen.
- Linen: Clean-looking, fresh and simple, linen may be hard to keep clean.
- Velvet: A velvet finish on a slipper chair gives a glamorous, old Hollywood look to the piece.
- Polyester: Synthetic materials, such as polyester, are less expensive and generally easy to clean.
For the frame, wood and metal are top choices, since they’re both visually appealing and sturdy.
Comfort
Slipper chairs are generally comfortable, but added down filling, well-made upholstery and luxurious materials like velvet make for extra snug seating.
Design
Contemporary designs with stark rectangular bodies, metal support and tufted backs are popular choices. Designs with a vintage flair may channel art deco or even Victorian design influences.
What to look for in a quality slipper chair
Color
Since they are accent chairs, it’s easy to find slipper chairs not only in neutral colors, such as gray, beige or white, but also in brightly saturated patterns and bold solid shades. You’ll almost certainly find the pop of color you’re looking for as an option.
Pattern
Aside from single-tone color options, patterns are common for slipper chairs. Choosing a slipper chair with a fun, unique print can bring a whole visual twist to whatever room you’re decorating. Geometrical, floral and cheetah print patterns are popular options for slipper chairs.
Stain-resistant
Slipper chairs are just the right height and comfort level for sitting down for a cup of coffee, painting your nails or relaxing with a glass of wine. Because of that, you sometimes might make the occasional mess on your chair. Stain-resistant slipper chairs take the worry out of eating, drinking and other such activities while you’re sitting.
How much you can expect to spend on a slipper chair
A slipper chair costs $150-$500, depending on the type and quality of the material, the dimensions, the upholstery and the design. Leather, wood and linen cost more than polyester, metal or other options.
Slipper chair FAQ
Where is the best place for a slipper chair?
A. Slipper chairs are remarkably versatile. They can be great stand-alone seating, and historically, you’re most likely to find them in a bedroom, changing room or large bathroom. However, feel free to get creative. A comfortable slipper chair can be utilized for dining room table seating, paired with a vanity counter or used as a cozier alternative for an office chair at your desk. Pairing two slipper chairs in the corner of a large room can make for a stylish seating area as well.
Why is it called a slipper chair?
A. The slipper chair as we know it today made its debut in the early 18th century, and its original purpose was seating within bedrooms. Specifically, it was most commonly found in women’s bedrooms. Ladies and their maids would use these low chairs to put on their slippers, hence the name. Even though it may sound antiquated, the name stuck.
What’s the best slipper chair to buy?
Top slipper chair
Lark Manor Burchfield Wide Tufted Linen Slipper Chair
What you need to know: Timeless, fresh linen with solid pine wood legs and frame and a curved lower back make for the perfect combination of comfort and a classic visual pop.
What you’ll love: The linen is stain resistant, so you can rest easy eating or drinking while sitting. The high-rolled, tufted back provides lumbar support.
What you should consider: It’s only available in ivory or dark gray, so you won’t be able to use it as a pop of saturated color in your room.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Top slipper chair for the money
Andover Mills Choudhury Wide Linen Slipper Chair
What you need to know: You can get the most bang for your buck with this subtle but handsome linen and wood accent chair.
What you’ll love: You can buy it in green, orange or blue linen, any of which would make for a nice pop of color in your home. Customers love its minimalist design, 100% linen upholstery and foam-filled spring cushion back.
What you should consider: It may not be as wide as some other slipper chairs, and you cannot use strong liquid cleaners to treat the linen.
Where to buy: Sold by Wayfair
Worth checking out
OSP Home Furnishings Amity Metallic Finish Tufted Accent Chair
What you need to know: A contemporary style with a metallic flourish, this slipper chair steals the spotlight of any room.
What you’ll love: The frame is made of wood and chrome, guaranteed for sturdy and comfortable seating. The modern design and unique finish give this chair a glamorous look. It has foam filling, which lends it comfortable back support.
What you should consider: There is some assembly required when you purchase this chair.
Where to buy: Sold by Kohl’s
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Micayla Mead writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/best-slipper-chair/ | 2022-09-01T10:35:33Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/best-slipper-chair/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
What makes a car seat unsafe?
When you use a car seat, you trust that product to save your child’s life in an accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), when compared with seat belt use alone, a car seat can reduce the risk of injury in a crash by up to 82% for children. That is why you take extra precautions when shopping for a new car seat. You want to make sure you’re buying a car seat that meets federal safety standards, isn’t counterfeit, hasn’t suffered damage due to shipping or stocking and hasn’t been involved in a recall.
But even a car seat you have used for years without incident and initially satisfied all safety requirements when purchased might not be suitable for your younger child. This is because car seats do not last forever.
In this article: Britax Grow with You Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat, Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base and Graco Tranzitions 3-in-1 Harness Booster Seat
How long does a child need to use a car seat?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a child should be in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. Once they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer, they should move to a forward-facing car seat. This is usually around age three, but height and weight actually determine when it is time to switch, not age.
Similarly, your child should stay in a forward-facing car seat (with harness and tether) until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer. This will be roughly around age 7. Your child should then use a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly with the lap belt across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the shoulder and chest. This may be as late as age 12.
Why do car seats expire?
When a car seat is manufactured, it is not designed to restrain a child older than 12 years. For this reason, adequate testing isn’t performed to determine if a car seat is safe after 10 to 12 years. Typically, this only becomes a problem when you have multiple children using the same car seat throughout the years. It is safer to buy a new car seat for each child. Additionally, car seats may become unusable due to wear and tear, updated regulations and recalls.
How long do car seats last?
If there is no visible damage and the car seat has not been involved in a moderate or severe accident, it should last around six to seven years. However, you should be aware that misuse and lack of care can shorten the lifespan of a car seat. It is important to understand that the seven years start when the car seat was manufactured, not when you purchased it. For this reason, most car seat manufacturers place an expiration date on the car seats they sell. This way, you know for certain when your car seat will expire.
Where can I find a car seat’s expiration date?
Car seat manufacturers want to be sure you know when your car seat expires. While each company may do this slightly differently, the two most popular places to look for an expiration date are on the bottom of the car seat or in the owner’s manual. Some companies merely provide the date when the car seat was manufactured (and you must do the math), while others will actually put an expiration date on the car seat.
How do I dispose of an expired car seat?
When you get rid of a car seat, you have a responsibility to make sure no one comes along and uses that car seat after it has expired. If someone is tight on finances and sees a car seat out with the trash, they may take it just to have one and unknowingly put their child’s life at risk.
Before throwing out or recycling your expired car seat, cut through the straps so they cannot be used and write “Do not use – expired” in large letters on the seat in permanent marker. Another option is to ask a local big box store if they have a car seat recycling program.
Best car seats to buy
Britax Grow with You Clicktight Harness Booster Car Seat
This two-in-one car seat grows with your child from forward-facing harness mode to a belt-positioning booster. The comfort pads keep your child’s neck from rubbing against the harness.
Britax Allegiance 3-Stage Convertible Car Seat
The Britax Allegiance is a rear-facing and forward-facing car seat with a quick-adjust 10-position harness. The push-button latch connectors and built-in lock-offs facilitate installation. This model has a steel frame with side-impact protection for added safety.
Sold by Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Kohl’s
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat and Base
This rear-facing car seat features two bubble-level indicators and spring-loaded leveling foot to ensure fast yet proper and secure installation every time. It is compatible with Chicco strollers and has an adjustable canopy for protection from the sun.
Sold by Amazon and Buy Buy Baby
Graco Tranzitions Three-In-One Harness Booster Seat
Graco Tranzitions is a three-in-one car seat that takes your child from a forward-facing harness to a highback booster to a backless booster. The no-rethread harness system adjusts the headrest and harness in one motion for convenience.
Sold by Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Kohl’s
Chicco KidFit Two-In-One Belt Positioning Booster Car Seat
This forward-facing car seat has 10 positions to accommodate your growing child. The two cup holders fold away when not in use, and the double-foam padding and contoured seat provide additional support and comfort.
Sold by Amazon
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/car-seats-boosters-br/do-car-seats-actually-expire/ | 2022-09-01T10:35:54Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/reviews/br/baby-kids-br/car-seats-boosters-br/do-car-seats-actually-expire/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
’79 500 Was A Signature Moment For Georgia’s Wilson
By Jeff Hood | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. – “It’s all come down to this. Out of Turn 2, Donnie Allison in first. Where will Cale make his move?”
In one magical moment, the stars had instantly aligned for CBS Sports’ Ken Squier to introduce the nation to the good ol’ boys of stock racing.
The 1979 Daytona 500 is commonly recognized as the most important race in the history of NASCAR.
That statement is emboldened by the story of Jon Wilson, a 34-year-old high school teacher in Georgia who marvels at an event that occurred nearly a decade before he was born.
After reading a book detailing the happenings that occurred during the running of the Great American Race in February 1979, Wilson concocted an idea to create a unique piece of memorabilia linked to the day a blizzard blanketed much of the East Coast and NASCAR became a household name.
“During the start of Covid, we were stuck at home for a few months. So I began looking around and asked myself ‘what can I do?’ he said. “I had read the book about the 1979 Daytona. So I went down that road.”
Wilson managed to locate a souvenir program in mint condition from the sport’s trademark race in 1979 through a listing on Etsy. It included a black and white photo of “the fight” and an original Ralph DePalma ticket stub with a face value of $20.
The next step was to get the participants of the famous race to autograph the cover of his new prized possession.
Originally, Wilson devised a plan to obtain the signatures of the three divers involved in the famous fight. He wound up upping the ante by also going after the top three finishers that afternoon.
“My first thought was to get Donnie (Allison), Bobby (Allison) and Cale (Yarborough) to sign it,” Wilson said. “Then I found out Richard (Petty) signs, D.W. (Darrell Waltrip) signs and “A.J. Foyt will sign. And that’s where it kind of got started.”
Wilson’s improbable journey began in April 2020, when he mailed it to Donnie Allison.
“He signed it fairly quickly and returned it within a week,” Wilson said. “So I mailed it to Bobby for him to sign.”
Within a span of several weeks, Wilson had methodically obtained the signatures of the Allison brothers, Yarborough, Petty and Waltrip.
“Everybody was stuck at home,” Wilson said. “The turn-around time was pretty fast.”
Considering that Foyt was part of the three-car draft that streaked underneath the checkered flag line that day, he really wanted the third-place finisher’s signature to complete his masterpiece.
“I was hesitant on A.J. because it had to be mailed all the way to Texas,” Wilson said. “And that’s the farthest my program had traveled by mail. And it turns out 2020 was the year the Indy 500 got moved to the fall. So, A.J. was busy getting ready for that race (as a car owner).
“It took several weeks, but I was excited the day it finally arrived in the mail with his signature.”
Raised in Lilburn, Ga., Wilson’s first taste of racing come at the impressible age of four.
“I’d go to my grandfather’s house on Sunday afternoons and watch the race,” Wilson said. “And as I got a little older, he’d take me to (area short tracks) Lanier Raceway and Peach State Speedway.
“That’s when I fell in love with it.”
Wilson’s passion for NASCAR during his childhood coincided with Harry Gant’s ascension to the top of the sport during the early 1990s.
“I got hooked on the Skoal Bandit car and Harry Gant,” said Wilson, who instantly recalled Gant nearly missing winning five consecutive races in 1991 following late-race brake failure at North Wilkesboro.
Wilson said his mom made a Skoal Bandit Halloween costume for him to wear to school one year in the 1990s.
“The fact it had Skoal written on it didn’t go over too well with the principal,” Wilson joked.
His first venture into memorabilia came when he was in the fourth grade as he began amassing a large collection of diecast cars. Among his favorites were replicas of cars driven by Darrell Waltrip.
When Gant’s career wound down, he began following Waltrip.
By the time Waltrip retired from the sport following the 2000 season, Wilson had already latched onto a new driver: Casey Atwood.
“I began liking Casey in 1999. That’s when he flipped in the Busch Series race at Daytona,” Wilson said. “He was my guy.”
As he began his studies at the University of Georgia and Atwood’s NASCAR career was flaming out, Wilson slowly drifted away from the sport while still monitoring it from a distance.
“There didn’t seem to be many college students that followed NASCAR,” he said.
But Wilson’s interest in the sport was rekindled when Chase Elliott began making a splash in NASCAR in 2015.
“That’s when the siren in Dawsonville got dusted off” Wilson said.
Nowadays, he follows NASCAR closely by watching each race on TV, listening to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast, tuning in to NASCAR on Sirius radio and “keeping up through the blogs, things on YouTube and whatever comes across Twitter.”
Collecting signatures from NASCAR drivers through the United States Postal Service has proven to be successful for Wilson. His other memorabilia includes an authentic Winston Million Dollar bill that flew in victory lane on Labor Day in 1985 at Darlington along with a Southern 500 race program from that same event, both autographed by race-winner Elliott.
He has Waltrip’s signature on a race program from the running of The Winston in 1985 and a 1989 Daytona 500 ticket stub, events both won by the Tennessee resident.
Wilson was also able to obtain Yarborough’s autograph on the cover of the February 28, 1977 edition of Sports Illustrated, whose lead story that week was the South Carolinian’s victory at Daytona.
As far as his treasured 1979 Daytona 500 souvenir program, Wilson has no plans to put it on the auction block.
“It’s not really something I want to part with right now,” he said. “I’m very fortunate that I’ve been able to add some pretty interesting pieces to my collection, not just NASCAR but some historical items in football and baseball too.
“But I’d like to think that one day I’m building something that, when I’m gone, I can pass down. Hopefully, my wife and I will have kids one day and it will be something that they cherish and will be able to recognize the significance.”
No Comment | http://www.racintoday.com/archives/99253 | 2022-09-01T10:36:28Z | racintoday.com | control | http://www.racintoday.com/archives/99253 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
KIBBUTZ REVADIM, Israel (AP) — Israeli archaeologists recently unearthed the titanic tusk of a prehistoric elephant near a kibbutz in southern Israel, a remnant of a behemoth once hunted by early people around half a million years ago.
The Israel Antiquities Authority announced Wednesday that the 2.5-meter (yard) long fossil belonging to the long-extinct straight-tusked elephant was found during a joint excavation with researchers from Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University.
Israel Antiquities Authority prehistorian Avi Levy, who headed the dig, said it was “the largest complete fossil tusk ever found at a prehistoric site in Israel or the Near East.”
The site was dated to the late lower paleolithic period, around 500,000 years ago, based on stone tools found in the vicinity, the antiquities authority said.
Omry Barzilai, an IAA archaeologist, said the find was “very puzzling, very enigmatic” because it was not clear whether ancient people hunted the behemoth on the spot or whether they brought the felled animal’s tusk to this spot.
The tusk was found near a kibbutz on the central plain running parallel to Israel’s Mediterranean coast. But half a million years ago, when the ancient elephant died, the now-arid terrain was likely a swamp or shallow lake, an ideal habitat for ancient hominids. | https://www.wspa.com/science/ap-science/ap-israeli-archaeologists-dig-up-large-tusk-of-ancient-elephant/ | 2022-09-01T10:37:01Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/science/ap-science/ap-israeli-archaeologists-dig-up-large-tusk-of-ancient-elephant/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss expanding the four-team format, re-opening the possibility that a new model for crowning a champion could be implemented as soon as the 2024 season.
Two people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday that CFP’s Board of Managers, led by Mississippi State President Mark Keenum, is set to convene by video conference.
There is no guarantee the presidents will take any official action or vote to approve an expansion model, but another person familiar with the situation told AP they would like to accelerate a process that had ground to a halt six months ago.
All the people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the board’s plans were not being made public.
The CFP management committee, comprised of 10 FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, is scheduled to meet next week in Dallas.
The management committee is responsible for hashing out a format for the CFP, but the presidents have the final say on what happens with the playoff.
Back in February, CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock announced expansion talks among the commissioners had failed to produce the needed unanimous consensus in time for the format to change before the end of the current contract with ESPN. That deal runs through the 2025.
The CFP recently announced the sites of the championship games for the final two seasons of the current 12-year deal.
Hancock said back in February that expansion talks would resume later in the year with a focus on what the playoff would be starting in 2026.
Since then, the commissioners who opposed the proposed 12-team format have seemingly softened their stances. The commissioners left a June meeting with renewed optimism their differences could be worked out, one of the people said.
Last year, the relatively new commissioners of the Pac-12, Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference pushed back against an expanded playoff plan that was unveiled in the summer 2021.
The 12-team model, that included six conference champions and six at-large teams, had been worked on for more than two years by a group of four commissioners, including Greg Sankey of the Southeastern Conference.
Concerns about automatic access for certain conferences, how the Rose Bowl would fit into an expanded format and the health and safety of players competing in as many as 17 games were cited as reasons against the 12-team plan.
Failure to get agreement on expansion left Sankey and others frustrated. Expanding the playoff before the end of the current television deal has been estimated to be worth an additional $450 million in media rights to the conferences.
At the SEC meetings in late May, Keenum said the presidents wanted the commissioners to provide a plan for the next CFP format no later than June 2023.
Keenum also said then that the presidents planned to take a more active role in expansion talks and that he wanted them to meet again before the end of the summer to “continue the dialogue.”
___
Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25 | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ap-sources-presidents-meeting-to-discuss-cfp-expansion/ | 2022-09-01T10:37:21Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-ap-sources-presidents-meeting-to-discuss-cfp-expansion/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on U.S. Open tennis tournament (all times local):
___
10:20 p.m.
Leylah Fernandez couldn’t put together another long run at the U.S. Open.
The No. 14 seed was eliminated in the second round Wednesday with a 6-3, 7-6 (3) loss to Liudmila Samsonova.
Fernandez, who turns 20 next week, beat three top-10 players last year during a surprising run to the finals, where she was defeated by Emma Raducanu.
Raducanu had already been eliminated in the first round.
Fernandez could have played Serena Williams if both advanced to the fourth round.
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9:45 p.m.
Serena Williams has at least one more singles match left.
Williams moved into the third round of the U.S. Open with a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 victory over No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit on Wednesday night.
Williams has said she is preparing for the end of her tennis career, but that won’t happen now until at least Friday.
She will play Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia in the next round.
___
9:15 p.m.
Nick Kyrgios already was aware of the noise being a challenge at the U.S. Open.
On Wednesday, he also was bothered by the smell.
Kyrgios complained about the smell of marijuana during his second-round victory in Louis Armstrong Stadium.
The Wimbledon runner-up said afterward he was a heavy asthmatic and that when he was running side to side and struggling to breathe that the smell was “probably not something I want to be breathing in in between points.”
The No. 23 seed overcame it to eliminate Benjamin Bonzi 7-6 (3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
___
9 p.m.
Serena Williams will have to win a decisive third set to extend what could be the final tournament of her career.
After winning the first set against Anett Kontaveit in a tiebreaker, the No. 2 seed bounced back impressively to take the second 6-2.
Williams has played only one three-set match this season, falling to Harmony Tan at Wimbledon in the first round after returning from a one-year absence.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion recently said she was preparing to end her career, though didn’t say for certain it would be after the U.S. Open.
___
8:25 p.m.
Serena Williams has won the first set against No. 2 Anett Kontaveit in a tiebreaker.
Williams won the tiebreaker 7-4, closing it out with an ace to wrap up the first set in 1 hour, 5 minutes.
Williams had lost the only tiebreaker she played this year, to Harmony Tan at Wimbledon in her return to singles player after missing a year.
___
7:15 p.m.
Serena Williams is on the court, with one of the world’s top players standing on the other side of the net.
Williams is facing No. 2 Anett Kontaveit, who has won six career titles but never been past the fourth round of the U.S. Open.
Williams has won it six times, part of her 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
This could be her last major — or any — event, as she said recently she was preparing for the end of her tennis career.
___
6:35 p.m.
Serena Williams went through about a half-hour warmup session before her second-round match.
Williams used the same practice court Wednesday night that she did Monday before that victory.
This time, she crossed paths with her sister, Venus, who was using that court for doubles work ahead of their first-round match in that event, which is scheduled for Thursday night.
As Serena left after her hitting session, crowds cheered, and she paused to wave in their direction with her right hand as she checked her cell phone in her left.
___
6:25 p.m.
John Isner has withdrawn from the U.S. Open with a wrist injury, sending No. 28 seed Holger Rune into the third round with a walkover.
The 37-year-old Isner won his first-round match in straight sets Tuesday. The U.S. Tennis Association announced his withdrawal Wednesday night.
Rune took a set from Novak Djokovic last year in his U.S. Open debut. He will face No. 7 seed Cam Norrie or Joao Sousa in the third round.
___
3:40 p.m.
Serena and Venus Williams will play their first doubles match together since 2018 under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday night.
Their U.S. Open first-round contest against the Czech duo of Lucie Hradecka and Linda Noskova was scheduled to start at about 7 p.m., leading off the night session. That’s unusual because typically there are two singles matches held in the evenings at Ashe.
The Williams sisters have won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles as a team, including two at Flushing Meadows. Their last competition together was at the French Open four years ago.
___
1:15 p.m.
Coming off her trip to the Wimbledon finals, Ons Jabeur is hoping to finally make a run at the U.S. Open.
The No. 5 seed from Tunisia beat American Elizabeth Mandlik 7-5, 6-2 to reach the third round, where she has lost in each of the last three years.
It was Jabeur’s 40th win of the season. Only top-ranked Iga Swiatek has more.
She also played with Serena Williams in a doubles tournament before Wimbledon, where they reached the semifinals before having to withdraw because Jabeur had a knee injury.
Mandlik is the daughter of Hana Mandlikova, the 1985 U.S. Open champion.
___
11:15 a.m.
Singles and doubles play got Day 3 of the U.S. Open off to a busy start, though it was still eight hours before the match that was the center of attention.
Serena Williams is playing in the first night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, just as she was on the opening day of the tournament. She plays No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit of Estonia.
Williams began what could be the final tournament of her career by beating Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3 on Monday night.
Top-ranked Daniil Medvedev, the defending men’s champion, follows Williams against Arthur Rinderknech of France.
Early starters Wednesday included third-seeded Maria Sakkari, a semifinalist in Flushing Meadows last year, and No. 5 seed Ons Jabeur, the Wimbledon runner-up. Opening-round matches in men’s and women’s doubles were also on the court.
Past champion Andy Murray, 18-year-old Coco Gauff and Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios were also scheduled for day singles action.
Also playing at night is Bianca Andreescu, who is already the most recent women’s champion still left in the field. The 2019 winner, who beat Williams in the final, faces No. 15 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Defending champion Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka, the 2018 and 2020 winner, both lost Tuesday night.
___
More AP coverage of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-play-begins-on-day-3-with-serena-at-night-us-open-updates/ | 2022-09-01T10:39:05Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-play-begins-on-day-3-with-serena-at-night-us-open-updates/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Nicholas Fregona, 31st Comptroller Squadron financial analyst, builds an automation script to improve a process in his workplace during a Robotics Process Automation (RPA) Roadshow Course at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Aug. 25, 2022. RPA is designed to do manual heavy repetitive tasks in a much more timely and efficient manner. (U.S. Air Force by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder)
This work, Wyvern Spark hosts RPA Roadshow, Airmen automate, create [Image 8 of 8], by SrA Brooke Moeder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397689/wyvern-spark-hosts-rpa-roadshow-airmen-automate-create | 2022-09-01T10:39:16Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397689/wyvern-spark-hosts-rpa-roadshow-airmen-automate-create | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK (AP) — Serena Williams can call it “evolving” or “retiring” or whatever she wants. And she can be coy about whether or not this U.S. Open will actually mark the end of her playing days. Those 23 Grand Slam titles earned that right.
If she keeps playing like this, who knows how long this farewell will last?
No matter what happens once her trip to Flushing Meadows is over, here is what is important to know after Wednesday night: The 40-year-old Williams is still around, she’s still capable of terrific tennis, she’s still winning — and, like the adoring spectators whose roars filled Arthur Ashe Stadium again — she’s ready for more.
Williams eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the U.S. Open’s second round to ensure that she will play at least one more singles match at what she’s hinted will be the last tournament of her illustrious career.
“There’s still a little left in me,” Williams said with a smile during her on-court interview, then acknowledged during her post-match news conference: ”These moments are clearly fleeting.”
After beating 80th-ranked Danka Kovinic in straight sets Monday, then collecting her 23rd victory in her past 25 matches against someone ranked Nos. 1 or 2 against Kontaveit on Wednesday, the six-time champion at Flushing Meadows will play Friday for a spot in the fourth round.
Her opponent will be Ajla Tomljanovic, a 29-year-old Australian who is ranked 46th. They’ve never met, but Tomljanovic, who said she considers herself a Williams fan, figures she knows what to anticipate from the American — and from those in the seats.
“I was playing on Court 7 both of my matches so far at the same time as her, and I could hear the crowd. I’m like, ‘Court 7 isn’t that close.’ I kept thinking, ‘Oh, my God, that’s annoying me and I’m not even playing against her,’” Tomljanovic said. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”
Making Williams’ potential path possibly simpler if she can get past Tomljanovic: 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez and 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova both lost.
On Wednesday, Williams hit serves at up to 119 mph, stayed with Kontaveit during lengthy exchanges of big swings from the baselines and conjured up some of her trademark brilliance when it was needed most.
After pulling out a tight first set, then faltering in the second, Williams headed to the locker room for a bathroom break before the third.
Something had to give, someone had to blink.
When they resumed, it was Williams who lifted her level and emerged as the better player.
Just as she’s done so many times, on so many stages, with so much at stake.
“I’m just Serena. After I lost the second set, I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness, I better give my best effort because this could be it,’” Williams said, surely echoing the thoughts of everyone paying any attention.
“I never get to play like this — since ’98, really,” she said. “Literally, I’ve had an ‘X’ on my back since ’99,” the year she claimed her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open at age 17.
Whatever rust accumulated when Williams missed about a year of action before returning to the tour in late June appears to have vanished. She was 1-3 in 2022 entering the U.S. Open.
“Now it’s kind of coming together,” Williams said. “I mean, it had to come together today.”
Williams has doubles to play, too. She and her sister, Venus, have won 14 major championships as a team and will begin that event Thursday night.
Kontaveit, a 26-year-old from Estonia, is a powerful hitter in her own right, the sort that spread across women’s tennis over the past two decades after a pair of siblings from Compton, California, changed the game.
But there’s a caveat attached to Kontaveit’s ranking: She has never won so much as one quarterfinal match at any Grand Slam tournament in 30 career appearances.
So maybe that’s why, much like with Kovinic 48 hours earlier, Williams’ opponent was introduced just by her name, and Kontaveit walked out to a smattering of applause. Williams, in contrast, got the full treatment: highlight video, a listing of her many accolades and a loud greeting from folks part of the largest U.S. Open attendance ever at a night session, 29,959, eclipsing the record set Monday.
“It was her moment,” said Kontaveit, who began crying during the Estonian portion of her news conference and cut it short. “Of course, this is totally about her.”
As strident a competitor as tennis, or any sport, has seen, as rightly self-confident in her abilities as any athlete, Williams was not about to think of this whole exercise as merely a celebration of her career.
She came to New York wanting to win, of course.
Wearing the same glittery crystal-encrusted top and diamond-accented sneakers — replete with solid gold shoelace tags and the word “Queen” on the right one, “Mama” on the left — that she sported Monday, Williams was ready for prime time.
The match began with Kontaveit grabbing the first five points, Williams the next five. And on they went, back and forth. Kontaveit’s mistakes were cheered — even faults, drawing an admonishment for the crowd from chair umpire Alison Hughes about making noise between serves.
Early in the third set, Kontaveit hit a cross-court forehand that caught the outermost edge of a sideline. A video on the stadium screens showed just how close it was, confirming that the ball did, indeed, land in. That brought out boos from the stands. Williams raised her arm and wagged a finger, telling her backers not to cause a fuss.
If anything, Kontaveit received more acknowledgment from the player trying to defeat her than anyone else, as Williams would respond to great shots with a nod or a racket clap.
“They were not rooting against me. They just wanted Serena to win so bad,” Kontaveit said, calling the treatment she received “fair,” even if it was “something I never experienced before.”
Williams broke for a 5-4 edge when Kontaveit pushed a backhand long, spurring yelling spectators to rise to their feet — and Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, jumped right in, too, waving his arms in her direction, in front of where Venus and Tiger Woods were two seats apart.
Eventually they went to a tiebreaker, and at 3-3, a chant of “Let’s go, Serena!” broke out, accompanied by rhythmic clapping. Soon, Williams delivered a 101 mph service winner and a 91 mph ace to seal that set.
To Kontaveit’s credit, she raced to a 3-0 edge in the second with 10 winners and zero unforced errors.
In the third, after a swinging forehand volley winner put Williams a game from victory, she raised both arms, then clenched her left fist.
One game, and five minutes later, it was over — and her stay at the U.S. Open could proceed.
Asked whether she’s a title contender, Williams answered: “I can not think that far. I’m having fun and I’m enjoying it.”
___
More AP coverage of U.S. Open tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/us-open-tennis-championships and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-serena-williams-plays-no-2-seed-kontavei-in-us-open-round-2/ | 2022-09-01T10:39:19Z | wspa.com | control | https://www.wspa.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-serena-williams-plays-no-2-seed-kontavei-in-us-open-round-2/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Tech. Sgt. Dauntee Harris, 31st Maintenance Group NCOIC of database management, right, presents his automation bot to Aviano Air Base leadership at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Aug. 26, 2022. Harris’s automation bot, “2R0 Analysis,” could automate daily, weekly and monthly reports to eliminate outdated procedures and reduce each report’s preparation time. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder)
This work, Wyvern Spark hosts RPA Roadshow, Airmen automate, create [Image 8 of 8], by SrA Brooke Moeder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397693/wyvern-spark-hosts-rpa-roadshow-airmen-automate-create | 2022-09-01T10:39:41Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397693/wyvern-spark-hosts-rpa-roadshow-airmen-automate-create | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A Robotics Process Automation Roadshow Course instructor teaches students participating in the class at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Aug. 25, 2022. The Wyvern Spark Innovation Cell hosted the RPA Roadshow Course Aug. 22-26 at Aviano AB, which was also the first time the course was conducted in U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa. (U.S. Air Force by Senior Airman Brooke Moeder)
This work, Wyvern Spark hosts RPA Roadshow, Airmen automate, create [Image 8 of 8], by SrA Brooke Moeder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397695/wyvern-spark-hosts-rpa-roadshow-airmen-automate-create | 2022-09-01T10:39:53Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397695/wyvern-spark-hosts-rpa-roadshow-airmen-automate-create | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron takes off during exercise Point Blank 22-04 at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug 24, 2022. Point Blank is a recurring, low-cost exercise initiative designed to increase tactical proficiency of U.S., U.K. Ministry of Defense and other NATO forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gaspar Cortez)
This work, Point Blank 22-04 [Image 9 of 9], by SSgt Gaspar Cortez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397701/point-blank-22-04 | 2022-09-01T10:40:30Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/image/7397701/point-blank-22-04 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
When I got married in 1985, I went to the only bridal shop in town, picked a dress off the rack and called it good. It was an easier time, and the Princess Diana wedding look was all the rage, so basically any dress chosen would have been similar to that – there really were no other styles available.
However, I chose something a little different for my bridesmaids. They wore off-the-shoulder dresses with hoops underneath their skirts. Looking back, I think that was also something that was in, and I had the choice of peach, pink, lavender, or pale blue. I chose peach. The hoops were a no-brainer. Of course they were going to be wearing hoops… why not? They kind of looked like a bunch of young Southern Belles swishing down the aisle.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | http://www.timescitizen.com/opinion/loring-on-the-hunt-for-the-perfect-dress/article_e8013fde-288b-11ed-996e-977710a11af4.html | 2022-09-01T10:44:49Z | timescitizen.com | control | http://www.timescitizen.com/opinion/loring-on-the-hunt-for-the-perfect-dress/article_e8013fde-288b-11ed-996e-977710a11af4.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Lisbon: The tragic death of a pregnant Indian woman in Portugal while being shifted between crisis-hit hospitals here has led to the resignation of the country's health minister Marta Temido, while authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
The 34-year-old Indian woman reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest during an ambulance transfer from Santa Maria hospital, which had no vacancies in the neonatology service, to another hospital in the capital.
It follows a string of incidents this summer that critics blame on a staffing crisis across Portuguese natal units, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
Temido had been the health minister since 2018, and is credited with steering Portugal through the COVID-19 pandemic.
But on Tuesday, the government said in a statement that Temido had "realised that she no longer had the conditions to remain in office".
Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa said the woman's death was "the last straw" that led to Temido's resignation, the report quoted Portugal's Lusa news agency as saying. "I am grateful for all the work carried out by Dr. Marta Temido, especially in the exceptional period of combating the COVID19 pandemic.
The @govpt continue the ongoing reforms with a view to strengthening the SNS and improving healthcare provided to the Portuguese," Costa, an Indian-origin leader, said in a tweet.
His remarks came after a storm of criticism over the Portuguese government's handling of staff shortages in maternity units, by temporarily closing some of them and forcing pregnant women to undergo risky transfers between hospitals.
Local media reported that the pregnant tourist died while being moved from Lisbon's Santa Maria Hospital - the largest in Portugal - because its neonatology unit was full. Her baby was delivered in good health following an emergency caesarean section, authorities said.
An investigation into the woman's death has been launched, the report said. There have been similar incidents across Portugal in recent months - including the separate deaths of two infants whose mothers had apparently been transferred between hospitals and endured long delays, it said.
Portugal's shortage of health staff, especially those specialising in gynaecology and obstetrics, has led to the government considering hiring from abroad.
The closure of some natal units has led to overflowing maternity wards and long wait times, with opposition parties, doctors and nurses pointing blame at the former health minister.
Speaking to local outlet RTP, the chair of the Portuguese doctors association Miguel Guimaraes said Temido quit because she did not have any way of resolving the current crisis - before going on to praise her record in office.
However, Gustavo Tato Borges, the president of Portugal's public health association, told RTP he did not expect her resignation, and was "surprised" that she had stepped down while there are "acute problems" in the health sector. | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/world/2022/09/01/portugal-health-minister-quits-pregnant-indian-dies.html | 2022-09-01T10:44:53Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/news/world/2022/09/01/portugal-health-minister-quits-pregnant-indian-dies.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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After seeing the 30 agents sent to the past president’s home, many Americans like myself realize how desperate the establishment must be to keep President Trump from being re-elected in 2024.
Seeing the direction the country is going, we know it is not for the betterment of the citizens, therefore more people realize President Trump must be re-elected to continue to drain the swamp.
The American people no longer believe what we are told and what we read, knowing many of the elected officials no longer have the people’s interest as their top priority, as has been proven when the Democrats rule our United States federal government.
— Rosalie Hines, San Clemente
Risks of forever chemicals
Re “‘Forever chemicals’ called hazardous risk” (Aug. 27):
Matthew Daly’s article for the Associated Press failed to clearly address for readers whether there is any health issue with the use of the products manufactured with PFOA and PFOS chemicals, i.e., non-stick cookware. It has been my understanding that the EPA’s concern is with the storage and use of the chemicals, but not with the end use of the products. Your readers should be provided the full story.
— John Redner, Long Beach
The greens vs. common sense
Re “‘The Green war on clean energy” (Aug. 28):
I’m glad Zion Lights had her Paul on the road to Damascus moment. I suspect it is exhilarating and as such seductive to think one is saving the world. It reminds me of the joke about the post Vatican II joke about liturgists: “What’s the difference between a liturgist and a terrorist?”
“You can negotiate with a terrorist.”
I say it’s Davos kids with the bit in their teeth who think they are going to fight Mother Nature and win. Well, I don’t know how you tell her to keep the days sunny and the wind blowing 24-7. Davos’ foot soldiers are people who get high on the moral superiority of saving the world. Lord knows we are still reckoning with the edicts of Mary Nichols. Not to mention the looniness of sweaty pile urban planning and cattle car transportation as our betters tool around in their EVs.
It’s heartening to see that the rabid can have a moment of reflection. Hope springs eternal.
— Mary Emily Smiley, Lawndale
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The SoCal Indie Bestseller List for the sales week ended Aug. 28 is based on reporting from the independent booksellers of Southern California, the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound. For an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.org.
HARDCOVER FICTION
1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow: Gabrielle Zevin
2. Heat 2: Michael Mann, Meg Gardiner
3. Babel: R. F. Kuang
4. Mercury Pictures Presents: Anthony Marra
5. Lessons in Chemistry: Bonnie Garmus
6. Portrait of an Unknown Woman: Daniel Silva
7. The It Girl: Ruth Ware
8. The Last White Man: Mohsin Hamid
9. Elizabeth Finch: Julian Barnes
10. The Midnight Library: Matt Haig
HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. Crying in H Mart: A Memoir: Michelle Zauner
2. Happy-Go-Lucky: David Sedaris
3. Bad City: Peril and Power in the City of Angels: Paul Pringle
4. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: James Clear
5. The World’s Worst Assistant: Sona Movsesian
6. Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe: David Maraniss
7. The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F—: Mark Manson
8. All Signs Point To Paris: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Destiny: Natasha Sizlo
9. California Soul: An American Epic of Cooking and Survival: Keith Corbin, Kevin Alexander
10. A Place in the World: Finding the Meaning of Home: Frances Mayes
MASS MARKET
1. Lord of the Flies: William Golding
2. Animal Farm: George Orwell
3. The Way of Kings: Brandon Sanderson
4. Fire & Blood: George R. R. Martin
5. Heartbreaker: Sarah MacLean
6. Ruby Fever: Ilona Andrews
7. Jurassic Park: Michael Crichton
8. Mistborn: The Final Empire: Brandon Sanderson
9. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Douglas Adams
10. Dune: Frank Herbert
TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION
1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo: Taylor Jenkins Reid
2. Love on the Brain: Ali Hazelwood
3. Circe: Madeline Miller
4. Verity: Colleen Hoover
5. It Ends with Us: Colleen Hoover
6. Malibu Rising: Taylor Jenkins Reid
7. Where the Crawdads Sing: Delia Owens
8. The Thursday Murder Club: Richard Osman
9. My Year of Rest and Relaxation: Ottessa Moshfegh
10. Normal People: Sally Rooney
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The San Francisco-based ridesharing company Lyft is facing 17 new lawsuits brought by users of its service from around the country, who claim the company failed to protect passengers and drivers from physical and sexual assault.
Of the lawsuits, 14 were from people who said they were sexually assaulted while using Lyft, and three said they were physically assaulted. At a news conference to announce the lawsuits, five of the plaintiffs shared their stories.
Stella Grant, a former Lyft driver from Chicago, described how an intoxicated passenger attacked her after Grant tried to confirm the rider's identity in August of 2020.
"She quickly began abusing me verbally and physically," Grant said. "She was really violent with me while I was driving. She cursed at me and punched at my head and my face and back."
Grant said that, after the assault, she was left bleeding and had to go to the emergency room. Doctors recommended she receive physical therapy, but she said that she couldn't afford it; after losing her job at the start of the pandemic, she had been relying on Lyft to support her family.
Responding to the allegations presented in the lawsuits, a spokesperson for Lyft said the company is "committed to helping keep drivers and riders safe."
"While safety incidents on our platform are incredibly rare, we realize that even one is too many. Our goal is to make every Lyft ride as safe as possible, and we will continue to take action and invest in technology, policies and partnerships to do so," the spokesperson said.
Katherine Rasta, a passenger from Phoenix, said she was sexually assaulted in June of 2021. Her driver made unwanted sexual advances throughout the drive, she said, and once they arrived at her destination, he locked the car doors and sexually assaulted her.
"Then he told me, 'This is our little secret. Don't tell anyone. Remember, I know where you live, and I know where your friends live now. I doubt you'll want any trouble, right?'" Rasta said.
All of the drivers and passengers said Lyft did practically nothing to help them after they reported their assaults, other than telling them they were sorry for their experience and that they would suspend the account of the driver or passenger who assaulted them. Two drivers said Lyft offered them a few hundred dollars after they reported their assaults, but did not follow up with them afterward.
Attorneys and victims called on Lyft to make its service safer by installing cameras inside of all Lyft vehicles, conducting biometric fingerprint scans and background checks for drivers, and eliminating a policy that allows users to order a Lyft ride for someone else.
Adam Wolf, one of the attorneys representing the Lyft users, said it was clear that the company did not care about its passengers or drivers.
"The thing Lyft is most concerned about protecting is its own profit margins," Wolf said.
Attorneys also claimed that Lyft's policy on not sharing user information after an assault without a court order creates a major obstacle to even the most basic criminal investigations or civil protective orders.
"Lyft is on the side of the perpetrators, not the victims," Wolf said.
A Lyft spokesperson accused attorneys at the conference of making false and misleading claims about the company's safety policies. The representative noted that over 99% of rides occur without a safety report, that the company requires yearly background checks for drivers, and that it cooperates with all law enforcement investigations when presented with a valid request. The spokesperson also said all drivers are required to take a community safety education course before driving.
The new lawsuits come three years after 14 women filed a lawsuit against Lyft claiming that, after being sexually assaulted or raped by drivers, Lyft failed to take action even when it was aware of drivers who were accused of assault and purposefully ignored victims' reports.
In 2021, Lyft revealed it had received over 4,000 reports of sexual assault from its users between 2017 and 2019. That report also showed that instances of sexual assault increased year after year, and included 360 total reports of non-consensual sexual penetration and 2,300 reports of "non-consensual touching of a sexual body part."
The plaintiffs in these most recent lawsuits said that the physical and psychological toll of their assaults is still fresh. Some said they pulled away from loved ones, and several reported having PTSD.
Amy Collins, a Lyft driver from Napa, Calif., said she was sexually assaulted in March of 2020 and described the outcome she wanted from the lawsuit.
"I hope that sharing my story, and my trauma, will get Lyft to care about the people who use its platform," Collins said.
Copyright 2022 Texas Public Radio | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/2022-09-01/new-lawsuits-say-lyft-failed-to-protect-its-users-from-physical-and-sexual-assault | 2022-09-01T10:58:23Z | klcc.org | control | https://www.klcc.org/npr-top-stories/2022-09-01/new-lawsuits-say-lyft-failed-to-protect-its-users-from-physical-and-sexual-assault | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Members from the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron ammo unit talk about their contribution to the fight while on deployment to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, August 18, 2022. The Airmen talk about their importance to the Air Force and how they need to have munitions ready when needed at any time. (U.S. Air Force Video by Staff Sgt. Ashley N. Mikaio)
This work, 386th EAMXS AMMO-Arming the Warfighter, by SSgt Ashley Mikaio, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright. | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/856000/386th-eamxs-ammo-arming-warfighter | 2022-09-01T11:00:56Z | dvidshub.net | control | https://www.dvidshub.net/video/856000/386th-eamxs-ammo-arming-warfighter | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NORFOLK, Va. — To get a pulse on the state of crime in our country, you could talk to police or politicians or speak to those who have experienced it firsthand.
We chose the ladder.
Meet Cameron Bertrand and Dorion Jackson.
"It took me two years to come to this exact spot," Bertrand said in a recent interview.
This intersection near Norfolk State University in Virginia may not mean much to you, but for these best friends, it's the place that changed their lives.
"The police never caught the person who shot us," Bertrand added.
Back in 2015 — this is where a thief shot the pair. The duo was leaving a homecoming event nearby.
"We hear the gun cock," Bertrand recalled.
"He had the gun pointed at us, and he said, 'you know what time it is — running,'" Bertrand said.
"For those that don't know what that means — it means to empty your pockets," Bertrand said.
We are having a conversation not to recall their injuries or catch the shooter but to learn their perspective about the state of crime today.
"Has gun violence gotten worse?" our Joe St. George asked Bertrand.
"Yes, it has," Bertrand said.
"They call this shark city – because the mindset for most people is eat or be eaten," Bertrand added.
"When I saw his eyes, I knew that was something he didn't want to do because he was trembling," Jackson added.
Both men have worked to move past the crime by creating non-profits and a survivor network.
For instance, Bertrand started VIP, Violence Intervention and Prevention, to help teens and their families. He also launched a resource center to help survivors of gun violence.
CRIME ON THE RISE
Cities like Denver, Milwaukee, and Baltimore could all shatter their homicide records in 2022.
While not every city is seeing a spike in crime, with the midterm election on the horizon, indicating violence is a top issue on voters' minds.
Democrats and Republicans are scrambling to get it under control.
President Joe Biden delivered a speech on Tuesday calling for more police funding.
Last month, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida suspended a prosecutor in the Tampa area over concerns he was being too soft on criminals.
So how do Republicans and Democrats differ when it comes to crime response?
Leaders in both parties appear supportive of increases in funding to hire police.
President Biden wants to hire 100,000 new officers.
Both parties are also interested in violence prevention programs too.
But that's where the similarities end.
Republicans, if they take back control of Congress, want to focus on stricter penalties for breaking the law.
Democrats, meanwhile, want to focus on gun control to limit the guns on America's streets.
As for more police — Jackson and Bertrand say it has to be done right.
If new recruits don't know or care about the communities they serve — in their view — little will change.
Trust and hope remain a big issue in some of our country's most violent areas.
"There has to be a rapport before you can actually come in and serve," Bertrand said.
"We have good young people who don't want to carry guns but feel like they have to," Bertrand added. | https://www.katc.com/news/national-politics/heres-how-democrats-republicans-differ-when-it-comes-to-crime-response | 2022-09-01T11:01:10Z | katc.com | control | https://www.katc.com/news/national-politics/heres-how-democrats-republicans-differ-when-it-comes-to-crime-response | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HONOLULU-- Though nationwide overdoses are trending up, the CDC shows Hawaii has seen a 6.8 decrease in overdoses since the most recent count.
Supporters of 'Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center' hope there will be even fewer family members who have to face tragic outcomes in the current crisis.
Anika Martin said she struggled with resentment towards her father and his addiction. "It's because of this agency and the people in this field of work that I am able to no longer judge him for what he's done, but rather empower and appreciate his love he had for me to get the support he needed to this today," she said.
"This agency does truly does save lives and relationships," Martin added.
Advocacy also surrounds making sure police and firefighters are trained in administering Narcan nasal spray, which can reverse an overdose while occurring. The Honolulu Fire Department recently committed to having all firefighters trained in overdose prevention this year.
A lot of emphasis also has been on the dangers of fentanyl.
"Fentanyl on the street is increasing, and people don't know what is in their supply," Trisha Kajimura of 'Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center' told KITV, "So the number one thing that will help with drug use is reducing stigma."
"We really want people to be supportive and encouraging of people who want to seek treatment and recognize the value of every life. So that's the most important thing," she added.
Many events like the one at the capitol are being held around the globe, as Overdose Awareness day has become a multinational phenomena since its founding over twenty years ago.
Jeremy Lee joined KITV after over a decade & a half in broadcast news from coast to coast on the mainland. Jeremy most recently traveled the country documenting protests & civil unrest. | https://www.kitv.com/news/advocates-address-opioid-crisis-on-overdose-awareness-day/article_26488f54-29db-11ed-b5f8-6bdf69390cf6.html | 2022-09-01T11:02:13Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/advocates-address-opioid-crisis-on-overdose-awareness-day/article_26488f54-29db-11ed-b5f8-6bdf69390cf6.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
HONOLULU-HI (KITV-4) The Hawaiʻi Abortion Collective and State legislators held a press conference on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol to launch the first official abortion guide for Hawaiʻi. In the wake of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the group hopes to make access to abortion across Hawaiʻi a reality for all.
And an organizer says she personally needed the guide so she could get an abortion.
HONOLULU (KITV-4) The Hawaiʻi Abortion Collective and state legislators held a press conference on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol to launch the first official abortion guide for Hawaiʻi. In the wake of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the group hopes to make access to abortion across Hawaiʻi a reality for all.
And an organizer says she personally needed the guide so she could get an abortion.
Khara Jabola-Carolus has been helping women for more than 10 years as the Executive Director of the State Commission on Status of Women. When Jabola-Carolus discovered she needed to get an abortion about a week ago, she realized the stark lack of resources.
"When I found out that I needed to have an abortion, I didn’t know much about how to get one," says Jabola-Carolus. "When you find out you are pregnant, and need an abortion -- it's one of the hardest moments of your life. And what makes it so hard, you feel so lonely. Because we’re not supposed to talk about it. There’s no one you can run to and tell you it will be ok. But finally Hawaii has created a place like that and that is what this guide is about. And if I helped me so much I can’t imagine how much comfort it’s going to bring to women and girls across the islands. “
Faith leaders also joined to end the social stigma of abortion access. Rev Malia Galindo, United Church of Christ says, “I am a Christian and I support abortion rights. Accessing life saving health care is not a sin.”
"What we are hearing from healthcare providers is panic and confusion in our community," says Rep. Linda Ichiyama (D).
Many of the questions people have include, "What is a woman’s legal rights in Hawaii? How do I access reproductive health care and what does that mean in terms of cost transportation and child care? And this guide is an all in one access in one place so that people people can readily find this information. And make an informed decision.”
Dr. Tracy Chen, Queen’s Medical Center, “That is why we will fight to keep abortion legal and safe in Hawaii we hope that this guide put together by the Hawaii Abortion Collective helps combat the misinformation that is so prevalent online and in the community so that everyone knows that abortion in Hawaii is legal safe and available.
Representative Ichiyama says lawmakers will work on possible protective orders that might be necessary if local health care providers are asked to treat out of state patients.
Cynthia is an award-winning journalist who returned to Hawaii as an Anchor/Reporter/MMJ from Houston. She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii with a B.A. and M.B.A. DM her on IG @CynthiaYipTV to share stories. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/activists-and-religious-leaders-come-together-to-create-states-first-abortion-guide/article_332b9e8c-29ae-11ed-b547-4f363ce6bffa.html | 2022-09-01T11:02:19Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/activists-and-religious-leaders-come-together-to-create-states-first-abortion-guide/article_332b9e8c-29ae-11ed-b547-4f363ce6bffa.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Demonstrators lined the state capitol today to bring awareness to the opioid crisis in Hawaii -- to recognize August 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day.
A representative from Hawaii health and harm reduction center says, given rising numbers of overdoses nationwide, society at large needs to be more aware. And that includes first responders treating overdose situations.
Though nationwide overdoses are trending up, the CDC shows Hawaii has seen a 6.8 decrease in overdoses since the most recent count. Supporters of Hawaii health and harm reduction center help family members affected by the crisis avoid becoming part of the tragic count of those who have not survived.
Advocacy focuses on making sure police and firefighters are trained in administering Narcan. The Honolulu Fire Department recently committed to having all firefighters trained in overdose prevention this year. A lot of emphasis was also focused on the danger of fentanyl.
Still, 75% of opioid misuse is from people using that have no prescription. It is a problem in Hawaii -- the state is among a half dozen which the number of fatal overdoses has gone down.
--
For resources regarding a substance use disorder, talk to a doctor, or call SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or go to SAMHSA's Behavioral Health Treatment Services. | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/hawaii-residents-and-leaders-raise-awareness-for-international-overdose-awareness-day/article_7fbf6e1c-29dc-11ed-8158-e368d830d813.html | 2022-09-01T11:02:25Z | kitv.com | control | https://www.kitv.com/news/local/hawaii-residents-and-leaders-raise-awareness-for-international-overdose-awareness-day/article_7fbf6e1c-29dc-11ed-8158-e368d830d813.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
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There is no lasting relief for stocks so far this week as the selling continues for another day. European indices are pressured lower today alongside US futures, which look set to make for a rough open once Wall Street gets out of bed later in a few hours. The technicals are also not looking too pretty so that's a warning sign as well (DAX and S&P 500). Here's a snapshot of the situation at the moment:
- Eurostoxx -1.3%
- DAX -1.2%
- CAC 40 -1.3%
- UK FTSE -1.4%
- S&P 500 futures -0.7%
- Nasdaq futures -1.0%
- Dow futures -0.5% | https://www.forexlive.com/news/equities-stay-under-pressure-so-far-on-the-day-20220901/ | 2022-09-01T11:02:45Z | forexlive.com | control | https://www.forexlive.com/news/equities-stay-under-pressure-so-far-on-the-day-20220901/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Dubai: Architect of India's 40-run win over Hong Kong, Suryakumar Yadav was left humbled by the "heartwarming" gesture from Virat Kohli who bowed to his compatriot following his sensational knock in the Asia Cup here on Wednesday.
Suryakumar smashed six sixes and as many fours in his sizzling 26-ball unbeaten 68 against Hong Kong to help India grab a place in the Super Four stage.
His sensational innings overshadow the 44-ball unbeaten 59 by Kohli, who bowed to Suryakumar in appreciation and also looked towards the dressing room, saying 'kya hai yeh' (what is this man?) after the Indian innings.
"It was a heartwarming gesture from Virat Kohli. I have never experienced it. I was wondering why he wasn't walking ahead and then when I realised, I asked him to walk together. He is much more experienced than me," Suryakumar said in the post-match press conference.
Suryakumar added 98 runs with Kohli to lift India to 192/2.
"I enjoyed a lot batting with him. We were talking a lot how to go about in the next few balls. He is such an experienced (player) and I haven't played many T20Is. So having the experience at that stage in the middle was crucial."
Put in to bat, openers Rohit Sharma and K L Rahul failed to convert their starts but Kohli held the innings together, scoring his first international half-century in more than six months.
However, it was Suryakumar, who provided the much-needed impetus in the back-10 as he reached his fifty off just 22 balls.
"The situation was such that I had to go to the crease and play fast. Because the wicket was a little slow in the starting, I talked to Virat Kohli, he said 'just express yourself and do as you bat'. My plan was also very clear on how to bat so it was fun.” | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/01/it-was-a-heartwarming-gesture-from-virat-kohli-suryakumar-yadav-video.html | 2022-09-01T11:06:40Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/01/it-was-a-heartwarming-gesture-from-virat-kohli-suryakumar-yadav-video.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Mumbai: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar will lead defending champions India Legends in the second edition of the Road Safety World Series (RSWS), the organisers announced on Thursday.
The 22-day tournament starting on September 10 will be played across various venues.
The tournament opener will be held in Kanpur while Raipur will host the two semifinals and the final, which will be held on October 1. Other venues include Indore and Dehradun.
New Zealand Legends are the new entrants this edition and they will join India, Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and England during the event played primarily to create awareness towards road safety in the country and around the globe.
The RSWS is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Information and Technology and Youth Affairs and Sports of the Government of India. | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/01/sachin-tendulkar-to-lead-india-legends.amp.html | 2022-09-01T11:06:46Z | onmanorama.com | control | https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/cricket/2022/09/01/sachin-tendulkar-to-lead-india-legends.amp.html | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Epic adventure: Monroe family returns from 10-month boat trip
The Wright family just returned from an epic adventure.
For 10 1/2 months, David and Amy Wright of Monroe and their two children traveled more than 7,000 miles along the Great Loop in their 42-foot Nordic tug boat.
The self-paced journey included areas of the U.S., Canada, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, New York State Canals, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico and the southern tip of Florida. The family returned in early July, completing a journey few finish.
“Approximately 150 boats complete the Great Loop each year, making it a feat more unique than swimming the English Channel or climbing Mount Everest,” America’s Great Loop Cruisers’ Association said.
“We never left with any expectation that we wouldn’t finish,” David said.
The trip had been something the family talked about for more than 20 years.
“We learned about the program during the Sept. 11 incident. I saw a book about the Great Loop. I really wanted to do it. I talked to my wife. We fantasied about it for years,” David said.
But, they put it off until recently, when COVID and an awareness of the passing of time pushed them into action.
“We were seeing people getting older. We thought, we can’t keep putting this off. Our daughter is a senior. We wanted one more family bonding trip before the kids start going away,” David said.
So, he and Amy took leaves from their jobs. Their children, Annabelle, now 18, and Max, 15, did their schoolwork from the boat.
“After COVID, we thought we couldn’t mess up the school schedule any more than COVID did,” David said. “Meadow Montessori gave us all the books and workbooks. (With unpredictable weather) we couldn’t do the online thing.”
The Wrights departed from Monroe Boat Club last summer and returned to Monroe July 8.
“We left at the end of August last year. Our usual vacations were two to three weeks. We had never done anything of this length,” David said. “We traveled through Lake Erie, Lake Huron, under the Mackinac Bridge, Lake Michigan, through Chicago, the Illinois River, Mississippi River, Teton, Mobile, Ala., the Florida panhandle, Tarpon Springs, Florida Keys, Bahamas, the East Coast, New York Harbor, the Erie Canal and back home. We enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun.”
The family slept on the boat most nights. During inclement weather, they stayed in hotels. They encountered relatively few problems along the way.
“In the Bahamas, we got a hole in an exhaust elbow. We had to get a new one fabricated, but there was a stainless steel shortage. We just got it back. We bandaged up the old one,” David said.
Another time, lock maintenance sidetracked the voyage for about a week. Their children also missed seeing peers. Most of the other boaters are retired. “There were not a lot of kids,” David said.
The family only returned home once, for an issue with David’s family.
“You’re reasonably close to be able to get a rental car. It just takes a little more planning,” David said.
Before leaving, the family attended a conference about traveling the Great Loop. They attended a second while on the trip.
“People come in who did the Loop. They help you with route planning and tell you what to watch out for, what a day might look like. They give advice on when to avoid the sun. They tell you what you don’t want to miss, like Mile High Apple Pie and the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Ky. There’s a bunch of stops they suggest,” David said. “There is a virtual option, but in-person is more fun. You meet people who want to go. They are genuinely excited to be there.”
David grew up with boats, but Amy did not. The couple bought their first boat together 14 years ago in New Jersey.
“We brought it through the English Channel,” David said.
Since then, he’s taken a few Power Squadron boating classes and some course-charting classes in the Bahamas. Other than that, he’s self-taught.
“You figure it out,” he said.
David recommends those interested in traveling the Great Loop, just take the trip.
“If you want to do it, just do it. Don’t overthink it. You’ll figure it out along the way,” he said.
Now that's he's completed the Great Loop, David already has a new goal in mind.
“Circumnavigation is next. I want to sailboat around the world,” he said.
To learn more about the Great Loop trip, contact America’s Great Loop Cruisers' Association at (843) 879-5042 or krusso@GreatLoop.org. On the Net: www.GreatLoop.org. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/2022/09/01/epic-adventure-monroe-family-returns-from-10-month-boat-trip/10297328002/ | 2022-09-01T11:07:00Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/2022/09/01/epic-adventure-monroe-family-returns-from-10-month-boat-trip/10297328002/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Old Salvation Army store becomes seasonal Spirit Halloween site
The defunct Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center in Monroe will become a Spirit Halloween location this spooky season.
Located in Frenchtown Charter Township just off of the intersection of Mall and Telegraph Roads and behind where the new Chick-fil-A restaurant is being built, the store closed its doors in late April. A Salvation Army representative told The Monroe News at the time that the closure was due to costly operations that drain the nonprofit’s resources, and that the COVID-19 pandemic had only exacerbated these issues.
Earlier report:Salvation Army Family Store closing in Monroe
Signs posted on the windows of the building currently advertise that the location will become a Spirit Halloween soon, and that the store is hiring. The store locator page on SpiritHalloween.com indicates that the location will open sometime this month, but no specific date is indicated. According to the website, the 39-year-old Halloween retailer currently has over 1,400 locations across the United States.
While the Salvation Army no longer has a thrift store in Monroe, others are still operating at 3004 Van Horn Road in Trenton, 14275 Eureka Road in Southgate, and 9850 Telegraph Road in Taylor. There are also other charity and thrift operations in Monroe, including Damascus House ReSale Shop, Goodwill, and the Oaks of Righteousness' Oaks Village. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/old-salvation-army-store-becomes-spirit-halloween-for-fall/65465973007/ | 2022-09-01T11:07:06Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/old-salvation-army-store-becomes-spirit-halloween-for-fall/65465973007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Summer in St. Mary's: Final Line Dance of summer scheduled for Sept. 6
Suzanne Nolan Wisler
The Monroe News
The final Line Dance of this summer will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6 on the tennis court at the park, 111 W. Elm Ave.
Admission is free. Line Dancing is offered by the City of Monroe’s Parks and Recreation department. Four other Line Dances were held this summer.
“Line dancing went well Aug. 16,” Amy Mason, recreation programmer for the Parks and Recreation department, said. “I believe we had close to 50 people. The next one should be similar to the others, with new and experienced welcome.”
Instructors Denise and Kathy will lead dances and add some new ones. Recorded music is played.
People of all ages are welcome. Attendees should bring water. Registration is not necessary. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/summer-in-st-marysfinal-line-dance-of-summer-sept-6/65417793007/ | 2022-09-01T11:07:12Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/news/local/2022/09/01/summer-in-st-marysfinal-line-dance-of-summer-sept-6/65417793007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Parenting has become far more safety conscious
As I have considered many of the root causes for the current economic, political, religious and social situation, I have not mentioned, nor have I seen much mention from others, of a basic influence on members of society — to wit, how they were brought up.
Parents, for good or ill, are critically important for the development of the adult. Perhaps that seems too obvious to invite comment, but to ignore parenting is to assume that not much has changed in basic parenting over the years.
I think that is most incorrect.
I am old enough (80 this Nov. 5) to have meaningfully interacted with parents over four generations. The way they have raised their children has undergone massive and basic alterations which cannot but have profound impacts on the next generation so raised. One of my wonderments, for example, is how passive and submissive citizens of this nation have become. The recent reactions, or lack of them, to the incredible removal of freedoms in the name of COVID-19 absolutely astounded me. It would have been inconceivable to have had such restrictions when I was growing up. It wasn’t because there were no deadly diseases around back in the ’50s. Polio, before the vaccine, was frighteningly present, but life went on. All sorts of infectious airborne germs were about in the land, but not a mask in sight. Social distancing? Don’t be absurd.
Bicycles were just as dangerous then as they are now — to which I can personally attest — but to have worn a helmet or other protective gear would have invited ridicule.
My brother and I were shooed out to play. Unsupervised. Climbing trees. Shooting our BB guns, or later my rifle, unsupervised. Just told to be careful and think what you’re doing. Sports, and other group activities, were self-actuated by the kids involved. (Little League baseball was the one sport usually organized and adult supervised, but even then pickup games were common.) Real fireworks, the kind that can blow your fingers off if you’re not careful, shot off by the hundreds every Fourth of July, unsupervised — except when Dad was out with us shooting off his share, sometimes demonstrating the fun, but dangerous, practices he employed when a kid. I still have 10 fingers.
But, as the generations succeed one another, parenting has become far more health and safety conscious. Unsupervised activities have become ever rarer. Sports are more pervasive and always organized to a “T.” Wandering woods, fields, neighborhoods and such-like is increasingly forbidden, and any parent being so careless is in danger of being reported to child welfare.
Therefore, from earliest ages, children are being surrounded with authority, taught to obey, and taught to be very afraid of all the myriad risks out there, lest that child should wind up with his picture on a milk carton.
To go along with the acquiescence to authority for the sake of security, there is the training in entitlement. Authority, whether parental, or in the schools, or in the community, will take care of you. You will be fed, clothed and provided with whatever needs you might have, from cradle to grave. That is your birthright. When I was being brought up, my father told me, “You make your bed, you lie in it.” When I turned 18, I was on my own. If I wanted to go to college, I paid for it. My father, and his father before him, faced the same adult decisions at the same age. We all did fine, more or less.
But that was then, and this is now. A child taught to trust and obey, taught authority will protect him from dangers, taught that same authority will provide for his needs, is not going to be an adult who holds freedom in high regard. We are taught to abhor slavery, but when the shackles are put on ever so gradually, and covered in velvet, somehow staying in Egypt as a Hebrew slave doesn’t seem so bad after all.
Charles Milliken is a professor emeritus after 22 years of teaching economics and related subjects at Siena Heights University. He can be reached at milliken.charles@gmail.com. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/09/01/charles-milliken-parenting-more-safety-conscious/65462439007/ | 2022-09-01T11:07:18Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/09/01/charles-milliken-parenting-more-safety-conscious/65462439007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It's Congress's job to investigate the Jan. 6 violence
I'm writing this to clear up misconceptions of why there is a need for a Jan. 6, 2021, Congress investigation.
The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many presidential appointments and substantial investigative powers.
The Fairness Doctrine of 1968 is no longer relevant. In June 1987, bipartisan congressional legislation renewed it and President Ronald Reagan vetoed it. Why didn’t Congress override the veto? They had the votes!
I remember the horrendous McCarthy hearings in 1950s but the Jan. 6, 2021, hearings are very different; people who testify today are treated humanely with courtesy and respect. The House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings ruined lives, destroyed careers and even led to suicides.
I answered the door when the FBI came to my home asking for my dad, a U.S. Marine veteran and lifelong Republican, to be an informant on colleagues who were suspect under J. Edgar Hoover's FBI during the McCarthy Hearings. When my father refused, they left. But his anger was palpable. His colleagues, fellow World War II veterans, all Antifa, all fought against the fascism of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini and the emperor of Japan. I am proud of my father's stand.
I am an Antifa veteran and served in the U.S. Navy from 1967-71. I abhor authoritarianism, and it is my duty as an American to call out authoritarians to keep our democratic republic free.
In the mid-1960s, Dixie-Crats jumped parties when President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat from Texas, signed the Civil Rights Act. After it was signed, Dixie-Crats then became the backbone of the GOP. The GOP of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt or Eisenhower disappeared; some moderate Republicans became Democrats. After soul-searching, I, too, converted.
Thousands of years ago, America's indigenous ancestors arrived on foot across a Siberian and Alaskan land bridge. Vikings rowed up in long boats. Other ancestors escaped religious prosecution, poverty and a feudalist caste systems. Still others came unwillingly as slaves, most from Africa to be indentured for over 400 years. Even more were forced after losing in wars, such as Scots and Irish, who became indentured servants, sometimes openly identified as slaves.
It's amazing our Founding Fathers, almost all slave owners, fashioned the U.S. Constitution, a document admired worldwide, intended to create laws to guide a blended country. And then they wrote the Bill of Rights, which include freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition; the right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well-regulated militia; no quartering of soldiers; freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; the right to due process of law with freedom from self-incrimination and double jeopardy; the rights of accused persons to a speedy and public trial; the right to trial by jury in civil cases; freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments; and powers reserved to the states.
Twenty-seven amendments passed by elected men and women were ratified by each state pledging all men, women, genders, colors, creeds are treated equally. Our 246-year-old rules of law are tweaked 24 hours, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, to guarantee those rights remain forever.
It's Congress's job to investigate the Jan. 6, 2021, violence and to reveal those responsible for creating and planning the insurrection or coup attempt.
American facts: Biden won by 7 million popular votes and Biden won 306 to 232 state-validated electoral results that were supported 60-0 by the judicial system. Congress shall oversee presidential elections to ensure a free, duly elected democratic republic and to ensure America doesn't become an authoritarian regime like Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Syria, Afghanistan or other oppressed countries.
It would be shameful, illegal and immoral for Congress to not keep this oath: "Protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
So help me God, that's why.
George Patrick Barley Jr. is a U.S. Navy veteran, has a master's degree from Eastern Michigan University and is a lifelong educator. He lives in Monroe. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/09/01/george-barley-congress-jan-6-violence/65462505007/ | 2022-09-01T11:07:24Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/09/01/george-barley-congress-jan-6-violence/65462505007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Everyone wins with solar farms
Our newspapers are filled daily with climate change weather disasters seldom seen decades ago. Here in southeast Michigan we've been spared most of these disastrous events.
We do experience greater numbers of extreme precipitation events affecting farmers and flooding communities. Many have an attitude that if it doesn't affect me, it's not my problem. Well, the world has realized it is a major problem as heat indexes soar and water sources dry up around the world causing instability.
Recently, our government stepped up its commitment and allocated $375 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act that is mostly aimed at moving away from man-made, climate-changing fossil fuels. Here in southeast Michigan, we are ground zero in a growing green energy economy. The area has the most radiant energy available for solar projects in Michigan and is being viewed as a growth target.
A week ago I was given tax records of a Monroe County solar farm. The records show that previously, when it was a 100-acre hay farm, it produced $4,498 in taxes to the community. Now, as a solar farm, it’s paying out $296,771 annually. Let that sink in for a minute: $4,498 as a hay farm to $296,771 as a new solar farm. Wow! That's the promise of this new business opportunity developing in our area.
The problem we face is we have a network of groups hell-bent on stopping this new business opportunity. They network across the country sharing slick misinformation and travel from township to township pestering local officials with their outrageous claims. Their backers spend money on yard signs and postcards to sway the residents of these communities.
The fact is, solar farms are not destroying farmland; urban sprawl is. Urban sprawl never is a win-win for a community. It always raises taxes with new needs for ever increasing schools, crime-fighting police and exponential infrastructure needs. There are few benefits from this real estate boom, while most are taxed to death and, in the farmers’ case, sell out ending their farm's legacy. Solar farms do not destroy farmland, can still be farmed in many cases and is still ruled as Public Act 116 eligible. The solar facility doesn't use or need community infrastructure but does pay huge tax increases from its original use, which can lower all taxes in the community.
Solar farms are a stop-gap to the sprawling development eating up our farms across the country. They lock the farmland for 30 years, saving it from total destruction and sparing neighbors of noisy traffic congested sprawl. They do not pollute as opposed to industrial farming that is reliant on pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. In some cases, biosolids applied to fields have increasingly poisoned many farms with heavy metals and PFAS unknown to neighbors or farmers themselves. This all ends up in our lakes and streams, but we can reduce the problem.
So don't buy the organized naysayers who have an agenda that isn't good for communities you live in. It's a new day in southeast Michigan!
Paul Wohlfarth lives in Riga Township and is retired from Chrysler Motors. He can be reached at wolfmanwon@aol.com. | https://www.monroenews.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/09/01/paul-wohlfarth-everyone-wins-with-solar-farms/65463588007/ | 2022-09-01T11:07:30Z | monroenews.com | control | https://www.monroenews.com/story/opinion/columns/2022/09/01/paul-wohlfarth-everyone-wins-with-solar-farms/65463588007/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
BEIJING, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Over the last decade, China has witnessed tremendous changes, which could not have been achieved without the hard work of its people.
There are many ways to record the last decade, but the story that, at times, leaves a mark on each person is surely the most vivid. To greet the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) scheduled to be held in October, the Global Times has launched a series of stories to acknowledge the remarkable contributions made by people from all walks of life who have dedicated their wisdom and energy to the realization of the Chinese Dream.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the image that Chinese diplomats present to the world has been refreshed with the growing international status of China. As a veteran diplomat, Chinese Ambassador to Russia, Zhang Hanhui, previously served in the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Chinese embassies to the Kyrgyz Republic and Ukraine and as Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan. In an exclusive interview with Global Times (GT) reporters Fan Anqi, Zhang Hui and Xing Xiaojing, Zhang Hanhui (Zhang) elaborated on how he felt about the change in China's national strength through his diplomatic work, and about which aspects of China other countries are most interested in.
GT: Looking back on the past 10 years, you had worked in the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, and served as the Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan, and in August 2019, you were appointed as Chinese ambassador to Russia. What changes in China's national strength have you felt during the last 10 years as a diplomat?
Zhang: As a diplomat, what impressed me the most is the comprehensive promotion of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. China's international influence and appeal have been significantly enhanced, and the international community pays more attention to the Chinese model of economic development and welcomes Chinese solutions to global governance issues. I also have a more profound understanding of head-of-state diplomacy, which has played an important leading role in state-to-state relations. Since 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met 38 times and jointly led bilateral relations toward the best period in history. It has reinforced a model of strategic mutual trust among major world powers, a model of mutually beneficial relations among neighboring countries, and a new model for international relations.
On several occasions, I participated in the preparatory work for the exchange of contacts between Xi and Putin, and in particular, I had the honor as Deputy Foreign Minister to witness the historic moment in 2019 when the two heads of state jointly announced to upgrade the bilateral relations to China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
Shortly after that, I was appointed as Chinese ambassador to Russia. Over the past three years, the complex changes of the international landscape have fully demonstrated the strategic value of China-Russia relations in the new era, reflecting the vision of the two heads of state.
Facing the profound changes, the embassy will continue to implement consensuses reached by the heads of state, promoting the sustained high-quality development of bilateral ties in the new era, and making greater contributions to building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind.
GT: How do you practice major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics with host countries while you are stationed abroad? What Chinese experiences have been of most interest in your interactions with local people?
Zhang: Over the years, I have been at the forefront of China's diplomacy and experienced many important historical milestones. I have deeply felt how the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era has been breaking new ground amid great changes worldwide and how crises have been turned into opportunities.
At present, the international situation continues to undergo complex changes, with profound adjustments in global power constructs. Regional conflicts are escalating and threats to world peace and development imposed by unilateralism, protectionism, hegemony and power politics are rising. What rules should we follow in dealing with international relations? How should countries adjust their foreign policies? This is an issue of great concern to many.
A few days ago, I published an op-ed in the Russian newspaper Trud, titled "Xi Jinping's diplomatic thought is the guideline to building a community with a shared future for mankind," introducing the profound connotation and significance of President Xi's diplomatic thought from several aspects.
I have also been interviewed by Chinese and foreign media on China's governance, economic development, anti-corruption, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, comprehensive poverty eradication, environmental protection, and science and technology.
On many bilateral and multilateral occasions, I have actively promoted China's great achievements in various socio-economic fields, explained the "golden key" to the governance of China, decoded secrets of CPC's success, shared experience and insights on major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in host countries. In fact, many Russian friends have asked the embassy to provide the book series "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China."
I learned that these issues are not only of great interest to the foreign side, but also those they wish to learn from. Our work is not only to answer questions but also to contribute Chinese wisdom and provide Chinese solutions toward achieving mutual development along with other countries in the world.
GT: Do you think the skills that diplomats need to master should keep pace with the times? Some commented that with the deepening of China's opening-up, Chinese diplomats are getting more "proactive" and acting more "aggressively" in defending China's interests, what's your view?
Zhang: The major changes unfolding in the world with some unseen in a century have intertwined with a global pandemic, and led to new features of diplomatic work. China has moved closer to the center of the world stage than ever before and is playing an increasingly unique and important role on the international stage, and the external environment facing frontline diplomats is more complicated, thus learning and mastering new skills have become the basic quality for Chinese diplomats in the new era.
What I want to stress is that being aggressive has never been in our diplomatic tradition, nor is groveling in character of the Chinese people. Safeguarding China's sovereignty, security, and development interests is the starting point and goal of our diplomatic work. Dare to and be good at fighting is the fine tradition and distinctive feature of new China's diplomacy.
No country will compromise on matters concerning its sovereignty and territorial integrity. China does not instigate trouble, but is also not afraid of conflict. Once provoked, we will firmly fight back and the offender will surely be punished.
GT: We noticed that during your tenure as Chinese ambassador to Russia, you have given interviews to local media and published op-eds in local newspapers to deliver China's voice through various means. What feedback have you gotten from the local people? Did it help them understand China better?
Zhang: The Chinese Embassy in Russia has established close cooperation with local mainstream media over the years. In 2021, I was interviewed by Russian media or had my articles published 33 times, covering various aspects including the centenary of the founding of the CPC, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), epidemic prevention and control, poverty eradication, China-Russia bilateral relations, the Hong Kong affairs, and opposition to hegemony and power politics.
Friends from various sectors including the Russian government, parliament, think tanks, academe, media, and the general public all contacted us, expressing their support for the one-China principle and said they will stand firmly with China. I am deeply moved by the strong momentum of joint efforts made by China and Russia.
In addition to interviews and articles, I have hosted various public activities through online and offline platforms, giving awards to outstanding Russian youth, planting friendship tree, and helping Russia fight against the epidemic, among others.
As Chinese ambassador to Russia, I truly feel the excellent qualities of the Russian people in their love for peace, justice, and pursuit of truth, as well as their friendship, understanding, and support for the Chinese people.
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SOURCE Global Times | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/global-times-exclusive-interview-with-chinese-ambassador-russia/ | 2022-09-01T11:11:46Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/global-times-exclusive-interview-with-chinese-ambassador-russia/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Led by existing investor Cocone Corporation, the new investment will support global expansion, licensing and talent acquisition as the digital asset management platform celebrates three years of providing stable and safe crypto investment opportunities to customers in 140+ countries
SINGAPORE, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Haru Invest, a leading digital asset management platform, celebrated its third year of operations this month by announcing a strategic investment funding of $4 million at a $284 million valuation. The new investment was led by Chun Yang-Hyun, executive chairman of Cocone Corporation who participated in Haru Invest's previous investment round in 2020, and the funds will support the company's talent acquisition, licensing and global expansion plans.
Since its founding in 2019, Haru Invest has processed more than $2B in total transaction volume across more than 140 countries, has paid out earnings over 4 million times and has never experienced a security breach, missed earnings payout or failed withdrawal. In the past 12 months, the company has seen triple-digit increases in a range of key growth metrics, including:
- Earnings payouts: +550%
- Total transaction volume: +433%
- Total users: +319%
- Deposits made: +451%
"Since we began operations three years ago, Haru Invest has been laser-focused on building and maintaining trust and reliability with our users, and this new strategic investment indicates we've been successful in doing so," said Hugo Lee, CEO of Haru Invest. "Regardless of the market situation, we have shown our trading capabilities in generating and distributing high earn rates via high frequency algorithmic trading. We owe much of our success to date to our committed users and investors, and are eager to leverage our new funds to continue delivering the most stable, secure and comfortable crypto investment experience possible."
Founded in South Korea and headquartered in Singapore, Haru Invest is built on one core belief: that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve financial freedom. The centralized finance (CeFi) company offers users three core crypto investment products — Haru Wallet, Haru Earn Plus and Haru Earn Explore — and features some of the highest crypto earn rates in the market, with up to 14.2% APR on crypto. The company's strong in-house digital asset management teams employ high-frequency algorithmic trading strategies that take advantage of market inefficiencies and gaps to generate profits.
Haru Invest's three-year anniversary and $4M investment round come on the heels of acquiring its money service business (MSB) license from the U.S. FinCEN earlier this month. The company also recently introduced Haru Freeze Marketplace, a new feature that allows users to liquidate products before the end of the lockup period to provide immediate access to locked-up assets.
"Since our initial investment in Haru Invest, the company has grown rapidly in the digital asset space and has delivered a highly reliable, safe and secure investment experience for thousands of users worldwide," said Chun Yang-Hyun, executive chairman of Cocone Corporation. "Renewing our commitment to the company and team was an easy decision and we look forward to helping Haru Invest continue to expand globally and internally."
To learn more about the company and how the platform can help your investments turn lucrative, visit https://haruinvest.com/
Haru Invest, a subsidiary service brand of Block Crafters, is a successful CeFi digital asset investment platform that built a secure bridge between crypto investment services decentralized and traditional finance, with $2 billion in total transaction volume. Haru Invest supports three crypto assets, Bitcoin, Ether, and Tether with a tier of investment strategies, Earn Plus, and Earn Explore. The Haru Invest team has over five years' experience in diverse strategies of crypto fund management, based on a trading model that takes advantage of market inefficiencies to generate stable profits. With users in over 140 countries, they are committed to educating and guiding crypto owners at all levels to achieve stable and profitable digital asset investment goals.
For more information:
SHIFT Communications
Darren Weiss
haru@shiftcomm.com
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SOURCE Haru Invest | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/haru-invest-celebrates-its-third-year-operations-with-new-funding-raise-284-million-valuation/ | 2022-09-01T11:12:07Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/haru-invest-celebrates-its-third-year-operations-with-new-funding-raise-284-million-valuation/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
NEW YORK, Sept 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Humanigen, Inc. ("Humanigen" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: HGEN) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Humanigen investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between May 28, 2021 and July 12, 2022. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
HGEN investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.
CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that defendants made false statements and/or concealed that: (i) Humanigen's lead product candidate, lenzilumab, was less effective in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients than defendants had represented; (ii) as a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was unlikely to approve the lenzilumab Emergency Use Authorization and the ACTIV-5/BET-B study was unlikely to meet its primary endpoint; (iii) accordingly, lenzilumab's clinical and commercial prospects were overstated; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Humanigen during the relevant time frame, you have until October 25, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate.
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
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SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/hgen-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-humanigen-inc-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 2022-09-01T11:12:13Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/hgen-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-humanigen-inc-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
SHANGHAI, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- S'Young International China's premier partner for international beauty brands entering the Chinese market, launches a truly interactive advanced retail ecosystem, by expanding their omni-channel offering to include a new $10million retail space, their first offline store, SHUIYANGTANG opening on 1st October 2022. Located in Changsha, the media capital city (the Chinese centre of media and arts) in a high-end shopping destination, International Finance Square (IFS), with a daily average customer flow of 1.2 million, SHUIYANGTANG is an elevated one-stop shopping experience.
SHUIYANGTANG integrates a leading online platform with a high-end retail space to create a one-stop beauty and lifestyle experience. Leveraging their digitally native direct-to-customer business model, S'Young now completes the experience for Chinese customers with an opportunity to experience and shop niche beauty brands offline. It marks the completion of the offline closed-loop layout of S'Young International, providing a full set of solutions for their global partners in China with all-dimensions and omni-channel capabilities.
"China provides a new opportunity for overseas beauty brands and now is the time to break into the market," says Marshall Chen, Co-founder and CEO of S'Young International. "Our CP model has already helped many niche brands navigate the sophisticated omni-channel market. Now with the addition of our offline retail store SHUIYANGTANG, S'Young brings even more opportunity to brands seeking to reach the 5 million people in China's high-end consumer group."
S'Young International's CP model helps global brands navigate the often daunting and complicated Chinese market by working in partnership with them to build their positioning and strategies around marketing, retail, and supply chain. It offers an all-encompassing solution for brands to grow sustainably in China. Currently many International brands only sell online, cross border through Hong Kong, due to previous animal testing legislation constraints. However, with the welcome change in legislation, S'Young International is perfectly positioned to bring these brands even closer to new Chinese customers, through their offline store which gives consumers the opportunity to try products first hand before buying.
In tandem, S'Young International will launch flagship online SHUIYANGTANG stores on three major platforms - Tmall Global, Douyin (Tik Tok in China), and WeChat - not only reinforcing their omni-channel credentials but supporting customers in their new retail store with QR codes appropriate for multiple online channels that allow for the convenience of online shopping, while testing products in person - creating a truly interactive retail ecosystem.
SHUIYANGTANG A Beauty Emporium
The $10m concept store is over 3200 sq. ft., divided into four functional areas with an additional 800 sq. ft. pop-up space. With its knowledgeable beauty advisors, as well as the use of AI interactive technology, SHUIYANGTANG will attract high-end beauty enthusiasts from all over the country and introduce them to the unique philosophy, story and product benefits of the niche beauty brands available. The areas include:
Elite Choice - with digital artworks and interactive installations, the Elite Choice area is a pop-up section for brands to showcase their story and visual appeal, as well as a space to highlight the top skincare and beauty products selected by each customer. The Elite Choice area is entirely based on real consumption data and user experience, which presents a unique interaction between brands and customers.
Formulation Lab - an experiential space for skincare and beauty products with a display wall featuring product videos and imagery from major brands from across the world. The booth in the centre displays focus brands and the setting and look of the booth changes depending on the season and current trending topics. The area also has a decorative forest feature for customers to experience the healing power of plants.
Perfume Gallery - an innovative, multi-sensory fragrance testing sanctuary that blends visual, taste and smell experiences to bring endless surprises to consumers. In an elegant and relaxing environment, customers can choose their favourite scents from hundreds of niche salon fragrances on the display wall, while enjoying hand-brewed coffee from baristas.
Dream Dresser - an exquisite and delicate dressing table features high-end, niche overseas make-up brands. With adjustable lighting, the dresser provides multiple consumers with the memorable experience of being a beauty blogger with the freedom to try various new products themselves in a curated space.
Digital Analysis Led Experiences
S'Young International has been at the forefront of digital technology and this continues throughout the unique shopping experience at SHUIYANGTANG. Customers will be offered an AI beauty test, a fun and interactive way to discover their skin type and the products in store that will suit them. Once the results of the AI test are ready, customers will be matched with a dedicated beauty butler, who will recommend appropriate products for them based on their skin type and requirements and offer different experiences, gifts and vouchers, including styling, eyebrow grooming and make-up recommendations. This unique digital experience not only adds interest to the customer's experience, but also provides effective guidance for purchase.
SHUIYANGTANG will focus on introducing excellent beauty brands globally, receiving maximum support in both offline promotion and display. The average spending of mainstream beauty collection stores is $100, while the target customer group of SHUIYANGTANG is expected to spend $300-500.
Marshall Chen, Co-founder and CEO of S'Young International explains, "The high-end consumer group in China exceeds 5 million people and SHUIYANGTANG aims to officially serve this target group of consumers. In addition to its prime location and high-end mall endorsement, SHUIYANGTANG will link its target consumer group through the 'Exhibition-Store' model with a unique digital experience. This is the future of beauty."
The Exclusive Beauty Exhibition-Store Model
To bring SHUIYANGTANG's 'exhibition-style' store to life, S'Young International will host the world's most exclusive beauty exhibition, Genesis of Beauty - 100 Years of Beauty Collection, and officially launch SHUIYANGTANG's new retail 'Exhibition-Store' business model to establish a new retail chain, expected to garner millions of local high-end beauty consumers.
Marshall Chen continues, "Our goal is to bring beauty to life in a fun and innovative way for our consumers. The S'Young team created this best-in-class Exhibition out of love and look forward to seeing the future of the beauty industry continue to lead the way in China. We want to help every consumer discover their most confident self through the fun, interactive vision of SHUIYANGTANG."
The Exhibition, opening on 31st August 2022, will accompany the opening of the store in Changsha and all future stores. The 71000-piece collection will include beauty and cosmetics' collections from the East and the West and will revisit the important moments throughout 100 years of beauty.
With an exhibit value of over $15m, this historic exhibition will feature original highly desirable items from iconic global beauty pioneers, seen for the first time and on loan from Mr. Qiu, a prominent Chinese collector. It will also feature an exclusive "Fragrant Mist" Art Installation created especially for the exhibition by British fragrance pioneer Jo Malone CBE and celebrated Asian Artist Mr. Lee Seung Koo, founder of DDINGGU Art IP.
The exhibition located at International Finance Square (IFS), will run for three months from 1st September to 30th November and attract over 100,000 high end consumers and beauty enthusiasts.
The Future of Beauty in China
As brands grow and business becomes more global, their need for new customers and markets increases. China's beauty market (the combined value of its colour cosmetics and skincare markets) was worth 329.7 billion yuan ($51 billion) in 2020 and is set to enjoy a constant annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.18% to 2025, when its total value will reach 560 billion yuan ($86.7 billion), according to data from Euromonitor International. But this huge opportunity can also present challenges and if a brand wants to successfully launch in China, they need to find a partner who will navigate those country-specific requirements and grow and protect their brand equity. S'Young International has been that answer for many brands for over 16 years and will continue to introduce global niche luxury brands to Chinese consumers. They remain committed to becoming the best CP of global beauty.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Stitch Fix, Inc. ("Stitch Fix" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: SFIX) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Stitch Fix investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud. This lawsuit is on behalf of purchasers of Stitch Fix Class A common stock between December 8, 2020, and March 8, 2022, inclusive. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
SFIX investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.
CASE DETAILS: According to the filed complaint, Stitch Fix made numerous false and misleading statements to investors concerning the synergy between the Company's Fix and Freestyle programs, and repeatedly denied claims that the Freestyle program could cannibalize the Company's legacy Fix business. Specifically, Stitch Fix repeatedly assured investors that the Company's Freestyle business was "an additive experience" and "complementary" to the Fix business, that "the combination of those two things will allow us to address many more types of clients," and that "we see solid growth in both sides of the business." In truth, Stitch Fix concealed that these programs were not complementary or additive. Stitch Fix knew that the Freestyle program would be much preferred to the Company's original Fix model and that the Freestyle program would inevitably cannibalize the Company's legacy Fix business.
WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Stitch Fix during the relevant time frame, you have until October 25, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate.
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
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SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/sfix-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-stitch-fix-inc-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 2022-09-01T11:15:11Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/sfix-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-stitch-fix-inc-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Delivers double-digit operating margin and reaffirms annual guidance
Inventory discipline providing flexibility, delivering working capital efficiencies and enabling strategic investments
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Signet Jewelers Limited ("Signet") (NYSE:SIG), the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry, today announced its results for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2022 ("second quarter Fiscal 2023").
"Signet's focus on gaining market share, driving further operating efficiencies, and building capabilities that are true competitive advantages, is putting us in a position to deliver long-term growth and increase shareholder value," said Virginia C. Drosos, Chief Executive Officer. "Our results demonstrate the continued agility of our Signet team, the strength of our differentiated banner portfolio, and the flexibility of our operating model. This is all underpinned by a balance sheet that enables us to continue to make strategic investments such as our recent acquisition of Blue Nile."
"The discipline of our Signet team delivered $1.8 billion in revenue and a 10.6% operating margin, despite a softer topline environment," said Joan Hilson, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer. "Our working capital efficiency reflects inventory levels down year over year, excluding acquisitions. This gives us the confidence that we are well positioned to deliver newness with minimal levels of clearance for the Holidays."
- Total sales were $1.8 billion, down $33.2 million or 1.9% to a record Q2 of FY22, and up 29% vs. Q2 of FY20.
- Same store sales ("SSS") down 8.2% (1) to Q2 of FY22.
- GAAP operating income of $186.8 million, down from $225.4 million in Q2 of FY22, including $6.4 million related to the fair value adjustment of acquired inventory as well as acquisition-related charges.
- Non-GAAP operating income(2) of $193.2 million, down from $223.0 million in Q2 of FY22 and up from $53.1 million in Q2 of FY20.
- GAAP diluted earnings per share ("EPS") of $2.58, down from diluted EPS of $3.60 in Q2 of FY22, including $0.09 in charges relating to the fair value adjustment of acquired inventory as well as acquisition-related charges.
- Non-GAAP diluted EPS(2) of $2.68, down from $3.57 in Q2 of FY22.
- Cash and cash equivalents, at quarter end, of $851.7 million, down approximately $722 million to Q2 of FY22 reflecting share repurchases and inventory in-stock replenishment, as well as the acquisition of Diamonds Direct in the prior year.
- Year to date cash used for operating activities of $114.9 million, down approximately $573 million to Q2 of FY22 and driven by inventory in-stock replenishment.
- Completed $22.8 million of share repurchases during the second quarter.
By reportable segment:
North America
- Total sales of $1.6 billion, down 1.8% to Q2 of FY22.
- SSS declined 8.7% to Q2 of FY22 reflecting higher average transaction value ("ATV") but a lower number of transactions.
International
- Total sales of $111.6 million, down 14.6% to Q2 of FY22.
- SSS declined 1.5% versus Q2 of FY22 reflecting higher ATV but a lower number of transactions.
GAAP gross margin was $664.7 million, or 37.9% of sales, down 220 basis points to the second quarter last year. This reflects occupancy cost deleverage on lower sales and the strength of Diamonds Direct's bridal business which carries a lower relative margin, while organic banners had similar merchandise margins to last year. Additionally, the lower rate is a result of technology investments and absence of the COVID-related tax abatements within Signet's UK operations.
SG&A was $477.3 million, or 27.2% of sales, an improvement of 90 basis points to the second quarter last year. This improvement reflects the impact of lower payroll-related costs, enhanced credit agreements finalized in Fiscal 2022, and the efficiency of Diamonds Direct's operating model, partially offset by labor and technology investments.
GAAP and non-GAAP operating income in the prior year second quarter included other income of $9.0 million related to UK government grants as well as interest income from the Company's credit card program, which was sold in the second quarter of Fiscal 2022.
GAAP operating income was $186.8 million or 10.6% of sales, compared to $225.4 million, or 12.6% of sales in the prior year second quarter.
Non-GAAP operating income was $193.2 million, or 11.0% of sales, compared to $223.0 million, or 12.5% of sales in prior year second quarter. Non-GAAP operating income excluded $6.4 million in charges relating to the fair value adjustment of acquired inventory and acquisition-related charges.
The current quarter GAAP income tax expense was $35.6 million compared to an income tax benefit of $3.5 million in the prior year second quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, income tax expense was $37.3 million compared to income tax benefit of $4.2 million in the prior year second quarter. The prior year GAAP and non-GAAP tax benefit included the release of the valuation allowance related to certain state deferred tax assets.
GAAP diluted EPS was $2.58, including $0.09 in charges relating to the fair value adjustment of acquired inventory as well as acquisition-related charges, and $0.01 related to additional buy-out of U.K. pension obligations. Excluding these charges (and related tax effects), diluted EPS was $2.68 on a non-GAAP basis.
GAAP EPS and non-GAAP EPS for the second quarter of Fiscal 2023 include the dilutive impact of the preferred shares in the dilutive share count based on the level of net income this quarter.
Year to date cash used for operating activities of $114.9 million as of Q2 Fiscal 2023 compared to cash provided by operating activities of $458.5 million last year. Cash and cash equivalents were $851.7 million as of quarter end, compared to $1.6 billion last year. The year over year change to cash and cash equivalents was primarily driven by share repurchases and inventory in-stock replenishment, as well as the acquisition of Diamonds Direct in the prior year.
Ending inventory was $2.2 billion, up approximately $186.1 million to the second quarter last year as a result of the Company's acquisition of Diamonds Direct in November 2021 which was partially offset by lower inventory levels in the rest of the Company.
Signet's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend on common shares from $0.20 per share for the third quarter of Fiscal 2023, payable November 25, 2022 to shareholders of record on October 28, 2022, with an ex-dividend date of October 27, 2022.
During the first half of Fiscal 2023, Signet repurchased approximately 4.7 million shares at an average cost per share of $72.14 or $341.0 million including $22.8 million during the second quarter and $50 million from the completion of the accelerated share repurchase program from Fiscal 2022. Approximately $622.4 million remains under the Company's authorization.
As a company with a Purpose-inspired business strategy, Signet is committed to ongoing leadership in Corporate Citizenship & Sustainability and views Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") initiatives as an important growth driver. The "Signet Promise," our appointed commitment to customers holds our global suppliers to high ethical standards and prioritizes respect for human rights. In turn, we provide consumer confidence and continuously improve the integrity of our global diamond supply chain through our four-layered system of checks and balances.
Signet is reaffirming its full year Fiscal 2023 revenue and operating income guidance which is provided on a non-GAAP basis.
Forecasted non-GAAP operating income provided above excludes the operations of Blue Nile following the acquisition on August 19, as well as potential non-recurring charges, such as transaction and integration-related costs associated with the acquisition of Blue Nile and the potential impacts of purchase accounting. However, given the potential impacts of these items to the GAAP operating income, we cannot provide forecasted GAAP operating income or the probable significance of such items without unreasonable efforts. As such, we do not present a reconciliation of forecasted non-GAAP operating income to corresponding GAAP operating income.
The Company's third quarter and full year Fiscal 2023 Outlook is based on the following assumptions:
- The Company's outlook includes a level of consumer pressure, including inflation and the impact of stimulus, similar to what is currently being experienced. The Company's outlook does not include 1) a material worsening of macroeconomic factors which could impact consumer spending patterns and have associated impacts on business performance; 2) the acquisition of Blue Nile, Inc.
- Signet continues to anticipate some shift of consumer discretionary spending away from the jewelry category reflecting pent-up demand for experience-oriented categories during the year.
- Signet's efforts to mitigate supply chain disruption have been effective thus far. Guidance assumes no significant disruptions in availability of inventory.
- The Company's outlook factors in a level of promotion.
- Annual effective tax rate of approximately 18% assumes no additional discrete items and no changes in current tax laws during the remainder of Fiscal 2023.
- The above guidance excludes non-recurring charges for Fiscal 2023 related to the resolution of previously disclosed legal matter of $190 million, approximately $11 million relating to the fair value adjustment of acquired inventory that will be recognized within cost of sales in Fiscal 2023, and the non-cash, non-operating charges for the buy-out of substantially all of the UK pension obligations of approximately $133 million.
- Earnings per share excludes any further share repurchases.
- Planned capital investments up to $250 million, reflecting continued investments in connected commerce capabilities, banner differentiation and technology harmonization.
Conference Call:
A conference call is scheduled for September 1, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. ET and a simultaneous audio webcast is available at www.signetjewelers.com. The call details are:
Toll Free US Dial-in: 1-844-200-6205
Toll Free Canada Dial-in: 1-833-950-0062
International Dial-In: +1 929-526-1599
Access Code: 305452
Conference call participants may also pre-register at:
A replay and transcript of the call will be posted on Signet's website as soon as they are available and will be accessible for one year.
Signet Jewelers Limited is the world's largest retailer of diamond jewelry. As a purpose-driven and sustainability-focused company, Signet is a participant in the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. Signet is a Great Place to Work –Certified™ company and has been named to the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for four consecutive years. Signet operates approximately 2,800 stores primarily under the name brands of Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, Banter by Piercing Pagoda, Diamonds Direct, JamesAllen.com, Blue Nile, Peoples, H. Samuel, Ernest Jones and the jewelry subscription service, Rocksbox. Further information on Signet is available at www.signetjewelers.com. See also www.kay.com, www.zales.com, www.jared.com, www.banter.com, www.diamondsdirect.com, www.jamesallen.com, www.peoplesjewellers.com, www.hsamuel.co.uk, www.ernestjones.co.uk, www.rocksbox.com and www.bluenile.com.
This release contains statements which are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements based upon management's beliefs and expectations as well as on assumptions made by and data currently available to management, appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding, among other things, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which Signet operates. The use of the words "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimates," "predicts," "believes," "should," "potential," "may," "preliminary," "forecast," "objective," "plan," or "target," and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results to not be realized, including, but not limited to: difficulty or delay in executing or integrating an acquisition, including Blue Nile, or executing other major business or strategic initiatives, the negative impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and could have in the future, on Signet's business, financial condition, profitability and cash flows; the effect of steps we take in response to the pandemic; the severity, duration and potential resurgence of the pandemic (including through variants), including whether it is necessary to temporarily reclose our stores, distribution centers and corporate facilities or for our suppliers and vendors to temporarily reclose their facilities; the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides and the heightened impact COVID-19 has on many of the risks described herein, including without limitation risks relating to disruptions in our supply chain, our ability to attract and retain labor especially if COVID-19 vaccine mandates are implemented, decelerating levels of consumer confidence and consumer behaviors such as willingness to patronize shopping centers and shifts in spending away from the jewelry category toward more experiential purchases such as travel, the impacts of the expiration of government stimulus on overall consumer spending, our level of indebtedness and covenant compliance, availability of adequate capital, our ability to execute our business plans, our lease obligations and relationships with our landlords, and asset impairments; general economic or market conditions, including impacts of , the cessation of government stimulus programs, or other pricing environment factors on the Company's commodity costs (including diamonds) or other operating costs; a prolonged slowdown in the growth of the jewelry market or a recession in the overall economy; financial market risks; a decline in consumer discretionary spending or deterioration in consumer financial position, including due to the impacts of inflation and rising prices on necessities such as gas and groceries; our ability to optimize Signet's transformation strategies; changes to regulations relating to customer credit; disruption in the availability of credit for customers and customer inability to meet credit payment obligations; our ability to achieve the benefits related to the outsourcing of the credit portfolio, including due to technology disruptions, future financial results and operating results and/or disruptions arising from changes to or termination of the relevant outsourcing agreements; deterioration in the performance of individual businesses or of the Company's market value relative to its book value, resulting in impairments of long-lived assets or intangible assets or other adverse financial consequences; the volatility of our stock price; the impact of financial covenants, credit ratings or interest volatility on our ability to borrow; our ability to maintain adequate levels of liquidity for our cash needs, including debt obligations, payment of dividends, planned share repurchases (including execution of accelerated share repurchases) and capital expenditures as well as the ability of our customers, suppliers and lenders to access sources of liquidity to provide for their own cash needs; changes in our credit rating; potential regulatory changes; future legislative and regulatory requirements in the US and globally relating to climate change, including any new climate related disclosure or compliance requirements, such as those recently proposed by the SEC; global economic conditions or other developments related to the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union; exchange rate fluctuations; the cost, availability of and demand for diamonds, gold and other precious metals, including any impact on the global market supply of diamonds due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict or related sanctions; stakeholder reactions to disclosure regarding the source and use of certain minerals; seasonality of Signet's business; the merchandising, pricing and inventory policies followed by Signet and its ability to manage inventory levels; Signet's relationships with suppliers including the ability to continue to utilize extended payment terms and the ability to obtain merchandise that customers wish to purchase; the failure to adequately address the impact of existing tariffs and/or the imposition of additional duties, tariffs, taxes and other charges or other barriers to trade or impacts from trade relations; the level of competition and promotional activity in the jewelry sector; our ability to optimize Signet's multi-year strategy to gain market share, expand and improve existing services, innovate and achieve sustainable, long-term growth; the maintenance and continued innovation of Signet's OmniChannel retailing and ability to increase digital sales, as well as management of its digital marketing costs; changes in consumer attitudes regarding jewelry and failure to anticipate and keep pace with changing fashion trends; changes in the supply and consumer acceptance of and demand for gem quality lab created diamonds and adequate identification of the use of substitute products in our jewelry; ability to execute successful marketing programs and manage social media; the ability to optimize Signet's real estate footprint; the ability to satisfy the accounting requirements for "hedge accounting," or the default or insolvency of a counterparty to a hedging contract; the performance of and ability to recruit, train, motivate and retain qualified team members - particularly in regions experiencing low unemployment rates; management of social, ethical and environmental risks; the reputation of Signet and its banners; inadequacy in and disruptions to internal controls and systems, including related to the migration to new information technology systems which impact financial reporting; security breaches and other disruptions to Signet's information technology infrastructure and databases; an adverse development in legal or regulatory proceedings or tax matters, including any new claims or litigation brought by employees, suppliers, consumers or shareholders, regulatory initiatives or investigations, and ongoing compliance with regulations and any consent orders or other legal or regulatory decisions; failure to comply with labor regulations; collective bargaining activity; changes in corporate taxation rates, laws, rules or practices in the US and jurisdictions in which Signet's subsidiaries are incorporated, including developments related to the tax treatment of companies engaged in Internet commerce or deductions associated with payments to foreign related parties that are subject to a low effective tax rate; risks related to international laws and Signet being a Bermuda corporation; risks relating to the outcome of pending litigation; our ability to protect our intellectual property or physical assets; changes in assumptions used in making accounting estimates relating to items such as extended service plans and pensions; or the impact of weather-related incidents, natural disasters, organized crime or theft, strikes, protests, riots or terrorism, acts of war (including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict), or another public health crisis or disease outbreak, epidemic or pandemic on Signet's business.
For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward looking statement, see the "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" sections of Signet's Fiscal 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2022 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the "Safe Harbor Statements" in current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC. Signet undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.
Investors:
Vinnie Sinisi
SVP Investor Relations
+1-330-665-6530
vincent.sinisi@signetjewelers.com
Media:
Lindsay Hymson
Vice President Financial Communications & Media Relations
+1 516 524 1757
Lindsay.hymson@signetjewelers.com
The following information provides reconciliations of the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP") to presented non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures, when reviewed in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, can provide more information to assist investors in evaluating historical trends and current period performance. For these reasons, internal management reporting also includes non-GAAP measures. Items may be excluded from GAAP financial measures when the Company believes this provides useful supplementary information to management and investors in assessing the operating performance of our business.
These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not superior to or as a substitute for the GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release and the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements and other publicly filed reports. In addition, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as or comparable to similar non-GAAP measures presented by other companies.
In discussing financial results, the Company refers to free cash flow that is not in accordance with GAAP and is defined as the net cash (used in) provided by operating activities, less purchases of property, plant, and equipment. Management considers adjusted free cash flow, defined as free cash flow excluding proceeds from the sale of the non-prime in-house finance receivables, as helpful in understanding how the business is generating cash from its operating and investing activities that can be used to meet the financing needs of the business. Free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow are indicators used by management frequently in evaluating its overall liquidity and determining appropriate capital allocation strategies. Free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow do not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary purposes.
Signet has a diversified real estate portfolio. On July 30, 2022, Signet had 2,833 stores totaling 4.2 million square feet of selling space. Compared to year-end Fiscal 2022, store count decreased and square feet of selling space increased 0.2%
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SOURCE Signet Jewelers Ltd. | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/signet-jewelers-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-2023-results/ | 2022-09-01T11:15:18Z | witn.com | control | https://www.witn.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/signet-jewelers-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-2023-results/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Chatham locals have spoken out on recently announced plans that will impact a key section of the High Street. In a meeting held last Wednesday (August 24), Medway councillors approved planning proposals to demolish and repurpose the former Trafalgar Centre.
Having now stood vacant for almost 10 years after closing permanently back in 2013 due to ‘safety concerns’, the site will now house 175 residential apartments alongside working spaces and creative arts studios.
These new flats will span across three blocks, with one and two bedroom apartments set to be available. The plans, submitted by Terrance Butler Holdings, would also see the partial demolition of the multi-storey car park found on Rhode Street.
Read more: M20 Operation Brock system to be deactivated
During the meeting, councillors were presented with a series of mock up images showing how the new site would look from various angles in Chatham. While most were happy with the proposals, Labour Cllr Simon Curry had concerns over the height of the project, with Block A of the site set to be eight storeys tall.
Specifically, Cllr Curry referred to the Chatham Town Centre Masterplan which outlines that Chatham should be kept a ‘low rise’ area. Cllr Currey, who voted against the plans, said: “Generations of Chatham’s residents are going to be here looking at it, living in it and it’s part of their whole lives.
“I would argue that the scale of this development is contrary to the principles, the vision and the context of the masterplan which asks us to respect issues around scale and height. Suddenly we’re doubling the height, I don’t really feel the respect is there that the report is asking for.”
Concerns were also raised from Labour and Co-operative Cllr Stephen Hubbard, who expressed concern regarding the affordability of the proposed flats. Cllr Hubbard, who also voted against the plans, stated: “This is yet another site in the town centre where we are building without affordability being a focus upon the actual development.
"I’m not quite sure who we’re serving but it doesn’t seem to be serving the people that are within the Medway towns at the moment.” Conservative Cllr Adrian Gulvin, director of Medway Development Company, stated that the Trafalgar Centre is “a site which has been crying out for development for a long time.”
He continued: “This is probably the first major private sector development that has come into Chatham for a long time. We have shown we are willing to invest in Chatham as a council and I think that's acted as a catalyst."
Ultimately, the plans passed with 13 votes in favour. With new flats set to make their way onto Chatham High Street, KentLive took to the area to see just how the locals felt.
‘We don’t need anymore shops that’s for sure’
Neil Higgins, 66, has lived in Chatham since 1971 and seemed to think the introduction of more flats was a good idea. He began: “I’m a pensioner, I know a lot of pensioners who can’t get council accommodation.
“We don’t need any more shops that’s for sure, I don’t think so, certainly no more takeaways. We do need more accommodation for locals that’s affordable.”
When asked if he felt the high street needed any more chain stores or recognisable brands, Nigel said: “Probably not to be honest. The economic situation, certainly within the town, everybody’s on their knees.”
‘People are short of housing around here’
Similar sentiments were shared by 72-year-old Alan Taylor, who has lived in Chatham for 25 years. When asked about the flats, Alan said: “That would be great, I’d like it to be flats.
“People are short of housing around here. We’ve got enough shops, so many of them just close up anyway. No, I’d like to see some flats.”
‘As long as it’s something that’s actually useful’
Clearly, the empty storefronts are an issue among locals, as this was another key point raised by Josh Steed, 48, who is local to the area. Josh said: “It’s a good idea, there’s loads of vacant shops anyway so we don’t need any others.
“I’d rather it’s a block of flats because there’s homeless people, but plenty of empty shops. We don’t need more empty shops, it’ll just be another big empty thing wouldn’t it.
“They can make of it whatever they want really, as long as it's something that will be actually useful.”
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Eurostar issues huge blow to holidaymakers travelling to Amsterdam | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/we-dont-need-anymore-empty-7533229 | 2022-09-01T11:15:23Z | kentlive.news | control | https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/we-dont-need-anymore-empty-7533229 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A clinical virologist, Dr Adeola- Fowotade, says the case of a 40-year-old man with monkeypox in Ibadan has proved that the disease is also sexually transmitted from men having sex with other men in Nigeria.
Fowotade, Coordinator, Biorepository Clinical Virology Laboratory, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in a lecture entitled ‘Rising Threat of Monkey- pox’ at a webinar series of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), said the man attended the hospital’s special treatment clinic about three weeks ago.
According to him, “the 40-year-old male presented with a painful anal ulcer, also foul smelling discharge from the anus, pustule (pus-filled bumps) rashes on the trunk, monkeypox.” palm and sole of the feet, with an initial history of fever and body pain.
“The man had no history of travel, but he was a man who had sex with a man (MSM) index case. that had at least three partners. On testing, he also had HIV. This case changed the scenario for monkeypox in Nigeria.
“Some weeks back, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in a speech said that all of the cases of monkeypox we have in Nigeria do not have an MSM attachment. However, with this case, it looks like we have not seen the end of monkeypox.”
Dr Fowotade declared that the man’s partners on follow-up by the Oyo State Public Health Department also had similar rashes as the index cases.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
While monkeypox was initially associated with monkeys, rodents and prairie dogs, she stated new animals that now harbour monkeypox include dogs, pigs and ant eaters whether they are sick, dead or alive.
According to her, aside from transmission from human to human when there is close contact with an infected person, the animal-to-human transmission of monkeypox is through the bite or scratch from an infected animal, as well as through activities like cooking meat or hunting animals that are infected.
The virologist stated that the rising threat of monkeypox is linked to mutation of the virus, increased population growth, waning immunity to smallpox and new animal hosts for the virus in
NWAN’s National President, Dr Adekemi Otolorin, Organisation. said health workers are constantly at risk of being infected by monkeypox virus and COVID-19 from a sceptical public who oftentimes are not in compliance with the NCDC or World Health Organisation (WHO)’s recommendations, and as such is a challenge that needs to be addressed.
NWAN’s National President, Dr Adekemi Otolorin said health workers are constantly at risk of being infected by the monkeypox virus and COVID-19 from a sceptical public who oftentimes are not in compliance with the NCDC or World Health
While COVID- 19 remains an epidemic in Nigeria, Chairman, COVID-19 Committee Oyo State, Professor Temitope Alonge said that all Primary healthcare facilities in Oyo state are involved in the drive to ensure everybody in the state takes the COVID-19 vaccine.
He said that since the presentation of monkeypox is ambiguous like coronavirus, stringent criteria for diagnosis must be put in place for monkeypox to protect the health of workers in the hospital and their families. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/monkeypox-found-in-man-having-sex-with-man-in-nigeria-expert/ | 2022-09-01T11:15:50Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/monkeypox-found-in-man-having-sex-with-man-in-nigeria-expert/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BAN) has organised a two-day training for 34 Faith- Based Organisations (FBOs) and leaders on malaria, Tuberculosis, and COVID-19 to ensure they influence individuals in the community to seek prompt treatment for tuberculosis, malaria and COVID-19 at the grassroots.
Director Public Health, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Olubunmi Ayinde stated myths and misconceptions are still rife in the community on tuberculosis, malaria and COVID-19 and the faith-based organisations and leaders were expected to help tackle and people to assess better health care in the communities.
Dr Ayinde, who described the faith-based organisations and leaders as key gatekeepers in their communities, said they also need to know what to do and not to do with regards to these diseases of public health significance and health facilities to access treatment in their communities.
Programme advisor for USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria (BAN), Mr Oluseyi Akintola, in his lecture on the role of religious leaders and Faith-based organisations on health, said dilapidated medical infrastructures at the Primary Healthcare centres, inadequate health commodities and other suppliers, poor health seeking behaviour and ignorance were gaps that religious leaders and FBOs can help to bridge to have a healthy community.
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He urged that they continue to promote sleeping inside insecticidal nets, pregnant women register early for antenatal care and take sulfa- doxine-pyrimethamine, as an Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy, facilitate discussion about TB and completion of its treatment and facilitate discussion on COVID-19 and its vaccines in their sermons.
Earlier, the Oyo State Team lead for USAID Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Mrs Oluwatoyin Afachung said the training was to provide orientation for FBOs on the current burden and control efforts related to malaria, Tuberculosis, COVID-19 and other diseases and highlight their roles and responsibilities. | https://tribuneonlineng.com/usaid-breakthrough-action-nigeria-builds-capacity-on-malaria-tb-covid-19/ | 2022-09-01T11:16:03Z | tribuneonlineng.com | control | https://tribuneonlineng.com/usaid-breakthrough-action-nigeria-builds-capacity-on-malaria-tb-covid-19/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
What’s in store for the future of TV and film, from the godfather of streaming tech
Emmy-award winner Alan Bovick’s work affects most of the images and videos you see online, here is what he predicts for the future of streaming.
Streaming has become a huge part of our everyday lives. Whether you’re sitting down to watch Netflix in the evening, or simply scrolling through social media, most people are seeing digital content continually throughout the day.
While a lot of people have been involved to produce the content you see, one person has been involved with a large portion of it, roughly 80 per cent of all visual content you see online in fact.
This person is Alan Bovik, an image processor who has won both an Emmy and the 2022 IEEE Edison medal for his work, along with his team, creating algorithms that affect how large portions of TV, film and online media are compressed.
We spoke to Bovik to better understand streaming, the neuroscience behind it and the future of video.
Changing the world of streaming
Bovik works in the field of image and video processing, creating theories and algorithms to modify visual signals like television, a smartphone or even medical images. He also works in visual neuroscience.
“I started working with visual psychologists and neuroscientists trying to understand how we see, and bringing those theories into images and video processing algorithms. Digital images are intended for human eyeballs, so the better job we can do at processing them in a way that matches how we see them, the more efficient we can be about everything involving images and videos,” says Bovik.
When Bovik started in this field, he was addressing a problem that was seen as unsolvable. This was predicting what a human will say is the quality of an image. In theory, it is easy to say whether something is blurry, or noisy or if the quality is off, but to determine the exact level of quality was a challenge, even blur occurs on a long sliding scale.
“We tried to model visual perception of distortion as it occurs inside the visual parts of the brain. A student of mine and I developed an algorithm known as 'structural similarity'. We just needed to assess quality for something else we were doing but the TV industry quickly picked up on it, and soon it was used throughout TV and now the internet,” said Bovik.
“Every video you watch, on your devices, on your television is compressed, but it's hard to know how much to compress the signal without distorting it, especially perceivably distorting. You need to compress as much as possible to reduce the bandwidth of a video, but not so much that consumers begin to notice the reduction in quality.”
The algorithm Bovik and his student developed was a way to optimally deal with this issue of compression. Every single picture on Facebook, and all of the major streaming platforms use Bovik’s algorithms. In fact, about 80 per cent of all visual content online goes through this algorithm.
Diving into the metaverse
The metaverse is a buzzword that seems inescapable today. Whether its Facebook’s transition to being a metaverse-first company, or the many announcements of companies building their own digital worlds, it really seems to be everywhere, but achieving these digital worlds isn’t easy.
“Achieving the metaverse is challenging because It will be so data intensive. With virtual reality (VR), most of the video is gameplay and games require huge amounts of bandwidth. To reproduce those videos inside a VR helmet in a realistic way, you need more resolution than 4K,” says Bovik.
“Already the amount of data is shooting up, and because your eyes are darting around a lot, video has to be responsive to that. We’d need to increase frame rates more for VR, which again means even more data.”
Along with the data-intensive aspect of VR-led metaverses, there is also the issue of people’s health to consider. Are they feeling ill or motion-sick: a problem that frequently occurs through VR.
These feelings come from conflicts that occur in your ocular motor visual system – the neural architecture that drives the movement of the eyes.
When you're in a VR helmet, your eyes are an inch or two away from a display and that's what you're focusing on.
If something in the content is moving back and forth, then your eyes will try and verge. This sends signals to your brain, telling you how far away things are and there's a conflict here.
"To solve this, we can try to create algorithms that change the content so it doesn't happen. There might be an evolution of VR devices so that displays work a bit differently," says Bovik.
"Maybe you could control your VR where you turn off or adjust the amount of 3D, or it could happen automatically to aid the eyes and reduce sickness."
How will streaming change in the future?
The future of streaming is full of possibilities. While science-fiction often depicts a world with screens plastering every wall, Bovik doesn’t think that will be the full picture.
“In Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, he describes scenes where screens plaster all of the walls. I don't think it's going to come to that but I do think that he was correct that television's got huge and immersive,” says Bovik.
“We have 4K today, soon we'll have 8K at home. Those screens are so expensive right now but soon they'll be affordable. Truly immersive experiences in your home that are of unbelievable clarity, quality sharpness, depth of colours, everything you want, high speed, everything. It'll change our experience into a truly immersive one.”
Bovik believes that we are quickly heading to a world where the cinema will be in danger. With home streaming constantly improving, the cinema could be put under pressure to compete.
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Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC), U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) are some of the banking stocks that deserve investors’ attention as the current market dynamics could prove to be beneficial for the U.S. banking industry. While Federal Reserve’s latest super hawkish stance on interest rate hikes could help U.S. banks improve their bottom line, the improving economic conditions in the U.S. should enable them to witness rising loan demand, enhancing their top line.
After sell-offs induced by recessionary fears, bank stocks appear to be currently trading at attractive discounts to their long-term historical averages. This offers some great buying opportunities for taking long-term positions, despite the probability of the U.S. economy facing a recession.
Against this current backdrop, let’s take a look at three bank stocks that Wall Street analysts are bullish on:
Bank of America Corporation (NYSE:BAC)
With a market cap of $273.92 billion, Bank of America witnessed a surge in net interest income (NII) in the second quarter of 2022 on the back of solid growth in loans and rising interest rates. NII on a fully taxable-equivalent basis jumped 21.3% year-over-year to $12.55 billion in the last reported quarter. It also gained from rising consumer spending that helped improve the company’s consumer banking business, along with an upside in both credit and debit card spending.
On the back of projections for higher interest rates and improving loan demand, BAC predicts a rise in NII over the next few quarters. In fact, it projects NII in the third quarter of 2022 to surge a minimum of $900 million or $1 billion over the year-ago period.
Is Bank of America a Good Stock to Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts look cautious but optimistic about BAC stock, which has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 11 Buys and five Holds. BAC’s average price target of $4.40 implies 26.2% upside potential. Shares of the company have lost about 26.4% year-to-date.
On the contrary, financial bloggers are 87% Bullish on BAC, compared to the sector average of 68%. As per TipRanks, hedge funds, too, look bullish on the stock, as they increased their holdings in Bank of America by 2.8 million shares in the last quarter.
U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB)
The Minneapolis-based company’s tax-equivalent NII jumped 9.5% year-over-year to $3.46 billion in the second quarter of 2022. The upside can be attributed to rising benchmark interest rates, and growing loan and investment securities balances.
Further, the bank projects a 5-6% year-over-year jump in total net revenues in 2022, given the revised interest rate assumptions. The fully taxable equivalent NII is also projected to rise in the low to mid-teen range in the full-year 2022.
Is U.S. Bancorp a Good Stock to Buy?
Analysts on TipRanks are cautiously optimistic about the stock. Based on six Buys and 11 Holds, U.S. Bancorp carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating. However, USB’s average price forecast of $55.74 implies 22.2% upside potential.
On TipRanks, financial bloggers are 95% Bullish on USB, compared to the sector average of 68%.
Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC)
In the second quarter, the American multinational financial services company registered a 16% year-over-year rise in its NII. On the dual forces of rising interest rates supporting the net interest income growth and falling expenses, the management is expecting to see improved performance in the quarters ahead.
Also, Wells Fargo is taking the initiative to boost its loan and deposit balances and consumer card portfolios. Further, Wells Fargo projects a 20% rise over the previous year in NII in 2022, driven by rising interest rates.
Is Wells Fargo a Good Company to Invest In?
As of now, Wells Fargo stock could prove to be a good investment option. This is because analysts tracked by TipRanks have a Strong Buy consensus rating on WFC stock, which has 22.5% upside potential. WFC’s average price target stands at $53.54.
Even though Wells Fargo stock has lost 12.4% so far this year, financial bloggers on TipRanks are 79% Bullish on WFC, compared to the sector average of 68%.
Is Recessionary Pain in the Cards for Banking Stocks?
Federal Reserve’s latest super hawkish stance has increased concerns regarding the U.S. economy slipping into a recession. Other hurdles like a sluggish investment banking environment and slowing U.S. housing market pose threats to the upside in banking stocks. Meanwhile, analysts believe that enhanced capital levels, underwriting standards and a strict regulatory environment will help banks deal with recessionary headwinds.
Read full Disclosure | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/bac-usb-wfc-these-banking-stocks-deserve-your-attention-now | 2022-09-01T11:21:49Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/bac-usb-wfc-these-banking-stocks-deserve-your-attention-now | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Many investors are eager to find the best National Football League (NFL) stock to buy ahead of the 2022 season kickoff. SoFi Technologies (SOFI) stock is worth considering for investors looking for exposure to the NFL economy. The company stands to benefit from the massive marketing exposure that the NFL brings.
Founded in 2011 and based in California, SoFi is an online financial services provider. Its services include student loans, auto loans, home loans, and refinancing. It also provides saving, investing, and spending services.
How to Invest in NFL Stocks?
The NFL comprises 32 teams. The 2022 NFL season kicks off on September 8. The games are sure to draw many fans. The NFL features among the professional sports leagues with the largest and most devoted fan communities. Therefore, a massive economy has developed around the professional football league.
The problem is that you can’t invest directly in the NFL because it is a private organization that does not have a publicly traded stock. The best way to get exposure to the NFL economy is through stocks of companies that benefit from the league. These could be companies that do business with the NFL itself or teams in the league. There are also companies that benefit from the marketing exposure that NFL events bring.
Aside from SoFi, the other stocks with exposure to the NFL economy are Nike (NKE), Verizon (VZ), Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS), and DraftKings (DKNG).
What does SoFi have to do with the NFL?
SoFi secured branding rights to put its name on a Los Angeles stadium complex that is home to two NFL teams. The SoFi Stadium, located in Hollywood Park, is the home field of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Built at the cost of about $5 billion, the SoFi Stadium complex includes a hotel and retail and office spaces. The deal SoFi struck allows it to put its brand on the arena for 20 years. The arrangement includes a partnership with the Rams and Chargers.
The SoFi Stadium can currently host 70,000 people, though the capacity can be expanded to more than 100,000 people. The arena, billed as the most expensive NFL stadium, is expected to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2028.
The NFL stadium naming deal gives SoFi significant brand recognition and is great for its marketing efforts. SoFi CEO Anthony Noto said that the arrangement would drive awareness and trust in the SoFi brand. The executive further explained that the deal would enable the company to reach its members where they are and help them get their money right.
Considering that the arena is home to two NFL teams, it gives SoFi double exposure during NFL events. SoFi CEO Noto definitely knows how powerful NFL marketing can be to its brand. He was the league’s chief financial officer for a few years.
Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Issue for SoFi
Providing student loans is a major business for SoFi. However, this business has taken a hit during the pandemic. The company reported that its student loan and home loan originations fell more than 50% in Q2 2022 from a year ago. It attributed the problem to the pause on federal student loan repayment, which has diminished student loan refinancing demand.
Investors have also wondered what might be next for SoFi after U.S. President Joe Biden decided to cancel student loans for some borrowers. Additionally, the President extended the student repayment pause until the end of 2022.
Investors may be concerned that the extension of the student loan repayment pause would continue to hurt SoFi’s business. That may be true because the company itself has shown that the pause has impacted demand for its student loans product. However, the President made it clear that the latest pause on federal student loan repayment would be the last. Therefore, SoFi should breathe some sigh of relief for its student loans business in 2023.
Another concern has been that Biden’s student loan forgiveness could hit demand for student loan refinancing. The President decided to cancel up to $10,000 in student debt for individuals earning less than $125,000. A small group of borrowers with earnings up to $125,000 may see up to $20,000 of their student debt forgiven.
The worry about Biden’s student debt forgiveness damaging SoFi goes away if you consider the company’s target customers. SoFi’s student loan borrowers have an average income of $170,000. Therefore, SoFi’s target borrowers would be mostly ineligible for Biden’s student loan forgiveness.
Even if SoFi’s members qualify for the government’s student debt forgiveness, they would still have substantial balances to require refinancing solutions. It happens that high-income households, which comprise a large part of SoFi’s target group, have significant student debt.
What is the Price Target for SoFi?
SOFI stock has declined more than 60% year-to-date. However, Wall Street remains bullish on the stock. According to TipRanks’ analyst rating consensus, SoFi Technologies stock is a Moderate Buy based on five Buys and four Holds. The average SOFI price target of $8 implies 35.1% upside potential.
SoFi scores a “Perfect 10” from TipRanks’ Smart Score rating system, indicating that the stock has strong potential to outperform market expectations.
Moreover, SOFI stock is a favorite NFL stock for both Wall Street elites. TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool shows that confidence in SoFi is currently Very Positive. Some seven hedge funds increased their cumulative holdings in the stock by 15.3 million shares in the last quarter.
SoFi Technologies stock is also seeing favorable mentions across financial blogs. TipRanks data shows that financial blogger opinions are 75% Bullish on SOFI, compared to a sector average of 68%.
Closing Remarks
SoFi Technologies stands to reap big from the 2022 NFL season from a marketing perspective. At a time when the student loans issue has become a popular topic in public discourse, SoFi may seize the NFL publicity to present itself as the solution that those struggling with student loans require. Apart from giving you exposure to the NFL economy, SoFi stock also presents an opportunity to buy the dip.
Read full Disclosure | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/best-nfl-stocks-to-buy-why-does-sofi-nasdaqsofi-deserve-your-attention | 2022-09-01T11:21:55Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/best-nfl-stocks-to-buy-why-does-sofi-nasdaqsofi-deserve-your-attention | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
It’s been a roller coaster ride for Australian shareholders this year, but miner Rio Tinto (RIO) is well placed to deliver growth amid future volatility.
The TipRanks Smart Score tool measures stocks on their potential to outperform the market, based on eight key factors, which include how the best performing analysts are rating stocks, company insider Buy and Sell transactions, as well as fundamental and technical factors. Based on that, Rio Tinto has a Smart Score rating of “Perfect 10.”
Broader market context
The Australian All Ordinaries index and S&P/ASX 200 fell by around 10% in the financial year just past, after rising by around 25% the previous year.
Meanwhile, total returns on Australian shares dropped by just over 7%, after rising 30.2% in the prior year.
And there is no sign of calmer waters ahead, with rising interest rates in Australia and abroad continuing to spook the local market.
Amid this uncertainty, Rio Tinto is forecast to navigate the rough waters and outperform the market.
Is Rio Tinto stock undervalued?
Rio Tinto hasn’t been immune to market volatility, with its share price down around 15% over the last 12 months. However, key Smart Score performance indicators reveal the stock is set to outperform the market.
While falling iron ore prices saw its underlying profits drop 29% to US$8.9 billion, demand is soaring for the rare earths it mines, which are used to make electric vehicle batteries.
Here’s why Rio has a “Perfect 10” Smart Score
Based on 11 Wall Street analysts offering 12 month price targets, Rio Tinto has a Moderate Buy rating, which is based on six Buy, five Hold and no Sell recommendations.
The miner has an average price target of A$110.95, making an upside of 19.51%.
At its most bullish, it has a price target forecast as high as $A134.90, and at its most conservative, a low of $A89.93.
Additionally, corporate insider confidence is strong. Key figures within the company are positive about the road ahead, and keen to put more skin in the game, buying up stock over the last three months.
That includes Rio Tinto Chairman and Director, Dominic Barton who made an informative buy of A$647,407 in August.
Another factor contributing to Rio Tinto’s Smart Score is blogger sentiment. Blogger sentiment is more Bullish than that of other stocks in the basic materials sector.
Based on 18 blogger opinions, there is a Bullish rating of 94%, when compared to the sector average.
Final thoughts
Rio Tinto has been comprehensively outperformed on the market over the last 12 months by similar stocks – BHP Group (BHP) and Anglo American (AAUKF).
However, given its Smart Score measuring its potential to outperform the market, Rio Tinto may well have a much more successful 12 months ahead. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/why-rio-tinto-rioasx-is-a-top-australian-stock-to-buy-right-now | 2022-09-01T11:22:01Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/article/why-rio-tinto-rioasx-is-a-top-australian-stock-to-buy-right-now | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Streaming giant Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) is ramping up its efforts to launch its ad-supported streaming plans, which may be launched on November 1. As per a WSJ report, some advertisers have said that Netflix may charge roughly $65 for every 1,000 viewers. This represents a premium compared to other streaming platforms, the report said.
Netflix and its technology partner Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) met with some ad buyers last week to discuss the details of the plans, which were labeled as “premium” by advertisers. The buyers are surprised by Netflix’s premium charges as it is the first time the platform will stream advertisements and the outcome is unknown.
Moreover, Netflix is demanding a year-long upfront commitment from buyers. The cost per thousand (CPM) metric is used by advertisers to denote the price paid for every 1,000 advertisement impressions or ad views.
Interestingly, Netflix is planning to cap the annual advertising spend on its platform at $20 million. This will ensure that viewers are not overwhelmed by the same advertisements and same brands very often, the advertisers stated.
Notably, Netflix is also offering buyers targeted advertising. For example, slots for advertising in the top 10 U.S. shows on Netflix or targeting specific genre-watching audiences or country-specific advertising.
While Netflix is looking to launch a cheaper ad-support subscription plan for viewers to attract higher memberships, it is looking to earn big dollars from advertisers. The company has also poached two top executives from social media site Snap Inc. (SNAP) to push its ad-tiered business.
What Is the Prediction for Netflix Stock?
Netflix is undergoing strategic changes to make its streaming platform more attractive and earn big bucks. However, for now, analysts remain on the sidelines till more clarity is achieved on the company’s ad-tired business.
On TipRanks, NFLX stock has a Hold consensus rating based on seven Buys, 19 Holds, and seven Sells. Netflix’s average price prediction of $229.61 implies a modest 2.7% upside to current levels. Meanwhile, the stock has lost a whopping 62.6% so far this year.
Ending Thoughts
After facing two consecutive quarters of subscriber losses, Netflix is trying its hands at ad-tired subscription plans to attract more memberships. However, Netflix is seeking to earn higher revenue from advertisers to stream their advertisements. For now, it remains to be seen if buyers will accept Netflix’s premium offerings or settle for cheaper options.
Read full Disclosure | https://www.tipranks.com/news/heres-whats-happening-at-netflix-nasdaqnflx | 2022-09-01T11:22:08Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/heres-whats-happening-at-netflix-nasdaqnflx | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The growing rivalry between the world’s two largest economies might put about $400 million of Nvidia Corporation’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) third-quarter sales at stake. In an SEC filing, the chip maker recently informed its stakeholders that the U.S. government has imposed new licensing requirements on the export of its most advanced A100 and upcoming H100 integrated products to China (including Hong Kong), and Russia, effective immediately.
According to the filing, the U.S. government intends to keep a check on the national security risk that may arise from the covered products being utilized in or diverted to ‘military end use’ or ‘military end user’ in China and Russia.
Although Nvidia doesn’t sell products in Russia, it estimates that the new requirements by the U.S. government will dent its sales to China by about $400 million in the third quarter.
The company’s management stated that the new export rule will hurt its ability to develop H100 in time and may have to move some of its operations out of China.
The largest chip maker by market value in the United States has already been treading through tough times. It has been witnessing plunging gaming card sales, which were partially getting offset by strong data-center sales in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2023. The latest development can hammer the data-center segment revenue in the future.
What Is the Prediction for NVDA Stock?
NVDA’s average price prediction of $215.18 implies 42.6% upside potential. According to TipRanks, NVDA has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 23 Buys and seven Holds.
Similarly, financial bloggers are 82% Bullish on NVDA stock, compared to the sector average of 66%.
Contrary to analysts and financial bloggers, hedge funds are apprehensive about NVDA stock. They have sold 456,200 shares of NVDA stock in the last quarter. Retail investors on TipRanks also seem to be sharing a similar stance and have decreased their NVDA stock holdings by 0.6% in the last 30 days.
Tough Times Continue for NVDA Stock
NVDA’s stock came under pressure due to the new export rules and lost about 6.6% in the after-hours trading session on Wednesday. Shares of NVDA have already had a disappointing run in 2022, as they have lost around 49.9% so far this year, in comparison to the wider PHLX Semiconductor Index’s 32.2% fall in the same period.
Read full Disclosure | https://www.tipranks.com/news/nvidia-nasdaqnvda-stock-in-the-line-of-fire-as-u-s-china-cold-war-intensifies | 2022-09-01T11:22:14Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/nvidia-nasdaqnvda-stock-in-the-line-of-fire-as-u-s-china-cold-war-intensifies | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Shareholders welcomed the news of the layoff at Snap Inc. (SNAP), pushing the stock higher yesterday. The American camera and social media company announced a 20% cut to its 6,400-employee strength. The company even decided to cancel several projects to control its costs and restructure its business operations. Shares ended the day up 8.7% at $10.88 yesterday.
Snap’s CEO, Evan Spiegel, informed employees through a memo that the company must take drastic steps to manage its financial challenges. Snap put up a poor show in its second quarter results, beating earnings but failing to meet revenue expectations. Spiegel even stated that the company’s 8% year-over-year revenue growth in Q2 was well below its own expectations.
Notably, the company seeks to focus its efforts on “three strategic priorities: community growth, revenue growth, and augmented reality.” On the other hand, the company is scrapping projects including the Pixy photo-taking drone, a line-up of Snap Originals premium shows, Snap Minis third-party apps, Snap Games, Zenly map products, and the Voisey music feature.
Snap noted that these steps will help the company save $500 million in annual expenses. Plus, the company will incur one-time costs between $110-$175 million toward employee cuts, project scrapping, and other issues.
Like other social media companies, Snap is dodging the difficult macroeconomic backdrop, which is pulling down advertising spending by companies. Moreover, Apple’s iOS privacy changes introduced in 2021 are making it more difficult to track the performance of ads. Similarly, increased competition from rivals like TikTok’s short videos is gaining far more attraction than Snap’s features. Plus, the potential threat from new entrants like Netflix (NFLX) into the advertising space continues to challenge Snap’s survival.
Analysts’ Reaction to Snap’s News
Following Snap’s 20% layoff news, Jefferies analyst Brent Thill called the reductions expected but more than anticipated, for a company that was rapidly increasing headcount in the last five quarters. However, the analyst was soothed by the company’s renewed focus on profitability.
Thill noted, “While we welcome the renewed focus on profitability, we believe it will take time for investors to regain confidence in the underlying fundamentals.” Thill maintained a $20 price target (83.8% upside potential) on SNAP with a Buy rating.
On the contrary, analyst Barton Crockett of Rosenblatt Securities lowered the price target on SNAP to $11 (1.1% upside potential) from $14 while maintaining a Hold rating. The analyst was surprised by the news of the loss of key ad executives over the report of steep layoffs.
Commenting on his stance, Crockett noted, “Our Neutral rating is maintained, in the belief that Snap’s strong youth audience position will allow it to eventually recover when the ad market and macro does.”
What is the Target Price for Snap Stock?
On TipRanks, SNAP stock has a Hold consensus rating. This is based on nine Buys, 23 Holds, and three Sells. The average Snap price target of $14.28 implies 31.3% upside potential to current levels. Meanwhile, the stock has lost a massive 76.6% so far this year. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/snap-stock-nysesnap-20-layoff-news-triggered-price-jump | 2022-09-01T11:22:20Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/snap-stock-nysesnap-20-layoff-news-triggered-price-jump | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
MongoDB (NASDAQ:MDB) stock is plunging in Thursday’s pre-market trading even with a Q2 beat. A wider-than-expected Q3 loss guidance didn’t sit well with the investors, leading to a considerable decline in MDB stock price in the pre-market session on Thursday. Further, tough comparisons for the database software company’s subscription-based Atlas offerings in the second half weighed on its stock price.
Notably, MongoDB stock is down over 17% in the pre-market session. Meanwhile, MDB stock has lost about 39% of its value this year.
MongoDB: Recent Past and the Near Future
MongoDB delivered total revenue of $303.7 million in Q2, up 53% year-over-year. Further, it came ahead of analysts’ expectations of $282.4 million. Strong subscription sales led by a 73% jump in Atlas revenue and solid net additions of direct sales customers supported Q2 growth.
MDB reported an adjusted net loss of $0.23 a share that fared better than the Street’s projection of a loss of $0.28 a share.
Thanks to the momentum in its business and robust demand, management raised the full-year revenue outlook. The company now expects its FY23 revenue to be in the range of $1,196 million to $1,206 million, compared to its previous forecast of $1,172 million to $1,192 million.
While management’s upbeat top-line guidance is positive, tough year-over-year comparisons for Atlas revenue (which accounted for 64% of the company’s total Q2 revenue) in 2H acted as a dampener. It’s worth mentioning that MongoDB’s Atlas revenue growth has moderated from 82% in Q1 to 73% in Q2. With tough comparisons for 2H, Atlas’ revenue growth could decelerate further.
Equally disappointing was management’s guidance on the bottom line front. MDB expects to deliver an adjusted loss in the range of $0.16 to $0.19 per share, compared to the Street’s projection of a loss of $0.12 per share.
Further, for the full year, MDB expects to deliver an adjusted loss of $0.28 to $0.35 a share, compared to its earlier forecast of a loss of $0.16 to $0.31 per share.
Is MongoDB a Good Stock to Buy?
Despite a wider-than-expected loss projection, Wall Street is upbeat about MDB’s prospects. It has received 16 Buy, three Hold, and one Sell recommendations for a Strong Buy rating consensus. Meanwhile, analysts’ average price target of $397.93 implies 23.3% upside potential over the next 12 months.
While analysts are optimistic about MDB, hedge fund managers and insiders have been selling the stock. According to TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool, hedge funds sold 33K MDB shares in the last three months. Meanwhile, insiders sold MDB stock worth $2.3M during the same period.
Per TipRanks’ data-driven stock score, shares of MDB have an Underperform Smart Score of 1 out of 10.
Bottom Line: Consumption Growth Could Slow, Long-Term Prospects Intact
MongoDB’s growth could show a bit of deceleration in the near term. The weak macro environment could weigh on Atlas’ revenue growth and consumption of its offerings in the short term. However, MongoDB’s ability to bring new business and generate incremental revenues from existing customers, a robust subscription revenue base, investment in growth initiatives, and its platform capabilities provide a solid underpinning for long-term growth. | https://www.tipranks.com/news/why-is-mongodb-nasdaqmdb-stock-plummeting-despite-q2-beat | 2022-09-01T11:22:32Z | tipranks.com | control | https://www.tipranks.com/news/why-is-mongodb-nasdaqmdb-stock-plummeting-despite-q2-beat | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Edinburgh-based Scottish Investment Trust seals JPMorgan fund merger
Two of the world’s oldest global investment trusts have officially merged creating a fund with assets in excess of £1.3 billion.
The move comes after JPMorgan Global Growth & Income (JGGI) confirmed that it had completed its merger with Edinburgh-based Scottish Investment Trust. Both trusts were incorporated in 1887 and agreed to merge back in October.
JGGI aims to pay shareholders an income of at least 4 per cent per annum while accessing exposure to the long-term growth of the “world’s leading companies”.
Tristan Hillgarth, chairman at JPMorgan Global Growth & Income, said: “Today’s news represents an exciting milestone for both groups of shareholders, who should benefit from the greater scale, enhanced liquidity and competitive fees of the trust.
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“JGGI, which recently entered the FTSE-250, has consistently provided investors with strong relative and absolute performance in spite of recent market volatility. We are positive that the newly combined trust will continue to grow and serve shareholders’ interests for many years to come.”
Investment manager Timothy Woodhouse added: “While the outlook for global markets remains uncertain, we are confident that JGGI’s style-agnostic, bottom-up approach will help navigate market turbulence.
“For us, it is all about remaining diligent to our process and partnering with our global network of more than 80 analysts to support our global search for great businesses which generate superior returns and outperformance over the long term.”
Over 2022 to the end of August, JGGI delivered a net asset value (NAV) total return of +0.9 per cent compared to its benchmark’s return of -3.6 per cent.
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/business/edinburgh-based-scottish-investment-trust-seals-jpmorgan-fund-merger-3827200 | 2022-09-01T11:23:57Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/business/edinburgh-based-scottish-investment-trust-seals-jpmorgan-fund-merger-3827200 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Trendy Terriers: Here the 11 most popular breeds of adorable and snuggly Terrier in Britain - including the loving Staffy 🐶
It’s been a bumper few years for dog ownership, with more of us than ever before welcoming a new four-legged friend into our homes – and our hearts.
One of the unexpected effects of the global pandemic – and the resulting series of lockdowns – was an increase in demand for puppies.
And the extent of that soaring in demand has been shown by the latest registrations statistics from the UK Kennel Club released this week.
In 2021 they registered a remarkable 349,013 dogs, compared to 250,659 in 2020 – in increase of 39.2 per cent year-on-year.
Of the 221 different recognised breeds of pedigree dog, many saw huge increases, including the ever-popular Labrador Retriever with 61,559 registrations in 2021 compared with 39,905 the year before.
It was also a good year for Terriers, with 24,499 registrations – up 34 per cent from the year before.
Almost every breed of Terrier showed an increase of ownership, with big jumps for the likes of the Glen of Imaal Terrier, with a 130 per cent increase in popularity, and the Bull Terrier which saw registrations soar by 62 per cent.
Here are the 11 breeds of Terrier that have received the most new registrations in according to the latest Kennel Club figures.
Read more: | https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/trendy-terriers-here-the-11-most-popular-breeds-of-adorable-and-snuggly-terrier-in-britain-including-the-loving-staffy-3744119 | 2022-09-01T11:24:57Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/trendy-terriers-here-the-11-most-popular-breeds-of-adorable-and-snuggly-terrier-in-britain-including-the-loving-staffy-3744119 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Sliding into September!
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) - This morning started cool and crisp, but temperatures are warming quickly for the first day of Meteorological Fall!
- Temperatures are getting warmer
- The humidity is climbing
- Showers are possible for the holiday weekend
Another nice day is on the way! We may be just a tad warmer in the afternoon, but expect lots more sunshine with humidity values staying rather low one more time. Friday looks mainly dry, although muggier air starts to creep back into the region.
As we head into the holiday weekend the heat and humidity begin to climb again. There also could be some hit or miss showers and storms. Unsettled weather continues into early next week.
Bowling Green 3 day forecast:
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny and warm. High 87. Low 65. Winds NE at 8 mph.
FRIDAY: Partly sunny. Warmer. High 90. Low 68. Winds S at 7 mph.
SATURDAY: Partly cloudy. Scat’d showers and thunderstorms possible. High 89. Low 68. Winds SE at 6 mph.
Today’s Climate Info for Bowling Green:
Normal High: 87
Normal Low: 65
Record High Today: 104(1943)
Record Low Today: 44(1887)
Sunrise: 6:17 a.m.
Sunset: 7:14 p.m.
Precipitation:
Yesterday: 0.00″
So Far This Month: 0.00″
So Far This Year: 33.25″ (-1.52″)
Health & Allergies:
Air Quality: Good (Ozone Count: 6/Small Particulate Matter: 27)
Mold Count: Moderate
UV Index: High (7)
Pollen: 10 (High: Grasses)
Copyright 2022 WBKO. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbko.com/2022/09/01/sliding-into-september/ | 2022-09-01T11:25:09Z | wbko.com | control | https://www.wbko.com/2022/09/01/sliding-into-september/ | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Christian Ramirez and Mikey Johnston latest as Hearts face fight to land Aberdeen and Celtic targets
Hearts have made a bid to bring both Christian Ramirez and Mikey Johnston to Tynecastle as they look to fill the void left by injured frontman Liam Boyce.
Already looking to bolster their attacking options, news that the Northern Irishman will be sidelined for up to nine months with a cruciate ligament injury has simply focused minds. But they face a fight to land either of their man Premiership targets, with Johnston already in talks to finalise a loan switch to Portugal with Vitoria Guimaraes.
Aggressively chasing another striker and an attacking midfielder, while also trying to land a centre-back, Hearts would ideally have all in the door by the end of today’s transfer deadline day but it is understood that they are also monitoring the free agent market in the hope that they can still strengthen even once the window has closed.
Ramirez, who has scored three goals in five appearances so far this season, having netted 16 times last term, is out of favour at Pittodrie. Having dropped down the pecking order since the arrival of Bojan Miovski, the 31-year-old is said to be keen to find regular first team involvement elsewhere.
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With so many games pending he would not be shy of match involvement at Hearts and it is understood that the Tynecastle club and the players representatives are keen to make the move happen but, while Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin has said that he would be willing to let the US striker go, the club are reticent to let him switch to one of their main rivals.
Ramirez would not be a cheap acquisition, with the player on a decent wage at Pittodrie and Aberdeen expecting any loan club to pick up the majority of that tab but his experience would help balance out the youth in Robbie Neilson’s squad, and his knowledge of the Premiership, European ties and his international pedigree would allow him to hit the ground running as games come thick and fast for the Gorgie outfit.
The club have also been linked with a possible loan opportunity for Bournemouth centre-back James Hill but it is understood that while the club see potential in the England Under-21 international they would prefer to go for a more seasoned campaigner to counter the inexperience of Toby Sibbick, Alex Cochrane and Lewis Neilson, who are all aged 23 or under.
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/christian-ramirez-and-mikey-johnston-latest-as-hearts-face-fight-to-land-aberdeen-and-celtic-targets-3827092 | 2022-09-01T11:26:19Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/christian-ramirez-and-mikey-johnston-latest-as-hearts-face-fight-to-land-aberdeen-and-celtic-targets-3827092 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Harry McKirdy to complete Hibs move as club set sights on Southampton defender
Hibs are close to wrapping up a deal to bring Harry McKirdy to Easter Road, while also working hard to land another defender, thought to be Southampton centre-back Dynel Simeu.
The Swindon striker, who grabbed two goals in his first five games of the season, is now expected in the capital this afternoon to go through his medical and finalise the deal, with matters expected to be concluded well before tonight’s transfer deadline.
The 25-year-old has been a long-time target of manager Lee Johnson and with his current contract with the League Two side due to expire at the end of this season, Hibs are extremely close to getting a deal over the line.
The departure of Christian Doidge, on loan to Kilmarnock, helped pave the way and it is understood that a deal with Swindon Town has been reached, and personal terms have been agreed with McKirdy, who is a former Aston Villa youth player, and it is now just a case of completing the medical and signing off on the paperwork.
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A player the Leith club have been monitoring for a few months, he has racked up 25 goals and 10 assists since arriving at the County Ground from Port Vale last season, and Johnson was not put off by his recent bad behaviour.
Following a sending off against Salford City in the middle of August, the Englishman stormed into the officials changing room and threw a protein shake at the wall, splashing the referee and assistants' clothes. That earned him a three match ban and a £1500 fine.
There could be further business as the capital club remain positive about their chances of adding another centre-back to their ranks but that will go closer to the wire as they try to push the deal through.
Twenty-year-old Simeu is understood to be the front runner. A former England age-group international, he offers Hibs the versatility they are looking for and can play across a back three or four.
While Hibs also remain linked with Manchester United midfielder Ethan Galbraith, who is expected to go out on loan this term, and QPR’s Macauley Bonne, terms would have to be right.
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article. | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/harry-mckirdy-to-complete-hibs-move-as-club-set-sights-on-southampton-defender-3826952 | 2022-09-01T11:26:25Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/harry-mckirdy-to-complete-hibs-move-as-club-set-sights-on-southampton-defender-3826952 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Scoop: COVID vaccine pill maker posts positive Phase 2 results
San Francisco-based biotech Vaxart, an underdog in the COVID response that's developing a vaccine that would be delivered in a pill, is reporting promising Phase 2 clinical trial data today, the company told Axios exclusively.
Why it matters: The two-dose vaccine candidate was "safe and well-tolerated" and produced immune responses against the wild strain of the virus, as well as subsequent strains including Omicron, officials said.
- It also showed what's called a mucosal antibody response which can provide an added layer of protection and help reduce viral transmission, they said.
- "We believe that the positive findings for multiple immunologic responses may ultimately translate to enhanced protection against infection with, and/or transmission of, SARS-CoV-2," said Sean Tucker, Vaxart's founder and chief scientific officer.
Be smart: As the first part of a Phase 2 study, this is still a relatively small study. It was based on 66 people.
- But it's an important milestone as the first time an oral COVID vaccine has concluded a Phase 2 trial, they said.
- They say the pill could be ultimately "groundbreaking" for the global delivery of COVID vaccines and help get ahead of new COVID variants.
By the numbers: The trial measured for immunogenicity, neutralizing antibodies, and mucosal responses, in addition to safety.
- They found COVID-19-specific serum neutralizing antibodies increased between 1.2- and 2-fold, with higher increases for higher vaccine doses.
- Among 18-to-55-year-old subjects previously vaccinated with mRNA vaccines, they found COVID-19-specific antibody levels in the blood increased 1.6-fold.
- About half of the participants, as well as half of the subjects that previously received an mRNA vaccine, had at least a 1.5-fold increase in mucosal antibodies.
Yes, but: The response by immune cells known as T cells was not as strong as they previously observed with their other COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
What to watch: The company is working on new Omicron-based vaccine candidates to evaluate in preclinical models this year and to advance to clinical trials in the first half of 2023.
- The company is planning more studies in 2023, including larger trials in the U.S. and internationally. | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/01/covid-vaccine-pill-maker-positive-phase-results | 2022-09-01T11:35:40Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/2022/09/01/covid-vaccine-pill-maker-positive-phase-results | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
The Beltline's entire 22-mile route finalized
For the first time, the entire 22-mile route of the Atlanta Beltline is set.
Driving the news: The last unmapped segment (segment 2 of the Northwest Trail) is now locked in to run alongside Peachtree Park Drive and Bennett Street right by Piedmont Hospital.
Zoom in on the route details here.
The intrigue: The Northwest Trail has been complicated because, unlike the rest of the Beltline, it is not an abandoned rail corridor. That has meant a lot of study and community input, including some opposition from residents who didn't want the trail running through their neighborhood.
What's next: Construction of the entire Beltline is scheduled to finish by 2030.
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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/2022/09/01/atlanta-beltway-22-mile-route-finalized | 2022-09-01T11:35:58Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/09/01/atlanta-beltway-22-mile-route-finalized | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Thousands of monkeypox vaccines available this weekend
The White House announced it will allocate up to 5,000 monkeypox vaccines specifically for this weekend's Atlanta Black Pride festival.
- You can make an appointment here.
Why it matters: Monkeypox infections are seen primarily among men who have sex with men and disproportionately among people of color, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Driving the news: The news is part of the White House's pilot program to earmark vaccines for specific communities that need them most, following some criticism about the early roll-out not reaching the right Americans.
- The announcement also includes extra vials for Southern Decadence in New Orleans and Oakland Pride in California.
The big picture: The Fulton County Board of Health said this week that Black people comprise nearly 80% of Fulton residents with monkeypox. As a result of targeted outreach, the county said, it has administered about 70% of its vaccines to people of color so far.
What they're saying: Atlanta Black Pride Weekend organizer Melissa Scott told 11Alive they've already held vaccination clinics leading up to the festival and will have testing and vaccination sites at several of the weekend's events.
Of note: Fulton County will hold another vaccination clinic Saturday from 10am-2pm at the Neighborhood Union Health Center in Atlanta.
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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/2022/09/01/monkeypox-vaccines-available-atlanta-september | 2022-09-01T11:36:10Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2022/09/01/monkeypox-vaccines-available-atlanta-september | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Lurie Children's Hospital facing harassment for gender affirming care
Pediatric facilities nationwide, including Chicago's Lurie Children's Hospital, are facing harassment and false claims about the gender-affirming care they offer.
Why it matters: The harassment is driven by Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account whose posts are amplified by the conservative group Awake Illinois.
- It targets hospitals that provide crucial gender care ranging from talking to children about their identities to hormone treatments and surgery for those over 18 years old.
Flashback: The American Medical Association last year asked governors to oppose legislation that limits gender-affirming care for youth, calling it "medically necessary, evidence-based care that improves physical and mental health."
What's happening: A man calling himself Billboard Chris showed up at Lurie last week with a sign suggesting children are being given puberty blockers against their will.
- The Awake Illinois Twitter account called him a hero for it. (He also attended their rally in Springfield.)
- Other hospitals targeted by Libs of TikTok include a Nebraska children's hospital and Phoenix Children's Hospital.
- And Boston Children's Hospital is stepping up security following threats over its program for treating transgender and nonbinary youth.
What they're saying: "We stand in solidarity with our transgender patients and families, community, and colleagues who are providing gender-affirming care," Lurie said in a statement. "We strongly condemn any threats on and harassment toward the transgender community."
The intrigue: An anonymous Twitter account urged "foodies" to boycott Lettuce Entertain You Enterprise (LEYE) restaurants because Awake Illinois leader Jessica Hockett, an outspoken opponent of school masking and LGBTQ equity programs, is married to Wow Bao executive Tim Hockett.
Reality check: LEYE representatives say Tim Hockett hasn't worked there since 2020.
- Wow Bao, previously owned by LEYE, was acquired by a private equity firm in 2017. LEYE says it no longer manages the brand, but lists it on the Lettuce site because it holds a minority stake.
Of note: Wow Bao did not make Tim Hockett available for comment, and Awake Illinois and Libs of Tik Tok did not respond to interview requests.
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Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Chicago. | https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/09/01/lurie-childrens-harassment-gender-affirming | 2022-09-01T11:36:42Z | axios.com | control | https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/09/01/lurie-childrens-harassment-gender-affirming | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
White Sox raise white flag
Last year's surprising AL Central crown drove expectations that the White Sox could compete for a World Series championship this year.
Reality check: Heading into the final month of the regular season, the Sox are two games under .500 and five games back in the division after losing five games in a row.
- They broke their losing streak with a win last night.
What's happening: The 2022 squad has underachieved dramatically. You have to go back to the 1985 White Sox — also managed by Tony La Russa — for this kind of disappointment.
Offense: A team built on the long ball has hit just 111 homers this season.
- That's fifth-worst in the league.
- No White Sox player has more than 14.
Defense & pitching: This dramatic late-inning loss in Baltimore is a perfect example of the team beating itself all season.
- The pitching staff has a 4.07 ERA, which ranks in the bottom half of the league.
- The Sox are fifth-worst in the league in errors (62).
Injuries: Luis Robert, Tim Anderson, Yoán Moncada, Yasmani Grandal and Michael Kopech are all currently out of the lineup.
Meanwhile, La Russa was just hospitalized for an undisclosed medical condition and has no timetable to return to the team.
- He's also created controversy with strange managerial decisions, like intentionally walking batters with two strikes and falling asleep in the dugout.
💭 Justin's thought bubble: The Sox swagger melted away in the summer heat. Fans suffered through the recent brutal rebuild for this?
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Biting Dogs: These are the 10 breeds of adorable dog that are most likely to bite, nip and snap - including the loving Jack Russell Terrier 🐕
With demand for pups continuing to rocket post-lockdown, here are the breeds of dogs that are most likely to bite humans.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a new dog then you’re not alone – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies surged by around eight per cent since the start of the global pandemic.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
Different breeds of dog also tend to have very different personalities – with some more likely to lash out with nips, nibbles and even bites.
Of course any dog is capable of delivering a damaging bite, while most dogs of any breed are unlikely to do any damage unless seriously provoked, but there are certain breeds who have temperaments making them more likely to be aggressive than others.
Researchers in the USA carried out a survey of some of the estimated five million canine bites suffered in the country each year, seperating them into types of dog.
Here are the 10 breeds of dog that they found were most likely to bite.
For all the latest dog news, pictures, advice and information, join our Scotsdog Facebook group here
Read more: | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/biting-dogs-these-are-the-10-breeds-of-adorable-dog-that-are-most-likely-to-bite-nip-and-snap-including-the-loving-jack-russell-terrier-3770323 | 2022-09-01T11:37:13Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/biting-dogs-these-are-the-10-breeds-of-adorable-dog-that-are-most-likely-to-bite-nip-and-snap-including-the-loving-jack-russell-terrier-3770323 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
So it’s important to realise that our homes’ outdoor spaces can prove dangerous for pets – while dogs and other animals can also prove to to be destructive to gardens, plants and lawns.
For all the latest dog news, pictures, advice and information, join our Scotsdog Facebook group here
With this in mind, the experts at insurance comparison site comparethemarket.com have shared their advice on helping protect your garden from pet damage whilst also ensuring your space is safe for animals so they don’t harm themselves.
1. Protect your plants
There are many safe sprays you can use near your plants and flowers to deter dogs and cats from going near them. Many are made from plants themselves and contain strong scents that dogs dislike, such as orange peel and bitter apple, which should steer them away.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
2. Create a designated ‘business’ area
One way to prevent your dog from doing their business everywhere is to designate a specific place in your garden for this. Bring your dog to the spot to relieve themselves and then reward them with praise and treats. You can leave one of their toys in the area, so they know it's theirs.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
3. Get rid of harmful plants
We want our pets to be able to enjoy their outdoor space safely, but some plants are dangerous to our beloved companions. While many plants are perfectly safe, others can range from mildly irritating to potentially lethal. To avoid illness, or worse, get rid of any plants that may harm your pet. These include irises, hydrangeas, daffodils, lilies and herbs (English pennyroyal mint, parsley, etc.).
Photo: Canva/Getty Images
4. Create barriers
If you don’t want your pets anywhere near your flowers, shrubs and veggies, use decorative fencing as borders or barriers so they can’t access them.
Photo: Canva/Getty Images | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/dogs-and-gardens-these-are-10-expert-tips-on-pet-proofing-your-outdoor-space-3747783 | 2022-09-01T11:37:26Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/dogs-and-gardens-these-are-10-expert-tips-on-pet-proofing-your-outdoor-space-3747783 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
A faster floodgate planned for Des Moines Water Works
A floodgate near George Flagg Parkway and Fleur Drive would be replaced under a plan being developed by Des Moines city staffers.
Why it matters: It would provide faster protection for Des Moines Water Works — the state's largest water utility — as well as some commercial buildings in the area.
State of play: The project is an attempt to prevent a repeat of the 1993 disaster that flooded 10 states and caused billions of dollars in damages.
- Hundreds of thousands of central Iowa residents were left without safe drinking water for about a month after Water Works flooded.
Flashback: The current gate was installed in 1996. It uses panels that require assembly and as much as seven hours to put into place, Peter Zemansky, a city spokesperson tells Axios.
What's happening: Last week, the city council authorized spending nearly $350,000 to design a roll gate system that could close and seal that section of levee in less than 30 minutes.
- $12 million in other types of downtown levee improvements that include increasing the height are already underway.
What's next: Design and study work associated with the new gate will take place in coming months.
- It is anticipated to cost around $2 million and be installed in the next few years.
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18 mins ago - News
Iowans' life expectancy drops by more than 1 year
COVID-19 drove Iowans' life expectancy down by 1.5 years from 2019 to 2020, according to newly released CDC data.
Why it matters: The pandemic is taking a toll on our health as more Iowans are dying prematurely than expected.
- Increases in unintentional injuries, specifically drug overdose deaths, also contributed.
By the numbers: Our life expectancy was 79 years in 2019, but dropped to 77.5 in 2020.
- Iowa did better than the rest of the country, which declined 1.8 years to 77.3 years old.
- The greatest declines in life expectancy were New York, with a 3-year drop, and D.C., with a 2.7-year drop. The lowest decline in life expectancy was in Hawaii, with 0.2 years.
The big picture: Across the U.S., our life expectancy dropped a historic 2.7 years between 2019-21, according to preliminary 2020-21 data from the CDC.
- It's the largest two-year drop since the 1920s.
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Dogs With Powerful Bites: These are the 11 breeds of adorable dog who have the strongest bite - including the strong Bulldog 🐕
With demand for pups continuing to rocket post-lockdown, here are the breeds of dogs whose bite is worse than their bark.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a new dog then you’re not alone – Kennel Club figures show that the number of people looking for puppies surged by around eight per cent since the start of the global pandemic.
But with 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
Different breeds of dog also tend to have very different physical attributes and strengths, including how strong their bite is – a measure that has been studied by scientists.
For all the latest dog news, pictures, advice and information, join our Scotsdog Facebook group here
Of course, this dosn’t necessarily mean that these breeds will be more likely to bite – and individual dogs will vary greatly in strength – just that you need to be extra-careful to train these dogs properly as they have the potential to cause serious harm.
So, here are the breeds that research has shown to have the strongest bites, in pressure per square inch (psi). For reference the average human’s bite is around 162 psi.
For the purposes of this article we are only using breeds recognised by the UK Kennel Club, meaning such breeds as the Cane Corso (700 psi), Dogo Canario (540 psi) and Dogo Argentino (500 psi) are not included.
Read more: | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/dogs-with-powerful-bites-these-are-the-11-breeds-of-adorable-dog-who-have-the-strongest-bite-including-the-strong-bulldog-3719270 | 2022-09-01T11:37:51Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/lifestyle/family-and-parenting/dogs-with-powerful-bites-these-are-the-11-breeds-of-adorable-dog-who-have-the-strongest-bite-including-the-strong-bulldog-3719270 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Detroit's cannabis retail rollout back in action
Detroit is closer to allowing recreational cannabis sales within its borders.
Why it matters: A judge dismissed two lawsuits Tuesday that sought to prove the city's equity-driven cannabis licensing ordinance was unfair.
- In the face of criticism over Detroit's extremely slow recreational cannabis rollout — while the suburbs have benefited from the industry for years — the court has acknowledged the city is right, Council President Pro Tem James Tate said at a news conference yesterday.
What's happening: Litigation halted the city's business license application process for cannabis retailers and consumption lounges that were finally supposed to open Aug. 1. Now, after the dismissals, that application process resumes today.
- The city can award licenses for 40 retailers, 10 microbusinesses and 10 consumption lounges in the first of three rounds of application intake. Half the licenses will go to "social equity" applicants.
- The dates for the second and third rounds have not been announced.
Yes, but: The city has yet to hire the independent vendor needed to score these applications, though it says the process is in progress.
What's next: The city is ready to roll out a program giving longtime Detroit residents help accessing pricey real estate to open cannabis businesses, according to officials.
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Serena Williams can call it “evolving” or “retiring” or whatever she wants. And she can be coy about whether or not this U.S. Open will actually mark the end of her playing days. Those 23 Grand Slam titles earned that right.
If she keeps playing like this, who knows how long this farewell will last?
No matter what happens once her trip to Flushing Meadows is over, here is what is important to know after Wednesday night: The 40-year-old Williams is still around, she’s still capable of terrific tennis, she's still winning — and, like the adoring spectators whose roars filled Arthur Ashe Stadium again — she's ready for more.
Williams eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the U.S. Open’s second round to ensure that she will play at least one more singles match at what she’s hinted will be the last tournament of her illustrious career.
“There’s still a little left in me,” Williams said with a smile during her on-court interview, then acknowledged during her post-match news conference: ”These moments are clearly fleeting."
After beating 80th-ranked Danka Kovinic in straight sets Monday, then collecting her 23rd victory in her past 25 matches against someone ranked Nos. 1 or 2 against Kontaveit on Wednesday, the six-time champion at Flushing Meadows will play Friday for a spot in the fourth round.
Her opponent will be Ajla Tomljanovic, a 29-year-old Australian who is ranked 46th. They've never met, but Tomljanovic, who said she considers herself a Williams fan, figures she knows what to anticipate from the American — and from those in the seats.
“I was playing on Court 7 both of my matches so far at the same time as her, and I could hear the crowd. I’m like, ‘Court 7 isn’t that close.’ I kept thinking, ‘Oh, my God, that’s annoying me and I’m not even playing against her,’" Tomljanovic said. “I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”
Making Williams' potential path possibly simpler if she can get past Tomljanovic: 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez and 2021 French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova both lost.
On Wednesday, Williams hit serves at up to 119 mph, stayed with Kontaveit during lengthy exchanges of big swings from the baselines and conjured up some of her trademark brilliance when it was needed most.
After pulling out a tight first set, then faltering in the second, Williams headed to the locker room for a bathroom break before the third.
Something had to give, someone had to blink.
When they resumed, it was Williams who lifted her level and emerged as the better player.
Just as she’s done so many times, on so many stages, with so much at stake.
“I'm just Serena. After I lost the second set, I thought, ‘Oh, my goodness, I better give my best effort because this could be it,’” Williams said, surely echoing the thoughts of everyone paying any attention.
“I never get to play like this — since ’98, really," she said. "Literally, I’ve had an ‘X’ on my back since ’99,” the year she claimed her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open at age 17.
Whatever rust accumulated when Williams missed about a year of action before returning to the tour in late June appears to have vanished. She was 1-3 in 2022 entering the U.S. Open.
“Now it’s kind of coming together,” Williams said. “I mean, it had to come together today.”
Williams has doubles to play, too. She and her sister, Venus, have won 14 major championships as a team and will begin that event Thursday night. | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/serena-williams-thrills-crowd-advances-to-us-open-third-round | 2022-09-01T11:38:07Z | fox17online.com | control | https://www.fox17online.com/news/national/serena-williams-thrills-crowd-advances-to-us-open-third-round | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
Turtle may soon be named threatened species in Michigan
We're worried about the eastern box turtle.
What's happening: Michigan's only true land turtle — found mostly in western and south-central Michigan, plus Oakland and Washtenaw counties — may soon be dubbed a threatened species by the state.
- The Department of Natural Resources is proposing changes to its list of legally protected endangered and threatened species. It's the sixth update since 1974.
Zoom in: Experts also want to reclassify the copper-bellied water snake and long-eared owl as endangered, among others.
- In good news, they want to down-list peregrine falcons from endangered to merely threatened.
Be smart: Plants and animals designated "endangered" are rare and could soon become extinct. "Threatened" species are "likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future," the EPA says.
Of note: Eastern box turtles are common in the U.S., but in Michigan they've been on the decline for 20 years, per the National Wildlife Federation.
- Reasons include habitat loss and the illegal pet trade, DNR endangered species specialist Jennifer Kleitch tells Axios in an email.
What's next: The public can weigh in on the proposed changes, viewable here, through Sept. 30.
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Houston Rockets reveal green throwback jerseys
The Houston Rockets are going back in time for this year's Hardwood Classic jerseys.
Driving the news: Players will wear new green-and-gold uniforms to pay homage to the team's roots on the West Coast during select games this season.
Catch up quick: The Rockets franchise started in San Diego in 1967 with stars such as Elvin Hayes and Calvin Murphy, the Houston Chronicle reports.
- When they were playing in San Diego, Rockets players wore white jerseys with green-and-gold stripes.
- The Rockets landed in Space City in 1971 after Texas Sports Investments bought the team and relocated it to Texas, becoming the first NBA team in the Lone Star State.
Of note: The jerseys are on presale for $120 through the Rockets Shop.
Flashback: In years past, the Rockets have sported throwback jerseys including the championship era's red and yellow and the navy-and-red jerseys worn from 1995 to 2003.
State of play: The Rockets tip off the regular season Oct. 19 on the road against the Atlanta Hawks.
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Florida voter fraud charges under scrutiny
There's been a lot of finger-pointing about who's to blame after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the arrests of 20 formerly convicted Floridians for alleged voter fraud. But will those charges hold up in court?
Criminal attorneys tell Axios that prosecutors will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that voters had criminal "intent" when they illegally voted in the 2020 election.
Catch up fast: Florida's Amendment 4 restored voting rights for most individuals with former felony convictions. But the 2018 state referendum excludes those convicted of felony sex offenses or murder.
- The 18 voters who've been arrested so far told investigators they received a voter registration card from local election supervisors and believed they were eligible to vote, according to the Miami Herald.
What they're saying: Attorney Larry Davis, who is representing a Miami man arrested in the investigation, told Axios that his client was assured at a voter-registration drive that he could vote despite his felony conviction. So, he signed up and received a voter card in the mail.
- Two years later, police showed up at the man's house with long guns and arrested him in his underwear at 6am, he said. Davis did not wish to identify his client for fear that he may lose his job.
- "For there to be fraud, there must be intent," Davis said. "When my client received his voter registration card from the supervisor of elections office, his only intent for voting was to participate in the election like everybody else."
A prominent voting rights group says none of the ex-felons should have been arrested because it's the state's job to verify if they are eligible to vote.
- "If a Florida citizen can't count on the government to let them know about their voter eligibility, who can they count on?" Neil Volz, deputy director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, tells Axios.
The FRRC has set up bail and legal defense funds for those arrested for illegal voting allegations, and connected attorneys with those in need of representation.
- Volz said he wants the state to create a database that tells voters in real time if they are eligible to vote or not, to avoid future arrests.
Florida International University law professor H. Scott Fingerhut, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor, said prosecutors may feel like they're under political pressure after DeSantis removed Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren from office for vowing not to prosecute certain crimes.
- "I'm hoping each prosecutor's office is looking hard into these cases and is not going to be afraid to do the right thing, [even] if they think the right thing is to let a bad case go no matter how much it upsets the governor and his team."
Between the lines: Most criminal cases end in a plea deal and never go to trial, Davis said. It's up to the defendant whether to take a deal or try for a lower punishment in court.
- "They may want their day in court, win or loss," Fingerhut said.
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Star Wars comes to the Belcourt
The Belcourt will show all nine primary Star Wars films in sequential order beginning with "The Phantom Menace" on Friday.
Details: Star Wars is the latest series the Belcourt announced it will roll out over Labor Day weekend.
- The independent theater will also screen The Man with No Name trilogy and Krzysztof Kieślowski's monumental Three Colors trilogy.
What he's saying: "For Star Wars fans, it's a rare treat to be able to offer up the full Skywalker Saga and a fun way to round-out the summer. Those trilogies … give Nashville movie fans of all stripes a great excuse to escape the heat and settle in for a cinematic experience you really can't get anywhere else," Belcourt programming and education associate Zack Hall tells Axios.
Nate's thought bubble: The greatest Star Wars movie is obviously "The Empire Strikes Back." Like many fans, I can go without the first three chapters as standalone movies, but as elements of the full story, they're just fine.
Don't forget: Saturday is National Cinema Day, and the largest movie theater chains will be offering $3 tickets. For Nashville, that includes the AMC theaters in Bellevue and Antioch.
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Edinburgh weather forecast: What is the weather forecast for this weekend in Edinburgh?
Here is an hour-by-hour weather forecast for this weekend in Edinburgh.
While Friday will be dry for most of the day, with a mixture of sunny and cloudy intervals, rain is forecast for both Saturday and Sunday.
According to the BBC forecast, the weather is unlikely to improve next week, with thundery showers forecast for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Hour-by-hour forecast
Friday, September 2
06:00 – Light cloud – 10C
07:00 – Light cloud – 11C
08:00 – Light cloud – 12C
09:00 – Sunny intervals – 13C
10:00 – Light cloud – 15C
11:00 – Light cloud – 16C
12:00 – Sunny intervals – 17C
13:00 – Sunny intervals – 18C
14:00 – Sunny intervals – 19C
15:00 – Sunny intervals – 19C
16:00 – Light cloud – 19C
17:00 – Sunny intervals – 19C
18:00 – Sunny intervals – 18C
19:00 – Light cloud – 17C
20:00 – Light cloud – 17C
21:00 – Light cloud – 16C
22:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
23:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
Saturday, September 3
0:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
01:00 – Light rain showers – 12C
02:00 – Light cloud – 15C
03:00 – Light cloud – 15C
04:00 – Light cloud – 15C
05:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
06:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
07:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
08:00 – Light rain showers – 16C
09:00 – Light rain showers – 17C
10:00 – Light cloud – 17C
11:00 – Light cloud – 18C
12:00 – Light cloud – 19C
13:00 – Light cloud – 19C
14:00 – Light cloud – 19C
15:00 – Light cloud – 19C
16:00 – Light cloud – 19C
17:00 – Light cloud – 18C
18:00 – Light cloud – 18C
19:00 – Light cloud – 17C
20:00 – Light rain showers – 17C
21:00 – Light rain showers – 17C
22:00 – Light rain showers – 16C
23:00 – Light rain showers – 16C
Sunday, September 4
0:00 – Light rain showers – 16C
01:00 – Light rain showers – 16C
02:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
03:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
04:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
05:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
06:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
07:00 – Light rain showers – 15C
08:00 – Light rain – 16C
09:00 – Light rain – 16C
10:00 – Light rain – 17C
11:00 – Light rain – 17C
12:00 – Light rain – 18C
13:00 – Light rain – 18C
14:00 – Light rain – 18C
15:00 – Heavy rain – 18C
16:00 – Light rain showers – 18C
17:00 – Light rain showers – 18C
18:00 – Light rain showers – 18C
19:00 – Light rain showers – 17C
20:00 – Light rain showers – 17C
21:00 – Light rain showers – 16C
22:00 – Heavy rain – 15C
23:00 – Light rain – 15C | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/weather/edinburgh-weather-forecast-what-is-the-weather-forecast-for-this-weekend-in-edinburgh-3827167 | 2022-09-01T11:38:48Z | scotsman.com | control | https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/weather/edinburgh-weather-forecast-what-is-the-weather-forecast-for-this-weekend-in-edinburgh-3827167 | 1 | 1 | green-iguana-35 | null |
More than $4 billion in new construction planned for downtown Raleigh
Downtown Raleigh is on the verge of another apartment boom that could add thousands of residents in the coming years.
Driving the news: More than 8,300 housing units are planned or under construction, according to the Downtown Raleigh Alliance's State of Downtown Report, which was released Wednesday.
- That will bring the total downtown units to just over 16,000 — more than double the current amount.
Why it matters: The apartment growth could help fuel a retail comeback downtown, which has struggled to regain foot traffic since the pandemic and remote work has emptied offices.
- But while office workers aren't yet returning in droves, people still seem interested in living downtown, which is growing 2.4 times faster than the Raleigh-Cary metropolitan area as a whole, according to DRA.
- Downtown apartments have a 95% occupancy rate and average monthly rent is now $1,883 — a 25.5% increase since 2018, according to the report.
- Just under 300 affordable units are in the pipeline, including 200 at the 30-story RUS Bus building next to Union Station. The city also hopes to use land around Moore Square to add more.
What they're saying: "The residential growth is enormous right now," DRA's president and CEO, Bill King, told Axios. "It's a really big leap forward and adding residential will help [retail] because we're still figuring out what work and the office looks like … but housing will help with our rebound."
The bottom line: King said leasing activity is picking up on Fayetteville St., but downtown's main corridor still needs plenty of support. Under construction apartments on its southern end, like the Salisbury Square project, could be hugely beneficial, he added.
- "It'll take a while before the street is fully occupied and fully healthy," he said. "It's going to take some additional focus and energy and probably some new ideas, but we do have activity."
Meanwhile, the report also notes overall construction in downtown Raleigh is accelerating.
Zoom in: A visual graphic released by DRA shows just how widespread and significant plans are for Raleigh's downtown core, as developers from across the country target North Carolina's capital city.
- More than $4 billion worth of projects are in the planning stage — though timelines for many of the projects are still unknown — according to DRA.
- In addition to apartments, that includes millions of square feet of office space as well as more hotels.
The big picture: Raleigh is transforming into a big city — and its skyline will soon begin to reflect that.
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Amtrak’s record Virginia ridership
More people are taking passenger trains in Virginia than ever before in Amtrak's history.
What's happening: Over 110,000 people boarded state-sponsored Amtrak routes in July, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.
- That's 20% higher than pre-pandemic levels and a 30% increase since June.
Why it matters: The numbers reflect pent-up demand for summer travel, but also the state's growing investment in its rail infrastructure.
- In July, the state added two new daily round trips connecting D.C. to Norfolk and Roanoke.
- And the state resumed a daily trip between Newport News and D.C. that had been suspended during the pandemic.
Routes that didn't add trains saw increases in ridership soon thereafter.
The Richmond-D.C. route saw a 26% increase in ridership between July 2019 and July 2022.
What they're saying: "These numbers make it very clear — Virginians want more passenger rail to be a part of their transportation network," said DJ Stadtler, executive director of the state's passenger rail authority, in a statement.
What's next: The state is working on a number of major rail upgrades, which rail advocates say should improve rail reliability and speeds in the near-term, though plans for high-speed service are still well over a decade away from fruition.
- And discussions are ongoing about a potential east-west route that would connect Richmond and Charlottesville, opening the door to service between Hampton Roads and Roanoke.
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Virginia elk are back, and so is the "Elk Cam"
Virginia's "Elk Cam" is streaming once again as of this week and will be live through November.
What's happening: Launched by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources in 2018, the camera lets viewers watch Virginia's roughly 250 elk in their restored habitat in Vansant, Virginia, just in time for breeding season.
- Vansant is a small town in Southwest Virginia that's closer to Louisville, Kentucky, than Richmond.
- Peak viewing months are September and October, according to DWR.
Be smart: The "Elk Cam" is one of three run by DWR. The other two are in Richmond:
- The "Shad Cam" — the longest running creature cam in Richmond. It runs through a below-river-level window in Bosher's Dam (near the Willey Bridge/Stony Point Chippenham exit).
- Richmond "Falcon Cam" — The camera sits atop the Riverfront Plaza building downtown.
Flashback: Elk roamed freely in Virginia until the last herd was hunted to extinction in 1855.
- DWR began establishing a restored habitat for elk in Buchanan County on former coal mines a decade ago.
- Elk were relocated from southeast Kentucky to Virginia and now flourish in the former coal town, per DWR.
Ned's thought bubble: Elk are neat, but my favorite cam going right now is Richmond's osprey camera.
- It currently features a creepy doll and no birds.
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Hey Tampa Bay, your next waiter might be a robot
Israeli tech startups want to carry Tampa Bay restaurants into the future.
Driving the news: Two businesses pitched server-assisting robots to restaurateurs and business influencers at a Florida-Israel Business Accelerator dinner Tuesday night.
The star of the show: Bear Robotics' Servi, a sleek bot on wheels that served appetizers off its carrying trays. Servi is supposed to literally take the weight off of servers' shoulders, allowing them to serve tables faster and get more facetime with customers.
- Locally, you can get waited on by a Servi at Gecko's Grill in Hillview. The chain is getting a Servi bot at its biggest location in Sarasota later this month.
Another company, Xtend, also pitched its services. Along with a restaurant bot to carry food and take orders, Xtend is also beta testing robots for hospitals and telemedicine, warehouses and security patrol.
Two more big ideas: Caller Intercept offered a solution to help both restaurant workers and customers who find themselves stuck on the phone by directing callers to text message options for reservations, online ordering, directions and conversations with the manager.
- CEO Andrew Koumi tested the system on his own restaurant chain, Green Market Cafe, last year. He found that when his system texted a link to missed callers, he recovered $500 a month in revenue he would have normally lost from missed calls.
Hospitality tech platform Tabit Technologies pitched its software ecosystem to synchronize point of sale services, reservations, waitlists, online and self-service ordering, kitchen systems, analytics, and more.
- That system is being used at several places in Miami including the Versace Mansion and Serafina.
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