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Will climate change affect India’s solar and wind energy production? | In Focus podcast
Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay speaks to us on how climate change is affecting the production of alternate sources of energy, and how the industry can handle this crisis properly.
A recent study by scientists at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Pune, and Center for Prototype Climate Modeling, New York University, Abu Dhabi showed that climate change will likely impact efficiencies of solar and wind energy production – that is, the very tools we might depend on to combat climate change, may be affected by climate change in the interim!
The study came to the conclusion that some parts of India, especially the West and Northwest where large pools of wind energy farms are currently located, may see diminishing wind speeds. Also, solar radiation, which aids solar energy output, may diminish across almost all of India, save for some pockets. This means that the industry has to look at increasing efficiencies of wind and solar power technologies for better energy capture. Fortunately, we do have time on hand, for, the study has looked at data models for the next 50 years. If we do not act, though, our promise to the world of going net zero emissions by 2070 may be under threat.
Guest: Dr. Parthasarathi Mukhopadhyay, Scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and one of the authors of the study.
Host: K. Bharat Kumar
Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian
Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
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- Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name, to avoid rejection. | https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/will-climate-change-affect-indias-solar-and-wind-energy-production-in-focus-podcast/article65639595.ece | 2022-07-14T13:05:47Z | https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/will-climate-change-affect-indias-solar-and-wind-energy-production-in-focus-podcast/article65639595.ece | false |
Wholesale inflation in June surged 11.3% from a year ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation at the wholesale level climbed 11.3% in June compared with a year earlier, the latest painful reminder that inflation is running hot through the American economy.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that the U.S. producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers — rose at the fastest pace since hitting a record 11.6% in March.
Last month’s jump in wholesale inflation was led by energy prices, which soared 54% from a year earlier. But even excluding food and energy prices, which can swing wildly from month to month, producer prices in June jumped 8.2% from June 2021. On a month-to-month basis, wholesale inflation rose a substantial 1.1% from May to June.
Thursday’s report on wholesale prices came a day after the Labor Department reported that surging prices for gas, food and rent catapulted consumer inflation to a new four-decade peak in June, further pressuring households and likely sealing the case for another large interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Consumer prices soared 9.1% compared with a year earlier, the biggest yearly increase since 1981.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/07/14/wholesale-inflation-june-surged-113-year-ago/ | 2022-07-14T13:09:07Z | https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/07/14/wholesale-inflation-june-surged-113-year-ago/ | true |
Farmers in Scotland see wild boar pulling apart and eating sheep
- Published
Scotland's growing population of wild boar is causing "chaos" by digging up fields and attacking livestock, farmers have said.
The head keeper of Aberchalder and Glengarry Estate told BBC Scotland he had seen three boars attack a ewe.
Other farmers in the Scottish Highlands say they regularly kill lambs.
However, conservation charity Trees For Life said wild boar could benefit nature and wildlife if managed correctly.
The Scottish government said it was working with NatureScot to determine the risks posed by the species.
Wild boar are omnivores with a diet consisting mostly of roots, bulbs and seeds.
However, Steven McKenzie, the head keeper at Aberchalder and Glengarry Estate south of Fort Augustus, said he had seen wild boar attacking livestock.
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "They're definitely preying on the sheep on purpose.
"As we came into the field we saw three pigs. They had encircled a ewe [and] they had her on her back and were quite literally pulling her apart and eating her.
"I was able to put a shot off and dispatch one of the pigs before the other two disappeared into the forest."
The National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland has also warned wild boar could spread African swine fever and other diseases to the pig population.
Robin Traquair, vice-president of NFU Scotland and a pig farmer, said: "If the wild boar start to break into outdoor pig farms, that could cause a massive risk to disease. We've got a very successful outdoor pig herd in the north east.
"The immediate risk is mange, worms and parasites and suchlike. However, we have African swine fever in Germany just now.
"If it comes into this country and gets into the wild boar herd then it's at a massive risk of putting outside pigs at risk as well - and actually finishing that industry off."
The Mammal Society estimates there could be as many as 5,000 wild boar in Scotland.
The animals typically weigh 90-100kg (198lb-220lb), but Mr McKenzie said he was now seeing wild boar weighing more than 200kg (441lb) in groups of up to 26 at a time.
But the chief executive of Trees For Life, Steve Micklewright, said the return of wild boar in Scotland could actually be "quite a good thing".
Mr Micklewright said: "They root around the soil. They dig up things and that provides space for seedlings to grow and trees to establish, which could have a lot of benefit for nature and wildlife.
"What we think is needed is for the Scottish government to accept that wild boar is a native species and therefore it requires a management strategy.
"That way we can get those benefits on nature reserves and open ground but we can also deal with them when they're causing problems."
Over-hunted
Wild boar live together in large social groups known as sounders, with females able to produce two litters per year of about eight or nine.
The UK's best known sounder of about 900 wild boar is in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.
Wild Boar used to be a native species in Scotland before being eradicated in the 13th Century because of over-hunting and habitat loss.
The Scottish government said it fully understood the threats posed by wild boar and feral pigs and was working closely with NatureScot to determine the risks. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62163440?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA | 2022-07-14T13:09:29Z | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-62163440?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA | false |
In recent years, Tesco has begun to offer 'exclusive' discounts in its store to Clubcard holders. The free-to-use loyalty card has always offered a number of perks, including the ability to earn points from shopping at Tesco which could then be exchanged for tickets to major tourist attractions.
Recently, however, the perks have been much more obvious in stores, with almost every category of item offering some sort of discount to Clubcard holders. Earlier this year, in fact, Tesco raised the price of its well-known meal deal from £3 to £3.50, for everyone but Clubcard holders.
Tesco said earlier this year that it has around 19 million Clubcard users who are entitled to grab these discounts. With this in mind, and with the ongoing cost of living crisis making it more important than ever, we decided to have a look at how many 'everyday' items we could get by only buying things included in the Clubcard prices discount during one shop around Tesco's store on Wragby Road, Lincoln.
READ MORE:I tried Aldi Pringles against the real thing and couldn't tell the difference
For this investigation, we looked at doing a small 'basket shop', aiming to purchase a few bits and pieces that the average person would buy in a week. This includes a loaf of bread, eggs, cheese, butter, and some other bits.
Perhaps the most interesting place to start would be with the butter, which has caused outrage in recent weeks due to soaring prices. Reports stated that a 750g tub of Lurpack has hit prices of over £7 recently, but we were able to pick up a 500g for £4, a full 49p cheaper than it would be without a Clubcard.
There were a number of cheaper alternatives available as well, with no Clubcard needed to pay less for different range other than Lurpack. But if Lurpack is specifically what you're looking for, then this is one of the top discounts available.
Near the butter, we also picked up a block of cheese at an 85p discount. Our Cathedral City Extra Mature Cheddar cost £4.45 instead of £5.25.
Again, cheaper, non-branded, options were also available. This is the main theme of all the items we purchased in fact, with discounts mostly placed on the higher-end products.
We looked for milk to purchase as well, however, the only deals were on multiple purchases, with 2 Cravendales costing £4 instead of £2.25 each. Whilst this may still be a decent deal, offering a 50p discount, I chose not to make the most of it as I don't often drink milk and was worried about wasting any product we bought.
Other decent discounts we found on some common items were 50p off Yorkshire Tea teabags, making them £2.50; a Warburton's tiger bread load for £1 instead of £1.35; and a 1L bottle of Robinson double strength squad discounted by 75p at £1.50.
When looking for eggs, we found a 10-pack of Happy Egg Co. eggs discounted by 25p, which we happily picked up. We also opted to get some Ritz crackers, to go with the cheese already in our basket, which was discounted by 20p at £1.
Finally, we went to the soft drinks aisle where the options were slightly thinner. There was another '2-for-£3 deal on Fanta, which would offer a saving of 60p, but we decided to go for a 2l bottle of lime coke, which was discounted by 52p bringing its full price to £1.25.
In total, we had 9 'everyday' items in our basket, which without a Clubcard would have cost us £23.56. With the Clubcard discount, our total came to £19.20, offering a decent saving of £4.36.
But is that really enough to warrant still shopping at one of the more expensive supermarkets and picking up almost exclusively all 'named brand' goods? For every Clubcard discount we spotted on the big grocery brands, there was a 'value' item priced lower, often by quite a bit.
The real discounts came in other areas of the store, namely the alcohol aisle, where you could find significant discounts on your drinks. One other big deal we spotted was on 30 Piriteze allergy relief tablets, which were £3.50 cheaper with a Clubcard.
Last week, we took a look at what sort of quality you get from other stores 'copycat' items compared to the real thing. In our experiment, comparing Pringles to the Aldi version, we found there was very little difference between the two, but you could make significant savings.
If we're looking for an overall verdict, it is certainly fair to say that Clubcard's offer great value discounts, particularly considering that they're free and there's no real downsides to having one. But if you're looking for the absolute best deals and value for money at a time when £3.50 cheaper, it might be better to shop around.
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Skegness Beach becoming a "dump" due to the amount of litter, dog walker claims | https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/tesco-clubcard-prices-full-basket-7332760 | 2022-07-14T13:09:39Z | https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/tesco-clubcard-prices-full-basket-7332760 | false |
WHO To Reconvene Monkeypox Emergency Panel On July 21
Muhammad Irfan Published July 14, 2022 | 06:00 PM
Geneva, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Jul, 2022 ) :The World Health Organization said Thursday it would reconvene its expert monkeypox committee on July 21 to decide whether the outbreak constitutes a global health emergency.
A second meeting of the WHO's emergency committee on monkeypox will be held, with the UN health agency now aware of 9,200 cases in 63 countries at the last update issued Tuesday.
A surge in monkeypox infections has been reported since early May outside the West and Central African countries where the disease has long been endemic.
On June 23, the WHO convened an emergency committee of experts to decide if monkeypox constitutes a so-called Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) -- the highest alarm that the WHO can sound.
But a majority advised the WHO's chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that the situation, at that point, had not met that threshold.
Now a second meeting will be held, with case numbers rising.
"The emergency committee will provide its views to the WHO director general on whether the event constitutes a PHEIC," the UN health agency said in a statement.
"If so, it will propose temporary recommendations on how to better prevent and reduce the spread of the disease and manage the global public health response." A statement will be issued in the days following the meeting.
- 'Tackle the stigma' - Most monkeypox infections so far have been observed in men who have sex with men, of young age and chiefly in urban areas, according to the WHO.
The committee will look at trends, how effective the counter-measures are and make recommendations for what countries and communities should do to tackle the outbreak, Tedros told a press conference on Tuesday.
He said the WHO was working closely with civil society and the LGBTQ community, "especially to tackle the stigma around the virus" and spread information to help people stay safe.
"WHO continues to work with countries and vaccine manufacturers to coordinate the sharing of vaccines, which are currently scarce," he added.
The Geneva-based organisation is also working with countries and experts to drive forward research and development.
"We must work to stop onward transmission and advise governments to implement contact tracing to help track and stem the virus as well as to assist people in isolation," Tedros said.
- Snapshot profile - A week ago, the WHO issued its first situation report on the spread of monkeypox, detailing the typical profile of those affected by the outbreak so far.
According to available statistics, almost all patients affected thus far are male, with a median age of 37, with three-fifths identifying as men who have sex with men, the WHO said.
The normal initial symptoms of monkeypox include a high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a blistery chickenpox-like rash.
But the report said that in this outbreak, many cases were not presenting with the classically-described clinical picture.
Among the cases who reported at least one symptom, 81 percent presented with a widespread rash on the body, 50 percent presented with fever and 41 percent presented with genital rash.
The WHO's 16-member emergency committee on monkeypox is chaired by Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who is a former director of the WHO's Vaccines and Immunisation Department.
There have been six PHEIC declarations since 2009, the last being for Covid-19 in 2020 -- though the sluggish global response to the alarm bell still rankles at the WHO's headquarters.
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All rights of the publication are reserved by UrduPoint.com. Reproduction without proper consent is not allowed. | https://www.urdupoint.com/en/miscellaneous/who-to-reconvene-monkeypox-emergency-panel-on-1536383.html | 2022-07-14T13:10:35Z | https://www.urdupoint.com/en/miscellaneous/who-to-reconvene-monkeypox-emergency-panel-on-1536383.html | false |
Indias tour of West Indies: FanCode partners DD Sports for exclusive TV broadcast
Bengaluru, July 14: FanCode, India's premier sports-only digital platform has announced DD Sports as the exclusive television partner for Indian cricket team's upcoming tour of the West Indies to build accessibility for the tour for television viewers across the country.
The tour, scheduled between July 22 and August 7, will be the first India-away series to be hosted exclusively on DD Sports in the last 15 years.
The tour comprising three One-day Internationals and five T20s, commences on July 22.
FanCode is India's one of the the first homegrown sports-only digital platform that aims at bringing fans closer to their favourite sports, aligned with the country's vision for Digital India and building a multi-sport nation.
In April 2021, FanCode became the first-ever digital platform to sign a historic four-year deal with Cricket West Indies, giving exclusive broadcast rights to FanCode for almost 150 international and 250 domestic cricket matches of the Caribbean until 2024.
The deal includes the upcoming India's tour of the West Indies, which will be exclusively live-streamed on the FanCode app (Android, iOS, TV) and www.fancode.com with a user-first digital experience.
To ensure that the television-only audiences do not miss out on the tour and to make it easily accessible to all such sports fans, FanCode has offered TV rights to DD Sports to now be available on all Cable and DTH platforms, apart from DD FreeDish.
The series will be played during India's Prime-Time with ODIs starting at 7pm and T20Is starting at 8 pm IST.
Speaking on the partnership, Prasar Bharti CEO Mayank Kumar Agrawal said, "Cricket is the undisputed leader in sports and entertainment in India. Even in the fast-growing digital age, there continues to be a significant market and audience for sports consumption on television, and we are glad to bring the upcoming India tour of the West Indies to the masses through DD Sports. While FanCode is building a unique digital experience for sports fans, their extension of rights to DD Sports will mean wider accessibility to all sports fans for the series."
FanCode co-founder Prasana Krishnan, shared his views, "FanCode's single-most objective is to provide superlative user experience and solve for accessibility gaps fans witness in sports consumption and experience, in line with the government's vision to transform India's adaptability for digital through initiatives like Digital India. DD Sports' reach in smaller cities and towns is unbeatable, making it the ideal platform to televise the India tour of West Indies, while we continue to build a superior digital experience for fans nationally."
FanCode is curating a comprehensive and immersive digital experience aimed at redefining how fans consume sports, right from selecting their commentary language, statistics and analysis of choice through interactive overlays, while watching the live stream.
Fans will also be able to rewatch and relive any moment from the game almost in real-time. Another offering unique to FanCode is their focus on keeping the series accessible to all users with subscription options like Tour Pass, where fans can select and pay just for the entire series.
Watch the India tour of West Indies LIVE on FanCode App (Android, iOS, TV), www.fancode.com, and DD Sports from July 22, 2022, 7 PM onwards. | https://www.mykhel.com/amphtml/cricket/india-s-tour-of-west-indies-fancode-partners-dd-sports-for-exclusive-tv-broadcast-193810.html | 2022-07-14T13:11:07Z | https://www.mykhel.com/amphtml/cricket/india-s-tour-of-west-indies-fancode-partners-dd-sports-for-exclusive-tv-broadcast-193810.html | false |
Mabel didn’t always consider herself an outdoorsy person, but all that changed when she decided to get a hobby other than singing.
“When your hobby becomes your job, you need a new hobby,” says the 26-year-old says – and her first step was getting a dog, an Italian greyhound called Imani, shortly before the first lockdown.
“I was like, OK, I need a bit of emotional support, so I got her to come on my last tour with me. She was amazing. It was a nice reminder like, cool – she needs to go outside for walk, so let’s go outside and get some air. It gave me a good sense of routine.”
Mabel – full name Mabel McVey – liked the fact she was forced to go outside so much, that she soon got another dog, Tahini, also a greyhound, and decided to get back into horse riding, which she did as a child.
“Some of my favourite memories of this year have been riding my horse,” she says. “I’ll ride my horse and take my dogs, and they’ll run next to the horse, and after that we’ll go to the studio – and I go in with this super calm mindset, which has been so life-altering.”
She calls this new set-up in her life very wholesome. “I’m a very chaotic person, but that is the most mature, wholesome decision I’ve ever made for myself.”
Mabel’s two dogs now travel with her everywhere, and she says: “We’re a really funny, dysfunctional little family.”
She credits dog walking and horse riding with helping her anxiety, something she says “has been around for as long as I can remember”, but is “heightened when you’re well-known”.
Mabel comes from a famous family – her parents are Swedish singer Neneh Cherry and English music producer Cameron McVey – and she released her debut single in 2015. “During the time of making the album [her second album, About Last Night… comes out on July 15], lockdown, and spending more time with my family, I realised the negatives that come with the job are nowhere near the positives of it,” she reflects.
“When I think back to all the amazing things I’ve achieved as an artist and the things I’ve experienced, it is something I want to carry on doing – yes, it comes with some things that are difficult to deal with. But, in general, isn’t the human experience quite challenging?”
Mabel accepts the attention can sometimes be tricky to navigate. “Regardless of how confident you are or not, I think all of us, at some point in our lives, are worried about what people are thinking about them,” she says. “Being in the public eye, you get to know what people are thinking about you all the time. I was quite young when I started doing what I do, and it took a minute to accept the fact that everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but it can’t change the way I feel about myself.”
As well as her animals, Mabel takes care of her mental health by making music, and taking the occasional social media break. “If you feel like it’s becoming the source of your happiness, and the validation is what is getting you up in the morning, or making you sad if you’re not getting it – you need to take a break, and you need to find physical, actual things out there in the real world that make you happy,” she advises.
After moving around a lot as a child (she was born in Spain, and lived in both the UK and Sweden growing up) Mabel says: “I didn’t find my voice properly until I moved to London” when she was 18.
“Moving around a lot as a child is amazing, and I see that as an asset, but I think for a long time I was like, ‘Where is home?'” she says. She’s multilingual (speaking English, Swedish and a bit of Spanish), and grew up with her mother’s African American stepfather, jazz musician Don Cherry, and her Sierra Leonean biological grandfather.
“It was like all these different puzzle pieces, and I didn’t really understand how they fit together. Here [in London], there are so many different cultures, but there [in Sweden], I definitely didn’t look Swedish. I would have this confusion about my identity – being mixed, I understand my privilege 100%. However, at the same time, you’re left with this conflict within yourself, where I felt like I was scared to own my blackness. But also if you put me in a room with white people, I’m never going to be white, either.”
The fact that London is such a “melting pot of all these different cultures” helped Mabel navigate these feelings, and she says this all culminated in winning the Brit Award for British Female Solo Artist in 2020.
“Winning my Brit Award and being at the O2 – you’re in London, you’re in the most important arena,” she says. “Feeling like I’ve always struggled with my identity, but feeling like I love London, and London loves me back – that was a really precious moment.”
Mabel is celebrating playing live in London again this summer with a special gig to round off Somerset House Summer Series with American Express. To win tickets in the Amex Summer Drop campaign, visit amexsummerdrop.co.uk.
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Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm. | https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/health---wellbeing/860520/singer-mabel-on-horse-riding-to-battle-anxiety-and-coming-to-terms-with-her-mixed-race-identity.html | 2022-07-14T13:11:10Z | https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/health---wellbeing/860520/singer-mabel-on-horse-riding-to-battle-anxiety-and-coming-to-terms-with-her-mixed-race-identity.html | false |
Current Head of Sales Kasey Price Named President of FuturePlan, Effective August 1, 2022
DRESHER, Pa., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascensus—whose technology and expertise helps millions of people save for retirement, education, and healthcare— announced today that Kasey Price will assume the role of President of FuturePlan by Ascensus on Aug. 1, 2022.
Price, who has served as head of Sales for FuturePlan since January 2021, will succeed Teresa Hassara, who is leaving the company at the end of July to assume a new leadership role in the financial services industry.
Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings—providing technology, services, and expertise that help more than 15 million people save for retirement, education, and healthcare.
Price will report directly to Ascensus President and CEO David Musto and join Ascensus' Operating Committee, the company's executive leadership team.
"One of the many valuable attributes Ascensus brings to those we serve is the breadth and depth of our leadership," said Musto. "As a result, we are able to turn to a leader of Kasey's experience, industry perspective, and company knowledge without delay, ensuring this leadership transition will be both smooth and successful."
Musto added, "Kasey's leadership has driven consistent growth in sales revenue, added new business and retained relationships, and fostered our significantly enhanced sales presence across the markets we serve. She is highly respected as a leader in our industry and admired both personally and professionally by partner and competitor alike. I'm delighted for her, the FuturePlan organization, and the advisors, clients, and partners we serve."
Price brings more than 25 years of retirement industry experience to her new role. She has led Sales for FuturePlan since January 2021, with responsibility for overall sales strategy and distribution as well as overseeing critical projects and initiatives focused on increasing client value and growing the business. She previously headed up our Institutional Sales team for the business, with responsibility for developing, managing, and expanding relationships with financial advisors and the retirement industry's top-tier recordkeeping providers.
Prior to joining FuturePlan in 2017, Price was a founding partner and CEO of Georgia-based Retirement Strategies, Inc. (RSI), a third-party administration firm known for its strong strategic partnerships with advisors and recordkeepers. She joined the Ascensus leadership team when Ascensus acquired RSI that same year.
Hassara has served as President of FuturePlan since April 2021, leading transformation of the service, products, and expertise FuturePlan brings to the marketplace and adding leadership support to a variety of enterprise initiatives. She will remain with the company through July 29 to aid in the leadership transition.
"I want to thank Teresa for her many contributions to our success and her effective leadership of FuturePlan during the challenges of the pandemic," said Musto. "We wish her well in her new responsibilities."
About Ascensus
Ascensus is a market-leading enabler of tax-advantaged savings—providing technology, services, and expertise that help more than 15 million people save for retirement, education, and healthcare.
We are a premier savings program service provider, third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator. Our platforms, industry knowledge, and data-based insights enhance the growth and success of our partners, their clients, and savers through co-branded, private-labeled, and governmental partnerships.
Ascensus offers comprehensive qualified and non-qualified retirement plan solutions, third-party retirement plan administration, 529 education and ABLE savings program administration, health savings and COBRA administration, corporate- and bank-owned life insurance solutions, and fiduciary and total rewards services.
The company's brands include Ascensus; Newport, an Ascensus company; PAi, an Ascensus company; and FuturePlan by Ascensus. Ascensus has more than $745 billion in assets under administration and employs more than 5,500 associates as of March 31, 2022.
For more information, visit ascensus.com and newportgroup.com.
About FuturePlan
FuturePlan is a leading national retirement TPA dedicated to helping advisors, recordkeepers, and plan sponsors deliver better outcomes for savers. Our highly responsive, personalized service is backed by the strength and security of a national leader in Ascensus. As of March 31, 2022, FuturePlan's experienced team of experts supports more than 45,000 retirement plans with more than 1.9 million participants and more than $100 billion in assets under administration. For more information, visit futureplan.com.
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SOURCE Ascensus | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/ascensus-announces-futureplan-leadership-change/ | 2022-07-14T13:11:44Z | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/ascensus-announces-futureplan-leadership-change/ | false |
Campaign Leads to Almost 600,000 Impressions and over 85,000 Downloads of the FH® Consumer Classroom App
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A campaign to promote a health insurance literacy app, FH Consumer Classroom, led to over 85,000 downloads and garnered positive attention from consumer survey respondents, who reported that the app was useful in learning about the healthcare system and insurance plans. These are among the findings reported in a new brief from the national, independent nonprofit FAIR Health. Entitled Advancing Health Insurance Literacy among Hispanic and Latino Communities: Lessons from FAIR Health's FH® LAUNCH (Learn, Access and Understand Navigation of Choices in Healthcare) Español Initiative, the brief reveals the findings of an initiative to advance health insurance literacy in Hispanic, Latino and Spanish-speaking young adults in the New York City metropolitan area. The initiative—called FH® LAUNCH Español and generously funded by The New York Community Trust (The Trust)—involved the dissemination of the FH Consumer Classroom mobile app, which is available for both iOS and Android.
Launched in April 2021, the FH Consumer Classroom app is available in both English and Spanish, and offers the same educational platform available on FAIR Health's consumer websites in a concise, visually welcoming and user-friendly format. Through articles, videos, a glossary, resources and interactive puzzle games, users can learn about health insurance and how to navigate the healthcare system.
As part of the FH LAUNCH Español initiative, in September 2021, FAIR Health implemented an educational outreach campaign targeting Hispanic, Latino and Spanish-speaking young adults (aged 18-26) in New York City, with an additional focus on formerly incarcerated reentry populations. The campaign, which was developed in tandem with an ad agency that serves Spanish-speaking populations, involved Facebook ads, digital display ads and targeted outreach to New York state and county health departments, social service organizations and agencies, two- and four-year colleges, correctional/reentry programs and other salient stakeholders. Ads and all promotional materials, such as postcards, were developed in English and Spanish.
FAIR Health assessed the utility and value of the app through informal interviews and feedback from a brief survey on the app.
- Importance of Communicating through Diverse Channels with Culturally Relevant Messaging:
The success of the social media and digital ad campaign was rooted in multichannel dissemination with culturally relevant messaging. Campaign messaging, which was featured on promotional and educational materials, played off the classroom theme. An example of messaging (translated to English) included: "If learning about health insurance seems like an impossible assignment. Download this App." The social media and digital ads resulted in nearly 600,000 impressions (reflecting over 95,000 individuals), most of these in the greater New York area. Overall, the dissemination campaign, which also included targeted organizational outreach, led to more than 85,000 app downloads.
- Utility and Value of HIL Resources:
Nearly 73 percent of survey respondents reported that they found the app "useful" or "very useful"; more than half (55 percent) of respondents said that the app made them more confident in their ability to evaluate healthcare quality and health insurance plans.
- Acceptability of FH Consumer Classroom and Appetite for Resources:
Interviews revealed the acceptability of the app and an appetite for resources that advance health insurance literacy. Interviewees expressed the need for "centralized" information about healthcare and health insurance, especially for young adults.
FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated, "FAIR Health gratefully acknowledges The Trust's support for this important initiative. We remain committed to equipping consumers with actionable tools such as the FH Consumer Classroom app to support their ability to navigate the healthcare system and make informed decisions."
Irfan Hasan, Deputy Vice President for Grants at The Trust, said, "The Trust was proud to support the dissemination of a valuable resource such as the FH Consumer Classroom app for those who currently lack the tools and support to effectively navigate the healthcare system. FAIR Health's effort to promote the app to individuals who face language-based and other barriers to navigating the healthcare system is yet another step in the right direction of empowering individuals to make informed healthcare decisions."
To read the brief, click here.
Access FH Consumer Classroom from iOS or Android.
Follow us on Twitter @FAIRHealth
FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization that qualifies as a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. It is dedicated to bringing transparency to healthcare costs and health insurance information through data products, consumer resources and health systems research support. FAIR Health possesses the nation's largest collection of private healthcare claims data, which includes over 36 billion claim records and is growing at a rate of over 2 billion claim records a year. FAIR Health licenses its privately billed data and data products—including benchmark modules, data visualizations, custom analytics and market indices—to commercial insurers and self-insurers, employers, providers, hospitals and healthcare systems, government agencies, researchers and others. Certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as a national Qualified Entity, FAIR Health also receives data representing the experience of all individuals enrolled in traditional Medicare Parts A, B and D; FAIR Health includes among the private claims data in its database, data on Medicare Advantage enrollees. FAIR Health can produce insightful analytic reports and data products based on combined Medicare and commercial claims data for government, providers, payors and other authorized users. FAIR Health's systems for processing and storing protected health information have earned HITRUST CSF certification and achieved AICPA SOC 2 compliance by meeting the rigorous data security requirements of these standards. As a testament to the reliability and objectivity of FAIR Health data, the data have been incorporated in statutes and regulations around the country and designated as the official, neutral data source for a variety of state health programs, including workers' compensation and personal injury protection (PIP) programs. FAIR Health data serve as an official reference point in support of certain state balance billing laws that protect consumers against bills for surprise out-of-network and emergency services. FAIR Health also uses its database to power a free consumer website available in English and Spanish, which enables consumers to estimate and plan for their healthcare expenditures and offers a rich educational platform on health insurance. An English/Spanish mobile app offers the same educational platform in a concise format and links to the cost estimation tools. The website has been honored by the White House Summit on Smart Disclosure, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), URAC, the eHealthcare Leadership Awards, appPicker, Employee Benefit News and Kiplinger's Personal Finance. FAIR Health also is named a top resource for patients in Dr. Marty Makary's book The Price We Pay: What Broke American Health Care—and How to Fix It and Dr. Elisabeth Rosenthal's book An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back. For more information on FAIR Health, visit fairhealth.org.
Contact:
Rachel Kent
Senior Director of Marketing
FAIR Health
646-396-0795
rkent@fairhealth.org
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SOURCE FAIR Health | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/fair-health-initiative-reveals-value-health-insurance-literacy-resources-among-hispanics-latinos/ | 2022-07-14T13:12:23Z | https://www.weau.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/fair-health-initiative-reveals-value-health-insurance-literacy-resources-among-hispanics-latinos/ | false |
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is now the proud owner of 21 Papa John's Pizza restaurants in the Denver area, the Denver Post reported. That's not exactly the same as his investment in the upscale Harry and Izzy's in Indianapolis, but Manning doesn't make a habit of rushing into business opportunities.
Twenty-one franchises will crank out a lot of pies. Did he get a good deal through his Papa John's endorsement? Is he still so eager to give away two million free pizzas? Will he make deliveries to relieve the stress from an NFL work week? These are the things we need to know.
Follow Kareem Copeland on Twitter @kareemcopeland. | https://www.nfl.com/news/peyton-manning-buys-21-pizza-shops-in-denver-area-0ap1000000085970 | 2022-07-14T13:12:49Z | https://www.nfl.com/news/peyton-manning-buys-21-pizza-shops-in-denver-area-0ap1000000085970 | true |
SAN DIEGO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Welcome to Playdust. A Solana blockchain search engine working to empower collectors and creators to explore, understand and interact with the data on the blockchain. The builders of Playdust are excited to announce this intuitive, comprehensive, and powerful platform is now live at playdust.com.
Playdust is the first marketplace to be built on top of a full blockchain explorer. It is for this reason that Playdust can provide not only the best search & discovery experience in the web3 space, but also the most data rich infusion of pertinent decision-making information. The underlying block explorer technology functions as a "Google" of the Solana blockchain, returning NFTs containing any search criteria in the collection or metadata. Every single NFT minted on Solana appears on Playdust shortly after minting.
- Automatic Authentication: Playdust is working to solve authenticity automatically based on data, rather than manually verifying collections like how marketplaces currently do it.
- Permission-less Listing: The approval and listing of recently minted NFTs and collections in real time is the only decentralized option that allows for a level playing field for creators. Manual verification by a central marketplace is nothing more than a curated gallery. A search engine opens the doors to the SEO industry on the blockchain. Creators have a new way of being found.
- Tabbed Search: One unique feature of the Playdust platform is that it allows for numerous, multidimensional search pages to be live at once. This feature allows the user to query and cache multiple collections of interest for easy access. These searches will be there each time the user logs in until they modify or delete the individual search page.
- Fuzzy Search: Playdust is one of the first and most powerful search engines on Solana. We'll have fuzzy search, which means users search for anything! Search for "laser eyes" and find every collection on Solana that has laser eyes. Or sort by rarity to find the rarest NFT with laser eyes across all collections! This is exciting because it allows discovery of new creators and collections and better, more informed decisions on which NFTs to buy/trade.
Playdust is setting up for use cases far beyond PFPs. NFTs are expanding to be tickets, certificates, music, identity etc... With our platform brands and creators of all kinds will be able to create and sell NFTs, interact with the blockchain, analyze their analytics, and so much more to come on the roadmap!
Playdust has also built and staffed an NFT incubator/launchpad for select projects to receive technical and marketing assistance in launching their NFT projects. The first project launch is with Rocketship and POW! Entertainment releasing the "Stan Lee's Genesis" NFT collection at Comic-Con. Featuring 200 new characters developed and illustrated by the truly dynamic team of Tom Akel and Ryan Benjamin.
Playdust was co-founded in 2021 by Stan Prokopenko, artist, and creator of Proko.com, a leading online art education platform with over 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube. Stan, along with his co-founder and brother, Eugene Prokopenko, has brought together a group of builders with artistic roots to build the first blockchain search engine. Headquartered in San Diego, CA but globally staffed, Playdust looks to a future where all can understand, explore, and interact with the blockchain with ease.
Kimberly Lewis
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SOURCE Playdust | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/announcing-playdust-powering-solana-digital-asset-ecosystem/ | 2022-07-14T13:15:34Z | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/announcing-playdust-powering-solana-digital-asset-ecosystem/ | true |
Series A Led by Buttonwood Group Advisors will enhance growth strategy and platform development efforts
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stationhead, the social music platform for artists and fans around the world to connect, listen live, and stream together, announced today the closing of a $12 million Series A financing round led by Buttonwood Group Advisors ("BGA") and other industry-leading investors, including global DJ, songwriter and music producer, Thomas Wesley Pentz Jr., popularly known as Diplo, among others.
Through former rock star turned tech entrepreneur Ryan Star's leadership since launching out of beta in 2021, Stationhead has evolved music streaming to create an interactive and communal listening experience for its 5 million users with 30k stations across 200 countries. Music lovers turned station hosts can play their favorite albums and choose from more than 70 million songs without copyright restriction due to an integration with Apple Music and Spotify. Stationhead connects fans and artists in an unprecedented manner with singular live streams exceeding 600k people and all users averaging over 2 hours per day on the platform. Users can also seamlessly integrate music and chatting with Stationhead's functionality to take live-calls or co-host shows with other members.
Stationhead is now an integral part of the largest music releases in the world. Artists who have officially launched stations resulting in global listening parties that drive Billboard charts include BTS, Imagine Dragons, Coldplay, Shawn Mendes, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Camila Cabello, Olivia Rodrigo, Machine Gun Kelly, Bruno Mars, Brandi Carlisle, and many more.
"Stationhead is the next evolution of music online. By building this with great empathy for artists and fans alike we have grown to become the preferred global platform of the new generation to consume music together. On release week, we are the heart of the action. The completion of this raise signifies Stationhead's growing & pivotal role in the entire music ecosystem," said CEO and Co-Founder of Stationhead, Ryan Star.
To further innovate the digital music experience and bring value to both artists, fans, and the music industry, Stationhead will use the capital to accelerate the scale of its global platform, and invest in engineering and user experience.
Joseph A. Alagna, Chairman & CEO of Joseph Gunnar & Co., and Founder & Co-Manager of Buttonwood Group Advisors, added: "Stationhead has gained significant traction with its unique social streaming platform which has been quickly adopted by both listeners and artists. We look forward to the company's continued growth and innovation as a business"
Additional investors include Red Light Management, TMWRK, Round Hill Publishing, Avex Entertainment, Craig Kallman and Julie Greenwald of Atlantic Records, Kevin Liles of 300 Entertainment, and Jason Flom of Lava Records.
"Stationhead has become an integral part of music releases, adding a brand new way for fans and artists alike to celebrate new releases together on a global scale all while driving music up the charts," said Murray Levison, Stationhead Co-Founder & COO, "Artists like BTS, Cardi B, NBA YoungBoy, & Stray Kids have successfully used Stationhead to create amazing experiences with their fans and drive their music to #1. These incomparable artist-fan encounters have transpired organically and reflect the unique value that Stationhead offers."
Additionally, Stationhead announced the hiring of Andrew Cornett, as Principal Product Designer, to oversee the design and engineering of new technology and products for Stationhead with the aim of creating a superior user experience for the company's millions of listeners.
Cornett joins Stationhead with over ten years of experience in product design and engineering. Prior to this, Andrew was Product Designer for HEIR, digital platform to connect athletes with fans, Product Design Director at music software company Splice, and iOS Engineer for Universe Inc, a website building app. He also worked at Kickstarter, designing the company's first iPhone app and Co-Founded Jukely, a monthly concert subscription app.
Andrew's initial work will be focused on engagement and discovery tools like Channels. The new 'Channels' feature which acts as a community hub for artists and fans and highlights the top performing stations on the platform. The inaugural 'Channels' features artists who have used Stationhead to engage directly with fans including, BTS – Army, Seventeen – CARAT, Nicki Minaj – Barbz. The BTS Channel hosted over 600,000 fans in one day, making BTS' channel the largest social audio channel in the world.
Stationhead is a social music platform for artists and fans around the world to connect, listen live, and stream together. Stationhead allows its users to create global stations in seconds where they can stream music, talk live, and connect with their community around the world. Stationhead's patented technology enables fans and artists to create unforgettable digital music experiences, all while driving songs up the charts. Artists to launch stations on Stationhead include BTS, Imagine Dragons, & Cardi B, among others. Assemble, listen, connect, party, talk, and play - on Stationhead. Stationhead is available in the iOS and Google Play app stores as well as on the Web. Visit www.stationhead.com for more information.
Joseph Gunnar & Co., is a full-service investment banking, securities and wealth management firm, established in 1997 and headquartered in New York. The Firm provides a variety of investment banking and advisory services to emerging and micro-cap companies, as well as a full array of financial services including private wealth management, global institutional equity, and fixed-income sales & trading, and equity research. Joseph Gunnar is a registered broker-dealer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of FINRA, SIPC, and NASDAQ. To learn more about Joseph Gunnar, visit josephgunnar.com.
Buttonwood Group Advisors LLC offers investment advisory services to a group of private investment funds (the "Buttonwood Funds" or the "Fund") that provide individual and institutional investors access to fast-growing, globally disruptive, pre-IPO companies, as well as to opportunistic real estate transactions, for which it seeks a shorter period to liquidity than most traditional private equity funds.
Buttonwood's investment structure allows investors to purchase membership interests with the opportunity to receive company shares post-IPO. Investment in each Fund series is specific to a single company at a specific valuation, rather than an investment in a blind pool or blended fund, which over time gives investors and their advisors the ability to build a custom portfolio of private equity.
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SOURCE Stationhead | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/music-industry-leaders-invest-12-million-stationhead-grow-social-audio-platform/ | 2022-07-14T13:17:08Z | https://www.kbtx.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/music-industry-leaders-invest-12-million-stationhead-grow-social-audio-platform/ | true |
JERUSALEM (AP) — Biden: US 'not going to wait forever' for Iran to rejoin nuclear deal, day after saying use of force is last resort.
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- 5 Best Weight Loss Supplements for Men (Sponsored) | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Alert-Biden-US-not-going-to-wait-forever-for-17304467.php | 2022-07-14T13:18:52Z | https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Alert-Biden-US-not-going-to-wait-forever-for-17304467.php | false |
Doctors perform wrong surgery: patient
Hospital denies the charge
TIRUNELVELI
A poor patient, who underwent treatment at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TVMCH) for a serious medical condition, alleges that the doctors had performed a wrong surgery to leave him and his family in the lurch as he could not go for work with the health deteriorating everyday.
While the patient blame the doctors of negligence, the hospital administration blames non-cooperation from the patient for his present medical condition as he reportedly left the hospital midway without the knowledge of doctors even as the treatment was going on.
When cab driver Kannan, 55, from Sankarankovil in Tenkasi district experienced acute pain in the abdomen, he went to the Government Hospital there, where he underwent a few examinations. After doctors, who suspected him of having a problem in the gallbladder, suggested him to go the District Headquarters Hospital at Tenkasi from where he was referred to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for a surgical procedure to treat the gallbladder stones.
Upon radiological investigations, the doctors found that the bile, the digestive juice, got trapped in the gallbladder due to gallstones blocking the tube that drains the bile from the gallbladder and decided to go in for a surgical procedure to relieve the patient from pain.
“When I was admitted to the TVMCH, the doctors conducted the surgery. However, the sutures did not last long forcing the doctors to put the sutures again at the incision point. I suspect that the doctors had done a wrong surgical procedure which has not solved my painful medical condition. With the abdomen swelling, I, a car driver living in a rented house, cannot go for work ever since I underwent this surgery. The doctors should bail me out of this problem,” he said.
Dean M. Ravichandran said Mr. Kannan, who was admitted to the hospital three months ago for a surgical procedure for gallbladder perforation, a very serious medical condition that should be diagnosed and treated early to save the patient, underwent the surgery. Since incision point got infected even he was recovering, he was advised to be in the hospital for a few more days as the doctors were administering him medicines to cure the infection and expedite the recovery.
“However, Mr. Kannan, who grew impatient, left the hospital midway without the knowledge of nurses and doctors even before the infection got cured. He did not receive his discharge summary as he left the hospital without the consent of doctors treating him. We’re ready to treat him for the problem he is now facing if he gets himself admitted,” he said, assuring that he would contact him with the phone number he had given at the time of admission.
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- Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name, to avoid rejection. | https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/doctors-perform-wrong-surgery-patient/article65638982.ece | 2022-07-14T13:19:34Z | https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/doctors-perform-wrong-surgery-patient/article65638982.ece | false |
JUAN Gomez de Liaño is never one to lose confidence in himself.
And his latest triple-double performance for Marinerong Pilipino should be enough proof that the University of the Philippines product has already settled down with his new team.
Juan Gomez de Liano on latest triple-double
"I've always been an all-around player, I really like involving my teammates and make them happy. It's basketball and the goal is to share the ball and I was able to do that," he said after the Skippers' 84-64 win over EcoOil-La Salle last Tuesday to keep his side unblemished in the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants' Cup.
"In terms of my confidence, I've always believed in myself and I feel never na mawawala yun. "
Gomez de Liaño posted 27 points from 4-of-10 shooting from deep, alongside 12 assists, 11 rebounds, and three steals to become only the ninth player to record such feat in the developmental league.
But more than this personal accolade, Gomez de Liaño is taking more pride on how the Skippers have come together and has established themselves as early juggernauts in this tourney.
"I think we're slowly building together as a team. I'm just making the most of this opportunity given to me. I give credit to my teammates and the coaching staff for trusting me," he said.
Gomez de Liano and Marinerong Pilipino shoot for their third win when they face another contender in Wangs Basketball @26-Letran on Friday.
We are now on Quento! Download the app to enjoy more articles and videos from SPIN.ph and other Summit Media websites. | https://www.spin.ph/basketball/d-league/juan-gdl-exuding-in-confidence-after-triple-double-performance-for-marinero-a2437-20220714 | 2022-07-14T13:19:46Z | https://www.spin.ph/basketball/d-league/juan-gdl-exuding-in-confidence-after-triple-double-performance-for-marinero-a2437-20220714 | true |
Outbreaks from animals in Africa surge by 60% in last decade
LONDON (AP) - The number of outbreaks of diseases that jumped from animals to humans in Africa has jumped by more than 60% in the last decade, the World Health Organization said, a worrying sign the planet could face increased animal-borne diseases like monkeypox, Ebola and coronavirus in the future.
There has been a 63% rise in the number of animal diseases breaching the species barrier from 2012 to 2022, as compared to the decade before, the U.N. health agency said in a statement on Thursday.
There was a particular spike from 2019 to 2020, when diseases originating in animals that later infected humans, made up half of all significant public health events in Africa, said WHO. Diseases like Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers were responsible for 70% of those outbreaks, in addition to illnesses like monkeypox, dengue, anthrax and plague.
"We must act now to contain zoonotic diseases before they can cause widespread infections and stop Africa from becoming a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases," WHO's Africa director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.
While diseases in animals had infected people for centuries in Africa, recent developments like quicker travel across the continent have made it easier for viruses to cross borders, she said.
WHO also noted that Africa has the world's fastest-growing population, which increases urbanization and reduces roaming areas for wild animals. Scientists also fear that outbreaks that may have once been contained to distant, rural areas can now spread more quickly to Africa's large cities with international travel links, that might then carry the diseases around the world.
During the West Africa Ebola outbreak that began in 2014, it was not until the disease arrived in capital cities that its spread became explosive, ultimately killing more than 10,000 people and arriving in several cities in Europe and the U.S.
Until May, monkeypox had not been known to cause significant outbreaks beyond central and West Africa, where it has sickened people for decades. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now more than 11,000 cases worldwide in 65 countries, the majority of which had not previously reported monkeypox.
WHO announced that it will hold an emergency meeting next week to assess if monkeypox should be declared a global emergency. Last month, the agency said the outbreak did not yet warrant the declaration but said it would review issues such as the possibility that monkeypox might be infecting more vulnerable populations like children, and whether the virus is causing more severe disease. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-11013807/Outbreaks-animals-Africa-surge-60-decade.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-07-14T13:20:01Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-11013807/Outbreaks-animals-Africa-surge-60-decade.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | false |
Van Gogh self-portrait found hidden behind another painting
LONDON (AP) — A previously unknown self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh has been discovered behind another of the artist’s paintings, the National Galleries of Scotland said Thursday.
The self-portrait was found on the back of Van Gogh’s “Head of a Peasant Woman” when experts at the Edinburgh gallery took an X-Ray of the canvas ahead of an upcoming exhibition.
The work is believed to have been hidden for over a century, covered by layers of glue and cardboard when it was framed in the early 20th century.
Van Gogh was known for turning canvases around and painting on the other side to save money.
The portrait shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat. Experts said the subject was instantly recognizable as the artist himself, and is thought to be from his early work. The left ear is clearly visible, and Van Gogh famously cut his off in 1888.
Frances Fowle, a senior curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said the discovery was “thrilling.”
“Moments like this are incredibly rare,” she said. “We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world.”
The gallery said experts are evaluating how to remove the glue and cardboard without harming “Head of a Peasant Woman.”
Visitors to an upcoming Impressionist exhibit at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh can see an X-Ray image of the self-portrait through a lightbox.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/07/14/van-gogh-self-portrait-found-hidden-behind-another-painting/ | 2022-07-14T13:20:18Z | https://www.wnem.com/2022/07/14/van-gogh-self-portrait-found-hidden-behind-another-painting/ | false |
MOSCOW, Russia -- American basketball star Brittney Griner is due back in a Russian court Thursday to resume a trial that was jolted last week when she abruptly pleaded guilty to drug possession charges.
With the U.S. government under pressure at home to do more to secure her freedom, the guilty plea could be an effort to expedite the court proceedings so any negotiations could move forward. A senior Russian diplomat has said no action could be taken by Moscow until the trial was over.
The Phoenix Mercury center and WNBA all-star was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport in February while returning to play basketball in Russia. Police said they found vape canisters containing cannabis oil in her luggage. In custody ever since, Griner, 31, faces charges that could bring her a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
In pleading guilty during the previous court hearing on July 7, Griner said she had no intention of committing a crime and had acted unintentionally because she packed for Moscow in a hurry.
SEE RELATED STORY: Brittney Griner says she's guilty in Russian court, vape cartridges brought unintentionally
U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have said they were doing all they could to win the release of Griner, as well as other Americans the U.S. considers "wrongly detained" by Russia, including former Marine Paul Whelan.
Washington may have little leverage with Moscow, though, because of strong animosity over its military operation in Ukraine.
Russian media have speculated that Griner could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed "the Merchant of Death," who is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization.
Russia has agitated for Bout's release for years. But the wide discrepancy in the seriousness of their cases could make such a trade unpalatable to Washington. Others have suggested that Griner could be traded along with Whelan, who is serving 16 years in Russia on an espionage conviction that the U.S. has described as a setup.
SEE RELATED STORY: Brittney Griner asks Pres. Biden not to 'forget about me and the other American Detainees' in letter
The State Department's designation of Griner as wrongfully detained moves her case under the supervision of its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, effectively the government's chief hostage negotiator. The classification has irritated Russia.
Asked about the possibility of Griner being swapped for a Russian jailed in the U.S., Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the senior Russian diplomat, noted that until her trial is over "there are no formal or procedural reasons to talk about any further steps."
Ryabkov warned that U.S. criticism, including the description of Griner as wrongfully detained and dismissive comments about the Russian judicial system, "makes it difficult to engage in detailed discussion of any possible exchanges."
Griner's detention has been authorized through Dec. 20, suggesting the trial could last months. Griner's lawyers, however, said they expect it to conclude around the beginning of the August.
Brittney Griner back in Russian court after abruptly pleading guilty to drug possession charges
Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | https://abc7ny.com/brittney-griner-russia-biden-letter-wnba/12051264/ | 2022-07-14T13:21:56Z | https://abc7ny.com/brittney-griner-russia-biden-letter-wnba/12051264/ | false |
The same-day delivery company and shopping accomplice unveils data based on recent study of caregiver, teacher and college student purchasing plans, paired with recommendations from the actress; announces multi-city tour for the whole family to attend!
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Back to school is just around the corner, which is why today, Shipt, the same-day delivery company and shopping accomplice, is releasing the Ultimate School Shopping Guide to help parents, teachers and college students navigate what to buy ahead of the return to school. Shipt also tapped its trusted brand ambassador and mother of two, Kristen Bell, to offer her expertise in back to school preparation.
Known for their personalized shopping experience, Shipt recently polled parents, caregivers, teachers and college students to uncover the top must-have school supplies for back to school preparation. Rooted in insights from the survey as well as proprietary Shipt data, the same-day delivery company created the Ultimate School Shopping Guide, a shoppable menu of school essentials to assist consumers throughout the retail season. Available on the Shipt app now, customers can purchase everything they need for the first day ahead of time with ease.
"Back to school season is incredibly exciting - new school supplies, new teachers and new routines - but can also feel overwhelming and stressful with all that's needed to prepare and purchase," said Rina Hurst, Chief Business Officer at Shipt and mother of two young kids. "After a summer of free time and fun activities, it's difficult to get back into the mindset of the school season, which is why Shipt is taking the guesswork out of back to school shopping this year. Our Ultimate School Shopping Guide makes back to school shopping easy by sharing insights from parents, teachers and students around the country on what products you really need to purchase this year, and where you can save your budget. With just a few, easy steps, you can have your entire Ultimate School Shopping Guide delivered right to your door so you can focus on getting organized and ready for the busy year ahead."
July is the most popular time to begin school shopping, according to teachers (50%) as well as parents and caregivers (37%). So, where should shoppers start? According to Shipt's Ultimate Shopping Guide, here are the top insights to know:
- No Back-to-Back Backpacks: To no surprise, backpacks are one of the hottest items to purchase for parents of students, with a staggering 84% of parents purchasing a new backpack every year.
- Write This One Down: While nearly half of parents (41%) claim they buy just 5-15 pens or pencils for the year, those same supplies are what more than half of parents (52%) claim their children run out of the fastest.
- Classroom SOS: For those looking to lend a helping hand, the top two items that teachers run out of the fastest in their classroom are pencils and dry erase markers (last year alone, Shipt delivered nearly 5,000 dry erase marker packs!).
- Lunch Box Ready: Preparing school lunches is a full-time job for some parents with over one in four (28%) reporting that they purchase school snacks and lunch supplies on a daily basis. Did you know over 27 million packages of Cheez-Its® were sold last year around back to school season, as well as 23 million packages of Goldfish® and nearly 900,000 Nature Valley Granola Bars, according to Shipt data?
- Digital Classrooms: In addition to pens, notebooks, calculators and books, teachers are also purchasing bigger ticket items this back-to-school season with 72% planning to purchase an electronic tablet for school use.
- Dorm Room Decorators: Living in a college dorm is likely the first time students have total control over their bedroom decor – so, what will they do with this new found freedom? Over half plan to use photos to decorate (59%) or store-bought art (58%). Additional dorm room must-haves include bedding sets with pillows, microwaves, towels and lamps.
- Keepin' It Cool: Whether you're hosting, studying or late night-snacking, don't forget to add a mini fridge to your dorm room must-haves this school year. Almost half of college students (44%) report that they've purchased a mini fridge in the past and plan to do so again. And, what's the number one item stocked in their mini fridges? One in three college students (33%) say beverages.
In addition to the survey's data-driven insights, Kristen Bell, mother of two with years of back to school preparation, also shared her recommendations on must-have supplies, including Yoobi Ring Binders, re(zip) Lay Flat Leak Proof Reusable Lunch Bags, Hello Bello Organic Kids' Multivitamin Fruit and Veggie Vegan Gummies, Yoobi Chalk Markers and more.
"As a mother of two active children, I'm always striving to plan ahead and relying on trusted resources to help my family get everything done," said Kristen Bell, actress and mother. "A back to school shopping hack I will never go without is Shipt's personalized shopping and same-day delivery. I know I can count on my Preferred Shopper to get the kids' must-have school supplies and snack essentials without worry."
The celebrate the season, the same-day delivery platform is also putting the wheels on its own bus by launching a series of exciting events in New York City (7/20-7/21), Boston (7/23-7/24), Philadelphia (7/27-7/28), and Baltimore (8/1-8/2). The family friendly Shipt Back to School Bus will showcase this year's trending products; share helpful insights for parents, teachers and students; offer fun, interactive games and more! For specific locations for each city, follow Shipt on Instagram (@Shipt).
In the spirit of being everyone's go-to shopping accomplice, Shipt and Kristen Bell are donating 2,000 backpacks valued at nearly $50,000 to Operation Backpack, a non-profit dedicated to connecting children in need with new backpacks filled with grade-specific school supplies. Attendees are invited to join Shipt on the tour by building backpacks on-site for Shipt and Kristen Bell to donate on their behalf. If you are interested in donating to Operation Backpack, Shipt encourages you to do so through their website at https://www.voa.org/operation-backpack.
To find out more information on Shipt and to download the Shipt app, visit www.shipt.com and follow Shipt on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For visuals and media assets, download our press kit here.
About Shipt
Shipt brings the store to your door. Through a community of Shipt Shoppers and a convenient app, Shipt provides personal shopping and delivery and is available to 80% of households in more than 5,000 U.S. cities. Shipt Shoppers go above and beyond, communicating in real time about preferences and substitutions. A curated marketplace of retailers, Shipt offers access to a variety of stores and product categories including fresh foods, household essentials, wellness products, office and pet supplies. Shipt is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of Target Corp. Founded and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Shipt also maintains an office in San Francisco. For more information, visit Shipt's Newsroom.
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SOURCE Shipt | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/shipt-takes-guesswork-out-back-school-season-with-data-driven-ultimate-school-shopping-guide-paired-with-must-haves-mother-two-kristen-bell-parents-teachers-college-students/ | 2022-07-14T13:22:32Z | https://www.wistv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/shipt-takes-guesswork-out-back-school-season-with-data-driven-ultimate-school-shopping-guide-paired-with-must-haves-mother-two-kristen-bell-parents-teachers-college-students/ | true |
INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) – If you are having trouble accessing Twitter, you aren’t alone: A Twitter outage prompted thousands of reports from users Thursday morning.
The issue was first detected by the real-time status-monitoring site Downdetector just before 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, followed by a flood of similar reports. By 8:30 a.m., more than 54,000 reports of Twitter being down were reported to the website.
The issue was not isolated, either: The outage was reported across the country, according to Downdetector’s reported problems map.
Users trying to access the platform were shown an error screen which displayed the following message: “Something went wrong, but don’t fret — it’s not your fault. Let’s try again”
Service appeared to have been restored by 9 a.m., though the company has yet to acknowledge the outage or provide a reason for the issue on its blog. | https://www.kron4.com/top-stories/twitter-users-report-outage-across-the-country/ | 2022-07-14T13:24:31Z | https://www.kron4.com/top-stories/twitter-users-report-outage-across-the-country/ | true |
The US is in the grip of its worst bout of elevated inflation and at 9.1 percent in June, the pace outstripped that of many emerging-market economies, including India.
High inflation has traditionally been thought to be a problem of emerging markets, given the strong underlying demand that’s characteristic of a growing economy.
After two shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic followed by the Russia-Ukraine war, inflation as a phenomenon has entered uncharted territory. Supply shortages, unmet demand and too much money chasing too few goods are now an advanced-economy problem as well.
The outcome of elevated inflation is erosion in the value of an economy’s exchange rate. If a country’s inflation is higher relative to its trading partners', its currency has to adjust down. Then what explains the US dollar’s supremacy at all times?
Be it the inflation trade, wherein the bets are for an elevated cost of borrowing, or the recession trade, wherein investors bet on interest rates coming down due to economic contraction, the dollar wins on both arguments.
At the heart of this is the belief that any adverse developments in the US economy would hurt other countries more than the US itself.
Also read: Trade deficit rises to $26.1 billion in June as imports surge, up 172% YoY
The inflation trade
Too much money chasing too few goods results in inflation. The US Federal Reserve’s responses to a crisis result in a glut of dollars as it loosens its monetary policy.
It is then no surprise that the crisis responses of the Fed that floods the market with dollars eventually drives up the prices of everything in the US economy. Inflation has followed the Fed’s period of loose monetary policy every time. Recall that former Fed chief Alan Greenspan’s generous policies handed his successor Ben Bernanke a tough inflation challenge.
But none of the previous inflationary bouts in the US has matched the current one in intensity. The difference between inflation this time and in the past has been a geopolitical shock and the pandemic.
Russia’s war on Ukraine affected the supply of crude oil given that the former is one of the top exporters of petroleum products and gas. The war came on the back of supply chain disruptions caused by COVID-19 which had already driven up prices of most commodities globally. Global inflation has surged and almost every country is facing a sharp rise in prices.
Also read: Five reasons why rupee can depreciate further, may fall below 80 per US dollar
Inflation far in excess of the Fed’s mandate of 2 percent is a crisis which has prompted the central bank to shed its balance sheet and hike policy rates faster than expected.
The Fed’s withdrawal has put an end to the dollar glut and made the dollar a rarer-than-before currency. An increase in policy rates mean that dollar assets, the safest in the world, will offer superior returns. What this does is reduce the appeal of emerging market assets as the interest rate differential narrows.
That brings us to emerging economies such as India. Domestic inflation in India has been elevated with the Consumer Price Index in June accelerating 7.01 percent. For an emerging market such as India, elevated inflation is a recurring problem because demand at most times outstrips supply of goods and services.
But external shocks, especially from oil prices, has worsened it. India’s central bank has hiked its benchmark policy rate by 90 basis points (bps). This falls short against the Fed’s 150 bps hike. One bp is one-hundredth of a percentage point.
Future rate hikes by the Fed would likely be more than those by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The result is that dollar assets become more appealing. The difference between benchmark US rates and India’s policy rates is narrowing fast, eroding the appeal of rupee assets. That makes the dollar win.
But the Fed’s rate hikes are expected to push the US into recession. Surely if the economy is not doing well, the dollar has to fall?
The recession trade
For the past several months, global markets have pivoted towards the belief that a recession is imminent in the US, owing to the Fed’s aggressive rate hikes. In fact, some believe a recession is already underway.
The outcome of a recession is a rise in unemployment and reduction in investments. In the current scenario, the US unemployment rate is 3.6 percent and labour markets are tight. Yet, the US Gross Domestic Product may contract.
The upshot is that the US will reduce its consumption, a big chunk of which comes from emerging markets. The US is the biggest market for Indian exports and a recession there hits export growth hard. Therefore, a recession is not debilitating for the US but it is a big mess for emerging economies as they lose their biggest export market. This would have an adverse effect on their growth. For India, exports have contributed more than a quarter of economic growth.
A recession in the US therefore hits emerging economies harder than the US economy itself. This leads to the dollar being a safe-haven currency during turbulent times.
"The dollar is our currency, but your problem." The US treasury secretary during the Nixon administration wouldn’t have known that he explained the world’s exchange rate fabric accurately in that sentence. To this day, the US currency remains a problem for the world. | https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/markets/us-inflation-outpaces-indias-so-why-is-the-dollar-still-strong-8829021.html/amp | 2022-07-14T13:24:32Z | https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/markets/us-inflation-outpaces-indias-so-why-is-the-dollar-still-strong-8829021.html/amp | false |
LONDON (AP) — The number of outbreaks of diseases that jumped from animals to humans in Africa has jumped by more than 60% in the last decade, the World Health Organization said, a worrying sign the planet could face increased animal-borne diseases like monkeypox, Ebola and coronavirus in the future.
There has been a 63% rise in the number of animal diseases breaching the species barrier from 2012 to 2022, as compared to the decade before, the U.N. health agency said in a statement on Thursday.
There was a particular spike from 2019 to 2020, when diseases originating in animals that later infected humans, made up half of all significant public health events in Africa, said WHO. Diseases like Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers were responsible for 70% of those outbreaks, in addition to illnesses like monkeypox, dengue, anthrax and plague.
“We must act now to contain zoonotic diseases before they can cause widespread infections and stop Africa from becoming a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases,” WHO's Africa director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.
While diseases in animals had infected people for centuries in Africa, recent developments like quicker travel across the continent have made it easier for viruses to cross borders, she said.
WHO also noted that Africa has the world's fastest-growing population, which increases urbanization and reduces roaming areas for wild animals. Scientists also fear that outbreaks that may have once been contained to distant, rural areas can now spread more quickly to Africa's large cities with international travel links, that might then carry the diseases around the world.
During the West Africa Ebola outbreak that began in 2014, it was not until the disease arrived in capital cities that its spread became explosive, ultimately killing more than 10,000 people and arriving in several cities in Europe and the U.S.
Until May, monkeypox had not been known to cause significant outbreaks beyond central and West Africa, where it has sickened people for decades. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now more than 11,000 cases worldwide in 65 countries, the majority of which had not previously reported monkeypox.
WHO announced that it will hold an emergency meeting next week to assess if monkeypox should be declared a global emergency. Last month, the agency said the outbreak did not yet warrant the declaration but said it would review issues such as the possibility that monkeypox might be infecting more vulnerable populations like children, and whether the virus is causing more severe disease. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Outbreaks-from-animals-in-Africa-surge-by-60-in-17304529.php | 2022-07-14T13:25:59Z | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Outbreaks-from-animals-in-Africa-surge-by-60-in-17304529.php | true |
INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) – If you are having trouble accessing Twitter, you aren’t alone: A Twitter outage prompted thousands of reports from users Thursday morning.
The issue was first detected by the real-time status-monitoring site Downdetector just before 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, followed by a flood of similar reports. By 8:30 a.m., more than 54,000 reports of Twitter being down were reported to the website.
The issue was not isolated, either: The outage was reported across the country, according to Downdetector’s reported problems map.
Users trying to access the platform were shown an error screen which displayed the following message: “Something went wrong, but don’t fret — it’s not your fault. Let’s try again”
Service appeared to have been restored by 9 a.m., though the company has yet to acknowledge the outage or provide a reason for the issue on its blog. | https://www.kark.com/news/top-stories/twitter-users-report-outage-across-the-country/ | 2022-07-14T13:26:45Z | https://www.kark.com/news/top-stories/twitter-users-report-outage-across-the-country/ | true |
TODAY: Temperatures are expected to be back in the mid to upper 90s this afternoon under mostly sunny skies. Humidity will be slightly lower than yesterday, however many areas will still feel like the upper 90s with the heat index.
TONIGHT: Not much relief from the heat overnight tonight as temperatures fall into the mid 70s.
TOMORROW: Friday looks to be another hot day with temperatures back in the upper 90s. Many areas will make a run for the triple digits by the afternoon hours. Dew points will remain in the mid to upper 60s so it will be a bit muggy during the afternoon, but not quite as humid as what we saw last week. Conditions look to remain dry and sunny tomorrow.
SATURDAY: Well above average temperatures will continue on Saturday with highs in the upper 90s. Saturday looks to be sunny and dry.
EXTENDED: Sunday will bring us a bit of relief from the heat with high back near seasonal values in the lower 90s. Rain chances also start to increase on Sunday, mainly during the afternoon and evening hours. Rain chances will linger into Monday, keeping temperatures in the lower 90s. The second half of next week looks to bring a return to well above average temperatures.
STAY INFORMED:
Download the Arkansas Storm Team app
To make sure you are staying up-to-date with the forecast, download the Arkansas Storm Team app to get updates anywhere at any time.
To watch the latest video updates from the Arkansas Storm Team, you can check them out here.
The Arkansas Storm Team is a collaboration of two stations to bring you the largest weather team in the state when covering Arkansas weather. | https://www.kark.com/weather/weather-forecasts/arkansas-storm-team-forecast-staying-hot-on-thursday/ | 2022-07-14T13:26:59Z | https://www.kark.com/weather/weather-forecasts/arkansas-storm-team-forecast-staying-hot-on-thursday/ | false |
CHARLESTON, S.C., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bank of South Carolina Corporation (NASDAQ: BKSC) announced unaudited earnings of $1,542,981, or $0.28 and $0.27 basic and diluted earnings per share, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 – a decrease of $125,703, or 7.5%, from earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 of $1,668,684, or $0.30 and $0.29 basic and diluted earnings per share, respectively. Unaudited earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2022 decreased $471,671 or 13.6%, to $3,007,088 compared to $3,478,759 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Annualized returns on average assets and average equity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were 0.90% and 12.57%, respectively, compared with June 30, 2021 annualized returns on average assets and average equity of 1.27% and 12.80%, respectively.
In its May 2022 issue, American Banker Magazine ranked Bank of South Carolina Corporation 68th on its annual list of the Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks and Thrifts based on three-year average return on equity (Source: Capital Performance Group). The rankings include publicly traded banks and thrifts with total assets less than $2 billion, of which there were 438 institutions that met the criteria for consideration this year.
Fleetwood S. Hassell, President & CEO of the Bank of South Carolina, stated, "Balance sheet growth continues to impact return on assets; however, return on equity remains favorable. Our challenge remains the deployment of excess liquidity into higher-yielding investments. As we await further Federal Reserve actions, we continue to focus on asset quality and control of operating expenses. Margins are improving, and we are optimistic that higher loan interest income will offset any declines in mortgage origination volume. We remain ahead of our profit plan for the first six months and look forward to the second half of the year."
The following table shows the balance sheet and income statement highlights:
About Bank of South Carolina Corporation
The Bank of South Carolina Corporation is the holding company of The Bank of South Carolina ("The Bank"). The Bank is a South Carolina state-chartered bank with offices in Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, and the West Ashley community and has been in continuous operation since 1987. A sixth office at 1730 Maybank Highway on James Island is anticipated to open in the second quarter of 2023. Our website is www.banksc.com. Bank of South Carolina Corporation currently trades its common stock on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol "BKSC".
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SOURCE Bank of South Carolina Corporation | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/bank-south-carolina-corporation-announces-second-quarter-earnings/ | 2022-07-14T13:27:05Z | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/bank-south-carolina-corporation-announces-second-quarter-earnings/ | false |
The GetCTC portal, available in Spanish and English, simplifies how Puerto Rico residents can sign up for the Child Tax Credit
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Code for America—the leading nonprofit tech organization that works with community leaders and governments to deliver equitable, accessible digital tools and services—today extended its free, mobile-friendly GetCTC sign-up portal to Puerto Rico residents, making it easier for families to access the Child Tax Credit.
The expanded portal, which is available in Spanish and English, was launched today in collaboration with the White House and the U.S. Department of Treasury. Trusted community partners, including the Hispanic Federation, UnidosUS, the Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud, and Espacios Abiertos are leading local outreach efforts in communities across Puerto Rico to help residents access the Child Tax Credit.
Since September 2021, Code for America's GetCTC portal has helped nearly 135,000 families access nearly $500 million in tax benefits for which they are eligible. This is the first year that Puerto Rico residents are eligible to receive the full tax benefit.
Puerto Rico residents, who were not eligible for advance monthly payments in 2021, will receive full payments in 2022: $3,600 for children ages 5 and younger at the end of 2021; and $3,000 for children ages 6 through 17 at the end of 2021.
"Today's GetCTC portal expansion removes enormous barriers that have blocked people in Puerto Rico from accessing the Child Tax Credit," said David Newville, Senior Program Director for Tax Benefits, Code for America. "Now, this will make it far easier for potentially hundreds of thousands of people living in Puerto Rico to sign up for the Child Tax Credit through an easy-to-use digital tool that ensures families are getting the flexible cash that they are due.
"With over 100,000 low-income families claiming nearly $440 million in benefits last year through GetCTC, we know that simplified filing works. We are proud to have worked on this expansion with the White House, Treasury, and our community partners who have been tirelessly working to ensure that Puerto Rico residents have easy access to the Child Tax Credit."
"Tax-filing can be an intimidating and expensive process for many people. This type of tool allows families to apply for this benefit on their own so they don't miss out," said Carmen I. Rodríguez, Advocacy Director, Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud. "The goal is that all eligible families receive this money to alleviate the ever-increasing costs associated with raising a child."
"Opening access to the GetCTC portal for Puerto Rico residents brings us one step closer to equity in the Child Tax Credit," stated Charlotte Gossett Navarro, Chief Director, Hispanic Federation Puerto Rico. "We have been working closely with local nonprofit organizations throughout this tax season to help ensure no family is left out of the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion, but there are barriers that make it difficult to assist communities with the traditional federal tax filing process. This new tool will make it much simpler for eligible families who have not yet filed to do so for free and with the support of trusted community organizations. Thousands of families have already received their benefit, and I hope with GetCTC we can soon reach all families in Puerto Rico."
"At a time when the economic crisis is worsening as a result of inflation, it is imperative that families living in Puerto Rico be able to access all the benefits available to improve their economic security," said Cecille Blondet, Executive Director, Espacios Abiertos. "The access of the GetCTC portal to Puerto Rico will facilitate the use of technology at the service of the people in that direction."
The GetCTC portal is the first online application made available to Puerto Rico residents following a recent update to the filing process.
In May, the Internal Revenue Service issued guidance allowing most Puerto Rico residents with children to file a simplified tax return in order to claim the Child Tax Credit if they did not have a federal filing requirement in 2021.
Up to this point, eligible residents had to file using Form 1040-PR, a burdensome process that created a huge barrier to access. Many applicants had to visit the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) services or pay for tax preparation software that was poorly aligned to their needs.
By using the GetCTC portal, Puerto Rico residents will be able file a simplified tax return containing just the information needed to issue the Child Tax Credit with a user-friendly, interview-style format that prompts clients to answer one question at time and guides them through the criteria that apply. A demo of how to use the tool is available in Spanish and English.
In May, Code for America relaunched the GetCTC portal for the second year in a row to give more families in America access to the Child Tax Credit and other tax benefits. Last year, over 115,000 families used the tool to successfully claim tax benefits with the majority of clients typically finishing in 10-15 minutes. Code for America published lessons from last year's effort in this report.
Code for America, a nonprofit founded in 2009, believes that government can work for the people, and by the people, in the digital age. We work with government at all levels across the country to make the delivery of public services equitable with technology. Together with thousands of volunteers across over 80 Brigade chapters in the U.S., we work with community organizations and governments to build digital tools, change policies, and improve programs. Our goal: a resilient government that effectively and equitably serves everyone. Learn more at codeforamerica.org.
Press Contact
Kate Fogarty
kate@vrge.us
703-507-0286
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SOURCE Code for America | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/code-america-expands-free-mobile-friendly-getctc-portal-puerto-rico-residents/ | 2022-07-14T13:27:59Z | https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/code-america-expands-free-mobile-friendly-getctc-portal-puerto-rico-residents/ | false |
Buffalo supermarket to reopen 2 months after mass shooting
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo supermarket where 10 Black people were killed by a white gunman is set to reopen its doors to the public Friday, two months after the racist attack.
A moment of silence and prayer will be held Thursday at Tops Friendly Market to honor the victims, employees and community impacted by the May 14 mass shooting, with a ceremonial reopening of the overhauled store before customers return Friday, the company said.
Ten Black people were killed when a then-18-year-old gunman wearing body armor and carrying a semi-automatic rifle opened fire on weekend shoppers and employees. Three people were wounded in the massacre.
Investigators say the shooter was motivated by white supremacist beliefs and researched the demographics of the predominantly Black neighborhood where the market is located with the intent of killing as many Black people as possible. He drove for more than three hours from his home in Conklin, New York, to carry out the attack, authorities said.
The decision to reopen, rather than relocate, the store has been met with mixed emotions in the East Buffalo neighborhood that, beset by high poverty, fought for years to get a grocery store. Since opening in 2003, the Tops location remains the only supermarket in the immediate area. Its closure in the wake of the shooting forced many residents to take buses to other locations or rely on stopgap measures like neighborhood giveaways to access fresh food.
“We must go on,” said Tops employee Rosalie Bishop, who has worked at the store for 12 years. She wants the store open again — and never for a moment considered not returning to work with colleagues who she considers family.
“The store is there for a reason. The store is still there for a reason,” said Bishop, 58, who was on her way to work when the shooting happened and said she’s still processing her near miss. “The people will come back. They might not come today or tomorrow, but they will come back.”
Other neighbors say reopening isn’t the best path forward.
Suggestions to local media and on social networks include turning the site into a park or recreational center that would bring the community together, or having several supermarkets that are more dispersed throughout Buffalo’s East Side.
Some simply can’t imagine entering a store where such terrible events took place.
The shooter, Payton Gendron, was arrested just outside the store’s front entrance. He is charged with numerous counts, including federal hate crime charges punishable by the death penalty, and has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges.
Authorities say the gunman was motivated by white supremacist beliefs, including a baseless conspiracy theory about a plot to diminish the influence of white people. He chronicled his plans for months in an online diary, authorities said, and livestreamed the attack via a helmet camera.
Mayor Byron Brown said he was apprehensive while first touring the remodeled store but believes the overhaul will be helpful to customers.
“I realize that not everyone will feel comfortable returning to the store,” he said in a statement, adding that he is encouraging other retailers to serve the area.
“None of us will ever forget the cruel, racist attack,” Brown said. The reopening is a step toward healing, he said.
Bishop already has returned to the store to help prepare. Her first day went smoothly, but a security drill with flashing lights on the second day sent her home, shaken, mid-shift. Still, she said she is not afraid for her safety.
“I just want peace. I just want peace,” Bishop said. “It’ll never go back to the way it was. We’re not looking for the way it was. But peace.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/07/14/buffalo-supermarket-reopen-2-months-after-mass-shooting/ | 2022-07-14T13:30:13Z | https://www.cleveland19.com/2022/07/14/buffalo-supermarket-reopen-2-months-after-mass-shooting/ | false |
CINCINNATI, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) America's largest grocery retailer, today announced it will offer more Americans delivery through the addition of spoke facilities in Nashville, Tennessee and Maywood, Illinois. Working in conjunction with nearby fulfillment centers, Kroger Delivery will now reach customers in Greater Nashville and the Chicago Metro Area.
"Kroger Delivery offers customers a truly differentiated service. Orders are transported in refrigerated trucks and delivered by trained Kroger uniformed associates, giving customers an unparalleled white glove delivery experience," said Bill Bennett, Kroger Vice President and Head of E-commerce. "Kroger Delivery is part of our rapidly expanding seamless ecosystem that provides customers with fresh and quality products when and where they want it – all with zero compromise and at an incredible value."
Local shoppers will also have access to the newly launched Boost by Kroger annual membership program. For either $59 or $99 per year, Boost provides customers with benefits like unlimited free delivery on orders of $35 or more and two Fuel Points for every $1 spent on groceries and general merchandise purchases through Delivery, Pickup and in-stores. Kroger estimates the membership can save customers more than $1,000 per year on fuel and grocery delivery.
Nashville, Tennessee
The approximately 40,000-square-foot facility will work in conjunction with the Atlanta fulfillment center, increasing the network's reach to customers up to 200 miles from the hub. The facility is located on Polk Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee.
"Kroger is a household name that we are proud to have in Tennessee, and I thank this company for its decision to create more than 180 new jobs for Tennesseans," said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. "Our state's central location and skilled workforce will ensure Kroger's success in the years to come."
"Tennessee's unique position offers companies easy access to their customers and suppliers around the globe, so we believe Nashville will be the ideal location for Kroger's newest cross-dock facility," said Stuart McWhorter, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) commissioner. "We appreciate this well-known brand for choosing to locate in Davidson County and look forward to seeing the growth that will come from this project."
"Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Nashville Electric Service congratulate Kroger on its decision to locate operations in Nashville," said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president. "Helping to support companies creating jobs and investment in the region is fundamental to our mission of service. We are proud to partner with the Nashville Area Chamber and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to further that mission and celebrate this announcement together."
Maywood, Illinois
The nearly 80,000-square foot facility located in Maywood, Illinois is approximately 20 miles west of Chicago. It will work concurrently with the fulfillment center in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and expects to employ more than 180 associates.
"As we continue in Moving Maywood Forward Together, I couldn't be more excited to welcome Kroger to the Village of Eternal Light. Their facility replaces a blighted area while adding new jobs and revenues that aid in the revitalization of our community. We are happy to welcome a partner that works to address our food desert designation and look to evolving collaboration with them," said Maywood Mayor, Nathaniel George Booker.
Kroger Delivery Explained
The expansion to Greater Nashville and the Chicago Metro Area represents an extension of a partnership between Kroger and Ocado Group, a world leader in technology for grocery e-commerce. In 2018, the companies announced a collaboration to establish a delivery network that combines artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and automation in a bold new way, bringing first-of-its-kind technology to America.
The delivery network relies on highly automated fulfillment centers. At the "hub" sites, more than 1,000 bots whizz around giant 3D grids, orchestrated by proprietary air-traffic control systems. The grid, known as The Hive, contains totes with products and ready-to-deliver customer orders.
As customers' orders near their delivery times, the bots retrieve products from The Hive and present them at pick stations for items to be sorted for delivery, a process governed by algorithms that ensures items are intelligently packed. For example, fragile items are placed on top, bags are evenly weighted, and each order is optimized to fit into the lowest number of bags, reducing plastic use.
After product orders are packed, groceries are loaded into a refrigerated delivery van, which can store up to 20 orders. Powerful machine-learning algorithms optimize delivery routes, considering factors such as road conditions and optimal fuel efficiency. Vans may travel up to 90 miles with orders from the hub and spoke facilities to make deliveries. Associates at the spoke facility will deliver orders within their service area, adding ZIP codes as demand grows.
Kroger currently operates customer fulfillment centers in Monroe, OH, Groveland, FL, Forest Park, GA (Atlanta), Pleasant Prairie, WI and Dallas, TX. The fulfillment network plans additional customer fulfillment centers in California, Frederick, MD, Phoenix, AZ, Romulus, MI (Detroit), Cleveland, OH, Charlotte, NC, Aurora, CO (Denver), as well as South Florida and the Northeast.
Media Assets
To download Kroger Delivery photography and video, visit here.
About Kroger
At The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), we are Fresh for Everyone™ and dedicated to our Purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit®. We are, across our family of companies, nearly half a million associates who serve over 11 million customers daily through a seamless shopping experience under a variety of banner names. We are committed to creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste communities by 2025. To learn more about us, visit our newsroom and investor relations site.
About Ocado Group
Ocado Group is a UK based technology company admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange (Ticker OCDO). It provides end-to-end online grocery fulfilment solutions to some of the world's largest grocery retailers and holds a 50% share of Ocado Retail Ltd in the UK in a Joint Venture with Marks & Spencer. Ocado has spent two decades innovating for grocery online, investing in a wide technology estate that includes robotics, AI & machine learning, simulation, forecasting, and edge intelligence.
Kroger assumes no obligation to update the information contained herein unless required by applicable law. Please refer to Kroger's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties.
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Japanese leader blames inadequate police protection for Shinzo Abe’s assassination
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday blamed inadequate police protection for the death of former leader Shinzo Abe, who was shot last week while giving an outdoor campaign speech.
Abe, one of Japan’s most influential politicians, was assassinated Friday in western Japan, shocking a nation known for its low crime rate. Photos and videos of the shooting show that the gunman was able to come close to Abe from behind, while security guards were focused on the front.
“I think there were problems with the security measures,” Kishida said.
Officials at the National Public Safety Commission and National Police Agency are investigating what went wrong and will compile a list of measures in response, Kishida said.
“I urge them to carry out a thorough inspection and fix what needs to be fixed, while also studying examples in other countries,” he said.
Kishida announced plans to hold a state funeral for Abe later this year, noting the former leader’s contributions at home and in boosting Japan’s security alliance with the U.S. Abe’s nationalistic views drove the governing party’s conservative policies.
Shinzo Abe was a political blueblood groomed for power, but his vision of a conservative and nationalistic Japan sparked both exultation and outrage.
“By holding a state funeral in memory of former Prime Minister Abe, Japan will show its determination not to cave in to violence and to firmly defend democracy,” Kishida said. “Japan will also show to the world its determination to keep up its vigor and open a path toward the future.”
A smaller funeral was held at a temple in Tokyo on Tuesday.
A suspect was arrested immediately after Abe was shot and is being held for up to three weeks for questioning until prosecutors decide whether to press murder charges.
The suspect, 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, reportedly told police that he abandoned a plan to shoot Abe a day earlier at a speech in another city because of a requirement that bags be checked at the entrance.
The marks on a building near where the former prime minister was slain were apparently from the first shot fired by the gunman. The second was fatal.
Police and media reports say Yamagami told investigators that he killed Abe because of rumored links between the former prime minister and a religious group Yamagami hated. Yamagami was reportedly upset because his mother made large donations to the Unification Church that bankrupted the family.
The assassination has shone a light on links between Abe and Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church, which is known for its conservative anti-communist beliefs and its mass weddings.
The Japanese branch of the South Korean-based church confirmed Monday that Yamagami’s mother was a member and that Abe was not. Abe has appeared in video messages to groups affiliated with the church.
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DALLAS, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") plans to release its second quarter 2022 results on August 4, prior to Sempra's (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) second quarter 2022 conference call. Oncor's earnings release will be available on Oncor's website, oncor.com.
Sempra executives will conduct a conference call at 12 p.m. ET, Thursday, August 4 that will include discussion of Oncor's second quarter 2022 operational and financial results. Investors, media, analysts and the public may listen to a live webcast of the conference call on Sempra's website, sempra.com, by clicking on the appropriate audio link. Prior to the conference call, an accompanying slide presentation will be posted on Sempra's website.
For those unable to participate in the live webcast, a replay of Sempra's call will be available a few hours after its conclusion on Sempra's website or by dialing (888) 203-1112 and entering passcode 1507557.
Oncor's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2022 will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after Sempra's conference call and, once filed, will also be available at oncor.com.
Headquartered in Dallas, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC is a regulated electricity distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor (together with its subsidiaries) operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to more than 3.8 million homes and businesses and operating more than 140,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by two investors (indirect majority owner, Sempra, and minority owner, Texas Transmission Investment LLC), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of disinterested directors.
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Company Scores High Marks in Employee Achievement & Recognition, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
ATLANTA, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SOLTECH, an Atlanta-based leader in custom software development, IT staffing, and technology consulting, today announced it has been recognized for the second consecutive year as one of Atlanta's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR). The award identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment, based on an assessment of categories, including communication and shared vision; compensation and benefits; employee education and development; diversity and inclusion, and work-life balance.
According to the NABR, this award honors the most innovative and thoughtful companies in respect to their human resources approach, recognizing the most influential, trend-setting companies across the country and regionally in focused programs.
"We are honored to be recognized as one of the Best & Brightest companies in Atlanta for a second consecutive year," said Tim Smith, Co-CEO of SOLTECH. " This award illustrates our commitment to our employees, our team culture, and our commitment to creating a positive workplace and healthy work-life balance."
"These 2022 winning organizations have stood out during unpredictable times and have proven they are an employer of choice. They continue to keep the needs of their employees first and provide perks that include, development, wellbeing, work-life balance, rewards and recognition.", said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of NABR and The Best and Brightest Program.
To learn more about our custom software development and IT staffing solutions, please email us for a free consultation at info@soltech.net.
To join SOLTECH's team, visit our career opportunities page.
Founded in 1998, SOLTECH is an award-winning custom software development, IT staffing, and consulting firm known for providing strategic technology solutions to local, regional, and national companies. They focus on elevating, inspiring, and solving a full range of business problems for a diverse set of clients that require web, mobile, platform, machine learning, and data-centric software solutions, as well as staffing solutions for contract and permanent IT positions. SOLTECH's overarching purpose is to make the world a better place by bringing to life innovative software solutions that make our lives easier, safer, healthier, and more productive. For more information, visit soltech.net.
The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a national program that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives and building a stronger community as a whole. It is presented annually in several markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Miami, Milwaukee, Nashville, New York, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and nationally.
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Partnership Will Offer Employees of Yankees Organization Access to NYDIG's Bitcoin Savings Plan
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NYDIG, a leading bitcoin company, today announced a multi-year partnership with the New York Yankees to become the team's official Bitcoin Payroll Platform. The deal aligns the world's most iconic sports franchise with the most trusted name in Bitcoin by offering employees of the Yankees organization access to NYDIG's Bitcoin Savings Plan (BSP).
BSP is a workplace benefit that allows for employees to convert a portion of their paycheck to bitcoin via the NYDIG platform. As part of a NYDIG Bitcoin Savings Plan offered by a participating employer, employees do not pay any transaction fees nor any fees for secure bitcoin storage. Today, dozens of leading companies across a wide range of industries are offering a Bitcoin Savings Plan benefit to attract and retain the best talent.
NYDIG research shows that 36% of employees under 30 said they would be interested in allocating a portion of their pay to bitcoin. Nearly 1 in 3 of those employees said that when choosing between two identical jobs at different employers, they would choose an employer that helped them get paid in bitcoin.
NYDIG's Bitcoin platform is built to the highest regulatory, operational, and governance standards. It is used by companies and institutions of all sizes, from small businesses to the Fortune 500.
"We're proud to partner with our hometown team and an iconic sports franchise, the Yankees, to further our mission of bringing bitcoin to all," said Kelly Brewster, chief marketing officer at NYDIG. "NYDIG is committed to helping our clients realize the full potential of bitcoin while providing the service and standards that have made our name synonymous with trust. For employees of the Yankees and beyond, the opportunity to allocate a small slice of their paycheck to a Bitcoin Savings Plan can be one of the most efficient ways to save bitcoin, and the dollar-cost averaging can smooth out the bumps along the way. We commend the Yankees for understanding the competitive opportunities and the value of providing bitcoin options for their organization."
"We are always looking for innovative ways to expand and improve our employee experience," said Aryn Sobo, Yankees Vice President, Human Resources, Employment & Labor Law. "NYDIG made it easy to add Bitcoin to our roster of benefits, and we look forward to leveraging the NYDIG platform to offer this opportunity to our employees."
About NYDIG
NYDIG is a bitcoin company powering a more inclusive economic system. Delivering technology and financial services to businesses in a broad range of industries, its full-stack bitcoin platform is built to the highest security, regulatory, and operational standards. NYDIG is the gateway to a new era of financial products that make bitcoin more accessible for all. Learn more at nydig.com, or connect on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About the New York Yankees
Founded in 1903, the New York Yankees are the most successful and popular team in Major League Baseball history, having won 27 championships while appearing in 40 World Series. The club plays its home games at Yankee Stadium, which is one of New York City's most-frequented tourist destinations and home to numerous non-baseball events, including college football's Pinstripe Bowl. As a result of their on-field accomplishments and iconic interlocking "NY" logo, the Yankees are among the most recognized brands in the world.
NYDIG
Elena Connolly
Edelman
elena.connolly@edelman.com
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Happy Birthday
In loving memory of,
RICKY POUNDS
07/13/1960 - 07/04/2015
Gone but not forgotten, Happy Birthday! You’re always here with us.
Your family and friends.
Rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day. High around 90F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..
Partly cloudy skies early will give way to occasional showers later during the night. Low 79F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Updated: July 14, 2022 @ 2:28 am
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You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each obituary notice. By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. . From a Guest Book, you may log in with your Google, Facebook, Yahoo or AOL account to leave a message. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that. Otherwise, it's simple to create a new one by clicking on the Create "Sign up" button and following the simple steps on the Sign Up page.
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Jeff Goldblum will play a god... again
Jeff Goldblum, who has long exuded an otherworldly air of authority and wisdom, will become a god amongst men for his next role. But what else is new for the actor who, even when he's not voicing the actual character of God, is often playing characters with god-like traits.
EW can confirm that Goldblum will now play Zeus in the upcoming Netflix series Kaos, making him the latest in a long line of actors to play the Greek god of thunder.
Jason Mendez/Getty Images Jeff Goldblum is god... or a god... in Netflix's upcoming 'Kaos.'
Russell Crowe was recently seen as Zeus in Marvel's Thor: Love and Thunder, while Arnold Schwarzenegger popped up in a Super Bowl ad as the lightning wielder. There's also Sean Bean (Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief), Liam Neeson (Clash and Wrath of the Titans), and Luke Evans (Immortals). Goldblum is in good company.
The sprite-like Goldblum previously voiced God in Syfy's Happy!, so he has some experience with omnipotence. Watch his voice cameo below.
Goldblum is stepping into Kaos as a replacement for Hugh Grant, who had to bow out of the Zeus role due to availability.
From creator and writer Charlie Covell, Kaos is described as a darkly comic contemporary take on Greek myth. It's less togas and more tracksuits. The eight-episode show kicks off with Zeus going into a bit of a spiral. He's been the all-powerful King of the Gods for a long time, but a newly discovered wrinkle on his head sparks his paranoia about his doom. This seems right up Goldblum's alley.
The ensemble cast also features Janet McTeer, Cliff Curtis, David Thewlis, Killian Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Misia Butler, Leila Farzad, Nabhaan Rizwan, Rakie Ayola, and Stanley Townsend. (Thewlis played Ares, god of war, in the first Wonder Woman movie opposite Gal Gadot. Here, he gets to play Hades, lord of the underworld.)
Deadline was the first to report the news.
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The SaaS Awards recognize the value AutoRABIT provides to financial companies
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoRABIT, the only complete DevSecOps platform for Salesforce developers, has been shortlisted in the 2022 SaaS Awards program in the category Best SaaS Product for Financial Services.
AutoRABIT continues to solidify itself as a leader in Salesforce DevSecOps by proving its value to companies in the financial industry. As the only complete Salesforce DevSecOps platform, AutoRABIT is being recognized for providing the security and control financial businesses need to protect sensitive data and remain compliant with data security regulations.
Now in its seventh year of celebrating software innovation, the SaaS Awards program accepts entries worldwide, including the US, Canada, Australasia, EMEA and UK.
"Innovative technologies have always driven industry, and having disrupted the software business, SaaS continues to mature as a key driver for sustained improvement," said James Williams, head of operations for the SaaS Awards.
AutoRABIT's demonstrated ability to save companies time and money while also supporting strict data security requirements has offered great value to financial companies. The AutoRABIT platform exists outside of the Salesforce platform, enabling the strongest levels of control including the ability to host a client's environment on-premises or in a private cloud.
"AutoRABIT has proven itself essential to companies in the financial industry for optimizing their release process while remaining compliant with strict regulatory guidelines," said Eric Pearson, Product Manager of Security & Compliance at AutoRABIT.
Automated tooling like CodeScan by AutoRABIT—a static code analysis solution that provides total visibility into code health—and Automated Release Management—a CI/CD solution to increase speed to market—enable those in the financial industry to remain competitive in an evolving market while remaining secure.
AutoRABIT Vault Data Backup & Recovery offers complete snapshots of Salesforce data and metadata along with encryption, pseudonymization, and anonymization of protected information. These and other functionalities assist with GDPR, CCPA, and SOX compliance.
SaaS Awards finalists will be announced on Tuesday, August 23, 2022, with the ultimate category winners announced on Tuesday, September 13, 2022.
AutoRABIT was founded in 2015 to help developers regain control of their development cycles, increase deployment velocity, and deliver value within their organizations through a continuous delivery model. Today, AutoRABIT's suite of release management tools is the most comprehensive and secure in the market, and its customers are realizing the benefits of faster and more secure deployment in their Salesforce environments. Learn more at www.autorabit.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Nicole Paleologus
Next PR
AutoRABIT@nextpr.com
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NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Creatd, Inc. (Nasdaq CM: CRTD) ("Creatd" or the "Company"), a creator-first holding company and the parent company of Vocal, today confirmed its revenue guidance.
Commented Creatd's CEO Laurie Weisberg, "Our Q2 results demonstrate 15% revenue growth quarter-over-quarter, including a 134% revenue increase within Creatd Ventures, our consumer product segment, despite ongoing supply-chain disruptions. We maintained relatively consistent revenues across our remaining business lines, despite facing the headwinds caused by market conditions. We can confidently confirm guidance of $7MM in revenues this year, before accounting for additional opportunities that we expect our expansion plan will unlock."
Second Quarter 2022 Business Highlights
- Creatd Ventures experienced its second consecutive quarter of revenue growth, reaching several sales milestones across its portfolio of health, wellness, and lifestyle brands, including:
- Creatd Labs continues to grow Vocal's traction across numerous key performance metrics. Ongoing product enhancements continue to further cement Vocal's position as a home base for creators looking to share their content and get rewarded.
- Since Creatd's acquisition of the WHE Agency in Q2 of 2021, the Company has continued to consolidate Creatd Partners' product offerings and clients, allowing focus to shift towards maximizing its sales efforts and higher-value brand deals. Creatd Partners has expanded its relationships with key clients to include brands like Universal Pictures, Nike, five CBD, Target, Alfa Romeo
- As previously announced, Creatd Studios is currently in development of a slate of productions planned during 2022, and continues to explore new potential production partners as well as identify future transmedia production opportunities for Vocal's creators. Creatd Studios' 2022 production slate includes the release of Vocal's first-ever podcast, hosted by Erica Wagner, a print publication featuring a selection of Vocal stories, graphic novel development and production, the film adaptation of No One's Pet, and more.
- The Company has continued its efforts to maximize the expected value created through the proposed spin-off of the OG Collection, Creatd's wholly-owned library of legacy media assets originating from Bob Guccione's estate.
- The OG Collection maintains a diversified Web 3.0 portfolio including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and Decentraland plots, the majority of which were purchased in the last 30 days.
- The Company has announced its first-ever Investor Day taking place on July 21st, 2022. The presentation will showcase the first look at the Vocal mobile app for iOS, as well as provide updates on the Company's strategic initiatives across all four business pillars.
- Operating expenses are expected to remain relatively flat year over year, prior to accounting for stock-based payments. Additionally, marketing spend across all business lines continues to decrease.
Creatd, Inc. (Nasdaq CM: CRTD) is a company with a mission to provide economic opportunities to creators and brands by multiplying the impact of platforms, people, and technology. The Company has four main business segments, or 'pillars': Creatd Labs, Creatd Partners, Creatd Ventures, and Creatd Studios. Each pillar is characterized by a distinct revenue model, while operating on a shared-services structure and audience insights collected through our technology platforms. Creatd's pillars work together to create a flywheel effect, supporting our core vision of creating a viable and safe ecosystem for all stakeholders in the creator economy.
Creatd: https://creatd.com ;
Creatd IR: https://investors.creatd.com ;
Vocal Platform: https://vocal.media ;
Investor Relations Contact: ir@creatd.com
Any statements that are not historical facts and that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, indicated through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "believes" and "projects") may be forward-looking and may involve estimates and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution that the factors described herein could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements we make and that investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. This press release is qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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TORONTO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- eSSENTIAL Accessibility (eA), the leading digital Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, today announced another growth milestone: the company has more than tripled its employee count, increasing from 42 employees in 2020 to now more than 200. Additionally, eA has been named a 2022 Best Workplace™ for Giving Back and a Best Workplace™ for Today's Youth. Both recognitions are based on employee feedback, and reflect the positivity at the root of eA's internal culture.
"We're incredibly proud to be named among the Best Workplaces for Giving Back and for Today's Youth," said Mark Steele, Co-Founder and CEO of eSSENTIAL Accessibility. "These employee-driven honors are a testament to our commitment to create—and sustain—a purpose-driven culture. One in which our employees feel valued and connected to our mission."
These latest recognitions follow eA joining the list of fastest-growing technology companies in North America on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Canada's Top Growing Companies due to record year-over-year revenue growth.
To be named a Best Workplace for Giving Back, organizations must be Great Place to Work Certified™ in the past year, and 90 percent of employees must report they feel good about the way their company contributes to the community. eA's purpose is to empower organizations with the tools, technology, and training needed to make their websites, mobile apps, and digital products accessible for people with disabilities, a community of 1 billion people globally, comprising 15 percent of the population. This recognition validates that eA employees feel connected to this purpose and believe that their daily contributions are making a material difference in the lives of members of the disability community.
To be eligible for Best Workplace for Today's Youth, at least 30 percent of a company's employees must fit the Millennial or younger demographic, and those employees must have a minimum 90 percent positive response when asked how they felt treated at work, regardless of their age.
"The vast majority of younger employees prioritize working for an employer that shares their values, and at eA we lead with ours. Unity, accountability, and resolve are woven into the way in which we support one another, and the partnerships we build with our customers," Steele added.
For more information about eA and its all-in-one digital accessibility solution, visit essentialaccessibility.com. To join the team transforming the digital accessibility industry, browse eA's job openings.
Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, GPTW recognizes the world's Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit us at www.greatplacetowork.ca or find us on Twitter at @GPTW_Canada.
eSSENTIAL Accessibility is the smarter way to digital accessibility and legal compliance. As the leading Accessibility-as-a-Service platform, it enables brands to empower people by helping them deliver inclusive web, mobile, and product experiences that comply with global regulations and ensure people of all abilities have equal access. Learn more at www.essentialaccessibility.com.
Media Contacts
Avery Nunez
BLASTmedia for eSSENTIAL Accessibility
eSSENTIALAccessibility@blastmedia.com
317.806.1900 ext. 159
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DALLAS, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") plans to release its second quarter 2022 results on August 4, prior to Sempra's (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) second quarter 2022 conference call. Oncor's earnings release will be available on Oncor's website, oncor.com.
Sempra executives will conduct a conference call at 12 p.m. ET, Thursday, August 4 that will include discussion of Oncor's second quarter 2022 operational and financial results. Investors, media, analysts and the public may listen to a live webcast of the conference call on Sempra's website, sempra.com, by clicking on the appropriate audio link. Prior to the conference call, an accompanying slide presentation will be posted on Sempra's website.
For those unable to participate in the live webcast, a replay of Sempra's call will be available a few hours after its conclusion on Sempra's website or by dialing (888) 203-1112 and entering passcode 1507557.
Oncor's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2022 will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after Sempra's conference call and, once filed, will also be available at oncor.com.
Headquartered in Dallas, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC is a regulated electricity distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor (together with its subsidiaries) operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to more than 3.8 million homes and businesses and operating more than 140,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by two investors (indirect majority owner, Sempra, and minority owner, Texas Transmission Investment LLC), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of disinterested directors.
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SOURCE Oncor Electric Delivery Company, LLC | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/oncor-release-second-quarter-2022-results-august-4/ | 2022-07-14T13:45:22Z | https://www.wbtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/oncor-release-second-quarter-2022-results-august-4/ | true |
Main Street Receives BBB- Rating with Stable Outlook
HOUSTON, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: MAIN) ("Main Street") is pleased to announce that Fitch Ratings, Inc. ("Fitch") has assigned Main Street an investment grade credit and corporate rating of BBB- with a stable outlook. Factors cited by Fitch in support of its rating include Main Street's portfolio focus on senior debt investments, strong portfolio diversification, solid track record in credit and equity investments, above-average asset coverage cushion, consistent operating performance, experienced management team and strong funding flexibility with demonstrated access to the public debt and equity markets.
"We are extremely pleased with the investment grade rating assigned to us by Fitch, which is a positive reflection of our unique investment strategy, strong management team and investment underwriting and monitoring processes and the favorable credit quality and investment performance of our portfolio," said Dwayne L. Hyzak, Main Street's Chief Executive Officer.
Fitch stated that its stable outlook for its rating reflects its expectation that Main Street will maintain a relatively consistent portfolio mix between first lien debt and equity investments, along with consistent core earnings generation, solid asset quality, adequate asset coverage cushion and satisfactory level of unsecured funding.
ABOUT MAIN STREET CAPITAL CORPORATION
Main Street (www.mainstcapital.com) is a principal investment firm that primarily provides long-term debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies and debt capital to middle market companies. Main Street's portfolio investments are typically made to support management buyouts, recapitalizations, growth financings, refinancings and acquisitions of companies that operate in diverse industry sectors. Main Street seeks to partner with entrepreneurs, business owners and management teams and generally provides "one stop" financing alternatives within its lower middle market investment strategy. Main Street's lower middle market companies generally have annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million. Main Street's private loan and middle market debt investments are made in businesses that are generally larger in size than its lower middle market portfolio companies.
Main Street, through its wholly owned portfolio company MSC Adviser I, LLC ("MSC Adviser"), also maintains an asset management business through which it manages investments for external parties. MSC Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements other than statements of historical fact are likely to be affected by other unknowable future events and conditions, including elements of the future that are or are not under Main Street's control, and that Main Street may or may not have considered; accordingly, such statements cannot be guarantees or assurances of any aspect of future performance. Actual performance and results could vary materially from these estimates and projections of the future as a result of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in Main Street's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such statements speak only as of the time when made and are based on information available to Main Street as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Main Street assumes no obligation to revise or update any such statement now or in the future.
Main Street Capital Corporation
Dwayne L. Hyzak, CEO, dhyzak@mainstcapital.com
Jesse E. Morris, CFO and COO, jmorris@mainstcapital.com
713-350-6000
Dennard Lascar Investor Relations
Ken Dennard | ken@dennardlascar.com
Zach Vaughan | zvaughan@dennardlascar.com
713-529-6600
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SOURCE Main Street Capital Corporation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/main-street-announces-investment-grade-rating-fitch-ratings-inc/ | 2022-07-14T13:45:37Z | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/main-street-announces-investment-grade-rating-fitch-ratings-inc/ | false |
PITTSBURGH, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First National Bank, the largest subsidiary of F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), announced it again was named a Top Workplace in Financial Services by Energage, an independent research firm specializing in workplace engagement and organizational health. This is FNB's second consecutive year receiving national recognition as an employer of choice in the financial services industry, adding to the honors it has received as a Top Workplace USA and as a Top Workplace for Innovation, Leadership and Work-Life Flexibility.
The Top Workplaces rankings are based entirely on employee feedback provided via surveys measuring the Company's workforce engagement and satisfaction. To participate in the program, organizations are required to have 150 or more employees in the United States and survey at least 50 percent of their employees.
"Added to the multiple national Top Workplaces awards FNB has received, our Financial Services recognition further reinforces our success providing an employee experience that stands out in our industry and across the country," said Vincent J. Delie, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of F.N.B. Corporation and First National Bank. "Our focus on our culture creates an environment where team members are energized and engaged, which drives our superior performance and service to our stakeholders."
FNB's most recent recognition adds to the more than 40 national and regional workplace awards the Company has received. For more information about the extensive accolades FNB has earned for its differentiated client experience, workplace culture and leadership in the community, visit the Awards and Recognition webpage at fnb-online.com.
About F.N.B. Corporation
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB's market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina. The Company has total assets of $42 billion and more than 340 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB's wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.
The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNB" and is included in Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.
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WASHINGTON — The Senate easily approved Michael Barr to be the Federal Reserve's top banking regulator in a bipartisan vote Wednesday.
Barr, a former top Treasury official under President Barack Obama, is the last of President Joe Biden's three nominees to the Fed's board of governors to win Senate confirmation. All seven seats on the Fed's board are now filled, for the first time in roughly a decade, as the central bank tackles the worst inflation in 40 years.
The Senate voted 66-28 to approve Barr to serve as vice chair for supervision, the government’s primary financial regulator.
As a Treasury official, Barr helped design the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial regulations after the devastating 2008 financial crisis. He most recently was the dean of the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
During a Senate hearing, Barr pledged to support the Fed's efforts to reduce inflation and said he would promote “clear rules” to govern financial innovation.
He also said during the hearing that Congress and financial agencies should regulate stablecoins, a form of cryptocurrency often pegged to the dollar, to protect consumers from sharp drops in their value, which can occur if stablecoins don't have sufficient assets to back up their dollar pegs.
Accelerating inflation is a vexing problem for the Federal Reserve, too. The Fed is already engaged in the fastest series of interest rate hikes in three decades, which it hopes will cool inflation by tamping down borrowing and spending by consumers and businesses.
The central bank is expected to raise its key short-term rate later this month by a hefty three-quarters of a point, as it did last month. | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/senate-grants-approval-of-michael-barr-to-federal-reserve-post/507-0e96a7c0-223e-43eb-9480-cdb874e13f5c | 2022-07-14T13:47:45Z | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/senate-grants-approval-of-michael-barr-to-federal-reserve-post/507-0e96a7c0-223e-43eb-9480-cdb874e13f5c | false |
NFP's Henry Equestrian becomes an official insurance partner and provider of insurance solutions for the equestrian industry
TORONTO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NFP, a leading property and casualty broker, benefits consultant, wealth manager and retirement advisor, today announced its preferred partnership with Equestrian Canada (EC), which includes serving as a recommended and preferred insurance services partner of EC for Licensed and Registered Coach Status holders' commercial general liability products. Administered through Henry Equestrian¹, the renewed partnership features an online portal where coaches can buy commercial general liability (CGL) insurance in less than six minutes.
"We are so happy to extend our partnership with EC to bring this convenient solution to coaches," said Greg Dunn, managing director, Personal Lines, NFP in Canada. "Our digital platform currently allows EC coaches to have a personalized and seamless online application experience with preferred insurance rates customized for the unique requirements of equestrian sport."
Individuals who are Licensed or Registered in the Coach Status Program (administered through EC) are eligible to apply for this customized, CGL product.
"We are so pleased to continue our partnership with NFP/Henry Equestrian Insurance," said Meg Krueger, Chief Executive Officer, Equestrian Canada. "The entire NFP team has once again exhibited an exceptional passion and commitment to equestrian sport and industry. Their seamless solutions for our coaches will help equestrians across Canada protect themselves, their clients, horses and businesses, now and in the future."
As a part of NFP, Henry Equestrian has access to many insurance carriers and MGAs across North America. This access complements the team's wealth of insurance knowledge and risk management expertise across all insurance sectors.
"While this is the initial launch of products for EC coaches, we hope to offer many more types of products, such as group health benefits, travel, cyber, pet and horse mortality," added Pat O'Neill, vice president, Specialty Personal Lines, NFP in Canada.
1.Insurance services provided through NFP Canada Corp. Henry Equestrian and NFP are registered business names used by NFP Canada Corp. in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, where permitted. NFP® is a registered trademark of NFP Corp.
NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized business and personal insurance, group benefits, retirement and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of more than 1,000 employees based in Canada, more than 6,900 employees globally, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue (Business Insurance), 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal) and 13th largest global insurance broker (Best's Review).
Equestrian Canada (EC) is the national governing body for equestrian sport and industry in Canada, with a mandate to represent, promote and advance all equine and equestrian interests. With over 15,000 sport licence holders, 11 provincial/territorial sport organization partners and 10+ national equine affiliate organizations, EC is a significant contributor to the social, physical, emotional, and economic wellbeing of the equestrian industry across Canada.
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The diligence platform especially designed with industry feedback provides essential information, methodology and support documents needed for vendor diligence
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Global Market Intelligence has announced the launch of PVR Source, a new diligence platform, aimed at helping clients manage the regulatory requirements mandated by the new SEC Rule 2a–5. The PVR Source, a pricing, valuations and reference data platform, hosts methodology documents, back testing reports, aggregated challenge statistics, due diligence documentation, and other relevant information from across fixed income and derivatives valuations. The new rule aiming to create a framework for determining fair value of investments and mandating board oversight, will go into effect on September 8, 2022.
Krishna Shetty, Executive Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: "With the new SEC Rule coming into effect, clients want a detailed understanding of processes and methodologies used by vendors for fair value pricing. As part of their review, additional transparency from pricing vendors is crucial. PVR Source provides all the essential information needed for detailed vendor diligence. As part of our high-touch customer service, we have helped our clients with pricing vendor due diligence questionnaires, deep dives, and board meetings. We will continue to provide these high touch services to help PVR Source clients comply with SEC 2a-5 or with other new regulations."
The online platform provides easily digestible information that addresses the five main parts of the rule, namely, transparency into methodology and any changes, back testing to support pricing quality, challenge reporting, due diligence documentation and conflicts of interest.
S&P Global Market Intelligence's PVR Source, specifically designed with feedback from the largest buyside firms and fund administrators, provides all information related to pricing vendor diligence, including, methodology documentation, due diligence presentations and videos, challenge statistics, back-testing studies and support documents that can be readily presented to the board, regulators, and auditors. Clients can review and analyze information provided to better understand the methodologies and processes used to produce the pricing, and quickly identify where enhancements are being made to methodologies for future pricing. It also offers access to S&P Global's Rule 2a-5 related thought leadership, and a mechanism to request additional information such as back-testing studies on a unique portfolio or additional transparency metrics.
Click on the link to access PVR Source: PVR Source
About S&P Global Market Intelligence
At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. We integrate financial and industry data, research and news into tools that help track performance, generate alpha, identify investment ideas, perform valuations and assess credit risk. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations and universities around the world use this essential intelligence to make business and financial decisions with conviction.
S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, offering ESG solutions, deep data and insights on critical business factors. S&P Global has been providing essential intelligence that unlocks opportunity, fosters growth and accelerates progress for more than 160 years. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence.
Media Contact:
Sabrina Mayeen
S&P Global | Market Intelligence
+44 (0)20 7176 0495
Sabrina.Mayeen@spglobal.com
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SOURCE S&P Global | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/sampp-global-market-intelligence-launches-pvr-source-help-clients-comply-with-new-sec-rule-2a-5/ | 2022-07-14T13:49:46Z | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/sampp-global-market-intelligence-launches-pvr-source-help-clients-comply-with-new-sec-rule-2a-5/ | false |
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Creatd, Inc. (Nasdaq CM: CRTD) ("Creatd" or the "Company"), a creator-first holding company and the parent company of Vocal, today confirmed its revenue guidance.
Commented Creatd's CEO Laurie Weisberg, "Our Q2 results demonstrate 15% revenue growth quarter-over-quarter, including a 134% revenue increase within Creatd Ventures, our consumer product segment, despite ongoing supply-chain disruptions. We maintained relatively consistent revenues across our remaining business lines, despite facing the headwinds caused by market conditions. We can confidently confirm guidance of $7MM in revenues this year, before accounting for additional opportunities that we expect our expansion plan will unlock."
Second Quarter 2022 Business Highlights
- Creatd Ventures experienced its second consecutive quarter of revenue growth, reaching several sales milestones across its portfolio of health, wellness, and lifestyle brands, including:
- Creatd Labs continues to grow Vocal's traction across numerous key performance metrics. Ongoing product enhancements continue to further cement Vocal's position as a home base for creators looking to share their content and get rewarded.
- Since Creatd's acquisition of the WHE Agency in Q2 of 2021, the Company has continued to consolidate Creatd Partners' product offerings and clients, allowing focus to shift towards maximizing its sales efforts and higher-value brand deals. Creatd Partners has expanded its relationships with key clients to include brands like Universal Pictures, Nike, five CBD, Target, Alfa Romeo
- As previously announced, Creatd Studios is currently in development of a slate of productions planned during 2022, and continues to explore new potential production partners as well as identify future transmedia production opportunities for Vocal's creators. Creatd Studios' 2022 production slate includes the release of Vocal's first-ever podcast, hosted by Erica Wagner, a print publication featuring a selection of Vocal stories, graphic novel development and production, the film adaptation of No One's Pet, and more.
- The Company has continued its efforts to maximize the expected value created through the proposed spin-off of the OG Collection, Creatd's wholly-owned library of legacy media assets originating from Bob Guccione's estate.
- The OG Collection maintains a diversified Web 3.0 portfolio including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and Decentraland plots, the majority of which were purchased in the last 30 days.
- The Company has announced its first-ever Investor Day taking place on July 21st, 2022. The presentation will showcase the first look at the Vocal mobile app for iOS, as well as provide updates on the Company's strategic initiatives across all four business pillars.
- Operating expenses are expected to remain relatively flat year over year, prior to accounting for stock-based payments. Additionally, marketing spend across all business lines continues to decrease.
Creatd, Inc. (Nasdaq CM: CRTD) is a company with a mission to provide economic opportunities to creators and brands by multiplying the impact of platforms, people, and technology. The Company has four main business segments, or 'pillars': Creatd Labs, Creatd Partners, Creatd Ventures, and Creatd Studios. Each pillar is characterized by a distinct revenue model, while operating on a shared-services structure and audience insights collected through our technology platforms. Creatd's pillars work together to create a flywheel effect, supporting our core vision of creating a viable and safe ecosystem for all stakeholders in the creator economy.
Creatd: https://creatd.com ;
Creatd IR: https://investors.creatd.com ;
Vocal Platform: https://vocal.media ;
Investor Relations Contact: ir@creatd.com
Any statements that are not historical facts and that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, indicated through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "believes" and "projects") may be forward-looking and may involve estimates and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution that the factors described herein could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements we make and that investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. This press release is qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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Dorothy L. Bullock School in Glassboro will provide free breakfast and lunch for anyone age 18 and younger 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays throughout the summer.
Each Thursday, diners will be able to select additional meals to cover the weekend.
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. | https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2022/07/schools-free-meal-program-doesnt-take-a-summer-vacation.html | 2022-07-14T13:51:24Z | https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2022/07/schools-free-meal-program-doesnt-take-a-summer-vacation.html | false |
JUSTIN, Texas, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Canoo (NASDAQ: GOEV), a high-tech advanced mobility company, has been awarded by the U.S. Army to supply an electric vehicle for analysis and demonstration. This contract supports the U.S. military's focus to incorporate scalable and adaptable capabilities in operational and garrison environments.
"As an American company based in the heartland, it is an honor to be selected by the U.S. Army," said Tony Aquila, Investor, Chairman & CEO at Canoo. "This is another opportunity to prove our proprietary technology – which is customizable and adaptable for multiple use cases and special environments."
Canoo's multi-purpose platform was recently selected by NASA for crew transportation vehicles to deliver astronauts to the Artemis launch site for lunar missions to establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.
Canoo's mission is to bring EVs to Everyone. The company has developed breakthrough electric vehicles that are reinventing the automotive landscape with bold innovations in design, pioneering technologies, and a unique business model that spans the full lifecycle of the vehicle. Distinguished by its experienced team from leading technology and automotive companies – Canoo has designed a modular electric platform purpose-built to deliver maximum vehicle interior space that is customizable across all owners in the vehicle lifecycle to support a wide range of vehicle applications for consumers and businesses. Canoo has teams in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan and California. For more information, please visit www.canoo.com. For Canoo press materials, including photos, please visit press.canoo.com. For investors, please visit investors.canoo.com.
The information in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward- looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics, expectations and timing related to commercial product launches and the achievement of operational milestones, including the ability to meet and/or accelerate anticipated production timelines, Canoo's ability to capitalize on commercial opportunities, current or anticipated customer orders, and expectations regarding the development of facilities. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of Canoo's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Canoo. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; Canoo's ability to access future capital, via debt or equity markets, or other sources; the rollout of Canoo's business and the timing of expected business milestones and commercial launch; future market adoption of Canoo's offerings; risks related to Canoo's go-to-market strategy and manufacturing strategy; the effects of competition on Canoo's future business, and those factors discussed under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Canoo's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 1, 2022, as well as its past and future Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC, copies of which may be obtained by visiting Canoo's Investors Relations website at investors.canoo.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Canoo does not presently know or that Canoo currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Canoo's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Canoo anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Canoo's assessments to change.
However, while Canoo may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Canoo specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Canoo's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
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Four startups graduated from three-month collaborative program
TROY, Mich. , July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Bank has wrapped up its third MortgageTech Accelerator program—the first and only accelerator in the United States solely dedicated to mortgage technology. Four startups graduated recently after a final presentation closed out the three-month program.
Flagstar looked for startups working on breakthroughs in all facets of the mortgage business, including mortgage origination and servicing, compliance, secondary marketing, and fulfillment, as well as activities performed under the Community Reinvestment Act. Among the criteria for selection were company progress in product development, prospects for growth, and potential for CRA impact.
The graduating class of fintechs included:
- LoanSense of Ypsilanti, Mich.
- OrangeGrid of Flower Mound, Texas
- Calque of Austin, Texas
- CredEvolv of Naples, Fla.
The program offered one-on-one interaction with senior members of Flagstar Bank's mortgage leadership team, including opportunities for direct interaction and access to expertise. Flagstar mentors engaged with the companies on topics such as integrating technology, pricing strategies, and product roadmaps.
"We place a huge value on using technology to change consumers' lives and offer an industry-leading customer experience," said Lee Smith, president of Mortgage for Flagstar Bank. "This program makes our industry stronger and positions Flagstar to deliver a more seamless, frictionless, tech-enabled home loan experience for our customers."
"Flagstar's MortgageTech Accelerator allowed LoanSense to prepare to serve depository institutions," said Catalina Kaiyoorawongs, founder and CEO of LoanSense. "Not only did we get insight into the way leaders thought about our product and pricing, but also how they made technology purchase decisions. Plus, we were able to work closely with an executive sponsor who really championed our success. Overall, it was an invaluable experience that I'd recommend to other mortgage technology companies who want to work with bank lenders."
"After 18 months of creating our default management workflow templates, we were fortunate to participate in Flagstar's MortgageTech Accelerator where we worked closely with Flagstar's loss mitigation leadership team," said Todd Mobraten, founder and CEO of OrangeGrid. "That helped us continue to enhance our product functionality and increase our value proposition throughout the mortgage servicing space. In fact, we've already begun exploring other strategic opportunities with Flagstar and look forward to having them not only as a customer, but as a partner."
"Flagstar's Accelerator program helped deepen our capabilities in numerous areas, including lender integration, operations, and compliance," said Jeremy Foster, CEO of Calque. "The accelerator team we worked with were true partners, and we're a better company with a stronger product as a result of our participation in the program."
"We are mortgage bankers developing consumer credit solutions for mortgage bankers," said Jeff Walker, CEO of CredEvolv. "Flagstar's leadership across multiple origination and servicing channels presents an ideal opportunity to test our business model across several dimensions."
Past alums that have continued to grow and innovate since participating in the program include Stavvy, Brace, Home Lending Pal, and Home Captain. Their experience has led to additional partnership opportunities with Flagstar post-accelerator. Flagstar plans to launch its fourth accelerator program in early 2023. Startups engaged in mortgage tech innovations interested in participating may email Ashwin Mago, Flagstar's director of Mortgage Digital and MIS, at ashwin.mago@flagstar.com.
About Flagstar
Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: FBC) is a $23.2 billion savings and loan holding company headquartered in Troy, Mich. Flagstar Bank, FSB, provides commercial, small business, and consumer banking services through 158 branches in Michigan, Indiana, California, Wisconsin and Ohio. It also provides home loans through a wholesale network of brokers and correspondents in all 50 states, as well as 82 retail locations in 28 states. Flagstar is a leading national originator and servicer of mortgage and other consumer loans, handling payments and record keeping for $300 billion of loans representing almost 1.3 million borrowers. For more information, please visit flagstar.com.
For more information contact:
Susan Bergesen
Flagstar Bank
(248) 312-6237
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SOURCE Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/flagstar-bank-completes-third-mortgagetech-accelerator-program/ | 2022-07-14T13:51:49Z | https://www.cleveland19.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/flagstar-bank-completes-third-mortgagetech-accelerator-program/ | false |
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive on Wednesday decried the rule of law situation in Poland and Hungary, centering on perceived breaches in their judiciary and media in its annual report.
As it comes against the background of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Commission said that it was all the more important for the 27 nations to be a beacon of democracy on an unstable continent.
“The EU will only remain credible if we uphold the rule of law at home and if we continue to reinforce the rule of law culture,” EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said.
Even though Poland is at the forefront of EU’s effort to welcome war refugees from Ukraine, it did come in for a lot of criticism regarding its judiciary independence and the media.
Polish Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who also holds the job of prosecutor-general, said the report was “yet another blackmail by the EU.” He insisted that Poland’s government shouldn’t be ceding to EU demands. The European Commission has recommended that the functions of the minister of justice and the prosecutor-general in Poland should be separate.
Hungary, whose prime minister, Viktor Orban, is seen as Russia’s best contact in the 27-nation EU, also stood out for the criticism it got.
“Serious concerns persist related to the independence of the Polish judiciary,” the report said, adding anti-corruption plans also left to be desired. It also questioned the government’s commitment to free media and said that “the general environment for journalists continues to deteriorate.”
Poland and the EU’s headquarters in Brussels have been fighting for years over judicial independence and the dispute is far from resolved, despite recent moves in Warsaw. Poland must still take more steps to ensure judicial independence before it can receive any of the frozen funds totaling about 36 billion euros ($39 billion).
Hungary came in for perhaps even tougher criticism, with the report saying “judicial independence concerns … remain unaddressed,” while it said anti-corruption measures still fell woefully short. It described a nation where “where risks of clientelism, favoritism and nepotism in high-level public administration remain unaddressed.”
Orban imposed emergency powers to counter the pandemic but the report said that “the government has been using its emergency powers extensively, also in areas not related to the COVID-19 pandemic as initially invoked.”
The European Commission has been engaged in a protracted struggle with Hungary’s nationalist government in an effort to force it to comply with EU rule of law standards. Pointing to deficiencies in judicial independence, crackdowns on the media and civil society organizations and inadequate safeguards against corruption, the European Commission has launched several proceedings against Hungary for what it says are violations of EU rules.
Yet such proceedings have often failed to get Orban to change tack, and critics say his government has flouted EU rules while misusing the bloc’s funds to enrich family members and politically connected businessmen.
The European Commission has withheld billions in post-pandemic financial support from Hungary over what it calls insufficient safeguards against corruption, and has tailored a mechanism for sanctioning member states that fail to uphold the bloc’s rule of law standards.
Even if the European Commission’s report laid bare deficiencies, some said that it lacked any teeth.
In 2021, for example, the commission launched two infringement procedures against Hungary’s government over laws they said attacked the LGBTQ community.
“This sharper analysis is not met with a sharper bite,” said Green MEP Terry Reintke. “With extremely worrying breaches of fundamental rights, women’s rights and LGBTIQ rights in countries such as Poland or Hungary, we need far clearer action from the Commission.”
___
Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland, contributed to this report. | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/business/ap-business/eu-rule-of-law-report-decries-situation-in-poland-hungary/ | 2022-07-14T13:51:50Z | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/business/ap-business/eu-rule-of-law-report-decries-situation-in-poland-hungary/ | true |
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Winston & Strawn LLP announced today the addition of Amy H. Kearbey as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office. Amy joins the firm as a member of the Litigation Department with a focus in health care and life sciences.
Amy comes to Winston after serving as senior counsel for the Industry Guidance Branch of the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General at the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) in Washington, D.C. In that role, Amy provided legal analysis and advice regarding the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Civil Monetary Penalties Law in connection with advisory opinion requests, policy development, and Office of the Inspector General and United States Department of Justice investigations and enforcement actions. She was also instrumental in drafting and finalizing significant regulatory changes that established new value-based safe harbors as part of the Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care, which aims to accelerate the transformation of the entire health care industry from a fee-for-service model to a value-based system.
"I am pleased to join a firm with the resources, insight, and experience that the health care sector demands," said Amy. "The ongoing pandemic heightens the need for legal clarity and strategic thinking for all stakeholders, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to add value and provide critical insight to client matters."
"Our Washington, D.C., attorneys have known Amy for many years," said David Rogers, Washington, D.C., office managing partner. "Her experience at HHS and her leadership at the highest levels of this sector will greatly expand Winston's current knowledge of the administration's interpretation of regulations and compliance."
Prior to her time at HHS, Amy worked on fraud and abuse matters, with a special focus on False Claims Act litigation and regulatory compliance. She has advised a wide range of health industry stakeholders, including hospitals and health systems, medical groups, ambulatory surgery centers, IT vendors, laboratories, and life sciences companies on compliance with federal and state health care fraud and abuse laws, including the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and the Civil Monetary Penalties Law.
"Litigation in the health care sector continues to accelerate post-pandemic," said Winston Chairman Tom Fitzgerald. "Amy brings an outstanding investigative and prosecutorial mind to our team, and we welcome her strong and sharp legal insights on these important matters."
Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with 16 offices in North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. More information about the firm is available at www.winston.com.
Contact:
Michael Goodwin
mgoodwin@stantonprm.com
646-502-3595
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SOURCE Winston & Strawn LLP | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/winston-amp-strawn-brings-amy-kearbey-dc-health-care-life-sciences-team/ | 2022-07-14T13:51:53Z | https://www.kfyrtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/winston-amp-strawn-brings-amy-kearbey-dc-health-care-life-sciences-team/ | true |
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SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — North Macedonia got a boost from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday for the country's hopes of eventually joining the European Union amid a dispute with Bulgaria.
“We want you in the EU,” von der Leyen said in the Macedonian language in an address to North Macedonia's parliament.
Von der Leyen pledged her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections.
“Bilateral issues, such are history issues, are not conditions for accession," von der Leyen told North Macedonia’s parliament in an address. “There can be no doubt that Macedonian is your language”
She added that that the French “proposal also respects your national identity," and said that this is the time for North Macedonia to move forward.
The difficulty of selling the French compromise proposal was evident in the presence of thousands of protesters outside the parliament building who denounced it as a sellout. Even inside parliament, while most lawmakers stood respectfully and applauded von der Leyen, she was briefly interrupted by whistles and shouts.
The proposal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron at the NATO summit in Madrid last month, envisages concessions from both sides. The government in North Macedonia would commit to changing its constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority, protect minority rights and banish hate speech, as Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007, has demanded.
The ruling Social Democrats and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski are backing the proposal as a reasonable compromise. The government believes the deal doesn't endanger national interests or identity and unblocks the path for the country to join the EU.
But the center-right main opposition party, the VMRO-DPMNE, as well as others, disagree, saying the deal favors Bulgarian demands that question North Macedonia’s history, language, identity, culture and heritage and insists on changes in the deal, or a new one prepared by the Czech rotating EU presidency with the bloc's input.
Political tensions in North Macedonia have been on the rise over the past 10 days, with several violent nightly protests.
Debate on the French proposal has begun with seemingly irreconcilable differences between the ruling leftist coalition and the center-right opposition.
Thursday’s protest outside Parliament, like the previous ones, has as its main slogan “Ultimatum-NO, Thanks.” The protesters are singing a national anthem and chanting “Never North, always Macedonia!” thus also calling into question the deal that North Macedonia reached with Greece in July 2018, ending a decades-old dispute over the country’s name and helping lift Greece’s objections to North Macedonia’s entering the EU and NATO.
Macron has stressed that the proposal doesn’t question the official existence of a Macedonian language, but he noted that, like all deals, it “rests on compromises and on a balance.”
North Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership for 17 years. The country received the green light to begin accession talks in 2020, but no date for the start of the negotiations has been set.
Bulgaria has used its power as an EU member to block North Macedonia’s membership.
In Bulgaria, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov’s centrist government was toppled in a no-confidence vote on June 22. A junior governing partner quit the fragile four-party coalition, describing Petkov’s willingness to lift the veto of North Macedonia as a “national betrayal.”
Parliamentary debate is expected to last two days at least before the vote. But, while the ruling coalition, which just has a majority in parliament of 61 seats out of 120, can adopt it, it faces a major hurdle with the revision of the constitution to officially recognize a Bulgarian minority. This requires a two-thirds majority, or 80 votes. The VMRO-DPMNE coalition and a small leftist party, with 46 seats between them, have said they will never agree to change the constitution. | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Von-der-Leyen-EU-wants-North-Macedonia-17304616.php | 2022-07-14T13:54:10Z | https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Von-der-Leyen-EU-wants-North-Macedonia-17304616.php | false |
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
Manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday the club will be without hitters Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Dozier, Cam Gallagher, Kyle Isbel, MJ Melendez, Whit Merrifield and Michael A. Taylor along with pitchers Dylan Coleman, Brad Keller and Brady Singer.
The team is set to play four games in Toronto. The 10 players will be placed on the restricted list and forfeit four days of pay and major league service time in accordance with the terms of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement.
“It’s an individual choice,” Matheny said. “The organization’s done a real good job bringing in professionals and experts to talk guys through tough conversations and then put it in their hands to make the decisions they believe is best for them and their families.”
Benintendi will lose $186,813, Merrifield $153,846, Keller $106,044 and Dozier and Taylor $98,901 each. Among the others, the lost pay for Gallagher will be $19,451, Singer $15,962, Isbel $15,426, Coleman $15,399 and Melendez $15,385.
The club will name their replacements Thursday, along with an announcement about other staff who won’t be traveling with the club.
“Now what it presents is an opportunity for some young guys to step in who wouldn’t normally be here,” Matheny said. “It will affect what we’re doing rotation-wise and that will be another question that we’ll have to answer later. I’m excited about some guys coming in and getting a chance.”
Players cited personal decisions for themselves and their families behind their reasoning to not be vaccinated.
“It was a choice I made talking with my family, talking with my wife,” Merrifield said. “I didn’t think that the risk was worth it, honestly.
“I don’t feel like COVID is a threat to me,” he added.
The unvaccinated players said they felt teammates supported their decisions.
“We’ve talked to these guys, they’re not judging us at all,” Dozier said. “They have our backs. I don’t think we’ve ever dealt with something like this, where we’re being forced to take a vaccine just to go play over in Toronto. It’s just a weird situation. It’s unfortunate.”
“(The) staff, owner, GM, everybody, it’s been really cool to see how they’re handling it,” Coleman said. “Not like forcing it. I feel like we all have our own opinion, so it’s been really good that the higher-ups respect that.”
Merrifield had the majors’ longest active games played streak at 553 before a foot injury kept him out of action Sunday. He said he might change his mind if a similar circumstance presented itself later in the year.
“That might change down the road,” he said. “If something happens and I happen to get on a team that has a chance to go play in Canada in the postseason, maybe that changes. As we sit here right now, I’m comfortable with my decision.”
John Schneider, the Blue Jays’ new manager, said his team won’t take Kansas City lightly.
“A little bit surprising, but the rules are the rules. We live by them and the rest of the league lives by them,” Schneider said in Toronto. “Definitely not a series you’re going to take lightly going into the break. You kind of see who they have, you game plan accordingly, and hopefully build off this two-game series (sweep) against the Phillies.”
Schneider was promoted from bench coach to interim manager for the remainder of the season when Toronto fired Charlie Montoyo on Wednesday.
___
AP freelance writer Ian Harrison in Toronto contributed to this report.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/10-unvaccinated-royals-players-skipping-trip-to-toronto/ | 2022-07-14T13:57:10Z | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/10-unvaccinated-royals-players-skipping-trip-to-toronto/ | false |
– Company shares to begin trading July 25 under new ticker symbols –
– Subordinate voting shares to be reclassified as common shares –
– Share consolidation not proceeding at this time –
OAKLAND, CALIF., AND TORONTO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Harborside Inc. ("Harborside"", or the "Company") (CSE: HBOR), (OTCQX: HBORF ), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, today announced that it will complete the previously announced name change (the "Name Change") to StateHouse Holdings Inc. ("StateHouse" or the "Company") on July 25, 2022. The Company previously filed articles of amendment to effect these changes.
"This is an important milestone for the Company, which was formed through the business combination of four pioneering California companies," said Ed Schmults, Chief Executive Officer. "As we look to the future, the Name Change to StateHouse reflects our shared journey from activism and advocacy, to the establishment of an enterprise with high standards of quality, consistency and reliability. Separately and now together, we have developed a legitimate industry from the ground up. Today, we begin a new chapter as we continue to build a premier California cannabis company. We believe our fully integrated platform for growth is the finest of any cannabis firm in the state."
The Company also announced today that its subordinate voting shares ("SVS") will be reclassified as common shares ("Common Shares") effective July 25, 2022 (the "Reclassification"), and that its board of directors (the "Board") has elected not to proceed with a share consolidation at this time. The Board has also granted restricted share units ("RSUs") evidencing the right to receive up to an aggregate of 450,000 SVS, subject to the satisfaction of certain vesting conditions, and options to purchase up to an aggregate 4,200,000 SVS to certain members of its management team in order to further align the interests of the Company's management and shareholders. The options are exercisable at a price of C$0.37 per SVS for a period of five years from the date of grant, with one quarter of the total number of options granted vesting on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the date of grant.
NAME CHANGE
The Company will be officially renamed StateHouse on July 25, 2022. The new corporate website statehouseholdings.com will launch on that date with additional information about the Company and its go-forward strategy. Harborside's archived corporate information, including financial results and news releases, will also be available on the StateHouse site.
Effective upon the market open on July 25, 2022, the stock will trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the new ticker symbol "STHZ.". The Name Change was overwhelmingly approved by shareholders of the Company at a special meeting (the "Meeting") held on February 22, 2022.
SHARE RECLASSIFICATION
The Company's SVS will be reclassified as Common Shares, effective July 25, 2022. The Reclassification is attributable to the mandatory conversion of Harborside multiple voting shares into SVS (the "Mandatory Conversion"), which was completed on March 31, 2022. Due to the Mandatory Conversion, there is now just a single class of StateHouse shares and no need for a designation other than Common Shares to describe such shares outstanding.
"We are very pleased with the changes to the Company's equity capitalization that have now resulted in a 'one share - one vote' structure," added Mr. Schmults. "This streamlined structure is part of a broader strategy designed to create a company that treats all shareholders equally, attracts institutional investors, and reflects our goal of being the premier investment vehicle in the California cannabis industry."
The Reclassification was overwhelmingly approved by shareholders of the Company at the annual and special meeting of the Company held on June 23, 2022. The Company's new CUSIP number for its Common Shares will be 85754G301 and its new ISIN number will be CA85754G3017 upon completion of the Name Change and the Reclassification.
All registered holders of SVS (being a shareholder who holds their SVS directly, registered in their own name), are asked to forward, by personal delivery or by registered mail, any physical share certificate(s) representing their existing SVS to the Company's registrar and transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company, at 702-67 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1J8, Attention: Securities, along with a letter requesting for such physical share certificate(s) to be updated to reflect the new CUSIPs for the securities of the Company resulting from the Reclassification. Shareholders who hold their securities through a broker, investment dealer, bank or trust company should contact that nominee or intermediary for assistance in depositing their securities in connection with the Reclassification.
SHARE CONSOLIDATION
After careful consideration, the Board has elected not to proceed with the consolidation of its issued and outstanding SVS (the "Consolidation") on a six-for-one basis at this time. The Consolidation was previously approved by shareholders at the Meeting. The Board will continue to monitor market conditions carefully and could proceed with the Consolidation at a later date if it determines that such a decision is in the best interests of shareholders. Depending on the timing of the implementation of such Consolidation, shareholder approval may be required in order to effect the Consolidation.
About Harborside (to be renamed StateHouse)
Harborside, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 14 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, distribution facilities in San Jose and Los Angeles, California and integrated cultivation/production facilities in Salinas and Greenfield, California. Harborside is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "HBOR" and the OTCQX under the ticker symbol "HBORF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things: the ability to complete the Name Change and the Reclassification within anticipated timeframes, if at all; the timing of trading of the Common Shares under the StateHouse name following the Name Change and Reclassification within anticipated timeframes; the impact of the Name Change and Reclassification on the Company; the ability to complete the Consolidation, if at all; the ability of the Company to build a premier California cannabis company and to establish its integrated platform for growth; the establishment of the Company's new corporate website and the information available on such website; the ability of the Company to capture additional market share; and the ability of the Company to attract institutional investors.
These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2022 and the Company's annual information form dated December 13, 2021, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the US Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation.
While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE Harborside Inc. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/harborside-inc-changes-name-statehouse-holdings-inc-honor-its-pioneering-history-reflect-its-future-direction/ | 2022-07-14T14:01:46Z | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/harborside-inc-changes-name-statehouse-holdings-inc-honor-its-pioneering-history-reflect-its-future-direction/ | false |
(NEXSTAR) – The U.S. Open Beer competition is a heady brew of the sudsy and the silly.
The U.S. Open Beer Championships announced the winners of its annual competition earlier this week, recognizing some of the best ales, IPAs and porters from brewers across the nation. Medalists were awarded in over 150 categories, including best American ale, best Belgian blonde and best cocoa/chocolate beer, to name just a few — and there was even a category for the “Top 10 Beer Names” of the year, based on the “laughter volume” of attendees.
But perhaps the highest honor of the competition is the title of Grand National Champion: a distinction bestowed upon the brewery that earns the most medals of the annual event.
This year, that honor went to Sun King Brewing of Indianapolis, which also took the title in 2019.
“Congratulations to our hardworking crew and congratulations to our fellow breweries,” a representative for Sun King wrote on Instagram following the brewery’s win. “We are beyond honored.”
Sun King wasn’t the only brewery to win big at the 2022 championship. The top 10 breweries of 2022, as determined by the U.S. Open Beer judging panel, are as follows:
1. Sun King Brewery — Indiana
2. Shoe Tree Brewing — Nevada
3. Third Eye Brewing — Ohio
4. Monday Night Brewing — Georgia
5. Pilot Brewing — North Carolina
6. Vallensons’ Brewing — Texas
7. Moonraker Brewing Company — California
8. Bonds Brewing — Wyoming
9. DC Brau Brewing — Washington, DC
10. Forgotten Star Brewing — Minnesota
10. Primeval Brewing — Indiana
On a little bit of a sillier note, the event’s attendees helped determine the “Top 10 Beer Names” among this year’s submissions, presented below in no particular order:
· Still Not as Bitter as Your Ex, from N.E.W. Ales Brewing — Ohio
· Up Schitt’s Kriek, from Lost Province Brewing — North Carolina
· It Gose in Your Moutha, from Spider Bite Beer Co. — New York
· Kolsch Me if You Can, from Pilot Brewing — North Carolina
· Who’s A Good Beer? from Streetside Brewery — Ohio
· I Need More Cowbelgian from The Common Beer Company — Ohio
· It’s Pronounced “Phrankensteen” IPA, from Listermann Brewing — Ohio
· There Gose My Pickle, from Cueni Brewing Co. — Florida
· Tastes Like Flannel, from Red Bear Brewing — Washington, D.C.
· Julius Squeezer IPA, from Elmhurst Brewing Company — Illinois.
A complete list of medal winners from all 150-plus categories can be found at the U.S. Open Beer website.
The U.S. Open Beer Championships, established in 2009, is the only major beer-judging event to allow professional breweries against homebrewers: specifically, the medalists from 2021’s American Homebrew Association’s National Homebrew Competition are invited to enter. In 2022, more than 9,000 individual beers were entered into the competition. | https://cw33.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/us-open-beer-championship-names-best-breweries-funniest-beer-names-of-2022/ | 2022-07-14T14:05:48Z | https://cw33.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/us-open-beer-championship-names-best-breweries-funniest-beer-names-of-2022/ | false |
LONDON (AP) — Amazon, seeking to resolve two European Union antitrust investigations, has promised to treat third-party merchants on its website fairly, the bloc’s competition watchdog said Thursday.
The U.S. online retail giant offered to make a number of commitments to ease competition concerns, and the European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top antitrust enforcer, said it will now seek feedback on them from “interested parties.”
The commission launched an investigation four years ago over concerns Amazon breached EU competition rules by using data from merchants selling products on its platform to gain an unfair advantage over them.
It also opened a separate investigation into whether Amazon favors its own retail business and merchants that use its logistics and delivery system over other sellers.
The investigations are part of the bloc’s wider efforts to curb the power of big technology companies.
Amazon said that while it disagreed with several of the conclusions, it has “engaged constructively with the commission to address their concerns and preserve our ability to serve European customers and the more than 185,000 European small- and medium-sized businesses selling through our stores.”
The company also said it has “serious concerns” about new EU digital regulations, known as the Digital Markets Act, that it said are “unfairly targeting Amazon and a few other U.S. companies.” The act, part of the EU’s overhaul of its digital rulebook, aims to rein in the power of tech giants and make them treat smaller rivals fairly under threat of hefty fines.
Under the commission’s investigation, Amazon had faced a possible fine of up to 10% of its annual worldwide revenue, which could have amounted to billions of dollars.
Britain’s competition watchdog opened a similar probe into Amazon last week, looking into concerns that the online retailer is abusing its dominance to undermine rivals.
The EU commission suspected Amazon of distorting competition by accessing and analyzing real-time data from independent vendors selling goods on its platform to help decide which new products of its own to launch and how to price and market them.
To address the problem, Amazon has promised to refrain from using “non-public data” from the vendors’ activities to compete with them through its own sales of branded goods or “private label” products.
To settle the second investigation, Amazon also committed to allowing sellers on its Prime membership service to use any logistics and delivery company of their choosing and to set “non-discriminatory” criteria for who gets chosen to sell on Prime.
The company also promised to give equal treatment to all sellers when ranking their product offers for the site’s “buy box,” which lets shoppers add items directly to their shopping baskets. The box features a single seller’s product even though multiple merchants might offer the item, so Amazon also is promising to show a second, competing offer to give consumers more choice.
If accepted, Amazon’s commitments would remain in force for five years. The commission is receiving feedback on the proposals until Sept. 9. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/business/ap-business/amazon-offers-concessions-to-head-off-eu-antitrust-case/ | 2022-07-14T14:06:47Z | https://www.wdtn.com/news/business/ap-business/amazon-offers-concessions-to-head-off-eu-antitrust-case/ | true |
Receives top accolades by Selling Power for third year in a row
BURLINGTON, Mass., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuance® Communications, Inc. announced today it was named one of Selling Power magazine's "50 Best Companies to Sell For." This is the third consecutive year Nuance has received this distinction. Selling Power evaluates companies worldwide on sales culture and the sales organization, with a focus on excellence in compensation and benefits, hiring, sales training, and enablement strategies, as well as diversity and inclusion.
"We have an elite sales force that is fiercely committed to delivering state-of-the-art conversational AI and ambient intelligence solutions that drive real-world outcomes for our customers and partners around the world," said Robert Dahdah, Chief Revenue Officer, Nuance. "Empowering our sales force and investing in their ongoing success – whether through training, mentorship, competitive incentives, or new tools, resources, and streamlined processes – is a top priority."
Nuance is committed to supporting its employees by offering competitive benefits and programs, professional development and education opportunities, as well as employee resource groups, flexible work schedules, and paid volunteer time off. The company takes great pride in the selling culture and in taking care of employees to provide an optimal work and selling experience.
"As companies are facing economic headwinds sales organizations are sharpening their focus on sales talent. The Best Companies to Sell For have mastered the alignment of people, processes, and technologies and created a sales organization that excels in hiring, onboarding, training, and compensation of their sales representatives. What attracts salespeople to work for these leading organizations is their great culture, their commitment to diversity, and their steady support of the sales team by servant leadership that focuses on creating customer value and a meaningful work environment that offers unlimited opportunities to win," said Gerhard Gschwandtner, founder and CEO of Selling Power.
Nuance is honored to again be recognized by Selling Power as a "Best Company to Sell For." This distinction is the latest in a growing collection of employer choice awards Nuance has recently received, including the Montreal's Top Employers for 2022 list, Forbes America's Best Workplaces for 2022 list, the 2022 Top Workplaces USA list, a 2022 Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the HRC Foundation, the 2022 #1 Best Place to Work in Boston by Built In Boston, a 2021 Top Place to Work by The Boston Globe, Seramount's 2021 100 Best Companies and Best Companies for Dads, Best Places to Work for Moms, Best Places to Work for Dads, and Best Places for Parents Working Remotely.
To learn more about Nuance and the career opportunities offered, visit nuance.com/about-us/careers.
Nuance Communications is a technology pioneer with market leadership in conversational AI and ambient intelligence. A full-service partner trusted by 77 percent of U.S. hospitals and 85 percent of the Fortune 100 companies worldwide, Nuance creates intuitive solutions that amplify people's ability to help others. Nuance is a Microsoft company.
Media Contact
Nuance Communications
Nancy Scott
Tel: 781-565-4130
Nancy.Scott@nuance.com
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SOURCE Nuance Communications, Inc. | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/nuance-named-2022-best-company-sell/ | 2022-07-14T14:08:20Z | https://www.ktre.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/nuance-named-2022-best-company-sell/ | false |
Egg Harbor Township NJ Cops Look to Identify Two People
It seems like when the hot weather comes out, so do the suspicious characters.
Police in Egg Harbor Township are looking to identify a couple of people, seemingly involved in separate incidents.
First up, police are looking to identify the man - pictured directly below - in relation to an ongoing investigation. If you're able to provide identification of this person, you're urged to call the Egg Harbor Township Detective Bureau at (609) 926-4051. You can also send an email to cid@ehtpd.com.
In the other incident, police are looking to identify the person pictured below, near the vehicles. Again, EHT Police aren't saying what this person may have done - only that they would like to speak with him or her. Again, if you can help, you can contact the Egg Harbor Township Detective Bureau at (609) 926-4051. You can also send an email to cid@ehtpd.com.
SOURCE: Egg Harbor Township Police Department. | https://catcountry1073.com/egg-harbor-township-nj-cops-look-to-identify-two-people/ | 2022-07-14T14:09:22Z | https://catcountry1073.com/egg-harbor-township-nj-cops-look-to-identify-two-people/ | true |
LONDON (AP) — London’s Metropolitan Police Service has opened an investigation into four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah’s revealed that he was trafficked to the U.K. as a child.
The inquiry comes after Farah, 39, said in a documentary that a woman he didn’t know brought him to the U.K. when he was about 8 years old and forced him to care for her children. He said he wasn’t allowed to go to school until he was 12.
In the documentary, produced by the BBC and Red Bull Studios, Farah said his real name is Hussein Abdi Kahin. He said he was brought to Britain using fake travel documents that included his picture alongside the name Mohammed Farah, the name under which he won four Olympic gold medals and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
“We are aware of reports in the media concerning Sir Mo Farah. No reports have been made to the MPS at this time,’’ the police department said in a statement. “Specialist officers have opened an investigation and are currently assessing the available information.”
Farah previously said he moved to Britain with his parents as a refugee from Somalia. But in the documentary, he said his parents never came to the U.K.
His father was killed by gunfire during unrest in Somalia when Farah was 4, according to the film. His mother and two brothers live on the family farm in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia that is not internationally recognized.
Farah said in the documentary that physical education teacher Alan Watkinson helped him obtain U.K. citizenship under the name Mohamed Farah.
The British government has said it won’t take action against Farah for any potential violation of immigration laws.
Farah said he was proud to have represented Britain as an athlete but that his “proudest achievement will always be being a husband and father to my amazing family.″
“I did this documentary for them, so they could understand more about the experiences that led us to becoming the family we are today,″ he said in a social media post. “Not every child will have the easiest start in life, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go on to achieve their dreams.″ | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/uk-police-open-inquiry-into-farah-trafficking-revelations/ | 2022-07-14T14:10:10Z | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/uk-police-open-inquiry-into-farah-trafficking-revelations/ | true |
CAIRO (AP) — The U.S. Embassy in Libya voiced concern on Thursday over the struggle for control of Libya’s oil corporation after its chairman was sacked by one of Libya’s two rival governments.
The embassy tweeted that U.S. officials are following the developments with “deep concern.” It added that The National Oil Corporation has preserved its political independence and worked effectively under Chairman Mustafa Sanalla, in a sign of U.S. support for him.
That came a day after the Tripoli-based government of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah announced Sanallah’s dismissal and the appointment of Farhat Bengdara, a former governor of Libya’s central bank as the country’s new oil chief. Dbeibah also announced the appointment of a four-member commission to oversee the handover. It came as Sanallah and his board were out of the office celebrating Eid El Adha holidays.
Sanallah has refused to leave office, arguing in a televised speech that Dbeibah’s government lacked legitimacy.
“The reported replacement of the NOC board may be contested in court but must not become the subject of armed confrontation,” said the U.S. Embassy.
Earlier on Thursday, the NOC issued a statement saying that military vehicles belonging to a Dbeibah-allied militia have been stationed inside its premises. The NOC statement said it would hold Dbeibah responsible for any attempt to disrupt their work.
In a video circulated on the social media, NOC staff appeared to rally at the entrance of the NOC building to prevent members of the Dbeibah-appointed commission from stepping in. However later on, Dbeibah’s government announced that both the commission and the new oil chief had walked into the building and took over.
The North African country has been wrecked by conflict since the NATO-backed uprising-turned-civil war toppled and later killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. For many years, Libya has been divided between two administrations one in the east and another in the west, each backed by foreign governments and local militias.
The country’s prized light crude has long been a feature of Libya’s civil war, with rival militias and foreign powers jostling for control of Africa’s largest oil reserves.
In its statement, the U.S. embassy called on all parties to restore oil and gas production in order to address electricity shortages and for a “transparent” mechanism for the management and oversight of oil revenues.
In recent months, tribal leaders have shut down crucial oil facilities, including the country’s largest oil field in the south. The blockage was likely meant to deprive Dbeibah’s government of funds and empower his rival, Fathi Bashagha, who was appointed as prime minister by the east-based parliament in February.
The shutdown has exacerbated the country’s electricity shortages and sparked protests across the country, including one that resulted in the storming of the east-based parliamentary headquarters in Tobruk.
Libya’s lawmakers insist that Dbeibah’s mandate expired last year after his failure to hold general elections in December as dictated by a UN-brokered roadmap.
In recent months, the UN has sponsored several rounds of talks between the country’s two rival legislative bodies to agree on a constitutional mechanism to hold elections — without results. | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/us-embassy-alarmed-by-power-struggle-at-libyas-oil-company/ | 2022-07-14T14:10:31Z | https://www.wdtn.com/news/u-s-world/ap-international/us-embassy-alarmed-by-power-struggle-at-libyas-oil-company/ | true |
Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 14 July 2022
Source: kasapafmonline.com
The investigator in the case in which Daniel Asiedu has been charged with murder, Chief Inspector Augustus Nkrumah has tendered in evidence a catapult, knife, and other implements allegedly found at the crime scene.
The late J.B. Danquah Adu, then Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North Constituency was killed in his residence at Shiashie.
Daniel Asiedu, alias Sexy Don Don who has been charged with the offence has pleaded not guilty.
He is also facing a separate charge of robbery while together with Vincent Bosso (2nd Accused) are facing the charge of conspiracy to rob which they have both denied.
In court, on Thursday, July 14, 2022, the investigator was led by Mrs. Sefakor Batse, a Senior State Attorney to give further Evidence-in-Chief tendered in those exhibits.
Chief Inspector Nkrumah, the eighth Prosecution Witness (PW8) in the ongoing trial said, the catapult was “retrieved in the bedroom of the deceased.”
“I also have in my hands a cutter which was also retrieved from the bedroom of the deceased,” the investigator told the court.
He also tendered in a pair of slippers which were found behind the flower pot in the house of the deceased.
“I have in my hand a pair of slippers which the first accused identifies to be his.”
The witness told the court that, the girlfriend of the first accused (Asiedu) told the police that, the first accused gave her a blacksmith knife to wash for him on the day he returned home.
He also said the police conducted a search in the room of the first accused at Agbogbloshie as part of their investigations during which the said knife was identified by Janet (girlfriend) as the blood-stained knife she washed that day.
“I have in my hand a knife which was retrieved in the bedroom of the first accused.”
Mobile phones
The investigator also told the court that, three mobile phones belonging to the deceased were handed over to him by the investigator.
While identifying the phones, he explained how they were retrieved.
“I have in my hands three (3) mobile phones – Two (2) iPhones and one (1) Samsung. The three mobile phones were handed over to the investigations team by the Accra Regional Office and according to them, the 2 iPhones were given to them by a witness in this case by name Ernest Korankye (PW3) as having been given to him by the first accused person.
“The Samsung mobile phone was returned from the first accused person as part of the investigation."
He said, during investigations, the first accused admitted to the investigations team that he collected the 3 mobile phones from the deceased’s home.
He also tendered in evidence the post-mortem examination and photos that were taken from the crime scene.
The court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo has adjourned the case to July 18 for continuation. | https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/J-B-Danquah-s-killer-s-trial-Catapult-knife-mobile-phones-tendered-in-court-1582322 | 2022-07-14T14:11:06Z | https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/J-B-Danquah-s-killer-s-trial-Catapult-knife-mobile-phones-tendered-in-court-1582322 | true |
A look at what’s happening around baseball today:
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10 DOWN FOR TORONTO
The Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.
Manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday the club will be without hitters Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Dozier, Cam Gallagher, Kyle Isbel, MJ Melendez, Whit Merrifield and Michael A. Taylor along with pitchers Dylan Coleman, Brad Keller and Brady Singer.
The team is set to play four games in Toronto. The 10 players will be placed on the restricted list and forfeit four days of pay and major league service time in accordance with the terms of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement.
“It’s an individual choice,” Matheny said. “The organization’s done a real good job bringing in professionals and experts to talk guys through tough conversations and then put it in their hands to make the decisions they believe is best for them and their families.”
Kansas City will face the Blue Jays a day after fourth-place Toronto fired manager Charlie Montoyo and promoted bench coach John Schneider to interim manager for the rest of the season.
ALL-STAR SHOWDOWN
Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes (7-4, 2.20 ERA) will face Giants lefty Carlos Rodón (8-5, 2.70) in San Francisco before the pair team up on the NL All-Star roster next week.
It’ll be the last start for both pitchers before the Midsummer Classic. Burnes leads the NL with 134 strikeouts and Rodón is third with 124. Both are All-Stars for the second straight season.
Giants third baseman Evan Longoria is expected to begin a rehab assignment as early as Thursday as he works back from a left oblique strain. There is a chance he could return before the All-Star break.
“I think there’s a possibility for the weekend,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “I think we want to make sure that door stays open.”
FOR ALL TO SEE
Reds right-hander Luis Castillo (3-4, 2.92 ERA) is on the mound in a potentially important audition for contending teams when he faces fellow All-Star Nestor Cortes (7-3, 2.74) at Yankee Stadium.
Cincinnati figures to be a seller at the trade deadline, and Castillo is a prime target for teams in need of starting pitching. He’s coming off seven innings of one-run ball against Tampa Bay.
ELEVENTH HEAVEN
Marco Gonzales (5-9, 3.24 ERA) and the Seattle Mariners go for their 11th consecutive victory when they face All-Star lefty Martín Pérez (7-2, 2.72) and the Rangers in the opener of a four-game series at Texas.
After sweeping a doubleheader Wednesday in Washington, the Mariners have won 10 straight for the first time since April 2002. Their only longer winning streak was a 15-game run from May 23 to June 8, 2001 — the last year they made the playoffs.
Jesse Winker homered in both ends of the twinbill for Seattle, his first games since serving a six-game suspension for his role in a brawl with the Angels on June 26. Paul Sewald saved both games.
ANIBAL’S BACK
Nationals right-hander Anibal Sanchez will make his season debut in a home start against Atlanta and right-hander Kyle Wright (10-4, 2.97 ERA).
Wright is hoping to turn around his luck against Washington in the opener of a four-game set between the NL East foes. Wright is 2-1 with a 6.27 ERA in five career games, including three starts, against the Nats.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.wdtn.com/sports/ap-sports/leading-off-royals-down-10-unvaccinated-players-in-toronto/ | 2022-07-14T14:11:40Z | https://www.wdtn.com/sports/ap-sports/leading-off-royals-down-10-unvaccinated-players-in-toronto/ | true |
Highlights Company's Innovations and System Enhancements Utilizing Analytics, Machine Learning and Other AWS Tech at Scale
-- Black Knight has been leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) for several years to develop innovative real estate and mortgage solutions, while also increasing the scalability, speed, and functionality of its flagship offerings
-- Currently using more than 60 AWS capabilities, Black Knight's AWS investment empowers its velocity of innovation, bringing operational products to market quickly
-- Given its mission-critical role in one of the largest financial services verticals, Black Knight's approach to cloud technology is to "meet the client where they are" as opposed to forcing change
-- Black Knight onboards cloud-based innovations to avoid client disruption while consistently delivering massive computational power, storage and throughput; machine learning; and analytical insights at scale using AWS
-- The keynote address detailed specific AWS technologies, their use cases as part of Black Knight's overall cloud strategy and how the company helps "make home ownership possible"
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI), a premier provider of integrated technology, data and analytics for lenders and servicers, announced that Chief Information Technology Officer James Iredale participated in the keynote presentation at the AWS Summit Atlanta. In his remarks, Iredale highlighted how the company leveraged AWS offerings for the last four years to drive technological innovation in the real estate and mortgage industries. Thousands of technologists across multiple industries gathered in Atlanta at the Summit to discuss how AWS helps companies like Black Knight innovate quickly and deliver flexible, reliable solutions at scale.
During the keynote, Iredale outlined how Black Knight employs AWS capabilities to create solutions across the mortgage life cycle. From engagement tools at the front end of the process – when a prospective homebuyer begins looking for a home and exploring financing options – to origination, underwriting and funding through the entire long-term customer relationship of mortgage servicing, AWS enables Black Knight to achieve a velocity of innovation rarely seen in the financial services industry.
"At Black Knight, we're helping make homeownership possible by building and operating the underlying mortgage software used by some of the largest financial institutions in America," said Iredale in his remarks. "Our mission is clear: to make the mortgage process easier, faster and more intuitive – not only for our clients, but for the American consumer, as well. But at the same time, we also have to meet our clients' very customized needs around quite complex operations. To that end, we have been working with AWS over the past four years, using analytics, machine learning and other AWS technologies to digitalize the mortgage process from end to end."
"Developing with AWS lets us easily scale up solutions in the cloud and move with increased agility as old waterfall development practices with high manual touch get replaced by lean development practices and automation in development operations and testing practices," Iredale continued. "This allows us to meet our clients where they are with regard to cloud technology as opposed to forcing wholesale change. It also means we are able to future-proof our technology with much greater ease."
According to John Kain, AWS Worldwide Head of FSI Market Development, "Black Knight is creating the next- generation mortgage process, and we have enjoyed working with them as part of their ongoing focus on delivering innovative solutions that address the needs of the mortgage industry. By leveraging AWS and machine learning, they enable their clients to provide the fast, digital experience that consumers are used to in other industries."
To learn more about Black Knight's cloud-based innovations through AWS, view Iredale's keynote address.
Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively.
Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serving their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com/.
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SOURCE Black Knight, Inc. | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/black-knight-chief-information-technology-officer-james-iredale-participates-keynote-aws-summit-atlanta/ | 2022-07-14T14:12:37Z | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/black-knight-chief-information-technology-officer-james-iredale-participates-keynote-aws-summit-atlanta/ | true |
Lord Frost launches extraordinary salvo at Penny Mordaunt after Tory leadership surge saying she was not 'tough' in talks with the EU and he told the PM to sack her
Lord Frost spearheaded an assault on new bookies' favourite for the Tory leadership Penny Mordaunt today.
The former Brexit minister warned the trade minister is not 'tough' enough to take on the EU and had not 'mastered the detail' when she deputised for him during negotiations.
He also revealed that he was 'surprised' she is riding so high in the race for No10 because he had been forced to ask Boris Johnson to shift her to another role.
The intervention came as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tries to regain the upper hand over Ms Mordaunt, who came a shock second in the first ballot of MPs yesterday.
Polls have also suggested she could win the top job by defeating any potential rivals in a head-to-head vote by Tory members.
But Ms Mordaunt's new status is bringing intense scrutiny and she is already facing questions, including on whether she had changed her 'woke' views on trans rights in order to win support.
Former Brexit minister Lord Frost told TalkTV he was 'surprised she is where she is in this leadership race.'
'I have worked with Penny… She was my deputy, notionally more than really in the Brexit talks last year,' he said.
'I'm sorry to say this, that I felt she did not master the detail that was necessary in the negotiations last year.
Lord Frost saying he asked for Penny Mordaunt to be sacked as his Brexit deputy and has 'grave reservations'
Ms Mordaunt came a shock second in the first ballot of MPs yesterday
Treasury minister Simon Clarke pointed to Lord Frost's 'serious' warning and said the party needed a leader who had been 'tested'
'She wouldn't always deliver tough messages to the European Union when that was necessary. And I'm afraid she wasn't sort of fully accountable.
'She wasn't always visible. Sometimes I didn't even know where she was. And I'm afraid this became such a problem that after six months, I had to ask the Prime Minister to move her on and find somebody else to support me.'
Lord Frost said a PM needed to be 'tough' and 'able to lead', adding: 'I'm talking only about my own experience with her, but on the basis of what I saw, I'm afraid I would have grave reservations about that.'
One campaign source told MailOnline: 'Just because Penny voted for Brexit doesn't mean she can be trusted to deliver it. Her delivery record post-Brexit is incredibly underwhelming - can she be trusted to get things done?'
Treasury minister Simon Clarke pointed to Lord Frost's 'serious' warning and said the party needed a leader who had been 'tested'.
Another ally of Ms Truss accused Ms Mordaunt of 'telling lies' over her views about gender issues. 'She is turning up at hustings claiming she never pushed trans rights when she was equalities minister when there are people in government who know that is not true,' said the ally.
A YouGov poll found the run-off margin for Penny Mordaunt against Rishi Sunak could be 67 per cent to 28 per cent, while the former Chancellor could lose 59 per cent to 25 per cent against Liz Truss
'She is telling lies and if she gets in she will revert to type and split the party.'
However, Ms Truss said at her launch: 'I certainly won't be making any disparaging comments about my fellow candidates in the race.'
David Davis accused the Foreign Secretary of deploying the 'dark arts', while a source close to Ms Mordaunt told MailOnline: 'Penny has nothing but respect for Lord Frost. He did a huge amount to assist our negotiations until he resigned from Government.
'Penny will always fight for Brexit and always has.' | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11013823/Lord-Frost-launches-extraordinary-salvo-Penny-Mordaunt.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | 2022-07-14T14:13:48Z | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11013823/Lord-Frost-launches-extraordinary-salvo-Penny-Mordaunt.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 | true |
Suella Braverman knocked out of Conservative leadership race in second round of voting
Thursday 14 July 2022 15:08, UK
Suella Braverman has been knocked out of the Conservative leadership race in the second round of voting.
Ms Braverman received 27 votes from Tory MPs, five fewer than she got yesterday.
The five remaining hopefuls will progress to the third round on Monday, having received the following votes:
There will be successive rounds of voting by Tory MPs until only two contenders remain.
In the first vote yesterday Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, and Nadhim Zahawi, the newly appointed chancellor, were eliminated from the contest.
They both fell short of the 30 votes needed to move to the next round, with Mr Zahawi receiving 25 and Mr Hunt 18.
The final stage is expected to be reached by the end of next week at the latest, leaving the final pair to carry out hustings over the summer and face a vote from the wider Tory party membership - with a result announced on 5 September.
The leadership contest was triggered after Boris Johnson announced his resignation last Thursday.
His announcement followed an avalanche of ministerial resignations over his handling of the disgraced MP Chris Pincher, and accusations he had lied about what he knew of the former deputy chief whip's inappropriate behaviour.
Mr Johnson remains in Number 10 as a caretaker prime minister while the contest is carried out.
Sky News is hosting a live TV debate with the contenders vying to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and therefore prime minister, and you could be in the virtual audience.
The debate will take place on Monday 18 July hosted by Sky News presenter Kay Burley.
If you would like to be a member of the virtual audience and be in with a chance of asking a question, please email NewsDebates@sky.uk. | https://news.sky.com/story/suella-braverman-knocked-out-of-conservative-leadership-race-in-second-round-of-voting-12651874 | 2022-07-14T14:15:41Z | https://news.sky.com/story/suella-braverman-knocked-out-of-conservative-leadership-race-in-second-round-of-voting-12651874 | true |
CHARLESTON, S.C., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bank of South Carolina Corporation (NASDAQ: BKSC) announced unaudited earnings of $1,542,981, or $0.28 and $0.27 basic and diluted earnings per share, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 – a decrease of $125,703, or 7.5%, from earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 of $1,668,684, or $0.30 and $0.29 basic and diluted earnings per share, respectively. Unaudited earnings for the six months ended June 30, 2022 decreased $471,671 or 13.6%, to $3,007,088 compared to $3,478,759 for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Annualized returns on average assets and average equity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were 0.90% and 12.57%, respectively, compared with June 30, 2021 annualized returns on average assets and average equity of 1.27% and 12.80%, respectively.
In its May 2022 issue, American Banker Magazine ranked Bank of South Carolina Corporation 68th on its annual list of the Top 200 Publicly Traded Community Banks and Thrifts based on three-year average return on equity (Source: Capital Performance Group). The rankings include publicly traded banks and thrifts with total assets less than $2 billion, of which there were 438 institutions that met the criteria for consideration this year.
Fleetwood S. Hassell, President & CEO of the Bank of South Carolina, stated, "Balance sheet growth continues to impact return on assets; however, return on equity remains favorable. Our challenge remains the deployment of excess liquidity into higher-yielding investments. As we await further Federal Reserve actions, we continue to focus on asset quality and control of operating expenses. Margins are improving, and we are optimistic that higher loan interest income will offset any declines in mortgage origination volume. We remain ahead of our profit plan for the first six months and look forward to the second half of the year."
The following table shows the balance sheet and income statement highlights:
About Bank of South Carolina Corporation
The Bank of South Carolina Corporation is the holding company of The Bank of South Carolina ("The Bank"). The Bank is a South Carolina state-chartered bank with offices in Charleston, North Charleston, Summerville, Mt. Pleasant, and the West Ashley community and has been in continuous operation since 1987. A sixth office at 1730 Maybank Highway on James Island is anticipated to open in the second quarter of 2023. Our website is www.banksc.com. Bank of South Carolina Corporation currently trades its common stock on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol "BKSC".
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The accelerator program supports early stage women founders working in any industry.
HOUSTON, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DivInc, the premier startup accelerator for people of color and women entrepreneurs, is proud to announce the launch of its first Women in Tech Accelerator made possible through Houston title sponsor, SheSpace.
DivInc's Fall 2022 Women in Tech Accelerator fueled by SheSpace supports women-led startups approaching industry challenges in innovative ways. The program is designed to address the challenges unique to female founders, including dependent care, in addition to providing the access to capital, mentors/advisors, and networks that DivInc programming is known for.
"Women-led companies are vastly underfunded by venture capital. This is a huge inequity, but it is also a huge missed opportunity for the VC community. Private technology companies led by women are more capital-efficient, achieving 35% higher ROI, and, when venture-backed, 12% higher revenue than startups run by men, according to the Kauffman Foundation," said Preston L. James II, DivInc Co-Founder and CEO. "DivInc is dedicated to creating the spaces and providing the resources women founders need to thrive. It's good for women founders and for the ecosystem as a whole."
DivInc's collaboration with SheSpace and women leaders in the Houston area will be the key to the long term success of this accelerator program and its founders.
"SheSpace leapt at the chance to partner with DivInc's Women in Tech Accelerator as women tenaciously look for responses to the systemic and unfortunate track record of underfunded women entrepreneurs and founders. No meaningful change can occur unless the people who are affected are part of the solution. Now is time to give the abundance of women with talent and potential surrounding us a head start in the founder ecosystem. This needs to be done by women who have already navigated it" said Stephanie Tsuru, Founder of SheSpace." "SheSpace is where forward-thinking females gather to embrace the power, persistence, and passion of working women. It is time to widen our net, and this accelerator is a good place to start."
Throughout the accelerator, SheSpace will work with the DivInc team on programming and thought leadership initiatives.
In total, 10 companies will be accepted to the 12-week program which will run from September through December 2022 and will be hosted at SheSpace and The Ion. Upon completion of the program, each participating company will receive $10,000 non-dilutive seed funding provided by SheSpace.
The Fall 2022 Women in Tech Accelerator fueled by SheSpace is also supported by Houston premier partners, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Verizon, The Ion, and Mercury.
Learn more at www.divinc.org/women-in-tech
DivInc is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to generate social and economic equity through entrepreneurship by equipping underrepresented founders with access to the critical resources they need to build investable companies. Founded in Austin in 2016, DivInc has supported 87 companies and over 100 founders. Learn more at www.divinc.org.
SheSpace is Houston's premier female-focused co-working space. Their mission is to create clear pathways for bold, unapologetic women to accomplish both professional and personal goals while surrounded by like-minded women. SheSpace provides physical space such as offices, work desks, meeting rooms and event spaces so women can focus on productivity and success while minimizing stress and wasted time. But what makes SheSpace unique is the supportive, inclusive culture and educational programming. Their focus is providing an incomparable, inspirational work, meeting, educational and networking experience in a place built for women by women. Learn more at www.shespacehtx.com.
Media Contact:
Cherise Luter
Marketing Director, DivInc
cherise@divinc.org
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SOURCE DivInc | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/divinc-houston-launches-inaugural-women-tech-accelerator-with-title-sponsor-shespace/ | 2022-07-14T14:15:54Z | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/divinc-houston-launches-inaugural-women-tech-accelerator-with-title-sponsor-shespace/ | false |
SEATTLE, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JND Legal Administration announces a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against Defendants Theranos, Inc., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Walgreen Arizona Drug Company (together called "Walgreens"), Elizabeth Holmes, and Ramesh Balwani (collectively, "Defendants"). The lawsuit is called In re Arizona Theranos, Inc., Litigation, Case No. 2:16-cv-2138-DGC.
This notice does not imply that there has been any violation of law or wrongdoing by Defendants or that there will be recovery after trial. Defendants contend that they did not do anything wrong, and they are not liable for any harm alleged by the Plaintiffs. There is no money available now, and there is no guarantee that there will be. Even if money does become available, you will not be allowed to recover for any amounts that Defendants have already paid you. However, your legal rights may be affected, and you may have a choice to make now.
What is this lawsuit about? The claims in the lawsuit arise out of Theranos blood testing services offered in Walgreens and Theranos stores. The lawsuit claims, among other things, that these blood testing services were not capable of producing reliable results, that the Defendants concealed the blood testing services' unreliability, that Walgreens knew that the blood testing services were unreliable and not market-ready, that the Defendants conspired to commit fraud on consumers, that Theranos's "tiny" blood testing technology (blood drawn with fingerpricks) was still in development, and that the customers who were subject to "tiny" Theranos blood draws by Walgreens employees gave their consent to those blood draws under false pretenses.
The Defendants deny these claims. Walgreens maintains it did not know that Theranos's blood testing services "were unreliable and not market-ready," and that it therefore did not conspire to commit fraud on consumers. Walgreens further maintains that it was, in fact, a victim of Theranos's fraud. Holmes and Balwani, on the other hand, contend that Theranos's test results were generally accurate and reliable, and that consumers were neither deceived nor injured. Defendants also assert that most class members have already been fully reimbursed for amounts paid for the tests through the Arizona Attorney General Consent Decree or otherwise, and so no other recovery is necessary or available to those class members. Plaintiffs claim that some class members have not been refunded or fully refunded for the tests and that other damages, beyond refunds for the tests, are due to class members.
The Court has not decided whether the Defendants have done anything wrong. That will not happen until the trial. The Court appointed two law firms―Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Keller Rohrback LLP―as "Class Counsel" to represent the Class and Subclasses.
This lawsuit does not seek damages or other relief for personal injury, emotional distress, retesting costs, or medical care costs. If you wish to pursue any of that relief, you need to exclude yourself ("opt out") from this lawsuit.
More information about the claims in this case can be found in the operative Second Amended Complaint and in other key case documents which may be viewed at www.TheranosLawsuit.com.
Am I part of the Class? The Court has certified a Class and three Subclasses. You are in the Class and/or the Subclasses if you fit within the definition(s) below:
Class: All purchasers of Theranos testing services, including consumers who paid out-of-pocket, through health insurance, or through any other collateral source between November 2013 and June 2016.
Arizona Subclass: All purchasers of Theranos testing services in Arizona between November 2013 and June 2016.
California Subclass: All purchasers of Theranos testing services in California, between September 2013 and June 2016.
Walgreens Edison Subclass: All purchasers of Theranos testing services who were subjected to "tiny" blood draws (fingerpricks) by a Walgreens employee between November 2013 and March 2015.
What are my options? If you are a class member, you have the option to do nothing or exclude yourself.
Do Nothing: If you do nothing, you remain a member of the Class and/or Subclasses, and are therefore bound by the outcome of the lawsuit regardless of who wins.
If Defendants are found liable, you may get money or benefits that may come from the lawsuit.
If Defendants are not found liable, you will receive no benefits, you give up any right to sue Defendants on your own about the same legal claims in this lawsuit, and will be bound by the result of this lawsuit.
Exclude Yourself ("Opt Out"): If you ask to be excluded from this lawsuit, and money or benefits are later awarded, you will not share in the money or benefits. If you ask to be excluded from this lawsuit, you will keep your right to hire your own lawyer to sue Defendants on your own about the same legal claims in this lawsuit.
If you ask to be excluded, you will not be bound by the results of any trial of the Class Action, and also not entitled to any damages (money or benefits), if any, that are later awarded. The deadline to request exclusion is SEPTEMBER 12, 2022.
For details about your rights and options and how to exclude yourself, go to www.TheranosLawsuit.com.
When is the trial? The Court has not yet scheduled the trial in this case, but it is expected that the trial will occur in 2023, and will take place in the United States District Court Courthouse, 401 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Once the trial is scheduled, the date and location will be posted on www.TheranosLawsuit.com. You do not need to attend any trial. Class Counsel will present the case for the Plaintiffs and the Class and Subclasses, and lawyers for Defendants will present on their behalf. If there is a trial, you or your own lawyer is welcome to attend at your own expense.
How do I get more information? For additional information, to review key case documents, and to register for case updates, visit www.TheranosLawsuit.com. You can also get more information by calling the Administrator toll-free at 1-866-615-0978, contacting Class Counsel (for their contact information visit www.TheranosLawsuit.com), or writing the Administrator via email at info@TheranosLawsuit.com or by mail at: In re Arizona Theranos, Inc., Litigation, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91214, Seattle, WA 98111.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT REGARDING THIS NOTICE.
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– Company shares to begin trading July 25 under new ticker symbols –
– Subordinate voting shares to be reclassified as common shares –
– Share consolidation not proceeding at this time –
OAKLAND, CALIF., AND TORONTO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Harborside Inc. ("Harborside"", or the "Company") (CSE: HBOR), (OTCQX: HBORF ), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, today announced that it will complete the previously announced name change (the "Name Change") to StateHouse Holdings Inc. ("StateHouse" or the "Company") on July 25, 2022. The Company previously filed articles of amendment to effect these changes.
"This is an important milestone for the Company, which was formed through the business combination of four pioneering California companies," said Ed Schmults, Chief Executive Officer. "As we look to the future, the Name Change to StateHouse reflects our shared journey from activism and advocacy, to the establishment of an enterprise with high standards of quality, consistency and reliability. Separately and now together, we have developed a legitimate industry from the ground up. Today, we begin a new chapter as we continue to build a premier California cannabis company. We believe our fully integrated platform for growth is the finest of any cannabis firm in the state."
The Company also announced today that its subordinate voting shares ("SVS") will be reclassified as common shares ("Common Shares") effective July 25, 2022 (the "Reclassification"), and that its board of directors (the "Board") has elected not to proceed with a share consolidation at this time. The Board has also granted restricted share units ("RSUs") evidencing the right to receive up to an aggregate of 450,000 SVS, subject to the satisfaction of certain vesting conditions, and options to purchase up to an aggregate 4,200,000 SVS to certain members of its management team in order to further align the interests of the Company's management and shareholders. The options are exercisable at a price of C$0.37 per SVS for a period of five years from the date of grant, with one quarter of the total number of options granted vesting on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversary of the date of grant.
NAME CHANGE
The Company will be officially renamed StateHouse on July 25, 2022. The new corporate website statehouseholdings.com will launch on that date with additional information about the Company and its go-forward strategy. Harborside's archived corporate information, including financial results and news releases, will also be available on the StateHouse site.
Effective upon the market open on July 25, 2022, the stock will trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the new ticker symbol "STHZ.". The Name Change was overwhelmingly approved by shareholders of the Company at a special meeting (the "Meeting") held on February 22, 2022.
SHARE RECLASSIFICATION
The Company's SVS will be reclassified as Common Shares, effective July 25, 2022. The Reclassification is attributable to the mandatory conversion of Harborside multiple voting shares into SVS (the "Mandatory Conversion"), which was completed on March 31, 2022. Due to the Mandatory Conversion, there is now just a single class of StateHouse shares and no need for a designation other than Common Shares to describe such shares outstanding.
"We are very pleased with the changes to the Company's equity capitalization that have now resulted in a 'one share - one vote' structure," added Mr. Schmults. "This streamlined structure is part of a broader strategy designed to create a company that treats all shareholders equally, attracts institutional investors, and reflects our goal of being the premier investment vehicle in the California cannabis industry."
The Reclassification was overwhelmingly approved by shareholders of the Company at the annual and special meeting of the Company held on June 23, 2022. The Company's new CUSIP number for its Common Shares will be 85754G301 and its new ISIN number will be CA85754G3017 upon completion of the Name Change and the Reclassification.
All registered holders of SVS (being a shareholder who holds their SVS directly, registered in their own name), are asked to forward, by personal delivery or by registered mail, any physical share certificate(s) representing their existing SVS to the Company's registrar and transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company, at 702-67 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1J8, Attention: Securities, along with a letter requesting for such physical share certificate(s) to be updated to reflect the new CUSIPs for the securities of the Company resulting from the Reclassification. Shareholders who hold their securities through a broker, investment dealer, bank or trust company should contact that nominee or intermediary for assistance in depositing their securities in connection with the Reclassification.
SHARE CONSOLIDATION
After careful consideration, the Board has elected not to proceed with the consolidation of its issued and outstanding SVS (the "Consolidation") on a six-for-one basis at this time. The Consolidation was previously approved by shareholders at the Meeting. The Board will continue to monitor market conditions carefully and could proceed with the Consolidation at a later date if it determines that such a decision is in the best interests of shareholders. Depending on the timing of the implementation of such Consolidation, shareholder approval may be required in order to effect the Consolidation.
About Harborside (to be renamed StateHouse)
Harborside, a vertically integrated enterprise with cannabis licenses covering retail, major brands, distribution, cultivation, nursery and manufacturing, is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis companies in California. Founded in 2006, Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Today, the Company operates 14 dispensaries covering Northern and Southern California and one in Oregon, distribution facilities in San Jose and Los Angeles, California and integrated cultivation/production facilities in Salinas and Greenfield, California. Harborside is a publicly listed company, currently trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the ticker symbol "HBOR" and the OTCQX under the ticker symbol "HBORF". The Company continues to play an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California and Oregon consumers.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements include, among other things: the ability to complete the Name Change and the Reclassification within anticipated timeframes, if at all; the timing of trading of the Common Shares under the StateHouse name following the Name Change and Reclassification within anticipated timeframes; the impact of the Name Change and Reclassification on the Company; the ability to complete the Consolidation, if at all; the ability of the Company to build a premier California cannabis company and to establish its integrated platform for growth; the establishment of the Company's new corporate website and the information available on such website; the ability of the Company to capture additional market share; and the ability of the Company to attract institutional investors.
These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the cannabis markets where the Company operates; changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion and acquisitions; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2022 and the Company's annual information form dated December 13, 2021, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
The Company, through several of its subsidiaries, is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale, and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company operates permit such activities however, investors should note that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in the United States. Cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under the US Controlled Substances Act, making it illegal under federal law in the United States to, among other things, cultivate, distribute or possess cannabis in the United States. Financial transactions involving proceeds generated by, or intended to promote, cannabis-related business activities in the United States may form the basis for prosecution under applicable United States federal money laundering legislation.
While the approach to enforcement of such laws by the federal government in the United States has trended toward non-enforcement against individuals and businesses that comply with recreational and medicinal cannabis programs in states where such programs are legal, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under United States federal law, nor will it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. The enforcement of federal laws in the United States is a significant risk to the business of the Company and any proceedings brought against the Company thereunder may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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SOURCE Harborside Inc. | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/harborside-inc-changes-name-statehouse-holdings-inc-honor-its-pioneering-history-reflect-its-future-direction/ | 2022-07-14T14:16:58Z | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/harborside-inc-changes-name-statehouse-holdings-inc-honor-its-pioneering-history-reflect-its-future-direction/ | true |
SEATTLE, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JND Legal Administration announces a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona against Defendants Theranos, Inc., Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and Walgreen Arizona Drug Company (together called "Walgreens"), Elizabeth Holmes, and Ramesh Balwani (collectively, "Defendants"). The lawsuit is called In re Arizona Theranos, Inc., Litigation, Case No. 2:16-cv-2138-DGC.
This notice does not imply that there has been any violation of law or wrongdoing by Defendants or that there will be recovery after trial. Defendants contend that they did not do anything wrong, and they are not liable for any harm alleged by the Plaintiffs. There is no money available now, and there is no guarantee that there will be. Even if money does become available, you will not be allowed to recover for any amounts that Defendants have already paid you. However, your legal rights may be affected, and you may have a choice to make now.
What is this lawsuit about? The claims in the lawsuit arise out of Theranos blood testing services offered in Walgreens and Theranos stores. The lawsuit claims, among other things, that these blood testing services were not capable of producing reliable results, that the Defendants concealed the blood testing services' unreliability, that Walgreens knew that the blood testing services were unreliable and not market-ready, that the Defendants conspired to commit fraud on consumers, that Theranos's "tiny" blood testing technology (blood drawn with fingerpricks) was still in development, and that the customers who were subject to "tiny" Theranos blood draws by Walgreens employees gave their consent to those blood draws under false pretenses.
The Defendants deny these claims. Walgreens maintains it did not know that Theranos's blood testing services "were unreliable and not market-ready," and that it therefore did not conspire to commit fraud on consumers. Walgreens further maintains that it was, in fact, a victim of Theranos's fraud. Holmes and Balwani, on the other hand, contend that Theranos's test results were generally accurate and reliable, and that consumers were neither deceived nor injured. Defendants also assert that most class members have already been fully reimbursed for amounts paid for the tests through the Arizona Attorney General Consent Decree or otherwise, and so no other recovery is necessary or available to those class members. Plaintiffs claim that some class members have not been refunded or fully refunded for the tests and that other damages, beyond refunds for the tests, are due to class members.
The Court has not decided whether the Defendants have done anything wrong. That will not happen until the trial. The Court appointed two law firms―Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Keller Rohrback LLP―as "Class Counsel" to represent the Class and Subclasses.
This lawsuit does not seek damages or other relief for personal injury, emotional distress, retesting costs, or medical care costs. If you wish to pursue any of that relief, you need to exclude yourself ("opt out") from this lawsuit.
More information about the claims in this case can be found in the operative Second Amended Complaint and in other key case documents which may be viewed at www.TheranosLawsuit.com.
Am I part of the Class? The Court has certified a Class and three Subclasses. You are in the Class and/or the Subclasses if you fit within the definition(s) below:
Class: All purchasers of Theranos testing services, including consumers who paid out-of-pocket, through health insurance, or through any other collateral source between November 2013 and June 2016.
Arizona Subclass: All purchasers of Theranos testing services in Arizona between November 2013 and June 2016.
California Subclass: All purchasers of Theranos testing services in California, between September 2013 and June 2016.
Walgreens Edison Subclass: All purchasers of Theranos testing services who were subjected to "tiny" blood draws (fingerpricks) by a Walgreens employee between November 2013 and March 2015.
What are my options? If you are a class member, you have the option to do nothing or exclude yourself.
Do Nothing: If you do nothing, you remain a member of the Class and/or Subclasses, and are therefore bound by the outcome of the lawsuit regardless of who wins.
If Defendants are found liable, you may get money or benefits that may come from the lawsuit.
If Defendants are not found liable, you will receive no benefits, you give up any right to sue Defendants on your own about the same legal claims in this lawsuit, and will be bound by the result of this lawsuit.
Exclude Yourself ("Opt Out"): If you ask to be excluded from this lawsuit, and money or benefits are later awarded, you will not share in the money or benefits. If you ask to be excluded from this lawsuit, you will keep your right to hire your own lawyer to sue Defendants on your own about the same legal claims in this lawsuit.
If you ask to be excluded, you will not be bound by the results of any trial of the Class Action, and also not entitled to any damages (money or benefits), if any, that are later awarded. The deadline to request exclusion is SEPTEMBER 12, 2022.
For details about your rights and options and how to exclude yourself, go to www.TheranosLawsuit.com.
When is the trial? The Court has not yet scheduled the trial in this case, but it is expected that the trial will occur in 2023, and will take place in the United States District Court Courthouse, 401 W. Washington, Phoenix, AZ 85003. Once the trial is scheduled, the date and location will be posted on www.TheranosLawsuit.com. You do not need to attend any trial. Class Counsel will present the case for the Plaintiffs and the Class and Subclasses, and lawyers for Defendants will present on their behalf. If there is a trial, you or your own lawyer is welcome to attend at your own expense.
How do I get more information? For additional information, to review key case documents, and to register for case updates, visit www.TheranosLawsuit.com. You can also get more information by calling the Administrator toll-free at 1-866-615-0978, contacting Class Counsel (for their contact information visit www.TheranosLawsuit.com), or writing the Administrator via email at info@TheranosLawsuit.com or by mail at: In re Arizona Theranos, Inc., Litigation, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91214, Seattle, WA 98111.
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT REGARDING THIS NOTICE.
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SOURCE JND Legal Administration | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/if-you-purchased-theranos-blood-testing-services-including-walgreens-store-class-action-lawsuit-may-affect-your-rights/ | 2022-07-14T14:17:39Z | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/if-you-purchased-theranos-blood-testing-services-including-walgreens-store-class-action-lawsuit-may-affect-your-rights/ | true |
PHOENIX, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leslie's, Inc. ("Leslie's" or "Company") (NASDAQ: LESL), the nation's most trusted brand in the pool and spa care industry, today announced that it opened 11 new stores in Summer 2022, expanding its retail presence across the U.S., including new store locations in markets where Leslie's has not previously operated: Kalamazoo, MI; Camillus, NY; Brookfield, WI; and Greendale, WI. These new stores bring Leslie's total store count to over 970 across 39 states.
Leslie's CEO Mike Egeck, said "Pool care is complex, but no matter a customer's need or location, we deliver a solution. Our growing network of physical stores and digital properties are fully integrated, providing customers with maximum flexibility to shop however, wherever and whenever they want."
The following new store locations opened in Summer 2022:
- Newark, DE
- Kalamazoo, MI
- Camillus, NY
- Syracuse, NY
- Souderton, PA
- Cranston, RI
- Fort Worth, TX
- Richmond, TX
- Chantilly, VA
- Brookfield, WI
- Greendale, WI
Leslie's helps customers spend less time maintaining their pool and more time enjoying it. With the opening of its new locations, Leslie's will continue to make available its knowledgeable team of in-store experts and offer an extensive curated product assortment, as well as free in-store AccuBlue water testing, free in-store pool cleaner inspections and labor, and a free Pool Perks rewards program and nationwide service.
The company employs approximately 4,500 associates across the country during the swimming pool season. Leslie's is currently hiring associates and service technicians nationwide and at each new location. Applications can be submitted online at lesliespool.com/jobs.html.
Founded in 1963, Leslie's is the largest and most trusted pool and spa-care brand in the United States. Leslie's offers its products online and in more than 970 locations conveniently located throughout the U.S., making it the go-to source for residential and professional consumers. With free in-store water tests and treatment plans, free in-store repairs, and our industry-leading Pool Perks rewards program, Leslie's is committed to helping you spend less time maintaining your pool and more time enjoying it.
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GREENSBORO, N.C., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Volvo Trucks North America announced today that is joining forces with Volvo Financial Services, Volvo Technology of America, Shell Recharge Solutions, TEC Equipment, Affinity Truck Center, and Western Truck Center to develop a publicly accessible medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle (MHD EV) charging network that connects several of California's largest metropolitan areas. With an award from the California Energy Commission (CEC) of $2 million under BESTFIT, the Electrified Charging Corridor Project will address key barriers to long-range MHD EV deployments and accelerate widespread adoption. The project will get underway in 2022, with all five stations anticipated to be online by the end of 2023.
"This project will open the door to a truly electrified freight future in which zero-tailpipe emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks are no longer limited to short-mileage, return-to-base operations and can reach far and wide across the state," said Peter Voorhoeve, president, Volvo Trucks North America. "We are excited to begin construction of the Electrified Charging Corridor Project this year in collaboration with these pioneering truck dealerships so that we can further support fleets in successfully integrating battery-electric trucks into their operations, including our Volvo VNR Electric model. With the support of the CEC helping to drive and manifest this project, we will see an accelerated progression with ripple effects across the industry."
"Volvo Financial Services is committed to the development of new solutions and business models to enable innovative fleets to take the leap to zero emissions transportation while minimizing their required investments in private charging infrastructure," added Patrick Shannon, North American president at Volvo Financial Services.
During the next 18 months, the project will deploy high-powered chargers at several existing Volvo Trucks' dealership locations in Central and Northern California, including TEC Equipment Oakland, TEC Equipment Dixon, Western Truck Center in Stockton, and Affinity Truck Centers in Fresno and Bakersfield. They will serve as an extension to chargers already available at the TEC Fontana and TEC La Mirada locations in Southern California. With publicly accessible charging stations strategically located at convenient intervals, fleets utilizing battery-electric trucks will be able to complete zero-tailpipe emissions routes between Southern, Central, and Northern California.
"This investment for an electric truck charging corridor is critical to accelerate customer confidence in today's commercial battery-electric offerings. Shell Recharge Solutions is excited to be a part of this innovative charging infrastructure initiative, which will alleviate range anxiety for electric truck customers traveling throughout Southern, Central, and Northern California," said Matt Androski, chief commercial officer, Shell Recharge Solutions.
The Electrified Charging Corridor Project has the goal of enabling convenient charging for:
- Small business fleets that want to avoid making major financial investments in large-scale charging infrastructure at their site;
- Fleets looking to pilot an electric vehicle through rental and short-term lease opportunities; and
- Fleets that need an OEM-neutral location to "opportunity charge" along their route.
"The Energy Commission is thrilled to support the Electrified Charging Corridor project, which will help California meet its goals for zeroing out tailpipe emissions from trucks. This project will showcase refueling solutions for long-distance, zero-tailpipe emission truck travel, and may stimulate additional investments in similar corridors throughout the state, across the country, and all over the world," said CEC Commissioner Patty Monahan.
The CEC's BESTFIT Innovative Charging Solutions program funds projects that demonstrate transformative technology solutions and work to accelerate the successful commercial deployment of electric vehicle charging for light-, medium-, and heavy-duty applications.
For more information about how Volvo Trucks is pioneering electromobility initiatives, visit the website.
For further information, please contact:
Kyle Zimmerman
Public Relations Manager, Volvo Trucks North America
kyle.zimmerman@volvo.com
(704) 677-9757
High-resolution images associated with this press release and others are available at www.volvomediabank.com.
Volvo Trucks North America, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, is one of the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers in North America. Its Uptime Services commitment is delivered by a network of nearly 400 authorized dealers across North America and the 24/7 Volvo Trucks Uptime Center. Every Volvo truck is assembled in the Volvo Trucks New River Valley manufacturing facility in Dublin, Virginia, which meets the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, 14001 standard for environmental care and holds a dual ISO 50001/Superior Energy Performance certification at the platinum level, indicating a sustained excellence in energy management. Volvo Trucks North America provides complete transport solutions for its customers, offering a full range of diesel, alternative-fuel and all-electric vehicles, and is part of the Volvo Trucks global organization.
Volvo Trucks supplies complete transport solutions for discerning professional customers with its full range of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Customer support is provided via a global network of dealers with 2,200 service points in about 130 countries. Volvo trucks are assembled in 13 countries across the globe. In 2021 approximately 123,000 Volvo trucks were delivered worldwide. Volvo Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. Volvo Trucks' work is based on the core values of quality, safety and environmental care.
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SOURCE Volvo Trucks North America | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/volvo-trucks-constructing-california-electrified-charging-corridor-medium-heavy-duty-electric-vehicles/ | 2022-07-14T14:21:14Z | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/volvo-trucks-constructing-california-electrified-charging-corridor-medium-heavy-duty-electric-vehicles/ | true |
In this lesson, you'll have to be the most powerful of beeps, Boo bo! As your BEE PACK budgit and the magnik Bee-sicles try again theater in İstanbuu is reache a deal…you. This cocoon of lı̻fe’s hard life as long enough to build up some ghe͆st is very importı͌t The purpose that your website visitor might have of calling in, whether you are the owner operator who also knows your small busibes but is too far from it; Or if anyone just needs in order to get out to acquire yourself or you know your client or simply your company at another premisi es is what exactly decisions your decicion, therefore what might the best type from a digital radio system can possibly meet what people require? As most mobile operators these types day provide good signal inside WASHINGTON — Twitter users across the world reported disruptions in service Thursday morning.
The website DownDetector.com, which tracks outage reports submitted by users, indicated a large spike in disruptions starting at about 8:05 a.m. Eastern. By 8:15 a.m., the number of reported issues passed 50,000. After 8:30 a.m. Eastern, those numbers steadily declined.
Around 9 a.m. Eastern, it appeared Twitter's service was back up and running.
The issues had been impacting Twitter's mobile app, website and the TweetDeck app.
On the mobile app, some users were getting a message that "Tweets aren't loading right now. Try again." Some using the desktop site were logged out and then when attempting to log back in were sent to an error page that stated: "Something went wrong, but don’t fret — it’s not your fault. Let’s try again."
There's been no official word yet on what may have caused Thursday's outage.
Internet monitoring group Netblocks, which tracks attempts to intentionally block internet access, says Twitter was “experiencing major international outages” but it was “not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering.”
Thursday's disruption comes as Twitter is settling in for a major legal fight against Elon Musk. Twitter sued Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday, trying to force him to complete his $44 billion takeover of the social media company by accusing him of “outlandish” and “bad faith” actions that have caused the platform irreparable harm and “wreaked havoc” on its stock price.
Back in April, Musk pledged to pay $54.20 a share for Twitter Inc., which agreed to those terms after reversing its initial opposition to the deal. But the two sides have been bracing for a legal fight since the billionaire said Friday that he was backing away from his agreement to buy the company.
Twitter’s lawsuit in Delaware Chancery Court asserts that “Musk refuses to honor his obligations to Twitter and its stockholders because the deal he signed no longer serves his personal interests.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/nation-world/twitter-down-thursday-morning-users-report-widespread-outage/507-f0b81a0c-46d0-472f-b39c-672ad8ecf2ea | 2022-07-14T14:21:38Z | https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/nation-world/twitter-down-thursday-morning-users-report-widespread-outage/507-f0b81a0c-46d0-472f-b39c-672ad8ecf2ea | false |
INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) – If you were having trouble accessing Twitter on Thursday morning, you weren’t alone: An outage prompted thousands of users to report issues with the social-media platform.
The issue was first detected by the real-time status-monitoring site Downdetector just before 8 a.m. EST on Thursday, followed by a flood of similar reports. By 8:30 a.m., more than 54,000 reports of Twitter being down were reported to the website.
The issue was not isolated, either: The outage was reported across the country, according to Downdetector’s reported problems map.
Users trying to access the platform were shown an error screen which displayed the following message: “Something went wrong, but don’t fret — it’s not your fault. Let’s try again”
Service appeared to have been restored by 9 a.m., though the company has yet to acknowledge the outage or provide a reason for the issue on its blog. | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/twitter-users-report-outage-across-the-country/ | 2022-07-14T14:22:17Z | https://www.texomashomepage.com/news/national-news/twitter-users-report-outage-across-the-country/ | false |
CALGARY, Alberta, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the leading energy data analytics and SaaS technology company, is releasing its summary of 2Q22 upstream M&A. Overall, Q2 was a challenging quarter for negotiating deals as volatility roiled both commodity and equity markets. Despite that, about $12 billion was transacted in upstream M&A as numerous private equity (PE) firms brought their investments to market looking to cash in on high oil and gas prices.
"As anticipated, the spike in commodity prices that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine temporarily stalled M&A as buyers and sellers disagreed on the value of assets," said Andrew Dittmar, director at Enverus Intelligence Research. "High prices, though, also encouraged a rush by PE firms to test the waters for M&A. While not everyone that is going into the market is getting what they deem to be a suitable offer, enough are to drive modestly active upstream M&A."
About one-third of the quarter's total deal value came from a merger of equals between private Colgate Energy Partners III, which is focused on the Delaware Basin part of the Permian, and public Centennial Resource Development.
"Public equity markets are retaining a multi-year trend of being essentially closed for private E&Ps to launch a traditional IPO," added Dittmar. "That leaves M&A as the main exit route. There is appetite on the public company side to buy out private E&Ps, but public companies need to keep the valuation paid on these deals in line or less than where the market is pricing their own stock."
One way for public companies to get more deals done is to increase the use of relatively cheap debt financing in M&A. In recent weeks, there has been an uptick in the use of debt to pay for deals. Provided banks continue to be willing to lend and E&Ps willing to borrow, this has the potential to fuel further deals.
"Looking forward I don't think we will see any shortage of assets available for sale by private equity firms across every major shale play," concluded Dittmar.
About Enverus
Enverus is the leading energy SaaS company delivering highly-technical insights and predictive/prescriptive analytics that empower customers to make decisions that increase profit. Enverus' innovative technologies drive production and investment strategies, enable best practices for energy and commodity trading and risk management, and reduce costs through automated processes across critical business functions. Enverus is a strategic partner to more than 6,000 customers in 50 countries. Learn more at Enverus.com.
About Enverus Intelligence Research
Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is a subsidiary of Enverus and publishes energy-sector research that focuses on the oil and natural gas industries and broader energy topics including publicly traded and privately held oil, gas, midstream and other energy industry companies, basin studies (including characteristics, activity, infrastructure, etc.), commodity pricing forecasts, global macroeconomics and geopolitical matters. Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser.
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SOURCE Enverus | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/upstream-mampa-falls-12-billion-volatile-market/ | 2022-07-14T14:22:27Z | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/upstream-mampa-falls-12-billion-volatile-market/ | false |
Tesla CEO Elon Musk rocked the crypto market in 2021 when he said his company would no longer accept bitcoin for vehicle purchases. His reasoning had to do with the large amount of fossil fuel-generated energy that's required to mine cryptocurrency. Musk has since taken a new tack, delivering Tesla Megapack batteries to a Texas bitcoin mining facility in May.
Bitcoin, ethereum, dogecoin and other popular cryptos reached record highs in 2021, as did crypto-reliant NFTs, raising concerns about the increasing amount of energy needed to mine the coins. As the crypto markets crashed in 2022, crypto mining continued to consume roughly as much power as Argentina and to have a carbon footprint equivalent to that of Greece, according to a research report titled "Revisiting bitcoin's carbon footprint," published in February. As the energy bill for crypto mining rises, so does the amount of carbon and waste, adding to the growing climate crisis.
Here's what you need to know about crypto mining and its energy uses.
What is crypto mining?
When bitcoins are traded, computers across the globe race to complete a computation that creates a 64-digit hexadecimal number, or hash, for that bitcoin. This hash goes into a public ledger so anyone can confirm that the transaction for that particular bitcoin happened. The computer that solves the computation first gets a reward of 6.2 bitcoins, or about $120,000 at current prices.
Other cryptocurrencies and NFTs use similar mining technologies, contributing to the overall energy usage.
What is a crypto mining rig?
It's a barebones computer with multiple graphics cards, or GPUs, instead of the single-card standard, and it does the work to complete a computation. Rigs usually use powerful GPUs from Nvidia and AMD to handle calculations and require high-wattage power supplies. The popularity of mining led to a shortage of graphics cards, which in turn caused their values to rise.
Why is crypto mining so energy-intensive?
For starters, graphics cards on mining rigs work 24 hours a day. That takes up a lot more power than browsing the internet. A rig with three GPUs can consume 1,000 watts of power or more when it's running, the equivalent of having a medium-size window AC unit turned on.
Crypto mining businesses can have hundreds or even thousands of rigs in one location. A mining center in Kazakhstan is equipped to run 50,000 mining rigs, and another mining farm in China has a monthly electricity bill of more than $1 million as it mines 750 bitcoins a month.
Not only do rigs take up power, they also generate heat. The more rigs you have, the hotter it gets. If you don't want your rigs to melt, you need some cooling. Many mining rigs have multiple built-in computer fans. But if you have multiple rigs, the room quickly gets hot, requiring external cooling. Small operations, like those run by individuals, can get by with a typical standing fan. Mining centers, however, need a lot more cooling, which in turn requires even more electricity.
How much energy does mining take?
The Digiconomist's Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index estimated that one bitcoin transaction takes 1,449 kWh to complete, or the equivalent of approximately 50 days of power for the average US household.
To put that into money terms, the average cost per kWh in the US is close to 12 cents. That means a bitcoin transaction would generate approximately an energy bill of $173.
Bitcoin mining uses around as much energy as Argentina, according to the Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index, and at that annualized level of 131.26 terawatt-hours, crypto mining would be in the top 30 of countries based on energy consumption.
Energy consumption for bitcoin mining was at its highest at the end of 2021 and the early months of 2022, consuming more than 200 terawatt-hours.
Why is using so much energy bad for the environment?
Fossil fuels account for more than 60% of the energy sources in the US. A majority of that percentage is natural gas and a minority is coal. The carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuels is released into the atmosphere, where it absorbs heat from the sun and causes the greenhouse effect.
As mining rigs consume more energy, nearby power plants must produce more electricity to compensate, which raises the likelihood that more fossil fuels will be used. States that have struggling coal power plants, such as Montana, New York and Kentucky, are trying to cash in by wooing crypto mining companies.
There's also the issue of electronic waste. This can include broken computers, wires and other equipment no longer needed by the mining facility. Bitcoin mining's electronic waste is 34 kilotons, or comparable to the amount produced by the Netherlands.
What's being done about this energy problem?
Not much. The 3rd Global Cryptoasset Benchmarking Study from the University of Cambridge found that 70% of miners based their decision on what coin to mine on the daily reward amount. Energy consumption made up only 30% of their choice.
Access to renewable energy at a low price, however, attracts crypto miners. China's Sichuan Province has the country's second-largest number of miners due to its abundance of cheap hydroelectric power. Its rainy season helps to generate so much energy that cities are looking for blockchain firms to relocate in order to avoid wasting power. Due to worries about energy shortages, China cracked down on bitcoin mining facilities in late 2021, but the farms went underground and rebounded.
The operators of ethereum, the second-most-popular blockchain behind bitcoin, are doing something to change the amount of energy its miners consume. Ethereum 2.0 is an upgrade being tested and set to go live in August. Instead of computers trying to solve computations -- referred to as proof of work -- computers will be randomly selected to create blocks for the blockchain, while computers that weren't selected will validate those blocks created.
To ensure miners do their job, each miner has to stake 32 ethereum coins, also called ether, which is equivalent to $32,000, hence the term for this protocol is called proof-of-stake. This change reduces the amount of energy needed for Ethereum mining by 99.95%.
What other cryptos are more energy-efficient than bitcoin?
A growing number of coins -- there are more than 19,000 of them -- use the proof-of-stake protocol that ethereum 2.0 will transition to, resulting in a drop in power consumption.
Cardano, for example, uses its own proof-of-stake protocol and consumed 6 gigawatt-hours in 2021. Chia is another coin with a low-energy approach called the proof-of-space protocol. Instead of requiring intensive computation, Chia requires farmers to allocate space on a computer's hard drive, called "plots," that will be called upon by the blockchain based on certain factors. | https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/crypto/bitcoin-mining-how-much-electricity-it-takes-and-why-people-are-worried/ | 2022-07-14T14:23:20Z | https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/crypto/bitcoin-mining-how-much-electricity-it-takes-and-why-people-are-worried/ | true |
CALGARY, Alberta, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enverus Intelligence Research (EIR), a subsidiary of Enverus, the leading energy data analytics and SaaS technology company, is releasing its summary of 2Q22 upstream M&A. Overall, Q2 was a challenging quarter for negotiating deals as volatility roiled both commodity and equity markets. Despite that, about $12 billion was transacted in upstream M&A as numerous private equity (PE) firms brought their investments to market looking to cash in on high oil and gas prices.
"As anticipated, the spike in commodity prices that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine temporarily stalled M&A as buyers and sellers disagreed on the value of assets," said Andrew Dittmar, director at Enverus Intelligence Research. "High prices, though, also encouraged a rush by PE firms to test the waters for M&A. While not everyone that is going into the market is getting what they deem to be a suitable offer, enough are to drive modestly active upstream M&A."
About one-third of the quarter's total deal value came from a merger of equals between private Colgate Energy Partners III, which is focused on the Delaware Basin part of the Permian, and public Centennial Resource Development.
"Public equity markets are retaining a multi-year trend of being essentially closed for private E&Ps to launch a traditional IPO," added Dittmar. "That leaves M&A as the main exit route. There is appetite on the public company side to buy out private E&Ps, but public companies need to keep the valuation paid on these deals in line or less than where the market is pricing their own stock."
One way for public companies to get more deals done is to increase the use of relatively cheap debt financing in M&A. In recent weeks, there has been an uptick in the use of debt to pay for deals. Provided banks continue to be willing to lend and E&Ps willing to borrow, this has the potential to fuel further deals.
"Looking forward I don't think we will see any shortage of assets available for sale by private equity firms across every major shale play," concluded Dittmar.
About Enverus
Enverus is the leading energy SaaS company delivering highly-technical insights and predictive/prescriptive analytics that empower customers to make decisions that increase profit. Enverus' innovative technologies drive production and investment strategies, enable best practices for energy and commodity trading and risk management, and reduce costs through automated processes across critical business functions. Enverus is a strategic partner to more than 6,000 customers in 50 countries. Learn more at Enverus.com.
About Enverus Intelligence Research
Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is a subsidiary of Enverus and publishes energy-sector research that focuses on the oil and natural gas industries and broader energy topics including publicly traded and privately held oil, gas, midstream and other energy industry companies, basin studies (including characteristics, activity, infrastructure, etc.), commodity pricing forecasts, global macroeconomics and geopolitical matters. Enverus Intelligence Research, Inc. is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser.
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SOURCE Enverus | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/upstream-mampa-falls-12-billion-volatile-market/ | 2022-07-14T14:24:22Z | https://www.1011now.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/upstream-mampa-falls-12-billion-volatile-market/ | false |
BISMARCK, N.D., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From Sitting Bull to Sakakawea, North Dakota is rich in Native American history — and with approximately 30,000 enrolled tribal members sharing geography with North Dakota, the state hosts many opportunities to interact with and experience Native American culture.
To authentically experience Native American culture in North Dakota, visitors can attend an upcoming powwow, with most held from late June through early September, as well as visit one of the state's numerous Native American museums and cultural centers.
Here are some of the best ways to experience Native American culture in North Dakota:
The Algonquin word "pau wau" was the Native American word some of the first Europeans associated with dancing. The word originally meant "medicine man" but became accepted by Europeans to refer to dancing and gatherings, later being spelled "powwow."
The celebrations often have religious significance, but are also a time for people to gather, sing, dance, feast, pray, renew old friendships and make new ones. These celebrations are still an important part of life for many Native Americans.
Visitors to current powwows will experience a multi-day festival centered around traditional song and dance performances, traditional foods (and some favorite "county fair" foods too), as well as vendors selling arts and crafts. A list of powwows held by the different tribal nations in North Dakota can be found here.
The North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum on the grounds of the state capitol building in Bismarck offers visitors an interactive and informative overview of Native American history and culture in the state. It has one of the nation's largest collections of Plains Indian artifacts, second only to the Smithsonian. One display of note is the Native American Hall of Honors, a gallery of prominent North Dakota Native Americans and a diorama of Double Ditch Indian Village.
You can then head north of the city to see the actual remains of Double Ditch Indian Village located on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, as well as several other Native American villages. Visible depressions are all that remain of the large Mandan earthlodge village. Interpretive signs assist visitors in understanding the history of this fascinating village.
Additional historic villages that offer an authentic look at how Native Americans lived include Chief Looking's Village within Bismarck providing a captive view of the Missouri River, Huff Indian Village at Huff and Sitting Bull Visitor Center, a tribute to the famous Lakota chief, at Fort Yates.
Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is located on the banks of the Missouri River just south of Mandan, Bismarck's sister city. The park's history goes back more than 300 years and includes On‐A‐Slant Indian Village, which was once home to a thriving Mandan Native American population in the mid‐1600s who lived in earthlodges along the river. Several rebuilt lodges can be toured and offer a sense of what everyday life was like for the Mandan people.
The explorers Lewis and Clark traveled along the Missouri River in North Dakota, and many of their interactions with the Native Americans in North Dakota have become key parts of the history of the United States. Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site at Stanton was home to Sakakawea before she joined the Lewis and Clark expedition. Knife River village was last occupied in 1845 by the Hidatsa and Mandan, and the national historic site is home to a beautiful state‐of‐the‐art museum and interpretive center dedicated to preserving their culture.
Five sovereign First Nations share geography with North Dakota and have deep connections to the plains. Honor and celebrate their culture and modern life at some of these sites:
The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation operates the 4 Bears Casino and Lodge overlooking Lake Sakakawea, as well as a newly opened MHA Interpretive Center in New Town that houses a collection of artifacts and art, as well as earth lodges and tipis that can be toured.
The entire Standing Rock National Native American Scenic Byway is within the boundaries of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's land. Drive all or a portion of the 350-mile route, which runs parallel to the Missouri River and follows a path of Lewis and Clark, with numerous historically important sites along the way, including the final resting places of Sitting Bull and Sakakawea.
The Spirit Lake Nation includes several different nations of Lakota/Dakota peoples, many of whom live on the south shore of Devils Lake near Fort Totten. The Fort Totten State Historic Site offers visitors a look into the history of the area and the tribe, and the Spirit Lake Casino and Resort that overlooks Devils Lake is one of the area's major attractions.
North Dakota's first community, Pembina, was built by the Chippewa, the descendants of Chippewa (or Cree), and French Canadians (known as Métis), all of whom are part of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa which is centered in the town of Belcourt near the Canadian border. The Turtle Mountain Chippewa Heritage Center preserves the Chippewa, Cree and Metis culture of the area, and the Turtle Mountain Scenic Byway offers a route through the beautiful landscape.
The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe is centered around Lake Traverse tribal land which extends across the border with South Dakota in the far southeastern corner of North Dakota. The tribe operates the Dakota Winds Golf Course and the Dakota Magic Casino, both on the North Dakota side of the tribal land.
For more about Native American experiences in North Dakota, visit NDtourism.com.
Follow North Dakota Tourism on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TravelND, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/northdakotalegendary/ on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@travelnorthdakota or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/NorthDakota and get tips on what to see and do all year long.
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SOURCE North Dakota Tourism Division | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/this-summer-fall-experience-authentic-native-american-culture-history-north-dakota/ | 2022-07-14T14:24:28Z | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/this-summer-fall-experience-authentic-native-american-culture-history-north-dakota/ | false |
AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines saved over 1.2 crore lives in first year: Study
"AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech both succeeded in scaling up production quickly and delivering doses before other manufacturers," Airfinity's Analytics Director Matt Linley said in a statement.
London: The AstraZeneca and PfizerCOVID-19 vaccines saved over 1.2 crores lives, while India's indigenous Covaxin averted over 3.7 lakh deaths in the first year of the global immunisation campaign, according to a modelling study. Researchers at UK-based life-sciences data firm, Airfinity, found that the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines saved the most lives among all approved preventives.
Last month, a study on excess deaths from 185 countries and territories by the Imperial College London, UK, calculated that COVID-19 vaccines saved around 2 crore lives between December 2020 and December 2021.
Airfinity has added further analysis to this work using its unique time series data set on vaccine distribution.
Taking Imperial College London's research on deaths averted per country, the analysts examined which vaccines were administered in each country to determine the breakdown of lives saved per vaccine.
Using this methodology, the analysis found that AstraZeneca, known as Covishield in India, saved 6,341,861 (over 63 lakh) lives and Pfizer/BioNTech around 5,979,743 (over 59 lakhs) lives.
Sinovac followed with 20 lakh lives saved while Moderna saved 17 lakh lives, the researchers said.
Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was at number 8 in the order of the lives saved, averting 371,591 (over 3.7 lakh) deaths.
There was no separate data available for the number of lives saved by Covishield, one of the two main vaccines used in India alongside Covaxin.
"AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech both succeeded in scaling up production quickly and delivering doses before other manufacturers," Airfinity's Analytics Director Matt Linley said in a statement.
"AstraZeneca may have saved the most lives due to where its primary series was distributed and who received it. Its vaccines first went to older age groups in high income countries and nations with less robust health care systems.
"Both factors would have resulted in averting more deaths in the first year of vaccinations," Linley said.
The imperial College London's study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, had found that COVID-19 vaccines prevented over 42 lakh potential deaths in India in 2021.
Globally, the study, based on excess deaths from 185 countries and territories, found that in the first year of the vaccination programme, 1.98 crore out of a potential 3.14 crore COVID-19 deaths were prevented worldwide. | https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/pharma/astrazeneca-and-pfizer-vaccines-saved-over-1-2-crore-lives-in-first-year-study/92878888 | 2022-07-14T14:27:13Z | https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/amp/news/pharma/astrazeneca-and-pfizer-vaccines-saved-over-1-2-crore-lives-in-first-year-study/92878888 | true |
Collaboration Creates Independent Major Player in the Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement Space
ATLANTA, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Search Discovery, a business transformation company focused on using data to drive clients' business impact, has acquired Allturna, a Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement Partner specializing in Health and Life Sciences. Search Discovery is now uniquely positioned to help Salesforce Marketing Cloud clients take full advantage of the platform's capabilities.
Search Discovery has been a Salesforce Marketing Cloud partner with deep expertise in CDP, Personalization, Intelligence, and an emerging capability in Engagement. Unique among Marketing Cloud partners, Search Discovery also offers integrated services across data strategy, data engineering, business intelligence, analytics, optimization, and digital marketing.
Allturna helps sales and marketing clients develop data-centric marketing strategies and tactics, delivers data integration & management services, and applies significant Marketing Cloud expertise and operations to help clients achieve business impact and analytics insights.
Our combined Marketing Cloud team enables:
- 360-degree customer views through Marketing Cloud CDP
- Personalization powered by Interaction Studio
- Engagement powered by Email, Messaging, and Journeys
- Expert deployment of Intelligence powered by Datorama
- Unmatched expertise in connecting Google Analytics or any other web analytics package
Clients who need to build capacity for their teams can rely on Search Discovery for expert consulting or managed services to ensure they're getting the greatest return on investment from Marketing Cloud.
"This relationship immediately accelerates our goal to be a top Salesforce Marketing Cloud platform partner," said Search Discovery President Mike Gustafson. "Our combined efforts, capabilities, expertise, and technologies will create better opportunities for our team, and our clients will gain competitive advantages to drive meaningful business results."
Allturna founder Jim Neumann, Search Discovery's new Relationship Marketing Practice Lead, agrees. "We look forward to bringing Search Discovery's capabilities to bear on the clients we service, and—with Search Discovery—to service a whole new clientele. We're excited about the culture here and about the waves Search Discovery is making in the marketplace."
With 250+ employees, offices in Atlanta, Cleveland, and now Philadelphia, and a 200-client portfolio, Search Discovery delivers data solutions for leading brands, including GSK, Novartis, Shell, Hilton, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center & DHL The acquisition expands the company's certifications across digital platforms and marketplaces, including Salesforce, Google Cloud, and Snowflake.
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SOURCE Search Discovery | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/search-discovery-acquires-allturna-expanding-salesforce-marketing-cloud-capabilities/ | 2022-07-14T14:29:51Z | https://www.wkyt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/search-discovery-acquires-allturna-expanding-salesforce-marketing-cloud-capabilities/ | false |
NEW YORK, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Creatd, Inc. (Nasdaq CM: CRTD) ("Creatd" or the "Company"), a creator-first holding company and the parent company of Vocal, today confirmed its revenue guidance.
Commented Creatd's CEO Laurie Weisberg, "Our Q2 results demonstrate 15% revenue growth quarter-over-quarter, including a 134% revenue increase within Creatd Ventures, our consumer product segment, despite ongoing supply-chain disruptions. We maintained relatively consistent revenues across our remaining business lines, despite facing the headwinds caused by market conditions. We can confidently confirm guidance of $7MM in revenues this year, before accounting for additional opportunities that we expect our expansion plan will unlock."
Second Quarter 2022 Business Highlights
- Creatd Ventures experienced its second consecutive quarter of revenue growth, reaching several sales milestones across its portfolio of health, wellness, and lifestyle brands, including:
- Creatd Labs continues to grow Vocal's traction across numerous key performance metrics. Ongoing product enhancements continue to further cement Vocal's position as a home base for creators looking to share their content and get rewarded.
- Since Creatd's acquisition of the WHE Agency in Q2 of 2021, the Company has continued to consolidate Creatd Partners' product offerings and clients, allowing focus to shift towards maximizing its sales efforts and higher-value brand deals. Creatd Partners has expanded its relationships with key clients to include brands like Universal Pictures, Nike, five CBD, Target, Alfa Romeo
- As previously announced, Creatd Studios is currently in development of a slate of productions planned during 2022, and continues to explore new potential production partners as well as identify future transmedia production opportunities for Vocal's creators. Creatd Studios' 2022 production slate includes the release of Vocal's first-ever podcast, hosted by Erica Wagner, a print publication featuring a selection of Vocal stories, graphic novel development and production, the film adaptation of No One's Pet, and more.
- The Company has continued its efforts to maximize the expected value created through the proposed spin-off of the OG Collection, Creatd's wholly-owned library of legacy media assets originating from Bob Guccione's estate.
- The OG Collection maintains a diversified Web 3.0 portfolio including cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and Decentraland plots, the majority of which were purchased in the last 30 days.
- The Company has announced its first-ever Investor Day taking place on July 21st, 2022. The presentation will showcase the first look at the Vocal mobile app for iOS, as well as provide updates on the Company's strategic initiatives across all four business pillars.
- Operating expenses are expected to remain relatively flat year over year, prior to accounting for stock-based payments. Additionally, marketing spend across all business lines continues to decrease.
Creatd, Inc. (Nasdaq CM: CRTD) is a company with a mission to provide economic opportunities to creators and brands by multiplying the impact of platforms, people, and technology. The Company has four main business segments, or 'pillars': Creatd Labs, Creatd Partners, Creatd Ventures, and Creatd Studios. Each pillar is characterized by a distinct revenue model, while operating on a shared-services structure and audience insights collected through our technology platforms. Creatd's pillars work together to create a flywheel effect, supporting our core vision of creating a viable and safe ecosystem for all stakeholders in the creator economy.
Creatd: https://creatd.com ;
Creatd IR: https://investors.creatd.com ;
Vocal Platform: https://vocal.media ;
Investor Relations Contact: ir@creatd.com
Any statements that are not historical facts and that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, indicated through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "believes" and "projects") may be forward-looking and may involve estimates and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution that the factors described herein could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements we make and that investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our results of operations or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. This press release is qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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SOURCE Creatd, Inc. | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/creatd-announces-record-revenues-q2-2022-expected-increase-15-qoq-16mm-while-maintaining-flat-operating-expenses-reduced-marketing-costs-company-pace-7mm-revenues-fy22/ | 2022-07-14T14:30:42Z | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/creatd-announces-record-revenues-q2-2022-expected-increase-15-qoq-16mm-while-maintaining-flat-operating-expenses-reduced-marketing-costs-company-pace-7mm-revenues-fy22/ | false |
LONDON – The number of outbreaks of diseases that jumped from animals to humans in Africa has jumped by more than 60% in the last decade, the World Health Organization said, a worrying sign the planet could face increased animal-borne diseases like monkeypox, Ebola and coronavirus in the future.
There has been a 63% rise in the number of animal diseases breaching the species barrier from 2012 to 2022, as compared to the decade before, the U.N. health agency said in a statement on Thursday.
There was a particular spike from 2019 to 2020, when diseases originating in animals that later infected humans, made up half of all significant public health events in Africa, said WHO. Diseases like Ebola and other hemorrhagic fevers were responsible for 70% of those outbreaks, in addition to illnesses like monkeypox, dengue, anthrax and plague.
“We must act now to contain zoonotic diseases before they can cause widespread infections and stop Africa from becoming a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases,” WHO's Africa director, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.
While diseases in animals had infected people for centuries in Africa, recent developments like quicker travel across the continent have made it easier for viruses to cross borders, she said.
WHO also noted that Africa has the world's fastest-growing population, which increases urbanization and reduces roaming areas for wild animals. Scientists also fear that outbreaks that may have once been contained to distant, rural areas can now spread more quickly to Africa's large cities with international travel links, that might then carry the diseases around the world.
During the West Africa Ebola outbreak that began in 2014, it was not until the disease arrived in capital cities that its spread became explosive, ultimately killing more than 10,000 people and arriving in several cities in Europe and the U.S.
Until May, monkeypox had not been known to cause significant outbreaks beyond central and West Africa, where it has sickened people for decades. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now more than 11,000 cases worldwide in 65 countries, the majority of which had not previously reported monkeypox.
WHO announced that it will hold an emergency meeting next week to assess if monkeypox should be declared a global emergency. Last month, the agency said the outbreak did not yet warrant the declaration but said it would review issues such as the possibility that monkeypox might be infecting more vulnerable populations like children, and whether the virus is causing more severe disease. | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/world/2022/07/14/outbreaks-from-animals-in-africa-surge-by-60-in-last-decade/ | 2022-07-14T14:31:15Z | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/world/2022/07/14/outbreaks-from-animals-in-africa-surge-by-60-in-last-decade/ | true |
Oro, Inc., marks 10th anniversary with global digital commerce event
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Oro, Inc., the pioneering ecommerce leader behind OroCommerce, the No.1 open source B2B digital commerce platform, today announced the eagerly awaited return of its flagship digital commerce event, OroVibe. The landmark celebration will be held in Paris on Thursday, October 6 2022 — and for the first time will be followed next year with a North American OroVibe event to mark the Oro's ecosystem rapid global expansion.
The eagerly awaited gatherings come as Oro marks its 10th anniversary, and will celebrate Oro's fast-growing community while giving hundreds of today's top B2B, B2C, and B2X merchants an opportunity to learn more about Oro's industry-leading solutions. OroVibe will feature a packed agenda including keynotes and panels where attendees will learn about new and improved Oro features and the latest B2B trends and digital commerce strategies. Oro customers will also be invited to take the stage and share their experiences and digitization stories — all while networking with eCommerce thought leaders and B2B peers from around the world.
This year's OroVibe will also host the 2022 Oro Brilliance Awards, celebrating the most innovative and successful B2B leaders from a range of industries. The prestigious awards will honor the most creative and effective deployments of Oro's digital commerce solutions, and also recognize the partnerships and collaborations that unlocked value for B2B merchants and their customers over the past year.
Later next year, Oro will also host the first-ever North American OroVibe event, marking the company's rapid expansion in the United States and the broader region. Like its European counterpart, the U.S. OroVibe will bring together top B2B and eCommerce leaders from around the world, and will honor Oro's customers, partners, and the continent's thriving B2B eCommerce sector.
"We're celebrating Oro's 10th anniversary this year, and there's no better way to do that than by bringing back OroVibe," said Yoav Kutner, Oro CEO and co-founder. "Digital merchants have faced big challenges in recent years, and OroVibe is a space where B2B eCommerce leaders can come together to get inspired, build relationships, and share new strategies for success. We're looking forward to reconnecting with our entire ecosystem — including valued customers, trusted partners, and friends from across a wide range of industries."
OroVibe will be held at Verso in Paris on Thursday, October 6 2022. Full details about the inaugural U.S. OroVibe will be published later in the year. Register now to reserve your spot.
About Oro, Inc.
Oro, Inc. offers a suite of open-source commerce applications: OroCommerce, the B2B eCommerce platform purpose-built for manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and brands; OroMarketplace, the analyst-recognized marketplace management platform for all business use cases; OroCRM, the industry's most flexible multi-channel CRM solution; and OroPlatform, a streamlined solution for developers of custom business applications. Oro's founders previously founded Magento and have deep experience in the eCommerce industry. They include Yoav Kutner, CEO; Dima Soroka, Chief Technology Officer; and Roy Rubin, director of Oro's advisory board. For more information on OroCommerce, visit https://oroinc.com/b2b-ecommerce/.
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SOURCE Oro Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/b2b-ecommerce-leaders-gather-orovibe-2022/ | 2022-07-14T14:32:15Z | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/b2b-ecommerce-leaders-gather-orovibe-2022/ | false |
FAIRFAX, Va., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ICF (NASDAQ: ICFI), a global consulting and digital services provider, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of SemanticBits, a premier partner to U.S. federal health agencies for mission-critical digital modernization solutions. The company announced its intent to acquire SemanticBits last month.
ICF plans to provide updated financial guidance for full-year 2022, which will include the expected contribution from the acquisition when the company issues its second quarter results in early August.
Founded in 2005, SemanticBits provides a full suite of scalable digital modernization services using cloud and open-source frameworks, including end-to-end agile at-scale development capabilities, cloud-native solutions, data analytics and human-centered design.
Their 450-person team of technologists and practitioners bring a history of demonstrated success with large federal health IT projects and expertise across 30 technology platforms. Their track record of excellent customer-centric delivery and fully agile approach complements ICF's deep federal health domain expertise and expanding digital modernization capabilities.
Read more about the acquisition and ICF's public health and digital transformation services.
ICF is a global consulting services company with approximately 8,000 full- and part-time employees, but we are not your typical consultants. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.
Statements that are not historical facts and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may concern our current expectations about SemanticBits' revenue and post-acquisition revenue rate, our expectations regarding future opportunities for synergies, and our future results, plans, operations and prospects. These statements may involve certain risks, including those related to the government contracting industry generally; our particular business, including our dependence on contracts with U.S. federal government agencies; and our ability to successfully integrate businesses, including the SemanticBits business. These and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ from those indicated in forward-looking statements are included in the "Risk Factors" section of our securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date hereof, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these statements in the future.
Contact: Lauren Dyke, lauren.dyke@ICF.com, +1.571.373.5577
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SOURCE ICF | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/icf-completes-acquisition-semanticbits/ | 2022-07-14T14:32:28Z | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/icf-completes-acquisition-semanticbits/ | true |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Wednesday approved a significant expansion of health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 342-88 vote all but assures the measure will soon go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. The Senate will have to vote again because of a technical fix the House made to the bill, but the essence of the bill is the same as the one senators overwhelmingly passed last month.
The bill contains two major components. First, it extends the grace period by which military veterans serving near burn pits can get medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Their eligibility for VA care will double from five years after their discharge to 10 years.
Second, the legislation directs the VA to presume that certain respiratory illnesses and cancers were related to burn pit exposure, allowing veterans to obtain disability payments to compensate for their injury without having to prove the illness was a result of their service. Currently, more than 70% of disability claims related to burn pit exposure are denied by the VA due to lack of evidence, scientific data and information from the Defense Department.
“Think of the injustice of that,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the denial rate.
“Never again should veterans be made to suffer the indignity of fighting their own government,” added Rep. Mark Takano, the Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
The bill is projected to increase federal spending by about $283 billion over 10 years and does not include offsetting spending cuts or tax increases to help pay for it. An earlier version the House approved in March cost more than $320 billion over 10 years, but senators trimmed some of the costs early on by phasing in certain benefit enhancements.
Those changes brought on board more House Republicans, such as Rep. Mike Bost, the ranking Republican on the veterans panel. He said the latest version also helps ensure the VA has the staff capacity to meet the additional demand it will be facing.
“It reflects bipartisan negotiations and input from VA, who is ultimately responsible for putting it into practice,” Bost said.
Still, many Republicans were not on board. All 88 no votes came from Republican lawmakers. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said the concerns about toxic exposure are real and need to be addressed, but “we have to address the issue in this body of spending money we don’t have.”
“We’re undermining the sacrifice of the very veterans that we say that we are helping with this measure, by not doing it fiscally responsible,” Roy said.
The legislation would also benefit many Vietnam War-era veterans by including high blood pressure on the list of conditions presumed to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange. And it would extend Agent Orange presumptions to veterans who served in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam and American Samoa. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/politics/burn-pits-legislation-nears-finish-line-with-house-approval/ | 2022-07-14T14:32:52Z | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/politics/burn-pits-legislation-nears-finish-line-with-house-approval/ | false |
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SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — North Macedonia got a boost from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday for the country's hopes of eventually joining the European Union amid a dispute with Bulgaria.
“We want you in the EU,” von der Leyen said in the Macedonian language in an address to North Macedonia's parliament.
Von der Leyen pledged her backing for a French proposal that will pave the way for accession talks for the tiny Balkan country and eliminate Bulgaria’s objections.
“Bilateral issues, such are history issues, are not conditions for accession," von der Leyen told North Macedonia’s parliament in an address. “There can be no doubt that Macedonian is your language”
She added that that the French “proposal also respects your national identity," and said that this is the time for North Macedonia to move forward.
The difficulty of selling the French compromise proposal was evident in the presence of thousands of protesters outside the parliament building who denounced it as a sellout. Even inside parliament, while most lawmakers stood respectfully and applauded von der Leyen, she was briefly interrupted by whistles and shouts.
The proposal, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron at the NATO summit in Madrid last month, envisages concessions from both sides. The government in North Macedonia would commit to changing its constitution to recognize a Bulgarian minority, protect minority rights and banish hate speech, as Bulgaria, an EU member since 2007, has demanded.
The ruling Social Democrats and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski are backing the proposal as a reasonable compromise. The government believes the deal doesn't endanger national interests or identity and unblocks the path for the country to join the EU.
But the center-right main opposition party, the VMRO-DPMNE, as well as others, disagree, saying the deal favors Bulgarian demands that question North Macedonia’s history, language, identity, culture and heritage and insists on changes in the deal, or a new one prepared by the Czech rotating EU presidency with the bloc's input.
Political tensions in North Macedonia have been on the rise over the past 10 days, with several violent nightly protests.
Debate on the French proposal has begun with seemingly irreconcilable differences between the ruling leftist coalition and the center-right opposition.
Thursday’s protest outside Parliament, like the previous ones, has as its main slogan “Ultimatum-NO, Thanks.” The protesters are singing a national anthem and chanting “Never North, always Macedonia!” thus also calling into question the deal that North Macedonia reached with Greece in July 2018, ending a decades-old dispute over the country’s name and helping lift Greece’s objections to North Macedonia’s entering the EU and NATO.
Macron has stressed that the proposal doesn’t question the official existence of a Macedonian language, but he noted that, like all deals, it “rests on compromises and on a balance.”
North Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership for 17 years. The country received the green light to begin accession talks in 2020, but no date for the start of the negotiations has been set.
Bulgaria has used its power as an EU member to block North Macedonia’s membership.
In Bulgaria, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov’s centrist government was toppled in a no-confidence vote on June 22. A junior governing partner quit the fragile four-party coalition, describing Petkov’s willingness to lift the veto of North Macedonia as a “national betrayal.”
Parliamentary debate is expected to last two days at least before the vote. But, while the ruling coalition, which just has a majority in parliament of 61 seats out of 120, can adopt it, it faces a major hurdle with the revision of the constitution to officially recognize a Bulgarian minority. This requires a two-thirds majority, or 80 votes. The VMRO-DPMNE coalition and a small leftist party, with 46 seats between them, have said they will never agree to change the constitution. | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Von-der-Leyen-EU-wants-North-Macedonia-17304616.php | 2022-07-14T14:32:59Z | https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Von-der-Leyen-EU-wants-North-Macedonia-17304616.php | false |
Salmon Donations Surpass Expectations in Cordova, Alaska
CORDOVA, Alaska , July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Generosity runs deep in Alaska's small remote fishing community of Cordova. Home to the Copper River Prince William Sound commercial fishing fleet of 550 small independent fisherman, Cordova is where fishermen launch their boats to catch the renowned regional king, sockeye, coho, keta and pink salmon. It's also where many of these independent family fishermen choose to share a portion of their treasured catch to seniors and students during the season's designated donation days.
Hosted by Cordova District Fishermen United, Senior Salmon Day was initiated in 1999 as a way to get the local catch to elders and seniors in the community who had aged out of being able to catch salmon themselves or who couldn't access the resource for a variety of reasons.
Now in its 23rd year, Cordova's Senior Salmon Day is woven into the town's tradition and is a communal celebration of the sustainable fishery and the local community. Historically donations were accepted only on one designated day and the fish was filleted fresh on Main Street and handed off to seniors. Due to COVID restrictions in 2020, the logistics shifted a bit. The donation days were extended and the fish, thanks to the generosity of local processing facilities, was filleted and flash frozen prior to the day of the event.
The 2022 Senior Salmon Day was held on July 6th and, Jess Rude, CDFU's Executive Director reports, "The feeling of this year's Senior Salmon Day was abundance and gratefulness all around. We were back together on Main Street and distributed more than 450 sockeye fillets, two fillets per elder." Rude further reports that Senior Salmon Day average fish donations by fishermen have increased since 2020 when the pandemic began. Reflecting on the event, Rude says: "Generosity of the fleet is up more than 50% of years past, perhaps because of a mix of neighborliness in harder times, thoughts on food security, or a fisherman's personal thoughts and reflections on inaccessibility to a local resource with market rates so high. We're thrilled to be able to showcase the generosity of the fleet, and the ways we all continue to lean in and share a coveted resource."
When Cordova's seniors were casually interviewed about how they would use the fillets, they happily reported hosting a barbecue with friends; pan frying it for dinner with a creamy lemon butter sauce; cooking it with a marinade of orange juice, soy sauce, spices; and putting it into their backyard smokehouse for a cold smoke before preserving.
This communal generosity will continue this summer when CDFU and the Copper River Watershed organize donations for the Fish to School Donation event. Prince William sockeye and pink salmon will be the starring fish at this event and the salmon will be filleted and flash frozen at the processing facilities. The ultimate destination? The student lunch trays at the Cordova School District.
Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association, a fishermen funded regional seafood development association, works on behalf of 500+ commercial salmon fishermen of Coastal South-Central Alaska. The association works to build brand awareness and consumer preference for wild Copper River king, sockeye and coho as well as Prince William Sound sockeye, keta, and pink salmon.
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SOURCE Copper River Salmon | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/copper-river-prince-william-sound-fishermen-donate-salmon-seniors-students/ | 2022-07-14T14:33:39Z | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/copper-river-prince-william-sound-fishermen-donate-salmon-seniors-students/ | false |
MARBELLA'S LATEST PROPERTY IS SET TO ELECTRIFY COSTA DEL SOL
LONDON, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 14th July will mark the opening of Marbella's hotly anticipated new property, Hard Rock Hotel Marbella, after a full renovation. The adults-only property will offer unique experiences through its state-of-the-art facilities and services, while reflecting the immersive music environment for which Hard Rock Hotels are known.The new property, acquired in June 2021 by Stoneweg and Bain Capital Credit, the real estate investment firm, and managed by Palladium Hotel Group, has been designed by international designers Studio Gronda. It will be Palladium Hotel Group's third Hard Rock Hotel operated and also the group's third hotel located in the Costa Del Sol.
Jesús Sobrino, CEO of Palladium Hotel Group said, "We are delighted to announce the launch of Hard Rock Hotel Marbella in Puerto Banús, one of the most stunning parts of the Costa del Sol. Puerto Banús is a perfect destination for the Hard Rock Hotels brand and its magnificent offering. Its inimitable style, it's gastronomic and leisure offering and its eagerness to impress guests will make this hotel a reference point for the area. We are convinced that Hard Rock Hotel Marbella is going to become a really key destination for visitors and residents in a very short time."
The hotel is located in the gorgeous Puerto Banús and contains a total of 383 rooms, including 64 suites. Showcasing contemporary interior designs seamlessly blending Hard Rock's signature musically infused aesthetic with local cultural references from Picasso to Flamenco. Guests can look forward to unique experiences at the Hard Rock Hotel Marbella, with impressive culinary options, an incredible VIP rooftop infinity pool and bar, swimming pool surrounded by a lush and oasis-like garden, musical events and, of course, a curated collection of music Memorabilia featuring Spanish musical icons, as well as international music legends. Notable pieces including an acoustic guitar from the legendary Elvis Presley, a satin purple jacket worn by Prince and sequined dresses worn by Lady Gaga.
'We are proud to build on our success with numerous recent openings in Europe," said Graham Kiy, Area Vice President of Hotel Operations EMEA at Hard Rock International. "Hard Rock's partnership with Palladium Hotel Group has been a great success in Ibiza and Tenerife we are thrilled to expand to Marbella where we will integrate into the brand into the fabric of this much loved and vibrant destination"
AN INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND LOCATION
The jewel of Marbella has a new star that will provide all its distinctive rhythm and sophistication. One of the most important tourist centers of Andalusia has now become Hard Rock Hotel's new stage. Idyllically situated just steps away from the sea, the property will be the go-to destination for those looking to combine attentive and contemporary service alongside the aqua blue waters of the Mediterranean.
Designed by international architecture and interior design firm, Studio Gronda the hotel effortlessly blends Hard Rock's signature design with elements that recall Andalusian style and culture. Local ceramics, reds and the iconic flamenco polka dots are cleverly used to blend tradition with contemporary design. The bright and airy interiors are enhanced by vibrant artwork that was carefully curated to compliment the Memorabilia collection displayed throughout the hotel.
The hotel is located in Puerto Banús, the epicenter of exclusivity and glamour in Marbella – one of the most exclusive regions of Spain. Just 40 minutes from Malaga Airport, the property is easily accessible to all those looking for a sophisticated retreat.
A CULINARY SCENE FOR THE MOST DISCERNING TASTEBUDS
Hard Rock Hotel Marbella presents an unparalleled culinary scene that will satisfy even the most discerning palates. Two restaurants will offer an impressive selection of culinary delights from around the world, including the finest Asian food at Nu Downtown. Alongside world-class food, diners will also enjoy live music performances and DJ's during their meal – as well as an electrifying after party after dessert. With a refreshed programme every week, the venue is set to be the trendiest place in town to grab a bite.
There is also the Spanish show-cooking restaurant, Sessions. Ready to delight and tantalize, this restaurant offers guests unique Spanish flavours and seasonal products in an immersive dining space. The impressive breakfast display offers impeccably prepared dishes, using the freshest produce suited to every taste.
For some of the best views from the hotel, the sky lounge bar Sun Society is a must. The stunning space also features an incredible VIP infinity rooftop pool with a pool bar for guests to truly enjoy the Spanish sunshine. Offering a carefully curated cocktail selection as well as Mexican and Japanese fusion snacks, guests will be able to indulge in panoramic views of the beautiful area alongside eclectic flavors. The gorgeous setting is sure to be one of the most in demand spots in Marbella.
Throughout the day, guests can also stop by the Eden Pool Club, snack bar where to enjoy a selection of the best cocktails and delight the palate with salads, burgers, and succulent desserts, or the delicious sushi food truck offering. During the afternoon, the GMT +1 Lobby Bar for specialty coffees, craft cocktails and light bites, perfect for when hopping between activities.
UNIQUE AND IMMSERSIVE BRAND EXPERIENCES
In true Hard Rock style, a variety of signature brand experiences and amenities exclusive to Hard Rock Hotels can be found in Marbella. Amenities include the Sound of Your Stay® which allows guests to listen to Tracks® curated playlists inspired by the city they're in, Crosley record players available upon request with Wax®, or play a Fender guitar with Picks® in the privacy of their room. The Unleashed® pet program will welcome four legged friends to enjoy the same memorable experience as their pet parents. Guests are invited to exchange the traditional city map for Soundtracks® interactive area guides which are curated by Hard Rock and musical artists to showcase the best of each destination.
Known for sparkling events and incredible live concerts and performances, those visiting the Hard Rock Hotel Marbella can prepare for a similar program of star-studded line-ups and shows.
Guests can find tranquility by enjoying the Rock Om® amenity and experience the perfect blend of yoga and music to relax the body and mind. Those interested in fitness can make use of the modern BODY ROCK® Fitness Centre where the hotel offers innovative training systems to keep up with cutting-edge workouts while matching the rhythm of a curated playlist every step of the way.
Hard Rock Hotel Marbella's introductory nightly rates start from 299 €. For more information and reservations, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com/marbella.
About Hard Rock®:
About Hard Rock®: Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in 68 countries spanning 253 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2021, Hard Rock was honoured as one of Forbes Magazine's Best Employers for Diversity, a Top Employer for Women and the Top Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry. Hard Rock was also designated as a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal and named the top performing hotel brand in J.D. Power's North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study for the fourth consecutive year in 2022. The brand is owned by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida. For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.
About Palladium Hotel Group:
Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish hotel chain with over 50 years of experience, owned by Grupo Empresas Matutes (GEM). The group operates 41 hotels and over 13,000 rooms, distributed amongst six countries: Spain, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Italy, and Brazil, and manages nine brands: TRS Hotels, Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts, Palladium Hotels, Palladium Boutique Hotels, Fiesta Hotels & Resorts, Ushuaïa Unexpected Hotels, Only YOU Hotels, BLESS Collection Hotels and the Hard Rock Hotels Brand under licence with three hotels in Ibiza, Tenerife and Marbella. Palladium Hotel Group is characterised by its philosophy of attention to its team and to offering its clients high quality products and services. www.palladiumhotelgroup.com.
About Bain Capital Credit
Bain Capital Credit (www.baincapitalcredit.com) is a leading global credit specialist with approximately $52 billion in assets under management. Bain Capital Credit invests across a full spectrum of strategies, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, distressed debt and special situations, private lending, structured products, non-performing loans, special situations real estate and majority and minority equity stakes. Founded in 1998 as a private, employee-owned firm, Bain Capital Credit's experienced team of over 150 investment professionals seeks to identify attractive equity and credit investment opportunities across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. In addition to credit, Bain Capital invests across asset classes including private equity, public equity, real estate and venture capital, and leverages the firm's shared platform to capture opportunities in strategic areas of focus.
About Stoneweg
Stoneweg (www.stoneweg.com) is a real estate investment adviser and asset manager established in 2015 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The firm leverages in-house local operational teams to source, develop and manage real estate investments.
To date, Stoneweg has executed and advised on almost €5 billion of real estate investments across different sectors including developments. Stoneweg expertise includes both equity and debt strategies, advising its client base of financial institutions and family offices across a range of structures including club deals, joint ventures, co-investments and funds.
The firm's investment philosophy is driven by a bottom-up approach to project selection, utilising Stoneweg's own teams on the ground and deep networks to seize the best opportunities.
Stoneweg has a dedicated presence in Switzerland, the United States, Spain, Italy, Andorra and Ireland, enabling many of the operational aspects of the firm's investments to be carried out in house and locally.
Stoneweg has completed more than 300 acquisitions alongside best-in-class partners since 2015.
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SOURCE Hard Rock International | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/hard-rock-hotel-marbella-offically-open-doors-14-july/ | 2022-07-14T14:34:50Z | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/hard-rock-hotel-marbella-offically-open-doors-14-july/ | true |
Should you tip New Jersey gas attendants? (Opinion)
Filled up the tank in the jeep this week and the cost was about $80. Crazy.
I remember only a couple of years ago the same fill-up was less than $40.
Even if I used the super/premium gas it wouldn't cost as much as a tank of regular today.
People are feeling the Biden economy across the country as middle-class and working-class families struggle with out-of-control costs as inflation tops a 40-year high.
It's understandable in this current climate that people are trying to protect and conserve every dollar. So I asked the question on the show about tipping.
There seems to be a trend in the Garden State of people tipping the gas attendant.
Here's my thought.
First, it's already costing nearly $100 to fill up your tank.
Second, I never carry cash and almost always use a credit card for gas, it's been a decade since I used cash to fill up.
Third, and this is most important, we should be able to pump our own gas in New Jersey.
It's absurd that we are tied to an antiquated law from 1949 that cited among other things the danger the gas fumes may have to pregnant women.
So you force us to have someone "service" our car, but the service no longer includes an oil check, tire check and a windshield wash.
The attendant literally only puts your credit card in the pump and puts the nozzle in the tank. Same thing EVERY ONE of us does when we leave New Jersey.
So my conclusion on all of this is that first, we need self-serve, no restrictions. And second, not all jobs are tip-earning jobs, pumping gas is one of those.
The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Bill Spadea. Any opinions expressed are Bill's own. Bill Spadea is on the air weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m., talkin’ Jersey, taking your calls at 1-800-283-1015.
Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story. | https://nj1015.com/should-you-tip-new-jersey-gas-attendants-opinion/ | 2022-07-14T14:35:47Z | https://nj1015.com/should-you-tip-new-jersey-gas-attendants-opinion/ | false |
Over 10 hours of free content now available on-demand for up to a year
SALT LAKE CITY, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Instructure, the maker of Canvas, today will hold its annual conference, InstructureCon 2022 in North America. This is the first year holding regional versions of the virtual education technology and digital learning conferences. Three additional regional InstructureCons will take place later in the year for Latin America, Europe/Middle East/Africa and the Asia Pacific regions. Over 10,000 users have registered to attend the event, sharing useful solutions and edtech insights and learning from each other. The free professional learning event for educators and edtech users featured keynotes from well-known thought leaders Simone Giertz and Adam Grant. To register and view the presentations today and for up to a year, visit www.instructure.com/events/instructurecon.
With close to 50 sessions, InstructureCon this year will include encouraging content, useful tips for educators and insight into product developments. Packed with powerful keynote addresses and breakout on-demand sessions allow for a truly customized learning experience. The opening keynote presentation includes an interview with Simone Giertz, a passion-provoking educator, who will share her unique perspective into the importance of STEM education and how educators can inspire students and spark curiosity through the journey of creation and discovery.
The event closes with a keynote interview with Adam Grant, the organizational psychologist, bestselling author and professor at Wharton. He explores the science behind motivation, generosity, original thinking and rethinking. In this session, Adam will take us on a journey of discovery, connection and hope through personal insights and experience of embracing the educator's path.
"The theme for InstructureCon 2022 is 'embrace the journey,' a nod to the challenging, yet rewarding path educators undertake," said Melissa Loble, Chief Customer Experience Officer at Instructure. "This year participants will get to choose their own InstructureCon adventure, as they create a personalized virtual conference experience that delivers incredible insights in a simple format."
In addition to learning from their peers about how to overcome challenges through innovation, attendees will hear from Instructure executives and education experts including CEO Steve Daly about how to navigate new challenges through collaboration and community and how to embrace the journey of change. Mitch Benson, Instructure's Chief Strategy Officer, will discuss scaling the mountaintops of new technology, including Instructure's continued commitment to openness and the future of education. Chief Customer Experience Officer Melissa Loble will discuss the myriad challenges of being an educator in today's post-pandemic climate and highlight how teachers have blazed new trails with innovative real-life approaches to learning.
Over 30 Instructure partners will host virtual booths for attendees to stop by and learn more about their tools and services. Attendees can video chat with partner representatives and engage with them throughout the day.
Next year, InstructureCon will take place in person in Denver, July 25-28, 2023.
ABOUT INSTRUCTURE
Instructure (NYSE: INST) is an education technology company dedicated to elevating student success, amplifying the power of teaching, and inspiring everyone to learn together. Today the Instructure Learning Platform supports tens of millions of educators and learners around the world. Learn more at www.instructure.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the potential, timing, and examples of any strategic alternatives. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, but are based on management's expectations as of the date of this press release and assumptions that are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements include the risk factors described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 22, 2022, and other documents filed with the SEC and could cause actual results to vary from expectations. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof and Instructure undertakes no duty to update this information except as required by law.
CONTACT:
Brian Watkins
Corporate Communications
Instructure
801-610-9722
brian.watkins@instructure.com
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SOURCE Instructure; Canvas | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/instructurecon-2022-virtual-conference-delivers-inspirational-practical-tips-more-than-10000-educators/ | 2022-07-14T14:35:59Z | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/instructurecon-2022-virtual-conference-delivers-inspirational-practical-tips-more-than-10000-educators/ | false |
WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Thursday, July 14, 2022
_____
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Shreveport LA
847 AM CDT Thu Jul 14 2022
...Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of southern Smith and
northwestern Cherokee Counties through 930 AM CDT...
At 847 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Edom to near Mixon. Movement was southwest
at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Tyler, Jacksonville, Whitehouse, Lindale, Bullard, Troup, Arp, Mount
Selman, Mixon, Reese, Noonday, New Chapel Hill, Cuney, Teaselville
and Concord.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.
Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.
LAT...LON 3254 9543 3215 9498 3211 9499 3183 9541
3185 9544 3193 9542 3196 9545 3199 9545
3201 9543 3204 9544 3205 9542 3207 9544
3208 9542 3215 9548 3218 9546 3223 9549
3230 9545 3236 9545 3246 9557
TIME...MOT...LOC 1347Z 050DEG 32KT 3236 9554 3211 9519
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
_____
Copyright 2022 AccuWeather | https://www.lakecountystar.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-SHREVEPORT-Warnings-Watches-and-17304654.php | 2022-07-14T14:36:35Z | https://www.lakecountystar.com/weather/article/TX-WFO-SHREVEPORT-Warnings-Watches-and-17304654.php | false |
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The shooting deaths of South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh’s wife and son started a chain of investigations, strange happenings and legal maneuvers over the past 13 months that his lawyer said will soon lead to murder charges.
But Murdaugh’s life was quietly unraveling behind the scenes long before that. Authorities said he was stealing money,addicted to painkillers and desperately trying to avoid an in-depth examination of his finances tied to a wrongful death lawsuit involving his son — all while lying to just about everyone in his life.
Like the whiteboard on a detective show, the spokes of a half-dozen investigations radiated from Murdaugh after the killings of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and 22-year-old son Paul on June 7, 2021.
Suddenly, a whole cast of people became players in the drama — the family of a teenager killed in a boat crash determined to fight for justice, the slain wife who led a quiet life, the Murdaugh client who may have been hired to stage an attempt on the lawyer’s life and the housekeeper who died in a fall in the Murdaugh home.
MALLORY BEACH
More than a year before the killings, 19-year-old Mallory Beach died when she was thrown from a Murdaugh family boat after it crashed into a bridge pier. Police said Paul Murdaugh was drunk while driving the boat in February 2019.
Beach’s family demanded justice not just criminally, but in civil court too, filing a wrongful death lawsuit that still is awaiting trial.
That lawsuit likely meant a close look at the Murdaugh family’s finances. Murdaugh fought the suit at every turn as Beach’s attorneys suggested he was fearful they would discover how he was managing to live so far above his current means. Prosecutors said they have learned since that Murdaugh was stealing money from his law firm and clients.
The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating if Murdaugh, his family or his friends tried to obstruct the investigation into the boating crash. Others on the boat said Murdaugh was at the emergency room that night, looking up their rooms and trying to convince them to tell investigators his son wasn’t driving.
MAGGIE MURDAUGH
Maggie Murdaugh married the sweetheart she met at the University of South Carolina and moved to tiny Hampton County, where Alex Murdaugh’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather had been elected prosecutors.
By all accounts, she led a quiet life, supporting her husband’s work and raising two sons. Friends don’t remember her working outside a brief time running her own gift shop. They remember a devoted mother who loved her family’s coastal home about 60 miles (96 kilometers) away on Edisto Island.
Maggie Murdaugh died near her younger son at the family’s Colleton County hunting estate. Both were shot multiple times, the coroner said. Alex Murdaugh called 911 after discovering their bodies. He has said he had just returned home from visiting his mother and ailing father.
Thirteen months later, Murdaugh’s lawyer said the rest of the family was told Tuesday that state agents will seek indictments for murder against Murdaugh this week.
CURTIS “EDDIE” SMITH
Curtis “Eddie” Smith met Alex Murdaugh when he sued the tree company he worked for after hurting his back in 2007. Or they might have already known each other. Like many things with Murdaugh, exactly what transpired is murky.
Murdaugh won a settlement for Smith, who said the two became friends. Murdaugh’s lawyers said it was more of a business relationship, with Murdaugh buying drugs.
A few days after the century-old Murdaugh family law firm discovered stolen money in September 2021, Murdaugh asked Smith to meet on the side of a lonely Hampton County highway, according to prosecutors. Murdaugh said he asked Smith to kill him so his surviving son could get $10 million life insurance policy. Smith said Murdaugh threatened to kill himself and the gun fired as Smith tried to wrestle it from his grip.
The shot only grazed Murdaugh’s head. Murdaugh’s lawyers called Smith a drug dealer.
“With a friend like that, who needs enemies?” Smith told an Associated Press reporter.
Both men were indicted for the roadside shooting — Smith for assisted suicide, conspiracy and other charges; Murdaugh, for insurance fraud and filing a false police report after initially saying he was shot at randomly while changing a tire.
In June, prosecutors suggested a much deeper relationship. They indicted both men again, saying Murdaugh wrote 437 checks worth $2.4 million that Smith cashed over eight years to try to hide theft and other illegal activity, including a drug ring involving the painkiller oxycodone.
It was the 16th indictment against Murdaugh, who prosecutors said has stolen more than $8 million from clients and others.
GLORIA SATTERFIELD
Gloria Satterfield was a housekeeper for the Murdaughs for two decades before slipping into a coma and dying a few days after Alex Murdaugh said she tripped and fell in their home.
Murdaugh steered Satterfield’s family toward a friend to act as their attorney, according to a lawsuit. Murdaugh then strong-armed his insurers to pay more than $4 million in wrongful death settlements, prosecutors said.
But Satterfield’s family never saw a dime until their new attorneys came after him. Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter relentlessly attacked Murdaugh in court and in the media. Murdaugh eventually ended up behind bars on a $7 million bond.
Bland compared Murdaugh to a bank robber, but using a pen and corrupt friends instead of a gun.
Months later, the lawyer friend and a banker who prosecutors said secretly sent Murdaugh money meant to go into trusts for his clients were indicted.
Bland and Richter have earned well over $4 million in legal settlements from Murdaugh, whose assets have been frozen, as well as Murdaugh’s attorney friend and the bank Murdaugh used.
The investigation into Satterfield’s death continues. State agents said in June that they would exhume her body. Coroners in South Carolina are supposed to be notified of any suspicious death, but the Hampton County coroner wasn’t told about Satterfield’s fall.
Another death investigation was reopened after the shooting deaths. Stephen Smith, 19, died in what investigators said was a hit-and-run, likely struck in the head by the mirror of a semitrailer on a Hampton County two-lane road in 2015. But Smith’s mother said there was no broken glass or plastic shards from a mirror on the road where her son’s body was found.
State agents haven’t said what evidence in the Murdaugh case led them to reopen the Smith case. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/personal-connections-show-lawyer-alex-murdaughs-downfall/ | 2022-07-14T14:36:44Z | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/personal-connections-show-lawyer-alex-murdaughs-downfall/ | false |
Achieving industry-leading DC superposition characteristics and a low DC resistance
TOKYO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TAIYO YUDEN CO. LTD. has announced the launch of the wire-wound metal power inductor MCOIL™ LCEN series. Qualified for AEC-Q200 (reliability qualification test standard for automotive passive components), the series consists of 13 items in two sizes, including the LCENA2016MKTR24M0NK (2.0x1.6x1.2 mm, height is the maximum value).
This power inductor product is designed for use as a choke coil in power supply circuits for automotive body and information systems.
The AEC-Q200 qualified wire-wound metal power inductor MCOIL™ LCEN series is designed based on the metal power inductor MCOIL™ ME series, and maintains its advantages of a large current and a low DC resistance. The LCENA2016MKTR24M0NK (inductance: 0.24 μH) simultaneously features industry-leading DC superposition characteristics (saturation current at 6.8 A) and a low DC resistance (18 mΩ) (both are the maximum values), contributing to the downsizing and power consumption reduction of power supply circuits for ADAS units and instrument clusters, which are increasingly being upgraded with greater functionality and performance.
Production of the product commenced at our subsidiary company, FUKUSHIMA TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. (Date-shi, Fukushima prefecture, Japan) from May 2022 with a sample price of 50 yen per unit.
Technology Background
Vehicles produced recently are equipped with an ever greater number of electronic control units, typified by ADAS units. As a result, more power supply circuits are required, boosting the demand for power inductors used in those power supply circuits. In addition, instrument clusters and other information systems are increasingly being upgraded with greater functionality and performance, furthering the need for high-current electronics components capable of driving high-performance ICs.
In response to this requirement, TAIYO YUDEN has launched the AEC-Q200 qualified LCEN series based on the metal power inductor MCOIL™ ME series, which has been highly proven in the smartphone market, and maintains its advantages of a large current and a low DC resistance in a compact size.
TAIYO YUDEN focuses on the development of products that meet market needs, and will continue to expand its power inductor product lineup.
- Application
Choke coils in power supply circuits for automotive body systems as well as information systems, typified by ADAS units and instrument clusters
- Characteristics
*1 The saturation current value (Idc1) is the DC current value having inductance decrease down to 30%. (at 20℃)
*2 The temperature rise current value(Idc2) is the DC current value having temperature increase up to 40℃. (at 20℃)
*3 The rated current is the DC current value that satisfies both of current value saturation current value and temperature rise current value.
For the detailed product lineup, refer to TAIYO YUDEN's Web site:
https://ds.yuden.co.jp/TYCOMPAS/ut/lineupDetail?cid=L&u=M&Seri=ME_C
* "MCOIL" is a registered trademark or a trademark of TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. in Japan and other countries.
*The names of series noted in the text are excerpted from part numbers that indicate the types and characteristics of the products, and therefore are neither product names nor trademarks.
Note: Products are tested based on the test conditions and methods defined in AEC-Q200. Please consult with TAIYO YUDEN for details of the product specifications and AEC-Q200 test results, etc., and please review and approve TAIYO YUDEN's product specifications before ordering.
TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. Product Inquiries: https://www.yuden.co.jp/ut/contact/
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SOURCE TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/taiyo-yuden-launches-automotive-metal-power-inductor-mcoil-lcen-series/ | 2022-07-14T14:36:55Z | https://www.kait8.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/taiyo-yuden-launches-automotive-metal-power-inductor-mcoil-lcen-series/ | false |
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenian police said Wednesday they have detained a Syrian man for illegally transporting 17 migrants, as the country’s foreign minister said the country planned to start dismantling a razor wire on the border with Croatia will start soon.
Police on Tuesday stopped a van with Austrian license plates on a highway in the northeast. The driver was detained while the migrants — mainly from Afghanistan and Iran — have been moved to an asylum center.
Slovenia has reported a rise in migrant crossings compared to the previous year. Migrants come to Slovenia from Croatia via the Balkan route in hopes of reaching Western Europe.
After taking office following elections in April, Slovenia’s new, liberal government announced plans to remove the Croatia border wire that was erected after more than 1 million people entered Europe in 2015.
Authorities say dismantling the 200-kilometer (124-mile) fence between the two European Union nations could take weeks.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary, that it will be a “gradual process.” Fajon described the move as a “humane act, so that people who come here will not have accidents and misfortunes.”
“However, we will continue to provide protection and security along this section of the border,” Fajon said following a meeting with foreign ministers from Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic
Officials previously have said the border will be monitored also by drones in the future.
___
Follow all AP stories on global migration at https://apnews.com/hub/migration. | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/slovenia-to-dismantle-razor-wire-fence-on-croatia-border/ | 2022-07-14T14:37:19Z | https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/u-s-world/slovenia-to-dismantle-razor-wire-fence-on-croatia-border/ | true |
(WKBN)- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Tuesday that several baked snack products were recalled this week.
The FDA announced that Enjoy Life Natural Brands LLC has recalled several of its snacks, including cookies, chewy bars, breakfast ovals and brownies. The recall is due to the potential presence of hard plastic pieces.
The following items have been recalled:
The FDA said consumers who have this product should not eat it and should throw away any product they may have but should keep any available packaging and contact the company at 1-855-543-5335, 24 hours a day to get more information about the recall and how to receive a refund. Consumer relations specialists are available Monday-Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST.
The announcement states that there have been no reports of injury or illness received by Enjoy Life Foods to date.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are conducting the recall. | https://www.wowktv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/soft-baked-cookies-brownie-bites-recalled/ | 2022-07-14T14:37:24Z | https://www.wowktv.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/soft-baked-cookies-brownie-bites-recalled/ | false |
MY/MOCHI ICE CREAM CELEBRATES NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY WITH FIRST-EVER NASCAR APPEARANCE AT THE AMBETTER 301
LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern frozen snack company, My/Mochi, in celebration of National Ice Cream Day, announced today their attendance and sponsorship as the primary partner, with primary logo placement, of the NASCAR Cup Series' No. 78 Ford Mustang for the Ambetter 301 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, July 17 on National Ice Cream Day. The My/Mochi car is sure to win with fans both on and off the track.
To highlight one of the most important and celebrated holidays each summer season, this year on National Ice Cream Day, My/Mochi serves NASCAR fans an eyeful, as well as mouthful, of ice-cold treats as they join the team at Live Fast Motorsports to combine one of the hottest NASCAR race teams with the coolest frozen snacks, My/Mochi Ice Cream. As a colorful brand for colorful people, fans will be delighted to see the eyepopping purpinkle car adorned with milky, melts mochi ice cream balls speeding around the track this Sunday.
My/Mochi Ice Cream and the Live Fast Motorsports Team showcase their mind-blowing mouthfuls at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Fans should not be shocked if NASCAR drivers expected this weekend such as Bubba Watson and Kyle Busch are spotted mid-race making an extra Pit-Stop looking to cool down with a cool, doughy, My/Mochi ice cream snack!
"There is nothing better than cool doughy mochi balls and hot laps," said Russell Barnett, Managing Director of My/Mochi Ice Cream. "Being credited as the inventors of mochi ice cream, we're excited to be part of this fantastic event and celebrate National Ice Cream Day with NASCAR fans in New Hampshire and around the country."
"Live Fast Motorsports is super excited to partner with My/Mochi Ice Cream for the New Hampshire race this weekend," said CEO of Live Fast Motorsports, Jessica McLeod. "I'm a snacker and My/Mochi has me hooked. My personal favorite flavor is strawberry... it's perfect for summer. Our team looks forward to seeing My/Mochi on the No. 78 Ford Mustang!"
Live Fast Motorsports and My/Mochi Ice Cream are eager for this weekend's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. My/Mochi Ice Cream is the perfect way to enjoy a cold trackside treat to beat the summer heat. For more information about My/Mochi Ice Cream, please visit www.mymochi.com. Tune-in to watch the Ambetter 301 on Sun. July 17, 2022, at 3 PM EST on USA Network.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, My/Mochi, creator of the Modern Frozen Snack category, is a mouthboggling, textural experience, taking premium ice cream and wrapping it in pillowy, sweet rice mochi dough. Available in a variety of fan-favorite flavors, My/Mochi gives snackers a colorful and wonderfully weird snacking experience in a handheld, portion-controlled way. My/Mochi products are made with real ingredients, always gluten-free, rBST-free, made without soy and no GMO ingredients. A variety of non-dairy and vegan offerings are also available. Come play with us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.
Live Fast Motorsports is a single-car Ford Mustang team based in Mooresville, NC., competing in the NASCAR Cup Series under the No. 78. The team is co-owned by B.J. McLeod and Matt Tifft. B.J. McLeod also serves as the team's driver. Jessica McLeod, CEO of Live Fast Motorsports, gives a progressive outlook in breaking down barriers in the sport of NASCAR and inspiring opportunities for women in the sport for generations to come.
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SOURCE My/Mochi | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/mymochi-ice-cream-joins-biggest-names-nascar-while-serving-up-cool-doughy-mochi-balls-hot-laps-national-ice-cream-day/ | 2022-07-14T14:37:38Z | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/mymochi-ice-cream-joins-biggest-names-nascar-while-serving-up-cool-doughy-mochi-balls-hot-laps-national-ice-cream-day/ | false |
With the introduction of PayGround's Payment API, healthcare organizations can focus on their core business and leave payment processing to PayGround
GILBERT, Ariz., July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PayGround, a healthcare payment processing platform, has launched PayGround's Payment API, which enables healthcare organizations to directly integrate with the PayGround platform, providing organizations with payment-processing capabilities within their existing platforms without disrupting the patient's current experience.
"Healthcare needs a payment API that solves our complex industry-specific challenges, such as HIPAA compliance and integrating with our unique billing systems," says PayGround CEO Drew Mercer. "This is a sophisticated payment API specific for healthcare — and it's just one of the ways we're expanding our platform. We're excited to continue to grow PayGround's capabilities to be able to offer multiple secure and effective payment solutions for our partners."
While PayGround's existing iFrame technology can be embedded into the healthcare vendor workflow to process one-time credit card and ACH transactions, the Payment API offers a more sophisticated solution. The Payment API elegantly allows organizations to use PayGround as a seamless and unseen payments processor. That means users remain in the organization's system to pay their bills.
With PayGround's Payment API, organizations can securely send basic patient demographic information, outstanding balances and payment method details to PayGround, and associate a digital wallet item to patients.
"They also have the ability to process a one-time payment using a manually entered credit card or a digital wallet item," says Stephanie Hanson, PayGround Director of Product Management. "In addition, PayGround's Payment API can process recurring payments using a token for a previously saved digital wallet item, process a void or a refund for processed transactions, and provide reporting tools for reconciliation and settlement."
This enhancement represents PayGround's commitment to continually expanding its offerings to help change the way the healthcare industry manages payment processing.
PayGround is a financial marketplace — allowing providers to collect all patient payments in one platform, while enabling patients and their dependents to manage bills from across all providers in one place. PayGround removes the financial complexities of the provider/patient relationship by leveraging modernized tools — allowing everyone to focus on more important things. Welcome to PayGround, healthcare's first digital wallet.
Media Inquiries: Jana Berrelleza, jana@payground.com
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SOURCE PayGround | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/payground-adds-payment-api-its-platform-streamlined-payment-processing/ | 2022-07-14T14:38:22Z | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/payground-adds-payment-api-its-platform-streamlined-payment-processing/ | false |
Updated July 14, 2022 at 9:48 AM ET
LONDON — Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of sexually assaulting three men a decade or more ago, and was told he would face trial next year.
Spacey, 62, stood in the dock and spoke clearly as he replied "not guilty" to each of the five charges during a hearing at London's Central Criminal Court, commonly known as the Old Bailey.
Judge Mark Wall set a date of June 6, 2023, for the trial to start and said it would last three to four weeks. It is likely to be at the Old Bailey, the venue for Britain's highest-profile criminal trials.
The former "House of Cards" star, who ran London's Old Vic theater between 2004 and 2015, denied four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
The incidents allegedly took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The victims are now in their 30s and 40s.
Space's lawyer previously said the actor "strenuously denies" the allegations.
Spacey, who has addresses in London and the U.S., was granted bail and allowed to return to the United States after a preliminary hearing last month. The judge continued the actor's unconditional bail on Thursday, and said another pretrial hearing would be held early in 2023.
Spacey thanked the judge at the end of the 15-minute hearing. He made no comment as he left court and was ushered through a crowd of photographers and camera crews into a chauffeur-driven car.
Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film "The Usual Suspects" and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie "American Beauty."
But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations.
Spacey faces a separate civil sex-assault lawsuit from Rapp in U.S. federal court in New York.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | https://www.apr.org/arts-life/arts-life/2022-07-14/spacey-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-in-the-u-k-that-he-sexually-assaulted-three-men | 2022-07-14T14:38:28Z | https://www.apr.org/arts-life/arts-life/2022-07-14/spacey-pleads-not-guilty-to-charges-in-the-u-k-that-he-sexually-assaulted-three-men | true |
MONTREAL, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Paper, one of the world's fastest-growing educational technology companies which provides unlimited, 24/7 academic support to millions of students, today released a new report, the 2021-2022 School Year in Review. The report is the first in-depth look at questions, concerns, and topics that millions of students across North America discussed with tutors and teachers this year.
Paper analyzed data from millions of student interactions conducted during the 2021-2022 school year to understand what issues are at the forefront of students' minds today. Using the collected data, educational technology organizations, educators, school administrators, and parents can create better student outcomes.
Paper's mission is to empower all students to achieve success by expanding access to high-quality academic support and innovative technology. As of June 2022, Paper supports approximately 250 unique school districts across 30 U.S. states and Canada through the Company's virtual tutoring and essay review platforms. Recently, Paper launched its first statewide deals, including a partnership with the Mississippi Department of Education, to support over 200 additional districts. In total, Paper now supports over 2.5 million students in North America.
Key trends and takeaways from the 2021-2022 School Year in Review include:
- Regardless of age or geographic location, Math and English were the subjects where U.S. students needed the most help from Paper tutors.
- Between elementary and high school, the average tutoring session duration increased by nearly 70%—from 16 minutes to almost 27 as the subject matter became more complex.
- Middle schoolers requested help with history at more than double the rate of any other age group.
- From elementary to high school, student requests for help with the sciences (chemistry, biology, etc.) increased by nearly 1,000%.
- Regardless of age or geographic location, lunch was the most popular time of day for a student to start a tutoring session.
- More students in the Southwest region requested help with English than any other geographic area. Nearly 30% of all tutoring sessions were English-related, 25% higher than in any other region.
Key Takeaways from the Paper Essay Review Platform:
- Social media issues were the most popular middle school essay topic. The most popular essay topic amongst high school students was "America."
- In the Northeast region of the country, essay topics bucked the national trends and had unique focuses on "College and Career," "War," and the "American Dream."
- The most popular submission time—irrespective of grade level or geographic area—was Thursday at 9 a.m. In general, most essays were submitted in the morning hours, before class began.
To read the full report or learn more about Paper's best-in-class K – 12 tutoring platforms, please visit www.paper.co.
At Paper, we're on a mission to help every student reach their potential by partnering with school districts to provide unlimited, on-demand, 24/7 tutoring. Paper provides 1:1 virtual tutoring at no cost to students and their families. Students get help in every subject, or feedback on any essay, from highly qualified educators through Paper's secure online classroom, available via any device. Paper's instructional framework emphasizes inquiry-based learning that empowers students to pursue lifelong learning and prepare for college and career success. Paper's multilingual tutors provide support in English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin. Paper supports some of the largest school districts in the nation, including Los Angeles United School District, Clark County School District, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, and Atlanta Public Schools. Paper is privately funded with investments from Sapphire, Softbank Vision Fund 2, IVP, Framework Venture Partners, Bullpen Capital, Reach Capital, Google, Birchmere Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, BDC Capital, and more. For more information, please visit www.paper.com.
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SOURCE Paper | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/questions-topics-mind-north-american-students-paper-publishes-2021-2022-school-year-review/ | 2022-07-14T14:38:49Z | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/questions-topics-mind-north-american-students-paper-publishes-2021-2022-school-year-review/ | true |
Top Travel Brand Unveils the 'Road to PTO' Quiz Recognizing the Urgency Around Taking Time Off
BOSTON, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsonite, one of the most trusted travel lifestyle brands in the world, in partnership with Minaa B., Senior Consultant, LMSW, unveiled the Road to PTO quiz recognizing the urgency around taking paid time off. The initiative coincides with Samsonite's recently launched Take What's Yours campaign, which encourages workers to maximize the long-awaited summer season by taking advantage of PTO, long weekends, and everything in between.
The Road to PTO quiz challenges a culture of hustle and burnout at a time when most workers are in desperate need of a well-deserved break. A recent poll from Samsonite, conducted online by The Harris Poll among US adults, found that from over 800 full-time employees, 65% of full-time employees agree that they urgently need a vacation from work and 56% feel burnt out at work. However, almost 3/4ths of full-time employees (72%) have used less than 50% of their vacation days for the year. Further, 20% of full-time employees say they do not have any paid vacation days scheduled for the next three months.
This reluctance to take PTO comes despite widespread awareness of the considerable mental and physical benefits of taking time away from work. The poll found that 86% of full-time employees agreed that taking more vacation time would improve their mental health and 80% agreed that they always feel refreshed at work after they take vacation time. Most full-time employees find the complications around taking PTO outweigh the benefits with 66% wishing it were easier for them to take time off from work.
"Despite knowing how important our time away from work is for both our physical and mental health, it is common for individuals to not take advantage of their PTO for a variety of reasons," said Minaa B., Senior Consultant, LMSW. "We've created a culture where burnout is worn as a medal of honor and we can find every excuse in the book to keep ourselves at work. In order, to push past these mental roadblocks we must create a way for people to simply see how urgent their own happiness is."
Recognizing the disconnect between understanding the benefits of taking a vacation and taking advantage of PTO, Samsonite created the Road to PTO quiz, which guides workers on how urgently they need time off. By answering ten simple yes/no questions focused on mental health and work, an individual can identify their timeline for taking PTO. If they answer 'yes' to one to three questions, they are in a good place and can continue working. If they answer 'yes' to four to six questions, they should plan to take time off soon. Seven to ten 'yes' responses indicate an urgent need to take PTO. To find out how urgently you need to take PTO, check out the Road to PTO quiz here.
Samsonite is ushering in a new era that champions taking time to travel, forge new experiences and create lasting memories that far outweigh the once applauded always-on mentality. Samsonite North American President Lynne Berard said, "We are inspired to create a world where we flip the script and celebrate taking PTO. There are a million reasons to put off taking PTO, so we are passionate about helping consumers and employees cut through the excuses and take what's theirs."
Check out the Samsonite Summer Campaign Landing Page Here and on YouTube.
Survey Background
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Samsonite from June 23-27, 2022, among 2,053 adults ages 18+, of whom 864 are employed full-time. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Emily Denton.
About Samsonite:
Samsonite is the world leader in superior travel bags, luggage and accessories combining notable style with the latest design technology. Renowned for breakthrough research, development and its commitment to both innovation and sustainability, Samsonite has cemented its prominence with a number of industry firsts while continuing to leverage its rich design heritage to create unparalleled products. For more information visit www.samsonite.com.
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SOURCE Samsonite | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/samsonite-finds-that-72-full-time-employees-have-used-less-than-50-their-pto-so-far-2022/ | 2022-07-14T14:39:08Z | https://www.kmvt.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/samsonite-finds-that-72-full-time-employees-have-used-less-than-50-their-pto-so-far-2022/ | true |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week hit its highest level in nearly 8 months, but the total number of those collecting benefits fell.
Applications for jobless aid for the week ending July 9 rose by 9,000 to 244,000, up from the previous week’s 235,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. First-time applications generally reflect layoffs. Analysts had expected the number to remain flat from the previous week.
The four-week average for claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week volatility, rose by 3,250 from the previous week, to 235,750.
The total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits for the week ending July 2 fell by 41,000 from the previous week, to 1,331,000. That figure has hovered near 50-year lows for months.
Last week, the Labor Department reported that employers added 372,000 jobs in June, a surprisingly robust gain and in line with the pace of the previous two months. Economists had expected job growth to slow sharply last month given the broader signs of economic weakness.
The unemployment rate remained 3.6% for a fourth straight month, matching a near-50-year low that was reached before the pandemic struck in early 2020.
The government also reported last week that U.S. employers advertised fewer jobs in May amid signs that the economy is weakening, though the overall demand for workers remained strong. There are nearly two job openings for every unemployed person.
On Wednesday, the government said that consumer prices soared 9.1% compared with a year earlier, the biggest yearly increase since 1981. From May to June, prices rose 1.3%, another huge increase, after prices had surged 1% from April to May.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that inflation at the wholesale level climbed 11.3% in June from a year earlier.
All of those figures reflect the unusual nature of the post-pandemic economy: Inflation is hammering household budgets, forcing consumers to pull back on spending, and growth is weakening, heightening fears the economy could fall into recession.
In an effort to combat the worst inflation in more than four decades, the Federal Reserve raised rates by a half-point in May and another rare three-quarter point increase last month. Most economists expect the Federal Reserve to jack up its borrowing rate another half-to-three-quarters of a point when it meets later this month.
Besides carving up the average American’s income, those rate increases also raise borrowing costs, rents and mortgage payments for corporations, which cuts into profits. Investors have responded by bailing from the equity market and piling into the bond market. Since the beginning of the year, the S&P 500 has declined about 20%, the Dow Jones industrials have fallen about 15% and the Nasdaq is down more than 28%.
Though the labor market is still strong, there have been some high-profile layoffs announced recently by Tesla, Netflix, Carvana, Redfin and Coinbase. | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/us-weekly-jobless-claims-at-highest-point-in-nearly-8-months/ | 2022-07-14T14:39:10Z | https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/business/ap-business/us-weekly-jobless-claims-at-highest-point-in-nearly-8-months/ | true |
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SAN MARCOS ATEXQUILAPAN, Mexico (AP) — After days of preparation and donations to cover funeral costs, this mountain community in eastern Mexico on Thursday mourned the return of three teens, all cousins, lost among the 53 migrants who died inside a semitrailer in San Antonio, Texas.
The previous 24 hours were a flurry of activity as residents of San Marcos Atexquilapan stepped forward to help the Olivares family receive the bodies of brothers Jaír and Yovani Valencia Olivares, ages 19 and 16, as well as their cousin, 16-year-old Misael Olivares.
Women cleaned banana leaves to make tamales, men carried chairs from one house to another, while the boys’ friends plastered a wall with photos of all three.
Similar scenes of solemn preparation played out across Mexico as the bodies of 16 of those lost in the tragedy were brought back on two military flights Wednesday and then sent to their hometowns. At least one more flight was planned for Thursday. Mexico’s Foreign Affairs ministry said it would bring back 25 of Mexico’s 26 victims in accordance with their families’ wishes.
The repatriation of victims was expected to continue in coming days in Guatemala and Honduras, which also lost 21 and six migrants, respectively.
Ten of the 53 fatal victims were teenagers, including the Olivares. In the darkness, men carried the caskets and arranged them side by side before a large crucifix sheltered by tarps strung up above the mourners.
The youths were to buried Friday.
Hundreds of people from the area flocked to the families' homes, which sit in a row. The youths all played on a local soccer team and were well known.
“I can’t accept it,” whispered Yolanda Valencia, mother of Jaír and Yovani. You have to “work hard” in life, “try to fight to make their dreams reality.”
Her sons wanted to build a house and open a shoe store in this town of about 1,500 people known for its shoemaking. “They went with a lot of goals that weren’t realized,” she said.
The investigation continues into the smuggling ring that ultimately abandoned the trailer of migrants on the outskirts of San Antonio on a day temperatures neared 100 degrees. U.S. authorities have arrested four people, including the truck’s driver. | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bodies-of-migrants-who-died-in-Texas-trailer-come-17304615.php | 2022-07-14T14:39:21Z | https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bodies-of-migrants-who-died-in-Texas-trailer-come-17304615.php | false |
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