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Partnership provides new paraprofessional to teacher pathway
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – In April, the Idaho State University College of Education welcomed more than 50 paraprofessionals throughout the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 (SD25) to campus to learn more about a new paraprofessional to teacher pathway called PaCT - Para to Certified Teacher program.
The PaCT program is a new, fully-online pathway that helps paraprofessionals earn a bachelors or masters degree and teaching certification in elementary education or special education through the College of Education by joining either the Online Teacher Education Program (OTEP) or the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program.
Beginning in early 2022, College of Education Dean Jean McGivney-Burelle met with SD25 Human Resource Director, Brenda Miner, to address teacher shortage challenges within the school district and possible future partnership opportunities. One of those opportunities was to provide a flexible, affordable pathway for paraprofessionals to become certified teachers.
Paraprofessionals are school staff members who serve as teaching assistants, helping teachers manage the classroom and supporting students’ learning. Because of their passion and commitment to students and first-hand experience in the classroom, paraprofessionals are well positioned to become certified teachers. This new partnership will give paraprofessionals the tools and support needed, both from the College of Education and from their current employer, SD25, to reach their academic and career goals.
Using revenue generated by the Albion Center for Professional Development the College of Education has up to $1million dollars to invest in scholarships to support the education of the paraprofessionals who decide to enroll in this program.
“All of the faculty and staff in the College of Education were asked to provide input on the best ways to invest Albion revenue and the idea that rose to the top was scholarships," McGivney-Burelle said. "Since Albion revenue is generated from P-12 teachers across the country we believe that it is important to give back to the profession of teaching. We are thrilled to partner with School District 25 on this project and look forward to working with local paraprofessionals who want to earn a college degree and teacher certification.”
To learn more about the College of Education’s OTEP and MAT programs that are fully online, affordable teacher education and certification pathways, please visit isu.edu/education. | https://localnews8.com/news/pocatello/2022/04/16/partnership-provides-new-paraprofessional-to-teacher-pathway/ | 2022-04-16T21:13:26Z |
DUBAI, UAE, July 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global cryptocurrency exchange, XT.com, is thrilled to announce its token offering expansion and list GRN (G) token with USDT on July 1, 2022, at 10:00 (UTC). The listing solidifies XT.com's position as a market leader by allowing everyone to trade the GRN token on its platform. Meanwhile, the GRN token is by far the newest token available for trading on XT.com.
GRN (G) Token is a peer-to-peer digital asset and native currency of the GRN Grid ecosystem. Moreover, the token uses a PoS consensus mechanism to operate. GRN token, like other XT token functions, can be used to pay for goods and services, trade, stake, and more.
To proactively ignite its users' trading experience, XT.com urges users to start depositing their crypto holdings before and even after June 30, 2022, at 10:00 (UTC) in preparation for trading. As a result, the deposit withdrawal section has been opened, allowing participants to do so hassle-free. As a follow up to the deposit, XT.com has added a GRN token withdrawal section, which will open for everyone on July 2, 2022, at 10:00 (UTC).
Moreover, the token's trading, deposit, and withdrawal services excite XT.com to encourage crypto believers, seasoned crypto enthusiasts, investors, and everyone to trade the GRN token on its platform. Meanwhile, apart from adding trading support for the GRN token, the XT.com team highlighted that more and more tokens are expected to be listed on the platform this year.
Besides making GRN tokens available for trading, Mo Mukarram, XT.com's Head of Marketing, states, "XT.com extends its position as a market leader by listing the GRN token. Our goal for this year is to champion the MENA region when it comes to token listing. We encourage everyone to trade, stake, swap, and execute transactions with GRN token on our platform."
About GRN (G) Token
GRN Grid is a layer 1 decentralised blockchain with a sustainable first approach. The project is initiated by the GRN Association, based in Zug, Swiss.
The project envisions reducing the carbon footprint of the current blockchain industry and expanding upon the decentralised library of tools for businesses and customers. The main goal of this project is to create a sustainable alternative for any company or individual looking forward to adopting blockchain and web3 Technology.
GRN (G) is the native token of GRN Grid and serves multiple use cases within Grid. These use cases include staking, fee payments, and validator incentives.
GRN Grid is an energy-efficient smart contract enabled chain with high performance and low costs. In addition to sustainability, GRN Grid also includes several important features, such as an integrated payment and escrow system, swapping pools, and an encrypted chat between users. GRN Grid actively supports decentralisation and safety due to its unique Proof of Stake v2 (POS2) algorithm.
Website: https://grngrid.com/
Telegram: www.t.me/GRNCommunity
About XT.com
Launched in 2018, XT.com is the world's first social infused digital assets trading platform, headquartered in Dubai. It has multiple operation centers across the globe including Singapore and Seoul. With 3+ million registered users, over 300,000+ monthly active users, and 30+ million users in the ecosystem, XT.com strives to cater to its large user base by providing a safe and easy trading experience. The platform currently supports 500+ high-quality currencies and 800+ trading pairs which are accessible to the entire global crypto market.
Website: https://www.xt.com/
Telegram: https://t.me/XTsupport_EN
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XTexchange
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SOURCE XT.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/01/grn-g-gets-listed-xtcom/ | 2022-07-01T11:32:15Z |
Bobby Brown knows there are a ton of memes that poke fun at his relationship with his former wife Whitney Houston, but he's not interested in seeing them.
"I really don't look at all of the memes," he told CNN. "I try to stay away from things that might bother me."
Instead, Brown is focusing on healing.
The former "bad boy of R&B" is sober, in therapy and excited to share his life story.
The A&E documentary "Biography: Bobby Brown" is set to air over two days, starting on Memorial Day with his docuseries "Bobby Brown: Every Little Step" debuting the next day.
The series will focus on his family life with wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown and their children, Cassius, 12, Bodhi, 6, and Hendrix, 5.
Brown said he has no trepidation about opening up his home and life to the cameras.
"How we are doing as a family is great and I want people to see that," he said. "Families still do go through ups and downs, but they're always happy times that you should be proud of."
The singer has had his share of unhappy times.
He has shared he was molested as a child by a priest before he became a young star as a member of the boy band New Edition.
His later life included a high-profile struggle with substance abuse and a string of arrests.
There was also the tumultuous marriage to Houston, which ended in 2007 after more that 14 years.
Her death in 2012 was followed by the death of their only child, Bobbi Kristina, in 2015 and Brown's son Bobby Brown Jr. in 2020.
The elder Brown says he has coped by unpacking it all in therapy.
"Therapy is being able to talk about things that I might not normally talk about and just to get all of the cob webs out and give the people what I think I need to give them which is all of Bobby," he said.
He's not even bothered, he said, by the fact that so many have focused more on his tragedies than his triumphs because "There's been so many tragedies that it's hard to focus on what I did correct."
He does want the world to know that he and Houston loved each other tremendously, that he is proud of all his children, and that he believes he's now a better husband and father because of all he's been through.
Brown said he's also making new music, both as a solo artist and a member of New Edition, the group he broke with several times during his dark days but has since reunited with for a recent successful tour.
His message for people who may have counted him out?
"Don't look away," he said. "I still got more to do."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/entertainment/bobby-brown-wants-you-to-get-to-know-who-he-is-now/article_a7536378-4d9d-5986-a95f-f09a86475dae.html | 2022-05-26T21:15:02Z |
MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- First Horizon Corporation (NYSE: FHN) or the "Company" today announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.15 per share. The dividend is payable on October 3, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 9, 2022.
Preferred Dividend Information
Cash dividends were also declared on the Company's Series C, Series D, Series E and Series F Preferred Stock, and on First Horizon Bank's Class A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, as follows:
FHN Series C
Quarterly cash dividend of $165.00 per share on FHN's 6.60% Fixed to Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C ("Series C Preferred Stock"). This equates to a cash dividend of $0.4125 per Depositary Share (NYSE: FHN PRC), which each represent a 1/400th interest in a share of the Series C Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on November 1, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 17, 2022.
FHN Series D
Semi-annual cash dividend of $305.00 per share on FHN's 6.10% Fixed to Floating Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D ("Series D Preferred Stock"). This equates to a cash dividend of $0.7625 per Depositary Share (NYSE: FHN PRD), which each represent a 1/400th interest in a share of the Series D Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on November 1, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on October 17, 2022.
FHN Series E
Quarterly cash dividend of $1,625.00 per share on FHN's 6.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series E ("Series E Preferred Stock"). This equates to a cash dividend of $0.40625 per Depositary Share (NYSE: FHN PRE), which each represent a 1/4,000th interest in a share of the Series E Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on October 11, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 23, 2022.
FHN Series F
Quarterly cash dividend of $1,175.00 per share on FHN's 4.70% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series F ("Series F Preferred Stock"). This equates to a cash dividend of $0.29375 per Depositary Share (NYSE: FHN PRF), which each represent a 1/4,000th interest in a share of the Series F Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on October 11, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 23, 2022.
First Horizon Bank Class A
Quarterly cash dividend of $9.58333 per share on First Horizon Bank's Class A Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable on October 11, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 23, 2022.
First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $85.1 billion in assets as of June 30, 2022, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states across the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, mortgage, and title insurance services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation's best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.
FHN-G
CONTACT: Investor Relations, Ellen Taylor, (901) 523-4450
Media Relations, Beth Ardoin, (337) 278-6868
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SOURCE First Horizon Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/first-horizon-declares-cash-dividends-common-preferred-stock/ | 2022-07-26T21:17:02Z |
French journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff killed in Ukraine
By Jack Guy, Pierre Bairin and Dalal Mawad, CNN
A French journalist has been shot and killed in Ukraine, according to French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Journalist Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff was in Ukraine to show the reality of the war. On board a humanitarian bus, alongside civilians forced to flee to escape the Russian bombs, he was fatally shot,” Macron tweeted Monday.
“I share the grief of the family, friends and colleagues of Frederic Leclerc-Imhoff, to whom I send my condolences. To those who carry out the difficult mission of providing information in theaters of operation, I want to reiterate France’s unconditional support,” Macron added.
France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said she had spoken with the governor of Luhansk and asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate.
“This is a double crime, targeting a humanitarian convoy and a journalist,” she said.
Leclerc-Imhoff, 32, worked for CNN affiliate BFM TV, which released a statement saying its staff was “deeply saddened” by his death, adding that he was killed on the road to Lyssychansk in the Severodonetsk region of Ukraine.
“He was victim of a shrapnel, while he was following a humanitarian operation in an armored vehicle, this Monday. He was accompanied by his colleague Maxime Brandstaetter, who was slightly wounded in this strike, and their “fixer” Oksana Leuta, who was not hit,” reads the statement.
Leclerc-Imhoff had worked for BFM TV for six years, said the broadcaster, and was on his second trip to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion.
“The Altice Media Group and the editorial staff of BFMTV share the grief of his family and friends,” reads the statement. “This tragic event reminds us of the dangers faced by all journalists who have been risking their lives to report on this conflict for over three months now.”
This is not the first time that a journalist has been killed covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In early March a Ukrainian camera operator, Yevhenii Sakun, was reportedly killed when Kyiv’s TV tower was shelled.
Then on March 13, award-winning American journalist Brent Renaud was killed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Irpin, according to police in Kyiv. Another American journalist, Juan Arredondo, was wounded.
And the next day Fox News journalists Pierre Zakrzewski, a 55-year-old longtime war photojournalist, and Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova, a 24-year-old Ukrainian journalist working as a consultant for the network, were killed near Kyiv.
Fox News correspondent Benjamin Hall was seriously injured in the attack.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-business-consumer/2022/05/30/french-journalist-frederic-leclerc-imhoff-killed-in-ukraine/ | 2022-05-30T19:09:41Z |
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The African Union says it is deeply concerned by “the escalating military tension” between Ethiopia and Sudan after seven Sudanese soldiers and a civilian were killed in a border dispute.
The statement Wednesday by the chairman of the continent-wide organization urged both countries to cease armed hostilities and hold talks.
The incident happened in the disputed area of al-Fashaqa, which is known to Ethiopians as Alfashga.
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry reported the eight victims had been taken into Ethiopia after the soldiers were held captive in an area inside Sudan on June 22. A separate statement from Sudan’s military described the killings as a “cowardly act” and said Khartoum would retaliate.
Ethiopian authorities have denied its government troops were responsible for the killings. A spokesman for the Ethiopian military blamed Sudanese forces for illegally entering Ethiopia and clashing with a local militia.
“Independent investigations into the matter can be launched with the participation of the two sides,” Getinent Adane said.
Residents of Tach Armacho, an Ethiopian town near the Sudan border, told The Associated Press by phone that their area was hit by heavy artillery fired from Sudan until Tuesday afternoon.
Ties between the neighboring countries have deteriorated in recent years amid a long-running border dispute over large swaths of agricultural land in the al-Fashaqa area. Sudan insists the lands are within its borders, according to an agreement that demarcated the boundary between their territories in the early 1900s.
Sporadic clashes have erupted over the past two years in that area, after Sudan said it reclaimed most of its territory and called on Ethiopia to withdraw troops from at least two locations it says are inside Sudan.
In November, Sudan said six of its troops were killed in an attack by Ethiopian military and militia forces in the area. The two nations have held talks, most recently in Khartoum in December 2020, to settle the dispute over al-Fashaqa, but have not made progress.
Ethiopia, in turn, says Sudan took advantage of the deadly conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region to enter Ethiopian territory. It has called for Sudanese troops to return to positions they held before fighting erupted in Ethiopia’s Tigray region in November 2020, pitting Ethiopia’s federal forces against regional fighters. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/african-union-urges-calm-in-ethiopia-sudan-border-dispute/ | 2022-06-29T17:38:45Z |
Casey White, Vicky White shared nearly 1,000 phone calls before April escape
LAUDERDALE Co., Ala. (WAFF/Gray News) - As investigators uncover further details about Casey White’s and Vicky White’s relationship prior to the prison escape that captured national headlines, they discovered the two shared nearly 1,000 phone calls while Casey White was being held at Donaldson Correctional Facility in Bessemer, Alabama, between August 2021 and February 2022.
According to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton, Casey White and Vicky White developed a relationship while Casey White was being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center during the summer of 2021. Casey White was held in Lauderdale County at the request of his attorney for better access.
Casey White was later moved back to Donaldson Correctional Facility, where he shared phone calls with Vicky White nearly four times per day. Between August 2021 and February 2022, WAFF reports that Sheriff Singleton says Casey White and Vicky White shared 949 phone calls.
Casey White was moved back to the Lauderdale County Detention Center on Feb. 25, 2022.
With the help of Vicky White, investigators say Casey White escaped from the detention center on April 29. That escape sparked a national manhunt for 11 days until they were caught on May 9 in Evansville, Indiana.
During a police pursuit, Vicky White died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. She died the night of May 9.
Casey White was transported to Alabama to await trial. He is charged with capital murder in the 2015 death of Connie Ridgeway. He has also since been charged with murder in Vicky White’s death.
Sheriff Singleton said he doesn’t know what the two talked about on the phone or for how long the calls would last.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. via WAFF. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/13/casey-white-vicky-white-shared-nearly-1000-phone-calls-before-april-escape/ | 2022-09-13T23:01:53Z |
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) will participate in the Bernstein 38th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on Wednesday, June 1st, at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York. Joaquin Duato, Chief Executive Officer will represent the Company in a session scheduled at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).
This webcast will be available to investors and other interested parties by accessing the Johnson & Johnson website at www.investor.jnj.com.
A webcast replay will be available approximately 48-hrs after the live webcast.
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SOURCE Johnson & Johnson | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/02/johnson-amp-johnson-participate-bernstein-38th-annual-strategic-decisions-conference/ | 2022-05-03T00:47:07Z |
MILWAUKEE, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Talent Solutions Right Management, the career and talent development expert within ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN), announced today that it has been named by Forbes as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms for the second year. The expert coaching and in-person workforce development consultancy also won in 2020. Forbes originally designed the annual list to help business leaders evaluate management consulting firms as the demand for consulting services continues to rise across all sectors.
"We are honored to be included among the top management consulting firms in the U.S. once again this year," said Karel van der Mandele, Senior Vice President at Talent Solutions Right Management. "Our consultants and coaches remain committed to helping our customers and candidates tackle their toughest talent and career development challenges." Right Management received three stars in the Human Resource Consulting category.
"Given the business and talent landscape many are facing, I am proud that we can be a trusted advisor to our clients to navigate today's complexity," said Beth Linderbaum, Senior Vice President at Right Management. "As NA Delivery Leader, each day I get to see how Right Management helps individuals, leaders, and organizations connect to their deeper purpose and enable cultures that support empowerment and belonging."
Forbes partnered with Statista to produce its seventh annual list of America's Best Management Consulting Firms. This installment was compiled by surveying 7,500 partners and executives of management consultancies, as well as approximately 1,300 senior executives who worked with such firms over the last four years. The list is divided into 16 sectors—from aerospace and defense to financial institutions—and 16 functional areas—including strategy, sustainability, and digital transformation. The 218 firms that received the most recommendations are ranked according to star ratings: five stars for "very frequently recommended," four stars for "frequently recommended" and three stars for "recommended."
Talent Solutions Right Management is the global career and talent development expert within ManpowerGroup®. They have helped organizations become more agile, attractive, and innovative by creating a culture of career management and learning that nurtures future talent, motivates and engages people, and provides individuals with opportunities to increase their value throughout their careers. Its approach is centered on the fact that organizations thrive when individuals are successful in their careers. We have spent the last 35+ years identifying workforce challenges and developing innovative solutions, enabling our globally informed methods to be time-tested across more than 50 countries. For more information, visit: www.right.com.
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SOURCE Manpower Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/forbes-magazine-names-talent-solutions-right-management-one-americas-best-management-consulting-firms-2022/ | 2022-08-30T17:54:27Z |
SHANGHAI, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the recently concluded World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, athletes signed with adidas won one race after another, scoring a total of 24 medals (8 gold, 6 silver, and 10 bronze) and breaking one world record, two World Championship records, and one U.S. record.
In the men's marathon, with competitors from all over the world, Tamirat Tora, from Ethiopia, broke the race record held since 2009, running away with a World Championships record of 2:05:36. Wearing adidas ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 2, he beat his countryman, Mosinet Geremew, by more than a minute.
In the men's 110-meter hurdles, American Grant Holloway, wearing ADIZERO FINESSE, became the first athlete to defend their championship in the 110-meter hurdles in nearly two decades, while in the men's 400-meter hurdles, Brazilian Allison dos Santos, wearing ADIZERO PRIME SP2s, won the gold medal and broke the World Championships record in the process. Another defending champion was American Noah Lyles in the men's 200 meters, wearing adidas ADIZERO PRIME SP2 as he broke the national 200-meter record that had stood for 26 years by 0.01 seconds, making him the third-fastest athlete in men's 200-meter history.
In the women's 400-meter event, Shauna Miller-Uyber, from the Bahamas, won the gold medal in ADIZERO PRIME SP2s, while in the women's 100-meter hurdles, Nigeria's Tobi Amusan won gold medal in ADIZERO AVANTIs, breaking the world record with a time of 12.12s. In addition, Eleanor Patterson, from Australia, wearing adidas ADIZERO HJ, won gold in the high jump with a personal best; and Anderson Peters defended his championship title in the javelin sail event...
As the world's top athletes gathered to compete, the ADIZERO running shoe series led the charge and felled one world record after another.
With its "midsole revolution" breakthrough, adidas has taken the lead in the battle for technology
Take the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 2, the running shoe chosen by men's marathon gold medalist Tamirat Tora, as an example. Compared with other high-tech running shoes, the propulsion system of the ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 2 is more advanced. Its midsole material - LIGHTSTRIKE PRO is softer, lighter and more elastic than EVA or TPU materials. In order to better fit the feet of runners, adidas uses its ENERGYRODS carbon column design in the midsole, rather than the single carbon plate used by so many other brands. Through the "sandwich" structure of two layers of LIGHTSTRIKE PRO, with a carbon column for the forefoot and a carbon plate for the rear heel, the momentum from the five carbon columns can be fully unleashed, while the lighter forefoot allows for sharply increased resilience, leading to improved propulsion.
The core parts of a running shoe are its outsole, its midsole, and its upper. Of these, the midsole determines the shoe's elasticity and cushioning, which is key to performance.
Since the late 1970s, after the American brand Brooks first added elastic material EVA to the midsole of running shoes, a marathon battle focused on the so-called "midsole revolution" continued on the feet of top runners. Especially over the past few years, after the World Athletics Federation opened the door to technological innovation, innovation has become essential for global running shoe manufacturers such as adidas.
adidas first took the lead in this marathon in 2013, when it launched its Boost technology, combining both soft cushioning and agile responsiveness, formerly unheard of and bringing an entirely new experience to runners globally.
Four years after that, adidas launched its Futurecraft 4D technology, which uses 3D printing technology to synthesize the midsole of running shoes with resin materials. This meant that consumers could customize their own running shoes to best fit their own characteristics, achieving the perfect combination of cushioning, stability, and comfort.
It is worth mentioning that adidas' midsole revolution didn't stop there. The ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 3 running shoes, another from the record-setting ADIZERO series, was released in June this year. It adopts an upgraded design for the ENERGYRODS 2.0 energy carbon column, which combines the previously separated energy carbon columns to form a whole frame that runs parallel to the direction of the foot metatarsal, striving to provide runners with appropriate stiffness and superior energy feedback.
The ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 3 features newly upgraded technology, design and materials, which the company considers the "successor" in high-end long distance running shoes – a sublime tool for helping runners to improve performance, chase new records, and continue their legacy.
Owing to adidas' enduring pursuit of running shoe technology, adidas-contracted athletes achieved good results in 2021. In road races in 2021, more than half of the races were won by adidas-contracted athletes, who accounted for only 15% of the total, according to reports by Europe's Corriere dello Sport.
On the other hand, as more and more young consumers gravitate to environmentally friendly brands, adidas has also weighed in on its "low-carbon technology tree".
adidas has always prioritized ending plastic waste as a long-term goal, and recently proposed its sustainable "Three Loop" Strategy, made up of its Recycle Loop (sourcing raw materials that have been previously recycled), Circular Loop (producing a product that's made to be remade), and Regenerative Loop (making products out of natural materials). This emphasis on sustainability is one that adidas will continue to promote in the future.
Take the 4DFWD X PARLEY running shoes, launched in April this year, as an example. The upper material is sourced from high-performance yarn made from 81 percent Parley Ocean Plastic materials, which were recycled from plastic waste found on remote islands, beaches and coastal communities. Around 60 percent of adidas's current products are made from sustainable materials such as natural rubber, sugar cane, and marine debris. By 2025, adidas plans to increase this to 90 percent.
In 2020, the Stan Smith Mylo series became the world's first sustainable sneaker, made from Mylo mycelium material, which is a purely biological material made from mycelium and jointly developed by adidas and its partners. As a substitute for leather, its potential for ending animal products in shoes is immense.
In addition to the adaptation and reuse of marine plastic waste and the use of natural materials to manufacture products, adidas also stated in its 2021 financial report that since its first generation of recyclable FUTURECRAFT.LOOP sports running shoes, launched in 2019, the company has increased the number of MTBR (Made To Be Remade) product offers to include additional running shoes, clothing and more.
That is not all adidas is doing to innovate with its products in the name of low carbon achievement and environmental protection. In April this year, adidas and ALLBIRDS teamed up to launch the ADIZERO X ALLBIRDS 2.94 KG CO2E running shoes. As an advanced version of FUTURECRAFT.FOOTPRINT running shoes, it is a low-carbon emission sports running shoe, made from innovative materials with an outsole jointly developed by the two parties. Its carbon footprint for a single pair is only 2.94 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent.
According to legend, Alexander the Great embarked on a journey to find Oceanus, the sea at the end of the world. For adidas, its endless sea may be the continuous evolution of running shoe technology and the innovation of commercial technology.
At future track events, how many more records will athletes break with the help adidas's ever-evolving running shoe technology? In the marathon that is product innovation, where is the end for the ever-innovating adidas?
For the first such question, the answer will always be "whatever record lies ahead," while for the second, it is simply that "the journey never ends."
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SOURCE Adidas | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/04/dominance-adidas-shoes-wac-oregon/ | 2022-08-04T18:02:40Z |
Development encompasses providing teletriage services to humans
BELLEVUE, Wash., May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In a significant development, Petriage announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has informed the B2B pet health technology company that new patent No.11355249, its second, will be issued on June 7, 2022. Unlike the industry-first patent for its remote pet symptom analysis tool, this patent encompasses teletriage for all animals, including humans.
The patent signals that Petriage can potentially further develop its unique AI-driven symptom analysis and triage technology to provide similar telehealth solutions for human health care. While likely years away, such services could include state-of-the-art features that its online triage system for pets already offers. These include a symptom analysis tool to identify human ailments with increasing levels of urgency, virtual consultations with physicians and automated remote monitoring, among others.
Petriage CEO Joe Coury says that, for the present, the company intends to continue expanding the services it offers veterinarians and pet owners. "But with our sophisticated machine learning component that continues to realize richer and richer data, we could envision using such learnings to provide humans with the right telehealth information at the right time."
When Petriage applied for its limited-scope patent for its pet evaluation and triage system, which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted in February 2021 for 20 years, the company also began a longer-term track to approve a patent that widens its scope and language to encompass all animals.
The new patent underscores the tremendous power of Petriage's algorithm, developed by co-founders Shlomo Freiman, DVM, Casey Olives, Ph.D., and Allon Freiman.
"Our original impetus was to empower vets like me and provide their clients with peace of mind by leveraging AI to deliver remote patient care," said Dr. Freiman. "But the 97%-plus accuracy of the AI-driven symptom analysis tool has exceeded what we initially envisioned."
Added Olives: "What has proved so exciting is that our unique machine learning model for health data is demonstrating how to marry the clinical side with the data science side, first with pets and now potentially for humans."
With its symptom analysis tool, Petriage continues to bring fully integrated telehealth services to veterinary practices and their clients. In early January, it signaled its intent to pioneer real-time pet health monitoring through a partnership with Smart Tracking Technologies, LLC., the technology leader in smart pet wearables.
Under the partnership, Petriage will integrate real-time pet health data from its symptom analysis tracker into Smart Tracking Technologies' Link Smart Pet Wearable device. Link Users can access the symptom analysis tool and, for a nominal additional monthly fee, gain unlimited access to Petriage Live, a premium 24/7 veterinary Nurse Helpline. Petriage is hoping to beta test the wearables application this year.
About Petriage
Petriage is a B2B pet health technology company that brings fully integrated telehealth services to veterinary practices and their clients. Designed by a vet specifically for veterinarians, its platform provides a unique user-friendly way for vets to communicate with clients and deliver care to pets remotely, including a proprietary patented teletriage app in which pet parents are provided a recommendation in real-time about the need and urgency to seek medical care for their pets. Learn more at petriage.com.
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SOURCE Petriage | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/petriage-awarded-us-patent-ai-driven-telehealth-technology-beyond-pets/ | 2022-05-20T14:36:09Z |
New home services company completes third acquisition in Central Florida
TAMPA BAY, Fla., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Southeastern Home Services, a residential home services provider specializing in HVAC, plumbing and electrical services, has purchased Port Richey, Fla.-based Stay Cool Air Conditioning and Heating. The deal, backed by WhitneyWilder, marks the third acquisition of Southeastern Home Services following their purchases of Mario's Air Conditioning and Heating and Pro-Team Plumbing in of this same year.
"It's great to have Stay Cool join the Southeastern Home Services family of brands," said Tom Birchard, CEO of Southeastern Home Services. "Stay Cool has built an outstanding reputation with homeowners in the Tampa market through an unwavering commitment to 24/7 service and the ability to match the best technology and solution with their customers' needs. We are eager to grow the business, expand further into residential service, and build on the foundation Robert Ballard, Justin Harrell and their company have established."
Stay Cool Air Conditioning and Heating, founded by Robert Ballard and Justin Harrell in 2011, offers a full range of residential HVAC services including general service needs, maintenance, and replacements. The team of 35 employees provides 24-hour service to Tampa Bay and the surrounding areas.
"We're excited for our team to become a part of Southeastern Home Services," said Harrell. "There are some things we do really well that we can share with the other portfolio companies, and we hope to learn from them as well. We also see the benefits for our customers in bringing plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services together through one company."
Southeastern Home Services is a group of best-in-class contractor brands that have been leaders in the home services industry for nearly 20 years. Formed in early 2022, it has plans to rapidly expand through strategic acquisitions. With multiple locations in the Greater Tampa Bay, Greater Orlando and Central Florida areas, the group serves more than 5,000 customers across the region.
Southeastern Home Services is a leading residential home services provider specializing in HVAC, plumbing and electrical services. Serving more than 5,000 customers with multiple locations around the Greater Tampa Bay area, our family of brands have been leaders in the home services industry for nearly 20 years. For more information, visit the website at southeasternhomeservices.com.
WhitneyWilder is a Family Office based in St. Petersburg, FL that invests its own capital into lower middle market companies and creates value through distribution. "People are the cornerstone of our value proposition. We are committed to a partnership culture; integrity drives how we select ambitious, extraordinarily talented people." – Robert Wilder, Managing Partner. For more information, visit the website at whitwild.com
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SOURCE Southeastern Home Services | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/southeastern-home-services-acquires-stay-cool-air-conditioning/ | 2022-08-15T19:51:06Z |
Report: 45% of people have not felt true happiness in 2-plus years
(Gray News) - A global report released in June shared that nearly half of the people surveyed said they hadn’t felt true happiness for some time.
Oracle.com shared what it called a “Happiness Report” that was conducted in January. It found that 45% of people have not felt true happiness for more than two years and 25% don’t know or have forgotten what it means to feel truly happy.
More than half of the people (53%) in the survey shared that they wish money could buy happiness, while 88% are looking for new experiences to make them smile and laugh.
People are also prioritizing health (80%), personal connections (79%) and experiences (53%) to gain happiness.
“We’ve all been through some very tough years, and around the world, we’re short on happiness. We’re starved for experiences that make us smile and laugh, and brands can help,” said author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin.
Those surveyed also shared that they want brands to make them smile and laugh, with 78% believing companies can do more to deliver happiness to their customers and 91% preferring brands to be funny.
“Most business leaders want to make consumers laugh more and understand it’s a critical part of establishing a true relationship,” said Rob Tarkoff, with the Oracle Fusion Cloud Customer Experience.
The report included insights from more than 12,000 consumers and business leaders across 14 countries. Its findings were based on a survey conducted by Savanta, Inc. It included people from multiple countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Mexico and Brazil.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/01/report-45-people-have-not-felt-true-happiness-2-plus-years/ | 2022-07-01T20:22:54Z |
(KTLA) — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a commercial airline pilot reported seeing a jet pack near the Los Angeles International Airport.
The sighting happened around 2:45 p.m. Thursday, about 15 miles east of the airport.
It’s not the first time the FAA has been alerted about possible jet pack sightings near LAX. Several sightings have been reported since October 2020, and there have been continued reported sightings every few months.
The FAA has worked with the FBI to investigate each jet pack sighting, and so far none — including Thursday’s reported sighting — have been verified. In fact, back in November 2021, the Los Angeles Police Department released video of some strange-looking balloons that they theorized could be responsible for the jet pack reports.
The video, captured sometime in November 2020, shows a skeleton-like balloon, possibly an inflatable Jack Skellington character from the “Nightmare Before Christmas” film.
It remains unclear at this time what the reported jet pack sightings actually are, but some experts have said it’s unlikely to be a person due to the high altitude of the sightings. Another theory that has been floated, other than balloons, is that it’s a high-powered drone with a mannequin attached. | https://cw33.com/news/pilot-reports-seeing-jet-pack-near-lax-again/ | 2022-06-24T15:16:34Z |
NORTHAMPTON, Mass., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fernway, the top-selling recreational cannabis vape brand in Massachusetts, has announced the Fernway Recycling Program, a first-of-its-kind green initiative to accompany the launch of Fernway's new Traveler vape.
The Fernway Recycling Program is the first cannabis vape hardware recycling program offered in Massachusetts, positioning Fernway as both a market and an environmental leader. It creates a simple and compliant pathway for cannabis vape consumers to minimize waste and prioritize sustainability. Customers who purchase a Fernway Traveler at a licensed dispensary can bring their finished Traveler back to the dispensary and deposit it in a secure Fernway Dropbox. Fernway will then coordinate the retrieval and recycling of empty Travelers through its partnership with GAIACA, a leader in providing compliant solutions for cannabis waste.
"We always put the customer first when we develop new products, so we're thrilled to make it easy for our customers to easily recycle their Travelers and join the conversation around sustainability in the cannabis industry," says Fernway CEO and co-founder Kit Gallant. "When vapes are marketed as 'disposables', that's a problem. It encourages people to throw them in the trash, which creates environmental waste. The vast majority of our customers say that wastefulness is the single biggest hesitation they have about vaping, and it doesn't have to be that way. The customer no longer has to choose between having a great cannabis experience and being environmentally conscious. So as part of our launch of the Fernway Traveler, we created the Fernway Recycling Program, and that's why we say that Traveler is not a 'disposable' - it's a 'recyclable.'"
Marketed as an ultra-discreet product for the casual and on-the-go consumer, the Traveler is a "pocket vape" - a single-use vaporizer with an integrated battery. "We designed the Fernway Traveler to offer customers an undeniably superior product," says Gallant. "It has multiple unique features - like a recharging port, a smart power gauge, and a precision-crafted tank to make your oil last longer and go further. But to really ensure the best-in-class experience people expect from Fernway, we're embracing and investing in sustainability. That's why we created the Fernway Recycling Program, and it's how we keep the promise we make to our customers - that the Fernway brand means quality, and that we will always go the extra mile."
The Fernway Traveler and the Fernway Recycling Program will be rolled out to dispensaries statewide starting in July 2022. After launching in February 2021, Fernway quickly became Massachusetts' fastest-selling cannabis vape brand as well as the market leader in the vape cartridge category. Fernway products - which all feature top-shelf terpenes, custom hardware and widely acclaimed packaging - are currently carried by over 160 dispensaries. BDSA, the cannabis industry analytics leader, recently named Fernway as one of the top 5 cannabis brands in the nation to watch in 2022.
Please direct media requests to Liam O'Brien at press@fernway.com.
Fernway is a recreational cannabis vape brand based in Northampton, Mass. We create cannabis vapes for people who celebrate the good life: good food, good music, good scenery and good company. By combining premium custom hardware, exceptional terpenes and ultra pure cannabis oil, we bring you the best-in-class vape cartridge you deserve.
As passionate cannabis consumers, we know how an exceptional cannabis vape can elevate good experiences into great ones- and we want to share that with you. Our vapes deliver undeniable style and outstanding flavor. Each one meets our uncompromising quality standards so you can choose Fernway with confidence and focus on savoring every moment.
To learn more, visit fernway.com and follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Fernway | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/cannabis-brand-fernway-introduces-groundbreaking-recycling-initiative-accompany-new-traveler-vape/ | 2022-07-18T13:09:08Z |
STAMFORD, Conn., July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Charter Communications, Inc. (along with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Charter") today reported financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.
- Second quarter total residential and small and medium business ("SMB") mobile lines increased by 344,000. As of June 30, 2022, Charter served a total of 4.3 million mobile lines.
- Second quarter total residential and SMB Internet customers increased by 38,000 when excluding 59,000 customer disconnects related to the discontinuation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program and additional requirements of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Including the unfavorable transition impact, second quarter total residential and SMB Internet customers decreased by 21,000. As of June 30, 2022, Charter served a total of 30.3 million residential and SMB Internet customers.
- As of June 30, 2022, Charter had a total of 32.1 million residential and SMB customer relationships, which excludes mobile-only relationships.
- Second quarter revenue of $13.6 billion grew by 6.2% year-over-year, driven by residential revenue growth of 4.5%, mobile revenue growth of 39.8% and commercial revenue growth of 4.2%.
- Net income attributable to Charter shareholders totaled $1.5 billion in the second quarter, an increase of 44.2% year-over-year.
- Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA1 of $5.5 billion grew by 9.7% year-over-year.
- Second quarter capital expenditures totaled $2.2 billion and included $357 million of rural construction initiative capital expenditures and $95 million of mobile-related capital expenditures.
- Second quarter net cash flows from operating activities totaled $3.7 billion, compared to $4.0 billion in the prior year quarter.
- Second quarter free cash flow1 of $1.7 billion decreased by 19.8% year-over-year, primarily due to higher cash taxes and capital expenditures associated with Charter's rural construction initiative.
- During the second quarter, Charter purchased 8.3 million shares of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Communications Holdings, LLC ("Charter Holdings") common units for approximately $4.3 billion.
"Our growth has always been driven by offering value-rich packages at prices customers can afford," said Tom Rutledge, Chairman and CEO of Charter Communications. "Looking forward, we remain well-positioned to grow our business using that same strategy. Our fixed and mobile broadband services continue to converge, and we offer a unique connectivity package while meaningfully reducing customer bills. So there is a large opportunity for us to save customers money, which in turn raises connects, reduces churn and drives overall customer relationship growth."
As of June 30, 2022, Charter had 29.9 million residential customer relationships, with year-over-year growth of 1.0%.
Second quarter residential Internet customers increased by 17,000 when excluding 59,000 customer disconnects related to the discontinuation of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program and additional requirements of the Affordable Connectivity Program. Including the unfavorable transition impact, second quarter residential Internet customers decreased by 42,000, compared to an increase of 365,000 customers during the second quarter of 2021. Currently, 300 Mbps is the minimum speed offered to new Spectrum Internet® customers across Charter's footprint. As of June 30, 2022, over 80% of total Internet customers subscribed to tiers that provided 300 Mbps or more of speed. Charter also offers Spectrum Internet Ultra (500 Mbps) and Spectrum Internet Gig (1 Gbps) across its entire footprint. Charter's Advanced Home WiFi, a managed WiFi service that provides customers an optimized home network while providing greater control of their connected devices, is available to nearly all Spectrum Internet customers.
Residential video customers decreased by 240,000 in the second quarter of 2022, compared to a decline of 63,000 in the second quarter of 2021, partly driven by downgrades following an April pass through of higher programming expense. As of June 30, 2022, Charter had 14.9 million residential video customers.
During the second quarter of 2022, residential wireline voice customers declined by 265,000, compared to a decline of 99,000 in the second quarter of 2021. As of June 30, 2022, Charter had 8.2 million residential wireline voice customers.
Second quarter 2022 residential revenue per residential customer (excluding mobile) totaled $116.00, and increased by 2.8% compared to the prior year period, given promotional rate step-ups and rate adjustments that in part pass through programmer rate increases, partly offset by a higher mix of non-video customer relationships and a higher mix of lower priced video packages within Charter's video customer base.
SMB customer relationships grew by 19,000 in the second quarter of 2022, while second quarter 2021 SMB customer relationships grew by 33,000. Enterprise PSUs grew by 3,000 in the second quarter of 2022 versus 4,000 added in the second quarter of 2021.
During the second quarter of 2022, Charter added 344,000 mobile lines, compared to growth of 265,000 during the second quarter of 2021. Spectrum MobileTM is available to all new and existing Spectrum Internet customers. Spectrum Mobile customers can choose "Unlimited" or "By the Gig" data plans. In October 2021, Spectrum Mobile introduced new Unlimited pricing starting at $29.99/month per Unlimited line for customers with at least two lines. Additionally, customers qualify for the new multiline pricing when combining By the Gig lines for $14/GB with Unlimited lines. All Spectrum Mobile plans offer the fastest overall speeds1, include 5G access and taxes and fees and do not require contracts. Spectrum Mobile's multiline Unlimited pricing is part of Charter's converged network strategy to provide consumers a differentiated connectivity experience with highly competitive, simple data plans and pricing.
Revenues
Second quarter revenue increased by 6.2% year-over-year to $13.6 billion, driven primarily by growth in residential, mobile and commercial revenues.
Residential revenue totaled $10.4 billion in the second quarter, an increase of 4.5% year-over-year.
Internet revenue grew by 6.5% year-over-year to $5.6 billion, driven by growth in Internet customers during the last year, promotional rate step-ups and reduced bundled discounts, partly offset by lower bundled revenue allocation.
Video revenue totaled $4.5 billion in the second quarter, an increase of 2.4% compared to the prior year period, driven by promotional rate step-ups, video rate adjustments that pass through programmer rate increases and higher bundled revenue allocation, mostly offset by a higher mix of lower priced video packages within Charter's video customer base and a decline in video customers during the last year.
Voice revenue totaled $398 million in the second quarter, an increase of 1.0% compared to the second quarter of 2021, driven by voice rate adjustments, partly offset by a decline in wireline voice customers over the last twelve months.
Commercial revenue increased by 4.2% year-over-year to $1.7 billion, driven by SMB and enterprise revenue growth of 3.7% and 4.9% year-over-year, respectively. Second quarter 2022 SMB revenue growth was driven by customer relationship growth. Enterprise revenue excluding wholesale increased by 8.2% year-over-year, mostly reflecting PSU growth.
Second quarter advertising sales revenue of $460 million increased by 12.0% compared to the year-ago quarter, primarily driven by higher political revenue. Excluding political revenue in both periods, advertising sales revenue decreased by 0.7% year-over-year, due to lower local and national advertising revenue, particularly in the automotive category, partly offset by higher advanced advertising revenue.
Second quarter mobile revenue totaled $726 million, an increase of 39.8% year-over-year, driven by mobile line growth.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Second quarter programming costs decreased by $6 million, or 0.2% as compared to the second quarter of 2021, reflecting fewer video customers and a higher mix of lower cost packages within Charter's video customer base, mostly offset by contractual programming increases and renewals.
Regulatory, connectivity and produced content expenses decreased by $69 million, or 10.3% year-over-year, primarily driven by lower sports rights costs given a normalized game schedule in the second quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2021 when more games were played due to a delayed start of the 2020-2021 NBA season and lower video CPE sold to customers.
Costs to service customers increased by $93 million, or 5.1% year-over-year. The year-over-year increase in costs to service customers was primarily driven by low bad debt in the second quarter of 2021, which benefited from government stimulus packages and higher bad debt in the second quarter of 2022. Costs to service customers excluding bad debt increased by 1.1% year-over-year primarily due to a larger customer base and higher fuel costs, partly offset by productivity improvements.
Marketing expenses increased by $65 million, or 8.6% year-over-year, due to higher labor costs driven by previously announced wage increases to a $20 per hour starting wage and higher staffing levels as Charter completes the insourcing of its inbound sales and retention call centers with a focus on providing better service to new and existing customers.
Second quarter mobile costs totaled $797 million, an increase of 35.9% year-over-year, and were comprised of device costs, customer acquisition costs, and service and operating costs.
Other expenses increased by $13 million, or 1.3% as compared to the second quarter of 2021.
Net Income Attributable to Charter Shareholders
Net income attributable to Charter shareholders totaled $1.5 billion in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $1.0 billion in the second quarter of 2021. The year-over-year increase in net income attributable to Charter shareholders was primarily driven by higher Adjusted EBITDA.
Net income per basic common share attributable to Charter shareholders totaled $8.96 in the second quarter of 2022 compared to $5.48 during the same period last year. The increase was primarily the result of the factors described above in addition to an 11.8% decrease in basic weighted average common shares outstanding versus the prior year period.
Adjusted EBITDA
Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $5.5 billion grew by 9.7% year-over-year, reflecting growth in revenue and operating expenses of 6.2% and 3.9%, respectively.
Capital Expenditures
Property, plant and equipment expenditures totaled $2.2 billion in the second quarter of 2022, compared to $1.9 billion during the second quarter of 2021, primarily driven by an increase in line extensions and customer premise equipment ("CPE"), partly offset by a decrease in scalable infrastructure. The increase in line extensions was due to Charter's rural construction initiative. The increase in CPE was primarily due to higher spend on Advanced Home WiFi equipment. The decrease in scalable infrastructure was primarily related to timing of spend. Second quarter capital expenditures included $357 million of rural construction initiative spend, most of which was included in line extensions. Second quarter capital expenditures also included $95 million of mobile costs, most of which related to information technology systems and CBRS small cell construction and were included in support capital and scalable infrastructure.
Charter currently expects full year 2022 cable capital expenditures, excluding capital expenditures associated with its rural construction initiative, to be between $7.1 billion and $7.3 billion.
Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow
During the second quarter of 2022, net cash flows from operating activities totaled $3.7 billion, compared to $4.0 billion in the prior year quarter. The year-over-year decrease in net cash flows from operating activities was primarily due to higher cash taxes, higher cash paid for interest and an unfavorable change in working capital, excluding the changes in accrued interest and taxes and accrued expenses related to capital expenditures, partly offset by higher Adjusted EBITDA.
Free cash flow in the second quarter of 2022 totaled $1.7 billion, compared to $2.1 billion during the same period last year. The year-over-year decrease in free cash flow was primarily driven by a decrease in net cash flows from operating activities and an increase in capital expenditures.
Liquidity & Financing
As of June 30, 2022, total principal amount of debt was $95.7 billion and Charter's credit facilities provided approximately $4.4 billion of additional liquidity in excess of Charter's $483 million cash position.
In May 2022, Charter Communications Operating, LLC ("Charter Operating") entered into an amendment to its credit agreement (the "Amendment") to: (i) upsize term A loans by $2.3 billion to $6.05 billion and extend the maturity to August 31, 2027 from March 31, 2023 and February 1, 2025, (ii) create and borrow a new tranche of $500 million of term A-6 loans maturing August 31, 2028, (iii) increase the size of Charter Operating's revolving credit facility and extend the maturity date to August 31, 2027 from March 31, 2023 and February 1, 2025 and (iv) make certain other amendments to the credit agreement. Charter used a portion of the proceeds from the Amendment to repay all of the term A-2 loans, term A-4 loans and borrowings under the revolving credit facility outstanding prior to the effective date of the Amendment.
After giving effect to the Amendment: (i) the aggregate principal amount of term A-5 loans outstanding is $6.05 billion with a pricing of Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") plus 1.25%, (ii) the aggregate principal amount of term A-6 loans outstanding is $500 million with a pricing of SOFR plus 1.50% and (iii) the aggregate amount of the revolving credit facility increased to a total capacity of $5.5 billion and the interest rate benchmark changed from London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") to SOFR, with a pricing of SOFR plus 1.25%. The aggregate principal amount of term B-1 loans (maturing April 30, 2025) and term B-2 loans (maturing February 1, 2027) outstanding are $2.4 billion and $3.7 billion, respectively, with LIBOR-based pricing unchanged.
Share Repurchases
During the three months ended June 30, 2022, Charter purchased 8.3 million shares of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units for approximately $4.3 billion. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, Charter purchased 14.3 million shares of Charter Class A common stock and Charter Holdings common units, or 7.2% of fully diluted shares outstanding (including as-exchanged Charter Holdings common units) as of December 31, 2021, for approximately $7.8 billion.
Charter will host a webcast on Friday, July 29, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) related to the contents of this release.
The webcast can be accessed live via the Company's investor relations website at ir.charter.com. Participants should go to the webcast link no later than 10 minutes prior to the start time to register. The webcast will be archived at ir.charter.com two hours after completion of the webcast.
The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, which will be posted on the "Results & SEC Filings" section of the Company's investor relations website at ir.charter.com, when it is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). A slide presentation to accompany the conference call and a trending schedule containing historical customer and financial data will also be available in the "Results & SEC Filings" section.
The Company uses certain measures that are not defined by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to evaluate various aspects of its business. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities reported in accordance with GAAP. These terms, as defined by Charter, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are reconciled to net income attributable to Charter shareholders and net cash flows from operating activities, respectively, in the Addendum to this release.
Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to Charter shareholders plus net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, other income (expenses), net and other operating (income) expenses, net, such as special charges and (gain) loss on sale or retirement of assets. As such, it eliminates the significant non-cash depreciation and amortization expense that results from the capital-intensive nature of the Company's businesses as well as other non-cash or special items, and is unaffected by the Company's capital structure or investment activities. However, this measure is limited in that it does not reflect the periodic costs of certain capitalized tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues and the cash cost of financing. These costs are evaluated through other financial measures.
Free cash flow is defined as net cash flows from operating activities, less capital expenditures and changes in accrued expenses related to capital expenditures.
Management and Charter's board of directors use Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow to assess Charter's performance and its ability to service its debt, fund operations and make additional investments with internally generated funds. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA generally correlates to the leverage ratio calculation under the Company's credit facilities or outstanding notes to determine compliance with the covenants contained in the facilities and notes (all such documents have been previously filed with the SEC). For the purpose of calculating compliance with leverage covenants, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA, as presented, excluding certain expenses paid by its operating subsidiaries to other Charter entities. The Company's debt covenants refer to these expenses as management fees, which were $348 million and $690 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and $365 million and $642 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.
Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR) is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the Company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, Mobile and Voice.
For small and medium-sized companies, Spectrum Business® delivers the same suite of broadband products and services coupled with special features and applications to enhance productivity, while for larger businesses and government entities, Spectrum Enterprise provides highly customized, fiber-based solutions. Spectrum Reach® delivers tailored advertising and production for the modern media landscape. The Company also distributes award-winning news coverage, sports and high-quality original programming to its customers through Spectrum Networks and Spectrum Originals. More information about Charter can be found at corporate.charter.com.
This communication includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding, among other things, our plans, strategies and prospects, both business and financial. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations as reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, without limitation, the factors described under "Risk Factors" from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this communication may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "should," "planned," "will," "may," "intend," "estimated," "aim," "on track," "target," "opportunity," "tentative," "positioning," "designed," "create," "predict," "project," "initiatives," "seek," "would," "could," "continue," "ongoing," "upside," "increases," "grow," "focused on" and "potential," among others. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this communication are set forth in our annual report on Form 10-K, and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the SEC, and include, but are not limited to:
- our ability to sustain and grow revenues and cash flow from operations by offering Internet, video, voice, mobile, advertising and other services to residential and commercial customers, to adequately meet the customer experience demands in our service areas and to maintain and grow our customer base, particularly in the face of increasingly aggressive competition, the need for innovation and the related capital expenditures;
- the impact of competition from other market participants, including but not limited to incumbent telephone companies, direct broadcast satellite ("DBS") operators, wireless broadband and telephone providers, digital subscriber line ("DSL") providers, fiber to the home providers and providers of video content over broadband Internet connections;
- general business conditions, unemployment levels and the level of activity in the housing sector and economic uncertainty or downturn, including the impacts of the Novel Coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic to sales opportunities from residential move activity, our customers, our vendors and local, state and federal governmental responses to the pandemic;
- our ability to obtain programming at reasonable prices or to raise prices to offset, in whole or in part, the effects of higher programming costs (including retransmission consents and distribution requirements);
- our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies including consumer services and service platforms;
- any events that disrupt our networks, information systems or properties and impair our operating activities or our reputation;
- the effects of governmental regulation on our business including subsidies to consumers, subsidies and incentives for competitors, costs, disruptions and possible limitations on operating flexibility related to, and our ability to comply with, regulatory conditions applicable to us;
- the ability to hire and retain key personnel;
- our ability to procure necessary services and equipment from our vendors in a timely manner and at reasonable costs;
- the availability and access, in general, of funds to meet our debt obligations prior to or when they become due and to fund our operations and necessary capital expenditures, either through (i) cash on hand, (ii) free cash flow, or (iii) access to the capital or credit markets; and
- our ability to comply with all covenants in our indentures and credit facilities, any violation of which, if not cured in a timely manner, could trigger a default of our other obligations under cross-default provisions.
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We are under no duty or obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this communication.
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SOURCE Charter Communications, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/charter-announces-second-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-07-29T11:56:18Z |
MONTBONNOT, France and SINGAPORE, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UnitySC, the leading provider of metrology and inspection equipment for the semiconductor industry, announces a successful EUR 48 million funding round led by Jolt Capital, the French Government through French Tech Souveraineté (a program operated by Bpifrance) and Supernova Invest.
Driven by sectors like automotive, IoT or communication devices, demand for electronic chips is rising sharply. Measurements and inspection of wafers at every step of the manufacturing process are becoming ever more critical to ensure minimal rates of failure and increase yield. Advanced packaging, such as three-dimensional integrated circuits (3DIC), one of the current key drivers for semiconductors performance, can require over 1000 fabrication steps. With cascading defects, the overall yield can dramatically plummet, making high-speed quality control the best insurance and an ideal way to save energy and reduce costs.
UnitySC is already a reference at many wafer manufacturers and IC foundries, with hundreds of machines installed and a leading position in the field of 3DIC metrology. Beside advanced packaging measuring, UnitySC offers a full range of equipment dedicated to other types of high-end processes, most notably in patterned and un-patterned defect inspection for compound semiconductors, transparent substrate or specialty devices.
Headquartered in France, UnitySC has a global footprint with subsidiaries in Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and USA. With a portfolio of over 150 active patents, the company benefits from decisive technology advantages that offer competitive edge in the areas of improved throughput, higher sensitivity, or the ability to measure on both sides of wafers.
With 70% growth since 2020 and a YoY doubling of revenue expected for 2022, UnitySC is scaling 3 times faster than the global market of semiconductor capital equipment.
UnitySC's EUR 48 million financing round is led by Jolt Capital, the French Government through French Tech Souveraineté and Supernova Invest who will join historical and majority shareholder Fogale Nanotech on the board of directors. These new financial resources will expand and accelerate UnitySC's growth initiatives, and will be used to finance working capital, a new ambitious R&D program, new subsidiaries openings in China and Korea, new manufacturing capabilities and a demo lab in Asia.
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1828642/UnitySC_Logo.jpg
Contacts
(France) Eloi Delorme, CFO : eloi.delorme@unity-sc.com
Philippe Perez : philippe.perez@jolt-capital.com
Gildas de la Monneraye: gildas.delamonneraye@mascaret.eu
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SOURCE UnitySC | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/unitysc-raises-eur-48-million-with-jolt-capital-french-government-supernova-invest/ | 2022-06-01T09:20:20Z |
Why Dolby Atmos-enabled sound bars are still a good choice
While sound bars are better than integrated TV speakers, they haven’t always lived up to their reputation. With Dolby Atmos becoming increasingly common, it’s worth revisiting sound bars to see how much better they are than they used to be. A lot of them are on sale right now, so now’s a great time to get one.
We sat down with resident tech expert Jaime Vazquez to get his thoughts on how and why a Dolby Atmos sound bar is a good investment right now with the current discounts.
What is Dolby Atmos?
Dolby Atmos is a proprietary audio protocol designed for use with home theater systems, such as 7.1-channel surround sound. The protocol separates an audio track into separate streams similar to traditional surround sound. It also adds height channels and data that tells each stream which direction it’s supposed to come from.
Typically, you need satellite speakers mounted above viewers’ heads to take advantage of Dolby Atmos. As Vazquez noted, “The speaker knows where all the other speakers are. You have a much more customized experience because you’re getting things relative to your listening space, as opposed to hoping that the soundtrack matches your room.”
Instead of overhead speakers, Atmos-enabled sound bars leverage multiple drivers pointed in different directions to simulate spatial audio. Vazquez continued, “The big deal with sound bars now is that they got a lot better at bouncing sound around a room. They now are really good at faking surround sound.”
Why Dolby Atmos is worth it
For a few years, Dolby Atmos seemed like more of a marketing stunt than a useful home theater technology. This was largely because media, such as movies and TV shows, must be specifically mastered to support the protocol.
According to Vazquez, “It used to be that Atmos was a feature that was primarily found on Blu-ray discs and the Apple TV. But, the deal is now that if you have the gear, you can log into your Netflix, HBO Max or Paramount+ and give you the surround-sound experience.”
Previously, Dolby Atmos was more for early adopter tech enthusiasts. Now, it’s more worthwhile to be able to play back Dolby Atmos content because of the streaming services that support it. There’s not a single, specific reason why Dolby Atmos sound bars are priced so well right now. Overall, manufacturers are taking advantage of the standard’s increased adoption and offering a wider range of Dolby Atmos sound bars, and they are putting older and more basic models on sale.
How Dolby Atmos sound bars work
Affordable sound bars usually have just two or three full-range speakers, while a quality Dolby Atmos-enabled model will have more. “Typically, a Dolby Atmos sound bar has speakers firing in all directions to mimic the surround-sound effect. Whereas if you’re looking at a 2.1- or a 3.1-channel model, that’s just stereo, not surround,” Vazquez said.
Additionally, acoustic refinements and increased driver efficiency have led to better sound quality, especially in the low end. To sum it up, Vazquez said, “sound bars have hit the sweet spot of reliably being able to produce quality surround effects at an affordable price.”
How to pick a Dolby Atmos sound bar
Vazquez recommends a sound bar that comes with additional satellite speakers. At the top of the line, sound bar setups like the Samsung HW-Q950A boast several drivers in the front in addition to full-range satellites and a powerful subwoofer. The Vizio M512a-H6 costs considerably less, is outfitted with 11 speakers in total and approaches full-on surround sound systems in performance.
However, Vazquez advises caution when looking for an especially affordable solution. “There’s a big gap between budget-friendly and high-quality sound bars,” he said, “and some budget models give the whole category a bad name.” There are exceptions. The TCL Alto 8i delivers decent simulated spatial audio at a low price.
Sound bar features to consider
- Number of inputs: “If you’re a gamer or have multiple devices to plug in, you’ll need more than one input into the sound bar,” Vazquez noted.
- Audio/video connections: Many sound bars let you route the audio and video connection directly through the unit itself, but not all of them do. For some, you’ll need to use the audio return channel function to drive the sound bar. Make sure that your TV supports ARC or eARC before buying a sound bar that doesn’t allow for direct audio input.
- HDR pass-through: If your sound bar does accept direct connections, make sure it supports HDR10 or, ideally, Dolby Vision pass-through to take advantage of modern dynamic contrast.
- Wireless subwoofer: You can’t get a cinematic experience without a dedicated sub.
- Built-in apps: Premium sound bars often include features that tailor the output to the shape of the room, while others have built-in streaming platforms. The former is a great way to improve the audio experience, but most users won’t need the latter.
Best Dolby Atmos sound bars
It’s a high-end sound bar that sounds better than many full-featured surround-sound systems. Sold by Amazon
With two satellites, a subwoofer and consistently accurate sound, this midrange Vizio model is the perfect blend of price and performance. Sold by Amazon
There aren’t any other sound bars in its price range that perform as well. Sold by Amazon
It is more affordable than most and offers particularly impressive bass, although it doesn’t have much in the way of sound enhancement or room correction features. Sold by Amazon
Seven internal drivers help this moderately priced option deliver powerful simulated surround sound without the inconvenience of installing satellite speakers. Sold by Amazon
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/as-dolby-atmos-sound-bars-are-placed-on-deep-discount-is-it-worth-getting-one-now/ | 2022-04-14T19:47:32Z |
HOUSTON, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), the largest provider of deathcare products and services in North America, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of twenty-five cents per share of common stock. The quarterly cash dividend announced today is payable on June 30, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2022. While the Company intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, all subsequent dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, are subject to final determination by the Board of Directors each quarter after its review of the Company's financial performance.
The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has increased the authorized level of repurchases of its common stock by approximately $394 million. When combined with approximately $206 million of authority remaining under the existing program, this represents a total of $600 million of current share repurchase authority effective today.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements have been made in reliance on the "safe harbor" protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be accompanied by words such as "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," "anticipate," or "predict," that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein and in any other documents or oral presentations made by, or on behalf of us. There can be no assurance that future dividends will be declared. The actual declaration of future dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, is subject to final determination by our Board of Directors each quarter after its review of our financial performance. Important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, among others, restrictions on the payment of dividends under existing or future credit agreements or other financing arrangements; changes in tax laws relating to corporate dividends; a determination by the Board of Directors that the declaration of a dividend is not in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders; an increase in our cash needs or a decrease in available cash; or a deterioration in our financial condition or results. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Copies of this document as well as other SEC filings can be obtained from our website at http://www.sci-corp.com. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by us, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
About Service Corporation International
Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North America's leading provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services, as well as final-arrangement planning in advance, serving more than 600,000 families each year. Our diversified portfolio of brands provides families and individuals a full range of choices to meet their needs, from simple cremations to full life celebrations and personalized remembrances. Our Dignity Memorial® brand is the name families turn to for professionalism, compassion, and attention to detail that is second to none. At March 31, 2022, we owned and operated 1,467 funeral service locations and 488 cemeteries (of which 300 are combination locations) in 44 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit our website at www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial®, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com.
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SOURCE Service Corporation International | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/service-corporation-international-declares-quarterly-cash-dividend-increases-share-repurchase-authorization/ | 2022-05-04T17:14:20Z |
Heat beat 76ers 99-90 in Game 6 to advance to East finals
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and waved “bye bye” to the Philly crowd as he sent the Miami Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 99-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night in Game 6. The Heat will play the winner of the Milwaukee-Boston series. The Heat reached the conference finals for the second time in three seasons, again with Butler leading the charge. Philly fans — and many inside the 76ers organization — still can’t believe the franchise let Butler get away after the 2019 season. He did not mess around and scored 14 points in the third quarter when the Heat used a 16-2 run to take control. Joel Embiid scored 20 points for Philadelphia on 7-of-24 shooting. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/12/heat-beat-76ers-99-90-in-game-6-to-advance-to-east-finals/ | 2022-05-13T03:49:57Z |
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras ("Petrobras") (NYSE: PBR) today announced the consideration for the previously announced cash tender offers (each, an "Offer" and collectively, the "Offers") by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Petrobras Global Finance B.V. ("PGF"), with respect to any and all of (i) its notes of the series set forth in the table below under the heading "Tender Group 1" and (ii) its notes of the series set forth in the table below under the heading "Tender Group 2,". Tender Group 1 and Tender Group 2 are referred to herein individually as a "Tender Group" and collectively as the "Tender Groups." The notes for each Tender Group are referred to herein collectively as the "Notes."
The following table sets forth certain information about the Offers, including the applicable consideration that holders of Notes are eligible to receive for Notes validly tendered and accepted in the Offers and the repurchase yield for each series of Notes, in each case as calculated at 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) today.
The Offers are being made pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated April 5, 2022 ("Offer to Purchase"), and the accompanying notice of guaranteed delivery (together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Offer Documents").
The Offers will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, today unless extended with respect to an Offer. The settlement date with respect to the Offers is expected to occur on April 14, 2022 (the "Settlement Date").
The exchange rates to be used to calculate the maximum consideration payable for each Tender Group is £1.3040 per US$1.00 and €1.0896 per US$1.00, the applicable exchange rates as of 11:00 a.m., New York City time today, as reported on Bloomberg screen page "FXIP" under the heading "FX Rate vs. USD."
# # #
PGF has engaged BNP Paribas Securities Corp. ("BNP PARIBAS"), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citigroup"), HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. ("HSBC"), Mizuho Securities USA LLC ("Mizuho Securities"), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC ("Morgan Stanley"), and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. ("Scotiabank" and together with BNP, Citi, HSBC, Mizuho and Morgan Stanley, the "Dealer Managers") to act as dealer managers with respect to the Offers. Global Bondholder Services Corporation is acting as the depositary and information agent (the "Depositary") for the Offers.
This announcement is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities.
The Offers are not being made to holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which PGF is aware that the making of the Offers would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be deemed to be made on PGF's behalf by the Dealer Managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. Any questions or requests for assistance regarding the Offers may be directed to BNP PARIBAS confirmation No. at +1 (212) 841-3059 or toll-free at +1 (888) 210-4358, Citigroup collect at +1 (212) 723-6106 or toll free at +1 (800) 558-3745, HSBC collect at +1 (212) 525-5552 or toll free at +1 (888) HSBC-4LM, Mizuho Securities collect at +1 (212) 205-7736 or toll free at +1 (866) 271-7403, Morgan Stanley collect at +1 (212) 761-1057 or toll free at +1 (800) 624-1808 and Scotiabank collect at +1 (212) 225-5501 or toll free at +1 (833) 498-1660. Requests for additional copies of the Offer Documents may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at +1 (855) 654-2015 (toll-free) or +1 (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers call). The Offer Documents can be accessed at the following link: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/Petrobras/.
Holders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Notes as to when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from such holder in order for that holder to be able to participate in, or withdraw their instruction to participate in, an Offer, before the deadlines specified herein and in the Offer Documents. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and the relevant clearing systems for the submission and withdrawal of tender instructions will also be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified herein and in the Offer Documents.
The Offers are being made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Offer Documents have not been filed with, and have not been approved or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer Documents or any other documents related to the Offers, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary.
The communication of this announcement and any other documents or materials relating to the Offers is not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. This announcement and any such related documents and/or materials are for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.") of the Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, (iv) are members or creditors of certain bodies corporate as defined by or within Article 43(2) of the Order, or (v) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the offer to purchase any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement and any such related documents and/or materials are directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this press release and any such related documents and/or materials are available only to and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. Petrobras undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.
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SOURCE Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/petrobras-announces-consideration-cash-tender-offers/ | 2022-04-11T19:21:00Z |
Harris says White House will seek to ease Americans’ medical debt burden
By Tami Luhby, CNN
The White House is seeking to help lessen Americans’ medical debt burden, Vice President Kamala Harris is set to announce Monday.
In its latest effort to help people deal with increased costs amid skyrocketing inflation, the White House laid out a four-point plan to help protect consumers in a fact sheet released ahead of the formal announcement. It builds on President Joe Biden’s recent executive order on increasing access to affordable health care coverage.
Harris will deliver remarks about the effort on Monday afternoon.
Medical debt plagues 1 in 3 Americans and is the largest source of debt in collections, according to the White House. Black and Hispanic families are more likely to hold medical debt than White ones. Being behind in bills also prompts some people to avoid seeking additional health care and can affect consumers’ ability to buy homes or start small businesses.
White House effort
The administration’s actions include having the Department of Health and Human Services evaluate how providers’ billing practices impact access and affordability of care and the accrual of medical debt. It will request data from 2,000 providers on their collection efforts, lawsuits against patients, financial assistance offerings and other practices.
For the first time, the agency will weigh this information in its grant-making decisions, publish top-line data and policy recommendations for the public and share potential violations with relevant enforcement agencies.
Also, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will investigate credit reporting companies and debt collectors that violate patients’ and families’ rights. It will bolster its consumer education tools aimed at helping Americans navigate medical billing and accessing financial assistance.
The bureau issued a bulletin in January aimed at preventing unlawful medical debt collection and credit reporting. Recent research from the CFPB shows that Americans had racked up $88 billion in medical debt on consumer credit records as of June 2021.
In addition, the White House is providing guidance to federal agencies to eliminate medical debt as an underwriting factor in credit programs, where possible. The US Department of Agriculture will no longer include any recurring medical debts in borrower repayment calculations.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has taken several steps, including finalizing a rule to virtually cease reporting of medical debt for veterans with VA Care bills, according to the White House. And the agency will now make it easier for lower-income veterans to get their VA medical debt forgiven, including streamlining the request process, offering an online application and setting a simple qualifying income threshold. This could help more than half a million veterans get relief.
Credit agencies ease reporting
The White House actions follow a decision last month by the three largest credit reporting agencies — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — to remove nearly 70% of medical debt from consumer credit reports.
Starting July 1, the agencies will no longer include medical debt that went to collections on consumer credit reports once it has been paid off. That will eliminate billions of dollars of debt on consumer records.
In addition, unpaid medical collection debt won’t appear on credit reports for the first year, whereas the previous grace period was six months, the three companies said. That will give people more time to work with their health insurers or providers to address the bills.
And starting in the first half of 2023, medical collection debt of less than $500 will no longer be included on credit reports.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/04/11/harris-says-white-house-will-seek-to-ease-americans-medical-debt-burden/ | 2022-04-11T19:07:51Z |
China labels WHO remarks on ‘zero-COVID’ ‘irresponsible’
BEIJING (AP) — China on Wednesday defended sticking to its strict “zero-COVID” approach, calling critical remarks from the head of the World Health Organization “irresponsible.”
The response from the Foreign Ministry came after WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he had been discussing with Chinese experts the need for a different approach in light of new knowledge about the virus.
“When we talk about the ‘zero-COVID,’ we don’t think that it’s sustainable, considering the behavior of the virus now and what we anticipate in the future,” Tedros said.
Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a daily briefing Wednesday, “We hope that relevant people can view China’s policy of epidemic prevention and control objectively and rationally, get more knowledge about the facts and refrain from making irresponsible remarks.”
“The Chinese government’s policy of epidemic prevention and control can stand the test of history, and our prevention and control measures are scientific and effective,” Zhao said. “China is one of the most successful countries in epidemic prevention and control in the world, which is obvious to all of the international community.”
Earlier Wednesday, deputy director of Shanghai’s Center for Disease Control Wu Huanyu reaffirmed the approach’s importance in eliminating a waning outbreak. He told reporters that while progress has been made, relaxing prevention and control measures could allow the virus to rebound.
“At the same time, now is also the most difficult and critical moment for our city to achieve zero-COVID,” Wu said at a daily briefing.
Wu gave no indication he was aware of the comments by Tedros.
Tedros was joined by Mike Ryan, the WHO’s emergencies chief, who said all pandemic control actions should “show due respect to individual and human rights.”
Countries need to “balance the control measures, the impact on society, the impact on the economy. That is not always an easy calibration to make,” Ryan said.
The incident marked a rare public show of friction between China and the WHO, which has been accused of succumbing to Chinese pressure to avoid criticism and awkward questions about the origins of the virus that was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
China’s ruling Communist Party has strictly controlled all discussion about its controversial approach, which aims to totally stamp out outbreaks, and said it would tolerate no criticism, questioning or distortion of the strategy. The entirely state-controlled media did not report on the comments by Tedros and Ryan and references to them on the Chinese internet appeared to have been removed by censors.
The ruthless and often chaotic implementation of zero-COVID has stirred considerable resentment in Shanghai, where some residents have been under lockdown for more than a month. As of Wednesday, more than 2 million people in the city remained confined to their residential compounds, while restrictions had been slightly relaxed for most of the other 23 million.
However, the easing appears to now be on hold, even as the number of new cases falls in the city that is home to China’s busiest port, main stock market and thousands of Chinese and foreign firms. People in some areas have been ordered to stay home again after having been let out for limited shopping in recent weeks. On Tuesday, service was suspended on the last two subway lines that were still operating.
Complaints have centered on shortages of food and other daily necessities and the forced removal of thousands of people to quarantine centers after having tested positive or having been in contact with an infected person, standard procedure in China’s zero-COVID approach.
Along with the human cost, the adherence to “zero-COVID” as many other countries loosen restrictions and try to live with the virus is exacting a growing economic toll.
However, the party under leader Xi Jinping shows no sign of backing off amid efforts to ensure stability and shore up its authority ahead of a major party congress this fall.
Chinese experts such as Wu have been careful to toe the party line, saying the strategy has been effective in limiting the official death toll in mainland China and that any let-up risks sparking a major new surge.
The daily number of new cases in Shanghai reported on Wednesday had fallen to less than 1,500, down from a peak of 26,000 in mid-April. Seven more COVID-19-related deaths were reported, raising the toll from the outbreak to 560.
While China says more than 88% of its population is fully vaccinated, the rate is considerably lower among the vulnerable elderly. Questions have also been raised about the efficacy of Chinese-produced vaccines compared to those from Europe and the United States.
In the capital Beijing, residents have been ordered to undergo mass testing in a bid to prevent a major outbreak like that in Shanghai. The city, which reported 37 new cases on Wednesday, has locked down individual buildings and residential compounds, shut about 60 subway stations and banned dining at restaurants, allowing only takeout and delivery.
The vast Forbidden City museum complex, the ancient home of China’s former emperors, will also be closing from Thursday to “reduce the danger of virus transmission in society posed by the circulation of people,” it said in a statement. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/05/10/shanghai-reaffirms-zero-covid-who-says-not-sustainable/ | 2022-05-11T10:52:27Z |
BOSTON (AP) — A former Florida prep school administrator who took college entrance exams for students in exchange for cash to help wealthy parents get their kids into elite universities is facing sentencing.
Judge Nathaniel Gorton is slated to hand down the decision against Mark Riddell in Boston federal court on Friday.
Riddell admitted to secretly taking the ACT and SAT in place of students, or correcting their answers, as part of a nationwide college admissions cheating scheme which has ensnared celebrities, business executives and athletic coaches at sought-after schools such as Stanford and Yale.
Riddell, who had been cooperating with federal authorities in hopes of getting a lesser sentence, pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges in April 2019.
U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins’ office, in a filing ahead of Friday’s hearing, has asked the judge to sentence Riddell to four months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release and a previously-ordered forfeiture judgment of nearly $240,000.
Riddell’s lawyers, in their own sentencing memo, argued for one to two months in prison. They also note he’s paid nearly $166,000 toward the forfeiture obligation.
The Harvard graduate, who emerged as a key figure in the wide-ranging scandal, has previously said he’s “profoundly sorry” and takes full responsibility for his actions.
Riddell oversaw college entrance exam preparation at IMG Academy, a school in Bradenton, Florida, founded by renowned tennis coach Nick Bollettieri that bills itself as the world’s largest sports academy. Riddell has since been fired.
Authorities say the admissions consultant at the center of the scheme, Rick Singer, bribed test administrators to allow Riddell to pretend to proctor the exams for students so he could cheat on the tests. Singer typically paid Riddell $10,000 per test to rig the scores, prosecutors said.
Riddell made more than $200,000 by cheating on over 25 exams, prosecutors said.
Since March 2019, a parade of wealthy parents have pleaded guilty to paying big bucks to help get their kids into school with rigged test scores or bogus athletic credentials in a case prosecutors dubbed Operation Varsity Blues.
The group — including TV actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin and Loughlin’s fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli — have received punishments ranging from probation to nine months behind bars.
A Boston jury is also deliberating Friday on the fate of Jovan Vavic, a decorated former water polo coach at the University of Southern California. He’s the only coach of the many implicated to challenge his role in the scheme in a trial. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/bogus-test-taker-to-be-sentenced-in-college-admissions-scam/ | 2022-04-08T14:02:37Z |
Certification for UL 1973, the Standard for Batteries for Use in Stationary and Motive Auxiliary Power Applications
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambri, provider of long-duration Liquid Metal™ battery storage systems, today announced its battery cells achieved its first safety certification from UL Solutions, a leader in applied safety science.
Ambri's Liquid Metal™ battery received certification for UL 1973, the Standard for Batteries for Use in Stationary and Motive Auxiliary Power Applications, after successfully complying with the applicable requirements of the standard.
"This certification helps illustrate what we at Ambri have known all along: our technology is not only effective and high-performing, but it's also incredibly safe, starting long before the manufacturing process with the materials we source for our battery cells," said David Bradwell, Chief Technology Officer at Ambri. "This is an important milestone for our company, and it sends a strong and positive message to the market about the safety and resilience of our battery technology, as well as our ability to deliver a product that sets us apart thanks to smart and reliable sourcing, development, and manufacturing."
"UL 1973 is a Standard that addresses battery safety criteria. It is not technology-specific, but includes criteria for many commercially available chemistries," said Maurice Johnson, product manager in the Energy and Industrial Automation division at UL Solutions. "By assessing, validating, and confirming key elements that take into consideration the entirety of a battery system, UL Solutions is helping support Ambri's commitment to battery system safety and performance. We thank them for putting their trust in us to deliver on that promise."
Safety and reliability have been key tenets in Ambri's work to design and produce its Liquid Metal™ battery system, which utilizes commonly available, commercial-grade raw materials. The unique cell chemistry permits sourcing from a diverse mix of suppliers to reduce supply chain risk, including Ambri's partnership with Perpetua Resources, whose Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho could provide the only domestically mined source of antimony.
Following this achievement, Ambri will continue to pursue additional UL Solutions certifications as it expands into new markets and delivers additional projects.
About Ambri
Ambri's Liquid Metal™ battery technology solves the world's biggest energy problems – fundamentally changing the way power grids operate by increasing the contribution from renewable resources and reducing the need to build traditional power plants. Ambri's long-duration energy storage solution is built for daily cycling – even in extreme, harsh environments. With a lifespan of 20+ years with minimal fade, Ambri systems are not only extremely reliable but also safe, as Ambri systems do not produce or emit any gases and there is no possibility for thermal runaway. For more information visit: www.ambri.com.
CONTACT:
Mallory Sass, Ambri
msass@ambri.com
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SOURCE Ambri Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/ambri-batteries-achieve-certification-its-liquid-metal-battery-cells/ | 2022-07-21T14:22:23Z |
Fourth time* company named a Leader for helping organizations fulfill hiring goals
SAN FRANCISCO, June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartRecruiters, the Hiring Success Company, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the 2022 IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Modern Talent Acquisition Suites Within Talent Management Suites 2022 Vendor Assessment (IDC #US49199121, June 2022) and the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Modern Talent Acquisition Suites, TA Specialist 2022 Vendor Assessment (IDC #US49198921, June 2022).
The IDC Marketscape is a comprehensive assessment of the market, providing buyers with the critical information necessary to make important technology decisions. IDC surveys customers then utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria to evaluate vendors in the market they serve.
"As hiring continues at a rapid pace with continued talent shortages and ongoing focus on remote work and retaining employees, organizations are focusing on value and cost, experience over process, and specialization over generalization when considering talent acquisition technologies," said Matthew Merker, Research Manager, Talent Acquisition and Strategy at IDC. "SmartRecruiters is a Leader because of their work to help its customers effectively source, select, hire, and onboard candidates in a timely and cost-efficient manner."
The report noted the following strengths for SmartRecruiters:
- Career site creation, powered through the acquisition of Attrax, provides clients with strong passive candidate flow and improves conversion rates.
- SmartPal, the vendor's AI chatbot, provides advanced conversational capabilities that improve application rates.
- Analytics dashboards are comprehensive, providing actionable insights across all stages of the hiring process.
- SmartRecruiters' product roadmap reflects client requests while building the platform's functionality for market growth.
- The vendor's text recruiting product, SmartMessage, is well received by clients, improving candidate engagement while collecting all communications in one system of record for easy tracking and history.
"It's humbling to receive recognition for truly helping our customers reach their hiring goals and achieve business success. Being recognized by the IDC MarketScape is another proof point that we are making progress on our mission to connect people with jobs at scale," said Jerome Ternynck, Founder and CEO of SmartRecruiters. "Even in this highly-competitive talent market, our talent acquisition suite has enabled our customers to accelerate hiring by more than 400%."
The SmartRecruiters' IDC MarketScape excerpt is available to download here.
*doc #US41542217, September 2017 | doc #US45016419, April 2019 | doc #US45438920, September 2020
IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.
As a global leader in enterprise recruitment software, SmartRecruiters offers a cloud-based global Talent Acquisition Suite that allows teams to attract, select, and hire the best talent. 4,000 companies worldwide rely on SmartRecruiters to achieve hiring success—including brands like Bosch, LinkedIn, Skechers, and Visa—using recruitment marketing, CRM, AI, ATS, and a marketplace of 600+ connected vendors all within one scalable platform.
For more information, visit www.smartrecruiters.com or follow @SmartRecruiters on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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SOURCE SmartRecruiters | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/smartrecruiters-named-leader-2022-idc-marketscape-worldwide-modern-talent-acquisition-suites/ | 2022-06-13T20:22:31Z |
NEW YORK, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Outset Medical, Inc. ("Outset" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: OM). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Outset and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On June 13, 2022, Outset issued a press release announcing, among other things, guidance for the second quarter of 2022. In the press release, Outset also announced that it "implemented a shipment hold on the distribution of its Tablo Hemodialysis System for home use pending the Food and Drug Administration's ('FDA') review and clearance of a 510(k) the Company submitted for changes made since the device's original March 2020 clearance."
On this news, Outset's stock price fell $6.95 per share, or 34.05%, to close at $13.46 per share on June 14, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-outset-medical-inc-om/ | 2022-07-06T04:20:38Z |
At first it was Covid. Now it's monkeypox. Organizers of a free concert at an upcoming LGBTQ festival known as Southern Decadence in New Orleans have canceled the concert due to the threat of monkeypox.
The larger six-day festival September 1-5 will continue as planned, as it always has since 1973 with the exception of when there were hurricanes and the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. The popular event typically attracts about 250,000 people. But organizers of the concert thought that with the rise in monkeypox cases, particularly among gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, and men who have sex with men, it wasn't worth the risk.
Monkeypox is spread through close skin to skin contact. While not a sexually transmitted disease the majority of cases in this particular outbreak in the US have been through sexual contact, skin to skin, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The concert is outdoors, but its big name performers like Deborah Cox, Jennifer Holliday and the Weather Girls, draw large crowds.
It is what organizer Chuck Robinson described as "hot, sweaty, people gathered in a street for blocks 21 deep, people have their shirts off. They're shoulder to shoulder dancing, as they should [to] celebrate a lifestyle through music and the concert, that is wonderful—but danger for Monkeypox," Robinson told CNN.
Organizers of the festival said they are working closely with the Louisiana Department of Health. The New Orleans Health Department has hosted vaccine pop-up clinics near nightclubs and other venues.
There have been 127 monkeypox cases in the state of Louisiana as of Thursday.
Even with the rising number of cases, the greater majority of LGBTQ events this summer have continued as usual.
The threat of monkeypox canceled a circuit party called Algeria Sunrise Summer Edition in New York in July, according to the company's website.
Anyone can get monkeypox, but the latest US outbreak has largely been concentrated among gay bisexual, transgender non binary men and men who have sex with men. It can be passed through close contact and can possibly spread through contaminated clothing and bedding.
When it comes to deciding about attending large events, Dr. David Hamer, the interim director for the US Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Policy & Research at Boston University said it's important to keep in mind how this outbreak has been spreading.
"Based on what I'm seeing though 95 to 98% of the cases are through close sexual contact, skin to skin as opposed to in a public setting," Hamer said.
"I think the risk is much much lower (at a concert)," Hamer said.
But it is not "no risk" to attend such an event. Hamer points to a study that came out from researchers at Stanford University that focuses on a man in the UK who said he noticed his first monkeypox lesion two weeks after attending a "large, crowded outdoor event at which he had close contact with others, including close dancing, for a few hours," according to the researchers. His primary risk factor was "close, nonsexual contact with numerous unknown persons at a crowded outdoor event," the researchers wrote. He was clothed at the event.
"If this is to be believed, I think organizers though are going to need to take this into account in their planning," Hamer said.
Hamer thinks organizers may want to communicate beforehand with attendees and encourage anyone who has had any unusual lesions or contact with someone who's had monkeypox to stay home or to at least be tested and evaluated first to make sure that they're not infectious and going to get their friends sick.
"But if people are fully clothed and so forth, I don't think there's any real significant risk," he said.
Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health said with the way in which monkeypox spreads, "most concerts are probably not an issue." A special event where people are partially clothed and brushing up against each other is though not a "nonzero risk."
"In general it's important to draw a distinction between all the ways monkeypox can spread versus what's driving the cases," Adalja said. "It's clearly a sexually associated outbreak in the United States."
"However, you can see transmission outside of sexual contact. I think canceling it or not canceling is a separate discussion, but you know, is there going to be some nonzero risk of monkeypox? Yes, that would be the case if people are shirtless and rubbing up against each other at an event."
Decisions to go or not, to have an event or not, are really more about people's risk tolerance than anything else, he said.
"There's not a formula to say this event has to be canceled because of XY and Z. It's more about what is the risk of monkeypox spreading at an event like that," he said.
He added that the country has learned a lot from how the Covid- 19 pandemic has been handled.
"Risk reduction works much better than canceling events and abstinence only types of approaches," Adalja said. "I think it's more about being cognizant of the risks and having the tools deployed, like having tests available or if there's enough vaccines, these can be places to be vaccinated. But I think it's important to just know that people know something about risk."
In June, during Pride Month, the World Health Organization said that monkeypox is not a reason to cancel mass gatherings. Instead these events are the perfect opportunity to reach the community with monkeypox education and protection.
On Thursday, the Biden administration said it was launching a program to make vaccines available at large LGBTQ events.
One of those events is Atlanta's Black Pride Weekend. Largely an outdoor event that's held over Labor Day weekend it typically attracts more than 100,000 people.
Organizers have been meeting with the local health department to discuss the best monkeypox and Covid-19 strategy to make sure people stay safe.
The festival will offer monkeypox and Covid-19 testing and vaccines at the event itself and is working with the Fulton County Department of Health to offer monkeypox vaccines even before the festival.
"We believe in the science of things, not just the rumors on Instagram and the fear tactics and clickbait," said Melissa Scott,Traxx Girls founder and a festival organizer. Scott said they have an advantage with the festival since they have a large outdoor space where people can spread out as much as they want, depending on how close they'd like to be with others.
"You could even be a quarter of a mile away and keep up with what's going on on our large screens," Scott said.
Scott said the event is a much needed celebratory weekend, particularly after so many people have had to be isolated during the pandemic. Such events are important for everyone's mental health.
"It's important for us to get together. People need to socialize. We're already on our phones too much," Scott said. "It's so important to have some face to face contact again. It's so important to celebrate."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/health/monkeypox-cancels-lgbtq-event-but-what-is-the-risk/article_b6e0963f-38c7-570a-8842-39f87a9b5c6a.html | 2022-08-20T00:30:28Z |
Canton Local school board to meet to discuss conduct of board President Scott Hamilton
CANTON TWP. – Two Canton Local school board members have called for a special board meeting to discuss the conduct of its board president.
Board members Chris Cole and Tom Kovesci have scheduled a special meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the performing arts center of Canton South High School at 600 Faircrest St. SE.
A notice announcing the meeting states the board may go into a closed-door executive session for the purpose of considering the investigation of charges or complaints against a public official.
More Canton Local news:Canton Local residents want Scott Hamilton to resign from school board amid pending case
Canton Local school board rift:Canton Local volleyball coach Erin Cole's dismissal reveals rift among school board
It also states that action might be taken by the board and that the board may allow public participation.
The notice comes two days after board President Scott Hamilton struck a plea deal in Massillon Municipal Court to avoid a potential felony theft conviction.
Why was Scott Hamilton charged with theft?
Hamilton, who is in his seventh four-year term on the Canton Local school board, was found guilty of a misdemeanor theft charge on Wednesday after Tractor Supply Co. employees said he stole 166 bales of pine shavings from the Erie Street store during multiple trips between January and May. Court records show the total amount of merchandise taken is worth $1,031, which would have made the charge a felony without the plea agreement.
Hamilton, 60, who had pleaded no contest, must pay $1,031 in restitution to Tractor Supply Co., court fees, complete 40 hours of community service and stay away from the chain's stores.
Hamilton’s attorney Dan Funk has maintained that the accusation was a misunderstanding because Hamilton at times would load the wood chips into his truck first and then pay and other times he would purchase the pine chips first and then load them into the truck.
Funk said Wednesday that Hamilton agreed to the plea deal because he wanted to expeditiously resolve the matter. The attorney previously said Hamilton purchases the pine chips on a weekly basis for his mini-farm.
Following Hamilton's conviction, Cole posted a message to his school board Facebook page on Wednesday that called Hamilton's behavior "unbecoming of a school board member" and called for him to resign.
Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @kweirREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/education/2022/06/24/canton-local-school-board-meet-discuss-scott-hamiltons-conduct/7726785001/ | 2022-06-24T21:33:34Z |
New Link In Bio App Brings Creators Closer to Audiences through Personalized Audio Recordings
SAN DIEGO, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Koji, the world's most powerful Link in Bio platform and the leading app store for social media, today announced the launch of Audio Inbox, a new app that lets creators receive and sell personalized audio recordings to their followers directly from within their Link in Bio.
The Audio Inbox app creates a seamless experience for fans to send and receive personalized audio recordings from their favorite creators. Instead of filling out a form, fans record an audio message within the app for their request, provide their details, and place the order after submitting payment. Creators have seven days to respond to the audio message before a refund is issued.
The new app is free to use and available today on the Koji App Store.
Koji is the world's most powerful Link in Bio platform. With hundreds of free apps created by Koji and its community of independent developers, the Koji Link in Bio gives leading Creators on TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and other social media platforms new ways to engage audiences, connect with supporters, and monetize. Koji launched in March 2021 and has raised $36 million in venture capital.
PRESS CONTACT
Sean Thielen
sean@withkoji.com
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Audio Inbox on the Koji App Store
How to Use Audio Inbox
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SOURCE Koji | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/creator-economy-platform-koji-announces-audio-inbox-app/ | 2022-06-23T22:26:08Z |
Partnership will anchor Accrete's growing portfolio, expand Nordic's health care technology services and accelerate end-to-end efficiencies for patients, providers and health systems.
CINCINNATI, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accrete Health Partners, a strategic holding company that aligns, expands and synergizes digital health services, investments and partnerships, today announced the acquisition of Nordic Consulting Partners, a global health and technology consulting company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Like Accrete, Nordic strives to make health care easier, bringing deep clinical experience and extensive technical knowledge to clients, helping them harness technology to create healthier systems, businesses and people. Working together, Nordic and Accrete will help clients further achieve their business goals and make novel solutions available to health care consumers at a faster pace.
"This partnership advances Accrete's core objectives of working with industry leaders to pioneer solutions that improve health care quality and cost effectiveness," said Jason Szczuka, who leads the Accrete team. "Technology should be more useful for caregivers and more cost-beneficial for health systems, and Nordic leads the industry in these areas. It will now be positioned to have an even greater impact for its clients."
Launched in May, Accrete is aligning best-in-class digital and technology solutions along a continuum of services that make it easier for health systems to compete in today's market via improved cost-savings and deeper interactions with their local patient populations.
This deal follows a significant year for Nordic, including being named the Best in KLAS Overall IT Services Firm and acquiring S&P Consultants and Bails. Now with more than 1,900 people across the globe, Nordic Global Companies, which also includes Healthtech, has deep expertise in the major EHR and ERP systems on which the health care industry relies – including Epic, Cerner, MEDITECH, and Infor. They also offer a growing suite of solutions and consulting services to solve their client's most pressing issues. With this funding, Nordic plans to invest in building its team, developing new and existing offerings, and expanding its global footprint.
"With the health care industry on the edge of a major transformation, our clients require partners who can anticipate industry trends and adapt to their changing needs," said Jim Costanzo, CEO at Nordic Consulting. "This deal will help us bring our clients innovative solutions at a faster pace and grow our world-class team, so we can better serve them as they navigate the increasingly complex health care industry. We've seen incredible momentum in 2021, and we're excited about continuing that growth as part of Accrete's portfolio."
Nordic was advised by Morgan Lewis and Guggenheim Securities, LLC.
About Accrete Health Partners
Accrete Health Partners is a strategic digital holding company that aligns and unifies leading digital health products, services and technologies through strategic development, investments and partnerships. With a goal to grow through strategic accumulation, Accrete is led by professionals who have the experience and proven understanding of what it takes to use technology, data and digital tools to make health care easier for patients, as well as for health care systems and hospitals. Together, we are unlocking talent and technology synergies to innovate and scale solutions that make a difference in health care. Learn more at Accretedigital.com.
About Nordic Consulting Partners
Nordic is an award-winning global health and technology consulting company that partners with health leaders around the world to create healthier systems, businesses, and people. Together, our global team of more than 1,900 professionals brings decades of experience across our key focus areas of strategic advisory, digital and cloud initiatives, implementation and support, and enterprise technology transformation. Nordic and its network of companies, including Bails, Healthtech, and S&P Consultants, support more than 600 clients in their efforts to harness the power of technology on a global scale. Learn more at Nordicglobal.com.
Media Contacts
Accrete Health Partners
Maureen Richmond
mnrichmond@bsmhealth.org
513-222-3451
Nordic Consulting Partners
Jamie Rismiller
Jamie@allisonpr.com
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SOURCE Accrete Health Partners | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/accrete-health-partners-acquires-nordic-consulting-partners/ | 2022-06-01T15:30:08Z |
One person in custody following 4.5 hour standoff in Junction City
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (WIBW) -The Junction City Police Department and the Geary County Sheriff’s Office have taken one person into custody following a 4 1/2 hour standoff Tuesday afternoon.
According to the Junction City Police Department, officers responded to a disturbance between neighbors Tuesday afternoon in the 800 block of Skyline Drive. Upon their arrival, an individual, who has not been named, barricaded himself within his residence and refused orders given by officers at the scene. At that point, local S.W.A.T. teams were deployed.
After the 4.5 hour standoff, the individual gave himself up to officers officers on the scene without any further incident. Officials say there were no injuries reported in the incident and only the one individual has been taken into custody.
Officials say the incident is still under investigation but at this time there is no longer an active threat to the community.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/31/one-person-custody-following-4-hour-standoff-junction-city/ | 2022-08-31T04:04:47Z |
TEL AVIV, Israel, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellomay Capital Ltd. (NYSE American: ELLO) (TASE: ELLO) ("Ellomay" or the "Company"), a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe and Israel, today reported unaudited financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2022.
Financial Highlights
- Revenues were approximately €11.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This increase mainly results from the substantial increase in electricity prices in Europe since the commencement of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Company recognizing revenues from the Talasol photovoltaic facility (the "Talasol PV Plant") for the entire first quarter of 2022, compared to recognition of revenues from the Talasol PV Plant for a portion of the first quarter of 2021, commencing upon the achievement of PAC (Preliminary Acceptance Certificate) by the Talasol PV Plant on January 27, 2021.
- Operating expenses were approximately €6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Depreciation expenses were approximately €4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in operating expenses mainly results from the introduction of the Spanish RDL 17/2021 that establishes the reduction, until June 30, 2022, of returns on the electricity generating activity of Spanish production facilities that do not emit greenhouse gases accomplished through payments of a portion of the revenues by the production facilities to the Spanish government. The increase in operating expenses and depreciation expenses is also attributable to the recognition of results of the Talasol PV Plant for the entire first quarter of 2022, compared to a partial recognition (commencing upon the achievement of PAC of the Talasol PV Plant on January 27, 2021) for the first quarter of 2021.
- Project development costs were approximately €0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in project development costs is mainly due to the development of photovoltaic projects in Italy and Spain.
- General and administrative expenses were approximately €1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. There was no material change in the composition of the expenses included in general and administrative expenses between the two periods.
- Share of profits of equity accounted investee, after elimination of intercompany transactions, was approximately €0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decrease in the Company's share of profit of equity accounted investee is mainly attributable to higher financing expenses incurred by Dorad for the period as a result of the CPI indexation of loans from banks.
- Financing expenses, net were approximately €2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in financing expenses, net, was mainly attributable to financing expenses in connection with the Talasol PV Plant previously capitalized to fixed assets that are recognized in profit and loss starting from PAC, interest and linkage differences in connection with an agreement entered into with the Israeli Tax Authority in connection with a final assessment agreement for the years 2015-2020 of the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, partially offset by a decrease in financing expenses compared to the first quarter of 2021, during which the Company recognized expenses amounting to approximately €0.8 million in connection with the early repayment of the Company's Series B Debentures.
- Taxes on income were approximately €0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to tax benefits of approximately €0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
- Loss for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was approximately €3.4 million, compared to a loss of approximately €2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
- Total other comprehensive loss was approximately €40.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in total other comprehensive loss mainly resulted from changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, including a material reduction in the fair value of the financial power swap (the "PPA") that covers approximately 80% of the output of the Talasol PV Plant. The PPA experienced a high volatility due to the substantial increase in electricity prices in Europe since the commencement of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In accordance with hedge accounting standards, the changes in the PPA's fair value are recorded in the Company's shareholders' equity through a hedging reserve and not through the accumulated deficit/retained earnings. The changes do not impact the Company's consolidated net profit/loss or the Company's consolidated cash flows. As the Company controls Talasol, the total impact of the changes in fair value of the PPA (including the minority share) is consolidated into the Company's financial statements and total equity. Alongside the decrease in fair value of the PPA, the increase in the electricity prices is expected to have a positive impact on Talasol's revenues from the sale of the capacity that is not subject to the PPA, resulting in an expected increase in Talasol's net income and cash flows.
- Total comprehensive loss was approximately €44.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.
- EBITDA was approximately €3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €2.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. See the table on page 12 of this press release for a reconciliation of these numbers to profit and loss.
- Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately €8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to approximately €1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase is mainly attributable to the recognition of results of the Talasol PV Plant for the entire first quarter of 2022, compared to a partial recognition (commencing upon the achievement of PAC of the Talasol PV Plant on January 27, 2021) for the first quarter of 2021.
CEO Review – First Quarter of 2022
The first quarter of 2022 represents an increase in revenues of approximately 60% compared to the first quarter of 2021.
As a result of the war in Ukraine and the gas shortage, the electricity prices in Europe increased threefold compared to last year. The increase in electricity prices had a positive impact on the Company's revenues and is the main reason for the increase in revenues.
Talasol currently sells approximately 75% of the electricity produced by its PV facility under a long-term electricity purchase agreement (the "PPA" or the "Derivative"), therefore the increase in revenues is based mainly on the electricity that is not sold under the PPA.
As a result of the increase in electricity prices in Europe (which generally benefited the Company) the fair value of the Derivative decreased by approximately €60 million as of March 31, 2022.
As the Derivative is a non-speculative hedge, the change in its fair value does not impact the Company's cash flows or net profit, and the entire decrease in fair value is recorded through a hedging reserve. The impact of the change is a decrease in the Company's consolidated equity. Upon expiration of the Derivative (in approximately 8.5 years), the value of the Derivative is recorded as zero.
During the first quarter of 2022, Talasol refinanced its loans. The new financing is based on the Derivative and was therefore provided on very convenient terms: a fixed average annual interest of approximately 3% in euro, a term of approximately 23 years, and a leverage of approximately 75% of the cost of construction of the project.
This financing significantly improved the cash flow to the shareholders of Talasol, including the Company (which indirectly owns 51% of Talasol), and increased the return to Talasol's shareholders to approximately 14%, without taking into account the current electricity prices that are expected to further improve the return to Talasol's shareholders.
During the first quarter of 2022, the construction of the Ellomay Solar project in Spain (28 MW PV) was completed. This project was connected to the electricity grid during the second quarter of 2022. The electricity of this project is sold in market prices and the project was constructed without outside financing ("full equity"). The Company is planning to examine several proposals to finance this project.
The construction of the first project in Italy (20 MW PV) commenced during the second quarter of 2022. Out of the projects under development, to date building permits were issued for an additional 102 MW and these are undergoing contractors' tender processes. An additional approximately 430 MW are under advanced development stages.
The biogas operations in the Netherlands was impacted by the war in Ukraine causing shortages in certain raw materials and an increase in delivery prices. As of today the supply of raw materials has been renewed and the increase in prices is compensated by the increase in prices of the green certificates. The European Union and the Dutch government set a high manufacturing target for the biogas industry as part of the reduction of the dependency on Russia and a plan to support this industry is expected to be published shortly.
The construction of the pumped storage project in the Manara Cliff in Israel is advancing as planned. The main access tunnel reached more than 200 meter depth in the mountain and extensive excavation works are performed in the upper reservoir and in the low pressure tunnel in the area of the bottom reservoir.
The Company projects that it will record revenues of approximately €16 million in the second quarter of 2022.
Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures
EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure and is defined as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The Company presents this measure in order to enhance the understanding of the Company's operating performance and to enable comparability between periods. While the Company considers EBITDA to be an important measure of comparative operating performance, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or other statement of operations or cash flow data prepared in accordance with IFRS as a measure of profitability or liquidity. EBITDA does not take into account the Company's commitments, including capital expenditures and restricted cash and, accordingly, is not necessarily indicative of amounts that may be available for discretionary uses. Not all companies calculate EBITDA in the same manner, and the measure as presented may not be comparable to similarly-titled measure presented by other companies. The Company's EBITDA may not be indicative of the Company's historic operating results; nor is it meant to be predictive of potential future results. The Company uses this measure internally as performance measure and believes that when this measure is combined with IFRS measure it add useful information concerning the Company's operating performance. A reconciliation between results on an IFRS and non-IFRS basis is provided on page 12 of this press release.
About Ellomay Capital Ltd.
Ellomay is an Israeli based company whose shares are registered with the NYSE American and with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "ELLO". Since 2009, Ellomay Capital focuses its business in the renewable energy and power sectors in Europe and Israel.
To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested significant funds in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy and Spain, including:
- Approximately 35.9 MW of photovoltaic power plants in Spain and a photovoltaic power plant of approximately 9 MW in Israel;
- 9.375% indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel's largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 860MW, representing about 6%-8% of Israel's total current electricity consumption;
- 51% of Talasol, which owns a photovoltaic plant with a peak capacity of 300MW in the municipality of Talaván, Cáceres, Spain;
- Groen Gas Goor B.V., Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V. and Groen Gas Gelderland B.V., project companies operating anaerobic digestion plants in the Netherlands, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 3 million, 3.8 million and 9.5 million (with a license to produce 7.5 million) Nm3 per year, respectively;
- 83.333% of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd., which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel.
For more information about Ellomay, visit http://www.ellomay.com.
Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company's plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including the words "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements, including the impact of continued war between Russia and Ukraine, including its impact on electricity prices, availability of raw materials and disruptions in supply changes, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Company's operations and projects, including in connection with steps taken by authorities in countries in which the Company operates, changes in the market price of electricity and in demand, regulatory changes, including extension of current or approval of new rules and regulations increasing the operating expenses of manufacturers of renewable energy in Spain, increases in interest rates, changes in the supply and prices of resources required for the operation of the Company's facilities (such as waste and natural gas) and in the price of oil, and technical and other disruptions in the operations or construction of the power plants owned by the Company. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business are described in greater detail in the filings the Company makes from time to time with Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contact:
Kalia Rubenbach (Weintraub)
CFO
Tel: +972 (3) 797-1111
Email: hilai@ellomay.com
Ellomay Capital Ltd.
Information for the Company's Debenture Holders
Pursuant to the Deeds of Trust governing the Company's Series C and Series D Debentures (together, the "Debentures"), the Company is required to maintain certain financial covenants. For more information, see Item 5.B of the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2022 and below.
Net Financial Debt
As of March 31, 2022, the Company's Net Financial Debt, (as such term is defined in the Deeds of Trust of the Company's Debentures), was approximately €18.3 million (consisting of approximately €295.83 million of short-term and long-term debt from banks and other interest bearing financial obligations, approximately €139.54 million in connection with the Series C Debentures issuances (in July 2019, October 2020, February 2021 and October 2021) and Series D Debentures issuance (in February 2021), net of approximately €121.2 million of cash and cash equivalents, short-term deposits and marketable securities and net of approximately €295.85 million of project finance and related hedging transactions of the Company's subsidiaries).
Information for the Company's Series C Debenture Holders.
The Deed of Trust governing the Company's Series C Debentures (as amended on June 6, 2022, the "Series C Deed of Trust"), includes an undertaking by the Company to maintain certain financial covenants, whereby a breach of such financial covenants for two consecutive quarters is a cause for immediate repayment. As of March 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Series C Deed of Trust as follows: (i) the Company's Adjusted Shareholders' Equity (as defined in the Series C Deed of Trust) was approximately €126.1 million, (ii) the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt (as set forth above) to the Company's CAP, Net (defined as the Company's Adjusted Shareholders' Equity plus the Net Financial Debt) was 12.7%, and (iii) the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt to the Company's Adjusted EBITDA6, was 0.8.
The following is a reconciliation between the Company's loss and the Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Series C Deed of Trust) for the four-quarter period ended March 31, 2022:
Information for the Company's Series D Debenture Holders
The Deed of Trust governing the Company's Series D Debentures includes an undertaking by the Company to maintain certain financial covenants, whereby a breach of such financial covenants for the periods set forth in the Series D Deed of Trust is a cause for immediate repayment. As of March 31, 2022, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in the Series D Deed of Trust as follows: (i) the Company's Adjusted Shareholders' Equity (as defined in the Series D Deed of Trust) was approximately €126.1 million, (ii) the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt (as set forth above) to the Company's CAP, Net (defined as the Company's Adjusted Shareholders' Equity plus the Net Financial Debt) was 12.7%, and (iii) the ratio of the Company's Net Financial Debt to the Company's Adjusted EBITDA7 was 0.8.
The following is a reconciliation between the Company's loss and the Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in the Series D Deed of Trust) for the four-quarter period ended March 31, 2022:
1 Ellomay Solar S.L, the owner of a 28 MW photovoltaic facility near the Talasol PV Plant.
2 The Talmei Yosef PV Plant located in Israel is presented under the fixed asset model and not under the financial asset model as per IFRIC 12.
3 Short-term and long-term debt from banks and other interest bearing financial obligations amount provided above, includes an amount of approximately €0.4 million costs associated with such debt, which was capitalized and therefore offset from the debt amount that is recorded in the Company's balance sheet.
4 Debentures amount provided above includes an amount of approximately €2.3 million associated costs, which was capitalized and therefore offset from the debentures amount that is recorded in the Company's balance sheet.
5 The project finance amount deducted from the calculation of Net Financial Debt includes project finance obtained from various sources, including financing entities and the minority shareholders in project companies held by the Company (provided in the form of shareholders' loans to the project companies).
6 The term "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined in the Series C Deed of Trust as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization, where the revenues from the Company's operations, such as the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, are calculated based on the fixed asset model and not based on the financial asset model (IFRIC 12), and before share-based payments. The Series C Deed of Trust provides that for purposes of the financial covenant, the Adjusted EBITDA will be calculated based on the four preceding quarters, in the aggregate. The Adjusted EBITDA is presented in this press release as part of the Company's undertakings towards the holders of its Series C Debentures. For a general discussion of the use of non-IFRS measures, such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA see above under "Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures."
7 The term "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined in the Series D Deed of Trust as earnings before financial expenses, net, taxes, depreciation and amortization, where the revenues from the Company's operations, such as the Talmei Yosef PV Plant, are calculated based on the fixed asset model and not based on the financial asset model (IFRIC 12), and before share-based payments, when the data of assets or projects whose Commercial Operation Date (as such term is defined in the Series D Deed of Trust) occurred in the four quarters that preceded the relevant date will be calculated based on Annual Gross Up (as such term is defined in the Series D Deed of Trust). The Series D Deed of Trust provides that for purposes of the financial covenant, the Adjusted EBITDA will be calculated based on the four preceding quarters, in the aggregate. The Adjusted EBITDA is presented in this press release as part of the Company's undertakings towards the holders of its Series D Debentures. For a general discussion of the use of non-IFRS measures, such as EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA see above under "Use of NON-IFRS Financial Measures."
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SOURCE Ellomay Capital Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/ellomay-capital-reports-results-three-months-ended-march-31-2022/ | 2022-06-29T21:46:44Z |
The clomping of horse hoofs will echo through downtown Temple, signaling the return of the Budweiser Clydesdales.
After a two-year break from traveling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic horses — popularized by television beer commercials since 1986 — will once again visit the city. Jack Hilliard Distributing Co. in Temple invited Anheuser-Busch to bring the horses, which will pull a wagon filled with beer along a short route through the city’s downtown.
The event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, starting in the parking lot of City Hall, 2 N. Main St.
Jim Schwartz, with Jack Hilliard Distributing Co., said he has been happy to bring the famous horses to the community in recent years, with the last time being in 2019.
“I get them about every year,” Schwartz said. “Normally, they are scheduled for Fort Hood only, but sometimes, like in 2019 and this year, I have been allowed to do a couple of shows out in the civilian market with them.”
In addition to the Temple parade, the Clydesdales will also visit Killeen Mall, 2100 W.S. Young Drive in Killeen, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 16.
Schwartz said the parade most likely begin an hour after the horses arrive, due to the setup needed for the animals and wagon. The horses will slowly make their way through the city’s downtown, distributing a ceremonial case of beer to local businesses they are partnered with.
Starting in the parking lot of City Hall, the horses will travel along Central Avenue, turn south along Second Street, west on Avenue B and finally back towards City Hall along First Street.
Schwartz said those interested in taking a photo with the horses will have the chance, either along the route or while the wagon is being set up.
“When they are on the parade route, (people) will be able to get up by them and take pictures,” Schwartz said. “The part at the parking lot, when they are hitching and unhitching them, will depend on the crew and what they will allow.”
The event is subject to the weather, although the National Weather Service is calling for mostly sunny skies with a high of 81 in Temple next Friday. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/business/article_39ea7478-b785-11ec-8c4f-07c551ce0df3.html | 2022-04-08T23:11:18Z |
NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; "FOX" or the "Company") today released its third annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. The report provides a summary of FOX's approach to the Company's corporate giving, environmental, social and governance activities during the fiscal year ending June 2022 (FY2022), except as otherwise noted in the report.
"At Fox Corporation, our responsibility to be an active and engaged corporate citizen is held as a core value and FOX has cultivated the kind of relationship with our viewers, employees and stakeholders that provides us with opportunities to positively affect our communities," said Fox Corporation Executive Chair and CEO Lachlan Murdoch. "I am very proud of our FOX family and partners for their contributions this year as we continue to move FOX forward together."
The FOX CSR report showcases the Company's philanthropic FOX Forward initiatives, which center on serving veterans, active-duty military members and first responders; enhancing educational opportunities and providing support for underserved students and teachers; providing global disaster relief assistance; and investing in local communities through partnerships, financial donations, volunteer efforts and magnification across FOX's media assets.
Since its formation three years ago, FOX has contributed more than $20 million to the communities it serves through these FOX Forward initiatives. Over the past year, FOX's annual giving was highlighted by $1 million contributions to both the American Red Cross' Southern and Midwest Tornadoes Campaign as well as their Humanitarian Relief Efforts in Ukraine, and Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Among the over 1,000 organizations FOX also supported were U.S.VETS, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Feeding America, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Police Athletic League and Together We Rise.
Additionally, FOX was recognized as a 2022 Top Employer by DiversityComm, HISPANIC Network Magazine, Professional WOMAN's Magazine, U.S. Veterans Magazine and Black EOE Journal. FOX has also earned high workplace scores from LGBTQ+ and disability advocates.
The CSR report also encompasses FOX's forward-thinking efforts in sustainability, employee benefits and resources, data security and more.
A link to the full FOX CSR report can be found at www.foxcorporation.com or by clicking here.
About Fox Corporation
Fox Corporation produces and distributes compelling news, sports, and entertainment content through its primary iconic domestic brands, including FOX News Media, FOX Sports, FOX Entertainment and FOX Television Stations, and leading AVOD service Tubi. These brands hold cultural significance with consumers and commercial importance for distributors and advertisers. The breadth and depth of our footprint allows us to deliver content that engages and informs audiences, develop deeper consumer relationships, and create more compelling product offerings. FOX maintains an impressive track record of news, sports, and entertainment industry success that shapes our strategy to capitalize on existing strengths and invest in new initiatives. For more information about Fox Corporation, please visit www.FoxCorporation.com.
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SOURCE Fox Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/fox-releases-2022-corporate-social-responsibility-report/ | 2022-08-24T15:36:44Z |
Landmark trial advances understanding of which HFpEF patients may benefit from atrial shunt therapy
TEWKSBURY, Mass., April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Corvia Medical, Inc, a company dedicated to transforming the treatment of heart failure (HF), announced publication of analyses from its global, phase III REDUCE LAP-HF II randomized trial of heart failure patients with preserved (HFpEF) or mildly reduced (HFmrEF) ejection fraction. In a large responder population, representing 50% of study patients, treatment with the Corvia® Atrial Shunt resulted in a 45% reduction in HF events and a 55% greater improvement in quality of life compared to sham control. Additionally, these data offer essential new insights into the role of exercise in accurately predicting patients who may or may not benefit from this novel therapy. The analyses were published online in Circulation1
"We are extremely encouraged by these analyses from the REDUCE LAP-HF II trial. Not only have we identified a large responder group comprising two-thirds of people with HFpEF, or approximately 2 million people in the US alone, but we have also learned how to identify potential patients who are most likely to derive significant benefit," said Sanjiv Shah, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director of Research for the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Director of the HFpEF Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and co-principal investigator of the REDUCE LAP-HF II trial.
More than 26 million people worldwide have HF,2 and over half those have HFpEF,3 which has been described as the largest unmet clinical need in cardiovascular medicine. The Corvia Atrial Shunt is designed to reduce elevated left atrial pressure (LAP), the primary contributor of HF symptoms in HFpEF patients. The shunt is placed via catheter between the left and right atria, forming a passage that allows blood to flow from the high pressure left atrium to the lower pressure right atrium, with the aim of reducing HF symptoms and events and improving quality of life.
Barry Borlaug, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director of Circulatory Failure Research at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the publication commented, "Exercise hemodynamic evaluation appears to be a key factor in predicting which patients will do well with atrial shunt therapy. Patients whose pulmonary blood vessels, or vessels in the lungs, can accommodate an increase in blood flow during exercise appear to derive significant benefit from the shunt, compared to those whose blood vessels can't accommodate the additional flow. While I have long been an advocate for hemodynamic testing in heart failure, the data from this study reinforces the importance of exercise phenotyping and will change how we evaluate heart failure patients and personalize their care."
The REDUCE LAP-HF II trial randomized 626 patients at 89 centers across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan. A systematic, independent, statistical analysis identified exercise pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), a measure indicating the degree of pulmonary vascular disease, and the presence of a pacemaker as the most significant variables affecting how patients responded to atrial shunting. The results showed that patients without a pacemaker and with normal exercise PVR comprised 50% of the total study population and derived significant clinical benefit:
- 45% reduction in HF events compared to sham control (12 vs. 22 events per 100 patient-years, p=0.007)
- 55% greater improvement (+5.5 points) in health status as measured by Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), with 40% more shunt patients reporting a very large improvement (≥20 points) in quality of life
- 50% greater improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) HF class, indicating fewer HF symptoms
"HFpEF has a complex pathophysiology and remains a significant therapeutic challenge. While novel drugs are now available, limitations remain, and additional therapies are required to treat this heterogenous population," commented Prof. David Kaye, MD, PhD, Director of the Department of Cardiology at The Alfred Hospital, Head of Heart Failure Research at the Baker Institute in Melbourne, Australia, and an investigator in the study." We now know the importance of exercise hemodynamic phenotyping prior to determining a therapeutic strategy for HFpEF patients and these learnings should be applied today in both the commercial and clinical trial settings. Assuming additional studies confirm the responder population findings, this therapy has enormous potential to improve the lives of millions of heart failure patients."
REDUCE LAP-HF II represents the largest randomized controlled trial of device-based therapy for HFpEF patients and is the only study of an implantable therapeutic device to show clinical benefit in this population. "The Corvia Atrial Shunt is the most rigorously studied atrial shunt therapy. Exercise hemodynamic evaluation has been a key component of all our studies and its importance in identifying suitable patients for atrial shunting has now been confirmed," commented Jan Komtebedde, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Corvia Medical. "We are working with advisors and regulators to design a confirmatory study that builds on the extensive data and progressive learnings from REDUCE LAP-HF II and we look forward to bringing this breakthrough therapy to the US and international markets to help this underserved population."
About Corvia Medical, Inc.
Corvia Medical, Inc. is revolutionizing the treatment of heart failure through novel transcatheter cardiovascular devices. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Tewksbury, MA, Corvia is dedicated to transforming the standard of care for heart failure treatment, enabling patients to reclaim their lives. The Corvia Atrial Shunt was granted Breakthrough Device designation by the FDA in 2019. Privately held, the company is backed by Third Rock Ventures, General Catalyst Partners, AccelMed, Lumira Ventures, Edwards Lifesciences, and an undisclosed strategic investor. Visit https://corviamedical.com/.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Ensz
+1 978-654-6120
lensz@corviamedical.com
https://corviamedical.com/newsroom/
- Borlaug BA et al. Latent Pulmonary Vascular Disease May Alter the Response to Therapeutic Atrial Shunt Device in Heart Failure. Circulation. 2022;10.1161.
- Savarese G, Lund LH. Global Public Health Burden of Heart Failure. Card Fail Rev. 2017;3(1):7-11.
- Owan TE et al. Trends in prevalence and outcome of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. N Engl J Med. 2006;355:251-259.
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SOURCE Corvia Medical, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/reduce-lap-hf-ii-analyses-show-50-study-patients-demonstrated-significant-clinical-benefit-corvia-atrial-shunt/ | 2022-04-01T11:28:59Z |
MIRAMAR, Fla., May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: SAVE) today reported first quarter 2022 financial results.
Ended the first quarter 2022 with $1.6 billion of unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, short-term investment securities and liquidity available under the Company's revolving credit facility.
"Since mid-February 2022, we've seen a dramatic improvement in demand trends, with March total revenue per passenger segment up nearly 10 percent compared to March 2019. Our non-ticket production has been very strong driven by enhanced revenue management and merchandising of products that allow our Guests to customize their travel experience. As a result, we achieved record-high non-ticket revenue per passenger segment of $64.53 for the first quarter 2022, an increase of 14.8 percent compared to first quarter 2019, and we anticipate beating that record again in the second quarter 2022," said Ted Christie, Spirit's President and Chief Executive Officer. "In addition, based on our current booking trends, we expect second quarter 2022 ticket revenue per segment to be significantly higher than it was in the second quarter 2019."
"I also want to acknowledge and thank the entire Spirit team for their continued efforts to care for our Guests and each other. Late last year, we cut our planned capacity growth for 2022 in light of various staffing challenges and felt very good about our ability to operate the revised summer schedule. However, the airline industry has been impacted by an increase in Air Traffic Control ("ATC") programs and restrictions in Florida, largely driven by ATC staffing shortages. This has had an outsized impact on our operations given our large concentration in Florida. As a result, in mid-April, we made the decision to decrease some flying in Florida and increase the buffers in our schedule, which drove additional capacity reductions. We expect to resume our planned capacity levels in the fourth quarter this year due to already-planned crew network changes set to deploy this summer and increased pilot hiring that has been happening throughout the year."
The Company believes that providing analysis of financial and operational performance compared to first quarter 2019 is a more relevant measure of performance than comparing to first quarter 2021 due to the severe impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's financial results and operational performance for 2021.
First Quarter 2022 Results
For the first quarter 2022, Spirit Airlines reported a net loss of $194.7 million, or a net loss of $1.79 per diluted share. Excluding special items, adjusted net loss for the first quarter 2022 was $173.5 million1, or an adjusted net loss of $1.60 per diluted share1.
Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2022 was negative $108.2 million and adjusted EBITDA margin was negative 11.2 percent.
Capacity and Load Factor
Capacity, or available seat miles ("ASMs"), in the first quarter 2022 increased 19.2 percent compared to the same period in 2019. Load factor for the first quarter 2022 was 77.2 percent, down 5.5 percentage points compared to the first quarter 2019. Load factors improved sequentially throughout the quarter such that the exit rate for March load factor was in line with the Company's historical averages.
Aircraft utilization in the first quarter 2022 was 10.8 hours, down 11.5 percent compared to the 12.2 hours in the same period of 2019.
Revenue Performance
Total operating revenues for the first quarter 2022 were $967.3 million, an increase of 13.0 percent versus first quarter 2019 due to increased flight volume and higher operating yields. Total revenue per ASM ("TRASM") was down 5.3 percent compared to first quarter 2019. However, TRASM for March 2022 was higher than March 2019 and this was accomplished while growing capacity 17.1 percent in March 2022 compared to March 2019.
On a per passenger flight segment basis, for the first quarter 2022 total revenue per passenger flight segment ("segment") increased 3.9 percent compared to the same period in 2019 to $113.72. Compared to first quarter 2019, fare revenue per segment decreased 7.6 percent to $49.19 and non-ticket revenue per segment increased 14.8 percent to $64.532.
Cost Performance
Compared to the first quarter 2019, total GAAP operating expenses for the first quarter 2022 increased 53.5 percent to $1,178.8 million. Adjusted operating expenses for the first quarter 2022 increased 50.3 percent compared to the first quarter 2019 to $1,151.7 million3. In addition to increased flight volume, these increases were primarily driven by pressure on labor rates and higher fuel prices.
Spirit continues to experience labor cost inflation throughout much of the organization, including for contracted ground service workers (recorded within other operating expense in the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations). In addition, as a result of the Omicron variant's impact on the Company's staffing levels in early January 2022, the Company offered various incentive pay programs during this period in order to maintain sufficient staffing to minimize flight cancellations, leading to additional wage pressures.
Rising fuel prices were also a primary contributor to increased costs. Fuel price per gallon in the first quarter 2022 was 41.1 percent higher than for the same period in 2019.
"Our strong non-ticket production plus the forward booking curve strength gives us confidence we will see strong yields this summer. However, operational disruptions and limits on utilization are causing delays in our return to profitability. The decision to further limit our capacity this summer does make profitability more challenging in the short run. With constrained capacity levels through the summer, we will be carrying the cost of additional crews and our utilization will be lower than we like, but this does not change the plan to exit the year at close to full utilization and be on our way to a return to a more normalized run rate in 2023. In fact, at these demand levels, even with fuel at more than $100 a barrel, we would have expected to be profitable in the second quarter with around 90 percent of our pre-covid utilization," said Scott Haralson, Spirit's Chief Financial Officer.
Fleet
Spirit took delivery of three new A320neo aircraft during the first quarter 2022. The Company ended the quarter with 176 aircraft in its fleet.
Liquidity and Capital Deployment
Spirit ended first quarter 2022 with unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, short-term investment securities and liquidity available under the Company's revolving credit facility of $1.6 billion.
Total capital expenditures, including net pre-delivery purchase deposits for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $53.2 million, primarily related to the purchase of spare parts, including one spare engine.
Tax Rate
On a GAAP basis, the Company's effective tax rate for the first quarter 2022 was 20.2 percent. The Company's non-GAAP tax rate for the first quarter 2022 was 20.0 percent.
Forward Looking Guidance
The second quarter and full year 2022 guidance items provided below are based on the Company's current estimates and are not a guarantee of future performance. There could be significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the risk factors discussed in the Company's reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Spirit undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements or estimates.
Adjusted operating expenses and adjusted pre-tax margin are non-GAAP financial measures, which are provided on a forward-looking basis. The Company does not provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP forward-looking measures on a forward-looking basis where the Company believes such reconciliation would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors and is unable to reasonably predict certain items included in/excluded from the GAAP financial measures without unreasonable efforts. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred and are out of the Company's control or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Non-GAAP forward-looking measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.
First Quarter 2022 Highlights
- In February 2022, for the fourth year in a row, Spirit was awarded the FAA's highest award for Technical Training, the Diamond Award of Excellence. This award is only achieved if 100% of technicians receive the FAA's Aircraft Maintenance Technician ("AMT") Certificate of Training
- Launched its partnership with the nation's largest flight school, Jacksonville-based ATP Flight School. This new program will expand the carrier's pipeline of highly skilled, professional pilots. It also provides graduates with the fastest track to a successful career as a Spirit pilot
- Announced the addition of new Pilot and Flight Attendant bases at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
- Completed its terminal move at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to the historic Marine Air Terminal
- Hosted the Spirit Open with Team Members, aviation industry professionals and community leaders joining together to help The Spirit Charitable Foundation raise more than $1.5 million for nonprofit organizations
Conference Call/Webcast Detail
Spirit will conduct a conference call to discuss these results tomorrow, May 5, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern US Time. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available to the public on a listen-only basis at http://ir.spirit.com. An archive of the webcast will be available under "Events & Presentations" for 60 days.
Merger Agreement with Frontier
As previously announced, Spirit Airlines, Inc. entered into a merger agreement with Frontier Group Holdings, Inc. on February 5, 2022. The merger is expected to close in the second half of 2022, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including completion of the regulatory review process and approval by Spirit stockholders.
About Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat assignments and refreshments — something we call À La Smarte. We make it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. Our Fit Fleet® is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the U.S. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean and are dedicated to giving back and improving those communities. Come save with us at spirit.com.
Investors are encouraged to read the Company's periodic and current reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, for additional information regarding the Company.
End Notes
Forward Looking Statements
Forward-Looking Statements in this report and certain oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company contain various forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements are based on our management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. All statements other than statements of historical facts are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "predict," "potential," and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, guidance for 2022 and statements regarding the Company's intentions and expectations regarding revenues, cash burn, capacity and passenger demand, additional financing, capital spending, operating costs and expenses, taxes, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, hiring, aircraft deliveries and stakeholders, vendors and government support. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors include, among others, the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition, and the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall demand for air travel, restrictions on the Company's business by accepting financing under the CARES Act and other related legislation, the competitive environment in our industry, our ability to keep costs low and the impact of worldwide economic conditions, including the impact of economic cycles or downturns on customer travel behavior, the consummation of the merger with Frontier and other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Risks or uncertainties (i) that are not currently known to us, (ii) that we currently deem to be immaterial, or (iii) that could apply to any company, could also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or future results. Additional information concerning certain factors is contained in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
The Company does not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking measures on a forward-looking basis where the Company believes such reconciliation would imply a degree of precision and certainty that could be confusing to investors and is unable to reasonably predict certain items included in/excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures without unreasonable efforts. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various items that have not yet occurred and are out of the Company's control or cannot be reasonably predicted. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information. Non-GAAP forward-looking measures provided without the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures may vary materially from the corresponding GAAP financial measures.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company evaluates its financial performance utilizing various accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted operating expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted operating income (loss), Adjusted operating margin, Adjusted pre-tax income (loss), Adjusted pre-tax margin, Adjusted net income (loss), Adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share and Adjusted CASM. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as supplemental information to the financial information presented in this press release that is calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and these non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management believes that they supplement or enhance management's, analysts' and investors' overall understanding of the Company's underlying financial performance and trends and facilitate comparisons among current, past and future periods.
Because the non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, they should not be considered superior to and are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP financial measures presented in the press release and may not be the same as or comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies due to possible differences in the method of calculation and in the items being adjusted. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.
The information below provides an explanation of certain adjustments reflected in the non-GAAP financial measures and shows a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures reported in this press release (other than forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures) to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Within the financial tables presented, certain columns and rows may not add due to the use of rounded numbers. Per unit amounts presented are calculated from the underlying amounts.
The Company believes that adjusting for special charges (credits), gains and losses on disposal of assets, costs associated with accelerated asset retirements is useful to investors because these items are not indicative of the Company's ongoing performance and the adjustments are similar to those made by our peers and allow for enhanced comparability to other airlines. In prior periods, we excluded supplemental rent adjustments related to the modification of aircraft or engine leases from our non-GAAP measures. However, we no longer exclude supplemental rent adjustments and, as such, non-GAAP measures for 2021, 2020, and 2019 have been revised to reflect this change and no longer exclude any previously reported supplemental rent adjustments.
Operating expenses per available seat mile ("CASM") is a common metric used in the airline industry to measure an airline's cost structure and efficiency. We exclude aircraft fuel and related taxes and special items from operating expenses to determine Adjusted CASM ex-fuel. We also believe that excluding fuel costs from certain measures is useful to investors because it provides an additional measure of management's performance excluding the effects of a significant cost item over which management has limited influence and increases comparability with other airlines that also provide a similar metric.
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SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/spirit-airlines-reports-first-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-05-04T23:38:51Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thoma Bravo, a leading software investment firm, today announced that it has made an additional strategic investment in its portfolio company Imprivata, a digital identity company for mission- and life-critical industries, to fund Imprivata's acquisition of SecureLink, the leader in critical access management with elite patient privacy monitoring. Upon closing, Cove Hill Partners, SecureLink's existing majority investor, will retain a minority stake in the combined company.
Thoma Bravo acquired Imprivata in September 2016 in a transaction valued at approximately $544 million and has provided the operational, strategic and sector expertise to help further Imprivata's continued growth and leadership position as an innovator in digital privacy. Together with SecureLink's capabilities, Imprivata is uniquely able to provide a single source to enable and protect digital identities, spanning enterprise to third parties.
"Our long-term partnership with Imprivata reflects our passionate belief in the business-enabling power of security in the digital future," said Scott Crabill, a Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo. "With the addition of SecureLink's capabilities, Imprivata is creating a new class of cybersecurity providers that unlocks digital freedom across platforms and applications by seamlessly securing identity interactions at every access point."
"Adding SecureLink's capabilities empowers Imprivata to address a critical need gap in digital identity verification across healthcare networks, which contain the most private of all personal information," said Andrew Almeida, a Partner at Thoma Bravo. "Since our initial investment in Imprivata in 2016, the company has successfully delivered on both its organic and inorganic initiatives, and we look forward to continuing to support its strong growth trajectory for years to come."
For more information about Imprivata's acquisition of SecureLink, visit www.imprivata.com/securelink.
Thoma Bravo is one of the largest private equity firms in the world, with more than $103 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2021. The firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Leveraging the firm's deep sector expertise and proven strategic and operational capabilities, Thoma Bravo collaborates with its portfolio companies to implement operating best practices, drive growth initiatives and make accretive acquisitions intended to accelerate revenue and earnings. Over the past 20 years, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 375 companies representing over $190 billion in enterprise value. The firm has offices in Chicago, Miami and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.thomabravo.com.
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SOURCE Thoma Bravo | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/thoma-bravo-makes-additional-investment-imprivata-fund-securelink-acquisition/ | 2022-04-11T14:52:15Z |
NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Levi & Korsinsky, LLP notifies investors in Latch, Inc. f/k/a TS Innovation Acquisitions Corp. ("Latch" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: LTCH) of a class action securities lawsuit.
CLASS DEFINITION: The lawsuit seeks to recover losses on behalf of Latch investors who were adversely affected by alleged securities fraud between May 13, 2021 and August 25, 2022. Follow the link below to get more information and be contacted by a member of our team:
LTCH investors may also contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500.
CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that defendants made false statements and/or concealed that: (1) there were unreported sales arrangements related to hardware devices; (2) as a result, the Company had improperly recognized revenue throughout fiscal 2021 and first quarter 2022; (3) there were material weaknesses in Latch's internal control over financial reporting related to revenue recognition; (4) as a result of the foregoing, Latch would restate financial statements for fiscal 2021 and first quarter 2022; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Latch during the relevant time frame, you have until October 31, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you are a class member, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket costs or fees. There is no cost or obligation to participate.
WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, the team at Levi & Korsinsky has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. Our firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States.
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
www.zlk.com
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SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/ltch-lawsuit-alert-levi-amp-korsinsky-notifies-latch-inc-fka-ts-innovation-acquisitions-corp-investors-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline/ | 2022-09-08T10:39:05Z |
WASHINGTON, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear issued a statement calling on leaders in Washington to get serious about lowering energy prices and reducing inflation, rather than considering a proposal to temporarily suspend the federal fuel tax:
"After months of touting the passage of the well-funded Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – a much-needed investment in our nation's roads and bridges – the Biden Administration wants to cut that same highway system's primary source of funding with a suspension of the federal fuel tax.
"Here are three immediate things this Administration and Congress can do that will actually make a difference. Make America energy independent… stop kissing the ring of Saudi Arabia. Renew trade agreements with the European Union and Asian Pacific nations in order to export more American oil and natural gas. And, balance the budget… stop wasting hard-earned taxpayer dollars on senseless programs that drive up inflation and runaway deficits.
"Energy independence, trade and a balanced budget. Do that, and America wins."
American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward
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SOURCE American Trucking Associations | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/trucking-industry-strongly-opposes-fuel-tax-holiday-gimmick/ | 2022-06-22T15:54:00Z |
Supreme Court rules out suing police for Miranda violations
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that law enforcement officers can’t be sued when they violate the rights of criminal suspects by failing to provide the familiar Miranda warning before questioning them.
The justices ruled 6-3 in favor of a sheriff’s deputy who was sued after he failed to read a Miranda warning — “You have the right to remain silent,” it begins — to a Los Angeles hospital worker accused of sexually assaulting a patient.
The issue in the case was whether the warning given to criminal suspects before they talk to authorities, which the court recognized in its Miranda v. Arizona decision in 1966 and reaffirmed 34 years later, is a constitutional right or something less important and less defined.
Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion that “a violation of Miranda is not itself a violation of the Fifth Amendment” and “we see no justification for expanding Miranda to confer a right to sue” under the federal law known as Section 1983. The law allows people to sue police officers and other governmental workers for violations of constitutional rights.
In dissent for the court’s three liberals, Justice Elena Kagan wrote that the decision “prevents individuals from obtaining any redress when police violate their rights under Miranda.”
The case began when a woman who suffered a stroke said she was assaulted at a Los Angeles hospital and identified hospital worker Terrence Tekoh as her attacker. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Vega talked to Tekoh, who signed a statement confessing to the assault.
Both sides agree that Vega did not read Tekoh his rights before their conversation at the hospital. But they disagree about whether Tekoh was coerced into confessing.
Even with the statement used against him at trial, a jury acquitted Tekoh of criminal charges. Tekoh then turned around and sued Vega, who twice prevailed at civil trials over his conduct. But a federal appeals court ruled Tekoh should have another chance.
The deputy appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/23/supreme-court-rules-out-suing-police-miranda-violations/ | 2022-06-23T15:58:26Z |
Every living past American president is paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, following the longest-serving British monarch’s death at 96.
Elizabeth died on Thursday at her estate in Scotland, Buckingham Palace announced.
During her lifetime, the queen had met with all but one of the American presidents, Lyndon Johnson, since Harry Truman.
Former President Trump praised Elizabeth’s “exceptional service to the people,” saying in a post on Truth Social, “May God bless the Queen, may she reign forever in our hearts, and may God hold her and Prince Philip in abiding care.”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II inspect a Guard of Honour, formed of the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Friday, July 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool)
The 45th president appeared to share a special affinity for the queen, who he had described as being beloved by his mother. Trump called Elizabeth an “incredible woman” ahead of his 2018 visit to Windsor Castle to meet with her.
“What a grand and beautiful lady she was,” Trump said in a Thursday statement, “there was nobody like her!”
Former President Obama issued a lengthy remembrance of the queen just hours after her death was announced.
“Michelle and I were lucky enough to come to know Her Majesty, and she meant a great deal to us,” Obama said.
In this May 25, 2011, file photo, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip for a reciprocal dinner at Winfield House in London. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)
The ex-commander in chief highlighted his personal experience with Elizabeth during a 2009 visit to England.
“Back when we were just beginning to navigate life as President and First Lady, she welcomed us to the world stage with open arms and extraordinary generosity,” Obama said.
“Time and again, we were struck by her warmth, the way she put people at ease, and how she brought her considerable humor and charm to moments of great pomp and circumstance.”
Obama lauded Elizabeth for her “dedicated leadership,” saying he and the former first lady “are awed by her legacy of tireless, dignified public service.”
In this Saturday, June 4, 1994, file photo, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she sits alongside President Bill Clinton at a dinner in the Guildhall in Portsmouth, England, commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-Day. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)
Former President Bill Clinton said he and his wife, former secretary of State Hillary Clinton, were joining with people “all around the world” in “giving thanks for [Elizabeth’s] life.”
Calling the queen a “source of stability, serenity and strength,” the 42nd president said he was thankful “for the kindness she showed us through the years, particularly during our visits to Buckingham Palace in 1995 and 2000.”
In this May 7, 2007, file photo, President Bush and Queen Elizabeth II arrive to take part in arrival ceremonies on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
Former President George W. Bush recalled when he and wife Laura Bush spent time at Buckingham Palace, saying in a statement that “having tea with Her Majesty — and her Corgis — is among our fondest memories of the presidency.”
“Our world benefitted from her steady resolve, and we are grateful for her decades of service as sovereign,” Bush said.
In this file photo dated May 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, right, and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II are photographed with French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing, at Buckingham Palace in London. (Pool Photo via AP, File)
Ninety-seven-year-old former President Jimmy Carter, who was born two years before Elizabeth, said he and wife Rosalynn extended their condolences to the monarch’s family and the citizens of the U.K.
“Her dignity, graciousness, and sense of duty have been an inspiration,” Carter said of Elizabeth in a statement, “and we join the millions around the world in mourning a remarkable leader.” | https://cw33.com/hill-politics/every-living-us-president-pays-tribute-to-elizabeth/ | 2022-09-08T23:49:14Z |
- Inaugural members include Dr. Taiyin Yang, Dr. John Lowe, and Dr. Mark Namchuk -
BOSTON, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sionna Therapeutics, a life sciences company dedicated to developing highly effective and differentiated treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), today announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with inaugural members including Taiyin Yang, Ph.D., John Lowe, Ph.D., and Mark Namchuk, Ph.D. The SAB will advise the company as it advances the development of a first-in-class portfolio of novel small molecules targeting the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein.
"We are fortunate to collaborate with world renowned experts in drug discovery, development, and manufacturing through our inaugural SAB as we pursue therapies that could be transformational for people living with CF," said Mike Cloonan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sionna Therapeutics. "Many people with CF continue to experience exacerbations, infections, and a burden on daily life. We are focused on a unique target, NBD1, with the potential to fully normalize CFTR function. The insights from the extensive experience of our SAB members will enhance our scientific approach and accelerate our exciting development programs."
Dr. Yang brings more than four decades of experience in drug development and manufacturing. She is the former Executive Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing for Gilead Sciences and held several leadership positions with the Company. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Kronos Bio and Kodiak Sciences, is a member of the Expert Scientific Advisory Committee of Medicines for Malaria Venture and was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Yang was previously a director in research and development at Syntex Corporation. She earned a B.S. in chemistry from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Lowe has more than three decades of experience as a medicinal chemist and currently serves as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on drug discovery projects. He was previously a Senior Research Fellow for Pfizer Global Research & Development and held several leadership positions with Pfizer as a research scientist and investigator. Dr. Lowe is a co-inventor of ziprasidone (Geodon) and was recognized with an American Chemical Society (ACS) Heroes of Chemistry Award in 2007 and was the ACS Awardee in Industrial Chemistry in 2011. He was inducted into the Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame in 2021. Dr. Lowe earned a B.A. in chemistry and history from Williams College, a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed a postdoc at Stanford University.
Dr. Namchuk serves as the Executive Director of Therapeutics Translation and Professor of the Practice of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. He has more than two decades of experience in biotechnology research and development, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Research and Nonclinical and Pharmaceutical Development at Alkermes. Dr. Namchuk also held leadership positions at Vertex Pharmaceuticals including SVP of Research, North America and started his biotech career at Cubist Pharmaceuticals. He earned a B.Sc. in chemistry with honors from the University of Alberta and a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from the University of British Columbia. He was also a Human Frontier Science Program postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco.
About Sionna Therapeutics
Sionna Therapeutics is a life sciences company dedicated to developing highly effective and differentiated treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) by normalizing the function of CFTR, the key protein associated with disease progression in CF. Building on over a decade of extensive research on the genetic mutations associated with CF and founded in 2019, Sionna is advancing a pipeline of small molecules engineered to correct ΔF508, the most common mutation that affects the CFTR protein. The company has a first-in-class portfolio of programs targeting correction of NBD1, the key and unique mechanism to enable full restoration of ΔF508-CFTR function, and complementary programs targeting ICL4 and TMD1. Sionna's pipeline has the potential to deliver best-in-class efficacy and reach previously unachievable levels of long-term benefit for people with CF. For information about Sionna visit https://www.sionnatx.com/.
Media Contact
Adam Daley
Berry & Company Public Relations
212.253.8881
adaley@berrypr.com
Investor Contact
ir@sionnatx.com
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SOURCE Sionna Therapeutics | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/sionna-therapeutics-announces-formation-scientific-advisory-board/ | 2022-08-01T12:29:50Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Weber Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of WEBR during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Weber Class A common stock pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus issued in connection with the Company's August 2021 initial public offering.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Weber was reasonably likely to implement price increases; (2) as a result, consumer demand for Weber's products was reasonably likely to decrease; (3) due to the resulting inventory buildup, Weber was reasonably likely to run promotions to "enhance retail sell through"; (4) the foregoing would adversely impact Weber's financial results; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects, were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
DEADLINE: September 27, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/weber-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=30894&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of WEBR during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is September 27, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-weber-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-27-2022-nyse-webr/ | 2022-08-17T11:29:49Z |
ATLANTA (AP) — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez was held out of the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Braves after being taken to a hospital the previous night because of shortness of breath.
Manager Dusty Baker said doctors weren’t able to find any cause of the breathing issues. Alvarez was at the ballpark but under a concussion-like protocol where the team was monitoring his every move.
Baker said Alvarez could return to the lineup for the finale of the three-game series Sunday.
“He’s better,” Baker said. “We’ve still got to watch him. He’s under what’s similar to a concussion protocol, where you’ve got to watch him. You don’t want him to maybe fall out. They couldn’t find anything, but that doesn’t mean nothing’s wrong.”
Baker called it a frightening situation, but added he was somewhat relieved that one of the game’s most feared hitters was apparently not stricken with a serious medical problem.
“We’re just going to wait today,” the manager added. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow. He’ll probably DH if he’s feeling all right.”
Alvarez is batting .295 with 31 homers and 77 RBIs for the AL West-leading Astros, who are seeking their fourth World Series appearance in six years.
They are in Atlanta for a rematch of last year’s Series, won by the Braves.
Alvarez departed Friday night’s 6-2 loss to Atlanta under his own power with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. There was a pause in the action when Braves rookie Vaughn Grissom fouled a ball off his foot and was being tended to by a trainer.
Baker said Alvarez started having some breathing issues while running the bases, and the condition was exacerbated by in-game fireworks.
Alvarez had hoped to make it through the inning, but decided to come off when Grissom was shaken up,.
Alvarez was transported to an Atlanta hospital to undergo testing but doctors weren’t able to pinpoint a cause.
“It’s better to know if there’s nothing wrong,” Baker said. “Those doctors are great, but sometimes it’s a guess.”
___
Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/astros-star-alvarez-back-at-ballpark-after-breathing-scare/ | 2022-08-21T13:50:11Z |
Though East Hampton is a solidly middle-class town in Connecticut, dozens of families are applying for free school meals for the first time as they contend with high food costs and tight budgets.
Like their peers in most of the US, East Hampton children soon will no longer automatically receive breakfast and lunch at school without charge as they have for the past two years. That’s because Congress in June did not extend the Covid-19 pandemic waivers that had expanded free school meals to all students, regardless of income.
Most of these East Hampton parents, however, will have to pack food for their kids or spend hundreds of dollars in the cafeteria this school year once a short, state-funded extension of the expanded program expires. Nearly all of the new applicants don’t qualify for the regular federal program because their incomes are too high, said Jen Bove, director of food and nutrition services for the district, which has 1,900 students.
“If they are applying, they need it,” said Bove, noting that the program doesn’t take into account debts that families may have accrued if they temporarily lost their jobs during the pandemic. “At a time when free meals have never been needed more in my adulthood, we’re taking it away from them.”
Turning away struggling families is only one of the issues that school nutrition directors are facing this year. They are also trying to make sure that those who do qualify for free or reduced-price meals submit applications, which parents haven’t had to do since the 2019-20 school year thanks to the federal waivers. School officials fear that some parents may not know they have to fill out new paperwork, while others may find it difficult to complete the forms.
Compounding the problem is that some school districts have had to raise their rates for breakfast and lunch this year because they are being hit with skyrocketing food prices, supply chain shortages and higher labor costs.
“Now that kids are returning to school and free meals are not going to be available, it’s going to put a tremendous amount of financial pressure on families who are already being squeezed,” said Crystal FitzSimons, director of school programs at the Food Research & Action Center. “You’re going to have kids showing up in class hungry.”
Some federal waivers continue, others don’t
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the US in March 2020, Congress approved a slew of waivers that gave districts more flexibility to continue serving meals when schools were closed and children were learning remotely. In addition to being able to provide meals for students to take home, schools received higher federal reimbursement rates and more leeway in what food they could serve amid supply chain disruptions.
The waivers continued even as schools reopened over the past two years, allowing them to offer grab-and-go meals to kids who were quarantining or studying virtually or to serve meals in classrooms instead of the cafeteria.
Around 30 million students were receiving free meals at school, according to the US Department of Agriculture, up from about 20 million children who qualified based on their household income prior to the pandemic.
Everyone being able to eat in the cafeteria at no charge also minimized the stigma felt by some kids who received free school meals, increasing the likelihood that they would actually get breakfast and lunch, school nutrition officials said.
However, Congress only extended some of the flexibilities for the 2022-23 academic year. The USDA is continuing to waive penalties for schools that can’t always meet federal nutrition requirements because they can’t order or aren’t receiving the food that meets the guidelines.
Districts are also receiving extra funds to compensate for higher food and labor costs, though not as much as they had been reimbursed since the pandemic began.
But one of the biggest changes is that low-income families have to once again apply for free or reduced-price meals. While many are automatically certified if they receive food stamps, and in some states, Medicaid, others must still fill out forms to qualify.
A family of three must have an annual gross income of less than roughly $30,000 to be eligible for free meals and about $42,600 for reduced-price meals during this school year.
Notifying parents
School districts are trying to get the word out to parents to apply. Most have put the applications on their online portals, while many also have printed forms that they send home or that parents can pick up.
This year, many school districts are utilizing social media more to inform parents, posting information on Facebook pages and using other social media apps, said Lori Adkins, president of the School Nutrition Association.
Families who qualified in recent years have the first 30 operating days of the school year to renew their eligibility. If they don’t, their children will no longer be able to receive meals for free or at a reduced price.
At Tucson Unified School District in Arizona, just over 9,000 students have submitted applications that qualify for free or reduced-price meals so far this year, said Lindsay Aguilar, director of the district’s food services department. But more than 1,000 children who had qualified previously will see their eligibility expire on September 16 if they don’t reapply. (Nearly two-thirds of schools in Tucson regularly serve free meals to all students because of the schools’ high poverty rates.)
Parents are receiving emails, text messages and automated phone calls to encourage them to apply, Aguilar said.
In general, districts nationwide are seeing more applications than prior to the pandemic, said Adkins, who is also the child nutrition consultant for Oakland Schools Intermediate School District in Michigan. But it’s too soon to say how many eligible families may fall through the cracks.
“Every household has competing priorities for their finances, so we just don’t want school meals to be unavailable or unattainable,” she said.
Pressure on families
The waivers’ expiration comes at a time when high inflation is putting a strain on family budgets. Grocery prices soared 13.1% over the 12 months through July, which was the largest annual increase since the year ending in March 1979, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For Dawn Overmyer, spending $80 a month on school lunch for her 5-year-old grandson could force her to be late on other bills. Overmyer and her husband, who both work at a supermarket distribution warehouse, have custody of the boy and his younger brother, who “love to eat,” she said.
The Montpelier, Indiana, couple were very disappointed to learn that they made $2,000 a year too much to qualify for their grandson to get free or reduced-price meals at school. They already live paycheck to paycheck, and Overmyer has had to tap into her 401(k) retirement account to make ends meet.
“Me and my husband, we were building for our future,” said Overmyer, 54. “Eighty dollars a month means quite a bit of money when it comes to trying to get my finances situated to buy a house so that I don’t have to worry about rent payments when I retire.”
Breakfast and lunch are still free for the kindergartener and other students for the time being, but the school told Overmyer that it will notify her when she has to start paying. She plans to prepare breakfast for her grandson, but sending him to school with lunch could wind up costing even more money each week since grocery prices have soared.
If kids are not in the free breakfast and lunch program, don’t bring food from home and don’t have funds in their school meal account, they are still able to eat in the cafeteria, Adkins said. But they are charged, and families must settle the balance later.
About 75% of districts had unpaid meal debt at the end of the 2017-18 school year, according to the latest information available from the School Nutrition Association. The median amount was $3,400, up from $2,000 three years earlier.
Some states are using their own funds to continue making free meals available in schools, FitzSimons said. In California and Maine, students will be able to get breakfast and lunch at no charge on an ongoing basis, while other states, including Massachusetts, Nevada and Vermont, are making them free for this school year.
Connecticut provided $30 million to extend the free program. How long it lasts in East Hampton depends on how many students participate in school meals this year, but Bove expects the money to run out around December.
Higher meal costs
Some school districts have had to raise their meal prices because of higher costs for food, supplies and labor.
In East Hampton, the price of lunch will increase by 50 cents, so students will pay between $3.50 and $4 for hot meals depending on their grade. Breakfast will also be more expensive.
Only six of the 28 school districts in Oakland County raised their prices, Adkins said, with an average increase of 15 to 25 cents.
Breakfast in Tucson’s schools now costs 25 cents more and lunch 20 cents more. Those in kindergarten through fifth grade pay $1.50 for breakfast and $2.50 for lunch, while older students pay $1.75 for breakfast and $3 for lunch.
Even if the federal reimbursements continued at the same elevated level as last year, Tucson would have had to raise its meal prices, Aguilar said. Its costs have more than doubled for some items.
A 6-ounce container used daily for side vegetables costs 135% more than the last school year, while salad containers are up 116%. The price of sliced cheddar cheese increased by 57% and whole grain hamburger buns by 50%. Chicken fajitas are 105% more expensive.
Plus, the district is now paying a minimum wage of $15 an hour, up from $13.50 an hour. That has helped reduce the share of vacant positions among the school nutrition staff from 25% last year to a more normal 15%, Aguilar said.
While Aguilar has received some inquiries from parents about the higher charges, she still considers school meals a good deal overall.
“If you think about a lunch meal or breakfast meal, I think our prices are certainly still very reasonable compared to what families are seeing at restaurants or fast-food outlets,” she said. “But you know that quarter or 20 cents definitely can add up.”
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Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in Georgia using data from Zillow. Click for more. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/next-stress-for-many-parents-first-school-lunch-bills-since-2020/article_3ad78f90-5da8-579b-a156-dec066a65f43.html | 2022-09-10T19:48:56Z |
CHICAGO, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- p-Chip Corporation, a company that is revolutionizing the tracking of physical products and materials with its cutting-edge microtransponder technology, today introduced its newest breakthrough, the p-Chip Code™ secure tracking tag. The p-Chip Code tracker combines a silicon-based p-Chip® microtransponder with a standard 2D matrix code to create hyper-secure QR codes, bar codes and other matrix codes.
"The pandemic brought widespread QR code use into the center of the consumer mainstream," said Joe Wagner, CEO of p-Chip Corporation. "But for many businesses, including food brands, pharmaceutical companies, automobile manufacturers and others, QR codes pose a host of potential security risks, since they are incredibly easy to create and replicate. The new p-Chip Code technology provides an additional layer of security for QR codes or other matrix codes, delivering a breakthrough in reliable traceability at an affordable price."
The p-Chip Code tracker functions like a tiny digital anchor for physical items. The nearly invisible p-Chip microtransponder is embedded directly into a 2D matrix code label, which is then placed onto virtually anything, including food and agriculture products, medicine bottles, automobile parts and more.
Any standard 2D matrix code, like a QR code, can then be validated via its embedded p-Chip microtransponder, and businesses can manage tracking data with web, cloud or blockchain applications. This provides added security—as well as an opportunity to associate additional, internal data with the physical product.
Companies can digitally trace ingredients, components and materials to enhance product security, safety compliance and quality control. Additionally, in certain cases, consumers can scan a QR code to determine if they are part of a product recall, and companies can then validate those claims via the more secure p-Chip Code microtransponder.
The p-Chip Code tracking tag allows for the serialization of physical materials; counterfeit-resistant security at a scalable price; visibility into secure, granular data across the supply chain; and minimization of the risks and vulnerabilities associated with QR codes alone.
About p-Chip Corporation
Since 2017, p-Chip Corporation has revolutionized the tracking of physical products and materials with its breakthrough microtransponder technology. Its p-Chip tracker, a highly durable technology as small as a grain of salt, functions like a digital anchor for physical items, delivering breakthrough visibility and index-ability at a scalable price point. From pharmaceuticals to electronics, automotive components to agricultural ingredients, companies worldwide rely on patented p-Chip tracking technology to unlock business intelligence, deepen brand loyalty and enhance revenue. To learn more, visit www.p-chip.com.
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SOURCE p-Chip Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/p-chip-corporation-introduces-first-of-its-kind-p-chip-code-tracker-revolutionize-qr-code-security/ | 2022-09-15T19:33:05Z |
RICHMOND, Va., June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Responding to the growing needs of the construction industry, Markel Corporation (NYSE: MKL), a leader in providing insurance coverage to the industry, has announced the formation of a new Complex Construction team that will provide coordinated service to major accounts in this industry.
The new Complex Construction team brings together dedicated underwriters and other specialists in areas such as claims and loss control, who are all well positioned to help insureds take advantage of Markel's extensive corporate knowledge in the construction and infrastructure space.
"The construction industry is one of the largest and most dynamic in the US, and Markel is already a recognized leader in addressing the complex and specialized risks facing construction clients," said Vince Colosimo, Markel's Construction Practice Leader. "The Complex Construction team will help us build on this already strong position."
Colosimo pointed out that the construction industry has a unique dimension of complexity, since it is subject to a myriad of economic, social, technological, and environmental risk factors.
"The new Complex Construction team includes members of our underwriting team, claims, and Risk Solutions Services, and will bring together in one place all the resources that companies need to address these complex risks," Colosimo said. "Not only will this initiative help cement Markel's commitment to the construction space, it will also reinforce our consistent approach to helping clients manage risks across multiple areas and facets of their business. We are excited to bring together the deep expertise we have within Markel to better serve the growing needs of clients within this space."
More information about the new team can be obtained at https://www.markel.com/insurance/us/commercial/construction
Markel Corporation is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. The Company's principal business markets and underwrites specialty insurance products. In each of the Company's businesses, it seeks to provide quality products and excellent customer service so that it can be a market leader. The financial goals of the Company are to earn consistent underwriting and operating profits and superior investment returns to build shareholder value. Markel® is a registered trademark of the Markel Corporation. Visit Markel on the web at markel.com.
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SOURCE Markel Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/markel-forms-complex-construction-team-serve-special-needs-large-construction-accounts/ | 2022-06-28T13:00:31Z |
ROSEVILLE, Minn., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Calyxt, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLXT), a plant-based synthetic biology company, today announced that Michael A. Carr, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bill Koschak, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the H.C Wainwright 24th Annual Global Investment Conference taking place September 12-14, 2022.
H.C. Wainwright 24th Annual Global Investment Conference
Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
Webcast: https://journey.ct.events/view/89f76b34-90f0-4836-b94b-90b001e47b2a
Management is also available for 1:1 meetings during the conference. Conference attendees should reach out to the event organizers or investors@calyxt.com to schedule.
The presentation will be available for viewing and replay from the Investors section of Calyxt's website at www.calyxt.com.
Calyxt (Nasdaq: CLXT) is a plant-based synthetic biology company. The Company leverages its proprietary PlantSpring™ technology platform to engineer plant metabolism to produce innovative high value plant-based chemistries for use in customers' materials and products. As plant-based solutions, the Company's synthetic biology products can be used in helping customers meet their sustainability targets and financial goals. Calyxt's diversified offerings are primarily delivered through its proprietary BioFactory™ production system. For more information, visit www.calyxt.com.
PlantSpring, BioFactory, Plant Cell Matrix™, and the Calyxt logo are trademarks of Calyxt, Inc. Any other trademarks belong to their respective owners.
Contacts:
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SOURCE Calyxt, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/calyxt-present-hc-wainwright-24th-annual-global-investment-conference/ | 2022-09-07T11:50:55Z |
Momentum for Talent Intelligence Builds as Leading Organizations Focus Their Talent Strategy on Skills
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eightfold AI, the leader in AI-powered talent intelligence, today announced the continued momentum of its Eightfold Talent Upskilling solution at the HR Tech conference in Las Vegas. Built on the Eightfold Talent Intelligence Platform, Talent Upskilling uses AI-backed insights to provide an understanding of the availability, maturity, relevance, learnability, and evolution of specific skills in today's competitive talent landscape.
"The most critical thing any organization can do in today's economic climate is to understand the skills and capabilities of their employees and how to grow together," said Kamal Ahluwalia, President of Eightfold AI. "Eightfold's Talent Intelligence Platform is the most powerful and straightforward way for companies to connect their business needs with employee development, leading to inclusive growth for all."
Eightfold Talent Upskilling is the first solution in the market to bring skill validation and development to both employees, candidates, and contingent workers, a critical capability as organizations prioritize internal mobility and flexibility. Now, employee career aspirations and needs of the organization are directly connected by personalized, continuous learning paths. Recent developments include:
- Eightfold AI has been recognized by HR Executive as 2022's Top HR Product offering, creating a consistent upskilling experience on a single platform for all talent, including talent communities, candidates, employees, and contractors.
- Learning, skill building and career management organizations such as Degreed, Go1 and others have partnered with Eightfold AI.
- Customers benefiting from the use of Eightfold Talent Upskilling include DICK's Sporting Goods, branches of the US Government, Ericsson and Vodafone.
"We're focused on understanding all the jobs and all the skills to become a new generation connectivity and digital services provider," said Marc Starfield, Group Head of HR Programmes and Systems at Vodafone. "We're trying to do workforce planning and move away from traditional job-based headcount planning to strategic workforce planning, by bringing in the skills from Eightfold into our total workforce skills-based Future Ready planning."
"As new skills emerge and old ones become irrelevant, businesses need to assess their current capabilities against future needs. Deploying AI and advanced analytics is the best way to solve this pressing issue at pace and at scale," said Mike Bertolino, E&Y Skills Foundry.
Eightfold Talent Upskilling is available today. Learn more about how to deliver personalized, inclusive growth journeys here.
Eightfold AI's market-leading Talent Intelligence Platform™ helps organizations retain top performers, upskill and reskill their workforce, recruit talent efficiently, and reach diversity goals. Eightfold's patented deep learning artificial intelligence platform is available in more than 155 countries and 24 languages, enabling cutting-edge enterprises to transform their talent into a competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.eightfold.ai.
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SOURCE Eightfold.ai | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/13/eightfold-ais-talent-upskilling-enables-enterprises-invest-employees-build-future-ready-teams/ | 2022-09-13T13:08:44Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators have historically inspected baby formula plants at least once a year, but they did not inspect any of the three biggest manufacturers in 2020, according to federal records reviewed by The Associated Press.
When they finally did get inside an Abbott Nutrition formula plant in Michigan after a two-year gap, they found standing water and lax sanitation procedures. But inspectors offered only voluntary suggestions for fixing the problems, and issued no formal warning.
Inspectors would return five months later after four infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant suffered bacterial infections. They found bacterial contamination inside the factory, leading to a four-month shutdown and turning a festering supply shortage into a full-blown crisis that sent parents scrambling to find formula and forced the U.S. to airlift products from overseas.
The gap in baby formula plant inspections, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, is getting new scrutiny from Congress and government watchdogs investigating the series of missteps that led to the crisis. A recent bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to inspect infant formula facilities every six months. And the government’s inspector general for health has launched an inquiry into the FDA’s handling of Abbott’s facility, the largest in the U.S.
Abbott resumed production at the plant early this month under a legally binding agreement with the FDA, but the shutdown and nationwide shortage exposed how concentrated the industry has become in the U.S., with a handful of companies accounting for roughly 90% of the market.
As COVID-19 swept across the U.S. in early 2020, the FDA pulled most of its safety inspectors from the field, skipping thousands of routine plant inspections.
The FDA did conduct more than 800 “mission critical” inspections during the first year of the pandemic, the agency said in a statement. Regulators selected facilities for inspections based on whether they carried a specific safety risk or were needed to produce an important medical therapy.
Only three of the nation’s 23 facilities that make, package or distribute formula made the cut. The FDA resumed routine inspections in July 2021.
The inspection records reviewed by the AP show gaps as large as 2 1/2 years between FDA’s 2019 inspections and when regulators returned to plants owned by the three leading formula manufacturers: Abbott, Reckitt and Gerber.
In fact, the FDA still has yet to return to one key plant owned by Reckitt and two owned by Gerber, according to agency records. All those facilities are operating around the clock to boost U.S. formula production.
“The FDA would have had more chances to catch these issues if they’d been inspecting during the pandemic,” said Sarah Sorscher, a food safety specialist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest. She acknowledged the difficult trade-off the FDA faced in pulling its inspectors to reduce their exposure to COVID-19. “Certainly there was a price to pay for protecting their workers during that time.”
Baby formula manufacturers were “consistently identified as a high priority during the pandemic,” and there is currently no backlog of inspections, the agency told the AP in response to inquiries about the gaps. The agency said it skipped about 15,000 U.S. inspections due to COVID, but it has already made up about 5,000 of those, exceeding its own goals.
Under current law, the FDA is only required to inspect formula facilities every three to five years, but the agency has consistently inspected facilities annually — until the pandemic.
“Our top priority now is addressing the urgent need for infant formula in the U.S. market, and our teams are working night and day to help make that happen,” FDA stated.
But outside experts say the gap in inspections speaks to a blind spot in the government’s response effort, which was successful at preventing shortages of drugs and other medical supplies.
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf says regulators knew shutting down Abbott’s plant would create supply problems, but there was little evidence of urgency between when inspectors shuttered the plant in February and recent emergency measures to allow more imports from abroad.
Longtime food safety specialists see a deeper problem at the highest levels of the FDA, where physicians and medical scientists for decades have prioritized oversight of drugs and medical products over food.
“It’s very challenging for them to get engaged at all in this area because they don’t have the background, the knowledge and the experience in it,” said Steven Mandernach, executive director of the Association of Food and Drug Officials, which represents state-level inspectors.
The FDA shares oversight of food production and safety with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. FDA inspections of food facilities peaked in 2011 and have declined most years since, despite increased funds and powers by Congress. The FDA said that while U.S. inspections have declined, foreign facility inspections have increased.
There’s no certainty that extra inspections during COVID-19 would have prevented the contamination problems at the Sturgis, Michigan, plant that was shut down. And Abbott says that its products have not been directly linked to the infections, two of which were fatal.
But the plant did have earlier problems, including a 2010 formula recall due to possible contamination with insect parts.
“I think facilities that had known problems that could cause a food safety risk should have been part of FDA’s mission critical work,” Mandernach said. “And this facility would have been among those.”
Not having regular inspections — or even the threat of them — can lead to changes in culture at plants like Abbott’s, Mandernach noted.
“If you’re driving down the highway and you know the state troopers have been furloughed, might you go a little faster than if you knew there was a trooper on duty?” Mandernach asked.
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Follow Matthew Perrone on Twitter: @AP_FDAwriter.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/many-baby-formula-plants-werent-inspected-because-of-covid/ | 2022-06-13T17:46:56Z |
U.S.-Based Korean Fried Chicken Brand Experiences 24.7% AUV Growth; Earns Accolades for its Influence on the Industry
DALLAS, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As Korean pop culture further makes its mark on the United States, Bonchon has been a part of the movement spreading the joy of its hand-battered, double-fried Korean fried chicken.
Bonchon's year-over-year sales increase of 12 percent is outperforming the industry average and leading the fast casual and casual dining segments per Black Box Intelligence™ data. Since the time VIG Partners invested in the company at the end of 2018, its AUV has increased by 24.7% to $1.57 million, and this growth has continued through the early part of the year.
"Heading into 2022, we had a focused strategy of building sales and trimming costs where possible, to minimize the impact of high commodity and transportation costs. We also continue to remain dedicated to the quality of our food, giving people a taste of Korean culture as well as providing a strong franchise opportunity to our partners," said Flynn Dekker, CEO of Bonchon. "Our 20th anniversary is on the horizon this fall and we have much to celebrate with our fans and can't wait to do it in true Bonchon style."
The brand is also experiencing location growth in both the United States and internationally. Throughout the United States, it has opened a combination of its new fast casual and full-service model locations in California, Colorado, Minnesota, Texas and Virginia with plans to grow by 20 percent before the end of the year. Since the start of 2022, it also opened new international restaurants in Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam with its first location coming to France later this year.
With a strategic expansion plan in place, its US development pipeline includes signed agreements for more than 120 future restaurants — entering into brand new markets such as Delaware, where a location opened in July, Tennessee, Mississippi, Ohio and Alabama. Further showing the influence the brand and its leadership has on the restaurant industry, Bonchon has earned more than nine awards in the past twelve months. A few of the most notable are Nation's Restaurant News Top 500 Restaurants where the brand moved up to #181, Fast Casual Movers & Shakers with a nearly 40 spot jump on the list and Entrepreneur magazine Top 200 Global Franchise.
Bonchon is a global restaurant brand known for distinctive Korean double-fried chicken, Asian fusion cuisine, and Korean specialties. Born in Busan, South Korea in 2002, the concept was established in the United States in 2006. Bonchon sets out to have its fans "Crunch Out Loud" by sharing the joy of hand-battered, double-fried, crazy crispy Korean fried chicken with the world. It currently has more than 386 restaurants across eight countries including Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Australia, Vietnam and the United States.
The brand has earned several accolades – it was recognized by Business Insider as "the gold standard for fried chicken" as well as included on Nation's Restaurant News 2022 "Top 500 Restaurants", Fast Casual Magazine's 2022 "Top 100 Movers & Shakers" and Entrepreneur's 2022 "Franchise 500", "Fastest Growing Franchises", "Top Food Franchise" and "Top Global Franchise" lists.
For more information about Bonchon, visit bonchon.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit franchising.bonchon.com.
Black Box Intelligence™ is the leading performance benchmarking provider for the restaurant industry connecting the dots on people, profits and performance. Their unparalleled data set reveals insight into financial, workforce, guest and consumer trends from over 300 brands and 72,000 restaurant units. Black Box Intelligence is also the producer of The Best Practices Conference held annually in Dallas, Texas.
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SOURCE Bonchon | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/bonchon-crunches-through-q1-q2-2022-with-record-sales-numbers/ | 2022-07-19T19:44:08Z |
NEW YORK, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Amazon.com, Inc. ("Amazon" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AMZN) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Seattle Division, and docketed under 22-cv-00617, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Amazon stock between February 1, 2019 and April 5, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").
If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Amazon securities during the Class Period, you have until July 5, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
Amazon is a multinational technology company that engages primarily in the businesses of e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.
On the Company's Amazon.com e-commerce platform, Amazon sells both third-party merchandise and Amazon's own private-label products. As the owner and operator of the Amazon.com e-commerce platform, Amazon has access to certain non-public data of the third-party sellers that use the Amazon.com platform.
On or around June 3, 2019, the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary initiated a bipartisan investigation into the state of competition online. The investigation, led by the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law (the "Subcommittee"), examined the business practices and market dominance of Facebook, Google, Apple, and, of particular relevance, Amazon (the "Subcommittee Investigation").
In the course of the Subcommittee Investigation, the Subcommittee held several oversight hearings in which various officers of the above referenced companies, including their respective Chief Executive Officers, offered witness testimony on topics such as the effect of market power on the press, innovation, and privacy, and the market dominance of the firms under investigation. After each of the hearings, members of the Subcommittee submitted questions for the record to the witnesses.
The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Amazon engaged in anticompetitive conduct in its private-label business practices, including giving Amazon products preference over those of its competitors and using third-party sellers' non-public data to compete with them; (ii) the foregoing exposed Amazon to a heightened risk of regulatory scrutiny and/or enforcement actions; (iii) Amazon's revenues derived from its private-label business were in part the product of impermissible conduct and thus unsustainable; and (iv) as a result, the Defendants' public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading.
On March 9, 2022, media outlets reported that the House Judiciary Committee had requested that the U.S. Department of Justice open a criminal investigation into Amazon and certain of its executives for allegedly lying to Congress about its business practices during the course of the Subcommittee Investigation.
In response, Amazon asserted that there was "no factual basis" for the House Judiciary Committee's allegations.
Then, on April 6, 2022, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled "SEC Is Investigating How Amazon Disclosed Business Practices." The article reported, inter alia, that the SEC's probe has been underway for more than a year and focuses on Amazon's disclosures regarding its use of third-party seller data for its own private-label business.
On this news, Amazon's stock price fell $105.98 per share, or 3.2%, to close at $3,175.12 per share on April 6, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-reminds-shareholders-with-losses-amazoncom-inc-class-action-lawsuit-upcoming-deadline-amzn/ | 2022-06-09T01:48:22Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — If you could pick a player wearing the number 11 on your NFL team, who would it be? Linebacker Micah Parsons, or wide receiver Chase Claypool, A.J. Brown, Michael Pittman Jr., or maybe another No. 11 in the league.
Well, NFL on Prime Video is asking that very question and the Dallas Cowboys were more than swift to answer with a more than qualified graphic of their lion:
There’s not much worth arguing over as Micah Parsons truly might be the best No. 11 in the league as well as maybe one of the best linebackers in any zone of the game. So, what say you? | https://cw33.com/sports/do-the-dallas-cowboys-have-the-best-no-11-in-all-of-the-nfl/ | 2022-08-02T19:22:46Z |
Georgia fake electors seek to quash election probe subpoenas
ATLANTA (AP) — A group of Georgia Republicans who have been informed that they are at risk of being indicted in an investigation into whether former President Donald Trump and others illegally interfered in the 2020 election in Georgia are fighting subpoenas to testify before a special grand jury.
All 11 signed a certificate declaring falsely that then-President Donald Trump had won the 2020 presidential election and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors even though Joe Biden had won the state and a slate of Democratic electors was certified. They filed a motion Tuesday to quash their subpoenas, calling them “unreasonable and oppressive.”
Also Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, agreed to accept service of a subpoena in the investigation and to file any challenges to that subpoena in either state superior court or federal court in Georgia, according to a court filing. He had previously been trying to stop service of the subpoena in South Carolina.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last year opened a criminal investigation “into attempts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia General Election.” A special grand jury with subpoena power was seated in May at her request. In court filings earlier this month, she alleged “a multi-state, coordinated plan by the Trump Campaign to influence the results of the November 2020 election in Georgia and elsewhere.”
Willis’ office declined to comment Tuesday on the motion to quash the subpoenas.
While the special grand jury operates in secret, recent public court filings have made clear that Willis is interested in the actions of the fake electors.
In the Tuesday filing, lawyers for the 11 fake electors said that from mid-April through the end of June, Willis’s office had told them that they were considered witnesses, not subjects or targets of the investigation. For that reason, they had agreed to voluntary interviews with the investigative team, the motion says. Georgia Republican Party Chairman David Shafer and another of the fake electors appeared for interviews in late April.
On June 1, grand jury subpoenas were sent to all 11 of those fake electors. And on June 28, the district attorney’s office told their lawyers for the first time that their clients were considered targets, rather than witnesses, the motion says.
On Dec. 14, 2020, when Georgia’s official Democratic electors met to certify the state’s electoral votes for Biden, the fake Republican electors also met to certify a slate of electoral votes for Trump. They did that because there was a lawsuit challenging the election results pending at the time, and if a judge found that Trump had actually won their electoral slate would become valid, the motion says.
The district attorney’s office knew all that and properly labeled them witnesses, prompting them to agree to voluntary cooperation, the motion says.
“The abrupt, unsupportable, and public elevation of all eleven nominee electors’ status wrongfully converted them from witnesses who were cooperating voluntarily and prepared to testify in the Grand Jury to persecuted targets of it,” the motion says. As a result, their lawyers advised them to invoke their federal and state rights protecting them against self-incrimination, and they “reluctantly” accepted that advice, the motion says.
Their lawyers assert that the change in status from witnesses to targets was based on “an improper desire to force them to publicly invoke their rights as, at best, a publicity stunt.” Therefore, they should be excused from appearing before the special grand jury, the motion says.
The motion alleges that Willis is only pursuing some of the 16 electors as targets, specifically those who are prominent figures in the state Republican Party. That is evidence of political motivation, the lawyers argue.
The motion asks Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney, who’s overseeing the special grand jury to excuse the 11 electors from appearing. It also asks him to look into Willis’ actions “indicating the improper politicization of this investigatory process.”
It also asks him to grant a motion filed Friday by state Sen. Burt Jones seeking to remove Willis and her office from the investigation. Jones, who’s the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, alleged that the investigation is politically motivated because Willis is an active supporter of his Democratic opponent. McBurney on Tuesday set a Thursday hearing on that motion.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/19/georgia-fake-electors-seek-quash-election-probe-subpoenas/ | 2022-07-19T21:01:48Z |
NEW YORK, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Criteo S.A. (NASDAQ: CRTO), the Commerce Media company, welcomes the French Competition Authority's favorable decision released today to accept commitments offered by Meta (previously Facebook) to address the authority's competition complaint relating to Meta's termination of its ad buying partnership with Criteo. As part of the accepted commitments, Criteo will be reinstated as an authorized partner, restoring the company's ad buying capabilities on Facebook and now Instagram. Today's news follows a complaint initiated by Criteo in September 2019.
"We are very pleased with today's decision from the French Competition Authority to accept Meta's commitments. Positive outcomes such as this can ensure that large platforms like Meta operate with partners and the ecosystem with open and fair competition and without self-preferencing. We appreciate the continuing work and expertise in this case and in our industry by the French Competition Authority. Meta ultimately proposed strong commitments to address our complaint and we look forward to once again partnering with Meta to buy ad inventory on their platforms on behalf of our clients using our data and leading ad buying optimization technologies," commented Ryan Damon, Chief Legal Officer at Criteo.
The objective of the original complaint was to recreate a level playing field for the industry by restoring Criteo and other companies' ability to access Meta's Facebook platform on fair terms and establishing clear and transparent guidelines to prevent the platform from unfairly favoring its own services on its platform at the expense of its competitors.
As the French Competition Authority stated in its own release available here, Meta has agreed to a series of commitments which apply to Criteo and any other similar harmed companies in France, among them:
- Re-establish Criteo's partner status and badge with Meta.
- Re-offer the same bidding API to Criteo to enable the company to utilize its own buying optimization technologies and its own data to buy ad inventory across various Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram for Criteo's advertiser clients.
- Use this bidding API to run ad campaigns on the platform globally.
About Criteo
Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO) is the global commerce media company that enables marketers and media owners to drive better commerce outcomes. Its industry leading Commerce Media Platform connects 22,000 marketers and thousands of media owners to deliver richer consumer experiences from product discovery to purchase. By powering trusted and impactful advertising, Criteo supports an open internet that encourages discovery, innovation, and choice. For more information, please visit www.criteo.com.
Contacts
Criteo Investor Relations
Melanie Dambre, Investor Relations, m.dambre@criteo.com
Criteo Public Relations
Jessica Meyers, PR, Americas, j.meyers@criteo.com
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SOURCE Criteo | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/criteo-welcomes-french-competition-authority-decision-restoring-partner-status-partner-access-meta-ad-inventory/ | 2022-06-16T12:43:52Z |
Salvador Perez back to IL, will have surgery on injured left thumb; Olivares rejoins club
Published: Jun. 24, 2022 at 2:45 PM CDT|Updated: 2 hours ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s another trip back to the injured list for Royals veteran catcher Salvador Perez.
The seven-time All-Star missed nine games earlier this season when we went to the IL for a left thumb sprain. Weeks later, the same thumb will require him missing significant time.
Perez left Tuesday’s game in the third inning because of his left thumb and will now have surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament.
He had been batting a career-low .211, despite leading the Royals with 11 home runs.
The Royals said Perez is expected to return later in the 2022 season.
Outfielder Edward Olivares has been reinstated from the injured list.
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/24/salvador-perez-back-il-will-have-surgery-injured-left-thumb-olivares-rejoins-club/ | 2022-06-24T21:26:24Z |
CLEVELAND, July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), a leading provider of specialized and sustainable material solutions, intends to release its second quarter 2022 earnings before the market opens on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The company will then host a webcast with a slide presentation at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.
The webcast can be viewed live at avient.com/investors, or by clicking on the webcast link here. Conference call participants in the question and answer session should pre-register using the link at avient.com/investors, or here, to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call. The question and answer session will follow the company's presentation and prepared remarks.
A recording of the webcast and the slide presentation will be available at avient.com/investors/events-presentations immediately following the conference call and will be accessible for one year.
About Avient
Avient Corporation (NYSE: AVNT), with 2021 revenues of $4.8 billion, provides specialized and sustainable material solutions that transform customer challenges into opportunities, bringing new products to life for a better world. Examples include:
- Unique technologies that improve the recyclability of products and enable recycled content to be incorporated, thus advancing a more circular economy
- Light-weighting solutions that replace heavier traditional materials like metal, glass and wood, which can improve fuel efficiency in all modes of transportation and reduce carbon footprint
- Sustainable infrastructure solutions that increase energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural resource conservation and fiber optic / 5G network accessibility
Avient employs approximately 8,800 associates and is certified ACC Responsible Care®, a founding member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and certified Great Place to Work®. For more information, visit www.avient.com.
To access Avient's news library online, please visit www.avient.com/news
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SOURCE Avient Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/avient-hold-second-quarter-2022-conference-call/ | 2022-07-07T21:28:17Z |
Supreme Court rules on Constitutional right to abortion
Strikes down Roe versus Wade
Published: Jun. 24, 2022 at 1:29 PM EDT|Updated: 11 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Passion is flowing outside the Supreme Court today after a conservative leaning bench ruled six to three in Dobb’s versus Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
The Supreme Court overruled decades of precedent that provided abortion protections under the Constitution in Roe versus Wade. Protesters on both sides of this issue are outside of the court, making their voices heard.
There’s also heightened security. These protesters are blocked from getting close to the building.
Armed officers are lining the streets both at the Supreme Court and on Capitol Hill.
This story will be updated regularly throughout the day.
Copyright 2022 Gray DC. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/06/24/supreme-court-rules-constitutional-right-abortion/ | 2022-06-24T17:42:25Z |
Emergency officials provide Fourth of July firework safety tips
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, it’s inevitable that individuals will buy and set off fireworks.
The National Safety Council advises everyone to enjoy fireworks at public displays conducted by professionals, and not to use any fireworks at home. They may be legal but they are not safe.
In 2017, eight people died and over 12,000 were injured badly enough to require medical treatment after fireworks-related incidents. Of these, 50% of the injuries were to children and young adults under age 20. Over two-thirds (67%) of injuries took place from June 16 to July 16. And while the majority of these incidents were due to amateurs attempting to use professional-grade, homemade or other illegal fireworks or explosives, an estimated 1,200 injuries were from less powerful devices like small firecrackers and sparklers.
Additionally, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires.
Fireworks Safety Tips: If You Choose to Use Legal Fireworks
If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:
- Never allow young children to handle fireworks
- Older children should use them only under close adult supervision
- Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Anyone using fireworks or standing nearby should wear protective eyewear
- Never hold lighted fireworks in your hands
- Never light them indoors
- Only use them away from people, houses and flammable material
- Never point or throw fireworks at another person
- Only light one device at a time and maintain a safe distance after lighting
- Never ignite devices in a container
- Do not try to re-light or handle malfunctioning fireworks
- Soak both spent and unused fireworks in water for a few hours before discarding
- Keep a bucket of water nearby to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off or in case of fire
- Never use illegal fireworks
Better yet, grab a blanket and a patch of lawn, kick back and let the experts handle the fireworks show.
Every year, young children can be found along parade routes and at festivals with sparklers in hand, but sparklers are a lot more dangerous than most people think.
Sparklers burn at about 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers can quickly ignite clothing, and children have received severe burns from dropping sparklers on their feet. According to the National Fire Protection Association, sparklers alone account for more than 25% of emergency room visits for fireworks injuries. For children under 5 years of age, sparklers accounted for nearly half of the total estimated injuries.
Consider using safer alternatives, such as glow sticks, confetti poppers or colored streamers.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/01/emergency-officials-provide-fourth-july-firework-safety-tips/ | 2022-07-01T16:23:28Z |
Historically riskier cash-out refinance loans made up nearly three-quarters of refinance originations in Q2
SEATTLE, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Milliman, Inc., a premier global consulting and actuarial firm, today announced the second quarter (Q2) 2022 results of the Milliman Mortgage Default Index (MMDI), which shows the latest monthly estimate of the lifetime default risk of U.S.-backed mortgages.
The default risk for government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) acquisitions (purchased and refinanced loans backed by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae) increased from a rate of 2.28% for mortgage loans originating in Q1 to 2.78% for loans originating in Q2 2022. This means that for mortgage loans originating in Q2, the expectation is that 2.78% will become delinquent (180 days or more) over their lifetimes.
The volume of refinance mortgages continued to decline in Q2 2022 compared to Q1, likely the result of increasing interest rates. Mortgage refinance volume has dropped steadily since its all-time high in 2021, when interest rates were at historic lows. Along with the decline in volume, the makeup of refinance loans has changed compared to the year prior. Cash-out refinance loan volume increased from 34% of all refinance originations in 2021, to 74% in Q2 2022.
"Cash-out refinance loans historically have higher default rates compared to rate-and-term refinancing," says Jonathan Glowacki, a principal at Milliman and author of the MMDI. "In 2022, there's been an increase in cash-out refinance originations compared to the prior year, which is a contributing factor in the increased mortgage default risk we're seeing."
The MMDI reflects a baseline forecast of future home prices. For more on the MMDI, go to www.milliman.com/mmdi/.
To access additional mortgage market thought leadership, go to https://www.milliman.com/en/products/milliman-m-pire.
About Milliman
Milliman is among the world's largest providers of actuarial and related products and services. The firm has consulting practices in healthcare, property & casualty insurance, life insurance and financial services, and employee benefits. Founded in 1947, Milliman is an independent firm with offices in major cities around the globe. For further information, visit milliman.com.
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SOURCE Milliman, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/milliman-analysis-mortgage-risk-rate-continues-increase-q2-2022-with-heavy-cash-out-refinance-volume/ | 2022-09-01T19:09:31Z |
PARIS, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- One year after the presentation of the first Hopium Machina rolling prototype, the French manufacturer of high-end hydrogen-powered sedans, reveals today its concept car, Hopium Machina Vision, and offers for the first time an immersion inside the cabin.
To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/9058251-hopium-machina-vision-the-hydrogen-powered-sedan-unveils-its-interior/
Conceived by automotive designer Félix Godard, - previously at Porsche, Tesla or Lucid, - Hopium Machina Vision imagines the future of the Human/Machine relationship.
At the front, the pillar-to-pillar display provides a digital landscape of information, accessible to both driver and passenger. It can transform into a full or minimized layout as desired, in a wave-like motion. The haptic console offers a new sensory connection with the interface.
At the back, passengers can enjoy the comfort of an uncompromising interior space and an unparalleled sky view.
All the materials used for the interior are of the highest quality for the vehicle to stand the test of time and keep its spark, while ensuring both transparency and traceability. These materials have been sourced in Europe to reduce their environmental impact.
The exterior design of the vehicle has been refined: Hopium Machina Vision displays a notchback silhouette that is both athletic and elegant, with a clever balance of proportions. The distinctive elements of Hopium Machina are also present, including the imposing grille that activates to optimize the cooling of the fuel cell system, and the signature lighting inspired by waves on the surface of water.
The model will premiere at the 2022 Paris Motor Show, from October 17th to 23rd.
Please View Media Gallery Here
About HOPIUM
Olivier Lombard, the youngest winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans, founded Hopium, a manufacturer of high-end hydrogen-powered vehicles, as an achievement resulting from his experience acquired on the racing circuits. With the automotive culture in his heritage, Olivier Lombard has driven for 7 years hydrogen- powered racing cars, making him the world's most experienced racer in this field. As an open-air laboratory, the race has allowed Olivier Lombard and his team to reflect on new mobility solutions to meet today's environmental challenges. While the transportation sector alone is responsible for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions, the company is positioning itself as a player in the fight against climate change. Hopium brings together a team of experts and leading partners at the forefront of innovation in the fields of hydrogen fuel cells, technology, and automotive engineering.
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ISIN : FR0014000U63
Mnemonic : ALHPI
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1836412/Hopium.jpg
Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1816222/Hopium_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Hopium | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/hopium-machina-vision-hydrogen-powered-sedan-unveils-its-interior/ | 2022-06-14T07:06:02Z |
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Eric Greitens stepped aside as Missouri’s governor in 2018 amid a scandal involving accusations of blackmail, bondage and sexual assault. As he attempts a political comeback this year with a U.S. Senate bid, his ex-wife has said Greitens physically abused her and one of their children.
It once took far less to end a political career. But at a recent meeting of the St. Charles County Pachyderm Club in a largely Republican area of suburban St. Louis, GOP voters engaged in genuine debate over whether they’d support Greitens in the August primary.
Bob Sullentrup, the club’s 70-year-old president, dismissed Greitens as “damaged goods.”
“He’s going to get creamed,” he said. “That baggage will follow him.”
Others, including several women, weren’t so sure. Sharon Kumnick of Weldon Springs said she’d vote for Greitens if he’s the GOP nominee, noting “everybody’s divorce, when they want more than is offered, is contentious.”
Tina Maloney, a real estate investor from St. Charles, said Greitens should stay in the race.
“I don’t think just because you’re accused of something in this day and age that you should drop out,” Maloney said. “This is what they always do,” she said, citing the sexual assault allegations that emerged against Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court nomination hearing.
“It shows character to fight,” Maloney added.
That sentiment is reinforcing Greitens’ refusal to leave the race, posing the latest test of the GOP’s openness to men accused of physical or sexual abuse. Greitens is convinced that by casting himself as a conservative fighter in the mold offormer President Donald Trump, he can win the Republican nomination for Missouri’s open U.S. Senate seat even though many of his political benefactors abandoned him and the party’s establishment wishes he would just go away.
“I am going to win,” Greitens said in an email, calling his ex-wife’s accusations “false” and a “political hit job.”
Indeed, Trump is perhaps the GOP’s best example that candidates can power through abuse allegations. He won the 2016 campaign despite accusations of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen women. In this year’s midterms, Herschel Walker is poised to become the GOP’s nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia despite making repeated threats on his ex-wife’s life. A Republican candidate for governor in Nebraska, Charles W. Herbster, was accused last week of groping several women.
Sean Parnell, a Republican who sought a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania, is the rare example of a candidate who ended his campaign after allegations of abuse. He only did so after losing a court fight over custody of his three children.
The string of allegations concern some Republicans who worry that the party will rally behind candidates who will be unable to win the general election, when moderate voters often play a more decisive role. With the Senate evenly divided, the GOP can’t afford to lose what would otherwise be a safe seat.
That anxiety has deepened in Missouri after Trudy Busch Valentine, an heiress to the Anheuser-Busch fortune whose family history is deeply intertwined with the state, entered the Senate race last month as a Democrat. Many in the party have unified behind Valentine as the best chance to flip the seat.
In her personal capacity, Pat Thomas, the state GOP’s treasurer, has called on Greitens to leave the race. She said Valentine’s entrance makes it even more urgent for someone other than Greitens to emerge as the nominee.
“I am certainly concerned that (she) could be a problem,” Thomas said.
Greitens, a former Navy SEAL and Rhodes Scholar, was considered an early front-runner in the crowded Republican primary to replace retiring GOP Sen. Roy Blunt. But his campaign was rocked last month when his ex-wife, Sheena Greitens, filed a sworn affidavit as part of a child custody case that accused Eric Greitens of displaying such “unstable and coercive behavior” in 2018 that others took steps to limit his access to firearms.
In the affidavit, Sheena Greitens said he once knocked her down, took her wallet, keys and phone, and prevented her from leaving their home with their two children. She also accused Eric Greitens of striking their eldest son and pulling him around by his hair, among other claims.
Eric Greitens says that’s all false. And he, his allies and his attorneys have used hardball tactics to try to discredit her.
In statements, interviews, a press conference and on social media, they’ve portrayed Sheena Greitens as a liar “with a documented history of mental illness.” They’ve also accused her of working in conspiracy with a web of Republican figures to take down Eric Greitens’ candidacy, among them Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., longtime Republican operative Karl Rove and Greitens’ former 2016 campaign manager Austin Chambers, who has staunchly defended Sheena Greitens.
“Everyone smelled right away that this was a political hit job,” Eric Greitens said.
His attorneys have filed subpoena requests seeking phone records from Sheena Greitens, her sister, as well as Rove and Chambers, whose attorneys derided the effort an “abuse of judicial process” by a “floundering campaign.”
But Eric Greitens says that if the allegations against him were true, there is no way his ex-wife would have agreed two years ago to a court-approved parenting plan. An affidavit she filed at the time stated that it was in the “best interest” of the children for the parents to share joint custody, a discrepancy that he argues amounts to perjury in light of her most recent statements accusing him of abuse.
Sheena Greitens says she told “multiple lawyers, therapists, and our mediator, in 2018 and afterward” about the abuse allegations. She also says she will provide evidence in court, including pictures and documentation of their communications. The parenting agreement came at the time she was moving to Texas for her job.
“I had to make concessions that I did not want to make,” she said in a court filing.
Ultimately, she says that her ex-husband’s current behavior feels like a repeat of 2018, when he resigned rather than go under oath to respond to allegations made by his former hairdresser, who testified that he blindfolded and restrained her in his basement, assaulted her and appeared to take a compromising photo to pressure her to keep quiet about an affair. He has acknowledged the affair, but has denied taking pictures.
“When his political future is at risk, he becomes erratic, unhinged, coercive and threatening,” Sheena Greitens stated in a recent court filing. “He accuses me of things that are untrue and generates conspiracy theories about me collaborating with his enemies when I have done no such thing.”
For now, the political fallout from the episode is uncertain.
There are signs the dispute could galvanize the pro-Trump base. Many online conservative outlets have sided with Greitens while criticizing his ex-wife, a college professor at the University of Texas who specializes in Asian affairs. And Greitens’ campaign says they saw a dramatic uptick in donations since the allegations were made public, taking in over $100,000 in 14 days.
But he’s also drawn harsh condemnation from many leading Republicans in Missouri. Sen. Josh Hawley, who served as Missouri’s attorney general when Greitens was governor, said in a statement that if you hit a woman or child, “you belong in handcuffs, not the United States Senate. It’s time for Eric Greitens to leave this race.”
Greitens’ leading opponents had stern words, too, calling on him to to be jailed, drop out or seek help. But not everyone was quick to fully condemn.
Gov. Mike Parson said he believed Sheena Greitens, but stopped short of urging Eric Greitens to end his candidacy. The Missouri Republican Party also hasn’t taken a stand on Greitens’ future.
Thomas, the state party’s treasurer, said “the best thing he can do is suspend his campaign.”
She also noted that while Greitens accused the woman he had an affair with as well as his ex-wife of lying, they’ve both made their statements under oath — which Eric Greitens has not done.
“Why hasn’t he gone under oath?” Thomas asked. “If he had nothing to hide and wanted to put this all to bed, why doesn’t he do that for his supporters?”
___
Slodysko reported from Washington. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/i-will-win-greitens-undeterred-in-missouri-senate-race/ | 2022-04-19T10:52:58Z |
‘Precious individuals’ taken in Texas school shooting
UVALDE, Texas (AP) — One student was an avid runner, so fast she swept the races at field day. Another was learning football plays from his grandfather. One girl sensed something was wrong and wanted to skip school.
On Wednesday, stories began to emerge about the lives of the 19 children — “precious individuals” according to the school district superintendent — and their two teachers who were gunned down behind a barricaded door at Robb Elementary School in the southwestern Texas town of Uvalde.
Vincent Salazar said his 10-year-old daughter, Layla, loved to swim and dance to Tik Tok videos. She was fast — she won six races at the school’s field day, and Salazar proudly posted a photo of Layla showing off two of her ribbons on Facebook.
Each morning as he drove her to school in his pickup, Salazar would play “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” by Guns N’ Roses and they’d sing along, he said.
“She was just a whole lot of fun,” he said.
Manny Renfro lost his 8-year-old grandson, Uziyah Garcia, in the shooting.
“The sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Renfro said. “I’m not just saying that because he was my grandkid.”
Renfro said Uziyah last visited him in San Angelo during spring break. “We started throwing the football together and I was teaching him pass patterns. Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,” Renfro said. “There were certain plays that I would call that he would remember and he would do it exactly like we practiced.”
Javier Cazares said he found out Tuesday afternoon that his 9-year-old daughter Jacklyn Cazares was killed in her classroom. She was with a group of five girls, including her second cousin, Annabelle Rodriguez, who formed a tight group of friends.
“They are all gone now,” Cazares said.
The extended families of the slain cousins gathered Wednesday to mourn and comfort each other over barbecue.
Cazares described his daughter as a “firecracker” who “had a voice, she didn’t like bullies, she didn’t like kids being picked on.”
“All in all, full of love. She had a big heart,” he said.
Veronica Luevanos, whose 10-year-old daughter, Jailah Nicole Silguero, was among the victims, tearfully told Univision that her daughter did not want to go to school Tuesday and seemed to sense something bad was going to happen. Jailah’s cousin also died in the shooting.
All of the dead were in the same fourth-grade classroom, where the shooter barricaded himself Tuesday and opened fire on the children and their teachers, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told a news conference Wednesday. He said the gunman used an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle in the attack and posted on Facebook shortly before the shooting: “I’m going to shoot an elementary school.”
Schools Superintendent Hal Harrell fought back tears as he spoke of the children and their teachers.
“You can just tell by their angelic smiles that they were loved,” Harrell said of the children. “That they loved coming to school, that they were just precious individuals.”
The two teachers “poured their heart and soul” into their work, Harrell said.
Teacher Eva Mireles, 44, was remembered as a loving mother and wife. “She was adventurous. ... She is definitely going to be very missed,” said 34-year-old relative Amber Ybarra, of San Antonio.
In a post on the school’s website at the start of the school year, Mireles introduced herself to her new students.
“Welcome to the 4th grade! We have a wonderful year ahead of us!” she wrote, noting she had been teaching 17 years, loved running and hiking, and had a “supportive, fun, and loving family.” She mentioned that her husband was a school district police officer, and they had a grown daughter and three “furry friends.”
The other slain teacher, Irma Garcia, wrote about her four children, including one who was in the Marines, in a letter introducing herself to the class. Garcia’s 21-year-old nephew, John Martinez, told the Detroit Free Press the family was struggling to grasp that while Garcia’s son trained for combat, it was his mother who was shot to death.
Angel Garza, a medical assistant with a step daughter at the school, arrived soon after the shooting and found himself aiding students streaming out injured and shaken up.
One girl was covered in blood and he asked if she had been shot.
“I’m not hurt. He shot my best friend,” the girl said. “She’s not breathing. She was just trying to call the cops.”
And then she named the friend, Amerie Jo Garza, his stepdaughter.
Amerie was happy child who had just gotten her first cell phone for turning 10 and had just gotten a certificate the morning of the shooting for making the honor roll. She also loved to paint and draw and work in clay.
Garza said that in his grief he wonders what happened in those brief moments before Amerie was killed, if she said anything to the shooter, if he had seen her reach for her phone. And then he remembered the moment she got the phone for her birthday, and her face.
“It just lit up with the happiest expression,” said Garza. “She was so sweet.”
Relatives of 10-year-old Eliahna Garcia recalled her love of family.
“She was very happy and very outgoing,” said Eliahna’s aunt, Siria Arizmendi, a fifth-grade teacher at Flores Elementary School in the same district. “She loved to dance and play sports. She was big into family, enjoyed being with the family.”
Lisa Garza, 54, of Arlington, Texas, mourned the death of her 10-year-old cousin, Xavier Javier Lopez, who had been eagerly awaiting a summer of swimming.
“He was just a loving ... little boy, just enjoying life, not knowing that this tragedy was going to happen,” she said. “He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom. This has just taken a toll on all of us.”
She lamented what she described as lax gun laws.
“We should have more restrictions, especially if these kids are not in their right state of mind and all they want to do is just hurt people, especially innocent children going to the schools,” Garza said.
Arizmendi also spoke angrily, through tears, about how the shooter managed to get a gun.
“It’s just difficult to understand or to put into words,” she said. “I just don’t know how people can sell that type of a gun to a kid 18 years old. What is he going to use it for but for that purpose?”
As Ybarra prepared to give blood for the wounded, she wondered how no one noticed trouble with the shooter in time to stop him.
“To me, it’s more about raising mental health awareness,” said Ybarra, a wellness coach who attended Robb Elementary herself. “Someone could possibly have seen a dramatic change before something like this happened.”
Even for the survivors, there was grief.
Lorena Auguste was substitute teaching at Uvalde High School when she heard about the shooting. She began frantically texting her niece, a fourth-grader at Robb Elementary, until Auguste heard from her sister that the child was OK.
Auguste said her niece asked her that night, “Tia, why did they do this to us? We’re good kids, we didn’t do anything wrong.”
Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home, which is located across the street from Robb Elementary School, said in a Facebook post that it would be assisting families of the shooting victims with no cost for funerals. GoFundMe pages were set up for many of the victims, including one on behalf of all victims that has raised more than $1.5 million.
___
Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Uvalde, Texas; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Jamie Stengle in Dallas; Don Babwin in Chicago; Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Roxana Hegeman in Wichita, Kansas; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; Jill Zeman Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Bernard Condon in New York; and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/26/precious-individuals-taken-texas-school-shooting/ | 2022-05-26T12:35:37Z |
As the alternative investment industry continues its upward climb, AltsDb remains a leading voice covering private equity, venture capital, and real estate investments.
FORT WORTH,Texas, Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AltsDb has announced the company's participation as an Official Media Partner for IPAVision 2022. The event will take place in Nashville, TN, on Tuesday, September 20 through Thursday, September 22. IPAVision is organized annually by the Institute for Portfolio Alternatives (IPA), which has long been an important advocacy leader for the entire Portfolio Diversifying Investments industry.
That industry continues to outperform in 2022, as investor capital has rapidly accelerated into alternative investments. Even among broader economic headwinds, the formation of new funds and strong investor interest is ensuring that the alts industry continues its upward climb.
Wealth managers and RIAs can join AltsDb at IPAVision in September, and directly participate in the valuable conversations taking place at the Due Diligence Symposium.
"This is an important event for RIAs and wealth managers to consider attending, especially if they place a lot of capital in alternatives," said Andy Hagans, co-founder of AltsDb. "We're excited to be participating as an official media partner of the IPA, and for the opportunity to connect in person with so many high quality wealth managers."
For the full event agenda and registration information, visit https://www.ipa.com/vision2022/.
AltsDb produces content and events for High Net Worth investors, family offices and financial advisors who place capital in alternative investments. AltsDb is also the exclusive publisher of The Alternative Investment Podcast, a leading voice in the alternatives industry covering private equity, venture capital, and real estate. Visit https://altsdb.com to learn more.
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SOURCE AltsDb | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/15/altsdb-attend-ipavision-2022-official-media-partner/ | 2022-09-15T11:50:37Z |
New features aim to ease the burden on security teams amid cybersecurity talent shortage
ATLANTA, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fusion Connect, a leading provider of managed security and collaboration services, has launched a comprehensive security offering with a new endpoint management and security service that allows businesses to identify, control, and secure devices and applications at a time when security threats continue to disrupt companies globally.
The new portfolio enables organizations to better understand the complete picture of their security risks and take action to mitigate them. Fusion Connect provides a complete solution that secures against threats while also hunting for unknown vulnerabilities that can upend a business from managing network components with advanced edge security for unified threat management (UTM) and remote access VPN to device level management.
Additionally, the new portfolio helps organizations to improve reaction time to threats by connecting and securing any element in the organization's environment. The centralized platform enables enterprises to take swift action by providing a wide range of capabilities to improve IT efficiency and security hygiene.
Fusion Connect's enhanced security measures come at a time when a massive talent shortage persists globally. According to (ISC)², the size of the cybersecurity workforce is 65% below what it needs to be.
"Heavier workloads, unfilled positions, and security employee burnout are making things especially chaotic in cybersecurity," said Ken Morford, Vice President of Security at Fusion Connect. "With cyberattacks becoming more common, more sophisticated, and more costly, businesses need to quickly fill gaps and stop just simply firefighting. Using artificial intelligence and strategic managed services partners are ways to ensure organizations are protected and can mitigate threats before the attack occurs. And that's what our latest offering addresses."
Fusion Connect plans to continue expanding its comprehensive security portfolio to empower CISOs to gain the control, visibility, and speed needed to thwart cyber threats and keep their networks and organizations secure.
Learn more about Fusion Connect's security solutions.
Fusion Connect manages, orchestrates, and secures the critical technology infrastructure that enables the connected enterprise. We tailor our highly available and secure cloud communication, collaboration, security, and network management platforms to meet the unique needs of our mid-market and enterprise customers. Our AI-based management systems, along with our highly skilled technicians, dynamically ensure world-class application performance under any conditions. For more information, go to www.fusionconnect.com or call us at +1-866-829-4318.
Ruzanna Tantushyan
Director of Corporate Communications
Fusion Connect
PR@fusionconnect.com
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SOURCE Fusion Connect | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/fusion-connect-introduces-extensive-security-portfolio-help-enterprises-take-control-their-it-environment/ | 2022-07-21T15:55:04Z |
UVALDE, Texas (KXAN) — A week after a deadly elementary school shooting killed 21 people, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration for the community of Uvalde.
By issuing a state of disaster for the town, a news release from the governor’s office stated this “will accelerate all available state and local resources to assist the Uvalde community, as well as suspend regulations that would prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the aftermath of the tragic shooting.”
For example, the Texas Division of Emergency Management can now keep running a family resource center set up last week at the Uvalde County Fairplex, which helps to connect victims’ families with mental health services and other resources.
“The community of Uvalde has been left devastated by last week’s senseless act of violence at Robb Elementary School and should not have to encounter any difficulty in receiving the support needed to heal,” Abbott said. “This disaster declaration frees up the many resources available through the State of Texas and local jurisdictions to continue providing much needed support to all who were impacted and work in the community unencumbered by regulations unnecessary to respond to this tragedy. All of Texas stands with Uvalde, and we are prepared to provide support through all available means.”
Loved ones began holding funerals this week for some of the 19 children and two adults slain in the school on May 24.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced over the weekend that it would review the law enforcement response to the shooting at Robb Elementary School, which experts saw as an unusual federal look back prompted by questions about the shifting, contradictory information from authorities that have enraged a community in shock and sorrow.
During a briefing at the end of last week, Steve McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the commander at the scene — Pete Arredondo — made the “wrong decision” not to breach a classroom sooner, believing the gunman was barricaded inside and children weren’t at risk. McCraw said at least 19 officers waited more than an hour to get inside the classroom after following the 18-year-old shooter into the school building. He said they finally used a janitor’s keys to gain access to the room and kill the gunman.
Abbott previously said “all options are on the table” when asked if he has considered calling a special legislative session in the shooting’s aftermath. On Saturday, the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to the governor, urging him to call a special session to address gun violence. | https://cw33.com/news/gov-abbott-issues-uvalde-disaster-declaration-after-deadly-shooting/ | 2022-06-01T16:44:51Z |
- Q1'22 total revenue of $342 million, up 14% y/y and representing a two-year CAGR of 27%
- Q1'22 total bookings of $393 million, up 12% y/y and representing a two-year CAGR of 26%
- Continued execution of long term strategy illustrated by increased revenue generated through partners1 in Q1'22 of $82 million, up 41% y/y and transaction revenue2 of $36.6 million, an increase of 24% y/y
- Adopted board-approved financial plan to reach 20% FCF margins by 2025
NEW YORK, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wix.com Ltd. (Nasdaq: WIX) today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022. In addition, the Company provided its initial outlook for the second quarter as well as expectations for full year 2022. Please visit the Wix Investor Relations website at https://investors.wix.com/ to view the Q1'22 Shareholder Update and other materials.
"Wix has remained focused on executing on our long-term opportunities, our product and marketing roadmaps, and concentrating on what we can control despite the recent months of instability and volatility," said Avishai Abrahami, Wix co-founder and CEO. "Investments over the last several years have driven a significant expansion of our addressable market through the growth of our product platform, product innovation and development and go-to-market activities. We'll continue to push these efforts forward to build the best platform so any type of user and any business can build a powerful and successful digital presence."
Lior Shemesh, CFO at Wix, added, "Volatility and uncertainty remain elevated creating headwinds to overall revenue growth. We are focused on prudent cost management and driving operational efficiencies, from which we are already beginning to see results, and are instating a plan to achieve 20% FCF margins by 2025 . Our Partners initiative continues to grow at high rates, generating 41% y/y revenue growth in Q1. In addition, we were happy to announce our new B2B partnership with LegalZoom, further validating our product platform and brand as a premier technology platform to serve small businesses."
Wix's management team and business leaders will host an Investor & Analyst Day and will share a detailed overview of the company's key growth initiatives, a three-year financial plan, and long-term financial framework on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 8:30 am ET. The RSVP form can be found here.
Q1 2022 Financial Results
- Total revenue in the first quarter of 2022 was $341.6 million, up 14% y/y and representing a two-year CAGR of 27%
- Total bookings in the first quarter of 2022 were $393.2 million, up 12% y/y and representing a two-year CAGR of 22%
- Total gross margin on a GAAP basis in the first quarter of 2022 was 61%
- Total non-GAAP gross margin in the first quarter of 2022 was 62%
- GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2022 was $(227.3) million, or $(3.95) per share
- Non-GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2022 was $(41.4) million, or $(0.72) per share
- Net cash used in operating activities for the first quarter of 2022 was $13.7 million, while capital expenditures totaled $19.9 million, leading to free cash flow of $(33.6) million
Financial Outlook
We continue to experience a high level of volatility in demand for online services -- as many companies do today -- due to the combination of macroeconomic headwinds and global uncertainty.
While it remains challenging to confidently forecast our business with this ongoing volatility and uncertainty, we are confident in the fundamental strength of our business and our ability to execute on what we can control. Since last summer, conversion of users to subscriptions and retention remain stable, indicating that our business is in a steady state of growth, not a deteriorating one, giving us confidence that once macroeconomic conditions improve, we will return to higher levels of growth.
As of today, we expect total revenue in Q2'22 to be $342 - $346 million, representing 8 - 10% y/y growth. This range takes into account the negative impact of approximately $0.6 million due to the closure of our activities in Russia and certain regions of Ukraine and headwinds of approximately $4 million due to y/y changes in FX rates. Excluding these, we would have expected Q2'22 revenue to grow 10 - 11% y/y.
If we do not see further deterioration in the macro environment, for the full year 2022 we believe revenue growth will be 10 - 13% y/y. This range includes the negative impact from suspending activities in Russia and certain regions in Ukraine, which we estimate accounts for approximately $3 million in revenue in 2022, and approximately $20 million in headwinds due to y/y changes in FX rates. Excluding these, our expectation for revenue growth for the full year would be 12 - 15% y/y, assuming no further deterioration in the macro environment.
Further, despite macroeconomic headwinds, we remain committed to driving profitable growth and have already undertaken actions this year to improve gross margins and reduce operating expenses.
During our upcoming Investor and Analyst Day, we will provide more details on our multi-year plans to increase incremental margins and share our recently adopted, board-approved financial plan to achieve 20% FCF margin by 2025.
Conference Call and Webcast Information
Wix will host a conference call to discuss the results at 8:30 a.m. ET on Monday, May 16, 2022. To participate on the live call, analysts and investors should dial +1-877-667-0467 (US/ Canada), +1-346- 354-0953 (International) or 1-809-315-362 (Israel) and reference Conference ID 7607579. A telephonic replay of the call will be available through May 23, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. ET by dialing +1-855-859-2056 and providing Conference ID 7607579.
Wix will also offer a live and archived webcast of the conference call, accessible from the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at https://investors.wix.com/.
About Wix.com Ltd.
Wix is a leading platform to create, manage and grow a digital presence. What began as a website builder in 2006 is now a complete platform providing users with enterprise-grade performance, security and a reliable infrastructure. Offering a wide range of commerce and business solutions, advanced SEO and marketing tools, Wix enables users to take full ownership of their brand, their data and their relationships with their customers. With a focus on continuous innovation and delivery of new features and products, anyone can build a powerful digital presence to fulfill their dreams on Wix.
For more about Wix, please visit our Press Room
Investor Relations:
ir@wix.com
Media Relations:
pr@wix.com
Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Operating Metrics
To supplement its consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, Wix uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: bookings, cumulative cohort bookings, bookings on a constant currency basis, revenue on a constant currency basis, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) per share, free cash flow, free cash flow, as adjusted, free cash flow margins, non-GAAP R&D expenses, non-GAAP S&M expenses, non-GAAP G&A expenses, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP cost of revenue expense, non-GAAP financial expense, non-GAAP tax expense (collectively the "Non-GAAP financial measures"). Measures presented on a constant currency or FX neutral basis have been adjusted to exclude the effect of y/y changes in foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Bookings is a non-GAAP financial measure calculated by adding the change in deferred revenues and the change in unbilled contractual obligations for a particular period to revenues for the same period. Bookings include cash receipts for premium subscriptions purchased by users as well as cash we collect from business solutions, as well as payments due to us under the terms of contractual agreements for which we may have not yet received payment. Cash receipts for premium subscriptions are deferred and recognized as revenues over the terms of the subscriptions. Cash receipts for payments and the majority of the additional products and services (other than Google Workspace) are recognised as revenues upon receipt. Committed payments are recognised as revenue as we fulfill our obligation under the terms of the contractual agreement. Non-GAAP gross margin represents gross profit calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization, divided by revenue. Non-GAAP operating income (loss) represents operating income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, amortization, acquisition-related expenses and sales tax expense accrual and other G&A expenses (income). Non-GAAP net income (loss) represents net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, amortization, sales tax expense accrual and other G&A expenses (income), amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs and acquisition-related expenses and non-operating foreign exchange expenses (income). Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share represents non-GAAP net income (loss) divided by the weighted average number of shares used in computing GAAP loss per share. Free cash flow represents net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures. Free cash flow, as adjusted, represents free cash flow further adjusted to exclude capital expenditures associated with our new headquarters. Free cash flow margins represent free cash flow divided by revenue. Non-GAAP cost of revenue represents cost of revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP R&D expenses represent R&D expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP S&M expenses represent S&M expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP G&A expenses represent G&A expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP operating expenses represent operating expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for the impact of share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses and amortization. Non-GAAP financial expense represents financial expense calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for unrealized gains of equity investments, amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs and non-operating foreign exchange expenses. Non-GAAP tax expense represents tax expense calculated in accordance with GAAP as adjusted for provisions for income tax effects related to non-GAAP adjustments.
The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes that these measures provide useful information about operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its financial and operational decision making.
For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the reconciliation tables provided below. The accompanying tables have more details on the GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures and the related reconciliations between these financial measures. The Company is unable to provide reconciliations of free cash flow, free cash flow, as adjusted, cumulative cohort bookings, non-GAAP gross margin, and non-GAAP tax expense to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort because items that impact those GAAP financial measures are out of the Company's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Such information may have a significant, and potentially unpredictable, impact on our future financial results.
Wix also uses Creative Subscriptions Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) as a key operating metric. Creative Subscriptions ARR is calculated as Creative Subscriptions Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) multiplied by 12. Creative Subscriptions MRR is calculated as the total of (i) all active Creative Subscriptions in effect on the last day of the period, multiplied by the monthly revenue of such Creative Subscriptions, other than domain registrations in effect on the last day of the period; (ii) the average revenue per month from domain registrations; (iii) monthly revenue from other partnership agreements.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements may include projections regarding our future performance, including, but not limited to revenue, bookings and free cash flow, and may be identified by words like "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "aim," "forecast," "indication," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "outlook," "future," "will," "seek" and similar terms or phrases. The forward-looking statements contained in this document, including the quarterly and annual guidance, are based on management's current expectations, which are subject to uncertainty, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, our expectation that we will be able to attract and retain registered users and generate new premium subscriptions; our expectation that we will be able to increase the revenue we derive from the sale of premium subscriptions and business solutions, through our partners; our expectation that new products and developments, as well as third-party products we will offer in the future within our platform, will receive customer acceptance and satisfaction, including the growth in market adoption of our online commerce solutions; our assumption that historical user behavior can be extrapolated to predict future user behavior; our prediction of the future revenues generated by our user cohorts and our ability to maintain and increase such revenue growth; our expectation to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; our expectation that we will effectively execute our initiatives to scale and improve our user support function through our Customer Care team, and thereby increase user retention, user engagement and sales; our expectation that our products created for markets outside of North America will continue to generate growth in those markets; our plans to successfully localize our products, including by making our product, support and communication channels available in additional languages and to expand our payment infrastructure to transact in additional local currencies and accept additional payment methods; our expectations regarding the extent of the impact on our business and operations of the COVID-19 pandemic, including uncertainty relating to expected consumer dynamics after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, the effectiveness of government policies, vaccine administration rates and other factors; our expectation regarding the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on our business; our expectations relating to the repurchase of our ordinary shares and/or Convertible Notes pursuant to our expected repurchase program; our expectation that we will effectively manage the growth of our infrastructure; changes we expect may occur to technologies used in our solutions; our expectations regarding the outcome of any regulatory investigation or litigation, including class actions; our expectations regarding future changes in our cost of revenues and our operating expenses on an absolute basis and as a percentage of our revenues, as well as our ability to achieve profitability; our expectations regarding changes in the global, national, regional or local economic, business, competitive, market, and regulatory landscape, including as a result of COVID-19 and as a result of the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia; our planned level of capital expenditures and our belief that our existing cash and cash from operations will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months and for the foreseeable future; our expectations with respect to the integration and performance of acquisitions; our ability to attract and retain qualified employees and key personnel; our expectations about entering into new markets and attracting new customer demographics, including our ability to successfully attract new partners and grow our partner activities as anticipated and other factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 2022. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
1 We define partners revenue as revenue generated through agencies and freelancers that build sites or applications for other users as well as revenue generated through B2B partnerships, such as Vistaprint or NTT. We identify agencies and freelancers building sites or applications for others using multiple criteria including but not limited to the number of sites built, participation in the Wix Partner Program and/or the Wix Marketplace or Wix products used, among other criteria. Partners revenue includes revenue from both the Creative Subscriptions and Business Solutions segments.
2 Transaction revenue is a portion of Business Solutions revenue, and we define transaction revenue as all revenue generated through transaction facilitation, primarily from Wix Payments as well as Wix POS, shipping solutions and multi-channel commerce and gift card solutions.
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SOURCE Wix.com Ltd. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/wix-reports-first-quarter-2022-results/ | 2022-05-16T05:31:27Z |
Slovakia captain Hamšík retires from international soccer
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Slovakia captain Marek Hamšík is retiring from international soccer. The 34-year-old playmaker made his international debut in a friendly against Poland in 2007. He has played a record of 135 international matches for his country and scored a record 26 goals. He captained Slovakia to its only World Cup appearance at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. The Slovaks eliminated defending champion Italy and reached the round of 16 at that tournament. Slovakia also qualified for the 2016 and 2020 European Championships with Hamšík. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/23/slovakia-captain-hamsik-retires-from-international-soccer/ | 2022-05-23T13:23:50Z |
Twitter breach exposed anonymous account owners
(AP) - A vulnerability in Twitter’s software that exposed an undetermined number of owners of anonymous accounts to potential identity compromise last year was apparently exploited by a malicious actor, the social media company said Friday.
It did not confirm a report that data on 5.4 million users was offered for sale online as a result but said users worldwide were affected.
The breach is especially worrisome because many Twitter account owners, including human rights activists, do not disclose their identities in their profiles for security reasons that include fear of persecution by repressive authorities.
“This is very bad for many who use pseudonymous Twitter accounts,” U.S. Naval Academy data security expert Jeff Kosseff tweeted.
The vulnerability allowed someone to determine during log-in whether a particular phone number or email address was tied to an existing Twitter account, thereby revealing account owners, the company said.
Twitter said it did not know how many users may have been affected, and stressed that no passwords were exposed.
“We can confirm the impact was global,” a Twitter spokesperson said via email. “We cannot determine exactly how many accounts were impacted or the location of the account holders.”
Twitter’s acknowledgment in a blog post Friday followed a report last month by the digital privacy advocacy group Restore Privacy detailing how data presumably obtained from the vulnerability was being sold on a popular hacking forum for $30,000.
A security researcher discovered the flaw in January, informed Twitter and was paid a reported $5,000 bounty. Twitter said the bug, introduced in a June 2021 software update, was immediately fixed.
Twitter said it learned about the data sale on the hacking forum from media reports and “confirmed that a bad actor had taken advantage of the issue before it was addressed.”
It said it was directly notifying all account owners that it can confirm were affected.
“We are publishing this update because we aren’t able to confirm every account that was potentially impacted, and are particularly mindful of people with pseudonymous accounts who can be targeted by state or other actors,” the company said.
It recommended users seeking to keep their identities veiled not add a publicly known phone number or email address to their Twitter account.
“If you operate a pseudonymous Twitter account, we understand the risks an incident like this can introduce and deeply regret that this happened,” it said.
The revelation of the breach comes while Twitter is in a legal battle with Tesla CEO Elon Musk over his attempt to back out from his previous offer to buy San Francisco-based Twitter for $44 billion.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/05/twitter-breach-exposed-anonymous-account-owners/ | 2022-08-05T22:53:01Z |
Kuemper pulled after allowing 5 goals in Avs’ 6-2 loss
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Colorado not only failed to take a stranglehold in the Stanley Cup Final after a 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay in Game 3 Monday night, but also wound up with goaltending questions.
Darcy Kuemper, after rarely being tested in a 7-0 win in Game 2 Saturday night that put the Avalanche up 2-0 in the series, was pulled midway through the second after giving up five goals on 22 shots
“I don’t think he had a good night ... neither did our team,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said.
Kuemper left Game 1 of the Western Conference Final against Edmonton with an upper-body injury and was replaced by Pavel Francouz, who was in net for a four-game sweep over the Oilers.
There were discussions about who would start the Tampa Bay series but a now healthy Kuemper got the call and things were going well for Colorado until the Lightning returned home for Game 3 and turned the tables on the Avalanche. After being the team thriving on pressuring the Lightning into mistakes and holding them to 16 shots in Game 2, Monday night found the Avalanche on their heels with a number of bad defensive turnovers that saw Kuemper unable to make the big save on ensuing Tampa Bay shots.
“I think it was on us, for sure,” Colorado right wing Mikko Rantanen said of the skaters in front of Kuemper. “Grade-A’s (scoring chances) in the slot. We know Darcy is a great goalie and he’s going to bounce back.”
The end for Kuemper came when Tampa Bay tough guy Pat Maroon made it 5-2 with an in-close backhander 11:15 into the second. The goal came after Colorado defenseman Josh Manson made an errant pass from behind the net.
Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon replied “just shake it off” when asked what his message to Kuemper would be.
“He’s been great all year,” MacKinnon added. “Every mistake we made they capitalized on.”
Francouz, 6-0 this postseason, gave up one goal on 10 shots in mop-up duty.
Despite Kuemper posting an 8-3 mark in the playoffs this year, there was immediate speculations about which goalie would start Game 4 on Wednesday night.
Almost forgotten is the fact Colorado leads the series 2-1.
“It’s fun, this is awesome,” MacKinnon said. “Good or bad, we’re not going to trade our spot with anybody in the world.”
NOTES: MacKinnon has not scored a goal in the series. He had six shots on goal and 13 overall shot attempts Monday, ... The Avalanche ended up outshooting Tampa Bay 39-32. They also had 27 shots blocked and missed the net on 13 more.
___
More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/21/kuemper-pulled-after-allowing-5-goals-avs-6-2-loss/ | 2022-06-21T05:41:30Z |
Spanish govt proposes wider abortion rights, menstrual leave
MADRID (AP) — The Spanish government has approved a draft bill that widens abortion rights for teenagers and may make Spain the first country in Europe entitling workers to paid menstrual leave. The measures are part of a package of proposals that will be sent to the Spanish parliament for debate. The package includes an extension of abortion rights, scrapping the requirement for 16- and 17-year-olds to obtain parental consent before terminating a pregnancy. The government also proposes giving workers who are experiencing period pain as much time off as they need, with the state social security system — not employers — paying for sick leave. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/17/spanish-govt-proposes-wider-abortion-rights-menstrual-leave/ | 2022-05-17T16:22:09Z |
NEW YORK, July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Missfresh Limited ("Missfresh") (NASDAQ: MF) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors. This lawsuit is on behalf of persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Missfresh securities pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with Missfresh's June 2021 initial public offering.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Missfresh, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Missfresh includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Missfresh provided false financial figures in its registration statement and related prospectus issued in connection with the Company's June 2021 initial public offering; (2) Missfresh would need to amend its financial figures; (3) Missfresh, among other things, had lesser net revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2021; and (4) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times and negligently prepared.
DEADLINE: September 12, 2022
Aggrieved Missfresh investors only have until September 12, 2022 to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. You are not required to act as a lead plaintiff in order to share in any recovery.
Vincent Wong, Esq. is an experienced attorney who has represented investors in securities litigations involving financial fraud and violations of shareholder rights. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
Vincent Wong, Esq.
39 East Broadway
Suite 304
New York, NY 10002
Tel. 212.425.1140
E-Mail: vw@wongesq.com
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SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-missfresh-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-12-2022/ | 2022-07-18T10:14:56Z |
Salute Our Heroes: Topeka Shriners transport local youngsters to St. Louis children’s hospital
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - You might be most familiar with members of the Arab Shrine Temple in Topeka because of the circus they put on every February at the Stormont Vail Events Center.
But those members do a whole lot more, including transporting youngsters from the Topeka area to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in St. Louis.
The first Shriners Hospital for Children opened 100 years ago in 1922 in Shreveport, La.
The Shrine organization, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, was started in 1872.
Today, there are more than 25 Shriners hospitals across the United States, as well as in Mexico and Canada.
“Since the hospitals opened up,” said John Sidwell, a member of the Arab Shrine in Topeka, “the individual temples have taken on the responsibility of transporting children to the hospitals.”
Local Shriners transport a child and an adult family member to St. Louis in a 2017 Honda Odyssey minivan. About 36 trips per year are take to St. Louis from Topeka.
Additionally, some children from the Topeka area needing specialized care are flown to Shriners hospitals in locations such as Chicago and Galveston, Texas.
As you might imagine, the costs add up.
“The Temples,” Sidwell said, “rely on money that is donated to be able to afford to transport the kids to the hospital.”
There’s never a charge to the children or their families for the care -- or transportation -- they receive from the Shriners.
“It’s pretty simple,” said Shriner Bob Weibel. “The Shrine pays for everything. If they have insurance, we’ll take that, but it’s no money out of their pocket.”
First and foremost, it’s all about the kids.
“The reason we do this is for the kids,” Weibel said, “and that gives us a good feeling that we make their lives better.”
Knowing they are assisting children and their families helps keep about 70 members of the Arab Shrine Temple in Topeka motivated to keep driving the van.
“All you have to do is walk into the front door of the hospital, and you’ll understand,” Weibel said. “The kids ... need help.”
Children and their families often thank the Shriners for all they do for them.
“We have kids come up to you and thank you for what you’ve done for them,” said Bob Whitehead, a member of the Arab Shrine Temple of Topeka. “You may not even know them -- not know their situation. But being in the Shrine, we’re part of it, so we’ve helped them -- at least our organization has. Really brings tears to your eyes.”
Ed White, a member of the Arab Shrine Temple in Topeka and a former Topeka police major, said proceeds from this year’s Spirit of Kansas Fourth of July Car Show next Monday at Lake Shawnee will benefit the Shriners’ transportation fund.
“They do such a great job,” White said. “They really facilitate the Shrine and the hospital. They take families from Topeka to St. Louis,”
White added that “we jsut felt it was time to donate proceeds to them and help ‘em out.”
Registration for the Spirit of Kansas Car Show show is $20 per vehicle and will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, July 4, near Reynolds Lodge, 3315 S.E. Tinman Circle on the east side of Lake Shawnee.
White said all makes and models of vehicles are welcome.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/28/salute-our-heroes-topeka-shriners-transport-local-youngsters-st-louis-childrens-hospital/ | 2022-06-28T05:11:29Z |
Judge: COVID asylum restrictions must continue on border
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Pandemic-related restrictions on migrants seeking asylum on the southern border must continue, a judge ruled Friday in an order blocking the Biden administration’s plan to lift them early next week.
The ruling is just the latest instance of a court derailing the president’s proposed immigration policies along the U.S. border with Mexico.
While the administration can appeal, the ruling sharply increases the odds that restrictions will not end as planned on Monday. A delay would be a blow to advocates who say rights to seek asylum are being trampled, and a relief to some Democrats who fear that a widely anticipated increase in illegal crossings would put them on the defensive in an already difficult midterm election year.
Migrants have been expelled more than 1.9 million times since March 2020 under Title 42, a public health provision that denies them a chance to request asylum under U.S. law and international treaty on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
U.S. District Judge Robert Summerhays in Lafayette, Louisiana, ordered that the restrictions stay in place while a lawsuit led by Arizona and Louisiana — and now joined by 22 other states — plays out in court.
The states argued that the administration failed to adequately consider the effects that lifting the restrictions would have on public health and law enforcement. Drew Ensign, an attorney for the state of Arizona, argued at a hearing that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention failed to follow administrative procedures requiring public notice and time to gather public comment.
Jean Lin, a Justice Department attorney, told the judge that the CDC was empowered to lift an emergency health restriction it felt was no longer needed. She said the order was a matter of health policy, not immigration.
Summerhays, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had already ruled in favor of the states by halting efforts to wind down use of the pandemic-era rule. He said last month that a phaseout would saddle states with “unrecoverable costs on healthcare, law enforcement, detention, education, and other services.”
Title 42 is the second major Trump-era policy to deter asylum at the Mexican border that was jettisoned by President Joe Biden, only to be revived by a Trump-appointed judge.
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on whether to allow the administration to force asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court. That case, challenging a policy known as “Remain in Mexico,” originated in Amarillo, Texas. It was reinstated in December on the judge’s order and remains in effect while the litigation plays out.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/20/judge-rules-covid-19-asylum-restrictions-must-continue-southern-us-border/ | 2022-05-20T21:52:12Z |
The expansion follows the brand's overwhelming success in the Philippines, generating over $1.2 million in revenue within the first 12 months, outgrowing the entire digestive health segment in the Philippines by 151%.
MANILA, Philippines, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TRIZIE, a Southeast-Asian, multi-awarded wellness brand focusing on natural and scientifically-blended ingredients to improve gut and skin health, announces its North American market expansion.
The expansion comes after the brand's overwhelming success in the Philippines. Despite being pandemic-born in October 2020 and bootstrapped at USD 200,000, the Thai-originated brand found traction right after its launch in the Philippines, generating over USD 1.2 million in revenue in its first year. TRIZIE also managed to outgrow the total Digestive Health category in the Philippines, with 151% quarter on quarter growth (QoQ) compared to the category's growth of 104% QoQ.
In the Philippines, the product consistently tops the rank in the category of health across e-commerce platforms and has bagged multiple awards, including the coveted Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards. According to TRIZIE Philippines' CEO Katrina Eusebio, this remarkable reception keys up the decision for TRIZIE to break out of its Southeast Asian shell.
"While key tastemakers have vetted our product in the Philippines, we believe that the need to improve gut and skin health also resonates with people across the globe. It is a momentous achievement for us to launch in the USA and Canada and introduce TRIZIE to a wider audience," said Eusebio.
The company's expansion strategy will likely pay off. Based on a recent Euromonitor Survey, digestive health is the fastest-growing category in the Health and Wellness sphere, growing steadily at 5.5% per year. In Western markets like the US and Canada, a strong preference for a holistic and natural approach to gut health is also found, making TRIZIE poised to grab a slice of the region's digestive health market.
The gut health market is also expected to gain further traction globally, according to TRIZIE's Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Darla Bautista. "The importance of sustaining healthy habits is something that we learned since launching our products during the pandemic. Post COVID-19, consumers worldwide are likely to continue gravitating towards natural products like TRIZIE, which have been proven to promote preventative health benefits."
TRIZIE Clean Fiber, the brand's best-selling flagship product, is a natural dietary fiber supplement containing a unique Thermogenic Multi-Fiber blend with superfoods designed to promote digestive health, stimulate weight loss, and increase metabolism. Setting TRIZIE apart from its competitors are the variety of flavour options such as apple, passionfruit, grape and most recently introduced, peach fiber.
Since its introduction, the brand has been well received by the Asian health market with over 20,000 TRIZIE Tribe community members.
TRIZIE is now available in the US and Canada through Filipino-led retailers PNY Beauty, Modern Binibini, and Glow Bella. Wider distribution channels in North America, which will include Amazon, TRIZIE's direct-international shipping, and in-store distributions, are in the pipeline for late 2022.
For more information, visit www.trizie.com.
About TRIZIE
Established in October 2020, TRIZIE is a wellness brand that focuses on natural, scientifically blended blends to improve gut and skin health. The brand is on a mission to provide a clean start to wellness, promoting an inclusive space and body positivity, where "healthy" is defined not by the numbers on the scale but by mindful nourishment.
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SOURCE TRIZIE | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/wellness-brand-trizie-expands-into-north-america-interest-digestive-health-products-soars/ | 2022-06-16T14:22:23Z |
Train strikes vehicle stuck on tracks in Stark County
LEXINGTON TWP. – Stark County sheriff's deputies diverted traffic Friday morning around an accident involving a train and a car at state Route 183 and Gaskill Drive NE.
No one was hurt in the incident, which occurred just before 10 a.m., said Maj. C.J. Stantz.
The driver of the vehicle was crossing the tracks and "cut the corner a little too short," causing the vehicle to be stuck on a track, he said. The disabled vehicle could not be moved out of the way of the oncoming train.
The conductor spotted the train and was slowing down, but was unable to slow fast enough. The train struck the front of the vehicle.
Stantz said no one was inside of the vehicle at the time.
Deputies detoured traffic around the crash site and several intersections were blocked until the wreckage could be removed.
Stantz said the roads were reopened by noon. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/2022/04/15/vehicle-stuck-tracks-hit-train-lexington-township/7331868001/ | 2022-04-15T16:17:15Z |
STOCKHOLM, April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Truecaller, the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication, is publishing its interim report for January - March 2022 on 6 May 2022 at 07.30 CET.
Alan Mamedi, CEO and Odd Bolin, CFO presents the report and answers questions in a webcast and conference call at 13.00 CET the same day. The presentation will be held in English.
Follow the presentation live:
To listen to the presentation by phone, please call:
SE: +468 519 993 83
UK: +44 3333 009 271
US: +1 646 722 49 02
For more information, please contact:
Andreas Frid, Head of IR & Communication
+46 705 290800
andreas.frid@truecaller.com
About Truecaller:
Truecaller (TRUE B) is the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication. We enable safe and relevant conversations between people and make it efficient for business to connect with consumers. Fraud and unwanted communication are endemic to digital economies, especially in emerging markets. We are on a mission to build trust in communication. Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for more than 300 million active users, with half a billion downloads since launch and around 38 billion unwanted calls identified and blocked in 2021. Headquartered in Stockholm, since 2009, we are a co-founder led, entrepreneurial company, with a highly experienced management team. Truecaller is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 8 October 2021. For more information, please visit corporate.truecaller.com
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE Truecaller AB | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/26/invitation-presentation-interim-report-january-march-2022-truecaller-ab-publ/ | 2022-04-26T09:37:04Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation eased slightly in April after months of relentless increases but remained near a four-decade high, making it hard for millions of American households to keep up with surging prices.
Consumer prices jumped 8.3% last month from a year ago, the government said Wednesday. That was below the 8.5% year-over-year surge in March, which was the highest since 1981. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.3% from March to April, the smallest rise in eight months.
Still, Wednesday’s report contained some cautionary signs that inflation may be becoming more entrenched. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices jumped twice as much from March to April as they did the previous month. The increases were fueled by spiking prices for airline tickets, hotel rooms and new cars. Apartment rental costs also kept rising.
Those price jumps “make clear that there is still a long way to go before inflation returns to more acceptable levels,” said Eric Winograd, U.S. economist at asset manager AB.
Even if it moderates, inflation will likely remain high well into 2023, economists say, leaving many Americans burdened by price increases that have outpaced pay raises. Especially hurt are lower-income and Black and Hispanic families, who on average spend a greater proportion of their incomes on gas, food and rent.
Wednesday’s report also underscored the challenges for the Federal Reserve and White House in their struggles to tame inflation.
In April, a fallback in gas prices helped slow overall inflation. Nationally, average prices for a gallon of gas fell to as low as $4.10 in April, according to AAA, after having spiked to $4.32 in March. But since then, gas prices have surged to a record $4.40 a gallon.
Grocery prices, too, are still soaring, in part because Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has heightened the cost of wheat and other grains. Food prices rose 1% from March to April and nearly 11% from a year ago. That year-over-year increase is the biggest since 1980.
Such rapid inflation has led many Americans to cut back on spending. Among them is Patty Blackmon, who said she’s been driving to fewer of her grandchildren’s sports events since gas spiked to $5.89 in Las Vegas, where she lives.
To save money, Blackmon, 68, also hasn’t visited her hairdresser in 18 months. And she’s reconsidering her plan to drive this summer to visit relatives in Arkansas. She was shocked recently, she said, to see a half-gallon of organic milk reach $6.
“Holy cow!” she thought. “How do parents give their kids milk?”
Blackmon has cut back on meat, and “a steak is almost out of the question,” she said. Instead, she is eating more salads and canned soups.
Likewise, David Irby of Halifax, Virginia, said he’s been cutting back on food and other higher-cost expenses. A veteran who retired on disability in 2015, Irby, 57, said he has switched to chicken from beef and quit buying bacon or junk food, like his favorite treat, Cheetos.
Irby’s biggest worry? Replacing his 22-year-old Ford truck, which is no longer reliable on long trips. A new one costs $50,000. Even a 5-year old used version is about $40,000.
“I don’t know how people on a fixed income can buy a vehicle now,” he said. “It takes me almost two years to make $40,000.”
Turmoil overseas could potentially accelerate inflation in the coming months. If the European Union, for example, decides to bar imports of Russian oil, world oil prices could rise. So could U.S. gas prices. And China’s COVID lockdowns could worsen supply chain snarls.
In April, airfares soared a record 18.6%, the largest monthly increase since record-keeping began in 1963. And hotel prices jumped 1.7% from March to April.
Southwest Airlines said last month that it foresees much higher revenue and profits this year as Americans flood airports after having postponed travel for two years. Southwest said its average fare soared 32% in the first three months of the year from the same period last year.
There are, though, signs that supply chains are improving for some goods. Wednesday’s report showed that prices for appliances and clothing both fell 0.8%, while the cost of used cars dropped 0.4%, the third straight decline. Used cars and other goods drove much of the initial inflation spike last year as Americans stepped up spending after vaccines became widespread.
Inflation is also posing a serious political problem for President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats in the midterm election season, with Republicans arguing that Biden’s $1.9 trillion financial support package last March overheated the economy by flooding it with stimulus checks, enhanced unemployment aid and child tax credit payments.
On Tuesday, Biden sought to take the initiative and declared inflation “the No. 1 problem facing families today” and “my top domestic priority.”
Previous signs that U.S. inflation might be peaking didn’t last. Price increases decelerated last August and September, suggesting at the time that higher inflation might be temporary, as many economists — and officials at the Fed — had suggested. But prices shot up again in October, prompting Fed Chair Jerome Powell to start shifting policy toward higher rates.
Wednesday’s figures will keep the Fed on track to implement what may become its fastest series of interest rate increases in 33 years, economists said. Last week, the central bank raised its benchmark short-term rate by a half-point, its steepest increase in two decades. And Powell signaled that more such sharp rate hikes are coming.
The Powell Fed is seeking to pull off the notoriously difficult — and risky — task of cooling the economy enough to slow inflation without causing a recession. Economists say such an outcome is possible but unlikely with inflation this high.
One of the Fed’s concerns is that Americans might start to expect chronically high inflation, which can make rising prices harder to bring under control because such expectations can be self-fulfilling. If Americans expect costs to rise, they will likely demand higher pay. Those higher labor costs, in turn, can force companies to charge more, thereby heightening inflation.
So far, measures of longer-term inflation expectations have stayed largely in check even as prices have soared. Still, some people are starting to push for higher wages as prices rise.
“We haven’t had raises yet based on inflation, and we think we should because now inflation is so high,” Rochelle Guillou, 26, said, referring to her and her friend Hannah Lerman, who work at a startup in Boston.
Lerman, 25, said she thinks the cost of everything from food to online delivery services to clothes is on the way up.
“Rent is a huge issue,” she said. “They’re actually trying to sell my building right now, so we know our rent is going to go up. We don’t even know how much but yeah, rent is going crazy.”
___
AP Writers Anne D’Innocenzio in New York and Steve LeBlanc in Boston contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/us-inflation-might-have-dipped-last-month-from-40-year-high/ | 2022-05-11T21:18:42Z |
The company has been recognized by both the IPA and the BCI Asia Awards in 2022
HANOI, Vietnam, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Flamingo Holding Group (Flamingo Group), a key player in the real estate arena both in Vietnam and around the world, has emerged as the winners of two vital categories at the prestigious International Property Awards (IPA) 2022. The Flamingo Group is also the only Vietnamese enterprise to be awarded a pair of wins at the BCI Asia Awards 2022.
At the IPA 2022 June 23 event in London, the Flamingo Group surpassed hundreds of prestigious real estate developers worldwide. It came out on top as the project with the best landscape architecture in the Asia Pacific and the best complex architecture in the Asia Pacific for the Flamingo Hai Tien located in Thanh Hoa, an investment hotspot in Vietnam.
Tasked with innovating on the luxury resort real estate model, Flamingo Group received high praise from the professional judges for its green architecture and unique "Forest in the Sky" style. In addition, the Flamingo Hai Tien project was developed according to the model of Ibiza - the largest party island in the world - with the result of a paradise of villas and plenty of entertainment and food options stretching for kilometers.
Established in the UK with nearly 30 years of operation, the IPA is considered one of the most prestigious annual real estate awards on the planet and is often indicative of a guarantee of excellent quality in global real estate.
"In addition to the sustainable profit factor and towards the highest standard of a 5-star resort, Flamingo's design is also associated with the everlasting philosophy with nature. We apply this philosophy in architectural design, green space renovation, and application of green technology in operation, bringing the difference and portraying the "Flamingo identity" in our customer's and partners' hearts." shared Mr. Truong Xuan Quy, General Director of Flamingo Land Business JSC, a subsidiary of Flamingo Group.
"Projects in Dai Lai - Vinh Phuc, Cat Ba - Hai Phong, Hai Tien - Thanh Hoa will all have the fastest access to the rigorous standards of world-renowned 5-star resorts," he added.
The BCI Asia Awards have been held annually since 2005, where the BCI Media Group and its judges help provide an overview of the architecture and construction industry in the region by recognizing the various architects & developers. They have had a significant impact on the Vietnamese market.
About Flamingo Group
Established in 1996, Flamingo Group has constantly been developing with exponential growth in many industries: leisure, real estate, tourism, hospitality services, construction, architecture, etc.
Motivated by an ambitious desire for Vietnamese brands to achieve international reach with world-class products and services, Flamingo Group is now recognized as a leading leisure realty and hospitality developer in Vietnam and the surrounding region, with a series of renowned projects and a hall of fame including 65 prestigious national and global awards.
More information on the Flamingo Group can be found at the company's website: https://flamingoholdinggroup.vn/.
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SOURCE Flamingo Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/vietnams-flamingo-group-wins-big-prestigious-international-real-estate-awards/ | 2022-06-24T01:27:03Z |
Winter Weather Advisory issued May 9 at 8:58AM MDT until May 9 at 8:00PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID
* WHAT…Snow, moderate at times. Total snow accumulations of 2 to
4 inches, higher amounts possible over mountain passes and
ridges.
* WHERE…Island Park, Raynolds Pass, Targhee Pass.
* WHEN…Until 8 PM MDT this evening.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery late season wintry driving
conditions, especially over mountain passes.
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. | https://localnews8.com/weather/alerts-weather/2022/05/09/winter-weather-advisory-issued-may-9-at-858am-mdt-until-may-9-at-800pm-mdt-by-nws-pocatello-id/ | 2022-05-09T17:02:26Z |
New funding will accelerate innovation of Quiq's Conversation Platform and expand the company's market reach
BOZEMAN, Mont. and NEW YORK, April 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quiq, the AI-powered Conversational Platform that enables brands to engage customers on the most popular asynchronous text messaging channels, today announced it has closed a $25 million Series C funding round, which brings the company's total funding to date to $47.5 million. Baird Capital led the Series C round, with additional participation from existing investors Venrock, Foundry Group and Next Frontier Capital. The new funding will be used to extend Quiq's leadership position in Conversational AI and asynchronous messaging and to invest further in emerging Conversational Commerce solutions. Quiq will also expand its marketing and sales teams to address increasing demand from B2C enterprise brands, both in the U.S. and globally.
"Our business has doubled in the past year as we have broadened our solution to handle conversations occurring between brands and consumers across the entire customer lifecycle from pre-purchase to post-sale, both with human agents and conversational AI," said Mike Myer, CEO and founder of Quiq. "Customers don't want to make purchases or interact with customer service like they did even a year ago. Phone and email volumes continue to decline, replaced by text messaging. Innovative brands are engaging customers in conversation during a purchase journey to find the right product and help complete the purchase within the same conversation. Additionally, when the customer needs support later on, brands are available 24/7 with conversational AI that achieves high customer satisfaction scores. I am so proud of what we have developed so far in our journey to the next generation of customer engagement and I am excited to be able to use this funding to accelerate our progress."
Quiq currently works with more than 200 leading brands across many industries — retail/e-commerce, consumer services, travel and hospitality, consumer finance and online gaming — demonstrating the applicability of the Quiq Conversational AI Platform to every B2C enterprise. By using Quiq's CRM integrations with Salesforce, Zendesk, Microsoft, and Oracle, brands are able to utilize existing processes and customer data while modernizing the ways they communicate with their customers. View a short video of how Quiq works here.
Recently named one of the fastest growing companies in the Rocky Mountain region by Inc. Magazine, Quiq's approach to landing large enterprises demonstrates the value of Quiq's platform and the power of messaging — an approach that has led to expansions of three to 70 times the value of the initial engagement.
Additionally, overall conversation volume on the Quiq platform has increased six-fold since early 2020 and conversations per client have increased by 300%. Quiq has developed strong strategic alliances with business process outsourcing (BPO) and system integrators (SIs), contact center consultants and chatbot vendors, with 40% of new business now driven from alliance partners.
The investment in Quiq highlights the "Consumerization of the Enterprise," a core thesis of Baird Capital's technology investments and the firm's history with related customer experience and marketing technology platforms. "Quiq is not just changing how businesses interact with their customers; they are transforming Customer Experience from something static to something dynamic that makes customers feel valued and heard," said Benedict Rocchio, Partner at Baird Capital. "Baird Capital is excited to be part of this transformation and to watch the Quiq footprint grow through this partnership."
"Consumers in the US are increasingly comfortable using conversational interfaces — including chat and messaging — to get information, communicate with brands, and even make purchases," according to a March 2022 report by analysts at Forrester Research. Additionally, according to Forrester's 2021 Moments Map, "50% of U.S. online adults use chat to make purchases, and the level of use only increases among younger demographics, peaking with 25- to 34-year-olds at 62%. Beyond a desire to shop from the convenience of a device, consumers are also turning to chat to receive real-time clarifications on questions they may have around the product, shipping, and more."
About Quiq
Quiq is the AI-powered Conversational Platform enabling businesses to engage with customers across the most popular digital messaging channels. Trusted by leading brands and boasting a 56 NPS score, Quiq's enterprise-grade Conversational Platform supports SMS/text, Apple Messages for Business, Google's Business Messages, webchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, call-to-text, and more. Quiq provides the leading solutions for business communications for the world's best commerce and care teams. Quiq for Commerce and Quiq for Customer Care combine Conversational AI and digital contact center to help commerce and service teams increase efficiency, drive revenue, and improve customer satisfaction. Strong ethics and a focus on the shared success of our customers, partners and employees are the foundation of Quiq's business
Headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, with an office in New York City, Quiq is a privately held company backed by Baird Capital, Foundry Group, Venrock and Next Frontier Capital. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or learn more at https://quiq.com.
About Baird Capital
Baird Capital makes venture capital, growth equity and private equity investments in strategically targeted sectors around the world. Having invested in more than 330 companies over its history, Baird Capital partners with entrepreneurs and, leveraging its executive networks, strives to build exceptional companies. Baird Capital provides operational support to its portfolio companies through teams on the ground in the United States, Europe and Asia, a proactive portfolio operations team and a deep network of relationships, which together strive to deliver enhanced shareholder value. Baird Capital is the direct private investment arm of Robert W. Baird & Co. For more information, please visit BairdCapital.com.
All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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SOURCE Quiq | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/12/quiq-raises-25-million-series-c-funding-led-by-baird-capital/ | 2022-04-12T13:14:48Z |
ROME (AP) — Eugenio Scalfari, who helped revolutionize Italian journalism with the creation of La Repubblica, a liberal daily that boldly challenged Italy’s traditional newspapers, died Thursday at 98, the Senate president announced.
Senate President Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati led lawmakers who were debating a bill in a minute of silence to honor one of the deans of Italian journalism.
The Rome-based La Repubblica broke ground when it burst onto already crowded newsstands in 1976, grabbing readers’ attention with punchy headlines and a tabloid format. Its sassy style of writing that had little in common with the austere prose then used by Italy’s leading paper, Corriere della Sera, headquartered in Milan.
His novel recipe proved a success, and La Repubblica became Italy’s No. 2 daily newspaper.
In Scalfari’s latter years, the journalist, a self-described atheist, filled La Repubblica with what he described as a detailed recounting of long conversations in person and by telephone with Pope Francis.
“The personality who interests me most is Pope Francis,” Scalfari said during a TV appearance. “He’s a revolutionary.”
He described himself as a “big friend of the pope.”
The pontiff learned the news “of his friend with sorrow,” the Vatican’s official media said. Francis ”keeps affectionately the memory of those encounters and of the heavy conversations” and was entrusting in prayer his soul to the Lord, the Vatican said.
Early on, Scalfari used the pages of La Repubblica to fight a number of battles. His was the first mainstream Italian paper to urge Italians to reevaluate Italy’s Communist party, which successive Christian Democratic-led coalitions had deftly kept out of power by allying with an array of much smaller coalition partners.
He used his weekly columns to campaign relentlessly against Silvio Berlusconi after the television mogul went into politics in the mid-1990s, leading a center-right bloc that would eventually form three Italian governments and make him premier. La Repubblica accused Berlusconi of jumping into politics to safeguard his business interests.
Along with his media empire, Berlusconi also had extensive real estate holdings, advertising companies and a soccer team. Conflict of interest accusations dogged him throughout his political career.
One of the first tributes following the news of Scalfari’s death nonetheless came from Berlusconi, who still heads the center-right Forza Italia party he created three decades ago.
“Eugenio Scalfari was a figure of reference for my adversaries in politics,” he tweeted. ”Today, however, I cannot but recognize that he was a great publisher and journalist, who I always appreciated for his dedication and passion for his work.”
Italian Premier Mari Draghi praised Scalfari for ”the clarity of his prose, the depth of his analyses, the courage of his ideas,” and said the journalist’s death “leaves an unfillable void in the public life of our country.”
Scalfari’s editorials “were fundamental reading for whoever wanted to understand politics, the economy,” Draghi said.
In arguing for a new reading of Italy’s Communist Party, which had been the largest in the West, Scalfari contended it had broken with its Soviet roots. Many former Communists joined new, leftist parties, which ultimately went on to became coalition partners in several Italian governments.
The appeal of La Repubblica among left-leaning readers became so broad that it increasingly wore away at the readership of the then widely-read Communist- and post-Communist paper l’Unita.
During a career that spanned more than 50 years, Scalfari was called everything from the “Lider Maximo of Italian Journalism,” a reference to a nickname of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, to an ideological opportunist.
It was a testament to his enduring influence that even after retiring from his position as editor of La Repubblica in 1996, his weekly columns continued to ruffle feathers.
Scalfari’s life was marked by conspicuous triumphs. Besides La Repubblica, he was the co-founder of the successful L’Espresso weekly newsmagazine.
For years, he participated in Italian political life, first with the Italian Radical Party, as a founding member, serving as its national vice secretary between 1958 and 1963, then with the Italian Socialist Party. Scalfari also served a term in Parliament, starting in 1968.
Under his direction, both L’Espresso and La Repubblica adopted tough investigative approaches, exposing some of the many scandals that marked a particularly tumultuous period of postwar Italian history.
Most notably, in 1967, L’Espresso blew the lid off an attempted 1964 coup by an Italian general.
Born in Civitavecchia, a port city near Rome, on April 6. 1924, Scalfari studied law before turning to journalism. He began writing in 1950 for Il Mondo and L’Europeo, two top magazines, leaving in 1955 for the L’Espresso venture.
He served as editor-in-chief of the popular newsmagazine between 1963 to 1968, and then as the managing director of L’ Espresso publishing company between 1970 to 1975, helping to establish it as one of Italy’s most influential publishing groups.
Scalfari was married to Simonetta De Benedetti, and the couple had two daughters, Enrica and Donata.
___
Former AP journalist Victor L. Simpson contributed biographical material to this story. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/eugenio-scalfari-revolutionized-italys-journalism-dies/ | 2022-07-14T18:58:42Z |
Dierdre Friel talks about Season 2 of Apple TV’s ‘Physical’ and how she didn’t have to worry too much about her stamina for the role. And discussing her new movie directed by Ray Romano ‘Somewhere In Queens’.
Physical Season 2 is Streaming now on Apple TV. New Episodes drop on Fridays.
This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on July 8, 2022 | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/dierdre-friel-discusses-season-2-of-apple-tvs-physical/ | 2022-07-08T19:43:52Z |
LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- YOSHIKI - the most influential composer and rock star in Japanese history - will perform at 7 special concerts in October as a special guest to GRAMMY® Award-nominated artist Sarah Brightman, joining her for an exclusive Las Vegas engagement at The Venetian Resort® and concert dates in Mexico.
"A Starlight Symphony" is a concert experience showcasing Brightman performing alongside an orchestra and choir, featuring a guest performance by YOSHIKI. With two of the biggest names in music joining together in a rare live musical performance, fans of these acclaimed international artists can come together to celebrate music at this magical once-in-a-lifetime event.
In addition, YOSHIKI's live concert special "YOSHIKI: Live at Carnegie Hall," is now available for the first time on-demand on PBS Passport. He packs New York City's legendary Carnegie Hall for two unbelievable back-to-back performances featuring the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ticket presales for these shows began on Tuesday May 3rd. Very special "VIP Experience" packages are also available HERE and are sure to make a memorable Mother's Day gift!
LAS VEGAS TICKETS PRESALE:
May 3rd 12 PM PT/3 pm ET until Thursday May 5th @ 10 PM PT/1 AM ET
MEXICO TICKETS PRESALE:
May 3rd 12 PM CT until Thursday May 5th at 10 PM CT
TOUR DATES:
10/12 Las Vegas, NV Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort® *
10/14 Las Vegas, NV Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort® *
10/15 Las Vegas, NV Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort® *
10/18 Zapopan (Guadalajara), MX Auditorio Telmex
10/19 Monterrey, MX Arena Monterrey
10/21 Puebla, MX Auditorio Metropolitano
10/22 Mexico City, MX Arena CDMX
General On Sale:
Las Vegas shows begin Friday May 6th @ 10 AM PT/1 PM ET
Mexico shows begin Friday May 6th @ 10 AM CT
ABOUT YOSHIKI:
Named one of the most influential composers in Japanese history, YOSHIKI has sold over 50 million albums and singles worldwide to date as both leader of X JAPAN and as an accomplished solo artist. Trained as a classical pianist, YOSHIKI has composed a wide array of pieces, from the Golden Globes theme song to a piano concerto for the Emperor of Japan. As a classical artist, YOSHIKI has headlined Carnegie Hall, with his live concert special Yoshiki: Live at Carnegie Hall airing on PBS stations nationwide. He has collaborated with Beatles producer Sir George Martin, Queen, Sarah Brightman, The Chainsmokers, Bono, will.i.am, and St. Vincent. A fashion icon and creator of designer label Yoshikimono, YOSHIKI has modeled for YSL Beauty and was the first Japanese man to appear on the cover of Vogue Japan. YOSHIKI was recently awarded a Medal of Honor by the Emperor of Japan for his charitable efforts through his nonprofit organization Yoshiki Foundation America. His own Sanrio character yoshikitty was created by Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi, and YOSHIKI also inspired the comic series Blood Red Dragon written by Stan Lee. YOSHIKI also has his own line of wines from Napa Valley in collaboration with Robert Mondavi Jr.
ABOUT SARAH BRIGHTMAN:
Known for her three-octave range and for pioneering the classical-crossover music movement, Sarah Brightman has amassed global sales of more than 30 million units. The only artist to have simultaneously topped Billboard's dance and classical music charts, Brightman has racked up more than 180 gold and platinum awards in over 40 countries. She is also known for her iconic star turn in The Phantom of the Opera, whose soundtrack has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. Her duet with Bocelli, "Time To Say Goodbye," became an international success selling 12 million copies worldwide. Brightman's albums Eden, La Luna, Harem, and Symphony were each chart-topping Billboard hits and accompanied by world tours. Additionally, Brightman has performed at such prestigious events as the 2007 Concert for Diana, the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Yoshiki Social Media:
Instagram: @YoshikiOfficial
YouTube: @Yoshiki
Twitter: @YoshikiOfficial
Facebook: @YoshikiOfficial
Sarah Brightman Social Media:
Facebook: @SarahBrightmanMusic
Twitter: @SarahBrightman
Instagram: @SarahBrightmanMusic
YouTube: @sarahbrightman
MEDIA CONTACT:
Anderson Group PR
AGPR@AndersonGroupPR.com
323.655.1008
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SOURCE YOSHIKI | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/06/legendary-composer-international-rock-star-yoshiki-reveals-las-vegas-mexico-concert-dates-special-guest-sarah-brightmans-starlight-symphony-tour-this-fall/ | 2022-05-06T05:17:49Z |
Cooper Roberts, boy paralyzed in Fourth of July shooting, hoping to return to school
(CNN) - An 8-year-old boy paralyzed in a mass shooting that happened on the Fourth of July says he hopes to return to school in the coming months.
Cooper Roberts was hit with a bullet that severed his spinal cord - paralyzing him from the waist down and damaging his aorta and esophagus, according to his family.
Cooper’s parents said returning to public school once he’s done with rehabilitation will be a huge motivation for their son, saying he’s excited to see his friends.
The 8-year-old has another six to 12 weeks at a rehab facility. The family said he would then move to attend half days with his twin brother at their elementary school.
Cooper is among dozens injured in the Highland Park shooting that occurred in Illinois during an Independence Day parade, where seven others were killed.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/10/cooper-roberts-boy-paralyzed-fourth-july-shooting-hoping-return-school/ | 2022-08-10T02:33:55Z |
DOVER, Del., July 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) will host a conference call on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. ET to discuss the Company's financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. The earnings press release will be issued on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, after market close.
To participate in this call, dial 877.224.1468 and reference Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's 2022 Second Quarter Financial Results Conference Call.
To access the replay recording of this call, please visit the Events & Presentations section of the Investors page on www.chpk.com.
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions, and other businesses. For more information, visit www.chpk.com.
Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
For more information, contact:
Alex Whitelam
Head of Investor Relations
awhitelam@chpk.com
215.872.2507
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SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/18/chesapeake-utilities-host-second-quarter-2022-earnings-conference-call-august-4th/ | 2022-07-18T19:16:50Z |
Kraft Heinz wants to solve its supply chain problems — in the metaverse
By Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN Business
Kraft Heinz is using the metaverse to help get Lunchables, Velveeta and ketchup onto shelves faster.
Last month, the company announced a deal with Microsoft to help secure its supply chain by, among other things, using automation to speed up operations and replicate the company’s facilities online.
Kraft created “digital twins” in the metaverse that allow the company to problem-solve virtually. The tactics should help Kraft get its products to grocers more quickly and ensure that factories are running as efficiently as possible.
“We’re really committed to supporting our customers in … what we call the industrial metaverse,” said Lorraine Bardeen, CTO of Microsoft Industry Solutions. “This means that Kraft Heinz will be able to put their products … into consumers’ hands faster.”
Although the true metaverse is a pie-in-the-sky virtual world that isn’t quite ready for prime time, “metaverse” has become a catchall term for everything virtual — including logistics solutions that companies like Kraft Heinz and Microsoft are pursuing.
The deal, which Kraft said is one of its biggest tech investments, “increases our dependability,” said Carlos Abrams-Rivera, Kraft Heinz President of North America, adding that it should help make “sure we’re there whenever you need us … regardless of the situation that the world is going through.”
Companies like Kraft saw their supply chains tested early in the pandemic, when restaurants closed their doors and consumers started panic shopping in supermarkets. To keep up with the sharp shift in demand, they had to make several speedy pivots, like prioritizing popular products over niche ones and certain pack sizes over others.
For Kraft Heinz that meant, among other things, ramping up production of ketchup packets for takeout. “We handled that fairly well,” said Abrams-Rivera.
But there were other areas where “inventory [was] getting trapped in the system,” he said.
Kraft could predict that demand for ketchup packets would spike because it was paying attention to international trends. But when demand suddenly changed in certain cities or states because, say, a rise in Covid cases kept school-aged children at home, Kraft wasn’t able to respond as quickly.
That’s bad for customers, who may have been met with empty shelves, and it’s bad for Kraft, because those customers might have turned to a competitor instead.
The new tech should help prevent shortages, Kraft believes.
Right place, right time
So how can automation and virtual manufacturing facilities help get products on shelves?
Abrams-Rivera offered this example: A retailer on the West Coast decides to offer a promotion on Lunchables, driving demand for that product up.
Typically, that requires a lot of employees to pull a lot of levers. After the retailer places the order, someone on Kraft’s team has to see the request and alert warehouses, and so on. But with help from Microsoft, Kraft can automate more of those steps to speed up the process.
And then there are those digital twins. Virtual versions of Kraft’s manufacturing facilities can give the company’s leadership a better view into how they work — and what needs improvement.
A single Kraft factory may make a few different things, such as Ketchup, sauces and vinegar, Abrams-Rivera said. Digitally mapping out these facilities helps Kraft better understand the flaws in the design and increase efficiencies.
Kraft doesn’t currently have “a system that allows us to map the entire factory to see the best flow,” explained Abrams-Rivera. The digital twins will change that.
The virtual option could also allow Kraft to catch errors ahead of time by allowing it to simulate production. “Normally you wouldn’t know until you actually run the product on the line,” Abrams-Rivera said. Testing online can help speed up the process of getting a new product to market.
Companies turn to the metaverse
As the idea of the metaverse gains traction, more companies are looking at ways to connect virtually with consumers.
Kraft, for one, isn’t just using tech for behind-the-scenes solutions to logistical challenges. It’s also advertising more to gamers. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, are also exploring ways to reach customers in new virtual arenas. For PepsiCo, that includes gaming. And Coca-Cola introduced a limited-edition “Pixel” flavored soda in the video game Fortnite.
“I see gaming as really the springboard into this new phenomenon we call the metaverse,” Adam Harter, SVP of media, sports and entertainment at PepsiCo, previously told CNN Business. “As people live their lives in the metaverse on a more daily basis over the next few years … it’s critical for brands like ours to make sure that we are where those consumers are living their lives.”
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/money/cnn-social-media-technology/2022/05/06/kraft-heinz-wants-to-solve-its-supply-chain-problems-in-the-metaverse/ | 2022-05-06T19:14:14Z |
Prosecutors want boy, 12, tried as an adult in S. Carolina school killing
Published: May. 5, 2022 at 3:21 PM EDT|Updated: 5 hours ago
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Prosecutors say a 12-year-old boy accused of fatally shooting his classmate in a South Carolina middle school hallway should be tried as an adult on a murder charge.
Monday’s request by prosecutors to move the case out of Family Court did not include any explanation on why the boy should be charged as an adult.
Murder carries a sentence of 30 years to life in prison in South Carolina.
If he is convicted as a juvenile, he couldn’t be kept in jail after he turns 22.
Jamari Cortez Bonaparte Jackson was shot during a class change at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville on March 31.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/05/05/prosecutors-want-boy-12-tried-an-adult-school-killing/ | 2022-05-06T00:28:08Z |
Three Flavors Available at Whole Foods on June 24
HACKENSACK, N.J., June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Violife, the leading maker of vegan cheeses, is expanding into a new category with three plant-based dips launching at Whole Foods retail locations on June 24. All three flavors (MSRP $5.29) are top selling flavors for dairy dips: French Onion, Spinach & Artichoke, and Ranch.
These classic and delicious dips are what you know and love, while being free from dairy, nuts, soy, gluten, and preservatives.
French Onion
- Violife French Onion Dip is 100% plant-based, made with simple ingredients like coconut oil and real onions, and packs all the creamy goodness of a classic French Onion dip so you can dip, dunk, dollop, or drench everything from chips to veggies without the dairy. Bon appétit, mon chéris!
Spinach & Artichoke
- Spinach and artichokes on their own are great but put them in a creamy, cheesy dip, and boom - instant fan-favorite! Violife Spinach & Artichoke dip is 100% vegan, made with simple plant-based ingredients including coconut oil and real spinach and artichokes.
Ranch
- When it comes to dips and dressings, ranch might hold the crown. Violife Ranch dip is 100% plant-based, made with simple ingredients including coconut oil and herbs so you can dip and dress your favorite foods with all the delectable creaminess of the ranch you know and love - without the dairy. Your crudites never stood a chance.
"Consumers love the taste and convenience of dips, and we are excited to bring Violife's delicious plant-based take on these classic flavors to life!" said Debra Yoo, Senior Brand Manager at Violife. "We know that these new dips will appeal to consumers across the country, whether they are vegan, dairy-free, or curious about plant-based foods."
To find the nearest Whole Foods location to purchase the dips and other Violife products, please visit: https://violifefoods.com/us/where-we-are-locator/.
About Violife
At Violife, we want everyone to live life to the fullest. Originating from ''vios'', the Greek word for life, Violife therefore means life squared. We bring people together by making food that everyone can enjoy. Based in Thessalonica in Greece, since the 1990's Violife has been dedicated to making great-tasting,100% vegan, non-dairy and non-GMO foods. Violife products were created over 20 years ago by three friends in Greece who wanted to eat cheese throughout the 100 days of fasting observed under the Greek Orthodox calendar which prohibits eating dairy products.
To learn more about Violife, please visit the Violife YouTube channel to view our EPIC Movie or visit www.violifefoods.com/recipes and check out @ViolifeUS on Instagram for recipe inspiration - from dairy-free dinners to delicious vegan desserts.
CONTACT: Jamie Evans, jevans@legendpr.com
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SOURCE Violife 100% Vegan Cheese | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/violife-expands-beyond-plant-based-cheese-debut-new-plant-based-dips-us/ | 2022-06-20T15:47:46Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Account-based marketing platform RollWorks, a division of NextRoll, today announced the launch of Journey Events for Salesforce to help marketing and sales teams visualize how their activities drive account progression and turn data into actionable insights. This integration builds on RollWorks' breadth of capabilities to empower B2B sales teams—earlier this month, the company launched RollWorks Journey Events for HubSpot, which brings the power of buyer journey stage data directly within CRM.
RollWorks Journey Events gives sales teams one easy, automated visualization into their account events from within and outside of RollWorks to see how they are driving account progression. Seeing how an account is influenced while moving through the buying journey allows organizations to understand what is working and what needs refinement in their ABM program to create lockstep customer engagements.
Specific features of Journey Events for Salesforce include:
- Event Timeline. View activity data like SDR emails sent and opened, meetings booked, opportunities opened/progressed, and deals closed from Salesforce alongside. RollWorks Web and Ad engagement data in a single timeline to see a comprehensive look at ABM program events.
- Journey Stage Visualization. View an account's stage progression or regression next to account engagement and activity to understand what activities across channels are more efficient at driving accounts through the buying journey. This helps sellers plan and personalize outreach by identifying the optimal time to contact an account and tailor messaging based on the last action that may have had an effect.
"Journey Events for Salesforce is a fantastic illustration of the power of ABM and CRM," said Darragh Fitzpatrick, Chief Revenue Officer at RollWorks. "With the addition of this solution, RollWorks has given the majority of go-to-market teams consolidated account-level visibility within Salesforce. Our own revenue team leverages this integration and has found it to be useful to understand what activities are driving progression and what messaging will resonate with prospects."
For more information on how ABM enhances your own inbound strategies, visit RollWorks to learn more about the company's partnership with Salesforce.
RollWorks, a division of NextRoll, offers ambitious B2B companies an account-based platform to align their marketing and sales teams and confidently grow revenue. Powered by proprietary data and machine learning, RollWorks' solutions address the needs of organizations large and small — from those with best-in-class ABM programs to those just beginning their exploration. By empowering teams to identify their target accounts and key buyers, reach those accounts across multiple channels, and measure program effectiveness in their system-of-record, RollWorks is an indispensable platform for marketers and sellers who believe that an account-based approach is just good business. To learn more visit www.rollworks.com.
Media Contact:
Melissa Rossiter
press@rollworks.com
480.749.4324
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SOURCE RollWorks | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/rollworks-expands-journey-events-further-enabling-b2b-sellers-leverage-vital-account-insights-within-crm-solutions/ | 2022-07-27T14:07:56Z |
Which burgundy dress shirt is best?
Burgundy is a beautiful color that looks good on anyone. It can be worn to casual events as well as professional or even black-tie ones. However, there’s more to a good dress shirt than just the color. It needs to fit appropriately and, preferably, comfortably. You also need to make sure that the color doesn’t have too much brown or purple.
The best burgundy dress shirt is the Zeroyaa Long Sleeve Dress Shirt. The color is rich, and the shirt is easy to care for.
What to know before you buy a burgundy dress shirt
Size and fit
Dress shirts use sizing and fit to better help you find the shirt that suits your body.
- Size is typically split between neck circumference and sleeve length, and the length from collar to bottom is occasionally considered as well. A properly fitted neck should have space for two of your fingers, the sleeves should end just past the wrist and the length should end just above the back pockets when untucked.
- Fit is split into three categories: regular, slim and full. Slim and full rest tighter and looser around the chest than regular fit, respectively. The correct fit should be just tight enough that the buttons are taut without being pulled apart.
Cuffs
Dress shirts typically have one of three cuff types.
- French cuffs have no buttons, requiring cuff links to hold the fabric together. They aren’t strictly for formal occasions, but they might be too much for casual events.
- Barrel cuffs do have buttons. Most have two for some adjustability, but others may have three or only one.
- Convertible cuffs have buttons but can just as easily be held together by cufflinks. However, they’re uncommon.
Some dress shirts have a pocket over the left breast. Generally speaking, this is considered a more casual look than wearing a shirt without a pocket. However, if you pair it with a suit jacket or a vest, no one will know, and you can confidently wear it to classier events.
What to look for in a quality burgundy dress shirt
Material
Most burgundy dress shirts are made entirely of cotton, though some mix in synthetic fibers to keep costs down. For those shirts that mix cotton and synthetic fibers, you want to make sure that cotton is still the majority material — if percentages are given, it should be at least 60%. The reason is that too much synthetic material can halt cotton’s breathability — increasing how much you sweat — and make it feel much less soft.
Color
Burgundy is a dark red with hints of brown and purple that takes its name from the wines produced in Burgundy, France. For this reason, you often find shirts labeled as wine red instead of burgundy.
Lesser burgundy colors have too much brown or purple mixed in, making them look closer to maroon or magenta respectively. This can greatly affect how your shirt pairs with your accessories and suits. Make sure the listed image is identical to the product by double-checking user reviews before purchasing.
How much you can expect to spend on a burgundy dress shirt
Burgundy dress shirts can cost as little as $15 or as much as several hundred dollars. Most cost less than $50, but you’ll likely need to spend $50-$100 for a better-quality shirt. The best shirts start at $100, and prices rise exponentially with higher-quality materials and branding.
Burgundy dress shirt FAQ
What colors pair well with burgundy?
A. Burgundy pairs well with black, white and most shades of gray. It also pairs well with most shades of yellow and some shades of blue and green. Many shades of its source colors — red, brown and purple — also pair well with it.
How do I care for a burgundy dress shirt?
A. That mostly depends on its material. Most are machine-washable, though you need to double-check the tags to find out what water temperatures and spin cycles won’t damage it.
What’s the best burgundy dress shirt to buy?
Top burgundy dress shirt
Zeroyaa Long Sleeve Dress Shirt
What you need to know: It’s a perfect all-around dress shirt.
What you’ll love: It’s made of a breathable, soft micro-twilled cotton-polyester mix that’s machine-washable. It’s available in six sizes, including 3XL. It has a front pocket that’s perfect for casual events, and the cuffs have two buttons to better fit your wrists.
What you should consider: A few consumers were unhappy with how long the shirt is in the back and said it bunches up too much as you go about your day.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top burgundy dress shirt for the money
Milano Moda Long Sleeve Dress Shirt Bundle
What you need to know: This bundle offers a complete look for a great price.
What you’ll love: The bundle includes the shirt and a color-matching tie and handkerchief. It’s machine-washable, and many consumers noted that the color matches the listed image perfectly. It’s available in neck sizes of 15 to 21.5 inches and sleeve lengths of 34 to 37 inches.
What you should consider: Some customers had problems finding a size that fits appropriately. Others reported several loose threads and spots that appeared after washing the shirt.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Calvin Klein Slim Fit Dress Shirt
What you need to know: You can show off a little with this branded shirt.
What you’ll love: It’s made of imported cotton that wicks moisture away from the body, machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant. The pointed collar helps lengthen the face and leaves ample room for many types of tie knots, though it looks just as good without a tie.
What you should consider: It’s pricey, and several purchasers reported that the shirt is not as slim as it’s supposed to be. Others reported rare instances of spots forming after being washed.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/apparel-br/shirts-tops-br/best-burgundy-dress-shirt/ | 2022-04-29T07:11:23Z |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — To drive, or not to drive? This Memorial Day weekend, with surging gas prices that are redefining pain at the pump, that is the question for many Americans as a new COVID-19 surge also spreads across the country.
For Marvin Harper, of Phoenix, his family’s weekend travel plans are a double punch to the wallet. His college-age son and daughter each have a soccer tournament in Southern California and Colorado, respectively. He and his daughter will fly to Denver, rather than drive, because of the cost of fuel, while his wife and son will go to California in her SUV.
“My mother-in-law’s going with my wife and son to split that cost because it’s just too much on our household,” said Harper, as he filled up the tank of his truck at a Phoenix QuikTrip. “We can’t afford both of us to drive. That’s the bottom line ... Gas prices are killing our household.”
For some, that's exactly what's caused them to rethink their holiday plans, making them opt for a staycation in their backyard to limit the damage to their wallets.
Laura Dena and her sons would typically go to Southern California around Memorial Day weekend to escape Arizona’s scorching heat. This year, because it takes at least $100 to fill up her truck, they’re staying home.
“It’s really frustrating," said Dena while waiting in line in 90-degree heat for a pump at a Costco in Phoenix. "It’s upsetting, but there’s not much we can do. We have to pay the price.”
The average gas price in the U.S. on Thursday was $4.60 per gallon, according to AAA figures. In California, it topped $6. The high price of oil — largely because many buyers are refusing to purchase Russian oil because of its invasion of Ukraine — is the main cause of the steep gasoline prices.
Americans aren’t the only ones weighing their options as the summer travel season begins. Across the European Union’s 27 countries, gasoline has risen 40% from a year ago, to the equivalent of $8.40 a gallon.
Rising prices in the U.S. coincide with a COVID-19 surge that has led to case counts that are as high as they’ve been since mid-February, and those figures are likely a major undercount because of unreported positive home test results and asymptomatic infections.
Still, 2 1/2 years of pandemic life has many people hitting the road or taking to the skies, despite the surge. AAA estimates that 39.2 million people in the U.S. will travel 50 miles (80 kilometers) or more from home during the holiday weekend.
Those projections —- which include travel by car, plane and other modes of transportation like trains or cruise ships — are up 8.3% from 2021 and would bring Memorial Day travel volumes close to 2017 levels. The estimates are still below pre-pandemic 2019 levels, a peak year for travel.
About 88% of those 39.2 million travelers — a record number — are expected to go by car over the long weekend even as gas prices remain high, according to AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross.
In California — despite being home to the nation's highest gas prices — the state's nonprofit tourism agency also predicts a busy summer for the Golden State, beginning this weekend.
Ryan Becker, Visit California’s spokesperson, said his agency is seeing a lot of “pent-up demand” because of the pandemic: “I want to get out, I want to travel. I’ve had to put my anniversary trip on hold, I’ve had to put my 40th birthday trip on hold.”
Outdoorsy, an online rental marketplace for RVs and camper vans, is noticing that its renters have changed their plans over the course of the pandemic. Early on, people would rent an RV to travel cross-country safely to visit family. Now, they're back to using the RVs as a cost-effective way for a vacation tethered to nature.
“I think everyone needs a vacation, I really do," Outdoorsy co-founder Jen Young said. “Have we ever lived through a more stressful, challenging — mentally and physically and spiritually — time in our lives?”
Others shrug off the stress of the added travel costs because it's out of their control. At a Chevron station in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Ricardo Estrada tried to guess how much the $6.49 a gallon price would run him in total for his Nissan work van.
“I’ll go with between 60 and 70 bucks,” the heating and air-conditioning technician speculated, eyeing the display as the price went up and up.
Estrada — just missing his guess when the pump registered $71.61 for 11 gallons of regular grade — has been forced to raise his business fees for customers to overcome the gas prices. He'll be working over the holiday weekend but has a vacation planned in Arizona next month.
He’s flying, but only because of convenience, not cost.
But with airline tickets prices up, too — AAA found that the average lowest airfare for this weekend is 6% higher than last year — that's not a sure bet, either. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/more-memorial-day-travel-expected-even-with-high-gas-prices/ | 2022-05-27T12:28:08Z |
College students and graduates say they are waiting for Biden to cancel student loan debt like he promised
(CNN) - This week, President Joe Biden canceled $5.8 billion in federal student debt for more than half-a-million borrowers, the largest loan cancellation from the administration to date.
But millions of others are anxiously waiting for Biden to keep his campaign promise to forgive $10,000 in federal student loan debt per student.
“It has been such trials and tribulations,” said Vinessa Gabriell Russell, a recent college graduate. She became the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree, but she’s also graduating with student loan debt.
“The last time I checked it was approximately $48,000. They come to find you,” Russell said.
She said a debt collector called her while she was working, “and they asked for Vinessa and they’re like, ‘This is the debt collector’ basically. ‘We were trying to find out when are you going to pay your your student debt?’”
At one point, Russell temporally dropped out of school.
“I did have to leave Columbia and pay a balance that was due in order for me to go back,” she said.
But she is not alone. Data shows there is about $1.6 trillion in federal student loan debt.
Tayvia Ridgeway, a college junior, wants a six-figure salary, but right now she has nearly a six-figure student loan debt.
“I’d be in the range of like 80 to 100K just based on my tuition rates right now,” she said.
That’s even after Ridgeway became a residence advisor to cut down on her room and board costs.
“You should get a free education because you can’t put a price on knowledge,” she said.
On the campaign trail, Biden promised to cancel $10,000 in student loan debt for each of the 43 million people with federal student loans.
Due to the pandemic, he paused loan repayments until Aug. 31, but it is not clear if and when the White House will move forward with some form of permanent loan forgiveness despite pressure from fellow Democrats at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
“You don’t need Congress. All you need is the flick of a pen,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, pushing to cancel $50,000 debt per borrower.
Biden has rejected those calls. The White House said Biden is considering some debt forgiveness for those making up to $125,000.
Gabby Bach, like Ridgeway, was a resident advisor. She calls it a broken campaign promise.
“And I think this is something that Biden has promised and there’s something that I feel like he hasn’t delivered on yet,” she said. “During the campaign, like that, this was something that a lot of people who voted for him, that this was something that they wanted.”
“I say it would only help a little bit. If anything, I’d want my full tuition covered. But, you know, that’s not the world we live in,” Ridgeway said.
Russell said she welcomes any relief.
“It would help me so much. It’s like an emotional experience because it’s taken me so long and I almost gave up, and sorry, just thinking about it,” she said.
The canceled $5.8 billion in student loan debt only applies to the 560,000 borrowers who attended the now-defunct network of for-profit schools known as Corinthian Colleges.
The total student loan debt cancellation approved under the Biden administration is up to $25 billion.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/04/college-students-graduates-say-they-are-waiting-biden-fulfill-campaign-promise-student-loan-debt/ | 2022-06-04T13:06:57Z |
With Triple Digit Revenue Growth, Incline P&C Group Ranks Among America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies
AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Incline P&C Group, the premier insurance program market services firm, today announces they ranked on the Inc. 5000 annual list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment – its independent businesses.
"We could not have grown so tremendously without our amazing team here at Incline," said Chris McClellan, President, and CEO, Incline P&C Group. "We fostered an innovative and effective environment to help our partners navigate their program insurance needs, with an amazing team of experts in the tech, legal and insurance fields."
This growth comes on the heels of many exciting partnerships over the past year, including a partnership with MGA Sensa, Truist Insurance Services, Strategic Insurance Underwriters, and others. Incline P&C Group also ranked on this year's Inc. 5000 Regionals Southwest list, ranking no. 61 on the list of the fastest-growing private companies based in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid.
"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today."
Bringing over 75 years of combined industry experience, Incline P&C Group is the premier insurance program market services firm. Privately owned and operated with an exclusive focus on the program insurance market, the executive team's experience and expertise combined with effective underwriting discipline and risk management provides each client with various platforms and associated services to meet almost any need in the industry. Partnering with a team that has a wealth of experience and the financial strength is critical when choosing the right program carrier. Incline brings those qualifications and more. Key services include active program management, disciplined underwriting process, risk management, reinsurance expertise, and economic alignment. Founded in 2015, Incline has a team of over 40 employees; headquartered in Austin, TX with offices in Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, and Stamford, CT. To learn more about Incline P&C Group, visit: https://inclinepc.com/.
Media Contact:
Shelby Janner
shelby@zilkermedia.com
(512) 298-4081, ext. 702
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SOURCE Incline P&C Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/incline-pampc-group-ranks-2022-inc-5000-annual-list/ | 2022-08-18T20:18:12Z |
The first weekend of summer for the Uvalde, Texas, community is filled with funeral plans and a presidential visit on mass shootings
By Aya Elamroussi, CNN
This weekend would have been the first one of summer for 19 students and two teachers gunned down at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday. Now, instead of lakeside BBQs and park trips, residents in the small town are mourning and planning funerals ahead of a presidential visit Sunday.
Grief and anguish have had a tight grip on Uvalde since an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, turning a day that began with student honor roll achievement celebrations into a nightmare. The gunman was shot dead by authorities inside a classroom more than an hour after he entered the school.
The massacre, America’s deadliest school shooting since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, has been followed by conflicting official accounts of how it unfolded. The delayed police confrontation with the mass shooter has compounded parents’ anger, with some saying a quicker response could have saved children’s lives.
“Everybody is frustrated about the failures of what happened,” Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez said Saturday. “No community anywhere in the United States should have to deal with this.”
Ahead of his planned visit to Uvalde Sunday, President Joe Biden said while tragedy cannot be outlawed, America can be made safer.
“As I speak those parents are literally, preparing to bury their children, in the United States of America, bury their children. There is too much violence, too much fear, too much grief,” he said Saturday during his commencement address at the University of Delaware.
Biden’s visit comes as the community is digesting harrowing details that emerged Friday, when officials released a clearer timeline of the law enforcement response to the shooting.
Uvalde police officers entered the school about two minutes after the shooter, and more than an hour had passed before he was killed, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw said.
In that more than 70-minute window, other officers arrived inside the building, McCraw said. They were calling for more resources, equipment and negotiators, among other things — but not breaching the doors of the classroom where the shooter Salvador Ramos was holed up.
At one point — more than 45 minutes before the gunman was killed — up to 19 officers were standing in the hallway.
The school district police chief, Pedro “Pete” Arredondo, made the call for officers not to go into the classroom as they waited for the room’s key and tactical equipment, officials said.
McCraw said that was the wrong move and the officers should have confronted the shooter immediately.
In the meantime, funeral homes in Uvalde have committed to covering costs for families of the 21 victims and announced some services will begin Monday.
“We have fought together as a community and we will pull together as one now in our time of need,” Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home wrote on its Facebook page.
The Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary echoed that support for the Uvalde community: “Today, our resolve is stronger than ever. We are here for the people of Uvalde,” the funeral home said the day of the shooting.
‘There’s nothing but love here’
Since the shooting, graduations and other celebratory events have been canceled as the community mourns the shattering loss of some of its most vulnerable.
The grief-stricken town of about 16,000 residents has been coming together in the days since the shooting through prayers, hugs and donations.
The acts of kindness have ranged from people driving hours to support those who are mourning loved ones to those who donated food or blood.
Omar Rodriguez, the owner of a car detailing business, made 250 hamburgers to raise funds for the victims’ families. At a friend’s lot on Main Street, Rodriguez set up a large grill, tables and supplies to cook while his family and friends grabbed rags and soap to wash cars for a donation.
The 24-year-old said he couldn’t stay at home thinking there could be something he could do to help.
“This is a good little town. There’s nothing but love here,” he said.
Patrick Johnson, 58, drove for seven hours from his hometown of Harleton, Texas, to Uvalde and set up a table filled with toys for children who haven’t smiled in days.
“There’s a lot of ways to be a blessing to people,” he said. “Whenever something like this happens, I do my research and contact local law enforcement and ask ‘what I can do?’ What does your community need right now?”
Johnson, a father of four, said he broke down and wept when he heard about the shooting.
“I’m not even from this community, but I’m hurting. It makes you think about your own kids. It makes you realize it could’ve been you, mourning your children.”
Questions remain surrounding police response
Texas officials and law enforcement have been under intense scrutiny and faced backlash for the way officers responded to the shooting.
All law enforcement officers in Texas are trained that their first priority is to move in and confront the attacker, according to the active shooter guidelines in the state’s commission on law enforcement 2020 training manual that was obtained by CNN
“As first responders we must recognize that innocent life must be defended,” the manual instructs “A first responder unwilling to place the lives of the innocent above their own safety should consider another career field.”
But that does not appear to be what happened during the mass shooting at the elementary school.
More than an hour passed between the shots at the school and when the shooter was killed. The incident commander at the time believed the situation had transitioned from an active shooter to a “barricaded subject,” McCraw said.
The decisive action was taken when a unit of border patrol agents arrived at the scene, entered the classroom and killed the gunman.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday he wants a full accounting of what happened but added he has no say in whether Arredondo, the school district’s police chief, should be fired.
“As far as his employment status is concerned, that’s something that is beyond my control and I have no knowledge about,” Abbott said Friday.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
CNN’s Nicole Chavez, Alaa Elassar, Ed Lavandera, Jasmine Wright and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/05/29/the-first-weekend-of-summer-for-the-uvalde-texas-community-is-filled-with-funeral-plans-and-a-presidential-visit-on-mass-shootings-2/ | 2022-05-29T11:07:16Z |
- Customer Count Increased 11% Year-over-Year to Over 2,830
- First Quarter Revenue Increased 7% Year-over-Year to $98.8 Million
- Unearned Revenue Increased 5% Year-over-Year to $196 Million
- ARR Increased 5% Year-over-Year to $387 Million
- Cash and Cash Equivalents of $248 Million
- Repurchased Over $55 Million in Common Stock To Date under Share Repurchase Program
- Issues Guidance for Second Quarter Fiscal 2023
- Issues Guidance for Full Year Fiscal 2023
NEW YORK, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yext, Inc. (NYSE: YEXT), the Answers Company, today announced its results for the three months ended April 30, 2022, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2023.
"During the first quarter, we continued to work towards streamlining the business, improving efficiencies, and re-architecting our go-to-market strategy," said Mike Walrath, Yext's Chief Executive Officer. "Also during the quarter we launched a $100 million share repurchase program and continued to maintain a strong cash position. We expect our increased focus on customer success, along with our disciplined, productivity-driven operating model, to drive healthy margins while we continue to focus on our recurring revenue growth."
First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Highlights:
- Revenue of $98.8 million, a 7% increase, compared to $92.0 million reported in the first quarter fiscal 2022.
- Gross Profit of $74.1 million, a 6% increase, compared to $70.1 million reported in the first quarter fiscal 2022. Gross margin of 75.0%, compared to 76.2% reported in the first quarter fiscal 2022.
- Net Loss and Non-GAAP Net Loss:
- Net Loss Per Share and Non-GAAP Net Loss Per Share:
- Balance Sheet: Cash and cash equivalents of $248 million as of April 30, 2022. Unearned revenue of $196 million as of April 30, 2022, compared to $187 million as of April 30, 2021.
- Remaining Performance Obligations ("RPO"): RPO of $361 million as of April 30, 2022. RPO expected to be recognized over the next 24 months of $341 million with the remaining balance expected to be recognized thereafter. RPO does not include amounts under contract subject to certain accounting exclusions.
- Cash Flow: Net cash provided by operating activities was $17.9 million for the three months ended April 30, 2022, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $35.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2021.
Readers are encouraged to review the tables labeled "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" at the end of this release.
Recent Business Highlights:
- Authorized a $100 million share repurchase program; over $55 million has been repurchased to date.
- David Rudnitsky resigned as Chief Revenue Officer effective June 7, 2022, and will assist the Company in a transitional role until September 30, 2022. Brian Distelburger will now serve as interim Chief Revenue Officer, while the Company conducts the search for a permanent replacement.
- Launched a global startup program to bring power of AI Search to founders' fingertips.
- Partnered with Main Line Health to transform their website into a search and scheduling powerhouse.
- Strengthened platform with Nebula algorithm update, posting modernization, and search merchandiser.
- Earned KCS® v6 Aligned designation from the KCS Academy of the Consortium for Service Innovation.
- Recognized as a 2022 Best Software Award winner by G2 in three separate categories.
- Named top Local Listings provider by G2 for seventh consecutive quarter.
- Announced the general availability of its Spring 2022 Release, which introduced new platform features.
- Customer count, which excludes our small business and third-party reseller customers, increased 11% year-over-year to over 2,830 as of April 30, 2022.
- Annual recurring revenue, or ARR, increased 5% year-over-year to $387 million as of April 30, 2022, compared to $370 million as of April 30, 2021.
Financial Outlook:
Yext is also providing the following guidance for its second fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2022 and the fiscal year ending January 31, 2023.
- Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Outlook:
- Full Year Fiscal 2023 Outlook:
Conference Call Information
Yext will host a conference call today at 4:30 P.M. Eastern Time (1:30 P.M. Pacific Time) to discuss its financial results with the investment community. A live webcast of the call will be available on the Yext Investor Relations website at http://investors.yext.com. A live dial-in is available domestically at (877) 883-0383 and internationally at (412) 902-6506, passcode 3151785.
A replay will be available domestically at (877) 344-7529 or internationally at (412) 317-0088, passcode 1685973, until midnight (ET) June 15, 2022.
About Yext
Yext (NYSE: YEXT) is the Answers Company and is on a mission to empower every company in the world to provide authoritative answers to every question about their organization. Yext leverages AI to collect and organize a company's information and deliver it — in the form of answers — to customers, employees, and partners. Yext's Answers Platform works by pulling in information, organizing it into a Knowledge Graph and then delivering it via a set of platform services, including Listings, Search, Pages & Reviews. Brands like Verizon, Subway and Marriott — as well as organizations like the U.S. State Department — trust Yext to radically improve their business and deliver perfect answers everywhere.
Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This release includes forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements regarding our revenue, non-GAAP net loss and shares outstanding for our second quarter and full year fiscal 2023 in the paragraphs under "Financial Outlook" above, statements regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations and other statements regarding our expectations regarding the growth of our company, our market opportunity, product roadmap, sales efficiency efforts and our industry. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "intend," "potential," "might," "would," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Actual events or results may differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, and these differences may be material and adverse.
We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this release primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short- and long-term business operations, prospects, business strategy and financial needs. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants on U.S. and global markets, our business, operations, financial results, cash flow, demand for our products, sales cycles, and customer acquisition and retention; our ability to renew and expand subscriptions with existing customers especially enterprise customers and attract new customers generally; our ability to successfully expand and compete in new geographies and industry verticals; our ability to expand and scale our sales force; our ability to expand our service and application provider network; our ability to develop new product and platform offerings to expand our market opportunity, including with Yext Answers; our ability to release new products and updates that are adopted by our customers; our ability to manage our growth effectively; weakened or changing global economic conditions; the number of options exercised by our employees and former employees; and the accuracy of the assumptions and estimates underlying our financial projections. For a detailed discussion of these and other risk factors, please refer to the risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are available at http://investors.yext.com and on the SEC's website at https://www.sec.gov. Further information on potential risks that could affect actual results will be included in other filings we make with the SEC from time to time. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this release. We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements made in this release relate only to events as of the date on which such statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof or to conform such statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.
Non-GAAP Measurements
In addition to disclosing financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release and the accompanying tables include non-GAAP cost of revenue, non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses (sales and marketing, research and development, general and administrative), non-GAAP operating expenses (sales and marketing, research and development, general and administrative) as a percentage of revenue, non-GAAP loss from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net income (loss), non-GAAP net income (loss) per share, non-GAAP net income (loss) as a percentage of revenue, which are referred to as non-GAAP financial measures.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP as they have been adjusted to exclude the effects of stock-based compensation expenses. Non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses (sales and marketing, research and development, general and administrative) as a percentage of revenue, non-GAAP operating margin, and non-GAAP net income (loss) as a percentage of revenue are calculated by dividing the applicable non-GAAP financial measure by revenue. Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share is defined as non-GAAP net income (loss) on a per share basis. See "Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a discussion of the applicable weighted-average shares outstanding.
We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide investors and other users of our financial information consistency and comparability with our past financial performance and facilitate period-to-period comparisons of our results of operations. With respect to non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses (sales and marketing, research and development, general and administrative) as a percentage of revenue, non-GAAP operating margin and non-GAAP net loss/ income as a percentage of revenue, we believe these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our profitability relative to the amount of revenue generated, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense. We also believe non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance compared to that of other companies in our industry, as these metrics eliminate the effects of stock-based compensation, which may vary for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.
We use these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with traditional GAAP measures as part of our overall assessment of our performance, including the preparation of our annual operating budget and quarterly forecasts, and to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies. Our definition may differ from the definitions used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. In addition, other companies may not publish this or similar metrics. Thus, our non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, nor superior to or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.
These non-GAAP financial measures may be limited in their usefulness because they do not present the full economic effect of our use of stock-based compensation. We compensate for these limitations by providing investors and other users of our financial information a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most closely related GAAP financial measures. However, we have not reconciled the non-GAAP guidance measures disclosed under "Financial Outlook" to their corresponding GAAP measures because certain reconciling items such as stock-based compensation and the corresponding provision for income taxes depend on factors such as the stock price at the time of award of future grants and thus cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, reconciliations to the non-GAAP guidance measures is not available without unreasonable effort. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure and to view non-GAAP net loss/ income and non-GAAP net loss/ income per share in conjunction with net loss and net loss per share.
Operating Metrics
This press release also includes certain operating metrics that we believe are useful in providing additional information in assessing the overall performance of our business.
Customer count is defined as the total number of customers with contracts executed as of the last day of the reporting period and a unique administrative account identifier on the Yext platform. We believe that customer count provides insight into our ability to grow our enterprise and mid-market customer base. As such, customer count excludes third-party reseller customers and small businesses customers as well as customers only receiving free trials.
Annual recurring revenue, or ARR, for Direct customers is defined as the annualized recurring amount of all contracts in our enterprise, mid-market and small business customer base as of the last day of the reporting period. The recurring amount of a contract is determined based upon the terms of a contract and is calculated by dividing the amount of a contract by the term of the contract and then annualizing such amount. The calculation assumes no subsequent changes to the existing subscription. Contracts include portions of professional services contracts that are recurring in nature.
ARR for Third-party Reseller customers is defined as the annualized recurring amount of all contracts with Third-party Reseller customers as of the last day of the reporting period. The recurring amount of a contract is determined based upon the terms of a contract and is calculated by dividing the amount of a contract by the term of the contract and then annualizing such amount. The calculation assumes no subsequent changes to the existing subscription. The calculation includes the annualized contractual minimum commitment and excludes amounts related to overages above the contractual minimum commitments. Contracts include portions of professional services contracts that are recurring in nature.
Total ARR is defined as the annualized recurring amount of all contracts executed as of the last day of the reporting period. The recurring amount of a contract is determined based upon the terms of a contract and is calculated by dividing the amount of a contract by the term of the contract and then annualizing such amount. The calculation assumes, where relevant, no subsequent changes to the existing subscription, includes the annualized contractual minimum commitment and excludes amounts related to overages above the contractual minimum commitment. Contracts include portions of professional services contracts that are recurring in nature.
ARR is independent of historical revenue, unearned revenue, remaining performance obligations or any other GAAP financial measure over any period. It should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, nor superior to or in isolation from, these measures and other measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe ARR-based metrics provides insight into the performance of our recurring revenue business model while mitigating for fluctuations in billing and contract terms.
For Further Information Contact:
Investor Relations:
IR@yext.com
Public Relations:
PR@yext.com
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SOURCE Yext, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/yext-inc-announces-first-quarter-fiscal-2023-results/ | 2022-06-08T21:17:52Z |
JOHANNESBURG , May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold Fields Limited (NYSE: GFI) (JSE: GFI) is pleased to provide an operational update for the quarter ended 31 March 2022. Detailed financial and operational results are provided on a six-monthly basis i.e. at the end of June and December.
Full results are available on the company website:
www.goldfields.com
Media Enquiries - Ghana
Emma Morrison
Tel +233 (0) 302 770189
Mobile +233 (0) 241 391466
Email Emma.Morrison@goldfields.com
Investor Enquiries
Avishkar Nagaser
Tel +27 11 562 9775
Mobile +27 82 312 8692
Email Avishkar.Nagaser@goldfields.com
Thomas Mengel
Tel +27 11 562 9849
Mobile +27 72 493 5170
Email Thomas.Mengel@goldfields.com
Media Enquiries
Sven Lunsche
Tel +27 11 562 9763
Mobile +27 82 260 9279
Email Sven.Lunsche@goldfields.com
Directors: C A Carolus (Chair), C I Griffith** (Chief Executive Officer), P A Schmidt** (Chief Financial Officer), A Andani #, P J Bacchus†, T P Goodlace, J E McGill^, S P Reid^, P G Sibiya, Y G H Suleman
^Australian, †British, #Ghanaian, ** Executive Director
Company Secretary: Anrè Weststrate
About Gold Fields
Gold Fields Limited is a globally diversified gold producer with nine operating mines and one project in Australia, Chile, Ghana (including our Asanko Joint Venture), Peru and South Africa, with total attributable annual gold-equivalent production of 2.24Moz. It has attributable gold-equivalent Mineral Reserves of 52.1Moz and gold Mineral Resources of 116.0Moz. Gold Fields has a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Limited, and an additional listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa (Pty) Ltd
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SOURCE Gold Fields Limited | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/gold-fields-limited-operational-update-quarter-ended-31-march-2022/ | 2022-05-05T09:20:53Z |
Ukraine marks Independence Day six months after start of war
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) - Residents of Kyiv woke up to air raid sirens as Ukraine observed its Independence Day on Wednesday, which also marked exactly six months since the start of Russia’s military invasion.
Authorities in the capital banned large-scale gatherings until Thursday, fearing the national holiday might bring particularly heavy Russian missile attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the public to be vigilant.
“Russian provocations and brutal strikes are a possibility,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Please strictly follow the safety rules. Please observe the curfew. Pay attention to the air sirens. Pay attention to official announcements. And remember: We must all achieve victory together.”
Last year, crowds turned out in Kyiv to watch a military parade marking Ukraine’s 30-year independence anniversary. But this year, just a small number of residents gathered at Kyiv’s central square, where destroyed Russian tanks and mobile artillery were put on display over the weekend, and the national anthem is played every day at 7 a.m.
“I can’t sleep at night because of what I see and hear about what is being done in Ukraine,” a retiree who identified herself only by her first name, Tetyana, said, her voice shaking with emotion.
“This is not a war. It is the destruction of the Ukrainian people,” she said.
GRAPHIC WARNING: Videos included in this story may contain disturbing content.
Wednesday’s holiday commemorates Ukraine’s 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
“Six months ago, Russia declared war on us. On Feb. 24, all of Ukraine heard explosions and gunshots. ... On Feb. 24, we were told: You have no chance. On Aug. 24, we say: Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!” Zelenskyy said in an Independence Day message.
A car bombing outside Moscow that killed the 29-year-old daughter of right-wing Russian political theorist Alexander Dugin on Saturday heightened fears that Russia might intensify attacks on Ukraine this week.
Russian officials have blamed Ukraine for the death of Darya Dugina, a nationalist Russian TV commentator. The car bomb exploded after she had attended a patriotic festival with her father, who was widely believed to have been the intended target.
The Ukrainian government has denied any involvement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Moscow’s military encountered unexpectedly stiff Ukrainian resistance, and the six months of fighting has upended life in Ukraine and sent shock waves through the world economy.
As the war reached its 182nd day, there was no sign of a quick end to the conflict, which NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday described as “a grinding war of attrition.” Russia now holds large swaths of the country’s east and south, but its gains accumulated slowly. Neither country has revealed how many troops it has lost during the six-month conflict.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, speaking Wednesday at a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security grouping dominated by Russia and China, claimed the slow pace of Moscow’s military action was due to what he said was an effort to spare civilians.
Russian forces have repeatedly targeted civilian areas in cities. But Shoigu said that “strikes with precision weapons are carried out against the Ukrainian armed forces’ military infrastructure .... Everything is done to avoid civilian casualties. Undoubtedly, it slows down the pace of the offensive, but we do it deliberately.”
He also criticized Western states for sending military aid to Ukraine, saying it was prolonging the war.
“The U.S. and its allies are continuing to pump weapons into Ukraine, increasing the number of victims and dragging the conflict out,” Shoigu said.
The United States is expected on Wednesday to announce roughly $3 billion in additional aid to train and equip Ukrainian forces to fight for years to come, U.S. officials said.
The officials told The Associated Press the package would fund contracts for as many as three types of drones and other weapons, ammunition and equipment that may not see the battlefront for a year or two.
The new funding is largely aimed at helping Ukraine secure its medium- to long-term defense posture, according to officials familiar with the matter. Earlier shipments focused on Ukraine’s more immediate needs for weapons and ammunition and involved materiel the Pentagon already had in stock that could be shipped quickly.
Several officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the aid package before a public announcement.
On the forefront of the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, the conflict ground on. Russian forces struck several towns and villages in Donetsk province over 24 hours, killing one person and injuring two others, according to the regional administration.
In the Dnipropetrovsk region on the southern front, Russian forces again shelled the cities of Nikopol and Marhanets, damaging several buildings and injuring two people, according to Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko. Russian troops also shelled the city of Zaporizhzhia, damaging several buildings and infrastructure but inflicting no casualties.
___
Varenytsia reported from Pokrovsk, Ukraine. Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.
___
Follow all of AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/24/ukraine-marks-independence-day-six-months-after-start-war/ | 2022-08-24T10:42:20Z |
BOSTON, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston announced its preliminary, unaudited first quarter financial results for 2022, reporting net income of $27.8 million for the quarter. The Bank expects to file its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2022, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission next month.
The Bank's board of directors has declared a dividend equal to an annual yield of 2.09%, the daily average of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate for the first quarter of 2022 plus 200 basis points. The dividend, based on average stock outstanding for the first quarter of 2022, will be paid on May 3, 2022. As always, dividends remain at the discretion of the board.
"Despite the continued suppression of advances demand due to excess liquidity on members' balance sheets, rising interest rates led to a 33% increase in net income in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year," said President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy J. Barrett. "This performance and FHLBank Boston's strong financial condition enabled us to offer our members a dividend of SOFR plus 200 basis points and to set aside $11.6 million towards our vital affordable housing program that our members rely on to support affordable housing development in the communities they serve."
The Bank's overall results of operations are influenced by the economy, financial markets and, in particular, by members' demand for advances. During the first quarter of 2022, interest rates remained significantly below pre- pandemic levels and the Bank experienced a continued reduction in demand for advances from our members. Depository member institutions continued to report significantly elevated deposit balances, which has reduced demand for advances and other forms of wholesale funding.
Net income for the quarter ending March 31, 2022, was $27.8 million, compared with net income of $20.9 million for the same period in 2021, the result of a decrease of $14.2 million in net unrealized losses on trading securities and a decline of $3.0 million in loss on early extinguishment of debt. These increases to net income were offset by a $5.0 million increase in other expenses, a decrease of $2.5 million in net interest income after provision for credit losses, and a $1.6 million increase in operating expenses, compared to the same period last year. These results led to a $3.1 million statutory contribution to the Bank's Affordable Housing Program for the quarter. In addition, the Bank made a voluntary contribution of $8.5 million to the Affordable Housing Program, which contributed to the aforementioned increase in other expenses for the quarter ending March 31, 2022.
Net interest income after provision for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was $58.9 million, compared with $61.5 million for the same period in 2021. The $2.5 million decrease in net interest income after provision for credit losses was driven by a $6.8 million decrease in net prepayment fee income(1), a $5.2 billion decrease in the average balance of advances, and a $785.5 million decrease in the average balance of mortgage loans. These negative factors were partially offset by an increase of net accretion of discounts and premiums on mortgage-backed securities and mortgage loans of $16.5 million, resulting from significant increases in mortgage rates during the first quarter of 2022, an increase of fair value hedge ineffectiveness net gains of $7.2 million, a $1.9 billion increase in the average balance of mortgage-backed securities, a $1.6 billion increase in the average balance of U.S. Treasury securities, and an improvement in funding costs relative to the same period in 2021. As a result, net interest spread was 0.70% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, an increase of 7 basis points from the same period in 2021, and net interest margin was 0.74%, an increase of 6 basis points from the same period in 2021.
Total assets decreased $149.6 million, or 0.5%, to $32.4 billion at March 31, 2022, down from $32.5 billion at year- end 2021. During the quarter ended March 31, 2022, advances decreased $523.6 million, or 4.2%, to $11.8 billion, compared with $12.3 billion at year-end 2021.
Total investments were $16.8 billion at March 31, 2022, up from $16.4 billion at December 31, 2021. Investments in mortgage loans totaled $3.0 billion at March 31, 2022, a decrease of $121.5 million from year-end 2021 as paydowns continued to outpace new purchases in a very competitive environment.
GAAP capital at March 31, 2022, was $2.4 billion, a decrease of $119.2 million from $2.5 billion at year-end 2021. During the first quarter of 2022, capital stock decreased by $24.2 million, primarily attributable to the decrease in advances. Total retained earnings grew to $1.57 billion at March 31, 2022, an increase of $22.7 million, or 1.5%, from December 31, 2021. Of this amount, restricted retained earnings(4) totaled $368.4 million at March 31, 2022.
Accumulated other comprehensive loss totaled $88.8 million at March 31, 2022, a decrease of $117.8 million, from accumulated other comprehensive income of $29.0 million at December 31, 2021.
The Bank was in compliance with all regulatory capital ratios at March 31, 2022, and in the most recent information available was classified "adequately capitalized" by its regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, based on the Bank's financial information at December 31, 2021.(2)
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston is a cooperatively owned wholesale bank for housing finance in the six New England states. Its mission is to provide highly reliable wholesale funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions in New England. The Bank also develops and delivers competitively priced financial products, services, and expertise that support housing finance, community development, and economic growth, including programs targeted to lower-income households.
Contact:
Adam Coldwell 617-292-9774
adam.coldwell@fhlbboston.com
****************************
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This release, including the unaudited balance sheet highlights and income statement highlights, uses forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include statements with respect to the Bank's plans, objectives, projections, estimates, or predictions. These statements are based on the Bank's expectations as of the date hereof. The words "preliminary," "will," "continue," and similar statements and their plural and negative forms are used in this notification to identify some, but not all, of such forward-looking statements. For example, statements about future declarations of dividends and expectations for advances balances, mortgage-loan investments, and net income are forward-looking statements, among other forward- looking statements herein.
The Bank cautions that, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the application of accounting standards relating to, among other things, the amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on financial assets, financial liabilities, and certain fair value gains and losses; hedge accounting of derivatives and underlying financial instruments; the fair values of financial instruments, including investment securities and derivatives; the allowance for credit losses on investment securities and mortgage loans; instability in the credit and debt markets; economic conditions (including effects on, among other things, mortgage- backed securities); changes in demand for advances or consolidated obligations of the Bank or the Federal Home Loan Bank system; changes in interest rates; volatility of market prices, rates, and indices that could affect the value of financial instruments; the expected discontinuance of LIBOR and the adverse consequences it could have for market participants, including the Bank; the effects of COVID-19 and the emerging variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 on regulatory developments, economic conditions and markets; the Bank's ability to execute its business model and pay future dividends; and prepayment speeds on mortgage assets. In addition, the Bank reserves the right to change its plans for any programs for any reason, including but not limited to, legislative or regulatory changes, changes in membership, or changes at the discretion of the board of directors. Accordingly, the Bank cautions that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements or could impact the extent to which a particular plan, objective, projection, estimate or prediction is realized, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement herein or that may be made from time to time on behalf of the Bank.
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SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/federal-home-loan-bank-boston-announces-2022-first-quarter-results-declares-dividend/ | 2022-04-22T23:50:39Z |
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