text
stringlengths
102
99.6k
url
stringlengths
31
426
crawl_date
timestamp[us, tz=UTC]date
2022-04-01 00:29:49
2022-09-19 04:34:15
(NEXSTAR) — It may be hard to remember but there was once a time when the future giant of streaming video was a DVD/BluRay-by-mail service. First launched in 1998, Netflix operated successfully via mail delivery for several years before shifting its focus to streaming video in February 2007. These days, Netflix is synonymous with on-demand streaming content — so much so that many new users may not even know the DVD/BluRay service is still around. While it still exists, it now operates under the name DVD.com. There are currently three plans through DVD.com, all of which are billed separately from Netflix’s streaming service: - Basic — Cost: $9.99 per month. Benefits: Unlimited number of rentals per month but only one disc out-at-a-time - Standard — Cost: $14.99 per month. Benefits: Unlimited number of rentals per month but only two discs out-at-a-time - Premium — Cost: $19.99 per month. Benefits: Unlimited number of rentals per month but only three discs out-at-a-time Netflix did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the number of disc-by-mail subscribers, however, tech outlet Wired reported in 2019 that over two million people were still subscribed. As of the same year, Netflix filed a $300 million annual revenue report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company notes that one of the benefits of the service is that its DVD/BluRay library includes titles that may not be available for streaming. Recent changes in offerings to several major streaming services, like HBO Max, have created renewed conversation about streaming vs. physical media. In the wake of an announced merger with the Discovery+ streaming service, several movies and shows disappeared from HBO Max, including the Seth Rogen vehicle “An American Pickle” and the teen romcom “Moonshot.” Additionally, with each new month of the year, a slate of several streaming options are removed and replaced with others across all services. While DVDs and BluRays may seem antiquated to some, the discs have never really gone away. New movies and TV shows are still released on discs each week, often with exclusive commentaries, features and supplemental materials. For the streaming weary, it’s also important to remember your local library may have a robust DVD and BluRay catalogue. While streaming isn’t going anywhere soon, there are still options to track down movies you can’t find online.
https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/can-i-still-rent-dvds-from-netflix/
2022-09-04T19:58:31Z
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Alex Jones was being questioned Wednesday by lawyers for families of Sandy Hook victims in Connecticut, where a judge had ordered the Infowars host toface mounting finesuntil he appeared for a deposition. Relatives of some of the 20 children and six educators killed in the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, massacre sued Jones for defamation after he said the shooting never happened. A judge found Jones liable for damages and a trial on how much he should pay the families is set for August. Jones, who lives in Texas, had defied a judge’s order to appear for a deposition in the case, saying he was too ill. But Connecticut Judge Barbara Bellis said there wasn’t enough evidence that Jones was too sick to attend and ordered him to come to Connecticut for questioning and pay escalating daily fines until he did so. Jones paid $25,000 in fines for Friday and $50,000 in fines for Monday, according to court records. A spokesperson for the families and their lawyers at Bridgeport-based Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder declined to comment on the deposition Wednesday. Jones said in a video on the Infowars website that the deposition began Tuesday and was to continue Wednesday. He said in the video that the families’ lawyers began the deposition by “demonizing” him for his questioning official versions of events. “It’s just totally insane to sit there and watch this happen and to watch them lick their lips and lick their chops and think we’re going to finally shut Alex Jones down,” Jones said. “These people want to put us in prison for our speech.” Jones’ lawyer, Norman Pattis, said tempers flared at times during the deposition on Tuesday, and much of the questioning was not related to the school shooting. “I had the impression watching the attack on Mr. Jones that this trial will be about something far greater than what happened at Sandy Hook,” Pattis said on the video. “The trial’s going to be about ordinary people’s ability to say I’m not buying it, I want to raise questions, I want to draw my own conclusions.” Jones missed the originally scheduled deposition in the case on March 23 and 24 in Austin, Texas. He cited a health issue including vertigo that his doctors initially thought was a serious heart problem but turned out to be a sinus infection. The plaintiffs have said they have been subjected to harassment and death threats from Jones’ followers because of the hoax conspiracy promoted on his website show. Jones has since conceded the shooting did happen.
https://cw33.com/news/ap-top-headlines/alex-jones-appears-for-questioning-in-sandy-hook-lawsuit/
2022-04-07T06:22:58Z
HOUSTON, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) is scheduled to present at the Barclays CEO Energy-Power Conference at 7:35 a.m. Central time (8:35 a.m. Eastern time) on Thursday, September 8. Ezra Y. Yacob, Chief Executive Officer, will present on behalf of EOG. Please visit the Investors/Events & Presentations page on the EOG website to access live webcasts and any available replays for up to one year. About EOG EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) is one of the largest crude oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States and Trinidad. To learn more visit www.eogresources.com. Investor Contacts David Streit 713-571-4902 Neel Panchal 713-571-4884 Media Contact Kimberly Ehmer 713-571-4676 View original content: SOURCE EOG Resources, Inc.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/eog-resources-present-upcoming-conference/
2022-09-01T21:34:54Z
US expected to send $1 billion more in aid to Ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is expected to announce Wednesday that it will send about $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, the largest single tranche of weapons and equipment since the war began, in a effort to help stall Russia’s slow but steady march to conquer the eastern Donbas region, U.S. officials said. According to officials, the aid is expected to include anti-ship missile launchers, howitzers and more rounds for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems that U.S. forces are training Ukrainian troops on now. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet made public. The aid comes as U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin convened a meeting in Brussels of more than 45 nations to discuss support for Ukraine. At the start of the meeting, Austin warned that the West must step up weapons deliveries to Ukraine and prove its commitment to helping the country’s military fight along a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in a grinding war of attrition with Russia. And he urged the participating nations to demonstrate “our unwavering determination to get Ukraine the capabilities that it urgently needs to defend itself.” “We must intensify our shared commitment to Ukraine’s self-defense, and we must push ourselves even harder to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself, its citizens and its territory,” he said. The meeting, also attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, came on the opening day of a two-day gathering of NATO defense ministers at the alliance’s headquarters. Increased arms supplies can’t come soon enough for the Ukrainian forces battling to keep Russia from taking control of their country’s industrial east after more than 3½ months of war. In his nightly address to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded Tuesday for more and faster deliveries of Western arms, specifically asking for anti-missile defense systems. Austin told the Brussels meeting he was grateful for all the military aid the nations already have shipped or pledged to Ukraine, but cautioned that “we can’t afford to let up and we can’t lose steam. The stakes are too high.” The formal NATO meeting was set to open later Wednesday with a dinner where ministers also will discuss Sweden and Finland’s applications to join the trans-Atlantic military alliance. The meeting, less two weeks before a summit of NATO leaders in Madrid, comes with Kyiv imploring the West to send more and heavier weapons to help fend off Russia’s onslaught in eastern Ukraine. “Allies are committed to continue providing the military equipment that Ukraine needs to prevail, including heavy weapons and long-range systems,” said Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general. He added that Zelenskyy would be invited to address the June 29-30 Madrid summit, either in person or by videoconference. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said Tuesday that the invaded nation’s military had received only around 10% of the Western weapons it had requested “to create parity with the Russian army.” “No matter how much effort Ukraine makes, no matter how professional our army, without the help of Western partners we will not be able to win this war,” Malyar said in a televised news conference. She said Ukraine uses 5,000 to 6,000 artillery rounds a day, while Russia uses 10 times more. The NATO meeting opens with a working dinner Wednesday evening at which ministers will speak with their counterparts from Ukraine, as well as Georgia, Sweden, Finland and the European Union. “This will be an opportunity for Defense Minister Reznikov to update us on what Ukraine urgently needs. And for NATO allies to make new announcements of support to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said. The defense ministers also plan to discuss moves to beef up forces along NATO’s eastern flank and elsewhere, which have gathered pace since Russia invaded Ukraine. “This will mean more presence, more capabilities and higher readiness, with more NATO forward deployed combat formations to strengthen our battlegroups in the East, more air, sea and cyber defenses, pre-positioned equipment and weapon stockpiles,” Stoltenberg said. He wouldn’t commit to a timeframe for Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is blocking the membership bids as he accuses the Nordic nations of supporting Kurdish militants deemed by Turkey to be terrorists. “My aim is to solve this issue as soon as possible, but since we are several nations involved in this process, there is no way to tell you exactly when we will solve it,” Stoltenberg said. Because of Turkey’s concerns, “this will take some more time than we originally expected,” he said. Erdogan signaled Wednesday he won’t back down. “We will most definitely not change our stance until Sweden and Finland take clear, concrete and determined steps in the fight against terrorism,” Erdogan said in an address to his ruling party’s legislators. He told Stoltenberg in a phone call that his government wants written guarantees of a “paradigm shift” in the two countries’ anti-terrorism efforts and their defense industry cooperation with Turkey, according to a statement from the Turkish leader’s office. All 30 NATO members must agree to admit new members. U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said at a meeting Wednesday in Oslo that the ambition for the NATO summit in Madrid is ensuring “that Sweden and Finland are successfully on the next step towards accession into NATO,” “I think it is very important we listen and understand Turkey’s concerns and work to a position where Turkey will support the accession and indeed that we can mitigate any of those concerns,” Wallace said. He added that the West needs to do more to support Ukrainians battling advances by far better equipped Russians. “The Ukrainian forces in the east of the country, some of them have been on that front line for 90 days. They are exhausted. They are often, in artillery terms, outnumbered at very, very high ratios,” he said. ___ Mike Corder in The Hague, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed. ___ Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/15/us-expected-send-1-billion-more-aid-ukraine/
2022-06-15T16:45:56Z
Golfer Hudson Swafford left bewildered after club head flies off mid-shot at the Masters By Ben Morse, CNN Golfers will prepare for every eventuality before playing in a major. But Hudson Swafford could never have expected what happened to him at the Masters on Friday. Hitting his second on the historic par-five 13th hole, the US golfer lined up to hit his iron shot from the fairway. He swung, connected with the ball, and the ball flew in the correct direction. However, much to Swafford’s bemusement, the head of his club flew off the end of his club, leaving the bewildered golfer holding the shaft and handle of his club. Television cameras caught the world No. 79 turning to his caddie, asking what happened with his arms aloft. Amazingly, and as a display of a professional golfer’s skills, the ball still managed to fly over Rae’s Creek which lies at the front of the 13th green. Remarkably, Swafford was able to salvage a par and ensure his round did not completely unravel. He might be down a club head, but Swafford will be counting his blessings, as his ball is still in play. The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
https://localnews8.com/sports/cnn-sports/2022/04/08/golfer-hudson-swafford-left-bewildered-after-club-head-flies-off-mid-shot-at-the-masters/
2022-04-08T22:59:47Z
Clean energy incentives in the new spending package signed this week by President Joe Biden will trim America’s emissions of heat-trapping gases by about 1.1 billion tons (1 billion metric tons) by 2030, a new Department of Energy analysis shows. The first official federal calculations, shared with The Associated Press before its release Thursday, say that between the bill just signed and last year’s infrastructure spending law, the U.S. by the end of the decade will be producing about 1.26 billion tons (1.15 billion metric tons) less carbon pollution than it would have without the laws. That saving is equivalent to about the annual greenhouse gas emissions of every home in the United States. The Energy Department analysis finds that with the new law by 2030, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions should be about 40% lower than 2005 levels, which is still not at the U.S. announced target of cutting carbon pollution between 50% and 52% by the end of the decade. But that 40% reduction is similar to earlier calculations by the independent research firm Rhodium Group, which figured cuts would be 31% to 44% and the scientists at Climate Action Tracker, which said the drop would be 26% to 42%. Most of the projected emissions reductions in the nearly $375 billion spending package would come in promoting “clean energy,” mostly solar and wind power and electric vehicles, the federal analysis said. More than half of the overall projected emission drops would come in how the nation generates electricity, the analysis said. About 10% of the savings in emissions come from agriculture and land conservation. The new law’s provisions that call for oil and gas leasing on federal land and water “may lead to some increase” in carbon pollution, the federal analysis said, but the other provisions to spur cleaner energy cut 35 tons of greenhouse gas for every new ton of pollution from the increased oil and gas drilling. Outside experts, such as Bill Hare of Climate Action Tracker, say the new law is a big step for the United States, but it’s still not enough considering that America is the biggest historic carbon polluter, had done little for decades and lags behind Europe. “At this point anything going in that direction you count as a win, right? I mean after so long a time of total inaction and knowing how difficult politically it is to get the country moving in a direction like this due to politics and economics and all the other things involved with this issue,” National Center for Atmospheric Research climate scientist Gerald Meehl, who wasn’t part of the analysis, said about what the new law will do. “You can argue that’s not nearly enough, but I think once you start seeing motion, you hope that then we can build on that and kind of keep the ball rolling.” ___ Follow AP’s climate and environment coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears ___ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about AP’s climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
https://cw33.com/news/science-technology/ap-science/federal-study-new-climate-law-to-slice-carbon-pollution-40/
2022-08-19T15:05:27Z
Events to be webcast at: http://investors.sunpower.com/events.cfm SAN JOSE, Calif., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWR) will discuss its first-quarter 2022 financial results on a conference call, Thursday, May 5 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The call-in number is (877) 371-5747 conference ID 5479606, passcode: SunPower, or the webcast can be accessed from SunPower's website at http://investors.sunpower.com/events.cfm. The earnings press release and supplemental financial information will be available on SunPower's website at http://investors.sunpower.com/events.cfm at 1:05 p.m. PST on May 5, 2021. About SunPower Headquartered in California's Silicon Valley, SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) is a leading Distributed Generation Storage and Energy Services provider in North America. SunPower offers the only solar + storage solution designed and warranted by one company that gives customers control over electricity consumption and resiliency during power outages while providing cost savings to homeowners. For more information, visit www.sunpower.com. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SunPower Corp.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/sunpower-announce-first-quarter-2022-results-may-5-2022/
2022-04-11T14:44:01Z
STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola Power" or the "Company") (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. ReneSola Power's second quarter 2022 financial results and management commentary can be found by accessing the Company's shareholder letter on the quarterly results page of the Investor Relations section of ReneSola Power's website at: http://ir.renesolapower.com. ReneSola Power will hold a conference call today to discuss results. Conference Call Details We will host a conference call today to discuss our second quarter 2022 business and financial results. The call is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 (5:00 a.m. China Standard Time on Thursday, September 8, 2022). Please register in advance to join the conference call using the link provided below and dial in 10 minutes before the call is scheduled to begin. Conference call access information will be provided upon registration. Participant Online Registration: Webcast: Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of ReneSola Power's website at https://ir.renesolapower.com/. About ReneSola Power ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company's strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York. For more information, please visit www.renesolapower.com. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ReneSola Ltd.
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/renesola-power-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/
2022-09-07T21:01:14Z
Defective: Biden signs law banning child products linked to hundreds of deaths In November, it will be illegal to sell crib bumper pads and inclined sleeping products in the U.S. InvestigateTV - After burying their infants whose deaths were tied to crib bumper pads or inclined sleepers, some parents turned their anguish to advocacy and pleaded with Congress to rid the U.S. of these dangerous products. In May, President Biden signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act that will make it illegal to make or sell crib bumper pads and inclined sleepers beginning in November. “This is incredibly significant,” said Rachel Weintraub, legislative director and general counsel for the Consumer Federation of America. “We know that at least 113 babies died while in cribs or other bedding with bumpers between 1990 and 2019. And we know that at least 100 babies died from inclined sleep products.” Many of the fatalities tied to crib bumper pads involved a baby suffocating in the soft fabric, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. In an April 2020 federal register notice, the agency spelled out the dangers of bumper pads as well as the fatalities and injuries that it has collected since 1990. Inclined sleepers defied American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for safe sleep, which call for babies to put to bed on a flat surface with nothing in the crib. The inclined sleepers were first introduced to parents in 2009 by Fisher-Price and its Rock N’ Play. In 2019, a CPSC-commissioned medical study of inclined sleepers concluded that “none of the inclined sleep products that were tested and evaluated as a part of this study are safe for infant sleep.” The study affirmed the dangers of inclined sleepers to babies: their muscles aren’t developed enough to self-correct if they roll – or they may get into another position where their air flow is cut off, leading to suffocation. The study was released six months after the Rock N’ Play recall. In February, InvestigateTV documented how the popular inclined sleeper exposed flaws in the federal Consumer Product Safety Act that allowed Rock N’ Play to remain on the market for years even after regulators knew hundreds of babies had been injured or had died. By 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tallied more than 650 incidents involving inclined sleep products including Rock N’ Play. Yet it could not issue a public warning or recall without the consent of the manufacturers because of a provision in the federal law that gives companies the power to say what the agency releases about them or their products. Fisher-Price agreed to recall the Rock N’ Play in 2019, saying it was aware of about 30 infant deaths tied to its product. The following year, its CEO told a Congressional committee that there were nearly 100 fatalities. The recalls of inclined sleepers required retailers such as big box chains and online retailers to remove them from their shelves. Under the new law, all crib bumper pads must be off the market by November. The law makes it illegal for anyone to manufacture or sell these products including at garage sales or on online secondary marketplaces. Sellers can face penalties by the CPSC. “It’s incredibly important to really throw these products out, to not pass them on to friends and family,” Weintraub said. Fisher-Price has long maintained that Rock N’ Play was safe when used according to label instructions and safety warnings and blamed deaths on users’ errors. Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/02/defective-biden-signs-law-banning-child-products-linked-hundreds-deaths/
2022-06-02T18:58:34Z
- NRF Protect 2022 will be taking place in Cleveland, OH from June 21-23, 2022 SURREY, BC, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - INEO Tech Corp. (TSXV: INEO) (OTCQB: INEOF) (the "Company" or "INEO"), the innovative developer and operator of the INEO Media Network, a digital advertising and analytics solution for retailers, is pleased to announce the Company's representatives will be participating in the following upcoming retail industry conference: NRF Protect 2022 Date: June 21-23, 2022 Location: Cleveland, OH Booth: Huntington Convention Center – Booth 7009 (Prosegur Security) Link: https://nrfprotect.nrf.com/ Kyle Hall, CEO of INEO, will be attending the conference and INEO will be showcased at the Prosegur Security booth where a demo of the Welcoming System will be on display. INEO is quickly becoming recognized as a leading innovator in the retail technology sector. Hosted by the National Retail Federation (NRF), the NRF Protect 2022 Conference is where seasoned and fresh faces come together to discover essential insights and tools to tackle any security threat. United by a shared mission, loss prevention, digital fraud and cyber risk professionals attend to build community and advance as an industry at the most important retail security event of the year. INEO Tech Corp. Per: "Kyle Hall" Kyle Hall, Chief Executive Officer and Director About INEO Tech Corp. (TSXV; INEO); (OTCQB: INEOF) INEO Tech Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary, INEO Solutions Inc., operates the INEO Media Network, a digital advertising and analytics solution for retailers. INEO's patented technology integrates and monetizes digital screens with theft detection sensor gates at the entrance of retail stores. The Company's cloud-based platform uses IoT (Internet of Things) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to deliver customized digital advertising to each retail location based on the demographic mix, such as age and gender, of customer traffic at each location. The Company also deploys the INEO Welcoming Network technology through a SaaS-based solution to larger retail chains. INEO is headquartered in Surrey, Canada and publicly traded on the TSX-Venture Exchange under the symbol "INEO" and on the OTCQB-Venture Market under the symbol "INEOF". For more information please visit: Website: www.ineosolutionsinc.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ineosolutions Facebook: www.facebook.com/ineosolutionsinc Instagram: www.instagram.com/ineosolutionsinc Twitter: www.twitter.com/INEOsolutions Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. This news release uses words such as "may", "would", "could", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook", and other similar expressions to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information involves significant risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual future results or anticipated events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and accordingly, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed on SEDAR, including the Company's most recent annual and interim Management Discussion and Analysis and Financial Statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE INEO Tech Corp.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/ineo-participate-upcoming-retail-industry-conference-with-prosegur/
2022-06-09T12:45:35Z
NEW YORK, May 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyber insurance provides robust financial protection to businesses if they incur a data breach and is an essential part of any risk management plan, according to a video released today by the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) Cyberattacks and data breach-caused losses are the top risks facing businesses, a global survey of company directors by Willis Towers Watson and Clyde & Co. found. "Insurers and businesses need to be partners in mitigating the risks posed by cyberattacks," said Sean Kevelighan, CEO, Triple-I. "Governments also must play an important role in cyber risk mitigation through law enforcement and diplomacy." Some of the most significant cyberattacks in recent years have been traced back to foreign actors from Russia and China. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of a data breach, the majority of small and mid-size businesses incorrectly presume that any/all losses are covered under their property and liability insurance policies, according to Risk & Insurance which, like Triple-I, is an affiliate of The Institutes. Such confusion can lead to unexpected insurance coverage gaps for businesses. What Cyber Insurance Covers Even though ransomware—instances in which a business is asked to pay for the return of its stolen data—continues to escalate in severity, cost, and volume, there are recent lessons that can help businesses enhance their cybersecurity strategies. Purchasing cyber insurance can lower the cost to a business in the event of a data breach involving sensitive information by covering damages that general liability insurance may not, including: - Legal fees - Repairing digital infrastructure - Restoring clients' personal information - Recovering proprietary data Insurers Are Partners in Mitigating Risk A focus on resilience and pre-emptive mitigation is in order, and insurers are well-positioned to serve not only as financial first responders but as partners in managing these evolving hazards. Businesses have a role to play in this regard, as well. "The first line of defense is creating a robust cybersecurity system, training employees on how to identify a potential attack, encrypting company data, and enabling antivirus protection. With only half of businesses reporting a consistent encryption strategy, and the cost of data breaches continuing to rise, organizations must do more to protect themselves and their customers," according to a Triple-I blog. RELATED LINKS Articles: Cyber Liability Risks Blogs: Cyber Insurance's "Perfect Storm"; "Silent" Echoes Of 9/11 in Today's Management of Cyber-Related Risks; Brokers, Policyholders Need Greater Clarity on Cyber Coverage; Cyber Risk Gets Real, Demands New Approaches Brief: Cyber: State of the Risk The Triple-I has a full library of educational videos on its YouTube Channel. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Insurance Information Institute
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/04/triple-i-video-businesses-must-take-steps-mitigate-their-cyber-risks/
2022-05-04T18:36:53Z
BEACHWOOD, Ohio, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ARC Health, a Thurston Group portfolio company based in Beachwood, OH, is proud to announce the appointment of Vincent Morra as Chief Executive Officer. Formed in 2021, the mental health focused management services organization supports psychiatry, psychology and therapy providers in multiple locations throughout the United States. "I am honored to lead this innovative partner-centric community of mental health providers, as ARC Health's partnership model is a tremendous value-add for providers," said Mr. Morra, who brings decades of experience in C-level healthcare leadership to the table. "Our providers deliver premier mental health services, and it's exciting to support them with an equally high-caliber corporate organization." Mr. Morra has over 35 years of healthcare experience. Before joining ARC Health, he served as President of the North Division at Alteon Healthcare for more than 11 years, leading a team of over 800 physicians and 400 advanced practice providers. Prior to Alteon Healthcare, Mr. Morra spent 24 years with NES Healthcare Group in various leadership positions, including serving as CEO for over 10 years. Dan Davis, Managing Director of Thurston Group, stated "Vince's leadership and industry experience has propelled him to lead multiple initiatives in business development, customer retention, mergers and acquisitions and revenue cycle management in both hospital and community-based practices. We are humbled and honored that he has agreed to lead our exciting partnership in mental health." The doctor-partner model of ARC Health, first pioneered by Thurston Group companies in other sub-specialties of healthcare, emphasizes local autonomy on the clinical side combined with the competitive advantage of size and expertise on the business side. "Our mission is clearcut: Give each of our provider partners the freedom to practice their way with the power of a team behind them," stated Drs. Boris Royak and Amit Mohan, Founding Doctor Partners of ARC Health. ARC Health is expanding rapidly throughout the country, partnering with leading mental health providers in attractive geographies. ARC Health is a premier group of mental health providers who have come together as partners while maintaining their individual identities. Their forward-thinking and supportive partnership of mental health providers is geared toward increasing accessibility via a collaborative network. The ARC Health business model is pioneering the space with a unified, provider-centric approach that reinforces clinical autonomy while also joining together as equity-owning partners. archealthpartners.com Thurston Group is a private equity firm that focuses on building industry-leading companies in the healthcare and related business-service sectors. Thurston has an extensive track record of partnering with physicians and building fast-growing healthcare businesses, including SGA Dental Partners, Gen4 Dental Partners, Smiles Dental, ARC Health, Options Medical Weight Loss and U.S. Orthopaedic Partners. Over its 36-year history, Thurston Group has returned over $4B of invested capital. For additional information about Thurston Group, please visit Thurston Group's website at www.thurstongroup.com. Contact: Dana Hayes +1-312-255-0077 https://www.thurstongroup.com/ View original content: SOURCE Thurston Group
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/arc-health-announces-hire-veteran-ceo/
2022-08-01T14:28:02Z
Testimony resumes as Dana Chandler retrial enters Day 3 in Topeka TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Day 3 of the Dana Chandler retrial is underway Tuesday morning in Shawnee County District Court. Chandler was arrested in 2011 and charged with the 2002 murders of her ex-husband Mike Sisco and his fiancé Karen Harkness at a home at 2231 S.W. Westport Square in west Topeka. Chandler was convicted in 2012. However, in 2018, the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the conviction, citing misconduct by former prosecutor Jacqie Spradling, who has since been disbarred. Chandler’s retrial got underway Friday afternoon, Aug. 5. It continued on Monday, Aug. 8. On Tuesday, Aug. 9, the first witness was Peggy Mills, who said she lived near Harkness’ home in the 2200 block of S.W. Westport Square. Mills testified she saw the garage door open and police cars in front of Harkness’ residence when she was taking her customary morning walk around 5 a.m. Sunday, July 7, 2002. Harkness and Sisco were found shot to death around 2 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2022, in the basement area of their home by family members who had arrived for a fish fry. Mills said police informed her of the double-homicide around 4 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2002. Tuesday’s second witness was Theresa Gartner, who was employed at the Sac and Fox Casino near Powhattan in July 2002. Gartner, who said she hasn’t worked at the casino since 2010, testified Harkness and Sisco had been at the casino from around 6:50 p.m. July 6, 2002, until around 1:30 a.m. July 7. 2002. Gartner said two Topeka police detectives came to the casino shortly after the homicides seeking information on Harkness and Sisco. After reviewing video surveillance, Gartner said there was no indication of any altercations at the casino or that they were being followed by anyone. Tuesday morning’s third witness was Leroy Rice, a former Topeka police officer. Rice testified he was working in the police department’s Crime Scene Investigation unit, who said he photographed Harkness’ and Sisco’s vehicles. He said the photos were taken in the police department’s process stall. Rice said he found nothing in either vehicle that appeared to be related to the double-homicide. However, under questioning by Bath, Rice said he received a work order to process the vehicles but no details related to the actual crime, including that a rearview mirror on the side of Harkness’ vehicle appeared to have been moved to an unusual position or details about the garage door being found open at the the home on the morning of the homicides. As a result, DNA testing and fingerprinting a garage door opener in Sisco’s vehicle or fingerprinting the rearview mirror on Harkness’ vehicle weren’t done, Rice said under questioning by Bath. The retrial went into a 10-minute recess around 10:25 a.m. Tuesday. Shawnee County District Court Judge Cheryl Rios is presiding over the trial. The state’s prosecutor is Charles Kitt, chief of staff for the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office. Chandler is being represented by lead defense attorney Tom Bath, of Leawood. Chandler’s first trial attracted national media coverage, including on the CBS program “48 Hours.” Chandler’s ongoing retrial also is attracting national media coverage. Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved.
https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/09/testimony-resumes-dana-chandler-retrial-enters-day-3-topeka/
2022-08-09T15:50:02Z
Bowlero Corp expands in Greater Austin and The Villages RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL), the world's leader in bowling entertainment, announced today that it has acquired three bowling centers in two metro markets - Mel's Lone Star Lanes in Greater Austin, TX and Fiesta Bowl and Spanish Springs Lanes in The Villages, FL. The addition of these three locations is part of the Bowlero Corp. growth initiative, expanding the company's geographical footprint across North America. Mel's Lone Star Lanes is located in the metro market of Greater Austin in Georgetown, TX and has officially opened under Bowlero Corp management as of September 3, 2022. With 40 lanes, this center offers a wide variety of attractions including cosmic bowling, arcade games, shuffleboard, party rooms and a sports bar. Mel's Lone Star Lanes will mark the company's 25th location in Texas. "It's an exciting acquisition that brings us back into the Greater Austin market and supports our ongoing strategic efforts," said Thomas Shannon, Founder and CEO of Bowlero Corp. "Mel's Lone Star Lanes will continue to bring the best in bowling and entertainment to the Georgetown community, while introducing exclusive benefits from the Bowlero team." In Florida, the acquisition of Fiesta Bowl and Spanish Springs Lanes located in The Villages, approximately 20 miles south of Ocala and 45 miles northwest of Orlando, will widen Bowlero Corp's footprint to 30 locations in the state. Both locations consist of 32 lanes and are home to both competitive and social leagues throughout the year. "The Villages is a well-known community in Florida with some of the nations most dedicated bowlers," said Shannon. "As a company we prioritize the guest experience above all and plan to bring the quality Bowlero experience into The Villages community." The completion of the acquisitions for Fiesta Bowl and Spanish Springs Lanes is expected at the end of September. Bowlero Corp. is the worldwide leader in bowling entertainment, media, and events. With more than 300 bowling centers across North America, Bowlero Corp. serves more than 26 million guests each year through a family of brands that includes Bowlero, Bowlmor Lanes, and AMF. In 2019, Bowlero Corp. acquired the Professional Bowlers Association, the major league of bowling, which boasts thousands of members and millions of fans across the globe. For more information on Bowlero Corp., please visit BowleroCorp.com. Media Contact: The Door, Bowlero@thedooronline.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Bowlero Corp
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/bowlero-corp-continues-its-growth-with-acquisitions-texas-florida/
2022-09-07T11:48:15Z
VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3Dconnexion, manufacturer of the well-known 3D mouse range SpaceMouse®, announces its expansion into the digital content creation field through a series of new software integrations that complete their portfolio for artists and 3D creators. These will be showcased at SIGGRAPH 2022, the premier conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques, in Vancouver, 8-11 August. Unreal Engine, Unity and iClone are the latest applications with new, fully compatible support for 3Dconnexion devices. They are joining an already extensive portfolio of industry-standard apps - Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Substance Painter, Blender, Cinema 4D, Maya, ZBrush – completing a dedicated solution that supports the entire digital content creation workflow. "Today we are elated to offer exciting new solutions to a new industry of digital artists," shared Antonio Pascucci, Chief Executive Officer at 3Dconnexion. "We believe these new integrations, alongside our already existing support, will help thousands of designers and creators enjoy a more immersive and intuitive experience in their workflow. The simultaneous use of both hands when manipulating and interacting with the digital art offers a natural way to work, which will enhance creativity." While they are best known for their SpaceMouse products, 3Dconnexion's entire product collection promises a better experience coupled with improved performance. The SpaceMouse and CadMouse family, as well as the newer Keyboard Pro with Numpad allow users to navigate quickly, providing simple access to powerful application commands and improving the quality of their work. "Each of our product lines gives users access to important tools and an advanced navigation experience," added Pascucci. "Our SpaceMouse family allows them to navigate models and scenes faster and more intuitively. The CadMouse family and Keyboard Pro with Numpad offer precise accuracy and endlessly customizable desk setups." Historically designed for engineers, primarily in the aerospace industry, these products are used in some of the world's most popular CAD software, where navigation, precision and efficiency are essential. Adding this new support for a variety of DCC applications demonstrates 3Dconnexion's commitment to helping digital artists take their work to the next level. "Many digital creators will find a considerable value in our products for their challenging work," exclaimed Robert Stadie, Product Manager at 3Dconnexion. "We strongly believe that our solutions provide users with a superior experience through unifying navigation and behavior across different apps. Pre-set profiles with the most popular commands for each app, automatically adapting as you switch between apps, as well as endless command customization options make this the ultimate solution for digital artists." SIGGRAPH 2022 attendees and press members are encouraged to visit the 3Dconnexion booth (Booth 642) located in the event exhibit hall for trying out the products from the SpaceMouse, CadMouse and Keyboard Pro range in their favorite DCC application. 3Dconnexion creates the world's most advanced, research-based professional input devices for design and engineering. Optimized for over 300 software packages, our products help people across industries worldwide produce better designs more efficiently. The company's mission is to provide peace of mind to the professionals who design the buildings, machines, and products that power our world. Technology and build quality combine to deliver the performance that professionals demand. View original content: SOURCE 3Dconnexion
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/3dconnexion-unveils-dedicated-solution-digital-content-creators-siggraph-2022/
2022-08-08T14:51:34Z
GREENSBORO N.C., July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Honda Aircraft Company today announced the addition of four new full-service Authorized Service Centers (ASC) in the United States and global regions, expanding the HondaJet service network to 21 locations worldwide. The new service centers will further strengthen the customer support capabilities for the growing HondaJet fleet, now comprised of more than 219 aircraft in operation, which recently surpassed the 120,000-flight-hour mark in operation. The expansion includes two new centers in the U.S., increasing to 12 the number of Honda Factory and Authorized Service Centers in North America. "We are pleased to partner with service providers who share Honda's commitment to customer satisfaction as our highest priority," said Honda Aircraft Company Head of Commercial Business Unit and VP of Customer Service, Amod Kelkar. "As the HondaJet fleet continues to grow, we are committed to ensuring that each of our customers around the globe receives the highest quality of service and support, with the supply of parts and factory-trained and certified service technicians available at each of the 21 locations." New Authorized Service Centers for the HondaJet: - Hillsboro Aviation, based at the Portland-Hillsboro Airport (KHIO) outside of Portland, Ore. is authorized for service in the Northwest region of the United States. - Mather Aviation, LLC., located at Mather Airport (KMHR) outside of Sacramento, Calif., provides service in the region of Central and Northern California. - Dviation Technics Sdn. Bhd., based in the state of Selangor, Malaysia, is the exclusive HondaJet Authorized Service Centre (ASC) for the Southeast Asia region. With this partnership, the HondaJet owners and operators in the region will have access to the full spectrum of technical support delivered by its new business unit: KarbonMRO. - Signature TECHNICAir., based at Bournemouth Airport (EGHH) in Bournemouth, United Kingdom will provide HondaJet service for the UK and Western Europe. This addition doubles the Honda Authorized Service Centers in Europe. In addition, Honda Aircraft Company maintains an outstanding level of service at its Factory Service Center, recently awarded by FAA with the "Diamond level AMT employer award," the highest level in the William (Bill) O'Brien Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards program, in recognition of the skill and professionalism of Honda Aircraft's maintenance technicians. Since the first delivery of the HondaJet in 2015, Honda Aircraft Company has led the aviation industry with innovation and technology, while also maintaining an unparalleled focus on customer support. With constant efforts to improve customer satisfaction, the HondaJet sales and service footprint now spans North America, Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, India, and Japan. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Honda Aircraft Company
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/honda-aircraft-company-expands-customer-service-capability-hondajet-fleet-grows/
2022-07-25T14:13:10Z
Practice joins Affordable Care's national network of supported dental practices - Patients at the new practice benefit from special offers - Variety of payment options including financing and insurance available STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The new Affordable Dentures & Implants practice in Stone Mountain, Georgia, located at 5370 Stone Mountain Highway, Suite 1120, is now open. The practice joins the nation's largest provider network of dental practices – supported by Affordable Care – that focus exclusively on tooth replacement services. From extractions and partial dentures to full dentures and dental implants, including implant-secured dentures, Affordable Dentures & Implants in Stone Mountain offers high-quality, affordable tooth replacement care to create a new smile that not only looks great, but has the potential to transform a patient's life, allowing them to eat, speak and smile with confidence again. The practice features an on-site dental lab, which adds faster, more convenient services with all dental care provided at one location, along with the latest state-of-the-art technology, including a CBCT scanner for a more accurate image of a patient's mouth. In addition, Affordable Dentures & Implants practices provide a variety of sedation options. Jasmine R. Edwards, DMD, General Dentist and the Affordable Dentures & Implants team in Stone Mountain are proud to offer professional and compassionate care to patients. The practice is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, including the practice's enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols, or to schedule an appointment, visit the practice website or call (770) 783-1446. About Affordable Dentures & Implants® Affordable Dentures & Implants practices make tooth replacement affordable for everyone. Founded in 1975 in Kinston, North Carolina, Affordable Dentures & Implant practices form the largest network of dental providers in the U.S., solely focused on tooth replacement solutions -- including dentures, dental implants, and fixed arch solutions -- with more than 400 locations across 42 states. The mission of Affordable Dentures & Implants practices is to provide a smile for every budget, delivered with compassion, dignity and respect. Visit affordabledentures.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. About Affordable Care Affordable Care is America's largest dental support organization exclusively focused on tooth replacement services. Our team proudly supports more than 400 affiliated dental practices, including Affordable Dentures & Implants, DDS Dentures + Implant Solutions and Advanced Dental Implant Center, in 42 states by providing innovative, non-clinical business and administrative support services to assist affiliated dental practices in providing their patients with access to high-quality, affordable tooth replacement solutions. More than 8 million patients have received care at an Affordable Care-supported dental practice. Visit affordablecare.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Affordable Care
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/grand-opening-affordable-dentures-amp-implants-stone-mountain-georgia-enhances-patient-access-high-quality-affordable-dental-care/
2022-06-30T14:15:19Z
Hours after gunfire interrupted the Highland Park, Illinois, July Fourth parade, killing six people and wounding dozens more, police apprehended the man they believe was responsible. Robert "Bobby" E. Crimo III, 22, has yet to be formally charged in the shooting, which authorities have said they believe he carried out by climbing onto the rooftop of a nearby business and opening fire on the parade minutes after it started, sending parade-goers fleeing for safety. He was taken into custody soon after police publicly identified him as a "person of interest" who the FBI said was "being sought for his alleged involvement in the shooting of multiple individuals" at Highland Park's Independence Day parade. Police captured him near Lake Forest, Illinois, after he led police on a brief chase when a North Chicago police officer attempted a traffic stop. After he was apprehended, authorities also referred to Crimo as a "suspect," a term which, in this case, was "synonymous" with "person of interest," Christopher Covelli, spokesperson for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force, said. Law enforcement officials "processed a significant amount of digital evidence today which helped lead investigators in this direction," he said. "This individual is believed to have been responsible for what happened and the investigation will continue," Covelli said. Here's what we know about him. He legally obtained the weapon used, mayor tells NBC While Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering doesn't know where the gun used in Monday's shooting came from, she does "know that it was legally obtained," she said in an interview with NBC's Hoda Kotb on "Today." Covelli previously said firearm evidence was found on the rooftop of a business near the shooting, describing the gun as a "high-powered rifle." At the time, authorities were working to trace the firearm to find out who purchased it and its origins, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives spokesperson Kim Nerheim. A total of 26 patients -- who range in age from 8 to 85 -- were received at Highland Park Hospital, said Dr. Brigham Temple, medical director of the NorthShore University Health System. Four or five patients were children, Temple said. Nineteen of the 25 gunshot victims were treated and have been discharged, he said. He posted violent imagery online Authorities have "processed a significant amount of digital evidence" that helped lead them to identify Crimo as a suspect, Covelli told reporters in a news conference Monday night. The suspected shooter posted music on several major streaming platforms under the pseudonym Awake the Rapper, and he apparently made and posted music videos online featuring ominous lyrics and animated scenes of gun violence. In one video titled "Are you Awake," a cartoon animation of a stick-figure shooter resembling the suspect's appearance is seen wearing tactical gear and carrying out an attack with a rifle. Crimo, seen with multicolored hair and face tattoos, narrates, "I need to just do it. It is my destiny." In another video titled "Toy Soldier, a similar stick-figure resembling the suspect is depicted lying face down on the floor in a pool of his own blood, surrounded by police officers with their guns drawn. Several of the suspect's online postings "reflected a plan and a desire to commit carnage for a long time in advance," Mayor Rotering told NBC Tuesday. "And it's one of those things where you step back and you say, what happened? How did somebody become this angry and hateful," she said, "to then take it out on innocent people who literally were just having a family day out?" His uncle saw no warning signs The suspect's uncle, Paul A. Crimo, was "heartbroken" to learn his nephew was believed to be responsible for Monday's shooting, telling CNN," There were no signs that I saw that would make him do this." The suspect lived in an apartment behind a house in Highwood, Illinois, owned by his father, said Paul Crimo, he also lives there. He last saw his nephew Sunday evening, he said, sitting on a recliner in the house and looking on his computer. "Everything was as normal," he said. To his knowledge, Crimo did not have a job, Paul Crimo told CNN, though he worked at Panera Bread before the Covid-19 pandemic. Paul Crimo said he had never seen the suspect engage in violence or concerning behavior. He didn't know of his nephew's political views, either, describing him as a "quiet" person. "He's usually on his own. He's a lonely, quiet person. He keeps everything to himself." The suspect's father and Paul Crimo's brother, Robert Crimo Jr., previously ran for mayor, he said. "We are good people here, and to have this is devastating." "I'm so heartbroken for all the families who lost their lives," Paul Crimo said. The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
https://www.albanyherald.com/news/what-we-know-about-the-highland-park-shooting-suspect/article_c4aac356-c62b-5807-833c-bc09a9c41584.html
2022-07-05T13:49:51Z
PORT ARANSAS, Texas (KXAN) — Their origins unknown, barnacle-covered dolls continue to appear along the Texas shores at Port Aransas, and researchers there are documenting it for all to see. The first doll washed ashore in January 2021, dubbed by the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve as “the craziest beach find of all time.” And yet, the craziness has continued. Researchers told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram approximately 30 dolls have been collected in over a year. The dolls arrive covered in barnacles, missing limbs and some stained green by algae. While crews are stationed along Port Aransas specifically for research on coastal ecosystems, the dolls have added a bit of levity — and mystery — to their work, Mission-Aransas Reserve Director Jace Tunnell told the Star-Telegram. “Every day is something new,” he said. “Just when you think you’ve found everything that could possibly wash up on shore, something else comes up.” Texas beaches are often scattered with seaweed and jellyfish – and litter – because of the way the currents flow in the Gulf of Mexico, explains Texas Aquatic Science. Gulf currents move toward Texas shores from both the north and south, bringing with them anything that gets dumped in the water. The trash could be coming from Mexico, any of the Gulf states, or it could have fallen off a ship out at sea. The Mission-Aransas Reserve has been posting its beachcombing finds on its Facebook page. It’s not just creepy dolls that wash up – the group has found a message in a bottle, scientific instruments and a decoy duck in recent weeks.
https://cw33.com/news/barnacle-covered-dolls-wash-up-on-texas-beaches/
2022-05-02T14:40:51Z
NEW ORLEANS, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As a follow-up to previous successful real estate auctions conducted by the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), the agency will be conducting its next online-only auction sale of 25± commercial lots and 90± residential lots and structures located throughout New Orleans. Properties are subject to a minimum bid price of $4,000-$5,000 per property. For the commercial lots available, bidding for this online auction will commence at 8:00 a.m. (CT) on Monday, August 22, 2022, and conclude between 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Tuesday, August 23, 2022. For the residential offerings available, bidding for this online auction will commence at 8:00 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, and conclude between 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CT) on Thursday, August 25, 2022. The auctioneer is Hilco Real Estate, LLC, in conjunction with licensed Louisiana broker and auctioneer Paul A. Lynn, CCIM. "As with our previous auctions, we are continuing to receive hundreds of inquiries. We are excited to make available this next pool of properties through this online auction event. This is the first time we are able to offer commercial parcels as part of our ongoing auction program," said Brenda Breaux, NORA's executive director. "During the previous auction events, home buyers and developers were able to establish their own purchase price through the competitive bidding process. Buyers felt they were able to obtain properties in various neighborhoods throughout New Orleans at fair prices. For this auction we will also be offering 25± Commercial sites," stated Fernando Palacios, managing director with Hilco Real Estate. The properties are being sold on an "as-is, where-is" basis. Winning bidders are required to complete rehabilitation or construction on the properties within 365 days from the date of closing for the residential sites and 545 days (18 months) from the date of closing for the commercial sites and keep such properties code compliant immediately after closing through completion of the rehabilitation or construction. Bidders for the residential sites may use the property for green space if their property is directly adjacent to the property acquired at the auction. There are four structures that will be open before the auction for inspection on Thursday, August 11, 2022. When inspecting the properties, prospective buyers should bring a flashlight and dress appropriately, anticipating a property that will not have any power and could be in poor physical condition. Closing is required within 30 calendar days after the auction and financing will not be a contingency, so buyers will need to know they can close on their purchase within the required timeframe and have available pre-approval for their own personal financing. Buyers must obtain and maintain flood insurance, for any structures, as a condition of closing. There will be a virtual buyer's seminar on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at 6:00 p.m. Visit hilcorealestate.com/NORA for additional details to follow. For more information about this NORA auction and to register, please contact Fernando Palacios at (504) 233-0063 or visit www.hilcorealestate.com/NORA. The terms and conditions set forth herein are for informational purposes only and shall not be deemed to be and are not intended to be a comprehensive or complete listing of the applicable terms and conditions. All potential buyers should read carefully the terms and conditions of the auction and sale set forth at www.hilcorealestate.com/NORA. The terms and conditions set forth at www.hilcorealestate.com/NORA shall govern and shall supersede any terms and conditions set forth herein. About Hilco Real Estate: Hilco Real Estate advises and executes strategies to help both healthy and distressed clients maximize the value of their real estate assets. HRE's extensive property valuation knowledge, lease renegotiation experience and innovative sales strategies are leveraged by substantial access to capital, a vast network of tenants/landlords and motivated buyers/sellers. Services include real estate lease repositioning and advisory solutions; extensive real estate disposition services through an expert brokerage team as well as high-performance accelerated property auctions-live, online, sealed bid; a sale/leaseback advisory practice with unique deal structuring; and, real estate investments including acquisition deals for vacant, value-add, or stable income-producing properties as well as joint venture transactions. Hilco Real Estate is part of Northbrook, Illinois based Hilco Global, the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates more than twenty specialized business units offering services that include asset valuation and appraisal, retail and industrial inventory acquisition and disposition, real estate, and strategic capital equity investments. Follow Hilco Real Estate on social media for the latest news and opportunities: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hilco-real-estate Twitter: https://twitter.com/hilcorealestate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HilcoRealEstate View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hilco Real Estate
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/hilco-real-estate-announces-online-only-auction-25-commercial-amp-90-residential-properties-throughout-new-orleans-behalf-new-orleans-redevelopment-authority/
2022-07-26T12:20:20Z
OSLO, Norway, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANOV) ("Nordic Nanovector" or the "Company") today announces that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has appointed Carnegie Investment Bank ("Carnegie") to explore strategic options available to the Company. The Board has initiated this review aiming to optimise shareholder value following its recent decision to discontinue the PARADIGME study for Nordic Nanovector's lead asset Betalutin® and implement a restructuring of the Company. Chairman, Jan H. Egberts commented: "The decision to discontinue the PARADIGME study was extremely disappointing. As a result, we are now focused on achieving an outcome for the Company that creates maximum value for shareholders. We believe this should include exploring all strategic options and, as a leading financial advisor in the Nordic region, Carnegie is strongly positioned to help us achieve the best possible outcome for our shareholders and other stakeholders." No assurances can be given as to the outcome or timing of the review process. Nordic Nanovector does not intend to make any further public comment regarding the review until it has been completed or the Company determines that disclosure is required or appropriate. Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS is acting as Nordic Nanovector's legal advisor. For further information, please contact: IR enquiries Jan H. Egberts, Chairman of Nordic Nanovector Tel: +31 614672518 Email: janegberts@aol.com Media Enquiries Mark Swallow/Frazer Hall (MEDiSTRAVA Consulting) Tel: +44 203 928 6900 Email: nordicnanovector@medistrava.com About Nordic Nanovector: Nordic Nanovector is committed to develop and deliver innovative therapies to patients to address major unmet medical needs and advance cancer care. The Company aspires to become a leader in radionuclide therapy of cancer. In addition to Betalutin®, for which Nordic Nanovector retains global marketing rights, the Company's novel pipeline includes Humalutin®, a radioimmunotherapy candidate based on a chimeric anti-CD37 antibody and the beta emitter lutetium-177 for NHL; Alpha37, a based on a chimeric anti-CD37 antibody and the alpha emitting radionuclide lead-212, currently being explored with partner Oranomed for relapsed refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia; a portfolio of fully humanized anti-CD37 antibodies with potential in haematological cancers and autoimmune diseases; and a CD37 DOTA CAR-T cell opportunity in haematological cancers, which is the subject of a research collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania. Further information can be found at www.nordicnanovector.com. This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange announcement was published by Malene Brondberg, chief financial officer at Nordic Nanovector on 18 August 2022 at the CEST time stated in this announcement on behalf of the Nordic Nanovector. Forward-looking statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to inter alia to the business and strategies, financial performance and results of the Company. Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances and results and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are based on Nordic Nanovector's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release, including assumptions, opinions and views of Nordic Nanovector or cited from third party sources, are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and events to be materially different from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. Nordic Nanovector cannot provide any assurance that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of opinions expressed in this release or the actual occurrence of any forecasted developments. Nordic Nanovector disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The terms "anticipates", "assumes", "believes", "can", "could", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "may", "might", "plans", "should", "projects", "targets", "will", "would" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology are used to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, risks associated with implementation of Nordic Nanovector's strategy, risks and uncertainties associated with the development and/or approval of Nordic Nanovector's product candidates, ongoing and future clinical trials and expected trial results technology changes and new products in Nordic Nanovector's potential market and industry, Nordic Nanovector's freedom to operate (competitors patents) in respect of the products it develops, the ability to develop new products and enhance existing products, the impact of competition, changes in general economy and industry conditions, and legislative, regulatory and political factors. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com SOURCE Nordic Nanovector View original content: SOURCE Nordic Nanovector
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/nordic-nanovector-explore-strategic-options/
2022-08-18T19:28:33Z
NEW YORK, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM") (NYSE: IBM) shareholders: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors who purchased between April 4, 2017 and October 20, 2021. If you suffered a loss on your investment in IBM, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you. https://www.wongesq.com/pslra-1/international-business-machines-corporation-loss-submission- form?prid=26226&wire=4 ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against IBM includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Strategic Imperatives Revenue and growth, CAMSS and CAMSS Components' revenue and growth, and the Company's Segments' revenue and growth were artificially inflated as a result of the wrongful reclassification of revenues from non-strategic to strategic to make those revenues eligible for treatment as Strategic Imperatives Revenue; (ii) the Company's present success and positive future growth prospects concerning its Strategic Imperative business strategy were being fueled by the wrongful reclassification of revenues from non-strategic to strategic to make those revenues eligible for treatment as Strategic Imperative Revenue and, as a result (iii) the Company misled the market by portraying the Company's Strategic Imperative's financial performance and future prospects more favorable than they actually were as a result of the wrongful reclassification of revenues from non-strategic to strategic to make those revenues eligible for treatment as Strategic Imperatives. DEADLINE: June 6, 2022 Aggrieved IBM investors only have until June 6, 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 View original content: SOURCE The Law Offices of Vincent Wong
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-ibm-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-june-6-2022/
2022-04-25T10:25:13Z
HYDERABAD, India, May 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV: GPV) ("GreenPower"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of zero-emission, electric-powered, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, announces that through its wholly owned subsidiary EA Green-Power Pvt Ltd. has entered into a joint venture with the Jupiter Wagon Group ("Jupiter") to bring select GreenPower all-electric vehicles to the Indian market. Jupiter is a premier manufacturer of railway wagons, passenger coaches, wagon components and castings in India with customers such as the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Shipping, Tata Motors, VOLVO Eicher Motors, Bharat Benz and Avia Motors. Jupiter owns manufacturing facilities across India. "GreenPower has joined forces with Jupiter Wagon Group to bring GreenPower's EV Star CC to the Indian Market," stated Brendan Riley, GreenPower President. "We are excited to work with Jupiter to conform (homologate) a right-hand-drive version of the vehicle that is already proven and popular in North America. Both GreenPower and Jupiter believe that this zero-emission, battery electric platform is exactly what is needed for India to both provide a clean air solution and a cost-effective way to move people and goods. This collaboration leverages the proven EV prowess of GreenPower and the manufacturing and distribution strength of JWL." GreenPower's EV Star Cab and Chassis Right Hand Drive (EV Star CC RHD) is a purpose-built multi-utility zero-emissions vehicle with a standard battery pack of 62.5 kWh providing a payload of 4,095 kilograms with a range of 150 kilometers or an optional battery pack of 118 kWh providing a payload of 3,675 kilograms with a range of 250 kilometers. GreenPower's EV Star Cab and Chassis accommodates a wide variety of mid and last-mile delivery needs while maintaining the benefits of being a zero-emission vehicle. Priyankar Balekai, Vice President, Global Trucks for Greenpower stated, "We've recently opened our office in Hyderabad and are excited to be working with Jupiter to demonstrate the EV Star CC RHD to the Indian market, which is an untapped market for medium and heavy duty all-electric vehicles." Contacts Brendan Riley President (510) 910-3377 Priyankar Balekai Vice President, Global Trucks +91 845-100-1161 Mike Cole Investor Relations (949) 444-1341 Megan Kathman Skyya PR for GreenPower (651) 785-3212 megan@skyya.com About GreenPower Motor Company Inc. GreenPower designs, builds and distributes a full suite of high-floor and low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo van, and a cab and chassis. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design to manufacture all-electric vehicles that are purpose built to be battery powered with zero emissions while integrating global suppliers for key components. This OEM platform allows GreenPower to meet the specifications of various operators while providing standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for warranty requirements. GreenPower was founded in Vancouver, Canada with primary operational facilities in southern California. Listed on the Toronto exchange since November 2015, GreenPower completed its U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing in August 2020. For further information go to www.greenpowermotor.com Forward-Looking Statements This document contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other things, GreenPower's business and operations and the environment in which it operates, which are based on GreenPower's operations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "upon", "may", "should", "will", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or are beyond GreenPower's control. A number of important factors, including those set forth in other public filings (filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com), could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Consequently, readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to the date on which they are made. GreenPower disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. © 2022 GreenPower Motor Company Inc. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE GreenPower Motor Company
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/23/greenpower-enters-into-joint-venture-with-jupiter-group-india-market-right-hand-drive-ev-star-cab-chassis/
2022-05-23T22:59:34Z
To retain top creative talent in a culture craving stability over spirituality, companies need to commit to fixing the basics and enable every day flow CANNES, France, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TBWA\Worldwide has today released a global study on the Future of Creative Work, revealing how creative talent feels about the state of the workplace, and what companies can do to make it better for employees. Compared with the general employee benchmark, creative talent are significantly less likely to be satisfied with their work/life balance (55%, compared to a 64% global benchmark), and more likely to feel burned out or discouraged a lot of the time. In a culture where boundaries, mental health and stability are the most important values, the time has come for change. Analyzing data from three different global sources—a proprietary TBWA global quantitative study which surveyed employees at creative companies as well as a general employee sample; syndicated resources such as Forrester and HBR, and by scraping content from employee review sites—the study seeks to uncover just how much the culture of creative work had changed since the workism-fueled 2010s. "Creativity has the ability to move the world forward," said Ben Williams, TBWA's Global Chief Creative Experience officer, who co-led the study with Agathe Guerrier, the agency's Global Chief Strategy Officer. "But for agencies and creative companies to be leading this progress, our work cultures need to evolve, quickly." Added Guerrier, "As an industry, we have a tendency to use creativity as an excuse, as if working in a creative field was reward enough to forego such mundane notions as annual reviews, career paths, functioning processes and fair pay. The findings of the research should act as a wake-up call. Our talent is asking us to respect their time and mental space, to provide financial stability, and to deliver a better daily experience of creative work." The full report is available now, and highlights include: We are entering a new era when it comes to the culture of work. To put this research into context, the study looked at relevant Edges–TBWA's term for a meaningful cultural shift. The top three Edges that resonated the most in the study across the general sample of all employees, not just creative, all showed work being put firmly back in its place. - Work/ Life Boundaries, 80% respondents agree/ strongly agree it is important their employer helps them achieve a good balance between personal and professional life. - Stability Pursuit, 79% respondents strongly agree it is important their employer helps them maintain stability in their work-life so they can confidently plan for the personal milestones they care about. What's even more surprising is that stability is most important to the youngest employees: 69% strongly agree among 18-25s, versus 51% among 41-55s. - Mind Maintenance, 77% respondents agree/ strongly agree it is important their employer helps them care for their mental health by avoiding unnecessary pressures or stress, and proactively supports their emotional wellbeing. The cultural value that mattered the least out of the nine measured among all respondents, creative and the general sample, was Activist Awakening–the idea that work should align with a person's values or causes they care about. The findings show that creative talent has stronger demands of their employers than the general population sample. ● Work/Life Balance, 63% of creatives strongly agree it is important that their employer help them achieve a healthy balance vs 44% general population sample. ● Stability Pursuit, 59% of creatives strongly agree vs 38% general population sample. ● Mind Maintenance, 58% of creatives strongly agree vs 42% general population sample. While creative companies earn high marks for placing a high value on creativity (81% vs a 51% global benchmark), as well as building cultures where employees feel respected by their coworkers (86%) and receive praise and recognition for their work (71%), they are falling short on the day-to-day employee experience. Creatives are 2x more likely to say things like approvals and authorizations, day to day schedule and task management and daily commutes degrade their work experience than the global benchmark. Williams notes "The biggest problem is with the day-to-day experience of creative work–the pain points and daily grind standing in the way of flow. We're seeing talent increasingly ask for their boundaries to be respected, help achieving their goals and support with their mental wellbeing. They know what they want, and we need to be giving it to them." The findings point to some actionable changes all creative companies can make. #1 Creativity cannot thrive without daily process and structure. Creative industries are not delivering on the functions of daily work–the approvals and processes and operational burdens that get in the way of getting down to work. How can we improve the daily experience of work to enable more creative flow? As one example, TBWA is looking at different business models to incentivize faster, smarter and more efficient ways of working. #2 Talent wants work to stay in its lane. While we used to think talent wanted work and life to blend, it's clear they want boundaries. How can we better protect talent's boundaries, or at least recognize when we overstep, especially when the physical boundaries of life and work are blurrier than ever with remote work? #3 Stability matters more than spirituality. Where we thought talent yearned for an employer who aligned with their high-level values and worldview, we're discovering their expectations are more pragmatic. Companies can focus on the fundamentals, from annual reviews to growth plans to compensation, and gain more satisfaction than offering quick fixes. TBWA agencies including Shanghai, New York and others have invested in transparent career planning and professional development plans to give clearer career direction to talent. TBWA is in the initial stages of a long term investment in employee experience, exploring more efficient models and ways of working and applying learnings to the company's operations. Anyone interested in advancing the Future of Creative Work agenda can contribute comments and ideas directly in the report. TBWA conducted a proprietary survey by TBWA fielded May 2022; representative sample of populations in the United States (n=665), United Kingdom (n=559), Australia (n=441), South Africa (n=466), and Singapore (n=408), followed by voluntary survey of creative marketing professionals in 40+ countries in May 2022 (n=567). The survey analyzed attitudes at three levels: - Cultural attitudes - Engagement drivers - Employee experience In addition, desk research was conducted via Forrester EX research, HBR and other industry papers (specific to creative industries and more general EX). Furthermore, TBWA conducted a machine scrape of 68,000 employee reviews of leading creative services firms and marketers at the world's largest brands (Indeed, Glassdoor, US and Canada). TBWA is The Disruption® Company. We use creativity to help businesses challenge the status quo and capture an unfair share of the future. Named one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019, and Adweek's 2021 Global Agency of the Year, we are a disruptive brand experience company that uses trademarked Disruption® methodologies to help businesses address their challenges and achieve transformative growth. Our collective has 10,000+ creative minds in 41 countries, and also includes brands such as Auditoire, Digital Arts Network (DAN), eg+ worldwide, GMR, The Integer Group®, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, TBWA\WorldHealth and TRO. Global clients include adidas, Apple, Gatorade, Henkel, Hilton Hotels, McDonald's, Nissan and Singapore Airlines. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. TBWA is part of Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC). View original content: SOURCE TBWA\Worldwide
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/tbwa-unveils-future-creative-work-research-cannes-lions-festival-creativity/
2022-06-20T20:16:30Z
The non-medical home care franchise's CEO, Jeff Salter, will discuss how innovation can improve the way home care workers care for seniors and the disabled SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Caring Senior Service, a non-medical home care franchise, announced today that CEO and founder Jeff Salter is scheduled to discuss how innovation can improve the home care industry at the Texas Association for Home Care and Hospice's (TAHCH) 53rd Annual Meeting later this month and at the National Association for Home Care and Hospice's (NAHC) Annual Conference and Expo in October. "While it seems that non-medical home care has changed very little over the past few years, the fact is that innovation in the industry is coming and should be met with open arms," Salter said. "Technical advances in how we communicate with family members, how we physically care for clients, and how we interact with a client's own medical devices are something our workforce and our care management teams need to be trained to manage." Salter is slated to share key methods on how Caring Senior Service has evolved to meet today's challenges and what the industry will need to be competitive in the future. In his address titled, "The Home Care Industry Needs a Revolution," Salter will discuss some of the technologies and advancements home care companies should expect to see in the coming years. Caring Senior Service already uses a proprietary tablet-based software called Tendio® to assist franchisees in operating their locations. This software offers a family/caregiver portal, real-time video conferencing, caregiver tracking, electronic timesheets and a messaging center. The home care company credits Tendio® with improving workflows and enhancing service delivery. Salter is scheduled to speak at 11:15 a.m. on Aug. 31 at the three-day TAHCH conference in Round Rock, Texas. For more information, visit https://www.tahchannualmeeting.com/. The NAHC Annual Conference and Expo, which will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, will feature Salter's session on Oct. 25 from 11 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit https://www.nahc.org/. Caring Senior Service is a non-medical home care services company based in San Antonio, Texas. Founded by CEO Jeff Salter in 1991, the company provides assistance to seniors, the disabled population and any adult who may need help with the tasks of everyday living such as bathing, running errands and preparing food. After adding locations throughout Texas in the 1990s, the company extended its reach through franchising in 2002. It now boasts more than 50 locations throughout the U.S. Its non-profit "Close the Gap in Senior Care" began in 2021 to raise awareness of the overlooked and underserved aspects of senior care. This program was launched when Salter rode an electric bike more than 9,000 miles to each Caring Senior Service location nationwide to raise awareness of home modifications needed to avoid fall risks among the senior population. For more information on Caring Senior Service, please visit their website at https://www.caringseniorservice.com/. MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Ripley Ripley PR (865) 977-1973 hripley@ripleypr.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Caring Senior Service
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/caring-senior-service-founder-slated-speak-home-care-conferences/
2022-08-11T12:50:18Z
EPA: Chemical in medical-device cleanser poses cancer risk WASHINGTON (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency is warning residents who live near medical sterilizing plants in 13 states and Puerto Rico about potential health risks from emissions of ethylene oxide, a chemical widely used in their operations. Laredo, Texas; Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Lakewood, Colorado, are among the communities facing the highest risk from ethylene oxide emissions, EPA said. The agency has notified 23 commercial sterilizers - 19 in the continental U.S. and four in Puerto Rico - that their operations pose an elevated risk of cancer and other ailments. The notice follows a recent survey of emissions data from almost 100 commercial sterilizers nationwide. Ethylene oxide is used to clean everything from catheters to syringes, pacemakers and plastic surgical gowns. While short-term or infrequent exposure to ethylene oxide does not appear to pose a health risk, EPA said long-term or lifetime exposure to the chemical could lead to a variety of health impacts, including lymphoma and breast cancer. EPA said it is working with commercial sterilizers to take appropriate steps to reduce emissions. “Today, EPA is taking action to ensure communities are informed and engaged in our efforts to address ethylene oxide, a potent air toxic posing serious health risks with long-term exposure,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement Wednesday. EPA will conduct public outreach campaigns in each of the communities where elevated risks have been found, including an Aug. 10 webinar. More than half the sites on EPA’s watch list are in predominantly minority or low-income communities. Laredo, one of the communities targeted by the EPA notice, is a border city where the vast majority of residents are Latino and more than a quarter live in poverty. Missouri-based Midwest Sterilization Corp. operates a sterilization plant in Laredo. The company also owns a plant in Jackson, Missouri that is on EPA’s watch list. More than 40% of Laredo’s nearly 70,000 schoolchildren attend campuses in areas with an elevated risk of cancer due to ethylene oxide emissions from the Midwest plant, according to an analysis by ProPublica and the Texas Tribune. A spokesperson for Midwest declined immediate comment. But the company told ProPublica and the Tribune last December that cancer risk from its Laredo plant is overstated. Emissions it reported to the EPA are “worst case scenarios,” rather than specific pollution levels, the company said. The Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Association, an industry group, said in a statement that ethylene oxide has been used for decades by the health care community to sterilize a wide variety of medical devices and equipment. More than 20 billion health care products are sterilized each year in the U.S. alone. In many cases, there are no practical alternatives currently available to ethylene oxide, the group said, adding that use of less effective cleaning methods “could introduce the real risks of increased morbidity and mortality’' at hospitals throughout the country. EPA called medical sterilization “a critical function that ensures a safe supply of medical devices for patients and hospitals.’’ The agency said it is committed to addressing pollution concerns associated with EO, sometimes called EtO, “in a comprehensive way that ensures facilities can operate safely in communities while also providing sterilized medical supplies.’’ Proposed rules to update control of air toxic emissions from commercial sterilizers and facilities that manufacture EtO are expected by the end of the year, with final rules likely next year, EPA said. Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, another industry group, applauded EPA “for its forthrightness about what it does and doesn’t know” about EtO, but added: “It is critical that the EPA get this right.″ A potential shutdown of medical-device sterilization facilities “due to misinformed political pressure, as well as uncertainty regarding which regulations the facilities must adhere to .... would be disastrous to public health,″ Whitaker said in an email. At least seven sterilizers on EPA’s watch list are AdvaMed members, including both Midwest plants and two owned by industry giant Becton, Dickinson and Co., also known as BD. Besides medical cleansers, EtO is used in a range of products, including antifreeze, textiles, plastics, detergents and adhesives. It also used to decontaminate some food products and spices. Two of the 23 facilities targeted by EPA - in Hanover and Jessup, Maryland - are used to sterilize spices. Both are operated by Jessup-based Elite Spice. Other commercial sterilizers cited by EPA are located in Groveland, Fla.; Salisbury, Md.; Taunton, Mass.; Columbus, Nebraska; Linden and Franklin, New Jersey; Erie and Zelienople, Pa.; Memphis and New Tazewell, Tenn.; Athens, Texas; Sandy, Utah; and Richmond, Virginia; Four plants are Puerto Rico: Anasco, Fajardo, Salinas and Villalba. EPA’s announcement shines a light on health threats that sterilizer facilities pose to millions of Americans, said Raul Garcia of the environmental group Earthjustice. “Now that EPA has new information on precisely where the worst health threats are, the agency must use its full authority to ... require fenceline monitoring at these facilities (and) issue a strong new rule,’’ he said. “No one should get cancer from facilities that are used to sterilize equipment in the treatment of cancer.” Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/03/epa-chemical-medical-device-cleanser-poses-cancer-risk-2/
2022-08-03T22:13:25Z
-- Completed upsized follow-on offering of common stock, raising $128.8 million in gross proceeds including full exercise of underwriters' option to purchase additional shares -- -- Presented continued robust long-term responses from its CART-ddBCMA Phase 1 expansion trial being evaluated in patients with r/r MM at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting -- -- Preclinical results from CART-ddBCMA published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics -- REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACLX), a biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy through the development of innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases, today reported business highlights and financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. "We are excited about the rapid progress we've made since becoming a public company in February of this year," said Rami Elghandour, Arcellx's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In the second quarter, we achieved meaningful milestones with the presentation of new clinical data for our lead product candidate, CART-ddBCMA, during an oral presentation at ASCO; strengthened our balance sheet with a successful follow-on offering, raising gross proceeds of $128.8 million; dosed our first patient in ACLX-001, our Phase 1 study utilizing our Arc-SparX technology; and expanded our management team and Board of Directors with exceptional professionals adding to the diversity of our team. In the second half of this year, we look forward to presenting an encore presentation of our CART-ddBCMA Phase 1 study at ESMO, initiating our Phase 2 pivotal CART-ddBCMA (iMMagine) trial in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM), presenting longer-term patient data from our Phase 1 CART-ddBCMA expansion trial in r/r MM, and initiating our Phase 1 ARC-SparX clinical trial of ACLX-002 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. We're committed to establishing Arcellx as a leading cell therapy organization by continuing to scale our business, advancing our novel platform to help as many patients as possible, and attracting and retaining exceptional talent." Completed upsized public offering of common stock and underwriters' full exercise of option to purchase additional shares. On June 21, 2022, Arcellx announced the closing of its upsized public offering of 8,050,000 shares of common stock, which included the full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase an additional 1,050,000 shares of common stock, at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. The aggregate gross proceeds raised in the offering were $128.8 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, payable by Arcellx. All shares in the offering were offered by Arcellx. Appointed Maryam Abdul-Kareem as General Counsel. On June 21, 2022, Arcellx appointed Maryam Abdul-Kareem as General Counsel. Ms. Abdul-Kareem brings extensive legal and business expertise in the biopharmaceutical industry, including serving in senior positions at Kinnate Biopharma and AstraZeneca. At Arcellx, she will oversee a broad spectrum of legal, contracts, and compliance matters. Presented continued robust long-term responses from lead product candidate, CART-ddBCMA, being evaluated in a Phase 1 expansion trial in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting. On June 3, 2022, Arcellx presented new clinical data from its ongoing Phase 1 expansion study of its novel, autologous, CART-ddBCMA therapy for the treatment of patients with r/r MM during an oral presentation at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. The data demonstrated 100% ORR; deep and durable responses were observed in patients with poor prognostic factors. Overall, 22 of 31 (71%) evaluable patients reached CR/sCR. Of the 16 patients who have had their 12-month follow-up visit, including 8 patients (50%) who had EMD, 13 (81%) have reached CR/sCR and 9 patients (56%) remaining in ongoing response with a median follow up of 17.7 months. No cases of Grade ≥3 CRS and no delayed neurotoxicity or parkinsonian-like events were observed at the recommended Phase 2 dose of 100 million CAR+ cells (n=25). Preclinical results from CART-ddBCMA published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. In June 2022, Arcellx's preclinical results for its CART-ddBCMA candidate were published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics in an article entitled, "Preclinical efficacy of BCMA-directed CAR T cells incorporating a novel D Domain antigen recognition domain." This report demonstrated that ddBCMA CAR T cells cocultured with BCMA-positive cell lines showed highly potent, dose-dependent in vitro measures of cytotoxicity, cytokine production, T-cell degranulation, and T-cell proliferation as well as in vivo tumor suppression in three disseminated BCMA-expressing tumor models. The full online publication can be accessed here. Appointed Michelle Gilson as Chief Financial Officer. On May 23, 2022, Arcellx announced the appointment of Michelle Gilson as Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Gilson joins Arcellx from Canaccord Genuity, where most recently she served as Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst covering biotechnology companies. Ms. Gilson will oversee the company's finance function and will play a key role in overall corporate strategy. Expanded Board of Directors with the appointment of Olivia Ware. On May 16, 2022, Arcellx expanded its Board of Directors with the appointment of Olivia Ware. Ms. Ware, a successful executive, brings a wealth of knowledge with more than 20 years of experience in biotech and pharmaceutical drug development, commercialization, and healthcare management. Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities: As of June 30, 2022, Arcellx had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $307.0 million, which is anticipated to fund its operations for at least the next twelve months. R&D expenses: Research and development expenses were $23.4 million and $12.6 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, an increase of $10.8 million. This increase was driven by higher external costs associated with the advancement of our CART-ddBCMA clinical program, preclinical development of our other pipeline candidates, and increased headcount. G&A expenses: General and administrative expenses were $9.2 million and $3.3 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, an increase of $5.9 million. This increase was driven by increased headcount, and costs to operate as a public company during the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the same period in 2021, including professional fees related to consulting and accounting, audit and legal services. Net loss: Net loss was $32.1 million and $15.9 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Arcellx, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company reimagining cell therapy by engineering innovative immunotherapies for patients with cancer and other incurable diseases. Arcellx believes that cell therapies are one of the forward pillars of medicine and Arcellx's mission is to advance humanity by developing cell therapies that are safer, more effective, and more broadly accessible. Arcellx's lead product candidate, CART-ddBCMA, is being developed for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (r/r MM) in an ongoing Phase 1 study. CART-ddBCMA has been granted Fast Track, Orphan Drug, and Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arcellx is also advancing its dosable and controllable CAR-T therapy, ARC-SparX, through two programs: a Phase 1 study of ACLX-001 for r/r MM, initiated in the second quarter of 2022; and ACLX-002 in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, expected to enter the clinic in the second half of 2022. Visit www.arcellx.com for more information. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains 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. All statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including Arcellx's expectations regarding the timing and outcomes of clinical trials for its product candidates and publication of related data, the potential impact of its product candidates and platforms on patients and cell therapy, the timing of achievement of its milestones, its ability to fund operations, and the sufficiency of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon Arcellx's current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. These forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including risks that may be found in the section entitled Part II, Item 1A (Risk Factors) in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents that Arcellx files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Arcellx assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Investor Contact: Myesha Lacy Arcellx, Inc. ir@arcellx.com 510-418-2412 Media Contact: Andrea Cohen Sam Brown Inc. andreacohen@sambrown.com 917-209-7163 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Arcellx, Inc
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/arcellx-provides-business-highlights-reports-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/
2022-08-15T20:24:05Z
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabre Corporation ("Sabre") (Nasdaq: SABR) today announced a refinancing of a portion of its existing indebtedness. Sabre incurred no additional indebtedness as a result of the refinancing above the refinanced amount, other than amounts covering the original issue discount (OID), certain interest, fees and expenses. The refinancing has meaningfully improved Sabre's debt maturity profile. The refinancing included the application of the proceeds of a new $675 million term loan "B" facility (the "New Facility"), borrowed by its wholly-owned subsidiary Sabre GLBL Inc. ("Sabre GLBL") under its existing senior secured credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), with the effect of extending the maturity of approximately $647 million of the existing Term Loan B credit facility incurred prior to August 15, 2022 under the Credit Agreement. The New Facility matures on June 30, 2028 and offers Sabre the ability to prepay or repay the New Facility after 12 months or to prepay or repay at a 101 premium before that date. The interest rates on the New Facility will be based on Term SOFR, replacing LIBOR, plus an applicable margin. The New Facility is guaranteed by Sabre Holdings Corporation and each subsidiary of Sabre GLBL that guarantees the Credit Agreement. The New Facility and the guarantees thereof are secured, subject to permitted liens, by a first-priority security interest in the same collateral that secures Sabre GLBL's other senior secured indebtedness, which is substantially all present and hereafter acquired property and assets of Sabre GLBL and the guarantors (other than certain excluded assets). BofA Securities Inc. acted as lead left bookrunner, Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and PNC Capital Markets LLC acted as joint bookrunners and BofA Securities Inc. acted as sole lead arranger. Bank of America, N.A. is the administrative agent and the collateral agent for the Credit Agreement. About Sabre Corporation Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfillment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre's technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements herein are forward-looking statements about trends, future events, uncertainties and our plans and expectations of what may happen in the future. Any statements that are not historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "believe," "could," "likely," "expect," "plan," "commit," "guidance," "outlook," "anticipate," "will," "incremental," "preliminary," "forecast," "continue," "strategy," "confidence," "momentum," "estimate," "objective," "project," "may," "should," "would," "intend," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Sabre's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. More information about potential risks and uncertainties that could affect our business and results of operations is included in the "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" sections in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 2, 2022, our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 18, 2022 and in our other filings with the SEC. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events, outlook, guidance, results, actions, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Unless required by law, Sabre undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events after the date they are made. SABR-F Contacts: Media Kristin Hays kristin.hays@sabre.com sabrenews@sabre.com Investors Kevin Crissey kevin.crissey@sabre.com sabre.investorrelations@sabre.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sabre Corporation
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/sabre-corporation-announces-refinancing-term-b-loans/
2022-08-15T22:51:03Z
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- USC Athletics and iTrustCapital have formed a partnership, making iTrustCapital the official crypto platform of the USC Trojans. As part of this sponsorship, iTrustCapital will have a strong presence through banners, on-site activations and additional advertisements for the football and basketball seasons. Additionally, custom signs will be displayed in and around the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the home of USC's football team, and the Galen Center, host to Trojan home basketball games. iTrustCapital will hold special fan-centric events and promotional activities both before and after many events throughout the football and basketball seasons. "The legacy and community of USC aligns with the values and mission of iTrustCapital. As pillars of Southern California culture, we're proud to work with USC and continually support its long-standing success, both on and off the field," said Trever Gregory, Chief Operating Officer of iTrustCapital. "By partnering with USC Athletics, iTrustCapital aims to empower all Trojans, current students and active alumni, with knowledge and experience in retirement savings and investment." "We are excited to welcome iTrustCapital as one of our newest partners," said USC Athletics Director Mike Bohn. "In alignment with our vision to be the most student-athlete centered program in the country, we embrace creative, unique and modern opportunities to enhance the USC Athletics brand. iTrustCapital's attentiveness to community initiatives and supporting greater Southern California aligns with our vision and represents the foundation of this partnership. We are grateful to iTrustCapital for their commitment to our program, university and community." USC Athletics has an incredibly strong and recognizable heritage; Trojan teams have won an impressive 133 national championships, with a long-standing tradition of nurturing accomplished student-athletes. iTrustCapital has seen explosive growth since its founding in 2018, with more than 38,000 client-funded accounts since inception and recently surpassing $5.5 billion in total transaction volume. The business prides itself on an incredibly easy-to-use platform that eliminates intimidation and makes investing simple and safe. "The positive impact of cryptocurrency in sports business has been significant in a short time period," said Drew DeHart, vice president/general manager of USC Sports Properties. "The partnership with iTrustCapital gives Trojans access to information for those who are interested in learning more about cryptocurrency." Playfly Sports is a full-service sports marketing company operating where sports marketing, media & technology converge. Playfly Sports drives outcome-based solutions for brands reaching approximately 83% of all US sports fans generating over 230bn impressions each year in pro, college, and high school sports. Utilizing the influence and durability of local sports fandom, Playfly Sports exclusive rights in the NBA, NHL, MLB, NCAA, esports, and high school sectors drive value for our local, regional, and national brand partners. Playfly's insights-infused multimedia and tech platforms drive innovation through scaled linear, digital, in-venue, and experiential marketing and engagement assets. Playfly Sports has the unique ability to partner, innovate, and advance the aspirations of athletes, brands, academic institutions, and sports fans across the U.S. Playfly Sports is Igniting Brands through the Love of Fans. Visit Playfly Sports online at playfly.com and follow Playfly Sports on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook: @PlayflySports. www.playfly.com. iTrustCapital, named best Crypto IRA software platform* in America, allows clients to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with the tax advantages** of their IRA. iTrustCapital's revolutionary Fintech software platform eliminates the costly inefficiencies and outdated processes of previous IRA models, opening the door for investors to access various digital assets through their retirement accounts – at costs lower than other IRA companies. Headquartered in Irvine, CA, iTrustCapital was founded in 2018 by Todd Southwick and Blake Skadron. iTrustCapital's software platform is available to all qualified US-based investors (excluding NY and HI) and in connection with its partners currently provides access to 29 cryptocurrencies, as well as physical gold and silver. New assets are added frequently to meet demand. * Internet Marketing Association, Impact21 - Awards include Innovator of the Year and Best Crypto Investment Platform. ** Some taxes and conditions may apply. https://itrustcapital.com/legal-disclaimer iTrustCapital Contact: Kevin Maloney, MBA Investor Relations k.maloney@itrustcapital.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE iTrustCapital
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/usc-athletics-partners-with-itrustcapital-official-crypto-platform-usc-trojans/
2022-08-11T03:37:23Z
Former CEO Daniel Hernandez will assume role as Executive Chairman of the Board MIAMI, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Solis Health Plans, a 4-star Florida Medicare Advantage Plan, is pleased to announce the appointment of Efrain Duarte as CEO and Michael Lynch as COO. Former CEO Daniel Hernandez will assume the role of Executive Chairman of the Board with a focus on growth strategy. "Together with the board, we have worked on a growth and transition plan to take both the provider and payer side to the next level. We are pleased to welcome Efrain and Michael to Solis Health Plans and know that they will continue our mission to transform healthcare with Medicare Advantage solutions that are transparent, connected, and effective for our members and providers." says Executive Chairman of the Board, Daniel Hernandez. "I am excited to join Solis Health Plans and continue to expand the business, bringing value to both Members and Providers," says Efrain Duarte, CEO. Mr. Duarte is a distinguished Healthcare Executive and Medical Doctor with 13 years of leading healthcare organizations (Simply, Better Health, Clear Health Alliance, Amerigroup, and Health Sun) in driving cost-efficient results, statewide expansions, membership retention strategies, development of new product offerings and generating operational efficiencies. Mr. Lynch joins Solis Health Plans from Cano Health, bringing over 30 years of experience within the health insurance industry. Lynch was the finance lead for Humana's S.E. and headed up contracting for Humana's South Florida Market. Lynch served as VP of Network Administration for CarePlus' start-up operation and developed the business strategy that led to a $450 million sale within 2 years of start-up. Additionally, he worked with Vista and Summit Health Plans to implement approximately $20 million of cost-saving initiatives. Solis Health Plans uses innovative technology to simplify the process for providers by streamlining authorizations and payments. With this process, Providers are liberated from paperwork and can focus on providing the level of care and service that result in better outcomes for Solis Health Plans members. About Solis Health Plans Solis Health Plans is a community-focused Florida Medicare Advantage health plan delivering an outstanding member experience and exceptional service to its members, providers, and brokers. Solis offers competitive plans with expanded benefits in multiple counties. The company is locally based and self-identifies as the Un-Corporate Plan: personal as opposed to bureaucratic, innovative instead of risk-averse, and accountable rather than ambiguous. Solis Health Plans is committed to exceeding expectations and to being the plan of choice for the communities served, with the goal of achieving better healthcare outcomes. For more information on Solis Health Plans, please visit www.solishealthplans.com. Solis Health Plans is a 4-star, NCQA Accredited HMO with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Florida Medicaid Program for dually-eligible beneficiaries. Enrollment in Solis Health Plans depends on contract renewal. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Solis Health Plans, Inc.
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/solis-health-plans-its-board-directors-appoint-efrain-duarte-ceo-michael-lynch-coo/
2022-08-30T22:00:08Z
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Welcome to a Langkawi vacation wrapped in a breathtaking seafront setting like never before. The highly anticipated Five-Bedroom Imperial Villa at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi is now accepting reservations. Experience island living at its most luxurious from this palatial waterfront residence, framed by dramatic limestone cliffs and just steps from the Andaman Sea. A private entrance leads guests directly to their stylish home away from home, located on a secluded crescent of white sandy beach that sweeps down to meet the sea. Spread across 4810 sq. m. (51,774 sq. ft.) of indoor-outdoor space, with two private pools and five airy bedrooms arrayed across multiple pavilions, the Imperial Villa offers an exhilarating sense of space and possibility. Families and friends will find endless inspiration to re-connect and share special moments. Young adventurers can play in the pool or build sandcastles on the beach, while parents sip well-deserved cocktails in private cabanas set in the pool. Gather on the terrace for a breezy alfresco brunch, then bring in the sunset with champagne and canapés as you hear waves gently breaking on the shore. For an infinitely memorable evening, the Resort team can arrange a private barbecue on the beach. Meet local fisherman Pak Din as he brings his boat ashore just outside the villa, allowing guests to select from the freshest local lobster and fish from the Andaman Sea. Grill the catch under a canopy of stars, enveloped by the warmth of loved ones and caring Four Seasons service. For the kid in all of us, finish the evening with s'mores while sharing stories around a crackling bonfire, making memories to last a lifetime. Round-the-clock butler service brings once-in-a-lifetime bespoke island experiences to life – be it a soothing massage on the patio, chilled beverages by the poolside or an unforgettable dinner crafted by the Resort's culinarians. The residence also features a playroom and plunge pool where kids can happily spend hours under the careful supervision of Four Seasons babysitters. Situated at the doorstep of one of the most magical ecosystems in the world, the Imperial Villa provides unfettered access to millennia-old rainforests and mysterious mangroves. Embark on private boat safaris and guided walks to discover Langkawi's fascinating secrets, or simply enjoy being in the lush lap of nature. The Imperial Villa can be booked here and is ready for check-in. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Four Seasons Resort Langkawi
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/four-seasons-unveils-langkawis-most-luxurious-new-holiday-villa/
2022-04-07T13:24:21Z
Company strengthens commitment to the development – and future – of youth nationwide HAMPTON, N.H., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, today announced the recipients of its annual Judgement Free Generation® scholarship, which recognize teens for their commitment to promoting kindness and contributing to a more judgement free planet. Fifty deserving Boys & Girls Clubs of America teens were each awarded $5,000, over half (56 percent) of whom will be first-generation college students. In partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Planet Fitness has awarded $250,000 in scholarships this year – contributing to a grand total of $900,000 in scholarships recognizing 170 youth since 2017. Planet Fitness created this scholarship program to recognize the many teens who continue to promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion in their communities, qualities that Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America collectively support. Scholarship recipients were selected based on multiple criteria, including personal essays, a staff recommendation and a video submission that demonstrated how each youth actively promotes these values. To celebrate and honor the recipients, Planet Fitness, Company franchisees and Boys & Girls Clubs of America enlisted the help of Tyler Oakley, social media influencer, actor and LGBTQ+ youth activist, to share some inspirational thoughts from his own journey with the winners via a Zoom call and answer their questions. The 50 scholarship winners selected by Planet Fitness and Boys & Girls Clubs of America are as follows: In one winning submission, Elizabeth N. from Milwaukee, Wis., expressed how her experience with bullying motivated her to address the issue in her own community and help empower her peers. She said, "Being bullied taught me how to reject the negative and embrace the positive. This is how we can impact communities – by building each others' confidence in who we are and what we can do. I am committed to start the next chapter of my life being part of the change in my community. This is how I will use my service, empowering others with love and kindness for generations to come." "It's a privilege not only to continue our scholarship program this year, but to recognize and award 50 inspiring teens who are making a positive impact on today's world," said Chris Rondeau, Planet Fitness' Chief Executive Officer. "With all that youth have been through over the past few years, it's inspirational to see how these scholarship recipients have committed to themselves, their peers and their communities. As home of the Judgement Free Zone®, Planet Fitness is excited to watch these changemakers continue to lead by example and build a more welcoming tomorrow." "We are thrilled to honor teens who are furthering our mission to provide inclusive spaces for young people to thrive and be themselves," said Jim Clark, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to enhancing the lives of every kid and teen that walks through our doors, and we couldn't be more excited to award these scholarships, with the support of our partners at Planet Fitness." Since 2016, together with its franchisees, members and partners, Planet Fitness has contributed more than $7 million to support anti-bullying, pro-kindness initiatives. As part of the program, the Company has funded first-of-its-kind social-emotional skills training for Boys & Girls Clubs of America professionals and youth, which is rooted in a trauma-informed approach to acknowledge the impacts of traumatic experiences on youth behavior while providing opportunities for growth. The Company has also engaged in volunteer efforts and built welcoming gym spaces known as Mini Judgement Free Zones in select Boys & Girls Clubs of America throughout the country. Learn more about Planet Fitness' efforts to positively impact the communities where people live, work and workout through PF Purpose. Founded in 1992 in Dover, NH, Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of March 31, 2022, Planet Fitness had more than 16.2 million members and 2,291 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Australia. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone®. More than 90% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women. For 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. More than 4,900 Clubs serve 4.3 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Planet Fitness, Inc.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/planet-fitness-awards-250000-scholarships-50-boys-amp-girls-clubs-america-teens-their-efforts-promoting-kinder-more-inclusive-world/
2022-06-29T14:14:02Z
Sweltering dunes are part of Hennessey's challenging assessment and durability evaluations - The Hennessey Velociraptor 600 leaps dunes in 100°F California desert as part of Hennessey's torturous 'Fire & Ice' testing program - California summer desert evaluations follow Colorado Rocky Mountain winter testing of VelociRaptor 600 and Mammoth 1000 TRX trucks - Hennessey's R&D program is engineered to the extreme and demonstrates its commitment to capability, durability, and longevity Image gallery: Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 testing in California desert – DOWNLOAD SEALY, Texas, June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hennessey, the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle creator, pushes its vehicles to the limit with unique 'Fire & Ice' durability testing. The multi-venue program challenges its re-engineered vehicles – including the Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 – to extreme cold and hot temperatures while driving under brutal conditions. In its most recent challenge, Hennessey pitted its powerful VelociRaptor 600 truck against shifting dunes and temperatures exceeding 100°F (~40°C) in an arid Southern California desert. Utilizing its enhanced 672 lb-ft of torque, the truck tackled extreme inclines to climb 300 ft high dunes, plus underwent punishing launches and high-speed driving. The Hennessey engineering team also pushed the VelociRaptor's powertrain and suspension to its limit, sprinting up steep dunes and executing multiple high-speed jumps. John Hennessey, company founder and CEO: "Our team builds around 500 high-performance vehicles a year for passionate customers who rightfully expect mainstream manufacturer levels of quality, reliability, and service together with extreme performance. Our torturous 'Fire & Ice' program is the real-world culmination of hundreds of hours of research and development that each model line undergoes at our Texas headquarters. Our goal is to combine ultimate performance with complete peace of mind." Hennessey's exhaustive testing evaluates the performance of each vehicle's upgrades, from engine and suspension to tires and exhaust. Conducting these programs in extreme environments – often more challenging than any owner will attempt – ensures that customers won't have issues. This provides confidence and the highest satisfaction levels. The desert test occurred at the Glamis Sand Dunes, California's largest mass of windblown sand. The dune system extends more than 40 miles across the state's southeast in a band averaging five miles wide. The hot weather program followed a set of cold-weather tests that the Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 and Mammoth 1000 TRX underwent in the freezing mountains of Colorado. There, with temperatures dipping below 10°F (-12°C), the trucks explored their limits of grip while evaluating the performance of the upgraded engines, intake systems, and exhausts. Testing for all Hennessey models begins at the company's headquarters in Sealy, Texas. Under the guidance of Hennessey Director of R&D Jason Haynes, each model line is subjected to hundreds of hours of research and development. This helps guarantee that Hennessey upgrades enhance every aspect of the vehicle while retaining complete usability and manufacturer driving modes. After lab-based evaluation, development moves to Hennessey's various on-site dyno bays for live assessment. The final phase sees development models pound the Pennzoil Proving Ground at Hennessey's headquarters to evaluate the modifications in the real world. Even after each model line is signed-off, every customer vehicle undergoes its series of quality assurance tests, including a detailed test drive by Hennessey's engineers. Customer satisfaction is at the core of every Hennessey vehicle. Emphasizing this point, the company provides a comprehensive warranty on each model to provide total peace of mind. Customers are also invited to the Texas HQ to see the final testing phase, with many experiencing their new vehicle for the first time on the Pennzoil Proving Ground. Available for global shipping, the Hennessey range of high-performance muscle cars, trucks, SUVs, and supercars is available through authorized retailers or directly from Hennessey by calling +1 979.885.1300 or visiting HennesseyPerformance.com. Images Download high-resolution images of the Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 testing in the California desert: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/o1qyw993766201l/AACSlNQzSqwI7zi6vJpgOz4da?dl=0 Based in Sealy, Texas, the Hennessey business comprises Hennessey Special Vehicles, Hennessey Performance (HPE), Tuner School, and the Lonestar Motorsports Park. The company has re-engineered more than 12,000 vehicles for performance enthusiasts worldwide to deliver unparalleled driving thrills. Alongside modifying a diverse range of sports, and muscle cars since 1991, the company also applies its high-performance expertise to trucks and SUVs – and boasts its own hypercars – the Venom GT and the Venom F5. Every Hennessey product is dyno-proven, fully track-tested, street-legal, and warrantied. Customers can choose from road-ready performance-enhanced cars by Hennessey from a wide variety of brands, including Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and Jeep, in addition to benefitting from a host of high-performance upgrades. With its own test track, engineering curriculum for aspiring tuners, more than 50 team members, and capacity to work on 40-50 vehicles at a time, Hennessey Performance is one of the world's leading specialist vehicle engineering companies. The new 6.6-liter V8 Venom F5 hypercar sold out in 2021, with customer deliveries taking place from 2021-2023. Boasting 1,817 hp and a +311 mph top speed, the company is guaranteed to deliver like never before on its mission of 'making fast cars faster.' HennesseyPerformance.com As the company founder and CEO, John Hennessey lives and breathes fast, fun cars. John developed a passion for performance while competing at world-renowned motorsport events, including Pikes Peak, the Silver State Classic, and the Bonneville Salt Flats (where he set a class world record). What started in 1991, modifying imports out of his garage, soon morphed into building 1,000-horsepower twin-turbo Dodge Vipers that gained international recognition in car magazines such as Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Top Gear, and Road and Track. Known as an American icon of speed, John has achieved his vision to be the top automotive tuner and builder in the U.S. With a global sales footprint covering the U.S., Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East, he continues to find ways to engineer greater performance from some of the world's most iconic vehicles alongside the creation of the company's new world-class hypercar – the Hennessey Venom F5. Social media YouTube: hpedesign | Instagram: hennesseyperformance | Facebook: @hennesseype | Twitter: @HennesseyPerf View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hennessey Performance
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/hennessey-tests-velociraptor-600-glamis-sand-dunes/
2022-06-14T18:06:23Z
MALVERN, Pa., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institutes have appointed four new members to its Board of Trustees, including J. Powell Brown, MBA, CPCU, Carl Hess, FSA, CERA; John J. Marchioni, CPCU; and Leonid Rasin, MA, FCAS. The new member terms were effective as of June 15. "We are so pleased to welcome new members to our Board of Trustees, who always offer insightful support to our mission and vision," said Peter Miller, CPCU, president and CEO of The Institutes. "All of our board members generously commit their time and professional expertise to help The Institutes continue to build our strategic capabilities and provide the best learning experience and opportunities for those interested in insurance and risk management." J. Powell Brown is president and CEO of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE: BRO), a leading insurance brokerage firm delivering risk management solutions to individuals and businesses since 1939. In his 24-year tenure with the company he has held multiple leadership positions and was named president in 2007. He earned a master's degree in business administration from Duke University, a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida, and the CPCU® designation from The Institutes. Carl Hess is the chief executive officer of WTW (NASDAQ: WTW). During his more than 30 years with the company, he has held a variety of leadership roles in business segments including investments, risk and reinsurance, and retirement. Hess is a graduate of Yale University, a fellow of the Society of Actuaries and a Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst. John J. Marchioni is president and CEO and board chairperson of Selective Insurance Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGI). He joined Selective in 1998, serving in progressive leadership roles before being named president and CEO in 2020, and chairperson in 2022. Marchioni is a graduate of Princeton University and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, and holds the CPCU designation from The Institutes. Leonid Rasin is executive vice president and chief actuary of enterprise operations for Liberty Mutual. He joined Liberty Mutual in February 2010, previously holding actuarial positions there in commercial, global specialty, and corporate business units. His prior experience includes 25 years in financial services and investment management. He holds a Master of Arts degree in mathematics from Brandeis University and is a fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society. About The Institutes The Institutes are a leading provider of risk management and insurance education and resources, serving people and organizations globally through 18 brands and affiliates. The Institutes offer a range of knowledge-building opportunities that empower people and organizations to make better decisions, serve those in need, and embrace the future of risk. CPCU is a registered trademark of The Institutes. All rights reserved. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Insurance Information Institute
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/institutes-board-trustees-appoints-new-members/
2022-06-30T20:15:52Z
The AI-Powered Air Taxi Service Elevated It's Fleet With The Addition of Two G2+ Vision Jets, Demonstrating Growth And Commitment to Luxury Travel OPA-LOCKA, Fla., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verijet, a private jet company, and AI-Powered Air Taxi Service announced today the launch of two new aircraft: a twin set of next-generation G2+ Vision Jets, bringing in more power and range to its fleet. The G2+ Vision Jets are equipped with a more powerful engine than previous models, allowing better performance in challenging airports and more extended distances. The newly optimized engine provides up to 20% increased performance during take-off. Continuing to place convenience and comfort as a key element in the brand's ethos, the new G2+ Vision Jets include all the same quality features as the older models, such as Since its launch in late 2020, Verijet has tripled its fleet since its launch in late 2020. Verijet empowers travelers to fly whenever they choose, depart from airports closest to their home or office, and arrive closer to their final destination, reducing travel time and providing carbon-neutral travel while flying safely. Additionally, Verijet's planes permit travel in areas of higher temperatures and elevations. Verijet planes now service the Southeast and West Coast regions of the US, with additional trips to The Bahamas. For more information, visit www.verijet.com About Verijet: The Florida-based jet company, Verijet is disrupting the market and making it easier and less expensive to fly privately. Verijet's mission is to "democratize" private flight. Founded in late 2020, Verijet is making flying private more available to more people in more places than ever before. Verijet is a technology company that has morphed into air mobility – revolutionizing private aviation through the power of AI and large-scale computing combined with the most innovative, advanced, and safest jet in the air today, backed by an experienced team of aviation investors, professionals, and suppliers. Media Contact: Molly Gagnon molly@virgo-pr.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Verijet
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/verijet-expands-its-fleet-with-its-most-powerful-jets-date/
2022-05-19T17:15:07Z
Ex-Minneapolis Police officer Thomas Lane pleads guilty to manslaughter in George Floyd’s death By Brad Parks and Eric Levenson, CNN The former Minneapolis Police officer who held down George Floyd’s legs during his fatal restraint pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter Wednesday as part of a plea deal, attorneys said. Thomas Lane, 39, was one of three former officers to face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter and aiding and abetting second-degree unintentional murder related to Floyd’s death in May 2020. In exchange for the guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the murder charge, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office said. State and defense attorneys jointly recommended to the court a sentence of 36 months, according to his office. “I am pleased Thomas Lane has accepted responsibility for his role in Floyd’s death,” Ellison said. “His acknowledgment he did something wrong is an important step toward healing the wounds of the Floyd family, our community, and the nation. While accountability is not justice, this is a significant moment in this case and a necessary resolution on our continued journey to justice.” Defense attorney Earl Gray said Lane agreed to plead guilty because he faced a mandatory 12-year sentence if he were to be convicted of the murder charge. “My client did not want to risk losing the murder case so he decided to plead guilty to manslaughter with a 3-year sentence, to be released in 2 years, and the murder case dismissed,” Gray said. “The sentence will be concurrent with his federal sentence and he will serve his time in a federal institution. He has a newborn baby and did not want to risk not being part of the child’s life.” Lane is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21 on the state charge, according to the court. He was among three former officers already convicted in a federal court in February of violating Floyd’s civil rights. A sentencing date has not been set in that case. In a statement, Floyd family attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci and Jeff Storms praised the guilty plea but said there was still more to be done. “Today’s guilty plea by former officer Thomas Lane brings the Floyd family another step towards closure for the horrific and historic murder of George Floyd,” they said. “While today is a step in the right direction, we only need to look to the recent and tragic killing of Amir Locke to understand that the City of Minneapolis has a long journey ahead to regain the trust of its citizenry.” In early February, a Minneapolis Police officer fatally shot Locke, a 22-year-old Black man, within a few seconds of entering his apartment after Locke emerged from a couch with a handgun and raised it toward an officer, prosecutors said. The officer and others on the Minneapolis SWAT team were there serving a warrant in a homicide investigation. Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman last month declined to file charges against any officers involved in the shooting. What Lane did during the Floyd’s arrest Former officers Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng faced state and federal charges for their actions — or lack thereof — as their colleague Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into the neck and back of Floyd, who was handcuffed and lying on his stomach, for over nine minutes. During the arrest, Lane held down Floyd’s legs, Kueng held down Floyd’s torso, and Thao stood nearby and kept a crowd of upset bystanders back. Harrowing video taken by a bystander showed Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, desperately pleading for them to let him breathe and calling for his mother before he lost consciousness and died. Outrage over the incident led to an international protest movement against the ways that police treat Black citizens. All four officers were fired and charged after Floyd’s death. Lane, Thou and Kueng had pleaded not guilty to the state charges and rejected a plea deal with prosecutors last month, the attorney general’s office said. Thao and Kueng are still expected to face state trial next month. Chauvin was convicted in state court last year of murder in Floyd’s death and was sentenced to more than 22 years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, Chauvin pleaded guilty in December to federal civil rights charges related to Floyd’s death and the restraint of a teenager in a separate incident. In the federal trial, Lane testified that he was on his fourth day on the job, while Chauvin had worked for the department for over 18 years. Lane twice asked Chauvin to reposition Floyd during the restraint but was denied both times, according to his testimony and body camera footage. The first time, Lane asked Chauvin whether they should put Floyd’s legs up, as they are taught in the academy. “No, we’re good,” Chauvin said, according to Lane’s testimony. Lane then said he asked Chauvin whether they should roll Floyd on his side. “No, we’re good like this,” Chauvin responded, according to Lane’s testimony. At Chauvin’s state trial, a series of medical experts testified that Floyd died of “positional asphyxia,” or the inability to sufficiently breathe due to his prone position and the pressure on his back. An ambulance eventually arrived and first responders lifted Floyd, who was limp at that point, into the vehicle. Lane joined them in the ambulance and did CPR on Floyd. The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/05/18/ex-minneapolis-police-officer-thomas-lane-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughter-in-george-floyds-death-2/
2022-05-18T17:01:55Z
Expansion will bring internet speeds up to 2 Gbps to one of the fastest growing counties in Maryland EDINBURG, Va., July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Glo Fiber, powered by Shenandoah Telecommunications Company ("Shentel") (Nasdaq: SHEN), announced a $10 million grant award from the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband to deploy next generation fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband services in Frederick County, MD. Construction will begin in 2023 to deliver an all-fiber choice for reliable high-speed internet service to over 3,000 homes and businesses in the County. Glo Fiber is currently building their multi-gigabit fiber network in the City of Frederick, with service already available in some neighborhoods. "As the last few years have shown, high-quality and affordable internet access is critical for education, telehealth, and most importantly — jobs," said Congressman David Trone. "This funding, provided by the federal American Rescue Plan, is a win for investing in Frederick County's way of life while maintaining access to the essential services and economic benefits that broadband provides. By working with our state and local leaders, I remain committed to delivering the tools our communities need to thrive in the 21st century." Congressman Trone has been a prominent advocate, working tirelessly for rural broadband funding. "Reliable internet access is a necessity in today's world. Building out a system to serve all pockets of our community will take time and money, so I welcome news of this grant to help reach many of our rural areas," said Jan Gardner, Frederick County Executive. "I want to thank our federal partners, particularly Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman David Trone, for making broadband a priority. Frederick County's broadband study helped to lay the groundwork for the project announced today, and we will continue to look for opportunities to encourage private companies to invest in rural areas." Glo Fiber provides unlimited multi-gigabit internet access with symmetrical upload and download speeds, streaming TV, and phone service in the Mid-Atlantic region. Using Shentel's 7,600-mile regional fiber network, Glo Fiber can ensure high speeds, low latency, and fair pricing. The company has earned a reputation for providing outstanding local customer service across its markets, including the growing list of communities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Delaware. "Shentel is thrilled at the opportunity to work with local and state officials to finally bring this critical service to residents who have remained unserved for far too long," said Chris Kyle, Vice President of Industry and Regulatory Affairs at Shentel. "These innovative partnerships are exactly what we need to finally close the digital divide, and we are proud to be able to join in the great work that Frederick County and the State of Maryland have been doing. We look forward to continuing to expand our network in Frederick County well beyond this project." To learn more about Glo Fiber, please visit www.glofiber.com. For more information about Shentel, please visit www.shentel.com or call 1-800-SHENTEL (1-800-743-6835). Glo Fiber (Glo) provides next-generation fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) multi-gigabit broadband internet access, live streaming TV, and digital home phone service powered by Shentel (Nasdaq: SHEN). Glo provides the fastest available service to residents leveraging XGS-PON, a state-of-the-art technology capable of symmetrical internet speeds up to 10 Gbps. Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) provides broadband services through its high speed, state-of-the-art cable, fiber-optic and fixed wireless networks to customers in the Mid-Atlantic United States. The Company's services include: broadband internet, video, and voice; fiber-optic Ethernet, wavelength and leasing; and tower colocation leasing. The Company owns an extensive regional network with over 7,600 route miles of fiber and over 220 macro cellular towers. For more information, please visit www.shentel.com. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Shenandoah Telecommunications Company
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/shentel-awarded-grant-bring-its-glo-fiber-high-speed-network-frederick-county-maryland/
2022-07-13T20:42:27Z
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clubhouse Media Group, Inc. (OTCMKTS: CMGR) ("CMGR"), an influencer-based social media firm and digital talent management agency, announced that they have finalized a brand promotional deal with American model and WWE Hall of Famer, Torrie Wilson. During her career she became one of the faces of the WWE Divas, which some consider the height of women's wrestling in the company. Wilson has appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine and also has a large social media following, boasting 1M+ followers on Instagram. She is currently a web-based fitness instructor and blogger. "Always a pleasure to work with Torrie and her representatives" said Julia Salmon, Sales Agent at The Reiman Agency. "Excited for more to come." CMGR offers management, production, and deal-making services to its handpicked influencers, a management division for individual influencer clients, and an investment arm for joint ventures and acquisitions for companies in the social media influencer space. Follow CMGR on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClubhouseCMGR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This release contains "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements also may be included in other publicly available documents issued by CMGR and in oral statements made by our officers and representatives from time to time. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide management's current expectations or plans for our future operating and financial performance, based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. They can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "goal," "seek," "believe," "project," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "would," "could," "will" and other words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or financial performance. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements relating to future sales, earnings, cash flows, results of operations, uses of cash and other measures of financial performance. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause CMGR's actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others such as, but not limited to economic conditions, changes in the laws or regulations, demand for CMGR's products and services, the effects of competition and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or represented in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking information provided in this release should be considered with these factors in mind. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements and urge you to carefully consider the risks described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at sec.gov. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Clubhouse Media Group, Inc.
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/31/clubhouse-media-group-inc-closes-promo-deal-with-wwe-hall-famer-torrie-wilson/
2022-08-31T13:43:03Z
Allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-T therapy with CD19/CD7 dual-directed CAR shows promising early results in patients with r/r B-ALL PALO ALTO, Calif. and SUZHOU, China, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. ("Gracell" or the "Company", NASDAQ: GRCL), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing highly efficacious and affordable cell therapies for the treatment of cancer, today announced the early results of a first-in-human clinical study of GC502, an allogeneic CD19/CD7 dual-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL). Gracell will share the data in a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022 on April 12. GC502 leverages the novel dual-directed CAR design of Gracell's proprietary TruUCAR platform, designed to generate high-quality allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies that can be administered "off-the-shelf" at lower cost and with faster patient's access. TruUCAR-enabled GC502 utilizes the dual-directed CAR design with one CAR targeting CD19 on malignant cells and a second CAR targeting CD7 to suppress host-versus-graft rejection. An enhancer molecule is embedded in the basic construct of TruUCAR to enhance proliferation of TruUCAR T cells. "We are very excited to present our data on GC502 at this year's AACR annual meeting. CD19 is a validated target in the treatment of r/r B-ALL," said Dr. Martina Sersch, Chief Medical Officer of Gracell. "As an allogeneic, off-the-shelf CAR-T therapy, GC502 has the potential to provide patients who may not be eligible for autologous CAR-T therapy with hope to achieve a deep response. The early results show the potential of GC502 and warrant further evaluation in the ongoing clinical investigator-initiated-trial (IIT). Being the second product candidate from our allogeneic TruUCAR platform, GC502 further validates TruUCAR's platform approach and potential wide applicability." Between September 2021 and January 2022, four r/r B-ALL patients were enrolled and treated in an open-label, non-randomized, prospective IIT study in China in two different dose levels and with two different formulations. Patients were heavily pretreated, and all had previously received either autologous or donor derived CD19 or CD19/CD22 targeted CAR-T therapy. As of the January 28, 2022 data cutoff date, all four patients had received a single dose of GC502, including one patient at dose level 1 (DL1) 1.0x107 cells/kg and three patients at dose level 2 (DL2) 1.5x107 cells/kg. Patients received a Flu/Cy based lymphodepletion regimen prior to treatment with GC502. As highlighted in the AACR poster, three out of four patients achieved minimal residual disease negative complete response or complete response with incomplete count recovery (MRD- CR/CRi), and one patient achieved a partial response at month one and subsequently received allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) on day 39. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) presented as Grade 2 and Grade 3 with no Grade 4 or 5 events. No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) or acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) were observed. For more information on the ongoing trial, refer to the ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05105867. Details of the presentation are as follows: - Presentation Title: Early results of a safety and efficacy study of allogeneic TruUCAR GC502 in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r B-ALL) - Session Title: Phase I Clinical Trials 2 - Session Date and Time: Tuesday, April 12, from 9:00AM – 12:30PM CT - Location: New Orleans Convention Center, Exhibit Halls D-H, Poster Section 33 - Poster Board Number: 21 - Permanent Abstract Number: CT196 Additional meeting information is available on the AACR website. The full text of the abstract is available on the AACR Online Itinerary Planner and the e-poster is viewable to registered attendees on the AACR's e-poster website through Wednesday, July 13, 2022. About GC502 GC502 is a TruUCAR-enabled CD19/CD7 dual-directed, off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR-T product candidate that is being studied in an ongoing Phase 1 IIT in China for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. GC502 is manufactured using T cells from non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched healthy donors. An enhancer molecule is embedded in the basic construct of TruUCAR to enhance proliferation of TruUCAR T cells. Optimized for CD19/CD7 dual-CAR functionality and in vivo durability, GC502 has demonstrated robust anti-tumor effects with potential to suppress host versus graft (HvG) rejection in preclinical models. About B-ALL Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer characterized by proliferation of immature lymphocytes in the bone marrow, which can involve either T lymphocytes (T-ALL), or B lymphocytes (B-ALL). Globally, approximately 64,000 patients are diagnosed with ALL every year with an estimated 6,660 new cases to be diagnosed in the United States in 2022[1]. B-ALL accounts for 75% of ALL diagnoses in adults. About TruUCAR TruUCAR is Gracell's proprietary technology platform and is designed to generate high-quality allogeneic CAR-T cell therapies that can be administered "off-the-shelf" at lower cost and with greater convenience. With differentiated design enabled by gene editing, TruUCAR is designed to control host versus graft rejection (HvG) as well as graft versus host disease (GvHD) without the need for being co-administered with additional immunosuppressive drugs after standard lymphodepletion. The novel dual-CAR design allows tumor antigen-CAR moiety to target malignant cells, while the CD7 CAR moiety is designed to suppress HvG response. About Gracell Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. ("Gracell") is a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to discovering and developing breakthrough cell therapies. Leveraging its pioneering FasTCAR and TruUCAR technology platforms and SMART CART™ technology modules, Gracell is developing a rich clinical-stage pipeline of multiple autologous and allogeneic product candidates with the potential to overcome major industry challenges that persist with conventional CAR-T therapies, including lengthy manufacturing time, suboptimal production quality, high therapy cost and lack of effective CAR-T therapies for solid tumors. For more information on Gracell, please visit www.gracellbio.com. Follow @GracellBio on LinkedIn. Cautionary Noted Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing date of the offering. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Gracell's most recent annual report on Form 20-F as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Gracell's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Gracell specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date. Media contacts Marvin Tang marvin.tang@gracellbio.com Kyle Evans kyle.evans@westwicke.com Investor contacts Gracie Tong gracie.tong@gracellbio.com Stephanie Carrington stephanie.carrington@westwicke.com [1] Data source: American Cancer Society View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Gracell
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/gracell-biotechnologies-present-data-aacr-annual-meeting-2022-showcasing-early-first-in-human-results-gc502-rr-b-all/
2022-04-09T06:34:49Z
New 600-square-foot facility will serve resident girls ages 12 to 18 and their children affected by child abuse or neglect SAN MARCOS, Calif., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Casa de Amparo, a leader in treating and preventing child abuse and neglect in San Diego County, in partnership with TrueCare, a non-profit community health center, and Lennar, one of the nation's leading homebuilders, today announced the grand opening of the TrueCare & Lennar Foundation Health Center at Casa de Amparo at a ribbon cutting ceremony. Situated on the site of Casa de Amparo's Casa Kids campus, the 600-square-foot health center serves the resident girls ages 12 to 18 years old and their children who have been traumatized by severe child abuse or neglect. The TrueCare & Lennar Health Center at Casa de Amparo will include a medical exam room, a mini lab and an office space. TrueCare's professional medical staff will be on site to bring compassionate, sensitive care that addresses the unique needs of the Casa de Amparo residents, including women's health and pediatric services. The clinic is partially funded through a generous grant from Rest Haven Children's Health Fund. "Many of the young women that come to Casa de Amparo have suffered complex trauma and having the medical center on our campus will allow clinical staff to build trusting relationships with the residents to help them heal and move forward in their lives," said Mike Barnett, Chief Executive Officer of Casa de Amparo. "We thank Lennar and TrueCare for the work they have done to transform the space into a state-of-the-art medical center for our youth and we thank Las Patronas who donated the built-in desks for the medical staff." "This is a great day for foster youth across San Diego County," said San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond. "The opening of the TrueCare & Lennar Foundation Health Center will provide much-needed resources to young girls in North County. It's vital for foster youth to feel safe, especially coming out of traumatic experiences. I continue to be impressed by all that Casa de Amparo provides for our region; they have my full support." "We're grateful to work with Casa de Amparo and Lennar to address the individual health needs of the children and young women receiving rehabilitation services on the Casa Kids Campus," said Michelle D. Gonzalez, President and CEO of TrueCare. "For more than 50 years, TrueCare has been driven to assure access to health care for everyone in our communities. This collective partnership allows us to deliver high-quality, compassionate care in a safe and trusted environment." "We proudly support the mission of Casa de Amparo and TrueCare and we are honored to have had the opportunity to complete the tenant improvements that helped transform part of Casa de Amparo's facility into a thriving medical center," said Ryan Green, San Diego division president for Lennar. "We hope that establishing this facility will help provide quality care to the young women residing at Casa de Amparo now and into the future." About Casa de Amparo Established in 1978, Casa de Amparo (Home of Protection) is recognized as a leader in treating and preventing child abuse and neglect in San Diego County and beyond, with locations in Oceanside and San Marcos. The non-profit organization annually serves over 422 Casa Kids, from prenatal to 25 years old through two integrated programs that promote healing, growth, and healthy relationships. These programs include Residential Services and New Directions. About TrueCare For 50 years, TrueCare has not wavered in its commitment to patients, their families, and its communities. As a non-profit community health center, TrueCare is dedicated to delivering a superior and compassionate healthcare experience to nearly 60,000 patients every year, reducing barriers and increasing accessibility to quality care. TrueCare cares for the diverse communities of North San Diego and South Riverside Counties with services ranging from primary care, pediatrics, women's health, behavioral health, chiropractic treatments and dentistry. In addition, TrueCare offers transportation services, community health outreach, insurance enrollment assistance and case management programs. For more information, visit https://truecare.org. About Lennar Corporation Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit www.lennar.com. Media Contacts: Casa de Amparo: Ryan Wuillmier, rwuillmier@casadeamparo.org TrueCare: Lisa Muldowney, Lisa.muldowney@trucare.org Lennar: Danielle Tocco, Danielle.Tocco@Lennar.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Casa de Amparo; TrueCare; Lennar
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/casa-de-amparo-truecare-lennar-announce-grand-opening-truecare-amp-lennar-foundation-health-center-casa-de-amparo/
2022-08-11T21:29:15Z
THORNTON, Colo., Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blind Institute of Technology will celebrate its 9 3/4 birthday on October 8th at The Cable Center in Denver, Colorado. The Office of Accessibility at Salesforce have signed on to be the signature sponsor of the night as they are a main partner with BIT regarding the Salesforce Administrator and Salesforce Developer courses. Together, Salesforce and Blind Institute of Technology, have trained multiple professionals with disabilities, internationally, through the Salesforce course within the BIT Academy. "The Blind Institute of Technology is one of our most important workforce development partners here at Salesforce, "says Catherine Nichols the VP of the Office of Accessibility at Salesforce. "The fact that they are a staffing organization run by a fully disabled team is beyond impressive. Globally, they are the only organization that trains disabled students in Salesforce, helping them through the process of becoming certified Salesforce Admins. We love their mission to provide meaningful careers for professionals with disabilities, as we both work towards closing the employment gap for people with disabilities." The magic themed evening will include a Harry Potter inspired main course dinner and dessert, with opportunities to bid on items during the live auction. Executive Director Michael Hess, who was recently awarded the Diversity and Inclusion Honor by the Denver Business Journal, encourages any organization with a commitment to an inclusive workplace, to become a sponsor for the night. "There is a real need for companies and organizations to come together to provide more opportunities for professionals with disabilities," says Michael Hess. "Your sponsorship will both impact and advance the life of one of the many students with disabilities within our BIT Academy." BIT is focused on bridging the massive employment gap between professionals with disabilities and the corporate world through training, education, and empowerment. With a full staff of disabled professionals, the BIT team is always exploring how to improve the lives of people with disabilities. More information at https://blindinstituteoftechnology.org/. Contact: press@blindit.org View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Blind Institute of Technology
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/blind-institute-technology-celebrates-their-9-34-birthday-their-sixth-annual-dining-dark-gala/
2022-08-11T14:21:48Z
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — U.S. authorities say the gunman behind an attack on a church in southern California in which one person was killed and five injured was motivated by a hatred for Taiwan. Although born in Taiwan, David Chou nurtured a resentment toward the Taiwanese and reportedly had ties to a China-backed organization dedicated to furthering Beijing’s goal of annexing the self-governing island, by force if necessary. That has revived questions about the complex and sometimes antagonistic relationship between the two sides, which separated amid civil war in 1949 and have followed very different paths since then — the one toward liberal democracy, the other toward increasingly repressive authoritarian rule under the Chinese Communist Party, which claims Taiwan, despite never having governed the island. The following is a look at that background and the current state of affairs between the sides. WHAT IS THE HISTORY BETWEEN CHINA AND TAIWAN? Taiwan had only been a Chinese province for 10 years before it was ceded to Japan as a colony in 1895, and was later handed over to Chiang Kai-shek’s Republic of China at the end of World War II. Taiwan separated again from China in 1949 when Chiang relocated his government to the island as Mao Zedong’s Communists swept to power on the mainland. While they have established strong economic ties, efforts at political reconciliation have stumbled in recent years as Taiwan asserts its own identity and China ups its demands that the island accept its terms for unification between the sides. WHAT ABOUT DIVISIONS WITHIN TAIWAN? Native Taiwanese and mainland migrants were divided initially by language, culture and politics, with the mainlanders continuing to identify closely with China and holding to Chiang’s dream of eventually returning home as victors. Under nearly four decades of martial law, political power resided mainly with the mainlanders while Taiwanese dominated the private sector. While there was some intermarriage, frictions, confrontations and bullying between them were not unusual. Some mainland youth formed gangs with links to organized crime, the government and military, partly as a means of defending their interests. Among younger islanders, such divisions have largely receded along with the flourishing of the separate Taiwanese identity. Now 68, Chou appears to have been fairly typical of the “second generation mainlander” cohort who never fully integrated into Taiwanese society or came to see the island as anything other than a province of the China they continued to identify with. Chou appeared to have left Taiwan before the process of democratization and the Taiwanese identity took hold, so his participation in the pro-reunification group, by “Taiwanese standards is fairly fringe,” said James Lin, a historian of Taiwanese history at the University of Washington. Taiwan’s politics “are different from the fringe diasporic politics,” Lin said. WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENTS’ POLICIES? China says Taiwan is a part of its territory with no right to independent recognition as a state or representation on the world stage. Since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, Beijing has refused all contacts with her government. China sends military aircraft into Taiwan’s air defense identification on a regular basis in what it calls an advertisement of its threat to use force. It has adopted increasingly menacing language, warning that Tsai, her ruling pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party and others will pay a dire price for refusing its demands and that Taiwan will be attacked if it declares formal independence. Tsai says Taiwan has no need to make such a declaration since it is already de-facto independent, and has refused to meet China’s basic demand that she recognize Taiwan as part of the Chinese nation. She has built up Taiwan’s traditionally strong ties with the U.S., Japan and other allies as she has sought to boost the armed forces’ ability to resist a potential Chinese invasion. HOW DO THEIR PUBLICS VIEW THE SITUATION? China allows no independent polling on the question, but public sentiment tends to run strongly in favor of its arguments on the need for, and inevitability of, unification between the sides. That is solidly in line with the Communist Party’s relentless propaganda on the issue and the strongly nationalist tone it has adopted since jettisoning orthodox Marxism. In contrast, support for unification has fallen to single digit percentages in Taiwanese public opinion polls, with the vast majority favoring a continuation of the status quo of de-facto independence. Most now identify exclusively as Taiwanese, with the government and many social organizations supporting that view. The Presbyterian church, whose parishioners were attacked in the California church, has been closely associated with the pro-democracy movement and promotion of Taiwan’s independent identity. It’s still unclear whether the gunman targeted the church because of its Presbyterian affiliation. Concerns have also risen about Chinese influence on Taiwan’s media and the impact of propaganda campaigns pressed by the Communist Party’s United Front Work Department, which works in overseas Chinese communities and below-the-radar in Taiwan to promote China’s political agenda. At a news conference in Taipei on Wednesday, Presbyterian Pastor Chen Shin-liang said the government should seize the incident to “face up to the hate speech spread by some United Front groups in Taiwan.” ARE CONFRONTATIONS FREQUENT? Tensions are higher now than they have been in years, but outside of China’s military threats they have been largely relegated to rhetorical and diplomatic sparring. Overseas, Chinese and Taiwanese communities overlap in some situations, but Beijing’s demand for political loyalty creates deep fissures. Taiwanese and Chinese maintain their own student groups on campus, with China maintaining strict control over its nationals. That situation is reflected in the business community and politically aligned groups such as the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, with which Chou reportedly had links. Since the shooting, photos have appeared of Chou speaking at one of the group’s events in his home of Las Vegas. ___ Associated Press writer Huizhong Wu and video journalist Johnson Lai contributed to this report.
https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/explainer-whats-behind-difficult-taiwan-china-relations/
2022-05-19T08:50:44Z
ZURICH, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amcor (NYSE: AMCR) (ASX: AMC), a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, today announced an investment to establish new thermoforming capabilities for medical packaging in its Sligo, Ireland, healthcare packaging facility. The multi-million-dollar investment will strengthen Amcor's leadership in the growing industry for sterile packaging, offering customers in Europe and North America another site with comprehensive healthcare solutions. "The additional capabilities in our Sligo site allow us to provide customers with even more differentiated and efficient solutions to meet their healthcare packaging needs," said Amcor's Chief Commercial Officer Peter Konieczny. "With our global scale and innovation capabilities, Amcor is uniquely positioned to capture growing demand for both medical and pharmaceutical packaging products globally." Through this investment, the Sligo site will feature Class 7 cleanroom manufacturing environments and state-of-the art thermoforming operations, fully certified to ISO 13485 standards and meeting the highest regulatory requirements. Amcor will also create a full design studio to support product development, enabling customers to tap into local and global expertise and resources across the company's growing network of global innovation centers. According to Market Data Forecast, the European medical device segment, which relies on this type of packaging, is expected to grow at annual rate of more than 4%, reaching $171 billion by 2027. With this investment in Ireland and the new facility in Singapore that came online at the end of 2021, Amcor is actively meeting the growing global demands of customers in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. About Amcor Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home- and personal-care, and other products. Amcor works with leading companies around the world to protect their products and the people who rely on them, differentiate brands, and improve supply chains through a range of flexible and rigid packaging, specialty cartons, closures, and services. The company is focused on making packaging that is increasingly light-weighted, recyclable and reusable, and made using an increasing amount of recycled content. Around 46,000 Amcor people generate US$13 billion in sales from operations that span about 225 locations in 40-plus countries. (NYSE: AMCR) (ASX: AMC) www.amcor.com I LinkedIn I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube View original content: SOURCE Amcor
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/25/amcor-expand-healthcare-packaging-capabilities-europe/
2022-04-25T10:23:44Z
SUZHOU, China, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 19, 2022, Porton Advanced Solutions. (hereinafter referred to as Porton Advanced) announced a strategic cooperation with Suzhou Royaltech Med Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Suzhou Royaltech). This strategic collaboration will further integrate the resources and capabilities of both parties, jointly promote the establishment of microbial vectors used for gene therapy (MVGTs) ( listeria monocytogenes) and mRNA drug platform technology, and accelerate the R&D process of bioinnovative drugs. Porton Advanced provides an end-to-end gene and cell therapy CDMO service platform covering plasmids, cell therapy, gene therapy, oncolytic virus, nucleic acid therapy and viable bacteria therapy. Suzhou Royaltech focuses on the development of vaccines for tumor immunotherapy with its proprietary technologies, and fast transition from clinical to market . Its R&D pipeline covers the attenuated non-integrated Listeria platform, mRNA platform, and cell therapy platform. All these platforms are in the leading position not only in China but also abroad, and have a complete layout of invention patents. Dr. Yangzhou Wang, CEO of Porton Advanced, said, "We are very pleased to enter into this strategic collaboration with Royaltech. The core management team of Royaltech is from the top pharmaceutical companies, with an average of 15 years of R&D and management experience and is advancing an internationally competitive R&D pipeline. Porton Advanced's end-to-end gene and cell therapy CDMO platform with rich project experience and comprehensive quality system will help Royaltech the development of Listeria and mRNA drugs, push its R&D pipeline in a quick, efficient manner, and accelerate the development and implementation of innovative drugs, so that good medicines can benefit the public earlier." Dr. Chun Xu, Chairman of Royaltech, said: "As a Biotech company, we are grateful to work with Porton Advanced, a very professional CDMO company, to jointly build a unique Listeria and mRNA tumor vaccine platform technology, and constantly develop leading tumor immunotherapeutic biological drugs in China and abroad." About Porton Advanced Solutions Established in Suzhou Industrial Park in December 2018, by its parent company Porton Pharma Solutions Ltd. (Stock Code: 300363), Porton Advanced has built a CDMO platform integrating plasmid, cell therapy, gene therapy, oncolytic virus, nucleic acid therapy and microbial vectors used for gene therapy (MVGTs), providing end-to-end services from cell banking, process development and analytical development, cGMP production to final Fill and Finish , investigator-initiated clinical trials (IIT), investigational new drugs (IND), clinical trials to commercial production. Porton Advanced is dedicated to support sponsors advance their GCT drug development and market launches. Porton Advanced focuses solely on gene and cell therapy services. Built on the professional experience of its cohort of world-class professionals, as well as on the successes of its parent company, Porton Advanced insists on "Customer First" and the tenet of "Compliance, Expertise, Focus, Open Collaboration". With its key focus on protecting IP for its sponsors, through its comprehensive project management and quality systems, Porton Advanced strives to bring gene and cell therapy products to the clinic and the market through its quality CDMO services, and help bring the best medicine to the public sooner. About Royaltech Headquartered in Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou Royaltech Med Co., Ltd. was founded in July 2016. In July 2017, a wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai Royaltech Co., Ltd. was set up in Shanghai International Medical Zone. As a high-standard innovation center of biological drugs, Shanghai Royaltech focuses on CMC development of innovative tumor vaccine, and fast clinical application of up-to-date cell immunotherapy. Since establishment, Royaltech has submitted several patents for invention to the State Intellectual Property Office. It focuses on the development of innovative tumor vaccine, and fast clinical application of up-to-date cell immunotherapy. Its R&D pipeline covers mRNA, oncolytic virus, bacteria, AAV, cell therapy platform and so on. Its core management team is from top universities in US and top 10 big pharma, with an average of 15 years of R&D and management experience. Our scientists have excellent capability on molecular biological engineering, target discovery and verification, pre-clinical R&D, quality control and assurance, and clinical trials of cell immunotherapy. On the strength of our rich experience on target biomarker, target discovery and verification, and global multicenter clinical trials, we are advancing an internationally competitive R&D pipeline. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Porton Advanced Solutions
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/29/porton-advanced-royaltech-announce-strategic-collaboration-accelerate-development-bacterial-drugs-mrna-drugs/
2022-08-29T05:57:20Z
Guests to Include Charles Barkley, Sean Payton, and Other Notable Figures from Sports and Entertainment NEW YORK, Sept. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kay Adams is back! Grab your coffee and join "Up and Adams" – FanDuel TV's flagship daily morning show. The hour-long show airs Monday through Friday live from Los Angeles at 11am ET. Expect guests from across the sports and entertainment universe, plus NFL game and fantasy breakdowns you won't get anywhere else. The daily studio program will be available on YouTube and other social media platforms. "I love an adventure and couldn't be more excited to be a part of a team that's leading the way into the future of sports," said Adams. "Breaking news. Good vibes. You. Me. Guests! Let's go already!" On the guest roster are former professional basketball player and television analyst, Charles Barkley, Super Bowl winning head coach Sean Payton, Super Bowl Champion Eric Weddle, Darius Butler and FanDuel partner Dr. Disrespect, to name a few. "Kay has a certain electric energy about her and her approachable presence creates an authentic connection with her fans that is rooted in trust," said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Commercial Officer, FanDuel. "We think that makes her a unique personality in sports media and we're beyond excited for her to bring that magic to the set of 'Up and Adams' and showcase her signature flair to FanDuel TV audiences." FanDuel Group, the premier online gaming company in North America, launched FanDuel TV and its new OTT platform to be known as FanDuel+ today. Both FanDuel TV and FanDuel+ are the first linear/digital network dedicated to sports wagering content and delivering more live sports programming than any other network in America, including becoming the new home of international basketball in the U.S. as part of a licensing agreement with Sportradar. As part of the launch, the company announced that FanDuel+ will be free to download for existing FanDuel customers with accounts on any of its sportsbook, casino, horse racing or daily fantasy platforms. Come celebrate the start of the season with Adams on September 6 at 11am ET! About FanDuel Group FanDuel Group is an innovative sports-tech entertainment company that is changing the way consumers engage with their favorite sports, teams, and leagues. The premier gaming destination in the United States, FanDuel Group consists of a portfolio of leading brands across gaming, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, advance-deposit wagering, and TV/media. FanDuel Group has a presence across all 50 states with approximately 17 million customers and nearly 30 retail locations. The company is based in New York with offices in California, New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, Georgia, Portugal, Romania and Scotland. It's network FanDuel TV and FanDuel+ are broadly distributed on linear cable television and through its relationships with leading direct-to-consumer OTT platforms. FanDuel Group is a subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment plc, the world's largest sports betting and gaming operator with a portfolio of globally recognized brands and a constituent of the FTSE 100 index of the London Stock Exchange. Contact: Kevin Hennessy / FanDuel / press@Fanduel.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE FanDuel Group
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/05/kay-adams-make-her-debut-fanduel-tv-with-up-adams-september-6/
2022-09-05T14:07:56Z
$10 million in grants to be awarded to organizations in Canada and the U.S. TORONTO and CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TD announced today that applications are now open for the 2022 TD Ready Challenge. This year, TD is seeking to support eligible non-profit and charitable organizations that are focused on solutions to assist people and communities who may be negatively impacted by climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. For 2022, there is a maximum total of 10 grants available of either CDN $1 million or USD $1 million each depending on the country of residence of the applicant. "Climate change may be impacting everyone, but certain populations are more likely to face worse consequences from its effects," said Janice Farrell Jones, SVP, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. "As we all work towards a net-zero world, it is crucial that all voices and different perspectives be included in new ways of adapting to environmental changes. This year's TD Ready Challenge will focus on providing support to organizations that are developing scalable solutions to ensure that everyone is supported during the transition to the low-carbon economy of tomorrow." As both the private and public sectors take steps to mitigate the effects of climate change and move towards an equitable transition to a low-carbon economy, many people and communities may be affected in different and inequitable ways, including: - Racialized and Indigenous communities - Seniors, youth, and children - Newcomers - Low-income communities - People with pre-existing health conditions and/or disabilities - Communities that have traditionally been economically dependent on carbon-intensive industries As a result, this year's problem statement seeks applications from eligible organizations that have designed scalable and/or replicable solutions, such as providing support to communities seeking to transition to the low-carbon economy, mitigating the effects of climate change on vulnerable populations, supporting the development of the cleantech sector, innovation in sustainable land use, or large-scale green infrastructure solutions. "Communities across our footprint are incredibly diverse, and we know climate change is likely impacting each differently and often inequitably. That's why the 2022 TD Ready Challenge aims to support organizations helping communities address the impacts of climate change and the transition to the low-carbon economy," said Shelley Sylva, Head of U.S. Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®. "Community-based organizations understand the greatest needs of their neighbors and we believe, with our support, they will be able to help those disproportionately affected by climate change adapt to these challenges." The TD Ready Challenge is a key component of the Bank's global corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment. Since 2018, the TD Ready Challenge has granted $40 million CAD to 50 charitable organizations to help respond to pressing societal issues tied to several TD Ready Commitment interconnected drivers of change. TD will be accepting grant applications until August 11, 2022. For complete details about this year's Challenge, please visit td.com/readychallenge. About the TD Ready Commitment Our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy reflects the commitments we make and is represented by the actions we take together to drive progress towards a more sustainable and inclusive future. It is embedded in our proven business model, guided by our purpose and inspired by our forward focus. The TD Ready Commitment accelerates and amplifies our collective actions in the communities we serve. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (U.S. $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to help open doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/tdreadycommitment. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE TD Bank
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/30/td-launches-5th-td-ready-challenge-focused-equity-based-solutions-climate-change/
2022-06-30T11:02:13Z
Temple Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly stole a man’s bicycle and threatened him with a knife. The robbery was reported at 7:20 p.m. Saturday evening in the 2000 block of Airport Road, police said in a news release. The suspect is described as “a male with a shaved head and black mustache.” No injuries occurred, police said. Police are investigating and information can be phoned in at 254-298-5500 or to Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477, where callers can report anonymously.
https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_0435a3d6-f00e-11ec-a60a-8fe052c0f6b0.html
2022-06-19T20:43:27Z
STARTUP STUDIO BY TOPPS, ZYNGA AND MACHINE ZONE VETERAN CLOSES SEED FUNDING BACKED BY Com2uS, HARMONY, AND CO-FOUNDERS OF THE SANDBOX AND YGG SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 5x5 Gaming today announced a seed round of $1.7 million - to build core games with a multicultural viewpoint, and that are made with digital collectibles and competitive and social gaming experiences baked in from the ground up. The investment in the global development team comes from multiple investors, including Com2uS, Harmony, and the cofounders of The Sandbox and YGG. The company's first game, Battle of Kingdoms, will celebrate and honor a number of cultures from around the world, and allow players to play, collect and digitally own (via NFTs) historical warriors and soldiers from different cultures. The company is consulting with historians and local experts to ensure proper representation for all characters and nations. "5x5 is a unique gaming studio that has both extensive experience in free-to-play game development as well as digital blockchain collectibles, and we are very excited to support them early in their journey with this seed investment," said Kyu Lee, president, Com2uS. "We are a big believer in true digital asset ownership and the benefits that blockchain technology brings to us as game designers and developers. Having said that, we wanted to create an experience where having fun, quality content, making social connections, and competition are the focal points for our players; not the farmability of our game economy as you see in many early 'crypto gaming projects,'" said Deniz Gezgin, founder and CEO, 5x5 Gaming. "We believe there are better ways to incorporate play-to-earn flows, blockchain and crypto technologies into games, and our experience with both game development and digital collectibles will help establish 5x5 Gaming as a gameplay-focused developer with multiple titles created with this vision and strategy." Gezgin brings a broad range of experience to lead 5x5 Gaming. A former teen Turkish athletics national team member, Gezgin worked his way through college and postgrad, and has held leadership and strategic positions in game development as well as digital collectibles, including leading the digital division of Topps. 5x5 Gaming is headquartered in San Francisco, but has employees in Los Angeles, Chicago, Mexico, Vietnam, India and Turkey. "With this investment from our partners, 5x5 Gaming is building a team without borders; talent and inspiration can be found everywhere," said Gezgin. "Our growing team is spread around the world; we look at diversity as part of our strategy and believe that with a team of different backgrounds and cultures we can create gaming experiences that are more fully culturalized." "We are excited to work with 5x5 Gaming under Deniz's leadership," said Stephen Tse, founder and CEO, Harmony. "His background in gaming and collectibles are a perfect combination and coming at the perfect time. There is a perfect storm of technology, culture, NFTs, and blockchain, and 5x5 Gaming is in a perfect spot to contribute to this exciting space. Harmony is proud to be working with Deniz and team to explore what's possible in this new and open gaming, gamefi design space." "With millions onboarding to NFT games, Web3 infrastructure is lowering barriers to participation and making it possible for players from all around the world to become part-owners in a better, more inclusive digital economy," said Gabby Dizon, cofounder, Yield Guild Games (YGG). "5x5 Gaming is helping to ensure that we see strong diversity in the representation of people and communities in the open Metaverse, which is why I am proud to be personally backing Deniz and his team." "I am pleased to support Deniz and his team of game industry veterans on their journey into Web3 as they build their first play-to-earn games and embrace the NFT culture," said Sebastien Borget, COO and cofounder, The Sandbox. "Our industry needs a broader variety of games to attract a wider audience, and 5x5 Gaming has the right mindset to build games that will achieve this." Additional 5x5 Gaming investors include Dialectic Capital and Lucid Blue Ventures, and the advisory team includes gaming and digital media veterans Ed Lu, Michael Vorhaus and Andrew Chan. About 5x5 Gaming: 5X5 Gaming is an early-stage, cross-platform gaming company that focuses on building AAA, quality games with an element of digital ownership. The company's mission is to evolve gaming using the latest technologies to build trust, safety, and true digital asset ownership to unlock the best gaming experience. MEDIA CONTACT: Zebra Partners 5x5gaming_media@zebrapartners.net View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE 5X5 Gaming
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/5-x-5-gaming-secures-funding-bring-multicultural-core-games-global-market/
2022-04-21T17:28:02Z
What is the “Barbiecore” fashion trend? It’s a Barbie world, and we’re just living in it. But thanks to the hot pink summer trend, anyone can be a Barbie girl. From the Valentino show at fashion week to social media, the “Barbiecore” fashion trend is taking over, evident by the domination of plastic hair clips and sky-high pink pumps. While the pink aesthetic has been around for a while, it’s no coincidence that this resurgence corresponds with the upcoming Barbie movie set to release in 2023. Whatever the reason, it looks like “Barbiecore” is here to stay. So, if you’re ready to party with Barbie, here’s everything you need to embrace the “Barbiecore” fashion trend. Everything to know about “Barbiecore” The inspiration behind “Barbiecore” “Barbiecore” is a fashion trend inspired by the nostalgic Mattel doll, Barbie. It’s all about pink — bubble gum pink, millennium pink, and most importantly, hot pink. The aesthetic also borrows elements from the ’80s, including jelly shoes, dramatic earrings, bright colors and sky-high pumps. The timing is also not a coincidence, as it’s hitting its stride during the filming of the new Barbie live-action film coming out in 2023. So, while “Barbiecore” has been a fashion trend for years, it’s definitely the “it” trend of summer 2022. How to wear the “Barbiecore” trend - Hot pink accessories or nails: For a subtle aesthetic, pick accessories in that iconic hot pink. Geometric earrings, a bag with chain straps or hot pink nails are a great introduction to the trend. - Matching sets: The hottest way to wear “Barbiecore” is as a matching hot pink set, such as a blazer and pants or a tank top and a skirt in identical shades. - Disco barbie: Shiny or holographic fabrics in pink shades are popular choices. - Neon accents and prints: To look like you’re fresh off the set of the new Barbie film, mix in neon accents and prints, especially lime green or neon yellow. “Barbiecore” essentials Accessories Gifiore Retro Heart Sunglasses Pink, cat eye and glitter are the epitome of “Barbiecore.” The frame is made with environmentally and skin-friendly materials, and the lenses provide UV 400 protection for the eyes. Since these sunglasses are shatterproof, they are ideal for any event or vacation. Sold by Amazon Accessories can make or break an outfit, and any pink aesthetic needs this jeweled hair clip. It’s designed with acetate, has a claw closure and measures about four by two inches. The best part is the rhinestone butterfly trim in more pink. Sold by Revolve SoJourner Bags Holographic Fanny Pack Anything holographic that belongs at a disco is “Barbiecore” approved. This fanny pack features a water-resistant exterior, heavy-duty buckles with adjustable straps and premium zippers. While the large pouch is spacious enough for any size smartphone, there is an additional pouch in the front and a hidden pouch in the back. Sold by Amazon Kelmall Rectangle Geometric Dangle Earrings These geometric rectangle earrings are crafted with high polish plated alloy and feature a raised design. While they look luxurious and have a drop length of 2.6 inches, they won’t pull down your ears and weigh only .46 ounces. They’re also 100 percent free from nickel and cadmium. Sold by Amazon Clothing SweatyRocks Women’s Button Down Satin Two-piece Pajama Set Devoted “Barbiecore” fans embrace the trend even when they’re sleeping. This button down satin pajama set is the perfect shade of pink for this summer’s trend. From a wedding party to relaxing at home, these pajamas are comfortable for any occasion. Sold by Amazon Verdusa Women’s Ruched Asymmetrical Bodycon Cami Dress This bodycon dress is designed with 95% polyester and 5% spandex, giving it a comfortable and slightly stretchy feel that falls above the knee. It features an asymmetrical wrap with ruching and spaghetti straps with a V-neck, ideal for dinner, a holiday party or a night out. Sold by Amazon Amazon Essentials Men’s Cotton Polo Shirt Men aren’t exempt from the “Barbiecore” fashion trend. Pink is for anyone, and the shade of this polo shirt is classic for the summer. It’s made of 100 percent cotton in soft pique waffle knit, has two buttons on the neckline and is machine-washable. For the fit, it’s designed to be relaxed and unrestricted through the chest. Sold by Amazon CHYRII Women Zipper One Piece Bathing Suit With hot pink and neon yellow, this swimsuit is screaming ’80s fashion meets hot girl summer. The bottoms are high-cut with a seamless design for comfort. It also features a low-cut back. It’s made of 80 percent nylon and 20 percent spandex, making this bathing suit soft and stretchy. Sold by Amazon Yogalicious High Waist Biker Shorts These biker shorts are straight out of the new Barbie movie. They’re high-waisted for comfort and offer compression that gently hugs the midsection with a nine-inch inseam. Plus, they have two side pockets spacious enough for a phone. The material is soft, thick and squat-proof. Sold by Amazon With its oversized fit and gorgeous shade of hot pink, this shirt is ideal for the summer trend. It features a button closure in the front and button cuffs on the sleeves. The fabric is a sheen charmeuse that’s 95 percent silk, and it’s designed with a cute shirttail hem. Sold by Revolve Dress this tank up with a hot pink blazer, or throw it on with jeans for a casual look. It’s made of a ribbed jersey fabric that feels buttery soft on the skin. You can wear it long with its scoop hem or tucked into pants. Sold by Revolve Add a few accessories with this romper, and it’s a complete “Barbiecore” outfit. With adjustable shoulder straps, it can be made to fit anyone, and it features a hidden back zipper closure for elegance and convenience. This romper is designed with a lightweight crepe fabric that’s perfect for hot summer days, and it has a faux skirt overlay with a tie for detail. Sold by Revolve Shoes For those who really want to embrace the “Barbiecore” trend, these wedge platforms are the quintessential piece to round out any outfit. With two straps on the foot and an adjustable ankle strap with buckle closure, they’ll feel secure. These wedges are made of a matte satin upper for a bit of a sheen with a rubber sole. Sold by Revolve Being comfortable is totally approved this summer, and these Fila sneakers will ensure you’re stylish wherever you go. The material combines leather and faux leather with a rubber saw-toothed sole. Everyone will love their unique design, which features a woven pull tab on the heel with a detachable zipper coin pouch. Sold by Revolve Dr. Scholl’s Women’s Originally Slide Sandals The iconic clog sandal and hot pink summer combine in these Dr. Scholl’s sandals. The soft fabric lining is made with 100 percent recycled plastic bottles, and the handmade artisanal wood sole is crafted from natural beechwood. Plus, the other materials include chrome-free suede and responsibly sourced leather. Sold by Macy’s Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Bre Richey 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/fashion-accessories-br/everything-you-need-to-embrace-the-barbiecore-fashion-trend/
2022-08-07T11:40:35Z
Which stockpot is best? If your idea of heaven is a thick, rich stew bubbling away on the stove, chances are good that you already understand the value of a high-quality stockpot. These large, straight-sided cooking vessels streamline the process of preparing bulk batches of food. When you are ready to invest in a stockpot that will last for generations, the All-Clad D5 Stockpot With Lid is the best choice. It performs beautifully on all cooking surfaces and comes from a brand that professional chefs trust. What to know before you buy a stockpot Stockpot capacity A stockpot is designed to cook massive quantities of food at once. The downside is that these large pots take up lots of kitchen real estate. While 10-quart stockpots exist, 12- and 16-quart ones are more common, and best suited for most home kitchens. Stockpot materials The material you select dictates the quality of heat retention and the pot’s durability and style. - Stainless steel: Stainless steel is the most common material. Solid stainless is durable and performs well. - Enamel: Enameled stockpots feature an aluminum or stainless core coated with enamel. This gives cooks more color options and protects the pot from nicks and dings. - Anodized: Anodized pots are aluminum with an electrochemically bonded non-stick coating. This works for cooks who want an easy-release interior coating, but this type of pot is less common. - Hybrid: Hybrid stockpots feature an aluminum core for even heating wrapped in multiple layers of stainless steel. The most common number of layers is three, but 5-ply hybrid pots exist (and are the most expensive option). Stockpot height and weight You want a pot large enough to cook big batches of soups and stews, but for shorter cooks too much height can be an issue. Tall stockpots can be difficult to reach into, and their weight when loaded can also be prohibitive. Make sure you’re physically capable of reaching into the pot and carrying it as needed. What to look for in a quality stockpot Oven-safe Most cooks use a stockpot on the stove, but some recipes require a finishing trip to the oven. The best stockpot is oven safe to at least 350 degrees, but some can withstand temperatures of up to 600 degrees. Sturdy, stay-cool handles Fully loaded, a 16-quart stockpot can weigh 15 pounds or more. Make sure the handles on your stockpot are firmly riveted in place. Stay-cool handles are also a must, especially when transferring the pot from the oven to the stovetop. Well-fitted lid A lid that nestles into the stockpot retains steam and heat without creating suction or a vacuum. Some feature a lip and a slight overhang, while others fit inside the walls of the stockpot. How much you can expect to spend on a stockpot The main driver of price is the material used. Expect to spend $90-$600, with quality options all along that range. Stockpot FAQ What is a stockpot used for? A. The most common use might be soups or stews, but that’s not the only thing you can make in these large pots. Other uses include: - Boiling lobsters and crabs - Making candles and soap - Dyeing fabric - Brewing beer, wine and mead - Mixing paint and stain Do you need a dedicated stockpot? A. Pasta pots, Dutch ovens and stockpots all serve the same basic purpose: to cook large quantities of food. However, there are some differences in each. - A stockpot has straight sides, with no curving inward or outward. This design preserves the moisture inside the pot and does not allow for evaporation. Stockpots are also designed to be used primarily on the stovetop. - A Dutch oven is largely used in an oven. The upper wall flares out slightly to allow steam to escape over long periods of time. - Pasta pots are, as their name indicates, used for boiling water and preparing pasta. Many of these come with steamers or colanders for draining pasta water. Although they resemble stock pots more closely than Dutch ovens, pasta pots are often thin-walled and less sturdy than a stock pot. If you make more pasta than soups or stews, or if storage space is scarce, this might be a good dual-purpose pot. Whether you need a dedicated stockpot depends on what you cook most often. What’s the best stockpot to buy? Top stockpot What you need to know: This 12-quart stockpot comes from a kitchen brand that professional chefs trust. What you’ll love: It’s a high-end pot made of durable 18/10 brushed stainless steel. It has 5-ply bonding for even heating. The handles stay cool and are securely riveted. It’s dishwasher-safe. It can be used in the oven up to 600 degrees. It’s also safe on induction cooktops. What you should consider: It is a very expensive pot. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s Top stockpot for the money Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 4-Piece Pasta/Steamer Set What you need to know: It is a versatile option at a substantially lower price. What you’ll love: The set includes not only a stainless steel 12-quart stockpot but also a colander, steamer insert and lid. The aluminum base heats evenly. It’s dishwasher-safe. What you should consider: This cannot be used on induction burners, and some users found the stainless steel wore out quickly. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot Worth checking out Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Stock Pot/Stockpot with Lid What you need to know: At 16 quarts, this stockpot is great for large-batch cooking and feeding a crowd. What you’ll love: It has a classic mirror finish and a domed top, and is also available in a 12-quart capacity. It has an aluminum core wrapped in thick stainless steel for even heating and no hot spots. It’s oven-safe to 350 degrees and cleans up easily in the dishwasher. What you should consider: Filled to capacity, this stockpot is very heavy. Use with caution. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Suzannah Kolbeck 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/kitchen-br/cookware-br/best-stockpot/
2022-05-19T08:51:58Z
TROY, Mich., April 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flagstar Bank has named Jim Linnane president of Flagstar's distributed retail mortgage division. In this role, he is responsible for strategy, profitability, sales, growth, recruitment and operations of Flagstar's distributed retail mortgage business. "Jim is an industry veteran who has extensive experience running distributed retail operations, both in a bank and non-bank environment," said Lee Smith, president of Mortgage for Flagstar. "He's a results-oriented team-builder with a demonstrated ability to grow people and organizations. We're excited to have him on board and look for positive developments with Jim at the helm of Flagstar's distributed retail operation." His experience in the business is broad and deep, including mortgage origination, marketing, underwriting, construction lending, home equity products and wholesale financing. Flagstar is the nation's 6th largest bank mortgage originator. Prior to Flagstar, Linnane served as retail president for Stearns Lending. Earlier in his career, he was director of national sales at Guaranteed Rate. He started in the business at Wells Fargo, where he spent 15 years, ultimately leading 2,000 loan officers to $30 billion of production volume in the Midwest and Northeast. About Flagstar Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: FBC) is a $25.5 billion savings and loan holding company headquartered in Troy, Mich. Flagstar Bank, FSB, provides commercial, small business, and consumer banking services through 158 branches in Michigan, Indiana, California, Wisconsin and Ohio. It also provides home loans through a wholesale network of brokers and correspondents in all 50 states, as well as 83 retail locations in 28 states. Flagstar is a leading national originator and servicer of mortgage and other consumer loans, handling payments and record keeping for $291 billion of loans representing over 1.2 million borrowers. For more information, please visit flagstar.com. For more information contact: Susan Bergesen Flagstar Bank (248) 312-6237 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Flagstar Bancorp, Inc.
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/21/jim-linnane-joins-flagstar-bank-head-distributed-retail-mortgage-division/
2022-04-21T12:49:30Z
DALIAN, China, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBAT) ("CBAK Energy," or the "Company"), a leading lithium-ion battery manufacturer and electric energy solution provider in China, today announced that the Company is aware of the fact that it was provisionally identified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the "HFCAA") on April 21, 2022. The identification was anticipated by the Company as a routine HFCAA application that follows CBAK Energy's filing of an annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 with the SEC on April 15, 2022. This indicates that the SEC has determined the Company used an auditor who cannot be inspected or investigated completely by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the "PCAOB"), to issue the audit report for the Company's financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Pursuant to the HFCAA, the SEC shall prohibit a company's securities from being traded on a U.S. stock exchange if the company has been identified by the SEC under the HFCAA for three consecutive years due to the PCAOB's inability to inspect its auditor because of a position taken by the authority in the foreign jurisdiction where the auditor is located. CBAK Energy plans to identify and engage an independent public accounting firm that satisfies PCAOB inspection requirements for the audit of its consolidated financial statements within the requisite timeframe. As always, the Company will continue to comply with all applicable laws and regulations in all jurisdictions where it operates or is listed and strive to maintain its listing status on the Nasdaq Stock Market. About CBAK Energy CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. is a leading high-tech enterprise in China engaged in the development, manufacturing, and sales of new energy high power lithium batteries. The applications of the Company's products and solutions include electric vehicles, light electric vehicles, electric tools, energy storage, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and other high-power applications. In January 2006, CBAK Energy became the first lithium battery manufacturer in China listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. CBAK Energy has multiple operating subsidiaries in Dalian and Nanjing, as well as a large-scale R&D and production base in Dalian. For more information, please visit www.cbak.com.cn. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, strategy and plans, and our expectations for future operations, are 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. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including "anticipates," "believes," "can," "continue," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "should," or "will" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Our actual results may differ materially or perhaps significantly from those discussed herein, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are only estimates or predictions of future events based on information currently available to our management and management's current beliefs about the potential outcome of future events. Whether these future events will occur as management anticipates, whether we will achieve our business objectives, and whether our revenues, operating results, or financial condition will improve in future periods are subject to numerous risks. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including: significant legal and operational risks associated with having substantially all of our business operations in China, the Chinese government may exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene in or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our securities or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless, trading in our securities may be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB subsequently determines our audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely, the effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic, changes in domestic and foreign laws, regulations and taxes, uncertainties related to China's legal system and economic, political and social events in China, the volatility of the securities markets; and other risks including, but not limited to, the ability of the Company to meet its contractual obligations, the uncertain market for the Company's lithium battery cells and business, macroeconomic, technological, regulatory, or other factors affecting the profitability of battery cells designed for energy storage that we discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in our other reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. You should read these factors and the other cautionary statements made in this press release. If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: CBAK Energy Technology, Inc. Investor Relations Department Mr. Thierry Jiewei Li Phone: 86-18675423231 Email: ir@cbak.com.cn The Blueshirt Group Ms. Feifei Shen Phone: +86 13466566136 Email: feifei@blueshirtgroup.com The Blueshirt Group Ms. Suwen Feng Phone: +86 13917110134 Email: suwen@blueshirtgroup.com In the United States: The Blueshirt Group Ms. Julia Qian Phone: +1 973-619-3227 Email: Julia@blueshirtgroup.com Related Links https://ir.cbak.com.cn/ View original content: SOURCE CBAK Energy Technology, Inc.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/cbak-energy-releases-status-update-sec-announcements-under-holding-foreign-companies-accountable-act/
2022-04-23T00:31:25Z
DONGGUAN, China, July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogness (International) Corporation ("Dogness" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: DOGZ), a developer and manufacturer of a comprehensive line of Dogness-branded, OEM and private label pet products, today announced that Argus Research, an investment research firm retained by Dogness, updated its Equity Research Report coverage on Dogness. Click here to view Full Argus Report Highlights, as conveyed by Argus Analyst Steve Silver, include: - In our view, Dogness' successful execution of its business plan led the company back to profitability in fiscal 2021, which ended on June 30, 2021. Dogness has benefitted from a surge in demand related to increased pet ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased momentum for its core product line, led by higher-margin smart pet products. - In our view, Dogness is in the early stage of a growth cycle that led the company back to profitability in fiscal 2021 (ended June 30, 2021), and continued through the first half of fiscal 2022 (December 31, 2021). We think Dogness is well positioned to benefit from a surge in demand for its products, led by a line of higher-margin smart products, amid increased pet ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. - Dogness achieved 27% revenue growth in fiscal 2021, and 48% growth in the first half of fiscal 2022, despite macro-economic and COVID-related headwinds. We project sustained sales growth, driven by strong demand for the smart product portfolio, where sales and volumes increased by 193% and 155%, respectively, in the first half of fiscal 2022 and over the same period in fiscal 2021. The smart line comprised 54.5% of revenues during the first six months of fiscal 2022, compared with 32.1% for fiscal 2021, driving gross-margin expansion to 39%, compared with 37.6% in fiscal 2021 (a level not seen since 2018). - Over the past two years, Dogness significantly expanded product availability across multiple sales channels (online, specialty stores, big box warehouse clubs, and general retail outlets) in markets including China, the U.S., Canada, Japan, and others, We expect this momentum to continue, as Dogness has established new and expanding partnerships with leading retailers including Target, Petco, IKEA, and Walmart, and online platforms, including Amazon and Chewy.com, which we see easing customer concentration risk. - Thus, we expect Dogness to continue its evolution into a higher-margin technology-focused pet products company with a diversified global footprint, and to capitalize on favorable long-term global trends in the pet care industry as pet owners return to offices and require mobile pet monitoring and care. - As of December 31, 2021, Dogness had $7.1 million in cash and short-term investments on its balance sheet. Subsequently, the company raised more than $17 million in aggregate gross proceeds from equity offerings completed in February and June 2022. Based on our view of a favorable outlook for sustained positive operational cash flow, we believe the company is capitalized sufficiently to execute on its business plan. INVESTMENT THESIS (Click here to view full Argus Equity Research Report & Investment Thesis) Argus Research Co. has received a flat fee from Dogness as part of a Sponsored Research agreement between Argus and the company. No part of Argus Research's compensation is directly or indirectly related to the content of its assessment or to other opinions expressed in its research report. Please refer to the full Argus report and the disclaimer for complete disclosures. About Dogness Dogness (International) Corporation was founded in 2003 from the belief that dogs and cats are important, well-loved family members. Through its smart products, hygiene products, health and wellness products, and leash products, Dogness' technology simplifies pet lifestyles and enhances the relationship between pets and pet caregivers. The Company ensures industry-leading quality through its fully integrated vertical supply chain and world-class research and development capabilities, which has resulted in over 200 patents and patents pending. Dogness products reach families worldwide through global chain stores and distributors. For more information, please visit: ir.dogness.com . Forward Looking Statements No statement made in this press release should be interpreted as an offer to purchase or sell any security. Such an offer can only be made in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on our customers' businesses and end purchasers' disposable income, our ability to raise capital on any particular terms, fulfillment of customer orders, fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, our ability to realize revenue from expanded operation and acquired assets in China and the U.S., our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, client concentration, industry segment concentration, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Dogness may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Dogness International Corporation
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/argus-updates-equity-research-report-coverage-dogness-dogz/
2022-07-29T13:26:28Z
Leading fitness and wellness experience brands announce monetary guarantee that ClassPass will drive revenue to wellness businesses using Mindbody SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindbody, the leading experience technology platform for the wellness industry, and ClassPass, the premier fitness and wellness membership, today announced the ClassPass Revenue Guarantee. This new program, exclusive to Mindbody customers, provides a monetarily backed guarantee that ClassPass will drive incremental revenue growth. Through this guarantee, if the business does not see a positive impact within 90 days of implementing ClassPass, Mindbody will write that customer a check for 2x the difference. "In this new era of wellness, consumers are looking for well-rounded routines that encompass multiple dimensions of wellness. This provides a great opportunity for wellness businesses to expand their client base - but we know that 21% of Mindbody customers say that acquiring new clients is their top hurdle," said Fritz Lanman, CEO of Mindbody and ClassPass. "Our goal has always been to help our customers build bigger, better businesses, and our data shows ClassPass drives a 32% user increase to studios. The ClassPass Revenue Guarantee shows Mindbody customers we don't just believe that ClassPass will drive them new incremental revenue, we are willing to guarantee it." Mindbody acquired ClassPass in October of 2021 bringing two of the industry's most prominent leaders together. Mindbody helps businesses deliver amazing client experiences through powerful studio management software, while ClassPass helps businesses grow by merchandizing excess inventory and maximizing overall revenue by marketing and dynamically pricing open spots to ClassPass consumers. Together, Mindbody and ClassPass are creating the world's largest wellness experience marketplace for consumers. With 80% of ClassPass users being new to the studios they visit, and 50% being new to group fitness, the potential for wellness businesses to gain new customers with ClassPass is substantial. "Since bringing the companies together, we have seen firsthand how Mindbody and ClassPass are better together, and we are excited to show our customers just what this means through the Revenue Guarantee," Lanman said. For more information on the ClassPass Revenue Guarantee, visit https://www.mindbodyonline.com/business/classpass-guarantee . Mindbody is the leading experience technology platform for the fitness, wellness, and beauty industries. With the addition of ClassPass, the leading global fitness and wellness membership, to the Mindbody portfolio, consumers and wellness businesses around the world are easily connected through a rich wellness community. Fitness studios, salons, spas, and integrative health centers—from the newest entrepreneurs to the largest franchises—use Mindbody's integrated software and payments platform to run, market, and grow their businesses. Consumers use Mindbody and ClassPass to choose from a broad range of wellness experiences across thousands of gyms, exercise studios and wellness providers around the globe. For more information on how Mindbody is helping people lead healthier, happier lives by connecting the world to wellness, visit mindbodyonline.com. ClassPass is revolutionizing the fitness and wellness industry by bringing together the world's best classes and experiences into one app. Founded in 2013 and acquired by leading wellness technology platform, Mindbody, in 2021, ClassPass connects members to millions of classes and experiences in 30 countries around the globe while working directly with businesses to merchandise their excess inventory, find new customers and generate new streams of revenue. With tens of thousands of fitness studios, gyms, and spas in the ClassPass network, members can use ClassPass to choose from a broad range of options including workout classes such as strength training, yoga, Pilates, and boxing and spa treatments such as massage, acupuncture, manicures and more. Additionally, ClassPass is now available as a wellness benefit with the world's leading employers. Learn more at http://classpass.com. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mindbody
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/mindbody-continues-support-wellness-industry-with-launch-classpass-revenue-guarantee/
2022-09-14T14:36:52Z
California sues Amazon, alleging antitrust law violations NEW YORK (AP) — California is suing Amazon, accusing the company of violating the state’s antitrust laws by stifling competition and engaging in practices that push sellers to maintain higher prices on products on other sites. The 84-page lawsuit filed Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court mirrors another complaint filed last year by the District of Columbia, which was dismissed by a district judge earlier this year and is now going through an appeals process. But officials in California believe they won’t encounter a similar fate, partly due to information collected during a more than two-year investigation that involved subpoenas and interviews with sellers, Amazon’s competitors as well as current and former employees at the company. In the lawsuit, California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said Amazon used contract provisions to effectively bar sellers from offering lower prices for products on non-Amazon sites, including on the sellers’ own websites. That, in turn, harms the ability of other retailers to compete. The suit maintains merchants that do not comply with the policy could have their products stripped from prominent listings on Amazon and face other sanctions such as suspensions or terminations of their accounts. It alleges Amazon’s policy essentially forces merchants to list higher prices on other sites, helping the retail giant maintain its e-commerce dominance. Among other things, the California lawsuit seeks to stop Amazon from entering into contracts with sellers that harm price competition. It also seeks a court order to compel Amazon to pay damages to the state for increased prices. State officials did not say how much money they are seeking. Seattle-based Amazon controls roughly 38% of online sales in the U.S., more than that of Walmart, eBay, Apple, Best Buy and Target combined, according to the research firm Insider Intelligence. About 2 million sellers list their products on Amazon’s third-party marketplace, accounting for 58% of the company’s retail sales. “Amazon coerces merchants into agreements that keep prices artificially high, knowing full-well that they can’t afford to say no,” Bonta said in a statement. Amazon has said in the past that sellers set their own prices on the platform. It has also said it has the right to avoid highlighting products that are not priced competitively. Despite that defense, Amazon’s market power has been a subject of scrutiny from lawmakers and advocacy groups calling for stricter antitrust regulations. Earlier this year, congressional lawmakers urged the Justice Department to investigate if the company collects data on sellers to develop competing products and offer them more prominently on its site. Critics have also lambasted increasing fees imposed on sellers, which makes it more difficult for merchants to enter the market. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have been pushing bipartisan legislation aiming to limit Amazon and other Big Tech companies, including Apple, Meta and Google, from favoring their own products and services over rivals. The bill has cleared key committees but has languished in Congress for months amid intense pushback from the companies. Meanwhile, regulators have also been looking into Amazon’s business practices and deals. In July, the company offered concessions to settle two antitrust investigations in the European Union, including a promise to apply equal treatment to all sellers when ranking product offers on the site’s “buy box,” a coveted spot that makes items more visible to shoppers. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission is investigating Amazon’s $3.9 billion acquisition of the primary health organization One Medical as well as the sign-up and cancellation practices of Amazon Prime, the company’s paid subscription service that offers deals and faster shipping. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/09/14/california-sues-amazon-alleging-antitrust-law-violations/
2022-09-14T18:40:55Z
16% of Americans have responded by starting a second job or taking on gig work to keep up with the rising prices NEW YORK , July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inflation has become the dominant economic trend of 2022, rising prices have had a significant impact on American consumers. Many Americans have never experienced severe inflation before. This price surge follows almost 30 years of relatively low inflation, with the last serious spike coming in 1980. That has left many consumers struggling to cope with a new and unfamiliar reality. FinMasters surveyed more than 500 American consumers to see how they're feeling and what they are doing to keep up with the rising prices. Full report: What Are Americans Doing to Cope With Inflation? Key Findings - 95.7% of Americans, regardless of their income level, say they are worried about rising prices and are doing something in response. - The rising prices of gas, food, utilities, and housing have had the most significant impact on people's finances. - The most widespread financial choices made as the result of rising prices are delaying buying a car, canceling vacations, and postponing paying down debt. - Over 15% of Americans already had to borrow or take on credit to cover expenses. - 50% of people of all genders, ages, and income groups are cutting back on dining out and driving less than usual. - 16% of people say that they had to get a second job or take on a gig in order to keep up with the prices. About the survey The survey responses were collected from May 19 to May 20, 2022, via SurveyMonkey, with a total of 578 participants from across the USA. Respondents represent a national sample balanced by census data of age, gender, income level, and region. The survey had a margin of error +/- 4.159% with a 95% confidence level. About FinMasters.com FinMasters, a Vertigo Studio brand, is a personal finance website dedicated to financial education and in-depth research of financial products and services. For more information please visit www.finmasters.com. View original content: SOURCE FinMasters
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/finmasters-95-americans-say-they-are-worried-about-inflation/
2022-07-19T15:05:38Z
LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed to resign Thursday after days of defections crippled the controversial leader and left him unable to govern. Johnson finally agreed to step down after one of his closest allies, Treasury Chief Nadhim Zahawi, told the prime minister to resign for the good of the country. It was not immediately clear whether Johnson will stay in office while the Conservative Party chooses a new leader, who will automatically become prime minister as well. A formal announcement is expected later Thursday. “Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country,” Zahawi said in a letter to Johnson. “You must do the right thing and go now.” Zahawi’s intervention came after two more members of Johnson’s Cabinet resigned, along with three junior officials, pushing the number of those who have left the government this week past 50. Johnson on Wednesday rejected calls to resign, arguing that he had a mandate from the voters to remain in office. But by Thursday morning the man who has built a reputation for wriggling out of political controversies was forced to admit the reality of his situation. Bernard Jenkin, a senior Conservative Party lawmaker, said he met with Johnson on Wednesday and advised him to stand down. “I just said to him, ‘Look, it’s just when you go now, and it’s how you go. You can go with some dignity or you can be forced out like Donald Trump, clinging to power and pretending he’s won the election when he’s lost,’’ Jenkin told the BBC before Johnson agreed to resign. Johnson, 58, managed to remain in power for almost three years, despite allegations that he was too close to party donors, that he protected supporters from bullying and corruption allegations, and that he misled Parliament and was dishonest to the public about government office parties that broke pandemic lockdown rules. But recent disclosures that Johnson knew about sexual misconduct allegations against Chris Pincher, a Conservative lawmaker, before he promoted Pincher to a senior position turned out to be the last straw. Last week, Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip after complaints he groped two men at a private club. That triggered a series of reports about past allegations leveled against Pincher — and shifting explanations from the government about what Johnson knew when he tapped him for a senior job enforcing party discipline. Health Secretary Sajid Javid and Treasury chief Rishi Sunak resigned within minutes of each other Wednesday over the scandal. The two Cabinet heavyweights were responsible for tackling two of the biggest issues facing Britain — the cost-of-living crisis and COVID-19. Javid captured the mood of many lawmakers when he said Johnson’s actions threatened to undermine the integrity of the Conservative Party and the British government. “At some point we have to conclude that enough is enough,” he told fellow lawmakers Wednesday. “I believe that point is now.” Welsh Secretary Simon Hart resigned on Wednesday, and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis followed suite early Thursday, telling Johnson in his resignation letter that “we are … past the point of no return. I cannot sacrifice my personal integrity to defend things as they stand now.” He was later followed by Education Secretary Michelle Donelan, who was only appointed to her post on Tuesday to replace Zahawi. Johnson had attempted to defy the mathematics of parliamentary government and the traditions of British politics. It is rare for a prime minister to cling to power in the face of this much pressure from his Cabinet colleagues. The closest parallel may be Margaret Thatcher, the long-time Conservative prime minister who in 1990 sought to remain in office after her authority was undermined by disagreements over Britain’s relationship with what is now known as the European Union. But even she decided to resign after a number of Cabinet ministers told her it would be better for the party if she stepped aside. Johnson may try to remain in office until the Conservative Party chooses a new leader, a process likely to take place over the summer. But some Conservatives said he should leave 10 Downing St. immediately to end the chaos engulfing the government. George Freeman, who quit as science minister on Thursday, tweeted that “Boris Johnson needs to hand in the seals of office, apologise to Her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth II) and advise her to call for a caretaker prime minister. To take over today so that ministers can get back to work and we can choose a new Conservative leader to try and repair the damage and rebuild trust.”
https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/embattled-uk-prime-minister-boris-johnson-to-resign/
2022-07-07T11:14:10Z
BEIJING, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It has been one year since "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" was added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, and Quanzhou, a coastal city in east China's Fujian Province, has made great efforts throughout the year to build itself into a model in world heritage site protection and utilization. Quanzhou was one of the world's largest ports along the historic Maritime Silk Road, particularly in ancient China's Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" serial property includes 22 sites of administrative buildings and structures, religious buildings, and statues. Over the year, to strengthen the protection and utilization of cultural heritages, the city has made a lot of efforts. At the beginning of the year, Quanzhou issued the "Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China" world heritage protection and management measures. The Quanzhou historical and cultural city protection regulations was also formally implemented this year, providing legal support for long-term and sound protection and utilization of world heritages. The city has also built an information management platform for immovable cultural relics and set up a "legal protection base for cultural heritages". "Successful application for the world heritage is not the end, but a new starting point," said Tang Hongjie, head of the Quanzhou Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute, noting that long-term and sustained archaeological work is necessary for protecting and utilizing world heritages, publicizing and demonstrating their value, and telling the stories of China. By taking the opportunity of winning UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status, Quanzhou has given priority to the construction of provincial archaeological site parks. Besides, it has preliminarily formed the 2021-2035 Quanzhou world cultural heritage archaeological research plan. To bring cultural relics to life, Quanzhou has built various exhibition halls featuring immersive experience at the heritage sites, helping the audience understand the heritage stories and the history of Quanzhou with the unique language of the exhibits. The city has also leveraged short-video platforms and other social media platforms to display Quanzhou from tourism, cultural creation, explanation and other dimensions. Celebrities in the local culture and art circles also contribute greatly to the promotion of Quanzhou. See the original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/329221.html View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/xinhua-silk-road-world-heritage-site-quanzhou-strives-be-model-cultural-heritage-protection-utilization/
2022-07-27T08:00:45Z
OMAHA, Neb., June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carson Group successfully transitioned Diamond Wealth Advisors to its growing network of partners. The Carlisle, Pennsylvania-based financial planning and wealth management firm was the most recent to join Carson Partners, a nationwide network of 130 growth-minded firms across the U.S. founded in 2012 by Ron Carson. "As a partner firm, Jim and his team now have access to fully integrated technology, investments and advanced financial planning solutions that will allow them to deliver a superior client experience," said Gregg Johnson, national sales director for Carson Group. "Paired with the support of Carson's entire team of M&A experts, they also have the support they need to grow their business." Diamond Wealth Advisors, which has more than $200 million in assets under management, remains independently owned by the firm's CEO, founder and wealth advisor, Jim DeGaetano, CFP®, CPA. DeGaetano is already expanding the firm's reach and services through the support provided by Carson Partners. "Since coming on board, we've been able to fully plug into Carson's entire ecosystem of technology, investments, marketing and M&A support and have seen an immediate impact in our business," said DeGaetano. "We know that this partnership will have a tremendous effect on our firm's future growth and the individuals and businesses we serve." Carson Group is one of America's fastest-growing companies. It currently manages $20 billion in assets and collectively serves more than 42,000 client families across the United States, with 130 partner firms in its ecosystem. For more information visit www.carsongroup.com. Carson Group serves financial advisors and investors through its businesses, including Carson Wealth, Carson Coaching and Carson Partners. The family of companies offers coaching and partnership services to advisor firms and straightforward financial advice to the investing public. All three organizations are headquartered in Omaha, Neb., and share a common mission to be the most trusted for financial advice. For more information, visit www.carsongroup.com. Carson Partners offers investment advisory service through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Carson Partners, a division of CWM, LLC, is a nationwide partnership of advisors. Carson Coaching and CWM, LLC are separate but affiliated companies and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Carson Holdings, LLC. Carson Coaching does not provide advisory services. Press Contact: Megan Belt 531.231.2539 meganbelt@carsongroup.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Carson Group
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/carson-group-adds-200-million-pennsylvania-firm-partner-network/
2022-06-15T15:23:54Z
SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, July 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, and Laekna Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to bringing ground-breaking therapies to cancer and liver fibrosis patients worldwide, jointly announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05383482) of a three-drug combination therapy (afuresertib + sintilimab + chemotherapy) in patients with specific solid tumors who were resistant to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy at the West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University. This marks a key milestone on the first anniversary of the clinical research partnership established between Innovent and Laekna in July 2021. The study is a multi-center, single-arm, open-label, dose-escalation Phase 1/2 clinical study, assessing recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity of afuresertib in combination with sintilimab and chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel or docetaxel) in patients with solid tumors who were resistant to prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. The principal investigator of the study is Professor Lin Shen, Director of the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology of Beijing Cancer Hospital. The primary endpoints of the Phase 1 dose escalation study are maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and RP2D, and the primary endpoint of the Phase 2 study is overall response rate (ORR). The study is planned to be extended as a multi-regional clinical trial at the pivotal stage. The clinical trial assesses five types of solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC), esophageal cancer (EsC), cervical cancer (CC) and endometrial cancer (EC). The study focuses on the AKT inhibitor, a potential new therapy for drug resistant-cancer, to address the unmet medical needs in cancer immunotherapy resistance and bring hope to solid tumor patients who have received prior anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatments. The combination therapy consists of Laekna's afuresertib (LAE002), a highly selective ATP competitive AKT inhibitor in pivotal clinical trials with favorable clinical efficacy and safety profile, and Innovent's PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab (TYVYT®), which has been approved for six indications in China with the first four included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL). The subject who received the first dose was a patient with cervical cancer. Professor Rutie Yin, investigator of the center where the first patient was dosed and Director of the Department of Chemoradiotherapy Oncology at the West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University, said, "Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally in women1. In 2020, China reported about 110,000 new cases and about 60,000 death cases of cervical cancer2. Patients are faced with limited treatment options and the prognosis is poor3,4. Immunotherapy plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, and there is huge unmet need. With the launch of new immunosuppressants, they've been applied to more patients and become essential for the treatment of cervical cancer. AKT inhibitor, a serine/threonine-specific protein kinase, is considered a potential new target for cancer treatment as results of multiple preclinical studies showed that inhibition of AKT could restore the sensitivity of cancer cells to anti-tumor therapies. We look forward to the progress of the clinical trial and hope it will bring new breakthroughs to the later-line treatment of cervical cancer in China." Professor Lin Shen, principal investigator of the study, Director of the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology of from Beijing Cancer Hospital, stated, "Innovation never stops in oncology as we are always looking for new ways to treat cancer patients. Based on results from the preclinical and clinical studies, the combination of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, an AKT inhibitor and taxanes shows potential to be a new treatment option for patients who were resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors5,6,7,8. The trial conducted by Laekna and Innovent aims to explore this innovative combination therapy and validate this new promising solution. There is a significant clinical need for patients with digestive system and gynecologic solid tumors in China; we hope to see that AKT-targeting therapy will prove to be an effective strategy to overcome drug resistance." Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Innovent, stated, "With the increasing prescription of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in first-line settings in various tumor types, many patients developed ICI resistance or have poor response rates in clinical practice. It is of great clinical value to explore potential treatments for this huge unmet medical need. Sintilimab is the first PD-1 inhibitor in China with first-line indications for 5 major types of cancers. Innovent hopes to continue to develop the potential of high-quality drugs, in this case by combination therapy with Laekna's innovative AKT inhibitor. We look forward to the results of clinical trial to bring clinical benefits to patients with specific solid tumors." Dr. Yong Yue, Chief Medical Officer of Laekna, said, "It took less than six months to complete the journey from IND approval to dosing of first patient, showing robust strategic execution of Laekna's global clinical team. There are three main considerations in selecting the five types of solid tumors: PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have been approved as the standard-of-care treatments for those cancers in multiple countries; higher rates of biomarkers that activate the AKT pathway in patients with resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy were observed in those cancers; and the incidence rates and death rates are relatively high in China. We hope this innovative three-drug combination therapy will benefit patients with these solid tumors." About Afuresertib (LAE002) Afuresertib (LAE002) is an investigational highly selective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive AKT inhibitor. Laekna in-licensed afuresertib from Novartis in 2018 and are conducting five combination therapy clinical trials for the treatment of ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and PD-1/PD-L1-resistant solid tumors. Prior to Laekna's in-licensing agreement, over 10 clinical trials had been conducted to demonstrate the safety and efficacy profiles of afuresertib. In the Phase Ib study conducted by Novartis, afuresertib showed potential anti-tumor efficacy in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) patients with an overall response rate (ORR) of 32.1% and progression-free survival (PFS) of 7.1 months9. In pre-clinical studies, afuresertib has demonstrated its ability to restore platinum/paclitaxel sensitivity in PROC cell lines. After the in-licensing agreement, Laekna also identified the therapeutic potential of combining afuresertib and LAE001 (an investigational potential first-in-class next-generation androgen synthesis inhibitor that simultaneously inhibits both CYP17A1 and CYP11B2) and observed their synergistic anti-tumor efficacy in our completed Phase 1 and ongoing Phase 2 studies in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients as second- to fourth-line treatments. According to Frost & Sullivan, afuresertib is one of the three AKT inhibitors worldwide that have entered pivotal clinical trials10. About Sintilimab Sintilimab, marketed as TYVYT® (sintilimab injection) in China, is a PD-1 immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody jointly developed by Innovent and Eli Lilly and Company. Sintilimab is a type of immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody, which binds to PD-1 molecules on the surface of T-cells, blocks the PD-1 / PD-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway, and reactivates T-cells to kill cancer cells11. Innovent is currently conducting more than 20 clinical studies of sintilimab to evaluate its safety and efficacy in a wide variety of cancer indications, including more than 10 registrational or pivotal clinical trials. In China, sintilimab has been approved for six indications as below, with the first four included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), including: - The treatment of relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin's lymphoma after two lines or later of systemic chemotherapy; - In combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer lacking EGFR or ALK driver mutations; - In combination with gemcitabine and platinum chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of squamous non-small cell lung cancer; - In combination with BYVASDA® (bevacizumab biosimilar injection) for the first-line treatment of unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma; - In combination with cisplatin plus paclitaxel or cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil for the first-line treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; - In combination with fluorouracil and platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of unresectable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Innovent currently has the regulatory submission for sintilimab in combination with bevacizumab biosimilar and chemotherapy for EGFR-mutated non-squamous NSCLC following EGFR-TKI treatment under review in the China's NMPA. Additionally, two clinical studies of sintilimab have met their primary endpoints: - Phase 2 study as second-line treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; - Phase 3 study as second-line treatment for squamous NSCLC with disease progression following platinum-based chemotherapy. About Innovent Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing high-quality innovative medicines for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases. On October 31, 2018, Innovent was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 01801.HK. Since its inception, Innovent has developed a fully integrated multi-functional platform which includes R&D, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Leveraging the platform, the company has built a robust pipeline of 32 valuable assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major therapeutic areas, with 7 products approved for marketing in China – TYVYT® (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA® (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO® (adalimumab biosimilar injection), HALPRYZA® (rituximab biosimilar injection) , Pemazyre® (pemigatinib oral inhibitor) and olverembatinib (BCR-ABL TKI) and Cyramza® (ramucirumab) , 3 asset under NMPA NDA review, 3 assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials, and an additional 19 molecules in clinical studies. Innovent has built an international team with advanced talent in high-end biological drug development and commercialization, including many global experts. The company has also entered into strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly and Company, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Hanmi and other international partners. Innovent strives to work with many collaborators to help advance China's biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability and enhance the quality of the patients' lives. For more information, please visit: www.innoventbio.com. and www.linkedin.com/company/innovent-biologics/. Note: Sintilimab is not an approved product in the United States. BYVASDA® (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), HALPRYZA® (rituximab biosimilar injection), and SULINNO® (adalimumab biosimilar injection) are not approved products in the United States. TYVYT® (sintilimab injection, Innovent) BYVASDA® (bevacizumab biosimilar injection, Innovent) HALPRYZA® (rituximab biosimilar injection, Innovent) SULINNO® (adalimumab biosimilar injection, Innovent) Pemazyre® (pemigatinib oral inhibitor, Incyte Corporation). Pemazyre® was discovered by Incyte Corporation and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. CYRAMZA® (ramucirumab, Eli Lilly). Cyramza® was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China. About Laekna Founded in 2016, Laekna is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, dedicated to bringing ground-breaking therapies to cancer and liver fibrosis patients worldwide. Laekna has two potential core products: LAE002 is an investigational highly selective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive AKT inhibitor for the treatment of ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and PD-1/PD-L1 drug-resistant solid tumors. The other core product LAE001 is an investigational potential first-in-class next-generation androgen synthesis inhibitor that simultaneously inhibits both CYP17A1 and CYP11B2 for the treatment of prostate cancer. Laekna's robust infrastructure has already enabled the rapid development of 14 innovative product candidates, including one pivotal clinical trial and another five clinical trials for it's potential core products. Among these six clinical trials, three multi-regional clinical trials (MRCTs) are designed to address urgent yet unmet global medical needs in the standard of care (SOC)-resistant cancers. Laekna's internal drug discovery primarily focuses on coordinating the human immune system to treat cancer and liver fibrosis. For more information, please visit: https://www.laekna.com/ or https://www.linkedin.com/company/74110713/ Innovent's Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly. These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions. Innovent, the Directors and the employees of Innovent assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect. 1 Hyuna Sung, Jacques Ferlay, Rebecca L. Siegel, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide. 2 Wei Cao, Hong-Da Chen, Yi-Wen Yu, Ni Li, Wan-Qing Chen. Changing profiles of cancer burden worldwide and in China: a secondary analysis of the global cancer statistics 2020 3 D. Lorusso, G. Ferrandina, S. Pignata, et al.Evaluation of pemetrexed (Alimta, LY231514) as second-line chemotherapy in persistent or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix: the CERVIX 1 study of theMITO (multicentre Italian trials in ovarian cancer and gynecologic malignancies) group, Ann. Oncol. 21 (2010) 61–66. 4 D.S. Miller, J.A. Blessing, D.C. Bodurka, A.J. Bonebrake, J.O. Schorge, Evaluation of pemetrexed (Alimta, LY231514) as second line chemotherapy in persistent or recurrent carcinoma of the cervix: a phase II study of the gynecologic oncology group, Gynecol. Oncol. 110 (2008) 65–70 5 Altomare, Deborah, A, et al. Perturbations of the AKT signaling pathway in human cancer[J]. Oncogene, 2005; 24:7455-7464. 6 Engelman J A. Targeting PI3K signalling in cancer: opportunities, challenges and limitations[J]. Nature Reviews Cancer, 2009;09:550–562. 7 Aaron C Tan. Targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [J]. Thoracic Cancer 11, 2020: 511–518. 8 Lastwika KJ, Wilson W, Li QK, Norris J, Xu H, Ghazarian SR, et al. Control of PD-L1 expression by oncogenic activation of the AKT-mTOR pathway in non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Research. 2016 Jan 15;76(2):227–38. 9 Blagden SP, Hamilton AL, Mileshkin L et al. Phase IB Dose-Escalation and Expansion Study of AKT inhibitor afuresertib with carboplatin and paclitaxel in recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2019; 25(5):1472-1478. 10 https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ 11 Zhang S, Zhang M, Wu W, et al. Preclinical characterization of Sintilimab, a fully human anti-PD-1 therapeutic monoclonal antibody for cancer[J]. Antibody Therapeutics, 2018, 1(2): 65-73. View original content: SOURCE Innovent Biologics
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/innovent-laekna-jointly-announce-first-patient-dosed-with-three-drug-combination-phase-12-study-treatment-patients-with-solid-tumors-who-were-resistant-prior-anti-pd-1pd-l1-therapy/
2022-08-01T00:58:01Z
CHEONGJU, South Korea, June 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cheongju Craft Biennale (referred to as the Biennale) published the competition guidelines for the '2023 Cheongju International Craft Competition (referred to as the Competition)' on Monday, June 10. The competition is conducted in two areas: "Craft Competition" and "Craft City Lab Competition", where proposals are open for public offering. The application period is from March 31 to May 7, 2023. The first application for both fields is conducted only online on the Biennale's official website (www.okcj.org). In the "Craft Competition" field, one person or one team can submit one piece at a time, regardless of genre or material. Only works produced between 2021 and 2023 can be submitted. Only those selected in the first online screening will be submitted actual craft works, and the final results will be announced in August of next year. In particular, four categories were newly established this time: Young Artist Award, Partner Award, Popularity Award, and Residency Award. This was prepared to provide motivation for creation to excellent domestic and foreign artists and to support more active activities. In the "Craft City Lab Competition" field, ideas for a city where crafts and humans coexist under the theme of 'Craft and City' are contested. One person or one team can apply for one project, and only applicants selected in the first screening will undergo the 2nd PT screening. The final winner will complete their research and manuscript writing by August 2023, and the writing period will be a total of two months. In both fields, applicants from 18 years of age or older can apply regardless of nationality. Detailed information such as the application guidelines can be found on the official website (www.okcj.org) and related inquiries can only be made via email cbcompetition2019@gmail.com. The Competition began in 1999 along with the Cheongju Craft Biennale, and has produced over 1,800 award-winning works by artists from 50 countries to date, leading the world craft trend. The 2023 Biennale will be held for 45 days from September 1 to October 15 in 2023, Cheongju, South Korea. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Organizing Committee of the Cheongju Craft Biennale(South Korea)
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/10/2023-cheongju-international-craft-competition-outline-published/
2022-06-10T14:19:50Z
Leading countries demonstrated strongest position for early deployment of hydrogen technologies and infrastructure BOULDER, Colo., June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report from Guidehouse Insights provides country-level assessments for 20 influential national players in the hydrogen sector. The report identifies five Leaders in the market: Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. These countries are well positioned to take early leadership in the deployment of hydrogen technologies due to strong policy regimes and high levels of project activity. The hydrogen industry has developed into a key arena for international competition. National governments are setting increasingly ambitious targets for hydrogen technology deployment, motivated by the promise of emissions reductions and the potential for technology leadership, economic resilience, and improved security of supply. According to a Leaderboard report from Guidehouse Insights, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, the Republic of Korea and Japan are the leading countries for hydrogen preparedness. "Green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity is expected to play a central role in the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors and the transportation of renewable energy across international borders. Blue hydrogen produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage is also anticipated to drive emissions reductions, especially in fossil fuel producing regions," says Jacques Moss, research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. "Leaders are currently in the strongest position for early deployment of hydrogen technologies and infrastructure." The characteristics of the global hydrogen economy are likely to differ substantially from those of the fossil fuel industry. Since renewable energy potentials are more widely distributed than fossil fuel resources, a fundamental reconfiguration of importer and exporter relationships is likely to occur, according to the report. The report, Guidehouse Insights Leaderboard: Hydrogen Preparedness Index for 20 Countries, provides country level assessments for 20 influential national players in the hydrogen sector. The list covers a diverse selection of countries including up-and-coming players aiming to exploit their renewable energy potential as future exporters; fossil fuel producers seeking to retain control over existing markets; energy consumers intent on securing sufficient low-cost hydrogen for industry and other purposes; and technology producers keen to corner the market for electrolyzers, fuel cells, and other hydrogen technologies. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Insights website. Guidehouse Insights, the dedicated market intelligence arm of Guidehouse, provides research, data, and benchmarking services for today's rapidly changing and highly regulated industries. Our insights are built on in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research, and demand assessment, paired with a deep examination of technology trends, to provide a comprehensive view of emerging resilient infrastructure systems. Additional information about Guidehouse Insights can be found at www.guidehouseinsights.com. Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has more than 13,000 professionals in over 50 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit www.guidehouse.com. * The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Guidehouse Insights Leaderboard: Hydrogen Preparedness Index for 20 Countries, is a summary and reflects the current expectations of Guidehouse Insights based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Guidehouse Insights nor Guidehouse undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report. For more information, contact: Cecile Fradkin +1.646.941.9139 cfradkin@scprgroup.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Guidehouse Insights
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/guidehouse-insights-names-germany-netherlands-australia-republic-korea-japan-leading-countries-hydrogen-preparedness/
2022-06-09T09:23:37Z
Dynacare, a leading Canadian health and wellness solutions leader, puts consumers in the driver's seat with access to leading, science-backed human optimization system, InsideTracker. CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsideTracker, the leading, truly personalized performance and nutrition system, today entered into an agreement with Dynacare, Canada's most established health solutions company. InsideTracker will provide patient-directed blood testing, expert analysis and science-backed, actionable insights to Canadian consumers through the Dynacare Plus App. Starting today, individuals can access InsideTracker through a link inside the Dynacare Plus App to select the right plan for them at an exclusive discount. Dynacare patients will also receive education about InsideTracker's industry-leading personalized nutrition and lifestyle platform through video content and physical brochures in Dynacare patient service centers and through Dynacare email and social media channels. "Dynacare is on a mission to put patients in the driver's seat of their health and wellness, but the missing link for patient-directed testing has always been expert analysis and science-backed, actionable insights," said Vito Ciciretto, CEO of Dynacare. "By collaborating with InsideTracker, we're adding that missing link and helping to provide people with the information they need to move closer to their health and wellness goals." InsideTracker analyzes the body's data from blood and fitness trackers, as well as an individual's lifestyle, to give a clearer, more holistic picture of what's going on inside the body than ever before. Its carefully curated plans are based on well-researched blood biomarkers that align to goals such as athletic performance, longevity or general health and wellness. The user can conveniently order a Dynacare mobile blood collection from their home or office. Test results are analyzed along with information about lifestyle, goals and food preferences using a proprietary algorithm fed by decades of peer-reviewed research to determine whether markers are optimized for the individual and their goals. A science-backed, personalized Action Plan is then delivered via a mobile app that syncs with popular fitness trackers to deliver more precise and personalized insights and real-time ProTips that, when combined with regular retesting, allows for continual recalibration to optimize the metrics that matter the most. "As more Canadians seek out self-directed wellness options, InsideTracker has seen sales in Canada grow an astounding 426 percent in 2022 over the same period in 2021," said Rony Sellam, CEO of InsideTracker. "Through our agreement with Dynacare, we can empower even more Canadians to take control of their health, wellness and performance with the science-backed insights and recommendations that make InsideTracker a leader in precision wellness." Today's launch of InsideTracker services within the Dynacare Plus App is the first step of a greater integration between InsideTracker plans and the Dynacare patient portal. Founded in 2009 by top scientists from acclaimed universities in the fields of aging, genetics and biology, InsideTracker is a truly personalized nutrition and performance system. InsideTracker's mission is to help people add years to their lives and life to their years by optimizing their bodies from the inside out. By analyzing the body's data from blood, DNA and fitness trackers, InsideTracker gives a crystal clear picture of what's going on inside, along with a science-backed action plan for improving your health and becoming your best self. Read our peer-reviewed papers in Scientific Reports and Current Developments in Nutrition. Dynacare, a Labcorp company, is committed to being Canada's health and wellness solutions leader. Quality care is at the heart of everything we do. We are continually developing innovative programs and services to positively impact the lives of Canadians and help health care providers deliver the best care possible. www.dyncare.ca Follow InsideTracker on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Media Contact: Heather Hawkins hhawkins@insidetracker.com (415) 598-8662 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE InsideTracker
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/20/dynacare-insidetracker-reach-agreement-deliver-patient-requested-blood-testing-expert-analysis-actionable-insights-canada/
2022-06-20T14:15:28Z
With summer coming to an end, Temple-area school districts are preparing to welcome children back onto campus. Bartlett ISD starts Monday while Holland ISD and Moody ISD will open Tuesday. Several districts — Belton ISD, Bruceville-Eddy ISD, Cameron ISD, Jarrell ISD, Rogers ISD, Rockdale ISD, Rosebud-Lott ISD, Salado ISD and Troy ISD — begin classes Wednesday. Academy ISD starts Thursday. Temple ISD will see students return later this month — on Aug. 24. “There’s a lot of anticipation and a lot of excitement for the kids to come back on Wednesday,” Salado ISD Superintendent Michael Novotny told the Telegram. “The last two and a half years have been challenging dealing with COVID-19 so we’re really looking forward to pre-pandemic conditions. That means a school year with a high rate of student attendance. We just want an outstanding school year for us.” Although classes begin in just a few short days, he noted how some students have already returned to the high school on a regular basis to participate in extracurricular activities. “The cross country team and band started back in July, and volleyball and football started in August,” Novotny said. “So that’s about 200 kids if you combine the number of kids in those four activities.” The Salado ISD superintendent also was proud to report that his district is nearly fully staffed. “We have two custodian openings and one bus driver opening right now, but other than that we’re fully staffed,” Novotny said. “A lot of districts around the state and around the nation are not as fortunate. There are some that are still looking for hundreds of teachers, so we’re excited to have all our teaching positions filled. We’re in good shape from a staffing standpoint.” Belton ISD is one of the local districts still looking to fill more positions — roles that are for teachers, educational aides, diagnosticians, bus drivers, custodians, school nutrition staff, a licensed school psychology specialist and a speech language pathologist. The district, which welcomed its teachers back to work on Aug. 2, will try to fill these positions during a job fair 2-4 p.m. Monday. Temple ISD, which only has two teacher openings, has that same level of anticipation. “We had one opening until two days ago and now we have two,” Temple ISD Superintendent Bobby Ott said Saturday. “The recent opening is an additional one only due to an increased number of kindergartners coming in — basically because we are growing. “We have hired teachers from all over — some from neighboring districts such as Academy, Belton, Killeen, Waco and Austin — but we have also hired from out of state such as Florida and Indiana.” Temple ISD starts school later since staffers requested that most development and training days occur early in the school year. “Our staff has requested we front-load a majority of our staff development to allow them to be as prepared as possible for the first day of school,” Ott said. “We have less consecutive intercession days off throughout the year to maintain consistency for our students and families.” Ott told staff during the district’s annual convocation Friday that he is excited to start the school year. “I’m excited to serve alongside you to do everything we possibly can to make sure our students receive a high quality education,” he said. “Every single day you change lives. That is why it’s different here.” City Editor Eric E. Garcia contributed to this report.
https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_589beb9a-1b80-11ed-8d38-af432743a96e.html
2022-08-14T05:50:32Z
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagens Berman urges Polished.com Inc. (NYSE: POL) investors with significant losses to submit your losses now. The firm is investigating possible securities law violations Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/POL Contact An Attorney Now: POL@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 Polished.com Inc. (POL) Investigation: In the past, Polished.com (f/k/a 1847 Goedeker Inc. (GOED)) has assured investors that it has adequate internal controls over financial reporting and its financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The company's claims may have come into question beginning on Feb. 2, 2022, when it announced the resignation of its Chief Accounting Officer (Robert D. Barry). This news drove the price of Polished.com shares about 6.5% lower the next day. Then, on Aug. 15, 2022, Polished.com announced it would not timely file its quarterly report for the period ended June 30, 2022. The company revealed that its Audit Committee "recently began an independent investigation regarding certain allegations made by certain former employees related to the Company's business operations." This news drove the price of Polished.com shares crashing over 35% lower on Aug. 16, 2022, wiping out over $55 million of shareholder value. "We're focused on investors' losses and whether Polished.com may have cooked its books," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in Polished.com and have significant losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Polished.com should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email mailto:POL@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a national law firm with eight offices in eight cities around the country and over eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com. For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw. Contact: Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/pol-investor-alert-hagens-berman-national-trial-attorneys-encourages-polishedcom-pol-goed-investors-contact-firms-attorneys-firm-investigating-possible-securities-law-violations/
2022-08-17T15:22:33Z
PHILADELPHIA , May 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating eHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: EHTH) ("eHealth" or the "Company") on behalf of the Company's long-term investors. Recently a securities fraud complaint was filed against eHealth on behalf of certain investors who purchased shares of the Company's common stock between March 19, 2018 and July 23, 2020. According to the complaint, on April 7, 2020, research firm Muddy Waters Capital published a report alleging that eHealth had engaged in accounting misconduct. Among other thing, the report alleged that eHealth's financial statements for 2019: (i) overstated revenue by $128 million; (ii) overstated operating profit by $263 million; and (iii) understated an operating loss of -$181 million. Following the release of this report, shares of the eHealth's stock declined $13.70 per share, or 11% in value, to close on April 8, 2020 at $103.20 per share. Then, on July 23, 2020, when eHealth announced its earnings results for the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the company's stock price fell again as the information contained in its announcement confirmed substantive aspects of the "member churn" allegations previously asserted in the Muddy Waters report. Following this additional news, shares of eHealth's stock declined an additional $34.83 per share, or over 30% in value, to close on July 24, 2020 at $79.17 per share. The investigation seeks to determine whether the members of eHealth's board of directors breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the above alleged misconduct. Current eHealth stockholders who purchased or acquired shares of the Company's common stock prior to March 19, 2018 are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 – 0750, or by email (abell@kaskelalaw.com) or online at https://kaskelalaw.com/cases/ehealth-inc/ , to receive additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options. Kaskela Law LLC exclusively represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation. For additional information about the firm please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. Adrienne Bell, Esq. KASKELA LAW LLC 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (888) 715 – 1740 (484) 229 – 0750 www.kaskelalaw.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/28/ehth-shareholder-alert-kaskela-law-llc-announces-investigation-ehealth-inc-encourages-long-term-ehth-investors-contact-firm/
2022-05-28T14:09:13Z
SEOUL, South Korea, June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- d'Alba's waterfull sunscreens are their other signature line of products apart from the best-selling white truffle first spray serum. The steady selling sunscreen line includes three products with variations to accommodate different needs. The products are: waterfull essence sunscreen (chemical sunscreen), waterfull mild sunscreen (mineral/physical sunscreen), and waterfull tone-up sunscreen (pink tinted hybrid sunscreen). The sunscreens have sold over 2 million bottles globally and the waterfull essence sunscreen has received 5.0/5.0 rating from beauty and skincare experts on Beautytap.com. Reviewed well for being non-greasy, fast absorbing, smooth, and having strong sun protection. Although the sunscreens have different sun protecting ingredients, all three products have smooth application, like an essence, concurring with "waterfull" in their names. All d'Alba's sunscreens have been certified vegan by V-Label, an Italian Vegetarian Union that is currently recognized internationally and a registered symbol for labelling vegan products. Their sunscreens have gentle and mild plant-based ingredients, making them suitable for all skin types. Like all other d'Alba products, the sunscreens are infused with high quality white truffles harvested from Piedmont Alba in Italy. d'Alba's sunscreen line is loved by consumers in Korea. Just in 2022, d'Alba maintained as the No.1 vegan beauty brand and kept its place within the Top 3 sunscreens in Korea. They have received this ranking in the sunscreen category for being vegan, light weight, having no harsh white cast, essence-like texture, and many other reasons. d'Alba is constantly growing in the United States and the sunscreens are loved by makeup and skincare experts as they work well under makeup as well. All three sunscreens have strong sun protecting ingredients, with SPF 50+ PA++++ ratings. The sun protection ratings were in-vivo tested by Korea Institute of Dermatological Sciences against UVA and UVB rays. The waterfull essence sunscreen even provides some protection from blue light. The waterfull mild sunscreen is especially great for sensitive skin and can be used by all family members. The waterfull tone-up sunscreen has a pinkish tint to give a natural glow to the skin. The waterfull tone-up sunscreen can be applied in small amounts to give sun protection and even out the skin for a no makeup day. d'Alba is working harder to create more content to inform the consumers about their products. The new YouTube collaboration is with Tina Tanaka Harris, a skincare and beauty YouTuber that reviews mostly Japanese and Korean skincare products. In her video, all three sunscreens are featured, and Tina shows how the d'Alba vegan sunscreens apply and set after time for the viewers. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE d'Alba
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/sold-over-2-million-bottles-globally-vegan-certified-sunscreen-line-became-another-steady-seller-dalba/
2022-06-17T13:25:01Z
NEW YORK, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces the filing of a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Okta, Inc. (NASDAQ: OKTA) between March 5, 2021 and March 22, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 19, 2022. SO WHAT: If you purchased Okta securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Okta class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6365 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than July 19, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Okta had inadequate cybersecurity controls; (2) as a result, Okta's systems were vulnerable to data breaches; (3) Okta ultimately did experience a data breach caused by a hacking group, which potentially affected hundreds of Okta customers; (4) Okta initially did not disclose and subsequently downplayed the severity of the data breach; (5) all the foregoing, once revealed, was likely to have a material negative impact on Okta's business, financial condition, and reputation; and (6) as a result, defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Okta class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6365 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/okta-loss-alert-rosen-top-ranked-national-investor-attorneys-encourages-okta-inc-investors-with-losses-excess-100k-secure-counsel-before-important-deadline-securities-class-action-okta/
2022-06-02T22:05:17Z
The Bank of Princeton Announces Second Quarter 2022 Results Published: Jul. 21, 2022 at 3:01 PM CDT|Updated: 25 minutes ago PRINCETON, N.J., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bank of Princeton (the "Bank") (NASDAQ: BPRN) today reported its unaudited results of operations and financial condition for and at the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The Bank reported net income of $6.3 million, or $0.98 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2022, compared to net income of $6.0 million, or $0.91 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2022, and net income of $5.5 million, or $0.80 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2021. The increase in net income, when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022, was primarily due to an increase of $433 thousand in net interest income and a $66 thousand increase in non-interest income, partially offset by a $160 thousand increase in non-interest expenses and a $33 thousand increase income taxes payable. The increase in net income, when comparing it to the three months ended June 30, 2021, was primarily due to an increase in net interest income of $552 thousand, a $1.0 million decrease in the provision for loan losses and a $94 thousand increase in non-interest income, partially offset by a $746 thousand increase in non-interest expenses and a $97 thousand increase in income tax expense. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, the Bank recorded net income of $12.3 million, or $1.89 per diluted common share, compared to $10.4 million, or $1.50 per diluted common share for the same period in 2021, primarily due to a $2.1 million decrease in the Bank's provision for loan losses, a $1.7 million increase in net interest income and a $277 thousand increase in non-interest income, partially offset by a $1.8 million increase in non-interest expenses and an increase in income taxes of $326 thousand. Highlights for the quarter-ended June 30, 2022 are as follows: During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Bank purchased 265,341 shares of common stock of the authorized 324,017 shares of common stock from a second 5% stock buyback program which commenced in 2022 at a weighted average price of $29.17. Net income for the second quarter of 2022 increased $803 thousand or 14.5% over the same period in 2021. The Bank decreased its cost of funds on deposits by 15 basis points in the second quarter of 2022 from the same period in 2021. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans continues to be low at 0.07% as of June 30, 2022, compared to 0.09% at December 31, 2021 and 0.23% at June 30, 2021. President/CEO Edward Dietzler noted that, "The Bank continues to improve its performance with continued credit quality and a strong net interest margin of 4.19% for the quarter and a well-controlled expense base." Balance Sheet Review Total assets were $1.63 billion at June 30, 2022, a decrease of $62.5 million, or 3.7% when compared to $1.69 billion at the end of 2021. The primary reason for the decrease in total assets was a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of approximately $111.9 million and a $12.9 million decrease in available-for-sale securities, partially offset by an increase of $61.0 million in net loans. The increase in net loans primarily consisted of a $104.4 million increase in commercial real estate loans and an $11.3 million increase in construction and development loans, partially offset by a decrease of $54.4 million in Payroll Protection Program ("PPP") loans which are no longer being offered by the SBA. Total deposits at June 30, 2022 decreased $55.1 million, or 3.8%, when compared to December 31, 2021. When comparing deposit products between the two periods, certificates of deposit decreased $18.6 million, money market deposits decreased $12.6 million, interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $12.2 million, non-interest-bearing demand deposits decreased $8.4 million and savings decreased $3.2 million. In addition, the Bank had no outstanding borrowings at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. Total stockholders' equity at June 30, 2022 decreased $5.2 million or 2.4% when compared to the end of 2021. This decrease was primarily due to the $7.8 million of common stock repurchased in the 2022 buyback program, and a $7.4 million change in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the available-for-sale investment portfolio associated with an increase in unrealized losses due to the increase in interest rates. These decreases were partially offset by a $9.0 million increase in retained earnings consisting of $12.3 million of net income less $3.3 million of cash dividends recorded during the period. The ratio of equity to total assets at June 30, 2022 and at December 31, 2021, was $13.0% and 12.8%, respectively. Asset Quality At June 30, 2022, non-performing assets were $965 thousand, a decrease of $449 thousand, or 31.8%, when compared to the amount at December 31, 2021. This decrease was primarily due to the sale of an other real estate owned property in the amount of $226 thousand and a $203 thousand write-down of a non-performing loan. Troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs") totaled $6.6 million at June 30, 2022 and $6.9 million at December 31, 2021. Three TDR loans totaling $6.0 million are performing in accordance with the agreed-upon terms and there is one TDR loan in non-accrual status as of June 30, 2022. Review of Quarterly Financial Results Net interest income was $16.3 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $15.9 million for the first quarter of 2022 and $15.7 million for the second quarter of 2021. The increase from the previous quarter was the result of an increase in interest income of $378 thousand, or 2.2% and a decrease in interest expense of $55 thousand. The net interest margin for the second quarter 2022 was 4.19%, increasing 10 basis points when compared to the first quarter of 2022. This increase was primarily associated with an increase of eight basis points in the yield on earning assets. When comparing the same three-month period ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, net interest income increased $552 thousand, which was primarily due to a reduction of 19 basis points on the yield paid on interest-bearing liabilities, partially offset by a $25.7 million increase in the average outstanding balance of interest-bearing deposits. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, net interest income was $32.1 million compared to $30.5 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. The increase from the previous six-month period was the result of an increase in interest income of $326 thousand, or 1.0% and a decrease in interest expense of $1.3 million, or 35.6%. The average outstanding balance of earning assets increased by $36.6 million and average outstanding interest-bearing liabilities increased $26.2 million. The rate on total deposits, for the three-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 was 0.33% and 0.48%, respectively. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 the rate on total deposits was 0.34% and 0.54%, respectively. The Bank did not record a provision for credit losses for both the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022. The comparable amounts were $1.0 million and $2.1 million for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. The primary reasons for the provision for credit losses for the first and second quarters of 2021 were charge-offs in the amounts of $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Net recoveries for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and the prior three-month period ended March 31, 2022, were $12 thousand, $46 thousand and $34 thousand, respectively. The Bank did not make any material changes to the qualitative factors used in determining the level of general reserve needed for management's assessment of the credit quality in the loan portfolio. The coverage ratio of allowance for credit losses to period end loans was 1.19% (excluding PPP loans it was 1.21%) at June 30, 2022, compared to 1.24% (excluding PPP loans it was 1.32%) at December 31, 2021. Total non-interest income for the second quarter of 2022 increased $94 thousand to $1.1 million, or by 9.2%, when compared to the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily due to a $65 thousand increase in loan fees collected and a $61 thousand increase in service fees, partially offset by a $40 thousand reduction relating to an equity investment that incurred startup costs. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, non-interest income increased $277 thousand, or 14.7%, from the same six-month period in 2021, primarily due to a $134 thousand increase in service fees, a $99 thousand increase in other non-interest income and a $34 thousand increase in loan fees collected. Total non-interest expense for the second quarter of 2022 increased $746 thousand, or 8.6%, when compared to the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily due to $544 thousand increase in salaries and benefits expenses, $167 thousand increase in data processing and communication expenses and a $101 thousand expense related to an OREO property, partially offset by a $96 thousand reduction in professional fees and a $93 thousand reduction in occupancy and equipment expenses. When comparing the quarter ended June 30, 2022 to the immediately prior quarter, non-interest expense increased $160 thousand, or 1.7%, primarily due to increases in OREO expense and other operating expenses. For the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, non-interest expense was $18.7 million, compared to $16.9 million for the same period in 2021. This increase was primarily due to an increase in additional operating costs associated with the Bank's expansion strategy. For the three-month period ended June 30, 2022, the Bank recorded an income tax expense of $1.6 million, resulting in an effective tax rate of 20.6%, compared to an income tax expense of $1.6 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 21.1% for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022, and compared to an income tax expense of $1.5 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 21.9% for the three-month period ended June 30, 2021. For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, the income tax expense were $3.3 million (effective tax rate of 20.9%) and $2.9 million (effective tax rate of 22.0%), respectively. About The Bank of Princeton The Bank of Princeton is a community bank founded in 2007. The Bank is a New Jersey state-chartered commercial bank with 19 branches in New Jersey, including three in Princeton and others in Bordentown, Browns Mills, Chesterfield, Cream Ridge, Deptford, Hamilton, Lakewood, Lambertville, Lawrenceville, Monroe, New Brunswick, Pennington, Piscataway, Princeton Junction, Quakerbridge and Sicklerville. There are also four branches in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The Bank of Princeton is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). Forward-Looking Statements The Bank of Princeton may from time to time make written or oral "forward-looking statements," including statements contained in the Bank's filings with the FDIC, in its reports to stockholders and in other communications by the Bank (including this press release), which are made in good faith by the Bank pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of the Bank's plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions that are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Bank's control). The following factors, among others, could cause the Bank's financial performance to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements: the extent of the adverse impact of the current global coronavirus outbreak on our customers, prospects and business, including related supply chain shortage of goods, as well as the impact of any future pandemics or other natural disasters; civil unrest, rioting, acts or threats of terrorism, or actions taken by the local, state and Federal governments in response to such events, which could impact business and economic conditions in our market area, the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the Bank conducts operations; the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; market volatility; the value of the Bank's products and services as perceived by actual and prospective customers, including the features, pricing and quality compared to competitors' products and services; the willingness of customers to substitute competitors' products and services for the Bank's products and services; credit risk associated with the Bank's lending activities; risks relating to the real estate market and the Bank's real estate collateral; the impact of changes in applicable laws and regulations and requirements arising out of our supervision by banking regulators; other regulatory requirements applicable to the Bank; and the timing and nature of the regulatory response to any applications filed by the Bank; technological changes; acquisitions; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; those risks set forth in the Bank's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 under the heading "Risk Factors," and the success of the Bank at managing the risks involved in the foregoing. The Bank cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. The Bank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Bank, except as required by applicable law or regulation. The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/bank-princeton-announces-second-quarter-2022-results/
2022-07-21T20:27:14Z
Bullet cracks semi truck’s windshield, nearly hits driver on interstate near St. Louis ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) - Truck driver Kenneth Campbell was on his way home from a week on the road when his tractor trailer’s windshield cracked and his passenger window shattered, spraying him with glass, KMOV reported. Campbell soon realized it was caused by a bullet that narrowly missed him. “Six inches to the left, it would have been a headshot,” Campbell said. The incident happened Thursday on I-270 in Hazelwood, Missouri, just outside of St. Louis. Campbell waited until it was safe to pull over and called the police. It took a week for police to take a report. Hazelwood Police Department says they are investigating the incident. Campbell says he still has the bullet fragment that was wedged in the truck door. Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/22/bullet-cracks-semi-trucks-windshield-nearly-hits-driver-interstate-near-st-louis/
2022-08-22T15:45:48Z
Which softball cleats are best? One of the greatest joys in life is watching your athletic child succeed in sports. If your little one is a softball player, you want to see them play like the budding star they are. Providing them with high-quality softball cleats is the first step in helping them take their game to the next level. Softball cleats give players the comfort and traction they need to perform at a high level. The best softball cleats, such as the Nike Kids’ Hyperdiamond 4 Keystone Softball Cleats, provide excellent protection and give players the flexibility to move swiftly. What to know before you buy youth softball cleats Size The last thing any parent wants is their child getting injured. Softball can be a dangerous game, but you can help minimize the risk of injury by having your child wear the right size cleats. Wearing too big cleats can feel awkward at best and cause injury at worst. However, they shouldn’t be too tight, either, as that can also be uncomfortable. A good rule of thumb is to leave a bit of room in the toe box so your child’s feet don’t feel constricted. Metal vs. molded cleats Metal cleats offer the most traction on a softball field but are usually more expensive than molded cleats, which use hard plastic or rubber nubs. Molded cleats don’t have replaceable studs, but they’re more durable than metal cleats. It’s important to note that some softball leagues prohibit metal cleats due to safety concerns, so check your child’s league rules before buying softball cleats. Cleat height Cleat height is a matter of preference, as there is no difference in functionality between a low-cut, mid-cut and high-cut shoe. Low-cut shoes are lightweight and ideal for speedy players who don’t want to limit their mobility or flexibility. However, mid-cut and high-cut cleats provide more ankle support and stability than low-cut shoes. What to look for in quality youth softball cleats Midsole cushioning Softball cleats should have plenty of cushioning in the midsole. Cushioning provides a layer of protection between the studs and the sole. Without it, players would experience pain or soreness from the jagged spikes. Cushioning also makes it comfortable for players to wear cleats for extended periods, gives them more responsiveness while striding and offers more explosiveness to main top speed during agile movements. Spike length Whether metal, plastic or rubber, the spikes on your child’s cleats should give them plenty of traction. Shorter studs are ideal for outfielders since they spend most of their time on soft grass. Longer spikes are more suited for infielders, as they dig into dirt better. Durability Softball cleats should have a sturdy build for withstanding the rigors of several games and protecting players from dirt and debris. A thick, padded tongue helps keep out debris and prevents shoelaces from coming undone easily. Also, most softball shoes have a toe cap for added protection and durability, so that once it wears out, there’s still a layer of fabric underneath. How much you can expect to spend on youth softball cleats Youth cleats are cheaper than adult cleats, usually costing $35-$40. For more durable shoes, you can expect to pay up to $50. Youth softball cleats FAQ Do pitchers need different cleats than other players? A. In a slow-pitch league, pitchers can wear the same cleats as other players. They can also wear the same cleats in fast-pitch leagues, but cleats with a reinforced toe box are ideal there, due to many pitchers’ tendency to drag their back foot’s toe on their follow-through. How do I clean my child’s softball cleats? A. To remove dirt and debris buildup, clap both cleats together outdoors and use a cloth or an old toothbrush to remove grass and mud stains. What are the best youth softball cleats to buy? Top youth softball cleats Nike Kids’ Hyperdiamond 4 Keystone Softball Cleats What you need to know: These cleats are made with high-quality materials and deliver excellent traction and elite performance. What you’ll love: They have a durable leather upper with molded details, and a padded collar and tongue for a comfortable fit. The foam midsole has soft cushioning for greater stability, and the rubber outsole with Nike Grind spikes provides superior grip. They come in six colors. What you should consider: They’re not as flexible or responsive as other softball cleats. Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods Top youth softball cleats for the money Under Armour Kids’ Glyde RM Softball Cleats What you need to know: These provide superior comfort and flexibility, making them ideal for beginners and intermediate youth players. What you’ll love: They have a textile forefoot and a mesh fabric upper for increased ventilation. The thermoplastic polyurethane toe cap adds extra protection and the Charged Cushioning in the midsole lets players take off with explosiveness. Also, the heel pocket offers a secure, locked-down fit. What you should consider: They only come in black or pink, and some customers complained about durability issues. Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods Worth checking out Adidas Kids’ Purehustle 2 MD Softball Cleats What you need to know: These boast a clean-cut design and are made for youth softball players looking for a balance of flexibility and comfort. What you’ll love: The mesh tongue and textile upper are breathable, letting players’ feet stay cool and dry longer. The sockliner provides a secure fit, and the Lightstrike midsole offers sufficient responsive cushioning. The molded rubber studs are strategically placed to give players superior traction on dry and wet surfaces. What you should consider: They don’t have as much cushioning in the midsole as other cleats, and they’re only available in one color. Where to buy: Sold by Dick’s Sporting Goods Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Kevin Luna 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/sports-fitness-br/baseball-softball-br/best-youth-softball-cleats/
2022-06-23T15:04:09Z
VALENCIA, Spain, Sept. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Thomas Axelsson, CEO of Vitrolife AB (publ), informed the Board of Directors of his desire and intention to retire and be released from his position. Consequently, the process to find a new CEO to replace Thomas will immediately begin and will be led by Jon Sigurdsson, Chairman of the Board. Thomas will remain as the CEO until the recruitment process is finalized. "Since Thomas joined as the CEO in 2011, he has achieved a remarkable value creation and profitable growth. His outstanding leadership and engagement have been essential for colleagues, partners customers and shareholders. The Board and I want to thank Thomas for his contribution and aim to make the transition into a new leader for the Vitrolife Group as smooth as possible," says Jon Sigurdsson. "Ever since I entered Vitrolife, I have felt the strong passion for the dedicated difference we are making for people, when we contribute to fulfilling their dream of having a baby. It has been a good journey together and while I will miss the dynamism of the business and all people involved, I have arrived at the conclusion that it is time for a new phase in life," says Thomas Axelsson. Valencia, September 12, 2022 VITROLIFE AB (publ) Jón Sigurdsson, Chairman of the Board CONTACT: Queries should be addressed to: Thomas Axelsson, CEO, phone: +46 31 721 80 01 Patrik Tolf, CFO, phone: +46 31 766 90 21 This information is information that Vitrolife AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 6.30 pm CEST on September 12, 2022. This is a translation of the Swedish version of the press release. When in doubt, the Swedish wording prevails. Vitrolife Group is a global provider of medical devices and genetic services. Based on science and advanced research capabilities, we develop services and products for personalized genetic information and medical device products. We are supporting our customers by improving their clinical practice and the outcome of the patient's fertility treatment. Currently, we are approximately 1,150 people worldwide, headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: View original content: SOURCE Vitrolife AB (publ)
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/12/vitrolifes-ceo-retire/
2022-09-12T18:24:17Z
- Poster presentation of Wake Up America: The Night & Day Impact of Insomnia, the largest U.S. survey of people with trouble sleeping and doctors, to discover the need for improved education, treatment options and patient-physician dialogue - The Alliance for Sleep calls for deeper research and action to improve insomnia patient outcomes in its "Roadmap for Change" based on these recent survey findings - Idorsia to host special screening of the new, feature-length documentary, The Quest for Sleep, which delves into the science of sleep while illustrating the hidden toll of insomnia through real people's journeys RADNOR, Pa., June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Inc., announced that results from the Wake Up America survey, conducted by The Alliance for Sleep and sponsored by Idorsia, will be presented at SLEEP 2022, the 36th annual congress hosted by the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS). Survey results reveal a drastic need for education, improved dialogue and new solutions for people affected by insomnia. Based on these findings, The Alliance for Sleep, a multidisciplinary committee assembled by Idorsia to promote education, awareness and research on sleep and sleep disorders, is demanding more concentrated attention through its newly released "Roadmap for Change," which provides a framework for improving insomnia patient outcomes. The Alliance for Sleep's landmark survey, Wake Up America: The Night & Day Impact of Insomnia – the largest U.S. survey of people with trouble sleeping and doctors – will be presented at SLEEP, "A National Survey of 1,000 Patients' and 450 Physicians' Views and Attitudes on Insomnia Care." The data reveal the massive impact that trouble sleeping and insomnia have on a variety of aspects across both the night and the day. Notable findings from the survey include that a majority of patients with sleep difficulties reported feeling frustrated (54%), irritated (52%), stressed (51%) and/or reported that their mood is negatively impacted (59%). While nearly all PCPs (98%) and psychiatrists (97%) affirmed that sleep is critical to good health, only 12% of PCPs and 24% of psychiatrists routinely conducted a full sleep history of their patients.1 Based on data from the Wake Up America survey, The Alliance for Sleep is also debuting its "Roadmap for Change." The Roadmap outlines areas of additional focus – education and awareness, dialogue, management and resources – to support patients and physicians in efforts to improve patient outcomes for those living with insomnia. Dr. Charlene Gamaldo, MD commented: "Findings from the Wake Up America survey highlighted the current gap between patients and doctors in how they discuss sleep and insomnia. Through our 'Roadmap for Change,' we're taking an important first step of identifying areas for growth, then subsequently developing potential tools and strategies to close this sleep health communication gap between provider and patient." Idorsia Pharmaceuticals U.S. and Osmosis Films will host a special screening of The Quest for Sleep for congress attendees. The Quest for Sleep amplifies patient voices and provides tremendous insight into the reality of living with insomnia. In the film, sleep experts Drs. Michael Grandner, Dayna Johnson and Meeta Singh share information on the science behind sleep and provide insights into what happens inside the body and brain when there is a lack of sleep. Following the film, a special panel discussion will be moderated by director and producer Rachel Mills, including cast member Kelly and sleep experts Drs. Grandner, Johnson and Singh. Patricia Torr, President and General Manager of Idorsia U.S., commented: "At Idorsia we are committed to elevating conversations around insomnia and highlighting the need for improved patient outcomes. In all of our endeavors, it is essential that the patient perspective inform the way we think and talk about trouble sleeping. The Quest for Sleep aligns with this commitment by providing first person perspectives on the struggles of living with insomnia." In addition to the Wake Up America survey poster presentation, Idorsia will also be presenting on the following abstracts: - The Sleep Diary Questionnaire: An Analysis of Meaningful Change in Subjective Total Sleep Time Using Phase 2 and Phase 3 Clinical Trial Data - The Insomnia Daytime Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire: An Analysis of Clinically Meaningful Change Using Phase 3 Clinical Trial Data - First-line treatment patterns in patients with insomnia: a large-scale, real-world cohort study To learn more about the Wake Up America survey and download the "Roadmap for Change," visit WakeUpAmericaSurvey.com. To learn about the documentary, visit TheQuestforSleep.com. For updates, follow Idorsia U.S. on Twitter and LinkedIn. Insomnia is defined as a combination of difficulty obtaining sufficient sleep and dissatisfaction with sleep combined with a significant negative impact on daytime functioning. Chronic insomnia is defined as difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep on at least three nights per week for at least three months, despite adequate opportunity to sleep. - Idorsia Data on File The Wake Up America: The Night & Day Impact of Insomnia survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Idorsia from September to October 2021 among 300 primary care physicians (PCPs), 152 psychiatrists, and 1,001 U.S. adults ages 18+ who have been diagnosed with insomnia by a healthcare provider or who have experienced difficulties sleeping for a period of time (i.e., people with trouble sleeping). Results for each audience were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. The Quest for Sleep is a feature-length documentary that follows real individuals, whose struggles with sleep threaten to unravel their waking lives. The voice of Sleep itself — narrated by award-winning actor Octavia Spencer — acts as an enigmatic and insightful complement to the cast. She helps lead the audience to experts who illuminate the science behind how we sleep, and what can keep us awake. Through stunning 2D & 3D animation, the documentary delves into the themes of regular wake-sleep patterns, the causes and risks of insomnia and the effects of insomnia on the brain and body. The documentary, in association with Idorsia U.S., was produced by Osmosis Films and is being released by Abramorama. Idorsia U.S., an affiliate of Idorsia, is reaching out for more – we have more ideas, we see more opportunities, and we want to help more patients. To achieve this, we will help develop Idorsia into a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core. With commercial operations based outside of Philadelphia, PA, one of densest communities of life sciences talent in the world, we are helping to realize the company's ambition of bringing innovative medicines from bench to bedside. Our goal is to build a commercial footprint that will deliver Idorsia's deep pipeline of products from its R&D engine to the U.S. market – with the potential to change the lives of many patients. Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017. Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more – We have more ideas, we see more opportunities and we want to help more patients. In order to achieve this, we will develop Idorsia into a leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core. Headquartered near Basel, Switzerland – a European biotech-hub – Idorsia is specialized in the discovery, development and commercialization of small molecules to transform the horizon of therapeutic options. Idorsia has a broad portfolio of innovative drugs in the pipeline, an experienced team of professionals covering all disciplines from bench to bedside, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong balance sheet – the ideal constellation to translate R&D efforts into business success. Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017 and has over 1,200 highly qualified specialists dedicated to realizing our ambitious targets. Osmosis Films is an award-winning creative studio founded in 2010 which combines global production resources and a unique collaborative process to bring powerful narratives to life across all media types and platforms. Films include the Academy Award short-listed documentary The Lottery and ESPN's 30-for-30 Fernando Nation. Osmosis has created premium documentary content for HBO, ESPN 30 for 30, A&E, A24, Vice and more. For more information, visit www.osmosisfilms.com. The Alliance for Sleep is sponsored by Idorsia U.S. and is a multidisciplinary committee built to promote education, awareness, and research on sleep and sleep disorders. Its mission is to advance research, elevate the standard of care, and improve the health and quality of life of those experiencing insomnia and other sleep disorders. Members of The Alliance for Sleep are paid consultants for Idorsia Pharmaceuticals U.S. Inc. For further information, please contact U.S. Media: Christopher Clark Head, U.S. Communications Idorsia Pharmaceuticals U.S. Inc., One Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 101, 100 Matsonford Rd, Radnor, PA 19087 215-421-4887 christopher.clark@idorsia.com www.idorsia.com Global Investors: Andrew C. Weiss Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil +41 58 844 10 10 investor.relations@idorsia.com www.idorsia.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Idorsia Pharmaceuticals U.S.
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/sleep-2022-idorsia-us-present-data-wake-up-america-survey-revealing-hidden-toll-insomnia-along-with-three-other-abstracts-evaluation-treatment-insomnia/
2022-06-06T12:59:36Z
Medicare limits coverage of controversial Alzheimer’s drug to those in clinical trials By Tami Luhby, CNN Medicare will restrict coverage of the controversial and costly Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm to those enrolled in qualifying clinical trials, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced Thursday. The final decision, which follows a proposed policy released in January, will have far-reaching consequences for millions of Alzheimer’s patients and tens of millions of Medicare enrollees. It’s the latest step in the drug’s contentious path to market. It is expected to restrict the number of people who can receive the medication. The coverage policy would also apply to other drugs in this class — monoclonal antibodies that target amyloid, or plaque, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease — that the Food and Drug Administration may approve in the future. The agency’s proposed policy to restrict coverage of Aduhelm was met with intense opposition from some patient groups and drug-makers. Congressional lawmakers from both parties also questioned CMS’ proposal to limit coverage of Aduhelm and similar drugs in the future. The final policy allows a broader swath of patients participating in studies to receive Medicare coverage of future treatments that, unlike Aduhelm, receive traditional approval from the FDA. More than 6 million older Americans are believed to have Alzheimer’s disease, though Aduhelm has been approved to treat only those with milder stages of the disease. Biogen, the maker of Aduhelm, called CMS’ decision unprecedented and said it effectively denies all Medicare enrollees access to the drug and may limit coverage for treatments approved in the future. “When additional data from this new class of treatments become available, Biogen urges CMS to reconsider today’s decision for all FDA-approved amyloid-beta targeting therapies,” the company said in a statement, noting it is considering its options. The decision sets a dangerous precedent, said Nicole Longo, a spokeswoman for PhRMA, a leading pharmaceutical industry group. “CMS has further complicated matters by taking the unprecedented step of applying different standards for coverage of medicines depending on the FDA approval pathway taken, undermining the scientific assessment by experts at FDA,” she said. More than 10,000 comments The agency made this decision based on evidence and a thorough analysis of public feedback, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure said in a statement. More than 10,000 comments on the proposed policy were submitted. “CMS has a responsibility to ensure that people with Medicare have equitable and appropriate access to therapies that are reasonable and necessary for use in the Medicare population,” she said. “Through this decision, we are creating a pathway for people with Medicare to quickly access drugs the FDA determines have shown a clinical benefit and encourages manufacturers and trial administrators to ensure that the clinical trials recruit racially diverse participants.” The agency weighed the potential for patient benefits against the significance of serious unknown factors that could result in harm, Dr. Lee Fleisher, CMS chief medical officer, said in a statement. “There is the potential for promise with this treatment; however, there is not currently enough evidence of demonstrating improved health outcomes to say that it is reasonable and necessary for people with Medicare, which is a key consideration for CMS when making national coverage determinations,” Fleisher said. Medicare has never before required enrollees to participate in a clinical trial for a drug already approved by the FDA that’s being used for its intended purpose. Patient advocates were quick to decry Medicare’s final policy. “It’s unconscionable and reprehensible that CMS would force Alzheimer’s patients to play by a different set of rules than patients with other diseases like cancer and HIV,” UsAgainstAlzheimer’s co-founder George Vradenburg said in a statement. Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation President John Dwyer likened the final decision to a “flat-out denial of coverage,” saying it will restrict access. “This decision will affect the future of Alzheimer’s treatments for at least the next 10 years, representing a crushing blow for the more than 6 million Americans with Alzheimer’s who were depending on CMS to approve coverage to label for these treatment options,” he said in a statement. Controversial from the start The FDA’s approval of Aduhelm last June raised many questions and concerns about the process, the drug’s efficacy and its annual cost. Biogen initially priced it at about $56,000 a year. The approval was also a driving force behind a massive increase in Medicare Part B premiums for 2022. The standard monthly payment soared to $170.10, up from $148.50 last year, for the more than 63 million enrollees. About $10 of the premium spike is due to Aduhelm, a CMS official told CNN in November. The rest stems from a general increase in health care prices and usage, as well as from congressional action that limited the rise in Part B premiums for 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even though Medicare had not yet decided at the time whether it would cover the medication, its actuaries had to make sure the program has sufficient funding in case it did. Biogen later cut the price of the medication roughly in half to $28,200 a year. That prompted Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to take the unusual step of instructing the agency to reassess a major increase in Medicare Part B premiums, which it is continuing to do. Aside from the impact on Medicare, the drug’s approval process has spurred investigations by several congressional committees and the FDA’s inspector general. It’s unclear how many patients will ultimately receive the medication. About a month after it initially approved Aduhelm, the FDA narrowed the group of patients who could receive it to those with mild cognitive impairment or milder states of the disease. Also, it’s unknown how many doctors will prescribe it because of questions surrounding its results. The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
https://localnews8.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2022/04/07/medicare-limits-coverage-of-controversial-alzheimers-drug-to-those-in-clinical-trials/
2022-04-08T05:30:04Z
CHANDLER, Ariz., July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) is proud to announce it has been recognized by Quality Matters (QM) — the international leader for quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments — for its commitment to providing learners with an exceptional online learning experience. QM Program Certification for Online Teaching Support is achieved following a rigorous review process that examines components deemed critical to student success in online learning as they relate to professional development. The criteria are based on best practices, supported by research, and the expertise of professionals with extensive online learning and Quality Matters experience. "Our goal is for every online learner to experience the highest level of instruction," said Dr. Iris Lafferty, UAGC Senior Vice Provost, Academic Affairs & Accreditation Liaison Officer. "UAGC faculty are selected and trained to support student success through their expertise in the field, commitment to providing student feedback, and pedagogical best practices delivered via our culture of care." The certification complements UAGC strategic plans and goals, including accreditation efforts, through the collection and analysis of evidence related to online programs. It also reflects the organization's dedication to continuous improvement — especially the innovative work of faculty and faculty development staff involved with the institution's academic programs. The program is now listed on the QM Program Review Certification web page. About University of Arizona Global Campus The University of Arizona Global Campus ("Global Campus" or "UAGC") is an independent university that is operated in affiliation with the University of Arizona. Global Campus is designed to provide flexible opportunities for working students from diverse backgrounds who seek to gain knowledge and skills that will help them to achieve their life and career goals. Global Campus is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is one of the nation's most innovative online universities with approximately 26,000 students. UAGC offers more than 50 degrees at the associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. For more information visit uagc.edu. About Quality Matters Grounded in research. Driven by best practices. A community that puts learners first. Quality Matters (QM) is the global organization leading quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments. It provides a scalable quality assurance system for online and blended learning used within and across organizations. When you see QM Certification Marks on courses or programs, it means they have met QM Course Design Standards or QM Program Review Criteria in a rigorous review process. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE University of Arizona Global Campus
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/uagc-academic-programs-earn-quality-matters-program-certification-online-teaching-support/
2022-07-27T16:54:41Z
HOUSTON, May 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend to stockholders of $0.07 per share. The dividend is payable on July 15, 2022, to stockholders of record as of July 1, 2022. About Quanta Services Quanta Services is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the utility, renewable energy, communications, pipeline and energy industries. Quanta's comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com. Cautionary Statement About Forward-Looking Statements This press release (and any oral statements regarding the subject matter of this press release) contains forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to expectations regarding the declaration, amount or timing of any future dividends; expectations regarding Quanta's business or financial outlook; and Quanta's ability to deliver increased value or return capital to stockholders; as well as statements reflecting expectations, intentions, assumptions or beliefs about future events and other statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, involve or rely on a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict or are beyond our control, and reflect management's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements are made. We caution you that actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted by our forward-looking statements and that any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate or incorrect. Forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions and by known or unknown risks and uncertainties, including, among others, market, industry, economic, financial or political conditions outside of the control of Quanta, quarterly variations in operating results, liquidity, financial condition, cash flows, capital requirements, reinvestment opportunities or other financial results; requirements relating to dividends under Delaware law and the credit agreement for Quanta's senior credit facility; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Quanta's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, Quanta's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any other documents that Quanta files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). For a discussion of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, investors are urged to refer to Quanta's documents filed with the SEC that are available through the company's website at www.quantaservices.com or through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Analysis Retrieval System (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Quanta does not undertake and expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Quanta further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by any third party regarding the subject matter of this press release. Investors - Kip Rupp, CFA, IRC Quanta Services, Inc. (713) 341-7260 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Quanta Services, Inc.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/27/quanta-services-announces-quarterly-cash-dividend/
2022-05-27T21:19:11Z
Man arrested on DUI after smashing into Topeka woman’s car with infant inside DOUGLAS CO., Kan. (WIBW) - A Lawrence man is behind bars after it was found that he was intoxicated when he smashed into an SUV occupied by a Topeka woman and her infant on Highway 40. The Douglas Co. Sheriff’s Office tells 13 NEWS that just before 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4, officials were called to the 700 block of U.S. Highway 40 - west of Lawrence - with reports of an injury accident. When officials arrived, they said they found the driver of a red car - later identified as James Curtis Underwood, 63, of Lawrence - had pulled out of a driveway and attempted to turn east when he hit a silver SUV that was headed westbound - driven by a 23-year-old Topeka woman. The Sheriff’s Office said medics treated the woman and an infant in the SUV. The infant remained uninjured, however, the woman was taken to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka via private vehicle to treat a wrist injury. In relation to the crash, the Douglas Co. booking report indicates that Underwood was booked into jail on DUI - 2nd offense - Aggravated battery - DUI causing bodily harm. Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved.
https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/16/man-arrested-dui-after-smashing-into-topeka-womans-car-with-infant-inside/
2022-08-16T13:02:54Z
Spray, rub, play: Babyganics' sunscreen range consists of six products made from minerals. SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Babyganics knows applying sun protection on little bodies can be messy work, which is why its adding two new sunscreen products to its range, specifically designed for easy application on toddlers and kids. Spending fun-filled days outdoors without proper protection is no fun for anyone and Summer 2022 should be defined by grass-stained knees, sandy hands, and salty smiles – not sunburned skin. When it comes to protecting babies and kids across all ages and stages, there's no shortage of choices for parents. The full range includes six products made with an all-mineral active ingredient formula, free-from parabens, phthalates, PABA, fragrances or nanoparticles, making the products tough on the sun and soft on skin. Each product offers a broad spectrum SPF 50 UVA/UVB protection and is water and sweat resistant (up to 80 minutes), as well as dermatologist and pediatrician tested, tear-free, non-allergenic and not tested on animals. Two new products join the range, both boasting unique formats to ensure busy parents and caregivers can give little ones the protection they need. A non-aerosol spray makes applying full body coverage easier than ever, and a roll-on helps sun protection glide onto typically trickier body parts. b Kids SPF 50 non-aerosol sunscreen spray: Perfect for older kids who can't sit still, Babyganics' non-aerosol spray features a continuous mist to cover up your little ones while they're on the go. Designed for larger body parts such as arms, backs and legs, the easy-on spray glides on effortlessly, making sunscreen application a breeze. Babyganics Kids Roll On, 50 SPF: Getting your youngster to put on sunscreen before they jump in the pool or go outside to play can feel like mission impossible. Enter: Babyganics Kids Roll On, 50 SPF. Ideal for all those itty-bitty-tricky-to-reach places, such as ear lobes and tops of feet, allowing the rollerball to rub in easily and provide smooth coverage that reaches all the body's little nooks and creases. The mineral sunscreen range includes: - SPF 50+ Sunscreen (2oz, 6oz) For babies who want to play everywhere under the sun. - b Kids SPF 50 non- aerosol sunscreen spray (6oz) We've got you covered baby. Put it on wherever the sun's gonna shine. - SPF 50+ sunscreen stick (0.47oz, 0.47oz — 2 pk) Offering easy application and targeted protection. - SPF 50+ sunscreen spray (6oz, 8oz) Just gently rub on and send kids off on their next big adventure. - Babyganics Kids Roll On, 50 SPF, Totally Tropical (3oz) Made with kids in mind, the SPF 50 roll-on sunscreen is the perfect companion for every adventure under the sun. - b Kids SPF 50+ sunscreen lotion (6oz and 12oz) Providing broad spectrum protection, it goes on smoothly minimizing the risk of sunburns. Babyganics is the perfect companion for kids who want to stay safe in the sun. That's why it has created its Sunscreen 101 page for parents containing handy information on product ingredients, a glossary of sunscreen terms and application guidance. The Sunscreen 101 can be viewed at: babyganics.com/sunscreen-101. Available at babyganics.com and at retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.babyganics.com. About Babyganics Babyganics was founded in 2002 by two dads who loved watching their little ones explore and get messy. Born from the belief that family life is not always clean – or perfect – they set out to build a brand that stood up for real parenting and empowered parents and caregivers to realize that their best is more than enough. This thinking comes alive in its recent campaign: "Here's to Perfectly Imperfect Parenting", which defies the concept of parental perfection and presents new brand commitments rooted in support and action. Today, Babyganics provides essentials for whatever is thrown at parents, spanning Bath & Body, Diapers, Outdoors and Home Care. It favors effective, plant-derived and organic ingredients wherever possible, and its products are not tested on animals or created using certain ingredients – sulfates, phthalates, parabens or synthetic fragrances to name a few. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Babyganics
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/no-kidding-around-protection-babyganics-has-little-ones-covered-this-summer-with-mineral-sunscreen-range/
2022-05-31T13:58:58Z
SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- KeepCool, the environmental pioneer leading the charge to eliminate single-use bags, announced today the launch of Out of the Ocean™, reusable bags made from 100% Ocean Plastic® within all San Diego Costco locations and online at outoftheocean.com. Each Out of the Ocean™ bag removes the equivalent of 3 plastic bottles from our oceans and waterways, furthering the company's mission to reduce, reuse, and recycle to create a virtuous and economically viable cycle by giving new life to Ocean Plastic® while creating awareness and impact toward protecting our oceans. The extra-large capacity reusable bags are produced exclusively for Costco and are now available in 3-packs at Costco locations in the San Diego region. They are spacious for Costco trips with convenient details to include internal pockets for sauce jars or olive oil bottles and have dual straps for hand- or over-the-shoulder carry. These bags feature the work of the multi-award-winning international photographer, Grant Thomas who dedicates his life to capturing Mother Nature's finest moments. "Out of the Ocean™ marks another major milestone in KeepCool's ongoing commitment to sustainability. 15 years after launching the world's first reusable bag made of recycled plastic bottles, we're proud to launch Out of the Ocean™ Reusable Shopping Bags and Foldable Totes made exclusively from plastic waste collected from our oceans. We are happy to be part of an ecosystem that is doing its part to preserve and protect our planet," says Pierre Barlier, KeepCool's CEO. The Reusable Shopping Bags are now available in San Diego Costco locations. For more on the brand and to shop additional products online, check out OutoftheOcean.com. KeepCool, the parent company of Out of the Ocean's™ has a 20+ year history of championing the use of post-consumer waste as a raw material source for hundreds of millions of bags purchased to date. With Out of the Ocean™, KeepCool is continuing it's mission to reduce, reuse, and recycle to create a virtuous and economically viable cycle by giving new life to Ocean Plastic® while creating awareness and impact toward protecting our oceans. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Out of the Ocean
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/out-ocean-bags-made-100-ocean-plastic-now-available-costco/
2022-08-11T14:27:04Z
Catherine Morris Poe Catherine Morris Poe passed away Sunday morning, August 28, 2022, in a local nursing facility. A visitation for Leta will be held Friday, September 2, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at First Baptist Church, Moody, Texas, followed by a funeral service at 10:00 AM. Leta will be laid to rest in Moody Cemetery, Moody, Texas. Leta Catherine Morris Poe was born December 10, 1926, the 3rd of 7 daughters born to William Clemmie (Shad) Morris and Audrey Richardson Morris in the Willow Grove Community near Moody, Texas. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband of 67 years, son-in-law, William (Bill) Vinson, four sisters and brothers-in-law, Willie Merle (Orestus) Coulter, LaNelle (Earl) Howerton, Clarine (Harold) Lynch, Virginia (Harold) Gero, Brothers-in-law Harold (Bud) Jones and Clark Bolt, Mother-in-law and father-in-law T.R. and Edna Poe and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jarrold and Verda Poe. She was reared and attended school in the Willow Grove Community and Moody I.S.D. On October 22, 1944, she married John Franklin Poe at her family home. Catherine was a housewife until 1958 when she attended beauty school and became a beautician. She worked in Temple from 1959 until 1976 when her husband built a beauty shop at her home in Moody. She owned and operated “The Primper” beauty salon from 1976 until 2003 where she was not only a talented hairdresser but also a caring, accommodating friend to her patrons, neighbors, and church family. Catherine was a member of Willow Grove Baptist Church, Liberty Hill Baptist Church and at the time of her passing, First Baptist Church, Moody where she served as a Sunday school teacher and choir member. Her hobbies included gardening, quilting, and cooking. She and John were awarded the “Yard of the Month” several times with their beautiful yard. Her greatest pleasure was preparing luscious meals for her family and friends. Catherine is survived by sons, John Morris (Debra) Poe of Round Rock, Thomas Riley (Martha) of Eddy, daughter, Dianna Vinson of Eddy, grandchildren; Shawn (Bryan) Watson of Amarillo, Stephan (Rachel) Poe of Salado, Lisa (Brad) Horton of Arlington, Dianna (Jesse) Fugitt of Moody, Paul (Mallory) Poe of Moody, Alan (Kim) Vinson of Hico, and Shad (Tiffany) Vinson of Eddy, two sisters, Oveta (Clark) Bolt of Waco and Annette (Bud) Jones of Woodway. Great-Grandchildren: Weston, Caroline (Harald), Malcolm, Meredith and Emily Watson, Tyler, Ryan and Victoria Poe, Jack and Catherine Fugitt, Addison, Tucker, Brent and Cooper Poe, Clemmie and Colt Vinson, Jake (Catherine) Vinson, Josh (Vivian) Vinson, William, Houston and Roger Horton. Great-Great Grandson: Mateo Beran, and many nieces, nephews, family and friends. The family would like to express a special thank you to Westview Manor Nursing Home in McGregor for her loving care. Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church, Moody, Texas. Mrs. Poe will be in state, Thursday, at Connally Compton Funeral Directors, Waco, Texas. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.colefuneralhomes.com for the Poe family. Paid Obituary
https://www.tdtnews.com/obituaries/article_f5941bf0-289d-11ed-bc3e-cb14cdf68ee2.html
2022-08-31T12:58:52Z
XIAMEN, China, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qudian Inc. ("Qudian" or "the Company" or "We") (NYSE: QD), a consumer-oriented technology company in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Second Quarter 2022 Operational Highlights: - Number of outstanding borrowers[1] from loan book business as of June 30, 2022 decreased by 6.7% to 2.4 million from 2.6 million as of March 31, 2022, as a result of the Company's deployment of a conservative and prudent strategy - Total outstanding loan balance from loan book business[2] decreased by 54.4% to RMB0.7 billion as of June 30, 2022 from RMB1.5 billion as of March 31, 2022 - Amount of transactions from loan book business for this quarter decreased by 31.0% to RMB1.5 billion from the first quarter of 2022 - Weighted average loan tenure for our loan book business was 2.0 months for this quarter, compared to 2.3 months for the first quarter of 2022 Second Quarter 2022 Financial Highlights: - Total revenues were RMB105.4 million (US$15.7 million), compared to RMB412.1 million for the same period of last year - Net loss attributable to Qudian's shareholders was RMB61.3 million (US$9.2 million), compared to an income of RMB269.9 million for the same period of last year, or net loss of RMB0.25 (US$0.04) per diluted ADS - Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Qudian's shareholders[3] was RMB52.8 million (US$7.9 million), compared to non-GAAP net income attributable to Qudian's shareholders of RMB282.5 million for the same period of last year, or Non-GAAP net loss of RMB0.21 (US$0.03) per diluted ADS Recent Developments Loan Book Business After careful evaluation, the Company has decided to cease new credit offerings as of September 6, 2022. As of August 31, the Company's total outstanding loan balance from the loan book business was below RMB500 million, with an average loan tenure of approximately three months. The existing outstanding loans continue to generate revenue and will be collected in an orderly manner. As a result of this business adjustment, the Company expects its revenues to significantly decline in the coming quarters compared with the previous quarters. QD Food Business After assessing current market conditions, the Company has decided to streamline its QD Food business. With the streamlining in QD Food operations, the Company expects to incur employee severance costs, termination fees for business partners and inventory write offs, which may adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations. Second Quarter Financial Results Total revenues were RMB105.4 million (US$15.7 million), representing a decrease of 74.4% from RMB412.1 million for the second quarter of 2021. Financing income totaled RMB66.2 million (US$9.9 million), representing a decrease of 78.8% from RMB311.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, as a result of the decrease in the average on-balance sheet loan balance. Loan facilitation income and other related income decreased by 47.6% to RMB6.6 million (US$1.0 million) from RMB12.6 million for the second quarter of 2021, as a result of the reduction in transaction volume of off-balance sheet loans during this quarter. Transaction services fee and other related income decreased to RMB6.5 million (US$1.0 million) from RMB38.5 million for the second quarter of 2021, mainly as a result of the winding down of the transaction service business. Sales income and others decreased to RMB8.8 million (US$1.3 million), which was mainly attributable to sales income generated by QD Food, from RMB23.7 million for the second quarter of 2021, which was mainly attributable to sales generated by the Wanlimu e-commerce platform. We have wound down the Wanlimu e-commerce platform. Total operating costs and expenses increased to RMB135.9 million (US$20.3 million) from RMB89.3 million for the second quarter of 2021. Cost of revenues decreased by 36.7% to RMB41.1 million (US$6.1 million) from RMB64.9 million for the second quarter of 2022, primarily due to the decrease in cost of goods sold as a result of the wind-down of the Wanlimu e-commerce platform, partially offset by the cost of goods sold relating to QD Food. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 82.6% to RMB53.2 million (US$7.9 million) from RMB29.1 million for the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to the increase in marketing expenses related to QD Food. General and administrative expenses decreased by 68.1% to RMB34.8 million (US$5.2 million) from RMB109.1 million for the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to the downsizing of the WLM Kids business. Research and development expenses decreased by 52.1% to RMB18.8 million (US$2.8 million) from RMB39.2 million for the second quarter of 2021, as a result of the decrease in staff head count, which led to a corresponding decrease in staff salaries. Provision for receivables and other assets was a reversal of RMB28.7 million (US$4.3 million) for the second quarter of 2022, mainly due to the decrease in past-due on-balance sheet outstanding principal receivables compared to the second quarter of 2021 Impairment loss from long-lived assets was RMB45.5 million (US$6.8 million) for this quarter, as a result of the downsizing of the WLM Kids business. As of June 30, 2022, the total balance of outstanding principal and financing service fee receivables for on-balance sheet transactions for which any installment payment was more than 30 calendar days past due was RMB124.0 million (US$18.5 million), and the balance of allowance for principal and financing service fee receivables at the end of the period was RMB147.2 million (US$22.0 million), indicating M1+ Delinquency Coverage Ratio of 1.2x. The following charts display the "vintage charge-off rate." Total potential receivables at risk vintage charge-off rate refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the total potential outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 180 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period. Current receivables at risk vintage charge-off rate refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the actual outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 180 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period. Total potential receivables at risk M1+ delinquency rate by vintage refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the total potential outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 30 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period. Current receivables at risk M1+ delinquency rate by vintage refers to, with respect to on- and off-balance sheet transactions facilitated under the loan book business during a specified time period, the actual outstanding principal balance of the transactions that are delinquent for more than 30 days up to twelve months after origination, divided by the total initial principal of the transactions facilitated in such vintage. Delinquencies may increase or decrease after such 12-month period. Loss from operations was RMB29.4 million (US$4.4 million), compared to income from operations of RMB327.2 million for the second quarter of 2021. Net loss attributable to Qudian's shareholders was RMB61.3 million (US$9.2 million), or net loss of RMB0.25 (US$0.04) per diluted ADS. Non-GAAP net loss attributable to Qudian's shareholders was RMB52.8 million (US$7.9 million), or Non-GAAP net loss of RMB0.21 (US$0.03) per diluted ADS. Cash Flow As of June 30, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB3,099.0 million (US$462.7 million) and restricted cash of RMB257.8 million (US$38.5 million). Restricted cash mainly represents security deposits held in designated bank accounts for the guarantee of on-and-off balance sheet transactions. Such restricted cash is not available to fund the general liquidity needs of the Company. For the second quarter of 2022, net cash used in operating activities was RMB365.7 million (US$54.6 million), mainly due to the decrease in other current and non-current assets. Net cash provided by investing activities was RMB1,454.7 million (US$217.8 million), mainly due to the net proceeds from the redemption of short-term investments. Net cash used in financing activities was RMB227.3 million (US$33.9 million), mainly due to the repurchase of ordinary shares and convertible senior notes. Update on Share Repurchase and Convertible Bond Repurchase As of the date of this release, the Company has repurchased all of the convertible senior notes of US$345 million. The Company has cumulatively completed total share repurchases of approximately US$584.8 million. About Qudian Inc. Qudian Inc. ("Qudian") is a consumer-oriented technology company in China. The Company historically focused on providing credit solutions to consumers. Qudian is exploring innovative consumer products and services to satisfy Chinese consumers' fundamental and daily needs by leveraging its technology capabilities. In March 2022, it launched a ready-to-cook meal business catering to working-class consumers in China. For more information, please visit http://ir.qudian.com. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures We use adjusted net income/loss, a Non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes. We believe that adjusted net income/loss helps identify underlying trends in our business by excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses, which are non-cash charges, and convertible bonds buyback income, which is non-cash and non-recurring. We believe that adjusted net income/loss provides useful information about our operating results, enhances the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allows for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making. Adjusted net income/loss is not defined under U.S. GAAP and is not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. This Non-GAAP financial measure has limitations as analytical tools, and when assessing our operating performance, cash flows or our liquidity, investors should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for net loss /income, cash flows provided by operating activities or other consolidated statements of operation and cash flow data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We mitigate these limitations by reconciling the Non-GAAP financial measure to the most comparable U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating our performance. For more information on this Non-GAAP financial measure, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release. Exchange Rate Information This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars ("US$") at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from RMB to US$ were made at the rate of RMB6.6981 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on June 30, 2022 in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or US$ amounts referred could be converted into US$ or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. Statement Regarding Preliminary Unaudited Financial Information The unaudited financial information set out in this earnings release is preliminary and subject to potential adjustments. Adjustments to the consolidated financial statements may be identified when audit work has been performed for the Company's year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the expectation of its collection efficiency and delinquency, contain forward-looking statements. Qudian may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Qudian's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Qudian's goal and strategies; Qudian's expansion plans; Qudian's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Qudian's expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, its products; Qudian's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers, business partners and other parties it collaborates with; general economic and business conditions; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Qudian's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Qudian does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Qudian Inc. Tel: +86-592-596-8208 E-mail: ir@qudian.com The Piacente Group, Inc. Jenny Cai Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677 E-mail: qudian@tpg-ir.com In the United States: The Piacente Group, Inc. Brandi Piacente Tel: +1-212-481-2050 E-mail: qudian@tpg-ir.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Qudian Inc.
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/06/qudian-inc-reports-second-quarter-2022-unaudited-financial-results/
2022-09-06T11:30:52Z
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NearU Services ("NearU" or the "Company"), a founder-led premier home services platform company, today announced its partnership with Freeman Spogli & Co. ("Freeman Spogli"), a leading strategic growth investor in the consumer services industry. This partnership will enable NearU to expand into new markets across the United States through strategic acquisitions and partnerships, and to further strengthen its operational capabilities, including making additional investments in its team members, training, and technology. NearU's Founder and CEO, Ashish Achlerkar, and the Company's existing investor, SkyKnight Capital, L.P. ("SkyKnight"), will remain significant shareholders alongside Freeman Spogli. NearU's existing management team will continue to lead the Company as it embarks on its next phase of growth. Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, NearU has quickly become a leading multi-regional provider of essential home services, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. The Company is revolutionizing the skilled trades industry through its approach to being the preferred service provider to its customers, the preferred employer to its team members, the preferred acquiror to business owners, and the preferred partner to its vendors. NearU has a disciplined focus on core business practices, including the adoption of cutting-edge technology, the build-out of in-house training opportunities, and a laser focus on fostering a people-centric culture. NearU currently owns and operates 22 longstanding, market-leading brands across nine states in the U.S. "NearU's partnership with Freeman Spogli represents a seminal and thrilling moment in the company's journey," said Ashish Achlerkar, NearU's Founder and CEO. "Since day one, our team has chased sustainable enterprise growth: focusing on providing dependable service to our customers, building a long-term career home for our employees, and enriching the lives of our communities. As we looked ahead to the next phase of our journey, our top priority was to partner with a firm that was culturally aligned with our mission and vision, with a proven track record of building and scaling exceptional companies. Freeman Spogli checked both of these boxes. This partnership—along with continued commitment from our inaugural and instrumental investor, SkyKnight—will allow us to continue executing on our vision. With the backing of these two culturally aligned best-in-class investors, the unwavering support of our talented team members, and the continued loyalty of our customers, I am supremely confident that NearU will soon realize its potential to be the long-term industry leader, setting the standard for innovation, culture, training, and technology in the trades." "NearU has differentiated itself in the large, attractive, and highly fragmented home services market through its purpose, mission and approach to customers, employees, vendors and acquired companies," said Jordan Hathaway, Partner at Freeman Spogli. "We are beyond excited to be partnering with Ashish, the high-caliber management team at NearU, and SkyKnight to accelerate growth in the Company's existing footprint as well as in new geographies." "NearU has always been about one thing: revolutionizing the skilled trades through improving technician compensation, training, and technology," said Jordan Milich, Partner at SkyKnight. "It has been our honor to support Ashish and his team in building a business with purpose and focused on sustained excellence. We are incredibly proud to continue our partnership with NearU as it enters its next phase of growth." Jefferies served as exclusive financial advisor and Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP served as legal advisor to NearU and SkyKnight. Solomon Partners served as financial advisor and Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP served as legal advisor to Freeman Spogli. Carlyle Global Credit and Churchill Asset Management led the debt financing to support the transaction with participation from Jefferies Credit Partners and Varagon Capital Partners. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, NearU is an employee- and customer-centric provider of essential home services with a focus on HVAC, plumbing, and electrical services. NearU's brand portfolio has grown to include 22 longstanding and market-leading brands across nine states in the U.S. on both the East and West Coasts. The Company has quickly become the preferred home services provider, employer, and partner to owners seeking to transition their businesses. NearU is well-capitalized and seeks to grow organically and through partnerships with leading HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other skilled trade contractors. For more information, please visit www.nearu-services.com. Freeman Spogli & Co. is a private equity firm dedicated exclusively to investing in and partnering with management in consumer and distribution companies in the United States. Since its founding in 1983, Freeman Spogli has invested over $5.5 billion in 69 portfolio companies with an aggregate transaction value of over $27 billion and has completed over 140 add-on acquisitions with its portfolio companies. Freeman Spogli is currently making investments from FS Equity Partners VIII, L.P. and has offices in Los Angeles and New York. For additional information, please visit www.freemanspogli.com. Founded in 2015, SkyKnight Capital manages over $2.5 billion in private equity capital on behalf of leading institutional family offices, foundations, endowments, and pensions. SkyKnight makes long-term investments into high quality businesses in acyclical growth sectors alongside exceptional management teams. More information is available at www.skyknightcapital.com. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Freeman Spogli & Co.
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/nearu-partners-with-freeman-spogli-amp-co-next-phase-growth/
2022-08-17T21:19:40Z
French prosecutors to probe McKinsey over alleged tax fraud PARIS (AP) — French financial prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into suspected tax fraud by American management consulting firm McKinsey & Company. The national financial prosecutor’s office said Wednesday the investigation was launched last week for alleged “money-laundering aggravated by tax fraud.” A report by the French Senate issued last month said McKinsey hadn’t paid corporate profit taxes in the country since at least 2011. The so-called “McKinsey Affair” has dogged President Emmanuel Macron at campaign stops ahead of the first round of voting in France’s presidential election vote on Sunday. McKinsey issued a statement saying it “respects French tax rules that apply to it” and defending its work in France.
https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/04/06/french-prosecutors-to-probe-mckinsey-over-alleged-tax-fraud/
2022-04-06T11:55:26Z
DENVER, Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thompson Thrift, a full-service nationally recognized real estate company, announced today that they signed a lease for a 3,400-square-foot office space to serve as a regional office for construction and development team members. The new office is located on N. Pecos Street in the Denver suburb of Westminster. "We have a long, successful history in the Denver market and believe in the enduring growth opportunities throughout the state," said Paul Thrift, president and CEO of Thompson Thrift. "Our new office space presents the perfect opportunity for us to increase our development efforts, and we are excited to see what else this robust market has to offer." Studies show Denver ranked among the highest in the nation for the amount of residential and commercial construction that took place between 2012 and 2021. The 12.8% population increase over the past 10 years show no signs of slowing down, and companies in industries ranging from logistics to energy and software to bioscience announced their intentions to enter or expand in the Denver area. Thompson Thrift has been active in Colorado for 12 years and has had over 3,400 unit starts in the state, which currently includes three operating communities and four in development between Fort Collins and Colorado Springs. Thompson Thrift team members in the new Denver office will have easier access to the community sites, as well as additional Thompson Thrift development projects located throughout the West and Southwest. The new Denver office joins the company's other offices in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana; Houston and Phoenix. During the past 30 years the company has developed more than $4 billion of ground-up development projects across the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest. About Thompson Thrift Real Estate Company Thompson Thrift is an integrated full-service real estate company with offices in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana, Houston and Phoenix. Three business units drive Thompson Thrift's success—Thompson Thrift Residential which is focused on upscale Class A multifamily communities and luxury leased homes, Thompson Thrift Commercial which is focused on ground-up commercial development, and Thompson Thrift Construction, a full-service construction company. Through these business units, Thompson Thrift is engaged in all aspects of acquisition, development, construction, leasing, and management of quality multifamily, mixed-use, retail, industrial and commercial projects across the country. We are passionate about our customer's success and strive to ensure our projects not only meet the needs of our customers but also the communities we serve. For more information, please visit www.thompsonthrift.com Contact: Jennifer Franklin Spotlight Marketing Communications 949.427.1385 jennifer@spotlightmarcom.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Thompson Thrift
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/25/thompson-thrift-expands-with-new-regional-office-near-denver/
2022-08-25T15:58:52Z
SAN DIEGO, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. announced that a deadline is coming up on June 21, 2022, in the lawsuit that was filed for certain investors in NYSE: IRNT shares. Investors with losses of more than $100,000 in shares of IronNet, Inc. (NYSE: IRNT) have certain options and there are short and strict deadlines running. Deadline: June 21, 2022. NYSE: IRNT investors should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail@shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554. On April 22, 2022, a lawsuit was filed against IronNet, Inc. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants made materially false and misleading statements and failed to disclose known adverse facts about IronNet's business, operations, and prospects, including that the Company had materially overstated its business and financial prospects, that the Company was unable to predict the timing of significant customer opportunities which constituted a substantial portion of its publicly-issued FY 2022 financial guidance, that the Company had not established effective disclosure controls and procedures to reasonably ensure its public disclosures were timely, accurate, complete, and not otherwise misleading, and that as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false, misleading, and/or lacked any reasonable basis in fact at all relevant times. Those who purchased IronNet, Inc. (NYSE: IRNT) shares should contact the Shareholders Foundation, Inc. CONTACT: Shareholders Foundation, Inc. Michael Daniels +1 (858) 779-1554 mail@shareholdersfoundation.com 3111 Camino Del Rio North Suite 423 San Diego, CA 92108 The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is a professional portfolio legal monitoring and a settlement claim filing service, which does research related to shareholder issues and informs investors of securities class actions, settlements, judgments, and other legal related news to the stock/financial market. The Shareholders Foundation, Inc. is not a law firm. Any referenced cases, investigations, and/or settlements are not filed/initiated/reached and/or are not related to Shareholders Foundation. The information is only provided as a public service. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Shareholders Foundation, Inc.
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/investor-notice-june-21st-deadline-lawsuit-investors-who-lost-over-100000-ironnet-inc-shares-announced-by-shareholders-foundation/
2022-05-17T14:40:13Z
5 things to know for May 2: Ukraine, Covid, Immigration, Inmate Search, Ford recall By Alexandra Meeks, CNN After two years of social distancing, parents are eager to get their kids outdoors and off their mobile devices. As a result, interest in summer camps is booming, with about 26 million children nationwide expected to join camps in the coming weeks. But amid surging demand, some experts say the cost of camps will jump 10% to 15% this summer over 2021. Here’s what you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. (You can get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) 1. Ukraine The long-awaited evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine, is underway. Hundreds of people — dozens of whom are injured — are thought to be inside the complex, the last Ukrainian holdout in the city following weeks of heavy Russian bombardment. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk called the situation a “humanitarian catastrophe,” as people are running out of water, food and medicine. Nearly every building in the plant has been destroyed, new satellite images show. Separately, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an unannounced trip to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv over the weekend, becoming the most senior US official to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since the war broke out more than two months ago. Pelosi also met with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Poland today to discuss further support for Ukraine. 2. Coronavirus The US should prepare for a predictable summer surge of Covid-19 cases across Southern states, former White House Coronavirus Response Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx told CBS yesterday. Birx’s warning comes as US cases are again rising with the spread of another Omicron strain, the BA.2 subvariant. The seven-day average of US cases was almost 54,000 on Saturday, up from about 49,000 a week earlier — and around 31,000 a month ago. Latest data from the CDC also shows nearly 60% of adults and 75% of children have antibodies indicating that they’ve been infected with Covid-19, but it is unclear what that means for protection against future infections. 3. Immigration “Do not come.” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas issued that stern warning to migrants yesterday, urging them not to attempt to enter the US through its southern border. Border officials have been preparing for multiple scenarios when a Trump-era pandemic restriction, known as Title 42, lifts on the US-Mexico border. The authority, invoked at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, allows officials to turn away migrants at the border because of the public health crisis. Mayorkas emphasized yesterday that if a record-breaking 18,000 migrants are encountered at border daily — as anticipated by the department — it would put a “strain on the system.” 4. Inmate search Authorities in Alabama are searching for a corrections officer and an inmate charged with murder after they went missing on Friday. The pair vanished after Vicky White, assistant director of corrections for the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, said she was taking inmate Casey White for a mental health evaluation at the county courthouse. But the officer and inmate, who officials say are not related, never arrived at the courthouse and authorities later discovered there was no evaluation or hearing scheduled for Casey White that day. On Friday afternoon, concerned officers at the jail tried to call Vicky White but her phone went straight to voicemail. Authorities were considering multiple scenarios over the weekend, including whether Vicky White was overpowered and kidnapped by the 6-foot-9 inmate or whether she assisted him in escaping, through either coercion or her own willingness. 5. Ford recall Up to a quarter million Ford Explorers have been recalled due to a rollaway risk. According to new documents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a bolt in the rear axle mounting could fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, increasing the risk of the vehicle accidentally rolling away while parked. Affected vehicles include various 2020-2022 Explorer models, including the Explorer Hybrid and Explorer Plug-In Hybrid. Some 2020-2021 Explorer Police Interceptor SUV and hybrid models are also affected by the recall. Dealers will replace any necessary parts or update the electronic parking brake software free of charge, the NHTSA said. BREAKFAST BROWSE President Biden roasts Fox News during WH Correspondents’ Dinner The President didn’t hold back! Watch the moment Biden aimed a few fiery jabs and jokes at Fox reporters over the weekend. The Met Gala is today It’s fashion’s biggest night! Check out some images from the galas of yesteryear before the glamorous and glitzy event this evening. LongHorn Steakhouse honors employee who grilled 1 million steaks Now, that’s a job well done! The steakhouse cut a $5,000 check to this happy employee for the rare achievement. ‘She’s my guardian angel’: DoorDasher saves woman’s life while delivering pizza Another job well done! This DoorDash employee was rewarded for springing into action during the scary emergency. Watch Stanley Tucci make truffle pasta for crew *Chef’s kiss* The real question is… who doesn’t love truffle pasta? Check out this mouth-watering video and tune into the new season of ‘Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy‘ for more delicious Italian cuisine! IN MEMORIAM Country music legend Naomi Judd — one half of the mother-daughter duo The Judds — has died, her daughter Ashley Judd announced Saturday. Judd passed away at the age of 76, hours before she was to be celebrated at the Nashville museum’s Medallion Ceremony. Judd’s daughters honored her during her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame last night. “It’s a very strange dynamic, to be this broken and this blessed,” her daughter Wynonna Judd said in an emotional address during the ceremony. If you’d like to see more of the life and career of Naomi Judd, view this photo gallery, curated by CNN. TODAY’S NUMBER 10 That’s how many Senate seats will most likely flip in 2022, according to a new CNN ranking. The changes — all in Republicans’ favor — are creating a tough challenge for Democrats who are vying to holding their razor-thin Senate majority. Republicans only need a net gain of one seat this fall to win the Senate. TODAY’S QUOTE “I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn’t taken that way.” — Actor and comedian Bill Murray, addressing the production shutdown of his latest film, “Being Mortal,” in the wake of reports of a complaint against him. The nature of the complaint has not been made public, but Murray told CNBC on Saturday that he had a “difference of opinion” with a woman on the set of the film. The actor added he hopes to work out his differences with the woman and restart production of the film as soon as possible. TODAY’S WEATHER Check your local forecast here>>> AND FINALLY Watch beautiful cacti bloom before your eyes Hello May! Spring is in full swing this month — which means new blooms in an array of colors! Enjoy this stunning variety of cacti to start your morning. (Click here to view) The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2022/05/02/5-things-to-know-for-may-2-ukraine-covid-immigration-inmate-search-ford-recall-3/
2022-05-02T14:47:16Z
Police: Dad stabs toddler during pursuit, tells officers he feared relatives would abuse son BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) - An 18-month-old boy was rushed to the hospital after police said he was stabbed by his father during a pursuit Monday in Missouri. KCTV reports officers with the Blue Springs Police Department said a car driven by Tabatha Ong was involved in a crash at an intersection. Investigators said Ong drove away from the scene in an effort to get away from police. Anthony Beighley-Beck, 24, was in the passenger seat at the time. Police said he pulled his son onto his lap and stabbed him in the abdomen during the chase. Beighley-Beck and Ong were both arrested after the chase ended just north of Interstate 70. Detectives said he later told police he feared his son would end up with relatives who would abuse him, according to court documents released Tuesday morning. The toddler was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and remains in intensive care. Beighley-Beck is charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action, while Ong is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Beighley-Beck is being held in the Jackson County Detention Center without bond. A bond of $50,000 was requested for Ong. Copyright 2022 KCTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/19/police-dad-stabs-toddler-during-police-chase-tells-officers-he-feared-relatives-would-abuse-son/
2022-04-19T17:35:42Z
2 more R. Kelly accusers testify at trial in Chicago CHICAGO (AP) - Two more accusers took the witness stand at R. Kelly’s child pornography and solicitation of minors trial Monday, bringing to three the total number of accusers to have testified to date at the federal trial in Chicago. The first accuser, who testified two weeks ago under the pseudonym “Jane,” is critical to another of the charges — that the R&B singer successfully rigged his 2008 state child pornography trial by threating witnesses and concealing video evidence. GRAPHIC WARNING: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some. Kelly, 55, was handed a 30-year prison sentence by a federal judge in New York in June for convictions on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. In all, the prosecution cited five accusers in pre-trial filings, though it is unclear if both of the remaining accusers will testify before the government rests sometime this week. The trial was expected to last a month, wrapping up in mid-September. An accuser who used the pseudonym “Pauline,” told jurors Monday she was a middle school classmate of Jane’s and that Jane introduced her to Kelly in 1998 when they were 14 and Kelly was around 30. When she was at Kelly’s Chicago home later that year, Pauline said she was startled to walk in on Kelly and a naked Jane in a basement area. She said Kelly told her that “we all have secrets” and that this is “our secret.” Pauline several times told jurors she had loved Kelly. But, as a 37-year-old mom, she said she now had a different perspective. “If somebody did something to my kids, I’m killing ‘em. Period,” she said. Kelly sexually abused her over 100 times, starting when she was 14, and they first had intercourse when she was 15, she testified. Under cross-examination, lead Kelly lawyer Jennifer Bonjean accused Pauline of being imprecise about how many times she had sex with Kelly when she was underage. “Whether it is once or twice, what’s wrong is wrong,” Pauline shot back. The second accuser to testify Monday, referred to only as Tracy, said she was introduced to Kelly when she was 16 by a boss at a record company she was interning for in 1998. Tracy told jurors she repeatedly rebuffed Kelly’s advances. At a room in Kelly’s Chicago studio, she recalled telling him after he began pulling her close to him, “You know I’m 16?” Minutes later, when he “exposed himself… I tried to pull back but he had a hold of my shirt,” Tracy testified. On another occasion, she described Kelly coming into a hotel room where Tracy was staying and yelling at her for having clothes on under her bathrobe. “I told him I didn’t want to have sex,” she testified. But she said Kelly ordered her to get into the bed with him anyway and that at several points used force to sexually abuse her. She said she first had intercourse with Kelly when she was 16, then dozens of times when she was 17 and 18. Tracy began to cry on the stand Monday as she began to tell jurors about the day Kelly walked into a room where Tracy had been waiting. Kelly arrived with Jane. “I was really confused and just really angry,” she recalled. “I just didn’t really think there was anyone else but me and Rob.” Kelly’s 2008 trial revolved around a video that state prosecutors said showed Kelly abusing Jane. But after acquitting Kelly in 2008, jurors said they had no choice because the girl did not take the witness stand at that trial. Jane did testify at the current trial, saying she was the child in the video and Kelly was the adult man. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/30/2-more-r-kelly-accusers-testify-trial-chicago/
2022-08-30T04:09:26Z
(The Hill) – The Senate on Tuesday broke through nearly 30 years of stalemate on gun control legislation by voting 64 to 34 to advance an 80-page gun safety bill to respond to the mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas, that left 31 people dead, including 19 school children. The Senate voted to proceed to the bill just more than an hour after negotiators unveiled its text, giving lawmakers little time to digest its details. The bill had strong momentum after a group of 10 Republican senators led by Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), who has an A-plus rating from the NRA, earlier this month signed onto a bipartisan framework of principles with 10 Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) gave the effort another boost last week when he announced that he supported the bipartisan framework and would also support legislation based on its key points. Every Senate Democrat was expected to support the bill, even though it didn’t include more far-reaching reforms that many of them support, such as bans on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and universal background checks. The vote shakes up the politics of the gun violence debate in Congress as many of the Republicans who voted to proceed to the bill have A or A-plus NRA ratings. Here are the 14 Republicans who voted yes: Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) Cornyn is a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who negotiated with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) last year on legislation to expand background checks for commercial sellers but without success. Cornyn scored one of the few notable accomplishments on gun violence legislation in recent years when he coauthored and helped pass the Fix NICS Act in 2018. The legislation required federal agencies to produce plans for uploading all relevant information to the National Instant Criminal Background Checks System. McConnell tapped Cornyn to lead the negotiations for Republicans shortly after a bipartisan group of senators met in Murphy’s basement to begin talks in hopes of finding a way to respond to the Buffalo and Uvalde shootings. Cornyn has an A-plus rating from the NRA and McConnell has praised him for knowing more about gun-safety policy than anyone else in the Senate GOP conference. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) McConnell showed his interest in passing a bill to respond to the violence in Buffalo and Uvalde when he tapped Cornyn to lead the negotiations with Democrats. A Republican senator close to McConnell said the leader’s decision to task Cornyn with the job showed that he wanted to get a positive result. McConnell later said as much when speaking to reporters this month. “I am hopeful that we could come up with a bipartisan solution that’s directly related to the facts of this awful massacre,” he said in late May. McConnell announced last week that he would support the gun-safety bill if it hewed to the bipartisan framework endorsed by 10 Republican and 10 Democratic senators on June 12. McConnell also has an A-plus rating from the NRA. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) Tillis made up the core negotiating group along with Cornyn and Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). He was initially seen as skeptical toward gun-safety legislation when early on during the debate he raised concerns about red flag legislation but once Cornyn and McConnell brought him into the talks he turned out to be a valuable asset to the negotiations. Tillis is viewed as a good political barometer of the Republican Party and his support for the framework likely encouraged other Republicans to sign on. He has an A NRA rating. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) Collins is one of the principal dealmakers in the Senate and she attended the first meeting in Murphy’s hideaway in late May. Collins was particularly active in the talks to combat illegal straw purchasing and firearms trafficking. She introduced the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act in April of last year. Collins has a B rating from the NRA. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Graham cosponsored legislation with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in 2018 to amend the federal criminal code to authorize and establish procedures for a family member or law enforcement officer to request a court order to take away a firearm from someone judged to pose a risk to himself or others. Graham attended the first meeting of the bipartisan group in Murphy’s hideaway and said afterward that he supported legislation to create incentives for states to administer red flag laws if they chose. Graham has an A rating from the NRA. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) Cassidy worked on the mental health component of the gun safety bill and participated in the first bipartisan discussion in Murphy’s office via telephone. Cassidy is building a reputation for himself as a bipartisan dealmaker. He signed a statement last year endorsing a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework, which paved the way for the deal eventually passing. He’s not up for re-election until 2026. Cassidy has an A rating from the NRA. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) Blunt is the chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee and a close ally of McConnell’s. He’s not as moderate as other Republicans who signed onto the bipartisan framework on gun-safety principles earlier this month. McConnell’s desire to get a result on gun-safety legislation may have helped Blunt vote yes. He is retiring from Congress at the end of the year. Blunt has an A rating from the NRA. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) Burr is another McConnell loyalist who is retiring from Congress at the end of this year. The prominent role that his home-state colleague Tillis played in the talks gave Burr more incentive to vote for proceeding to the bill. He also signed onto the bipartisan framework of principles released on June 12. He has an A-plus rating from the NRA. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) Romney has emerged with Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) as the three most likely Republican swing votes in this Congress. He voted twice to convict former President Trump on impeachment charges. Romney kept his involvement in the discussions pretty low-profile but he signed the June bipartisan framework. He played a prominent role in negotiating last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill and earlier this bill hashed out a compromise with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on a $10 billion COVID relief package. He is one of the biggest bipartisan dealmakers in the Senate and has an A rating from the NRA. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) Portman was one of the 10 Republican senators who endorsed the June framework along with 10 Democrats. He is an advisor to McConnell’s leadership team and will retire from Congress at the end of the year. Portman was one of the lead negotiators on last year’s bipartisan infrastructure bill. More recently he has emerged as the Senate’s leading champion for supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion. He has an A rating from the NRA. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) Capito was one of the four surprise Republican votes for proceeding to the gun safety bill Tuesday evening. Capito did not endorse the June framework and when asked about it said she would have to review the details of the legislative text before rendering an opinion on whether she would support or oppose the bill. Capito is also an advisor to McConnell’s leadership team and her home-state colleague Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was an early participant in the bipartisan discussions on responding to the violence in Uvalde. Capito has an A rating from the NRA. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) Ernst didn’t endorse the bipartisan framework when it was first unveiled this month and also said she wanted to review the legislative text before making a decision. Ernst is a member of McConnell’s leadership team as the vice chairwoman of the Senate Republican Conference. She was seen as a possible yes vote after she signaled willingness to consider raising the minimum age for buying an AR-15-style rifle to 21. She has an A rating from the NRA. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) Murkowski was viewed as a mystery vote heading into floor consideration of the gun safety bill. Murkowski deflected reporters’ questions about the various gun-safety proposals in recent weeks by saying she was focused on other issues. She played a leading role in negotiating last year’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill and isn’t afraid to break with the majority of her conference on big votes. She famously opposed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation in 2018 and voted to impeach Trump for inciting insurrection last year. Murkowski is up for re-election in November but she has a built a political base for herself in Alaska that includes many moderate Republicans, independents and Democrats. She has an A rating from the NRA. Rep. Todd Young (R-Ind.) Young was one of the biggest surprises to emerge on Tuesday after he voted to proceed to the legislation. He’s a former member of McConnell’s elected leadership team as someone who chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2019 and 2020. Young has a pragmatic streak and knows that showing independent voters and suburban women, two key electoral blocs, that Republicans know how to govern is good politics in general elections. Young is a former Marine Corps intelligence officer and has an A-plus rating from the NRA.
https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/here-are-the-14-gop-senators-who-voted-to-advance-gun-safety-bill/
2022-06-22T12:22:08Z
STUTTGART, Germany, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Automatic intralogistics is often riddled with challenges such as efficiency maximalisation, scenario adaption, and multi-device collaboration. VisionNav is excited to demonstrate how its autonomous forklifts can solve the above-mentioned issues at LogiMAT2022. "This time we focused on 2 main issues – efficient multi-vehicle collaboration and material handling in confined scenarios." said Jason Zhang, Head of Sales Europe. The 2 VisionNav AGVs on show are VNP15, a counterbalance stacker, and VNSL14, a slim-type pallet stacker. Equipped with proprietary positioning, sensing, and control technologies, the robots excel in performing high-precision, high-efficiency logistics operations and have attracted a lot of attention during the show. In an area of less than 45 square meters, the VNP15 and VNSL14 communicate via the VisionNav's Robot Control system (RCS) to smoothly transport pallets from the perimeter to the stacking zone. The RCS easily integrates into the WMS or MES, and ensures an effortless merger of real-time information and logistics. "Robot collaboration is common in the manufacturing sector and allows our clients to improve space utilization", added Mr. Zhang. The VNP15 is one of VisionNav's most popular products, offering a wide range of functions and seamless material handling from dock to production line or warehouse. With a load capacity of 1500kg, standard lifting height of 3.0m and an optional 4.5m mast, the VNP15 covers 70% of pallet moving and rack access applications. The AGV can also be equipped with a variety of calmps for handling odd-shaped materials, such as paper roll clamps, foam clamps, stringers, carton clamps and many more. VisionNav also showcases the narrow-aisle VNSL14 that combines the high lifting capacity of a forklift and the flexibility of an AMR. The VNSL14 has a rated load capacity of 1400kg, standard lifting height of 1.6m and an optional 3m mast. Most importantly, the VNSL14 can operate in aisles as narrow as 2.2m. VisionNav clients choose the VNSL4 to maximise the ROI without the need to alter their facilities. About VisionNav Robotics VisionNav Robotics is a global supplier of autonomous industrial vehicles and intralogistics automation solutions. VisionNav AGVs work on hundreds of facilities across the world, providing over 9m pallet storages, narrow-aisle operations, automated truck loadings, multi-layer cage stackings and other fully autonomous actions. Dozens of Fortune 500 companies in automotive, food, petrochemical, e-commerce, 3rd-party logistics, pharmaceutical and other key industries use VisionNav robots to make their operations safer, cheaper and future-proof. Paulius Turskis +37066348329 pauliusturskis@visionnav.com View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE VisionNav
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/visionnav-showcases-autonomous-forklifts-logimat-2022/
2022-06-01T06:47:47Z
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris will have an opportunity to connect with leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean as she welcomes them to her home state this week for the Summit of the Americas. But whether she can demonstrate her clout at the hemisphere’s premier gathering — being held on U.S. soil for the first time since 1994 — remains an open question. Since Joe Biden’s days crisscrossing Latin America as vice president, the region’s leaders have come to expect direct access to powerful interlocutors inside the White House. However, other than Harris taking on the thankless task of addressing the root causes of migration, for which progress has been slow, the region has seen little of her — a symptom, experts say, of larger U.S. neglect of the region. In recent days, she and the president have been working the phones to shore up attendance among leftist leaders who have been critical of the U.S. decision to exclude the authoritarian governments of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from the Los Angeles summit. But the effort has yielded few results. Among those staying home are the presidents of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras — the only three leaders Harris has met in her two quick trips to the region. Brian Winter, vice president of the Council of the Americas, said Harris got off on the wrong foot as Biden’s point person assigned to address the root social and economic causes driving migrants to the U.S. In a May 2021 policy speech delivered to Winter’s international business group from Washington, Harris, a former California prosecutor, mentioned corruption no fewer than 10 times, stirring resentment in a region where leaders are sensitive to taking lectures from U.S. policymakers. “Corruption is a huge problem, but clearly there are more delicate ways to handle this,” said Winter. “A lot of doors closed even before she got on the ground.” Harris’ biggest achievement in the region to date is having helped secure commitments from U.S. companies to invest $1.2 billion in Central America, where every year hundreds of thousands of mostly young adults flee gang violence and crushing poverty. On Tuesday, she announced more than $1.9 billion in commitments, aimed at using the private sector to create jobs that foster economic growth and discourage young Central American adults from abandoning their homes. New initiatives being announced include a $700 million expansion of cellular networks in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador by Miami-based Millicom; a $270 million commitment by Visa to promote digital payments; and a $150 million nearshoring investment by the Gap. Inc. that could see as many as 5,000 jobs created closer to the U.S. But the Biden administration’s biggest policy proposal in the region — a $4 billion aid package for Central America — has stalled in Congress with little apparent effort to revive it. Meanwhile, the number of migrants at the U.S. border with Mexico has surged to its highest levels in decades, even as the Biden administration has little to show for the Democratic president’s promise as a candidate to introduce a “humane” asylum system that would break with Trump-era restrictions. One challenge is finding partners in a region where institutions are weak, gang violence is prolific and corruption is rampant. None of the countries Harris is to work with will be represented at the summit by its president, according to the list of delegations the White House released Tuesday. All three nations are sending their foreign ministers instead. And in recent months, the U.S. has taken a strident tone against El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, whom it accuses of using his popularity to amass power and ride roughshod over democratic checks and balances. Meanwhile, Guatemala President Alejandro Giammettei said last month that he would not attend after the U.S. criticized his decision to reappoint an attorney general it alleged was involved in corruption. Perhaps the biggest disappointment was Honduras’ President Xiomara Castro, who has won praise from U.S. officials for her decision to extradite her predecessor, Juan Orlando Hernández, to the U.S. to face federal drug charges. Harris, who attended Castro’s inauguration in January, in recent days spoke with Honduras’ first female president in a last-ditch effort to persuade her to travel to Los Angeles. But in the end Castro sided with fellow leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico in boycotting the summit. Surely weighing on her decision was the U.S.’ quick recognition of a new government after Honduras’ military removed her husband, President Manuel Zelaya, from office in 2009. “It’s a far tougher set of actors that the U.S. has to deal with even compared to what the Obama administration faced,” said Rebecca Bill Chavez, president of the Inter-American Dialogue. Chavez, who advised Harris on foreign policy during her brief presidential run, welcomed the vice president’s focus on gender-based violence and female migrants, something that was missing from past administrations. She’s also hopeful that Harris’ familial ties to Jamaica — her immigrant father’s birthplace — could help her connect to leaders in the Caribbean who are overlooked even in Latin America policy circles. But Biden’s record is tough to top. As vice president he made 16 trips to Latin America and his presence in the region has loomed large since his days as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when he helped craft Plan Colombia, by far the U.S.’ biggest military and economic aid package in the region. Chavez said that on issues of climate change, migration and inclusive economic growth, the Biden administration has the opportunity to lay out a vision with appeal to all countries no matter their ideological bent or bilateral agenda with the U.S. “To succeed she and the Biden administration really needs to broaden their scope,” said Chavez. “Los Angeles is the perfect opportunity for them to show they are so. But it can’t be a one and done event. It requires follow through to become reality.” ___ Goodman reported from Miami, and Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Christopher Sherman in Mexico City and Elliot Spagat in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/vp-harris-looks-to-show-her-clout-at-summit-of-the-americas/
2022-06-07T17:32:22Z
Exchange Club of Canton-Stark County hosts district convention JACKSON TWP. – The Exchange Club of Canton-Stark County will celebrate its 100th anniversary by hosting the Ohio-West Virginia District Exchange Club’s annual convention on Friday and Saturday at the Holiday Inn, 4520 Everhard Road NW. The Exchange Club of Canton-Stark County is a chapter of its parent organization, the National Exchange Club, based out of Toledo. Exchange is America’s oldest service club organization, according to a news release, with the vision and mission for a stronger America, inspiring communities to become better places to live. The theme of the convention is “Honoring Our Past; Forging Our Future." The Exchange Club of Canton-Stark County is commonly known for its annual Crime Prevention Breakfast, which started in 1964 and continues today. Each year at this breakfast, members of local law enforcement are recognized with the following awards; the Canton Officer of the Year, Stark County Deputy of the Year, Community Officer of the Year, and Stark County Crime Prevention Citizen of the Year. The club works with the Stark County Sheriff’s Office, the Stark County Police Chiefs Association, and the Canton Chamber of Commerce. The Exchange Club has also worked with the Stark County Safety Council on the annual Fire Prevention Breakfast providing awards to school-aged essay winners each year. Also, through its service, the Club honors selfless volunteers with their Golden Deeds Awards Program.
https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/2022/05/18/exchange-club-canton-stark-county-hosts-convention/9820329002/
2022-05-18T16:23:46Z
In Vitro and In Vivo Data for CBL-B Inhibitor Demonstrated Differentiated Immune Enhancing Activity BOSTON, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HotSpot Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering the discovery and development of first- and best-in-class small molecule allosteric therapies targeting regulatory sites on proteins referred to as "natural hotspots," today announced the presentation of additional pre-clinical data on the Company's Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene (CBL-B) program in a poster presentation at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022. CBL-B acts as a gatekeeper in immune cell activation, and its inhibition holds the potential to address several key mechanisms where translational data supports a causative role in suboptimal response to current immunotherapies. Targeting CBL-B represents a novel therapeutic approach because inhibition of CBL-B lowers the threshold for T cell and NK cell activation, even in the absence of co-stimulatory signals, potentially bringing benefit to patients with low antigen levels (e.g., low TMB), low inflammation (e.g., low PDL-1) and/or sub-par co-stimulation (e.g., low CD28). "CBL-B represents a promising immunotherapy target given its role as a master regulator of T cells and NK cells. Its inhibition may address the limitations of current immunotherapies and, in turn, expand the benefits of I-O to more patients," said Geraldine Harriman, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of HotSpot Therapeutics. "Using one of our potent small molecule CBL-B inhibitors identified from our Smart Allostery™ platform, we demonstrated an ability to enhance T cell activation and reduce susceptibility to immune suppression, supporting the potential therapeutic utility of a CBL-B inhibitor. We look forward to continuing to advance our lead CBL-B inhibitor candidate, HST-1011, toward clinical studies." The presentation describes compelling data for a HotSpot compound designed as a novel, allosteric, small molecule inhibitor of CBL-B E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. - The HotSpot CBL-B inhibitor drove potent immunostimulatory activity both in vitro and in vivo in a CT26 tumor mouse model with superior potency observed when comparing the HotSpot CBL-B inhibitor to a reference CBL-B inhibitor. - When added to exhausted T cell cultures or to effector T cells in the presence of regulatory T cells in vitro, the HotSpot CBL-B inhibitor demonstrated an ability to reduce the effects of suppressive mechanisms. - In the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay that is a strong predictive correlate of the clinical activity of I-O therapies, the HotSpot CBL-B inhibitor demonstrated clear activity as monotherapy and was synergistic with anti-PD1 in enhancing T cell proliferation and cytokine secretion. "Our CBL-B inhibitor program exemplifies the immense potential of our Smart Allostery™ drug discovery platform, as our proprietary technology has enabled the development of a potent and selective allosteric inhibitor of this target that has proven difficult to drug using traditional, active site-directed small molecule drug discovery," said Jonathan Montagu, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HotSpot Therapeutics. "We look forward to continuing to expand our pipeline of allosteric modulators as we execute on our goal of delivering therapies to address areas of true unmet need." About HotSpot Therapeutics, Inc. HotSpot Therapeutics is targeting naturally occurring pockets on proteins called "natural hotspots" that are decisive in the control of cellular protein function. Largely unexploited by industry, these pockets are highly attractive for drug discovery and enable the systematic design of highly potent and selective small molecules that exhibit novel pharmacology. The Company's Smart Allostery™ technology platform utilizes AI-driven data mining of large and highly diverse data sets to identify pockets that matter on proteins, integrated with a tailored pharmacology toolkit and bespoke chemistry to rapidly deliver superior hotspot-targeted small molecules. The Company has successfully exploited natural hotspots across multiple classes, including E3 ligases, kinases, and transcription factors. HotSpot has established a product pipeline of first-in-class small molecules for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases, each enabled by precision and patient-targeted clinical design. To learn more, visit www.hotspotthera.com. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE HotSpot Therapeutics
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/08/hotspot-therapeutics-presents-pre-clinical-data-cbl-b-program-american-association-cancer-research-annual-meeting-2022/
2022-04-09T01:20:46Z
Designated News Release SECOND QUARTER 2022 FINANCIAL RESULTS VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - "Throughout the first half of 2022, we have focused on optimizing our portfolio and further enhancing our financial flexibility in order to ensure that we are well positioned to respond to accretive growth opportunities and continue creating value for our shareholders," said Randy Smallwood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wheaton Precious Metals. "While not without its challenges, our diverse portfolio once again delivered strong operating cash flow and an attractive dividend yield, highlighting the resiliency of the streaming model to the inflationary pressures currently being felt across the global economy. Furthermore, we are pleased with our continued progress and leadership on sustainability initiatives as highlighted in our third annual Sustainability Report." Second Quarter 2022 Highlights: - Over $300 million in revenue and $206 million in operating cash flow, resulting in a cash balance of $449 million and no debt as at June 30, 2022. - $149 million in adjusted net earnings1. - Announced the proposed termination of the Keno Hill precious metal purchase agreement ("PMPA") for $135 million. - Subsequent to the quarter, Wheaton added a sustainability-linked element in connection with the extension to its existing undrawn US$2 billion revolving credit facility. - Recognized as one of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada by Corporate Knights. - Declared quarterly dividend1 of $0.15 per common share, consistent with the comparable period in 2021. Operational Overview Revised Annual and Long-Term Production Guidance Given the proposed termination of the Keno Hill PMPA, lower production from Stillwater due to severe weather and flooding in the state of Montana in June as well as lower than expected production at Salobo, Wheaton is lowering production guidance. Wheaton's estimated attributable production for 2022 is now forecast to be approximately 640,000 to 680,000 gold equivalent ounces2 ("GEOs"). For the five-year period ending December 31, 2026, average annual production is expected to increase to 820,000 GEO's2, primarily due to anticipated continued production growth from Salobo, Stillwater, Constancia, and Voisey's Bay as well as incremental production ounces from Marmato, Blackwater, Toroparu, Marathon, the Copper World Complex (formerly referred to as Rosemont) and Santo Domingo towards the latter end of the forecast period. Average forecast production for the ten-year period ending December 31, 2031, is expected to now be 870,000 GEO's2 and includes incremental production from the Kutcho project and the Victor mine in Sudbury. Vale S.A. has indicated the potential for an additional expansion after the completion of the current Salobo III expansion, but Wheaton does not currently include this in its forecast. 2022 Production Guidance Forecast Financial Review Revenues Revenue was $303 million in the second quarter of 2022 representing an 8% decrease from the second quarter of 2021 due primarily to a 5% decrease in the average realized gold equivalent² price; and a 3% decrease in the number of GEOs² sold. Revenue was $610 million in the six months ended June 30, 2022, representing a 7% decrease from the comparable period of the previous year due primarily to a 4% decrease in the number of gold equivalent² ounces sold; and a 3% decrease in the average realized gold equivalent² price. Cash Costs and Margin Average cash costs¹ in the second quarter of 2022 were $440 per GEO² as compared to $444 in the second quarter of 2021. This resulted in a cash operating margin¹ of $1,338 per GEO² sold, a decrease of 6% as compared with the second quarter of 2021. Average cash costs¹ for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were $431 per GEO² as compared to $451 in the comparable period of the previous year. This resulted in a cash operating margin¹ of $1,383 per GEO² sold, a decrease of 3% as compared with the comparable period of the previous year. Balance Sheet (at June 30, 2022) - Approximately $449 million of cash on hand. - Subsequent to the quarter, the Company extended its existing undrawn $2 billion revolving term loan (the "Revolving Facility") with its maturity date now July 18, 2027. As part of the extension, Wheaton added a sustainability-linked element which impacts the interest rate paid on drawn amounts and standby fees. - The Company is well positioned to fund all outstanding commitments and known contingencies as well as providing flexibility to acquire additional accretive mineral stream interests. Second Quarter Asset Highlights Salobo: In the second quarter of 2022, Salobo produced 34,100 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 39% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower throughput and grades. According to Vale S.A.'s Production and Sales 2Q22 report ("Vale"), mine movement saw continued improvement throughout the quarter, but concentrate production was negatively impacted by plant performance due to delays in ramp-up after planned and corrective maintenance. Vale expects further maintenance work to continue in the second half of 2022. As per Vale's Second Quarter 2022 Performance Report, Vale outlines the Salobo lll Project progress including the start of commissioning activities at the primary crushing and stockpile areas. In addition, Vale notes that the remediation work for the January 2022 landslide has been completed. Vale reports that physical completion of the Salobo III mine expansion was 95% at the end of the second quarter. Antamina: In the second quarter of 2022, Antamina produced 1.4 million ounces of attributable silver, a decrease of approximately 11% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower grades as per the mine plan. Constancia: In the second quarter of 2022, Constancia produced 600,000 ounces of attributable silver and 8,000 ounces of attributable gold, an increase of approximately 25% and 46%, respectively, relative to the second quarter of 2021, with the increases being primarily due to the mining of higher-grade material associated with the Pampacancha deposit. Sudbury: In the second quarter of 2022, Vale's Sudbury mines produced 7,200 ounces of attributable gold, an increase of approximately 58% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher throughput as during 2021, operations at the mine were suspended due to a labour dispute which lasted from June 1to August 9, 2021. Stillwater: In the second quarter of 2022, the Stillwater mines produced 2,200 ounces of attributable gold and 3,900 ounces of attributable palladium, a decrease of approximately 27% for gold and 26% for palladium relative to the second quarter of 2021. As per Sibanye-Stillwater Limited's news release dated August 11, 2022, regional floods impacted the Stillwater operations on June 13, 2022, including damage to bridges and the access road to the Stillwater mine. Operations at the Stillwater mine, which accounts for 60% of the mined production from the Stillwater operations, were suspended for seven weeks, but resumed on July 29, 2022. Access to the East Boulder mine and the Columbus metallurgical facilities remains intact and both facilities continued operating during the flooding events. San Dimas: In the second quarter of 2022, San Dimas produced 10,000 ounces of attributable gold, a decrease of approximately 12% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily the result of mining lower grade material. According to First Majestic Silver Corp.'s ("First Majestic") Q2 production report, underground development for stope preparation and ventilation within the Perez vein is progressing and forecast to be ready for initial production in August. Furthermore, First Majestic reports that improving dilution controls at San Dimas and prioritizing long-hole stoping of the Jessica and Regina veins is anticipated to improve ore grade and overall production in the second half of 2022. Other Gold: In the second quarter of 2022, total Other Gold attributable production was 6,800 ounces, a decrease of approximately 32% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to the lower throughput and grades at 777, which closed as of June 2022. Voisey's Bay: In the second quarter of 2022, the Voisey's Bay mine produced 136,000pounds of attributable cobalt, a decrease of approximately 64% relative to the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower throughput resulting from a scheduled maintenance shut down coupled with lower grades during the ongoing transitional period between the depletion of the Ovoid open-pit mine and ramp-up to full production of the Voisey's Bay underground project. As per Vale's Second Quarter 2022 Performance Report, physical completion of the Voisey's Bay underground mine extension was 74% at the end of the second quarter. Civil works continue for the balance of facilities, with civil completion planned by the end of 2022. Development Assets Copper World Complex (formerly referred to as Rosemont): On June 8, 2022, Hudbay Minerals Inc. ("Hudbay") announced the results of the preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") of its 100%-owned Copper World Complex in Arizona, which includes the recently discovered Copper World deposits along with the Rosemont deposit. The PEA highlights a two-phase mine plan, with Phase I reflecting a standalone operation on private land and patented mining claims over a 16-year mine life. Phase II expands mining activities onto federal land and extends the mine life to 44 years. In addition, Hudbay is evaluating several opportunities to optimize the project, including the potential to expand Phase I beyond 16 years with additions to the company's private land package for tailings and waste rock storage and the potential to accelerate Phase II if federal permits are received earlier than as outlined in the PEA. As per the PEA, Hudbay anticipates the Phase 1 feasibility study and permits should be completed by the end of 2023, with a sanctioning decision by Hudbay in 2024, and construction expected to take three years. Fenix: On June 28, 2022, Rio2 Limited ("Rio2") provided an update on the Fenix Gold environmental assessment process. The Environmental Assessment Service ("SEA") published the Consolidation Evaluation Report with the recommendation to reject the Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") as it has been alleged that Fenix Gold has not provided enough information during the evaluation process to eliminate adverse impacts over the chinchilla, guanaco, and vicuña. On July 5, 2022, Rio2 announced that the Regional Evaluation Commission has voted for not approving the EIA for its Fenix Gold project in Chile. Following this decision, Rio2 provided a further update on July 11, 2022, stating that Rio2 along with its Chilean environmental and legal advisor, are currently evaluating options to continue to advance the project. Portfolio Optimization Keno Hill: On July 5, 2022, Hecla Mining Company ("Hecla") announced a definitive agreement for Hecla to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Alexco Resource Corp. ("Alexco"). In conjunction with this agreement, the Company has entered into an agreement with Hecla to terminate the Keno Hill PMPA in exchange for $135 million of Hecla common stock, conditional upon the completion of Hecla's acquisition of Alexco and other customary approvals. Produced But Not Yet Delivered3 and Inventory As at June 30, 2022, payable ounces and pounds attributable to the Company produced but not yet delivered amounted to: - 61,200 payable gold ounces, a decrease of 20,200 ounces during Q2 2022, primarily due to decreases at the Salobo and Sudbury mines. - 3.7 million payable silver ounces, a decrease of 0.2 million ounces during Q2 2022 primarily due to decreases at the Peñasquito and Yauliyacu mines. - 6,300 payable palladium ounces, an increase of 700 ounces during Q2 2022. - 280,000 payable cobalt pounds, a decrease of 270 thousand pounds during Q2 2022. As of June 30, 2022, approximately 582,000 pounds of cobalt were held in inventory by Wheaton, an increase of 172,000 pounds during Q2 2022. Detailed mine-by-mine production and sales figures can be found in the Appendix to this press release and in Wheaton's consolidated MD&A in the 'Results of Operations and Operational Review' section. Sustainability Recognized as One of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada: Wheaton was named to the Corporate Knights' 2022 list of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. Corporate Knights has been producing global corporate and fund rankings for 20 years. Wheaton was selected from a pool of 332 Canadian companies – each evaluated on a set of 24 environmental, social and governance indicators, relative to their industry peers and using publicly available information. The Best 50 Corporate Citizens sets the standard for sustainability leadership in Canada. Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Facility: Wheaton has added a sustainability-linked element in connection with the extension to its existing undrawn US$2 billion revolving credit facility, underscoring Wheaton's commitment to sustainability initiatives. Under the renewed revolving credit facility, the interest rate paid on drawn amounts and standby fees will be adjusted based upon Wheaton's performance in three sustainability-related areas including climate change, diversity and overall sustainability performance. Published third Annual Sustainability Report: On May 24, 2022, Wheaton published its third annual Sustainability Report. Highlights of the report include establishment of a formal ESG strategy with targets and commitments across several material ESG topics and significant enhancement of disclosure around climate change (including inaugural reporting of our Scope 3 financed emissions associated with our Mining Partners). Webcast and Conference Call Details A conference call and webcast will be held on Friday, August 12, 2022 starting at 8:00am PT / 11:00 am ET to discuss these results. To participate in the live call please use one of the following methods: Dial toll free from Canada or the US: 1-888-664-6383 Dial from outside Canada or the US: 1-416-764-8650 Pass code: 06939369 Live webcast: Webcast URL The accompanying slideshow will also be available in PDF format on the 'Events' page of the Wheaton Precious Metals website before the conference call. The conference call will be recorded and available until August 19, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET. The webcast will be available for one year. You can listen to an archive of the call by one of the following methods: Dial toll free from Canada or the US: 1-888-390-0541 Dial from outside Canada or the US: 1-416-764-8677 Pass code: 939369 # Archived webcast: Webcast URL This earnings release should be read in conjunction with Wheaton Precious Metals' MD&A and Financial Statements, which are available on the Company's website at www.wheatonpm.com and have been posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Mr. Wes Carson, P.Eng., Vice President, Mining Operations is a "qualified person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101, and have reviewed and approved the technical information disclosed in this news release. Wheaton Precious Metals believes that there are no significant differences between its corporate governance practices and those required to be followed by United States domestic issuers under the NYSE listing standards. This confirmation is located on the Wheaton Precious Metals website at http://www.wheatonpm.com/Company/corporate-governance/default.aspxhttp://www.silverwheaton.com/company/corporate-governance/default.aspx. About Wheaton Precious Metals Corp. and Outlook Wheaton is the world's premier precious metals streaming company with the highest-quality portfolio of long-life, low-cost assets. Its business model offers investors commodity price leverage and exploration upside but with a much lower risk profile than a traditional mining company. Wheaton delivers amongst the highest cash operating margins in the mining industry, allowing it to pay a competitive dividend and continue to grow through accretive acquisitions. As a result, Wheaton has consistently outperformed gold and silver, as well as other mining investments. Wheaton is committed to strong ESG practices and giving back to the communities where Wheaton and its mining partners operate. Wheaton creates sustainable value through streaming for all of its stakeholders. In accordance with Wheaton Precious Metals™ Corp.'s ("Wheaton Precious Metals", "Wheaton" or the "Company") MD&A and financial statements, reference to the Company and Wheaton includes the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries. End Notes Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Earnings Condensed Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets Condensed Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Summary of Units Produced Summary of Units Sold Results of Operations The operating results of the Company's reportable operating segments are summarized in the tables and commentary below. On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows: On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were as follows: On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2022 were as follows: On a gold equivalent and silver equivalent basis, results for the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2021 were as follows: Non-IFRS Measures Wheaton has included, throughout this document, certain non-IFRS performance measures, including (i) adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share; (ii) operating cash flow per share (basic and diluted); (iii) average cash costs of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis and cobalt on a per pound basis; and (iv) cash operating margin. The following table provides a reconciliation of adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share (basic and diluted). The following table provides a reconciliation of operating cash flow per share (basic and diluted). The following table provides a calculation of average cash cost of gold, silver and palladium on a per ounce basis and cobalt on a per pound basis. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash operating margin. These non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and other companies may calculate these measures differently. The presentation of these non-IFRS measures is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. For more detailed information, please refer to Wheaton's MD&A available on the Company's website at www.wheatonpm.com and posted on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation concerning the business, operations and financial performance of Wheaton and, in some instances, the business, mining operations and performance of Wheaton's PMPA counterparties. Forward-looking statements, which are all statements other than statements of historical fact, include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future price of commodities, the estimation of future production from Mining Operations (including in the estimation of production, mill throughput, grades, recoveries and exploration potential), the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources (including the estimation of reserve conversion rates) and the realization of such estimations, the commencement, timing and achievement of construction, expansion or improvement projects by Wheaton's PMPA counterparties at mineral stream interests owned by Wheaton (the "Mining Operations"), the payment of upfront cash consideration to counterparties under PMPAs, the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with PMPAs and royalty arrangements and the receipt by the Company of precious metals and cobalt production in respect of the applicable Mining Operations under PMPAs or other payments under royalty arrangements, the ability of Wheaton's PMPA counterparties to comply with the terms of a PMPA (including as a result of the business, mining operations and performance of Wheaton's PMPA counterparties) and the potential impacts of such on Wheaton, future payments by the Company in accordance with PMPAs, the costs of future production, the estimation of produced but not yet delivered ounces, the impact of epidemics (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), including the potential heightening of other risks, future sales of common shares under the ATM program, continued listing of the Company's common shares, any statements as to future dividends, the ability to fund outstanding commitments and the ability to continue to acquire accretive PMPAs, including any acceleration of payments, projected increases to Wheaton's production and cash flow profile, projected changes to Wheaton's production mix, the ability of Wheaton's PMPA counterparties to comply with the terms of any other obligations under agreements with the Company, the ability to sell precious metals and cobalt production, confidence in the Company's business structure, the Company's assessment of taxes payable and the impact of the CRA Settlement for years subsequent to 2010, possible domestic audits for taxation years subsequent to 2016 and international audits, the Company's assessment of the impact of any tax reassessments, the Company's intention to file future tax returns in a manner consistent with the CRA Settlement, the Company's climate change and environmental commitments, and assessments of the impact and resolution of various legal and tax matters, including but not limited to audits. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", "potential", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Wheaton to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the satisfaction of each party's obligations in accordance with the terms of the Company's PMPAs or royalty arrangements, risks associated with fluctuations in the price of commodities (including Wheaton's ability to sell its precious metals or cobalt production at acceptable prices or at all), risks of significant impacts on Wheaton or the Mining Operations as a result of an epidemic (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), risks related to the Mining Operations (including fluctuations in the price of the primary or other commodities mined at such operations, regulatory, political and other risks of the jurisdictions in which the Mining Operations are located, actual results of mining, risks associated with the exploration, development, operating, expansion and improvement of the Mining Operations, environmental and economic risks of the Mining Operations, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined), the absence of control over the Mining Operations and having to rely on the accuracy of the public disclosure and other information Wheaton receives from the Mining Operations, uncertainty in the estimation of production from Mining Operations, uncertainty in the accuracy of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimation, the ability of each party to satisfy their obligations in accordance with the terms of the PMPAs, the estimation of future production from Mining Operations, Wheaton's interpretation of, compliance with or application of, tax laws and regulations or accounting policies and rules being found to be incorrect, any challenge or reassessment by the CRA of the Company's tax filings being successful and the potential negative impact to the Company's previous and future tax filings, assessing the impact of the CRA Settlement (including whether there will be any material change in the Company's facts or change in law or jurisprudence), potential implementation of a 15% global minimum tax, counterparty credit and liquidity, mine operator concentration, indebtedness and guarantees, hedging, competition, claims and legal proceedings against Wheaton or the Mining Operations, security over underlying assets, governmental regulations, international operations of Wheaton and the Mining Operations, exploration, development, operations, expansions and improvements at the Mining Operations, environmental regulations, climate change, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to obtain and maintain necessary licenses, permits, approvals and rulings, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to comply with applicable laws, regulations and permitting requirements, lack of suitable supplies, infrastructure and employees to support the Mining Operations, inability to replace and expand mineral reserves, including anticipated timing of the commencement of production by certain Mining Operations (including increases in production, estimated grades and recoveries), uncertainties of title and indigenous rights with respect to the Mining Operations, environmental, social and governance matters, Wheaton and the Mining Operations ability to obtain adequate financing, the Mining Operations ability to complete permitting, construction, development and expansion, global financial conditions, Wheaton's acquisition strategy and other risks discussed in the section entitled "Description of the Business – Risk Factors" in Wheaton's Annual Information Form available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, Wheaton's Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Form 6-K filed March 31, 2022 both on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR (the "Disclosure"). Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management currently believes to be reasonable, including (without limitation): that there will be no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, that the Mining Operations will continue to operate and the mining projects will be completed in accordance with public statements and achieve their stated production estimates, that the mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates from Mining Operations (including reserve conversion rates) are accurate, that each party will satisfy their obligations in accordance with the PMPAs, that Wheaton will continue to be able to fund or obtain funding for outstanding commitments, that Wheaton will be able to source and obtain accretive PMPAs, that neither Wheaton nor the Mining Operations will suffer significant impacts as a result of an epidemic (including the COVID-19 virus pandemic), that any outbreak or threat of an outbreak of a virus or other contagions or epidemic disease will be adequately responded to locally, nationally, regionally and internationally, without such response requiring any prolonged closure of the Mining Operations or having other material adverse effects on the Company and counterparties to its PMPAs, that the trading of the Company's common shares will not be adversely affected by the differences in liquidity, settlement and clearing systems as a result of multiple listings of the Common Shares on the LSE, the TSX and the NYSE, that the trading of the Company's common shares will not be suspended, and that the net proceeds of sales of common shares, if any, will be used as anticipated, that expectations regarding the resolution of legal and tax matters will be achieved (including ongoing CRA audits involving the Company), that Wheaton has properly considered the interpretation and application of Canadian tax law to its structure and operations, that Wheaton has filed its tax returns and paid applicable taxes in compliance with Canadian tax law, that Wheaton's application of the CRA Settlement is accurate (including the Company's assessment that there will be no material change in the Company's facts or change in law or jurisprudence), and such other assumptions and factors as set out in the Disclosure. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and even if events or results described in the forward-looking statements are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Wheaton. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and are cautioned that actual outcomes may vary. The forward-looking statements included herein are for the purpose of providing readers with information to assist them in understanding Wheaton's expected financial and operational performance and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, reflects Wheaton's management's current beliefs based on current information and will not be updated except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Although Wheaton has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in forward‑looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results, level of activity, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. View original content: SOURCE Wheaton Precious Metals Corp.
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/wheaton-precious-metals-announces-second-quarter-results-2022/
2022-08-11T21:35:30Z
NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form: https://claimyourloss.com/securities/amazon-com-inc-loss-submission-form-2/?id=30563&from=4 This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased or otherwise acquired shares of Amazon common stock between July 30, 2021, and April 28, 2022, inclusive. Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until September 6, 2022 to petition the court. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff. According to a filed complaint, Amazon.com, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: 1) defendants knew or recklessly disregarded that the Company's infrastructure and fulfillment network investments substantially outpaced demand; 2) those investments were a massive, self-imposed, undue drain on Amazon's financial condition; 3) contrary to defendants' public statements and undisclosed to investors, defendants had already implemented cutbacks to Amazon's fulfillment capacity by July 2021; and 4) as a result of defendants' misrepresentations and omissions, Amazon's common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the class period. Jakubowitz Law is vigorous in pursuit of justice for shareholders who have been the victim of securities fraud. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. CONTACT: JAKUBOWITZ LAW 1140 Avenue of the Americas 9th Floor New York, New York 10036 T: (212) 867-4490 F: (212) 537-5887 View original content: SOURCE Jakubowitz Law
https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/amzn-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-amazon-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-september-6-2022/
2022-08-05T17:32:38Z
ALABEL, Philippines , Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Dangerous Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, constructed by CSCEC, in Sarangani Province of the Philippines, Noni Tan guides patients to participate in rehabilitation training activities. Tan entered this facility in Nov 2020. A court ordered him to undergo drug rehabilitation program. His drug addiction had spanned for decades. He said he was fortunate to be admitted in the facility. "It's so beautiful here, we look far out the sea, and we realize about life and how we will never go back to our addiction," Tan said. Drug recovery is a long arduous process. Hospital chief Dr. Imelda Quinones said that they have a holistic and scientific based approach to treatment. Tan underwent treatment in the facility and was considered fully recovered. He was then hired by Dr. Quinones as a "houseparent" to look after new patients. The picturesque Saranggani Bay is what patients see from their windows every morning. Project director Yao Shanfa from China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) said the design is based on the "window of hope" concept. "The window is open for each patient to help them recover and step into a bright future", Yao said. The facility was constructed by CSCEC in 2018. The project was funded by China to support President Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs which plagued the Philippine society. Dr. Quinones said she is thankful for the rehabilitation facility. "This is state of the art facility, and we are very happy." Yao said they built the facility and the other rehabilitation facility in Agusan del Sur Province in less than 14 months with the help of Chinese and Filipino workers. "The project was carried out under the belt and road initiative. It has brought great benefits to the local community. The center project has become a landmark project in the Sino-Philippine cooperation," Yao said. The project employed 450 skilled workers, providing them with job opportunities and technical training as they learned advanced construction methods. Yao said the project encountered many challenges in construction like the rainy season. But they were able to overcome difficulties and hand over the project in record time. He said he is proud that he didn't just build a building but also a structure for hope and new beginnings. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE China State Construction Engineering Corporation
https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/05/center-hope-new-life/
2022-08-05T03:06:42Z
ALBANY — Decades ago, in 1951, with the publication of a booklet marking the completion of the building that would become St. Teresa’s Catholic School, the author of that booklet mentioned that, with the construction of the school for classes through eighth grade — what was then called junior high school, now middle school — there was enough land for future expansion to include high school classes. “It will take a leap of faith” to make that happen, the writer noted some seven decades ago. Jump ahead to the 2000-teens, and St. Teresa’s Priest Father Ray Levreault, along with a group of board members and parents eager to have their children continue their Catholic education, petitioned the Bishop of Savannah and received permission to, indeed, add high school education to the curriculum at St. Teresa’s. Freshman and sophomore classes were added in 2017, juniors in 2018 and seniors in 2019. And in 2020 that long-ago prophesied leap of faith was made whole when St. Teresa’s celebrated its first graduating class. Now, overseen by Father Ray and led by Principal Susie Hatcher, Assistant Principal Linda Johnson and High School Director Terry McKay, St. Teresa’s School is thriving, turning out some of the brightest graduates in southwest Georgia, students that are continuing their education at Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Yale, North Carolina State, various other Georgia colleges and the nation’s military academies. “The primary difference between a Catholic education and a public school education is faith,” Johnson, who is heading into her 26th year as an educator/administrator, 12 in the Dougherty County Public School System and the rest at St. Teresa’s, said. “Having been in both, kids are going to get a great education wherever they go. But the Christian faith is part of the discovery at St. Teresa’s. “We pretty much base all that we undertake on the ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ principal. And we can openly speak it.” Indeed, Hatcher says, along with religious classes, staff development includes the introduction of Catholic principles that are introduced in all disciplines. “Let me be clear: Our goal is not to convert anyone,” the St. Teresa’s principal said. “Our goal is to share our faith, share the faith of Jesus Christ. In fact, we welcome students of all faiths and have instructors from different denominations. But what we teach is based on the principles of the Catholic church.” Hatcher should know about Catholic School education. She was taught by nuns in Ohio and Kentucky, as were her husband and both sides of their family. And she makes no bones that she’s excited about her own children receiving the same kind of education. “It’s something I’ve wished for my whole life,” she said. Johnson, meanwhile, converted to Catholicism while at the University of Georgia, and at St. Teresa’s she’s taught every level through eighth grade, has served 13 years total during her two stints as assistant principal and was principal for two years. With the backing of church officials, including Gregory John Hartmayer, who now is the Archbishop of Atlanta, Hatcher and Johnson helped write up the proposal to bring a K3-12 education to St. Teresa’s. Up to 2017, students at the Catholic school attended classes there through eighth grade. Then ... well, it was up to parents. Options included private schools, whose tuition was often too steep for many parents, or sending their high-schoolers to public schools. “That could be a bit of culture shock for a lot of our students,” Johnson admits. With some 136 students now enrolled in St. Teresa’s, Hatcher said that the school is open to more students ... but not too many more. “Ideally, we want between 16-20 students in each grade level,” she said. “We’d love to increase our student body, but not to the point that we’d have huge classes. That would impact instruction. We like having the opportunity to give each child individual attention; we can meet special needs of each student.” Hatcher and Johnson, whose apparent rapport includes finishing each other’s thoughts at times, said there are a number of reasons in addition to smaller class sizes and individual student attention for parents to like St. Teresa’s, including: — Safety: “That is our top priority,” Johnson said. “Our doors are locked at all times, teachers are given codes to open the doors — which they don’t share with anyone — and the codes are changed frequently. If our office personnel doesn’t know you, you don’t get in the building.” — College choices: “We have some very successful kids here; our graduates are going on to some of the best schools,” Hatcher said. “But even before we had a high school, we’d hear from our students who said when they went on to high school or college that the education they’d gotten put them ahead of other students.” — Rigorous (and faith-based) education: “There is a high expectation of achievement,” Hatcher said. “We have dedicated teachers here who believe in their mission. And there is a work ethic here that serves our students well when they move on to college or careers.” — Diversity: “Learning to live, interact and respect all different cultures is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child,” Johnson said. “I am so blessed that my kids had such a diverse group of friends here at St. Teresa’s.” Now that St. Teresa’s Catholic School has established its academic bona fides — the school also offers such extracurricular activities as basketball, soccer, cheerleading, archery and “lots of clubs” — the administrators say there is lots to offer parents looking for the right place for their students to receive a quality education. “It’s an education based on Christ,” Hatcher said. “There’s no better way to raise a child.” (Interested parents may contact Hatcher or Johnson by calling (229) 436-0134 or via email at shatcher@stteresas.org or ljohnson@stteresas.org.)
https://www.albanyherald.com/local/st-teresas-catholic-school-expands-on-leap-of-faith/article_fc4ce60e-0528-11ed-85d7-5f77ecf05732.html
2022-07-16T22:07:33Z
Which ice-fishing auger is best? Even if you own the best ice-fishing gear on the planet, you won’t get very far without a high-quality ice-fishing auger. These essential tools drill through the surface of the ice, resulting in a clean hole that’s big enough for your fishing line and whatever you catch. These drills vary from simple hand-powered models to high-tech power tools that get the job done in seconds. For a compact auger with an impressive battery life, the Ion R1 Electric Ice Auger is the top pick. What to know before you buy an ice-fishing auger Types of ice-fishing augers - Manual: These tools allow you to simply drill through the ice by hand. Manual ice augers are lightweight and portable, but they require more physical labor than powered devices. This is particularly true if you’re trying to drill through ice that’s more than 1 foot thick. On the plus side, hand-powered ice augers are durable, affordable and don’t require any power source. - Electric: Unlike propane or gas-powered augers, electric ice-fishing augers release no toxic fumes and can be used safely in a fishing shelter or cabin. They’re also more portable since you don’t need to carry around heavy containers of fuel, and they typically boast a long battery life. On the other hand, batteries drain over time, making electric augers somewhat less reliable. - Gas-powered: Gas-powered ice augers are very powerful but loud, which means you run the risk of scaring away fish. They’re also less environmentally friendly than other types and require the user to haul around containers of liquid fuel. Running the motor releases noxious fumes into the air, making these augers unsuitable for fishing indoors. On the plus side, gas-powered augers are fairly durable and require very little maintenance. - Propane-powered: These tools have the same environmental issues as gas-powered augers, but they’re quieter, lighter and usually clean enough to use in a fishing shelter. Blade size This measurement refers to the diameter of the auger’s blade. Most ice augers have a blade size of around 4-10 inches. When choosing blade size, remember that the diameter of the blade corresponds directly with the size of the ice hole. If your ice auger has a blade size of 4 inches, you won’t be catching very large fish. What to look for in a quality ice-fishing auger Speed The speed of your ice-fishing auger is going to depend on the sharpness of the blade and if applicable, the power of the motor. The speed of an auger is usually measured in revolutions per minute, or rpm. Noise level If noise is a concern, choose a model that’s hand-powered or electric. Gas-powered augers are usually the loudest. Some manufacturers put an emphasis on quiet drilling, resulting in an auger that won’t give you a headache or scare away fish. Lights Some ice-fishing augers come with built-in LED lights so you can see where you’re drilling. This is an especially helpful feature if you like to fish in the evenings or early morning. Warranty An auger with a generous warranty usually means the manufacturer believes in the quality of its products. Keep an eye out for warranty information, particularly if you’re buying a power tool. How much you can expect to spend on an ice-fishing auger The cost of your ice-fishing auger is going to depend primarily on the type you choose. Most anglers can expect to spend around $50-$100 for a hand-powered tool, while electric or gas-powered models usually are $300-$800. Ice-fishing auger FAQ Can you ice fish without an auger? A. Technically yes, but make sure you are going to a fishing spot that has been drilled previously by other anglers. If you’re passionate about ice fishing, you will quickly find yourself running out of fishing spots unless you buy an auger. Can you use any type of auger to ice fish? A. No. Ice augers and augers for dirt have completely different blade designs. Attempting to drill through ice with an earth auger could result in a broken tool and a possible injury. What’s the best ice-fishing auger to buy? Top ice-fishing auger What you need to know: With an impressive battery life and fast cutting speeds, this ice auger is hard to beat if you want to go electric. What you’ll love: The auger’s battery could theoretically drill through 1,600 inches of ice on a single charge. Two built-in LED lights illuminate the surface of the ice while drilling, and a reverse setting pushes slushy ice out of your way. What you should consider: There is at least one report of the blades getting jammed. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon Top ice-fishing auger for the money Strikemaster Ice Fishing Mora Hand Auger What you need to know: Manufactured by a leading supplier, this affordable hand-powered auger has 7-inch blades. What you’ll love: The 7-inch blades are constructed from high-alloy carbon steel and you can adjust the length for users of various heights. The handles are padded with rubber grips and an ergonomic design to prevent fatigue while drilling. What you should consider: The auger’s drilling mechanism could lock when redrilling old holes. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon Worth checking out Landworks Electric Ice Fishing Auger What you need to know: This auger is lightweight with enough battery life to drill 60 holes on a single charge. What you’ll love: This electric ice auger only weighs 22 pounds, making it much more portable than many gas-powered models. It’s designed to be extremely quiet and features an overload protector to prevent overheating. What you should consider: The auger’s battery may die quickly in particularly cold weather. Where to buy: Sold by Amazon Want to shop the best products at the best prices? Check out Daily Deals from BestReviews. Sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter for useful advice on new products and noteworthy deals. Patrick Farmer 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/camping-outdoors-br/fishing-br/best-ice-fishing-auger/
2022-06-16T22:22:06Z
A man who was being transferred in an ambulance to a hospital emergency room died when the vehicle caught fire, officials said Thursday. The paramedic who was treating the 91-year-old patient in the back of the ambulance suffered severe injuries and was in critical condition, Dr. Jim Ireland, the head of Honolulu's emergency services department, said Thursday during a news conference. "Our thoughts and prayers right now are with our paramedic and his family as well as the patient who lost his life in the ambulance and his family," Ireland said. The fire erupted just after 8:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday when the vehicle was in the driveway of Adventist Health Castle hospital in Kailua, Hawaii, according to a news release from the Honolulu Emergency Services Department. An emergency medical technician who was driving the ambulance jumped out of the vehicle and tried to help the patient and the paramedic. However, the fire had become too intense, and the patient could not be saved at that point. "We don't know why the fire started," Ireland said. "None of us have ever seen anything like this." As the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Honolulu Fire Department, Ireland insisted that he would not release information about that probe to avoid speculation, noting that "everything is on the table." "We're just as eager for answers as everyone else," Ireland said. "We want to know what happened, and we want to make sure this never happens again." Ireland also stressed that a fire of this kind is extremely rare. "In 30 years here, I've never seen it." Officials said they would not release the name of the paramedic upon the family's request. Millennials have continued a long-running trend of delaying marriage, with the median age of first marriage currently sitting at 30.4 for men and 28.6 for women. But millennials also increasingly have different romantic and family arrangements, being more likely than previous generations to … Click for more. CNN's Paradise Afshar and Danielle Sills contributed to this report. Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.
https://www.albanyherald.com/news/a-patient-is-killed-and-a-paramedic-seriously-injured-after-an-ambulance-catches-fire-in/article_2850950f-c561-5173-8b15-02d29840874d.html
2022-08-26T09:59:09Z
Sales team expansion and key hires in product and marketing mark even greater investment in customer-centric strategy WASHINGTON, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arc XP, a leading digital experience platform (DXP), today announces it has named Josh Fosburg Head of Global Sales and Customer Success and Jennifer Leire as Vice President of Account Management and Customer Success. These new roles signal Arc XP's continued growth ambitions and focus on building a customer-oriented organization. "Enabling our customers to be successful on Arc XP is core to our mission. The addition of Josh and Jennifer, two proven leaders, amplifies that commitment and complements the investment we've made over the last several years in product and engineering," said Miki King, president of Arc XP. "I'm extremely excited about the deep expertise of the Arc XP team we've assembled which further cements our customer-first mission while positioning the platform for continued growth." Fosburg, a CMS and eCommerce veteran, will oversee a globally distributed team focused on growing the business among media and entertainment companies, and enterprise organizations in key regions including North America, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. Leire, reporting directly to Fosburg and working closely with the Product, Engineering and Marketing teams, will lead a strategy aimed at empowering customers to succeed and grow through the use of Arc XP's DXP. In addition, Arc XP has added sales leads dedicated to driving business growth in key sectors and regions. Kip Bushnell and Shurman Riggins join as Directors of Sales who will focus on Arc XP's North American growth within large business customers and media and entertainment. Jay M'Bei will serve as Director of Sales for Europe and Middle East. Based in France, M'Bei has more than two decades of experience in enterprise search, CMS, digital transformation and digital experience management and eCommerce. Building out Arc XP's product talent, Judy Siegel joins as Director of Product Design where she will lead the design and user research practice. Siegel will report to Vice President of Product and Engineering Matt Monahan and shape the future of Arc XP's business and consumer-facing products with an eye toward building high-quality, meaningful user experiences. Arc XP also adds Dorinne Hoss as Director of Demand Generation, expanding marketing capabilities under Vice President of Marketing Jeana Garms. Hoss is a proven B2B technology marketing leader with over 15 years of experience helping high-growth companies reach their revenue goals. Arc XP is a cloud-based digital experience platform that helps enterprise companies, retail brands and media and entertainment organizations create and distribute content, drive digital commerce, and deliver powerful multichannel experiences. A division of The Washington Post, Arc XP has powered the digital transformation of customers across the globe, currently serving over 1,900 sites in more than 25 countries that serve nearly 2 billion unique visitors monthly. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Arc XP
https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/arc-xp-names-josh-fosburg-jennifer-leire-new-leadership-roles/
2022-06-07T17:10:09Z