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 |
|---|---|---|
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Inc. has been recognized on the Forbes list of Best Employers for Women 2022. The listing recognizes companies who provide a diverse, equal and inclusive environment for women, giving them the tools to grow and advance within organizations.
The Forbes list of The Best Employers for Women 2022 was conducted through an independent survey by Statista that included around 50,000 individuals employed at companies with a minimum of 1,000 employees. The sample includes more than 30,000 women nationwide.
"At NiSource, we aim to foster a more diverse and representative workforce across all levels of our company and to ensure equal opportunities for growth, advancement and belonging," said Lloyd Yates, President & CEO of NiSource. "We are honored to be recognized on the Forbes list for Best Employers for Women 2022 and look forward to strengthening our workforce which is foundational to our success in advancing the economic interests of the customers and communities we serve."
Background on Award:
The evaluation was based on four different criteria:
Direct recommendations – General work topics: The employees were asked to give their opinion on a series of statements surrounding likelihood of recommendation, atmosphere and development, image, working conditions, salary and wage, workplace and diversity regarding their own employer.
Direct recommendations – Topics relevant to women: To focus on topics which are in general more relevant for women. Women were asked to rate their own employers regarding parental leave, family support, flexibility, discrimination, representation and career and pay equity.
Indirect recommendations: Additionally, participants were given the chance to evaluate other employers in their respective industries that stand out either positively or negatively regarding diversity. Only the recommendations of women were considered.
Diversity among top executives / board: Based on extensive research, an index was built based on the share of women in executive management or board positions. Statista researched this data for each company using publicly available company information.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.2 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Its employees focus on providing customers with safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index. Additional information about NiSource and its investment-driven growth plan can be found at www.nisource.com. Follow us at facebook.com/nisource, linkedin.com/company/nisource and twitter.com/nisourceinc. NI-F
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE NiSource Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/nisource-wins-forbes-award-one-best-employers-women-2022/ | 2022-07-26T15:14:46Z |
NEW YORK, Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Co-Diagnostics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CODX) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
This lawsuit is on behalf of a class of all persons and entities who purchased the publicly traded securities of Co-Dx during the period of May 12, 2022 through the close of the market on August 11, 2022 (4:00 p.m. ET).
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: October 17, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in CODX:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/co-dx-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=31232&from=4
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Co-Diagnostics, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) demand for the Company's Logix Smart™ COVID-19 test had plummeted throughout the quarter ended June 30, 2022, and (ii) as a result, defendants' positive statements about the demand for its Logix Smart™ COVID-19 test lacked a reasonable basis.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Co-Dx you have until October 17, 2022 to petition the court for lead plaintiff status. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as a lead plaintiff.
NO COST TO YOU: If you purchased Co-Dx securities during the relevant period, you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out-of-pocket fees.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FINANCIAL INTERESTS: For additional information about the CODX lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/co-dx-class-action-loss-submission-form?id=31232&from=.
J. Klein, Esq. represents investors and participates in securities litigations involving financial fraud throughout the nation. The Klein Law Firm is a boutique litigation firm with experience in a wide range of areas including securities law, corporate finance and commercial litigation. Since 2011, our experienced attorneys have achieved superior results for our clients with a personalized focus. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
J. Klein, Esq.
Empire State Building
350 Fifth Avenue
59th Floor
New York, NY 10118
jk@kleinstocklaw.com
Telephone: (212) 616-4899
www.kleinstocklaw.com
View original content:
SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/codx-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-october-17-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-co-diagnostics-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-08-30T11:00:28Z |
4th of July celebrations on lake Texoma
POTTSBORO Texas (KXII) -People from all over rushed to Lake Texoma to celebrate the 4th of July.
News 12 spoke with some lake goers to see how they celebrated the holiday weekend.
James McEntire who visited with his family from Tulsa, Oklahoma says, “family, friends, holidays, food, fireworks, I mean what is there not to like about the 4th of July holiday.”
The 4th of July recognizes our independence from Great Britain, “it’s what we’re all about in America celebrating our day of independence where we became a nation,” says James McEntire.
To many Americans, this day should be celebrated accordingly.
“Lots went on to bring our country started and where we are now, America needs to come together again,” Louis Garcia from Fort Worth, TX.
And the perfect place to celebrate this holiday is Lake Texoma.
“Oh this is a beautiful lake, I love nature, you know all the trees, and the lakes, and the green, and everything,” adds Mary McEntire.
The McEntire’s have made coming to the lake a family tradition.
Gerry McEntire says “we’ve always been lake people.”
Whether you go to the lake for swimming, boating or tubing, you’re guaranteed to have a good time.
“We just enjoy coming out here and visiting with each other, making friends with other campers,” says Garcia.
Wife Leeann Harris adds, “that’s probably the reason why we love this camp, is because we never have an issue out here, there’s never unruly people.”
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/07/03/4th-july-celebrations-lake-texoma/ | 2022-07-04T00:28:56Z |
- Qcells plans to bring nearly 500 additional jobs to Whitfield County as part of its long-haul commitment to the U.S. solar market
- The investment marks Qcells' latest efforts to rebuild the U.S. solar supply chain and help meet growing demand for decarbonized energy sources
SEOUL, South Korea, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qcells, the world's leading clean energy solutions provider, announces today that its new solar panel manufacturing facility will be located in Dalton, Georgia. The $171 million investment will boost production of advanced photovoltaic modules that will help the U.S. achieve its goals of decarbonizing the electric grid and creating good-paying manufacturing jobs.
"Our additional investment in Dalton will help Qcells better serve the needs of U.S. customers with increased local manufacturing capacity," said Qcells CEO Justin Lee. "Georgia has become the clean energy manufacturing heart of America, and we are proud to contribute to the state's advanced manufacturing economy."
The new facility will produce 1.4 gigawatts of solar modules per year made with Qcells' next generation photovoltaic cells, a high efficiency tunnel oxide passivated contact technology, better known as TOPCon. Located near the company's existing 1.7-gigawatt factory in Dalton, the expansion will bring Qcells' total capacity in the U.S. to 3.1 gigawatts, equivalent to one-third of the country's solar module manufacturing capacity.
"We are excited to see Qcells continue to expand in Georgia. The state of Georgia and Korea have enjoyed an outstanding partnership for decades, supported by a dedication to relationship building. We have been focused on bringing jobs and opportunities to hardworking Georgians across the state," said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
Qcells' expansion in Dalton is expected to bring 470 new jobs to Whitfield County. With more than 750 staff employed at the existing factory, total local employees will exceed 1,000 when the expansion is complete. Groundbreaking is planned for fall 2022 and operation is expected to commence within the first half of 2023.
The investment marks Qcells' latest efforts to rebuild the U.S. solar supply chain. In March, Qcells' parent company Hanwha Solutions became the largest shareholder of U.S. polysilicon manufacturer REC Silicon to secure reliable supply of the raw material crucial to solar panel manufacturing.
"I appreciate Qcells' sustained and growing investment in Georgia and the working relationship we've built to create more jobs and opportunities for Georgians. I will continue working to make Georgia a world leader in renewable energy innovation and manufacturing," said Senator Jon Ossoff.
Qcells retains the largest market share in the U.S. commercial and residential markets. According to the Wood Mackenzie Q1 2022 U.S. PV Leaderboard report, Qcells obtained 24.1 and 20.6 percent market shares in the residential and commercial sectors, respectively, in 2021. Qcells is also a leading supplier to the utility solar sector.
"I'm thrilled that Qcells has decided to expand its presence in Dalton, and I commend the company's smart investments in Georgia," said Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. "I'll continue working closely with Qcells to incentivize solar production and encourage additional economic investments that create good-paying jobs, in North Georgia, and every corner of our state."
By working with partners in the U.S. and elsewhere, Qcells aspires to realize its vision of being a "completely clean energy solutions provider." From low-carbon solar products to smart energy solutions, Qcells' intends to help accelerate the energy transition and build a sustainable future for the next generations to come.
About Qcells
Qcells is one of the world's leading clean energy companies, recognized for its established reputation as a manufacturer of high-performance, high-quality solar cells and modules, portfolio of intelligent storage systems, and growing international pipeline of large-scale renewable energy projects. Qcells also provides renewable electricity retail services and packages to end customers the world over. The company is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea (Global Executive HQ) and Thalheim, Germany (Technology & Innovation HQ) with its diverse international manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Malaysia, China, and South Korea. Qcells offers Completely Clean Energy through the full spectrum of photovoltaic products, storage solutions, renewable electricity contracting and large-scale solar power plants. Through its growing global business network spanning Europe, North America, Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East, Qcells provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental and residential markets. For more information, visit: https://qcells.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Hanwha Solutions | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/qcells-announces-solar-panel-manufacturing-expansion-will-be-dalton-georgia/ | 2022-05-26T13:32:40Z |
NEW YORK (AP) — Four big banks reported noticeable declines in their first-quarter profits Thursday, as the volatile markets and war in Ukraine caused deal-making to dry up while a slowdown in the housing market meant fewer people sought to get a new mortgage or refinance.
The results from Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo were similar to the results out of JPMorgan Chase, which on Wednesday reported a double-digit decline in profits.
At Goldman Sachs, profits fell 43% to $3.63 billion. Citigroup posted a 47% decline in profits to $4 billion, Wells Fargo’s profits fell 21% and Morgan Stanley’s earnings dropped 11%.
In some ways, comparing this quarter to a year ago doesn’t tell an accurate story of how well Wall Street is doing. The first quarter of 2021 was helped by the start of widespread vaccination campaigns for COVID-19, as well as recovery in the economy from the pandemic. Banks also released large portions of their loan-loss reserves — money they sock away to cover potentially bad loans in a rough economy — last year. Those were a one-time boost to profits.
But banks are often seen as a proxy for the overall economy, and the first quarter of 2022 has been considerably rougher than a year earlier. Markets have struggled with high inflation, as well as a run up in oil prices largely caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Interest rates have also risen sharply in response to the Federal Reserve signaling that it plans to raise interest rates multiple times this year, which in turn has caused mortgage rates to rise.
Outside of the slowdown in deal-making, the war in Ukraine plus the broad international sanctions placed on Russia weighed on the results of at least two banks, Citigroup and to a lesser extent, Goldman Sachs. Citi said it had to set aside $1.9 billion in potential loan losses due to its exposure to Russia, where the bank operates a consumer banking franchise as well as a modest investment bank. Meanwhile Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said the bank had $300 million in losses this quarter tied to Russia.
That’s on top of the $1.5 billion that JPMorgan set aside on Wednesday to cover higher inflation costs as well as its exposure to Russia.
But where the banks really took a hit this quarter was in investment banking. Goldman Sachs said investment banking revenues fell 40% from a year earlier, while Morgan Stanley reported a 38% decline in investment banking fees. Citigroup reported a 43% drop in investment banking revenues.
The drop in investment banking revenues largely has to do with companies sitting on the sidelines in the quarter due to the volatility.
Wells Fargo, which has a smaller investment bank, was more heavily impacted by the slowdown in the housing market. Revenues from mortgage originations at Wells were down 33% from a year earlier. Freddie Mac said the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 5% last week, nearly double where it was less than a year ago.
“Rising rates drove a significant slowdown in mortgage banking, especially refinance activity,” said Kyle Sanders, an analyst with Edward Jones, who covers Wells Fargo, in an email. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/big-bank-profits-decline-as-deal-making-mortgages-slow/ | 2022-04-15T07:30:03Z |
Sheriff’s office taking names for its newest employee, an 11-week-old K-9
MONROE, N.C. (Gray News) - A North Carolina sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s help with something adorable.
The Union County Sheriff’s Office wants assistance naming its newest K-9, an 11-week-old German Shepherd.
The sheriff’s office says their puppy crime fighter is currently known as Puppy Doe, but Sheriff Eddie Cathey is asking for a bit of help with the dog’s official name.
To help the process, the department shared some details about the puppy. The little guy likes long walks in the park, rolling around in the grass, public displays of affection, tearing up new tennis balls, prefers his toys thrown overhand and hails from a family of service dogs.
The sheriff’s department said it will take names until 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on its Facebook post in the comment section.
Sheriff Cathey said the names of “Sir Sitsalot” and “Fluffy” have already been ruled out.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/11/sheriffs-office-taking-names-its-newest-employee-an-11-week-old-k-9/ | 2022-08-11T03:05:52Z |
U.S. Coast Guard saves boaters off the coast of Ponce de Leon
Published: Jul. 11, 2022 at 3:39 PM EDT|Updated: 44 minutes ago
PONCE DE LEON, Fla. (WWSB) - The United States Coast Guard Southeast wants to remind boaters to take precautions and practice boater safety.
Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon ended up having to rescue five people from a 24-foot vessel over the weekend. The boat was nine miles offshore and the occupants were able to get help.
USCG wants to remind boaters to take certain safety steps before heading to sea.
- File a float plan.
- Ensure you have enough life jackets on board for everyone.
- Good communications. (VHF-FM Radio, emergency position indicating radio beacon, charged cell phone)
Download the USCG app: https://apple.co/3NPHkyY
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/11/us-coast-guard-saves-boaters-off-coast-ponce-de-leon/ | 2022-07-11T20:24:15Z |
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria is grappling with widespread fuel shortages that are forcing motorists to spend hours in lines to buy gas and causing prices to surge for transportation and basic commodities.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused prices to import fuel go up by more than 100% but retailers complain they can only charge the price set by the government, causing them to operate at a loss.
The government’s promises that the shortages will soon end have not improved the situation. Fuel retailers are pleading with the government to deregulate the market to allow them set their own prices.
But the Nigerian government this week insisted that the pump price must remain the same.
“The war in Ukraine has caused an increase in the diesel price (but) you have not allowed them (retailers) to increase the price … to recover that cost. So where are they going to get the extra money?” asked Clement Isong, CEO of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s current gas shortage — the third in 2022 — is because gas retailers are struggling with rising costs, Isong said. The cost of transporting gasoline to the depots has gone up by 80% in the past few months, he said.
“People are suffering,” he said, urging the government to allow higher prices. “What we are saying is, do it (raise the price) slowly, let it not stay fixed,” said Isong.
Gasoline shortages are frequent in Nigeria even though the country is one of Africa’s biggest producers of crude oil. Nigeria produced an average of 1.42 million barrels per day in May, according to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. However, the country must import most of its fuel because it has very few functioning refineries.
Some gas stations have gone ahead and increased their prices, which has reduced their lines, while others in Abuja, the capital, continue to sell at the government-set pump price.
The way out of the gas shortage is to allow gas stations to charge more, said Uwadiae Osadiaye, senior vice president, energy and industrials at FBNQuest Merchant Bank.
“Adjust the pump price higher so that tanker drivers are not running into a loss,” he said. Other fuel sellers agree that deregulation is “the most efficient way” out of the continued petrol scarcity.
Taxi driver Bagana Usman says his daily earnings have dropped by 60% because of the long waits he endures to get gas. He spent most of Thursday in a line for fuel.
“My prayer is for this fuel scarcity to end so that everybody will survive,” the father of two said. “Let us continue our work.” | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/nigerians-blame-fuel-shortage-on-ukraine-war-fixed-prices/ | 2022-06-24T15:01:54Z |
Britney Spears marrying fiancé Sam Asghari, source says
Published: Jun. 9, 2022 at 8:17 PM CDT|Updated: 42 minutes ago
(CNN) - Britney Spears is apparently getting ready to walk down the aisle again.
According to a source close to the pop singer, Spears is set to marry her fiancé Sam Asghari on Thursday.
Spears met the personal trainer turned actor back in 2016 when he co-starred in the video for her “Slumber Party” single.
The couple has been engaged since September 2021.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/06/10/britney-spears-marrying-fianc-sam-asghari-source-says/ | 2022-06-10T01:59:49Z |
STOCKHOLM, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
Second quarter highlights
- Group organic sales grew by 5% YoY driven primarily by Networks in North America and Europe. Reported sales were SEK 62.5 (54.9) b.
- Reported gross income increased to SEK 26.3 (23.9) b. driven by higher sales. Gross margin was 42.1% (43.4%) impacted by lower IPR revenues of SEK 0.9 b YoY and supply chain cost, partly offset by timing of software sales in a large contract and underlying improvements.
- Reported EBIT amounted to SEK 7.3 (5.8) b. as a result of higher sales and higher gross income. EBIT margin was 11.7% (10.6%).
- Reported EBITA amounted to SEK 7.5 (6.1) b. with an EBITA margin of 12.0% (11.1%). EBITA margin rolling four quarters was 14%.
- Networks reported EBIT margin was 19.2% (21.7%) impacted by lower IPR revenues, increased component and logistics costs, and proactive investments in supply chain resilience, partly offset by timing of software sales in a large contract.
- Reported net income was SEK 4.7 (3.9) b.
- Free cash flow before M&A was SEK 4.4 (4.1) b. Net cash on June 30, 2022, was SEK 70.3 b. compared with SEK 43.7 b. on June 30, 2021.
- Planning for a Capital Markets Day December 15, 2022.
[1] Non-IFRS financial measures are reconciled at the end of this report to the most directly reconcilable line items in the financial statements.
Comments from Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC)
Strong business momentum continued during the second quarter. Rollout of 5G networks and market share gains resulted in a 5% organic sales[1] growth in the quarter. We have adjusted our group structure to strengthen execution of our strategy to be a leading mobile infrastructure provider and to establish a focused enterprise business. Consumers, enterprises, and society will be digitalized through 5G in a way we have not seen before. With our strategy, we are in a position to capture these opportunities to enable further growth.
Technology leadership is a foundation for our growth strategy. Since 2017, our increased R&D investments have created significant value. The geopolitical situation has also required proactive investments to de-risk our supply chain and ensure that we can deliver on our strategy to gain footprint. The global supply chain situation remains challenging and inflationary pressures are strong. Combined, this results in cost increases which we work hard to mitigate as far as possible. As contracts expire, we aim to adjust pricing. However, we believe the best way to compensate for cost increases is the continued investment in technology to increase the cadence of bringing new innovative solutions to the market.
Fulfilling customer commitments under current challenging conditions, comes at a cost which dilutes gross margin. The increased costs have been largely absorbed through our investments in innovation and continuous improvements. Increased sales resulted in a gross income improvement in absolute terms of SEK 2.4 b. compared with Q2 last year, despite lower IPR revenues of SEK 0.9 b. YoY.
While 5G is the fastest scaling mobile technology, global penetration is still in an early phase. We foresee that the global 5G build-out will be larger and continue for longer than previous mobile generations. The build-out will include evolving consumer use cases, such as Fixed Wireless Access, mobile gaming and XR applications, in addition to new areas, such as enterprise and first responders.
Networks sales[1] grew organically by 6% in Q2 underpinned by market share gains. Gross margin was 45.1% (47.9%), impacted by lower IPR revenues, increased component and logistics costs, and proactive investments in supply chain resilience, which enabled continued delivery performance in the quarter. We continue to invest in enhancing and expanding our offerings, and we increased R&D in the quarter primarily for Cloud RAN and acceleration of the next-generation Ericsson Silicon (ASICs).
Digital Services sales[1] grew organically by 2% YoY with strong growth in cloud native 5G Core, and an EBIT of SEK -1.3 (-1.6) b. The accelerated 5G Core projects with initial deployment costs partly offset the margin improvement from increased software sales.
Managed Services sales[1] were flat YoY with an EBIT margin of 11.2% (8.1%). With a 4Q rolling EBIT margin[2] of 9.5%, we achieved our 2022 target two quarters ahead of plan.
The new group structure, to be reported from Q3, positions us well to execute on our strategy. Segment Cloud Software and Services is formed by merging Digital Services and Managed Services to create stronger customer propositions as our customers are moving towards 5G using cloud technologies and intelligent automation. The Digital Services business will leverage our technology leadership to accelerate customers' transformation to cloud native networks. We are committed to turning around the business in support of the Group reaching the long-term targets.
Segment Enterprise includes Enterprise Wireless Solutions, combining Cradlepoint with Dedicated Networks to capture the growing needs for enterprise solutions. The Enterprise segment will also include the Global Network Platform, which we believe will create a paradigm shift in the industry as the full capabilities of the network will be exposed to the global developer communities and enterprises. This will inspire innovation with new opportunities for the operators to monetize network investments. The intended acquisition of Vonage is an important building block, and we are working to secure approval and close the transaction before end of July. The third element of the Enterprise segment is Technologies & New Businesses, previously within segment Emerging Business and Other.
IPR licensing revenues were affected by several expiring patent license agreements pending renewal and by 5G license negotiations in the quarter. We are confident in our strong 5G position and leading patent portfolio, positioning us well to conclude pending and future license renewals. With current contracts, revenues from IPR are estimated to be SEK 1.0–1.5 b. in Q3.
To secure deliveries we have pro-actively increased our buffer inventories. Additionally, unpredictable deliveries of components and site material led to increased inventory levels across our business. We were, however, able to partly offset the inventory increases with other working capital improvements, thereby delivering an improved free cash flow before M&A amounting to SEK 4.4 (4.1) b. Based on current visibility, we expect a gradual reduction in inventory towards the end of the year.
We continue to strengthen our governance, risk management, and compliance across the group and are fully committed to operating with integrity. We continue to engage with the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission in relation to the 2019 Iraq investigation report and the DPA breach notices. The outcome of these matters cannot be assessed at this point in time. We are fully committed to cooperating with the US authorities.
Our strategy targets a higher growth trajectory as we aim to grow our core mobile infrastructure business and capitalize on the fast-growing enterprise market. With 5G, the world is experiencing the largest innovation platform to date, where anything that can go wireless, will go wireless. Ericsson is at the epicenter of this powerful trend, and we will continue to invest in technology leadership to ensure we capitalize on this position. EBITA margin[2] rolling four quarters was 14% and we remain determined to reach our long-term target of an EBITA margin[2] of 15–18% no later than in 2–3 years.
Börje Ekholm
President and CEO
[1] Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency
[2] Excluding restructuring charges
NOTES TO EDITORS
You find the complete report with tables in the attached PDF or on www.ericsson.com/investors
Video webcast for analysts, investors and journalists
President and CEO Börje Ekholm and CFO Carl Mellander will comment on the report and take questions at a video webcast at 9:00 AM CEST (8:00 AM BST London, 3:00 AM EDT New York).
To join the webcast, please go to www.ericsson.com/investors
To ask a question, please call:
Sweden: +46 (0)8 566 426 51 (Toll-free Sweden: 0200 883 685)
International/UK: +44 (0)333 300 0804 (Toll-free UK: 0800 358 9473)
US: +1 631 913 1422 (Toll-free US: +1 855 85 70686)
PIN code: 34742898#
Please call in at least 15 minutes before the webcast starts.
The webcast will be available on-demand after the event and can be viewed at www.ericsson.com/investors.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Contact person
Peter Nyquist, Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +46 705 75 29 06
E-mail: peter.nyquist@ericsson.com
Additional contacts
Stella Medlicott, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Corporate Relations
Phone: +46 730 95 65 39
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com
Investors
Lena Häggblom, Director, Investor Relations
Phone: +46 72 593 27 78
E-mail: lena.haggblom@ericsson.com
Stefan Jelvin, Director, Investor Relations
Phone: +46 709 86 02 27
E-mail: stefan.jelvin@ericsson.com
Media
Kristoffer Edshage, Director Corporate Media
Phone: +46 722 20 44 46
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com
Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 69 92
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com
This is information that Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Swedish Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 07:00 CEST on July 14, 2022.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
The following files are available for download:
View original content:
SOURCE Ericsson | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/ericsson-reports-second-quarter-results-2022/ | 2022-07-14T07:16:30Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Are you hesitant to try raw fish? Have you never given it a try? Are you afraid of the smell? The way it looks? Let’s work on trying new things and celebrating a dish and cuisine that is unmatched around the world, sushi.
Saturday, June 18 is International Sushi Day and it’s the perfect time to get out of your comfort zone or go back to the Japanese food you love the most. NationalToday says, “Raw fish didn’t initially sound appetizing to all cultures but we eventually realized that we were wrong and now we can’t get enough of it. It’s time to sharpen up your chopstick technique and treat yourself for International Sushi Day.”
Sushi can be made for those who are into deep-fried rolls, rolls that are all sauced up, the simplest rolls with sushi rice with a piece of perfectly sliced fish on top and many other ways. You won’t be disappointed.
In order to help you out in this new or continuing food journey of yours, we checked Tripadvisor’s list of the very best restaurants in Dallas for you to dine on some delectable sushi:
- Uchi Dallas
- Nobu Dallas
- Deep Sushi
- The Blue Fish Greenville
- Mr. Sushi
- Oishii
- Steel Restaurant & Lounge
- Dallas Fish Market
- Black Ship Little Katana
- Shinsei
For more of Tripadvisor’s list of the top sushi restaurants around Dallas, click here. | https://cw33.com/lifestyle/food-and-drink/these-are-the-top-restaurants-in-dallas-for-sushi-according-to-tripadvisor/ | 2022-06-18T14:23:39Z |
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Bite, part of Markem-Imaje and Dover (NYSE: DOV), and a global leader in connected products technology, was recently named an NFC Forum 2022 Innovation Award winner for "Most Innovative Use of NFC."
Blue Bite's winning program was part of a tech-led re-imagination of a global online commerce company that resulted in a 90% customer satisfaction rate on authenticated transactions. In collaboration with Blue Bite, the company introduced an authenticity guarantee, as well as an innovative NFC-powered program that assures the authenticity of purchases, including refurbished items, dramatically improving the transaction experience for consumers and sellers.
"Our goal is to transform how brands connect with consumers using physical products," said Blue Bite's Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mikhail Damiani. "Blue Bite's authentication experience utilizes NFC tags to deliver increased safety, trust and transparency to consumers, providing them with peace of mind and serving as an incentive for them to scan. As consumers become more accustomed to interacting via scanning products, it opens the door for brands to offer additional value through personalized storytelling, product commerce, circularity and sustainability."
In addition to utilizing NFC tags, Blue Bite unlocks the potential of physical products by empowering brands to build dynamic digital consumer experiences and channel them through physical items using connecting technologies like QR codes and Shadowfencing™.
The NFC Forum Innovation Awards support and recognize the development and deployment of innovative and exemplary NFC products, services and applications, with a focus on improving people's lives through contactless technology.
Blue Bite has also been recognized by dotCOMM Awards, receiving a Platinum Award for Mobile/Apps: Use of QR Code. dotCOMM Awards is an international competition honoring companies and individuals whose talent exceeds a high standard of excellence and whose work serves as a benchmark for the industry as it transforms how we market and communicate products and services.
About Blue Bite:
The world's leading connected products platform, Blue Bite empowers brands to open a new two-way, interactive digital communication channel with consumers through the simple scan of a QR code or NFC tag. The patented Blue Bite Experience Suite™ allows brands to create and deliver personalized mobile experiences at scale using an intuitive, brand-managed software platform. Blue Bite's dynamic and contextual ability to update messaging in real time throughout the product lifecycle delivers an unprecedented experience that builds consumer engagement and loyalty, uncovers actionable insights, accelerates sales, reduces churn, and provides product authentication and traceability. Founded in 2007, Blue Bite is a leading brand of Markem-Imaje®, a global product identification and traceability solutions leader. Visit www.bluebite.com for further information.
About Markem-Imaje:
Markem-Imaje, a wholly owned subsidiary of the US-based Dover Corporation is a trusted world manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions, offering a full line of reliable and innovative inkjet, thermal transfer, laser, and print and apply label systems. Markem-Imaje provides global reach to over 50,000 customers with 30 subsidiaries, 6 technology centers, several equipment repair centers and manufacturing plants with the most comprehensive marking and coding portfolio available in the marketplace. Visit www.markem-imaje.com for further information.
About Dover:
Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $8 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 65 years, our team of over 25,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.
Markem-Imaje Contact:
Viktor Hermansson
+34 627 80 86 10
vhermansson@markem-imaje.com
Dover Media Contact:
Adrian Sakowicz, VP, Communications
(630) 743-5039
asakowicz@dovercorp.com
Dover Investor Contact:
Jack Dickens, Senior Director, Investor Relations
(630) 743-2566
jdickens@dovercorp.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Dover | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/24/blue-bite-named-an-nfc-forum-2022-innovation-award-winner-most-innovative-use-nfc-technology/ | 2022-08-24T21:41:43Z |
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — An Italian astronaut joined a Russian cosmonaut in a rare spacewalking show of unity Thursday, as tensions over Ukraine continued to ricochet back home.
Italy’s Samantha Cristoforetti teamed up with Russia’s Oleg Artemyev to work on the International Space Station’s newest robot arm. The 37-foot (11-meter) mechanical limb — contributed by the European Space Agency — rocketed into orbit with a Russian lab last July.
The Russian Space Agency’s recently replaced chief, Dmitry Rogozin, threatened to halt the installation work last week, putting the spacewalk in question. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Feburary, Europe pulled out of its collaboration with Russia on a mission to Mars.
Despite the turmoil on Earth, the space station’s seven residents have repeatedly stressed that they’re getting along fine up there, as have the flight control teams in Houston and Moscow. The current crew includes three Americans, three Russians and Cristoforetti.
Russian cosmonauts typically pair up together for spacewalks, although NASA and European Space Agency astronauts occasionally ventured out with them years ago.
Before tackling the arm installation work, Artemyev tossed 10 mini satellites overboard, one by one, in a radio technology experiment. Each weighed just 1 pound (one-half kilogram) and rotated slowly as they were released.
The first six drifted harmlessly away, but the seventh one brushed against a space station solar wing and framework. Artemyev said the contact was very mild. NASA agreed there was no concern of damage.
Russian Mission Control urged Artemyev to be more careful, and his pitch improved for the last three satellites.
The seven-hour spacewalk was the first for Cristoforetti, the lone woman in the European Space Agency’s astronaut corps. Artemyev, the station’s commander, is now a six-time spacewalker.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. | https://cw33.com/news/science-technology/ap-science/italian-russian-share-rare-spacewalk-amid-ukraine-tensions/ | 2022-07-22T14:28:11Z |
Focus on meeting increasing demand for broadband technology solutions
JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stuart Eaton, who has helped Latin American and global telecom providers improve performance and ROI for over two decades, has been named Vice President of Sales, LatAm for OpenVault, the broadband technology solutions and insights company announced today.
Eaton is responsible for helping existing customers and prospects throughout Central America, South America and the Caribbean leverage OpenVault's SaaS-based tools that improve network performance, subscriber satisfaction and monetization. He also drives deployment of new products that enhance broadband capacity without node splits costs, and that can improve provider profitability and visibility into sources of broadband traffic. He also manages the activities of Lotier International, Power & Tel, and TVC, OpenVault's distribution partners in the region.
"From our earliest deployments in LatAm to our work with the largest operators in the region, providers consistently have recognized the business and market benefits of OpenVault technology," said Mark Trudeau, CEO and Founder of OpenVault. "Stuart Eaton's connections and expertise will bring new operators into the OpenVault community, and will help existing customers migrate to new solutions for better customer satisfaction and bottom-line results."
"LatAm opportunities are almost never one-size-fits-all," said Eaton. "Using OpenVault's rich portfolio of tools and products, we'll work closely to tailor results to each customer's individual needs. We help operators adapt to a challenging marketplace as our research and development team pioneers new breakthroughs."
Eaton has more than 15 years experience within the Latin America telecom community, including sales leadership positions with Avantel in Mexico and Embratel in Brazil, Embratel Americas and PeerApp. Prior to OpenVault, Eaton was global VP of sales for IS5 Communications and headed Americas business development for both Akleza and PCCW Global.
OpenVault and OpenVault Europe GmbH are market-leading sources of broadband technology solutions and data-driven insights into worldwide broadband consumption patterns. Using the companies' cloud-based SaaS or on-premises solutions and tools, service providers can optimize network performance, increase revenue, and improve subscriber satisfaction. OpenVault and OpenVault Europe aggregate and analyze the resulting market data to provide unparalleled granular views of consumer usage that can be used to anticipate residential and business broadband trends.
For more information, please visit openvault.com.
Media contacts:
Kristen Nihamin, knihamin@openvault.com, 917-509-9028
Paul Schneider, paul@paulschneiderpr.com, 215-817-4384
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE OpenVault | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/openvault-taps-stuart-eaton-vp-sales-latam/ | 2022-07-06T13:34:14Z |
- Hyundai Invests More Than $51 Million in Michigan Safety Laboratory Site
SUPERIOR TWP., Mich., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., (HATCI) together celebrated the $51.6 million expansion project for a new Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory (STIL) at a recent groundbreaking ceremony. The ceremony highlighted the benefits of the new safety laboratory and included remarks from José Muñoz, president and chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor Company and president and chief executive officer, Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. Brian Latouf, chief safety officer, Hyundai Motor North America, and John Robb, president, HATCI, as well as local and government officials including Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II also participated in the event. The STIL is planned to be operational in the fall of 2023 and will be supported by 160 employees.
"Safety is the top priority at Hyundai and is embedded throughout the entire organization," said José Muñoz, president and chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor Company and president and chief executive officer, Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. "We excel in third-party crash testing and ratings, and we strive to be a leader in equipping our vehicles with the latest safety features. The new laboratory will enable us to even more effectively protect our customers and enhance our world-class safety organization."
The new facility will further augment Hyundai's existing safety testing and analysis. It will feature a field crash investigation lab, high voltage battery lab, forensics lab, 500m track and a Vehicle Dynamics Area pad. IBI Group and BCCG have been selected for the architectural design and construction of the building expansion. The investment is focused on enhancing Hyundai's safety commitment in identifying vehicle field issues, preventing crashes and keeping passengers safe.
"This investment by Hyundai is critically important not only to Southeast Michigan, but to our entire country," said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12). "Traffic fatalities are at an all-time high in our nation, and each of us from elected officials to auto makers have a role to play in addressing this urgent, preventable crisis. This new Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory will save lives, and I applaud Hyundai for their commitment to keeping passengers safe."
"Hyundai's cutting-edge Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory will create good-paying, high-skilled jobs right here in Michigan," said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "Michigan put the world on wheels, and I am grateful for Hyundai's partnership in building on that tradition with a $50 million investment in Superior Township. Since entering office, Governor Whitmer and I have added nearly 25,000 good-paying auto jobs, and we will continue working hard to maintain Michigan's leadership in future mobility, grow our economy, upskill Michigan's workforce, and stand tall for Michigan."
Hyundai recognizes the value and importance of enhancing its hands-on safety evaluation processes. The STIL was developed in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) based on a 2020 Consent Order which required an investment in a safety facility of $25 million. Hyundai increased its required investment by more than $26 million.
Hyundai also reminds drivers and passengers to always wear safety belts, use appropriate child seats and focus on the drive.
As one of Hyundai Motor Group's (HMG) six centers focused on research and development (R&D), Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) was established in 1986 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. HATCI is HMG's design, technology and engineering division for North America. As HMG has solidified its position as one of the top five global OEMs, HATCI has grown to include a strong network of engineering disciplines and increased business-focused activities to support North America's Voice of the Customer. For more information, visit http://www.hatci.com/.
Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs and electrified vehicles. Our 820 dealers sold more than 738,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com.
Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Hyundai Motor America | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/27/hyundai-breaks-ground-new-safety-test-investigation-laboratory/ | 2022-06-27T22:14:02Z |
LAKE OCONEE, Ga., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Escape to a destination like no other and discover your love for independent lodging and the passion and hospitality the innkeepers have at Select Registry Distinguished Inns of North America properties. Our upscale boutique hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts give travelers an exceptional and authentic guest experience that only a select group of independent properties can offer.
In an increasingly impersonal world, there are advantages to the hospitality and service of a seasoned innkeeper. It's all in the details at our quality-approved properties. At these unique properties, some of the special touches you may find include made-to-order breakfasts, afternoon snacks, social hour, and inviting accommodations. The spirit of hospitality is alive at Select Registry's collection of distinguished inns.
"With over 260 properties in the Select Registry collection, guests are guaranteed a one-of-a-kind experience, a high level of professionalism, and a warm welcome," said Mark Reichle, CEO of Select Registry. "Though the industry has changed with evolving technology and trends, especially in recent years– nothing can replace the dedication of a hospitable innkeeper. Select Registry properties have provided unparalleled hospitality for over 50 years."
Though the properties in Select Registry are each unique in their own way, they all share the same enthusiasm for community and commitment to a wonderful guest experience. Many travelers visit specific properties repeatedly because of the warm reception and bond they have forged with the innkeepers over the years.
Sherri Campbell Fenton, owner and operator of Inn at Black Star Farms, a Select Registry property located in Suttons Bay, Michigan, received this recent feedback from a guest, "Black Star Farms is truly one of our happy places. The service delivery in all aspects is and always has been excellent. Everyone makes the place feel like home. Thank you for making our first post-covid adventure such a wonderful memory."
Walt Wyss, owner, and innkeeper of Select Registry properties El Farolito Bed & Breakfast and Four Kachinas Inn received this feedback from a recent guest, "We spent six nights at this beautiful, quiet, and well-located bed and breakfast and did not want to leave. Our room was one of the most comfortable we have experienced and the owners and staff do their utmost to make sure that you enjoy your stay. As we were leaving for the airport, our rental car wouldn't start. Walt, one of the Four Kachinas owners, drove us in his car so we wouldn't miss our plane. His prompt and helpful response got us to the airport on time and was very appreciated. We loved Santa Fe and highly recommend Four Kachinas."
These types of reviews, when an innkeeper goes above and beyond are not an anomaly with our inns, but rather the standard that they continually raise. Personalized services and a focus on local products, services, and culture are only a few of the ways Select Registry continues to elevate the guest experience. Genuine hospitality at our collection of properties has foraged long-standing relationships and innumerable memories. Discover the difference when you Stay Select.
About Select Registry:
For 50 years, Select Registry Distinguished Inns of North America has set the standard for excellence in personal hospitality at independently owned inns and bed and breakfasts. Today, our upscale properties include over 260 boutique properties. They're located everywhere from backcountry roads to big-city neighborhoods, along coastlines, and in heartlands across the United States. Learn more at www.SelectRegistry.com.
Media contact: Heather Taylor, Director of Marketing
Select Registry
+410 982 6252
Heather@SelectRegistry.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE SELECT REGISTRY | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/discover-spirit-hospitality-select-registrys-quality-approved-properties/ | 2022-08-17T19:49:00Z |
The US Justice Department is charging Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev with sanctions violations, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Wednesday, the first criminal charges against an oligarch since Russia invaded Ukraine.
"As the indictment charges, the Treasury Department previously identified Malofeyev as one of the main sources of financing for Russians promoting separatism in Crimea, and for providing material support for the so-called Donetsk People's Republic," Garland said. "After being sanctioned by the United States, Malofeyev attempted to evade the sanctions by using co-conspirators to surreptitiously acquire and run media outlets across Europe."
Garland touted the new indictment among several actions the Justice Department has taken against the Russian regime at a news conference Wednesday. He also announced that a botnet that was being controlled by the by the Russian military intelligence agency known as the GRU had been disrupted.
In addition, the Justice Department is assisting with the collection of evidence for potential war crimes prosecutions related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"I personally spoke with our chief Justice Department prosecutor in Paris who was meeting with a French war crimes prosecutor," Garland said. "The day before, criminal division prosecutors met with prosecutors from Eurojust and Europol to work out a plan for gathering evidence with respect to Ukraine. And at the same time, the United States is, at the request of the Ukrainian prosecutor, assisting in the collection of information with respect to the atrocities that took place in Ukraine."
Garland noted the "horrible images" that have come out of Ukraine recently.
"The world sees what is happening in Ukraine. The Justice Department sees what is happening in Ukraine. This department has a long history of helping to hold accountable those who perpetrate war crimes," he said.
Garland says the department is sending a 'message' to enablers of the Russian regime
The charges against Malofeyev were filed in the Southern District of New York and were the first criminal charges brought by the Justice Department against a Russian oligarch since Russia invaded Ukraine, Monaco said at the press conference. In a press release unveiling the indictment, FBI assistant director Michael Driscoll accused Malofeyev of playing "leading role in supporting Russia's 2014 invasion of eastern Ukraine," and said Malofeyev "continues to run a pro-Putin propaganda network, and recently described Russia's 2022 military invasion of Ukraine as a 'holy war.'"
In addition to the sanctions violation charges, the department said it had seized Malofeyev funds being held in a US bank account. The new indictment links Malofeyev to an American television producer the Department previously charged for allegedly violating US sanctions tied to Russia's takeover of Crimea.
Garland touted the new charges along with the disruption of the GRU botnet, which is a bot that can hack and steal information.
"The Russian government has recently used similar infrastructure to attack Ukrainian targets," Garland said. "Fortunately, we were able to disrupt this botnet before it could be used. Thanks to our close work with international partners, we were able to detect the infection of thousands of network hardware devices."
The new actions come in addition to a yacht -- owned by another Kremlin tied oligarch facing sanctions, Victor Vekselberg -- that was seized earlier this week.
Additionally, Garland said Wednesday, the Justice Department, in coordination with its German law enforcement partners, seized the "Russia-affiliated Hydra darknet market -- the world's largest illegal marketplace on the dark web." Charges had been brought, according to Garland, against a Russian national who allegedly administered the market's technical infrastructure.
Monaco said that the Hydra market exchange was facilitating the buying and selling of a "staggering variety" of illicit goods in Russian-speaking countries.
Garland vowed that the Department "will continue to work alongside our international partners to hold accountable those who break our laws, threaten our national security, and harm our allies.
"Our message to those who continue to enable the Russian regime through their criminal conduct is this: It does not matter how far you sail your yacht. It does not matter how well you conceal your assets. It does not matter how cleverly you write your malware or hide your online activity," Garland said. "The Justice Department will use every available tool to find you, disrupt your plots, and hold you accountable."
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/us-justice-department-unveils-charges-against-russian-oligarch-for-sanctions-violations/article_61314154-e4e8-55b6-bbed-85aa7e09cb28.html | 2022-04-06T18:27:25Z |
MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) today announced that it has reached an agreement with SpaceX to launch up to five of the company's remaining ground spare satellites from the Iridium® NEXT program, on its Falcon 9 rocket. Known as Iridium-9, the launch is planned to take place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in mid-2023. Earlier this year, Iridium celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first launch in Iridium's history, which also took place from Vandenberg on May 5, 1997. That first ever launch also carried five Iridium satellites to orbit on a Delta II rocket.
Iridium-9 will be Iridium's second rideshare with SpaceX. Previously, SpaceX conducted eight Iridium launches between January 2017 and January 2019. These launches delivered 75 satellites to LEO as part of the Iridium NEXT campaign, replacing the company's original satellite constellation. Since completion of the launch campaign in 2019, Iridium has 66 operational satellites, nine on-orbit spares and six additional spares on the ground. Up to five of those six ground spares are planned for launch as part of Iridium-9. All satellites in the upgraded Iridium constellation were built by Thales Alenia Space and carry the Aireon® hosted payload, which provides truly global, real-time surveillance of aircraft around the world.
"We have always said that when the right opportunity presented itself, we would launch many, if not all, of our remaining ground spares, and just such an opportunity came about," said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. "Our constellation is incredibly healthy; however, the spare satellites have no utility to us on the ground. We built extra satellites as an insurance policy, and with SpaceX's stellar track record, we look forward to another successful launch, which will position us even better to replicate the longevity of our first constellation."
Since the completion of the upgraded Iridium network in early 2019, Iridium's customer base grew by more than 730,000 subscribers in just three years and has more than 1.8 million today. With that subscriber growth came several new Iridium products and services, including the Iridium Certus® specialty broadband platform, Iridium's Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, Iridium Global Line of Sight® service for uncrewed and autonomous systems, and over 150 new Iridium narrowband and specialty broadband products brought to market by our partner ecosystem.
Iridium remains the only commercial satellite constellation with truly global coverage, offering weather-resilient L-band service from pole-to-pole. The constellation is divided into six polar orbiting planes that each include 11 operational crosslinked satellites. The satellites from Iridium-9 will be launched into a parking orbit, and after initial testing will be drifted to their assigned spare orbits.
About Iridium Communications Inc.
Iridium® is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. In 2019, the company completed a generational upgrade of its satellite network and launched its new specialty broadband service, Iridium Certus®. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.
Forward-Looking Statements Disclosure
Statements in this presentation that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has based these statements on its current expectations and the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding the timing, number and placement of launch of additional satellites, and the expected longevity of the Iridium constellation. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "anticipates," "may," "can," "believes," "expects," "projects," "intends," "likely," "will," "to be" and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the launch and performance of the satellites, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 17, 2021, and the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on July 26, 2022, as well as other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There is no assurance that Iridium's expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Iridium Communications Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/iridium-announces-ninth-spacex-launch/ | 2022-09-08T12:13:22Z |
Krispy Kreme to offer new doggy doughnuts to celebrate National Dog Day
Published: Aug. 23, 2022 at 6:36 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago
(CNN) - Krispy Kreme is sharing its sweets with man’s best friend.
The doughnut chain is putting doggie doughnuts on the menu for the first time in the U.S.
The limited-edition baked treats are doughnut-shaped dog biscuits for pups of all ages and sizes.
Krispy Kreme said the hard-baked cookies are made with canine-friendly ingredients. For instance, they substitute carob for chocolate.
The doggy doughnuts will be available Friday and sold in boxes of six in honor of National Dog Day.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/08/23/krispy-kreme-offer-new-doggy-doughnuts-celebrate-national-dog-day/ | 2022-08-23T23:41:33Z |
NEW YORK, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Blueprint Medicines Corporation ("Blueprint" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: BPMC). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether Blueprint and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On June 9, 2022, Blueprint issued a press release disclosing that the Company "plans to update the primary endpoint of the registrational PIONEER trial of AYVAKIT in patients with non-advanced SM, based on a written recommendation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on statistical considerations ahead of the planned database lock."
On this news, Blueprint's stock price fell $5.73 per share, or 8.88%, to close at $58.77 per share on June 9, 2022.
Then, on June 10, 2022, Citi downgraded Blueprint to Sell from Neutral, opining that "even if the trial succeeds on the primary endpoint, magnitude of benefit will not be enough to support Street projections."
On this new, Blueprint's stock price fell $10.70 per share, or 18.21%, to close at $48.07 per share on June 10, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-blueprint-medicines-corporation-bpmc/ | 2022-07-06T04:18:47Z |
LIVE: Little attends Cyber Security Task Force press conference
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Governor Brad Little joined members of his Cybersecurity Task Force Wednesday in rolling out 18 recommendations from the task force to protect Idaho citizens, businesses, and elections from cyber-attacks.
You can watch the press conference below.
“Through the Idaho National Laboratory, the State of Idaho is home to unique and world-leading capabilities in countering cyber-attacks and engineering solutions to the cybersecurity challenges facing our state and nation. We need increased resources, partnerships and active collaboration between a broad range of organizations to successfully protect Idahoans from ever-growing cybersecurity threats,” Governor Little said. “My Cybersecurity Task Force spent the past eight months identifying new ways to improve our state’s defenses against cyber-attacks, including recommendations to better protect Idaho’s election infrastructure. Fair and free elections are a hallmark of Idaho’s proud representative democracy and the expectation of every Idahoan. I appreciate my very capable team for stepping up to the task.”
The recommendations are aimed at ensuring election integrity; safeguarding Idaho’s critical infrastructure; improving Idaho’s pipeline of cybersecurity professionals; and improving the public’s cybersecurity awareness and education.
Governor Little established the Cybersecurity Task Force in August, noting that cybersecurity intrusions, corruption, and fraud are global threats that challenge the security of all citizens, businesses and governments at every level.
“Across our state and throughout the nation, there are few more pressing threats to our safety, security, and freedom than cyber-attacks. This susceptibility makes the work of the task force so important,” Governor Little said.
To further enhance the security of Idaho’s elections and give Idahoans confidence their vote counts, as part of his “Leading Idaho” plan Governor Little this year sought and the Legislature approved $12 million for a new Cyber Response and Defense Fund to ensure the state is prepared to respond to any cybersecurity events that may occur with elections throughout the state as well as $500,000 for proactive integrity audits to enhance transparency and confidence in the results of all Idaho elections. | https://localnews8.com/news/idaho-falls/2022/05/04/little-to-attend-cyber-security-task-force-press-conference/ | 2022-05-04T22:44:25Z |
A juvenile male was wounded in a shooting Friday afternoon, Temple Police said.
The incident occurred at about 3:19 p.m. in the area of South Henderson Street and East Avenue H. A 911 caller reported he had been shot.
The caller had already left the shooting area when officers arrived, according to a news release. No shell casings were found.
The juvenile was later located by officers in the 1300 block of East Barton Avenue with a single gunshot to his right leg.
“The individual did not cooperate with officers in telling them what happened, or information regarding a suspect,” police spokeswoman Nohely Mackowiak said in the release. “He was taken to Baylor Scott and White hospital with non life-threatening injuries.”
Anyone with information can contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477, where callers can report anonymously. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_d72380ec-ff09-11ec-bd26-b3e4ffd6b7eb.html | 2022-07-09T00:45:23Z |
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Scandinavian Airlines on Tuesday filed for bankruptcy in the United States, warning a walkout by 1,000 pilots a day earlier had put the future of the carrier at risk.
The move adds to the likelihood of travel chaos across Europe as the summer vacation period begins.
The Stockholm-based group said it had “voluntarily filed for chapter 11 in the U.S., a legal process for financial restructuring conducted under U.S. federal court supervision.”
Filing for Chapter 11 in New York puts civil litigation on hold while the business reorganizes its finances, dubbed SAS Forward.
SAS said that its operations and flight schedule will be unaffected by the announcement.
Anko van der Werff, CEO of SAS, said that the strike accelerated the move. “I think we have been very clear that this could happen,” he said.
“The important thing is that this is about bankruptcy protection, it is not about a bankruptcy, but it is about financial reconstruction,” van der Werff said.
The carrier said it is “in well advanced discussions with a number of potential lenders … to support its operations throughout this court-supervised process.”
The rescue plan, presented in February, is aimed at securing long-term competitiveness.
The pilots reacted strongly to the news of the Chapter 11 filing. Roger Klokset, head of the SAS pilots union, said the group “had stretched negotiations and mediation from November last year until the day before the application, without ever having the intention of entering into an agreement with the SAS pilots.”
The pilots in Denmark, Sweden and Norway walked out on Monday, citing inadequate pay and working conditions and expressing dissatisfaction with the decision by the carrier to hire new pilots to fill vacancies at its subsidiary airlines, SAS Link and SAS Connect, rather than re-hire former company pilots laid off due to the pandemic.
Van der Werff said the strike was “devastating for SAS and puts the company’s future together with the jobs of thousands of colleagues at stake.”
The walkout is estimated to lead to the cancellation of approximately 50% of all scheduled SAS flights and impact around 30,000 passengers per day. Flights operated by SAS Link, SAS Connect and SAS’ external partners are not affected.
The airline is part-owned by the governments of Sweden and Denmark. In 2018, Norway sold its stake but holds debt in the airline, and has said it might be willing to convert that into equity. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/carrier-sas-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-protection-in-us/ | 2022-07-05T10:32:26Z |
FDA recalls zucchini from Walmart over salmonella concerns
(CNN) - On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that World Variety Produce is recalling organic zucchini sold at Walmart stores in 18 states.
The two-count pack of zucchini was sold under the brand Organic Marketside.
The vegetables have potentially been contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes deadly infection.
Walmart stores in Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin received shipments of the potentially contaminated vegetable.
The set of two zucchinis was sold in a clear overwrap tray weighing about 6 ounces with a UPC code of 6-81131-22105-4 and case lot number 38706503.
The FDA says no illnesses have been reported and that customers should throw it away.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/20/fda-recalls-zucchini-walmart-over-salmonella-concerns/ | 2022-04-20T19:46:31Z |
Multi-Channel Program Aimed at Gathering Insights from People Facing Hunger to Inform White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
CHICAGO, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Feeding America®, the nation's largest hunger-relief network of 200 food banks, 21 statewide associations and 60,000 partner food pantries and meal programs, today announced the launch of Elevating Voices to End Hunger, an effort aimed to collect input from people facing food insecurity. Through Elevating Voices to End Hunger, the Feeding America network will engage in a variety of activities to reach people in community, listen and learn with the goal of co-creating solutions to be shared with the White House, which has set a goal to end hunger by 2030.
"As the nationwide network of food banks, food pantries and meal programs, Feeding America provides billions of meals to tens of millions of people each year," said Vince Hall, chief government relations officer at Feeding America. "The network covers every county, borough and parish and Elevating Voices aims to amplify the power and voices of neighbors in need across the country. Feeding America believes that communities understand the solutions to their problems better than anyone, and we want to help surface those solutions to inform policies and programs to end hunger."
Elevating Voices to End Hunger will connect directly with individuals and families with living or lived experience of food insecurity through 100 listening sessions, 10,000 questionnaires and 100,000 text message conversations. That data and insights will be published in a report later this summer.
Earlier in May, the White House announced that it will host a conference on hunger, nutrition and health this September aimed at ending hunger, reducing diet-related disease, and increasing physical activity. Feeding America's Elevating Voices to End Hunger initiative is supremely focused on guiding principles that put the people facing hunger at the center, with solutions grounded in preserving their dignity and agency.
"Hunger and food insecurity are nonpartisan issues and there are families, individuals, children and seniors facing hunger in every community," continued Hall. "The Feeding America network has a long history of co-creating solutions with community partners. We strongly believe that hunger in America is solvable, and that this is a moment to come together and decide, once and for all, that hunger is unacceptable."
To learn more about Feeding America's hunger-relief efforts, visit FeedingAmerica.org.
Contact
Zuani Villarreal
Feeding America
312.641.6532
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Feeding America | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/feeding-america-launches-elevating-voices-end-hunger-initiative/ | 2022-05-31T16:59:06Z |
When archaeologist Peggy Piggott uncovered two tiny gold objects on July 21, 1939, the past became a little more illuminated.
Investigating the remains of an Anglo-Saxon burial mound, she was digging alongside others at the Sutton Hoo site, in Suffolk county in eastern England, on the eve of World War II. Inside the mound, the researchers unearthed ancient treasures, all with impossibly intricate designs that defied previous expectations of the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
As the scientists brushed through the dirt, fragments emerged that were later reassembled to reveal weapons and masks with elaborate details.
The discovery shed light on the artistry, sophistication and culture of the seventh century people who created these artifacts, forever reshaping the way we see our ancestors from medieval times.
Now, another intrepid team wants to piece together the one item that has never been restored.
Dig this
The "ghost" ship that served as the burial vessel for an Anglo-Saxon warrior king in the seventh century has fascinated visitors to Sutton Hoo for decades since it was found inside this ceremonial mound.
Only orderly rows of rivets and impressions in the dirt mark where the 90-foot-long (27.4-meter-long) boat once sat in the sandy soil.
Now, The Sutton Hoo Ship's Company charity is bringing the vessel back to life and reconstructing a full-scale ship that will be rowed across England's rivers once more.
The keel of the ship has already been laid, using authentic Anglo-Saxon tools and techniques, and its decorated sides should grace the water in spring 2024. A team of 40 rowers will take the ship through waterways that their ancestors once used 1,400 years ago.
Defying gravity
The fourth time was the charm for the Artemis I mega moon rocket. The 322-foot-tall (98-meter-tall) stack successfully made it through its latest attempt at final-stage testing, which NASA refers to as the wet dress rehearsal, on Monday.
Some issues cropped up during the crucial prelaunch test -- including a hydrogen leak that nearly called it to a halt -- but the Artemis team persevered and fully fueled the rocket for the first time.
The rocket will roll back inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida next week, and engineers will fix the leak and prepare for launch.
The next time the rocket rolls out to the launchpad in August, it's expected that it will finally venture into space.
Fantastic creatures
Conservation photographer Claudio Contreras Koob has been fascinated by flamingos since he was 4 years old, watching colonies gather in the lagoons behind his house on the Yucatán Peninsula.
His new book, "Flamingo," collects the stunning photos he captured over several years.
To prevent the birds from panicking and abandoning their colony, he developed a slow approach, including sitting in his boat from dawn until nightfall. This strategy allowed him to take intimate portraits.
Flamingos live in extreme environments that would irritate most animals. The wetlands that serve as their nesting and breeding sites are protected in Mexico, but that hasn't stopped pollution and the impact of the climate crisis from creeping in.
We are family
When stone tools were found in a southeast England riverbed in the 1920s, they were moved to The British Museum in London.
Now, using modern techniques, researchers have dated the objects and discovered they were used in one of the earliest known Stone Age communities in Northern Europe.
The 330 stone tools belonged to an ancestor of Neanderthals, called Homo heidelbergensis. These early humans lived between 560,000 and 620,000 years ago in southern Britain.
At the time, Britain was part of the European continent, so hunter-gatherers had room to roam. Little evidence from the time this rare community thrived has been uncovered, until now.
A long time ago
Extreme drought has revealed a 3,400-year-old city in northern Iraq.
When the Mosul reservoir's water levels dropped, Kurdish and German archaeologists began excavating the site in January and February, facing snow and hail because they didn't know how much time they had.
The researchers believe it's the Bronze Age city Zakhiku, a sprawling hub of the Mittani Empire that ruled between 1550 BC and 1350 BC.
The archaeologists uncovered structures and ceramic vessels holding more than 100 clay cuneiform tablets. The tablets could reveal the fate of the city, which was hit by a devastating earthquake around 1350 BC.
Take note
Don't miss these attention-grabbers:
-- Something that looked to be the size and shape of an eyelash turned out to be the world's largest bacterium -- and it's big enough to be visible to the naked eye.
-- You've got to see it to believe it. This tiny and colorful frog may not be able to jump, but people can't stop watching the pumpkin toadlet cartwheel and crash-land.
-- Tune in for the launch of the CAPSTONE mission early Monday morning. The microwave oven-size spacecraft will test out a new orbit between Earth and the moon that's intended for the lunar Gateway outpost.
Like what you've read? Oh, but there's more. Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writer Ashley Strickland, who finds wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/1-400-year-old-ghost-ship-will-sail-englands-coast-once-again/article_0e35508a-e25c-517f-8cef-91746e37ab72.html | 2022-06-25T17:44:09Z |
DOVER, Del., July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) (Chesapeake Utilities) today announced that as part of the Board's ongoing succession planning, Sheree M. Petrone and Stephanie N. Gary were appointed to serve as members of the Board of Directors of Chesapeake Utilities, effective July 22. Petrone joins the Board with extensive energy industry experience, having served in executive positions at Dynegy Inc. and Exelon Corporation. Gary serves as vice president of finance at TidalHealth, a Maryland-based health system of hospitals and specialty offices.
"On behalf of the entire Board, we are pleased to welcome two accomplished leaders," said John R. Schimkaitis, chair of Chesapeake Utilities' Board of Directors. "Sheree and Stephanie bring business and financial acumen, risk management and strategic planning experience that will enhance our collective contributions to the ever-changing energy industry."
"Both Sheree and Stephanie bring vast knowledge and expertise in their respective disciplines that align with the unprecedented opportunities ahead for our energy delivery businesses," said Jeff Householder, president and CEO of Chesapeake Utilities. "We continue to benefit from the diversity of our Board, whose collective perspectives and experiences support and enrich our surrounding communities."
"It is an exciting time to join the Board as Chesapeake Utilities continues to lead in an evolving industry that is driving innovation and change for the betterment of our communities," Petrone said. "The vision and values demonstrated at Chesapeake Utilities exemplify the environmental and social responsibility needed to lead the transition to a sustainable energy future."
"It is an honor to join the Chesapeake Utilities Board in its oversight of the execution of the Company's disciplined growth strategy. I look forward to leveraging my extensive finance leadership experience in support of the Company's initiatives and creation of long-term stakeholder value," said Gary.
Petrone served as executive vice president and head of the retail electricity business of Dynegy Inc., and vice president of commercial and retail divisions at Exelon and in financial roles at PECO, an Exelon company. Past management roles included positions at Trigen Energy and Westinghouse. Petrone currently serves as president of Atwater Advisory where she focuses on strategic growth strategies and value creation. She has deep experience across the value chain, including management, business development and customer service in competitive power generation markets and regulated transmission and distribution businesses.
Petrone's alma mater is the University of Delaware, where she serves as an executive mentor at the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation and past chair of its strategic planning committee. Petrone is also a member of both The Forum of Executive Women and Alliance Francaise de Philadelphie, and she previously was a member of the Women's Council on Energy and the Environment in Washington, D.C.
In Gary's role as vice president of finance at Delmarva-based TidalHealth Inc., she leads the organization's finance functions, including strategic financial planning and analysis, forecasting and decision support. Prior to TidalHealth, Gary held management positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Methodist Health System, during which she managed operating and capital budgets, strategic planning and the finance and business operations.
Gary formerly served on the Board of Duncanville and Cedar Hill Chambers of Commerce in Texas, and currently serves as treasurer of a nonprofit organization that provides community programs and services to residents in the Dallas County area.
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions, and other businesses. For more information, visit www.chpk.com.
Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Brianna Patterson
Manager, Public Relations and Strategic Communications
302-217-7050
bpatterson@chpk.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/sheree-m-petrone-stephanie-n-gary-appointed-chesapeake-utilities-corporation-board-directors/ | 2022-07-25T20:50:16Z |
BEIJING, April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI, an innovative market-leading online entertainment service in China, unveiled a new logo as it celebrates its 12th anniversary on Apr. 22, reaffirming its commitment to unleashing innovation and providing quality content and better user experience.
Founded in 2010, iQIYI was listed on NASDAQ on Mar. 29, 2018 as "IQ." Throughout the years, iQIYI has built a global reputation around its outstanding content quality, excellent user experience, and innovative business models, all of which are underpinned by the company's strong commitment to technological innovation. Considered as the leading power in China's online video industry, iQIYI spearheads the growth and transformation of the entertainment business ecosystem by introducing a diversified IP ecosystem and delivering industry-leading innovation on film and television industrialization.
"The overall landscape for Chinese long-form video industry is entering a new chapter," iQIYI Founder and CEO GONG Yu said during the company's 2021 Q4 Earnings Call, adding that "Everyone within the industry is now taking a more balanced approach that results in higher business efficiency, profitability and positive social impacts. These changes are positive, and will bring the entire industry to achieve sustainable growth in the long term."
As iQIYI moves into the next chapter of development, the new logo forgoes the border that boxed the previous logo. The company believes that entertainment inspires the audience by presenting boundary-breaking creative thinking, and that the essence of technology and art is also to break conventions and push boundaries. iQIYI's many achievements in the past years, including the introduction of theater mode, multi-screen interaction, and virtual reality, all speak to the company's commitment to introducing innovations and new possibilities to users' lives.
Adopting a visually more streamlined font, the new logo also represents the company's focused dedication to marrying human ingenuity with technology. In terms of color, the vibrant, lighter green of the new logo communicates a youthful energy and reflects iQIYI's strengthened ambition and excitement for the future as the company stands ready to usher in the next chapter alongside its users.
CONTACT: iQIYI Press, press@qiyi.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE iQIYI | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/22/iqiyi-unveils-new-logo-celebration-12th-anniversary-deepening-commitment-technology-innovation/ | 2022-04-22T05:35:51Z |
Jessica Lowndes is what you call a quadruple threat. She is an actress, singer, writer and now she is adding director to that list.
She started working on her visual album “ELEMENTAL” during the pandemic and with everything shut down there was no better time to get it done. This album showcase’s her directorial debut about falling in love and finding new love and it invokes so many more emotions.
The album will show case 7 different songs that create a 30 minute short to tell her story. She uses elements of nature, such as earth and fire to convey the emotions of the stories told and each one with a new element.
Her new single “BITTER END” show cases the element of earth because we see her going through an earthquake in her relationship and her first single “HUNTER” is represented by fire.
She wanted natural disasters to serve as a metaphor and a device to show the inner joy and turmoil of love.
“ELEMENTAL” will not be fully released until September. “BITTER END” and “HUNTER” are out now.
This segment aired on the KTLA 5 Morning News on June 10, 2022. | https://cw33.com/news/jessica-lowndes-releases-second-single-bitter-end-from-her-visual-album-elemental/ | 2022-06-10T19:20:01Z |
DALLAS, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Wolverine Interests, a Dallas-based real estate investment firm, and Peakhill Equity Partners, a Toronto-based real estate investment manager, are pleased to announce the closing of the acquisition of Riverside Commons, a six-building class A office campus totaling over 468,000 square feet in the Las Colinas Urban Center in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Riverside Commons spans approximately 18 acres, including a 4.7-acre future development land site, and is strategically located adjacent to DFW Airport. The office campus, which was recently renovated and is over 90% leased, offers modern office space, first-class amenities, and ample structured parking. This project marks the first joint venture between Wolverine Interests and Peakhill Equity Partners. Veritex Bank financed the acquisition, which was brokered by Newmark Group.
"This is a great opportunity for us to invest in a quality asset along with a quality investment firm in Peakhill. We plan to do many more things together. We have always held the Las Colinas area in high regard, and this gives us another property there. This property has been a staple for the area and we plan to continue with its success." said Jim Leslie, Managing Principal of Wolverine Interests.
"We are excited to partner with Wolverine Interests, who is one of the most experienced operators in the North Dallas market. We see an opportunity to invest in a great asset in one of the top employment centers in the County," said Jonah Belkin, Managing Director of Peakhill Equity Partners.
Wolverine Interests is a Dallas, Texas-based commercial real estate development and investment firm led by industry veterans with a deep understanding of complex financing, master development and management expertise, focused on office, multifamily and mixed-use developments. Led by a senior investment and management team with 40 years average experience in broad-based commercial real estate as developers, owners, and operators, Wolverine Interests brings extensive expertise to every project. Wolverine specializes in office, multifamily, and mixed-use development, office acquisition/disposition, complex financing, tenant representation, and brokerage.
Peakhill Equity Partners is a real estate investment platform focused on joint venture equity investments in ground-up and value-add real estate projects in the United States and Canada. Through its entrepreneurial structure, flexible balance sheet, development expertise, and lending arm (Peakhill Capital), Peakhill Equity Partners is able to identify equity investment opportunities with superior risk-adjusted returns that positively impact communities.
View original content:
SOURCE Peakhill Equity Partners | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/wolverine-interests-partner-with-peakhill-equity-partners-riverside-commons-acquisition/ | 2022-08-09T16:09:25Z |
SaaS, AI & Big Data Competencies Combined to Unlock Event Intelligence
HONG KONG, May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Online event service provider VOOTPRINT LIMITED ("VOOTPRINT") proudly launches VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE to support global B2B event industry in accelerating digitalisation. Comprised of SaaS Virtual Event Builder, "Expo GENie" data analytics console and GlobalExpo-Net (GEN) B2B event portal, each VOOTPRINT solution caters different needs and addresses various pain points in digital transformation of B2B events. VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE is the full package that unlocks comprehensive event intelligence like never before.
With increasing popularity of virtual events and rapid growth of metaverse, hybrid exhibition (virtuality + reality) is now a new normal – a view supported by 73% of global exhibition industry stakeholders interviewed in a recent study of MICE outlook by The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. The pioneering VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE adopts a BUILD-HOST-ANALYSE (BHA) model, blending the competencies of SaaS Virtual Event Builder (BUILD), GlobalExpo-Net (HOST) and "Expo GENie" (ANALYSE) into a customisable solution. VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE truly caters for individual needs of virtual event organisers, solving stakeholders' pain points such as inexperience in building online events, lack of technical and in-house support, incompetencies in data integration and analytics. The BHA ecosystem facilitates event organisers to design data-driven, sustainable event strategies and solutions for materialising digital transformation.
Powered by a proprietary SaaS solution, VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE is a one-of-a-kind virtual event creator with unparalleled flexibility. Organisers can customise their events from a dozen of exhibition features and modules. Powered by Artificial Intelligence, the Business Matching feature requires no additional technical knowledge to set up. With just 10 minutes, you can effortlessly build a virtual event that supports 3D scenes and enables metaverse connection! Compatible to majority of live streaming and online conferencing solutions, the highly adaptive VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE also supports game and reward functions for enhancing user interaction and engagement. Through "Expo GENie", event organisers will be able to access big data of their B2B events and receive automated, real-time data analytics to make better decisions and optimise event experience. Based on individual user's profile, event interests and preferences, event participants can receive regular B2B industry updates and personalised suggestions from the one-stop GlobalExpo-Net event information portal.
Dr. Jacky Ting, Chief Digital Officer of VOOTPRINT, said, "We integrate Big Data, Al and SaaS into VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE for creating holistic virtual event experience, providing cutting-edge marketing technology support, and offering a seamless access to metaverse."
Since its launch, VOOTPRINT TECHNOLOGY SUITE has been well received by notable B2B event organisers such as Cyberport, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Productivity Council, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, as well as renowned exhibitions in Mainland China, West Kowloon Cultural District and Prudential Hong Kong, all benefitted from this robust tool to reinforce their digital marketing effectiveness. VOOTPRINT now sets its sights on developing new features for embracing the immense market opportunities of Web3 and metaverse.
About VOOTPRINT
VOOTPRINT helps B2B event organisers to drive successful event strategies through insightful and unbiased AI data analytics, thereby leading to sustainable business growth for events. Behind VOOTPRINT is a team of professionals with strong expertise in UI/UX design, AI, and a wealth of experience in both digital events and global physical exhibitions.
View original content:
SOURCE VOOTPRINT LIMITED | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/vootprint-launches-technology-suite/ | 2022-05-17T11:41:02Z |
2 Big Olaf stores rebrand as Blue Pineapple, will sell new ice cream
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Two locations of Big Olaf Creamery have rebranded as Blue Pineapple following a recall of Big Olaf due to its potential link to a listeria outbreak.
The rebranded stores are located in the former Big Olaf store fronts off Tamiami Trail and Cattleman Road.
Eighteen listeria patients have been interviewed by the CDC, 10 of whom claim they had recently eaten Big Olaf branded ice cream, or they ate ice cream from a location that might have been supplied by the Sarasota creamery.
The state shut down all production of Big Olaf ice cream last week after nine environmental samples taken recently at its facility on Cattlemen Road tested positive for listeria.
Erin M. Moffet, spokesman for the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, says of the 100 environmental samples collected inside the facility July 7, nine have come back positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
“FDACS has issued a stop use order of the processing equipment where the Listeria monocytogenes was found. This will effectively shut down all operations at this processing facility, which had already been done voluntarily by the company,” he said in a news release issued last Wednesday.
Another Sarasota ice cream maker, McClain’s Homemade Ice Cream, has stepped in to supply the rebranded stores with their products.
Copyright 2022 WWSB. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/18/2-big-olaf-rebrand-blue-pineapple-will-sell-new-ice-cream/ | 2022-07-18T22:55:25Z |
The Agenda Included a Conversation and Performance by "The Queen of Percussion" Sheila E., a Self-Defense Workshop with Jenn Cassetta, Innovative AR and VR Technology, and Much More
CINCINNATI, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sister Accord®️ Foundation hosted a virtual Tea Party on Saturday, March 26th in partnership with The Ohio State University's Sister Accord Chapter, focused on creating a future where all women have safe spaces, positive role models, and the support to develop into tomorrow's leaders. The virtual Tea Party included a combination of conversations, interviews, and workshops centered on empowerment, entrepreneurship, and personal safety. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology were leveraged throughout the program in exciting and unexpected ways in support of the Foundation's goal to inspire more women and girls to consider STEM/STEAM careers. "We have moved to another level of engagement with our virtual Tea Party program," said The Sister Accord®️ Foundation Founder, Sonia Jackson Myles. "When the pandemic hit, I was concerned about our ability to replicate what our brand was known for – our powerful in-person events. This event, with the integration of the Metaverse and use of technology, allowed us to deliver a next level production, touching many more people than an in-person event, with participants joining us from across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Zimbabwe." Talks and announcements throughout the Tea Party included:
A conversation and performance by The Queen of Percussion, Sheila E. In the midst of practicing for her appearance at the Oscars, which took place the following day, Sheila E. took time to join the Tea Party to discuss her incredible life journey and the things she has learned along the way, including the importance of being prepared. Sheila shared: "Know what you're going to do when you walk into a room. Make sure that you have all of the tools that you need. It's about doing the homework before you step into the room. Because then that allows you to have confidence. You walk in with confidence because you're prepared. Being prepared makes you feel free and then allows you to be yourself."
Announcement of The Sister Accord®️ Dreamwalking®️ & Love Virtual Museum. Jackson Myles unveiled The Sister Accord®️ Dreamwalking®️ & Love Virtual Museum, which was introduced in the Metaverse during the Tea Party. Participants toured the first exhibit, which features a pair of pants designed for Prince right after he changed his name from Prince to the love symbol. Future exhibits will focus on Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Bruno Mars.
ABC's of Self-Defense Workshop. Jenn Cassetta shared her ABC's of self-defense, leading participants through a workshop where she highlighted the importance of Awareness, Boundaries & Communication when we find ourselves in challenging situations. Cassetta shared: "Remember that your intuition always has your best interest at heart. Remember that no is a complete sentence and remember what you say makes a difference in building your confidence. Your affirmation should be I am strong. I am safe. I am powerful beyond measure."
Conversation on Entrepreneurship with LatinUS (Lu) Beauty Leaders. Lu CEO Carol Teter and Co-Founder Cesar Alejandro Jaramillo, sponsors of the Tea Party, joined Jackson Myles for a compelling discussion on how to meet consumers' needs and create a highly desirable product and business where love permeates every aspect of the offering.
Support from the Cincinnati Community, the Home of The Sister Accord®️ Foundation. During the Tea Party, Jackson Myles was joined by Rasheda Cromwell, Vice President of Community Strategies for Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Denisha Porter, Executive Director, All-In Cincinnati and Director, Greater Cincinnati Foundation, a sponsor of the Tea Party, who spoke to an aligned mission with The Sister Accord®️ Foundation.
Announcement of three $5,000 Nella D. Jackson Memorial Scholarships. Jackson Myles announced three scholarships for female college students which were made possible by the ongoing generosity and support of the 7 Principles Foundation as well as entrepreneur Daymond John and philanthropists Paul and Annette Venables. Only those students who attended the virtual Tea Party on March 26th are eligible to apply. The acceptance of applications will be announced within the next week.
"This was our 24th Tea Party, and as the world and technology has evolved, so have we. I am truly honored to have had such amazing leaders join me to share their wisdom and support, as part of The Sister Accord's journey of having one billion girls and women learn how to love themselves and each other," said Jackson Myles.
About The Sister Accord®️: A Celebration of Sisterhood Tea Party Program
The Sister Accord® Tea Party Program is a leadership development program presented by The Sister Accord® Foundation, focused on helping young women understand the importance of strong, healthy, positive relationships with other young women in their development as exceptional leaders. For more information: www.thesisteraccordfoundation.org.
CONTACT: Victoria Stinson, victoria@kempnercommunications.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE The Sister Accord Foundation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/01/sister-accord-foundations-celebration-sisterhood-tea-party-was-day-learning-inspiration/ | 2022-04-01T14:01:09Z |
WASHINGTON, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The CPSC announces today the following recalls are posted in cooperation with the firms listed below. Recalls can be viewed at www.cpsc.gov.
Copper Pearl Recalls Children's Sleepwear Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standards and Burn Hazard
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Copper-Pearl-Recalls-Childrens-Sleepwear-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Flammability-Standards-and-Burn-Hazard
Asweets Recalls Wonder & Wise Activity Tables Due to Choking Hazard
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Asweets-Recalls-Wonder-and-Wise-Activity-Tables-Due-to-Choking-Hazard
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50 years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).
- Contact a media specialist.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/new-product-safety-recalls/ | 2022-05-26T15:01:48Z |
NEW YORK, April 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iStar Inc. (NYSE: STAR) announced today that it will release its financial results for the first quarter 2022 on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, prior to the opening of the market.
The Company will host an earnings conference call reviewing these results and its operations beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET. This conference call will be broadcast live and can be accessed by all interested parties through iStar's website, www.istar.com, in the "Investors" section.
The dial-in information for the live call is:
A replay of the call will be archived on the Company's website. Alternatively, the replay can be accessed via dial-in from 2:30 p.m. ET on May 3, 2022 through 12:00 a.m. ET on May 17, 2022 by calling:
* * *
iStar Inc. (NYSE: STAR) is focused on reinventing the ground lease sector, unlocking value for real estate owners throughout the country by providing modern, more efficient ground leases on institutional quality properties. As the founder, investment manager and largest shareholder of Safehold Inc. (NYSE: SAFE), the creator of the modern ground lease industry, iStar is using its national investment platform and its historic strengths in finance and net lease to expand the use of modern ground leases within the $7 trillion institutional commercial real estate market. Recognized as a consistent innovator in the real estate markets, iStar specializes in identifying and scaling newly discovered opportunities and has completed more than $40 billion of transactions over the past two decades. Additional information on iStar is available on its website at www.istar.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE iStar Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/13/istar-sets-first-quarter-2022-earnings-release-date-webcast/ | 2022-04-13T21:37:26Z |
PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Artio Medical, Inc., a medical device company developing innovative products for the peripheral vascular, neurovascular, and cardiology markets, today announced the appointment of veteran medical device executive Joseph Ingoglia as Chief Commercial Officer. Ingoglia will be responsible for building Artio's sales and marketing teams and driving revenue growth from the commercialization of the Company's broad and deep product pipeline, with an initial focus on the upcoming launch of the Company's first product, the Solus Gold™ Embolization Device.
Ingoglia brings over 30 years of sales and marketing experience to Artio with success building and leading medical device commercial teams. Most recently, Ingoglia served as the Vice President of US Sales for Medtronic's neurovascular business where he was responsible for national accounts, sales operations, and field sales. Prior to Medtronic, Ingoglia co-founded and served as Chief Commercial Officer for Proximo Medical where he was responsible for corporate strategy, business development, and marketing. Prior to this, Ingoglia had commercial leadership roles with increasing responsibility with several industry-leading medical device companies including Boston Scientific, Guidant, Edwards Life Sciences, and Spectranetics.
"Joe's experience building and leading commercial teams and successfully launching innovative medical devices into competitive markets made him our first choice for Chief Commercial Officer and I am so pleased to welcome him to our senior leadership team," commented F. Nicholas Franano, MD, President and CEO of Artio Medical. "Joe has consistently shown the ability to establish good relationships, work collaboratively with others, and build trust as a leader. Artio will need to recruit, train, and lead sales and marketing teams for the peripheral vascular, neurovascular, and cardiology markets in order to meet our goal of successfully launching several new products each year, and I am confident Joe is the right person to lead Artio's commercial team."
"For me, Artio is a once-in-career opportunity to launch a portfolio of high value, first in class and best in class products that address longstanding unmet medical needs with important clinical outcomes," noted Ingoglia. "As we bring our first product to market, I look forward to building a strong commercial team and establishing a solid foundation for future growth."
Artio Medical is a medical device company committed to developing innovative products for the treatment of peripheral vascular, neurovascular, and cardiovascular diseases. For more information, please visit www.artio.com.
Continued blood flow through damaged or diseased blood vessels can result in life-threatening bleeding and other serious medical conditions. Peripheral vascular embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that blocks or reduces blood flow in blood vessels. The Solus Gold Embolization Device combines a flexible catheter assembly and a non-porous, balloon-like gold implant for easy delivery, precise placement, and immediate vessel occlusion.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Artio Medical, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/artio-medical-appoints-joseph-ingoglia-chief-commercial-officer/ | 2022-06-23T19:23:06Z |
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a reusable and biodegradable bandage option that can be used to comfortably cover cuts or other wounds," said an inventor, from Olympia, Wash., "so I invented the TEARLESS. My design could help to reduce the impact of disposable bandages on landfills."
The invention provides a reusable design for bandages. In doing so, it eliminates the need to use an adhesive to secure the bandage in place. As a result, it could enhance comfort and it could help to reduce skin irritation. The invention features an eco-friendly design that is easy to use so it is ideal for households and healthcare settings. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Seattle sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-FED-2393, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE InventHelp | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/inventhelp-inventor-develops-reusable-design-bandages-fed-2393/ | 2022-08-12T17:25:01Z |
MIAMI, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami Heat forward/center Bam Adebayo, 25, visited Nicklaus Children's Hospital for a special reunion with a cancer warrior. Michael, age 21 from Miami, has a very rare and aggressive form of leukemia that affects his liver and spleen and has been in treatment for a couple of years at Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
Several months ago, Michael received a special FaceTime from Bam that started their friendship. This time, they met in person when the Miami Heat superstar paid a surprise visit to Michael and other children receiving care at Nicklaus Children's.
Separately, Miami Heat head coach, Erik Spoelstra, and his wife Nikki Sapp Spoelstra, also turned to Nicklaus Children's when their 4-year-old son Santiago was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma. Last month, the Spoelstra's announced that Santiago was in remission, now cancer free.
During his visit, Bam also delivered food to the nursing staff in the Emergency Department with Pedro Pollo from Pollo Tropical, and spent some time with patients in the hematology / oncology unit. Bam took photos, handed out coloring / activity books with his friend and Miami artist Vic Garcia, and enjoyed a meet and greet with more patients and their families.
Before leaving, Michael surprised Bam with an autographed basketball signed by many of the other cancer warriors he met during his day at the hospital.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Fuad Kiuhan
786-449-4797
fuad.kiuhan@nicklaushealth.org
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children's Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Nicklaus Children’s Health System | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/miami-heat-center-bam-adebayo-receives-autographed-basketball-nicklaus-childrens-cancer-patients/ | 2022-08-09T16:46:17Z |
CHRISTIANSBURG, Va (AP) — A jury on Friday acquitted a former Virginia Tech football player who had been accused of fatally beating a man he says he initially believed from a Tinder match to be a woman.
Former player Isimemen Etute, 19, was found not guilty of a charge of second-degree murder in the 2021 death of Jerry Smith, 40, of Blacksburg. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning its verdict around 6:30 p.m., The Roanoke Times reported.
Immediately after the verdict was announced, Smith’s family quickly left the courtroom. The prosecuting attorney, Montgomery County Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Patrick Jensen, declined comment and referred questions to his boss, Commonwealth’s Attorney Mary Pettitt.
The jury began deliberations after closing arguments ended shortly before 3 p.m.
Prosecutors had earlier told the jury that Etute, then 18, became enraged and fatally beat Smith when he discovered Smith was a man. One of the prosecutors said at closing arguments Friday that Etute gave different versions of events to police and the jury, and that the charge may have been enough for him to change his testimony.
“He has a tremendous amount riding on this trial,” Jensen had said during his closing argument hours earlier Friday, The Roanoke Times reported.
Defense attorney Jimmy Turk told the jurors earlier Friday that the commonwealth’s evidence was circumstantial, while the defense’s evidence, which included the testimony of Etute, was direct.
Turk also said Smith was “controlling the entire environment and the entire episode.” He added that Smith had “demanded that it be dark” and had hidden a knife under his mattress “in case there was something awry.”
Turk also argued that police didn’t ask Etute essential questions about Smith’s knife or Etute’s fear while in the apartment, two questions whose answers could have shown whether Etute was afraid for his life and acting in self-defense.
In taking the stand earlier in the week, Etute had testified that he felt “violated” when he discovered that the Tinder match he believed to be a woman was actually a man.
In his testimony Thursday, Etute had testified that Smith reached for what Etute thought was a gun. Smith did not own a gun, but police reported finding a knife between the man’s mattress and box spring.
Etute said he punched Smith five times and kicked him to gain time to escape the apartment.
Jensen had maintained that Etute had not acted in self-defense. He argued that after Etute punched Smith and Smith fell to the floor, there was “no way” Smith could have reached a weapon under his mattress.
“He could never reach a gun from there,” Jensen said.
Jensen recalled the testimony of medical examiner Dr. Amy Tharp, who Jensen said testified Smith had been the victim of a “brutal beating.”
Jensen said that while Etute was wearing flip-flops at the time of the encounter, those shoes were attached to a “big person” and a “strong person.” He compared Etute, an “elite college athlete,” to Smith, who weighed 153 pounds (just under 70 kilograms).
“That’s a big disparity,” Jensen said. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/former-virginia-tech-player-acquitted-in-2021-beating-death/ | 2022-05-28T22:21:28Z |
BANGKOK, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand, a long-standing leading producer, and net exporter of food is gearing up to provide the world with volume and nutritive quality in a sustainable manner, and to meet global consumer demand for unique tastes with its food of the future offerings.
The country promotes itself as the "Kitchen of the World' on account of its strength in the food industry, arising from its abundant natural resources, continuing investment in food innovation and commitment to food safety standards. In 2021, Thailand ranked 13th largest food exporter in the world, with exports valued at USD30.5 billion.
However, the country is not resting on its laurels and is pushing ahead to meet the growing global demand for healthier food, and so-called food of the future, such as plant-based proteins and meat alternatives. Presently, Thailand is the world's 25th largest exporter of alternative proteins, with USD1.21 billion worth of food of the future in the first quarter of 2022, up 26% on year. Major markets include US, China and Vietnam.
With an increasing number of conglomerates, SMEs and food tech start-ups entering this segment, Thailand's future food offering is increasing in both quantity and quality. To compete producers not only aim to create the taste and texture of traditional meat products but also explore the use of new primary ingredients such as chickpea, mushrooms, and barley instead of soy, corn and wheat. Exotic seasonings from fruits, spices and herbs are inventively added to make future food products from Thailand stand out.
Smith Taweelerdniti, the producer of Let's Plant Meat said the key to success is to find a balance in the flavor, health and environmental benefits. "Whoever that could skew the consumer demand toward more sustainable and more healthy, I think, is a boon for the planet," he said in an interview to CNBC Asia. "It's about creating the flavor and aroma, this is the key."
Scaling up innovation is part of the Thai government's plan to promote the sector as a key economic driver. Thaifex, the largest food and beverage trade show in Asia steadily offers food innovators chances to showcase their ideas. A food tech team from Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University won the ASEAN Food Innovation Challenge 2021 with "The Marble Booster", plant-based Wagyu-style marbled-meat slices infused with immune-boosters, turmeric and black-pepper extracts. The product will soon be sold at convenience stores.
Thailand's other alternative proteins, namely edible insects, a well-known local delicacy, and protein sourced from insects have long made inroads into markets including US, UK, Germany, and South Korea. Popular insects like crickets and grasshoppers are used as ingredients in preparations including canned food, pastry and candy. As growing concerns about food security and sustainability are boosting global demand, Thailand aims to step up sales of edible insects and insect protein powders and its current rank of 17th largest exporter of live insects.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE DITP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/thailand-reinforces-kitchen-world-status-with-healthier-tastier-food-future/ | 2022-08-17T09:53:41Z |
Guardians trade OF Zimmer to Blue Jays for RHP Castro
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland traded oft-injured outfielder Bradley Zimmer to the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handed reliever Anthony Castro. The teams announced the deal shortly after Cleveland lost its season opener — and first game as the Guardians — 3-1 at Kansas City. Zimmer has been a tantalizing talent since coming up with the Guardians in 2017. However, the rangy, 6-foot-5 Zimmer hasn’t been able to stay healthy since showing so much promise early in his career. The 29-year-old missed most of three seasons with an assortment of injuries and some surgeries. Castro will give the Guardians some early-season bullpen depth. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/04/07/guardians-trade-of-zimmer-to-blue-jays-for-rhp-castro/ | 2022-04-08T05:31:08Z |
Company Postpones Investor Day
DUBLIN, Ohio, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ: WEN) today reaffirmed its 2022 outlook.
"As evidenced by our sales momentum, which accelerated on a 2-year basis in Q1 2022, we continue to make significant progress across our three long-term growth pillars: building our breakfast daypart, accelerating our digital business, and expanding our footprint across the globe," President and Chief Executive Officer Todd Penegor said. "We achieved a second consecutive quarter of double digit 2‐year global same‐restaurant sales, opened over 90 new restaurants, accelerated our global digital business to over 10% of total sales, and grew our morning meal dollar and traffic share in the QSR burger category."
During 2022, the Company continues to expect:
- Global systemwide sales growth: 6 to 8 percent
- Adjusted EBITDA: $490 to $505 million
- Adjusted earnings per share: $0.82 to $0.86
- Cash flows from operations: $305 to $325 million
- Capital expenditures: $90 to $100 million
- Free cash flow: $215 to $225 million
Penegor continued, "Our strong momentum, sound execution of our strategic initiatives and improvement in Company-operated restaurant margin as we exited the first quarter give us the confidence to reaffirm this full year 2022 outlook."
The Company has postponed its virtual Investor Day, previously planned for June 9, 2022, to a later date.
This release includes forward-looking projections for certain non-GAAP financial measures, including systemwide sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow. The Company excludes certain expenses and benefits from adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow, such as the impact from our advertising funds, including the net change in the restricted operating assets and liabilities and any excess or deficit of advertising fund revenues over advertising fund expenses, impairment of long-lived assets, reorganization and realignment costs, system optimization gains, net, and the timing and resolution of certain tax matters. Due to the uncertainty and variability of the nature and amount of those expenses and benefits, the Company is unable without unreasonable effort to provide projections of net income, earnings per share or net cash provided by operating activities, or a reconciliation of those projected measures.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"). Generally, forward-looking statements include the words "may," "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimate," "goal," "upcoming," "outlook," "guidance" or the negation thereof, or similar expressions. In addition, all statements that address future operating, financial or business performance, strategies or initiatives, future efficiencies or savings, anticipated costs or charges, future capitalization, anticipated impacts of recent or pending investments or transactions and statements expressing general views about future results or brand health are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's expectations at the time such statements are made, speak only as of the dates they are made and are susceptible to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors. For all such forward-looking statements, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Reform Act. The Company's actual results, performance and achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements.
Many important factors could affect the Company's future results and cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the Company's forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the disruption to the Company's business from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on the Company's results of operations, financial condition and prospects; (2) the impact of competition or poor customer experiences at Wendy's restaurants; (3) adverse economic conditions or disruptions, including in regions with a high concentration of Wendy's restaurants; (4) changes in discretionary consumer spending and consumer tastes and preferences; (5) impacts to the Company's corporate reputation or the value and perception of the Company's brand; (6) the effectiveness of the Company's marketing and advertising programs and new product development; (7) the Company's ability to manage the accelerated impact of social media; (8) the Company's ability to protect its intellectual property; (9) food safety events or health concerns involving the Company's products; (10) the Company's ability to achieve its growth strategy through new restaurant development and its Image Activation program; (11) the Company's ability to effectively manage the acquisition and disposition of restaurants or successfully implement other strategic initiatives; (12) risks associated with leasing and owning significant amounts of real estate, including environmental matters; (13) the Company's ability to achieve and maintain market share in the breakfast daypart; (14) risks associated with the Company's international operations, including the ability to execute its international growth strategy; (15) changes in commodity and other operating costs; (16) shortages or interruptions in the supply or distribution of the Company's products and other risks associated with the Company's independent supply chain purchasing co-op; (17) the impact of increased labor costs or labor shortages; (18) the continued succession and retention of key personnel and the effectiveness of the Company's leadership structure; (19) risks associated with the Company's digital commerce strategy, platforms and technologies, including its ability to adapt to changes in industry trends and consumer preferences; (20) the Company's dependence on computer systems and information technology, including risks associated with the failure, misuse, interruption or breach of its systems or technology or other cyber incidents or deficiencies; (21) risks associated with the Company's securitized financing facility and other debt agreements, including compliance with operational and financial covenants, restrictions on its ability to raise additional capital, the impact of its overall debt levels and the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its debt service obligations and operate its business; (22) risks associated with the Company's capital allocation policy, including the amount and timing of equity and debt repurchases and dividend payments; (23) risks associated with complaints and litigation, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and an increased focus on environmental, social and governance issues; (24) risks associated with the availability and cost of insurance, changes in accounting standards, the recognition of impairment or other charges, the impact of reorganization and realignment initiatives, changes in tax rates or tax laws and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; (25) conditions beyond the Company's control, such as adverse weather conditions, natural disasters, hostilities, social unrest, health epidemics or pandemics or other catastrophic events; (26) Trian Fund Management, L.P. and certain of its affiliates filed a Schedule 13D/A with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2022 indicating, among other things, that they intend to explore and evaluate the possibility of participating, alone or with third parties, in a potential transaction with respect to the Company to enhance stockholder value; there can be no assurance that (i) any such potential transaction will occur or result in additional value for the Company's stockholders or (ii) that the exploration of a potential transaction will not have an adverse impact on the Company's business; and (27) other risks and uncertainties cited in the Company's releases, public statements and/or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those identified in the "Risk Factors" sections of the Company's Forms 10-K and 10-Q.
In addition to the factors described above, there are risks associated with the Company's predominantly franchised business model that could impact its results, performance and achievements. Such risks include the Company's ability to identify, attract and retain experienced and qualified franchisees, the Company's ability to effectively manage the transfer of restaurants between and among franchisees, the business and financial health of franchisees, the ability of franchisees to meet their royalty, advertising, development, reimaging and other commitments, participation by franchisees in brand strategies and the fact that franchisees are independent third parties that own, operate and are responsible for overseeing the operations of their restaurants. The Company's predominantly franchised business model may also impact the ability of the Wendy's system to effectively respond and adapt to market changes. Many of these risks have been or in the future may be heightened due to the business disruption and impact from the COVID-19 pandemic.
All future written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to above. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and factors that the Company currently deems immaterial may become material, and it is impossible for the Company to predict these events or how they may affect the Company.
The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release as a result of new information, future events or developments, except as required by federal securities laws, although the Company may do so from time to time. The Company does not endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.
Disclosure Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to the financial measures presented in this release in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), the Company has included certain non-GAAP financial measures in this release, including adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow and systemwide sales.
The Company uses adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and systemwide sales as internal measures of business operating performance and as performance measures for benchmarking against the Company's peers and competitors. Adjusted EBITDA and systemwide sales are also used by the Company in establishing performance goals for purposes of executive compensation. The Company believes its presentation of adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and systemwide sales provides a meaningful perspective of the underlying operating performance of our current business and enables investors to better understand and evaluate our historical and prospective operating performance. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are important supplemental measures of operating performance because they eliminate items that vary from period to period without correlation to our core operating performance and highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures. Due to the nature and/or size of the items being excluded, such items do not reflect future gains, losses, expenses or benefits and are not indicative of our future operating performance. The Company believes investors, analysts and other interested parties use adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share and systemwide sales in evaluating issuers, and the presentation of these measures facilitates a comparative assessment of the Company's operating performance in addition to the Company's performance based on GAAP results.
This release also includes disclosure regarding the Company's free cash flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used by the Company as an internal measure of liquidity. Free cash flow is also used by the Company in establishing performance goals for purposes of executive compensation. The Company defines free cash flow as cash flows from operations minus (i) capital expenditures and (ii) the net change in the restricted operating assets and liabilities of the advertising funds and any excess/deficit of advertising funds revenue over advertising funds expense included in net income, as reported under GAAP. The impact of our advertising funds is excluded because the funds are used solely for advertising and are not available for the Company's working capital needs. The Company may also make additional adjustments for certain non-recurring or unusual items. The Company believes free cash flow is an important liquidity measure for investors and other interested persons because it communicates how much cash flow is available for working capital needs or to be used for repurchasing shares, paying dividends, repaying or refinancing debt, financing possible acquisitions or investments or other uses of cash.
Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow and systemwide sales are not recognized terms under GAAP, and the Company's presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures does not replace the presentation of the Company's financial results in accordance with GAAP. Because all companies do not calculate adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow and systemwide sales (and similarly titled financial measures) in the same way, those measures as used by other companies may not be consistent with the way the Company calculates such measures. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this release should not be construed as substitutes for or better indicators of the Company's performance than the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
Key Business Measures
The Company tracks its results of operations and manages its business using certain key business measures, including same-restaurant sales, systemwide sales and Company-operated restaurant margin, which are measures commonly used in the quick-service restaurant industry that are important to understanding Company performance.
Same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales each include sales by both Company-operated and franchise restaurants. The Company reports same-restaurant sales for new restaurants after they have been open for 15 continuous months and for reimaged restaurants as soon as they reopen. Restaurants temporarily closed for more than one fiscal week are excluded from same-restaurant sales.
Franchise restaurant sales are reported by our franchisees and represent their revenues from sales at franchised Wendy's restaurants. Sales by franchise restaurants are not recorded as Company revenues and are not included in the Company's consolidated financial statements. However, the Company's royalty revenues are computed as percentages of sales made by Wendy's franchisees and, as a result, sales by franchisees have a direct effect on the Company's royalty revenues and profitability.
Same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales exclude sales from Venezuela and Argentina due to the highly inflationary economies of those countries.
The Company calculates same-restaurant sales and systemwide sales growth on a constant currency basis. Constant currency results exclude the impact of foreign currency translation and are derived by translating current year results at prior year average exchange rates. The Company believes excluding the impact of foreign currency translation provides better year over year comparability.
Company-operated restaurant margin is defined as sales from Company-operated restaurants less cost of sales divided by sales from Company-operated restaurants. Cost of sales includes food and paper, restaurant labor and occupancy, advertising and other operating costs.
About Wendy's
Wendy's® was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas in Columbus, Ohio. Dave built his business on the premise, "Quality is our Recipe®," which remains the guidepost of the Wendy's system. Wendy's is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers, using fresh, never frozen beef*, freshly-prepared salads, and other signature items like chili, baked potatoes and the Frosty® dessert. The Wendy's Company (Nasdaq: WEN) is committed to doing the right thing and making a positive difference in the lives of others. This is most visible through the Company's support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® and its signature Wendy's Wonderful Kids® program, which seeks to find a loving, forever home for every child waiting to be adopted from the North American foster care system. Today, Wendy's and its franchisees employ hundreds of thousands of people across approximately 7,000 restaurants worldwide with a vision of becoming the world's most thriving and beloved restaurant brand. For details on franchising, connect with us at www.wendys.com/franchising. Visit www.wendys.com and www.squaredealblog.com for more information and connect with us on Twitter and Instagram using @wendys, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wendys.
*Fresh beef available in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, and Canada.
Investor Contact:
Kelsey Freed
Director – Investor Relations
(614) 764-3345; kelsey.freed@wendys.com
Media Contact:
Heidi Schauer
Vice President – Communications, Public Affairs & Customer Care
(614) 764-3368; heidi.schauer@wendys.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE The Wendy’s Company | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/wendys-company-reaffirms-2022-outlook/ | 2022-05-26T22:35:56Z |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. says upcoming race will bring back some great memories
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will race Wednesday night at the historic North Wilkesboro Motor Speedway driving a car painted in the throwback bright green Sun Drop paint scheme.
“I came to North Wilkesboro so many times as a kid,” Earnhardt said in a press release obtained by WBTV. “It’s a special place. I never thought I’d get a chance to race around here again.”
The NASCAR driver said Sun Drop was one of his first sponsors and were with his dad for years.
Earnhardt Jr. will enter the Window World 125 CARS Tour event at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
The race will mark the NASCAR Hall of Famer’s first late-model stock car start since 1997 and his first race at North Wilkesboro since 1995.
The car will bear a very close resemblance to the car Earnhardt Jr., ran in the early 1990s, including at North Wilkesboro in 1993. Dale Earnhardt Sr. won five NASCAR Cup Series races at the track.
“To put this program together with Sun Drop, who sponsored my late model in ‘93, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Earnhardt said. “Seeing the Sun Drop Chevy at Wilkesboro again will bring back some great memories for me.”
The event on Wednesday begins with a concert at 5:45 p.m. featuring Dirty Grass Soul. Driver introductions are set to begin at 7 p.m., and the race will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Copyright 2022 WBTV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/30/dale-earnhardt-jr-says-upcoming-race-will-bring-back-some-great-memories/ | 2022-08-30T17:17:53Z |
Kanaan lets emotions loose after 3rd-place finish at Indy
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tony Kanaan heard the crowd roar before the Indianapolis 500. The popular 47-year-old Brazilian finished the day with an emotional cool down lap, perhaps his final lap on the historic 2.5-mile oval after 21 career starts. Afterward, Kanaan reflected on his career — and mused he’s ready to keep racing even though people keep asking whether he’ll retire. | https://localnews8.com/news/2022/05/29/kanaan-lets-emotions-loose-after-3rd-place-finish-at-indy/ | 2022-05-30T00:48:56Z |
A Pennsylvania man was charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and other charges after police say he allegedly tried to buy stolen human remains from an Arkansas woman for possible resale on Facebook.
A spokeswoman for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock confirmed that the remains were to be donated to UAMS’s facility. UAMS spokeswoman Leslie Taylor said they were instead stolen from Arkansas Central Mortuary Services in Little Rock by a female mortuary employee and sold, adding that there is an open federal investigation.
“We are very respectful of those who donate their bodies, and we are appalled that such a thing could happen,” Taylor said.
A representative of the mortuary hung up on a reporter who reached out for comment Thursday.
FBI Little Rock spokesman Conor Hagan said the office was aware of the Pennsylvania incident “but will not comment on ongoing investigations.” No charges had been filed as of Thursday against the Arkansas woman.
East Pennsboro Township Police in Pennsylvania announced the arrest of and charges against 40-year-old Jeremy Lee Pauley, of Enola, Pennsylvania. Pauley had been arrested on July 22 and had an initial court appearance Thursday.
Calls to an attorney representing Pauley were not returned late Thursday. Pauley was released on $50,000 bond, according to court records.
On a Facebook page under his name, Pauley has posted pictures of bags and stacks of femurs, one captioned, “Picked up more medical bones to sort through.” The Facebook page he uses to market his body parts is called “The Grand Wunderkammer,” “Vendors of the odd and unusual, museum exhibits, guest lectures, live entertainment, and so much more! Strange, curious, and unique in every way possible!” It also provides a link to his website.
“I think I’ve seen it all, and then something like this comes around,” said Sean McCormack, district attorney for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, where Pauley was charged. “The question we had to answer was, Is the sale of body parts or bones and remains illegal … or legal? Some of it, to our surprise, was legal. And as the investigation went on, it became clear there was illegal activity going on as well.”
Pauley, who described himself as a collector of what he called “oddities,” including human body parts, said the remains were acquired legally when first contacted by police, according to a police affidavit. Police initially found what they described as older human remains including full skeletons that they determined were legally obtained.
However, after a second tip about newer remains in Pauley’s home, investigators returned to the house to find more recent purchases. Police found three five-gallon buckets containing assorted body parts— including of children— and federal and state law enforcement agents intercepted packages addressed to Pauley from the Arkansas woman that contained body parts.
Pauley told investigators that he intended to resell the body parts, according to the affidavit. Investigators allege that Pauley arranged to pay the Arkansas woman $4,000 for the body parts through Facebook Messenger.
Facebook did not respond to messages seeking comments on Pauley’s pages. However, its community standards prohibit human exploitation and explicitly prohibit selling body parts through its commercial policies and advertising policies.
___
Associated Press writer Kantele Franko of Columbus, Ohio, contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-us-headlines/police-pennsylvania-man-tried-to-buy-stolen-human-remains/ | 2022-08-19T15:06:48Z |
4 in 5 US Cannabis Consumers Think Cannabis Products are Grown & Produced With Consistent Product Safety Standards
SPRINGFIELD, Va., June 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new nationwide study, reveals consumer confusion around US standards for cannabis product safety and quality, showing there is a widely-held, inaccurate assumption that cannabis products have the same basic protections that exist for food, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the US.
The national study was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of SICPA, a leading provider of regulatory compliance solutions, and the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS) among over 2,000 U.S. adults. Results include:
- Nearly three-quarters of Americans overall (72%) and 80% of American cannabis consumers think cannabis products are grown and produced using consistent product safety standards (regardless of which state they are legally purchased in).
- More than four in five Americans overall (81%) and 84% of cannabis consumers think that no matter where they are located, the businesses licensed to grow and produce cannabis products must meet consistent environmental standards.
- More than three-quarters of Americans overall (77%) and 81% of cannabis consumers, believe cannabis employers are held to the same health and safety standards for their workers as every other industry.
"Our new survey shows Americans are wholly misinformed about the lack of basic safety and quality protections for cannabis products in many states," said Karen Gardner, Chief Marketing Officer, SICPA US. "Even cannabis consumers themselves aren't aware that in states where products are legal, there are no uniform standards, leaving lots of room for unsafe, poor-quality products on the market."
Also surveyed in the SICPA-Harris Poll were sentiments around support for having the federal government establish standards for cannabis products. An overwhelming 84% of Americans overall and 84% of cannabis consumers support setting federal standards for product safety and quality for cannabis products produced or sold in the U.S. Similarly, 83% of Americans overall and 83% of cannabis consumers support the federal government setting standards for environmental protections that must be met by the U.S. cannabis industry in the U.S.
The poll showed large support among Americans also exists for decriminalization and/or legalization of cannabis products. Nearly three in four (74%) Americans overall and nearly four in five (79%) cannabis consumers are in favor of decriminalization and over three in four Americans (78%) and a large majority (86%) of cannabis consumers support the legalization of cannabis at the national level.
"The US has a plethora of consumer protection laws and organizations, at both the federal and state level, that regulate consumer affairs. So, it is understandable that Americans expect these same consumer protections in cannabis, like they do for everything they purchase," said Lezli Engelking, President & Founder of FOCUS. "Unfortunately, as these and other findings continue to show, nothing could be further from the truth. Americans want safe, reliable, and quality cannabis products. The lack of protections for cannabis consumers, is simply one more example of the extreme risks to public health and safety Americans are exposed to given the lack of action around cannabis at the federal level."
FOCUS was, in fact, founded in 2014 to combat the lack of consumer protections, as a non-profit cannabis-specific health and safety organization whose mission is to protect public health, consumer safety and the environment within the cannabis industry.
The SICPA-Harris Poll survey also measured cannabis use among Americans, finding 55% of Americans have used cannabis products at some point in time, with more than two in five (42%) stating they've used cannabis products in the past 12 months, and 16 percent saying they consumed cannabis products for the first time in the past 12 months.
This is the third SICPA-The Harris Poll survey on cannabis; in February, the second survey showed overwhelming support among cannabis consumers for more in-depth information about the products they use. The first poll, released last Fall, showed broad support among Americans for securely labeling cannabis products to verify their legitimacy and safety in the marketplace.
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of SICPA between April 26-28, 2022 among 2,069 adults ages 18+, among whom 1,220 have ever used cannabis products. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, contact securitysolutionsUS@sicpa.com.
The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com.
SICPA is a trusted global provider of authentication, traceability and verification solutions, protecting the majority of the world's banknotes and identity credentials and billions of regulated products from counterfeiting and fraud. SICPA currently provides secure labels with authentication and traceability solutions to 44 U.S. States and more than 20 countries for regulated products including cannabis, tobacco, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals. True to its purpose of Enabling Trust through constant innovation, SICPA aims to further an Economy of Trust worldwide, where transactions, interactions and products across the physical and digital worlds are based on protected, unforgeable and verifiable data. Founded in 1927, headquartered in Switzerland and operating on five continents, with U.S. headquarters in Springfield, Virginia, SICPA employs about 3,000 people. To learn more, visit https://www.sicpa.com and https://us.sicpa.com/cannabiscontrol.
Established in 2014 as The Cannabis Health and Safety Organization, FOCUS is an independent, unbiased, 501c3 non-profit that addresses the many shortcomings in quality, safety, and consistency that have become evident with the explosive growth of the global cannabis industry. FOCUS exists to help assure the rapidly growing global cannabis industry has the necessary protections in place for the health, safety, success, and welfare of everyone. Our autonomy fosters a principled, objective organization that protects end-consumers, and acts as the much-needed neutral, nonpartisan bridge between industry and regulatory. Since 2016, FOCUS has partnered with AFDO to educate regulators about challenges in the cannabis industry and has served on the AFDO cannabis committee for 3 years.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE SICPA | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/14/new-national-poll-shows-most-consumers-are-confused-about-cannabis-product-safety-quality-standards/ | 2022-06-14T16:37:42Z |
BERLIN (AP) — A group of leading economic think tanks slashed its forecast for growth in Germany this year, predicting Wednesday that Europe’s biggest economy will expand by 2.7% as Russia’s war in Ukraine weighs on prospects.
The five institutes’ revised outlook compared with a forecast of 4.8% they made last fall. They forecast an even worse performance if Russian gas supplies are cut off suddenly.
They blamed the war and the “worse than expected course” of the coronavirus pandemic over the winter for Wednesday’s outook revision.
It is the latest in a string of downgrades for Germany’s economic outlook, but is still more optimistic than a recent prediction of 1.8% growth in gross domestic product by the government’s panel of independent economic advisers.
For 2023, the think tanks forecast moderately better growth of 3.1%. The baseline predictions for this year and next assume continuing gas deliveries and “no further economic escalation from the war in Ukraine,” they said.
If energy deliveries are cut off, they forecast growth of 1.9% this year and a contraction of 2.2% in 2023. They said “the cumulative loss of GDP in 2022 and 2023 in the event of a supply freeze is likely to be around 220 billion euros,” or $239 billion.
Germany relies on Russia for about 40% of its natural gas deliveries. The government is working to reduce that dependency, but says it needs time to exit Russian gas altogether and has opposed an immediate stop to supplies.
Last year, Germany’s GDP grew by 2.9%. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/german-economists-lower-growth-outlook-see-worse-if-gas-cut/ | 2022-04-13T19:46:05Z |
- Partnership will enable OPay customers to pay on global online platforms backed by Mastercard's secure Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to the OPay wallet
- OPay consumers will enjoy a superior digital experience for multiple lifestyle services and new digital commerce opportunities for, with or without a bank account
- In addition to digital commerce enablement, the two parties will jointly develop solutions to position OPay at the leading edge of financial services within the markets they operate in
CAIRO, Egypt, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fintech giant OPay and Mastercard today announced a strategic partnership, which marks a significant boost for wider financial inclusion and economic prosperity by opening up digital commerce to millions of people across Middle East and Africa.
The collaboration enables OPay consumers and merchants in the region - including Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa and the UAE - to engage with brands and businesses anywhere across the globe, thanks to a Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to the OPay eWallet.
This partnership is the latest milestone in Mastercard's emerging market strategy where the technology company is collaborating with growing Fintech's such as OPay to expand access to digital payments, enable multiple lifestyle services, create new pathways to financial inclusion and support the next generation of super-apps. Consumers are increasingly looking for seamless user experiences on a single platform offering easier interactions to complete various day-to-day needs, including sending and receiving money, ordering food and groceries, organizing transport, lending, investing and listing items they wish to sell.
In the initial phase of this partnership, OPay customers will benefit from the Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to their OPay wallets, to shop at well-known global brands for leisure, travel, accommodation, entertainment, streaming services and more. The service is available regardless of whether or not the customer has a bank account. It also allows small business owners to purchase from suppliers abroad and pay with the secure virtual payment solution.
Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President for Market Development, Mastercard EEMEA, said: "At Mastercard, our innovation strategy is rooted in partnerships to support inclusion at scale. Our partnership with OPay demonstrates our commitment to supporting payments providers across the world to create an interconnected global payments ecosystem that benefits an array of consumers with unique needs."
Yahui Zhou, CEO of OPay,said: "As the leading fintech in the Middle East and Africa, we are delighted to be partnering with Mastercard as we continue on our journey to promote financial inclusion, helping to open up the global economy to more consumers and businesses across Middle East and Africa."
Since its operations started in 2018, OPay's active users have grown to 15 million in dozens of markets in which it operates. The company processes millions of transactions per day on average. In Nigeria alone, where OPay takes significant market share, users have saved billions of US dollars in the last four years through credit-linked savings accounts from their mobile wallets and small loans from lenders that use its platform.
Plans are in place to launch OPay services in other markets in the next three to five years, significantly driving the growth of digital inclusion and digital commerce, while at the same time widening OPay customer inclusion into the global economy.
Mastercard has made a worldwide commitment to financial inclusion, pledging to bring 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses – with a focus on 25 million women entrepreneurs – into the digital economy by 2025.
-ENDS-
About OPay:
OPay is a fast-growing mobile payment fintech company. OPay has achieved significant growth in the past three years and has become one of the largest fintech companies in Africa and Middle East with a decent market share in key markets including Nigeria, Egypt, and Pakistan among others. OPay offers bespoke services to different clients in order to suit their needs; some of these services include offline payment, online payment, digital wallet service through AI and other fintech innovations. OPay boasts over 15 million registered wallet users, 600,000 merchants nationwide and surpassed $6 billion in monthly transaction value.
About Mastercard
Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
View original content:
SOURCE OPay | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/opay-mastercard-announce-strategic-partnership-grow-cashless-ecosystem-advance-digital-financial-inclusion-millions/ | 2022-05-19T01:40:05Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Poor air quality is expected in North Texas on Friday as the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality issued an Ozone Action Day for May 27.
NWS Fort Worth says, “Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone today, which may be unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
The graphic shared by the center depicts the Ozone Action Day mainly in the DFW area.
If possible, you’re encouraged to carpool, share a ride, walk, ride your bike, take your lunch to work and of course, keep your vehicle properly tuned. | https://cw33.com/news/local/poor-air-quality-expected-in-dfw-on-friday-nws-fort-worth-reports-an-ozone-action-day/ | 2022-05-27T16:44:12Z |
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America Corporation today announced the Board of Directors has authorized regular cash dividends on the outstanding shares or depositary shares of the following series of preferred stock:
Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,100 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 54 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom, and register for news email alerts.
Investors May Contact:
Lee McEntire, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.388.6780
lee.mcentire@bofa.com
Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income)
Phone: 1.212.449.3112
jonathan.blum@bofa.com
Reporters May Contact:
Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.386.6794
christopher.feeney@bofa.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Bank of America Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/13/bank-america-declares-third-quarter-2022-preferred-stock-dividends/ | 2022-06-13T21:32:37Z |
News Summary:
- Wholesale Route-to-Market (RTM) enables partners to deliver managed services to meet the needs of small to mid-size businesses (SMBs) through co-branded offers
- Single contract with Service Provider partners enables them to extend Webex voice, video and collaboration technology, and provides support and resources to add value to SMB customer offerings
- This Wholesale business model features multiple packages that harness the capabilities of the Webex Suite
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) has launched a new Webex Wholesale Route-to-Market (RTM) for Service Provider partners to address the evolving needs of SMBs. The new sales model includes a single commercial agreement with each partner and a self-service platform for Service Providers to deliver managed services for Webex, as well as the agility, scalability and flexibility to create their own co-branded offers.
The Wholesale partner program features consumption-based billing with fixed, predictable per-user/per-month package pricing and equips Service Providers with several invoicing options. The partner onboarding experience includes dedicated Cisco experts, paired with comprehensive online training and a robust set of migration and marketing toolkits to drive market demand and serve SMB customers.
"When Service Providers more fully own the customer journey, it increases control of the solution design, provisioning, billing, and support. This translates into improved customer experiences and greater market velocity. This new wholesale model will do just that for Cisco and its partners," said Elka Popova, VP of Connected Work Research, ICT, Frost & Sullivan. "This approach also enables providers to offer SMBs a more complete solution by integrating telco services, such as connectivity, security and mobility, with Cisco's Webex cloud collaboration services suite and Cisco devices."
This new wholesale solution makes it easy for Service Providers to leverage their brand with a co-branded offer, build on their market position, and innovate with their own services. APIs and Partner Portal features deliver a simple management experience. And by using a monthly consumption model, they can deliver low friction transactions ideally suited for SMBs. Additionally, Cisco's Success Planning process includes a fully managed onboarding process for Service Provider partners, from pre-work through to production. A parallel go-to-market process accelerates customer acquisition and migration activities with marketing content, sales enablement, adoption assets, support training and launch campaigns.
Nexgen Australia, an Australia-based wholly owned subsidiary of Spirit Technology Solutions ASX ST1, is among the first Service Provider partners to sign-up for the Wholesale for Webex. Cisco is also in active trials of Wholesale for Webex with several Tier 1 global service providers.
"We wanted to bring our customers the benefits of advanced enterprise collaboration tools without the IT complexity and cost that it usually means. When searching for a cloud-based UCaaS solution, Webex was the obvious choice," said James Harb, Director, Nexgen. "We are an all-digital shop running high-velocity, high-volume transactions. Offering Webex through Cisco's new Wholesale route-to-market means we can continue to lead the way helping Australian businesses achieve more through the latest technology."
"By tapping into the brand power of respected Service Providers and combining it with our inclusive Webex technology, rapid innovation, and complete collaboration portfolio, we are creating winning partnerships that address the communication needs of small and medium-sized businesses and help them thrive in a hybrid work world," said Jeetu Patel, Cisco EVP and GM, Security & Collaboration.
Initial managed services packages for Webex that are available through the Wholesale RTM include:
- Webex Calling: Enterprise-grade calling and advanced collaboration with features for 1:1 and group messaging, file-sharing, and secure basic video conferencing for up to 100 users, for a complete PBX replacement, including multi-device support, visual voicemail, intelligent call routing and more.
- Common Area Calling: Calling built for shared use and common area locations and phones.
- Webex Meetings: A premium meeting and messaging experience with meetings allowing up to 1000 users. Also includes AI-driven intelligence with Webex Assistant, Slido, remote desktop control, moderator controls and more.
- Webex Suite: Encompasses all the above with premium calling, messaging and meetings, plus advanced features that are engaging and inclusive.
Managed services for Webex is the first offer available through the Cisco Wholesale Partner Program. More Cisco devices and other Cisco cloud services for the SMB market will be launched this year.
- Partnering to Win Global SMBs with Managed Services for Webex (blog by Tony Lopresti)
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the Internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining your applications, securing your data, transforming your infrastructure, and empowering your teams for a global and inclusive future. Discover more on The Network and follow us on Twitter at @Cisco.
Webex is a leading provider of cloud-based collaboration solutions which includes video meetings, calling, messaging, events, customer experience solutions like contact center and purpose-built collaboration devices. At Webex, we start with people and their experiences first. This focus on delivering inclusive collaboration experiences fuels our innovation, which leverages AI and Machine Learning, to remove the barriers of geography, language, personality, and familiarity with technology. Our solutions are underpinned with security and privacy by design. We work with the world's leading business and productivity apps – delivered through a single application and interface. Learn more at webex.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Cisco Systems, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/21/cisco-equips-service-provider-partners-with-new-managed-services-offering-webex/ | 2022-07-21T17:09:48Z |
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A man charged with killing two sisters in South Carolina 12 years ago but who disappeared out of the legal systemafter he was found incompetent to stand trial was arrested Thursday in Colorado after authorities reinstated his charges, a sheriff’s office and a family attorney said.
Williamsburg County deputies began looking for Joseph Jermaine Brand on Tuesday after he was charged for failure to appear for not returning to face the murder charges after treatment and release from a group home in 2016, family attorney Lori Murray said Thursday night.
Murray said investigators eventually were able to track Brand’s cellphone, first getting a ping Thursday at the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, then the airport in Dallas and then in Pueblo, Colorado, near where his brother lives. There, police caught up to him and took him into custody, Murray said.
A statement from Williamsburg County Sheriff Stephen Garner backed up details of the arrest, saying South Carolina law enforcement aided police in Colorado and added Brand awaits extradition back to that county to face prosecution.
The statement added that Brand was in a number of inpatient and outpatient mental treatment facilities in South Carolina and Florida since being found incompetent to stand trial in 2012 because of schizophrenia that psychiatrists thought could be treated by forcing him to take medicine and get help.
Murray said Brand will need to have another competency hearing before authorities can ask to bring him back to South Carolina to face murder, armed robbery and burglary charges in the October 2010 killings of Naomi Johnson, 65, and her 74-year-old sister Thelma Haddock in the home they shared in Kingstree.
Documents from the Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office show the warrants to arrest Brand were issued a day after The Associated Press wrote about a series of oversights that led to the families of the sisters to see and hear about Brand walking free around their town of 3,100 people.
“They are overjoyed that he is not walking the streets any more,” Murray said. ‘They feel safer and they feel like they are finally back on the path to justice.”
Solicitor Chip Finney hasn’t responded to a number of phone calls and messages from the AP since Monday, including a text asking about the arrest Thursday night. The assistant prosecutor who signed off on dropping the charges because of the competency problem and Brand’s public defender at the time also haven’t responded to messages.
Finney also hasn’t reached out to Murray or the families of the sisters since the AP story and a subsequent news conference.
“The family still have questions that need to be answered by Mr. Finney,” Murray said. “They aren’t stopping until they get them.”
A woman in Kingstree identifying herself as Brand’s grandmother hung up on an AP reporter Monday and no one answered Thursday, No one has responded to a message left at a telephone number listed for Brand’s mother.
There were no public records of Brand’s 2010 arrest or indictments as of Monday. Other public records show Brand, 43, registered to vote from an assisted living home near Columbia in 2016. At one point, he also had a Facebook page.
The families of the sisters heard nothing from prosecutors after Brand was ruled incompetent in 2012, including an unanswered request for an update on the case from Finney in 2018.
Then, a few months ago, friends started to call a son of one of the women with the news that they had seen Brand.
Brand lived a few doors down from Johnson and Haddock in 2010. He had moved to Kingstree to live with his father after a stint in a Nevada prison on charges of robbery, drugs and firing a gun out of a vehicle, according to legal records.
Brand came over to the sisters’ house and asked to spread pine straw for money. When they refused, Brand barged into the home, wrested a gun away from one of the sisters and shot them several times, including in the head, Williamsburg County deputies said.
Brand’s father found him walking aimlessly in the sisters’ front yard, investigators said. The father saw their door was open and poked his head in to apologize. That’s when he discovered the bodies.
Brand confessed to the killings, according to arrest warrants. But the records show that his mental problems kept him from being able to assist his attorney, prompting a judge to order a psychiatric evaluation.
State mental health officials said privacy laws prevent them from releasing any details of Brand’s treatment. But in a statement Monday, the Department of Mental Health said patients charged with crimes who need long-term care are committed by a probate judge and both that judge and prosecutors are informed when the patient no longer needs involuntary treatment.
The family wants an investigation into whether that notification was made. “The ball was dropped somewhere. They want to make sure this doesn’t happen to any other family,” Murray said.
The family also wants an investigation into whomever helped Brand get to the airport in North Carolina and how he was able to get a plane ticket to go to his brother’s house.
Murray said Brand’s Facebook page, his ability to fill out an application to vote and how he tried to escape this week’s arrest warrants, including a layover where he changed planes, show he is not incompetent.
“Think about how much it takes to maneuver through airports,” Murray said.
___
Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/man-freed-in-competency-mix-up-arrested-again-in-sc-killings/ | 2022-05-13T11:47:15Z |
PHOENIX, June 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nikola Corporation (Nasdaq: NKLA), a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure solutions, today announced its participation in the following investor conferences:
- Kim Brady, CFO, will participate in a fireside chat at the Evercore ISI Global Clean Energy & Transition Technologies Summit on June 15, 2022, at 2 p.m. ET
- Kim Brady, CFO, will participate in a fireside chat at the Deutsche Bank Global Auto Industry Conference on June 16, 2022, at 10:25 a.m. ET
Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit http://www.nikolamotor.com or Twitter @nikolamotor.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Nikola Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/06/nikola-participate-upcoming-investor-conferences/ | 2022-06-06T20:30:36Z |
SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn., July 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Capewell, a global leader in engineering aviation and life support solutions, announced Beth Goode has joined the company as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Capewell's VP of Sales and Marketing is responsible for setting the company's sales goals and marketing direction, as well as overseeing programs that drive growth of the Capewell brand globally. Ms. Goode will also focus on identifying new markets, evaluating business opportunities, and spearheading the overall bidding process with government agencies, federal contractors, and corporate partners.
"I could not be more excited that Beth has joined the Capewell family," stated Greg Bloom, CEO. "Beth has played a critical leadership role in a number of large Aerospace and Defense companies. Her broad experience base and deep knowledge of government contracting, business intelligence, and customer fulfillment ensures that Capewell is poised for success as we expand the company's footprint globally."
"I'm beyond excited to join Capewell and become part of such a respected and mission-driven team providing critical products and solutions to our military. I look forward to developing our business by expanding on established programs and finding new opportunities for growth," said Ms. Goode.
Beth Goode brings more than a decade of experience successfully running corporate strategy and business development for organizations who supply systems and services to the US government, federal contractors, and corporate firms. Most recently, she was Sr. Principal of Business Strategy at SAIC, a Fortune 500 technology integrator focused on digital transformation in the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets.
Before that, she was Director of Business Development Strategy and Operations at SOSi, the largest privately owned and operated technology and services integrator in the aerospace, defense, and government services industry.
"Beth brings a rich insight she's gained from evaluating dozens of market expansion strategies and participating in hundreds of bid processes during her career. She has a proven track record of getting results and we look forward her leadership at Capewell," said Bloom.
Ms. Goode has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Texas and a Master of Engineering Management from Duke University.
Founded in 1881, Capewell is a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of safety, tactical, parachute, and aerial delivery products for the defense community. The company offers four core product segments of mission-critical components and systems: Life Support & Safety Products, Aerial Delivery Systems & Parachute Related, Timers & Sensors, and Technical Services. Capewell maintains strong relationships with large government prime contractors and is a vital part of the global supply chain.
To learn more, visit www.capewell.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Capewell | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/07/capewell-announces-beth-goode-joins-vice-president-sales-marketing/ | 2022-07-07T12:33:41Z |
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. (NYSE: WTM) reported book value per share of $1,129 and adjusted book value per share of $1,152 as of June 30, 2022. Book value per share and adjusted book value per share decreased 5% and 4% in the second quarter of 2022 and 4% and 3% in the first six months of 2022, including dividends.
On August 1, 2022, White Mountains closed the previously announced sale of 100% of its equity interest in NSM for cash to an affiliate of The Carlyle Group, Inc. (the "NSM Transaction"). Including the estimated net gain of $300 per share from the NSM Transaction, book value per share would be approximately $1,429 and adjusted book value per share would be approximately $1,452 as of June 30, 2022. NSM's results have been presented as discontinued operations beginning in the second quarter of 2022.
Manning Rountree, CEO, commented, "ABVPS was down 4% in the quarter. The main drivers were mark-to-market losses in our fixed income portfolios and the decline in MediaAlpha's share price. On the other hand, our operating businesses produced good results. BAM produced record levels of par insured. Ark produced an 87% combined ratio while growing premiums 23% year-over-year. The fair value of Kudu's existing participation contracts declined 2.5% in the quarter, holding up well in a tough quarter for investment markets. Kudu grew adjusted EBITDA year-over-year and closed one new transaction. During the quarter, we signed and announced an agreement to sell NSM, and that transaction subsequently closed on August 1. This deal adds roughly $300 to ABVPS. During the quarter, we repurchased $63 million of shares. Including the proceeds from the NSM Transaction, undeployed capital now stands at roughly $1.6 billion."
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders was $(174) million and $(143) million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $139 million and $66 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Results in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 included $114 million and $95 million of unrealized investment losses from White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha. Results in the second quarter and first six months of 2021 included $113 million and $71 million of net realized and unrealized investment gains from White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha.
BAM's gross written premiums and member surplus contributions (MSC) collected were $41 million and $63 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $30 million and $56 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. BAM insured municipal bonds with par value of $5.9 billion and $9.3 billion in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $5.1 billion and $8.7 billion in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Total pricing was 70 and 67 basis points in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to 59 and 65 basis points in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. BAM's total claims paying resources were $1,228 million at June 30, 2022 compared to $1,192 million at December 31, 2021 and $1,165 million at June 30, 2021.
Seán McCarthy, CEO of BAM, said, "BAM completed a record first half for direct par insured and premiums. Volatile market conditions and rising interest rates helped drive strong investor demand for insurance, including on larger and higher-rated transactions. During the quarter, BAM insured its largest transaction to date: $667 million for the New York State Dormitory Authority's school revenue bond financing program. Pricing improved quarter over quarter and year over year. In mid-June, S&P Global Ratings completed its annual review and affirmed BAM's AA rating and Stable outlook."
All BAM-insured bond payments due through August 1, 2022 have been made by insureds, and there are no credits on BAM's watchlist.
HG Global reported pre-tax income (loss) of $(8) and $(23) million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $11 million and $9 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. The increase in HG Global's pre-tax income (loss) in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to the second quarter and first six months of 2021 was driven primarily by net unrealized investment losses on the HG Global fixed income portfolio.
On April 29, 2022, HG Global received the proceeds of its new $150 million, 10-year term loan credit facility. In turn, HG Global paid a $120 million cash dividend to shareholders, of which $116 million was paid to White Mountains.
White Mountains reported pre-tax loss related to BAM of $31 and $66 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $9 million and $32 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. The increase in pre-tax loss related to BAM in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to the second quarter and first six months of 2021 was driven primarily by net unrealized investment losses on the BAM fixed income portfolio.
BAM is a mutual insurance company that is owned by its members. BAM's results are consolidated into White Mountains's GAAP financial statements and attributed to non-controlling interests.
Ark's GAAP combined ratio was 87% and 93% in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to 90% and 99% in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Ark's adjusted combined ratio, which adds back amounts attributable to third-party capital providers, was 86% and 93% in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to 84% and 96% in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. The adjusted combined ratio for the second quarter and first six months of 2022 included 11 points and 14 points of catastrophe losses compared to six points and 12 points in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Catastrophe losses for the second quarter and first six months of 2022 included an estimate of incurred losses emanating from the conflict in Ukraine of seven points and nine points. The adjusted combined ratio in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 also included 12 points and seven points of favorable prior year development compared to 10 points and five points in the second quarter and first six months of 2021.
Ark reported gross written premiums of $404 million and $1,037 million, net written premiums of $270 million and $814 million and net earned premiums of $217 million and $412 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to gross written premiums of $328 million and $733 million, net written premiums of $262 million and $605 million and net earned premiums of $118 million and $222 million and in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Ark reported pre-tax income (loss) of $(21) million and $(45) million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $18 million and $(15) million in second quarter and first six months of 2021. Ark's results included net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) of $(45) million and $(62) million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $9 million and $10 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Ark's pre-tax loss for the first six months of 2021 also included $25 million of transaction expenses related to White Mountains's transaction with Ark.
Ian Beaton, CEO of Ark, said, "Ark had a solid second quarter. The adjusted combined ratio was 86% in the quarter, reflecting 12 points of favorable prior year development and seven points for incurred losses tied to Ukraine. Driven by strong April and June renewals, gross written premiums were $404 million in the quarter, up 23% from 2021 levels, with risk-adjusted rate change up 9%. Looking forward, market conditions remain attractive, and we are optimistic about continued profitable growth in the book."
NSM reported commission and other revenues of $103 million, pre-tax income of $13 million and adjusted EBITDA of $29 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to commission and other revenues of $84 million, pre-tax income of $1 million and adjusted EBITDA of $19 million in the second quarter of 2021. NSM reported commission and other revenues of $191 million, pre-tax loss of $16 million and adjusted EBITDA of $47 million in the first six months of 2022, compared to commission and other revenues of $159 million, pre-tax loss of $32 million, adjusted EBITDA of $33 million in the first six months of 2021.
Geof McKernan, CEO of NSM, said, "NSM delivered a strong quarter, achieving new highs for premiums and profitability. Trailing 12 months pro forma controlled premiums grew 3% quarter over quarter to $1,281 million, while pro forma adjusted EBITDA increased 7% quarter over quarter to a record $85 million. In partnership with the White Mountains team over the past four years, NSM achieved strong organic growth, completed six strategic acquisitions, added high-quality talent and built an industry-leading specialized insurance distribution platform. We are looking forward to our next phase of growth with Carlyle."
Kudu reported total revenues of $(4) million, pre-tax loss of $10 million and adjusted EBITDA of $11 million in the second quarter of 2022 compared to total revenues of $36 million, pre-tax income of $31 million and adjusted EBITDA of $5 million in the second quarter of 2021. Total revenues and pre-tax income in the second quarter of 2022 included $18 million of net unrealized investment losses on Kudu's participation contracts compared to $28 million of net unrealized investment gains on Kudu's participation contracts in the second quarter of 2021.
Kudu reported total revenues of $31 million, pre-tax income of $19 million and adjusted EBITDA of $21 million in the first six months of 2022 compared to total revenues of $60 million, pre-tax income of $47 million and adjusted EBITDA of $11 million in the first six months of 2021. Total revenues and pre-tax income in the first six months of 2022 included $5 million of unrealized gains on Kudu's participation contracts, compared to $44 million in the first six months of 2021.
Rob Jakacki, CEO of Kudu, said, "The fair value of Kudu's existing participation contracts was down 2.5% in the quarter, impacted by declines in equity, fixed income and foreign currency markets. However, this result compares favorably to broader market indices, reflecting Kudu's portfolio construction and diversification. Trailing 12 months revenues from participation contracts increased 11% quarter over quarter to $54 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased 15% quarter over quarter to $43 million. Annualized revenues finished the quarter at $60 million, implying a cash revenue yield of 10%, while annualized adjusted EBITDA reached $48 million. We were pleased to close our investment in Gramercy, a leading emerging markets investment firm. We continue to seek out specialized and high-quality asset managers worldwide, and we expect further capital deployments throughout the year."
White Mountains owns 16.9 million shares of MediaAlpha, representing a 28% basic ownership interest (25% on a fully-diluted/fully-converted basis). As of June 30, 2022, the closing price was $9.85 per share, which decreased from $16.55 per share at March 31, 2022. As of June 30, 2022, the value of White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha was $167 million, which decreased from $280 million at March 31, 2022. At our current level of ownership, each $1.00 per share increase or decrease in the share price of MediaAlpha will result in an approximate $5.80 per share increase or decrease in White Mountains's book value per share and adjusted book value per share. Our focus remains on MediaAlpha's intrinsic value, not on fluctuations in its share price. We encourage you to read MediaAlpha's second quarter earnings release and related shareholder letter, which is available on MediaAlpha's investor relations website at www.investors.mediaalpha.com.
White Mountains's Other Operations reported pre-tax income (loss) of $(162) million and $(133) million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $110 million and $47 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Results for Other Operations in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 and 2021 were driven primarily by net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) from White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha. Unrealized investment losses from White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha were $114 million and $95 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to net realized and unrealized investment gains from White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha of $113 million and $71 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021.
Excluding MediaAlpha, net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) were $(12) million and $20 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $17 million and $19 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. Net investment income was $3 million and $5 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $4 million and $11 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021.
White Mountains's Other Operations reported general and administrative expenses of $50 million and $79 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to $29 million and $65 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2021. The increases in general and administrative expenses in the second quarter and first six months of 2022 compared to the second quarter and first six months of 2021 were driven by higher incentive compensation costs, primarily in connection with the NSM Transaction.
In the second quarter of 2022, White Mountains repurchased and retired 53,100 of its common shares for $63 million at an average share price of $1,179.96. In the first six months of 2022, White Mountains repurchased and retired 90,535 of its common shares for $102 million at an average share price of $1,121.60.
In the first six months of 2021, White Mountains repurchased and retired 7,161 of its common shares for $7 million at an average share price of $1,038.96. White Mountains did not repurchase any of its common shares in the second quarter of 2021.
The total consolidated portfolio return was -4.7% in the second quarter of 2022. Excluding MediaAlpha, the total consolidated portfolio return was -2.1% in the second quarter of 2022. The total consolidated portfolio return was 5.0% in the second quarter of 2021. Excluding MediaAlpha, the total consolidated portfolio return was 2.4% in the second quarter of 2021.
The total consolidated portfolio return was -4.0% in the first six months of 2022. Excluding MediaAlpha, the total consolidated portfolio return was -1.9% in the first six months of 2022. The total consolidated portfolio return was 4.7% in the first six months of 2021. Excluding MediaAlpha, the total consolidated portfolio return was 3.1% in the first six months of 2021.
Mark Plourde, President of White Mountains Advisors, said, "Excluding MediaAlpha, the total portfolio was down -2.1% in the quarter, driven primarily by the impact of rising interest rates. The fixed income portfolio returned -2.4%, outperforming the longer duration BBIA Index return of -2.9%. The equity portfolio, excluding MediaAlpha, returned -1.8%, well ahead of the S&P 500 Index return of -16.1%."
White Mountains is a Bermuda-domiciled financial services holding company traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Bermuda Stock Exchange under the symbol WTM. Additional financial information and other items of interest are available at the Company's website located at www.whitemountains.com. White Mountains expects to file its Form 10-Q today with the Securities and Exchange Commission and urges shareholders to refer to that document for more complete information concerning its financial results.
This earnings release includes non-GAAP financial measures that have been reconciled from their most comparable GAAP financial measures.
- Adjusted book value per share is a non-GAAP financial measure which is derived by adjusting (i) the GAAP book value per share numerator and (ii) the common shares outstanding denominator, as described below.
The GAAP book value per share numerator is adjusted (i) to include a discount for the time value of money arising from the modeled timing of cash payments of principal and interest on the BAM surplus notes and (ii) to add back the unearned premium reserve, net of deferred acquisition costs, at HG Global.
Under GAAP, White Mountains is required to carry the BAM surplus notes, including accrued interest, at nominal value with no consideration for time value of money. Based on a debt service model that forecasts operating results for BAM through maturity of the surplus notes, the present value of the BAM surplus notes, including accrued interest and using an 8% discount rate, was estimated to be $120 million, $125 million, $130 million and $137 million less than the nominal GAAP carrying values as of June 30, 2022, March 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively.
The value of HG Global's unearned premium reserve, net of deferred acquisition costs, was $164 million, $160 million, $159 million and $150 million as of June 30, 2022, March 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively.
White Mountains believes these adjustments are useful to management and investors in analyzing the intrinsic value of HG Global, including the value of the BAM surplus notes and the value of the in-force business at HG Re, HG Global's reinsurance subsidiary.
The denominator used in the calculation of adjusted book value per share equals the number of common shares outstanding adjusted to exclude unearned restricted common shares, the compensation cost of which, at the date of calculation, has yet to be amortized. Restricted common shares are earned on a straight-line basis over their vesting periods. The reconciliation of GAAP book value per share to adjusted book value per share is included on page 8. - BAM's gross written premiums and MSC from new business is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is derived by adjusting gross written premiums and MSC collected (i) to include the present value of future installment MSC not yet collected and (ii) to exclude the impact of gross written premium adjustments related to policies closed in prior periods. White Mountains believes these adjustments are useful to management and investors in evaluating the volume and pricing of new business closed during the period. The reconciliation from GAAP gross written premiums to gross written premiums and MSC from new business is included on page 17.
- Ark's adjusted loss and loss adjustment expense ratio, adjusted insurance acquisition expense ratio, adjusted other underwriting expense ratio and adjusted combined ratio are non-GAAP financial measures, which are derived by adjusting the GAAP ratios to add back the impact of whole-account quota-share reinsurance arrangements attributable to third-party capital providers for Ark's Lloyd's syndicates. The impact of these reinsurance arrangements relates to years of account prior to White Mountains's transaction with Ark. White Mountains believes these adjustments are useful to management and investors in evaluating Ark's results on a fully aligned basis (i.e., 100% of the syndicates' results). The reconciliation from the GAAP ratios to the adjusted ratios is included on page 18.
- NSM's EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and pro forma adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes interest expense on debt, income tax (expense) benefit, depreciation and amortization of other intangible assets from GAAP net income (loss).
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes certain other items in GAAP net income (loss) in addition to those excluded from EBITDA. The adjustments relate to (i) change in fair value of contingent consideration, (ii) non-cash equity-based compensation expense, (iii) impairments of intangible assets, (iv) loss on assets held for sale, (v) transaction expenses, (vi) investments made in the development of new business lines, (vii) restructuring expenses and (viii) legal settlements. A description of each follows:
Pro forma adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that starts with adjusted EBITDA and also (i) includes the earnings (losses) of acquired businesses for the period of time over the previous 12 months that the businesses were not owned by NSM and (ii) removes the earnings (losses) for the previous 12 months related to businesses sold by NSM.
White Mountains believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to management and investors in evaluating NSM's performance. White Mountains also believes that pro forma adjusted EBITDA is useful to management and investors in understanding the full earnings profile of NSM's business as of the end of any 12-month period. See page 20 for the reconciliation of NSM's GAAP net income (loss) to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and pro forma adjusted EBITDA.
- Kudu's EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, annualized adjusted EBITDA and annualized revenue are non-GAAP financial measures.
EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes interest expense on debt, income tax (expense) benefit, depreciation and amortization of other intangible assets from GAAP net income (loss).
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes certain other items in GAAP net income (loss) in addition to those excluded from EBITDA. The adjustments relate to (i) net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) on Kudu's revenue and earnings participation contracts, (ii) non-cash equity-based compensation expense and (iii) transaction expenses. A description of each adjustment follows:
Annualized adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that (i) annualizes partial year revenues related to Kudu's revenue and earnings participation contracts acquired during the previous 12-month period and (ii) removes revenues related to revenue and earnings participation contracts sold during the previous 12-month period.
Annualized revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure that adds the adjustments for annualized adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net investment income revenue.
White Mountains believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to management and investors in evaluating Kudu's performance. White Mountains also believes that annualized adjusted EBITDA is useful to management and investors in understanding the full earnings profile of Kudu's business as of the end of any 12-month period. See page 21 for the reconciliation of Kudu's GAAP net income (loss) to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and annualized adjusted EBITDA.
- Total consolidated portfolio return excluding MediaAlpha and total equity portfolio return excluding MediaAlpha are non-GAAP financial measures that remove the net investment income and net realized and unrealized investment gains (losses) from White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha. White Mountains believes these measures to be useful to management and investors by showing the underlying performance of White Mountains's investment portfolio and equity portfolio without regard to White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha. The following tables present reconciliations from GAAP to the reported percentages:
This earnings release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or referenced in this release which address activities, events or developments which White Mountains expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. The words "could", "will", "believe", "intend", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "estimate", "predict" and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to White Mountains's:
- change in book value per share, adjusted book value per share or return on equity;
- business strategy;
- financial and operating targets or plans;
- incurred loss and loss adjustment expenses and the adequacy of its loss and loss adjustment expense reserves and related reinsurance;
- projections of revenues, income (or loss), earnings (or loss) per share, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, dividends, market share or other financial forecasts of White Mountains or its businesses;
- expansion and growth of its business and operations; and
- future capital expenditures.
These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by White Mountains in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will conform to its expectations and predictions is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, including:
- the risks that are described from time to time in White Mountains's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to White Mountains's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021;
- claims arising from catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, severe winter weather, public health crises, terrorist attacks, explosions, infrastructure failures, cyber-attacks or armed conflicts;
- recorded loss reserves subsequently proving to have been inadequate;
- the market value of White Mountains's investment in MediaAlpha;
- the trends and uncertainties from the COVID-19 pandemic, including judicial interpretations on the extent of insurance coverage provided by insurers for COVID-19 pandemic related claims;
- business opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to it and pursued;
- actions taken by ratings agencies, such as financial strength or credit ratings downgrades or placing ratings on negative watch;
- the continued availability of capital and financing;
- deterioration of general economic, market or business conditions, including due to outbreaks of contagious disease (including the COVID-19 pandemic) and corresponding mitigation efforts;
- competitive forces, including the conduct of other insurers;
- changes in domestic or foreign laws or regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to White Mountains, its competitors or its customers; and
- other factors, most of which are beyond White Mountains's control.
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this earnings release are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by White Mountains will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, White Mountains or its business or operations. White Mountains assumes no obligation to publicly update any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT: Rob Seelig
(603) 640-2212
View original content:
SOURCE White Mountains Insurance Group, Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/white-mountains-reports-second-quarter-results/ | 2022-08-08T13:23:02Z |
TAIPEI, July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The pandemic has forced most processes and operations to be conducted remotely, and the medical industry isn't exempted. Fortunately, a new and innovative video-based measurement software from FaceHeart corporation now allows diagnosis of patients to be done remotely using cutting-edge artificial intelligence. FaceHeart exhibited recently exhibited at VivaTech 2022 in Paris, France to other startups and leaders, showing off the company's latest AI technology.
Contactless measurements through video
The technology, called FH Vitals, enables remote and contactless measurements by analyzing a patient's face through remote image processing. The artificial intelligence component then scans the image and provides valuable info with regard to the patient's health status.
According to FaceHeart, the FH Vitals application can give results in just 60 seconds or less, and will work up to five meters away from the video camera or web camera of your chosen device. And with the FH Vitals SDK, it can be adapted to work in a variety of devices, from smartphones, to laptops, and to other medical devices.
FH Vitals can be used to measure important metrics such as heart rate, heart rate variability, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, stress index, and even atrial fibrillation, which might indicate abnormal heart rhythms.
According to FaceHeart, their AI technology is based on extensive data collected from clinical trials which is then used to calibrate its algorithms and achieve medical-grade accuracy.
Application in different sectors
With such a practical and efficient way of augmenting early-stage diagnosis, FaceHeart is confident that the FH Vitals software will be useful in sectors such as Telemedicine to help provide critical information for remote treatment protocols. It can also be useful in proactively managing health and wellness in both corporate environments and home settings. And finally, its facial recognition and monitoring can even be used to enhance customer experience for financial services.
All these services can be customized and enhanced according to a clients needs through the FH Vitals SDK or software development kit, which is now available in the market.
As of the moment, FH Vitals can only be used in Android-based devices, but the company isn't ruling out expansion to other operating systems in the future. Its FDA/CDE application for its software-as-medical-device (SaMD) clearance is also already underway, to further assure its customers and users of its medical-grade accuracy.
According to FaceHeart, it has its sights on the United States, Europe, and Japan markets as of the moment.
ABOUT FaceHeart
FaceHeart Corporation is a Taiwan-based software company born out of the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in 2018. It has been financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan. It owns various patents for artificial intelligence-based facial recognition that it has applied onto its revolutionary software FH Vitals. It has received significant investments from companies such as MediaTek and has continued to expand in various industries. For more information, visit its website at: www.faceheart.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE FaceHeart | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/29/taiwanese-startup-faceheart-video-based-measurement-software-uses-ai-remotely-measure-vitals-stats-patients/ | 2022-07-29T02:41:10Z |
Twenty-seven suspects — including a Belton man — were arrested and indicted for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution ring, authorities said.
A federal grand jury in Waco handed down five indictments charging the defendants on Tuesday after a multi-agency investigation that included the Bell County Sheriff’s Department, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas.
Jason Fletcher, 38, of Belton, and Luis Guillermo Martinez, 28, of Waco, began their drug operation in January 2021 and are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. If convicted, both men face up to life in prison.
Other defendants — including many from Waco — also face up to life in prison if convicted. They include Waco residents Karen Pendola Bennett, 45; Jesus Espinoza Lopez, 33; Alejandro Solis, 32; Gustavo Alvarado Guerrero, 29; William Charles Herrera, 30; Patricia Nelson, 49; Denecia Alley, 32; Jovita Ibarra, 28; Lance John Showen, 51; Hector Dominguez, 31; Nicholas Ray Ramirez, 41; and Alfred Turner, 28.
Also facing life sentences if convicted are: Flocelo Mondragon Jr., 35, and Areli Martinez Torrez, 38, both of McGregor; Robert Johnson, 46, of Woodway; Jesus Castellanos-Renteria, 39, of Houston; Maria Picon, 35, of Clifton and Rogers Anthony Marshall, 49, of Valley Mills.
Bruceville-Eddy resident Steven Merritt, 52; and Waco residents Clayton Wilkins, 62; Alexxus Briann Arocha, 26; Renee Hughes, 44; Felix Alberto Huezo-Hernandez, 33; and Sonya Renee Hughes, 44, each faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.
Marshall and Picon are also charged with one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime, the release said. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence they receive.
A Waco man, Able Chavez, 25, is not charged with the conspiracy drug count but instead faces one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, authorities said. If convicted, Chavez faces up to life in prison on the drug count. He also faces up to five years in prison on the gun count that would run consecutive with any other convictions.
Andrew Ochoa, 36, of Waco, is not charged with the conspiracy drug count. However, he is alleged to have purchased and delivered firearms to a 13-year-old child, the release said. Ochoa is charged with one count of making a false statement in acquisition of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
Authorities arrested all of the defendants except for Bennett, who remains a fugitive.
U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas; FBI Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the San Antonio Division; Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux; Waco Police Department Police Chief Sheryl D. Victorian; McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara; Bell County Sheriff Eddy Lange; and Texas Department of Public Safety Regional Director Todd H. Snyder announced the arrests.
In addition to Bell County, the case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, DPS, Waco Police Department and the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris is the prosecutor. | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/central_texas_news/article_6e2ae052-ee02-11ec-8397-03abea2e6c34.html | 2022-06-17T06:31:25Z |
LOS ANGELES, July 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Behavioral Health, Inc., an expanding network of evidence-based mental health, substance use and eating disorder treatment centers, has appointed David Wilksen as CEO of Authentic Recovery Center (ARC) in West Los Angeles.
Wilksen is an experienced marketing and business consultant with an additional background in behavioral health center management. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President of Serenity Lodge Addiction Treatment Center in Lake Arrowhead in Southern California. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Business/Corporate Communications.
ARC is a Joint-Commission-accredited treatment center specializing in evidence-based treatment of substance use and co-occurring disorders including anxiety and depression. The center is licensed to provide medical detox and medical assisted treatment (MAT) and also offers a wide range of counseling from 12-step programs to clinical therapies, including acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
"ARC is well positioned to take advantage of the convergence of rapidly evolving evidence-based medicine, proven clinical therapies and the tradition of 12-step fellowships. The path to sobriety is different for each of us, and ARC provides an individualized road to recovery for those at our addiction treatment center," says Wilksen.
Wilksen has performed extensive volunteer work with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, recently serving a two-year term as Vice President of his local chapter during which he generated funds from various sources and helped to streamline operations.
"Derek's background in behavioral health and addiction recovery make him the ideal executive to lead ARC through the dual challenges of the continuing pandemic and the overdose crisis," says John Peloquin, CEO and President of Discovery Behavioral Health, Inc.
Everyone deserves a happy, rewarding life. That's why Discovery Behavioral Health has made evidence-based, outcome driven healthcare accessible and affordable since inception. With a full continuum of care – detoxification, medical residences, residential treatment centers, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient, psychiatric and addiction medicine, TMS, virtual and telehealth services, we can offer the right care at the right time for adults or teens struggling with mental health, substance use or eating disorders. We are a contracted provider with 100 payers and other managed care organizations. Our portfolio of more than 130 treatment centers includes service lines in successful operation since 1985. When treatment is complete, our patients become part of Discovery's growing family of alumni, connected through free aftercare programs, support groups, activities, and a caring community. Because when quality behavioral healthcare is within reach, so is happiness.
Press Contact:
Greg Ptacek
Communications
Discovery Behavioral Health, Inc.
323-841-8002 mobile
gregptacek@me.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Discovery Behavioral Health | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/27/discovery-behavioral-health-appoints-derek-wilksen-ceo-authentic-recovery-center-west-la/ | 2022-07-27T21:45:51Z |
Announcing: Warehousing & Shipping Assistance
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LA Swimwear Production is announcing their one stop shop program for new Swimwear brands looking for swimwear manufacturing for their swimwear line. LA Swimwear Production is now not only offering sewing but warehousing, shipping and logistic assisting for those looking to launch a swimwear line that they will sell via e-commerce.
LA Swimwear Production offers; illustration assistance, techpacks, fabric sourcing assistance, sampling and mass production assistance and now warehousing and shipping. Brands can link their stores to LA Swimwear Productions warehouse and LA Swimwear Production can warehouse and ship their goods to their customers.
For more information please contact sales@laswimwearproduction.com
Visit www.laswimwearproduction.com for more information.
View original content:
SOURCE LA Swimwear Production | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/swimwear-manufacturing-start-up-swimwear-brands/ | 2022-09-07T08:44:59Z |
NEW YORK, May 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/celsius-holdings-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=27148&from=4
The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for shareholders who purchased Celsius between August 12, 2021 and March 1, 2022.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until May 16, 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, Celsius Holdings, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company had improperly recorded expenses for non-cash share-based compensation for second and third quarters of 2021; (2) as a result, the Company's financial statements for those periods would be restated, including to report a net loss for the third quarter of 2021; (3) there was a material weakness in Celsius's internal controls over financial reporting; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
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.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/13/celh-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-celsius-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-may-16-2022/ | 2022-05-13T11:45:59Z |
Scores flee for their lives ahead of Russia’s sham independence vote in Kherson
By Nick Paton Walsh, Natalie Gallón, Maryna Marukhnych and Brice Laine, CNN
A steady flow of people make their way across fields and rivers dotting southern Ukraine’s countryside through the day. As night falls, the crowds swell. They travel on foot, by bicycle, or wheelbarrow.
They are desperate to leave behind the Russian occupation of their hometown, Kherson, and are willing to take — and risk — any route possible out of the city to the rest of the country.
Over a hundred miles away, at a central hall in Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s hometown, local authorities welcome the resettled.
A man and his son speak of their wife and mother being killed by a bomb that hit her spine and back in several places.
Even here, in comparative safety, they did not want to be identified for fear that the Russians might target other family members they left behind.
“If they see us, they’ll shoot everyone left there,” the son told CNN. “We left on foot, over the water in the river.”
The occupied areas around the city of Kherson — the first to be taken by advancing Russian forces in the opening days of the war — have been terrorized in the past week by both the advancing second phase of Moscow’s offensive, but also fears of a referendum on Wednesday.
Ukraine has said Russia plans to hold a vote in the region — widely viewed there as a sham referendum — to try to show popular support for the creation of a new entity called the Kherson People’s Republic, which would mirror similar entities in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. (Moscow sent in troops to the self-declared republics — and began its war in Ukraine — after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized their independence.)
Multiple locals and several Ukrainian officials told CNN the vote had been scheduled for April 27.
Yet the day before, Russian-backed officials announced a series of new government officials in the occupied city, leading some observers to think the referendum may have been postponed in favor of these new appointments.
Fear of the impending vote and its implications — a possible strengthening of Russia’s control — has led many residents to flee fast.
Cmr. Oleksandr Vilkul, the head of Kryvyi Rih’s military administration, told CNN that the Ukrainian military have managed to help evacuate around 7,000 people from the area across “100 miles of front line, some by bicycle, some by wheelbarrows, or by foot.”
“People don’t want and cannot live under occupation,” Vilkul said.
Passage out of Kherson and the surrounding villages in the region has been treacherous.
Over the last week a long line of cars — estimated to be in the hundreds by several locals — snaked its way towards the occupied town of Snihurivka, as Kherson residents who had managed to flee their own town were yet again blocked by Russian troops.
In another video shot by a Kherson resident who was fleeing, seen by CNN, a long line of cars stood at a standstill on another exit road, to the city’s northeast, towards Kryvyi Rih.
Over the Easter weekend, the pace of evacuations rose, officials told CNN. They began to drop on Tuesday when locals said that Russian checkpoints stopped permitting crossings out of occupied territory. Some desperate evacuees left behind their cars and set out on foot across fields, locals said.
Bicycles were abandoned in large numbers when locals reached Ukrainian-manned checkpoints, according to multiple locals CNN spoke to.
One mother from Kherson, who asked to stay anonymous for safety concerns, told CNN she had whisked her two sons and daughter out “as fast as possible” ahead of the referendum, fearing that the widespread conscription of men aged 18 to 60 would follow.
“We are completely occupied. There is no food, no money. We have nothing, they’ll do a referendum and take our children. My son is 18 and they will take them as cannon fodder.” She said it took two attempts to flee. The first time, Russian troops shot at the cars in their convoy, she said.
In the busy hum of the Kryvyi Rih hall, food and medicine are dispensed, with evacuees able to access generous coat racks of donated clothes. In this safe space, evacuees recount the horror and brutality of the occupation.
Mykhaylo, a Kyiv resident who went to the village of Velyka Oleksandrivka to collect his wife and child, said he had been tortured over several days by Russian troops after he entered the village.
Mykhaylo said that the soldiers had been looking for Ukrainian men with possible military experience and mistook his rough hands, from his work in construction, as a sign he had been a soldier.
In a basement, he was subjected to torture he said, showing CNN a medical report corroborating his injuries.
“One got out a gun,” Mykhaylo said of two soldiers who beat him. “A real one. I saw it was cocked. Two shots. They hit the concrete wall. I think it was a starting pistol,” he said.
After the mock execution, two other soldiers came in, Mykhaylo said.
“They talked less. They were drunk — one must have been a boxer as he beat me in the same place. On my ribs, breaking six of them, rupturing a lung.”
Mykhaylo chuckled to himself as he recounted the answers he gave to the soldiers who he said believed they could obtain Ukrainian military intelligence from him. He told them that they could expect at least 150 checkpoints from his village all the way to the next city, and that there were few roads in the rural areas to the south of Kryvyi Rih — saying it was just endless mud and fields. After several days, Mykhaylo said his parents came and successfully demanded his release.
The exodus from Kherson is not just about the referendum. Russia’s advance in the wide expanse of rural villages to the north and east of Kherson city is also fuelling residents to move north.
Over two days in and around the villages south of Kherson, CNN saw the impact shelling is having, pushing locals to flee villages that they have proudly remained over the course of the war, now in its second month.
In the village of Kochubeivka, a man who was helping to evacuate his 74-year-old mother Antonina, pulled over to explain that shelling had intensified in his home settlement of Nova Shestirnya just over the past two hours.
“We wanted to stay, but Grad rockets changed that,” he said, adding that one woman was injured in the attack.
The once bucolic southern Ukraine countryside has become an escape route, where a slow stream of lives upended are now on display, as Russia’s brutal advance changes the landscape they have known for decades in a matter of hours.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | https://localnews8.com/news/national-world/cnn-europe-mideast-africa/2022/04/26/scores-flee-for-their-lives-ahead-of-russias-sham-independence-vote-in-kherson-2/ | 2022-04-27T05:38:55Z |
BOSTON, June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HourWork, a SaaS recruitment and retention platform for quick-serve restaurant (QSR) franchise owners, today announced the closing of $2.5 million in additional Series A funding led by MassMutual's MM Catalyst Fund (MMCF), which joins a noteworthy list of investors including Morgan Stanley's Next Level Fund, Positive Sum Ventures, and RelishWorks. This new funding complements HourWork's oversubscribed $10 million Series A funding round completed last month and brings the total Series A raise to $12.5 million.
"It is exciting to see so much interest in fueling our mission," said HourWork Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Rahkeem Morris. "The dynamics of the hourly work economy have fundamentally and permanently changed, and this demands a new model for employers and employees."
MMCF, whose mission is to invest in Black-led businesses in Massachusetts as well as technology and sustainability-focused companies based outside Boston, is an investor in the company's previously announced Series A round. HourWork will use the funds to scale its customer success, sales, and marketing teams to service the explosive demand for the company's recruitment and retention solutions.
"HourWork is one of the rare startups that understands how to advance the interests of both companies and workers in this new world of work," said Diane Henry, Head of Impact Investment Funds at MassMutual. "Its impressive growth trajectory to date reflects an effectiveness in executing on that vision, delivering recognized value to companies while earning trust with workers through an unprecedented time. We believe HourWork has the potential to become a market leader and make a positive impact on the sectors of the economy that rely on hourly work, while contributing to real and sustainable well-being for hourly workers. We are proud to continue our investment in HourWork's success."
In addition to the new funding, Carla Harris joins HourWork's Board of Directors as an observer. She is the senior client advisor at Morgan Stanley and serves as the co-portfolio manager of the Next Level Fund, which invests in primarily early-stage technology and technology-enabled companies with women or diverse members as part of the founding team. Harris also serves on the board of directors for Walmart, Cummins Corporation, and MetLife.
"HourWork's vision, and the technology behind this vision, is positioned to become an important part of the future of the hourly work economy," Harris said. "Rahkeem's personal story directly informs this vision in unique ways that can benefit both hourly employees and their employers."
Founded by CEO Rahkeem Morris and COO Rob Snyder, HourWork's vision is to transform hourly work and the gig economy, providing employers with the ability to dramatically improve applicant flow, eliminate retention challenges, and match demand for labor with workers who have certified skillsets in specific areas and are available to work.
Furthermore, the company will work to change how hourly employees maximize their earnings, find work, and market their skills. Morris' personal story of dropping out of high school at the age of 14, and then working 13 hourly jobs over the course of a decade to help support his family, serves as the foundation of the HourWork mission: To save the American Dream for over 82 million wage workers that represent the majority of the workforce. Morris also drives to improve the future of work by serving as Vice Chair at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, which offers a two-year career readiness program, and was appointed to the Commission for the Future of Work for the State of Massachusetts by State Senator Eric Lesser.
Currently focused on solving applicant flow and retention challenges for QSR franchisees, HourWork has experienced explosive growth, adding 4,000 franchise locations to the platform in 2021 for a total of over 6,000 locations. This represents 5.3 million hourly workers on the platform. HourWork's customers include franchisees of some of the largest multi-unit operators across iconic QSR brands such as McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dominos, Wendy's, and many others. The company has also recently expanded its market outside of the QSR industry with the addition of Sodexo and others to its customer roster.
HourWork offers a new, better way to hire and retain hourly workers in today's understaffed world. Its recruitment and retention platform is used by more than 5,000 quick-service restaurant franchises across the United States.
Joe Szynkowski
joe@theupwritegroup.com
618.521.7483
View original content:
SOURCE HourWork | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/hourwork-raises-additional-25-million-increasing-series-round-fund-raise-125-million/ | 2022-06-02T14:25:04Z |
(KODE) — It’s a button most everyone has at least glanced at on their vehicle’s climate control dashboard, but are you aware of its purpose?
The “air recirculation button” has a couple functions; mainly dealing with the vehicle’s air conditioning system.
On most cars, trucks and SUVs the air recirculation button is easily identifiable, with its representing symbol a half-circle inside of the outline of a vehicle.
Many people say they’re aware of the button, but are not sure when it should be on or off.
According to Tabitha Ruhl, manager of Joplin Transmission and Auto Center, pressing this single button on the climate control dashboard of you vehicle will cut off the outside air to the inside of the car, therefor ‘recirculating’ the air inside your vehicle.
This ensures that you’re recirculating air-conditioned air rather than hot air from outside.
Now that summer is fast approaching, Ruhl said the air recirculation button is great for boosting your AC to help the cabin of you vehicle get as cold as possible, quickly.
Another function of this climate control system is to stop pollution and exhaust fumes from entering the vehicle.
Having this button activated will also help to greatly reduce pollen when driving, which is a big positive if you suffer from outdoor allergens.
In the video below, Ruhl summarizes your vehicle’s air recirculation button, including how using it could save you money on gas.
“The button works by helping your car recirculate the cool air from your AC from the moment you turn it on. If you choose not to use the button, your car will have to pull in air from the outside and work twice as hard to cool that air than the already chilled air around you,” said Ruhl.
Because the air recirculation button goes hand-in-hand with a vehicle’s air conditioning system, you’ll likely want to use it when it’s the temperature outside is greater than 75 degrees (Fahrenheit).
VIDEO: A Summary of the Air Recirculation Button and its Functions
“If you don’t switch the air recirculation button on, then your car’s air conditioning will be constantly cooling warm air from outside your vehicle, and will have to work much harder, putting more stress on the blower and air compressor,” said Ruhl.
Another benefit to using the air recirculation feature is the money you could save on gas.
“Cars are usually more fuel-efficient when the air conditioner is set to recirculate interior air. This is because keeping the same air cool takes less energy than continuously cooling hot air from outside,” said Ruhl.
While the recirculation button is great for the summer months, it may be best to avoid it in the winter or when your windows become foggy.
“Anytime you’re using defrost, it’s best to not have that button on. Also, using it while you have your heater on isn’t going to do anything for you vehicle,” said Ruhl. | https://cw33.com/news/overlooked-button-on-your-car-may-help-save-on-gas/ | 2022-05-09T17:48:43Z |
Jurors see gruesome video of Florida school shooting
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Jurors in the penalty trial of Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz viewed graphic video Tuesday of him murdering 17 people as he stalked through a three-story classroom building at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School four years ago.
The video, compiled from 13 security cameras inside the building, was not shown to the gallery, where parents of many of the victims sat. Prosecutors say it shows Cruz shooting many of his victims at point-blank range, going back to some as they lay wounded on the floor to kill them with a second volley of shots.
The 12 jurors and 10 alternates stared intently at their video screens. Many held hands to their faces as they viewed the 15-minute recording, which has no sound.
Some started squirming. One juror looked at the screen, looked up at Cruz with his eyes wide and then returned to the video.
Cruz looked down while the video played and did not appear to watch it. He sometimes looked up to exchange whispers with one of his attorneys.
The video was played over the objection of Cruz’s attorneys, who argued that any evidentiary value it has is outweighed by the emotions it would raise in the jurors. They argued that witness statements of what happened would be sufficient.
Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer dismissed the objection, saying a video that accurately reflects Cruz’s crimes does not unfairly prejudice his case. Prosecutors are using the video to prove several aggravating factors, including that Cruz acted in a cold, calculated and cruel manner.
Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty in October to 17 counts of first-degree murder, and 17 more counts of attempted murder for those he wounded. The jury must decide if he should be sentenced to death or life without parole for the nation’s deadliest mass shooting to go before a jury.
Later during day two of the trial, jurors heard testimony from Christopher McKenna, who was a freshman during the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting. He had left his English class to go to the bathroom and exchanged greetings with two students, Luke Hoyer and Martin Duque, as they crossed paths in the first-floor hallway. McKenna then entered a stairwell and encountered Cruz assembling his AR-15 semiautomatic rifle.
“He said get out of here. Things are about to get bad,” McKenna recalled.
McKenna sprinted out to the parking lot as Cruz went into the hallway and began shooting. McKenna alerted Aaron Feis, an assistant football coach who doubled as a security guard. Feis drove McKenna in his golf cart to an adjacent building for safety, and then went to the three-story building McKenna fled from.
By then, the sounds of gunfire were already ringing out across the campus. Feis went in and was fatally shot immediately by Cruz, who had already killed Hoyer, 15, and Duque, 14, and eight others. Cruz then continued through the second floor, where he fired into classrooms but hit no one. When he reached the third-floor, he killed six more.
The jurors also heard testimony from two students who were wounded as they sat in their English class when Cruz fired through a window in the door.
William Olson was writing an essay when “all of a sudden I hear a bunch of noise in the hallway. I did not know what it was.”
Olson said he looked over and saw another freshman draped over a desk, blood pouring out of him as he died.
At that point, Olson said he and other students scrambled next to the teacher’s desk.
“While I’m laying in front of the desk I realize there’s blood all over me,” he said. He had suffered arm and leg wounds.
Alexander Dworet said he originally thought the loud bangs were the school’s marching band, but then he felt a “hot sensation” on the back of his head where he had been grazed by a bullet and “I realized I was in danger.”
Dworet’s 17-year-old brother, Nick, was across the hall in his Holocaust studies class. Cruz fired into that classroom, too, killing him.
___
Associated Press writer Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/19/jurors-see-gruesome-video-florida-school-shooting/ | 2022-07-19T16:27:33Z |
RAPID CITY, S.D., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Property Meld, the leading residential property maintenance software company, announced today that it is partnering with PURE Property Management, the fastest growing residential property management and technology company in the U.S. Property Meld's automated software will make PURE property managers' workflow simpler through a seamless communications loop with their residents and vendors, vastly improving the speed and ability to respond to maintenance requests.
"The number one reason a tenant leaves a property is that they are dissatisfied with the maintenance experience. Property Meld's technology will make it easier for PURE's residents to report problems and speedier for our property managers to connect them with vendors, resulting in a quicker resolution," said Eric Wetherington, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives of PURE Property Management. "When maintenance requests are resolved with a timely response, residents tend to stay in their home longer and pay rent more consistently, resulting in lower vacancy rates and greatly increasing investor ROI."
The Property Meld platform is easily integrated and will be quickly deployed across the 15,000+ residential properties under PURE's management. With a vision to make the process of renting a home a simple and satisfying experience for all, the partnership aligns with PURE's commitment to tech-enabling its people and processes to deliver consistent, exceptional resident and homeowner experiences.
"PURE's vision to continue to drive a better rental experience with greater returns is something we feel very strongly about," said Ray Hespen, CEO and Co-founder of Property Meld. "We are very excited to partner and help them execute this vision in the property management industry."
Property Meld is a smart maintenance solution for property managers that provides efficiency and oversight for all your key players. From scheduling to follow-up, we streamline your entire maintenance process giving you the ability to manage more with less. It's time to increase revenue and resident satisfaction with Property Meld. For more information, visit www.propertymeld.com
PURE Property Management is the fastest growing profitable residential property management and technology company in the U.S. Led by a team of experienced industry professionals and seasoned technology innovators, PURE acquires residential property management companies and invests in their people and processes. By deploying technology and providing operational efficiencies, PURE creates simple and satisfying experiences for residents and investors, including institutional portfolio managers. For more information, visit https://purepm.co
Contact: Madison Zimmerman, Property Meld
Phone: (605) 431-0265
Email: madison@propertymeld.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Property Meld | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/property-meld-partners-with-pure-property-management-provide-quicker-resolution-maintenance-issues-improving-resident-experiences-investor-roi/ | 2022-06-02T16:26:09Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Respect for Marriage Act, now pending in the Senate, would ensure that same-sex marriages are still legally recognized nationwide if the Supreme Court were to overturn its 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision that declared a constitutional right for gay couples to wed.
The House-passed legislation has some Republican support and is expected to come up for a vote in September. It is part of an effort by Democrats to protect various rights after Supreme Court decision last month to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in all states.
While the Senate is not expected to approve separate House bills to legalize abortion or protect contraception rights, the same-sex marriage legislation has a real shot at passage after a handful of Republican senators indicated they would vote for it. Democrats need 10 GOP votes to overcome a filibuster and get the legislation through the 50-50 Senate.
A look at the bill:
PROTECTS, BUT DOESN’T CODIFY
The bill is designed to protect same-sex marriages after Justice Clarence Thomas suggested in a concurring opinion that the Obergefell decision upholding gay marriage should also be reconsidered.
The legislation wouldn’t codify, or enshrine into law, Obergefell, which now requires states to issue same-sex marriage licenses. If the bill were passed and Obergefell were later overturned, some states could stop issuing those licenses, but all states would still have to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other states.
The practical effect of that would be that some people couldn’t get married in their own states, but all same-sex marriages would continue to be recognized and eligible for the legal benefits of marriage.
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, the lead Democrat pushing the bill in the Senate, says the legislation was written that way because marriage is currently regulated by the states, not the federal government. Any legislation requiring federal regulation of marriages would be unlikely to garner enough support to pass.
REPEAL THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
If Obergefell were overturned today, federal law would partially revert to a 1996 statute called the Defense of Marriage Act. That legislation allowed states not to recognize same-sex marriages and legally defined the word “marriage” as a union between one man and one woman.
The bill would fully repeal that law, replacing it with the new language requiring that states and the federal government consider an individual married if they have been legally married in any state.
A separate 2013 Supreme Court case, United States v. Windsor, repealed part of the Defense of Marriage Act that kept legally married same-sex couples from receiving federal tax, health and pension benefits that were otherwise available to married couples. The bill includes provisions to ensure those benefits remain for same-sex couples, as well.
INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE
In addition to same-sex marriages, the bill would protect interracial marriages that were affirmed by the 1960s-era Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia. That decision invalidated state laws that banned marriages between individuals of different races.
The bill prohibits states “from denying full faith and credit to an out-of-state marriage based on the sex, race, ethnicity or national origin of the individuals in the marriage.”
___
Associated Press writer Mark Sherman in Washington contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/a-look-at-pending-legislation-to-protect-same-sex-marriages/ | 2022-07-30T17:47:47Z |
A roundup of the week's most newsworthy technology industry press releases from PR Newswire
NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the business technology industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.
The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download.
- Cogent Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire T-Mobile's Wireline Business
As part of the agreement, in addition to the fiber network and related assets and customers, Cogent will acquire certain liabilities associated with the business. - Algorand Protocol Upgrade Introduces State Proofs for Trustless Cross Chain Communication and 5x Faster Performance
The proof-of-stake, carbon-negative blockchain network rolls out quantum-secure interoperability, speeds of 6,000 transactions per second, and new best-in-class developer features. - Case-Mate Unveils New Lineup of Stylish & Practical Mobile Accessories for iPhone 14
Staying true to Case-Mate's roots, the new collection features premium, sustainable materials, stunning designs, plastic-free packaging, 10-foot (or higher) drop protection and antimicrobial technology. - PolyAI raises $40m to enable enterprise voice assistants to speak like people
PolyAI has developed a proprietary suite of technologies that sound perfectly human, enabling voice assistants to understand callers no matter how they speak. - Minority Equality Opportunities Acquisition Inc. Announces Merger with Hispanic-Led and founded Cloud Services Company Digerati Technologies
The all-stock transaction forms a company with an initial equity value of approximately $228 million translating into an enterprise value of approximately $145 million, assuming no redemptions from MEOA's shareholders. - This 7 Year Old Is Taking the NFT Space by Storm
Over the past two years, Marcus has been busy not only with integrating himself into the English school system but also with drawing pictures of his favorite animal, the noble ape. - Instacart Doubles Down on Its Technology Solutions for Independently-Owned and Locally-Operated Grocers With Acquisition of Rosie
The acquisition brings Rosie's e-commerce platform and team of experts to Instacart, giving local independent grocers access to a broader range of technology and fulfillment capabilities to grow their businesses. - DailyPay Launches Friday™, the GPR Card and Mobile App, Powering No-Fee, Instant On-Demand Pay Transfers
With the Friday app, users can view and access their earned pay before payday, add the card to their mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay), have the opportunity to make in-store and online purchases, and manage their money and track spending, all in one mobile app. - The Three Social Engineering Hacks your Company Should Prevent Now
Since 2020, Google has identified and delisted 2 million websites for launching phishing attacks—an army of nefarious websites that Cisco says have hit 86% of all global companies. In today's climate, Integris warns companies to prepare for these three types of new attacks.
Read more of the latest business technology releases from PR Newswire and stay caught up on the top press releases by following @PRNbiztech on Twitter.
These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists.
Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers and freelancers have access to the following free features:
- Customization: Create a customized newsfeed that will deliver relevant news right to your inbox. Customize the newsfeed by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more.
- Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include with your next story.
- Subject Matter Experts: Access ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in your articles.
- Related Resources: Read and subscribe to our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, for media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.
For more than 65 years, PR Newswire has been the industry leader with the largest, most comprehensive distribution network of print, radio, magazine, television stations, financial portals and trade publications. PR Newswire has an unparalleled global reach of more than 200,000 publications and 10,000 websites and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages.
PR Newswire for Journalists (PRNJ) is an exclusive community that includes over 20,000 journalists, bloggers and influencers who are logging into their PRNJ accounts specifically looking for story ideas. PR Newswire thoroughly researches and vets this community to verify their identity as a member of the press, blogger or influencer. PRNJ users cover more than 200 beats and verticals.
For questions, contact the team at media.relations@cision.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE PR Newswire | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/09/this-week-tech-news-9-stories-you-need-see/ | 2022-09-09T11:33:00Z |
AUSTIN (KXAN) – NASA announced this week that the Hubble Space Telescope detected what might be a wandering “black hole” nearly 5,000 light-years away in the Milky Way Galaxy. The discovery led NASA to believe that the nearest black hole may be only 80 light-years away. The closest star to our own, Proxima Centauri, is about four light-years from Earth.
The wandering object was detected in the Carina-Sagittarius spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. Earth is located in the Orion spiral arm. It is moving at around 100,000 mph.
NASA says at that speed, the object could travel from the Earth to the Moon in around three hours. It took three days for humans to travel that same distance aboard Apollo 11.
Is it a black hole or… something else?
Two teams worked together to locate the object: Kailash Sahu with the Space Telescope Science Institute out of Baltimore, Maryland, and a team led by Casey Lam of the University of California, Berkeley. They disagree on what it may be: a black hole or maybe a star.
Black holes can not be seen with a traditional telescope. However, Hubble was able to detect the gravity-warping effects caused by the object. We detect these effects when an object passes in front of a star because they literally bend the light of the star.
Based on how the star’s light is altered, we can determine the size of the object moving in front of it. If the light is altered significantly, then it is likely a black hole. If it is only altered slightly and the color of the star changes, then it is likely another star.
Lam’s team believes the object is likely a star, while Sahu’s team believes it is a black hole. The debate surrounds the teams’ methodology. Lam’s team used Hubble, while the other team didn’t.
How are black holes created?
Black holes are born from destruction. They are created when a supermassive star dies. These stars are around 20 times larger than our sun.
As they die, they explode in what is called a supernova. According to NASA, what’s left after that explosion is then crushed under its own gravity. That gravity is so intense that it then sucks everything in around it: even light and time itself.
When that supernova happens, the kickback from the explosion can hurl the black hole into space.
Are we in danger of being sucked up by a black hole?
That’s not likely. While the black hole is moving pretty fast, it’s not moving fast enough to reach our solar system anytime soon. The likelihood of Earth being hit by a black hole, one of the study’s authors told Newsweek, is relatively low. | https://cw33.com/news/hubble-detects-black-hole-wandering-near-our-solar-system/ | 2022-06-15T14:56:19Z |
Adds novel implantable battery solutions to serve the high growth bioelectronics market
NASHUA, N.H., April 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Resonetics announced today that it has acquired EaglePicher Technologies' Medical Power business, a leading manufacturer of implantable batteries for critical medical devices based near Vancouver, British Columbia. EaglePicher Medical Power has been designing and manufacturing batteries for medical devices for over 25 years and produced one of the first lithium-ion cells for an implantable medical device. The Vancouver site features a modern 60,000 square foot facility with extensive application engineering resources and manufacturing expertise. Chris Huntington, President, EaglePicher Medical Power, will join Resonetics as its Chief Commercial Officer.
"EaglePicher Medical Power brings another innovative manufacturing capability to Resonetics that will enable our customers to advance the state-of-the-art in clinical applications requiring miniaturized bioelectronic devices," said Tom Burns, President, and CEO of Resonetics. "We believe integrating this essential battery technology into our core micro manufacturing and sensor capabilities uniquely positions Resonetics as a leading supplier to companies pursuing miniaturized implantable and wearable devices to address unmet clinical needs." Added Kevin Hartke, Chief Technical Officer of Resonetics, "We've been able to collaborate with the EaglePicher team and see a lot of synergies. We will invest further in their best-in-class battery solutions by implementing a Lightspeed Application Development Lab for battery solutions to compress development cycles and help our customers reduce their time to market."
"We're excited to welcome the team in Vancouver to Resonetics and to have Chris Huntington join our senior leadership team," said Tom Burns. "Chris brings a wealth of MedTech experience gained over the last 20 years in the industry, including leadership positions with Stryker and Symmetry Medical in addition to EaglePicher." Chris Huntington, CCO of Resonetics, commented, "I've enjoyed leading EaglePicher's Medical Power division over the last three years, and I look forward to joining Resonetics to support the company's continued growth in advanced engineering and manufacturing solutions for the life sciences industry."
Resonetics has completed eleven acquisitions in the past five years and has over 1,900 employees that operate out of 14 sites located in key medical technology markets with facilities totaling more than 650,000 square feet.
About Resonetics
Founded in 1987, Resonetics is a pioneer in advanced engineering and manufacturing solutions for the life sciences industry. Resonetics is a leader in laser processing, centerless grinding, nitinol processing, thin-wall stainless steel & precious metal tubing, photochemical machining, microfluidics manufacturing, and sensor technology. With ten Lightspeed Application Development Labs located strategically to serve medical device companies around the world, Resonetics is built on a foundation of quality, speed, and innovation to deliver best-in-class value with a customer-centric approach. The company is ISO 13485:2016 certified with facilities in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel, and Switzerland. Resonetics is backed by leading private equity firms Carlyle and GTCR. Learn more at www.resonetics.com.
About Carlyle
Carlyle is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit and Global Investment Solutions. With $301 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2021, Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs nearly 1,850 people in 26 offices across five continents.
About GTCR
Founded in 1980, GTCR is a leading private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies in the Business & Consumer Services, Financial Services & Technology, Healthcare & Technology, Media & Telecommunications industries. The Chicago-based firm pioneered The Leaders Strategy™ – finding and partnering with management leaders in core domains to identify, acquire and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and organic growth. Since its inception, GTCR has invested more than $20 billion in over 250 companies. For more information, please visit www.gtcr.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Resonetics LLC | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/11/resonetics-announces-acquisition-eaglepicher-medical-power/ | 2022-04-11T17:50:50Z |
Tudor Revival building, first in portfolio to open in Northwest Seattle
SEATTLE , June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aegis Living, a leader in senior assisted living and memory care, opened its 35th community, Aegis Living Greenwood, in the heart of Northwest Seattle. The five-story building is inspired by the neighborhood and built with Tudor Revival architecture, a classic style most popular in the United States in the 1920's and 30's.
"Our team takes great pride in our deep connections to the communities we serve," said Founder, CEO and Chairman Dwayne Clark. "We get to know our neighbors, develop state-of-the art buildings that mirror the values, history, and culture of the cities and neighborhoods where they reside, and ensure our residents have a true place to call home and live life to the fullest."
The Greenwood community incorporates a luxurious and refined setting that mixes English heritage with a new American flair.
The first floor opens to a spacious living room and resident gathering space filled with a bold, rich color palette. Residents may enjoy upscale dining across the hall at the "The Woodlands." Other main floor amenities include The Miracle Theater, the onsite cinema named after the legendary "Miracle Mile" business district that once thrived on Greenwood Ave. The Bog & Fen pub pays homage to the history of the local land and creates a cozy atmosphere for residents to connect with friends. Swan's salon and the barber shop Duckies, named from the ever popular 'Duck Tail' haircut of the 1950s, are also located on the main floor. A rooftop terrace inspired by an English garden provides a space for residents to take in city views, relax with friends, or even entertain family.
Keeping wellness central each day, Aegis Living Greenwood hosts a plethora of onsite health and wellness programming and amenities, including a vibrant fitness studio and serene massage room, registered dieticians who oversee all meals created by expert chefs, telemedicine services, and more. Nursing staff personalize each resident care plan, and with assisted living, memory care, and transitional care all under the same roof, residents can update care with ease.
"Emerging from nearly three years in the pandemic, we are all seeking community, deeper connection, and more joy in our lives," said Aegis Living President Sandra Preyale. "We are excited to bring unmatched care to Northwest Seattle as the demand for assisted living, memory, and transitional care continues to rise."
Memory care is offered on two dedicated floors, known as "Life's Neighborhood." Life's Neighborhood is a community within a community with amenities located all in one space. Residents may enjoy the "Happy Days" café, "Rock Around the Clock" record shop and activity room, a terrace with a park-like setting including a gazebo and walkable "neighborhood" that resembles a residential street, even a retired red Thunderbird car. Another experiential area – called Life's Haven – offers a calming escape where residents may imagine they are on an Interurban Trolley car, complete with trolley stop. To further bring back positive memories proven to benefit those diagnosed with dementia, artwork installations throughout the space feature familiar icons of an American neighborhood like the local paper boy, the lovable mail man, neighborhood pups, and an ice cream truck.
"So many of us here at Aegis Living have loved ones who have needed – or still need – extra assistance and care later in life," said Jeanna Korbas, Vice President of Interior Design. "We create each community with the love, care, and attention to detail we hope to have in our homes and in the homes of our families."
The Greenwood neighborhood appeals to both families and urbanites alike and offers the best of the Pacific Northwest with nearby outings to Carkeek Park, Green Lake, Woodland Park Zoo, and easy access to many local shops and cafes.
Located at 10000 Holman Road NW, Seattle, WA 98177, Aegis Living Greenwood houses 96 senior living apartments over the 89,000-square-foot-building. Ankrom Moisan is the architecture firm and Venture is the general contractor. Aegis has several additional communities in development, including a community in the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle opening next month.
Aegis Living is a national leader in senior assisted living and memory care. With nearly 25 years of experience, Aegis Living is known for its deep expertise in supporting residents along the continuum of care, from light assistance to advanced dementia; innovative programming and a focus on upscale, purpose-built design; and an employee-centric company culture. With every community, Aegis Living creates a living environment where residents can feel at home and inspired to live life to the fullest. The privately held company is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington and operates 35 communities in Washington, California and Nevada, with a number of additional communities in development. For more information, visit www.aegisliving.com. Follow the company on Twitter @Aegisliving, Instagram @aegislivingseniors and Facebook at www.facebook.com/AegisLiving.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Aegis Living | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/aegis-living-opens-35th-community-senior-living-demand-is-rise/ | 2022-06-21T16:40:14Z |
Columbia Gas and NIPSCO customers can now get immediate answers to core questions, including how to enroll in payment plans, view usage and find a payment location
MERRILLVILLE, Ind., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, is announcing the launch of chatbots and live chat technologies by its operating companies. The chatbots and live chat are available on the Columbia Gas and NIPSCO websites and on their mobile apps.
Customers have told us they want more convenient ways to get answers to their questions without having to call our call centers. Chatbot and live chat allow customers to get immediate answers to key questions, including enrolling in payment plans, viewing their usage, reporting an electric outage (NIPSCO only), finding payment locations, understanding bill charges and learning about different financial support options. The chatbot also can provide answers to frequently asked questions, such as information about COVID protocols, work taking place in your area, and optional services. While chatbots function through artificial intelligence, live chat connects customers with a live customer service representative through the Customer Care Center. These representatives can answer more complicated questions that require additional research.
"At NiSource, we are dedicated to providing an enhanced and effortless experience for our customers," said Jennifer Montague, senior vice president and chief customer officer at NiSource. "Customers have continually asked for more options to handle their needs. The chatbots and live chat give them the ability to engage with us in the channel of their choice at their convenience."
In response to customer request, NiSource's operating companies also recently launched Columbia Gas and NIPSCO mobile apps, enabled stop, start and move service on the customer websites and the mobile apps, and elevated promotions of paperless billing, encouraging customers to view their bills online anywhere, anytime at their convenience.
"Customer digitization is helping our customers get the information they need and make changes to their service at their convenience, Montague added. "As customers continue to request more digital options to do business, we will continue to look for additional enhancements to existing technologies."
In 2022, NiSource also implemented a new conversational interactive voice response (IVR) that improves the customer experience by allowing customers to more easily find answers to their pressing questions. The new IVR now enables customers to use the automated system to enroll in AutoPay, find payment locations, and utilize enhanced budget billing options, in addition to managing their account details.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.2 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, NiSource's approximately 7,500 employees are focused on safely delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers and communities we serve. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index. Additional information about NiSource, its investments in modern infrastructure and systems, its commitments and its local brands can be found at www.nisource.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/nisource, www.linkedin.com/company/nisource or www.twitter.com/nisourceinc. The content of these websites is not incorporated by reference into this document or any other report or document NiSource files with the SEC. NI-F
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE NiSource Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/nisource-companies-launch-chatbots-live-chat-provide-an-improved-customer-experience/ | 2022-06-29T13:38:46Z |
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A Florida woman has sued Equifax claiming she was denied a car loan because of a 130-point mistake in her credit report that she says was part of a larger group of credit score errors the ratings agency made this spring due to a coding problem.
The class action lawsuit was filed in federal court in Atlanta on behalf of Nydia Jenkins and potentially millions of others who applied for credit during a three-week period earlier this year. The Jacksonville, Florida woman was forced to accept another, less favorable loan that was $150 per month more than the one she was turned down for because of the error, according to the lawsuit.
Credit scores provide lenders with a picture of how a big a risk a borrower is, and they typically range from 300 to 850 points, with a higher score usually resulting in better terms for people applying for mortgages, auto loans or mortgages. The lawsuit says the errors violated federal law that governs credit reporting agencies.
“In the modern economy, millions of Americans rely on credit to make the most important purchases of their lives, from homes to cars to appliances and everything in between,” John Morgan and John Yanchunis, the attorneys representing Jenkins, said in a statement. “We believe that many of the people impacted – some of whom may still be unaware of what happened – suffered severe financial consequences.”
The errors occurred over three weeks from mid-March to early April. An analysis Equifax conducted shows that there was no shift in a majority of credit scores, and for those who did experience a change, only a small number would have received a different credit decision, Equifax said in an emailed statement on Thursday.
“While the score may have shifted, a score shift does not necessarily mean that a consumer’s credit decision was negatively impacted,” the Equifax statement said.
Equifax said in another statement earlier this week that the problems stemmed from a coding issue that “resulted in the potential miscalculation of certain attributes used in model calculations.” In that statement, the firm said less than 300,000 consumers had a score shift of 25 points or more.
“Again, we do not take this issue lightly,” Equifax said.
Besides seeking an undisclosed amount of damages “to the fullest extent allowable by law,” the lawsuit is asking for an audit to identify which customers’ credit scores were affected; money for credit repair services; and the establishment of a fund to reimburse customers for any out-of-pocket expenses they incurred from the errors.
In 2017, hackers broke into Equifax in a breach that exposed the financial information of 147 million Americans. A federal court in 2020 approved a $380 million settlement of class actions lawsuits, with no finding or judgment of wrongdoing made. The settlement required Equifax to invest a minimum $1 billion over five years on data security.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/florida-womans-lawsuit-says-equifax-error-made-loan-pricier/ | 2022-08-05T13:10:59Z |
Man’s chewing caused a cyst to form behind his eye: case report
By Alexandra Mae Jones
Click here for updates on this story
TORONTO (CTV Network) — A 21-year-old man went to the doctor after noticing that his left eye was increasingly protruding from his skull, only to find out that he had a cyst behind his eye, which had been caused by his chewing.
The rare situation, described in a case report published BMJ Case Reports last week, occurred due to a skull defect that allowed the movement of the jaw to put undue pressure on the structures around the eye, disrupting his vision.
The patient first visited an ocuplasty clinic — a clinic which performs cosmetic surgery on eyes — complaining that his left eye had been slowly bulging more and more from his face over the last 18 months.
He was also experiencing oscillopsia, unstable vision in which the world around a person appears to be moving when it is actually stationary.
There was no pain associated with the eye’s new forward position, and when doctors investigated, they found there was no difference between the vision in his eyes, and was able to move all his eye muscles. .
When doctors dilated his eyes to inspect the back of the eyeball, they saw no glaring issues, but there was visible bulging of the left eye of around three millimetres.
Eventually, doctors discovered the issue stemmed from a mass in the intraconal space, a region in the muscles directly behind the eyeball itself, but at weren’t sure what it was. They believed that it was either made up of a tangle of bleeding capillaries, a tumour within the nervous system itself, or a dermoid cyst containing fluid.
The third option turned out to be the culprit: CT scans revealed a cystic lesion in the patient’s left eye measuring two centimetres long and two centimetres wide.
Doctors realized that a pre-existing bone defect in the patient’s eye socket was allowing this cyst to extend into a skull structure called the infratemporal fossa, which nerves pass through, thus displacing the optic nerve itself.
Once the problem was isolated, the question turned to how the cyst had gotten there.
Further examination of the patient showed that the bulging of his eye, which persisted even when he was at rest, got worse when he was chewing.
“On repeated chewing movements, the eyeball was seen wobbling in anteroposterior direction,” the case report stated.
They were able to surgically remove the cyst, after which the patient reported that the oscillopsia had ceased and the bulging was gone.
Dermoid cysts are the most common type of orbital tumours seen in infants and children, according to the case report, and dumbbell dermoid cysts make up around six per cent of all dermoid cysts.
In order for a person’s chewing to cause oscillopsia, they must also have a defect in the bones around the eye itself, the case study clarified.
If a patient has this bone defect, then the movement of the jaw can push soft tissue into the eye or the muscles and nerves behind it.
In three years of follow-up after the patient’s surgery, there has been no recurrence in either oscillopsia or the eyes protruding.
“I am happy that I don’t any more have the visual problem and facial disfigurement,” the patient said in the case report. “I am grateful to the entire team of doctors for their care.”
The case report’s authors stated that this highlights the importance of asking patients about their history of chewing and whether their vision changes during chewing.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Sonja Puzic | https://localnews8.com/cnn-regional/2022/04/19/mans-chewing-caused-a-cyst-to-form-behind-his-eye-case-report/ | 2022-04-19T16:11:12Z |
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout was removed from Tuesday night’s game against Boston with left groin tightness, but he isn’t concerned about possibly being sidelined.
The three-time MVP grimaced in the third inning while running to first base after hitting a double off Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock. Trout easily reached second but not at full speed. He tried to stretch out the leg once he got there but came out of the game after talking with trainers.
“Coming out of the box, I didn’t feel it and then I felt like a little cramp. Then I got to second base and a little achy and tried to be smart about it. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow,” Trout said after the Angels lost 6-5 in 10 innings to tie a franchise record with 13 straight losses. “At least it isn’t nothing crazy.”
Trout was injured hours after the Angels fired manager Joe Maddon with the club mired in a disastrous slump. Trout endured a career-worst 0-for-26 drought during that skid but ended the slump with a single Monday night.
Trout hit a two-run homer to center in the first inning Tuesday. It was the first time he had multiple hits in a game since May 28 at home against Toronto. He is batting .284 and is tied for third in the American League with 14 home runs.
Trout missed the final 119 games of last season with a left calf strain. When fans saw Trout struggling with the leg, it brought up those memories.
There was no scan or MRI done after Trout left the game. Interim manager Phil Nevin remains cautiously optimistic.
“It was an easy decision to get him out of the game. He had two great at-bats. It was good to see him swing the bat like that and hopefully this isn’t anything too serious,” Nevin said. “We’ve got to reevaluate tomorrow because these things can act funny right away. Tomorrow is really the gauge for us.”
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://cw33.com/sports/ap-sports/angels-mike-trout-leaves-game-with-left-groin-tightness/ | 2022-06-08T17:35:03Z |
Ex-congressman from California arrested, charged with fraud
FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A former U.S. congressman from central California was arrested Tuesday by federal agents on wire fraud, money laundering, and campaign contribution fraud charges stemming from “multiple fraud schemes,” federal prosecutors said.
Terrance “T.J.” Cox was arrested by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigations in Fresno, where he was booked to the Fresno County jail on a U.S. Marshals hold, jail records showed. It was not immediately known if he has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. An email message sent to Cox Tuesday was not immediately answered.
Cox, a Democrat, represented the 21st Congressional District from January 2019 to January 2021. The district is in the agriculture-rich San Joaquin Valley and includes Kings County and portions of Fresno, Kern and Tulare counties.
Cox, 59, was charged with 15 counts of wire fraud, 11 counts of money laundering, one count of financial institution fraud, and one count of campaign contribution fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert said in a statement.
Talbert said that between 2013 and 2018, Cox allegedly obtained $1.7 million from funds he solicited from clients and loans he got for his companies and then stole by diverting the money to “off-the-book bank accounts.”
Cox partially owned, managed and was employed by several companies and non-profit organizations, including a business that helped companies get loans and federal tax credits, an almond processing company and a non-profit that operated Granite Park, a recreation facility in Fresno, according to the complaint.
Cox also fraudulently obtained a $1.5 million construction loan to develop Granite Park, Talbert said.
After his nonprofit could not qualify for the construction loan for the recreation facility without a party guaranteeing the loan, Cox said that one of the companies he co-owned would guarantee the loan, and submitted a fabricated board resolution that falsely stated that during a meeting all company owners had agreed to guarantee the Granite Park loan.
“No meeting took place, and the other owners did not agree to back the loan,” Talbert said.
The loan later went into default, causing a loss of more than $1.28 million, he said.
According to the indictment, when Cox was campaigning in 2017 for the U.S. House of Representatives he reimbursed family members and associates for donations to his campaign, prosecutors said. Cox arranged for over $25,000 in illegal straw or conduit donations to his campaign, Talbert said.
If convicted, Cox faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud and money laundering, and up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for wire fraud affecting a financial institution. The charge of campaign contribution fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/16/ex-congressman-california-arrested-charged-with-fraud/ | 2022-08-17T00:27:06Z |
BEIJING, Aug. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterdrop Inc. ("Waterdrop", the "Company" or "we") (NYSE: WDH), a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact, recently announced that it officially launched its first digital employee "Waterdrop Assistant". "Waterdrop Assistant" is a human-like virtual employee that was developed based on Waterdrop's business processes and is powered by multiple technologies, including robotic process automation (RPA) and artificial intelligence (AI). "Waterdrop Assistant" can help the online insurance service team with numerous tasks, including data processing and analysis, online user management, and customer services, thus improving the response time, quality, and scope of the Company's customer service team.
Mr. Mingxing Huang, Head of AI at Waterdrop, commented, "The introduction of digital employees is our latest exploration to continue promoting the digital transformation of the insurance industry, to reduce operating costs, and improve the efficiency of insurance services. Specifically in our case, 'Waterdrop Assistant' has helped shorten the response time, lower operating costs, and unleash the potential of our staff. Our analysis shows that since its launch, 'Waterdrop Assistant' has processed 86% of the user sessions with a 97% accuracy rate for intention recognition, helping free up 37% of the customer service manpower and effectively increase the policy renewal rate. Currently, 'Waterdrop Assistant' is responsible for highly repetitive and labor-intensive tasks, however, it has also undergone constant system iterations and architecture upgrades through ongoing machine learning. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2021, Waterdrop Assistant completed 20-plus system iterations and 3 architecture upgrades accumulatively. Our next goal is to enable 'Waterdrop Assistant' to independently complete tasks for more complex and interactive scenarios and play a bigger role in the process of sales inquiry, underwriting review, risk control, and claim settlement."
Mr. Huang added, Waterdrop Assistant is positioned as an "assistant" to insurance service staff. Through its intelligent dialogue robot technology, "Waterdrop Assistant" has completed the training related to speech, sentiment recognition, semantic analysis, and other capabilities, enabling it to conduct simple communication with customers, record and collate their protection needs, intention to purchase insurance, and classify them into different groups. This will help the Company's online services team develop timelier, professional, and customized insurance plans for different customers. In terms of online user management, "Waterdrop Assistant" has significantly improved the operation refinement and efficiency of its insurance service staff and has been capable of interacting with customer communities and maintaining customer relationships independently. For example, "Waterdrop Assistant" can identify customer needs according to the keywords sent by customers, send personalized push notifications, reminder of policy expirations and birthday greetings to customers in time.
In addition, "Waterdrop Assistant" has been well-acquainted with over 100 insurance products equipped from Waterdrop's sophisticated data library, including the product profile, insurance coverage, policy renewal, and claims settlement process. Based on its semantic understanding capability, "Waterdrop Assistant" can recommend answers for our insurance service staff in real-time so they can provide quick and accurate responses to customers more easily. During its interaction with customers, "Waterdrop Assistant" can detect and understand customer sentiment immediately and assists the service staff in comforting the customers at proper times, thereby improving user experience and satisfaction.
About Waterdrop Inc.
Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE: WDH) is a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact. Founded in 2016, with the comprehensive coverage of Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace and Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding, Waterdrop aims to bring insurance and healthcare service to billions through technology. For more information, please visit www.waterdrop-inc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "likely to," and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Waterdrop's beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Waterdrop's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Waterdrop does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
View original content:
SOURCE Waterdrop Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/waterdrop-unveiled-its-first-digital-employee-waterdrop-assistant/ | 2022-08-19T14:39:58Z |
GÖTEBORG, Sweden , July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Volvo Group report for the second quarter 2022 will be published on Juli 19, 2022, at 7.20 a.m. CEST. There will be a conference call for press and analysts starting at 9.00 a.m. CEST.
An online presentation of the report, followed by a question-and-answer session, will be broadcast at 9.00 a.m. CEST. The Volvo Group will be represented by President and CEO Martin Lundstedt and CFO Tina Hultkvist.
To listen to the online conference, please log in about ten minutes prior to the start.
Link to login:
https://services.choruscall.de/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=5563907&linkSecurityString=bef04d3f4
One-on-one calls for media can be arranged from 10.15 a.m. CEST. Please contact Claes Eliasson for inquiries.
Juli 5, 2022
Journalists wanting further information, please contact:
Claes Eliasson, Volvo Group Media Relations, +46 76 553 72 29
For more information, please visit volvogroup.com
For frequent updates, follow us on Twitter: @volvogroup
The Volvo Group drives prosperity through transport and infrastructure solutions, offering trucks, buses, construction equipment, power solutions for marine and industrial applications, financing and services that increase our customers' uptime and productivity. Founded in 1927, the Volvo Group is committed to shaping the future landscape of sustainable transport and infrastructure solutions. The Volvo Group is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, employs almost 95,000 people and serves customers in more than 190 markets. In 2021, net sales amounted to SEK 372 billion (EUR 37 billion). Volvo shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
The following files are available for download:
View original content:
SOURCE AB Volvo | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/05/invitation-volvo-group-report-second-quarter-2022/ | 2022-07-05T11:33:07Z |
Leading Voice in Financial Empowerment discusses "Designing Government Taskforces for the Future"
ATLANTA, April 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and CEO John Hope Bryant served as a distinguished speaker at The Annual World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With over 4,000 attendees, The World Government Summit 2022 was hosted in tandem with the closing of Expo 2020 Dubai and is the world's largest event of its kind.
Under the theme "Shaping Future Governments," the Summit brought thought leaders, global experts and decision-makers from around the world together to share disruptive ideas, policies, and institutional models that are essential in shaping effective governments for the future. The WGS 2022 took place from March 29-30 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre and hosted over 100 sessions and workshops featuring more than 100 speakers.
Bryant's session was titled "Designing Government Taskforces for the Future,' with a focus on the challenges and opportunities afforded by the global future, including shaping policies that drive progress and government development; designing the future of healthcare systems; actioning sustainability for positive impact; accelerating the global economic recovery; exploring next frontiers; building the cities of the future; enabling the future of education and work and empowering societal resilience.
"A government that is prepared for the future is one that will successfully – with clear goals, purpose, and an actionable plan – meet the needs of its citizens," said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and CEO. "In the past two years, our collective global challenges have reminded us that preparation is key. As we reach new inflection points, my hope is that leaders and governments at all levels rise to the occasion and meet the moment to serve its citizens. Be it the lingering effects of the pandemic, economic shifts, social and political unrest, or any other driving force, together we can provide hope and a future that works for all."
Bryant spoke about building government task forces for the future and his work preparing for the future of financial literacy in the US. He was instrumental in the creation of the presidential advisory councils on financial literacy, the FLEC Creation, and now President Biden's efforts around racial equity and agency prioritization.
Bryant has advised multiple sitting US Presidents and led several global initiatives, resulting in policy changes that enhanced the relationships between the government and citizens. He has served as a member of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy under President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama. As a champion for financial wellness and economic equity, he has also advised President Bill Clinton. At Bryant's recommendation, U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew renamed the former U.S. Treasury Annex Building the Freedman's Bank Building, which was established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, to help develop newly freed African Americans as they endeavored to become financially stable.
For the past three decades, Bryant has also successfully created public-private partnerships to shift financial wellness outcomes in underserved communities through education and hands-on programming.
###
Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to "silver rights" with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through its community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters into homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. For more information, visit OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation @operationhope on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The World Government Summit (WGS), launched under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in 2013, is a global platform that brings together world leaders, ministers, senior officials, and policymakers to share experiences and ideas that contribute to the development of future governments and discuss the latest trends and innovative solutions for global challenges. The WGS 2022 convened this year and welcomed up to 4000 participants and 500 speakers, who are shaping the next generation of governments. For more information, visit worldgovernmentsummit.org.
Lalohni Campbell, Operation HOPE
404-593-7145
la@persemediagroup.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Operation HOPE, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/04/02/john-hope-bryant-speaks-annual-world-government-summit-dubai/ | 2022-04-02T03:20:45Z |
Frisco Business & Innovation Hub set to make debut at The Star in late 2023
DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) today announced corporate expansion plans in North Texas with development underway for its new Business & Innovation Hub in Frisco.
To meet the evolving needs of its colleagues and customers, Comerica Bank will open the hub in a new office tower at 17 Cowboys Way at The Star development between late 2023 and early 2024. The building is currently under construction, with Comerica's tenant construction beginning later this year.
"This represents a significant investment in Comerica's strategic vision that will benefit all Comerica colleagues and customers," said Megan Crespi, Executive Vice President and Chief Enterprise Technology & Operations Services Officer. "Expanding our corporate headquarters footprint to one of the most desirable locations for business and innovation in the U.S. is positioning our bank for future success."
The new space will prioritize collaboration for our colleagues and feature enhanced technology to support mobility, while also supporting individual focus and productivity. Additionally, colleagues will have access to an innovation center to test new concepts and a tech genius bar.
The Frisco Business & Innovation Hub will house about 300 Comerica colleagues from a variety of teams, including technology and product management to front-line business units. The enhanced opportunities for cross-functional collaboration will allow Comerica to further promote digital and business innovation, as well as better meet the changing needs of its customer base. The company's Human Resources department will also be standing up new Learning and Interview Centers at the new office. Comerica will occupy retail space on the first floor of the multi-tenant building to support a banking center, customer entertainment and a community resource center.
"Frisco is known for cultivating an exceptional environment for businesses to thrive," added Brian Foley, Comerica's Texas Market President. "The hub's on-site amenities and prominent location will help to support our company's vision for future growth, including our ability to attract and retain top talent."
Comerica will have external signage at the top of the building and occupy floors nine through 11 of the Class A+ tower, with a balcony overlooking the surrounding facilities. The Star's mixed-use campus approach offers colleagues ample entertainment, sports, retail, residential, and educational opportunities, along with more beneficial amenities that will further enhance our colleagues' experience and attract new talent. The development is also conveniently accessible to major freeways.
Comerica's Business & Innovation Hub will be complementary to the company's headquarters in downtown Dallas. Executive offices, Commercial Bank, Wealth Management, Credit, and several other business units will continue to operate from the Comerica Bank Tower at 1717 Main Street.
Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $86.9 billion as of June 30, 2022.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Comerica Incorporated | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/comerica-bank-unveils-plans-business-amp-innovation-hub-frisco-texas/ | 2022-09-14T16:27:38Z |
LONDON, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Passport holders with the greatest global access are currently the most restricted and reluctant to enjoy their travel freedom, according to the latest results from the Henley Passport Index, which is based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Japan holds the number one spot on the index — the original ranking of all the world's passports according to the number of destinations their can access without a prior visa — with a record-high visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 193, while Singapore and South Korea come in joint-2nd place, with a score of 192.
But despite the record-breaking worldwide access afforded to citizens of these three nations over the index's 17-year history, international passenger demand in the Asia-Pacific region has only reached 17% of pre-Covid levels, according to IATA's latest statistics, having hovered below 10% for most of the past two years. This figure is far behind the global trend where markets in Europe and North America have recovered to around 60% of pre-crisis travel mobility levels. Commenting in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2022 Q3, Dr Marie Owens Thomsen, Chief Economist at IATA, says passenger numbers should reach 83% of pre-pandemic levels in 2022: "By next year, many markets should see traffic reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels, while we expect this to be the case for the industry as a whole in 2024."
EU member states dominate the remaining top 10 ten spots on the latest ranking, with Germany and Spain in joint-3rd place, with access to 190 destinations visa-free. Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg follow closely behind in joint-4th place with 189 destinations, and Denmark, Netherlands, and Sweden share 5th place with their passport holders able to travel to 188 destinations worldwide without a visa. Both the UK and US have dropped down a rank, to 6th and 7th place, respectively, and Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the index, with its nationals only able to access 27 destinations worldwide visa-free. The global mobility gap between the world's most and least powerful passports now sits at an unprecedented 166 destinations.
Summer travel chaos
As US travel chaos begins to ease following the Fourth of July holiday weekend, strikes and staff shortages are forcing airlines across Europe to cancel thousands of flights, causing hours-long queues at major airports. Heathrow Airport has even told airlines to stop selling summer tickets as the UK's biggest airport struggles to cope with the rebound in air travel.
Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says the recent surge in demand is hardly surprising: "The latest results are a heartening reminder of the very human desire for global connectivity even as some countries move toward isolationism and autarky. The shock of the pandemic was unlike anything seen in our lifetimes, and the recovery and reclamation of our travel freedoms, and our innate instinct to move and migrate will take time."
Russia increasingly isolated
Russian passport holders are more cut off from the rest of the world than ever before, as sanctions, travel bans, and airspace closures limit Russian citizens from accessing all but a few destinations in Central Asia and the Middle East. The Russian passport currently sits at 50th place on the index, with a visa-free or visa-free on arrival score of 119. However, due to airspace closures in EU member nations, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the US, and the UK, Russian citizens are effectively barred from traveling throughout most of the world, with the marked exceptions of Istanbul and Dubai, which have become focal transit points.
Conversely, the Ukrainian passport is currently ranked in 35th place on the index, with holders able to access 144 destinations around the world without needing a visa in advance. Ukrainians displaced by the invasion have also been granted the right to live and work in the EU for up to three years under an emergency plan in response to what has become Europe's biggest refugee crisis this century. After the European Council's recent, ground-breaking announcement awarding Ukraine candidate status, the first step towards full EU membership, the travel freedom for Ukrainian passport holders is likely to increase even further in the coming years.
UAE the clear pandemic winner
Throughout the turmoil of the past two years, one thing has remained constant: the growing strength of the UAE passport, which now sits at 15th place on the ranking, with a visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 176. Over the past decade, the country has made unparalleled gains as the biggest climber on the index — in 2012, it sat at 64th place on the rankings, with a score of just 106. As the latest Henley Private Wealth Migration Dashboard demonstrates, the UAE has also become the focus of intense interest among affluent investors and is expected to see the highest net influx of HNWIs globally in 2022, with a forecast net increase of 4,000 — a dramatic increase of 208% versus 2019's net inflow of 1,300 and one of its largest on record.
Peaceful countries have more powerful passports
Unique research conducted by Henley & Partners comparing a country's visa-free access with its Global Peace Index score shows a strong correlation between a nation's passport power and its peacefulness. All of the nation's sitting in the top ten of the Henley Passport Index can also be found in the top ten of the Global Peace Index. Likewise, for the bottom ranking nations.
Commenting on the results in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2022 Q3, Stephen Klimczuk-Massion, Quondam Fellow of Oxford University's Saïd Business School, says: "Your passport is more than ever a calling card, which, depending on which passport you carry and where you are going, will have an impact on the kind of welcome you will receive, where you can go and how safe you will be when you get there. Now more than ever, it's a mistake to think of a passport as merely a travel document that allows you to get from A to B. The relative strength or weakness of a particular national passport directly affects the quality of life for the passport holder and may even be a matter of life and death in some circumstances."
View original content:
SOURCE Henley & Partners | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/19/worlds-most-powerful-passports-have-least-travel-freedom/ | 2022-07-19T09:05:06Z |
Jackson area high school baseball region tournament schedules, scores
The TSSAA baseball postseason has started. Here are the Jackson area high school region tournament schedules with Division II-A region tournament being played first.
Class 3A
Region 7-3A
May 16: Munford at Dyer County; Dyersburg at Covington
May 18: Munford-Dyer County winner vs. Dyersburg-Covington winner
May 20: Sectional
Region 6-3A
May 16: South Side at Hardin County, 7 p.m.; South Gibson 3, Chester County 2
May 18: South Side-Hardin County winner vs. South Gibson
May 20: Sectional
SOCCER RANKINGS:Jackson area high school boys soccer rankings: Crockett County rises in poll
STEPHON SHIVERS GAINING SEC OFFERS:Meet the Humboldt football player that has an Arkansas offer at age 14, other SEC interest
Class 2A
Region 7-2A
May 16: MLK Prep at Adamsville, 5:30 p.m.; Riverside at Douglass
May 18: MLK Prep-Adamsville winner vs. Riverside-Douglass winner
May 20: Sectional
Region 6-2A
May 16: Westview at Waverly, 5:30 p.m.; Stewart County at Milan, 6:30 p.m.
May 18: Westview-Waverly winner vs. Stewart County-Milan winner
May 20: Sectional
Class 1A
Region 7-1A
May 16: Halls at Bradford; Dresden at Peabody, 6 p.m.
May 18: Halls-Bradford winner vs. Dresden-Peabody winner
May 20: Sectional
Region 6-1A
May 16: West Carroll at McKenzie; Houston County at Bruceton
May 18: West Carroll-McKenzie winner vs. Houston County-Bruceton winner
May 20: Sectional
Division II-A First Round & Quarterfinals
May 13: TCA 6, Davidson 5
May 18: TCA at Silverdale | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/sports/high-school/2022/05/16/tssaa-baseball-jackson-area-region-tournament-schedules-scores/9770335002/ | 2022-05-16T19:26:34Z |
STOCKHOLM, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sandvik has signed and completed an agreement to acquire 100% of the equity interests in the Switzerland-based Sphinx Tools Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiary P. Rieger Werkzeugfabrik AG ("Sphinx Tools"). Sphinx Tools' offering primarily consists of precision solid round tools (micro tools) and surgical cutting tools. The customers are mainly within the automotive, aerospace and medical segments. The company will be reported within Sandvik Coromant, a division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.
"With the acquisition of Sphinx Tools we continue to execute on our shift to growth strategy. Strengthening our position in round tools is one strategic priority for our machining solutions business and with this acquisition we will expand our product portfolio in the high growth area of micro tools", says Stefan Widing, CEO and President of Sandvik.
Sphinx Tools enhances Sandvik Coromant's product offering within solid round tools and is an established player in the adjacent surgical cutting tools market. The company is present in Europe with three production sites in Switzerland and has global distribution.
"The acquisition of Sphinx Tools fits very well with our strategy to strengthen our position in round tools. With Sphinx Tools we will have the opportunity to take a global leading position in micro tools, a premium niche of round tools, expand our product portfolio and enter an adjacent area of surgical tools. We are very pleased to welcome Sphinx Tools to the Group", says Nadine Crauwels, President of Sandvik Machining Solutions.
Sphinx Tools was founded in 1994, has around 115 employees and is based in Switzerland. In 2021, the company generated revenues of approximately 292 MSEK. The EBITA margin is neutral to Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions. Impact on Sandvik's earnings per share will be limited, yet slightly positive. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Stockholm, August 8, 2022
Sandvik AB
For further information, contact Louise Tjeder, VP Investor relations, phone: +46 (0) 70782 6374 or Johannes Hellström, Press and Media Relations Manager, phone: +46 (0) 70721 1008.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
The following files are available for download:
View original content:
SOURCE Sandvik | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/sandvik-has-acquired-precision-tools-manufacturer-sphinx-tools/ | 2022-08-08T13:55:16Z |
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Since its launch in February, Marshall Inu has grown to well over 10,000 holders, partnered with 500+ MMA fighters, and donated over $4.5 million to support MMA fighters worldwide no matter what stage they are in their careers.
The Marshall Inu team knows that getting to the top in MMA is extremely hard - and it only makes it more difficult when fighters struggle financially to pay for essentials like comps, trainers, and general living expenses.
That's where Marshall steps in: this is a project created by dedicated MMA fans to help fighters with that extra bit of income, with no strings attached, so they can focus on what they do best– fight!
More than a meme token, MRI has manifold utility; holders can buy exclusive Marshall Inu merch using MRI and can bet on a variety of sporting events through their partnership with Mystic Bets.
Additionally, this "Fight Club" NFT series grants revolutionary benefits and exclusive access to holders including income generated from their nascent OTC trade desk which will be split between NFT holders.
Another exclusive benefit NFT holders enjoy is perpetual entries into a lossless lottery where loyal holders can have regular chances to win UFC tickets, win a trip to Fighter meet and greets, and win access to exclusive events such as the Marshall Mansion nights where MMA superstars, crypto legends & #MRIFC holders party and mingle in luxury.
The most recent Marshall Mansion experience was just last weekend at UFC Texas and was a resounding success. Holders of three or more MRI: FC NFTs can have their chance to win this all-inclusive experience for the highly anticipated UFC280 in October headlined by Oliveria v Makhachev!
In the near future, $MRI will launch their own sportsbook and release a P2E game exclusively for MRI: FC holders and there are plans afoot to develop Marshall Inu's very own grassroots fight league! The future is bright for MMA athletes and the Marshall Inu family, don't fade this crypto dog!
Marshall Inu was designed to help MMA fighters succeed with an extra source of income. As a passionate group of MMA enthusiasts, the Marshall Inu team is on a mission to merge the worlds of MMA and meme coins to do something good with the Marshall Inu community. Marshall Inu is currently partnered with over 500+ MMA fighters, and has gifted over $4.5 million to these talented fighters from all walks of life to support the present and future of MMA!
Connect With Marshall Inu!
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Marshall Inu | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/12/marshall-inu-nfts-empowering-mma-fighters-with-web3-twist/ | 2022-08-12T20:12:22Z |
DALLAS, June 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cushing® MLP & Infrastructure Total Return Fund (NYSE: SRV) (the "Fund") declared monthly distributions of $0.15 per common share for each of June, July, and August, 2022. These monthly distributions will be payable to common shareholders pursuant to the table below:
1The return of capital estimate is based on the Fund's current anticipated earnings and profits for the fiscal year and does not include a projection of gains and losses on the sale of securities which may occur during the remainder of the year. It is currently anticipated, but not certain, that approximately 97% of the Fund's distributions will be treated as a return of capital. The final determination of such amounts will be made and reported to shareholders in early 2023, after the end of the calendar year when the Fund determines its earnings and profits for the year. The final tax status of each distribution may differ substantially from this preliminary information.
Each distribution shall be paid on the payment date unless the payment of such distribution is deferred by the Fund's Board of Trustees upon a determination that such deferral is required in order to comply with applicable law or to ensure that the Fund remains solvent and able to pay its debts as they become due and continue as a going concern.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND
The Fund is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company with an investment objective of seeking a high after-tax total return from a combination of capital appreciation and current income. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in a portfolio of energy infrastructure master limited partnerships ("MLPs") and MLP-related investments. The Fund will invest no more than 25% of its Managed Assets in securities of MLPs that qualify as publicly traded partnerships under the Internal Revenue Code. The Fund's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SRV."
There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Investments in the Fund involve operating expenses and fees. The net asset value of the Fund will fluctuate with the value of the underlying securities. It is important to note that closed-end funds trade on their market value, not net asset value, and closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset value.
Future distributions will be made by the Fund if and when declared by the Fund's Board of Trustees, based on a consideration of number of factors, including the Fund's continued compliance with terms and financial covenants of its leverage financing facility, , the Fund's net investment income, financial performance and available cash. There can be no assurance that the amount or timing of distributions in the future will be equal or similar to that described herein or that the Board of Trustees will not decide to suspend or discontinue the payment of distributions in the future.
ABOUT CUSHING® ASSET MANAGEMENT, LP
Cushing is an SEC-registered investment adviser headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Cushing serves as investment adviser to affiliated funds and managed accounts.
Contact:
Blake Nelson
Cushing® Asset Management, LP
214-692-6334
www.cushingasset.com
Source: Cushing® Asset Management, LP
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of such state or jurisdiction.
This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Although the Fund and Cushing believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in the company's reports that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required by law, the Fund and Cushing do not assume a duty to update this forward-looking statement.
View original content:
SOURCE Cushing® Asset Management, LP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/01/return-fund-nyse-srv-announces-distributions/ | 2022-06-01T14:23:57Z |
One year after breaking ground, GF celebrates key milestone on path to expanded semiconductor manufacturing capacity in Singapore
SINGAPORE, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq: GFS) (GF), a global leader in feature-rich semiconductor manufacturing, today announced that its first tool has been moved into the company's new facility on its Singapore campus. The milestone, just one year after breaking ground on the first phase of the Singapore expansion has been achieved in partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board and co-investments from committed customers. Today's milestone brings GF closer to increasing manufacturing capacity at its Singapore site and fulfilling additional global demand for GF-made chips used in automobiles, smartphones, wireless connectivity, internet of things (IoT) devices, and other applications.
In a ceremony today in Singapore at the newly constructed building, GF celebrated the first tool-in milestone with Senior Vice President and Head of Semiconductor of the Singapore Economic Development Board, Chang Chin Nam; President and CEO of Lam Research, Tim Archer; President Asia-Pacific Region of Exyte, Mark Garvey; and other key partners/suppliers including AMAT, ASML, Axcelis, DAIFUKU, KLA, Mattson, SCREEN, Semes, TEL, Wonik, Air Liquid, and Linde. Representing GF was CEO Dr. Thomas Caulfield; GF Senior Vice President and Head of Global Operations, KC Ang; Vice President and General Manager of GF Singapore Operations, Yew Kong Tan; Vice President of Global Construction, Roberto Avallone; and many members of the GF Singapore team. Together they watched as the first tool – a market-leading etch tool made by Lam Research– was moved into GF's newly commissioned cleanroom.
"Today marks a special moment for GF, as we stand with our Singapore team, our partners, and valued employees to appreciate just how much progress we have made over the past year. From a groundbreaking event hosted virtually due to the global pandemic to today's first tool-in, we are delivering on our commitments to expand our global manufacturing footprint to meet the growing need in the marketplace for GF chips," Dr. Caulfield said. "This first phase of our Singapore expansion plan is a tremendous example of strong partnerships driving our industry forward. This first tool moved into our facility was incredible to witness and is a harbinger of more great milestones on the horizon for GF."
"We are delighted that GlobalFoundries has chosen Singapore for a major expansion of its global manufacturing footprint. We congratulate GlobalFoundries' success in bringing the site from ground-breaking to tool move-in in one year, to achieve production ramp up as planned in 2023. We look forward to GlobalFoundries' business growth and the creation of job opportunities in this rapidly growing sector," said Mr. Chang Chin Nam, Senior Vice President and Head, Semiconductors, Singapore Economic Development Board.
GF completed major construction of its Singapore expansion, which includes 250,000-square-feet (23,000-square-meters) of cleanroom space and new administrative offices. Following today's first tool-in ceremony, GF will continue adding new tools to the cleanroom over the coming months and is expected to ramp in 2023. Once complete, the new facility will have the capacity to manufacture 450,000 wafers (300mm) per year, raising the total capacity of GF's Singapore site to approximately 1.5 million wafers (300mm) annually. The new GF facility will be the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing site in Singapore and is on track to create 1,000 new jobs, including technicians and engineers.
In June 2021, GF announced it would invest approximately US $4B (S$5B) to expand its Singapore campus as part of the company's overall plan to grow its global manufacturing footprint and capacity to meet the increase in demand for GF-made semiconductor chips. The development, construction, and job creation in Singapore were accelerated by the new chipmaking economic model pioneered by GF, which includes support and investment from GF, its committed customers, and the national government through the Singapore Economic Development Board. GF aims to replicate this economic model with its planned expansion on the campus of its manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Malta, New York.
GlobalFoundries, Inc. (GF) is one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers. GF is redefining innovation and semiconductor manufacturing by developing and delivering feature-rich process technology solutions that provide leadership performance in pervasive high growth markets. GF offers a unique mix of design, development and fabrication services. With a talented and diverse workforce and an at-scale manufacturing footprint spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted technology source to its worldwide customers. For more information, visit www.gf.com.
View original content:
SOURCE GlobalFoundries (GF) | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/globalfoundries-celebrates-new-singapore-fab-with-arrival-first-tool/ | 2022-06-23T05:16:17Z |
Anchor Fire Protection addition will expand Sciens platform across the United States offering an even broader scope of business in the important mid-Atlantic region.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sciens Building Solutions ("Sciens") today announced it has welcomed Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania-based Anchor Fire Protection ("Anchor") to its growing portfolio of companies.
This is the latest acquisition announcement from Sciens and helps expand their presence in the Pennsylvania and mid-Atlantic market, while providing Anchor and its customers with even deeper resources and expertise, as well as the ability to leverage Sciens' growing footprint across North America.
"We couldn't be more pleased to become a part of Sciens with its outstanding technical expertise and geographic reach," said Ted Wills, president of Anchor Fire Protection. "I chose Sciens because they have a very successful track record with the companies they have acquired and they allow those companies to keep doing the things that have made them successful, while maintaining their cultures. This is a phenomenal growth opportunity, and we look forward to partnering with existing Sciens companies in our region."
Anchor Fire Protection was established in 1978 in Perkiomenville, PA, where it has positioned itself as the premier fire-life safety company across several industries. The addition of Anchor to Sciens will allow the company to further expand its footprint in this exciting growth region.
"Anchor is a great fit to the outstanding reputation we have already established across the middle Atlantic states," said Terry Heath, Sciens' CEO. "With Anchor's excellent capabilities, we can continue our exciting growth trajectory in this region and further expand our presence in this important market. Our desire to actively seek partnerships with companies similar to Anchor that align with the Sciens values and superior service offerings remains strong, and we're looking forward to the future."
About Sciens Building Solutions
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, and backed by The Carlyle Group, Sciens Building Solutions is a holding company focused on the fire detection and security services sector. This includes the design, installation, and provision of maintenance services for fire detection and clean agent fire suppression systems in a variety of commercial, institutional, and government facilities. For more information, please visit: www.sciensbuildingsolutions.com.
About Anchor Fire Protection
Anchor Fire Protection was founded in Perkiomenville, PA in 1978 as a family-owned company, and quickly became a leader in fire protection, life-safety solutions, and integrated security systems for commercial and industrial properties located throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Their services include an in-house engineering department, fabrication shop, and inspection department, as well as a 24-hour/7-day a week service department. For more information, please visit: https://www.anchorfireprotection.com/.
Contact: Jil Shingledecker
jshingledecker@sciensbuildingsolutions.com
407-221-6785
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Sciens Building Solutions | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/sciens-building-solutions-acquires-another-mid-atlantic-area-company/ | 2022-06-21T13:59:45Z |
NEW YORK, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Attention Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. ("Innovative Industrial Properties") (NYSE: IIPR) shareholders:
The Law Offices of Vincent Wong announce that a class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of investors who purchased between May 7, 2020 and April 13, 2022.
If you suffered a loss on your investment in Innovative Industrial Properties, contact us about potential recovery by using the link below. There is no cost or obligation to you.
ABOUT THE ACTION: The class action against Innovative Industrial Properties includes allegations that the Company made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Innovative Industrial Properties' focus is to be a cannabis company lender rather than a REIT; (2) that the true values of the Company's properties are significantly lower than Innovative Industrial Properties represents; (3) there are existential issues in its top customers; (4) as a result, its top customers may not be able to continue making payments to Innovative Industrial Properties and the Company would face significant issues replacing these customers; and (5) as a result, defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.
DEADLINE: June 24, 2022
Aggrieved Innovative Industrial Properties investors only have until June 24, 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/2022/06/20/class-action-alert-law-offices-vincent-wong-remind-innovative-industrial-properties-investors-lead-plaintiff-deadline-june-24-2022/ | 2022-06-20T11:10:25Z |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LabConnect, Inc. a leading, global provider of central laboratory and functional outsourcing services for biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, medical device, and contract research organizations, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Dawn Sherman to serve as its Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors.
Dawn will focus on expanding the Company's global footprint and capabilities, identifying new growth opportunities that enhance the breadth and depth of the company's service offerings, and continuing to build upon the excellent brand and reputation of the Company in support of complex clinical trials.
"The Board is excited to have someone with Dawn's talent, experience, and proven track record to build on LabConnect's 20 years of success and lead the company's rapid growth and international expansion," said Tim Johnson, LabConnect's Chairman and Partner at BroadOak Capital. "Dawn brings with her over 25 years of diverse experience within the Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutical industries." Prior to LabConnect Dawn served as the Chief Executive Officer for ProPharma Group and continues to serve as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board. Before this, Dawn was President of EnvisionRxOptions and also worked for Teva Pharmaceuticals as the Chief Operating Officer, Europe. Dawn has held other senior executive and leadership roles for Medco Health Solutions as well as Hay Group. In addition to ProPharma Group, Dawn currently serves as a Board Member for Medical Knowledge Group and Clinical ink.
"I am very excited to be joining LabConnect and the great team of individuals that have built the Company to be the leading provider of central laboratory services for complex clinical trials," said Dawn Sherman. "There is so much opportunity ahead for LabConnect and I am happy to have the chance to be a part of the future growth story."
For more information, visit labconnect.com.
About LabConnect, Inc.
LabConnect is recognized as the leading provider of central laboratory support services for analytically and logistically complex studies such as immuno-oncology, cell and gene therapies, and rare and orphan diseases. LabConnect offers unique and innovative services that have been specifically designed to meet the exacting demands of today's clinical trials. LabConnect's worldwide scope of services includes routine and specialized testing, real-time sample tracking, data integration, biorepository, sample processing, and specialized functional outsourcing. Leading the evolution in central laboratory services since 2002, our services are customized to fit the unique needs of your trial.
For more information, visit www.labconnect.com or contact via email at info@labconnect.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE LabConnect | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/labconnect-appoints-dawn-sherman-chief-executive-officer/ | 2022-05-17T13:44:37Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has gathered intelligence that shows some Russian officials have become concerned that Russian forces in the ravaged port city of Mariupol are carrying out grievous abuses, a U.S official familiar with the findings said Wednesday.
The Russian officials are concerned that the abuses will backfire and further inspire Mariupol residents to resist the Russian occupation. The U.S. official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that the Russians, who were not identified, also feared that the abuses will undercut Russia’s claim that they’ve liberated the Russian-speaking city.
The abuses include beating and electrocuting city officials and robbing homes, according to the intelligence finding.
The new intelligence has been declassified and was shared by a U.S. official as some of the last Ukrainian fighters in the devastated city emerged from the ruined Azovstal steelworks. The fighters were ordered by their military to abandon the last stronghold of resistance in the now-flattened port city and face an uncertain fate.
Hundreds of the fighters had held out for months under relentless bombardment in the last bastion of resistance in the devastated city.
The city has been reduced to rubble and has seen some of the most intense fighting of the war.
The seaside city captured worldwide attention after a March 9 Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital, and then after another airstrike a week later on a theater that was serving as the city’s largest bomb shelter. At the theater, the word “CHILDREN” was written in Russian on the pavement outside to deter an attack. Nearly 600 people were killed, inside and outside the theater, by some estimates.
It was unclear the extent of the suspected abuse gleaned in the U.S. intelligence finding, but it comes on the heels of widespread human rights abuses in and around Bucha and the suburbs of Kyiv.
Evidence of the massacre in Bucha emerged early last month after Russian forces withdrew from the city.( Photographs and video from Bucha showed body bags piled in trenches, lifeless limbs protruding from hastily dug graves, and corpses scattered in streets where they fell.
Meanwhile, the first captured Russian soldier to be put on trial by Ukraine on war-crimes charges pleaded guilty on Wednesday to killing a civilian and could face life in prison.
Russian Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-year-old member of a tank unit, pleaded guilty to shooting an unarmed 62-year-old Ukrainian man in the head through a car window in the opening days of the war. Ukraine’s top prosecutor has said some 40 more war-crimes cases are being readied. | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/us-intel-shows-russians-fear-mariupol-abuse-will-backfire/ | 2022-05-19T08:49:10Z |
GREENSBORO, N.C., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT), a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers, announced today that its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 will be released on Monday, August 8, 2022, after the market close. The Company will host its conference call for analysts, investors and other interested parties on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
To access the conference call, listeners should dial 1-877-605-1702.
A live audio webcast of this call will be available to the public on Tanger's Investor Relations website, investors.tangeroutlets.com.
A telephone replay of the call will be available from August 9, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time through 11:59 p.m. on August 23, 2022, by dialing 1-877-660-6853, replay access code #13730784. An online archive of the webcast will also be available through August 23, 2022.
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) is a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers that owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 36 centers with one additional center currently under development. Tanger's operating properties are located in 20 states and in Canada, totaling approximately 13.6 million square feet, leased to over 2,600 stores operated by more than 600 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 41 years of experience in the outlet industry and is a publicly-traded REIT. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com.
Investor Contact Information
Doug McDonald
SVP, Finance and Capital Markets
T: (336) 856-6066
TangerIR@tangeroutlets.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/tanger-outlet-centers-schedules-second-quarter-2022-earnings-release-conference-call/ | 2022-06-16T13:36:26Z |
(iSeeCars) – Electric cars have soared in popularity in the wake of high gasoline prices. While improvements in vehicle battery technology have led to increased battery range, consumers are still left wondering how long they can expect their vehicle battery to last. After all, the battery pack is the most expensive part of an electric car, with a new battery costing upwards of $20,000.
So what can you expect for an electric vehicle’s battery lifespan? We have the important answers.
What are EV Batteries?
Internal combustion engined cars are powered by gasoline, while EVs are powered by a battery pack driving one or more electric motors. The batteries that power electric cars are rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which is the same type of battery found in cell phones and other consumer electronics. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density than lead-acid or nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries, which means they don’t take up as much space while providing an equivalent level of power. A vehicle’s battery capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), so a vehicle with a higher kWh rating means it has more range.
How Long Does an Electric Car Battery Last?
The lifespan of an EV battery depends on a number of factors. While battery life can vary, EV manufacturers are required to issue a warranty for at least 8 years or 10,000 miles. However, some manufacturers offer longer warranties. Kia offers a battery pack warranty for 10 years or 100,000 miles, and Hyundai provides warranty coverage on EV batteries for the vehicle’s entire lifetime. Battery warranties vary not only by time but also the nature of the coverage. Some automakers will only replace the battery if it completely dies, while other brands like BMW, Tesla, and Volkswagen will cover a battery if battery capacity falls below a certain percentage.
As battery technology continues to evolve, companies are creating larger batteries with increased range. For example, the first generation Nissan LEAF had a maximum range of 84 miles, while the newest LEAF has a maximum range of 212 miles. The advanced technology of these larger batteries also reduces their degradation. Even as they degrade, they will still maintain a long battery range. Moreover, a Tesla Model S only loses an estimated five percent of battery capacity over its first 50,000 miles.
This means that while every electric car battery pack will degrade over time, modern electric car batteries likely won’t require a battery replacement. And as engineering continues to evolve, batteries are designed to last the entire life of the vehicle.
An EV battery is expected to last 10-20 years depending on maintenance and care.
How to Prolong the Life of Your Electric Vehicle Battery
Just like there are preventative maintenance measures to extend the life of your gasoline vehicle, there are EV charging measures you can take to prolong your EV’s battery life.
1. Avoid parking in extreme temperatures
Lithium batteries have thermal management systems that will heat or cool themselves, which in turn uses energy and drains EV battery packs. Try to park in the shade if possible on hot days and inside in extreme cold temperatures to assist battery longevity.
2. Don’t Charge Your Car Too Much or Too Little
Modern electric cars are equipped with management systems that avoid charging and discharging at the maximum and minimum charging levels. You should avoid charging your vehicle above 80 percent or below 20 percent to extend EV battery life.
3. Minimize Use of Fast Charging Stations
DC fast charging stations can bring your battery level up to 80 percent in as little as 30 minutes. With this convenience comes a strain on your EV battery. For optimal battery life, you should limit how often you plug in to these fast charging stations for occasional scenarios, like road trips.
4. Maintain Optimal State of Charge While Vehicle is Stored
If you are planning on storing your vehicle for a long time, make sure that your battery does not have an empty or full charge. With a timed charger, you can set it to maintain the charging level between 25 and 75 percent.
Second Life of EV Batteries
When an automotive EV battery’s performance dips below 70 percent, it can have a second life when it is no longer useful to power a vehicle. There are many applications to repurpose EV batteries for renewable energy sources including home battery storage systems and powering manufacturing plants. In Japan, Toyota has installed EV batteries to store power generated from solar panels.
More from iSeeCars:
- How Long Does it Take to Charge an Electric Car?
- Electric Cars with the Longest Range
- Best Electric Cars
Bottom Line
While an electric car’s battery life can vary, advancements in technology have helped ensure that it typically lasts for the lifespan of a vehicle. The main factor for prolonging a battery’s lifespan is to limit the number of charging cycles each battery cell goes through. Battery cells die when a battery reaches its empty or full state of charge for too long, so make sure you charge your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s instructions to minimize battery degradation.
If you’re in the market for a new or used electric vehicle you can search over 4 million used electric cars, SUVs, and trucks with iSeeCars’ award-winning car search engine that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, like the iSeeCars free VIN check report and Best Cars rankings. Filter by vehicle type, front or all-wheel drive, and other parameters in order to narrow down your car search.
This article, How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Last?, originally appeared on iSeeCars.com. | https://cw33.com/automotive/how-long-do-electric-car-batteries-last/ | 2022-09-04T16:56:45Z |
MEXICO CITY and CHICAGO, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Creation Investments, a global alternative asset manager and leading impact investor in emerging markets, has made a US$25 million equity investment in DD360, a financial and property technology platform that facilitates financing and management of residential real estate in Mexico. To date, DD360 has raised approximately US$91 million in equity and will use the additional funding to support loan growth acceleration and product roll-out through the expansion of its technology platform offerings and software development team.
"We are thrilled to invest in a business that aligns with our thesis of high growth and profitability, while addressing numerous impact themes such as access to housing and job creation," said Amadeo Ibarra, director and Mexico country head for Creation Investments. "We look forward to partnering with DD360's management team to support its next phase of growth."
Based in Chicago and with offices in Mexico City and Bangalore, India, Creation Investments manages more than US$1.8 billion on behalf of institutional investors, family offices and high net worth individuals. Creation and its portfolio companies seek to improve the lives of those at the bottom of the economic pyramid in emerging markets.
"We are pleased to add Creation Investments as a shareholder to support our growth and roll-out of business-to-consumer mortgage and other product offerings," said Jorge Combe, co-founder and CEO of Mexico City-based DD360. "With these resources, we will continue to expand our team and balance sheet while addressing the enormous deficit of housing in Mexico."
DD360 has been profitable since inception and manages a loan portfolio of more than US$230 million. The company has financed 120 real estate projects across Mexico and is growing rapidly in its business-to-consumer mortgage offering, supported by the launch of its digital mortgage origination platform Compa. DD360 has secured funding from leading commercial and development banks in Mexico and is in discussions with international banks to fund its business-to-business and business-to-consumer growth initiatives.
DD360 is an online financial and property technology platform that facilitates financing and management of residential real estate in Mexico. The company offers business-to-business mezzanine and construction loans for developers, as well as mortgage loans to consumers. It has financed over 120 real estate projects and built a loan portfolio of more than US$230 million. Headquartered in Mexico City, DD360 focuses on offering the best technology-based real estate experience in Mexico. Through its digital ecosystem, the company supports residential real estate developers from inception of new projects through sale of individual residential units, with technological solutions that disrupt the traditional financing process in the real estate sector. For more information, visit https://dd360.mx and https://compa.financial.
Creation Investments Capital Management, LLC is a global alternative asset manager and leading impact investor in emerging markets. Worldwide, Creation's investments directly help more than 28 million small businesses. The firm manages over US$1.8 billion on behalf of institutional investors, family offices and high net worth individuals. Leveraging its deep industry experience, Creation partners with management teams to inject growth equity and facilitate buyout transactions in firms specializing in microfinance, small- and medium-enterprise credit, leasing, factoring, insurance, savings, payments, and mobile money. Together with its portfolio companies, and in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Creation aims to improve the lives of those at the bottom of the economic pyramid in emerging markets. For more information, visit www.creationinvestments.com.
Media Contacts for Creation Investments:
View original content:
SOURCE Creation Investments | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/09/mexico-real-estate-tech-platform-dd360-receives-us25-million-equity-investment-creation-investments/ | 2022-08-09T19:03:03Z |
West denounces death sentences for 3 who fought for Ukraine
BAKHMUT, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine and the West denounced a pro-Moscow court that sentenced two British citizens and a Moroccan to death for fighting for Ukraine, calling the proceedings a sham and a violation of the rules of war.
Meanwhile, as the Kremlin’s forces continued a grinding war of attrition in the east, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday appeared to liken his actions to those of Peter the Great in the 18th century and said the country needs to “take back” historic Russian lands.
The court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic in Ukraine found the three fighters guilty of seeking the violent overthrow of power, an offense punishable by death in the unrecognized eastern republic. The men were also convicted of mercenary activities and terrorism.
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported that the defendants — identified as Aiden Aslin, Shaun Pinner and Brahim Saadoun — will face a firing squad. They have a month to appeal.
WARNING: Videos used may contain graphic content.
The separatist side argued that the three were “mercenaries” not entitled to the usual protections accorded prisoners of war. They are the first foreign fighters sentenced by Ukraine’s Russian-backed rebels.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko condemned the proceedings as legally invalid, saying, “Such show trials put the interests of propaganda above the law and morality.” He said that all foreign citizens fighting as part of Ukraine’s armed forces should be considered Ukrainian military personnel and protected as such.
British Foreign Secretary Luz Truss pronounced the sentencing a “sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman Jamie Davies said that under the Geneva Conventions, POWs are entitled to immunity as combatants.
Saadoun’s father, Taher Saadoun, told the Moroccan online Arab-language newspaper Madar 21 that his son is not a mercenary and that he holds Ukrainian citizenship.
Aslin’s and Pinner’s families have said that the two men were long-serving members of the Ukrainian military. Both are said to have lived in Ukraine since 2018.
The three men fought alongside Ukrainian troops before Pinner and Aslin surrendered to pro-Russian forces in the southern port of Mariupol in mid-April and Saadoun was captured in mid-March in the eastern city of Volnovakha.
Another British fighter taken prisoner by the pro-Russian forces, Andrew Hill, is awaiting trial.
The Russian military has argued that foreign mercenaries fighting on Ukraine’s side are not combatants and should expect long prison terms, at best, if captured.
Putin drew parallels between Peter the Great’s founding of St. Petersburg and modern-day Russia’s ambitions.
When the czar founded the new capital, “no European country recognized it as Russia. Everybody recognized it as Sweden,” Putin said. He added: “What was (Peter) doing? Taking back and reinforcing. That’s what he did. And it looks like it fell on us to take back and reinforce as well.”
Putin also appeared to leave the door open for further Russian territorial expansion.
“It’s impossible — Do you understand? — impossible to build a fence around a country like Russia. And we do not intend to build that fence,” the Russian leader said.
In other developments, French President Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that France was ready to send more “heavy weapons” to Ukraine, according to Macron’s office. French officials did not elaborate on the weaponry. The phone conversation came after Macron angered Ukrainian officials by saying world powers should not “humiliate” Putin.”
Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian army continued to push Russian forces back from Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, which lies to the north of the Donbas. The transmission of Ukrainian television was restored after a TV tower was shelled.
“Hitting television centers, destroying communication channels, leaving people isolated – this is the tactic of the occupiers that they cannot do without, for openness and honesty also are weapons against all that the Russian state does,” he said late Thursday in his evening address.
On the battlefield:
— Fierce fighting dragged on in the city of Sievierodonetsk in a battle that could help determine the fate of the Donbas, Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east. Moscow-backed separatists already held swaths of the Donbas before the invasion, and Russian troops have gained more.
— Residents of Kharkiv reported what appeared to be cruise missile strikes on the northeastern city. One hit a supermarket. Another hit a coke plant. No details were available.
— Russian troops are trying to resume their offensive to completely capture the Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine’s southeast, Ukrainian authorities said. Kyiv continues to hold the northern part of the region, including the city of Zaporizhzhia.
— Thirteen civilians were killed in Ukrainian shelling of the separatist-controlled city of Stakhanov in the Donbas, a pro-Russian separatist envoy said on social media. It was not immediately possible to verify the claim.
— Russia claimed it used missiles to strike a base west of the capital in the Zhytomyr region, where, it said, mercenaries were being trained. There was no response from Ukrainian authorities.
___
Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/06/10/west-denounces-death-sentences-3-who-fought-ukraine/ | 2022-06-10T04:57:14Z |
Leading mobile commerce platform powers $1 billion in consumer spend during first five months of 2022 on the heels of accelerated growth from new products
NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Button, the leading enterprise-grade mobile commerce platform trusted by the world's largest brands, today announced that it surpassed $1 billion in mobile commerce during the first half of 2022.
From January to May 2022 alone, the company's two core solutions, Tap and PostTap, generated over $1 billion in mobile commerce for its hundreds of partners represented across retail, travel/hospitality, food delivery, rideshare, grocery, and entertainment verticals.
Purpose-built with marketers in mind, Button's proprietary mobile conversion, identity, and decisioning technology enables brands to seize untapped growth opportunities by fixing broken mobile links and consumer experiences. Utilizing Button, these partners were able to drive hundreds of millions of dollars in incremental revenue, tens of millions of new app users, and new first-party relationships with their shoppers.
"It's been an inspiring year for Button," said Michael Jaconi, CEO and Co-Founder of Button. "From day one, our primary directive has been to build a better internet and to provide solutions that drive outcomes that matter. In 2022, we've expanded our product offering to successfully deliver outcomes for CRM, Mobile App, and Growth Marketers — while deepening our core value proposition for Affiliate Marketers, globally. Given the current economic environment, it's incredibly rewarding to help marketers spend smarter to achieve profitable growth while enabling their users to have personalized and seamless buying experiences across channels. With Button's largest customers representing the most sophisticated marketers in the world, I'm confident Button is going to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mobile as budgets continue their march from brand spending to performance."
Button's trajectory has also driven its internal team to scale rapidly to meet market demand. The company plans to continue bolstering its team, particularly technical and engineering roles, to further innovation. Most notably, the company recently welcomed new department leads to accelerate the global adoption of Button's best-in-class solutions, including: Teresa Hill as Vice President of Marketing and Jonathan Kraft as Head of People Operations & Legal.
These strategic hires continue a year of milestone momentum for Button. Over the last year, Button announced the launch of PostTap SMS, Tap Card Linked Offers, and the formation of a strategic advisory board dedicated to supporting the explosive growth of Button's new PostTap product suite, which has seen 300% growth year-over-year. Additionally, the company earned the top spot on Built In NYC's "100 Best Places to work in NYC 2022" and was named one of the "Best Startups to Work For in 2022" by The Org.
Looking ahead, Button plans to build on this velocity by continuing to enhance its platform with new solutions and features that make it even easier for partners to generate incremental revenue, maximize ROI, and provide their shoppers the best mobile commerce experiences.
About Button
Button is the leading mobile commerce technology company trusted by the world's largest brands. Button's proprietary mobile conversion, identity, and decisioning technology supercharges mobile commerce and ad performance — underpinning the company's two core solutions: Tap and PostTap.
Tap provides card linking and online offers for fintechs seeking to build a rewards and engagement strategy. PostTap optimizes mobile traffic for the world's largest marketers through customized landing pages, deep linking, SMS marketing, and on-site optimization solutions that power hundreds of millions in incremental revenue each year.
Button has driven over $5 billion in mobile commerce to date, has been named a best place to work each year since the company's founding in 2014, and is backed by Greycroft, Redpoint, Norwest, Icon Ventures, and Capital One. To learn more about the company, visit: www.usebutton.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Button | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/button-surpasses-1-billion-mobile-commerce-momentum-builds-2022/ | 2022-08-18T13:20:17Z |
- Organic Maple Kush now available in ON, AB, SK, MB, QC, NS, and NL.
- Expanding Organic Maple Kush product line with launch of Pre-Roll SKU August 2022
TORONTO, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (the "Company" or "TGOD") (CSE: TGOD) (OTC: TGODF), a sustainable global cannabis company, celebrates entry into the 2nd half of the year with rapid distribution growth of dried flower SKU, Organic Maple Kush.
Organic Maple Kush© is a 3.5g dried flower SKU from The Green Organic Dutchman, and after initial release earlier this year, sales of the SKU have expanded into many provinces. Organic Maple Kush flower is grown under a certified organic process, in living soil, and gets its name from the organic maple syrup used to feed the soil it grows in. It's known for having dense buds with dark purple leaves that bring with it a tropical, fruity, kush-like finish, a result of Myrcene and Farnesene terpenes that dominate this strains aroma and flavour.
Since launch, Maple Kush has been a popular Indica for both retail stores and consumers with many retail customers asking for it by name. As a strain, Organic Maple Kush boasts consistent THC of 25%-29% and very high Terpene levels between 3.5%-4.5%. Due to popular demand and strong retail feedback, TGOD will now offer Organic Maple Kush in the pre-roll category as a 3 X 0.5g SKU starting this Summer.
To celebrate the growth of Organic Maple Kush as a top dried flower strain, many retailers will be featuring the SKU as "The Quintessential Canadian Dried Flower Product" as part of Canada Day celebrations with various promotions and activations. Participating retail chains include True North Cannabis, The Cannabist Shop, Cannabis Xpress, Bud Bar, 420Premium, and One Plant locations.
"There are few things as Canadian as maple syrup, and enjoying this unique product is a great way to celebrate Canada Day. Our proprietary living soil contains natural ingredients sourced from different regions across Canada, including organic maple syrup from the maple forests of Quebec" said Sean Bovingdon, CEO of TGOD. "Organic maple syrup is food for the beneficial micro-organisms that thrive in our living soil. Rather than synthetic alternatives, a natural approach helps make a stronger, better plant for our customers." Bovingdon added.
About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd.
The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (CSE: TGOD) (US–OTC: TGODF) is a sustainable, global cannabis company with a focus on innovation, quality, consistency, integrity and transparency. By leveraging science and technology, TGOD harnesses the power of nature from seed to sale. The Company is committed to cultivating a better tomorrow by producing its products responsibly, with less waste and impact on the environment. In Canada, TGOD serves the recreational market with a brand portfolio including The Green Organic Dutchman, Highly Dutch Organics, Ripple by TGOD and Cruuzy brands, and the medical markets in Canada, South Africa, Australia, and Germany. All cannabis utilized in products for The Green Organic Dutchman and Highly Dutch Organics brands is grown through a certified organic process, which includes living soil, filtered rainwater, sunlight, and natural inputs.
TGOD's Common Shares and certain warrants issued under the indentures dated December 19, 2019, June 12, 2020, October 23, 2020 and December 10, 2020 trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "TGOD", "TGOD.WS", "TGOD.WR", "TGOD.WA", and "TGOD.WB" respectively. TGOD's Common Shares trade in the U.S. on the OTCQX under the symbol "TGODF". For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca.
Cautionary Statements
This news release includes statements containing certain "forward–looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward–looking statements"). Forward looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about future net revenue and gross margin, statements about future Adjusted EBITDA, statements about future production quantity and timing, statements about the offering of any particular products by the Company and statements regarding the future performance of the Company, statements about future development, growth and delivery of products, and statements about the level of demand for TGOD's products. Forward–looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "should", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward–looking statements throughout this news release. Forward–looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties (including market conditions) and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward–looking statements, including those risk factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward–looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
Neither the CSE nor the CSE's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of CSE) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/tgod-celebrates-strong-performance-organic-maple-kush-with-canada-day-celebration/ | 2022-06-28T22:41:12Z |
DETROIT, July 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share of the company's common stock, payable on August 15, 2022 to stockholders of record on August 1, 2022, as well as quarterly dividend payments for the company's Series B and Series C preferred stock securities, payable on August 15, 2022.
A quarterly dividend payment was declared on Ally's 4.700% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, of approximately $15.9 million, or $11.75 per share, and is payable to shareholders of record as of July 31, 2022. Additionally, a dividend payment was declared on Ally's 4.700% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, of approximately $11.8 million, or $11.75 per share, and is payable to shareholders of record as of July 31, 2022.
About Ally Financial
Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a digital financial services company committed to its promise to "Do It Right" for its consumer, commercial and corporate customers. Ally is composed of an industry-leading independent auto finance and insurance operation, an award-winning digital direct bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender, which offers mortgage lending, point-of-sale personal lending, and a variety of deposit and other banking products), a consumer credit card business, a corporate finance business for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. Our brand conviction is that we are all better off with an ally, and our focus is on helping our customers achieve their strongest financial well-being, a notion personalized to what is important to them. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.
For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.
Contacts:
Sean Leary
Ally Investor Relations
704-444-4830
sean.leary@ally.com
Peter Gilchrist
Ally Communications (Media)
704-644-6299
peter.gilchrist@ally.com
View original content:
SOURCE Ally Financial | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/15/ally-financial-declares-dividend-common-stock-series-b-series-c-preferred-stock/ | 2022-07-15T13:43:23Z |
WASHINGTON (NewsNation) — “I don’t want it to happen again,” said Miah Cerrillo, an 11-year-old fourth-grader, recounting the Uvalde school massacre in pre-recorded video testimony before a House committee Wednesday.
“I took my friend’s blood and put it all over me,” she said in the video, describing how her teacher and her friend were shot and killed in front of her. “And I thought he would come back to the room.”
Miah is dealing with the trauma she suffered during the shooting and healing from physical injuries that include bullet fragments in her back.
Miah said she is afraid to go back to school, for fear of another shooting. She said students must “have security,” shaking her head “no,” when asked if she feels safe.
“She’s not the same little girl that I used to play with,” Miah’s father Miguel Cerrillo told the committee. “I came because I could’ve lost my baby girl.”
He described Miah, his middle child, as “everything, not only for me but her siblings and her mother.”
Cerrillo pleaded for some kind of change to protect children in school.
“I wish something would change, not only for our kids, but every single kid in the world, because schools are not safe anymore,” he said.
Cerrillo said his daughter wanted to appear in person and explain what she experienced because “she wants to make safer schools.”
The parents of Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio, a fourth-grader killed in the Robb Elementary School shooting, made an emotional plea in their testimony, asking the committee to remember her as more than “just a number.”
Felix and Kimberly Rubio recounted finding out about their daughter’s death.
“We told her we loved her and we would pick her up after school,” Kimberly Rubio said recounting the last time she spent with her daughter. “I left my daughter at that school, and that decision will haunt me for the rest of my life.”
Family members of victims and survivors of the mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas appeared before members of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform as lawmakers weigh new measures to curb rampant gun violence.
“What in the world is wrong with this country? Children should not be armed with weapons,” Zeneta Everhart, the mother of Zaire Goodman, said during her testimony.
Zaire, 20, worked at Tops grocery store in Buffalo when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a racist attack. He was shot in the neck and the back, injuries that he is still recovering from.
“Parents who provide their children with guns should be held accountable,” Goodman said.
“To the lawmakers who feel that we do not need stricter gun laws. Let me paint a picture for you,” she continued. “My son, Zaire, has a hole in the right side of his neck. Two on his back and another on his left leg — caused by an exploding bullet from an AR-15. As I clean his wounds, I can feel pieces of that bullet in his back. Shrapnel will be left inside of his body for the rest of his life. Now, I want you to picture that exact scenario for one of your children.“
Ten people were killed when an 18-year-old gunman opened fire in a racist attack on Black shoppers in a Buffalo grocery store. Less than two weeks later, another teenage gunman with a semi-automatic rifle opened fire in Uvalde, killing 19 school children and two teachers.
Dr. Roy Guerrero, a pediatrician in Uvalde, Texas, described to the House panel the horrors he witnessed in the city’s emergency room as he treated wounded and dying students.
“Those mothers’ cries, I will never get out of my head,” he said. “I know I’ll never forget what I saw that day.”
Guerrero said the first wounded student he saw was Miah Cerrillo.
“Innocent children all over the country today are dead because laws and policy allows people to buy weapons before they’re legally old enough to even buy a pack of beer,” Guerrero said. “They’re dead because restrictions have been allowed to lapse.”
The son of Ruth Whitfield, an 86-year-old woman killed in the Buffalo supermarket, challenged Congress Tuesday to act against the “cancer of white supremacy” and the nation’s epidemic of gun violence.
“What are you doing? You were elected to protect us,” Garnell Whitfield Jr. told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“Is there nothing that you personally are willing to do to stop the cancer of white supremacy and the domestic terrorism it inspires?” he asked. “If there is nothing then, respectfully, senators … you should yield your positions of authority and influence to others that are willing to lead on this issue.”
Senators have been meeting privately in a small bipartisan group headed by Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy and Republican Sen. John Cornyn, trying to hash out a compromise that could actually become law. President Joe Biden has been meeting with the group in an attempt to hash out a deal.
“As a nation, we have to ask when in God’s name are we going to stand up to the gun lobby?” Biden said last month in the days after the Uvalde shooting. “I am sick and tired of it. We have to act. Don’t tell me we can’t have an impact on this carnage.”
Lawmakers have been here before — unable to pass any substantial gun safety laws in decades in the face of steep objections from Republicans in Congress, some conservative Democrats and the fierce lobby of gun owners and the National Rifle Association. No major legislation has made it into law since the 1994 assault weapons ban, which has since expired.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/texas/uvalde-buffalo-mass-shooting-victims-families-to-testify-before-congress/ | 2022-06-08T17:10:41Z |
Did you lose money on investments in IonQ? If so, please visit IonQ, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.
NEW YORK, June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of IonQ, Inc. ("IonQ" or the "Company") (NYSE: IONQ) between March 30, 2021 and May 2, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland and alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
IonQ claims to "develop quantum computers designed to solve the world's most complex problems." On or about September 30, 2021, IonQ became a public entity via a business combination with dMY Technology Group, Inc. III ("DTG"), a special purpose acquisition company.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (1) that IonQ had not yet developed a 32-qubit quantum computer; (2) that the Company's 11-qubit quantum computer suffered from significant error rates, rendering it useless; (3) that IonQ's quantum computer is not sufficiently reliable, so it is not accessible despite being available through major cloud providers; and (4) that a significant portion of IonQ's revenue was derived from improper roundtripping transactions with related parties.
On May 3, 2022, Scorpion Capital released a research report alleging, among other things, that IonQ is a "scam built on phony statements about nearly all key aspects of the technology and business." It further claimed that the Company' reported "[f]ictitious 'revenue' via sham transactions and related-party round-tripping."
On this news, the Company's stock fell 9% to close at $7.15 per share on May 3, 2022.
If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 1, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.
If you purchased or acquired IONQ securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit IonQ, Inc. Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@bernlieb.com.
Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. © 2022 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.
Contact Information:
Peter Allocco
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
https://www.bernlieb.com
(212) 951-2030
pallocco@bernlieb.com
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Bernstein Liebhard LLP | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/24/ionq-inc-nyse-ionq-shareholder-class-action-alert-bernstein-liebhard-llp-reminds-investors-deadline-file-lead-plaintiff-motion-securities-class-action-lawsuit-against-ionq-inc-nyse-ionq/ | 2022-06-25T00:33:36Z |
Tanya Chua Wins Best Female Singer Award
Hakka Singer Ayugo Huang Receives 4 Awards
TAIPEI, July 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 33rd Golden Melody Awards Ceremony executed by Taiwan Television Enterprise successfully concluded in Kaohsiung. Livestreams of the ceremony reached 3.164 million viewers on TV and nearly 7.5 million viewers on new media platforms, both setting new record highs! This year, Cui Jian and Tanya Chua won the Best Male Singer (Mandarin) and Best Female Singer (Mandarin), respectively. Tanya Chua, with her album DEPART, set a new personal record by winning the Best Vocal Album Recording, Best Mandarin Album, and Album of the Year. Ayugo Huang, with his album Mountain Of Doom, received the Best Singer (Hakka), Jury Award, and Best Hakka Album. In addition, his "New Formosa Band" won the Best Vocal Group award for their album Jian Jian Hua. The 33rd GMA, once again, successfully highlighted the best of Mandarin music, and the head juror summed up the significance of this year's GMA as diversity and inclusion.
Tanya Chua, a four-time Best Female Singer (Mandarin) recipient, has set a new record at GMA. This year, her album DEPART won four different awards at the GMA. The jury praised DEPART for "conveying a warm, therapeutic message and exhibiting high-quality music production." With 25 years of experience, Tanya said in her acceptance speech, "I've been doing this for so long that I was beginning to fear that my voice would be forgotten or regarded as irrelevant. I hope I continue to hold the same passion for music and curiosity about the world. I hope that my music will always be your friend and your mirror."
Ayugo Huang, a Hakka singer, who received four awards for Mountain Of Doom this year, is definitely one of the biggest winners of the night. The head juror shared that "Mountain Of Doom is immensely profound as it looks to the past and into the future, transcending the boundaries of language and ethnicity." When asked about the awards, Ayugo Huang expressed that "I think it means I've been doing okay up till now. I'm proud to have secured the awards for myself and for my fellow Hakkas. The album may seem a bit heavy, but my message was one of gratitude."
The 33rd Golden Melody Awards Ceremony ended with applause and a total audience of 3,164,000. Also, as of July 4, the 33rd GMA Ceremony had a total of 4,417,879 views on YouTube and was broadcast live on three platforms, including LINE TODAY, LINE MUSIC, and LINE TV to more than 3 million viewers. The total number of hits on new media platforms reached nearly 7.5 million, setting an all-time high! In 2022, 173 works competed for 27 awards. The head juror emphasized "diversity and inclusion" as the core value of the 33rd GMA, and GMA will continue to encourage all Mandarin musicians with an open-minded attitude.
GMA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GMAGMF
GMA Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/gmamusic.official/
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Taiwan Television Enterprise | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/08/33rd-golden-melody-awards-draws-close/ | 2022-07-08T12:41:25Z |
HOUSTON, May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) (the "Company"), which is liquidating and winding down pursuant to a plan of liquidation and dissolution (the "Plan"), is reminding holders of the Company's common stock that, in connection with the transfer of the Company's remaining assets and liabilities to a liquidating trust to be known as LUB Liquidating Trust (the "Trust"), the last day of trading of the Company's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") will be Friday, May 27, 2022. The transfer of the Company's remaining assets and liabilities to the Trust is expected to occur at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight time on May 31, 2022. At such time, holders of the Company's common stock will automatically receive one unit in the Trust ("Unit") for each share of the Company's common stock held by such holder. As previously disclosed, Units will generally not be transferable except by will, intestate succession or operation of law. For tax purposes, the fair value of each Unit in the Trust received by Company stockholders at such time, which reflects the value of the remaining assets of the Company (net of liabilities), will equal the average of the high and low trading prices for shares of the Company's common stock on the last three days on which the shares are traded on the NYSE.
For a discussion of the tax consequences of the transfer of the Company's assets to the Trust and the distribution of the Trust Units to the stockholders, please see "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Proposed Dissolution - U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of a Liquidating Trust" beginning on page 48 of the definitive proxy statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2020, in connection with the Plan. Stockholders are strongly advised to contact their investment and tax advisors.
The Company has sold all of its operating divisions, and sold the majority of its real estate, except for 17 properties, all of which it continues to market for sale. The Company also has certain financial instruments it has received as the result of its liquidation process. The Company has no debt outstanding other than certain payables and various non-funded debt liabilities. Inclusive of the distribution being paid on May 24, 2022, the Company has paid aggregate cash liquidating distributions of $2.70 per share.
Luby's, Inc. (NYSE: LUB) previously announced its plan of liquidation and dissolution, which was approved by its stockholders on November 17, 2020. Luby's has sold both its restaurant brands, Luby's Cafeterias and Fuddruckers, as well as its Culinary Contract Services business segment. Luby's is actively seeking buyers for its remaining real estate assets.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that 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. All statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions, including the statements regarding sales of assets, effects of the Plan, expected value or proceeds attributable to the sale of assets, and expected proceeds to be distributed to stockholders or the timing thereof. Luby's cautions readers that various factors could cause its actual financial results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made from time-to-time in news releases, reports, proxy statements, registration statements, and other written communications, as well as oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Luby's. The following factors, as well as any other cautionary language included in this press release, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events that may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations Luby's describes in such forward-looking statements: general business and economic conditions; the effects of inflation; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Luby's annual reports on Form 10- K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, including information regarding the risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the Plan, the expected net proceeds from the sale of assets, and expected proceeds to be distributed to stockholders.
For additional information contact:
John Garilli, Interim CEO
LInvestors@lubys.com
View original content:
SOURCE Luby's, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/20/lubys-inc-reminds-stockholders-that-last-day-trading-ends-friday-may-27-2022-300-pm-central-daylight-time/ | 2022-05-20T21:53:21Z |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.