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The GetCTC portal, available in Spanish and English, simplifies how Puerto Rico residents can sign up for the Child Tax Credit
SAN FRANCISCO, July 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Code for America—the leading nonprofit tech organization that works with community leaders and governments to deliver equitable, accessible digital tools and services—today extended its free, mobile-friendly GetCTC sign-up portal to Puerto Rico residents, making it easier for families to access the Child Tax Credit.
The expanded portal, which is available in Spanish and English, was launched today in collaboration with the White House and the U.S. Department of Treasury. Trusted community partners, including the Hispanic Federation, UnidosUS, the Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud, and Espacios Abiertos are leading local outreach efforts in communities across Puerto Rico to help residents access the Child Tax Credit.
Since September 2021, Code for America's GetCTC portal has helped nearly 135,000 families access nearly $500 million in tax benefits for which they are eligible. This is the first year that Puerto Rico residents are eligible to receive the full tax benefit.
Puerto Rico residents, who were not eligible for advance monthly payments in 2021, will receive full payments in 2022: $3,600 for children ages 5 and younger at the end of 2021; and $3,000 for children ages 6 through 17 at the end of 2021.
"Today's GetCTC portal expansion removes enormous barriers that have blocked people in Puerto Rico from accessing the Child Tax Credit," said David Newville, Senior Program Director for Tax Benefits, Code for America. "Now, this will make it far easier for potentially hundreds of thousands of people living in Puerto Rico to sign up for the Child Tax Credit through an easy-to-use digital tool that ensures families are getting the flexible cash that they are due.
"With over 100,000 low-income families claiming nearly $440 million in benefits last year through GetCTC, we know that simplified filing works. We are proud to have worked on this expansion with the White House, Treasury, and our community partners who have been tirelessly working to ensure that Puerto Rico residents have easy access to the Child Tax Credit."
"Tax-filing can be an intimidating and expensive process for many people. This type of tool allows families to apply for this benefit on their own so they don't miss out," said Carmen I. Rodríguez, Advocacy Director, Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud. "The goal is that all eligible families receive this money to alleviate the ever-increasing costs associated with raising a child."
"Opening access to the GetCTC portal for Puerto Rico residents brings us one step closer to equity in the Child Tax Credit," stated Charlotte Gossett Navarro, Chief Director, Hispanic Federation Puerto Rico. "We have been working closely with local nonprofit organizations throughout this tax season to help ensure no family is left out of the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion, but there are barriers that make it difficult to assist communities with the traditional federal tax filing process. This new tool will make it much simpler for eligible families who have not yet filed to do so for free and with the support of trusted community organizations. Thousands of families have already received their benefit, and I hope with GetCTC we can soon reach all families in Puerto Rico."
"At a time when the economic crisis is worsening as a result of inflation, it is imperative that families living in Puerto Rico be able to access all the benefits available to improve their economic security," said Cecille Blondet, Executive Director, Espacios Abiertos. "The access of the GetCTC portal to Puerto Rico will facilitate the use of technology at the service of the people in that direction."
The GetCTC portal is the first online application made available to Puerto Rico residents following a recent update to the filing process.
In May, the Internal Revenue Service issued guidance allowing most Puerto Rico residents with children to file a simplified tax return in order to claim the Child Tax Credit if they did not have a federal filing requirement in 2021.
Up to this point, eligible residents had to file using Form 1040-PR, a burdensome process that created a huge barrier to access. Many applicants had to visit the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) services or pay for tax preparation software that was poorly aligned to their needs.
By using the GetCTC portal, Puerto Rico residents will be able file a simplified tax return containing just the information needed to issue the Child Tax Credit with a user-friendly, interview-style format that prompts clients to answer one question at time and guides them through the criteria that apply. A demo of how to use the tool is available in Spanish and English.
In May, Code for America relaunched the GetCTC portal for the second year in a row to give more families in America access to the Child Tax Credit and other tax benefits. Last year, over 115,000 families used the tool to successfully claim tax benefits with the majority of clients typically finishing in 10-15 minutes. Code for America published lessons from last year's effort in this report.
Code for America, a nonprofit founded in 2009, believes that government can work for the people, and by the people, in the digital age. We work with government at all levels across the country to make the delivery of public services equitable with technology. Together with thousands of volunteers across over 80 Brigade chapters in the U.S., we work with community organizations and governments to build digital tools, change policies, and improve programs. Our goal: a resilient government that effectively and equitably serves everyone. Learn more at codeforamerica.org.
Press Contact
Kate Fogarty
kate@vrge.us
703-507-0286
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SOURCE Code for America | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/14/code-america-expands-free-mobile-friendly-getctc-portal-puerto-rico-residents/ | 2022-07-14T13:41:22Z |
Russia says strike on Ukrainian port hit military targets
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian defense ministry officials on Sunday insisted that an airstrike on the port of Odesa — less than a day after Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement on resuming grain shipments from there — had hit only military targets.
“In the seaport in the city of Odesa, on the territory of a shipyard, sea-based high-precision long-range missiles destroyed a docked Ukrainian warship and a warehouse with Harpoon anti-ship missiles supplied by the U.S. to the Kyiv regime,” ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a daily briefing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly televised address Saturday evening that the attack on Odesa “destroyed the very possibility” of dialogue with Russia.
The Ukrainian military said on Saturday that Moscow had attacked Odesa’s sea port with four cruise missiles, two of which had been shot down by Ukrainian air defense.
Command spokeswoman Nataliya Humenyuk said that no grain storage facilities were hit. Turkey’s defense minister, however, said he had had reports from Ukrainian authorities that one missile struck a grain silo while another landed nearby, although neither affected loading at Odesa’s docks.
It was not immediately clear how the airstrike would affect plans to resume shipping Ukrainian grain by sea in safe corridors out of three Ukrainian Black Sea ports: Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.
Russia and Ukraine on Friday signed identical agreements with the U.N. and Turkey in Istanbul aimed at clearing the way for the shipment of millions of tons of desperately needed Ukrainian grain, as well as the export of Russian grain and fertilizer. Senior U.N. officials voiced hopes that the deal would end a months-long standoff brought about by the war in Ukraine that threatened food security around the globe.
The agreement, obtained by The Associated Press, committed both Kyiv and Moscow to refraining from strikes on the three Black Sea ports.
WARNING: Some videos are graphic and may be disturbing to some viewers.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian shelling continued to kill and injure civilians in Ukraine’s south and east.
The governor of the eastern Donetsk region, one of two which make up Ukraine’s industrial heartland of the Donbas and a key focus of Russia’s offensive, said that two civilians had been killed and two more had been injured over the previous 24 hours.
The U.K. military on Sunday morning reported in its daily intelligence update that Russia was making “minimal progress” in its ongoing Donbas offensive, which it said remained small-scale and focused on the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed in its regular update that Russia was “conducting military operations to create conditions” for an assault on Bakhmut, while firing on surrounding settlements and battling Ukrainian defenders for control of a nearby thermal plant.
In Ukraine’s south, regional officials said that at least five civilians were wounded by Russian shells in the Black Sea port of Mykolaiv on Saturday night and Sunday morning.
“Also, as a result of the scattering of munitions and their fragments, fires occurred in open areas in the city,” said Vitaly Kim, governor of the Mykolaiv region.
In other developments:
— A Washington-based think tank says Ukrainian forces are likely preparing to launch or have launched a counteroffensive in the Kherson region.
The Institute for the Study of War quoted Kherson Oblast Administration Adviser Serhiy Khlan as saying Ukrainian forces have seized unspecified settlements in the region, but had called on Ukrainian civilians to remain silent on the progress of the counteroffensive until Ukrainian authorities release official statements.
The ISW notes that open-source information on any progress by Ukrainian troops “will likely be limited and lag behind events.”
— Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials as his country seeks to break diplomatic isolation and sanctions by the West over its invasion of Ukraine.
Lavrov landed in Cairo late Saturday, the first leg of his Africa trip that will also include stops in Ethiopia, Uganda and Congo, according to Russia’s state-run RT television network.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/24/russia-says-strike-ukrainian-port-hit-military-targets/ | 2022-07-24T12:27:42Z |
SÃO PAULO, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S.J. – Açúcar e Álcool S.A. (the "Company"), a leading sugar and ethanol producer in the Center-South region of Brazil, announced that, in connection with the Company's solicitation of recovery elections (the "Election Solicitation"), (i) the Exchange of the 9.875% senior notes due 2019 (the "2019 Notes"), 9.875%/12.00% senior secured PIK toggle notes due 2021 (the "2021 Notes") and 9.875%/10.500% senior secured PIK toggle notes due 2023 issued by the Company (the "2023 Notes" and, together with the 2019 Notes and the 2021 Notes, the "Notes") has been completed and Alternative Payment Noteholders have received Liquidating Trust Participation Notes; (ii) the Company has issued the Brazilian Notes which will be delivered to Default Recovery Noteholders; and (iii) the Notes have been cancelled.
In the context of the Company's restructuring process, the Election Solicitation aimed primarily to allow holders to decide whether to receive their claims through the Alternative Payment Option or Default Recovery, as defined in the Election Solicitation statement of the Company, dated December 28, 2021 (the "Election Solicitation Statement"). The Election Solicitation expired on April 2, 2022 (the "Election Deadline"). Holders who did not submit a valid Election Recovery by the Election Deadline will have their claims restructured and paid in accordance with the Default Recovery and were required to submit their Electronic Instructions and Default Recovery Submission Forms to the Solicitation Agent by April 27, 2022 (the "Expiry Date"). Holders who duly submitted their Electronic Instructions and Default Recovery Submission Form by the Expiry Date, and whose submissions are deemed to be valid by the Company in its reasonable discretion, need not take any further action to receive the Brazilian Notes. Holders who did not submit an effective Recovery Election by the Election Deadline or did not submit an Electronic Instruction prior to the Expiry Date must submit an instruction directly to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Election Solicitation Statement (a "Manual Instruction").
The Election Solicitation Statement contains important information that holders of Notes should carefully read before submitting a Manual Instruction. Terms not defined in this press release shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Election Solicitation Statement. The Election Solicitation was made solely by means of the Election Solicitation Statement.
Only holders of record of the Notes (or their duly designated proxies) will be entitled to submit a Manual Instruction. Any questions or requests for assistance or for copies of the Election Solicitation Statement or related documents may be directed to the Solicitation Agent at its telephone number set forth below.
The Solicitation Agent for the Election Solicitation is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
Toll Free: +1 (866) 797-6867
All Others Call: +1 (212) 269-5550
E-mail: usj@dfking.com
THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NEITHER AN OFFER TO SELL NOR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITY. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS ALSO NOT A SOLICITATION OF ELECTRONIC INSTRUCTIONS OR MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS. NO RECOMMENDATION IS MADE AS TO WHETHER HOLDERS OF THE NOTES SHOULD MAKE ANY INSTRUCTION.
Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our perspectives and expectations, are forward looking statements. The words "expect", "believe", "estimate", "intend", "plan" and similar expressions, when related to the Company and its subsidiaries, indicate forward-looking statements. These statements reflect the current view of management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on various assumptions and factors, including general economic, market, industry, and operational factors. Any changes to these assumptions or factors may lead to practical results different from current expectations. Excessive reliance should not be placed on those statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made.
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SOURCE U.S.J. - Açúcar e Álcool S.A. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/usj-acar-e-lcool-sa-announces-completion-exchange-connection-with-its-election-solicitation-issuance-brazilian-notes-cancellation-its-9875-senior-notes-due-2019-98751200-senior-secured-pik-toggle-notes-due-2021-987510500-senior-secured-pik-toggle-notes-due-2023/ | 2022-06-29T21:18:38Z |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. and DUBLIN, Aug. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ABC Fitness Solutions (ABC), the leading technology and related services provider for the fitness industry, today announces that one of its affiliates has completed its acquisition of Glofox in accordance with the definitive agreement entered into by both parties on July 29, 2022. One of the fastest-growing fitness management platforms, Glofox has now become a dedicated business unit servicing the boutique gym and studio sector within ABC.
"Starting with my first meeting with the Glofox team, I was immediately impressed with their achievements and saw the natural synergies with ABC's growth strategy," said Bill Davis, CEO of ABC Fitness Solutions. "Glofox's innovation in the boutique and studio sector combined with ABC's 40-year proven track record, will allow us to build one of the largest and most tightly integrated fitness technology companies in the world empowering fitness providers of all sizes."
Co-founder and CEO of Glofox Conor O'Loughlin will continue to lead Glofox and will report to Bill Davis. Operating as a business unit within ABC, Glofox will retain its team, offices, and customers and will work together with ABC to realize identified synergies and joint innovations that will provide added value to customers.
"We are excited to join ABC, and I look forward to working with Bill Davis and our combined team to continue to help our customers manage every aspect of their fitness business," said Conor O'Loughlin, CEO & Co-Founder of Glofox. "With the additional resources and expertise gained by being a part of ABC, we look forward to bringing even more innovations to market, faster, more cost-effectively, and to the benefit of even more Glofox customers worldwide."
The strategic addition of Glofox to ABC significantly expands ABC's global reach and amplifies its ability to serve fitness organizations of all sizes. Collectively they will support over 31 million members across more than 24,000 fitness locations in 116 counties.
Over the past two years, ABC has made several strategic acquisitions, including, Trainerize, GymSales, and FitnessBI, which have allowed it to develop best in classes solutions for the fitness industry. From personal trainers to yoga studios, boutique gyms to commercial fitness clubs, the combination of Glofox and ABC can now serve any fitness provider of any size worldwide.
ABC Fitness Solutions (abcfitness.com) is the premier software and related services provider for the fitness industry. Building on a reputation for excellence in support for clubs and their members, ABC is the trusted provider to boost performance and create a Total Fitness Experience for members of clubs of all sizes, whether a national franchise, regional chain or a local gym. Founded in 1981, ABC helps over 20,000 clubs and facilities in 75 countries perform better and more profitably, offering a comprehensive SaaS (Software as a Service) club management solution that enables club operators to achieve optimal performance. ABC Fitness Solutions is a Thoma Bravo portfolio company; a private equity firm focused on investing in software and technology companies (thomabravo.com).
Glofox is an innovative management software solution helping visionary fitness brands build successful, growing businesses. The all-in-one platform replaces outdated and overcomplicated systems with a streamlined, easy-to-use experience for members and staff alike. Built to address the intricacies that come with managing both independent fitness businesses and large fitness franchises, the platform delivers a powerful suite of tools to drive success and empower operators globally. Founded in 2017, Glofox now serves over 80 countries and over 17 languages internationally and is continuously expanding its network to unlock opportunities for fitness businesses worldwide.
ABC Fitness Solutions Media Contact:
Ian Twinn | Tandem Marketing Communications
iantwinn@tandemcomms.com
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SOURCE ABC Fitness Solutions, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/26/abc-fitness-solutions-completes-its-acquisition-glofox-paving-way-create-one-largest-global-fitness-tech-companies/ | 2022-08-26T12:20:54Z |
Cyber Leader Fortifies its Ability to Help Organizations Prepare and Obtain CMMC Certification
WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Coalfire Federal today announced it has been authorized by the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Accreditation Body (The Cyber AB) as a CMMC Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO). Coalfire was one of the first to be named a C3PAO candidate and is now among the first authorized by The Cyber AB to conduct CMMC assessments. The authorization fortifies the company's comprehensive compliance capabilities that enable clients to prepare for and obtain CMMC certification.
"Foreign adversaries are escalating attacks on Defense Industrial Base (DIB) organizations, compromising sensitive information, and threatening the integrity of weapons systems, platforms, tools, and materiel," said Coalfire Federal President Bill Malone. "CMMC is consistent with our mission and extends our commitment to provide cybersecurity services that enable and protect the mission of the DoD and its supply chain."
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program was created by the DoD to ensure organizations across the DIB achieve and maintain a minimum threshold level of cybersecurity to protect controlled unclassified information (CUI) and federal contract information (FCI). CMMC requirements will apply to all DIB organizations across the DoD's multi-tier supply chain that handle, store, or transmit CUI.
As the largest pure-play cybersecurity firm, Coalfire conducts thousands of compliance assessments every year. In addition to its early involvement as a C3PAO and CMMC RPO (Registered Provider Organization), the company is the largest FedRAMP provider, supporting more than 70% of the entire assessment, advisory, and engineering marketplace.
"With CMMC, the Department of Defense is addressing a critical problem by enhancing the cyber posture and resilience of companies across the DIB," said Malone. "Coalfire Federal is proud to have been an early participant and contributor to the formation of the accreditation body and an active participant in industry working groups and educational programs. We remain committed to working with the DoD, The Cyber AB, and the DIB to protect sensitive information and strengthen national defense."
About Coalfire Federal
Coalfire Federal has 20 years' experience providing cybersecurity services to a wide range of government and commercial organizations, enabling and protecting their mission-specific cyber objectives. Coalfire Federal is the leading FedRAMP 3PAO and offers a full spectrum of cybersecurity risk management and compliance services.
For more information about Coalfire Federal and CMMC, contact us at cmmc@coalfirefederal.com or visit: www.coalfirefederal.com
For media inquiries:
Mike Gallo
(212) 239-8594
luminacoalfire@luminapr.com
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SOURCE Coalfire | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/23/coalfire-federal-among-first-authorized-conduct-cmmc-assessments/ | 2022-08-23T13:39:05Z |
SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese leading container manufacturer China International Marine Containers (Group) Ltd (CIMC) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with e-commerce giant JD in Beijing on August 8 to step up cooperation in various fields, including supplies purchasing, logistics technology and services, etc.
The two companies will leverage their respective strengths to promote cooperation in the purchasing of industrial products, office supplies, commercial vehicles, logistics vehicles, cold chain equipment and so forth.
With long-standing advantages in the manufacturing of logistics equipment, CIMC will provide strategic support for JD and its subsidiaries in terms of pricing, product customization and services.
JD, meanwhile, will take advantage of its edges in retail, logistics and digitalization to help CIMC and its subsidiaries reduce purchasing costs, enhance purchasing management efficiency and accelerate the process of going digital by offering customized and intelligent solutions.
The two companies also said there is large room for cooperation in the area of logistics technology and services, given that they have differentiated advantages.
While CIMC-TianDa is a leading industry player that excels in providing automated logistics solutions, CIMC Wetrans Logistics Technology(Group)Co.,Ltd can offer end-to-end logistics solutions to clients. JD Logistics, meanwhile, owns integrated supply chain capacity and can provide intelligent supply chain solutions.
Based on those complementary advantages, the two can work together to further enhance their logistics technology and services, they said.
In addition, CIMC and JD will also carry out cooperation in other fields, such as digitalization, enterprise operation services, application of clean energy equipment, cold chain industry solutions, etc.
CIMC said the cooperation in cold chain will also play a role in promoting the country's rural revitalization drive as an industrial cluster covering planting, processing, cold chain, logistics, e-commerce and marketing will be created with the help of the internet, which will benefit various parties.
It is not the first time that the two companies join hands. CIMC has been one of JD's core partners and suppliers of automated logistics equipment, small-size cold chain logistics equipment, vehicles and other products. The two have also made a lot of cooperation in international logistics services and industrial products purchasing.
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SOURCE CIMC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/11/cimc-teams-up-with-jd-enhance-supplies-purchasing-logistics-services/ | 2022-08-11T07:41:34Z |
The 30.18 carat 'Pride of India' will be on display at JCK Las Vegas
MUMBAI, India, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Gemological Institute- IGI, analyzed and graded the 'Pride of India,' a 30.18 carat, laboratory grown diamond, world's largest post- grown till date. The Emerald cut lab grown diamond from Ethereal Green Diamond LLP is all set to be exhibited at the Venetian JCK Las Vegas show, Nevada, from the 10th to 13th of June, 2022. Pioneer in the laboratory grown diamond certification arena, IGI has been at the forefront developing technology to grade the creation with precision and integrity.
Ethereal Green Diamond LLP has been creating pathways to become a leading global producer of large and high-quality lab grown diamonds and thereby creating opportunities in the laboratory grown diamond industry. "Choosing ethically-made, long-lasting items is one of the best actions you can take for our planet and its people," said Hirav Anil Virani, the Managing Director of Ethereal Green Diamond LLP.
Grown using the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process, the 'Pride of India' was graded to have H color, VS2 clarity. The type IIa rough crystal from which it was fashioned took approximately four weeks to grow. "IGI is the largest organization of its kind, having laboratories worldwide, with an impeccable customer driven team and ameliorating technologies & equipment. This gives us the trust and confidence to certify our diamonds at IGI," said Virani who plans on breaking records in creating more such exceptional diamonds.
Tehmasp Printer, Managing Director of IGI India, commented on the importance of analysis, transparency and disclosure in the diamond, gemstone, and jewelry industry: "Constant research in developing methods and technology to protect the interest of the end consumer has been the utmost priority at IGI. Our team is continually in search of methods to ensure such spectacular creations are graded with rectitude & precision."
IGI also certified a 14.6 carat 'Freedom of India' diamond in August, 2021 grown by Ethereal Green Diamond LLP which was the largest lab-grown diamond at the time.
The global lab grown diamonds market size was valued at $19.3 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $49.9 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 9.4% from 2021 to 2030. The CVD segment led in terms of lab grown diamonds market share in 2020 and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period.
The Pride of India will be exhibited at the JCK show at booth number 8135.
For more details about the diamond and IGI's grading services, call +91-02240352550
Media Contact:
Haaniyeh Namazi
haaniyeh.namazi@igi.org
Visit: https://www.igi.org/
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SOURCE IGI - International Gemological Institute India Pvt Ltd. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/09/igi-certifies-worlds-largest-lab-grown-diamond-30-carats/ | 2022-06-09T15:14:55Z |
Segment Revenue and Profit Grew Steadily
Gene and Cell Therapy CDMO Maintained High Growth Trend
- Revenue of the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was approximately US$304.7 million, representing an increase of 32.7% as compared with approximately US$229.6 million for the same period in 2021, among which, the external revenue of non-cell therapy business was approximately US$247.7 million, representing an increase of 26.6% as compared with approximately US$195.7 million for the same period in 2021, and the external revenue of cell therapy business was approximately US$57.0 million, representing an increase of 68.1% as compared with approximately US$33.9 million for the same period in 2021.
- Gross profit of the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was approximately US$175.5 million, representing an increase of 26.6% as compared with approximately US$138.6 million for the same period in 2021, among which, the gross profit of non-cell therapy business before eliminations was approximately US$126.2 million, representing an increase of 16.4% as compared with approximately US$108.4 million for the same period in 2021, and the gross profit of cell therapy business before eliminations was approximately US$52.1 million, representing an increase of 53.7% as compared with approximately US$33.9 million for the same period in 2021.
- Loss of the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was approximately US$225.9 million, whilst loss was approximately US$156.1 million for the same period in 2021.
The adjusted net loss of the Group was approximately US$130.1 million, whilst the adjusted net loss was approximately US$135.8 million for the same period in 2021, among which, the adjusted net profit of non-cell therapy business before eliminations was approximately US$30.2 million, representing an increase of 14.4% as compared with approximately US$26.4 million for the same period in 2021, and the adjusted net loss of cell therapy business before eliminations was approximately US$160.5 million, whilst the adjusted net loss of cell therapy business before eliminations was approximately US$162.2 million for the same period in 2021.
- During the Reporting Period, the Group invested significantly in research and development activities as well as talent recruitment, and both of which are key drivers for a sustainable business growth in the long run. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Group's research and development expenses was approximately US$177.4 million as compared with approximately US$175.1 million for the same period in 2021.
NANJING, China, Aug. 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GenScript Biotech, the world's leading biotech company, today announces its annual results as of June 30, 2022.
"In the first half of 2022, GenScript Group has delivered satisfactory results across all business segments," said Dr. Patrick Liu, Rotating CEO of GenScript. "Our life science business reported steady growth while focusing on R&D innovation and leveraging superior technology platforms to get into emerging fields. Thanks to excellent market capabilities and track record, ProBio's macromolecular CDMO and GCT CDMO business maintained strong momentum. In the future, ProBio will focus on medium-sized and large pharma and biotech customers and add value to our service projects. By improving product mix, Bestzyme improved its profitability. Bestzyme will optimize its enzyme product portfolio and industrial-grade manufacturing capability, and capture new opportunities in the synthetic biology field. Legend and its partner Janssen successfully commercialized Carvykti™. As Legend moves cilta-cel into earlier line clinical trials, Carvykti™ will benefit more patients worldwide. 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of GenScript. GenScript has developed a diversified business portfolio over years. GenScript will stay committed to the corporate culture and mission to "make people and nature healthier through biotechnology" and create value for our shareholders and investors."
Results Analysis of the Four Business Segments
As the Group has reallocated back office administrative expenses into each business segment following the establishment of Probio legal entities in the second half of 2021, segment operating profit is not directly comparable to the same period in 2021.
Life-science Services and Products
During the Reporting Period, revenue of life-science services and products amounted to approximately US$176.0 million, representing an increase of 15.8% over the same period in 2021. The gross profit was approximately US$99.8 million during the Reporting Period, representing an increase of 8.8% as compared with approximately US$91.7 million for the same period in 2021. The gross profit margin decreased from 60.3% for the same period in 2021 to 56.7% this Reporting Period. The operating profit of life-science services and products during the Reporting Period was approximately US$26.0 million.
The increase in revenue was mainly attributable to the (i) continued growth in molecular biology, protein and antibody business, (ii) successful commercialisation of innovative platforms such as sgRNA, and partially offset by (iii) the decrease in sales in COVID-19 related products and the negative impact on sales due to pandemics in Shanghai, China. Production efficiency gains contributed positively to gross profit margin while (i) loss from overseas production during the initial capacity ramp-up, (ii) increased freight and duty costs, and (iii) decreased price and volume of COVID-19 related products all had negative impacts on gross profit margin. The operating profit was positively impacted by growth in revenue and gross profit while negatively impacted by (i) increased expenses brought by operation and depreciation of overseas production capacity, and (ii) increment in labor costs brought by research and development.
Biologics Development Services
During the Reporting Period, revenue of biologics development services amounted to approximately US$62.7 million, representing an increase of 99.0% over the same period in 2021. Total backlog for biologics development services reached US$228.0 million as at June 30, 2022. The gross profit was approximately US$16.2 million during the Reporting Period, representing an increase of 62.0% as compared with approximately US$10.0 million for the same period in 2021. Adjusted gross profit was US$23.9 million during the Reporting Period, representing an increase of 125.5% over the same period in 2021. Adjusted gross profit margin expanded from 33.7% for the same period in 2021 to 38.1% this Reporting Period. Adjusted operating profit during the Reporting Period was approximately US$3.2 million.
The growth of revenue was mainly attributable to the (i) significant increase of customer projects from overseas business, (ii) expanded capacity and productivity of pre-clinical and clinical development, and(iii) shorter delivery time for antibody discovery and process development. The adjusted gross profit and adjusted operating profit were positively impacted by higher capacity utilization and production efficiency gains.
Industrial Synthetic Biology Products
During the Reporting Period, revenue of industrial synthetic biology products amounted to approximately US$16.8 million, representing a decrease of 6.7% over the same period in 2021. The gross profit was approximately US$7.2 million, representing an increase of 41.2% as compared with approximately US$5.1 million for the same period in 2021. The gross profit margin increased from 28.3% for the same period in 2021 to 42.9% this Reporting Period. The operating profit of industrial synthetic biology products was approximately US$0.4 million during the Reporting Period, whilst the operating loss was approximately US$0.7 million for the same period in 2021.
The decrease in revenue was mainly due to the (i) active pruning of low or negative profit products, (ii) the feed industry in China downturn which led to reduction of use of feed enzymes, and (iii) the situation in Ukraine and Russia which caused the decrease of orders in Eastern Europe. The increase in both gross profit and operating profit was primarily attribute to the (i) adjustment of product portfolio and enhancement of the promotion of high-margin products, (ii) improvement of production process and workflow, and (iii) profit from the license of patents.
Cell Therapy
During the Reporting Period, revenue of cell therapy amounted to approximately US$57.1 million, representing an increase of 68.4% over the same period in 2021. The gross profit was approximately US$52.1 million during the Reporting Period, representing an increase of 53.7% as compared with approximately US$33.9 million for the same period in 2021. The operating loss of cell therapy was approximately US$180.1 million during the Reporting Period, whilst the operating loss was US$168.9 million for the same period in 2021.
The increase in both revenue and gross profit was primarily attributable to the additional milestones achieved in 2021 and 2022, and thus the further recognition of contract revenue from collaboration with Janssen on developing cilta-cel. The operating loss was primarily attributable to the (i) investment in clinical trials resulting from higher patients enrollment and more pipelines, (ii) cost for commercial preparation activities for the launch of cilta-cel, and (iii) expansion of administrative functions.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Revenue
During the Reporting Period, the Group recorded revenue of approximately US$304.7 million, representing an increase of 32.7% from approximately US$229.6 million for the same period in 2021. This is mainly attributable to (i) the continued increase of non-cell therapy products and services from major strategic customers and new competitive services and products, especially in biologics development services, and (ii) the increase of contract revenue derived from Legend's collaboration with Janssen with new milestones achieved.
Gross profit
During the Reporting Period, the Group's gross profit increased by 26.6% to approximately US$175.5 million from approximately US$138.6 million for the same period in 2021. This is mainly attributable to the (i) rapid growth of revenue, and (ii) operational efficiency improvement.
The increase in gross profit was partially offset by (i) increased share-based compensation expenses to production teams, particularly in biologics development services, and (ii) increased shipping cost. Adjusted gross profit increased by 31.4% over the same period in 2021.
Selling and distribution expenses
During the Reporting Period, the Group's selling and distribution expenses increased by 49.1% to approximately US$86.9 million from approximately US$58.3 million for the same period in 2021. This increase is mainly driven by (i) more investment on talent with recruiting experienced personnel with competitive packages, (ii) increased expenses, primarily attributable to the global expansion of our business, and (iii) increased marketing expenses related to Legend's collaboration with Janssen. Adjusted selling and distribution expenses increased 45.3% over the same period in 2021.
Administrative expenses
During the Reporting Period, the Group's administrative expenses increased by 41.4% to approximately US$79.6 million from approximately US$56.3 million for the same period in 2021. This is mainly attributable to (i) more investment on talent with recruiting experienced personnel with competitive package and share-based compensation expenses for all business segments, and (ii) the reinforcement of some key administrative functions to support the Group's overall business expansion and compliance. Adjusted administrative expenses increased 31.0% over the same period in 2021.
Research and development expenses
During the Reporting Period, the research and development expenses kept stable and increased by 1.3% to approximately US$177.4 million from approximately US$175.1 million for the same period in 2021. This is mainly attributable to (i) the continuous investment in talents with competitive package and share-based compensation expenses, and (ii) continuous investment in new products and services, which will significantly strengthen our competitiveness. Adjusted research and development expenses decreased by 1.4% over the same period in 2021.
*For reference only. Please refer to Company's 2022 Interim Results Announcement dated August 31, 2022 for more details.
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SOURCE GenScript Biotech Corporation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/genscript-biotech-reports-2022-interim-results/ | 2022-09-01T01:52:50Z |
Redefining the future of rotator cuff repair by combining a biointegrative collagen implant with streamlined arthroscopic delivery and fully bioabsorbable fixation
NORFOLK, Va., May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Embody, Inc., a privately-held medical device company focused on soft tissue healing, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearances from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its TAPESTRY RC System for the treatment of rotator cuff disease. Uniquely designed for arthroscopic procedures, TAPESTRY RC System combines the healing benefits of the biointegrative collagen TAPESTRY implant with streamlined delivery and fully bioabsorbable anchor fixation.
In 2021, there were an estimated 670,000 rotator cuff repairs in the United States.1 The goal of rotator cuff surgery is to repair the damaged tendon and restore mobility for patients. However, failure can occur due to inadequate healing of the soft tissue, resulting in pain, loss of function and costly reoperations.
"We believe TAPESTRY RC sets a new standard in arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery," said Jeff Conroy, Chief Executive Officer of Embody. "Building on the clinical utility of TAPESTRY, now in a streamlined, all-in-one solution for arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery."
The novel design of the TAPESTRY RC System combines an arthroscopic introducer pre-loaded with the TAPESTRY biointegrative collagen implant and the first fully bioabsorbable fixation anchors FDA cleared for use for fixation in both tendon and bone in an easy-to-use, pre-loaded anchor inserter.
"There remains an important clinical need to further improve upon the current healing rates in the treatment of rotator cuff disease," said Nicholas Sgaglione, MD, senior vice president and executive director of Northwell Health Orthopaedic Institute and Chair and Professor of orthopedics surgery at Northwell Health. "Embody's TAPESTRY RC System allows for efficient and versatile delivery in a fully bioabsorbable solution to biologic augmentation of the rotator cuff in arthroscopic procedures."
"Historical focus has been on the mechanical repair of tendon and ligaments, not the biologic augmentation," said Dr. Wasik Ashraf, Director of Sport Medicine at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital. "TAPESTRY has enabled me to bring the power of biostimulative collagen to improve healing of my patients, now in a quick and easy solution to address rotator cuff disease."
The company is planning to extend its current post market clinical studies in shoulder arthroplasty, foot and ankle, and gluteus medius repair to further include arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
About Embody: Embody, the soft tissue healing company, is pioneering the next generation regenerative platform with novel collagen-based bio-fabrication techniques and products for the fast-growing sports medicine market. The global market for sports medicine products is expected to reach $11 billion by 2023. Embody's products focus on the most pressing patient needs: the repair of serious tendon and ligament injuries and are developed in close collaboration with some of the most advanced clinical thought leaders. Founded in 2014 and funded more than $22 million in DARPA & DOD funding, the company is developing unique biomaterials with an initial focus on orthopedic applications including foot & ankle, rotator cuff and knee ligament.
1. BIOMEDGPS 2022. SmartTRAK® Soft Tissue Augmentation
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SOURCE Embody, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/31/embody-inc-announces-510k-clearances-tapestry-rc-rotator-cuff-repair/ | 2022-05-31T14:09:59Z |
Groundbreaking platform introduces tools, strategies and products to build balanced digital asset portfolios
DALLAS , June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GreatOne Digital Holdings (GOD Holdings), is owned and managed by The Patel Family Office. The 70-year-old, Indian-American, privately held family office from the United States, is launching a decentralized financial investment platform to help digital asset investors construct institutional grade, balanced, digital asset portfolios, with the objective of wealth creation, preservation and growth.
The recent volatility and loss of value in the crypto space not only affects the wealth of direct investors, but also shatters trust in digital products and markets. GreatOne Digital Holdings is aspiring to restore this faith by providing democratized access to successful legacy portfolio construction products and strategies from the traditional financial industry, adapted for the digital asset space.
As Lakshmi Narayanan, Board Member of GreatOne Digital Holdings, explains, "Financial markets evolve in response to every downturn. This downturn will lead to the evolution of web 3.0 whereby digital assets that mirror traditional structured financial instruments will emerge as one of the most powerful asset classes globally."
GreatOne includes the following;
GreatOne Tools
- GreatOne is innovating proprietary, patent-pending tools that are integrated with their technology platform to help investors diagnose and balance their digital asset holdings.
GreatOne Strategies
- GreatOne focuses on building institutional grade, capital-protected investment (proof of protection) strategies in digital form that enable a global audience to access asset-linked digital assets (proof of assets ). The company will also provide responsible investment products that focus on environmental sustainability, as well as opportunities in meaningful community development.
GreatOne Product
- "GreatOne is going to shake up the investment industry,'' said Annelise Osborne, Co-Founder and Board Member of GreatOne Digital Holdings. "Our product is designed to prioritize the best interests of investors, therefore providing them with high quality and secure investment opportunities. We are looking forward to rolling out a series of unique asset backed, capital protected, assured return yielding products in the coming months."
Over the next 3 months, GreatOne will be introducing an array of real estate-based investment opportunities, well-tested portfolio construction strategies and tools to evaluate crypto/digital asset portfolios beyond just return performance, for the benefit of investors worldwide.
GreatOne Digital Initiatives
- All of the tools and strategies will be given free of charge to registered users as part of the "Investor Education and Protection Initiative", said Lakshmi Narayanan, "Anyone interested in accessing these tools and strategies is invited to join the GreatOne Telegram channel."
Founded in 2019 by a women-led team, GreatOne currently operates from Dallas, New York, India, Singapore, Dubai and London. GreatOne Digital Holdings is a US-registered entity that focuses on wealth creation and preservation using digital assets. Dipika Patel, one of the co-founders, is a third generation hotelier with over 22 years of experience in the hospitality industry. The founding team also includes Annelise Osborne, a fintech executive with over 25 years of experience, and Kim Diamond, a commercial real estate and capital markets executive with over 30 years of experience. https://great.one/
Follow and stay up to date with the GreatOne community through our Telegram channel.
The Patel Family Office, one of the oldest Indian-American-owned, sustainable and responsible investment family offices, has been in the hospitality industry for over 70 years and has deep expertise in hospitality and real estate across the USA. The family office is currently owned and led by Dipika Patel, a third generation hospitality industry professional turned entrepreneur .
The Patels are the largest Indian community and own the greatest number of hotels across the United States. Since it was formed, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), the largest single trade body for hotel owners, has been run by the Patel community. www.patel.foundation
Media assets including logos, bios and headshots are available at: www.great.one/media/
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SOURCE GreatOne Digital Holdings | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/28/greatone-is-solving-most-critical-problem-cryptodigital-asset-wealth-preservation/ | 2022-06-28T14:27:41Z |
Walsh University President Tim Collins signs on for another five years
NORTH CANTON – Walsh University students will continue to hear President Tim Collins’ exuberant “Swords Up” rallying cry for another five years.
Collins, known to greet students and campus visitors with the Cavaliers’ slogan, has agreed to a five-year contract extension to June 30, 2027.
While the Board of Directors approved the contract in May, the university announced it Wednesday in recognition of the university’s founders, the Brothers of Christian Instruction, who established themselves on June 16, 1819.
Details of the contract were not disclosed.
More about Walsh University:Walsh U, American Winds team up to offer bachelor's degree program in aviation
A.J. Hyland, chairperson of Walsh's Board of Directors, said Collins has made a noticeable impact on the campus community since he became the university’s seventh president in August 2019.
“His principled and steadfast leadership and commitment to Walsh’s mission are felt by the entire campus community," Hyland said. "We look forward to the ongoing implementation of key growth strategies and initiatives of the Walsh 4.0 strategic plan. The Board is eager to support Dr. Collins in making Walsh a leading Catholic university and a place that focuses on education for life. We are confident that his vision, talent and drive will move us forward.”
Collins, who oversees 2,450 students, roughly 300 full-time employees and an operating budget of $74.3 million, said the five-year extension brings stability to Walsh after two years of disruption caused by the global coronavirus pandemic and after the Brothers of Christian Instruction’s decision in 2020 to depart Walsh due to a lack of human resources, support and aging population. The contract also signals a commitment to the future of Walsh and the legacy of the Brothers, he said.
“It reaffirms the direction that we are heading and the direction the board wishes the university to go,” he said.
Tim Collins looks back at his first three years as president
Despite the pandemic, Collins has made progress most of the seven initiatives he outlined during his installation in November 2020.
The initiatives seek to make the university more accessible to students here and globally, elevate Walsh’s profile nationally and internationally and help on-campus students make better connections with their peers and with their life’s purpose.
Collins his favorite initiative so far has been the Cavs Cor Cordium, which is Latin for “heart of heart,” that launched last year. Each Cor is comprised of roughly 100 students from freshmen to seniors who are led by faculty and staff to become each other’s personal learning network. They are expected to support each other academically, personally, professionally and spiritually. Subgroups of roughly 25 students work together to explore various themes found in faith and Scripture.
Collins said he got the idea for the initiative while he was relying on his own personal learning network to navigate the challenges of becoming a university president. He said many universities have learning cohorts, such as honors college students, but it is believed that Walsh is the first nationally to do such an initiative campuswide.
“That is a truly transformational initiative in the sense of what it will do to help people while they are here,” Collins said. “… It’s creating lifelong friendships in terms of mentoring, coaching and helping each other.”
What’s next for Walsh University?
Collins looks to further develop his seven initiatives over the next five years.
For example, as part of the Walsh Global initiative, Walsh’s core curriculum is expected to be available online and throughout the world by spring 2023. The university also has developed new partnerships in Asia to attract students to its online programs.
“Most people think about international students coming to us,” he said. “We’re thinking about how we go to them.”
Collins said Walsh will further promote itself as an institution that can serve students even after they receive their bachelor’s degree. Walsh’s new tagline is “Education for Life.”
“Rather than thinking about a university as a four- to six-year relationship, we’re trying to get them to view it as a 40- to 60-year experience,” he said. “... We’re here for your whole life.”
Reach Kelli at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @kweirREP | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/education/2022/06/16/walsh-university-president-tim-collins-contract-extended-june-2027-north-canton-catholic/7645466001/ | 2022-06-16T20:22:15Z |
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, June 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Nasdaq: BWMX) ("Betterware" or the "Company") today announced that its controlling shareholder, Campalier, S.A. de C.V. ("Campalier"), informed the Company that it purchased 100,000 shares of the Company in the open market for approximately US$1.3 million.
As a result of such purchase, Campalier now holds approximately 53.6% of the issued and outstanding shares of Betterware.
Luis G. Campos, Executive Chairman of the Board of Betterware and controlling shareholder at Campalier, stated: "This purchase reaffirms our confidence in our advantageous business model centered on three growth pillars of product innovation, business intelligence and technology, which has us positioned to deliver on our growth objectives in the future. We believe that the current share price does not reflect the underlying value of our business. We remain focused on the successful execution of our strategic initiatives and believe this has us poised to deliver consistent long-term profitable growth and increased value for our shareholders."
Founded in 1995, Betterware de Mexico is the leading direct-to-consumer company in Mexico focused on creating innovative products that solve specific needs regarding organization, practicality, space saving and hygiene within the household. Betterware's wide product portfolio includes home organization, kitchen, commuting, laundry and cleaning, as well as other categories that include products and solutions for every corner of the household.
The Company has a differentiated two-tier network of distributors and associates that sell their products through twelve catalogues per year. All products are designed by the Company and under Betterware's brand through its different sources of product innovation. The Company's state-of-the-art infrastructure allows it to safely and timely deliver its products to every part of the country, backed by the strategic location of its national distribution center. Today, the Company distributes its products in Mexico and Guatemala, and has plans of additional international expansion.
Supported by its asset light business model and its three strategic pillars of Product Innovation, Business Intelligence and Technology, Betterware has been able to achieve sustainable double-digit growth rates by successfully expanding its household penetration and share of wallet.
This press release includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding projections, estimates and forecasts of revenue and other financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and expectations. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of the Company's management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE Betterware de México, S.A.B. de C.V. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/21/betterware-de-mxico-sapi-de-cv-announces-share-purchase-by-its-controlling-shareholder-campalier-sa-de-cv/ | 2022-06-21T21:18:14Z |
All-new video of Rick Astley in surprise campaign goes LIVE today
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., Aug. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CSAA Insurance Group's recent campaign with 1980s British legend Rick Astley, like everything else the accomplished singer has done, has been an overwhelming success. After launching on August 15, the campaign went viral, reaching 2.5 million views in just a few days with numbers continuing to grow. And, the campaign's not over yet, with the release today of an all-new 30-second video.
The new video features the fun twist of Rick "Rickrolling" himself, plus, a couple of other "insider" moments especially for fans of the music icon. For instance, the date on Rick's phone screen is July 27 and the time reads 7:27 p.m.: July 27 is the anniversary date for the artist's hit song, "Never Gonna Give You Up."
A key component to the viral success of the campaign has been the release of an updated version of Rick Astley's iconic 1987 chart-topping hit "Never Gonna Give You Up." The new video—which has garnered nearly 3 million YouTube and over 6 million TikTok views to date—pays tribute to the original while spreading the good news about InsurAAAnce — the insurance that never gives you up!
In addition to the video, mysterious QR codes featuring Rick Astley's iconic hair, sprang up across the country on television, billboards, wallscapes, and sports stadiums. They will also appear in the sky via aerial advertising, and each offers a familiar Rick Astley experience: the "Rickroll." Anyone can scan the code and experience the recreated music video for themselves.
"We are beyond thrilled by the overwhelmingly favorable reaction to this campaign," said Linda Goldstein, executive vice president, Customer Experience & Marketing, CSAA Insurance Group. "Working with a legend like Rick Astley has been such a wonderful experience. Through his talents, we are reaching customers—both new and current—in ways that we could have never imagined."
The campaign, a concept of Deloitte Digital, was brought to life in part through a commercial directed by Joseph Kahn, winner of multiple Grammys, MTV VMAs, Clios, and Emmys. Deloitte Digital's wealth of expertise in the insurance industry, as well as its deep capabilities in creative, data and technology, allow it to take a creative approach to advertising and activate new brand platforms across all customer touchpoints.
Stanton, an award-winning public relations agency based in New York and California, managed all the publicity for the campaign, which to date has garnered numerous media placements in the United States, attracting the attention of hundreds of millions of consumers. Even more impressive, the campaign has reached more than 2.2 billion people worldwide.
Check out the original Rick Astley-CSAA Insurance Group video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtL1huin9EE
CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, offers automobile, homeowners, and other personal lines of insurance to AAA Members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1914, the company has been rated "A" or better by A.M. Best for more than 90 years and is one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The company has been repeatedly named one of the 50 most community-minded companies in America by Points of Light. More information is available at http://csaa-insurance.aaa.com and on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
Deloitte Digital helps companies create new growth by elevating the human experience — with connected ideas, technology, and talent. Our ambition is to make the best customer-oriented organizations in the world. Alongside all of Deloitte, we foster the connections necessary to shape a better future for our clients, our culture, our society, and our planet. Visit www.deloittedigital.com or follow Deloitte Digital on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn more.
Stanton is a full-service national communications agency with offices in New York and California focused primarily on B2B organizations. We provide strategic public relations and marketing communications to clients across a wide spectrum of industry sectors. At Stanton, our team of communications professionals go above and beyond to ask the tough questions, challenge assumptions, and recommend bold solutions that don't just check a box, but produce business-changing results and elevate communications. Visit www.stantonprm.com or follow Stanton on LinkedIn.
Media Contact: Liam Collopy, Executive Vice President, Stanton PR, Lcollopy@stantonprm.com
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SOURCE CSAA Insurance Group | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/30/csaa-insurance-group-ad-campaign-featuring-rick-astley-goes-viral-across-america/ | 2022-08-30T13:20:55Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — Coffee. For many, it is an essential part of their day. No matter how it’s made, whether you like it black, in a latte or even a frappuccino, coffee is great.
But what many people may not know is that there is an art to making a truly great cup of coffee. If you want to elevate your morning cup of Joe, you’re going to have to do the hard work and learn some techniques.
That’s Texas School of Coffee comes in. Texas School of Coffee offers courses relating to all aspects of coffee making.
Do you want to open your own coffee shop? They have entrepreneurial courses to help you with that. Are you a barista that wants to take your work to the next level? They have a course for that.
“We outfit our training centers with state-of-the-art espresso machines and brewing equipment that simulate a real-life cafe environment – making learning easy,” as their website states.
Inside DFW’s Jenny Anchondo also participates in a morning coffee routine and wanted to check out this spot to learn how to make the perfect espresso.
If this has encouraged you to dive deeper into the coffee world, check out the Texas School of Coffee by visiting texascoffeeschool.com. | https://cw33.com/news/inside-dfw/learn-how-to-make-the-perfect-espresso-at-texas-coffee-school/ | 2022-06-13T18:07:45Z |
WATCH: Deputy climbs balcony to save baby from apartment fire
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A sheriff’s deputy in Florida climbed up a balcony and plucked a 1-year-old girl to safety from a third-story apartment that had caught fire, the dramatic rescue captured on the deputy’s body-worn camera.
Deputy William Puzynski climbed to the second-floor balcony early Saturday and asked the mother to hand off the baby in diapers as flames shot from the apartment one floor above. He then brought the baby down before the mother and grandmother were subsequently rescued by firefighters.
The video posted online captures Puzynski telling the woman “hand me the baby, hand me the baby. We are coming,” as he goes up and balances himself on the railing before she extends the crying baby to him. “Please, come get me,” she pleads afterward.
Firefighters using a ladder brought the mother and grandmother down from the third-floor apartment safely. They also evacuated other residents while responding to the fire at an apartment building in Orlando.
The Orange County Fire Rescue said the fire caused extensive damage with 24 units impacted.
The camera that recorded the infant’s rescue was attached to Puzynski’s vest, which he had taken off before climbing up the building.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/04/24/watch-deputy-climbs-balcony-save-baby-apartment-fire/ | 2022-04-24T05:30:31Z |
The strategic partnership opens new markets for both Quick Heal and RevBits to deliver superior protection to an expanded customer base
MINEOLA, N.Y., Aug. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quick Heal Technologies, a leader in the cybersecurity space, has collaborated with RevBits to address the advanced protection need for an on-premise infrastructure of government organisations. The partnership will help Quick Heal enhance its Seqrite product portfolio while enabling RevBits to expand its market presence in India. The association also aims to help government organizations that prefer to run their critical systems on-premise rather than in the cloud, thereby ensuring that they operate safely and seamlessly without the fear of cyberattacks.
Dr. Sanjay Katkar, Joint MD & CTO, Quick Heal Technologies Ltd, said, "We are delighted to partner with a leading cybersecurity solution provider like RevBits, well-known for its unique three-phase detection method that can protect businesses even from the most sophisticated attacks. It also complements our existing suite of Seqrite security solutions and will help us further strengthen our Seqrite product portfolio to offer the best cybersecurity solutions to our customers. At Quick Heal, we strive to innovate ourselves in sync with the ever-evolving threat landscape and devise solutions that exactly fit this purpose. We will continue collaborating with more such players to augment our products and services, cementing a leadership presence in the market today, tomorrow and beyond."
David Schiffer, CEO, RevBits, said, "We are extremely proud to be selected by a company with the size and reputation of Quick Heal. They are the leading EPS provider in India with 80% of the market share, and their solutions are available in more than 40 countries through international offices and thousands of channel partners. The combination of RevBits technology and the reputation and market coverage of Quick Heal Technologies will definitely prove to be a winning combination. Conservative projections point to additional revenue for RevBits of over $10 million ARR over the next three years, with large upside potential".
Established in 2018, RevBits is a comprehensive cybersecurity company dedicated to providing customers with superior protection and service. RevBits delivers protection against the most sophisticated cyber threats companies face by offering multiple advanced security capabilities that can be administered through a unified security platform. RevBits is headquartered in Mineola, NY, with offices in Princeton, NJ, Boston, MA, London (England), and Antwerp (Belgium). For more information on RevBits please visit www.revbits.com/aboutrevbits.
About Quick Heal Technologies Ltd.
Quick Heal Technologies Ltd. (Formerly Known as Quick Heal Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) is a leading IT security solutions company. Each Quick Heal product is designed to simplify IT security management across the length and depth of devices and on multiple platforms. They are customized to suit consumers, small businesses, government establishments and corporate houses. Over a span of 26 years, the company's R&D has focused on computer and network security solutions. The current portfolio of cloud-based security and advanced machine learning-enabled solutions stops threats, attacks and malicious traffic before it strikes. This considerably reduces the system resource usage. The security solutions are indigenously developed in India. Quick Heal Antivirus Solutions, Quick Heal Scan Engine, and the entire range of Quick Heal products are proprietary items of Quick Heal Technologies Ltd.
Contact:
Neal Hesterberg
neal.hesterberg@revbits.com
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SOURCE RevBits LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/15/quick-heal-joins-forces-with-revbits-strengthen-its-cybersecurity-portfolio/ | 2022-08-15T14:23:15Z |
Two KU football players arrested
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) - Kansas football players Trevor Wilson and Tanaka Scott were arrested Thursday and alleged to have committed aggravated assault - use of a deadly weapon.
Wilson, 21, and Scott, 20, were booked at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the 2300 block of Haskell Avenue.
According to the Lawrence Police Department, police were called to the QuikTrip on the northeast corner of 23rd and Haskell around 11:30 a.m. There, a man said two men driving two different vehicles displayed two separate weapons before driving away.
Lawrence police said the two vehicles described by the victim -- a red Dodge Charger and an orange Dodge Challenger -- were found along with the two men and two weapons at the nearby Club Carwash.
Both men were arrested and taken to the Douglas County Jail.
No one was physically injured.
The person who called the police said he was sitting in traffic on Haskell, heading southbound toward 23rd street, when the Charger pulled up next to him. At that point, the person driving the Charger opened the door, stood up and displayed the weapon. He said the driver said a few words, then got back in his car and drove into the QuikTrip lot. The Challenger followed and displayed a weapon as he passed by, according to the victim.
“We are aware of a situation involving two of our student athletes and take all allegations very seriously,” read a statement from Kansas Athletics. “We are working to gather more information and will have no further comment at this time.”
Wilson, 21, caught 27 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown during the 2021 season.
Kansas’ season-opener is Friday Sept. 2 against Tennessee Tech.
Copyright 2022 KCTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/25/two-ku-football-players-arrested/ | 2022-08-26T01:30:11Z |
DALLAS (KDAF) — In Round 1 of the NFL Draft, at Pick 24 the Dallas Cowboys selected a familiar face to the North Texas area, offensive tackle Tyler Smith who played college ball at Tulsa and attended a high school in Fort Worth, North Crowley.
Out of high school, according to 247 Sports, Smith was a three-star prospect for the class of 2019.
He ended up choosing to become a Golden Hurrican at Tulsa over Houston, Navy and New Mexico. The 21-year-old will look to protect quarterback Dak Prescott and help the run game in the 2022 season. | https://cw33.com/news/local/dallas-cowboys-pick-north-crowley-alum-in-first-round-of-nfl-draft/ | 2022-04-29T16:30:28Z |
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) announced that it has vacated a previously issued interim suspension of the CFP® certification against Joseph M. Whitney, CFP®, formerly of Mahwah, New Jersey, and now residing in Rochester, New York.
On March 2, 2021, upon discovery that Mr. Whitney had been charged by the State of New Jersey with felony Conspiracy, CFP Board Counsel filed a Motion for Interim Suspension Order (Motion) pursuant to Article 2.1.a.1 of CFP Board's Procedural Rules requesting that the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC) issue an Interim Suspension Order against Mr. Whitney. The Commission granted CFP Board Counsel's Motion and issued an Interim Suspension Order against Mr. Whitney on March 23, 2021. Since that time, CFP Board Counsel confirmed that all charges against Mr. Whitney in the referenced criminal prosecution were dismissed as of March 8, 2022. Accordingly, on August 8, 2022, pursuant to Article 2.4.a of the Procedural Rules, CFP Board Counsel issued an Order to Vacate the Interim Suspension Order.
An interim suspension is a suspension of a CFP® professional's certification and trademark license during the pendency of proceedings. A Respondent subject to an Interim Suspension Order must not use the CFP® certification marks or state or suggest that Respondent is a CFP® professional while the Interim Suspension Order is in effect. An Interim Suspension Order is a temporary sanction and does not preclude CFP Board from imposing a final sanction. An Interim Suspension Order will remain in place until the DEC or, if an appeal is filed, CFP Board's Appeals Commission, issues a final order. CFP Board Counsel may vacate an Interim Suspension Order if a criminal conviction, civil liability or professional discipline is vacated or reversed or if Respondent provides sufficient evidence indicating that Respondent was not the subject of a criminal conviction, civil liability or professional discipline. A Hearing Panel of the DEC may issue an Order to vacate an Interim Suspension Order upon a successful Petition to Vacate an Interim Suspension Order by Respondent.
If CFP Board Counsel delivers, or a Hearing Panel issues, an order vacating an Interim Suspension Order, CFP Board must not reflect the Interim Suspension Order in CFP Board's public verification of Respondent's CFP® certification and background. In addition, CFP Board Counsel will deliver the order to Respondent and notify Respondent of the opportunity to file a written request for CFP Board to (1) remove the publication of the Interim Suspension Order from CFP Board's website and/or (2) publish in a press release and on CFP Board's website the fact that CFP Board vacated the Interim Suspension Order and some or all of the facts that are relevant to the order vacating the Interim Suspension Order. If CFP Board Counsel delivers, or a Hearing Panel issues, an order vacating an Interim Suspension Order, then upon the written request of Respondent, CFP Board must remove the publication and/or publish the press release.
CFP Board retains the authority to deliver to Respondent a Complaint based on the same or other factual allegations.
The basis for CFP Board disciplinary decisions may be found on CFP Board's website at CFP.net/verify. At that website, CFP Board provides the public with:
- The ability to check on any individual's CFP Board disciplinary history and CFP® certification status.
- Links to other sources of information about CFP® professionals that may be more recent or that may contain information that has not led to CFP Board discipline and does not appear on CFP Board's website. This information may include customer disputes, disciplinary actions taken by a regulator or employer, certain criminal matters and certain financial matters (such as bankruptcy proceedings and unpaid judgments or liens).
- Links to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.'s (FINRA's) BrokerCheck and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC's) Investment Adviser Public Disclosure databases for individuals who are subject to FINRA or SEC oversight.
As part of their certification, CFP® professionals make a commitment to CFP Board to abide by CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (Code and Standards) or its predecessor, the Standards of Professional Conduct (Standards), which included the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards. CFP Board's Procedural Rules set forth the process for investigating matters and imposing sanctions where violations have been found.
CFP Board enforces its ethical standards by investigating alleged violations and, where there is probable cause to believe there are grounds for sanction, presents a Complaint containing the alleged violations to CFP Board's DEC. The DEC meets at least six times a year to review any matter in which CFP Board has alleged that a CFP® professional has violated the Code and Standards or its predecessor Standards. The DEC functions in accordance with the Procedural Rules and reviews all matters on a case-by-case basis, considering the details specific to an individual case. If the DEC determines there are grounds for sanction, then it may impose a sanction. DEC orders may be appealed by a CFP® professional or CFP Board pursuant to the Procedural Rules.
In certain circumstances, such as when a CFP® professional is in default due to failure to acknowledge receipt of a Notice of Investigation or file an Answer, CFP Board staff must deliver an Administrative Order of Suspension, Temporary Bar, Revocation or Permanent Bar. Administrative Orders also are subject to appeal.
More information on CFP Board's enforcement process can be found at CFP.net/ethics/enforcement.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is the professional body for personal financial planners in the U.S. CFP Board sets standards for financial planning and administers the prestigious CFP® certification – one of the most respected certifications in financial services – so that the public has access to and benefits from competent and ethical financial planning. CFP Board, along with its Center for Financial Planning, is committed to increasing the public's awareness of CFP® certification and access to a diverse, ethical and competent financial planning workforce. Widely recognized by the public, advisors and firms as the standard for financial planning, CFP® certification is held by more than 93,000 people in the United States.
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SOURCE Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/cfp-board-vacates-interim-suspension-previously-imposed-joseph-m-whitney-cfp-rochester-new-york/ | 2022-09-02T15:57:25Z |
Company to host conference call and webcast on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 8:00am ET
BOSTON and ATLANTA, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKT) (Inhibikase or Company), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics to modify the course of Parkinson's disease and related disorders, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2022 and highlighted recent developments.
"As we kicked off 2022, we have worked diligently to advance our clinical and preclinical programs as well as extend our thought leadership in Parkinson's disease. This past month we brought together leading key opinion leaders in the field of movement disorders to host an educational event highlighting the current unmet need, competitive and regulatory landscape in Parkinson's disease as well as delineated our development strategy for IkT-148009 as a potential therapeutic option for patients," commented Milton Werner, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Inhibikase. "As we look ahead, we anticipate dosing the first patients in our Phase 2a study for IkT-148009 in Parkinson's disease this quarter. This study will allow us to evaluate our selective c-Abl kinase inhibitor in Parkinson's patients dosed for a 12-week period. In addition, we anticipate submitting our IND application for IkT-001Pro for stable phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia as well as report preclinical data from at least one study of IkT-148009 in Multiple Systems Atrophy in the second quarter. As we advance these programs forward, we will continue to be good stewards of capital to maximize shareholder value. We expect our current cash on hand to be sufficient to fund our operations into the third quarter of 2023."
- Phase 2a clinical study for IkT-148009: Inhibikase anticipates dosing the first patients in its Phase 2a study of IkT-148009, known as the "201 Trial," in the second quarter. The trial will be a 3:1 randomized, double-blind, twelve-week dosing trial and will evaluate the safety and tolerability of three doses of IkT-148009 in up to 120 patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who have not yet progressed to the need for symptomatic therapy. The trial will also measure a hierarchy of motor and non-motor function inside and outside of the brain as secondary endpoints and will evaluate whether treatment with IkT-148009 leads to a reduction or clearance of pathogenic alpha-synuclein aggregates as exploratory endpoints.
- Hosted virtual investor event featuring Key Opinion Leaders in Parkinson's disease: In April 2022, Inhibikase held a virtual investor event highlighting the Company's clinical progress of IkT-148009, provided an overview of the current Phase 2 program and described the current unmet need and competitive landscape in Parkinson's disease. A replay of the event can be accessed here.
- Phase 1b study in clinical trial of IkT-148009: In March 2022, Inhibikase presented data from the first cohort of its Phase 1b study for IkT-148009 at the Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference (AD/PD™). Data suggested that the safety and tolerability profile in patients closely matched that of older healthy volunteers. Pharmacokinetics of IkT-148009 in volunteers and subjects was also similar, further suggesting that the pharmacology of IkT-148009 is consistent across patient groups and penetrates the Central Nervous System. The Company expects to complete dosing of the second cohort of the Phase 1b study in the second quarter of 2022 and present additional data at a medical meeting later this year.
- Investigational New Drug application (IND) for IkT-001Pro for stable-phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML): In the first quarter of 2022, Inhibikase completed clinical batch manufacturing of its pill formulated IkT-001Pro, a prodrug formulation of imatinib mesylate. The Company is conducting the necessary stability studies for the IND submission package and expects to submit the IND application in the second quarter of 2022. Following clearance by the FDA, the Company expects to initiate bioequivalence studies in accordance with the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway.
- Preclinical studies evaluating IkT-148009 in animal models of Multiple System Atrophy (MSA): Inhibikase expects to report preclinical data evaluating IkT-148009 in at least one of two animal models of MSA in the second quarter of 2022. Depending on the preclinical results in animal models of MSA and subject to agreement with the FDA and equivalent regulatory bodies in the European Union, Inhibikase may advance IkT-148009 into a Phase 2a clinical study in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Net Loss: Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, was $4.7 million, or $0.18 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.6 million, or $0.26 per share for the first quarter in 2021.
R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $3.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared to $2.4 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase was driven by a $2.1 million increase in non-grant related research offset by a decrease of $1.2 million in grant related research expenditures and a decrease of $0.4 million in non-cash stock compensation expense. The non-grant related research was expended primarily in connection with the Company's Phase I PD clinical trial.
SG&A Expenses Selling, general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 were $1.7 million compared to $1.6 million for the first quarter in 2021. The increase was primarily due to increased headcount resulting in increased compensation expense of $.2 million, increased legal fees, board fees, investor relation and consulting fees of $0.1 million and a net increase of $0.2 million for other normal operating expenses offset by decreased non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.4 million.
Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents were $36.6 million as of March 31, 2022. The Company expects that existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into the third quarter of 2023.
The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:00am ET Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Participants should dial 877-407-4018 (United States) or 201-689-8471 (International) with the conference code 13729218. A live webcast may be accessed using the link here, or by visiting the investors section of the Company's website at www.inhibikase.com. After the live webcast, the event will be archived on Inhibikase's website for approximately 90 days after the call.
Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: IKT) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for Parkinson's disease and related disorders. Inhibikase's multi-therapeutic pipeline focuses on neurodegeneration and its lead program IkT-148009, an Abelson Tyrosine Kinase (c-Abl) inhibitor, targets the treatment of Parkinson's disease inside and outside the brain. Its multi-therapeutic pipeline is pursuing Parkinson's-related disorders of the brain and GI tract, orphan indications related to Parkinson's disease such as Multiple System Atrophy, and drug delivery technologies for kinase inhibitors such as IkT-001Pro, a prodrug of the anticancer agent Imatinib that the Company believes will provide a better patient experience with fewer on-dosing side-effects. The Company's RAMP™ medicinal chemistry program has identified a number of follow-on compounds to IkT-148009 to be potentially applied to other cognitive and motor function diseases of the brain. Inhibikase is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with offices in Boston, Massachusetts.
Investors and others should note that we announce material financial information to our investors using our investor relations website, press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. The Company intends to also use Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube as a means of disclosing information about the Company, its services and other matters and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," "plans," or similar expressions or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Inhibikase's current expectations and assumptions. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause Inhibikase's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are set forth in Inhibikase's filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, including under the caption "Risk Factors." Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date of this release. Inhibikase undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.
Contacts:
Company Contact:
Milton H. Werner, PhD
President & CEO
678-392-3419
info@inhibikase.com
Investor Relations:
Alex Lobo
SternIR, Inc.
alex.lobo@sternir.com
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SOURCE Inhibikase Therapeutics, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/inhibikase-therapeutics-reports-first-quarter-2022-financial-results-highlights-recent-period-activity/ | 2022-05-16T21:53:29Z |
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Sept. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) will host a webcast call for the investment community in conjunction with the European Society for Medical Oncology Annual Congress (ESMO) at 1:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen, along with members of Amgen's clinical development team, will discuss the data being presented from the LUMAKRAS® (sotorasib) CodeBreaK 200 confirmatory Phase 3 study in non-small cell lung cancer and data from the full Phase 1b expansion cohort of LUMAKRAS in combination with Vectibix® (panitumumab) in colorectal cancer. The webcast will be broadcast over the internet simultaneously and will be available to members of the news media, investors and the general public.
The webcast, as with other selected presentations regarding developments in Amgen's business given by management at certain investor and medical conferences, can be found on Amgen's website, www.amgen.com, under Investors. Information regarding presentation times, webcast availability and webcast links are noted on Amgen's Investor Relations Events Calendar. The webcast will be archived and available for replay for at least 90 days after the event.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also part of the Nasdaq-100 index. In 2021, Amgen was named one of the 25 World's Best Workplaces™ by Fortune and Great Place to Work™ and one of the 100 most sustainable companies in the world by Barron's.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Jessica Akopyan, 805-447-0974 (media)
Megan Fox, 805-447-1423 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)
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SOURCE Amgen | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/07/amgen-webcast-investor-call-esmo-2022/ | 2022-09-07T20:56:35Z |
- Tires Plus has been recognized as #1 in customer satisfaction for Aftermarket Tire Replacement in the J.D. Power 2022 Aftermarket Service Index Study.
- J.D. Power is one of the most well-known and trusted sources for measuring consumer preference in the automotive service industry
- Tires Plus, which provides customers with convenient access to trusted, auto service and leading Bridgestone- and Firestone-brand tires, was also named best in four additional J.D. Power categories.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridgestone Retail Operations (Bridgestone), a subsidiary of Bridgestone Americas, announced that company-owned automotive service provider Tires Plus has been recognized as best in Customer Satisfaction for Aftermarket Tire Replacement in the J.D. Power 2022 Aftermarket Service Index Study. It is the first time the retail brand has earned the prestigious J.D. Power Award.
The J.D. Power study measured customer satisfaction among 9,979 vehicle owners, providing a numerical index ranking of the highest-performing U.S. aftermarket service facilities. Tires Plus was also named #1 in four additional categories: Ease of Scheduling/Getting Vehicle in for Service; Service Advisor Performance; Service Advisor Courtesy; and Quality of Work.
"At Tires Plus, we have a Promise to Care that reminds us each day that we offer more than car service. We offer our customers security and peace of mind by creating a hassle-free environment that helps them on their journeys," said Marko Ibrahim, president, Bridgestone Retail Operations. "It is an honor to be recognized for these efforts by J.D. Power and the customers we serve each day. Thank you to all of our teammates who go above and beyond to deliver the best, most trusted customer experience."
The J.D. Power Award recognition for Tire Plus aligns with the Bridgestone E8 Commitment, which consists of eight Bridgestone-like values starting with the letter "E" that Bridgestone has committed to creating together with employees, society, partners and customers to realize a sustainable society. Specifically, the customer satisfaction commitment demonstrated by Tires Plus teammates aligns with "Ease: Committed to bringing comfort and peace of mind to mobility life."
For more Bridgestone company news, visit BridgestoneAmericas.com.
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 50,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.
Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO) is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. and operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — more than 2,200 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus, Hibdon Tires Plus and Wheel Works store locations. Credit First National Association and Firestone Complete Fleet Care operations are also part of BSRO. BSRO is a member of the Bridgestone Americas family of companies.
J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies. J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.
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SOURCE Bridgestone Retail Operations | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/01/tires-plus-earns-jd-power-award-2022-aftermarket-tire-replacement/ | 2022-08-01T15:35:42Z |
ALBANY — The Sanford Bishop for Congress campaign announced that the Congressman has raised more than $440,000 in the first quarter of 2022.
The strong quarter brings Bishop’s total fundraising haul for the cycle to more than $1.1 million with more than $700,000 in the bank as he prepares for re-election, demonstrating the strength of his campaign and proving the enthusiasm for Bishop in Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District is at an all-time high.
“These fundraising numbers illustrate that voters across Georgia’s 2nd Congressional District want a proven leader who has a history of fighting for working families in Congress,” Bishop’s campaign manager, Robert West, said in a news release.
“Whether it’s supporting rural farmers and small business owners hardest hit by the pandemic, securing funds to kickstart and boost our local economy, or investing in infrastructure across the district, Sanford Bishop is the leader middle and southwest Georgia needs.
“Rep. Bishop will continue to fight for and serve his constituents by using the political process to improve their lives, and that’s why they’ll send him back to Congress this November.”
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/sanford-bishop-campaign-announces-strong-fundraising-quarter/article_cd73b59a-bcd7-11ec-b530-1fe40b927a6b.html | 2022-04-16T20:09:24Z |
SPOKANE, Wash., June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaspien Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: KSPN) ("Kaspien" or the "Company"), a leading e-commerce marketplace growth platform, today announced it will release its financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended April 30, 2022 after the market close on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Kaspien will issue a press release including its financial results and business outlook as well as additional corporate updates. The Company also plans to file its quarterly SEC Form 10-Q on the same day. The release and filing will be made available via the Investor Relations section of Kaspien's website.
For questions or additional information, please contact Kaspien's investor relations team at KSPN@gatewayir.com or (949) 574-3860.
Kaspien Holdings Inc. (f/k/a Trans World Entertainment Corporation) (NASDAQ: KSPN) is a leading, global e-commerce accelerator that deploys AI-driven software and end-to-end services to optimize and grow brands on Amazon, Walmart, Target, eBay, and other online marketplaces. Rebranded as Kaspien in 2020, the Company has spent more than a decade developing a marketplace growth platform of proprietary technologies that maximize supply chain resilience, optimize marketing, strengthen brand control, and provide predictive analytics. Serving a variety of brands, distributors, agencies and FBA aggregators, Kaspien accelerates growth by tailoring an extensive suite of seller services to its partners' dynamic e-commerce needs. The Company has a long track record of success, having served over 4,000 brands in 20 countries. Kaspien's mastery of the e-commerce space and commitment to rapid innovation has earned the trust of many leading brands. For more information, visit kaspien.com.
Company Contact
Ed Sapienza
Chief Financial Officer
(509) 202-4261
esapienza@kaspien.com
Media Contact
Gateway Group
Ryan Deloney
(949) 574-3860
KSPN@gatewayir.commailto:Ryan@gatewayir.com
Investor Relations Contact
Gateway Investor Relations
Matt Glover and Tom Colton
(949) 574-3860
KSPN@gatewayir.com
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SOURCE Kaspien Holdings Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/kaspien-holdings-inc-release-fiscal-first-quarter-2022-financial-results-tuesday-june-14-2022/ | 2022-06-07T21:46:36Z |
NEW YORK, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Klein Law Firm announces that a class action complaint has been filed on behalf of shareholders of Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: AXSM) alleging that the Company violated federal securities laws.
Class Period: December 30, 2019 to April 22, 2022
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: July 12, 2022
No obligation or cost to you.
Learn more about your recoverable losses in AXSM:
https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/axsome-therapeutics-inc-loss-submission-form?id=28131&from=4
Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. NEWS - AXSM NEWS
CLASS ACTION CASE DETAILS: The filed complaint alleges that Axsome Therapeutics, Inc. made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Axsome's chemistry, manufacturing, and control ("CMC") practices were deficient with respect to AXS-07, the Company's medicine for the acute treatment of migraine, and its manufacturing process; (ii) as a result, Axsome was unlikely to submit the AXS-07 New Drug Application ("NDA") on its initially represented timeline; (iii) the foregoing CMC issues remained unresolved at the time that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") reviewed the AXS-07 NDA; (iv) accordingly, the FDA was unlikely to approve the AXS-07 NDA; (v) as a result of all the foregoing, Axsome had overstated AXS-07's regulatory and commercial prospects; and (vi) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU AS A SHAREHOLDER: If you have suffered a loss in Axsome you have until July 12, 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 Axsome 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 AXSM lawsuit, please contact J. Klein, Esq. by telephone at 212-616-4899 or click this link: https://www.kleinstocklaw.com/pslra-1/axsome-therapeutics-inc-loss-submission-form?id=28131&from=4.
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
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SOURCE The Klein Law Firm | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/07/axsm-alert-klein-law-firm-announces-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-12-2022-class-action-filed-behalf-axsome-therapeutics-inc-shareholders/ | 2022-06-07T10:02:50Z |
PARIS, June 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) has selected iXblue to provide enhanced navigation capabilities to the newly built U212CD submarines intended for the Norwegian and German Navies. Built by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), the new U212CD will be equipped with iXblue Marins M8 inertial navigation systems (INS).
The 6 U212CD, that will require highly performing systems for increased submerged navigation capability, will rely on iXblue Marins M8 INS, interfaced with KTA Naval Systems' "ORCCA" Combat Management System.
The Marins Series are the highest-grade inertial navigation systems (INS) produced by iXblue. Innovation has been uninterrupted on iXblue's range to gradually extend the performances and propose the highest accuracies to the Navies and therefore answer their need for their most critical applications. Along the accuracy, the technology also combines decisive advantages such as an absolute discretion and unmatched reliability over time.
The very concrete benefits of the Marins Series have been recognized over many years and have led many leading Naval Forces to opt for iXblue Marins inertial navigation systems for their submarine programs, for newly built vessels and retrofits. This includes, among others, full fleet of the UK Royal Navy submarines and the Swedish Navy A19 and A26.
"The U212CD is a major program for the European naval industry, and we are very proud to be on board and supply this new generation of submarines. With the Marins Series, TKMS and Kongsberg have not only chosen highly performant navigation systems, but they will also benefit from well proven and "off-the shelf" systems that will participate to further reducing the risks and costs of the overall program," says Enzo Aldrovandi, Regional sales manager for iXblue. "We would like to thank them for their renewed trust on this impressive program and look forward to our ongoing collaboration with them."
This latest success confirms iXblue leadership in Naval navigation for both surface and subsea platforms and strengthens the company's collaboration with the German and Norwegian navies. iXblue's Marins INS have indeed already been selected for several of their programs such as the F122 (Bremen-class),the F123 frigates (Brandenburg-class), and Jan Mayen OPVs. More globally, recent successes in naval navigation include the newest French FDI, Spanish F110 multi-mission frigates, United States Navy Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships, Finland's four multi-role corvettes (Squadron 2020 project) or the Polish Navy's Kormoran II class MCMVs.
Media Contact
Arthur Pinon
Communication & Marketing Manager
+33 (0)1 30 08 88 88
arthur.pinon@ixblue.com
About iXblue
iXblue is a global high-tech company specializing in the design and manufacturing of advanced marine, photonics and autonomy technologies. The group in-house expertise includes innovative systems and solutions devoted to inertial navigation, subsea positioning, underwater imaging, as well as shipbuilding and test & simulation. iXblue technologies support Civil and Defense customers in carrying out their sea, land and space operations with maximum safety, efficiency and reliability. Employing a workforce of 750 people worldwide, iXblue conducts its business in over 60 countries
The company's naval successes include major programs such as the Belgian and Royal Netherlands Navies MCM Replacement Program, the Polish Navy's Kormoran II class MCMVs, the French Navy's future FDI and future replenishment tankers, the Vanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the Astute-class nuclear attack submarines and the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers of the UK Royal Navy, the Jan-Mayen class vessels of the Norwegian Coast Guards, the F122 (Bremen-class) and F123 frigates (Brandenburg-class) of the German Navy, Finland's future multi-role corvettes (Squadron 2020), the new OPV 87 of the Argentine Navy, the Swedish Navy next generation A26 and Gotland-class submarines, and future fleet of high speed CB90, Spain future F110-class multi-mission frigates, as well as the United States Navy Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) 27, 29 and 31 to name a few. www.ixblue.com
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SOURCE iXblue | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/08/ixblue-provide-critical-navigation-capabilities-norwegian-german-navies-u212cd-submarines/ | 2022-06-08T15:18:07Z |
LONDON (AP) — Westminster Hall is both a scene of constant movement and the quietest place in London.
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II on its purple-draped platform — a catafalque — is the fixed point at the center of the vast medieval hall, the oldest part of Britain’s Houses of Parliament. Around it, people flow in two lines in a silent river of humanity.
The first mourners were admitted Wednesday evening, after the queen’s casket was borne to the hall in a solemn procession from Buckingham Palace. The hall will be open round-the-clock until Monday morning, when Elizabeth’s funeral will be held in nearby Westminster Abbey.
It was a chance for ordinary Britons — plus a sprinkling of dignitaries and tourists — to pay last respects to the country’s longest-reigning monarch, who died Sept. 8 at 96 after 70 years on the throne.
The mourners moved at a steady walk, down steps under the great stained-glass window at one end of the hall, then past the flag-draped coffin that’s capped with the diamond-studded Imperial State Crown and a wreath of flowers. There were parents with children, couples hand in hand, veterans with medals clinking on navy blue blazers, lawmakers and members of the House of Lords.
Some wore black dresses or dark suits and ties, others jeans and sneakers. Most had waited many hours to get there, in a line that snaked for several miles along the River Thames, but the journey past the casket took just a few minutes.
From outside came the muffled chatter of everyday life, the occasional siren from the busy streets. Under the soaring hammerbeam roof inside, there was only the muffled sound of shoes on a carpet newly laid over the flagstone floor.
“The overwhelming atmosphere was very somber but beautiful as well,” said Roma Quinn from Kent in southern England. “Her crown was glistening. And it was just really lovely and very respectful.”
The movement stops every 20 minutes so that the ceremonial guard around the coffin can change.
On Wednesday, Beefeaters from the Tower of London and members of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms in magnificent plumed helmets stood guard. When they changed shift, the hall briefly rang with the clanking of breastplates.
After filing past the casket, most mourners paused to look back before going out through the hall’s great oak doors. Some wiped away tears; others bowed their heads or curtseyed before returning to the world outside.
One sank onto a knee and blew a farewell kiss.
Ann Nottle, who came from Wiltshire in western England, said the experience was “absolutely overpowering.”
“They changed the guards over and then we were allowed to walk past the queen’s casket,” she said. “It was so tiny. ”
___
Follow AP coverage of Queen at https://apnews.com/hub/queen-elizabeth-ii | https://cw33.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-queen-is-mourned-with-silence-in-the-busy-heart-of-london/ | 2022-09-14T23:28:39Z |
SAN FRANCISCO, April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Newfront, the tech-driven insurance brokerage based in San Francisco, has brought PJ Jacquelin on deck as a P&C Producer and Vice President on the Marine team. PJ brings nearly 20 years of Ocean Marine experience with time spent as a commercial mariner, USCG marine inspector, and marine insurance professional.
"Our renowned marine team is now even more impressive with PJ's expertise," said Newfront President Brian Hetherington. "PJ has a demonstrated commitment to client satisfaction and navigating the latest marine industry innovations, making him a perfect fit for what we're building at Newfront."
PJ is based in Costa Mesa, CA and will serve clients across the country.
"The addition of PJ to our already-strong marine group, based in the Pacific Northwest, signifies the importance of this industry to Newfront and our goal to expand this and other verticals in the Pacific Northwest territory even further," said Garth Hamilton, Executive Vice President & Regional Managing Director – Northwest. "We're thrilled to welcome him to the company."
"I have spent my entire career working in the marine industry, inside and outside of insurance, and I am very excited to bring that experience to clients at Newfront," PJ said. "The company's experienced and robust marine team will provide an even better experience for my clients."
About Newfront
Newfront is transforming the delivery of risk management, employee experience, insurance, and retirement solutions by building the modern insurance platform. Transparent data delivered real-time translates into a lower total cost of risk and greater insights. Newfront makes insurance work for you.
Headquartered in San Francisco, Newfront has offices throughout the country and is home to more than 750 employees who serve clients across the United States and globally.
Contact Information
Jane Paolucci
Senior Vice President, Marketing
Newfront
jane.paolucci@newfront.com
415-798-2693
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SOURCE Newfront | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/26/pj-jacquelin-comes-aboard-newfronts-growing-pampc-marine-team/ | 2022-04-27T03:24:37Z |
High-value PCs and components at good prices
Prime Day is right around the corner, and as usual, there’s slated to be a huge selection of discounted PCs and computer equipment. After suffering through a major microchip shortage for two years, the industry is finally able to offer price cuts on highly capable electronics. While prices may never go back to pre-shortage levels, we expect to see some great deals on computers and, amazingly, PC hardware.
When does Prime Day 2022 start?
Amazon hasn’t released the exact dates, but rumors indicate that it will take place sometime around the second full week of July. It typically doesn’t fall on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, which leaves us with July 13-16 and 20-23 as the most likely date ranges.
How do I get the best Prime Day deals?
Subscribe to Amazon Prime
This is a must-do if you want to get your hands on the holiday’s best deals. You don’t have to be a longtime subscriber, nor do you have to stay subscribed after getting your deals. But you need an Amazon Prime subscription during the event to take advantage of the sales.
Ask Alexa
Asking, “Alexa, what are my deals?” will bring up a number of great discounts that you can only find when shopping via the voice assistant.
Turn on deals notifications
If you have one of the latest-generation Amazon Echo or Echo Show smart speakers or displays, you can activate the “Deals Recommendations” setting to receive alerts about upcoming sales. This feature scans your shopping cart, wish list and saved items and reports back when something you’ve tagged is about to see a price cut.
Best Prime Day mini PC deals
There was a time when even simple computers used mostly for word processing took up entire tower cases. These powerful, space-efficient and moderately priced mini PCs are proof that era is over.
While it’s not on sale right this minute, rumors are swirling that it could be replaced with an upgraded model as early as October. In the meantime, look for retailers to discount this powerful, user-friendly mini PC around mid-July. Sold by Amazon
About as efficient as they get, this full-featured PC comes in two versions, both under $300. It has plenty of RAM, storage and processing power for a smooth Windows experience with few to no hiccups or slowdowns. Sold by Amazon
It’s equipped with a surprisingly powerful central processing unit for something so small, and it can even play some relatively resource-intensive games thanks to Intel’s advanced integrated graphics processing unit. You can upgrade its dual-channel RAM to as much as 32 gigabytes, and it supports up to three simultaneous video outputs. Sold by Amazon
Best Prime Day desktop PC deals
Buying a desktop gaming PC can, surprisingly, be more economical than buying and assembling the parts yourself.
It’s powerful enough to play many of today’s best games right out of the box, with an impressively fast AMD Ryzen processor and plenty of storage space. While its graphics card is from the previous generation, it’s still relatively powerful, and there’s plenty of room inside for an upgrade if you need the extra firepower. Sold by Amazon
This moderately priced option is perfect if you want to start gaming right now, but still want to keep your eye on the GPU market for a good deal on a high-end card. Its GTX 1660 graphics card will keep you playing until you find the right upgrade. Sold by Amazon
As long as you’re not playing at the highest resolutions and graphics settings, this is one of the best discounted gaming PCs out there. It has plenty of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2 and tons of USB ports. Sold by Amazon
Best Prime Day laptop deals
Retailers often use Prime Day to unload older versions of great laptops. These premium options are either already heavily discounted, or primed to see big price cuts sometime in July.
Not only is it outfitted with high-end components, it also boasts a rare AMOLED screen that delivers a clearer image and more accurate colors than nearly all of the competition. There are a few configurations to choose from, and they all earn the Intel Evo certification for a fast, streamlined experience. Sold by Amazon
A few years ago, you wouldn’t have expected Apple to release an efficient, high-powered laptop at a reasonable price, but that’s exactly what the MacBook Air is. Since Apple’s announcement of the follow-up MacBook Air M2, you can plan on getting a good Prime Day discount on this refined, lightweight laptop. Sold by Amazon
While the Surface Pro 8 does exist, it has few significant advantages and tends to cost a lot. The previous version, the Surface Pro 7, is nearly the most refined and powerful Windows tablet money can buy. Sold by Amazon
With this one, you’ll spend about as little as you possibly can while still getting a smooth, frustration-free Windows experience. It’s the perfect example of the kind of accessible, high-value deals you’re likely to find during Prime Day. Sold by Amazon
It’s not on sale at the moment, but the Acer Aspire series typically sees a price cut during the Amazon buying holiday. This 15-inch model sports all the hardware needed for most work and education tasks, and ships with Windows 11 preloaded. Sold by Amazon
Best Prime Day computer hardware deals
If you’re busy putting together your dream gaming PC, you can’t miss these impressive deals.
One year ago, a 30% discount on the most-recommended desktop CPU seemed like a fever dream. Today, this gaming-grade CPU is a better value than ever, and the perfect centerpiece to a PC that can remain effective for years. Sold by Amazon
Intel Core i7-12700K Processor
If you’re on Team Blue (Intel) rather than Team Red (AMD), you’ll appreciate this powerful yet efficient CPU. As the second-highest tier of Intel’s 12th-generation Core family, it’s one of the first to use a novel combination of 12 specialized high-efficiency and performance-oriented cores. Sold by Amazon
Gigabyte Aorus GeForce RTX 3080 Master
While $1,000 for a graphics card isn’t exactly cheap, it is considerably cheaper than this time last year, especially for this high-end card that’s perfect for 4K gaming. Sold by Amazon
Zotac GeForce RTX 3070 Twin Edge OC
The 3070 offers the best price-to-performance proposition as far as gaming enthusiasts are concerned. It isn’t exactly affordable by most people’s definition, but it is closer to the 3070’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price than ever before. Sold by Amazon
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Chris Thomas writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-prime-day-computer-deals/ | 2022-06-21T02:57:16Z |
Jan. 6 panel deepens probe to Trump Cabinet, awaits Thomas
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Jan. 6 committee said Sunday it will interview more former Cabinet secretaries and is prepared to subpoena conservative activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, who’s married to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as part of its investigation of the Capitol riot and Donald Trump’s role.
Lawmakers said they are deepening their inquiry after a series of eight hearings in June and July culminating in a prime-time session Thursday, with plans to interview additional witnesses and reconvene in September to resume laying out their findings to the public.
“We anticipate talking to additional members of the president’s Cabinet,” said Rep. Liz Cheney, the committee’s vice chair. “We anticipate talking to additional members of his campaign. Certainly, we’re very focused as well on the Secret Service.”
Cheney, R-Wyo., did not identify the Trump administration officials who might come forward, but the committee has previously made clear its interest in speaking with those believed to have considered invoking a constitutional process in the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office after the riot on Jan. 6, 2021, when hundreds of Trump’s supporters violently stormed the Capitol and interrupted the certification of Joe Biden’s election.
The committee has aired testimony from former Attorney General William Barr, who said he told Trump that widespread voter fraud claims were “bull——” and had “zero basis.” In last week’s hearing, the committee played testimony from then-Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, who said he urged Trump to call a Cabinet meeting to discuss an orderly transition of power.
Other Cabinet members have indicated they may have important details to share.
Betsy DeVos, the education secretary at the time, previously told USA Today that she raised with Vice President Mike Pence the question of whether the Cabinet should consider invoking the 25th Amendment, which would have required the vice president and the majority of the Cabinet to agree that the president could no longer fulfill his duties.
DeVos, in her resignation letter on Jan. 7, 2021, blamed Trump for inciting the mob. “There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me,” she wrote.
On the same day, Elaine Chao quit as transportation secretary. Chao, who is married to Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said the attack had “deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside.”
Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state at the time who is considering a 2024 presidential run, and Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s treasury secretary, also were reported to have discussed the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment, according to Jonathan Karl of ABC News in his book “Betrayal.”
“The floodgates have opened,” said Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Va., regarding the next phase of its investigation.
Committee members also hope to learn more about Ginni Thomas’ own effort to keep Trump in office and the potential conflicts of interest for Clarence Thomas as a result on Jan. 6 cases that have come before the Supreme Court. The committee sent a letter to Ginni Thomas last month seeking an interview and hopes she will comply, Cheney said.
Thomas communicated with people in Trump’s orbit ahead of the 2021 attack and also on the day of the insurrection.
“We certainly hope that she will agree to come in voluntarily,” Cheney said. “But the committee is fully prepared to contemplate a subpoena if she does not.”
Cheney also said that while the committee hasn’t decided whether to make a criminal referral regarding Trump to the Justice Department, “that’s absolutely something we’re looking at.”
Added Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill.: “I certainly think there’s evidence of crimes and I think it goes all the way up to Donald Trump.”
While a possible Trump prosecution is a matter for the Justice Department, the committee has used its hearings to try to make a case about his political viability as he mulls running in 2024. Some of the most damning testimony aired by the committee has come from Trump’s own top Republican advisers, military leaders and confidants, who admitted to a loss of confidence in his judgment and dedication to the rule of law in the days leading up to and after the Jan. 6 attack.
The committee also wants to get to the bottom of missing Secret Service texts from Jan. 5-6, 2021, that could have shed further light on Trump’s actions during the insurrection, particularly after earlier testimony about his confrontation with security as he tried to join supporters at the Capitol.
Lawmakers also are interested in hearing from Steve Bannon, a Trump ally who was found guilty last week on criminal contempt of Congress charges for refusing to comply with the House committee’s subpoena.
Cheney spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday,” Kinzinger appeared on ABC’s “This Week,” and Luria was on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
___
AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro and Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/07/24/jan-6-panel-deepens-probe-trump-cabinet-awaits-thomas/ | 2022-07-24T20:52:23Z |
International Children's Gym Celebrates National Gymnastics Day with Complimentary Intro Class
DALLAS, Sept. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Little Gym, the world's premier enrichment and physical development center for children ages four months through 12, is welcoming new and past faces to join their local gym to celebrate National Gymnastics Day Sept. 17, 2022.
"Gymnastics has numerous benefits for all children and sets a strong foundation for developing the body, mind and heart," said Taryn H. Parker, Director of Curriculum and Training. "We're thrilled to be able to celebrate with little ones across the country and watch them grow on this special day at our gyms."
Through gymnastic classes for children at The Little Gym, children grow their skills across three different developmental domains: Get Moving (Physical Skills), Brain Boost (Cognitive Development) and Citizen Kid (Social & Emotional Intelligence). All three of these make up The Little Gym's proprietary 3-Dimensional Learning Approach.
Below are five key reasons why gymnastics benefits children:
- Aspires Young Athletes - Gymnastics provides children with a strong foundation to pursue any sport. At The Little Gym, it's building blocks or 'ABCs of Fitness': agility, balance and coordination. Exposing your child to gymnastics at any age and stage is beneficial. Gymnastics is the true springboard in your child's life adventures, as kids learn transferable skills that will give them the confidence to try any sport and discover their passion.
- Improves Self-Confidence - Coupled with supportive instruction, gymnastics develops children's self-confidence. With every attempt at improving a cartwheel, kids learn how to try, and most importantly – to try again. The more children try new things and acquire new skills, the more confidence they have in themselves.
- Helps Maintain a Well-Balanced Lifestyle - Learning balance goes way beyond simple beam skills. Gymnasts learn how to balance their commitment to this sport along with the importance of self-care, their responsibilities in school and dedication to family and friends.
- Develops Leadership Mindset - At The Little Gym, a teaching philosophy is that, "It is OK to make mistakes" since every mistake is a future learning opportunity. When a child learns to master a specific gymnastic skill, like a handstand, they develop a solution-oriented mindset, by asking themselves, "What worked? What can I do better next time?" Mindset is a foundational skill in our next generation of leaders.
- Promotes Positive Body Image and Self-Esteem - In our non-competitive environment, every child is accepted for who they are. Gymnastics provides an opportunity for your child to feel fit, strong, capable and proud of their body. Everybody is different, and when these differences are celebrated in a safe, secure and healthy environment, children can truly unlock their potential.
The brand is currently offering complimentary introduction classes for families through this link: https://www.unleashedfamily.com/. The Little Gym prides itself on providing support to children in all areas of development. From motor and language development to social and emotional development, parents continue to bring their children to The Little Gym to hone the skills they may not learn elsewhere through three-dimensional learning.
With nearly 400 locations across 31 countries, The Little Gym teaches kids social and physical skills appropriate to each stage of childhood by creating opportunities to experience achievement and build self-confidence.
For more information about The Little Gym, class schedules, events, parties and to find your nearest location, please visit www.TheLittleGym.com. Also connect with The Little Gym on social media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Little Gym is an internationally recognized program that helps children build the developmental skills and confidence needed at each stage of childhood. The Little Gym's first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator with a genuine love for children. The Little Gym International, LLC., was formed in 1992 to franchise The Little Gym concept. The brand is part of Unleashed Brands, a global growth-focused platform company that curates and expands franchise brands that help kids learn, play and grow, including Snapology, Urban Air Adventure Park, Premier Martial Arts, Class 101 and XP League. The Little Gym International has nearly 400 locations in over 31 countries including the U.S., Canada, China, the United Kingdom, Thailand and more. For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com.
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SOURCE The Little Gym International, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/14/5-reasons-why-gymnastics-benefits-children-all-ages/ | 2022-09-14T14:30:36Z |
Avfuel to purchase 1 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) over 20 years—the largest publicly-announced SAF commitment to serve business aviation
Alder partnering with Avfuel to leverage its global network for supply, logistics and carbon services, accelerating worldwide SAF adoption
ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Avfuel Corporation today announced a multimillion-dollar investment in Alder Fuels—a clean tech company pioneering first-of-its-kind technologies for producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at scale.
Avfuel is making the investment through its subsidiary, Avfuel Technology Initiatives Corporation (ATIC).
Alder Fuels converts abundant biomass, such as regenerative grasses and forest and agricultural residues, into sustainable, low-carbon crude oil that replaces fossil crude in existing refineries producing aviation fuel. When calculating the fuel production carbon life cycle from field to wingtip, Alder's technology has the ability to produce an ultra-low to negative carbon crude oil that, when refined, meets current jet fuel specifications. Alder's biocrude refined into SAF is currently in the process of global certification as a 100% drop-in replacement for petroleum-based jet fuel and anticipates the SAF will become available in the first quarter of 2024.
As part of the agreement, Avfuel will purchase 1 billion gallons of SAF over a 20-year period, and use the SAF to supply both business and commercial aviation globally. Avfuel's purchase agreement is the first ever long-term offtake from a fuel supplier, making this partnership the largest publicly-announced SAF agreement in business aviation history and opening the door to realizing business aviation's commitment to obtaining net-zero status by 2050.
"Avfuel is committed to providing sustainable solutions for its customers, including business aviation, fixed based operators and airlines," said C.R. Sincock, executive vice president of Avfuel. "We have been a forerunner in supplying SAF to business aviation and this transformative agreement builds upon our commitment to lead its adoption. Avfuel is making investments via ATIC to ensure SAF is available and we are excited to partner with Alder in scaling the fuel globally. This is an important milestone in business aviation's SAF adoption story, but we realize reaching net zero targets will require a collective effort industry-wide to provide and embrace sustainable fuels. Only together can we reach this new height."
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. forestry residues and agricultural residues alone could provide enough biomass energy to generate more than 17 billion gallons of jet fuel and displace 75% of U.S. aviation fuel consumption. If the U.S. were to broadly adopt regenerative agricultural practices, which capture more carbon in healthier soil compared to traditional methods, the U.S. could generate an additional seven billion gallons of SAF, which would completely replace the country's current fossil jet fuel consumption.
"Imagine we can eliminate the harmful carbon added to our atmosphere when refining oil to jet fuel. Alder's technology delivers this dream by converting globally available biomass to green crude oil scalable to meet the aviation industry's demand at a cost competitive with petroleum," said Bryan Sherbacow, Alder Fuels CEO. "Today, Avfuel's historic SAF contract and investment once again demonstrates its global leadership in business and commercial aviation fuel supply by helping Alder and the industry establish an international logistics and supply network for zero carbon SAF."
Prior to founding Alder, Sherbacow built the world's first SAF refinery in collaboration with Honeywell and United Airlines in Paramount, Calif. Alder's research is supported by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the DOE and a partnership with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), focused on developing technology to process organic waste and sustainable, non-food plant material into carbon-negative transportation fuels.
Avfuel provides fuel and services—including sustainable fuel and initiatives—to the global aviation industry and is the leading independent supplier in the United States. Established as a supply and logistics company nearly 50 years ago, Avfuel is core competent in every aspect that surrounds the delivery of fuel—from refinery to wingtip. Avfuel combines global access with personalized service throughout a fueling network of more than 3,000 locations worldwide and 650+ Avfuel-branded FBOs. Our 100% dedication to aviation demonstrates our passion and commitment to a global community that prospers on the movement of goods and services around the world. For more information, visit www.avfuel.com.
Alder Fuels, founded by biofuel and aviation industry entrepreneur Bryan Sherbacow, is a process technology and project development company in the low-carbon to negative-carbon energy industry. Alder is commercializing a process to produce bio crude oil that is low carbon and carbon negative depending upon the bio-feedstock, scalable, and cost-competitive with the petroleum it replaces. Critical to rapid, world-scale deployment, the process will be compatible with the existing petroleum refining and logistics infrastructure. The company's collaboration with United Airlines, Honeywell UOP and, now, Avfuel Corporation is expected to propel use of new forms of biomass to power commercial and business aircraft, reduce fossil fuel consumption and commercialize technologies benefiting the public. It builds upon the stakeholders' collective mission to pioneer commercialization of industry-leading SAF technology. For more information about Alder Fuels, visit http://www.alderfuels.com/.
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SOURCE Alder Fuels; Avfuel | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/avfuel-invests-clean-tech-company-alder-fuels-powering-largest-global-business-aviation-sustainable-fuel-agreement-history/ | 2022-06-16T13:30:55Z |
ALBANY – Is they is, or is they ain’t? When it comes to the dispute between Albany and Dougherty County on the question of sales tax dollars, the two sides seem to have come to an impasse, although both say they’re looking to compromise.
Both the city and county claim they are negotiating in good faith, but they have yet to reach an agreement after three weeks of back-and-forth.
The dispute centers around the city’s request to receive a larger share of the anticipated $100 million in revenue from the next special-purpose local-option sales tax than the previous split that gave Albany 64% of proceeds and 36% to the county. The city has requested a 70-30 split in its favor.
The clock is ticking, as the two sides have only days in which to send a referendum question to the state for inclusion on the November general election ballot.
The city’s argument boils down to this: It needs additional money to fund mandated stormwater/sewer separation; 82 percent of Dougherty County’s residents live within the city limits so it deserves a larger share, and that it provides vastly more services than does the county.
The county’s counter is that its spending for the anticipated $36 million it would receive under the current division includes $10 million inside the city limits of Albany and that it needs the money to fund capital projects to maintain the jail, courthouse and cover public safety equipment outlays, including ambulances and police department needs.
Last week, the city requested that the two sides engage in a non-binding arbitration process, which county officials said was a waste of time since it would not produce a binding agreement. The city also has asked that the arbitrator hear both sides on the separate local-option sales tax (LOST), which can be used for day-to-day operating expenses, as opposed to the SPLOST that can be used only for capital outlays like buildings and equipment.
“That’s what the law says,” Albany Mayor Bo Dorough said of the arbitration process. “It’s a legal procedure. Why would anybody say it’s a waste of time? Why would the county have a problem with someone who is qualified coming in and making a decision?”
The sewage system not only benefits city residents but also serves 900 households with a population of 2,000 outside the city, the mayor said. And, he added, 95 percent of sales taxes generated are assessed in businesses within the city.
The city is under a federal mandate to complete 85 percent separation of stormwater and sewage by June 2025 or face stiff daily fines. During heavy rains, the combined system overflows into the Flint River, and the project had an estimated cost of $105 million in 2019, a cost that may grow substantially due to inflation.
During an interview last week, Dougherty County Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas said the city’s request would amount to paying for a problem the city has known about for 40 years on the backs of taxpayers in unincorporated areas as well as impact all county residents by virtue of siphoning off money that is necessary for constitutionally required county functions, including the jail and courts.
“You can say what you want about mistakes made in the past, but that’s not going to change the situation we face,” Dorough said. “There never has been an expenditure of this scale on the local level.”
The city has received federal and state grants and will continue to pursue grant opportunities, has earmarked $10.2 million in federal COVID-relief funds to the project and realizes that it will have to issue bonds to cover some of the costs, he said. But Dorough insists the additional sales tax dollars are needed.
“If we don’t get a significant amount of money from the SPLOST, that money is going to have to be recouped, which will mean raising (utility) rates,” Dorough said.
The mayor said the county has repeatedly refused to consider a change in the formula on division of proceeds.
“The county has repeatedly said the numbers are non-negotiable,” he said. “I don’t see how you can say you’re negotiating if you say you are going to stay with the same numbers and there’s going to be no negotiation.”
While the county has pointed to the city’s decades of inaction on fixing its aging sewer system, city officials have pointed to the county’s decision to raise employee salaries they say increased the county’s budgetary responsibilities and need for sales tax money.
During a recent negotiating session, the county abruptly ended talks without offering to compromise, City Commissioner Demetrius Young said.
“He (Cohilas) said ‘I know where my board is, I don’t see any more reason to negotiate,’” Young said. “He’s putting them in a precarious position, and he’s a lame duck” as he is leaving office in January.
“We’re saying let’s look at the governmental agreements and see if there’s going to be some way to get to a cooperative agreement. I think we could have gotten more done by talking, hashing things out. They’re always moving the goalposts.”
County Commissioner Clinton Johnson had a different recollection: the two sides, which included Cohilas, himself, along with Dorough and Young, held discussions until it became obvious the city was not going to budge from its request.
“We were supposed to do a lot of discussion,” Johnson said. “We both gave our sides. (Eventually) we said we hope cooler heads will come together. I told him (Young) earlier, you and I are not going to argue about this. We work for the same people. You’re making money off the sewer. The sewer system is making money for the city of Albany."
While the county has a smaller population, it also provides services that benefit city residents, including Emergency and Medical Services, Johnson said. The city’s larger population of 82 percent is the majority of those who have cases in the county’s courts.
The county, which contracts with the city for fire protection, also purchases firetrucks that are used both in unincorporated areas and in the city when needed, he said.
“When I asked the chief of the fire department does the city buy ambulances for the county, he said ‘No,’” Johnson said. “On the EMS side, it’s county taxes. We provide all the equipment, all the ambulances.
“We have an unincorporated (community), Putney. The city doesn’t pay anything for Putney, but we pay for that in the county budget.”
While the city is saying it is willing to negotiate on the LOST, it has a $300 million surplus in its budget due to the utility system’s revenues, Johnson said.
“It’s a childish game,” he said. “They’re playing it, we’re not. We’re negotiating.”
For his part, Dorough said the county is going to raise taxes for everyone in the county – a millage rate increase is on the County Commission’s agenda for a Monday meeting, as is discussion of the sales tax issue – for all residents within the county while also asking for a disproportionate share of sales tax dollars.
During an interview last week, Cohilas said it would be great to have a large money-maker like a utility system to make large transfers to the operating budget, a luxury the county doesn’t have.
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Severe weather, tornado in Texas injures 23
SALADO, Texas (KWTX/Gray News) - The severe weather and tornado that struck in the Salado area Tuesday evening leveled buildings, downed power lines, uprooted trees and injured at least 23 people, Bell County Judge David Blackburn said.
Of those injured, 12 required hospitalization and one appears to be in critical condition, Blackburn said.
According to the county judge, the first call regarding a tornado was received at about 5:37 p.m. Tuesday. Dozens of calls soon followed after the tornado crossed from northern Williamson County into the Salado area in southern Bell County, KWTX reported.
Blackburn said search and rescue crews have done multiple walkthroughs and, as of 10 p.m. on Tuesday, believe everyone in the storm-ravaged area is accounted for.
“Buildings were reduced to rubble and power lines are scattered all over the place,” Blackburn said, “The damage is extensive and, at this time, to not have any fatalities is very significant.”
Blackburn said the county is ready to provide an emergency shelter to those affected, but homeowners afflicted by the storm turned down help Tuesday evening.
The focus will now turn to cleaning up the debris from damaged homes and restoring downed power lines in the area.
“There will be many, many days of cleanup after this,” the county judge warned.
Copyright 2022 KWTX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/13/severe-weather-tornado-texas-injures-23/ | 2022-04-13T13:53:54Z |
LEHI, Utah, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PCF Insurance Services (PCF), a top 20 U.S. insurance brokerage firm, announced today its acquisition of John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc., a family-owned, full-service personal lines agency based in Ventura, California.
The partnership allows PCF Insurance to expand its portfolio into niche markets in the high-growth small business industries, including gym and fitness, restaurants, and apartment buildings.
Marshberry advised John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc. on the transaction.
"We're delighted to welcome the John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc. to PCF," says Peter C. Foy, Chairman, Founder, and CEO of PCF Insurance. "They have a proven track record serving clients for over 50 years in high-growth niche markets and will provide PCF with additional scale in Southern California. President Chad Peakes is an outstanding young leader keenly focused on agency growth."
PCF Insurance's agency-centric operating model and entrepreneurial environment support its tremendous growth profile, offering Agency Partners alignment through equity ownership, significant leadership incentives, and resources throughout the U.S.
"PCF Insurance has allowed us to focus on our family of customers while looking toward future growth," says Chad Peakes, President of John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc. "PCF shares our core values, and the collaboration has been exhilarating."
The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
In 2022, PCF Insurance has completed or has under a letter of intent 104 acquisitions, continuing its industry-leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) pace.
About John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc.
Headquartered in Ventura, California, John E. Peakes Insurance Agency, Inc. has been family-owned and operated since 1969. Its mission is to "treat everyone like family." They match each client with the best coverage option from over 30 different insurance companies at first interaction and each renewal. They offer personal, business, gym, fitness studios, restaurants, and apartment building insurance options. Learn more at peakesinsurance.com.
About PCF Insurance Services
A top 20 U.S. broker headquartered in Lehi, Utah, PCF Insurance Services is a leading full-service consultant and insurance brokerage firm offering a broad array of commercial, life and health, employee benefits, and workers' compensation solutions. Propelled by its people, PCF Insurance's agency-centric operating model and entrepreneurial environment support its tremendous growth profile, offering partners alignment through equity ownership, significant leadership incentives, and resources to over 3,100 employees throughout the U.S. Recognized as a top acquirer by The Hales Report, ranked #20 on Business Insurance's 2022 Top 100 Brokers and #13 on Insurance Journal's 2022 Top Property/Casualty Agencies, PCF Insurance is a notable leader in the insurance space. Learn more at pcfins.com.
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SOURCE PCF Insurance Services | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/08/18/pcf-insurance-services-acquires-california-based-john-e-peakes-insurance-agency-inc/ | 2022-08-18T15:42:59Z |
HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) ("BEST" or the "Company"), a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China and Southeast Asia ("SEA"), today announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022.
Johnny Chou, Founder, Chairman and CEO of BEST, commented, "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to weigh heavily on the overall economy growth in China and SEA. Despite these headwinds in the second quarter, BEST Supply Chain Management ("SCM") achieved profitability while BEST Freight's loss has significantly narrowed compared with the first quarter. In addition, our U.S. operations continued to be profitable for the period."
"We maintained our focus on service quality, customer experience and efficiency improvement during the quarter. BEST Freight increased its on-time delivery rate by 11.4% quarter over quarter. Freight's net loss narrowed by RMB115.7 million compared with the first quarter as we continued to reduce expenses and improve operating efficiency. BEST SCM achieved profitability due to our continuous focus on high margin key accounts and our cost reduction initiatives."
"For BEST Global, we have significantly strengthened the quality of our services, including on-time delivery improvement that benefitted from the utilization of information technology and better infrastructure management of Global's operations. We will accelerate our B2B2C and cross border business among PRC, SEA and the U.S. by synergizing with SCM and Freight. With these synergies and our cross-border initiatives, we are confident that BEST Global will return to its growth trajectory by the end of this year."
"We are encouraged by the progress we have made since the launch of our Strategic Refocusing Program. Today we are operating as a leaner and more focused organization. As the pandemic eases, we are confident that BEST's strength in technology, domestic and global supply chain management and logistics capabilities will allow us to rebound strongly and on the path to profitability." concluded Mr. Chou.
Gloria Fan, BEST's Chief Financial Officer, added, "While our second quarter revenue was impacted by the pandemic, we are pleased that our net loss from continuing operations narrowed significantly by RMB87.5 million or 27.1% quarter over quarter, excluding the one-time expenses associated with the Capital wind-down and ADS ratio change. We also maintained a strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments of RMB4.4 billion, and a net cash position of RMB1.4 billion at the end of the second quarter. As we drive value for our customers through our Freight, integrated Supply Chain Management and Global logistics solutions, we believe we are on the right path to deliver sustainable growth and profitability."
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS(1)
For the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2022:(2)
- Revenue was RMB1,926.4 million (US$287.6 million), compared to RMB3,093.3 million in the second quarter of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the winding-down of the BEST UCargo business line and lower volume of Freight and Global due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue generated from UCargo was approximately RMB0.2 million (US$0.03 million), compared with RMB860.4 million in the same quarter of 2021.
- Gross Loss was RMB93.8 million (US$14.0 million), compared to a gross profit of RMB86.2 million in the second quarter of 2021. The decrease was primarily due to the increased unit cost of the Freight and Global businesses and winding-down of the BEST Capital business line. Gross Loss Margin was 4.9%, compared to a Gross Profit Margin of 2.8% in the second quarter of 2021.
- Net Loss from continuing operations was RMB337.1 million (US$50.3 million), compared to RMB146.9 million in the second quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP Net Loss from continuing operations(3)(4) was RMB317.2 million (US$47.4 million), compared to RMB116.9 million in the second quarter of 2021.
- Diluted loss per ADS(5) from continuing operations was RMB3.88 (US$0.58), compared to a loss of RMB1.82 in the second quarter of 2021. Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS(3)(4) from continuing operations was RMB3.63 (US$0.54), compared to a loss of RMB1.43 in the second quarter of 2021.
- EBITDA(6) from continuing operations was negative RMB287.2 million (US$42.9 million), compared to negative RMB80.6 million in the second quarter of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA(6) from continuing operations was negative RMB267.3 million (US$39.9 million), compared to negative RMB50.6 million in the second quarter of 2021.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS(7)
BEST Freight – In the second quarter of 2022, the Company remained focused on developing its e-commerce related business, which contributed 20.4% of total volume, up 1.2% year over year. Freight's operations were significantly affected by the continued industry-wide logistics disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its volume decreased by 8.8% year over year, as some of its transportation fleet, hubs and sortation centers, have been restricted due to the pandemic.
However, as a result of continued expense control efforts and operating efficiency improvements in the second quarter, the net loss of Freight narrowed by RMB115.7 million or 66.8% to RMB57.4 million while its on-time delivery rate improved by 11.4% quarter over quarter.
BEST UCargo's operations and financial results are now consolidated with BEST Freight.
BEST Supply Chain Management – During the second quarter of 2022, the Company continued to grow its B2B2C fulfillment network and distribution capabilities ("Cloud OFCs") while prioritizing higher-margin accounts. The total number of orders fulfilled by Cloud OFCs increased by 7.6% quarter over quarter to 94.0 million in the second quarter of 2022, and the total number of orders fulfilled by franchised Cloud OFCs increased by 9.0% quarter over quarter to 58.9 million. SCM's gross margin improved by 3.9% to 8.2%, which led to a net profit of RMB12.1 million versus a net loss of RMB20.8 million in the first quarter of 2022.
On the year over year basis, the resurgence of the pandemic and its related controls in the second quarter has severely impacted numbers of orders fulfilled by our B2B2C fulfillment network as many of our warehouses were restricted during the quarter. The total number of orders fulfilled by Cloud OFCs decreased by 22.0% to 94.0 million in the second quarter while the total number of orders fulfilled by franchised Cloud OFCs decreased by 19.4% to 58.9 million.
BEST Global – The pandemic and its related controls significantly impacted e-commerce businesses in SEA and restrained the cross border activities between SEA and China. As a result, Global's parcel volume decreased by 20.6% year over year, which was 30.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. Despite SEA's lower volume in the second quarter, our U.S. operations continued to be profitable in the second quarter of 2022.
Others
As part of its Strategic Refocusing Program, the Company continued to wind down its Capital business line in the second quarter of 2022 and expects such winding-down to be substantially completed by the end of 2022.
Key Operational Metrics
FINANCIAL RESULTS(8)
For the Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2022:
Revenue
The following table sets forth a breakdown of revenue by business segment for the periods indicated.
- Freight Service Revenue was RMB1,208.4 million (US$180.4 million) for the second quarter of 2022, compared with RMB2,259.0 million in the same period last year, of which, RMB0.2 million and RMB860.4 million were from the legacy UCargo business line. Freight service revenue, excluding the legacy UCargo business, decreased by 13.6% year over year, primarily resulting from an 8.8% decrease in freight volume and a 5.0% decrease in average selling price per tonne.
- Supply Chain Management Service Revenue decreased by 6.0% year over year to RMB451.0 million (US$67.3 million) for the second quarter of 2022 from RMB479.6 million in the same period last year, primarily due to the restrictions on certain warehouses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the discontinuation of low-margin legacy accounts.
- Global Service Revenue decreased by 23.3% year over year to RMB241.2 million (US$36.0 million) for the second quarter of 2022 from RMB314.6 million in the same period last year, primarily due to lower parcel volume, as the pandemic and related controls significantly impacted e-commerce businesses in SEA.
Cost of Revenue
The following table sets forth a breakdown of cost of revenue by business segment for the periods indicated.
- Cost of Revenue for Freight was RMB1,302.5 million (US$194.5 million) or 107.8% of revenue in the second quarter of 2022. The 10.1% year-over-year increase in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was mainly due to higher fuel cost and additional costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Cost of Revenue for Supply Chain Management was RMB413.9 million (US$61.8 million) or 91.8% of revenue in the second quarter of 2022. The 0.8% year-over-year increase in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to restrictions on certain warehouses caused by the pandemic.
- Cost of Revenue for Global was RMB276.6 million (US$41.3 million) or 114.7% of revenue in the second quarter of 2022. The 10.3% year-over-year increase in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to lower parcel volume.
- Cost of Revenue for Others was RMB 27.3 million (US$4.1 million) or 105.5% of revenue in the second quarter of 2022. The 21.2% year-over-year increase in cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to the winding-down of the BEST Capital business line.
Gross Loss was RMB93.8 million (US$14.0 million) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to a gross profit of RMB86.2 million in the second quarter of 2021; Gross Margin was negative 4.9%, compared to positive 2.8% in the second quarter of 2021.
Operating Expenses
Selling, General and Administrative ("SG&A") Expenses were RMB326.2 million (US$48.7 million), or 16.9% of revenue, in the second quarter of 2022, compared to RMB262.3 million, or 8.5% of revenue, in the same quarter of 2021. The increase was primarily due to expenses associated with winding down the Capital business and one-time expenses related to the ADS ratio change. Excluding these one off expenses, SG&A expenses in the second quarter decreased by 1.9% year over year.
Research and Development Expenses were RMB42.1 million (US$6.3 million) or 2.2% of revenue in the second quarter of 2022, compared to RMB47.6 million or 1.5% of revenue in the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to reduced headcount and lower revenue.
Share-based Compensation ("SBC") Expenses included in the cost and expense items above were RMB19.9 million (US$3.0 million) in the second quarter of 2022, compared to RMB30.0 million in the same period of 2021. Of the total SBC expenses, RMB0.1 million (US$0.02 million) was allocated to cost of revenue, RMB1.0 million (US$0.1 million) was allocated to selling expenses, RMB17.6 million (US$2.6 million) was allocated to general and administrative expenses, and RMB1.2 million (US$0.2 million) was allocated to research and development expenses.
Net Loss and Non-GAAP Net Loss from continuing operations
Net Loss from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2022 was RMB337.1 million (US$50.3 million), compared to RMB146.9 million in the same period of 2021. Excluding SBC expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and gain from appreciation of investment, Non-GAAP Net Loss from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2022 was RMB317.2 million (US$47.4 million), compared to RMB116.9 million in the second quarter of 2021.
Diluted loss per ADS and Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS from continuing operations
Diluted loss per ADS from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2022 was RMB3.88 (US$0.58), compared to a loss of RMB1.82 in the same period of 2021. Excluding SBC expenses, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and gain from appreciation of investment, Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2022 was RMB3.63 (US$0.54), compared to a loss of RMB1.43 in the second quarter of 2021. A reconciliation of non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS to diluted loss per ADS is included at the end of this results announcement.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin from continuing operations
Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2022 was negative RMB267.3 million (US$39.9million), compared to negative RMB50.6 million in the same period of 2021. Adjusted EBITDA Margin from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2022 was negative 13.9%, compared to negative 1.6% in the same period of 2021.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Short-term Investments
As of June 30, 2022, cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were RMB4,413.0 million (US$658.9 million), compared to RMB2,935.4 million as of June 30, 2021. In June 2022, the Company bought back aggregate principal amount of US$94.8 million (RMB636.5 million) of its existing Convertible Senior Notes due 2024.
Capital Expenditures ("CAPEX")
CAPEX was RMB35.0 million (US$5.3 million) or 1.8% of total revenue in the second quarter of 2022, compared to CAPEX of RMB52.9 million or 1.7% of total revenue in the same period of 2021.
SHARES OUTSTANDING
As of August 8, 2022, the Company had approximately 392.9 million ordinary shares outstanding(10). Each American Depositary Share represents five (5) Class A ordinary shares.
FINANCIAL GUIDANCE
Due to the uncertainties relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is not providing any financial guidance or revenue outlook at this time. We are driving each of our business units toward a speedy recovery as the COVID-19 pandemic eases.
WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION
The Company will hold a conference call at 9:00 pm U.S. Eastern Time on August 17, 2022 (9:00 am Beijing Time on August 18, 2022), to discuss its financial results and operating performance for the second quarter of 2022.
Participants may access the call by dialing the following numbers:
A replay of the conference call will be accessible through August 24, 2022 by dialing the following numbers:
Please visit the Company's investor relations website to view the earnings release prior to the conference call. A live and archived webcast of the conference call and a corporate presentation will be available at the same site.
ABOUT BEST INC.
BEST Inc. (NYSE: BEST) is a leading integrated smart supply chain solutions and logistics services provider in China and SEA. Through its proprietary technology platform and extensive networks, BEST offers a comprehensive set of logistics and value-added services, including freight delivery, supply chain management and global logistics services. BEST's mission is to empower business and enrich life by leveraging technology and business model innovation to create a smarter, more efficient supply chain. For more information, please visit: http://www.best-inc.com/en/.
For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
BEST Inc.
Investor relations team
ir@best-inc.com
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Yang Song
Tel: +86-10-6508-0677
E-mail: best@tpg-ir.com
The Piacente Group, Inc.
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
E-mail: best@tpg-ir.com
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under 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," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as BEST's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. BEST may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about BEST's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: BEST's goals and strategies; BEST's future business development, results of operations and financial condition; BEST's ability to maintain and enhance its ecosystem; BEST's ability to compete effectively; BEST's ability to continue to innovate, meet evolving market trends, adapt to changing customer demands and maintain its culture of innovation; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and other countries in which BEST operates, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in BEST's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and BEST does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
In evaluating its business, BEST considers and uses non-GAAP measures, such as non-GAAP net loss/income, non-GAAP net loss/income margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, EBITDA, and non-GAAP Diluted earnings/loss per ADS, as supplemental measures in the evaluation of the Company's operating results and in the Company's financial and operational decision-making. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures that help identify underlying trends in the Company's business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of the expenses and gains that the Company includes in loss from operations and net loss. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its operating results, enhance the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by the Company's management in its financial and operational decision-making. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Nearest Comparable GAAP Measures" in the results announcement.
The non-GAAP financial measures are provided as additional information to help investors compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis and to enhance investors' overall understanding of the Company's current financial performance and prospects for the future. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, U.S. GAAP results. In addition, the Company's calculation of the non-GAAP financial measures may be different from the calculation used by other companies, and therefore comparability may be limited.
RECONCILIATIONS OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE NEAREST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES
For the Company's continuing operations, the table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's net (loss)/income to EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin for the periods indicated:
For the Company's continuing operations, the table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's net (loss)/income to non-GAAP net Income/(loss), non-GAAP net Income/(loss) margin for the periods indicated:
For the Company's continuing operations, the table below sets forth a reconciliation of the Company's diluted loss per ADS to Non-GAAP diluted loss per ADS for the periods indicated:
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SOURCE BEST Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/17/best-inc-announces-unaudited-second-quarter-2022-financial-results/ | 2022-08-17T10:39:50Z |
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The BSA-AML Compliance Group and Dowling Advisory Group are proud to announce a list of high-profile speakers for the annual BSA/AML Gaming Conference in Las Vegas. The conference— the largest and most comprehensive anti-money laundering compliance conference dedicated to the gaming industry —will take place at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, September 27-29.
This year's conference includes speakers from 12 federal and state law enforcement and regulatory agencies. Whitney Case, who leads the Enforcement Division at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), will kick off the event on Tuesday, September 27 at 9:30 a.m. PDT offering guidance on fostering a culture of compliance in the gaming industry.
On Wednesday, September 28, Jim Lee, the head of IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, will deliver the keynote and discuss how law enforcement uses critical BSA data. Julie Malec, Chief of Financial Sector Investigations at the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) leads the afternoon sessions beginning at 1:30 p.m.
On Thursday, September 28, Molly Moeser from the U.S. Department of Justice's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section will deliver the keynote address, followed by a special panel discussion on "Women in Gaming".
"We are thrilled to welcome so many government officials and agencies who have agreed to share their expertise and insights with the compliance community," said James Dowling, CEO of BSA-AML Compliance Group and the Dowling Advisory Group. "Given the evolving regulatory demands, partnerships between regulators and the gaming industry are more important than ever. This conference is a critical bridge for that relationship."
Attendees will have a chance to meet face-to-face with IRS-BSA Examiners, state gaming regulators, and law enforcement to learn about money laundering, sanctions evasion, fraud, and cyber threats to their casinos.
The full conference agenda and registration can be found here.
The annual BSA/AML Gaming Conference is the largest and most comprehensive anti-money laundering compliance conference dedicated to the gaming industry. The conference brings together regulators, law enforcement officials, and subject matter experts to help the gaming industry comply with the Bank Secrecy Act and related regulations.
The BSA-AML Compliance Group provides FinTech, emerging payments companies, and the gaming industry with knowledge-based training related to anti-money laundering and other illicit finance issues.
More information about DAG can be found here.
Media Contact
Shellee Smith
(626) 319-1062
shellee@dowlingadvisory.com
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SOURCE Dowling Advisory Group | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/09/01/bsaaml-gaming-conference-announces-keynote-speakers/ | 2022-09-01T16:41:36Z |
Aventon Alaira First Occupied Last October, Stabilized this March, and Sold in May
ORLANDO, Fla., June 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As demand within the Central Florida multifamily market continues to climb, Aventon Companies, a prominent, vertically integrated multifamily developer with active projects throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast, announces that Aventon Alaira stabilized in just five months and has now sold.
Boasting 296 luxury units spread across a nearly 11-acre property, Aventon Alaira hit 100% occupancy in-mid March, with nearly 60 new residents moving in each month.
"Aventon Alaira has set a new record in the market for lease-up pace," said Burk Hedrick, Vice President of Development for Aventon Companies. "We are thrilled with the success that we have seen for this region and look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional living environments across Orlando."
Since 2019, Aventon Companies has assembled an impressive $1.5 billion portfolio of ground-up developments expected to bring nearly 6,000 Aventon-branded apartment homes to Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and the Mid-Atlantic.
Aventon Companies acquires, develops, and manages multifamily communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic with regional offices in West Palm Beach, FL, Orlando, FL, Raleigh, NC and Bethesda, MD. To learn more, visit www.aventoncompanies.com.
Media Contact:
Kristen Skladd
586-222-2423
kristen@andersoncollaborative.com
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SOURCE Aventon Companies | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/02/aventon-companies-continues-success-orlando-multifamily-market-with-aventon-alaira-achieving-100-occupancy-under-five-months/ | 2022-06-02T13:18:54Z |
SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Accuray Incorporated (NASDAQ: ARAY) announced today that Sandeep Chalke has joined the company as senior vice president, chief commercial officer effective May 16, 2022. Mr. Chalke will have responsibility for the global commercial, product development, R&D and engineering functions for the company reporting to Accuray president and forthcoming CEO, Suzanne Winter.
Mr. Chalke brings more than 25 years of medical device expertise in commercialization, business development and operations, spanning multiple healthcare industry segments including interventional catheterization systems, diagnostic x-ray, C-arm linear accelerators, anesthesia and respiratory care, advanced wound dressing & diabetes. Most recently, he served as president, Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions at Vyaire Medical, a global respiratory care manufacturer, where he had full P&L responsibility along with oversight of select manufacturing sites. Prior to Vyaire, Mr. Chalke held various global leadership positions at Medtronic, Acelity, Inc. and GE Healthcare, where he led the development of new products and service solutions, established new markets and partnerships with government organizations and private payors to drive revenue growth, margin expansion and technology leadership.
"Sandeep has a track record of delivering commercial growth, advancing global market expansion and building world class customer support organizations. We welcome Sandeep to the Accuray team and look forward to his leadership in driving customer centricity throughout our organization and accelerating our commercialization strategy across global markets," said Suzanne Winter, president of Accuray. "I believe Sandeep's multi-sector medtech industry background will enable him to bring a unique perspective to our business that will help the Accuray team deliver on our corporate objectives."
"I am thrilled to join the Accuray team and have been impressed with the organization's passion and commitment to creating a better future for cancer patients through technology innovation and advancing radiation therapy care. I look forward to leading the company's efforts to drive patient access, gain market share and create long term value for all stakeholders," said Sandeep Chalke.
About Accuray
Accuray is committed to expanding the powerful potential of radiation therapy to improve as many lives as possible. We invent unique, market-changing solutions that are designed to deliver radiation treatments for even the most complex cases—while making commonly treatable cases even easier—to meet the full spectrum of patient needs. We are dedicated to continuous innovation in radiation therapy for oncology, neuro-radiosurgery, and beyond, as we partner with clinicians and administrators, empowering them to help patients get back to their lives, faster. Accuray is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, with facilities worldwide. To learn more, visit www.accuray.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
Safe Harbor Statement
Statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate, but are not limited, expectations related to value creation, revenue growth, and margin expansion and expectations regarding the transition of leadership, including related to the company's plans, goals and objectives. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the company's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of the company and those of its customers and suppliers; disruptions to our supply chain, including increased logistics costs; the company's ability to achieve widespread market acceptance of its products, including new product and software offerings; the company's ability to develop new products or enhance existing products to meet customers' needs and compete favorably in the market, the company's ability to realize the expected benefits of the China joint venture and other partnerships; risks inherent in international operations; the company's ability to effectively manage its growth; the company's ability to maintain or increase its gross margins on product sales and services; delays in regulatory approvals or the development or release of new offerings; the company's ability to meet the covenants under its credit facilities; the company's ability to convert backlog to revenue; and such other risks identified under the heading "Risk Factors" in the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 29, 2022 and as updated periodically with the company's other filings with the SEC.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available to the company at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, investors should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Media Contact
Beth Kaplan
Accuray
+1 (408) 789-4426
bkaplan@accuray.com
Investor Contact
Aman Patel, CFA
Investor Relations, ICR-Westwicke
+1 (443) 450-4191
aman.patel@westwicke.com
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SOURCE Accuray Incorporated | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/17/accuray-appoints-sandeep-chalke-svp-chief-commercial-officer/ | 2022-05-17T11:45:55Z |
GREENVILLE, S.C., May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A revolutionary temperature and pressure (TAP) sensing insole for diabetics, created by XtremedX, was recently named a TOP 20 New Diabetic Device for 2022 by the Diabetes Center Berne (DCB) in Berne, Switzerland. This is an international competition with the winners chosen by a panel of judges who are leading experts in diabetes care. XtremedX's TAP sensing insole was one of only two products selected from the US as a leading innovative device for the management of diabetes.
Failure to heal a diabetic foot ulcer is a leading cause of hospitalization, amputation, disability, and death among people with diabetes. XtremedX TAP sensing insole for diabetics helps with daily monitoring of the feet, which can reduce diabetic foot ulcers by up to 85%. The sensor detects differences over time between both feet. Accumulated data from the sensor is then sent to the patient, caregiver, and/or physician via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular technology for monitoring. An alert is provided by the insole at the first sign that an ulcer could potentially develop - often 4-6 weeks before the onset of symptoms. This allows the patient to take preventative measures to avoid an ulcer or further complications including amputation of lower extremities.
"We're honored that we've been selected by the Diabetes Center Berne for this innovation challenge among all of the other incredible ideas and inventions to improve diabetes care," said Carl Marshbanks, CEO of XtremedX. "It's been an exciting time for our team, as we also recently were recognized as a first-place winner of the WeaRAcon 2022 international wearable robotics association conference this year. We've set out to create a product that will truly impact the management of diabetes and we're glad to see that leaders in our industry believe in our mission as well."
Each of the 20 companies with devices selected by Diabetes Center Berne participated in a pitch round this May where they presented their devices to a panel of DCB judges. These judges will select the top three finalists to participate in a bootcamp taking place on June 20 - 24 in Switzerland to develop their ideas with the help of the experts at DCB. After the bootcamp, a winner will be chosen on November 30 to be awarded $100,000 to fund further development of their innovation.
Diabetes Center Berne was created to advance diabetes care by bringing together some of the world's leading experts to drive thought and innovation and provide access to clinical research facilities, laboratories, workspaces, and financial resources. Their innovation challenge provides an opportunity for companies with forward thinking ideas from around the world to make the greatest impact on the future of diabetes management.
ABOUT XTREMEDX
XtremedX LLC strives to develop the most technically advanced products, improving the quality of patient's lives. They innovate technologically advanced products for Orthopedics, Surgery, DME (Durable Medical Equipment), and Smart Sensor Technology. Their mission is to create products that help to improve patient outcomes and reduce overall health care costs. As a Top Biomechanics Solutions Provider of 2021, they are also named a TOP 20 New Diabetic Device for 2022 by the Diabetes Center Berne, and a recipient of first-place award at the international wearable robotics association conference, WeaRAcon 2022. For more information, please visit www.xtremedx.com.
ABOUT DIABETES CENTER BERNE
Diabetes Center Berne is a private, independent Swiss foundation established in 2017. It helps research projects and business ideas to grow. Based in Switzerland, DCB provides expertise, access to clinical research facilities and its own laboratories and workspaces, and funding to projects around the world. It is located on the Insel Campus in the Swiss capital Bern. DCB works in close scientific partnership with the Department of Diabetology, Endocrinology, Nutritional Medicine and Metabolism of the Inselspital Bern (UDEM), a university hospital with a stellar international reputation in the field of diabetes technology.
Diabetes Center Berne
Freiburgstrasse 3
CH-3010 Bern
www.dcberne.com
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SOURCE XtremedX | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/diabetes-center-berne-selects-xtremedx-diabetic-shoe-insole-top-20-new-diabetic-device-2022/ | 2022-05-18T19:35:14Z |
Other distinguished alumni, including Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Idan Ofer and Minister of Economy and Industry of Israel Orna Barbivay, will join Braverman on stage.
HAIFA, Israel, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inna Braverman, Founder and CEO of Eco Wave Power Global AB (publ) (Nasdaq Capital Market: WAVE) ("Eco Wave Power'' or the "Company"), has been selected as a recipient of an honorary fellowship from the University of Haifa, the largest research university in northern Israel. Braverman is the youngest person in the history of the university to receive such honorary fellowship.
Braverman, a University of Haifa alumni, will receive the honorary fellowship alongside three other recipients during the University of Haifa's 50th Board of Governor's Gala on June 20 at Caesarea National Park.
Also receiving honorary fellowships will be:
- Maj. Gen. Orna Barbivay, Minister of Economy and Industry
- Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, Director General of the Ministry of Defense
- Mr. Idan Ofer, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur.
"It is really touching to be recognized with this distinguished honorary fellowship from my alma mater," said Braverman, who had founded Eco Wave Power when she was just 24. "To be in the same company as these distinguished leaders is truly humbling. I am also extremely proud to be a University of Haifa alumnus, as the university recently became the first Israeli University to adopt the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showing its true commitment to sustainability and the future of our planet."
"University of Haifa puts a strong emphasis on social and environmental sustainability, in accordance with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The University, and its leading researchers are fully committed to act according to such goals, and we hope to inspire our students and alumni to peruse the same principles. As a result, we are extremely proud of Inna Braverman, for founding Eco Wave Power, which is working towards wave energy commercialization. We find Inna's work to be truly admirable and we wish her best of luck in her ambitious goal of changing the world, one wave at time," said Prof. Ron Robin, University of Haifa president.
The 50th Board of Governors Gala, titled "Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future," will feature the award ceremony, as well as a special joint concert with multi-platinum recording artist Rami Kleinstein and Pablo Rosenberg. The university will also honor Elie Horn, a noted Brazilian businessman and philanthropist, with an honorary doctorate at the gala.
About Eco Wave Power Global AB (publ)
Eco Wave Power is a leading onshore wave energy technology company that developed a patented, smart and cost-efficient technology for turning ocean and sea waves into green electricity. Eco Wave Power's mission is to assist in the fight against climate change by enabling commercial power production from the ocean and sea waves.
Eco Wave Power is recognized as a "Pioneering Technology" by the Israeli Ministry of Energy and was labelled as an "Efficient Solution" by the Solar Impulse Foundation. Eco Wave Power received funding from the European Union Regional Development Fund, Innovate UK and the European Commission's Horizon 2020 framework program. The Company has also received the "Global Climate Action Award" from the United Nations.
Eco Wave Power's common American Depository Shares (WAVE) are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market. More info: www.ecowavepower.com
Information on, or accessible through, the websites mentioned above does not form part of this press release.
For more information, please contact:
Inna Braverman, CEO
Inna@ecowavepower.com
+97235094017
For additional investor/media inquiries, please contact:
Investor Contact:
Matt Chesler, CFA
FNK IR
+1.646.809.2183
wave@fnkir.com
Media Inquiries:
Jacob Scott, Vectis Strategies
+1.412.445.7719
jscott@vectisstrategies.com
About University of Haifa
The University of Haifa, the largest research university in northern Israel, is the first Israeli university to adopt the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The University's distinctive mission is to foster academic excellence in an atmosphere of tolerance and multiculturalism. Our faculty and student population is unique in its composition. Here, Jews, Arabs, Druze, Haredi and secular students, new immigrants and military and security personnel come together to study, teach and learn.
Driven by unusual crossings between fields of research and social responsibility, the University of Haifa is creating a new learning environment, a stronger community, and a better Israeli society.
This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com
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SOURCE EWPG Holding AB (publ) | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/inna-braverman-founder-ceo-eco-wave-power-receive-honorary-fellowship-university-haifa/ | 2022-06-16T12:49:10Z |
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, THIRDREALITY, a brand focuses on researching and developing smart home products, unveiled a new home automation product---- THIRDREALITY Smart Button, with which home automation system will become easy and efficient. No need for wiring, the design of THIRDREALITY Smart Button is compact and simple, and can be installed almost everyplace with the double-sided tape or magnetic strips.
Using standard ZigBee 3.0 protocol, THIRDREALITY Smart Button is compatible with the mainstream ZigBee 3.0 hubs in the market. In additions, as a standard Zigbee device, the power consumption of the Smart Button is extremely low. Equipped with two AAA batteries, it can stay work for almost three years.
Three types of control setting and four-color options offer more scenarios and DIY choices ---- each setting can be used to a different event and different color can be installed in different area of your house which simplify your home automation system to a great extent. In the daily life, you may have some constant scenarios---- turn off some lights and close the blind when watching movies at home, turn off all the lights before sleeping or turn on some lights when arriving home. The repetitive things can be burdensome, however, with THIRDREALITY Smart Button, you can assign the daily scenarios to one of button presses. For example, using one press turns off all lights. It's pretty convenient and cool! And, you can attach the Smart Button with the stickers which is provided, so that your family will clearly know what is controlled by each Smart Button.
THIRDREALITY Smart Button is on sale at Amazon now. You can find them at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZQQX3HC.
Third Reality, Inc. is an innovative smart home products company which committes to deliver the top quality, user-friendly products. The product portfolio includes the popular smart switch, Zigbee hub, smart motion sensor, smart door sensor, smart water leak sensor, smart plug, smart blinds and newly added smart button.
For more information and products about THIRDREALITY, you can visit the official website at: https://www.3reality.com/
Related Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThirdReality.offical
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thirdrealityinc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG_rpEZrPoJNErGtvh5juHg
Contact:
Tina. Zhu
info@3reality.com
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SOURCE Third Reality | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/06/22/third-reality-inc-launches-new-smart-home-product-thirdreality-smart-button-aims-simplifying-your-smart-home/ | 2022-06-22T15:53:33Z |
Another solid month of US hiring expected despite obstacles
By PAUL WISEMAN
AP Economics Writer
Defying a pandemic and supply chain disruptions, the U.S. economy has cranked out more than 400,000 jobs every month for nearly a year — a blazing winning streak in wildly uncertain times. And despite surging inflation, the hiring wave likely continued last month in the face of yet another jolt: Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has unsettled the economic outlook and catapulted gasoline prices to painful levels. Economists surveyed by the data firm FactSet expect the Labor Department’s jobs report for March to show that employers added an additional 478,000 jobs and that unemployment rate dipped from 3.8% to 3.7%. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-national-business/2022/03/31/another-solid-month-of-us-hiring-expected-despite-obstacles/ | 2022-04-01T08:24:56Z |
The New Dialogue Will Convene Workers, Employers, Educators, and Many Other Experts to Explore Best Practices and Roadways to Better Jobs in a Challenging Economy
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, a nonprofit leader in bridging divides and finding collaborative solutions to intractable issues, announced the launch this month of a new project: the Convergence Dialogue on Pathways to Better Jobs (Pathways Dialogue), supported in part by Walmart and Fetzer Institute. The project will convene leaders across economic and ideological spectrums to discuss how to tackle challenges currently facing job seekers in a U.S. economy that has seen rapid transformation in recent years.
"The COVID-19 pandemic produced widespread economic collapse, exposing and exacerbating many pre-existing challenges and barriers that low- and moderate-income workers face to achieve financial security and upward mobility," said David Eisner, President and CEO of Convergence. "Through this Dialogue, participants will seek ways to better connect job seekers with appropriate opportunities to build worker skills and qualifications, and to help them navigate options to build economic mobility and financial security for their future."
Through its flagship bridge-building program, Convergence is deeply committed to serving as a neutral third-party to provide a confidential and collaborative space for leaders and doers – many of whom never thought they could talk to one another – to come together in year-long Dialogues to find common ground, build trust, develop consensus solutions, and move forward unlikely alliances to achieve constructive change on intractable issues. Convergence's proven methodology includes three phases: assessment, dialogue, and implementation, with the goal of impacting communities by inspiring collaboration over conflict.
This latest Dialogue is the third in a series of projects focused on economic mobility. In 2018, Convergence concluded a project entitled 'Working Up', which focused on finding ways to reduce America's opportunity gap and identify solutions to help lower-income Americans achieve upward mobility. In 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many participants from 'Working Up' urged Convergence to reconvene them; Convergence then organized the project 'Economic Recovery for America's Workers', with a short-term mandate that aimed to address the wide-ranging economic issues brought on and exacerbated by the pandemic. The Pathways Dialogue represents a continuation, and evolution, of these discussions that will focus on two specific pathways that can lead to better jobs:
- Apprenticeships
- Associate Degrees, Technical and Certificate Programs
"We are excited to support the Convergence Dialogue on Pathways to Better Jobs and its goal to bring organizations and individuals together with a shared vision of economic mobility for America's workers," said Shannon Rowan, senior manager, opportunity at Walmart. "We are looking forward to being part of this process and the impact we can make when we come together on solutions for workers to build skills and connect with opportunities."
The launch of the Pathways Dialogue will feature a virtual panel discussion moderated by Anita Chandramohan, Director of the Pathways Dialogue. She will be joined by Dr. Stephen Goldsmith, Derek Bok Professor of the Practice of Urban Policy and the Director of Data-Smart City Solutions at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government; Dr. Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua, Professor of Engineering and Coordinator of the Smart Manufacturing Technology Program at Ohlone College in Fremont, California; and Della Adams, Upward Academy Program Manager, Tyson Foods.
Those wishing to attend a virtual discussion that marks the official launch on May 24th at 12:00pm ET can do so by registering here.
To learn more about the Convergence Dialogue on Pathways to Better Jobs, and to read the paper that summarizes Convergence's findings during the assessment period and provides the frame around which the Dialogue has formed, please visit: https://convergencepolicy.org/latest-projects/pathways-to-better-jobs/
About Convergence Center for Policy Resolution
Convergence is a national non-profit with locations in Washington, D.C. and the Bay Area that convenes individuals and organizations with divergent views to build trust, identify solutions and form alliances for action on issues of critical public concern. Learn more at: https://convergencepolicy.org.
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SOURCE Convergence Center for Policy Resolution | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/19/convergence-dialogue-pathways-better-jobs-dialogue-set-launch/ | 2022-05-19T12:30:33Z |
Vicky Bowman is seen in March of 2017. The former British ambassador to Myanmar and her husband were jailed on September 2 by the country's ruling military junta.
Myanmar's military junta on Friday sentenced former British ambassador Vicky Bowman and her husband to one year in prison, a UK Foreign Office source with knowledge of the matter told CNN.
The couple were detained in Yangon last month after being accused by authorities of violating immigration laws. Myanmar military authorities alleged the address Bowman had registered to her visa did not match her residence. Breaches of Myanmar's Immigration Act carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Bowman's sentencing comes the same day as Myanmar's deposed former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was found guilty of electoral fraud and sentenced to three years in prison with hard labor.
Bowman served as Britain's top diplomat to the Southeast Asian nation from 2002 to 2006. After completing her posting as ambassador, Bowman remained in the country as the founder of the non-governmental organization Myanmar Center for Responsible Business.
Bowman, who served as Britain's top diplomat to the Southeast Asian nation from 2002 to 2006, was detained by authorities last month, along with her husband, Htein Lin.
Bowman's husband, Htein Lin, a Myanmar national, is a prominent artist and former political prisoner who spent six and a half years behind bars over his role in the student-led uprisings against the old military junta in 1998. He was released in 2004.
A UK Foreign Office spokesperson told CNN that the government would "continue to support Ms. Bowman and her family until their case is resolved."
Ming Yu Hah, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for East and Southeast Asia Campaigns condemned the news in a statement, calling the ruling "extremely concerning."
"The latest reports on the conviction of the former UK ambassador and her Burmese artist husband are extremely concerning. Myanmar's military has a notorious track record of arresting and jailing people on politically motivated or trumped-up charges," Yu Hah said.
Last month, the British government announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting businesses linked to Myanmar's junta, which took power in a bloody coup in February 2021.
Meanwhile, Friday's verdict against Suu Kyi is the latest in a string of punishments meted out against the 77-year-old and means she now faces 20 years in prison.
However, this is the first time Suu Kyi -- a figurehead of opposition to decades of military rule in the country -- has been sentenced to hard labor since the coup last year.
Friday's trial related to the November 2020 general election that her National League for Democracy won in a landslide, defeating a party created by the military. Three months after that election the military seized power to prevent Suu Kyi's party forming a government, alleging electoral fraud.
Suu Kyi and her party deny those allegations and say they won the election fairly.
Rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns about the punishment of pro-democracy activists in the country since the coup. In July, the junta executed two prominent pro-democracy activists and two other men accused of terrorism, following a trial condemned by the UN and rights groups.
The Westover football team's defense scored five times on Spencer turnovers — two interceptions and three fumbles — and the Patriots breezed to a 45-16 win on Sept. 1, 2022. (Photos: Joe Whitfield) Click for more.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/myanmar-junta-sentences-ex-british-ambassador-to-one-year-in-prison-over-immigration-charges/article_e9640d1d-a665-5d1f-81e0-e491a7bbc5b2.html | 2022-09-02T13:39:11Z |
$51 million COVID-19 bonus headed to Kansas health care workers
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Kansas health care workers are in for a bonus for their outstanding work during the COVID-19 pandemic - of about $51 million.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly says $51 million in bonuses is headed to Medicaid home and community-based service providers in June 2022. She said the bonuses will benefit about 24,000 direct support workers in the Sunflower State and each employee could receive up to a $2,000 bonus.
“Our direct care workers have worked tirelessly to provide exceptional care to vulnerable Kansans during the pandemic and beyond,” Gov. Kelly said. “We recognize the hard work direct care workers do, and we’ll build on this opportunity as an incentive to recruit and retain qualified staff.”
Kelly noted provider agencies will get a payment amount based on the number of current direct care workers and immediate supervisors. She said all funds will go straight to direct service workers and their immediate supervisors.
Additionally, the Governor indicated as an incentive to bring more direct support workers to the field, agencies will get $1,500 per new staff member for a recruitment bonus.
Kelly said the bonus payments have been made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed into law in March 2021 to provide enhanced federal funds for Medicaid HCBS through a single-year 10% increase to the state’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentages.
The Governor noted the FMAPs are the percentage rates used to decide the amount of matching federal funds allocated each year for state expenditures to social services and state and medical insurance programs.
Kelly said the funds will be distributed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. She said the distribution plan has received federal approval and is meant to improve access to quality services and increase capacity for Kansans, including those with disabilities and behavioral health challenges, to receive care in their homes and communities and to serve as a catalyst to enhance provider staffing.
Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/04/06/51-million-covid-19-bonus-headed-kansas-health-care-workers/ | 2022-04-06T17:07:31Z |
New advisory board members will help solar steam leader meet the soaring demand for industrial decarbonization
NEW YORK, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, GlassPoint, the leader in decarbonizing the production of materials essential to the energy transition, announced that the 29th Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, and the former COO of Alcoa, Tomas Sigurdsson, have joined its Advisory Board. The new Advisory Board members bring a unique mix of global leadership advancing sustainability in industrial operations. They will play a key role in helping GlassPoint bring its category-defining solar steam solution to help a wide range of industries essential to the energy transition achieve net-zero commitments, with a focus on mining, metals and manufacturing.
Malcolm Turnbull is a former Prime Minister of Australia and a notable advocate for clean energy. Before his term as the 29th Prime Minister of Australia, he held a number of parliamentary positions, including Minister for Environment and Water Resources. Before entering parliament in 2004, Mr. Turnbull was a successful trial lawyer and investment banker, where he led his own investment firm and served as a partner of Goldman Sachs.
Tomas Sigurdsson is CEO of HS Orka, Iceland's leading private renewable energy company. He was formerly COO and executive vice president of Alcoa, the leading producer of aluminum, alumina and bauxite. He was responsible for the daily operations of global assets of the Company's bauxite, alumina, energy and aluminum segments across geographies. He previously served as president of Alcoa EU and ME.
"Leaders of Malcolm and Tomas' caliber joining our Advisory Board signifies a massive vote of confidence for GlassPoint," said Rod MacGregor, CEO and founder of GlassPoint. "Their expertise and deep understanding of industrial market dynamics and clean energy will be invaluable in serving our mission of decarbonizing process heat at scale. I look forward to working with them to meet soaring demand for a proven solution that helps companies achieve net-zero commitments."
The new advisors join GlassPoint at a time when hard-to-abate industries, like mining and metals, are increasingly seeking ways to cost-effectively reduce carbon emissions and meet net-zero commitments with rapidly approaching deadlines. A recent survey found that one fifth (21%) of the world's 2,000 largest public companies have committed to meeting net-zero targets. These companies together represent sales of nearly $14 trillion.
"The world can't meet its net-zero pledges unless industrial players make enormous leaps in decarbonizing operations," said Turnbull. "Consider that it's common for large industrial plants to require more energy than many cities, much of which goes to thermal processes. Solutions like GlassPoint, which help hard-to-abate industries reduce emissions up to 80% and are available today, will play a major role in combating climate change."
"Decarbonizing industrial processes is incredibly challenging and therefore presents an enormous market opportunity," added Sigurdsson. "GlassPoint is the only proven solution to decarbonize industrial process heat at scale and represents a critical solution for industrial leaders in a range of markets."
This news comes on the heels of GlassPoint signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (MA'ADEN) to develop the world's largest solar process heat plant at MA'ADEN's Alumina refinery, a 1.5GWth facility in Ras al Khair, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
About GlassPoint
GlassPoint decarbonizes the production of materials essential to the energy transition and makes a substantial impact combating climate change. The company builds, owns and operates large-scale solar steam facilities to reduce carbon emissions in hard-to-abate industries such as mining and metals, chemicals, construction materials, desalination and more. GlassPoint is the only solution proven at scale to reduce carbon emissions from industrial process heat and has built more than half of the solar steam capacity in the world. Learn more at glasspoint.com. To learn more about GlassPoint, visit: https://www.glasspoint.com/
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SOURCE GlassPoint | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/20/former-australian-prime-minister-former-alcoa-coo-join-glasspoints-advisory-board/ | 2022-07-20T19:52:31Z |
NEW YORK, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of TrueBlue, Inc. ("TrueBlue" or the "Company") (NYSE: TBI). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether TrueBlue and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
On June 15, 2022, TrueBlue issued a press release "announc[ing] . . . that Patrick Beharelle has resigned as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors of TrueBlue, effective June 14, 2022." The Company stated that "Mr. Beharelle's resignation follows an investigation, led by outside counsel, into allegations regarding his conduct. Based on the investigation's findings, the Board of Directors determined that he had engaged in behaviors that violated TrueBlue's policies and Code of Conduct. Mr. Beharelle's conduct in question was not related to financial controls, financial statements, or business performance." On this news, TrueBlue's stock price fell sharply during intraday trading on June 15, 2022.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
CONTACT:
Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 7980
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SOURCE Pomerantz LLP | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/06/shareholder-alert-pomerantz-law-firm-investigates-claims-behalf-investors-trueblue-inc-tbi/ | 2022-07-06T04:21:17Z |
The 2023 model year cars keep rolling into dealer lots, albeit in limited supply, and the most visited review we posted this week was the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. A perennial Best SUV To Buy at The Car Connection, the Grand Cherokee has minor changes limited mostly to the 4xe plug-in hybrid model after last year’s redesign. We finally found some seat time in the 2022 Model S, and it once again impressed, in Plaid or otherwise.
Here’s what else moved us this week.
Plaid or not, the Model S offers incredible acceleration and impressive technology, but the steering yoke is a letdown. It earns a TCC Rating of 8.2 out of 10.
The BMW i4 fits an electric powertrain into a 4-Series Gran Coupe body to earn a TCC Rating of 7.8 out of 10.
The five-seat crossover SUV is mildly engaging to drive, has good standard features, and it’s the most attractive of Buick’s three remaining vehicles. It lacks the efficient powertrain options of competitors which limits its TCC Rating to 7.0 out of 10.
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee review
The legendary SUV with seats for five or seven passengers carries more tech and a higher price this year, as well as a TCC Rating of 6.8 out of 10.
Cadillac’s smallest crossover has good acceleration and a comfortable ride that overshadows a dull interior design to earn a TCC Rating of 6.2 out of 10.
The compact crossover rides well and has a good standard feature set, but it doesn’t measure up to true luxury. It earns a TCC Rating of 6.0 out of 10.
The 2023 Cadillac CT4 compact luxury sedan sports an impressive lineup and a TCC Rating of 5.6 out of 10 that would be higher based solely on the CT4-V and Blackwing models. | https://cw33.com/news/2023-jeep-grand-cherokee-2022-tesla-model-s-top-this-weeks-new-car-reviews/ | 2022-08-09T14:09:40Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new round of U.S. sanctions targeting Russian elites includes a woman named in news reports as Vladimir Putin’s longtime romantic partner.
The Treasury Department said Tuesday that the government has frozen the visa of Alina Kabaeva, an Olympic gymnast in her youth and former member of the state Duma, and imposed other property restrictions. The department said she is also head of a Russian national media company that promotes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Critics of the Kremlin and imprisoned Russian rights campaigner Alexey Navalny have been calling for sanctions against Kabaeva, saying her news outlet took the lead in portraying Western commentary on the invasion as a disinformation campaign.
The U.K. sanctioned Kabaeva in May and the EU imposed travel and asset restrictions on her in June.
Also named in Treasury’s latest sanctions package is Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev, an oligarch who owns the Witanhurst estate, a 25-bedroom mansion that is the second-largest estate in London after Buckingham Palace.
His $120 million yacht, the Alfa Nero, was also identified as blocked property. Also sanctioned was his son Andrey Andreevich Guryev and his son’s Russian investment firm Dzhi AI Invest OOO.
Christian Contardo, a former Treasury attorney now at Lowenstein Sandler LLP says “what we’ve seen is that the US government has identified that a lot of oligarchs are using family as a way to evade sanctions.”
“Some of the oligarchs will transfer ownership to their wives and children,” he said.
In April, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Putin’s adult daughters Katerina Vladimirovna Tikhonova and Maria Vladimirovna Vorontsova.
Russian steel manufacturer Publichnoe Aktsionernoe Obschestvo Magnitogorskiy Metallurgicheskiy Kombinat, also known as MMK, its chairman of the board of directors, Viktor Filippovich Rashnikov, and its subsidiaries, were also designated for financial penalties.
Additionally, the State Department reported today that 893 Russian Federation officials, including Federation Council and military members, will have their visas blocked.
“As innocent people suffer from Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Putin’s allies have enriched themselves and funded opulent lifestyles,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
“Together with our allies, the United States will also continue to choke off revenue and equipment underpinning Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated U.S. support “for the brave people of Ukraine and will continue to promote accountability for President Putin and his cronies whose actions have caused so much suffering and destruction in Ukraine. ” | https://cw33.com/news/politics/ap-politics/putins-rumored-girlfriend-hit-with-latest-u-s-sanctions/ | 2022-08-03T14:40:57Z |
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A man whose attorney said he fatally shot a Tulsa police sergeant and wounded another because he feared for his life during a traffic stop was convicted of murder Friday.
A Tulsa County jury deliberated about three hours before convicting David Anthony Ware, 34, in the death of Sgt. Craig Johnson and wounding of Officer Aurash Zarkeshan. Ware faces a possible death sentence when that phase of the trial begins Monday.
In closing arguments, Ware’s attorney, Kevin Adams, again showed jurors a still photograph taken from a police video in which Johnson is seen kicking Ware during the traffic stop early on June 29, 2020. Adams argued that Ware feared for his life because the officers beat, kicked, pepper-sprayed and shot him with a stun gun.
With those actions, police “stop being a law enforcement officer and become a lawbreaker,” Adams told jurors.
However, prosecutor Kevin Gray told jurors that Ware brought the violence on himself by refusing to comply with officers’ instructions and resisting.
“He deprived Sgt. Johnson of his unalienable right to life,” Gray told the jury.
Gray had told jurors during opening statements that Zarkeshan pulled Ware over about 3 a.m. after he saw him run a stop sign and take a wide turn into another lane of traffic. Ware then failed to produce a driver’s license or proof of insurance when Zarkeshan asked him to provide those documents, Gray said.
Zarkeshan testified that he had not watched video of the shooting because “I don’t want to see myself or my friend be shot.”
Adams told jurors during closing arguments, “You guys have done something that most members of the Tulsa Police Department haven’t: You watched the video.”
Matthew Hall was convicted of being an accessory to a felony for driving Ware from the scene after the shooting. | https://cw33.com/news/u-s-news/ap-u-s-headlines/jury-finds-man-guilty-of-murder-in-shooting-of-tulsa-police/ | 2022-04-23T12:14:24Z |
In a new spin on traditional Easter egg hunts – and with better prizes – a life-size solid gold carrot and $100,000 will go to one first place winner
HUNT VALLEY, Md., April 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The McCormick brand has announced a new batch of Easter recipes, including a golden carrot Easter recipe, "24-Carrot Gold" Ice Cream with Cookie Crumble, as part of its holiday-themed recipe collection. The digital collection features 24 recipes as good as gold, showcasing remixed and tried-and-true recipes to make any Easter occasion pop. In addition to the host of recipes and crafts for all ages, this year offers a digital hunt for the golden recipe, plus an option to opt-in for a chance to win tiered prizes. The first-place prize is a custom-made, life size 24-karat gold plated carrot plus an additional $100,000.
"Here at McCormick, we are always finding creative ways to make special occasions flavorful and fun," said Alia Kemet, Senior Vice President, Global Creative & Digital Transformation at McCormick & Company. "With the launch of the "24-Carrot Gold" Ice Cream with Cookie Crumble recipe, this holiday season can also be fantastic by encouraging individuals and families to tap into their inner chef, while rewarding them with an easy to enter, golden-worthy giveaway."
Weighing nearly 600 grams, the carrot features a 14-karat solid gold interior, plated in 24-karat gold, and is custom made by Ben Baller (Ben Yang) and Slauson Steve (Steve Her)'s company IF & Co. The high-end, celebrity brand created many pieces for the hip-hop community and young Hollywood such as Drake, Justin Bieber and The Kardashians.
"McCormick is a household name who has been adding spice to our lives growing up," said Ben Baller and Slauson Steve, co-founders of IF & Co. "We are excited to take on this Easter partnership to create something special with a brand that really hits home."
By visiting McCormick.com or downloading the Flavor Maker App consumers will discover a curated and crafty Easter collection, featuring 24 recipes organized by other colorful categories, including "Good as Gold" Carrots, Eggs Over Easter, Everybunny Likes Brunch, and Easter Extras. Each category is themed to the "golden" components that make any Easter occasion a success - carrots, eggs, brunch, and family-friendly recipes. The following are a few traditional and out-of-the-basket recipes included in the digital collection:
- Easter Carrot Slime
- Classic Deviled Eggs
- Overnight Lemon Blueberry Muffin Casserole
- Bunny Butt Cupcakes
Consumers will also find an exclusive recipe for "24-Carrot Gold" Ice Cream with Cookie Crumble, only available in the Flavor Maker app. This frozen treat with a crunchy twist will make you the cook to beat this Easter season. Along the way to finding this recipe, consumers can enter for a chance to win a first place of $100,000 and a custom-made 24-karat gold plated carrot (1), or one of the 100 second place prizes of a $100 McCormick Shop gift card. Winners will be chosen at random and receive emails with the prize information and collection instructions. Limit: one entry per person/email address.
For full rules, eligibility requirements, and prize descriptions, visit www.mccormick.com/24-carrot-terms. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S./D.C., age 18+ (19+ in AL/NE, 21+ in MS). Enter between April 8, 2022 and April 17, 2022. Sponsored by McCormick & Co. Void where prohibited and outside U.S. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
To download high-resolution photos of the recipes, please click here.
About McCormick
McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor. As a Fortune 500 company with over $6 billion in annual sales across 170 countries and territories, we manufacture, market and distribute spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavorful products to the entire food industry including e-commerce channels, grocery, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. Our most popular brands with trademark registrations include McCormick, French's, Frank's RedHot, Stubb's, OLD BAY, Lawry's, Zatarain's, Ducros, Vahiné, Cholula, Schwartz, Kamis, DaQiao, Club House, Aeroplane and Gourmet Garden. Every day, no matter where or what you eat or drink, you can enjoy food flavored by McCormick.
Founded in 1889 and headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland USA, McCormick is guided by our principles and committed to our Purpose – To Stand Together for the Future of Flavor. McCormick envisions A World United by Flavor where healthy, sustainable and delicious go hand in hand. To learn more, visit www.mccormickcorporation.com or follow McCormick & Company on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts:
Kelly Gambarani
McCormick
Kelly_Gambarani@mccormick.com
Amber Booth
Sunshine Sachs
flavors@sunshinesachs.com
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SOURCE McCormick & Company, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/07/mccormick-debuts-24-carrot-gold-digital-easter-recipe-hunt-sweepstakes/ | 2022-04-08T02:48:54Z |
Protect your family with vacuums that effectively eliminate allergens from your home
When someone suffers from allergies, keeping your floors clean is a necessity. Whether you’re suffering from seasonal allergies or dealing with ongoing indoor allergies, a good vacuum is essential. The best vacuums for allergies pick up pollen, pet dander and other particles that aggravate allergies. They can also trap those particles to prevent them from escaping back into your home.
Features in a vacuum for allergies
HEPA filter
While many vacuum filter systems are available, a high-efficiency particulate air filter is the best and most reliable one. A vacuum with a HEPA filter system can remove 99.97% of particles up to 0.3 microns in size from your home. This includes common allergens such as mold spores, pet dander, pollen, and dust.
Certification
Some vacuums perform well enough to be certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. These vacuums meet standards regarding how well the vacuum removes and contains allergens as well as its ability to prevent allergens from becoming airborne during vacuuming. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation recommends using these vacuums weekly for best results.
Attachments and adjustability
When cleaning to alleviate allergies, you must worry about more than just your floors. Allergens need to be vacuumed out of your furniture, too. Look for vacuums with durable attachments to help clean particles and pet hair off upholstered furniture.
To maintain optimal suction on different types of flooring, look for a vacuum with adjustable height settings. Some vacuums can make this adjustment automatically, while you must manually change others as you switch between different types of flooring.
Bagless or bagged?
Bagless vacuums have become popular due to their convenience and lower costs over time, but bagged vacuums offer important advantages to allergy sufferers. Vacuum bags trap particles and keep them contained, even when it’s time to replace the bag. In contrast, emptying a bagless vacuum can release some of those particles back into your home. This makes bagged vacuums a better choice overall for households dealing with allergies.
Best upright vacuums for allergies
Top upright vacuum for allergies
Dyson Ball Animal Upright Vacuum
What you need to know: This powerful vacuum is easy to use and traps allergens inside with whole-machine HEPA filtration.
What you’ll love: Its swivel system is easy to maneuver around furniture and the self-adjusting cleaner head maintains suction on the carpet and hard floors. It also includes attachments such as a tangle-free turbine pet brush and an extension wand.
What you should consider: The vacuum is on the heavier side. The hose can be pinched and cut off suction when using the detachable wand.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top upright vacuum for allergies for the money
Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Corded Upright Vacuum
What you need to know: Lightweight and affordable, this model traps 99.9% of allergens.
What you’ll love: It has a sealed HEPA filter to trap particles so they won’t leak back out after vacuuming. The vacuum comes with durable tools, including a pet brush, which can be used by easily lifting the vacuum pod off of the main cleaner head.
What you should consider: It doesn’t fit under furniture very well and its comparatively narrow brush makes it slower at cleaning rooms.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s
Also consider
Kenmore Floor Care Elite Upright Bagged Vacuum
What you need to know: This vacuum traps 99.97% of debris thanks to an enhanced HEPA filter system, and it stays trapped in a bag, so nothing escapes while the vacuum is being emptied.
What you’ll love: It’s certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America for its ability to capture allergens. Cleaning is more thorough thanks to its 3D Inducer Motor, five adjustable height levels, an LED dirt sensor, and attachments such as a pet hair brush and a dusting tool.
What you should consider: It weighs 20 pounds, making it a fairly heavy model. Buying replacement bags can add up.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Kohl’s
Best handheld vacuums for allergies
Top handheld vacuum for allergies
Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
What you need to know: This compact yet powerful vacuum is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation.
What you’ll love: You can use this vacuum as a stick or handheld vacuum for up to 40 minutes of fade-free suction. Its attachments include two motorized cleaner heads, a dusting brush, a crevice tool and more. The whole-machine HEPA filter captures dust, pet hair, and more.
What you should consider: Its limited battery life makes it better suited for smaller cleaning jobs.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot and Wayfair
Top handheld vacuum for allergies for the money
Bissell Cleanview Deluxe Corded Handheld Vacuum
What you need to know: It’s lightweight and affordable but still a powerful and effective cleaner.
What you’ll love: It’s capable of tackling tough cleaning jobs just about anywhere, thanks to its 18-foot cable, hose attachment and cleaning tools. The 3-stage filter system gets particles and pet hair out of your home or vehicle.
What you should consider: Its cord makes it less convenient than other handheld models. While its three filters are effective, they aren’t HEPA filters.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Best robot vacuums for allergies
Top robot vacuum for allergies
What you need to know: This powerful robot vacuum has excellent suction and filtration, plus wet mopping capabilities and other high-tech features.
What you’ll love: It navigates rooms using LIDAR technology and can memorize the layouts of up to four levels. Its powerful suction allows it to mop more than 1600 square feet. It offers scheduled cleanings, no-go zones, fall-prevention sensors, voice control, and more.
What you should consider: The mopping function has difficulty distinguishing between hard floors and carpet, so users with area rugs may need to develop workarounds.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Home Depot
Top robot vacuum for allergies for the money
Eufy by Anker BoostIQ RoboVac 15C Max
What you need to know: At less than three inches tall, this robot vacuum is great at cleaning beneath the furniture.
What you’ll love: Its BoostIQ technology helps it determine what kind of surface it’s cleaning and adjust its suction power accordingly. It’s quiet and boasts a large dustbin, so it doesn’t need to be emptied as often. The vacuum is easy to control via the app or voice controls.
What you should consider: As an entry-level robotic vacuum, it can sometimes miss areas or clean the same area several times.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/home-br/vacuums-br/as-allergy-season-continues-these-vacuum-cleaners-are-designed-to-help/ | 2022-07-08T07:21:24Z |
- MEASURE-AD was a real-world study of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis patients across 28 countries designed to assess the multidimensional burdens that diagnosed patients face1-3
- Additional findings show that lower clinical burden and work impairment had a positive association with quality of life and lower disease severity scores1
- Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, impacts up to an estimated 10 percent of adults and 25 percent of children globally and causes significant physical, psychological and economic impact4-7
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- An analysis from AbbVie's (NYSE: ABBV) three-year, 28-country MEASURE-AD study revealed that people living with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (an immune-mediated skin disease) who are not receiving systemic therapy had greater clinical, psychosocial and economic burdens compared to those receiving systemic therapy.1 A separate analysis from the MEASURE-AD study demonstrated that better quality of life – as measured by Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores – and lower disease severity scores were associated with lower clinical burden and work impairment.2 Results from the MEASURE-AD subanalyses were featured at the 31st European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Hybrid Congress onsite in Milan and online from September 7-10 as a poster and an oral presentation.
"Results from MEASURE-AD broaden awareness of the continued burden that people living with atopic dermatitis experience every day and of the potential link between disease severity, treatment approach and overall impact on patient-reported quality of life," said Juan Francisco Silvestre, M.D., attending dermatologist, General University Hospital of Alicante in Alicante, Spain, and investigator for the MEASURE-AD study. "These real-world analyses underscore the multidimensional burden of atopic dermatitis and the need for more therapeutic options for patients."
This post-hoc analysis titled, "Real-World Burden in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis Who Are Candidates for Systemic Therapy and Currently Receiving No Systemic Therapy, No Treatment, Topical Therapy Only, or Systemic Therapy: Results from a Real-World Multicountry Study," showed greater clinical, psychosocial and economic burden among adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis not receiving systemic therapy versus those receiving systemic therapy.1 Additionally, data suggested that many patients living with atopic dermatitis may be undertreated, with only half of eligible patients receiving systemic therapy.1
Mean disease severity scores across six measures* were higher for patients receiving no systemic therapy versus those receiving systemic therapy (all p<0.0001), with the subset of patients receiving no treatment generally having the highest mean scores.1 Additionally, patients who received systemic therapy reported significantly better DLQI scores, Short-Form Health Survey Mental Health Component Summary (SF-12 MCS) mean scores and Physical Component Summary (SF-12 PCS) mean scores versus patients not receiving systemic therapy (p<0.0001).1 Overall work productivity impairment and hours missed from work were also greater among patients receiving no systemic therapy versus patients receiving systemic therapy (p<0.0001).1
A separate analysis from MEASURE-AD titled, "Associations Between Patient-Reported Outcomes and Disease Severity Measures with Disease Burden in Atopic Dermatitis: Results from a Real-World Multicountry Study," evaluated how improvements in a patient's quality of life and low disease severity often lead to lower clinical burden of disease and work impairment.2 In this analysis, patients were stratified by patient-reported effect on quality of life – assessed using DLQI and disease severity measures (Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure categories [POEM] and the Atopic Dermatitis Symptom Scale 7-Item Total Symptom Score categories [ADerm-SS TSS-7]).2 Clinical burden was assessed using Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) and Worst Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (WP-NRS).2 Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-AD (WPAI-AD) measures absenteeism, presenteeism, overall work productivity impairment and activity impairment.
Results from this analysis showed that EASI and WP-NRS scores were lower among patients with lower DLQI, lower POEM and lower ADerm-SS TSS-7 score categories (p<0.0001 for each).2 Similarly, overall work productivity impairment was lower among patients with lower DLQI, lower POEM and lower ADerm-SS TSS-7 score categories (p<0.0001 for each).2 Trends for absenteeism, presenteeism and activity impairment were similar to those for overall work productivity impairment (all p<0.0001).2
"Patients are our purpose – their needs fuel our passion to propel dermatology research forward. The results of these studies help shed light on the cumulative impact of atopic dermatitis on patients' quality of life," said Chiedzo Mpofu, MBChB, Ph.D., vice president, Global Medical Affairs, Immunology, AbbVie. "We're proud to help advance understanding of the real-world experience of those living with atopic dermatitis, to uncover disparities in outcomes and inspire efforts to develop and deliver therapies to patients."
MEASURE-AD was a cross-sectional, 28-country study that characterized the real-world burden of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adolescent and adult patients (≥12 years of age) with physician-confirmed atopic dermatitis who were either candidates for or who were receiving systemic therapy. Patients were enrolled between December 2019 and December 2020 in 28 countries, with a total of 1,558 patients enrolled, consisting of 1,434 adults (≥18 years of age) as well as 124 adolescents (12 to 17 years) with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis receiving or who were eligible for systemic therapy.
For more than a decade, AbbVie has worked to uncover new solutions and improve care for people with serious skin diseases, including psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa and atopic dermatitis. With a broad clinical trial program, we continue to actively research and adapt to the evolving needs of the dermatology community and advance our pipeline to help people achieve their treatment goals and live beyond their skin disease. For more information on AbbVie in dermatology, visit https://www.abbvie.com/our-science/therapeutic-focus-areas/immunology/immunology-focus-areas/dermatology.html.
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Some statements in this news release are, or may be considered, forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. AbbVie cautions that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to realize the expected benefits from AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan plc ("Allergan"), failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan's businesses, competition from other products, challenges to intellectual property, difficulties inherent in the research and development process, adverse litigation or government action, changes to laws and regulations applicable to our industry and the impact of public health outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19. Additional information about the economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect AbbVie's operations is set forth in Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of AbbVie's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as updated by its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AbbVie undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking statements as a result of subsequent events or developments, except as required by law.
References:
- Silvestre, J.F., et al. Real-World Burden in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis Who Are Candidates for Systemic Therapy and Currently Receiving No Systemic Therapy, No Treatment, Topical Therapy Only, or Systemic Therapy: Results From a Real-World Multicountry Study. FC02.02. 2022European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Hybrid Congress.
- Gooderham, M., et al. Associations Between Patient-Reported Outcomes and Disease Severity Measures With Disease Burden in Atopic Dermatitis: Results From a Real-World Multicountry Study. P0286. 2022 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Hybrid Congress.
- Eyerich, K., et al. The Burden of Flare in Atopic Dermatitis: Results From a Multi-Country Study. P0229. 2021 EADV Meeting. 2021 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress.
- Kapur, S., et al. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):52.
- Drucker, A.M. Allergy Asthma Proc. 2017;38(1):3-8.
- Weidinger, S. and Novak, N. Atopic Dermatitis. Lancet. 2016 Mar 12;387(10023):1109-1122.doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00149-X. Epub 2015 Sep 13.
- Eicheneld L.F., Tom W.L., Chamlin S.L., et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. Diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(2):338-351. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2013.10.010.
* Measures included Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), Worst Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale (WP-NRS), Validated Investigator Global Assessment for AD (vlGA-AD), body surface area affected (BSA), average hours slept per night and number of participants with inadequately controlled atopic dermatitis.
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SOURCE AbbVie | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/new-measure-ad-analyses-evaluate-clinical-psychosocial-economic-burdens-atopic-dermatitis-patients/ | 2022-09-08T09:07:50Z |
Innovate Canada 2022 will share discoveries from the most exclusive research facilities in host city, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, alongside destinations from coast to coast to coast.
VANCOUVER, BC, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Destination Canada is pleased to announce the return of Innovate Canada, a Destination Canada signature business event that highlights the groundbreaking work taking place across Canada's leading innovation sectors to attract aligned international business events. Running from July 25-28 in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Innovate Canada 2022 will give international delegates the opportunity to explore Canada's blue economy and global leadership in ocean sciences, including the people and facilities behind some of the most transformative sustainable technologies and solutions for ocean restoration and marine health.
"Bounded by three oceans and home to the largest coastline in the world, it should be no surprise that Canada has a rich history of innovation and global leadership in the ocean's sciences sector," says Virginie De Visscher, Senior Director of Business Development, Economic Sectors, Destination Canada Business Events. "After a two-year hiatus, we are thrilled to bring the Innovate Canada program to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The city has a global reputation as a centre of ocean excellence and is home to some of the most exclusive facilities, advanced post-secondary institutions and renowned ocean research and training centres. Combine this leadership with the warmth of Newfoundland and Labrador hospitality, and there's little wonder why global organizations in ocean sciences continually choose to host their events in St. John's."
In addition to educational site visits to disruptive startups and established businesses across St. John's ocean science related industries, the Innovate Canada program will take delegates on curated tours of:
- The National Research Council's Ocean, Coastal and River Engineering Research Centre for research being conducted in the Ice Tank, one of the globe's largest facilities of its kind; the Offshore Engineering Basin, one of the most advanced indoor model ocean facilities in the world; and the Tow Tank, which simulates marine conditions to evaluate the performance of marine systems.
- The Marine Institute of Memorial University to experience the most advanced marine simulation technology, pilot underwater vehicles in the Underwater Exploration Lab, and discover the newest technologies being applied to the global fisheries industries in support of sustainable aquatic resources.
"From ocean technology, aquaculture and fisheries, ocean defense, marine bio-products, marine renewable energy, shipbuilding, and marine transportation, St. John's is changing the way business in the ocean economy is conducted," says Cathy Hogan, Executive Director at OceansAdvance, Newfoundland and Labrador's ocean technology cluster organization. "We're thrilled to collaborate with Destination Canada through the Innovate Canada program, to put local leading innovators, cutting edge innovations and world class oceans research facilities on the global stage and show delegates why St. John's is an incredibly distinct and unique location to host ocean-related business events."
Aligned with Destination Canada's national meeting strategy, Innovate Canada aims to drive regional economic growth and compel global organizations to host their business events in Canada.
"When conference-goers meet in Canada's innovation hubs, they can tap into the country's brain trust, connect with some of the brightest minds and thought leaders, preview made-in-Canada solutions to the world's greatest challenges and explore the Canadian innovations that are creating a more sustainable world," adds Chantal Sturk-Nadeau, Executive Director, Business Events, Destination Canada. "When this intellectual capital is combined with our vibrant urban centres and unique natural landscapes, it provides a thriving ecosystem for business events that foster creativity, collaboration and ultimately, leave a lasting impact. We can't wait to provide a look at just that."
Innovate Canada rotates destinations and industry sectors each year and will return in May 2023 to share the brilliant minds and transformative work being done across Waterloo, Ontario's advanced manufacturing sector including automotive, aerospace, food processing, cutting-edge robotics and automation innovation. Aligned with Destination Canada's new Canadian Business Events Sustainability Strategy, Innovate Canada 2023 will, for the first time, be carbon neutral.
At Destination Canada, we believe that tourism enhances the quality of life of Canadians and enriches the lives of visitors. We believe that Canada's diversity, its greatest asset, is also what touches travellers' hearts most deeply. Our mission is to influence supply, and build demand for the benefit of locals, communities and visitors through leading research, alignment with public and private sectors, and marketing Canada nationally and abroad. Our destination development work ensures that we grow a premier four-season tourism economy that is community centric and regenerative in nature — catalysing thriving commerce, culture and reconciliation.
Destination Canada's Business Events team is charged with growing Canada's share of international business events by promoting the country's unique meeting, convention, and incentive event possibilities. By driving awareness of Canada's leading economic strengths and how local knowledge capital can elevate business events, Destination Canada's Business Events team helps international organizations meet with purpose in Canada. Destination Canada is a Crown corporation wholly owned by the Government of Canada.
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SOURCE Destination Canada | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/destination-canadas-innovate-canada-program-returns-spotlight-groundbreaking-canadian-innovations-across-ocean-science-technology-sustainability/ | 2022-07-25T11:37:22Z |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates resumed their ascent this week, as the key 30-year loan reached its highest point since 2009.
The increases came in the week preceding the widely anticipated action by the Federal Reserve, announced Wednesday, to intensify its fight against the worst inflation in 40 years by raising its benchmark interest rate by a half-percentage point and signaling further large rate hikes to come. The Fed’s move, its most aggressive since 2000, will bring higher costs for mortgages as well as credit cards, auto loans and other borrowing for individuals and businesses.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate rose to 5.27% from 5.1% last week, when it edged down after seven weeks of increases. By contrast, the average rate stood at 2.96% a year ago.
The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, popular among those refinancing their homes, jumped to 4.52% from 4.4% last week.
With inflation at a four-decade high, rising mortgage rates, elevated home prices and tight supply of homes for sale, homeownership has become less attainable, especially for first-time buyers.
Some economists suggest that home sales this year could decline as much as 10% from 2021 levels.
In a statement Wednesday following their two-day meeting, Fed policymakers noted that Russia’s invasion and war on Ukraine is worsening inflation pressures by raising oil and food prices. Inflation, according to the Fed’s preferred gauge, reached 6.6% last month, the highest in four decades. It has been accelerated by a combination of robust consumer spending, chronic supply bottlenecks and sharply higher gas and food prices. | https://cw33.com/business/ap-business/us-mortgage-rates-rise-30-year-at-5-27-highest-since-2009/ | 2022-05-05T22:49:21Z |
DALLAS, Texas, July 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Kynn, a new Delta-8 THC brand on a mission to bring customers unparalleled craftsmanship and quality, announced today that it has launched its line of premium Delta-8 THC disposable vaporizers.
Kynn's line sets itself apart from other existing brands with its world-leading hardware and 100% federally compliant formula, offered in various terpene-infused distillate oils. There are many flavors to choose from such as Watermelon Z, Biscotti, Strawberry Cough, King Louis XIII, Gelato, and Blue Dream to meet the growing demand for different flavor preferences. Their proprietary extraction method delivers the cleanest hits obtainable while meeting the legal requirements for less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC.
Kynn's hardware, available in Seashell White and Pebble Grey, features a unique airway structure that allows smoother, clog-free pulls, and a large 350mAh battery that generates 30% more puffs than other disposables in the market on a single charge. The advanced heating technology housed inside allows these vaporizers to deliver leakproof ability that is 3 times stronger than similar products, with 88% more vapor consistency, which ensures greater potency and faster effects.
In addition to submitting all of their products to DEA-registered KCA labs for COA testing, Kynn is providing consumers with smoother, truer-to-taste flavors by infusing 2 to 3 times more natural terpenes into their distillates than other brands in the market.
At the time of launch, Kynn announced partnerships with top distributors such as Midwest Goods. These partnerships will allow Kynn to reach consumers in some of the top markets in the U.S. and offer fast shipping time, as well as a streamlined transactional process.
To learn more, visit www.kynnlabs.com/.
About Kynn
Kynn is a Delta-8 brand based in Dallas, Texas that aspires to deliver natural healing powers through our trustworthy products and offer ultimate comfort, companionship, and warmth as a family member would at any given time. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.
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SOURCE Kynn | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/07/26/kynn-launches-100-federally-compliant-delta-8-thc-disposable-vaporizers/ | 2022-07-26T15:08:10Z |
Parents out on bond after being charged in deaths of 2 young children
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WITN/Gray News) – Two parents charged in the deaths of their two young children were released on bond Monday after appearing in court.
Rocky Mount police said the mother, 21-year-old Zharia Noel, and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Ahmene Butler, were arrested Saturday and each charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter due to negligence and two counts of felony child abuse because of the children sustaining bodily injuries.
Saturday morning, the Rocky Mount Police Department responded to a call where they located a 3-month-old boy, Kamryn Noel, and his 14-month-old sister, Amariah Noel, unresponsive inside a parked car.
The children were taken to UNC Nash Health Care, where they were both pronounced dead. Saturday evening, the investigation was upgraded from suspicious death to a homicide.
Noel and Butler each received a $100,000 unsecured bond by the magistrate and were released from custody. The parents had their first court appearances Monday morning.
Police said they will continue to investigate the deaths. Further charges await reports from the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s office.
Copyright 2022 WITN via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/04/26/parents-out-bond-after-being-charged-deaths-2-young-children/ | 2022-04-28T12:12:47Z |
MACON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and the Georgia Sheriff’s Association are teaming up with local law enforcement agencies to hold “Protecting Houses of Worship” safety training conferences at communities across the district this summer.
Since 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has organized this training that brings faith-based leaders and all those involved with security at churches, synagogues, mosques and places of worship together to provide education and a forum for discussion around topics including safety, security, emergency action plan preparedness, hate crimes and the growth and management of threats.
“Learning how to prevent and respond to threats is, sadly, a necessity in today’s world," U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in a news release. "Preserving the inherently welcoming and peaceful environment that people expect at their places of worship is essential to the overall safety and well-being of the community. I am thankful to the many law enforcement agencies that partner with us to provide this essential training for those involved with security at our places of worship.”
A “Protecting Houses of Worship” summit was held in Athens on Tuesday with attendees representing a synagogue, a mosque and area churches. The next training will occur on June 7 at Unionville Missionary Baptist Church, 3820 Houston Ave. in Macon. There will be trainings in Columbus and Valdosta this summer. The dates and locations are being finalized.
For more information about registering or about hosting a “Protecting Houses of Worship” summit in your community, contact Pam Lightsey, the law enforcement coordinator with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, at pam.lightsey@usdoj.gov.
Who are the most ageless athletes who competed well into their 40s or beyond? Drawing on sites such as Stathead and Olympedia, Stacker took a dive into greatness. Click for more.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/features/faith/u-s-attorneys-office-hosts-protecting-houses-of-worship-workshop/article_9d92c8ee-d79d-11ec-a4f2-0bdf498048c7.html | 2022-05-19T18:53:20Z |
A cloud-connected global network of imaging sites eases onboarding and enables high quality operations of clinical trials & multi-center studies
SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- (ATS International Conference) -- VIDA Diagnostics, Inc. (VIDA), the leader in lung and respiratory intelligence, has onboarded more than 1,000 sites globally in its VIDA network of imaging sites. This network is connected through the VIDA Intelligence Portal, a cloud native AI-enabled platform that drives efficiencies in clinical trial imaging operations by optimizing site recruitment and onboarding, staff training, image data collection, data quality, data curation, and more.
"Accelerated by the success of our VIDA Intelligence Portal, we now have a growing network of sites enabled with the skills, technology, and workflows critical to respiratory trial and study success," said Sandra Stapleton, COO of VIDA. "Leveraging our VIDA Intelligence Portal, sponsors are now accessing sites and services to better understand trial activities across their projects."
The VIDA Intelligence Portal provides workflows in over 10 languages and is being used in more than 40 countries The portal is unique in its ability to digitally orchestrate respiratory imaging operations. Additionally, with integration into a site's enterprise imaging system, data can be proactively processed for study inclusion/exclusion criteria.
"Combining our growing network with the power of our vast data, we can offer some truly exciting services for sponsors," said Stapleton. "Virtual control arms and subject matching services are two examples of what is possible with VIDA's assets. These services and others are designed to significantly boost trial efficiency so therapy innovations can get to patients more quickly."
VIDA is showcasing its VIDA Intelligence Portal at the 2022 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference at booth #1427, along with new AI-enabled biomarker services.
About VIDA Diagnostics, Inc.
VIDA is a precision lung health company, accelerating therapies to patients through AI-powered lung intelligence. VIDA DiscoverySM services enable more efficient respiratory clinical trials by providing more precise quantitative endpoints, AI-powered data quality controls, site training, and more to help biopharma sponsors save millions in drug development costs. VIDA Insights™ empowers physicians to better manage patients with or at risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, asthma, emphysema, lung cancer, and COVID-19. VIDA's software is FDA cleared, CE-marked, Health Canada licensed, TGA registered, and PMDA certified for clinical use in the US, European Economic Area, Canada, Australia, and Japan. Learn more at https://vidalung.ai. Follow @vidalung on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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SOURCE VIDA Diagnostics, Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/16/vida-network-expands-beyond-1000-sites-globally/ | 2022-05-16T16:20:01Z |
1-year-old dies after accidentally shooting himself in the head, police say
ST. LOUIS (KMOV/Gray News) – A toddler has died after shooting himself in north St. Louis City on Wednesday.
Officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said evidence showed the 1-year-old boy shot himself in the head inside a home.
Police initially said the boy was 2 years old but later clarified he was 1 year old.
The boy was barely conscious and barely breathing when paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
“This is just a terrible tragedy that should have never happened. Guns are inherently dangerous,” Lt. Col. Michael Sack with the police department said. “There are a number of them in our community. All of us who own firearms or who have firearms must be responsible with their care and their use.”
The child abuse unit and crisis response teams were seen outside the house Wednesday afternoon.
No other information was released.
Copyright 2022 KMOV via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/09/01/1-year-old-dies-after-accidentally-shooting-himself-head-police-say/ | 2022-09-01T16:00:34Z |
PONTE VEDRA, Fla., April 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VTrips, one of the fastest-growing vacation rental management companies in the United States, announced the acquisition of Southern Vacation Rentals on April 1.
With operations stretching from the Florida Panhandle to the Alabama Gulf Coast, Southern Vacation Rentals adds 1,120 vacation rental properties and 123 team members to the VTrips portfolio.
VTrips Chief Growth Officer Sandra Brahn said the addition of Southern Vacation Rentals complements more than 20 acquisitions made in 2021 and brings the total number of vacation rentals VTrips manages to more than 5,000.
"The Southern Vacation Rentals acquisition follows other key acquisitions last year, including Ryson Vacation Rentals in Galveston, Texas; Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales in Maryland; Resort Collection in Panama City Beach and Distinctive Beach Rentals in Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; and Resort Property Management in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.," Brahn said. "VTrips offers its new partners the strength of a large corporate infrastructure while retaining the companies' brand integrity and local presence in their respective markets."
Southern Vacation Rentals CEO Scott Seay, who will transition to VTrips as chief strategy officer, said Southern has positioned itself as a market leader for vacation rentals, residential leasing and real estate utilizing an innovative high-tech, high-touch approach to set itself apart from competitors.
"After 27 years in the vacation rental business, our four founders have created an incredible business here in the Florida Panhandle, and we have been growing exponentially over the last several years," Seay said. "It just so happens there was another great company in the same industry looking to expand its overall business, and a great match was made. Very quickly, these two companies joined forces to bring the two teams together."
Seay and VTrips CEO Steve Milo report that owners and guests will see no change in the exemplary service level they have come to expect from the Southern team.
"VTrips believes that employees are the lifeblood of these companies, and we are doing everything possible to create a positive environment for them," Milo said.
ABOUT VTRIPS
Founded in 2006 by visionary Steve Milo as a management solution for his own Florida rental properties, VTrips is one of the fastest-growing vacation rental management companies in the United States. Now with more than 5,000 private vacation villas, condominiums, and homes in resort destinations throughout Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas, VTrips believes in staffing its nationwide offices with local experts dedicated to exceeding the expectations of both property owners and vacationers. More information at VTrips.com.
Media Contact:
Kristen Mcintosh
kristen.mcintosh@vtrips.com
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SOURCE VTrips | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/27/vtrips-announces-acquisition-southern-vacation-rentals/ | 2022-04-27T03:28:12Z |
HOUSTON, July 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell USA, Inc. ("Shell USA") and Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SHLX) ("SHLX") today announced they have executed a definitive agreement and plan of merger (the "Merger Agreement," and the transactions contemplated thereby, collectively, the "Transaction") pursuant to which Shell USA will acquire all of the common units representing limited partner interests in SHLX held by the public (the "Public Common Units") at $15.85 per Public Common Unit in cash for a total value of approximately $1.96 billion. A subsidiary of Shell USA currently owns 269,457,304 SHLX common units, or approximately 68.5% of SHLX common units.
SHLX's assets include interests in entities that own crude oil and refined products pipelines and terminals that serve as key infrastructure to transport onshore and offshore crude oil production to U.S. Gulf Coast and Midwest refining markets and deliver refined products from those markets to major demand centers, as well as storage tanks and financing receivables that are secured by pipelines, storage tanks, docks, truck and rail racks and other infrastructure used to stage and transport intermediate and finished products. Its assets also include interests in entities that own natural gas and refinery gas pipelines that transport offshore natural gas to market hubs and deliver refinery gas from refineries and plants to chemical sites along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The Board of Directors of Shell Midstream Partners GP LLC, the general partner of SHLX (the "SHLX Board"), delegated to a conflicts committee of the SHLX Board (the "Conflicts Committee"), consisting solely of independent directors, the review, evaluation, negotiation and determination of whether to approve and to recommend that the SHLX Board approve the Transaction. The Conflicts Committee, after evaluating the Transaction in consultation with its independent legal and financial advisors, unanimously approved and recommended that the SHLX Board approve the Transaction. Following receipt of the recommendation of the Conflicts Committee, the SHLX Board reviewed the terms of the Transaction and the Merger Agreement, and unanimously approved the Transaction.
The Transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. A subsidiary of Shell USA, as the holder of a majority of the outstanding SHLX common units, has delivered its consent to approve the Transaction concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement. As a result, SHLX has not solicited and is not soliciting approval of the Transaction by any other holders of SHLX common units.
Advisors
Barclays Capital Inc. and Evercore Group L.L.C. acted as financial advisors to Shell USA; Baker Botts L.L.P. acted as Shell USA's legal counsel, and Richards, Layton & Finger, PA acted as special Delaware counsel to Shell USA on the Transaction. Intrepid Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor to the Conflicts Committee and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as the Conflicts Committee's legal counsel on the Transaction.
- In line with the International Accounting Standard (IAS) 7:17, for Shell this Transaction will be reflected as an outflow of cash of financing activities (CFFF). Should this full Transaction complete, the net debt of Shell will increase by up to the value of the Transaction, all else being equal.
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement, "Shell", "Shell Group" and "Group" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this announcement refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as "joint ventures" and "joint operations", respectively. "Joint ventures" and "joint operations" are collectively referred to as "joint arrangements". Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the statements related to the Transaction as described above. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "aim", "ambition", ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', "milestones", ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of the Transaction; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak; and (n) changes in trading conditions. All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 (available at www.shell.com/investor and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this announcement and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, July 25, 2022. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
Also, in this announcement we may refer to Shell's "Net Carbon Footprint" or "Net Carbon Intensity", which include Shell's carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers' carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers' carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the term Shell's "Net Carbon Footprint" or "Net Carbon Intensity" are for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.
Shell's operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and Net Carbon Footprint (NCF) targets over the next ten years. However, Shell's operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target and 2035 NCF target, as these targets are currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell's operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.
This announcement may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc's consolidated financial statements.
The contents of websites referred to in this announcement do not form part of this announcement.
We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this announcement that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.
This announcement includes various "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. You can identify our forward-looking statements by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "budget," "continue," "potential," "guidance," "effort," "expect," "forecast," "goals," "objectives," "outlook," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project," "seek," "target," "begin," "could," "may," "should" or "would" or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, which could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. In particular, expressed or implied statements concerning future actions, conditions or events, and statements concerning the Transaction or any other proposed transaction and the likelihood of a successful consummation of the Transaction or any other proposed transaction are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future actions, conditions or events and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement, July 25, 2022, and we disclaim any obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this paragraph. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect the Partnership's financial results is included in the Partnership's filings with the SEC, including in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of the Partnership's most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings (available at www.shellmidstreampartners.com and www.sec.gov). If any of those risks occur, it could cause our actual results or the outcome of any particular event to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Because of these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement.
SHLX will file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K, which will contain, among other things, a copy of the Merger Agreement. In connection with the proposed Transaction, SHLX will prepare an information statement to be filed with the SEC that will provide additional important information concerning the proposed Transaction. When completed, a definitive information statement will be mailed to the SHLX unitholders. SHLX'S unitholders are strongly advised to read all relevant documents filed with the SEC, including SHLX's information statement, because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction. SHLX's unitholders will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the information statement (when available) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. SHLX's unitholders will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the information statement and other documents relating to the proposed Transaction (when available) at www.shellmidstreampartners.com or at the contacts listed below.
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SOURCE Shell USA, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/07/25/shell-usa-inc-shell-midstream-partners-lp-reached-definitive-merger-agreement/ | 2022-07-25T21:55:46Z |
'You try to protect your baby.' Canton family welcomes newborn after COVID-19 infection
CANTON – Sierra Stoffer was already five months into her pregnancy when she found herself in the Aultman Hospital emergency room with a serious case of COVID-19.
Her oxygen levels had dropped and her blood pressure was all over the place. She was immediately triaged into the hospital, where doctors were concerned about the potential for heart failure.
"You try to protect your baby before they even get out here and now you're fighting something you can't see," Sierra said.
Maternal health:Black birth workers in Northeast Ohio join forces to seek more holistic care for moms
She was treated with a monoclonal antibody infusion and eventually recovered, though not without some remaining challenges. Since the infection, Sierra has needed to keep two inhalers on hand to manage her asthma, and throughout the rest of her pregnancy was continuously monitoring the growth of her baby, which could have been impacted by COVID-19.
"I still had quite a few symptoms of extreme fatigue and things like that," Sierra said. "But I was nervous that if I was feeling that way, that [the baby] was feeling the same way."
On May 1, Sierra, 27, and her husband Adam, 41, both lifelong Canton residents, welcomed their first child together, baby Micahangelo Princeton Stoffer, at Aultman Hospital.
"Our new born was a January 2022 COVID-19 virus baby! He was born [May 1] perfectly handsome, very healthy, strong, passed the hearing test and all! We are at loss of words," Adam, who is deaf, wrote in an email.
'Pregnancy is a risk factor.'
The Stoffer family's brush with COVID-19 and pregnancy was not uncommon. More than 205,674 pregnant women have reportedly had COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC data also shows 32,481 COVID-19 hospitalizations among pregnant women, as well as 292 deaths.
"Moms-to-be and recently delivered moms who are infected with COVID-19, as compared to non-pregnant individuals of similar age and health, are much more likely to develop severe COVID-19 disease," said Dr. Michael Krew, medical director of the Aultman Birth Center. "They are much more likely to need hospitalization, require ICU care and need a ventilator. The risk of death is also higher."
According to a recent Canadian study of pregnancy outcomes with COVID-19 infections, there is also an elevated risk of preterm births when the pregnant parent has had a moderate to severe COVID-19 infection.
With the risks in mind, health officials recommend pregnant people get vaccinated and boosted on schedule. Sierra is vaccinated and boosted, and her antibodies should pass to Micahangelo and protect him, as well.
CDC data shows that some 70% percent of pregnant people are vaccinated against COVID-19.
"The virus has not gone away, and it continues to mutate. The number of people needing hospitalization and having severe complications of the disease has fortunately greatly decreased," Krew said. "But it is still possible to develop severe disease with COVID-19 infection, especially if one is unvaccinated and has additional risk factors. Pregnancy is a risk factor."
Family focus is on staying healthy
The experience was scary, Sierra said, particularly on top of balancing other stressors the family has been dealing with throughout the pandemic. Both Adam and Sierra, who has post-traumatic stress disorder, work part time at a retail store and both receive Social Security benefits for their disabilities.
Throughout much of the pandemic and now, they have to balance the amount they can earn to support their family — which includes four older children — without going over the Social Security income cap that would take away their benefits.
Through it, they said, they've found support in the Canton community, particularly through Jackson Local Schools which has helped them connect with community resources to prepare for the new baby.
Now, the family's focus is on staying healthy.
"There's some people who are going out here, not even knowing they have it because there's now those people who don't have symptoms," Sierra said. "So now I have to worry about him outside."
Sam Zern can be reached at szern@cantonrep.com or 330-580-8322. You can also find her on Twitter at @sam_zern. | https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/healthcare/2022/05/06/covid-19-during-pregnancy-can-lead-maternal-perinatal-challenges/9615418002/ | 2022-05-06T10:38:21Z |
NEW YORK, June 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Waste Management, Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of WM during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CONTACT US HERE:
https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/waste-management-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=28554&from=4
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of all purchasers of certain Waste Management redeemable senior notes between February 13, 2020 and June 23, 2020.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the U.S. Department of Justice had indicated to Waste Management that it would require Waste Management to divest significantly more assets than the $200 million indicated in the merger agreement between the Company and Advanced Disposal Services; (ii) as a result, the merger would not be completed by July 14, 2020, the end date under the merger agreement; and (iii) the Waste Management redeemable senior notes would be subject to mandatory redemption at 101% of par.
DEADLINE: August 8, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/waste-management-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=28554&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of WM during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is August 8, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/15/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-waste-management-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-august-8-2022-nasdaq-wm/ | 2022-06-15T10:49:12Z |
NEW YORK, May 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that Google Fiber Inc. provided a reasonable basis for certain superior speed claims for its fiber service as compared with cable internet providers in its footprint. However, with respect to its "faster in every direction" claim and its "everything you do goes much faster" claim, NAD recommended that the advertiser make certain modifications. In addition, NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue the challenged:
- Quantified speed superiority claims;
- Superior reliability claims; and
- The claim that cable service providers are unreliable and prone to outages.
The claims at issue were challenged by Charter Communications, Inc.
Quantified Speed Claims
NAD determined that the advertiser's support was not a good fit for its quantified speed superiority claims and recommended that it discontinue the claims:
- "up to 77x faster uploads"
- "up to 12x faster downloads"
- "[w]ith Google Fiber, you'll get faster download speeds than you'd get with traditional cable, whether you go with 1 Gig (up to 6x faster) or 2 Gig (up to 12x faster)"
NAD concluded that the quantified speed claims reasonably convey the message that the speed difference is between two comparable metrics and speed tiers when it is in fact comparing Google Fiber's top potential speed of its 1 Gbps and 2 Gbps tiers to the median speeds of Charter's (and other cable providers') lower tiers.
NAD also noted that "up to" claims can convey a misleading message to consumers where there is an apples-to-oranges comparison. NAD found that consumers may reasonably expect the advertiser's "up to" claims to reference the same speed tier, using the same metric, in which the consumer's experience will be impacted by factors such as weather, equipment, and congestion. They may not expect that the "up to" language relates to a comparison of median speeds to top speeds across different tiers of speeds.
The "Faster in Every Direction" Claim
In support of its "faster in every direction" claim, the advertiser submitted confidential crowdsourced data from a third-party service showing that Google Fiber had the fastest median upload and download speeds as compared to all other internet service providers within its footprint. However, NAD concluded that this data did not support the unqualified "faster in every direction" claim. Rather, it showed that for specific periods of time, Google Fiber was faster in both median download and median upload speeds.
Accordingly, NAD recommended that the advertiser discontinue the claim or modify it to clearly and conspicuously disclose the market or relevant time period in which Google Fiber provides the fastest speeds.
The "Everything You Do Goes Much Faster" Claim
Charter challenged claims made on Google Fiber's webpage that "[w]hen you have up to 77x faster upload speeds than cable internet, everything you do goes much faster – from quickly sending large files, to gaming without lag, to experiencing smoother, more reliable video calls." Although NAD found that the advertiser had not supported its quantified speed claims, including the 77x faster upload speeds claim, NAD considered the "everything you do goes much faster" claim separately.
NAD looked at whether Google Fiber's potential upload speeds were in fact faster than Charter's. Since Google Fiber offers 1 Gbps upload speed as compared to Charter's 35 Mbps, NAD concluded that the advertiser could support a modified claim that "everything" that requires upload speeds "goes much faster," including file uploads, gaming, and videoconferencing.
Therefore, NAD recommended that the advertiser modify the "everything you do goes much faster" claim to specify that everything that requires upload speeds goes much faster, including file uploads, gaming, and videoconferencing.
Superior Reliability Claims
NAD recommended that Google Fiber discontinue the claims:
- "Unlike the old-fashioned copper lines you get with traditional cable, our internet gives you a strong, steady, 99.9% reliable connection with (way) fewer points of failure than cable internet."
- "Our 100% fiber optic network means you'll have fewer outages than cable internet."
- Cable internet providers, including Charter, offer old and outdated internet service, as compared with Google Fiber's fiber optic internet.
NAD found that evidence that fiber may be better at resisting outages is not a good fit for claims that Google Fiber has "(way) fewer points of failure than cable internet" and "fewer outages than cable internet." Reliability of a service and service outages can be measured and claims of superior reliability or fewer outages should be supported by evidence demonstrating that the service provider itself is more reliable compared to competitors, not merely citing technology differences.
NAD also determined that third-party surveys showing Google Fiber was rated highly by customers in reliability as compared to competitors are not a good fit for a comparative reliability or "fewer outages" claim. Nor was NAD persuaded by third-party data showing that in each market in which Google Fiber is offered it is the service provider that most consistently reaches a threshold of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload between Q2 2020 and Q2 2021. NAD noted that a test that only measures the extent to which any provider reached the 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload thresholds does not take into account other factors such as connections that failed to reach those thresholds.
Finally, during the proceeding Google Fiber voluntarily discontinued certain quantified reliability claims and modified its "99.9% reliable connection" claim to add a disclosure that the claim refers to network availability, excluding certain types of outages. NAD did not review the voluntarily discontinued claims on the merits.
In its advertiser statement, Google Fiber stated that it "will comply with NAD's decision." The advertiser further stated that while it disagrees with certain aspects of NAD's decision "Google Fiber is a strong supporter of self-regulation and will respect NAD's recommendations."
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive.
About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs is where businesses turn to enhance consumer trust and consumers are heard. The non-profit organization creates a fairer playing field for businesses and a better experience for consumers through the development and delivery of effective third-party accountability and dispute resolution programs. Embracing its role as an independent organization since the restructuring of the Council of Better Business Bureaus in June 2019, BBB National Programs today oversees more than a dozen leading national industry self-regulation programs, and continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-directed marketing, and privacy. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.
About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
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SOURCE BBB National Programs | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/26/national-advertising-division-finds-certain-google-fiber-claims-supported-with-qualification-recommends-other-claims-be-discontinued/ | 2022-05-26T16:49:53Z |
Top-Selling Electronics Brand Continues to Support World's Largest Sports Organization for People with Intellectual Disabilities
CORONA, Calif., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TCL®, one of the world's best-selling consumer electronics brands and leading technology companies, today announced that the company will continue supporting Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) as it returns to activity and continues enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports, health and leadership programs to promote acceptance, inclusion and well-being. Through its TCL Cares initiative, TCL North America will be volunteering at major events in addition to fundraising for SOSC throughout its partnership.
TCL will participate in SOSC's premier endurance event - the Plane Pull where teams of 25 compete to see who can pull a 124,000-pound airplane a distance of 12 feet with the fastest time, on September 24. The other main event TCL will sponsor is the SOSC Fall Games. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID, the Fall Games will return this year with more than 800 athletes participating in soccer, tennis, golf, volleyball and other sports. TCL's award-winning TVs will be offered as raffle prizes to generate additional funds and because of TCL's support, SOSC can provide year-round sports training and competition to the athletes and their families at no cost.
"TCL is looking forward to strengthening our partnership with Special Olympics Southern California by pledging our continued support of their admirable efforts for the 5th year in a row. The TCL team is dedicated to volunteering time to make an impact on our communities and will be proudly cheering on the fine athletes who compete this year," said Chris Luna, Vice President of Customer Advocacy, TCL North America. "I have seen firsthand how impactful the Special Olympics is to many individuals, as my older brother has been involved with the organization for over 40 years. The joy, self-confidence and independence SOSC brings to him and countless others is amazing. These athletes are given a space where they can practice, compete, socialize and most importantly have healthy fun so without programs from the Special Olympics, many of these special individuals would never get the opportunity to be members of a team and experience the excitement of friendly competition."
TCL and its employees care deeply about giving back to the community. Their investment in this worthy organization is not just financial but also includes the active participation of its employees volunteering at Special Olympic events throughout the year. The primary mission of Special Olympics Southern California is to enrich the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their communities through the power of sports, programs and health. With core principles of honesty, integrity and mutual respect, the SOSC is dedicated to helping athletes overcome incredible odds.
"Special Olympics Southern California is so grateful to continue to partner with TCL. Since 2018, TCL has provided resources and hundreds of volunteer hours to support thousands of Special Olympic athletes and their families. SOSC continues to provide training for life for people with intellectual disabilities including the capacity to maintain healthy relationships, secure jobs, and live independently all while living happy and healthier lives. Without TCL's partnership, this wouldn't be possible," said Brandon Tanner, Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships, Special Olympics Southern California.
Since 2014, the TCL North America leaders have committed to creating a high-performing culture that allows the company to have a successful business they can feel good about. TCL Cares is the "guiding hand," a simple set of rules that all decisions are filtered through:
#TCLCares for our users. It is our responsibility to add joy and simplification to their lives by innovating and advancing technology.
#TCLCares for our employees. It is our commitment to provide an environment that embraces diversity, excellence, learning, and laughter.
#TCLCares for the communities we serve. We are all one, and we are committed to finding ways to give back and make a positive impact.
#TCLCares for our environment. We have an obligation to minimize our footprint on the planet our users and employees call home.
For additional details on TCL's efforts and to learn how to recycle in your communities, please visit https://www.tcl.com/us/en/sustainability.
About TCL
TCL empowers customers to enjoy more. With a lineup of award-winning televisions, audio products, mobile devices, and appliances, TCL takes pride in delivering meaningful experiences by combining thoughtful design and the latest technology. As one of the world's largest consumer electronics brands, our extensive manufacturing expertise, a vertically integrated supply chain, and state-of-the-art panel factory helps TCL deliver innovation for all. For additional product information, please visit www.tcl.com for the full portfolio.
About Special Olympics Southern California
Special Olympics Southern California enriches the lives of 37,800 athletes and their communities through sports, leadership programs, and athlete health. Our free, year-round programs lead to improved health, self-confidence, and independence among athletes with intellectual disabilities and acceptance and inclusion in the community. Special Olympics Southern California has earned a four-star ranking from Charity Navigator for exceeding industry standards. This ranking is the highest Charity Navigator offers to an organization and is given because Special Olympics has demonstrated strong financial health and a commitment to accountability and transparency. Learn more at www.sosc.org.
TCL is a registered trademark of TCL Corporation.
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SOURCE TCL | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/tcl-north-america-reinforces-its-commitment-special-olympics-southern-california/ | 2022-06-29T15:51:01Z |
The Reputation Connector for Microsoft Dynamics 365 will help large enterprises enrich customer insights with sentiment data
SAN RAMON, Calif., Aug. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Reputation, a global leader in reputation experience management (RXM), today announced it will integrate customer sentiment and feedback data into Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power BI via PowerApps, creating a more seamless experience for brands looking to centralize customer feedback and data. Microsoft is the first major technology partner under The RepNetwork, Reputation's new partner program.
This collaboration comes as the Reputation Connector for Healthcare is made available at Microsoft AppSource. Organizations that use both Reputation and Microsoft can now connect their marketing, sales, and business intelligence tools with Reputation data, allowing them to store business data and customer feedback in one central location.
"We are thrilled that the Reputation Connector for Dynamics 365 is now available in Microsoft AppSource," says Brent Nixon, Reputation's Chief Ecosystem Officer. "Microsoft is the cornerstone of the technology stack for many large organizations, so we are delighted to provide our clients with the ability to uncover deeper customer insights by integrating customer sentiment data from Reputation into Dynamics 365. This first iteration of the app is for the healthcare industry, but we're excited to roll out these capabilities for all industries as part of our ever-evolving collaboration with Microsoft."
Used by millions of companies around the world, Microsoft is a leading provider of computer software for enterprise organizations. Its reach across a variety of industries will only further Reputation's goal of changing the way companies act on customer feedback.
"Combined with Dynamics 365, Reputation allows our customers to get the full picture of customer sentiment data and operationalize patient feedback to improve overall experience and deliver business outcomes," said Toby Bowers, General Manager, Industry, Apps & Data Marketing at Microsoft.
The Reputation Connector for Dynamics 365 is now available. For more information on Reputation's partner program, The RepNetwork, please visit https://reputation.com/partners.
About Reputation
Reputation (formerly Reputation.com), creator of the Reputation Experience Management category, is changing the way companies gather and act on customer feedback to drive decision making and enhance Customer Experience (CX) programs. Reputation's interaction-to-action platform translates vast amounts of solicited and unsolicited feedback data into prescriptive insights that companies use to learn from and grow. Thousands of global organizations rely on the patented algorithms behind Reputation Score X™ to provide a reliable index of brand performance in order to make targeted business improvements. Backed by Marlin Equity Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners and Kleiner Perkins, and trusted by over 250 integration partners, including Google, Facebook, Salesforce, J.D. Power, Amazon and Web.com, Reputation turns feedback into the fuel to grow businesses around the world. Visit reputation.com to learn more.
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SOURCE Reputation | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/08/02/reputation-collaborates-with-microsoft-enhance-customer-data/ | 2022-08-02T15:57:21Z |
TIANJIN, China, Aug. 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- From August 19 to 20, the first World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference (https://m.wvtedc.com/m/en-US?_t=ReI) will be held in north China's Tianjin. Centering on the new changes, new approaches and new skills during the development of vocational and technical education in the post-pandemic era, the conference has attracted about 700 delegates from 123 countries.
This conference is sponsored by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the National Commission for UNESCO of China and the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, and undertaken by the Vocational Education Development Center of the MOE, the Open University of China, the China Association for International Exchange of Education, the China Vocational and Technical Education Association and the Tianjin Municipal Education Commission.
During the conference, the first world vocational college skills competition and the cloud expo of the integration of industry and education of world vocational education will be held, and the initiative of preparing for the world vocational and technical education development alliance will be issued, forming a new platform and paradigm for international exchange and cooperation of vocational education that include a variety of forms.
The opening ceremony and the main forum will be held on August 19. Education ministers or ambassadors from 18 countries, representatives of some international organizations, industry organizations, well-known enterprises and vocational colleges will deliver speeches. On August 20, 14 parallel forums will be held, featuring attendance of more than 250 renowned experts and scholars from various countries. The conference will issue the proposal for the establishment of the world vocational and technical education development alliance and the Tianjin Initiative.
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SOURCE Tianjin Municipal People's Government | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/19/first-world-vocational-technical-education-development-conference-held-north-chinas-tianjin/ | 2022-08-19T01:30:53Z |
(NewsNation) — MoviePass is making a comeback. The movie subscription service flop is set to relaunch on or around Labor Day.
The company that began in 2017 allowed subscribers to purchase multiple movie tickets each month. Millions of customers were initially drawn in with a subscription fee of $10 per month even though MoviePass still had to pay theaters the full cost of tickets.
With the cost of tickets reaching $15 in some cities, MoviePass soon learned that their plan was unsustainable and shut down in 2019. After its collapse, chains such as Cinemark, AMC and Regal started their own subscription programs.
Original co-founder Stacy Spikes told Axios he thinks MoviePass could help the rejuvenation of movie theaters and that he believes it could account for 30 percent of ticket sales in the U.S. by 2030.
The new service will have three pricing tiers of $10, $20 and $30. Each level will have a certain amount of credits to be used toward movies at major theaters across the country each month, MoviePass says. The subscription service says prices and their launching process will vary by market.
“Markets will be launched in waves. The launch determination will be weighted on level of engagement from the waitlist in each market as well as locations of exhibition partners,” MoviePass said on its website.
According to the MoviePass website, the company’s new app will be accessible by invite only. Those who join a free waitlist will reportedly be given priority access to the service, with the waitlist appearing Thursday and staying open for five days.
The MoviePass website states that previous MoviePass members who were on the waitlist will receive credits to their account when joining the new service.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://cw33.com/news/moviepass-ticket-subscription-service-making-a-comeback/ | 2022-08-23T17:23:10Z |
...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT /11 AM CDT/
TODAY TO 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Heat index values of 108 to 112 F.
* WHERE...Portions of southeast Alabama, south central and
southwest Georgia and Big Bend and Panhandle Florida.
* WHEN...From noon EDT /11 AM CDT/ to 8 PM EDT /7 PM CDT/
Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
illnesses to occur.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
&&
Events like Kids in the Kitchen helped the Albany Junior League raise just short of $19,000 for local nonprofits this league year.
ALBANY -- The Junior League of Albany, Georgia’s 2021-2022 league year has come to an end, and the small but mighty league of 31 active members raised a total of $18,913 in support of nonprofits in the community.
“The league’s fundraising efforts would not be possible without partnerships and support from the community," outgoing Albany Junior League President Ginger Faircloth said in a news release. "A special thank you also goes to our corporate sponsors. With their continued support, we can live up to our mission and continue to help women and children in our community."
Necco Foster Care, the league’s signature project, received $12,583. The Children’s Miracle Network received $5,392. Through a provisional project, $937 was raised for the ARC of Southwest Georgia to purchase new playground equipment.
The league hosted events during the season including Kids in the Kitchen and a Character Brunch. They were also the recipients of Modern Gas Company’s Rib Showdown. Corporate sponsors included Phoebe Health Systems; Ross, Handelman, Nestale and Goff; Draffin Tucker; Georgia Power; Perkins, Simmons and Cline Family Dentistry; Perry Paint and Body Shop; Flint Community Bank; Fleming and Riles Insurance; McCleskey Cotton; F&W Forestry; Custom Interiors; Jeremy P. Darden, DMD; and Hutchins, Clenney, Rumsey, Huckaby.
Ashley Nestale will serve as the Junior League president for the 2022-2023 league year. Junior League women are hands-on volunteers with dozens of community organizations and receive high-level training to make them valuable community leaders. Women interested in volunteering, learning new skills, and making new friends are invited to join the Junior League of Albany.
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/local/junior-league-of-albany-raises-18-900-plus-during-21-22/article_0aa46a66-ed9f-11ec-9141-2f3ff54b74b5.html | 2022-06-16T18:49:33Z |
- 3 in 4 restaurants are leaning into tech to manage talent shortages
- Experts provide tips for 45% of consumers struggling to book a table
ATLANTA, June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- After a turbulent two years, business has returned to "normal-ish" for most restaurants, but the ongoing hospitality labor shortage is keeping many from operating at full capacity…and keeping eager consumers from getting a table at preferred eateries. Popmenu's new nationwide surveys of 374 restaurant owners and operators (May 18 - June 10) and 1,002 consumers (May 20-21) shed light on the industry's recovery, the impact of pent-up demand and warmer weather, and what this means for in-person dining options – or lack thereof – this summer.
The Road to Recovery – The vast majority of restaurant owners and operators report that market demand and sales at their locations have bounced back or will soon. However, a significant percentage voiced concern that another COVID wave this summer could shutter their business for good.
Key Findings
- 30% of restaurant owners and operators say their business has returned to pre-COVID levels while 25% say business has surpassed pre-COVID levels.
- 29% expect business to return to pre-COVID levels in the second half of 2022 while others anticipate it will take longer to recover.
- 42% say their business wouldn't likely survive another COVID surge this summer.
Impact of the Labor Shortage on Summer Dining – While restaurants readily welcome the influx of in-person diners this summer, they've had to turn some business away because they don't have enough workers to keep pace with guest volume. More are relying on tech to help bridge labor gaps.
Key Findings
- 51% of restaurants don't have the staff needed to handle on-premise demand this summer.
- 33% are not operating at full capacity because they can't find enough staff.
- 76% of restaurants have adopted new tech or increased tech usage to manage through the labor shortage, ranging from online ordering and contactless dining to digital waitlisting and AI phone answering.1
Competition for Reservations – Consumers are having a hard time reserving tables at preferred eateries as restaurants advise to book well in advance.
Key Findings
- 52% of restaurant owners and operators say consumers are not likely to get a reservation with them on the same day.
- 45% of consumers are currently having trouble getting a reservation at a preferred restaurant.
- 59% of consumers are ordering online more often because of long wait times or no available seating.
"While more than half of restaurant owners and operators say their business has reached or surpassed pre-pandemic sales, they can't take full advantage of the demand for on-premise dining because they're short-staffed," said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and Co-founder of Popmenu. "This can be incredibly frustrating for restaurateurs — and their customers — which is why more are relying on guest-facing technology to make operations more efficient and capture revenue opportunities that would have otherwise been missed. For consumers, a little patience, planning ahead and staying connected with the restaurant will help ensure you're next on the guest list."
Popmenu recommends the following tips to help consumers increase their chances of booking a table this summer:
- Book early: A week in advance will typically suffice to guarantee a seat, but keep in mind that some restaurants are booking three weeks out or even longer.
- Become a follower: Most restaurants will provide an opportunity for you to join a loyalty program or mailing list. VIP members often receive perks like priority seating, advance invites to events and exclusive discounts and promotions. Also make sure to follow your favorite restaurants on social media for insider info so you can plan ahead.
- Set up alerts: Different reservation apps will instantly notify you if a reservation time you wanted for a restaurant becomes available. Move quickly to snatch up the time before someone else does.
- Avoid peak hours. From early birds to night owls, booking outside of popular times such as 12pm to 2pm or 6pm to 8pm increases your chances of securing a table.
- Order to go: If all else fails, an impromptu picnic with your favorite restaurant food is always fun.
1Data from Popmenu's nationwide survey of 321 U.S. restaurant owners and operators in Q1 2022.
Popmenu conducted a nationwide survey of 374 U.S. restaurant owners and operators from May 18 to June 10, 2022. The survey was anonymous and included representative samples of restaurants of all types and sizes. In addition, Popmenu conducted a nationwide, anonymous survey of 1,002 U.S. consumers, ages 18 and older, from May 20 to May 21, 2022.
Popmenu specializes in transformative online and on-premise technologies that help restaurants increase brand visibility, guest engagement, revenue and profitability. The company is a leading innovator in digital marketing and ordering technology that works with over 10,000 independent restaurants and hospitality groups. For more information about Popmenu, visit get.popmenu.com.
Media Contact:
Jennifer Grasz
Head of Communications, Popmenu
Jennifer.Grasz@popmenu.com
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SOURCE Popmenu | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/23/over-half-restaurants-say-business-has-reached-pre-covid-levels-or-better-they-cant-meet-demand-according-popmenu-study/ | 2022-06-23T09:49:32Z |
LEHI, Utah, Sept. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphite Connect, the first enterprise social network for supplier relationship and data management, today announced its technology has been selected by Casey's, the third largest convenience retailer and fifth largest pizza chain in the United States. Aligning with Casey's digital transformation efforts, the company selected Graphite Connect to bring more efficiency, simplicity and transparency to onboarding and managing suppliers.
"We are in the middle of our own digital transformation and elevating procurement's impact on our ability to move quickly is a key part of our vision," said Jaime Robles, VP of Procurement of Casey's. "We've been looking for a solution like Graphite Connect. What Graphite offers is a breakthrough in onboarding suppliers and managing supplier data that will help us solve the headaches and disruption of outdated and inaccurate supplier data feeding into critical business systems."
"We are committed to eliminating the friction that surrounds supplier onboarding and management," said Conrad Smith, CEO of Graphite. "Graphite Connect offers Casey's a centralized platform that enables faster onboarding, while supporting secure risk management and information sharing throughout the procurement lifecycle. For everybody to be working together on the same platform and all feedback to be integrated with supplier governance and relationship management activities taking place is a huge breakthrough to help procurement operate at the speed of business."
The pace of innovation continues to increase, making the speed of business an ever-faster endeavor. Yet many procurement organizations are still manually onboarding suppliers and manually managing and cleaning up supplier master data. Despite the need, procurement as a business function hasn't been the target of innovative solutions meant to help get suppliers onboarded as quickly as possible to meet critical, and often time-sensitive, employee or customer needs. Graphite Connect answers this need by doing more than simply collecting and cleaning up data; instead, it operates as a social network that securely manages procurement data and supplier risk in a fully collaborative and familiar environment.
Request a demo to learn more about how Graphite Connect can help your big corporation or lean startup operate at the speed of business.
Graphite Connect is the leading supplier management platform that helps global enterprises and small businesses streamline the entire procurement process from onboarding to risk management. A social network provides a single, secure location to manage data, tasks, and teams. Both suppliers and buyers gain immediate and secure access to all the information they need—in one place. Key supplier commercial data like TIN checking, OFAC, and W-9 forms are automatically validated within Graphite to drastically speed up onboarding and mitigate third party risk. Learn more at graphiteconnect.com.
Casey's is a Fortune 500 company (NASDAQ: CASY) operating over 2,400 convenience stores. Founded more than 50 years ago, the company has grown to become the third largest convenience store retailer and the fifth largest pizza chain in the United States. Casey's provides freshly prepared foods, quality fuel and friendly service at its locations. Guests can enjoy pizza, donuts, and a wide selection of beverages and snacks. Learn more and order online at www.caseys.com, or in the mobile app.
Contacts
Hayden Neal
hayden@graphiteconnect.com
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SOURCE Graphite | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/09/08/caseys-selects-graphite-connect-bring-increased-simplicity-speed-procurement-process/ | 2022-09-08T16:48:44Z |
Utah deputies find man who disappeared as teen in California
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A 19-year-old who disappeared from his family’s home in California nearly three years ago has been found in Utah, bringing astonishment and relief to his parents who feared they would never see him again. Sheriff Justin Martinez said Connerjack Oswalt was shivering and cold when sheriff’s deputies came across him Saturday sleeping in a convenience store in Summit County, known for its ski areas. Oswalt had been diagnosed with autism and other conditions. His family had searched for him for years, handing out fliers, scanning social media and desperately chasing down fruitless leads. The Summit County deputies warmed him up and eventually made the connection to a missing person flier. | https://localnews8.com/news/ap-utah/2022/04/15/utah-deputies-find-man-who-disappeared-as-teen-in-california-2/ | 2022-04-15T23:47:19Z |
LEXINGTON, Ky., Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: METC) ("Ramaco" or the "Company") announced that it has entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Appleton Coal LLC to acquire 100% of the membership interests in Maben Coal LLC for an aggregate purchase price of $30 million (the "Acquisition"). The purchase price will consist of (i) $9 million to be paid in cash at closing and (ii) $21 million to be paid from the proceeds of a secured note payable to Investec Bank, PLC (the "Lender") pursuant to a vendor loan facility between the Lender and the Company. The completion of the Acquisition remains subject to customary closing conditions, including obtaining certain consents and delivery of ancillary transaction documents. The Company anticipates that the closing will occur in August. The Acquisition is anticipated to be accretive to the Company over the next 12 months.
The coal reserves held by Maben Coal LLC consist of approximately 33 million tons of minable coal on over 28,000 leased acres located in Wyoming County and Raleigh County, West Virginia. The property contains various areas of high quality low vol met coal in the Pocahontas 3, Pocahontas 4, Sewell, and Pocahontas 6 (and all seams between the Sewell and Pocahontas 6) seams of coal.
The Company expects that the 1.5 million tons of coal contained in the Sewell seam will be immediately mined by the surface and high wall mining methods. The 31 million tons of coal contained in the Pocahontas 3 and the Pocahontas 4 seams may also be developed in the near future through deep mining.
The property has existing mining permits issued by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection which authorize both surface and highwall mining, as well and underground mining operations. The property also has issued permits covering an existing haul road, as well as an active refuse disposal area together with a preparation plant and unit train loadout, neither of which has yet been constructed.
The Sewell seam mine development will begin immediately after the closing. Initial production is expected in the fourth quarter of 2022 which is anticipated to yield 25,000 tons in 2022. This will increase to approximately 250,000 tons in 2023 and remain at that level through 2030. The Company estimates that if operating today, the Maben reserves would have cash mine costs in the $80 per ton range, plus trucking costs to our Knox Creek preparation plant.
Capital expenditures related to the Maben acquisition and development including equipment are expected to be approximately $15 million, with the majority of that investment in 2022.
The Company expects to determine in the future the timing for moving forward on the development of the deep mine reserves in the Pocahontas 3 and the Pocahontas 4 seams. Such future development would involve adding approximately 1 million tons per year at full production with construction of a new preparation plant and loadout mentioned above.
The Company also announced that it had recently approved the expansion of its Elk Creek preparation plant to 3.0 million tons of annual capacity from its current level of 2.1 million tons at the end of 2021. This expansion has already commenced and should be at its full run rate by mid 2023. This expansion will involve the expenditure of $5 million in 2022 and $4 million in 2023.
Randall Atkins, Ramaco's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer remarked, "Today Ramaco has announced two meaningful steps which will potentially increase our production capacity by roughly an additional 2 million tons over the next few years, from levels at the end of last year.
The Maben acquisition fits well into Ramaco's strategy of opportunistically acquiring advantaged reserves which we can develop at both low capital and operating costs. We intend to immediately begin high wall mining of roughly 250,000 tons of annual production in the Sewell seam later this year with the potential for further deep mining to follow. The Acquisition will pay for itself from this immediate production in less than two years. Ramaco will then analyze the option to develop the larger Pocahontas 3 and 4 seams, which could yield additional annual full production of roughly 1 million tons.
We have also approved to increase the production and processing capacity at our flagship Elk Creek mine complex to 3 million tons from its prior size of 2.1 million tons at the end of last year.
Together these two additions, along with the organic development of our other existing properties, provide that we can now guide to a future level of approximately 6.5 million tons of production over the next three years. This will in essence triple the level of production we had as of year-end 2021."
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements as to future results of operations and financial position, revenue and other metrics planned products and services, business strategy and plans, objectives of management, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent Ramaco's expectations or beliefs concerning guidance, future events, anticipated revenue, future demand and production levels, macroeconomic trends, the development of ongoing projects, costs and expectations regarding operating results, and it is possible that the results described in this press release will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Ramaco's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, risks related to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, unexpected delays in our current mine development activities, failure of our sales commitment counterparties to perform, increased government regulation of coal in the United States or internationally, the decline of demand for coal in export markets and underperformance of the railroads, the anticipated completion of the Acquisition and the timing thereof, the expected benefits of the Acquisition to the Company's shareholders, and the anticipated benefits and impacts of the Acquisition. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Ramaco does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Ramaco to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements found in Ramaco's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The risk factors and other factors noted in Ramaco's SEC filings could cause its actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Contact: info@ramacocoal.com or 859-244-7455
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SOURCE Ramaco Resources, Inc. | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/08/08/ramaco-resources-inc-announces-expansion-future-production-with-agreement-acquire-maben-coal-llc-expansion-elk-creek-coal-preparation-plant/ | 2022-08-08T21:48:20Z |
NEW YORK, July 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Gross Law Firm issues the following notice to shareholders of Pegasystems Inc..
Shareholders who purchased shares of PEGA during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointment. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.
CLASS PERIOD: This lawsuit is on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased PEGA common stock between May 29, 2020 and May 9, 2022, inclusive.
ALLEGATIONS: The complaint alleges that during the class period, Defendants issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) PEGA had engaged in corporate espionage and misappropriation of trade secrets to better compete against Appian, a principal competitor; (2) defendants' product development and associated success was, in significant part, not the result of its own research and product testing but rather the result of such corporate espionage and trade secret theft; (3) defendants had engaged in a scheme to steal Appian trade secrets, which was not only known to, but carried out through, the personal involvement of the Company's CEO; (4) the Company's CEO and other officers and employees did not comply with the Company's written Code of Conduct, including its express prohibition on "stealing" confidential information from a competitor and "misrepresenting your identity in hopes of obtaining confidential information"; (5) the Company was "unable to reasonably estimate damages" in the lawsuit filed by Appian as a result of the foregoing misconduct (the "Appian Litigation"); and (6) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' statements about PEGA's business, operations, prospects, legal compliance, and potential damages exposure in the Appian Litigation were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis when made.
DEADLINE: July 18, 2022 Shareholders should not delay in registering for this class action. Register your information here: https://securitiesclasslaw.com/securities/pegasystems-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=29729&from=4
NEXT STEPS FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Once you register as a shareholder who purchased shares of PEGA during the timeframe listed above, you will be enrolled in a portfolio monitoring software to provide you with status updates throughout the lifecycle of the case. The deadline to seek to be a lead plaintiff is July 18, 2022. There is no cost or obligation to you to participate in this case.
WHY GROSS LAW FIRM? The Gross Law Firm is nationally recognized class action law firm, and our mission is to protect the rights of all investors who have suffered as a result of deceit, fraud, and illegal business practices. The Gross Law Firm is committed to ensuring that companies adhere to responsible business practices and engage in good corporate citizenship. The firm seeks recovery on behalf of investors who incurred losses when false and/or misleading statements or the omission of material information by a company lead to artificial inflation of the company's stock. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
CONTACT:
The Gross Law Firm
15 West 38th Street, 12th floor
New York, NY, 10018
Email: dg@securitiesclasslaw.com
Phone: (646) 453-8903
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SOURCE The Gross Law Firm | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/07/13/shareholder-alert-gross-law-firm-notifies-shareholders-pegasystems-inc-class-action-lawsuit-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-18-2022-nasdaq-pega/ | 2022-07-13T09:59:16Z |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) announced that its prime rate is increasing from 3.5 percent to 4 percent, effective May 5, 2022.
The rate was last changed on March 17, 2022, when Huntington increased its prime rate from 3.25 percent to 3.5 percent.
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $177 billion asset regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank and its affiliates provide consumers, small and middle-market businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations with a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services. Huntington operates more than 1,000 branches in 11 states, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Visit Huntington.com for more information.
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SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Inc. | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/05/huntington-bancshares-incorporated-increases-its-prime-rate-4-percent/ | 2022-05-05T13:48:56Z |
Amber Alert issued for 7-year-old Texas girl
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX/Gray News) - An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday afternoon for a missing child in Bryan, Texas.
Ana Cristina Torres Medina, 7, was last seen around 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in the 700 block of Scott & White Drive in College Station, Texas.
She is described as having brown hair and brown eyes.
Authorities identified Pedro Angel Aranda Jimenez as the suspect in the case, according to the Amber Alert.
Jimenez has a warrant issued for his arrest “related to this incident,” according to the alert.
Ana and Jimenez may be traveling in a 2005 Dodge Durango with Texas license plate number HBY0222. The vehicle may be headed to the U.S.-Mexico border.
If you have any information, contact Bryan Police at 979-209-5300 or dial 911.
Copyright 2022 KBTX via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/17/amber-alert-issued-7-year-old-texas-girl/ | 2022-08-17T21:55:43Z |
Every Texoma county is under a burn ban
SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) - As dry conditions continue across our region, fire officials continue to urge folks to avoid burning of any kind. In fact, every county in the News 12 viewing area is under a burn ban.
Under a burn ban, all outdoor burning is banned with few exceptions like outdoor cooking and hot work like welding, as long as the equipment is away from anything combustible and a constant water supply is immediately available, along with other restrictions.
Should you start a fire under a burn ban, it’s a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, and they’ve already written several citations this year. But officials said there are ways fires can start you may not even realize.
It doesn’t take much to spark a dangerous fire.
“We’ve had still several people doing burns illegally that have caused fires getting out of control,” said John Weda, Grayson County Fire Marshal.
From low hanging chains on trailers, cigarette butts tossed out of cars and even tire blow outs. For Weda, this has been a busy fire season.
“We had one not long ago where a triple axel trailer broke two axels and one axel went to one side of the road the other went to the opposite side. We had fires on each side of the road took of from the axels getting over there,” said Weda.
Grass can ignite at 500 degrees and in these conditions a fire can spread almost as fast as it starts. On the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, Grayson County was rated Monday at 735 out of the maximum of 800.
“We’ve had people out using their mower or their push mower or riding mower or brush hogging or whatever. If they hit a piece of metal under the grass or a rock it can cause a spark and then they got their grass on fire. That’s already happened several times. It happens a lot with farmers out cutting their fields and stuff,” said Weda.
Accidents happen, but most fires are preventable with caution and avoiding items like parachute lanterns.
“They’ve been banned in 29 states, they’re not banned in Texas. It’s not good practice and obviously we’re under a burn ban so it would be illegal to use one of those today. But it’s just not good in general to use one of those. You don’t know where they’re gonna come down,” said Weda.
As fires spread fast, fire crews, often staffed by volunteers, are spread thin.
“There’s not many paid departments, Denison, Sherman, NTRA the airport they’re paid, and then part of Van Alstyne. But a lot of these people in Grayson County, 85 percent of the firefighters you see are volunteer,” said Weda.
You can show support to your local fire department by dropping off donations of snacks, water or Gatorade, or cash for them to pick up those necessities. But the best way to show support, be extra cautious in these dry conditions so you don’t have to make a call to 911.
Copyright 2022 KXII. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/08/09/every-texoma-county-is-under-burn-ban/ | 2022-08-09T05:02:28Z |
MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis., May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TIKI® Brand announced it has been named a Gold Edison Award winner for their BiteFighter® LED String Lights with proven mosquito repellency.* The Edison Awards are among the most prestigious accolades, honoring excellence in new product development, design and innovation. TIKI® Brand was honored at the 2022 Edison Award ceremony in Fort Meyers, Florida, on April 20-22.
The Edison Awards, established in 1987 and named after inventor, Thomas A. Edison, are an annual program built to recognize and honor the most innovative products and business leaders in the world. An elite panel of Steering Committee members select the nominees for consideration, sending a comprehensive ballot to over 3,000 experienced senior business executives throughout the nation for winner selection. Winners represent "game changing" products, services, excellence and leadership in innovation around four criteria: Concept, Value, Delivery and Impact.
"We are elated to offer consumers the first and only string light with proven mosquito repellency," said TIKI® Brand Sr. Product Manager Jeremy Yingst. "At TIKI® Brand, we are committed to creating products that allow carefree moments for consumers in their backyards. It is exciting to help solve consumer problems through innovation, and we are honored to be named an Edison Award winner at the gold level."
The weatherproof BiteFighter® LED String Lights include a 36-foot string with three integrated repellent diffusers, three patented BiteFighter® replaceable repellent pods and warm-toned, 2200K shatter-resistant LED bulbs. The pre-filled repellent pods last up to 200 hours and provide a protection zone up to 330 square feet. With the flip of a switch, repellency is established in 15 minutes, helping consumers turn on ambiance and turn off mosquitos.
The 2022 Edison Award winners, including product descriptions, photos and videos, can be found at Edisonawards.com/winners2022.
About TIKI® Brand
TIKI® Brand is a brand extension of Lamplight Farms Incorporated, headquartered in Menomonee Falls, WI. The TIKI® Brand features a full line of decorative torches and torch fuels, BiteFighter® LED String Lights, and fire pits that enhance the consumer's backyard, making it the best room of the house. TIKI® Brand is the leader in outdoor torches and torch fuel, and is sold at major retailers nationwide. For more information, visit tikibrand.com.
*Based on studies that demonstrated a reduction in mosquitos compared to untreated controls. Use as directed. Efficacy may be affected by weather conditions, configuration and distance from repellent pods, and individual physical factors.
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SOURCE TIKI® Brand | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/03/tiki-brand-bitefighter-led-string-lights-named-gold-edison-award-winner/ | 2022-05-03T14:59:29Z |
Musk subpoenas former Twitter CEO and friend Jack Dorsey
(AP) - Tesla CEO Elon Musk has subpoenaed his friend and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey as part of an effort to back out of his $44 billion agreement to acquire the company Dorsey helped found, according to court documents.
Twitter and Musk are headed for an Oct. 17 trial in Delaware that should determine whether or not Twitter can force the billionaire to go through with the acquisition.
Twitter has subpoenaed a host of tech investors and entrepreneurs connected to Musk, including prominent venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and David Sacks, the founding chief operating officer of PayPal.
Musk has claimed that Twitter failed to provide adequate information about the number of fake, or “spam bot,” Twitter accounts, and that it has breached its obligations under the deal by firing top managers and laying off a significant number of employees. Musk’s team expects more information about the bot numbers to be revealed in the trial court discovery process, when both sides must hand over evidence.
Twitter argues that Musk’s reasons for backing out are just a cover for buyer’s remorse. Shortly after Musk agreed to pay 38% above Twitter’s stock price, the stock market stumbled and shares of the electric-car maker Tesla, where most of Musk’s personal wealth resides, lost more than $100 billion of their value.
The subpoena was served last week. It asks Dorsey for documents and communications related to the acquisition, as well as information on the effect of fake or spam accounts on Twitter’s business and its measurement of daily active users.
A lawyer representing Dorsey did not immediately respond to a message for comment on Monday.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/08/22/musk-subpoenas-former-twitter-ceo-friend-jack-dorsey/ | 2022-08-22T20:39:39Z |
Former MVP Delle Donne’s return gives Mystics, WNBA a boost
By NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The last time Elena Delle Donne played a full season was 2019. She won her second MVP award and led the Washington Mystics to a WNBA championship. Back problems and coronavirus concerns then limited her to only three games over the past two years. Washington is hoping a healthy Delle Donne will help the team rejoin the league’s elite. She is showing at age 32 that she can still make a big impact after all that time away. | https://localnews8.com/sports/ap-national-sports/2022/05/16/former-mvp-delle-donnes-return-gives-mystics-wnba-a-boost/ | 2022-05-16T20:28:51Z |
The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences has awarded Georgia State University a $1.7 million grant to conduct a four-year study of the relationship between student outcomes and career and technical education, and teacher preparation and experience.
ATLANTA — The U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences has awarded Georgia State University a $1.7 million grant to conduct a four-year study of the relationship between student outcomes and career and technical education, and teacher preparation and experience.
The research also will examine the challenges school districts face in recruiting and retaining qualified CTE teachers.
The project, “CTE Teacher Labor Markets, Attributes and Student Outcomes,” benefits from the strengths of an existing CTE policy research partnership, the Career & Technical Education Policy Exchange in the university’s Georgia Policy Labs. Principal investigator Daniel Kreisman, an associate professor of economics, leads the project along with Thomas Goldring (Georgia State), Roddy Theobald (American Institutes for Research), Celeste Carruthers (University of Tennessee) and Shaun Dougherty (Boston College).
“Every state in the country faces CTE teacher shortages and is trying to align with industry demands,” Kreisman said. “However, policy decisions are being made without a concrete understanding of what instructor skills, experience and certifications are critical to CTE student outcomes. Our research will fill this gap.”
The project will provide a comprehensive overview of CTE teachers and contextualize strategies for addressing CTE staffing. It will explore how student outcomes, such as test scores, college enrollment, employment and earnings, vary with these teacher characteristics. The research team will observe data across four states in a sample of more than 2 million unique students who took CTE coursework from more than 15,000 CTE teachers.
“We know a whole lot about the role K–12 teachers play in student learning,” Kreisman said. “We even have good insight into the challenges districts face in recruiting and retaining them. Yet, when it comes to CTE, we know next to nothing. Our research will provide detailed information the CTE field has sought for years.”
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accounts, the history behind an article. | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/georgia-state-grant-study-will-focus-on-career-and-technical-education/article_2ecdfb8a-0c14-11ed-8e0c-07e067627fe2.html | 2022-07-25T13:01:54Z |
Which Anker Bluetooth speakers are best?
There are plenty of reasons to use an Anker Bluetooth speaker rather than headphones to play music. Perhaps you want to add music to add to the ambience while you entertain guests. Maybe you just don’t want wires getting in your way as you work around the house. Regardless of the reason, there are many situations where using headphones is less than ideal. Luckily, there are plenty of excellent Anker Bluetooth speaker options, like the Anker Soundcore Motion+ Portable Bluetooth Speaker. This souped-up Anker Bluetooth speaker has best-in-class audio systems.
What to know before you buy an Anker Bluetooth speaker
Sound quality
Anker Bluetooth speakers are available in many forms and generations of model which can greatly affect the quality of the sound. Additionally, many Anker Bluetooth speakers can have different levels of sound quality despite costing nearly the same. When trying to ascertain the level of sound quality a speaker has, check the user reviews. You can also check to see how many speakers and woofers it has. The more of these things the speaker has, the better the sound quality will be.
Intended location
Nearly all Anker Bluetooth speakers are designed to be portable without sacrificing sound quality. However, that doesn’t mean they’re all designed to be taken anywhere. Lower-end speakers are meant to remain indoors and in small rooms. The higher-end Anker Bluetooth speakers are designed for both indoor and outdoor use . Their speakers are not only designed to pump out better audio, but they also have high levels of elemental resistance.
What to look for in a quality Anker Bluetooth speaker
Outdoor protection
Some Anker Bluetooth speakers feature differing amounts of waterproofing and dustproofing designed so that the speaker can be safely left in the elements as long as you please. The higher you go up the qualitative product chain, the more elemental protection you’re going to find. Some Anker Bluetooth speakers can even somewhat resist the effects of snow.
Connectivity
Some Anker Bluetooth speakers have stronger connections, which manifest in maximum range. The lowest-end Anker Bluetooth speakers can have ranges as short as 30 feet while the high-end Anker Bluetooth speakers usually double that or stretch as close to 100 feet as possible.
Many Anker Bluetooth speakers also include the option to connect a device to the speaker using an auxiliary cord. This is useful if you’re having issues with your Bluetooth connectivity, rapidly swapping sources or you’re trying to connect a device that doesn’t have Bluetooth.
How much you can expect to spend on an Anker Bluetooth speaker
Anker Bluetooth speakers are available in a wide range of prices that can match any budget without sacrificing quality. They can start as low as $25 while most top out around $50. The best Anker Bluetooth speakers usually cost around $100-$125.
Anker Bluetooth speaker FAQ
Why is my Anker Bluetooth speaker broadcasting a staticky sound?
A. There can be a few issues causing staticky sound to broadcast from your Anker Bluetooth speaker. The two most common causes for staticky sound are either your source signal has gotten too far away from the Anker Bluetooth speaker or your Anker Bluetooth speaker is too low on battery. Occasionally a charging Anker Bluetooth speaker can broadcast staticky sound as well.
Why won’t my smartphone connect to my Anker Bluetooth speaker?
A. Again, there can be a few issues causing the connection failure. First, make sure the Bluetooth setting is switched on on your smartphone and your Anker Bluetooth speaker has a good charge level. Then, disconnect any currently active Bluetooth pairings before trying to connect to the Anker Bluetooth speaker. If this doesn’t solve it, turn off both the Anker Bluetooth speaker and your smartphone for a minute or two before turning them back on and trying again.
What are the best Anker Bluetooth speakers to buy?
Top Anker Bluetooth speaker
Anker Soundcore Motion+ Portable Bluetooth Speaker
What you need to know: This Anker Bluetooth speaker is one of Anker’s best available models and is packed with features.
What you’ll love: It is available in three colors: black, blue and red. This Anker Bluetooth speaker features two ultrahigh frequency tweeters, neodymium woofers and passive radiators to broadcast the highest possible quality sound. A 15-degree angle allows the music to be broadcast in a wider cone.
What you should consider: There are plenty of Anker Bluetooth speakers available for much less money than this high-cost model. The extra power means a maximum battery life half that of other Anker models.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Anker Bluetooth speaker for the money
Anker Soundcore Portable Bluetooth Speaker
What you need to know: This ultra-affordable Anker Bluetooth speaker is a little old but still packs a great sound system.
What you’ll love: This speaker is available in black, blue and red. It features a huge, 24 hour maximum battery life as well as full stereo sound and even comes with IPX5 waterproofing. It has an up to 66-foot connection range.
What you should consider: The Soundcore 2 speaker is only a little over $10 more and features a few improvements over this older model.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Anker Soundcore 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
What you need to know: This is an upgraded version of the above, original Anker Soundcore Portable Bluetooth Speaker.
What you’ll love: This speaker features improved audio systems across the board from the original Anker Soundcore Portable Bluetooth Speaker. The improved IPX7 waterproofing is enough to resist rain and snow plus dust. These improvements come at no cost to the 24-hour maximum battery life.
What you should consider: The blue and red color options both cost an additional $4 but add nothing to this speaker other than a different aesthetic.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/best-anker-bluetooth-speaker/ | 2022-07-17T18:26:37Z |
Those Working for Lawmakers Must Have an Opportunity to Join a Union, O'Brien Says
WASHINGTON, May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Teamsters strongly endorse a House resolution set for a vote today that would recognize congressional workers' right to organize, finishing a process the chamber began more than a quarter-century ago when lawmakers passed the Congressional Accountability Act in 1995.
The measure offered by Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) gives some 9,100 staffers the same rights as other workers to join together and collectively bargain for better pay, benefits and working conditions. It comes at a time when frustration has been brewing over wage disparities and long work hours on Capitol Hill.
"People who work for politicians deserve the same rights as those who work for big business," said Sean M. O'Brien, Teamsters General President. "These workers are fighting to join a union and House lawmakers must do the right thing and protect their right to organize. It's time these elected officials set an example for corporate America."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has endorsed the resolution, but its future in the Senate is more uncertain. Regardless of what happens in the Senate, House staffers would be allowed to organize even if only the House passes the measure.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.2 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Ash Latimer, (202) 624-6822
alatimer@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/10/teamsters-laud-house-measure-protecting-congressional-staffs-right-organize/ | 2022-05-11T03:36:35Z |
Evolution of SEI's Leadership Reinforces Strategic Focus on Driving Growth
OAKS, Pa., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SEI® (NASDAQ: SEIC) today announced that Sanjay Sharma has been appointed to lead its Private Banking business segment. Sharma will be responsible for overall strategy and business growth through the delivery of comprehensive technology, operational, and investment solutions for U.S. and U.K. wealth management organizations. With more than 25 years of global experience in the financial services industry, he brings deep knowledge to capitalize on current and future technology, operational, and business trends.
Sharma has been with SEI for 14 years, previously serving as Chief Technology Officer and responsible for the global IT strategy, execution, and delivery of all of SEI's platforms and applications, including the SEI Wealth PlatformSM and SEI's cloud strategy. Prior to joining SEI, Sharma led a successful consulting business and held leadership positions overseeing revenue generation, market strategy, and global delivery at top-10 IT consulting companies.
"The financial services industry is enduring tremendous change, and with change comes opportunity. We're well positioned to help wealth management organizations navigate the challenges they're facing and transform their businesses to meet investors' demands. I'm thrilled to take on this new role and continue working alongside the incredible talent at SEI."
"We're focused on investing in our talent, reigniting our culture, and transforming growth, and the evolution of SEI is key to unlocking our potential. Sanjay's expertise in the technology and wealth management landscape will be invaluable to progressing our business strategy. There is a clear intersection of technology and business growth in today's wealth management market, and we believe that trend will only accelerate. Our success is driven by the strength of our workforce and leadership, and I'm confident Sanjay will continue to help position our company and our clients for success in seizing opportunities that drive future growth."
Sharma is currently a member of the Client Advisory Board for Digital for a global top-ten IT consulting firm, board member for the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technology, Advisory Board member for a large venture capital firm, Advisory Board member for SEI Ventures, a member of the Advisory Board for SEI Diversity and Inclusion, and founding board member of Racial Justice Institution. He holds a master's degree in engineering, specializing in systems engineering, from the Indian Institute of Technology in Roorkee, India.
About SEI®
SEI (NASDAQ:SEIC) delivers technology and investment solutions that connect the financial services industry. With capabilities across investment processing, operations, and asset management, SEI works with corporations, financial institutions and professionals, and ultra-high-net-worth families to solve problems, manage change, and help protect assets—for growth today and in the future. As of March 31, 2022, SEI manages, advises, or administers approximately $1.3 trillion in assets. For more information, visit seic.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology, such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe" and "continue" or "appear." Our forward-looking statements include our current expectations as to:
- the strategic initiatives and business segments that we will pursue and those in which we will invest, and
- the success, if any, of the sales and strategic initiatives we pursue.
You should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, as they are based on the current beliefs and expectations of our management and subject to significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control or are subject to change. Although we believe the assumptions upon which we base our forward-looking statements are reasonable, they could be inaccurate. Some of the risks and important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those described in our forward-looking statements can be found in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE SEI Investments Company | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/06/16/sanjay-sharma-lead-seis-private-banking-business/ | 2022-06-16T17:17:05Z |
It was raining when Kainat Solangi's daughter was born on August 14 and it's barely stopped since, stranding her family in a makeshift tent on a thin strip of land surrounded by Pakistan's worst-ever floods.
The family of eight built their shelter from furniture and sheets of cloth, whatever they could salvage from their flooded home in the village of Rijepur, near Khairpur Nathan Shah in southwestern Sindh province.
Holding her 24-day-old infant, Shumaila, Solangi said she worries about her newborn, who she took from hospital as the rain fell because she couldn't afford to pay for her medication. Now she and her five other children are hungry, ill and wary of the snakes that are also looking for food and higher ground. Her husband, a daily wage earner, is not able to work.
"All those who could afford left this village, but we are still here because we cannot afford to go anywhere. It's all about money," she said. "We are helpless people. I am also sick and it's the third month I got fever and throat infection. We even cannot afford to buy some medicine."
Women and children have been disproportionally affected by Pakistan's catastrophic floods because of the lack of access to healthcare, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Around 10% of the country's healthcare institutions have been damaged by the floods, WHO representative to Pakistan Dr. Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala said Monday. He said he's especially concerned for the 1.2 million pregnant women who among the hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
Solangi may have survived her baby's birth, but she knows a strip of land between flood water is no place for an infant. Though she said she feels safer there than in a nearby relief camp that's only accessible by boat.
"There is nothing in the relief camp," she said. "People are helpless. They don't give anything to people. It's better to live here," she said.
'Malaria of epidemic proportions'
Across Pakistan, others like Solangi are surviving on rations dropped by aid workers as they wait for the waters to recede. Around 10 families are huddled together with Solangi on the strip of land that at some points is only 15 feet, or less than five meters, wide.
Flies swarm around the children's faces as they sleep, and it's hard to avoid mosquitoes that carry the threat of malaria, which can cause fever, flu-like symptoms and sometimes death.
"A lady came here and promised that we will be provided mosquito nets but she never came back," Solangi said. "I am still waiting for that. They also registered my name but she didn't return."
Mahipala said the WHO was seeing "malaria of epidemic proportions" and that cases of typhoid and infections of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract were becoming more common.
"We fear that situation will worsen with the greater humanitarian and public health impact particularly in Sindh province as water moves towards the south of the country," he said.
The WHO estimates that around 634,000 people are living in displaced persons camps, but that number could be higher because it's too difficult to access some areas.
'We are poor and cannot go out of this area'
On the dirt strip, children mingle with the livestock families saved from the flood, and amuse themselves by splashing in the water that now covers their small village.
Mai Haleema, 70, watches over them, but particularly when they sleep. She's worried the younger children will forget where they are and accidentally fall into the water that lies just a few feet from their beds.
"We keep our eyes on our children after sunset. They could fall down in the water believing if they were living in their old house. We have to take care of them," Haleema said.
Haleema told CNN that she has witnessed Pakistan's harsh monsoon season throughout her life, but this is one of the worst.
Pakistan is on the front line of the climate crisis, contending with a string of extreme weather events in recent months, from record heat waves to destructive floods.
"This area has been hit by floods four times in my life, but I remember three of them. But this time, the heavy rains worsened the situation. The water level was not so high in the past," Haleema said.
She worries about the future, but doesn't think too much about her damaged home -- "It is useless to cry for it now," she said.
She and Solangi are more worried about the children and how they'll survive this ordeal.
"We have to save food for our kids," said Haleema. "God may help us."
Solangi is also hoping for divine intervention to save them from a disaster that no one saw coming.
"God is our savior. I am not feeling well," she said. "My kids are also sick. I have to fetch water."
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WASHINGTON — Taliban forces had taken the Afghan capital. Crowds of panicked people thronged the airport. And a young man who had worked as a subcontractor for the U.S. military faced a terrible choice.
Hasibullah Hasrat, after having navigated the chaotic streets and Taliban checkpoints to make it inside the airport, could either go back for his wife and two young children or board an evacuation flight and get them later. Not taking the flight likely meant none of them would get out of Afghanistan.
Hasrat’s decision haunts him. He is in the U.S., one of more than 78,000 Afghans admitted into the country following the U.S. troop withdrawal in August that ended America’s longest war. But his family hasn’t been able to join him. They’re still in Afghanistan, where an economic crisis has led to widespread hunger and where Taliban repression is on the rise.
“My wife is alone there,” he said, his voice breaking as he describes nightly phone calls home. “My son cries, asks where I am, when am I coming. And I don’t know what to say.”
It’s a reminder that the journey for many of the Afghans who came to the United States in the historic evacuation remains very much a work in progress, filled with uncertainty and anxiety about the future.
Afghan refugees, some of whom faced possible reprisals for working with their government or American forces during the war with the Taliban, say in interviews that they are grateful to the U.S. for rescuing them and family members.
But they are often struggling to gain a foothold in a new land, straining to pay their bills as assistance from the government and resettlement agencies starts to run out, stuck in temporary housing, and trying to figure out how to apply for asylum because most of the Afghans came under a two-year emergency status known as humanitarian parole.
“We are not sure what may happen,” said Gulsom Esmaelzade, whose family has been shuttled between hotel rooms in the San Diego area since January, after spending three months at a New Jersey military base. “We don’t have anything back at home in Afghanistan and here we also don’t have any future.”
It’s taken a toll. Esmaelzade said her mother has had to be rushed three times to the emergency room when her blood pressure shot up to dangerous levels. The younger woman attributes it to the stress of their lives.
Then there are more mundane challenges that are nonetheless daunting for many Afghans. They include learning English, navigating government bureaucracies and public transportation, and finding a job.
There is also the isolation for those, like Hasrat, who came alone. “I don’t know anyone here,” he said in the apartment outside Washington he shares with two other evacuees. “I have no friends, no family, no relatives. I just live with my roommates and my roommates are from other parts of Afghanistan.”
Some have managed to get established. “But there are many more who are not doing fine than are doing well,” said Megan Flores, executive director of the Immigrant & Refugee Outreach Center in McLean, Virginia.
The experience of the evacuated Afghans is not unlike what refugees have historically faced in coming to the United States. In some ways it’s a preview for the up to 100,000 Ukrainians who President Joe Biden says will be welcomed, also in many cases on two years of humanitarian parole.
Afghans on humanitarian parole must apply for a way to stay in the country such as through asylum. It’s a time-consuming process that typically requires finding an immigration attorney, at a cost of thousands of dollars not readily available to most refugees unless they can find someone to do it pro bono.
The Department of Homeland Security says about half of the 78,000 likely will ultimately qualify for the special immigrant visa, or SIV, program. It grants permanent residency to people, along with their immediate family, who worked for the U.S. government. Hasrat hasn’t been able to secure an SIV, at least not yet, despite his work as a subcontractor setting up transmission lines for the U.S. Army.
Congress could resolve the situation by passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would enable evacuees to apply for permanent residency after a year in the country, similar to relief granted in the past to people from Iraq, Cuba and Vietnam. Biden recently gave the effort a boost when he endorsed the idea of adding it to an upcoming Ukraine aid bill, a move welcomed by a coalition that includes veterans, religious organizations and resettlement agencies.
“They are facing a ticking time bomb of what happens if they don’t get SIV or asylum status,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. “Do they get deported back to Afghanistan and into harm’s way?”
In the meantime, Afghans are trying to stitch together new lives as public attention has shifted to Ukraine and other matters. At a recent job fair in Alexandria, Virginia, there were hundreds of evacuees, including Arafat Safi, a former senior official in Afghan’s foreign affairs ministry who came to the U.S. with his wife, four children and mother.
He’s hoping to land a job in project management or international development, to use an education that includes a master’s degree from the U.K. So far, he’s landed a position as a Pashto-English interpreter and is delivering packages for Amazon on the side while his wife, Madina, works in the bakery section of a supermarket.
Safi said he still hopes to find a better job and is eager to get permanent residency. But he never complained in a lengthy interview at the family’s apartment in Alexandria. An intricate and vibrant Afghan rug — the only possession the family brought from home — occupies a prominent place in the living room.
“I’m very lucky to be here, to be welcomed by the U.S. society. I met a lot of friends here who are checking on me almost every day,” said the 35-year-old Safi. “And it’s amazing. But there’s a small part of me that misses Afghanistan and that misses my people.”
Hasrat said he has little time to think about anything other than his family back home and the danger they face from the Taliban. A 29-year-old former competitive boxer, he rides a bike to his job as an administrative assistant at a medical office. After taxes and the money he sends home, he barely has enough to pay his bills. His roommates, who are still learning English, have even less and have trouble making the rent.
Most nights, Hasrat waits until it’s late enough to have a video chat with his family. On one recent call, he tried to join the celebration of his kids’ birthdays but was sad to realize his daughter doesn’t even know him.
“I am telling them that, ‘yeah, I am happy,’ because if I told them my situation here they will be sad,” he said. “But if no one is there to take care of your wife, how can you be happy?” | https://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_895488aa-d0a3-11ec-9271-2797e738f490.html | 2022-05-11T03:50:31Z |
Evacuation efforts go on at sprawling Ukrainian steel mill
ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Efforts to evacuate more civilians from the tunnels beneath a sprawling steel mill were to go on Saturday as Ukrainian fighters make their last stand in Mariupol to prevent Moscow’s complete takeover of the strategically important port city.
Dozens of people were evacuated Friday from the Azovstal plant and handed over to representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Russian and Ukrainian officials said. The Russian military said the group of 50 included 11 children.
Russian officials and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the evacuation efforts would continue into the weekend. The latest evacuees followed roughly 500 other civilians who got out of the plant and city in recent days.
GRAPHIC: Some video used may contain disturbing content.
The fight for the last Ukrainian stronghold in a city reduced to ruins by the Russian onslaught appeared increasingly desperate. And there was growing speculation that President Vladimir Putin wants to finish the battle for Mariupol so he can present a triumph to the Russian people in time for Monday’s Victory Day, the biggest patriotic holiday on the Russian calendar.
As the holiday commemorating the Soviet Union’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany approached, cities across Ukraine prepared for an expected increase in Russian attacks, and officials urged residents to heed air raid warnings.
“These symbolic dates are to the Russian aggressor like red to a bull,” said Ukraine’s first deputy interior minister, Yevhen Yenin. “While the entire civilized world remembers the victims of terrible wars on these days, the Russian Federation wants parades and is preparing to dance over bones in Mariupol.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also reminded people not to go into forests that were recently under Russian occupation because of the many land mines and trip wires that remain.
By Russia’s most recent estimate, roughly 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are holed up in the vast maze of tunnels and bunkers under the Azovstal steelworks. They have repeatedly refused to surrender. Ukrainian officials said before Friday’s evacuations that a few hundred civilians were also trapped there, and fears for their safety have increased as the battle has grown fiercer in recent days.
Kateryna Prokopenko, whose husband, Denys Prokopenko, commands the Azov Regiment troops inside the plant, issued a desperate plea to also spare the fighters. She said they would be willing to go to a third country to wait out the war but would never surrender to Russia because that would mean “filtration camps, prison, torture and death.”
If nothing is done to save her husband and his men, they will “stand to the end without surrender,” she told The Associated Press on Friday.
Zelenskyy said “influential states” are involved in efforts to rescue the soldiers, although he did not mention any by name.
“We are also working on diplomatic options to save our troops who are still at Azovstal,” he said in his nightly video address.
U.N. officials have been tight-lipped about the civilian evacuation efforts, but it seemed likely that the latest evacuees would be taken to Zaporizhzhia, a Ukrainian-controlled city about 140 miles (230 kilometers) northwest of Mariupol where others who escaped the port city were brought.
Some of the plant’s previous evacuees spoke to the AP about the horrors of being surrounded by death in the moldy, underground bunker with little food and water, poor medical care and diminishing hope. Some said they felt guilty for leaving others behind.
“People literally rot like our jackets did,” said 31-year-old Serhii Kuzmenko, who fled with his wife, 8-year-old daughter and four others from their bunker, where 30 others were left behind. “They need our help badly. We need to get them out.”
Fighters defending the plant said Friday on the Telegram messaging app that Russian troops had fired on an evacuation vehicle on the plant’s grounds. They said the car was moving toward civilians when it was hit by shelling, and that one soldier was killed and six were wounded.
Moscow did not immediately acknowledge renewed fighting there Friday.
Russia took control of the rest of Mariupol after bombarding it for two months. Ahead of Victory Day, municipal workers and volunteers cleaned up what remains of the city, which had a prewar population of more than 400,000. Perhaps 100,000 civilians remain there despite severe shortages of food, water, electricity and heat. Bulldozers scooped up debris, and people swept streets against a backdrop of hollowed-out buildings. Russian flags were hoisted.
The fall of Mariupol would deprive Ukraine of a vital port. It would also allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014, and free some Russian troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas, the eastern industrial region that the Kremlin says is now its chief objective. The city’s capture also holds symbolic value since it has been the scene of some of the worst suffering of the war and a surprisingly fierce resistance.
While they pounded away at the plant, Russian forces struggled to make significant gains elsewhere, 10 weeks into a devastating war that has killed thousands of people, forced millions to flee the country and flattened large swaths of cities.
Ukrainian officials said the risk of massive shelling increased ahead of Victory Day. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said authorities would reinforce street patrols in the capital. Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, which was the target of two missile attacks Friday, was to adopt a curfew.
The Ukrainian military’s general staff said that its forces repelled 11 attacks in the Donbas region and destroyed tanks and armored vehicles, further frustrating Putin’s ambitions after his abortive attempt to seize Kyiv. Russia made no acknowledgement of the losses.
The Ukrainian army also said it made progress in the northeastern Kharkiv region, recapturing five villages and part of a sixth. Meanwhile, one person was reported dead and three more were wounded Friday as a result of Russian shelling in Lyman, a city in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
___
Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Associated Press journalists Trisha Thomas in Rome, Yesica Fisch in Zaporizhzhia, Inna Varenytsia and David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington and AP staff around the world contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.kxii.com/2022/05/07/evacuation-efforts-go-sprawling-ukrainian-steel-mill/ | 2022-05-07T04:51:54Z |
Jorden Bell joins company to drive growth, personalized customer experiences, and advanced marketing innovation.
IRVINE, Calif., April 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arbonne PBC (Arbonne), a global leader in personal care, clean beauty and wellness products, has named Jorden Bell as its Chief Marketing Officer. Formerly Chief Brand Officer of fashion and lifestyle brand Stella & Dot, Bell brings over fifteen years of leadership and strategic branding experience to this position with Arbonne, including prior leadership roles in beauty and consumer goods companies.
"We are pleased to have a marketing executive and professional like Jorden joining our C-Suite team at Arbonne," shared Tyler Whitehead, CEO Arbonne. "She has been highly influential and a creative leader at the intersection of digital commerce and direct selling. We are confident she will be a wonderful addition as we empower Arbonne clients, customers, and consultants to share our brand into the future."
As Arbonne's new Chief Marketing Officer, Bell will lead the marketing organization, creative strategy development and innovation supporting the company's team of Independent Consultants across the globe. Bell will be a key contributor as the company builds upon our existing broad base of customers and clients. She will lead the strategy for long-term creative and marketing expansion opportunities for our consultants and brand ambassadors worldwide in geographic, demographic and digital frontiers. She will be based at Arbonne's headquarters in Irvine, CA and report directly to CEO Tyler Whitehead.
"I am thrilled to be joining Arbonne as Chief Marketing Officer," said Bell. "It is an exciting time to work within beauty and wellness. I am honored to have the opportunity to partner with such a strong leadership team and to help grow the mission of helping people flourish with healthy living."
About Arbonne
Since 1980 Arbonne PBC has created personal care, clean beauty and wellness products crafted with premium plant-based ingredients grounded in science and clinical research. Arbonne's healthy living product philosophy and entrepreneurial business opportunity foster a positive mindset that helps individuals and communities flourish. The brand core values are empowerment, transparency, and sustainability, with the vision that everyone can flourish by being good to themselves, their community, and the planet. 2021 marks Arbonne's first anniversary as a Certified B Corporation – the only certification of its kind to comprehensively measure a company's social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Arbonne is a proud portfolio brand of Groupe Rocher, a French purpose-driven company and European leader of botanical beauty, whose mission is to reconnect people to nature. Arbonne products are available online at arbonne.com or through an extensive network of Arbonne Independent Consultants across the world. For more information, please visit www.arbonne.com.
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SOURCE Arbonne International, LLC | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/04/04/arbonne-announces-new-chief-marketing-officer/ | 2022-04-04T15:27:28Z |
CHENGDU, China, May 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The first smart factory of Sichuan Teway Food Group Co., Ltd ("Teway Food", SHE: 603317), a Chinese leading compound condiment manufacturer, has put into official operation recently in the Sichuan Cuisine Industrial Park in Chengdu, China.
Teway Food puts into use of innovative approach of the production line design in industry by utilizing cross-industry and cross-scenario technologies, which aims to tackle challenges of manpower in traditional food production. Its single-line production capacity has increased by more than two times with efficiency per capita increased by more than six times, while the cost of single-piece manufacturing has dropped by nearly 40 percent.
"Teway Food is embracing the era of Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing will lead the market trend. This smart factory represents a key milestone in our digital transformation, a path we have been following since 2019," said Zhiyong Yu, Vice President of Teway Food. "Informationization and industrialization are fundamental components of the company's overall strategy to transform from a traditional food manufacturer to a modern food provider. The company's investment in intelligent production bases in Pidu and Shuangliu in Chengdu empowers this transformation and will promote sustainable development for the company."
Empowered by its digital platform, Teway Food's smart factory applies a digital and intelligent automated manufacturing and management system with many technologies put in use for the first time in the industry, including a complete set of robots to conduct auto-batching, transportation and ingredient mixing, reaction kettles which can automatically fry ingredients, clean-in-place automatic cleaning system, intelligent warehousing system as well as application of large-scale air delivery system.
Such smart automation allows precise control of raw material to a standardized production procedure, guaranteeing the product quality and flavor. It also enables transparent information flow that make every step in the production process traceable, further ensuring the food safety. The smart factory also launches a more accurate product quality monitoring and analysis mechanism, which will help the company make decision on product upgrade and new product development.
About Teway Food
Teway Food is a China-based leading food manufacturer that focuses on compound condiments specialized in seasonings for hot pot and Chinese cuisines, with its products distributed to over 30 countries including China, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
For more information about Teway Food, please visit its Facebook.
Business Contact
Rachel Luo
+86 136 6622 9775
luoxin@teway.cn
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SOURCE Sichuan Teway Food Group Co., Ltd | https://www.wibw.com/prnewswire/2022/05/28/teway-food-smart-factory-leads-compound-condiment-manufacturing-quality-development/ | 2022-05-28T12:07:57Z |
Which Thor action figures are best?
Thor, also known as the “God of Thunder,” is one of the most recognizable and essential characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With his hammer “Mjolnir” and his ax “Stormbreaker,” he has iconic weapons that rival Captain America’s shield. A Thor action figure will help grow or start any Avengers collection.
Thor’s popularity in both comic books and movies has led to his merchandise being popular. Naturally, action figures are the most sought-after superhero toy, and the Marvel Legends: 80th Anniversary: Thor Action Figure will inspire any child or fan.
What to know before you buy a Thor action figure
A Thor action figure is just one of many Marvel toys that you can purchase. However, action figures and their accessories usually prove to be the most popular toys for movie franchises. However, buying that action figure isn’t as easy as you might think.
The era
Thor has been around since 1962. He has appeared in comic books, animation, movies and video games. Naturally, he has changed from decade to decade and movie to movie. Some younger children interested in the Marvel motion pictures may not be familiar with his look in print. Like many MCU characters, the comic versions have been updated for a less camp and more contemporary look. Consider the design of the Thor you are buying and the tastes of the person that’s receiving the action figure.
Play vs. display
Younger children will want to play with their action figures. However, older children and collectors may prefer to make awesome battle poses and display them in bedrooms. Action figures wanted for play should be durable and not have fragile accessories. Display items could be that little more delicate and not suitable for young children.
Compatibility
There are different series of Marvel action figures, and some are different sizes. This means that any accessories might be incompatible. When buying a new Thor action figure, ensure it is from the same series of already owned figures. A 12-inch Thor may look odd battling a 6-inch Hulk.
What to look for in a quality Thor action figure
Points of articulation
It may be challenging to get your figure to display the poses you want without enough articulation points. Basic action figures should at least be able to move their legs, shoulders and torso. More premium figures meant for display should have many more moveable joints.
Details
Any action figure nowadays should have good detail. Even the most budget-friendly figure should have an appealing level of detail. Pricier display figures should have a high level of detail and resemble the actor that played the part if it is a movie version.
Accessories
Many Marvel characters have iconic weapons, and Thor is most recognizable when wielding his hammer, Mjolnir. After “Avengers: Endgame,” the Stormbreaker ax has risen in popularity. Any Thor action figure should have at least one of these weapons of choice.
How much you can expect to spend on a Thor action figure
You can find more miniature action figures at 3.75-inches for under $20. They are sturdy and designed for play. More articulated and detailed figures designed for display will cost anywhere up to $200.
Thor action figure FAQ
Can a Thor action figure become a collectible item?
A. Yes. Any action figure could be a good investment. If this is the purchase goal, the best advice is not to remove the figure from the packaging. If buying online, make sure the box arrives in pristine condition, and return any that do not. Storage is also crucial, so avoid cold and hot conditions. Room temperature works best. For figures removed from packaging, clean them regularly and display them at room temperature.
Who are the best characters to buy with a Thor action figure?
A. You can collect Thor alongside any Marvel character. In terms of villains, his brother Loki is a sometime ally and a sometime nemesis. Still, the most fun had will be with his Avenger buddies Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hulk or Hawkeye. A Thanos figure will also allow you to act out Avengers movie scenarios.
What are the best Thor action figures to buy?
Top Thor action figure
Marvel Legends: 80th Anniversary: Thor Action Figure
What you need to know: Marvel celebrated 80 years of publication with high-quality figures based on their comic-book iterations, including this cool Thor.
What you’ll love: The molding and detail on this Thor are excellent. The character features his familiar long blond hair and chiseled jawline. He doesn’t look in the mood for games, and Mjolnir features the enchantment uttered by Thor’s father, Odin, inscribed on it.
What you should consider: Young fans of the Avengers’ movie version of the character may be unfamiliar with this comic-book look.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Thor action figure for the money
Marvel Legends: The Infinity Saga Thor
What you need to know: Fans of “Avengers: Endgame” will be delighted to see both Mjolnir and Stormbreaker included as accessories in this quality action figure.
What you’ll love: This Thor figure has multiple points of articulation to display awesome action poses with both his weapons of choice. He can be collected with other Marvel Legends action figures and join in on imaginative battles and stories.
What you should consider: Small parts mean those under four will have to wait till they’re older.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years: Thor & Lady Sif: The Dark World
What you need to know: Featuring Lady Sif from earlier Thor movies, these two characters are based on their appearance in the battle with the rock monster in “Thor: The Dark World.”
What you’ll love: These two awesome characters feature numerous articulation points. Lady Sif has a few weapons to choose from, and Thor has his hammer. This means that you can readily display many poses. The detail is good, and the movie stars’ features are accurate.
What you should consider: Lady Sif may no longer be a significant character in the MCU, so some children may prefer another character.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://cw33.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/action-figures-playsets-br/best-thor-action-figure/ | 2022-05-28T22:23:14Z |
BOSTON (AP) — College photos of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and memorabilia from his girlfriend at the time sold for $165,000 at auction, a Boston auction house said Thursday.
Boston-based RR Auction said it was a collection of never-before-seen photos and memorabilia from Musk’s college girlfriend, Jennifer Gwynne.
Musk changed his Twitter profile to one of the photos Wednesday. He’s currently in a public fight with Twitter to try to get out of a $44 billion deal to buy the social media company, with a high-stakes October trial over the dispute looming.
Gwynne told The Boston Globe she read about an auction of test papers that Musk graded and realized she had far more personal items she could sell, including candid photos, a birthday card from him and a necklace he gave her.
Musk and Gwynne dated from 1994 to 1995 when they were both at the University of Pennsylvania. They split when Musk graduated, moved to California and said he couldn’t talk on the phone because it seemed like a waste of time to him, Gwynne said.
“We broke up just before he started conquering the world,” Gwynne said.
The gold necklace with a small green emerald that Musk gave to Gwynne in late 1994 as a birthday present sold for $51,000. A photo of Musk and Gwynne posing with four other resident advisors before a school formal in 1995 sold for $42,000, the auction house said. The birthday card Musk signed to Gwynne, calling her “Boo-Boo,” sold for nearly $17,000.
The 18 candid photos were sold individually. Some show Musk in North Providence, Rhode Island, where Gwynne is from. She now lives in South Carolina and told The Globe she plans to use some of the proceeds for her stepson’s college education. She and Musk have not kept in touch. | https://cw33.com/strange-news/ap-strange-news/ap-college-photos-memorabilia-of-elon-musk-auctioned-for-165k/ | 2022-09-16T15:13:37Z |
Tom Golisano, Founder of Paychex and Noted Philanthropist, to Lead the 78th Annual Columbus Day Parade Up Fifth Avenue on October 10, 2022.
NEW YORK, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbus Citizens Foundation announced today that Tom Golisano, founder of Paychex and noted philanthropist, will serve as the 2022 Grand Marshal of the Columbus Day Parade on New York City's Fifth Avenue. Golisano's visionary business acumen led to the creation and success of Paychex, which streamlined payroll and human resources services to businesses nation-wide. Golisano is also an investor in 18 businesses across the country. Golisano's charitable work is undertaken by the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, with a primary focus on awarding grants to organizations that provide opportunities for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
The annual Columbus Day Parade, the largest celebration of Italian American heritage and culture in the United States, will take place on Monday, October 10, 2022, beginning at 11:30 am. As Grand Marshal, Golisano will lead marching bands, floats and over 100 marching groups up the Fifth Avenue parade route, from 44th Street to 72nd Street. The parade will air live on WABC-TV from 12 noon to 3 pm.
In speaking of Mr. Golisano as Grand Marshal, Columbus Citizens Foundation President Christopher Loiacono praised his success as a prominent Italian American both in business and philanthropic endeavors.
"We are honored to have Tom as this year's Grand Marshal. As a visionary in the business world and a truly charitable individual, he is the perfect candidate to lead our 2022 Parade," Mr. Loiacono said. "Tom's personal philanthropy and the work of the Golisano Foundation have greatly benefited the state of New York, and we are thrilled to have him lead New York City's Columbus Day Parade this fall."
"It's an incredible feeling to join the great Italians and Italian-Americans who have served as Grand Marshal in the past," Mr. Golisano said, "My Italian heritage is so important to me, and it's one of the many reasons why I am excited to be a part of this major celebration of all things Italian."
The tradition of a Columbus Day Parade began when Generoso Pope led a group of Italian Americans from East Harlem to Columbus Circle in 1929. The parade was formalized as an official celebration of Columbus and Italian heritage in 1944, and this year's event marks its 78th Anniversary. Groups, institutions, and partners from across the United States and Italy will take part in this year's celebration.
The 2021 Grand Marshal was Michael Pascucci. Prior Grand Marshals of New York's Columbus Day Parade have included: Sophia Loren; Frank Sinatra; Massimo Ferragamo; Joseph Plumeri; Luciano Pavarotti; Guy Chiarello; Frank Bisignano; Lidia Bastianich; Leonard Riggio; Kenneth Langone; Robert LaPenta; Joe DiMaggio; Alberto Cribiore; Mario Andretti; Joseph Perella; Roberto Cavalli and Maria Bartiromo.
Event: Columbus Day Parade
Location: Fifth Avenue from 44th – 72nd Streets, New York City
Date: Monday, October 10, 2022
Hours: 11:30 AM – 3:00 p.m.
Broadcast: WABC-TV, 12 Noon – 3:00 p.m.
ABOUT COLUMBUS CITIZENS FOUNDATION
Columbus Citizens Foundation is a non-profit organization in New York City committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Foundation, through a broad range of philanthropic and cultural activities, provides opportunities for advancement to deserving Italian-American students through various scholarship and grant programs. The Foundation organizes New York City's annual Columbus Celebration and Columbus Day Parade, which has celebrated Italian-American heritage on New York's Fifth Avenue since 1929. For more information, contact jwilson@columbuscitizens.org
ABOUT TOM GOLISANO
B. Thomas Golisano is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader who has demonstrated an ongoing dedication and commitment to building innovative businesses, supporting numerous non-profit organizations, and advocating for inclusive health and several civic issues.
Mr. Golisano is the founder of Paychex, Inc., a leading provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, benefits, human resources, and insurance services. Tom Golisano served as Paychex's president and chief executive officer from 1971, when he founded the company, until October 2004, when he retired from his position as president and CEO. Golisano served as Board Chairman for the last 17 years. With more than 50 years of industry expertise, Paychex has 16,000 employees, serves almost 700,000 clients in the U.S. and Northern Europe, pays one in 12 U.S. private-sector employees, and is the largest HR company for small to medium-sized businesses. It is headquartered in Rochester, New York.
Mr. Golisano and Paychex have consistently been recognized by business, financial and national media. Mr. Golisano was listed among the FORBES top 10 bosses in the U.S. for three consecutive years; the annual ranking is based on chief executives who provide the best balance between their compensation and shareholder return.
In 1985 Mr. Golisano launched his first philanthropic endeavor by establishing the Golisano Foundation, which is now one of the world's largest foundations that award grants to organizations providing opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities. His philanthropic contributions, both personal and through the Golisano Foundation, have exceeded $330 million helping hospitals, educational institutions, and many other organizations. Three children's hospitals bear his name.
His commitment to educational excellence includes the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences and the Golisano Institute for Sustainability at RIT. Niagara University's B. Thomas Golisano Center for Integrated Sciences, the Golisano Training Center at Nazareth College, the Golisano Community Engagement Center at Roberts Wesleyan College and many more.
His global commitment to advance inclusive health for people with intellectual disabilities has exceeded $95 million supporting the Golisano Autism Center, the Golisano Center for Special Needs at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at St. John Fisher College, the Golisano Center for Community Health at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, the Golisano Pediatric Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at URMC, the Golisano Medical Oncology Center at Niagara Memorial and more. The launch of Special Olympics Healthy Communities in 2012 has improved health care for people in more than 120 countries on six continents.
His advocacy for civic and political causes encompasses founding the Independence Party in New York State, which acquired ballot status in 1995; a three-time run for NYS governor; establishing Responsible New York, a political movement to return Albany to its rightful owners – the taxpayers. In 2018 Mr. Golisano launched Tax My Property Fairly, an online resource for property owners in Upstate NY to get information and tools to fight for fair property taxes. He has also advocated for initiatives to reduce illegal drug trafficking, alcohol abuse and teen pregnancy. From 2005 to 2013, he was a major underwriter of the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting.
Mr. Golisano is married to Monica Seles, professional tennis player and member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He has two children, six grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.
CONTACT:
Jefferson Wilson
Director of Marketing & Communications
Columbus Citizens Foundation
Phone: (212) 249-9923 x242
Fax: (212) 737-4413
jwilson@columbuscitizens.org
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SOURCE Columbus Citizens Foundation | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/05/12/tom-golisano-named-grand-marshal-2022-columbus-celebration-will-lead-nyc-columbus-day-parade-october-10/ | 2022-05-12T14:56:44Z |
NEW YORK, June 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jakubowitz Law announces that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has commenced on behalf of shareholders of Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPRO).
To receive updates on the lawsuit, fill out the form:
https://claimyourloss.com/securities/spero-therapeutics-inc-loss-submission-form/?id=28689&from=4
The lawsuit seeks to recover losses for shareholders who purchased Spero between October 28, 2021 and May 2, 2022.
Shareholders interested in acting as a lead plaintiff representing the class of wronged shareholders have until July 25, 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, Spero Therapeutics, Inc. issued materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the data submitted in support of the New Drug Application ("NDA") for the Company's product candidate, Tebipenem HBr, were insufficient to obtain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"); (ii) accordingly, it was unlikely that the FDA would approve the Tebipenem HBr NDA in its current form; (iii) the foregoing would necessitate a significant workforce reduction and restructuring of Spero's operations; and (iv) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
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
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SOURCE Jakubowitz Law | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/06/17/spro-shareholder-alert-jakubowitz-law-reminds-spero-shareholders-lead-plaintiff-deadline-july-25-2022/ | 2022-06-17T10:54:03Z |
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Demotech, Inc., the first to request a special session to address the litigation crisis affecting Florida's residential property insurance marketplace, has finalized its faculty for its June 2 webinar. Scheduled from 1100 am to 1230 pm Eastern, the webinar provides experts with a forum to share their initial opinions of the outcome of the Florida legislature's special session, as convened by Governor Ron DeSantis from May 23 through May 27.
Confirmed faculty are:
- Senator Jeff Brandes, District (24), St. Petersburg, FL
- Fred E. Karlinsky, Shareholder & Co-Chair Insurance Practice, Greenberg Traurig
- Paul Handerhan, President, Federal Association for Insurance Reform
- Robert Ritchie, President & CEO, American Integrity Insurance Company
- Mahsa Saeidi, Investigative Reporter, WFLA, Tampa
- Edouard von Herberstein, Partner, Hudson Structured Capital Management
- Adam Schwebach, Executive Vice President and Branch Manager, Tampa, Gallagher Re
- Wesley Todd, Founder & CEO, CaseGlide
- Joseph Petrelli, President, Demotech
- Barry Koestler, CFA, Chief Ratings Officer, Demotech
- Bob Warren, CPA (Inactive), CPCU, Client Services Manager, Demotech
- W. Burke Coleman, Esquire, Chief Regulatory and Compliance Counsel, Demotech.
Invited: Kevin McCarty, Founder and Principal Consultant, Celtic Global Consulting. In 2003, Kevin was Florida's initial appointed Insurance Commissioner. Kevin oversaw the industry that responded to dozens of natural events including hailstorms. In 2016, Kevin formed Celtic Global to provide financial analysis, regulatory assessment, and advocacy on insurance issues.
The link to registration is https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1465647223656015119. Questions on registration should be referred to Paul Osborne at POsborne@demotech.com.
About Demotech, Inc.
Since 1985, Demotech has served the industry by assigning accurate, reliable, and proven Financial Stability Ratings® to Property & Casualty insurers and Title underwriters. Demotech, Inc. was the first to review independent, regional and specialty insurers, 1989. We were the first to call for a special legislative session to address the dysfunction underlying Florida's current property insurance marketplace. Demotech's philosophy is to review and evaluate insurers based on their area of focus and execution of their business model rather than solely on financial size. Visit www.demotech.com for additional information.
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SOURCE Demotech, Inc. | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/05/18/demotech-faculty-finalized-its-special-session-recap-florida-property-insurance/ | 2022-05-18T22:37:42Z |
Wyoming defamation lawsuit against Alec Baldwin is dismissed
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit over online harassment filed against actor Alec Baldwin by the family of a Marine who was killed in Afghanistan, saying the Wyoming court did not have jurisdiction over the case.
An attorney for the family said the case would be refiled elsewhere, the Casper Star-Tribune reported Wednesday.
The sisters and widow of Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum alleged Baldwin subjected them to online harassment after he posted and commented on a photo shared online by one of McCollum’s sisters, Roice McCollum, who had been in Washington during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection.
Baldwin had donated $5,000 to the family after learning of the death of Rylee McCollum in a bombing at the airport in Kabul in August 2021, just weeks before his daughter was born. Baldwin had contacted Roice McCollum via Instagram, according to the lawsuit.
In January 2022, Baldwin saw that Roice McCollum posted a nearly year-old picture of demonstrators from former President Donald Trump’s rally taken on the day Congress counted the Electoral College votes from the 2020 presidential election, the complaint stated.
Baldwin sent her a private message and confirmed she had organized the fundraiser for her brother, the lawsuit said. She responded that her participation in the protest was “perfectly legal,” according to court documents.
Baldwin told Roice McCollum he would share her photo with his 2.4 million Instagram followers and wrote: “Good luck,” according to the lawsuit.
Roice McCollum said in the lawsuit that she received hundreds of hateful messages in response to his post. The complaint, which also names her sister Cheyenne McCollum and Rylee’s wife, Jiennah McCollum, as plaintiffs, sought $25 million in damages.
Baldwin asked for the case to be dismissed, saying he was expressing his political opinion, that he had not been in Wyoming and that claims by Cheyenne and Jiennah McCollum should be dismissed because he did not make any statements about them.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal said Wednesday that the case could not be brought in Wyoming because Baldwin made the posts from New York and because they were not directed specifically at a Wyoming audience. Her decision did not address the veracity of the allegations in the complaint.
“We are pleased with this victory,” said Baldwin’s attorney Luke Nikas. “This is a significant step toward the complete dismissal of the lawsuit, which seeks to punish Mr. Baldwin for expressing his political opinion.”
Dennis Postiglione, an attorney for the McCollums, said that the case would probably be refiled in New York, where Baldwin lives, or in California, where he works.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wibw.com/2022/05/05/wyoming-defamation-lawsuit-against-alec-baldwin-is-dismissed/ | 2022-05-05T18:35:17Z |
RAMAT GAN, Israel, April 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Senstar Technologies (NASDAQ: SNT), a leading international provider of comprehensive physical, video, and access control security products and solutions, today announced the filing of its annual report on Form 20-F containing audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
The annual report is available on the Company's website (www.senstartechnologies.com). Shareholders may receive a hard copy of the annual report free of charge upon request.
With innovative perimeter intrusion detection systems (including, buried sensors, and above-ground sensors), intelligent video-management, video analytics, and access control, Senstar offers a comprehensive suite of proven, integrated solutions that reduce complexity, improve performance, and unify support. For 40 years, Senstar has been safeguarding people, places, and property for organizations around the world, with a special focus in utilities, logistics, corrections, and energy markets.
For more information, visit the Company's website at www.senstartechnologies.com.
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SOURCE Senstar Technologies | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2022/04/27/senstar-technologies-announces-filing-2021-annual-report/ | 2022-04-27T23:24:33Z |
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus on Wednesday lifted the obligatory use of face masks in all indoor areas after the island nation’s top health official said epidemiological data amid the coronavirus pandemic have “significantly improved.”
Health Minister Michalis Hadjipantela told reporters after a Cabinet meeting that the mask rule still applies to hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, pharmacies and public transport.
It’s recommended that those with chronic ailments continue using face coverings.
All capacity limitations were also lifted as of Wednesday for restaurants, nightclubs, retail stores, shopping malls, casinos, sports stadiums and churches.
Primary school pupils will be supplied with five self-tests each on their return to classes on Sept. 12. Authorities recommend that teachers and students get either self-tested or undergo a rapid test before the start of classes.
The COVID-19 infection rate receded to 3.54%, with nine of 57 people receiving hospital treatment diagnosed as being in serious condition, for the week of Aug. 19-25, according to Health Ministry statistics.
About 16 people, ranging in age from 66 to 99, died from COVID-19 for the same week, bringing the overall total in Cyprus since the pandemic began to 1,168. | https://cw33.com/health/ap-health/ap-cyprus-lifts-covid-19-mask-rule-indoor-capacity-limits/ | 2022-09-01T03:45:47Z |
BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium’s judicial authorities said on Tuesday they have repatriated six women of Belgian citizenship who were held in Syria for their suspected connection with the Islamic State group, along with 16 children.
The federal prosecutor’s office said it’s the second repatriation operation after the one that took place in July 2021, when Belgian authorities took back six mothers and 10 children.
Spokesman Eric Van Duyse told The Associated Press that all the women on the latest flight have been given sentences in Belgium of up to five years in jail.
Belgian authorities say returning children must be done for “humanitarian reasons,” and that repatriation operations are also as a matter of national security since it’s easier to monitor people who have spent time in Syria when they are on home soil.
The plane transporting the women and children back to Belgium landed early Tuesday. Details of the operation were expected to be unveiled during a news conference later in the day. | https://cw33.com/news/international/ap-international/belgium-takes-back-mothers-and-children-from-syria/ | 2022-06-21T17:45:18Z |
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