Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)
ATLANTA – U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan advises the public to be cautious about hurricane relief fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“Natural disasters unfailingly prompt members of our communities to respond with an outpouring of compassion and support for impacted family members, neighbors, friends and strangers,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Unfortunately, these occurrences also attract scammers who capitalize on such calamities to exploit affected fellow citizens when they are most vulnerable. By this public notice, we do not aim to deter you from offering assistance but caution you to do so with the awareness of how to detect and avoid common charity scams.”
On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation in that area and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters target victims of such storms along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by these natural disasters. Unfortunately, criminals exploit these incidents for personal gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or via social media and by creating deceptive websites designed to solicit contributions.
The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, email, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before donating to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should follow these and other guidelines:
Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics.
Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers.
Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity.
Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities.
Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals.
Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in “.org” rather than “.com.”
Be cautious of emails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at http://www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm. Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Over a 24-hour period, RCMP officers in the Halifax Regional Municipality arrested four impaired drivers and suspended the licence of another.
On October 5, at approximately 8:15 p.m., an officer from RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment Traffic Unit (HDTU) conducted a traffic stop on Knightsridge Dr. in Halifax. The driver, a 33-year-old Halifax man, provided a roadside breath sample into an approved screening device (ASD), which resulted in a “fail.” He was arrested and transported to the Lower Sackville RCMP Detachment where he provided breath samples that registered 110 mg% and 90 mg%.
Later that evening, at approximately 10:15 p.m., RCMP officers responded to a report of impaired driving on Main St. in Dartmouth. An officer from the RCMP’s Southeast Traffic Services located the suspect vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, a 35-year-old Halifax man, failed a standard field sobriety test. A subsequent drug impairment evaluation completed by a Drug Recognition Expert from Halifax Regional Police determined the man was impaired by drugs.
Approximately one hour later, an officer from RCMP Southeast Traffic Services (SETS) stopped a vehicle for speeding on Hwy. 102 in Bedford. The driver, a 29-year-old Halifax man, was administered an ASD test with a result over the provincial limit of 50 mg%. The driver’s licence was suspended for seven days.
On October 6, at approximately 12:40 a.m., an officer from RCMP SETS observed a vehicle driving erratically on Dartmoor Cres., in Bedford, and completed a traffic stop. The driver, a 71-year-old Upper Hammonds Plains man, provided a roadside breath sample into an ASD, which resulted in a “fail.” He was arrested and transported to the Lower Sackville RCMP Detachment where he provided subsequent breath samples that registered 90 mg% and 80 mg%.
That night, at approximately 8:10 p.m., an officer from the RCMP HDTU conducted a traffic stop on Baker Dr., in Dartmouth. The driver, a 51-year-old Cole Harbour man, provided a roadside breath sample into an ASD with a result of “fail.” He was arrested and transported to the Cole Harbour RCMP Detachment where he provided breath samples that registered 140 mg% and 120 mg%.
The four drivers were released from custody and are all scheduled to appear in court at later dates.
Road safety is a shared responsibility. If you suspect an impaired driver, it’s an emergency; call 911.
Twenty years ago, when Rebecca Thomas joined the UConn School of Social Work, she didn’t consider herself someone who specialized in global human rights – let alone someone who’d become an expert in the subject matter.
“I was just Rebecca, born and raised in another country, sensitive to issues of global concerns,” she says.
Then Thomas met colleague Lynne Healey, now a professor emeritus from UConn, who became a mentor, friend, and colleague. Together, they coupled on many projects, including the literal writing of their widely recognized textbook, “International Social Work.”
Thomas says her professional development as an international social worker helped shape her sense of self. And soon, “just Rebecca,” became chair of the Council on Social Work Education’s Global Commission, a current board member on the Katherine Kendall Institute of Council of Social Work Education, a Fulbright Scholar, and a representative of the International Association of the Schools of Social Work on the NGO Committee on Migration at the United Nations.
Now, she’s a 2024 PIE Award winner from the Council on Social Work Education, a prestigious honor given annually to a trio of winners – individual, organization, and student – for their innovative work and dedication to international social work.
The Partners in International Education awards precede the Hokenstad International Lecture at the 2024 CSWE Annual Program Meeting in late October.
“I vacillate between feeling like I have a strong knowledge base and being humbled by the vast body of knowledge of colleagues,” says Thomas, a UConn professor and director of the Center for International Social Work Studies, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. “I recently was with the Southeast Europe Academic Women’s Leadership Network, for instance, and these women were from all over the Balkans and talking about their global perspective on social work. The adage applies, ‘The more you know, the more you realize how much you don’t know.’”
Thomas has just returned from her Fulbright in Bulgaria where she and graduate assistant Fizza Saghir completed 30 interviews with displaced persons, many from Ukraine, and 20 interviews with service providers as part of a study that’s similar to one she did in Armenia.
She says she connected with Yerevan State University in Armenia years ago when UConn helped the school develop its Master of Social Work policy program. Now, Thomas directs a joint academic exchange between UConn and Yerevan.
Despite the leadership opportunities and accolades she’s earned, working with students is perhaps one of the things she’s most proud of, she says.
“I’m passionate about teaching. I get excited about the exchange of ideas,” Thomas says. “Helping students to see the interconnectedness of global issues and the local issues they are trying to address here in Connecticut is so important. Yesterday, I was talking to a doctoral student about a paper we’re writing together, and our discussion was so interesting because we each had different perspectives. Engaging in a dialogue, having off-the-cuff conversations has been meaningful to me.”
She adds that students need to understand they don’t have to spend time overseas to do international global work. Change can happen right here, like when a former student, who was a refugee from Albania via Greece, was in kindergarten and the school saw her struggling because of the language barrier. Her elementary teacher got someone to translate, and her learning exploded.
“As Americans, we see migrants in every sphere of our lives. They are in our classrooms. They are in our health systems. Our NESW code of ethics requires that we understand the perspectives of those who are living together here in community,” Thomas says. “We need to be sensitive to issues of immigration, like for my former student. These are not isolated situations.”
A decade ago, Sercan Canbolat ’17 MA ’23 Ph.D. was a graduate student in his home country of Turkey. His focus was studying the political psychology of leaders.
What makes them think?
How do they make decisions?
What influences them in their decision making?
His particular focus was on political leaders in the Middle East, where he had grown up and completed his undergraduate degrees.
But as a master’s student at Bilkent University in Turkey’s capital city of Ankara, he knew first-hand some of the challenges he would face as he tried to present his research to a broader, international audience.
“I’m from Turkey,” Canbolat says, “and I know in the broader Middle East and North Africa regions, we don’t have a lot of opportunities to get our work published, to present our work to top scholars in the field, and to get good feedback – to learn and acquire the best research skills and presentation skills.”
Sercan Canbolat ’17 MA ’23 Ph.D. at the ISA International Conference 2017 in Hong Kong. (Contributed photo)
It was during his master’s studies that his advisor, Özgür Özdamar, first introduced him to the International Studies Association, or ISA – one of the oldest interdisciplinary organizations dedicated to understanding international, transnational, and global affairs.
“I was writing my MA thesis with him,” Canbolat explains, “and he offered for me to write a paper that we could present at ISA. But I couldn’t get a visa. So, my advisor went to the conference instead, and he presented our paper.”
The following year, though – in 2014 – Canbolat was able to travel to the ISA conference in Toronto, where he put himself in front of a global audience for the first time to present his research.
“I got some feedback from the chair and from the audience, and it was great,” he says. “It helped me to build self-confidence, and actually, through ISA, I met many scholars based in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe. Those connections helped me to apply for and receive a Fulbright scholarship to come to the U.S. for my Ph.D.”
That Fulbright Ph.D. grant led Canbolat to UConn in 2014, where he started his doctoral studies in political science.
And in 2015, the organization that helped Canbolat make those connections and first share his research on a global stage – the International Studies Association – also came to UConn.
Best-Kept Secret
Founded in 1959, the ISA has long served as a central hub for the exchange of ideas, for networking, and for programmatic initiatives among those involved in the study, teaching, and practice of international studies.
Through its international and regional conferences and its academic journals, the organization works to promote rigorous discussion, research, and writing on a broad range of topics, including foreign policy, environmental studies, global health, diplomacy, human rights, peace studies, law, and religion.
ISA has been headquartered at UConn since 2015. Under agreements with UConn’s Office of Global Affairs, it will remain in residence at UConn until at least 2030.
Sarah Dorr, Ph.D., ISA director of professional development (Contributed photo)
From 2015 to 2024, ISA was under the leadership of Mark Boyer, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UConn. As of July 1, 2024, Mike Bosia, professor of political science and international relations and director of gender and sexuality studies at Saint Michael’s College, took over the role of ISA’s executive director.
“ISA is a hidden gem – one of the best kept secrets at UConn,” says Sarah Dorr, the ISA’s director of professional development. “We have over 7,000 members in 120 countries.”
UConn and ISA are a good fit for each other, says Daniel Weiner, a professor of geography and UConn’s vice president for global affairs, because both the organization and the University share similar missions to foster a sense of global-mindedness and facilitate life-transformative educational and research experiences.
“ISA is really a success story about the positive impact of international collaboration,” Weiner says. “One of our major goals in Global Affairs is to support interdisciplinary research and engagement on issues of worldwide importance and impact, so partnership with ISA here at UConn is really a natural pairing.”
Evolving and Growing
In a complex and ever-changing world, adapting to the needs of the time is important for any organization – ISA included.
“Our organization is constantly evolving and growing,” says Dorr, “and we offer different levels of interaction to help people make connections and foster dialogue – something that we feel is particularly critical at this point in time in our increasingly polarized world.”
The ISA publishes seven academic journals, co-sponsors an eighth, and partners with Oxford University Press to publish the International Studies Encyclopedia, the most comprehensive reference work of its kind for the fields of international studies and international relations.
The organization has steadily grown its online and social media presence and, in response to the pandemic in 2020, launched a roster of unique virtual programs to broaden its reach to scholars who might not otherwise have the ability to take part in global opportunities.
Not all students and academics have access to the same resources at their institution. ISA’s virtual initiative provides these programs to level the playing field and create community whilst doing so. — Sarah Dorr, ISA’s director of professional development
“Not all students and academics have access to the same resources at their institution,” says Dorr, who curates virtual programming as part of her role at ISA. “ISA’s virtual initiative provides these programs to level the playing field and create community whilst doing so. Virtual programming allows people to interact with the association throughout the year, and it widens participation and increases accessibility to ISA’s pedagogical and research communities.”
ISA’s virtual programming is available to all members of the UConn community, regardless of membership. To date in 2024, ISA has produced more than 30 programs, with additional virtual events scheduled for the remainder of the calendar year on topics including banal nationalism, Fulbright scholar opportunities, and the impending results of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election.
But what ISA has historically been known for are its national and regional conferences – gatherings where scholars from all walks of life and levels of experience come together to share their research, build new networks, and contribute to scholarship on a global level.
An Academic Home
Canbolat’s first ISA conference was in Toronto, but in the years since, ISA has taken him to San Francisco, Nashville, Atlanta, and even Hong Kong.
“It was a great experience; my first time in that part of the world,” he recalls about the 2017 Hong Kong conference. “It was amazing. I really enjoyed it.”
ISA supported Canbolat’s travel to its conferences through a grant program that assists junior scholars, senior graduate students, and scholars from low-income countries in attending conferences that would otherwise be out of reach.
“Grad students don’t have a great budget to go to conferences, and it’s expensive,” Canbolat says. “Travel, accommodations – ISA is really great at providing financial help, especially to students and junior scholars. I benefitted a lot from my ISA travel grants. It really helped make it happen, to go and attend the conferences.”
While on those trips, Canbolat says he had opportunities to meet eminent scholars in his field, network and build relationships with them, attend panel discussions, and meet and workshop with both journal editors and book publishers.
UConn President Radenka Maric delivers remarks at the ISA International Conference 2024 at the University of Rijeka in Croatia. (Photo Courtesy of UNIRI)
“Even if you don’t present, it’s still a great experience to go to panels, listen to state-of-the-art research being presented by both prominent scholars and rising scholars,” he says. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting top scholars, prominent scholars, in a personal setting – not in a panel or in a workshop, but at a reception, and to really make personal connections. Tell them about my family. Tell them about my background. Tell them about my plans. And they were very helpful, listening and giving great feedback.
“I think that stands out, meeting those big names. We always read their books, their articles, but it’s something else to meet them, especially in a personal setting, a relaxed environment. Having a coffee with them. That stands out,” he says.
ISA holds a series of regional conferences throughout each year as well as an annual convention, which will be held in Chicago in 2025.
“One of the major benefits of attending ISA regional conferences is they become a source of intellectual community,” says Dorr. “But ISA’s annual convention is where people go to find their ‘academic home.’”
In June 2024, the ISA built on its long-standing collaboration with the Central and Eastern European International Studies Association, or CEEISA, to host a joint international conference at the University of Rijeka in Croatia.
Focused on “Knowing the Global-Local: Imagining Pasts, Debating Futures,” the conference hosted 800 participants – including Weiner and UConn President Radenka Maric – from 65 countries to discuss global and local political science and international relations.
The conference marked the largest gathering of experts in international relations in Croatia to date.
Full Circle
Canbolat wasn’t able to travel to Croatia in June, but earlier this year, he attended an ISA conference in San Francisco – to accept the ISA Foreign Policy Analysis Section Best Book Award for 2024.
In 2023, Canbolat and his co-author, Özdamar, published their book, Leaders in the Middle East and North Africa: How Ideology Shapes Foreign Policy, through Cambridge University Press in 2023.
The book is based on the initial research that Canbolat presented at his very first ISA conference in Toronto in 2014.
Co-authors Sercan Canbolat ’17 MA ’23 Ph.D. (center) and Özgür Özdamar, professor of international relations at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, (right) — with Danielle Lupton, associate professor of political science at Colgate University (left) — accept the 2024 ISA Best Book in Foreign Policy Analysis Award at the ISA 2024 Annual Convention in San Francisco. (Contributed photo)
“We published it as a journal article first,” he says. “After I presented at ISA, I got feedback. We published it in a good journal. It was well-received, and we got great feedback. And then, we discussed and decided to turn it into a book, into a larger project, and we worked on it for like five, six years. It was a blast, because it kept giving.”
Also in 2023, Canbolat completed his Ph.D. at UConn. He’s now serving as the inaugural director of Abrahamic Programs at UConn Global Affairs, and he’s teaching as a postdoctoral lecturer in the Department of Political Science.
He says he tells all his students about ISA – how it’s headquartered at UConn and how they can access the programs and opportunities ISA has to offer.
And he tells other faculty at UConn as well.
“I was surprised that some faculty don’t know that ISA is here at UConn,” Canbolat says. “I strongly suggest for anyone to try and at least give ISA a shot. Attend one year, and actually, they will be hooked.”
To learn more about or connect with the International Studies Association, headquartered at UConn Storrs, visitisanet.org. To stay up-to-date on the latest ISA virtual programs, sign up for ISA Connected atisanet.org/Programs/Virtual-Programs/ISA-Connected.
For more information about global learning, research, and entrepreneurship opportunities available through UConn’s Office of Global Affairs, visitglobal.uconn.edu.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $70.4 billion in August, down $8.5 billion from $78.9 billion in July, revised.
U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit
Deficit:
$70.4 Billion
–10.8%°
Exports:
$271.8 Billion
+2.0%°
Imports:
$342.2 Billion
–0.9%°
Next release: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
(°) Statistical significance is not applicable or not measurable. Data adjusted for seasonality but not price changes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis; U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services, October 8, 2024
Exports, Imports, and Balance (exhibit 1)
August exports were $271.8 billion, $5.3 billion more than July exports. August imports were $342.2 billion, $3.2 billion less than July imports.
The August decrease in the goods and services deficit reflected a decrease in the goods deficit of $8.4 billion to $94.9 billion and an increase in the services surplus of $0.1 billion to $24.4 billion.
Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $47.1 billion, or 8.9 percent, from the same period in 2023. Exports increased $79.0 billion or 3.9 percent. Imports increased $126.1 billion or 4.9 percent.
Three-Month Moving Averages (exhibit 2)
The average goods and services deficit decreased $1.6 billion to $74.1 billion for the three months ending in August.
Average exports increased $3.7 billion to $267.8 billion in August.
Average imports increased $2.0 billion to $342.0 billion in August.
Year-over-year, the average goods and services deficit increased $11.1 billion from the three months ending in August 2023.
Average exports increased $13.3 billion from August 2023.
Average imports increased $24.4 billion from August 2023.
Exports (exhibits 3, 6, and 7)
Exports of goods increased $4.4 billion to $179.4 billion in August.
Exports of goods on a Census basis increased $4.9 billion.
Industrial supplies and materials increased $0.9 billion.
Nonmonetary gold increased $1.5 billion.
Crude oil decreased $1.1 billion.
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines increased $0.8 billion.
Passenger cars increased $0.6 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.5 billion.
Exports of services increased $0.9 billion to $92.3 billion in August.
Travel increased $0.5 billion
Government goods and services increased $0.2 billion.
Transport decreased $0.2 billion.
Imports (exhibits 4, 6, and 8)
Imports of goods decreased $3.9 billion to $274.3 billion in August.
Imports of goods on a Census basis decreased $3.8 billion.
Industrial supplies and materials decreased $3.9 billion.
Nonmonetary gold decreased $1.2 billion.
Finished metal shapes decreased $1.0 billion.
Crude oil decreased $1.0 billion.
Automotive vehicles, parts, and engines decreased $1.3 billion.
Passenger cars decreased $1.1 billion.
Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $0.2 billion.
Imports of services increased $0.7 billion to $67.9 billion in August.
Travel increased $0.4 billion.
Charges for the use of intellectual property increased $0.4 billion.
Transport decreased $0.3 billion.
Real Goods in 2017 Dollars – Census Basis (exhibit 11)
The real goods deficit decreased $8.6 billion, or 8.9 percent, to $88.6 billion in August, compared to an 8.5 percent decrease in the nominal deficit.
Real exports of goods increased $5.5 billion, or 3.8 percent, to $150.1 billion, compared to a 2.9 percent increase in nominal exports.
Real imports of goods decreased $3.2 billion, or 1.3 percent, to $238.7 billion, compared to a 1.4 percent decrease in nominal imports.
Revisions
Revisions to July exports
Exports of goods were revised down less than $0.1 billion.
Exports of services were revised down $0.1 billion.
Revisions to July imports
Imports of goods were revised up $0.1 billion.
Imports of services were revised down $0.1 billion.
Goods by Selected Countries and Areas: Monthly – Census Basis (exhibit 19)
The August figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with Netherlands ($5.5), South and Central America ($4.0), Australia ($1.9), Hong Kong ($1.6), Brazil ($0.8), Singapore ($0.5), and United Kingdom ($0.3). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars, with China ($24.7), European Union ($19.1), Mexico ($14.3), Vietnam ($9.8), Ireland ($8.0), Taiwan ($7.3), Germany ($6.6), Japan ($4.9), South Korea ($4.9), Canada ($3.9), Italy ($2.9), India ($2.7), Switzerland ($2.5), France ($1.7), Malaysia ($1.1), Israel ($1.0), Belgium ($0.6), and Saudi Arabia ($0.1).
The deficit with Canada decreased $3.8 billion to $3.9 billion in August. Exports increased $1.1 billion to $28.5 billion and imports decreased $2.7 billion to $32.3 billion.
The deficit with China decreased $2.6 billion to $24.7 billion in August. Exports increased $1.1 billion to $12.6 billion and imports decreased $1.5 billion to $37.3 billion.
The balance with Belgium shifted from a surplus of $1.0 billion in July to a deficit of $0.6 billion in August. Exports decreased $0.1 billion to $2.8 billion and imports increased $1.5 billion to $3.4 billion.
Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon for Ukrainian parliamentary delegation
Date：2024-10-04 Data Source：Department of European Affairs
October 4, 2024 No. 329
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on October 4 to welcome a delegation of Ukrainian parliamentarians led by MP Mykola Kniazhytskyi, Cochair of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), and MP Akhtem Chyihoz. The two sides exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine war, the peaceful development of Ukraine, and potential cooperation projects.
Minister Lin said that although Taiwan and Ukraine were geographically distant, both nations stood on the front line of democratic defense against the expansion of authoritarian regimes. He commended Ukraine for demonstrating resilience as well as defense and disaster response capabilities in its war against Russia, adding that this served as a valuable lesson and inspiration to all democratic countries. Minister Lin stated that Taiwan had actively assisted Ukraine with rebuilding critical infrastructure, schools, churches, and hospitals in the spirit of humanitarianism. He pledged that Taiwan would continue to support Ukraine through this difficult time.
The members of the Ukrainian delegation thanked the government of Taiwan and expressed appreciation for Taiwan’s humanitarian assistance and support. They stated that the people of Ukraine were deeply touched by Taiwan’s goodwill. Noting that Taiwan and Ukraine shared the core values of freedom, democracy, and human rights, they expressed the hope that the two countries would continue to support each other and cooperate on the basis of friendship and mutual trust.
Both Taiwan and Ukraine enjoy the common values shared by democracies and are faced with authoritarian expansionism. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, Taiwan has extended consistent and unwavering support to Ukraine, staunchly backing democracy and freedom. Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded nations to assist Ukraine in overcoming adversity and returning to normal life as soon as possible. (E)
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The seven-day National Day Golden Week of the Mainland ended yesterday (October 7), with the overall number of inbound visitors aligning with earlier estimates. The number recorded on National Day (October 1) reached a daily record high since the post-pandemic full opening of the borders. During the seven-day National Day Golden Week, the Immigration Department recorded a total of around 1.38 million visitors coming to Hong Kong through various sea, land and air control points. Among them, Mainland visitors accounted for about 1.22 million, representing 88 per cent of the total arrivals. The daily average of Mainland visitors was around 170 000, which exceeded that of the 2023 National Day Golden Week and the 2024 Labour Day Golden Week around 27 per cent and some 13 per cent respectively. Mainland inbound visitor arrivals peaked on National Day with around 220 000 visitors arriving in Hong Kong, marking a daily record high since the post-pandemic opening of the borders and setting a corresponding record for the overall number of visitors to Hong Kong in a single day. During the National Day Golden Week, the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and the Express Rail Link West Kowloon were the two ports with the highest daily average number of Mainland visitors, and operations at various control points and transport services ran smoothly. Regarding large-scale events, the National Day Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour on October 1 attracted over 330 000 spectators. The event concluded with effective crowd control arrangements and was well-received by local residents and tourists. Visitors went to different parts of Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week, with high visitor flow observed at major tourist attractions including the West Kowloon Cultural District, Ocean Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, the Peak Tram and Ngong Ping 360. Smooth and effective crowd management measures were implemented. In addition, according to the information provided by the hotel industry, the overall hotel occupancy rate during the first four days of the Golden Week (October 1 to 4) reached 90 per cent. In terms of tour groups, according to the Travel Industry Authority’s information, around 1 050 Mainland inbound tour groups visited Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week, with around 80 per cent engaged in overnight itineraries. These tour groups involved around 36 000 visitors, accounting for around 3 per cent of all Mainland visitors, and they were generally in good order. The interdepartmental working group on festival arrangements, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, is pleased to note that the rich array of National Day special offers from the Government and various sectors of society were well-received by the public. Among them, the 1st October Movie Fiesta: Half-Price Spectacular 2024 organised by the Hong Kong Theatres Association and subsidised by the Government took place in 59 commercial theatres across Hong Kong. On the day of the event, there were nearly 2 000 screenings, with cumulative admissions reaching 189 000, breaking last year’s record of 155 000 and representing an increase of 22 per cent. Free admission was offered to museums and art spaces under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on October 1, attracting nearly 60 000 attendees. Among them, there were more than 11 000 visitors to the Hong Kong Space Museum, setting a record for single-day attendance. In addition, several public transportation services provided free rides or discounts during National Day, benefitting a total of approximately 4.43 million passengers. Different sectors such as catering and retail actively launched special offers to attract spending from both locals and visitors, contributing to a festive atmosphere throughout the city. Various trade representatives and merchants reported increased customer flow and business during National Day. The embarkation and disembarkation arrangements for two homeport deployments of a mega cruise ship at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal (KTCT) during the National Day Golden Week of the Mainland were smooth, with various transport services arranged to adequately meet visitor needs. Notably, direct coach services connecting the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and KTCT were arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board in collaboration with a local coach operator to provide facilitation for a total of 3 500 Mainland visitors. Mr Chan said, “Thanks to the concerted efforts of relevant government departments, organisations and industries in making preparations and responses, this year’s arrangements for receiving visitors during the National Day Golden Week operated smoothly, enabling both locals and visitors to celebrate National Day together. The Government will draw on this experience and further enhance various arrangements in future to provide an even better experience for visitors to Hong Kong during festive periods.”
Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Raistlin Lau today extended his congratulations to Hong Kong actor Anson Kong for winning an award during the 29th Busan International Film Festival.
Mr Kong won the Rising Star of the Year award at the 6th Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT (Over-The-Top) Awards during the film festival.
Noting that Mr Kong has gained worldwide recognition among his peers in the industry for his acting skills, Mr Lau said this is a thrilling accomplishment that showcases the talent of Hong Kong actors.
The Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards recognise outstanding television, over-the-top and online content across Asia.
MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Yuri Trutnev heard reports on the implementation of the long-term plan for the comprehensive socio-economic development of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky urban district
October 8, 2024
Yuri Trutnev, Governor of Kamchatka Krai Vladimir Solodov and Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Elvira Nurgalieva
October 8, 2024
Yuri Trutnev held a meeting with the management and instructors of the Kamchatka branch of the Voin center
October 8, 2024
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Yuri Trutnev heard reports on the implementation of the long-term plan for the comprehensive socio-economic development of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky urban district
As part of a working visit to Kamchatka Krai, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev heard reports on the implementation of the long-term plan for the comprehensive socio-economic development of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky urban district, and also held a meeting with investors and assessed the work of the Kamchatka branch of the Voin center.
The long-term plan for the socio-economic development of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky urban district provides for the implementation of 17 events containing 52 objects for the period up to 2030. The key events of the master plan include the construction of a number of roads, including a bypass road from Petropavlovsk Highway to the residential area of Severo-Vostok and a public road to the Pacific Ocean coast. A campus for students of the city’s universities and colleges will appear in the capital of Kamchatka. It is planned to place educational institutions, clubs, public spaces, recreation and leisure areas for students on the campus territory. The construction of the children’s and youth scientific and educational center “Voskhod” has begun. Among the key events of the master plan is the improvement of the city center with the construction of a public center.
The master plan includes an environmental component. Within its framework, Kultuchnoye Lake in the city center will be cleaned. City landfills will also be reclaimed and an eco-technopark will be built. At the same time, integrated development projects will also be implemented in other areas: in the Severny microdistrict, the Zarechny microdistrict (near the airport), on Pogranichnaya Street, on Komsomolskaya Square, and also on the site of the existing regional hospital after its relocation to a new location. The construction of the bypass road TPP-1 – TPP-2 also plays a major role in the development of the regional capital.
This year, the design of the interactive planetarium and creativity center on Nikolskaya Hill, the improvement of the Historical Quarter, the walking area along 50 Let Oktyabrya Street, Leninskaya, Sovetskaya, Partizanskaya Streets and the Kultuchnoye Ozero ecopark, three sewage pumping stations were completed. The implementation of 26 events continues.
By the end of the year, work is planned to be completed at 15 sites. Work on the improvement of the central embankment and the park along Voytsesheka Street will be completed. The cultural heritage site (at 13 Krasintsev Street) will be restored as part of the art cluster, and equipment will be purchased for the creative industries school being created. The construction of sewage treatment facilities for the planned building of the regional children’s hospital will be completed. The design of a cable car, a building of the regional children’s hospital, a community center, an eco-technopark, two sewage treatment facilities (“Chavycha”, “29 km”) and five sewage pumping stations (“Rybny Port”, “Torgovy Port”, “Drama Theater”, “1/1E”, “Zarechnaya”) will be completed.
Work is actively underway on the following projects, the commissioning of which is planned for 2025. A road to Khalaktyrsky Beach is being built. Construction of a gas boiler house has begun in the Severny microdistrict as part of the Far Eastern Quarter project. The Yu.A. Gagarin Children’s Health Camp is being renovated. It is planned to begin major repairs of the road along Leninskaya Street in the city center. This year, a large and extremely important project for the region will also begin on the construction of an LNG regasification complex in Rakova Bay, with a completion date of 2025.
According to Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic Elvira Nurgalieva, 12 billion rubles of a single presidential subsidy from the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and 1.5 billion rubles of special treasury loans will be allocated for the implementation of the master plan for Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The region has already received some of the funds for the design, major repairs and construction of facilities. The region will receive 0.6 billion rubles as part of a landscaping competition from the Russian Ministry of Construction. These funds were used to create an observation deck on Petrovskaya Sopka, and to improve the embankment in the city center along Ozernovskaya Kosa Street, a park along Voytsesheka Street, and Nikolskaya Sopka. This year, the Russian Ministry of Culture allocated funds for the purchase of equipment for the creation of a school of creative industries as part of the art cluster. The Russian Ministry of Energy will provide funding for the construction of an LNG regasification complex in Rakova Bay.
Thanks to the implementation of the master plan activities, positive dynamics have been observed in a number of indicators this year: the volume of construction work is growing (an increase of 5.5% in the first half of 2024), the number of people employed in the construction industry is increasing, and indicators in related industries have increased many times over: the cargo turnover of sea transport has increased by more than a quarter, and automobile transport has more than doubled.
Plans for 2025–2027 were discussed. In particular, it is planned to improve Nikolskaya Sopka by 2026 using funds from the federal project “Formation of a Comfortable Urban Environment”. It is planned to build five sewage pumping stations (“Zarechnaya”, “1/1E”, “Rybny Port”, “Torgovy Port”, “Drama Theater”). The deadlines for completing the construction of a public center on Lenin Square, a hotel and business center with improvement of the park on the territory of “Petropavlovskaya Gavan”, a fish market on the territory of “Prichal Mekhzavod” and a cable car have been set by the end of 2027.
“There are initial results. An observation deck has been built, the embankment is being improved. We only started implementing the master plan this year. And there is still a lot of work to be done,” Yuri Trutnev summed up the discussion.
During a meeting with investors, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that more than 250 investors with projects worth almost 300 billion rubles have taken advantage of state support in Kamchatka, with 106 billion rubles already invested. 79 projects have been commissioned, and more than 11,000 new jobs have been created.
According to Vladimir Solodov, Governor of Kamchatka Krai, 128.2 billion rubles were attracted to Kamchatka Krai in 2023. Investment growth was 60% compared to the previous year. Tourism is a priority industry. Last year, investment growth in this area was 53%. At the same time, 17 new hotels were built in 2023 alone, and the number of accommodations increased by 1,031 places.
Projects for the construction of hotels in the Kamchatka priority development area were discussed. The Cosmos Hotel Kamchatka company plans to build a five-star tourist and recreational complex. The Berloga company will create a five-star hotel complex with a thermal spa complex in the Elizovsky district of the Kamchatka priority development area. The implementation of a major investment project by a Kamchatka priority development area resident to create an international standard resort, the Three Volcanoes Park, was discussed.
The progress of completing the construction of the new passenger terminal of the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky International Airport (Yelizovo) was also considered. Several contractors are involved in the construction of the new airport complex of the Yelizovo airport. A total of 1,200 people and 50 units of special equipment are working on the construction of the facility. The overall construction readiness is 82%.
On the same day, Yuri Trutnev held a meeting with the management and instructors of the Kamchatka branch of the Voin center. “I always take the opportunity when I am in a territory where there is a branch of the center, to visit it, to see how things are going. Reviving patriotic education is our initiative with Sergei Vladilenovich [Kiriyenko]. It was supported by the President of Russia. And of course, we must monitor how things are going. The most important thing, in my opinion, the most positive thing, is that the feedback from the cadets is good everywhere. This shows that we started our work on time and that the desire for patriotism, the desire to be able to defend your homeland, to love it are in demand,” Yuri Trutnev opened the meeting.
Addressing the branch management and instructors of the Voin center, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of work on patriotic education: “You are shaping the future by educating a new generation of Russians. There are currently 21 branches of the Voin center operating in the Russian Federation, including branches created in all liberated territories. Since the start of the Voin center, 35 thousand young men and women have been trained. And this year, the Voin center will train 30 thousand young people across the country.”
It was noted that the Voin center had developed a draft textbook, Basics of Initial Military Training. It is currently in the final stages of revision. This academic year, it is planned to test the publication by cadets of the Voin center and students of some educational organizations.
Director of the Voin Center branch in Kamchatka Alexander Burkhavetsky and Chairman of the regional branch of DOSAAF of Russia Dmitry Pavlov reported on the work of the Kamchatka branch. About 800 teenagers will undergo training in Kamchatka by the end of the year. Currently, construction of classrooms and arrangement of the territory of the Military Sports Training Center in the Yelizovsky District is underway. By the end of November 2024, it is planned to complete the construction of classrooms with a parade ground, a GTO site, a combined arms obstacle course, a parking lot and an entry group. In 2025, it is planned to complete the construction of a 500-meter gallery for sniping, arrangement of a tactical field, construction of several shooting galleries, installation of a facade for storming the building (for assault mountaineering), construction of a canteen, barracks for 120 people, preparation of a place for placing a tent camp for 160 people.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Monetary Policy Rate (MoPR) was unchanged at 1.9 percent of the previous week, for a paper maturing on 16 October 2024. The summarised results of the auction held on 9 October 2024, are attached below:
NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the “Company” or “ARI”) (NYSE:ARI), today announced the Company will hold a conference call to review its third quarter 2024 financial results on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Company’s third quarter 2024 financial results will be released after the market closes on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. During the conference call, Company officers will review third quarter 2024 performance, discuss recent events and conduct a question-and-answer period.
To register for the call, please use the following link:
After you register, you will receive a dial-in number and unique pin. The Company will also post a link in the Stockholders’ section on ARI’s website for a live webcast. For those unable to listen to the live call or webcast, there will be a webcast replay link posted in the Stockholders’ section on ARI’s website approximately two hours after the call.
About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: ARI) is a real estate investment trust that primarily originates, acquires, invests in and manages performing commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. The Company is externally managed and advised by ACREFI Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, Inc., a high-growth, global alternative asset manager with approximately $696 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2024.
Additional information can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.apollocref.com. Please note that our URL address has changed.
Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company’s control. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When used in this release, the words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, plan, continue, intend, should, may or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: higher interest rates and inflation; market trends in the Company’s industry, real estate values, the debt securities markets or the general economy; the timing and amounts of expected future fundings of unfunded commitments; the return on equity; the yield on investments; the ability to borrow to finance assets; the Company’s ability to deploy the proceeds of its capital raises or acquire its target assets; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements, and other risks, uncertainties and factors are based on the Company’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Parex Resources Inc. (“Parex” or the “Company”) (TSX: PXT) announces a production update as well as its plan to release its Q3 2024 financial and operating results on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Q3 2024 Production Update(1)
Q3 2024 average production was 47,569 boe/d.
Average production was in line with the most recent production guidance(2).
September 2024 production was supported by a new well at Capachos.
Parex’s production guidance incorporates a range of technical outcomes and contingency for significant downtime events; there were no notable downtime events during the quarter.
boe/d
For the three months ended September 30, 2024
Block LLA-34
24,975
Southern Llanos
15,031
Northern Llanos
4,567
Magdalena Basin
2,268
Natural Gas Production
728
Average Production
47,569
(1) See “Product Type Disclosure.” (2) See August 28, 2024 news release.
Monthly Production Breakdown(1)(2)
boe/d
July 2024
August 2024
September 2024
Average Production
48,850
46,350
47,450
(1) See “Product Type Disclosure.” (2) Rounded for presentation purposes.
Q3 2024 Conference Call & Webcast
Parex will host a conference call and webcast to discuss its Q3 2024 results on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, beginning at 9:30 am MT (11:30 am ET). Additional details will be available on the Company’s website in due course.
About Parex Resources Inc.
Parex is one of the largest independent oil and gas companies in Colombia, focusing on sustainable, conventional production. The Company’s corporate headquarters are in Calgary, Canada, with an operating office in Bogotá, Colombia. Parex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PXT.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Product Type Disclosure
Product Type
July 2024
August 2024
September 2024
Light & Medium Crude Oil (bbl/d)
9,308
8,832
9,041
Heavy Crude Oil (bbl/d)
38,793
36,808
37,681
Conventional Natural Gas (mcf/d)
4,492
4,262
4,363
Oil Equivalent (boe/d)
48,850(1)
46,350(1)
47,450(1)
(1) Rounded for presentation purposes.
Product Type
For the three months ended September 30, 2024
Light & Medium Crude Oil (bbl/d)
9,064
Heavy Crude Oil (bbl/d)
37,776
Conventional Natural Gas (mcf/d)
4,370
Oil Equivalent (boe/d)
47,569
Oil & Gas Matters Advisory
The term “Boe” means a barrel of oil equivalent on the basis of 6 thousand cubic feet (“Mcf”) of natural gas to 1 bbl. Boe may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A boe conversion ratio of 6 Mcf: 1 Bbl is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. Given the value ratio based on the current price of crude oil as compared to natural gas is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6 Mcf: 1Bbl, utilizing a conversion ratio at 6 Mcf: 1 Bbl may be misleading as an indication of value.
Advisory on Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information regarding Parex set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. The use of any of the words “plan”, “expect”, “prospective”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “should”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “guidance”, “budget” or other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements represent Parex’s internal projections, estimates or beliefs concerning, among other things, future growth, results of operations, production, future capital and other expenditures (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof), competitive advantages, plans for and results of drilling activity, environmental matters, business prospects and opportunities. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Although the Company’s management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievement since such expectations are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors could cause Parex’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Parex.
Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon assumptions which management believes to be reasonable, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. With respect to forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Parex has made assumptions regarding, among other things: current and anticipated commodity prices and royalty regimes; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of capital expenditures; future exchange rates; the price of oil, including the anticipated Brent oil price; the impact of increasing competition; conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of drilling and related equipment; effects of regulation by governmental agencies; receipt of partner, regulatory and community approvals; royalty rates; future operating costs; uninterrupted access to areas of Parex’s operations and infrastructure; recoverability of reserves and future production rates; the status of litigation; timing of drilling and completion of wells; on-stream timing of production from successful exploration wells; operational performance of non-operated producing fields; pipeline capacity; that Parex will have sufficient cash flow, debt or equity sources or other financial resources required to fund its capital and operating expenditures and requirements as needed; that Parex’s conduct and results of operations will be consistent with its expectations; that Parex will have the ability to develop its oil and gas properties in the manner currently contemplated; that Parex’s evaluation of its existing portfolio of development and exploration opportunities is consistent with its expectations; current or, where applicable, proposed industry conditions, laws and regulations will continue in effect or as anticipated as described herein; that the estimates of Parex’s production and reserves volumes and the assumptions related thereto (including commodity prices and development costs) are accurate in all material respects; that Parex will be able to obtain contract extensions or fulfill the contractual obligations required to retain its rights to explore, develop and exploit any of its undeveloped properties; that Parex will have sufficient financial resources in the future to pay a dividend in the future; that the Board will declare dividends in the future; and other matters.
These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada and Colombia; prolonged volatility in commodity prices; industry conditions including changes in laws and regulations including adoption of new environmental laws and regulations, and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced in Canada and Colombia; determinations by OPEC and other countries as to production levels; competition; lack of availability of qualified personnel; the results of exploration and development drilling and related activities; obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities in Canada and Colombia; risks associated with negotiating with foreign governments as well as country risk associated with conducting international activities; volatility in market prices for oil; fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates; environmental risks; changes in income tax laws or changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the oil industry; changes to pipeline capacity; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure of counterparties to perform under contracts; risk that Brent oil prices are lower than anticipated; risk that Parex’s evaluation of its existing portfolio of development and exploration opportunities is not consistent with its expectations; risk that initial test results are not indicative of future performance or ultimate recovery; risk that other zones to be tested do not contain the expected hydrocarbon bearing formations; the risk that Parex’s 2024 capital expenditures and planned exploration and development programs are different than expected, including in a manner adverse to Parex; the risk that Parex’s financial and production results may be less favorable than anticipated; the risk that certain of Parex’s wells may not spud or come onstream when anticipated, or at all; the risk that Parex may not have sufficient financial resources in the future to pay a dividend or repurchase its shares; the risk that the Board may not declare dividends in the future or that Parex’s dividend policy changes; that risk that Parex may not actively adjust its capital allocation or maximize shareholder value; the risk that the Company may purchase less shares per day through its automatic share purchase plan than anticipated and that it may not adjust to match its targeted long-term capital allocation framework as required; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Parex’s operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca).
Management has included the above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking information provided in this press release in order to provide shareholders with a more complete perspective on Parex’s current and future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Parex’s actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what benefits Parex will derive. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and Parex disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.
Abbreviations
The following abbreviations used in this press release have the meanings set forth below:
bbl
one barrel
bbl/d
barrels per day
boe
barrels of oil equivalent of natural gas; one barrel of oil or natural gas liquids for six thousand cubic feet of natural gas
PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)
(b)Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.
N/A
(c)Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree
KEYWORDS STUDIOS PLC
(d)If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:
N/A
(e)Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure
07 OCTOBER 2024
(f)In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”
N/A
2.POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.
(a)Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)
Class of relevant security:
1p ORDINARY
Interests
Short positions
Number
%
Number
%
(1)Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:
1,370,614
1.7023
(2)Cash-settled derivatives:
(3)Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:
1,370,614
1.7023
All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.
Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).
(b)Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)
Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:
Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:
3.DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE
Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.
The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.
(a)Purchases and sales
Class of relevant security
Purchase/sale
Number of securities
Price per unit
1p ORDINARY
SALE
715
2438p
1p ORDINARY
SALE
1,935
2438.2p
1p ORDINARY
SALE
1,015
2438.202p
1p ORDINARY
PURCHASE
400
2440p
(b)Cash-settled derivative transactions
Class of relevant security
Product description e.g. CFD
Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position
(d)Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)
Class of relevant security
Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion
Details
Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE
4.OTHER INFORMATION
(a)Indemnity and other dealing arrangements
Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(b)Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives
Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i)the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii)the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
NONE
(c)Attachments
Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?
NO
Date of disclosure:
08 OCTOBER 2024
Contact name:
MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:
01253 376539
Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.
The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.
The Albanese government on Wednesday will introduce legislation to ensure the NBN remains in government ownership.
The move is designed to set up a test for the Coalition, putting pressure on the opposition ahead of the election to declare whether it would try to privatise the NBN.
The government said in a statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland: “The Coalition rushed to declare the NBN ‘complete’ so they could put it on the block for sale – selling out Australian consumers and regional communities.
“The Albanese government won’t let that happen. This legislation will ensure the NBN is owned by who it belongs to – the Australian people.”
The upgrades the government had undertaken “are already making a real difference in the lives of Australians through faster, more reliable internet access. Keeping the NBN in public hands will lock in affordable and accessible high speed internet for all Australians for generations to come.”
Albanese said:“The Coalition made a mess of the NBN – my government is getting on with the job of fixing it and making sure it stays in public hands, where it belongs.”
Rowland said: “Australians don’t trust the Coalition not to flog off the NBN just like they did with Telstra, resulting in higher prices and poorer services, especially in the regions.”
Downgraded
The Rudd Labor government announced what was to be a predominantly fibre-to-the-home wholesale network in 2009, promising it would cost $43 billion and later be privatised to claw back the expense.
In 2010 Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said Labor “remained firmly committed to selling its stake in NBN Co after the network was fully built and operational, subject to market conditions and security considerations”.
By 2020 the government was estimated to have spent $51 billion on a scaled-down version of the project completed using a mix of technologies.
In June that year a review by the Parliamentary Budget Office put its fair value at $8.7 billion.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
U.S. natural gas-fired power plants generated more than 7 million megawatthours (MWh) of electricity on August 2, 2024, according to our Hourly Electric Grid Monitor, making up almost half of all electricity generated in the contiguous United States that day.
On August 2, 2024, 7.1 million MWh of natural gas-fired electricity was generated in the United States, 6.8% more than the previous summer’s record set on July 28, 2023. Nine out of the ten days with the most U.S. natural gas-fired electricity generation on record occurred in the summer of 2024; of those, six occurred in August 2024. Overall electricity generation for the summer (June–August) of 2024 was up by 3% from summer 2023. The daily average for natural gas-fired electricity generation for the summer also increased 3% to 5.9 million MWh.
Reasons for increased U.S. natural gas-fired electricity generation included hotter weather, low natural gas prices, the addition of new combined-cycle generating capacity, and increased generator capacity factors.
Over the past few years, the balance of sources of electricity generation in the United States—especially in the summer—has shifted to more renewables and natural gas and less coal. As electric generation capacity from renewable sources grows, natural gas is used increasingly to balance the intermittent nature of electricity produced from wind and solar. Since 2014, the share of U.S. electricity generation from natural gas in the summer has increased every year except 2021, increasing from 29% in 2014 to 45% in 2024.
Principal contributors: Grace Wheaton, Corrina Ricker
The ninth edition of Hong Kong FinTech Week (HKFW), themed “Illuminating New Pathways in Fintech” will take place from October 28 to November 1, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today.
HKFW 2024 will place a significant emphasis on cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), it added.
The event is expected to draw over 30,000 attendees from more than 100 economies.
The main conference, involving hundreds of distinguished speakers, will take place between October 28 and 29 at Hong Kong AsiaWorld-Expo.
It will feature eight themed forums, namely a Global Forum, an AI & Advanced Tech Forum, a Blockchain & Digital Assets Forum, a Payments & Other FinTech Forum, an InsurTech Forum, a Green FinTech & Impact Forum, a WealthTech & InvestTech Forum, and the Hong Kong Connect Forum.
Meanwhile, a series of community engagement events will take place from October 28 to November 1 in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. These will include a tour of the Greater Bay Area, satellite and networking events, lifestyle activities and workshops, and the inaugural Web3x3 basketball game.
InvestHK said HKFW enjoys the confidence of both Mainland and international companies and markets.
It highlighted that this year’s event will feature a record number of big tech companies from the Mainland showcasing their latest innovations, as well as notable speakers and delegates from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Middle East, reflecting Hong Kong’s multifaceted business connections and outlook.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said Hong Kong has emerged as a super connector and super value-adder for fintech thanks to its strategic location and robust financial infrastructure.
“Our city is ranked third in the latest Global Financial Centres Index and first in the Asia Pacific Region,” he added. “In terms of fintech, Hong Kong rose five places to ninth, putting it among the top 10 fintech hubs globally.
“This reflects the concerted efforts of the Government, financial regulators, and industry players to promote fintech development in Hong Kong.”
Mr Hui also stressed that, owing to various initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining strategic companies and talent, the city is primed to reap the benefits of Hong Kong FinTech Week. He said the event this year will pave the way for connected, efficient, and sustainable global economic growth from fintech operations.
HKFW 2024 is organised by the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau and InvestHK, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission, and the Insurance Authority.
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to scientists John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks”.
Inspired by ideas from physics and biology, Hopfield and Hinton developed computer systems that can memorise and learn from patterns in data. Despite never directly collaborating, they built on each other’s work to develop the foundations of the current boom in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).
What are neural networks? (And what do they have to do with physics?)
Artificial neural networks are behind much of the AI technology we use today.
In the same way your brain has neuronal cells linked by synapses, artificial neural networks have digital neurons connected in various configurations. Each individual neuron doesn’t do much. Instead, the magic lies in the pattern and strength of the connections between them.
Neurons in an artificial neural network are “activated” by input signals. These activations cascade from one neuron to the next in ways that can transform and process the input information. As a result, the network can carry out computational tasks such as classification, prediction and making decisions.
Most of the history of machine learning has been about finding ever more sophisticated ways to form and update these connections between artificial neurons.
While the foundational idea of linking together systems of nodes to store and process information came from biology, the mathematics used to form and update these links came from physics.
Networks that can remember
John Hopfield (born 1933) is a US theoretical physicist who made important contributions over his career in the field of biological physics. However, the Nobel Physics prize was for his work developing Hopfield networks in 1982.
Hopfield networks were one of the earliest kinds of artificial neural networks. Inspired by principles from neurobiology and molecular physics, these systems demonstrated for the first time how a computer could use a “network” of nodes to remember and recall information.
The networks Hopfield developed could memorise data (such as a collection of black and white images). These images could be “recalled” by association when the network is prompted with a similar image.
Although of limited practical use, Hopfield networks demonstrated that this type of ANN could store and retrieve data in new ways. They laid the foundation for later work by Hinton.
Geoff Hinton (born 1947), sometimes called one of the “godfathers of AI”, is a British-Canadian computer scientist who has made a number of important contributions to the field. In 2018, along with Yoshua Bengio and Yann LeCun, he was awarded the Turing Award (the highest honour in computer science) for his efforts to advance machine learning generally, and specifically a branch of it called deep learning.
The Nobel Prize in Physics, however, is specifically for his work with Terrence Sejnowski and other colleagues in 1984, developing Boltzmann machines.
These are an extension of the Hopfield network that demonstrated the idea of machine learning – a system that lets a computer learn not from a programmer, but from examples of data. Drawing from ideas in the energy dynamics of statistical physics, Hinton showed how this early generative computer model could learn to store data over time by being shown examples of things to remember.
The Boltzmann machine, like the Hopfield network before it, did not have immediate practical applications. However, a modified form (called the restricted Boltzmann machine) was useful in some applied problems.
More important was the conceptual breakthrough that an artificial neural network could learn from data. Hinton continued to develop this idea. He later published influential papers on backpropagation (the learning process used in modern machine learning systems) and convolutional neural networks (the main type of neural network used today for AI systems that work with image and video data).
Why this prize, now?
Hopfield networks and Boltzmann machines seem whimsical compared to today’s feats of AI. Hopfield’s network contained only 30 neurons (he tried to make one with 100 nodes, but it was too much for the computing resources of the time), whereas modern systems such as ChatGPT can have millions. However, today’s Nobel prize underscores just how important these early contributions were to the field.
While recent rapid progress in AI – familiar to most of us from generative AI systems such as ChatGPT – might seem like vindication for the early proponents of neural networks, Hinton at least has expressed concern. In 2023, after quitting a decade-long stint at Google’s AI branch, he said he was scared by the rate of development and joined the growing throng of voices calling for more proactive AI regulation.
After receiving the Nobel prize, Hinton said AI will be “like the Industrial Revolution but instead of our physical capabilities, it’s going to exceed our intellectual capabilities”. He also said he still worries that the consequences of his work might be “systems that are more intelligent than us that might eventually take control”.
Aaron J. Snoswell receives funding from OpenAI in 2024.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with the Director of Public Policy of TikTok Southeast Asia, Ms. Shinto Nugroho, at the sidelines of the 2024 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. They discussed how the private sector, such as TikTok, could contribute to the region’s continued growth and development as well as explored future opportunities to advance ASEAN’s digital transformation.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Director of Public Policy of TikTok appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
When an appliance breaks down, it can throw our daily routines into chaos. Whether it’s a malfunctioning oven that interrupts family dinners, a broken washer or dryer that delays weekend plans, or an inoperable TV right before movie or game night, these inconveniences remind us of the value of fast, reliable, and high-quality service.
To celebrate Customer Service Week (October 7-11, 2024) and this year’s theme, “Above & Beyond,” we’re shining a spotlight on our very own dedicated Samsung Care technicians who go the extra mile to restore normalcy. From innovative digital care solutions to best-in-class training, our Samsung Care pros are committed to providing a customer-first care experience no matter where you live.
Samsung provides 99.9% of the U.S. with convenient Care coverage. With programs like Samsung Beyond Boundaries, customers within a four-hour radius of a Samsung Care Center in various U.S. regions can receive at-home repairs, ensuring that even the most remote customers have access to our top-notch care. Samsung also delivers #1 Quality and Service Coverage in the U.S. for mobile devices,1 providing Galaxy owners access to more than 9,000 Samsung Mobile certified technicians with convenient walk-in, mail-in and We Come to You repair options.
Hear from some of our Samsung Care technicians as they share their rewarding experiences and the impact of delivering exceptional customer care — along with our valued customers’ reviews.
“Technician Scott, knew exactly what he was doing. He had a lot of patience with me and fixed my TV immediately after receiving the appropriate part from the factory. He was very pleasant and polite. I am 80 years old and live alone and am nervous with letting a strange man into my home, but he made me feel very comfortable. Thank you, Scott, you did wonderful job. Now I can enjoy sleeping in my own bed again. I can only go to sleep with the TV on.”
– Real customer feedback Samsung service technician, Scott
“The tech was fast, friendly, and on the ball. He had my dryer up and running quickly as well as did a full diagnostic on everything else in the unit. Samsung has been a brand I personally trust. Every cell phone I have owned has been a Samsung. I recommend their products and can attest if they go down, they get the tech out as fast as possible to resolve your issue, not many companies care like that.”
– Real customer feedback Samsung service technician, Lloyd
Introducing the Samsung Care Compliment Program
Samsung has launched the Care Compliment program, making it easier for customers who’ve had a great repair experience to share feedback directly with the service technician who worked on their appliance or mobile device at an authorized service center. This includes repairs performed on appliances or mobile phones using Samsung’s walk-in service or in-home service repair partners.
How it works: After a repair, customers receive a feedback form. If customers indicate they had a positive Care experience, they can leave additional comments that are shared directly with the technician. This program seamlessly integrates technician recognition into our feedback system — and highlights that when customers are empowered to share their positive experiences, they’re more motivated to offer compliments.
Celebrating Samsung Care Technicians
On October 9th at Samsung 837, our Samsung Care team is excited to host A Night with Mýa. Join us in-person, as our Vice President of Customer Care, Mark Williams, and other team members as they discuss Care Tech and how we extend the life of our customers’ devices. Enjoy fun competitions with our Samsung Certified Technicians, celebrate their achievements, and get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how phones are built and repaired. To make the event even more special, we’ll offer on-the-spot phone repairs in-store and the ability to schedule repairs for a time that is convenient for you. It’s a great opportunity to honor the hard work of our technicians and show how we care for your devices.
Underscoring Samsung’s efforts in product quality and service, the company achieved #1 customer satisfaction and #1 overall service quality among 5G mobile devices in the 2024 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI®) Survey. Samsung also secured #1 rankings in TVs for overall customer satisfaction and #1 in home appliance service experience for the second year in row in the ACSI® survey.
Looking for more news or need additional support from the Samsung Care team? Visit the Samsung Care YouTube Channel, check out the Samsung Members App and Samsung Communities, or text us any time by messaging 1-800-SAMSUNG to start a conversation with a Samsung Care Pro.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese state councilor attends reception marking 75 years of diplomatic relations between China, Russia
BEIJING, Oct. 8 — Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin attended a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia at the Russian embassy in Beijing on Tuesday.
Shen, also the Chinese chairman of the China-Russia Committee on Humanities Cooperation, said that under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, China is willing to work with Russia to take the opportunity of celebrating the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic ties and the China-Russia Years of Culture to deepen cooperation in various fields and create more benefits for both peoples.
Russian Ambassador to China Igor Morgulov said Russia stands ready to further deepen traditional friendship with China and push for greater development of Russia-China relations.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 8 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday called for efforts to promptly implement the incremental policies to stabilize the country’s economy, and strive to accomplish the annual economic and social development targets.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a symposium with experts and entrepreneurs to hear their views on China’s current economic situation and next steps on economic work.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Craft, the supply chain resilience company, today announced it was named a “Top 50 Providers to Watch” by Spend Matters. This achievement further solidifies Craft’s standing as an industry trailblazer, dedicated to developing innovative solutions that enable organizations to know their suppliers, protect against disruptions, and build resilient supply chains.
Each year the Spend Matters’ ‘50 Providers to Watch’ list recognizes the fast-rising companies in the procurement and supply chain market. These companies are the up-and-coming solution providers who continue to grow and develop innovative products propelling the market forward.
“We are thrilled to be acknowledged by Spend Matters as a fast rising company to watch in this highly important market,” said Ilya Levtov, CEO and founder, Craft. “Being named a top provider to watch reflects the recognition by our customers and dedication of our team as we illuminate the path to supply chain resilience by providing real-time visibility, predictive insights and coordinated execution across supply chains.”
“With the emergence of new procurement software and services offerings, decisions on who make the lists are only getting tougher,” said Nikhil Gaur, Director, Strategic Projects & Research Analyst, Spend Matters.
Abigail Ommen, Research Analyst & Production Manager, Spend Matters, added, “Craft provides a supplier intelligence layer that stands out for its user-friendly UX.” She also noted the depth and breadth of data in Craft’s platform which harnesses over 2,100 streams of data and provides 500+ data points per supplier profile.
With Craft, the U.S. Department of Defense and 60+ other federal government organizations, Hapag-Lloyd, major financial services institutions, and other Fortune 500 companies confidently navigate third-party risks, regulatory environments, uphold ethics, and drive business continuity and growth.
About Craft Craft illuminates the path to global supply chain resilience. It empowers businesses to strengthen their supplier networks and supply chains with the industry’s most reliable and comprehensive data fabric and AI-driven risk mitigation engine. Craft’s user-friendly platform offers 360-degree visibility to explore and evaluate supplier networks, AI-generated insights to detect and mitigate disruptions, and collaborative tools to enhance supply chain strategies. Procurement and supply chain professionals can confidently navigate regulatory environments, adhere to ethical standards, and ensure business continuity. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Craft assists commercial and governmental organizations worldwide in creating more resilient supply chains. For more information about Craft, visit http://www.craft.co.
About Spend Matters Spend Matters is the leading solution intelligence source for procurement and supply chain professionals. Combining deep technology analysis and tailored advisory services with daily news coverage and subscription research, Spend Matters is trusted by CPOs, consultants, investors and solution providers alike as their procurement technology intelligence partner.
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data protection and resilience leader CrashPlan announced today it has acquired Parablu, Inc. a leading provider of data security and resiliency solutions known for its market-leading offerings protecting Microsoft 365 (M365) data. The acquisition positions CrashPlan to deliver the industry’s most comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities for data stored on servers, on endpoint devices and in Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams to Azure, their cloud, or to CrashPlan’s proprietary cloud.
“Organizations of all sizes worldwide rely heavily upon Microsoft applications to store their most valued intellectual property,” said CrashPlan CEO John Becker. “Recent events like the UniSuper incident have reminded organizations that it is mission-critical to back up the valuable data stored on their platforms. In fact, the responsibility to regularly backup data is assigned to users by nearly every SaaS platform’s terms and conditions.”
The Parablu acquisition enables CrashPlan to offer a complete cyber-ready data resilience solution that protects intellectual property (IP) and other data from accidental data deletion, ransomware, and Microsoft service interruptions.
In addition to providing data protection and the ability to recover quickly from ransomware incidents, the combined technology can help customers store backup data with no additional costs by leveraging existing OneDrive and Azure infrastructure. Parablu earned a patent for its technology’s integration with Microsoft OneDrive for Business and Google Drive, allowing enterprises with Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace subscriptions to use unused portions of their OneDrive for Business or Google Drive storage as secure backup repositories. Because CrashPlan has its own proprietary cloud infrastructure with data centers around the globe rather than relying on third-party cloud providers, customers can also take advantage of unlimited backup for endpoints and low-cost storage for servers and SaaS application backups.
“Customers frequently come up against storage limits and turn to Parablu for archiving to save money while retaining rich data access,” said Parablu CEO and President Anand Prahlad, who will now act as CTO for CrashPlan. “We have seen even higher demand for M365 and Google Workspace protection over the last year as businesses have come to understand their shared responsibility for data backup.”
“Idea workers” and the backup gap M365 risk is just one dimension of a growing problem inside of intellectual property-intensive businesses: a backup gap. In these organizations, data is distributed, and dozens of ‘idea workers’ – media, researchers, designers, engineers, architects, even lawyers – are constantly iterating within a number of specialized applications. Their files are often multiversion and very large, making backup trickier and endpoints riskier. Backup tools originally built to be used by IT departments for Oracle and SAP databases just don’t meet their needs.
“Today’s idea workers create and store enormous value for their organizations – and without the right backup tools in place, weeks, even months of work can be lost in an instant,” added Becker. “At CrashPlan, we are building the first comprehensive cyber-ready data resiliency platform for organizations whose ideas power their revenue.”
About CrashPlan CrashPlan® enables organizational resilience through secure, scalable, and straightforward data backup. With automatic backup and customizable file version retention, you can bounce back from any data calamity. What starts as backup and recovery becomes a solution for ransomware recovery, breaches, migrations, and legal holds. So, you can work fearlessly and grow confidently.
Media Contact: Maura Lafferty Firebrand Communications
VIENNA, Va., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Urgent.ly, Inc. (Nasdaq: ULY) (“Urgently”), a U.S.-based leading provider of digital roadside and mobility assistance technology and services, today announced its three-year contract renewal with a customer partner that operates a global automotive fleet management company. The renewal extends this long-term customer partner relationship to nine years, with Urgently powering the fleet management company’s roadside assistance program.
With the addition of this customer partner renewal, Urgently has successfully retained all roadside assistance contracts up for renewal since the beginning of the second quarter of 2024, an indication of Urgently’s commitment to delivering customer value through exceptional service, cutting edge technology and a prioritization of safety.
“We are privileged to have the opportunity to continue this successful partnership, which we believe reflects the strength of our technology and the outstanding level of service we deliver,” said Matt Booth, Chief Executive Officer, Urgently. “We look forward to continuing to provide roadside assistance solutions that meet our customer partner’s evolving needs and support our focus on accelerating profitable growth.”
Under the renewed contract, the automotive fleet management company will leverage Urgently’s comprehensive technology stack and capabilities, including:
Service capabilities, encompassing vehicle classes 1 through 6, from light duty passenger cars, vans and small pickup trucks, through medium duty commercial vehicles
AI-driven yield-based pricing technology with predictive and location-aware capabilities that deliver network pricing and actionable insights to help minimize vehicle downtime
Urgently believes this renewal solidifies its position as a preferred roadside and mobility assistance partner, leveraging Urgently’s connected assistance platform to drive efficiency and an exceptional customer experience aligned with the automotive fleet management company’s brand.
Urgently is focused on helping everyone move safely, without disruption, by safeguarding drivers, promptly assisting their journey, and employing technology to proactively avert possible issues. The company’s digitally native software platform combines location-based services, real-time data, AI and machine-to-machine communication to power roadside assistance solutions for leading brands across automotive, insurance, telematics and other transportation-focused verticals. Urgently fulfills the demand for connected roadside assistance services, enabling its partners to deliver exceptional user experiences that drive high customer satisfaction and loyalty, by delivering innovative, transparent and exceptional connected mobility assistance experiences on a global scale. For more information, visit http://www.geturgently.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Urgently’s future financial or operating performance. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations of management of Urgently in light of historical results and trends, current conditions and potential future developments, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “potential,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “project,” “predict,” “target,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate” or “expect” or the negative of these words or other words, terms and phrases of similar nature are often intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All statements, other than historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding Urgently’s customer partner contract renewal, are based on the current assumptions of Urgently’s management and are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve a significant number of factors that may cause our actual performance or achievements to be materially different from any future performance or achievements stated or implied by the forward-looking statements. For factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, please see the risks and uncertainties detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 29, 202, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on August 13, 2024, and other filings and reports that we may file from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements reflect Urgently’s beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Urgently undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
Boston, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eCaring™, an integrated software platform specifically for the in-home care industry, is pleased to welcome several new members to its rapidly growing team. The Company has focused on adding industry experts who bring a wealth of experience in home care and technology:
Justin Hanzlik, with over 15 years of experience in enterprise software development, has recently been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he will continue to lead key departments, driving growth, scaling operations, and fostering innovation across the organization;
Linda Palutzke, Director of Client Services, will lead eCaring’s Client Services division as an expert in implementation and client relationships. Linda joins the team from WellSky where she has spent the last eight years driving client implementations of the WellSky and TapCloud platform. She’s joining forces with Keith Dzialo and Devin Farley to ensure a best-in-class experience for our customers;
Stefan Gomez, Director of Engineering, brings over 15 years of tech industry experience to eCaring, drawing on a wealth of knowledge from his work with startups at various stages of growth. In his career, Stefan has led the payments engineering team at SkillShare and gained valuable experience in the home care industry during his time at WellSky and Anonymous Health;
Ray Krehn, Senior Product Owner, has joined the product team alongside Mike Sincavage, both veterans of the home care space with previous roles at Homewatch CareGivers and Bayada;
Justin Woods has been appointed to lead all sales efforts, bringing expertise from his previous positions at WellSky and Cezta. Justin has 20 years of experience working with businesses implementing SaaS solutions.
“The additions to our team reflect our commitment to building a top-tier organization capable of delivering the best possible service and technology to our clients,” said Justin Hanzlik, Chief Operating Officer. “Each of these individuals brings unique experience and perspective, and we are thrilled to have them on board as we continue to scale and innovate.”
About eCaring™
eCaring is an integrated software platform that aligns the entire in-home care team, allowing home care agencies, caregivers, clinicians, families, and payors to communicate seamlessly. By converting traditional paper logs into an electronic home care record (eHCR™), eCaring enables real-time, proactive management of client health for better outcomes, engaging and rewarding caregivers while streamlining the delivery of non-medical and medical services.
NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) plans to release financial results for the third quarter 2024 on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, before the opening of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Management will review Apollo’s financial results at 8:30 am ET via public webcast available on Apollo’s Investor Relations website at ir.apollo.com. A replay will be available one hour after the event.
Apollo distributes its earnings releases via its website and email lists. Those interested in receiving firm updates by email can sign up for them here.
About Apollo
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of June 30, 2024, Apollo had approximately $696 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit http://www.apollo.com.
Contacts
Noah Gunn Global Head of Investor Relations Apollo Global Management, Inc. (212) 822-0540 IR@apollo.com
Joanna Rose Global Head of Corporate Communications Apollo Global Management, Inc. (212) 822-0491 Communications@apollo.com
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SADA (an Insight company), a leading business and technology consultancy and award-winning Google Cloud Premier Partner across various products and engagement models, announces the launch of its Managed Security Operations (SecOps) services, available Oct. 8, 2024.
This comprehensive offering provides organizations with a fully managed, 24/7 security solution leveraging the power of Google Security Operations (formerly Chronicle). SADA’s Managed SecOps empowers businesses to achieve:
Enhanced Threat Detection and Rapid Response: Identify and neutralize threats with Google Cloud’s industry-leading, intelligence-driven, and AI-powered security analytics and automation capabilities.
Cost-Effective Security Operations: Reduce the burden on internal resources and eliminate the need for expensive in-house Security Operation Center (SOC) infrastructure.
Improved Security Detection: Gain deeper visibility and continuous monitoring across your entire IT environment, from cloud and SaaS to on-premises.
Addressing the Security Operations Challenge
Today’s organizations grapple with a constant barrage of security data and alerts, often lacking the skills and expertise to manage them effectively. Traditional security information and event management (SIEM) and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) solutions continue to increase in complexity, along with the threats they are trying to defend against. As a result, SOC management is resource-intensive, leaving security teams overwhelmed and unable to maintain 24/7 monitoring.
Building and maintaining an in-house SOC is costly and requires advanced security solutions and analyst resources. There is a growing opportunity for security engineering teams to leverage AI to optimize their operations and tackle the challenges of increasing workloads; however, understanding how to best utilize these tools requires significant investment and technical knowledge.
“The ever-expanding threat landscape requires organizations to adopt advanced security solutions with continuous monitoring and rapid response capabilities,” said Rocky Giglio, Global Director of Security GTM at SADA. “Our Managed SecOps service leverages the power of Google Cloud and its proven ability to handle massive amounts of data and its Security Operations platform, combined with SADA’s global team of experienced security analysts to deliver comprehensive protection and peace of mind to our customers.”
SADA’s Managed SecOps addresses these challenges directly by providing:
Top Experts in Google Security Operations: SADA’s Google Cloud-certified experts leverage the advanced threat detection and automation capabilities of Google Security Operations to deliver comprehensive security monitoring.
Continuous Threat Monitoring and Response: SADA’s security operations center, staffed by highly trained analysts, provides 24/7 monitoring and rapid response to security incidents, including both external and insider threats.
Reduced Alert Fatigue: SADA’s security teams filter out noise and prioritize high-risk threats, enabling customer technical staff to focus on the most critical issues with a high-touch ticket portal providing quick remediation handoff.
Improved Threat Investigation: Leveraging our expertise and Google Cloud’s advanced analytics, SADA can perform threat hunts and investigate complex threats quickly and efficiently, powered by Mandiant Intelligence.
Enhanced Security Posture: SADA’s Managed SecOps helps customers maintain a strong security posture by supporting customers’ regulatory compliance and data security, including receiving an annual Security Assessment to check up on their security configuration across their IT environment.
AI Augmentation: SADA’s Managed Security Team can act quickly and effectively with the help of Google Security Operations’ AI capabilities to build and enhance Security Operation workflows in ways that legacy Managed Security Service Providers cannot, such as rapid, tailored query creation or custom playbook automation development.
About SADA, An Insight company SADA, An Insight company, is a market leader in professional services and an award-winning solutions provider of Google Cloud. Since 2000, SADA has been committed to helping customers in healthcare, media, entertainment, retail, manufacturing, and the public sector solve their most complex challenges so they can focus on achieving their boldest ambitions. With offices in North America, India, and Armenia providing sales and customer support teams, SADA is positioned to meet customers where they are in their digital transformation journey. SADA is a 7x Google Cloud Partner of the Year award winner with 10 Google Cloud Specializations and has been named to Inc. Magazine’s Best Workplaces four years in a row. Learn more at http://www.sada.com
BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — iLearningEngines, Inc. (Nasdaq: AILE) (“iLearningEngines” or “the Company”), a leader in AI-powered learning and work automation, today announced the launch of its Insurtech Enterprise AI Knowledge Cloud and hyper apps aiming to serve the European Insurtech industry. iLearningEngines aims to help private insurers and their industry associations adopt and scale their AI projects, particularly where telematics application development can be accelerated and hyper-automated. This will be achieved by leveraging Generative AI partners such as Genlab Venture Studio, a founding member of CoSAI (Coalition for Safe AI), and global cloud service providers, global systems integrators, assurance and audit partners.
The decision to serve the European Insurtech market builds on the capabilities of the ILE’s Telematics Hyper-App, a cloud marketplace application that is now a cornerstone of the ILE Hyper-App portfolio. The company aims to introduce ILE’s Knowledge Cloud service to insurers across Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the UK – markets known for their mature digital ecosystems.
Harish Chidambaran, CEO of iLearningEngines, commented: “The European Insurtech industry can now leverage iLearningEngines’ expertise in hyper-automation, AIOps, and AI model development to drive innovation and operational efficiency. Our AI solutions, which include telematics for industrial fleets and claims automation, can help insurers fast-track their digital transformation and deliver enhanced value to their customers.”
Balakrishnan Arackal, President of iLearningEngines, added: “We are excited to formally introduce the iLearningEngines offering to Europe. Our strong digital transformation team, led by experts from leading tech companies, combined with our AI platform and marketplace partnerships, positions us uniquely to accelerate the hyper-automation journey of Europe’s top insurers.”
About iLearningEngines
iLearningEngines (Nasdaq: AILE) is a leading Applied AI platform for learning and work automation. iLearningEngines enables Enterprises to rapidly productize and deploy a wide range of AI applications and use cases (AI Engines) at scale.
iLearningEngines is powered by proprietary vertical specific AI models and data with a flexible No Code AI canvas to drive rapid out-of-the-box deployment while offering low latency and high levels of data security and compliance. Serving over 1,000 enterprise end customers, iLearningEngines is deployed globally into some of the most demanding vertical markets including Healthcare, Education, Insurance, Retail, Energy, Manufacturing and Public Sector to achieve mission critical outcomes.
GenLab Studio is a venture studio focused on business models that leverage the impact, application, and growth of generative AI. By focusing on solid design principles and engaging a diverse community, GenLab Studio aims to create groundbreaking products that help build a more robust AI ecosystem. GenLab is also a founding sponsor of CoSAI.
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the Business Combination. 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”, the negative forms of these words 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: the ability of iLearningEngines to help private insurers and their industry associations adopt and scale their AI projects and hyper-automate and scale their AI DevSecOps best practices; the ability of iLearningEngines’ and GenLab Ventures’ alliance to help to scale model development, AIOps, governance, risk management, and compliance; the potential benefits that iLearningEngines’ digital transformation expertise can provide to private European insurers and their industry association partners, including their ability to accelerate their most critical transformation initiatives, particularly in telematics for global industrial fleets, asset management and claims automation; iLearningEngines’ ability to help the European Insurtech industry achieve operational excellence across the region; and iLearningEngines’ ability to address market opportunities across artificial intelligence. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the iLearningEngines’ 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 an 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 this press release relies on. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of iLearningEngines. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political, and legal conditions; the outcome and findings of the ongoing special committee investigation of allegations raised by a recent short-seller report; iLearningEngines’ failure to realize the anticipated benefits of its recently completed business combination with Arrowroot Acquisition Corp.; risks related to the rollout of iLearningEngines’ business and the timing of expected business milestones; iLearningEngines’ dependence on a limited number of customers and partners; iLearningEngines’ ability to obtain sufficient financing to pay its expenses incurred in connection with the closing of the business combination; the ability of iLearningEngines to issue equity or equity-linked securities or obtain debt financing in the future; risks related to iLearningEngines’ need for substantial additional financing to implement its operating plans, which financing it may be unable to obtain, or unable to obtain on acceptable terms; iLearningEngines’ ability to maintain the listing of its securities on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange; the risk that the business combination disrupts current plans and operations of iLearningEngines; the effects of competition on iLearningEngines’ future business and the ability of iLearningEngines to grow and manage growth profitably, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and retain its management and key employees; risks related to political and macroeconomic uncertainty; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against iLearningEngines or any of their respective directors or officers, including litigation related to the business combination; the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on any of the foregoing risks; and those risks and uncertainties identified in the “Risk Factors” sections of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 13, 2024, and its other subsequent filings with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that iLearningEngines does not presently know, or that iLearningEngines does not currently believe are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect iLearningEngines’ expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. iLearningEngines anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause iLearningEngines’ assessments to change. However, while iLearningEngines may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, iLearningEngines specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing iLearningEngines’ assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.
