
Rimac Nevera Completes Final Crash Test
The intense crash test programme for the global homologation of Rimac Nevera is finally complete after four years, thousands of digital simulations and nine complete vehicles destroyed. In total, Rimac Nevera prototypes were subject to 45 separate physical crash tests, and many more static passive safety tests – all necessary to ensure customers around the world can safely experience Rimac’s next-generation all-electric hypercar on the road. The final test, which took place at the end of January, was the demanding side pole test, conducted at 32km/h and simulating a side impact with a lamppost. With very little of the car’s body and chassis between the pole and the occupants, and very little energy absorbed by the pole, it’s one of the most difficult tests a car can be subjected to. The structure of the Nevera proved to be so effective at distributing the crash energy that the door on the impact side could still be opened after the test. This test was the last passive safety US-homologation test, while European homologation tests were completed in 2021. Passive safety for the Nevera has been developed by the in-house team at Rimac, initially using High-Performance Cluster computers, capable of digitally simulating in near-perfect detail the effects of a crash test impact on every single component of the Nevera. Despite a physical crash test impact taking just 80 milliseconds – less than a blink of an eye – to simulate a test takes the computers 20 hours of processing time. Only once engineers have achieved the desired results digitally do they make adjustments to the physical cars and subject them to ‘the wall’. The Nevera was designed from the very beginning to be extremely safe, built around an advanced carbon fibre monocoque extending between the front and rear suspension attachments. As a result, the Nevera is the stiffest production car ever created, with a torsional rigidity of 70,000 Nm/degree – a regular supercar will be around 40,000 Nm/degree. The monocoque also forms part of a very stiff survival cell that helps to dissipate energy around the occupants in the case of a crash. The roof of Nevera can resist more than three times the weight of the car. Throughout the crash test program since 2019, Nevera prototypes were subjected to the most extreme of conditions. During this latest side pole test, the occupant – a 200,000-euro crash test dummy – experienced up to 25G of lateral acceleration, but have been subjected to 41G during the frontal wall crash test at 56km/h. The highest impact speed Nevera experienced during the process was in the US-market rear crash test, completed at 80km/h. Furthermore, the last crash test resulted in the dummy’s load results being all green with a high margin. Rimac has been transparent with the crash test process, publicly sharing everything from the early materials tests, the prototype developments and these final crash tests. Members of the media have been actively welcomed throughout the entire journey of creation for the Nevera, too, offering unrivalled insight into the development of a transformational all-electric hypercar from the ground up. Mate Rimac, Rimac Group founder and CEO, said: “The Nevera was designed to excel in every area, with each component scrutinised and carefully engineered to deliver the best possible performance. For four years now we have been applying that same painstaking attention to detail to the safety of Nevera, with engineers working tirelessly on thousands of digital simulations and modifications to prototype vehicles, just to see their work destroyed during the crash testing process. All of their efforts have been absolutely crucial to the development of Nevera, and as this latest test concludes the Nevera crash-testing programme, which brings us close to finally being able to hand over our next-generation all-electric hypercar to its first owners throughout the world.” Designed, engineered and built in-house at Rimac Automobili, the Nevera is limited to just 150 units. Made possible by its 120kWh, 6960-cell battery producing 1914hp and 2360Nm of torque, Nevera achieves a top speed of 258 mph (412 km/h), a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of 1.85 seconds, and a 0-100 mph (161 km/h) time of 4.3 seconds. It has been independently verified as the fastest accelerating production car in the world.

GPCA Board names Dr. Karim El Solh as new board member, along with Otavio Castello Branco. Drew Guff appointed Chair of the Board of Directors
The Global Private Capital Association (GPCA) today announced the appointment of Drew Guff, Managing Director and Founding Partner of Siguler Guff & Company, as Chair of the Board of Directors, along with new Board members Otavio Castello Branco, Senior Managing Partner and Board Member of Patria Investments, and Dr. Karim El Solh, Co-Founder and CEO of Gulf Capital. The GPCA Board also appointed Nicolas Rohatyn, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Rohatyn Group (TRG), as Chair Emeritus. GPCA members are leading investors across Asia, Latin America, Africa, CEE and the Middle East, who collectively manage more than USD2 trillion in assets. The organization’s proprietary data and market intelligence highlights forward-looking trends in global investments such as digitalization and energy transition, as well as the societal impact of those investments. “I am excited to have the leadership of Drew, Otavio and Karim on our Board as private capital investment hits record highs across Asia, Latin America, Africa, CEE and the Middle East,” remarked Cate Ambrose, CEO and Board Member of GPCA. “Drew was a founding member of the organization and brings extraordinary experience to the Chair role as a pioneer investor in many of the markets we represent. Patria has an impressive track record in private equity and real assets in Latin America, while Gulf Capital is supporting innovative businesses across the Middle East and Asia.” “I am honored to serve as GPCA’s Board Chair and collaborate alongside the organization’s distinguished Board of Directors who head many of the most successful global private capital firms in the world,” commented Mr. Guff. “It’s an important and exciting time for the organization and its members as investment opportunities in Asia, Latin America, Africa, CEE and the Middle East continue to soar.” Mr. Guff will carry forward the important work that began two years ago with the organization’s strategic repositioning and rebrand under the leadership of Nick Rohatyn, who will continue to serve the Board in an advisory role as Chair Emeritus.

IDTechEx Discuss the 5G Materials Battle: Sub-6 GHz vs mmWave
5G deployment is in full swing with mid-band infrastructure installed by the end of 2021 representing nearly 6 times what it was in 2019. However, this doesn’t mean that all of the challenges have been solved. Much of the 5G infrastructure is repurposed 4G equipment at lower frequency bands. The real transition to 5G comes from the adoption of higher frequencies which have largely been categorized into sub-6 GHz and mmWave (> 20 GHz) bands. One of the key challenges is thermal management. As 5G deployment transitions to higher frequency, the antenna design, technology, and material choices transition too. This will impact several factors such as the semiconductor technology, the associated die attach materials, and thermal interface materials. Short term deployment is largely sub-6 GHz, in the long term, mmWave dominates. Source: IDTechEx - “Thermal Management for 5G 2022-2032” Whilst sub-6 GHz 5G may not provide the astonishing speeds and applications often publicized for 5G, it plays a crucial role in achieving coverage over large areas. Some of this is accounted for in lower bands more comparable to historic 4G but as we push above 4 GHz, the historic LDMOS (laterally-diffused metal-oxide semiconductor) power amplifiers begin to struggle with efficiency. This is where wide bandgap semiconductors like GaN (gallium arsenide) start to shine. We have started to see GaN being adopted by players like Huawei in their 4G infrastructure. We are expecting GaN to take a greater market share in 5G and with GaN comes a transition in the die attach technology. In fact, IDTechEx is predicting that GaN power amplifiers will see a 4 fold increase in yearly demand over the next 10 years for 5G infrastructure. AuSn is the typical die attach material for GaN today, but we foresee an opportunity for sintered pastes as a replacement with their improved thermal performance as addressed in the latest report from IDTechEx, “Thermal Management for 5G 2022-2032”. mmWave is the high-frequency technology that can deliver on the potentially wonderous applications of 5G with incredible download speeds and ultra-low latency. The challenge comes with signal propagation, as the frequency increases so does the attenuation of the signal, leading to reduced range and easy blocking by walls, windows, and even severe weather conditions. To increase the antenna gain, the number of antenna elements will increase, but thanks to the smaller wavelength, the antenna units themselves will shrink. This leads to a much more tightly packed array of power amplifiers and beamforming electronic components and with that, a greater thermal management challenge. Thanks to the greater number of antenna elements, the power demand on each amplifier can potentially be reduced, but the highly compact nature of the electronics will lead to greater integration of components and likely rely more on silicon based technologies. However, mmWave small cells will require greater deployment numbers to provide sufficient coverage and due to their deployment scenarios, are unlikely to be able to utilize active cooling methods, combining this with the densification of beamforming components will present greater requirements for solutions like thermal interface materials. Another popular technology for 5G is massive MIMO, enabling infrastructure to serve more terminals in the same frequency band. This increases the number of RF chains per installation, beamforming capabilities, and the number of antenna elements used in networks. The result is an increase in the materials required for the antenna PCB, power amplifiers, beamforming components, and many more. Massive MIMO also drives data transfer rates and channels higher leading to a greater requirement on baseband processing units, power consumption, and hence greater market opportunities for thermal interface materials. As 5G deployment grows, so does the yearly demand for thermal interface materials (TIMs). Source: IDTechEx - “Thermal Management for 5G 2022-2032” IDTechEx’s latest report on “Thermal Management for 5G” addresses the trends in 5G deployment and how this impacts the antenna design, choice of semiconductor technology, die attach materials and thermal interface materials. Both technological aspects and market forecasts are included for the next 10 years. Additionally, it considers many smartphones and how the incorporation of 5G is impacting thermal materials (interface and heat spreaders).
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Slash To Appear On ‘Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend’ Monday, Feb. 21
As SLASH FT MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS ready the release of their fourth album titled 4 next week (out Friday, February 11), SLASH will join comedian, talk show host Conan O’Brien on his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” Monday, February 21, listen to the show HERE. SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS will launch their U.S. headlining tour this Tuesday, Feb. 8 and will visit 28 major cities; all tickets and dates: HERE. The new album 4 is available for pre order HERE. Read the Q&A as SLASH and lead singer MYLES KENNEDY breakdown the entire new album 4 in its entirety (media may post), HERE. This week, SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a late-night performance and interview. SLASH sat down with host Jimmy Kimmel for a hilarious interview on the show. Watch and share the interview with SLASH and Jimmy Kimmel Watch and share the band’s performance of “The River Is Rising” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Above (L-R): Frank Sidoris, Brent Fitz, Jimmy Kimmel, Slash, Myles Kennedy and Brent Fitz. Photo credit: ABC/Randy Holmes. “The River Is Rising” which Rolling Stone described as “raucous” (2/3/2022) is now the band’s 8th Top 10 Radio single in a row and climbs to #7 this week. Check out the official video for “The River Is Rising” and stream the new songs “Call Off The Dogs” and “Fill My World”. Early acclaim is starting to come in for the new album 4 with Guitar World hailing it as “an abundance of crunchy classic-rock inspired riffs behind Myles Kennedy's anthemic vocals.” Elsewhere, Metal Hammer praised, “Slash's fourth album feat. Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators hits all the right beats to be a modern rock classic,” and Classic Rock added, “All rich, roomy tones captured live in Nashville’s RCA Studios…Everything on 4 is deeper, looser and grittier.” A decade and four albums into their career, the new full-length album 4 marks the first new music from the group in four years. SLASH and his bandmates MYLES KENNEDY (Vocals), BRENT FITZ (Drums), TODD KERNS (Bass & Vocals) and FRANK SIDORIS (Guitar & Vocals) aka SMKC, partnered with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Rival Sons), for their fourth album together resulting in the band’s strongest collective statement to date following Living The Dream (2018), World on Fire (2016), and Apocalyptic Love (2012). Recorded at RCA Studio A in Nashville, TN, Cobb shared the band’s desire to lay down the tracks live in the studio--including guitar solos and vocals--a first for the group, revealing a stunning, vital sound and style all captured live. Watch the “Making of 4” Episodes 1 and Episode 2. A vibrant rock album fueled by memorable guitar hooks and compelling melodies, big choruses, and even bigger riffs, 4--is due out February 11 via Gibson Records (in partnership with BMG). In light of the 30-year alliance between Gibson and the GRAMMY Award-winning, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee SLASH, the new album 4, has the added distinction of being the first-ever album release on Gibson Records, the new label, which is headquartered in the iconic American instrument brand’s hometown of Music City, Nashville, TN. On February 11, Gibson will unveil 250 SLASH Les Paul Standard 4 Album Edition guitars—available on Gibson.com and at authorized dealers--in a first-ever package which also includes the new SMKC album 4 on vinyl, a 4 guitar pick tin and decal, and a signed SMKC band portrait. View the current line of all exclusive album packages available for 4, https://slash.tmstor.es/products/menu/Music On Friday, February 11, tune-in to watch the global premiere of the SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS concert “Live at Studios 60” where SLASH and the band will perform the new album 4 in its entirety, streaming live and free on the SLASH YouTube and Facebook at: 11am PACIFIC / 2pm EASTERN / 7pm GMT. The concert will be immediately followed by a Live Q&A afterparty with SLASH, exclusively on YouTube Premium; join the afterparty and live SLASH Q&A for free via YouTube Premium. Watch and share the trailer for SMKC “Live at Studios 60” concert streaming February 11, Catch SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS live on the road for their U.S. headlining tour which launches on February 8 in Portland, OR, and will hit 28 major cities nationwide, including Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Houston, and more, as well as the newly announced Detroit, MI show on March 4 at The Fillmore. All tickets for the SMKC U.S. tour are available at: https://www.slashonline.com/tour see dates below. On Monday, February 21, SLASH will sit down with host Conan O’Brien on his award-winning podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” to discuss his music history, the new SLASH FT. MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS’ studio album 4, and more. Tune-in worldwide to “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” on Monday, February 21, https://teamcoco.com/podcasts/conan-obrien-needs-a-friend
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Introducing the Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe, Available Now
Gibson--the iconic American instrument brand--is proud to partner with the producer, and musician Mike Ness, who for the last 44 years has served as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the legendary punk band and rock ‘n’ roll icons Social Distortion. Mike’s main guitar of choice is a modified 1976 Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop which was used to create the limited edition Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe from Gibson Custom Shop. The Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe is now available worldwide from authorized Gibson dealers, and on www.gibson.com. The Mike Ness 1976 Les Paul Deluxe comes equipped with a three-piece maple neck, a two piece plain maple top and a mahogany/maple/mahogany back. Mike replaced the humbuckers with his favorite P-90’s and the guitar features a lighter weight adding to its overall versatility. The stunning Goldtop finish has been expertly aged by the artisans of the Murphy Lab to match Mike’s original guitar. In addition, the “Orange County,” “Clay Smith Cams Mr. Horsepower®,” and “I Voted” stickers featured on Mike’s guitar are included. Watch and share the video as Mike Ness talks about his musical history in the episode of Gibson TV’s “My First Gibson” with Mike Ness: At the early age of four-years-old, Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness began listening to the radio and discovered The Beatles, CCR, The Supremes and The Rolling Stones. Growing up in the working class suburb of Fullerton, California, he was raised on blues, classic rock, and country, and his earliest influences were pioneers of rock and roll; musicians that were controversial and rebellious. Social Distortion survived their tumultuous youth to pioneer an undeniably honest and fiery brand of rock ‘n’ roll that would incorporate outlaw country, classic seventies punk and primal blues. Seven studio albums and countless electrifying live shows have earned the band a dedicated worldwide fanbase and catalog of timeless anthems including “Story Of My Life,” “Ball And Chain,” “Bad Luck,” “Machine Gun Blues,” and more. As he matured as a songwriter and musician, Ness’s solo recordings Cheating At Solitaire (1999), and Under The Influences (1999), incorporated the raw power and social relevance that has always marked his music, while embracing many of the defining styles in American rock and roll music. The Los Angeles Times described Ness as "one of the most underrated pure songwriters in rock." Mike continues to perform worldwide with Social Distortion. The band's latest release, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes--produced for the first time, by Ness himself--debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and was the highest debut yet for the band. Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes was also #1 on the Independent Album chart, and #2 on the Modern Rock/Alternative Albums chart.
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Calling All Sonic Sculptors, the Legendary Brand Maestro Emerges with Five Pedals for Endless Exploration
By leveraging its iconic past and leaning into an innovative future, Gibson--the iconic American instrument brand--has set the stage for the next era of sound for present and future generations. When Gibson brought Maestro into the world 60 years ago, no one could have predicted its trailblazing success. Now, after decades, Gibson has revived the brand for 2022 with the debut of the Maestro Original Collection line of effects pedals with five new pedals--the Fuzz-Tone FZ-M, Invader Distortion, Ranger Overdrive, Comet Chorus, and Discoverer Delay--all designed, voiced, and styled for the musician looking to shape a unique sound. The Maestro Original Collection pays tribute in sound and style to the brand’s pioneering and much beloved classic models, while staying true to Maestro’s trailblazing spirit with modern features, expanded versatility, and advanced tone-tweaking capabilities. Maestro is available worldwide at authorized Gibson dealers; for more information visit: www.maestroelectronics.com. As the founder of effects, Maestro’s influence has shaped music as we know it from The Rolling Stones to the Raconteurs, Pete Townshend to George Harrison, Clapton to Frampton, and the Foo Fighters to the Black Keys, Maestro has been there from the beginning to help artists achieve the sound they heard in their heads and their hearts, their signature sound. “Maestro was the first commercially successful pedal, it changed everything, and set the entire world of pedals and effects into motion,” says Mat Koehler, Senior Director of Product Development, Gibson Brands. “We’re using the distinct Maestro aesthetic to develop unique takes on each of these effects in a way that’s fun and looks back at the past, but with an awareness of what modern guitarists require. Maestro sounds are relevant to new, casual, and professional level players and everyone at Gibson felt a responsibility and obligation to revive Maestro because it’s vital to pedal history.” “Restoring a legendary brand is a thrilling challenge. Maestro has a definitive heritage to honor, but what becomes almost more important is building the new legacy for this brand,” adds Sterling Doak, Director of Marketing, Gibson Brands. “Writing this next chapter for Maestro means creating energy and providing tools for our fans to shape their sound. Now players all over the world will create this new sonic legacy, and we encourage everyone to plug-in, dial-up your settings, and shape your sound.” Each Maestro pedal functions as an innovative “two-in-one” pedal, with a single toggle that switches between two distinct voicings. Each features a straightforward three knob set-up, true bypass switching, and a more ergonomic, pedalboard friendly wedge profile. The new Fuzz-Tone FZ-M is reminiscent of the instantly recognizable tones of the first-ever Maestro pedal, the much-mythologized FZ-1 which fuels Keith Richard’s groundbreaking riff on The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” But flip the toggle from “classic” to “modern,” and get a full frequency, grinding, contemporary fuzz beast at your fingertips. The Comet Chorus conjures a warm, classic analog chorus tone with a subtle cosmic swirl effect in “Earth” mode. Flip the toggle to “Orbit,” however, and your sound gets space-y with the addition of a rotary speaker-like vibrato and tremolo effect, tweakable via an internal trim pot. Other pedals rounding out the Maestro Original Collection include the Ranger Overdrive, Invader Distortion, and Discoverer Delay, each presenting an array of classic and modern sounds, all with unmatched Maestro vibe. All pedals in the Maestro Original Collection are $149 with the exception of Discoverer Delay at $159. Explore the new Maestro Original Collection below and for a deeper dive into the history of Maestro, visit: https://www.maestroelectronics.com/en-US/
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[CES 2021] LG Emphasized "Needs to Innovate Beyond Boundaries Between Fields in the New Normal Era" Through Future Talk
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[CES 2021] Sony Unveiled Its Latest Initiatives Surpassing “Limits of Creativity” at CES 2021
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Hyperconnect, Key to social platform success: reflecting the ‘user voice’
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Hyperconnect : real-time video AI monitoring system can now auto-block live video content within 0.006 seconds
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Play Ball! Amazon Donates Nearly One Million Dollars to Youth Sports Programs Across Massachusetts
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amazon is going to bat for youth sports programs in Massachusetts. Today, the company announced it is donating nearly $1 million to youth sports teams and organizations across the Commonwealth. The grants will help expand access and level the playing field for sports and fitness opportunities in underserved neighborhoods and help organizations meet COVID-related budget shortfalls. “We care about the communities in which we operate and live. We’ve seen the power of youth sports to build character and make a positive impact on our children and our communities. That’s why Amazon is thrilled to be able to invest in the health and well-being of young people in Boston and beyond,” said Jerome Smith, Amazon’s Head of Community Engagement for New England. “The pandemic took so much from all of us, especially young people. We hope this donation will get young athletes back in the game.” The company made the announcement at the South End Baseball’s Opening Day Parade and festivities. Amazon is investing in eight communities across the Commonwealth. The resources from Amazon come as many local youth sports organizations throughout the nation are struggling to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic. Survey data from last year suggests the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on youth sports participation. National research by the Aspen Institute found thirteen percent of youth sports parents said their community-based sports provider closed due to COVID-19, and another 12% noted it had merged with another organization. In total, 44% of families said their community-based program has either closed, merged or returned with limited capacity. “South End Baseball is incredibly grateful for the support being given to us from Amazon with this year’s and last year’s grants,” said Pete Shults, president of SEB’s board of directors and a longtime coach. “With the pandemic essentially shutting down our fundraising efforts over the last two years, the company’s generosity is making a world of difference in our ability to keep the league’s operations running and funding our Hugh Chambers/Paul Rinkulis college scholarship program, which helps deserving players pursue their educational goals.” “All Dorchester Sports and Leadership takes our mission of fostering healthy lifestyles and leadership skills very seriously. As we emerge from the past two years of near isolation, we recognize that participating in team sports helps address the stress our youth have been experiencing,” said Candice Gartley, Executive Director of All Dorchester Sports & Leadership. “Active bodies go hand in hand with good mental health. The generous support that Amazon provides ADSL allows us to work to re-engage our youth in healthy athletic activities.” “To say this support from Amazon is game-changing is an understatement. This investment is just the spark needed after being sidelined by the pandemic to ensure sports in Lawrence come back with better quality opportunities that reach more deserving kids,” said Stephanie McArdle, Executive Director of Beyond Soccer & Beyond Volley. “In addition to helping Beyond Soccer and Beyond Volley advance its mission, providing affordable, year-round sports and recreational programs to thousands of kids, Amazon’s impact will be magnified through its simultaneous investment in the Lawrence Sports Alliance and the dozens of Lawrence sports groups involved, like Suenos Basketball, Lawrence Pop Warner, and Serving Stars, who, like Amazon, believe in the power of sports to strengthen communities and make sure young people reap sports’ awesome, life-long benefits.” “On behalf of the Revere Youth Baseball and Softball League, it is a pleasure to thank Amazon for their generous donation to our league,” said Shawn Vetere, coach and board member of Revere Youth Baseball and Softball. “It has been a struggle to operate the league since early 2020 without the benefit of being able to fundraise because of the then COVID-19 Restrictions. The funds you are donating will help our league to operate under normal conditions once again. These funds will also enable us to provide better equipment and uniforms for the children. Additionally, the funds will help fund the two new batting cages we will be installing at our complex.” “Milford Youth Baseball would like to extend a sincere thank you to Amazon for their generous donation,” said Paul Pellegrini, President, Milford Youth Baseball. “Amazon’s continued commitment to the Milford Community is evident through this donation which will assist in the renovation of the Rosenfeld Field Project. This grant will also allow Milford Youth Baseball to purchase much needed equipment which in turns defrays the costs associated with participation. Youth sports is an integral part of developing key skills such as healthy physical activity, personal relationships, teamwork, competition, and building confidence. These skills are building blocks for the future. We are grateful that Amazon has decided to support our league as a part of their significant investment in the youth of New England.” “As our state turns the corner on the pandemic, we need to ensure our young people have access to equitable, affordable, and local recreational activities,” Smith added. “Investing in these programs is an investment in our youth and in helping them lead healthier, happier lives.” Over the last year, Amazon has supported local communities across the Commonwealth through monetary and in-kind donations to nonprofit organizations and public schools. Some examples include donations to King Boston, The Greater Boston Food Bank, The United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, local chapters of the Boys & Girls Club, local public schools and other area nonprofits. Last spring Amazon announced a donation of one million dollars to the arts and cultural institutions in and around Boston. There are also more than 28,000 organizations in Massachusetts that Amazon customers can support simply by shopping on Amazon smile. As of the fourth quarter of 2021, the company was employing more than 21,000 full- and part-time employees across its Massachusetts operations and is continuing to hire. Amazon announced support for the following Massachusetts youth sports organizations: Boston All Dorchester Sports & Leadership Boston Unity Cup South End Soccer Allston-Brighton Little League Allston-Brighton Youth Hockey Boston Hurricanes Athletic Club Boston Triathlon Association Dorchester Little League Dorchester Pop Warner Dorchester Youth Hockey East Boston Little League East Boston Soccer League East Boston Softball League Hyde Park Pop Warner Hyde Park Youth Basketball Hyde Park Youth Hockey Boston Parks and Recreation Department Mattapan Patriots Roxbury Youth Soccer League Roxbury Pop Warner Football Mission Hill Little League North End Athletic Association (NEAA) North End Little League North End Youth Hockey South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship Trust Fund South Boston Youth Hockey South End Baseball Parkway Sports League Haverhill Haverhill Jr. Hillies Youth Football Haverhill Girls Softball Haverhill Youth Soccer Lawrence Beyond Soccer & Volley Lawrence Sports Alliance Lynnfield Lynnfield Pioneer Youth Football & Cheer Milford Milford Youth Baseball Revere Revere Jr Pop Warner Football Revere Youth Baseball & Softball Salem Salem Little League Salem Youth Football and Cheering Worcester Worcester Youth Soccer Worcester Field Hockey Ty Cobb Little League Joe Schwartz Little League Jesse Burkett Little League Additional Partner Quotes: “Dorchester Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Amazon for the extreme generosity with your thoughtful donation,” said Shaun O’Sullivan, Vice President-Dorchester Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball. “This contribution serves as an investment in our Dorchester community in the City of Boston for our children to learn, play and enjoy the game of baseball! We appreciate Amazon’s commitment and goodwill that will provide additional resources serving kids and families in our program! Amazon hits a home run for Dorchester Baseball!” “Dorchester Youth Hockey greatly appreciates the amazing donation from Amazon,” said Peter O’Sullivan, board member-Dorchester Youth Hockey. “This phenomenal gift extends opportunities to kids of our program to continue developing as athletes, hockey players, and contributing members of our neighborhood and Boston! We thank Amazon for the incredible support and will continue to share the same ideals of teamwork, sportsmanship and humanity! Amazon scores goals for Dorchester Youth Hockey!” “Play Ball deeply appreciates Amazon’s support to give more middle school students the opportunity to play sports across the Commonwealth. We are excited to get more 'feet on the field' in Boston, Lawrence, Holyoke and New Bedford in the months to come,” said Chris Lynch, Executive Director of Play Ball Foundation. About Amazon Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Career Choice, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, Alexa, Just Walk Out technology, Amazon Studios, and The Climate Pledge are some of the things pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews. Contacts Amazon.com, Inc. Media Hotline Amazon-pr@amazon.comwww.amazon.com/pr
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Hawaii American Water Reaches Revenue Settlement to Fund Infrastructure and Service Improvements
Settlement reinforces Company’s commitment to providing reliable wastewater service that contributes to the protection of the environment HONOLULU--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hawaii American Water has filed a settlement agreement with Consumer Advocates at the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (HPUC) on new rates for its Hawaii Kai customers. This is the first time Hawaii American Water has adjusted rates for these customers since 2011 and the updated rates are expected to go into effect in July of this year. In the last decade, Hawaii American Water has made improvements that protect the environment by adding additional disinfection, increasing renewable energy use and reducing waste. The new rates will provide approximately $1.7 million in additional annual revenue for investments in local infrastructure maintenance, repair and replacement. The average increase for all customers amounts to an approximately 17-percent increase. For the average single family customer monthly rates would increase from $67.08 to $78.60, for multi-family customers the cost for monthly service would increase from $57.08 to $66.88. “This settlement completes a vital process to sustain high quality wastewater infrastructure and service,” said Lee Mansfield, Manager of Hawaii American Water. “We are pleased to reach a settlement and look forward to using the new revenue to continue improving wastewater services for our Hawaii Kai customers.” Since 2011, Hawaii American Water has made more than $32 million in investments to improve wastewater treatment and services. Major projects have included the installation of ultraviolet disinfection treatment, sludge de-watering facility, solar energy upgrades, replacing and improving pumps at our lift stations and treatment plant and other process improvements. The vast majority of the settlement funds these capital improvements and the remainder funds higher operating costs, including wage increases that have occurred over the last decade. About Hawaii American Water: Hawaii American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides quality wastewater services to approximately 25,000 people. About American Water: With a history dating back to 1886, American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Contacts Hawaii American WaterEvan Jacobs Hawaii American Water Director of External Affairs Phone: 707-495-6135 Email: evan.jacobs@amwater.com
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Olympia Financial Group Inc. Announces an Increase to Its Monthly Cash Dividend and May Dividend
CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Olympia Financial Group Inc. (“Olympia”) (TSX: OLY) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved a $0.04 increase to the monthly cash dividend paid on the Common shares of Olympia from $0.23 to $0.27 per Common share. Olympia’s new monthly cash dividend of $0.27 per Common share will commence with the May 2022 monthly cash dividend. Olympia’s cash dividend payments to holders of Olympia Common shares are designated as "eligible dividends" for Canadian tax purposes. In accordance with the above, the Board of Directors of Olympia also declared a monthly cash dividend on the Common shares of Olympia of $0.27 per common share. This dividend will be payable on May 31, 2022, to shareholders on record as at May 19, 2022. The ex-dividend date is May 18, 2022. Olympia designates the entire amount of this taxable cash dividend to be an “eligible dividend” for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada), as amended from time to time. Please contact your tax advisor if you have any questions with regards to the designation of the eligible dividend. About Olympia Financial Group Inc. Olympia Financial Group Inc. conducts most of its operations through its subsidiary Olympia Trust Company, a non-deposit taking trust company. Olympia Trust Company is licensed to conduct trust activities in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Olympia Trust Company administers self-directed registered plan accounts, provides currency exchange and payment services, corporate trust, and transfer agency services. Olympia also offers private health services plans and information technology services to exempt market dealers, registrants and issuers through its subsidiary Olympia Benefits Inc. Olympia’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “OLY”. Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information Certain portions of this press release as well as other public statements by Olympia contain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, which is also referred to as “forward–looking statements”, which may not be based on historical fact. Wherever possible, words such as “will”, “plans,” “expects,” “targets,” “continue”, “estimates,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “may,” and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results “may,” “could,” “would,” “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in Olympia’s public disclosure include, without limitation, Olympia’s earnings expectations, fee income, expense levels, general economic, political and market factors in North America and internationally, interest and foreign exchange rates, global equity and capital markets, business competition, technological change, changes in government regulations, unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings, catastrophic events, and Olympia’s ability to complete strategic transactions and other factors. In addition, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the monthly dividend payments to holders of Olympia’s common shares. All material assumptions used in making forward-looking statements are based on management’s knowledge of current business conditions and expectations of future business conditions and trends, including their knowledge of the current interest rate and liquidity conditions affecting Olympia and the Canadian economy. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied by Olympia in making forward-looking statements, including without limitation, factors and assumptions regarding interest and foreign exchange rates, availability of key personnel, the effect of competition, government regulation of its business, computer failure or security breaches, future capital requirements, acceptance of its products in the marketplace, its operating cost structure, the current tax regime and the ability of Olympia to obtain necessary third-party and governmental approvals, as applicable. Contacts Olympia Financial Group Inc.Rick Skauge, President and Chief Executive OfficerGerhard Barnard, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial OfficerPhone: (403) 261-0900Fax: (403) 265-1455
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TEGNA Reaches New Retransmission Consent Agreement with DISH
TYSONS, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#TEGNA--TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) today announced it has reached a new carriage agreement with DISH. “We are pleased to announce that we have reached a new agreement with DISH, restoring our valuable and important live local news, live local and national sports and highly popular network content to DISH TV subscribers,” said Lynn Beall, EVP and COO, media operations, TEGNA. “We appreciate the patience of our viewers while we worked toward reaching an agreement.” The agreement includes retransmission consent for all 64 TEGNA-owned stations. About TEGNA TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is an innovative media company that serves the greater good of our communities. Across platforms, TEGNA tells empowering stories, conducts impactful investigations and delivers innovative marketing solutions. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA is the largest owner of top 4 network affiliates in the top 25 markets among independent station groups, reaching approximately 39 percent of all television households nationwide. TEGNA also owns leading multicast networks True Crime Network, Twist and Quest. TEGNA offers innovative solutions to help businesses reach consumers across television, digital and over-the-top (OTT) platforms, including Premion, TEGNA’s OTT advertising service. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com. Contacts For media inquiries, contact:Anne Bentley Vice President, Corporate Communications 703-873-6366 abentley@TEGNA.com For investor inquiries, contact:Julie Heskett Senior Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis 703-873-6747 investorrelations@TEGNA.com
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INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Encourages Investors in Meta Platforms, Inc. with Losses of $100,000 to Contact the Firm
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--$FB #FB--The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Meta Platforms, Inc. (“Meta” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: FB) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Meta announced its fourth quarter 2021 financial results on February 2, 2022, disappointing the market with its results and forecasted revenue. Based on this news, shares of Meta dropped by more than 26% on February 3, 2022. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at brian@schallfirm.com. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. Contacts The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 info@schallfirm.comwww.schallfirm.com