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News Release

Movimientos políticos y sociedad civil se unen bajo "NEXOS" para abogar por el cambio en Guinea Ecuatorial

Nexos GE

7 de agosto de 2023, Madrid - Destacadas figuras de la oposición y activistas de la sociedad civil de Guinea Ecuatorial han acordado hoy la formación de NEXOS, una organización creada para denunciar la violación sistemática de los derechos humanos en el país y desafiar la negación de estos crímenes por parte del régimen del Presidente Teodoro Obiang. NEXOS se constituyó al término de un seminario celebrado en Rivas Vacia-Madrid los días 3 y 4 de agosto para evaluar la situación sociopolítica del país con motivo del 44º aniversario de la dictadura militar de Obiang. La plataforma NEXOS estará encabezada por el eminente jurista Juan Carlos ONDO ANGUE, ex Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, y está integrada por el Movimiento para la Autodeterminación de la Isla de Bioko (MAIB), el Movimiento para la Liberación de Guinea Ecuatorial Tercera República (MLGE 3R), los partidos Fuerza Republicana Democrática (FDR) y Unión para la Democracia y el Desarrollo Social (UDDS), así como personalidades públicas de renombre como Jesús MITOGO OYONO, diputado electo del partido Ciudadanos por la Innovación (CI), el escritor Donato NDONGO-BIDYOGO, la defensora de los derechos LGTB Trifonia Melibea OBONO y el director de Radio Macuto José María OYONO ESENG. Sobre la fundación de NEXOS, Juan Carlos ONDO ANGUE declaró: "En el actual contexto de recesión económica agravada y de extrema degradación de las libertades políticas y sociales en Guinea Ecuatorial, las fuerzas progresistas se han unido bajo NEXOS para denunciar las violaciones sistemáticas de los derechos humanos perpetradas por el régimen contra la disidencia. NEXOS también luchará contra la constante negación de estos crímenes contra la humanidad por parte de la dictadura militar imperante, que forman parte de una política de Estado llevada a cabo durante los últimos 44 años bajo la presidencia de Obiang e incluso durante la anterior dictadura de Macías Nguema Biyogo.” "Con sus crecientes lazos con China y Rusia, el régimen de Obiang supone un riesgo no sólo para el futuro de Guinea Ecuatorial, sino para la seguridad regional e internacional. Mientras Obiang pretende perennizar su dictadura mediante una sucesión dinástica, NEXOS, una coalición histórica y sin precedentes, busca concienciar a la comunidad internacional acerca de la urgencia de llevar a cabo una transición democrática y pacífica en Guinea Ecuatorial." En las próximas semanas, NEXOS tiene previsto desvelar sus próximos pasos y prioridades clave en su campaña por los derechos humanos y la transición pacífica en Guinea Ecuatorial. Para cualquier consulta, póngase en contacto con: info@nexos-ge.org Sobre Guinea Ecuatorial: Guinea Ecuatorial (GE) sufre actualmente una de las dictaduras más largas y brutales del mundo. El Presidente Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo arrebató el poder a su tío en 1979. Pero ahora que la salud del Presidente se deteriora, existe una oportunidad para la transición democrática. Informes basados en inteligencia estadounidense advierten de que China planea establecer en el país su primera presencia militar permanente en el océano Atlántico. GE es también uno de los países donde opera la organización paramilitar Wagner Group, vinculada al gobierno ruso. Según informes, cerca de 200 efectivos de Wagner se encuentran en GE. La dinastía Obiang ha presidido décadas de corrupción y abusos contra los derechos humanos. Su hijo y actual vicepresidente, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, será el probable sucesor de Obiang. En Francia, una larga investigación sobre "ganancias mal habidas" ha dominado la prensa. Las autoridades francesas se incautaron de más de 100 objetos preciados y varios bienes inmuebles en su investigación sobre corrupción y malversación de fondos del régimen. En España, se ha reportado que miembros de alto nivel del régimen de Obiang, entre ellos su hijo y vicepresidente, planeaban asesinar a varios líderes de la oposición radicados en Madrid. Inversionistas españoles también han perdido millones de euros tras ser presuntamente estafados y extorsionados por miembros de la familia Obiang. Juan Carlos Ondo Angue es ex Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de GE. Abogado de formación, procuró mejorar el Estado de derecho y la gobernanza de GE y vive exiliado en Francia desde 2018. Contact Details Juan Carlos Ondo Angue info@nexos-ge.org

August 07, 2023 07:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Political Parties and Civil Society Unite Under “NEXOS” to Advocate for Change in Equatorial Guinea

Nexos GE

August 7, 2023, Madrid – Prominent opposition figures and civil society activists from Equatorial Guinea have today launched NEXOS, an organisation created to denounce the systematic violation of human rights in the country and to challenge the denial of these crimes by the regime of President Teodoro Obiang. NEXOS was formed following a seminar held in Rivas Vacia-Madrid on 3-4 August to assess the socio-political situation of the country on the 44 th anniversary of Obiang’s military dictatorship. The NEXOS platform will be spearheaded by prominent jurist Juan Carlos ONDO ANGUE, former President of the Supreme Court of Justice, and is composed of the Movement for the Self-Determination of the Island of Bioko (MAIB), the Movement for the Liberation of Equatorial Guinea Third Republic (MLGE 3R), the Democratic Republican Force (FDR) and the Union for Democracy and Social Development (UDDS) parties, as well as renowned public figures such as Jesus MITOGO OYONO, MP for the Citizens for Innovation (CI) party, writer Donato NDONGO-BIDYOGO, LGBT rights defender Trifonia Melibea OBONO and the director of Radio Macuto Jose Maria OYONO ESENG. On the founding of NEXOS, Juan Carlos ONDO ANGUE said: " In the current context of aggravated economic recession and the extreme degradation of political and social freedoms in Equatorial Guinea, progressive forces have united under NEXOS to denounce the regime's systematic violations of human rights perpetrated against dissidents. NEXOS will also fight the constant denial of these crimes against humanity by the ruling military dictatorship, which are part of a state policy conducted for the last 44 years under President Obiang and even during the previous dictatorship of Macias Nguema Biyogo." “With growing ties to China and Russia, Obiang’s regime poses a risk not just to the future of Equatorial Guinea, but to regional and global security. As Obiang aims to perpetuate his dictatorship through a dynastic succession, NEXOS, an unprecedented coalition, aims to make the international community aware of the urgency to bring about a democratic and peaceful transition to Equatorial Guinea.” In the coming weeks, NEXOS plans to unveil its next steps and key priorities in their campaign for human rights and a peaceful transition in Equatorial Guinea. For any enquiries, please contact: info@nexos-ge.org About Equatorial Guinea: Equatorial Guinea (EG) currently suffers under the longest and one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, first seized power from his uncle in 1979. But with the President’s health failing, there is a chance for a democratic transition. Reports based on US intelligence warn that China plans to establish its first permanent military presence in the Atlantic Ocean in the country. EG is also one of the countries where the Russian government-linked paramilitary organisation Wagner Group operates. Nearly 200 Wagner troops were reported to be in EG. The Obiang dynasty has presided over decades of corruption and human rights abuses. His son and current Vice-President, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue will be Obiang’s likely successor. In France, a longstanding enquiry into ‘ill-gotten gains’ has been dominating the press. Over 100 prized objects and several real estate assets were seized by French authorities in their investigation of corruption and misappropriation of funds. In Spain, it has been reported that high-level members of Obiang’s regime, including his son and Vice-President, planned to kill various leaders of the opposition based in Madrid. Spanish investors have also lost millions of euros after being allegedly defrauded and extorted by members of Obiang’s family. Juan Carlos Ondo Angue is the former President of the Supreme Court of Justice of EG. A trained lawyer, he sought to improve the rule of law and governance of Equatorial Guinea and has lived in exile in France since 2018. Contact Details Nexos Juan Carlos Ondo Angue info@nexos-ge.org

August 07, 2023 07:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Trust & Will Completes First eWill in Minnesota with State Senator Bonnie Westlin

Trust & Will

Trust & Will, the leading digital estate planning and settlement platform in the U.S., completed the first electronic will (eWill) in Minnesota in collaboration with State Senator Bonnie Westlin to kick off National Make-A-Will Month. Using the trustandwill.com platform and an electronic signing with a mobile notary and Minnesota resident Mark Fleming, Notary Public at Nationwide Apostille Services LLC (Veteran-Owned), Senator Westlin completed the first eWill on August 1, 2023, creating the state's first end-to-end-digital-estate plan. To make creating and executing a will more convenient and affordable for all Minnesotans, Senator Westlin ushered the Uniform Electronic Wills Act through the legislature. The bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Tim Walz on March 30, 2023. "The Uniform Electronic Wills Act will streamline the estate planning process by leveraging technology to make it easier for people to prepare and execute their wills,” said Senator Westlin. “I’m proud to be chief author of this bill and to see it pass with full bipartisan support.” Minnesota is the 13th jurisdiction to pass eWill legislation, following Nevada, Indiana, Arizona, Florida, Utah, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Several other states are introducing eWill legislation in the coming months, as less than one-third of Americans have a will. Trust & Will has long been a committed advocate for making electronic wills legally valid nationwide as a part of their mission to make the generational transfer of wealth more accessible, cost-effective, and efficient to all. “Electronic wills remove several barriers inherent in traditional estate planning,” said Cody Barbo, Founder and CEO at Trust & Will. “Every family should have access to justice and legal technology to make their lives easier. Estate planning, a vital element of ensuring the next generation's well-being, should be accessible to everyone.” With the help of a variety of policymakers, Trust & Will has been working to promote the adoption of legislation governing electronic estate plans, including the Uniform Law Commission’s Uniform Electronic Estate Planning Documents Act, as well as educating the public about the benefits of electronic estate planning. To learn more about eWills and receive updates, visit: trustandwill.com/electronic-wills. ABOUT TRUST & WILL Trust & Will is simplifying estate planning and settlement with attorney-approved, legally valid documents and processes designed to adhere to individual state guidelines. Since 2017, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of Trust & Will members leave their legacy with an affordable way to create an estate plan or settle the estate of a loved one. Our platform uses bank-level encryption that protects customer data and complies with the highest security standards, including SOC 2 and HIPAA. Trust & Will is the official estate planning benefit provider for AARP members, along with several leading financial institutions, who all believe in our mission of helping every family leave their legacy. Contact Details Danielle Nuzzo +1 631-807-7772 danielle@trustandwill.com Company Website https://trustandwill.com

August 02, 2023 07:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Stanton Chase completes Executive Search for Pacific Service Credit Union - Chief Risk Officer and Chief Technology Officer

digifora

Stanton Chase Los Angeles is pleased to announce the placement of Marian Wall as Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and Kevin Alsup as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Pacific Service Credit Union. Bill Brewer and Peter Deragon led the two executive search engagements. Both are managing Directors of the Stanton Chase office in Los Angeles and members of the firm’s Financial Services Practice Group. Marian Wall Marian Wall is an accomplished and results-driven leader. She has extensive expertise in various areas related to risk management, strategic partnerships, negotiation, and legal and compliance risk. Marian has a background as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, and General Counsel at American Business Bank. She also operated as the Head of Global Technology Vendor Management at Bank of the West. Marian has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to excel in complex and high-stakes environments. She has a proven track record of successfully managing enterprise-level programs, overseeing vendor relationships, and mitigating risks effectively. Marian's strengths lie in her visionary and action-oriented approach, combined with a dedication to accountability and transparency. Additionally, she takes pride in mentoring and empowering her teams, as evidenced by her remarkable ability to retain and develop team members. Bill Brewer commented, "Marian Wall's appointment as Chief Risk Officer will significantly contribute to Pacific Service Credit Union's strategic objectives. She will lead the development of a robust risk and cybersecurity architecture, ensuring the credit union's readiness to navigate growth opportunities and complex threats." Peter Deragon added, "Marian possesses extensive expertise in enterprise risk management (ERM). She will play a key role in reviewing and assessing the credit union's current ERM maturity. She will also be essential for implementing a comprehensive governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) program that fosters efficiency and security across all aspects of the organization." Wall’s educational achievements are as impressive as her professional ones. They include a Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, and a summa cum laude Bachelor's degree in Philosophy/Religion from California Lutheran University. Moreover, Marian holds licenses as a California Bar Member and is a Certified Regulatory Vendor Program Manager (Level II) from Compliance Education Institute, LLC. Her skill set comprises leadership, contract negotiation, vendor management, project management, risk assessment, contract management, and auditing, with experience primarily within the banking sector. As an ambitious and driven individual, Wall brings a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to excellence in her new role as Chief Risk Officer for her new employer. Jenna Lampson, President and CEO of Pacific Service Credit Union, enthusiastically remarked, "Marian will undoubtedly serve the credit union well as we continue to grow in size and confidently tackle new challenges. Her depth and breadth of experience, coupled with her unique combination of information security, technology, and risk management background, will be invaluable." Kevin Alsup Kevin Alsup will also bring a remarkable degree of expertise to his role as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Pacific Service Credit Union. He possesses over 20 years of experience in the financial and technology sectors and is well-versed in information technology and strategic planning, with a focus on project management and execution. Kevin’s impressive background includes leadership roles in high-tech, manufacturing, and the financial services and banking industries. His extensive career includes serving as the Senior Vice President of Technology Solutions at Excite Credit Union and various leadership roles at Technology Credit Union. Throughout his career, Kevin has demonstrated proficiency in mentoring, change management, and strategy development. As CTO, Kevin will be responsible for overseeing the credit union's technology initiatives and driving innovation to enhance member experiences. Kevin has a demonstrated background in driving operational excellence, innovation, and cost sustainability while ensuring compliance and security. Deragon stated, "With his proven track record of successful technology implementations, Kevin is well-positioned to lead the credit union's strategic initiatives. This includes the critical online banking conversion and data governance review, which ensures an engaging experience for employees and members alike." Brewer also remarked, "As CTO, Kevin's expertise in developing and communicating technology strategies will be instrumental in optimizing resources and maintaining a competitive advantage in the ever-changing world of finance." Kevin’s education consists of a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Accounting from Santa Clara University. It also includes Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Riverside. Additionally, Kevin is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) from the Project Management Institute (PMI®). Pacific Service Credit Union looks forward to leveraging Kevin's expertise to enhance technological initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and elevate member experiences in the ever-evolving financial landscape. "We are thrilled to welcome Kevin Alsup as our Chief Technology Officer,” Lampson declared, “He is a veteran credit union IT professional whose laser focus on efficiency, innovation, and member experience aligns perfectly with Pacific Service Credit Union's values. Kevin's energetic, solutions-oriented, and collaborative leadership will drive our strategy execution to new heights." About Stanton Chase (Los Angeles) Established in 1990, Stanton Chase is a leading global executive search firm with over 70 offices in 45 countries. Stanton Chase consultants offer unparalleled expertise via three core services: executive search, executive assessment, and board services. The company's Los Angeles office has an established track record of delivering executive search excellence to its clients in the financial services, consumer products and services, industrial, aerospace, media/entertainment, private equity, education, nonprofit, and government contracting sectors. The Los Angeles office services clients throughout the Pacific states. Learn more at stantonchase.com. About Pacific Service Credit Union Pacific Service Credit Union is a not-for-profit credit union committed to strengthening the financial lives of its more than 65,000 members through trustworthy practices, superior products and exceptional service. Founded in 1936 by employees of Pacific Gas & Electric Company, it is a full-service credit union with assets over $1.4 billion and a field of membership that incorporates 12 Northern California counties. Bauer Financial, a third-party firm that analyzes the financial health of banks and credit unions, consistently awards Pacific Service Credit Union its highest 5-Star rating. The credit union boasts a talented, cohesive leadership team with an average of more than 17 years of service; and in 2023, was named as a Top Workplace in the Bay Area for the fifth consecutive year. Learn more at pacificservice.org. Contact Details digifora Justin Brackett +1 843-284-6594 justin@digifora.com Company Website https://digifora.com

July 31, 2023 11:47 AM Eastern Daylight Time

News Release

Media Veterans Ervin Duggan and William Kristol Join Forces, Urging FCC Hearing into Character Fitness of FOX and Murdochs to Remain Public Interest Broadcast Licensees

Raynor Ave.

Today, former PBS President Ervin S. Duggan and former Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol filed a joint informal objection to the broadcast license renewal application for Fox Corp-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF-TV). The pair's informal objection urges the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to hold a hearing that examines whether Fox Corporation (FOX) and its leadership have violated the character requirements expected from public trustees granted a broadcast license. The Duggan-Kristol objection follows a formal Petition to Deny filed by the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) earlier this month. It brings high-profile bipartisan backing to the group's efforts. "As media veterans, we are acutely aware of the power afforded to those who control the information broadcast on our nation's airwaves," said Ervin S. Duggan. "Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch's role in perpetuating election falsehoods stands as a blatant violation of the character requirements expected of those the FCC entrusts to hold a broadcast license." In the pair's objection, Duggan and Kristol say that although they were members of different parties when they served in government—and had different perspectives on many issues throughout their respective careers in public service and journalism—they strongly believe that American democracy must be grounded in open, respectful, and factual debate. The objection goes on to say, "[w]e believe that media companies who are directly or indirectly granted the privilege to serve the public through the operation of FCC-licensed television stations have a corollary duty to facilitate and strengthen democracy by participating in that debate—not by hiding their opinions, nor by providing 'equal time' on all issues to outside parties, nor by merely chasing ratings or corporate stock price, but by adhering to the highest journalistic standards in reporting and distributing news to ensure that the public has solid facts upon which to make the decisions that are essential to our society's future as a democracy." "The adjudication of the Dominion case unequivocally established that Fox News Channel repeatedly disseminated false news, and the Fox cable channels and its broadcast ones are clearly intimately linked, as Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch hold the authority for decision-making over both," said William Kristol. "The Commission should follow the well-established legal framework and conduct a hearing to fully consider the fitness of FOX and the Murdochs to continue as licensees of the public airwaves." WTXF is one of 29 broadcast television stations owned and operated by FOX through its 100 percent ownership of Fox Television Stations, and the ultimate control over these enterprises rests with Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. Their controlling interest in FOX and all its various broadcast subsidiaries means they are the de facto party seeking renewal of the WTXF license. The judge overseeing the Dominion litigation refused to excuse Rupert from the case that found both Murdochs had presided over the presentation of false news. Similarly, the FCC must refuse calls to excuse the Murdochs from accountability and at a minimum initiate a hearing, if not outright deny their license renewal application. A copy of the full Duggan-Kristol informal objection is available here. A link to MAD’s initial Petition to Deny is available here. Ervin S. Duggan is a veteran of the Lyndon Johnson White House, a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, and former President of PBS. William Kristol is a veteran political analyst and commentator. He served in senior positions in the Ronald Reagan administration and the George H. W. Bush White House. For two decades, he edited The Weekly Standard magazine, and is now editor at large of The Bulwark and a director of the educational and advocacy group, Defending Democracy Together. For media inquiries, please contact Aaron Alberico at aalberico@raynoravenue.com. Contact Details Raynor Ave. Aaron Alberico aalberico@raynoravenue.com Company Website https://www.raynoravenue.com/

July 31, 2023 09:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Hunter Biden Plea Deal Rejected by Federal Judge

National Legal & Policy Center

Federal Judge Maryellen Noreika in Delaware rejected a sweetheart plea deal whereby Hunter Biden agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax violations and enter a pretrial diversion program for a felony gun charge. The gun charge would be dropped if he stayed off drugs and alcohol and complied with other conditions for two years. The prosecutors also recommended that there would be no jail time for the two tax charges. The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), an ethics watchdog group, had previously blasted the lenient plea agreement between the U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, David Weiss, and Hunter Biden. NLPC called upon Judge Noreika to reject the deal. The plea deal fell apart when the prosecutor told the court that the investigation is still ongoing, but Hunter and his attorneys thought the plea deal would give him immunity for any other crimes he may have committed. The frustrated judge gave the two sides some time to settle their differences during a break in the hearing but further problems arose regarding the gun charge. If Hunter did not abide by the terms of his pretrial diversion program, the judge was concerned that she would be the one to decide that the prosecution of the gun charge should proceed. She made it clear that the judiciary does not have that prosecutorial power under our Constitution’s separation of powers. She gave the parties thirty days to file additional briefs on a revised plea deal. Notably, Judge Noreika grilled Hunter during the hearing on the source of his foreign income. Hunter admitted receiving taxable income from Burisma oil company in Ukraine, where he was on the Board, and from a Chinese energy company. Yet despite the five-year investigation, no charges were brought against Hunter under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) for engaging in political activities on behalf of Burisma and Chinese interests, despite overwhelming evidence that NLPC had presented to the Justice Department in 2020. “It’s outrageous that after a five-year investigation of Hunter Biden, and the recent IRS whistleblowers’ sworn testimony of a Justice Department coverup and obstruction, the best that the prosecutor can come up with is a couple of misdemeanor charges and recommend probation as a slap on the wrist,” said Paul Kamenar, counsel for NLPC. “Thankfully, Judge Noreika rejected the plea deal as we urged, but it remains to be seen if a new deal is agreed to,” Kamenar added. "The two-level system of justice whereby the Biden family gets a pass is rightfully perceived by the public as the politicization of the justice system,” said Peter Flaherty, Chairman of NLPC. “If the Justice Department continues to cover up for the Biden family, Congress must vigorously pursue its investigation, which appears to be leading to impeachment proceedings.” ### Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 drene@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

July 27, 2023 11:59 AM Eastern Daylight Time

AI Singapore Awards S$20M in Research Funds to Address Challenges Relating to Increase Use of AI in Emerging Apps

AI Singapore

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 26 July 2023 - AI Singapore (AISG) announced today that it will award up to S$20 million, through the Robust AI Grand Challenge and the AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge, to support five multidisciplinary teams which will address challenges related to the increasing use of AI in emerging applications. AISG launched both Grand Challenges in December 2022 in collaboration with the Future Systems and Technology Directorate (FSTD), MINDEF Singapore, and DSO National Laboratories (DSO). Each Challenge is a first-of-its-kind and represents a major milestone in research collaboration between the academia and defence ecosystems. The research outcomes will have the potential for dual-use applications and can be leveraged by both the industry and defence to benefit Singapore. The grant awards were presented by Mr Heng Chee How, Senior Minister of State for Defence at the Joint Grant Awards Ceremony. In his speech, Mr Heng said, "The advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) will open up new possibilities and MINDEF/SAF is poised to harness its power to build important capabilities for our future. MINDEF's approach is to collaborate extensively with local and global partners from research institutes, and institutes of higher learning and industry. MINDEF's Defence Technology Community, which designs and develops technological capabilities for the SAF, will play a key role in this effort. "Moving forward, we will also be expanding our partnerships with industry, to accelerate progress in developing AI technologies and applications. I encourage the various communities to come together to co-ideate and co-innovate. I would like to invite all researchers and practitioners with bold ideas to reach out to us. Together, let's collaborate, innovate and build an exciting and better future, he added." Professor Mohan Kankanhalli, Deputy Executive Chairman for AISG, said that the current development efforts and outcomes can be translated into better and safer technologies for everyday living. "The problems that are being addressed have dual-use applications and can be leveraged by both industry and defence ecosystems to benefit Singapore. We are excited to work with our valued collaborators, FSTD and DSO, as they have deep expertise in both grand challenges to advise, guide and empower our research teams to develop novel AI solutions that can effectively address important problems faced by Singapore and the world. We believe that there is potential for these technologies to be scaled globally in the future". Robust AI and AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenges AISG's Grand Challenge programme takes an outcome-driven approach to solve important problems faced by Singapore and the world through multidisciplinary collaboration and translation of AI-based solutions from research to deployment. Researchers from local Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) and Research Institutes (RIs), along with their collaborators from the public and/or private sectors, were invited to propose ground-breaking research ideas that adopt AI techniques to address both Grand Challenges' statements. Each challenge statement was jointly defined by AISG, DSO and FSTD. Robust AI Grand Challenge - "How can we design robust CV systems for AVs that can recover at least 80% of their original accuracy after physical testing-time adversarial attacks?" Computer vision (CV) systems based on AI/ML are vulnerable to adversarial attacks which could compromise their safety and security, thus limiting their performance and adoption in critical environments. In the field of autonomous vehicles (AV), these could result in delays, accidents and potentially, even death. This Grand Challenge aims to encourage the development of innovative approaches that increase the robustness of these CV systems, to accelerate the adoption of CV systems in critical environments. AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge - "How can AI accelerate inverse material design to discover advanced materials that are 50% lighter while retaining and/or enhancing their functional properties?" Technological breakthroughs and the development of next-generation systems such as lightweight transportation vehicles and energy-efficient buildings are often underpinned by the discovery and development of new and advanced materials. However, this discovery process can be prohibitively long and expensive. In addition, conventional methods can be limited by a scientist's personal experience, knowledge and even biases, resulting in only incremental discoveries. This Grand Challenge aims to advance the state-of-the-art applications of AI in materials discovery, to develop solutions that can help scientists accelerate material discovery process and overcome the constraints of conventional methods. This would in turn enable them to keep pace with the increasing demand for new and advanced materials for next-gen systems. AISG received 16 (7 Robust AI; 9 AI for Materials Discovery) quality research proposals from multidisciplinary teams in response to both grant calls. The teams comprise lead Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-PIs from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore Management University (SMU), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). They also involve industry partners and/or collaborators from overseas universities. An Evaluation Committee comprising members from various stakeholders in the AI ecosystem selected five projects to be awarded Stage 1 funding: Robust AI Grand Challenge Holistic Moving Target Defence for Autonomous Driving Perception (by Associate Professor Rui Tan, NTU) - This project will develop a Moving Target Defence (MTD) approach that creates and deploys AI mechanisms that are diverse and rapidly changing to limit the exposure of vulnerabilities and opportunities for attacks, increase the complexity and cost for attackers. Development of Stable Robust and Secure Intelligent Systems for Autonomous Vehicles (by Professor Shuzhi Sam Ge, NUS) - This project will harness the collective strengths of machine learning, stable control and generative AI to develop a robust and intelligent system that can adjust its neural network's behaviour and characteristics in real- time to counter adversarial attacks in complex environments. Towards Building Unified Autonomous Vehicle Scene Representation for Physical AV Adversarial Attacks and Visual Robustness Enhancement (by Professor Yang Liu, NTU) - This project will develop novel multi-view and multi-modal defences based on a unified framework that comprises a novel AV scene representation that will be used to generate realistic scenes with diverse conditions and attack vectors. The projects are expected to deliver suites of multi-modal attack and defence techniques that can be deployed in the real world to increase the robustness of AI models applied in multi-sensor CV systems. AI for Materials Discovery Grand Challenge MATAI: An AI-Powered Generalist Material Discovery Platform (by Professor Bo An, NTU) - This project will develop an AI-powered generalist platform with three key components: a holistic material database, a foundational material property predictor and a generalist multi-property material designer in a large search space. Design Beyond What You Know: Material Informed Differential Generative AI (MIDGAI) for Light-Weight High-Entropy Alloys and Multi-functional Composites (by Professor Ivor Tsang, A*STAR) - This project will develop a generative AI framework for materials design that combines with discriminative models to enhance robustness and overcome data scarcity. By incorporating domain knowledge, the AI model will enable a more controllable, directed, and efficient exploration of material design spaces through advanced optimisation algorithms. The projects are expected to deliver AI solutions that can be used by AI and materials researchers to (i) discover novel materials based on performance needs, (ii) efficiently explore beyond the boundaries of conventional methods, (iii) exploit new and existing scientific knowledge and (iv) reduce resource and time cost of material discovery cycles. In Stage 1, the teams will be awarded up to S$4M each to work on their project for the next three years. Funding support for Stage 2 will be determined as part of the final evaluation near the end of Stage 1. Selected teams could be funded up to S$5M over 2 years where the teams will have the opportunity to work with agencies to adapt and scale up the developed AI techniques for dual-use applications. About AI Singapore AI Singapore (AISG) is a national programme launched by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to catalyse, synergise and boost Singapore's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to power our future, digital economy.AISG will also bring together all Singapore-based research institutions and the vibrant ecosystem of AI start-ups and companies developing AI products, to perform use-inspired research, grow the knowledge, create the tools, and develop the talent to power Singapore's AI efforts.AISG is driven by a government-wide partnership comprising NRF, Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Economic Development Board (EDB), Enterprise Singapore (ESG), amongst others. Contact Details Communications Consultant Joseph Rajendran +65 9228 7801 joseph@wiredcomms.sg Company Website https://aisingapore.org/

July 26, 2023 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise Owners Jim and Seamus Mooney Celebrate 5 Years and Relocation to Clark, NJ with Grand Opening Event

Minuteman Press International Inc

Jim and Seamus Mooney have a lot to celebrate lately. The father-son team behind the Minuteman Press franchise in Clark, NJ (formerly Westfield) held their Grand Opening Palooza Event on June 22, 2023 as they celebrated their relocation to Clark as well as 5 years in business. Minuteman Press in Clark is located at 1120 Raritan Road, Suite 2, Clark NJ 07066. The grand opening event for Minuteman Press in Clark, NJ was sponsored by the Irish Business Association and featured live music, food trucks, vendors, and more. The Irish Business Association also recently honored Minuteman Press in Clark by awarding Jim and Seamus their Company of the Year Award. In addition, Jim and Seamus continue to hit new monthly sales milestones for their business. On the relocation, Jim shares, “We opened our doors on June 1, 2018. We have been in business for 5 years and we were looking for a larger production facility. Today, Minuteman Press Clark is a full-service printing, mail-house, and marketing design firm. We specialize in apparel (screen printing and embroidery), signage, paper based products (booklets, brochures, letterhead, envelopes, etc.) promotional products, mailings and graphic design.” Over the past 5 years, Jim has helped grow the family business through networking with a heavy focus on community involvement. He is President and an active member of Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, which includes multiple towns in Union County. Jim also appreciates being able to put his own stamp on Clark, Westfield and the surrounding community through his business. On that note, Jim says, “We have a lot of pride when we see our work displayed or distributed in the community – storefronts, window signage, direct mail, brochures, business cards – it’s always great to get kudos from happy clients.” Jim’s professional background includes managing strategic marketing for multi-unit franchise brands across various industries, most notably, McDonald’s Corporation working on the Company and Ad Agency side of the QSR industry. Jim says, “As the majority of my career was spent in franchise marketing, I am a true believer in franchising. Because I worked in advertising agencies where we had production and graphic design capabilities; I was very comfortable buying this business.” Jim continues, “I look at Minuteman Press as an ad agency for other businesses in Clark and Westfield and the surrounding towns. My career skills match up really well with what we are doing, and I am proud of our capabilities as well as the infrastructure we have in place being part of the Minuteman Press franchise family.” Speaking of family, while Jim concentrates on marketing the business, his son Seamus handles the operations. Prior to Minuteman Press, Seamus worked in recruiting and education operations management. Jim says, “Seamus is fantastic as our Vice President of Operations and I couldn’t do this without him. We’re a good team because we complement each other’s skills.” What’s it like going to work every day as a father and son? “It's an opportunity most people don't get to have,” Seamus Mooney said. “It's been great getting to work together for over five years — I've learned a lot during this time about business and life. Having a family business is rewarding." “It is fantastic to work with my son Seamus and to see him grow strategically and operationally as our vice president of operations,” Jim Mooney added. “Seamus is also a great thought partner in the business. It is a unique and fun experience.” Minuteman Press in Clark, NJ is located at at 1120 Raritan Road, Suite 2, Clark NJ 07066. For more information, call 908-857-4644 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/nj/clark/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and read Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 25, 2023 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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News Release

New Data Reveals Enforcement Alone Will Not Solve New York’s Gray Market Cannabis Problem

NuggMD

The recent headline-making raids by law enforcement designed to end illicit cannabis sales in New York are unlikely to work, according to a new, first-of-its-kind survey, because New Yorkers overwhelmingly trust the products they are purchasing in those locations. The survey was conducted by NuggMD, the nation’s leading telehealth platform for cannabis, and first reported by Cultivated, a cannabis newsletter written by Jeremy Berke, an independent journalist who formerly covered the cannabis industry for Insider. According to the survey, 61 percent of respondents who buy cannabis in unlicensed gray market locations said they trust that it has been tested for contaminants, while 22 percent of these respondents indicated they do not trust the safety of gray market products, but that they can’t purchase cannabis anywhere else. (Gray market locations do not have testing requirements.) Additionally, most respondents who purchase cannabis in the gray market reported one or more negative experiences with the products purchased. Thirty percent of these respondents said it made them higher than they expected, while 31 percent said the product looked, smelled, or tasted odd and 65 percent said the product didn’t get them as high as they expected, given the dose they consumed. Most concerning is that nearly 8 percent of respondents reported feeling unwell after consuming cannabis purchased in the gray market. “Our survey shows New Yorkers have an alarming amount of trust in the illicit cannabis products they’re purchasing from unlicensed retail locations. While this trust is misplaced, that doesn’t make it any less real, which is why enforcement alone is not a solution to the state’s illicit cannabis problem,” said Alex Milligan, co-founder and CMO of NuggMD. “So long as consumers trust those products, there will be demand for them.” While New York State legalized recreational cannabis more than two years ago, there are currently just 20 licensed recreational dispensaries open in the state, according to the Office of Cannabis Management. Five are clustered in one three-mile radius in Manhattan, and half have opened during the past two months. According to the NuggMD survey, individuals who hold medical cards were less likely to shop for cannabis in the gray market. Taken together, the data suggests that a combination of more licensed dispensaries and a public information campaign that emphasizes the difference between safe, lab-tested cannabis and cannabis bought in the gray market would slow the consumption of gray-market products and contribute meaningfully to public health and safety. Milligan concluded: “We know that it is difficult to regulate this sector while allowing operators to build a vibrant marketplace. But, as our survey shows, every barrier that impedes new licensed dispensaries from opening quickly where there is demand for them increases risk for many thousands of New Yorkers.” Methodology NuggMD sent a series of questions about cannabis buying patterns and preferences to approximately 70,000 cannabis consumers in New York State and received 354 responses. The survey is non-scientific and contains selection bias. The company hopes the survey prompts further study and ultimately reduces the barriers that impede more licensed recreational dispensaries from opening. About NuggMD NuggMD is the nation's leading medical marijuana technology platform, serving patients in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. They've connected over 1,000,000 patients face-to-face with their new medical marijuana doctors via their state-of-the-art telemedicine platform. They believe every human being has the right to explore the benefits of medical cannabis and are fully committed to helping each patient explore every option in their journey to wellness. For further information, visit NuggMD.com. Contact Details NuggMD Andrew Graham +1 646-385-0189 andrew.g@getnugg.com Company Website http://www.nuggmd.com

July 20, 2023 05:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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