AnastasiaDate Explains How to Make Summer Romance Last with Matches from Around the World – MENAFN.COM

Posted on by

(MENAFN - GetNews) AnastasiaDate reveals powerful advice on how to make summer romance last with global matches.

AnastasiaDate, the premier online dating service for matches worldwide, has provided powerful advice on how to turn the thrill of summer romance into a more serious connection with matches worldwide. The leading dating platform is renowned for delivering timely dating tips to enhance the international dating experience and summer is always an important time to get romance right.

AnastasiaDate is a global dating expert with unmatched experience in bringing couples together from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The platform has now shared valuable advice on how members can make summer romance last with matches they meet worldwide.

Summer romance often begins in sizzling sunshine and is well known for its fleeting and temporary joys. Couples who meet during summer trips often see things fizzle out and communication drop off as the year goes on. However, AnastasiaDate is aiming to change all that by making matches realize that summer romance can last the distance. They have listed a number of tried and tested tips for making sure this happens.

Firstly, in order to keep the passion going through autumn and winter, it is important to create captivating summer memories that act as a great springboard to help couples stay together. This means having as much fun together as possible under the summer sun and doing things that help them form a real rapport and an unbreakable bond. The more powerful the initial romance, the stronger chance there is for the relationship to last.

Singles can lay the foundations for a long-term relationship by connecting on a deeper level. It is a good idea for partners to talk about things that really matter in the long term. When aiming to develop a relationship it is important to ask more about someone's home life and avoid living too much in the heat of the moment. Focusing on romance is essential in giving depth to a budding relationship. How someone behaves during a vacation may not reflect their life in general so it is good to go beyond the surface and learn more about them.

The golden rule about keeping a summer romance alive is to look to the future and aim to arrange the next real-life date. Putting an in-person meeting in the diary can really fuel the expectation, belief and closeness. Whether it's a live concert or a romantic road trip, making exciting plans together is a great ambition.

Once the relationship is established, it is best to try and shift the focus away from the summer and look to the future. Dwelling too much on the summer activities can prevent the relationship from moving ahead to the next level.

Finally, it is imperative that couples try to stay in contact using all forms of communication available to them. Singles can use a range of features on AnastasiaDate to stay in touch including Live Chat, CamShare, and photo swap.

Matches should be confident about expressing their feelings to each other in every way possible, especially as the cold winter approaches fast.

For more information, visit AnastasiaDate .

About AnastasiaDate:

AnastasiaDate is the leading international dating service that facilitates exciting and romantic companionship between men and women all over the world. Founded in 1993, AnastasiaDate now has over 20 million international users and attracts more than 80 million visitors annually. Additionally, over 1.5 million conversations are exchanged onsite daily. AnastasiaDate is committed to member safety, customer satisfaction, and the ongoing pursuit of innovation. Part of the Social Discovery Ventures network, AnastasiaDate is headquartered in New York with additional representation in every country it touches, providing a high level of customer service to a worldwide clientele. All members are able to communicate across a variety of top-notch multimedia platforms, including video chat and a mobile app for Android devices available in Google Play.

Media Contact Company Name: AnastasiaDate Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email Phone: +1 (212) 609-0533 Country: United States Website: [To enable links contact MENAFN]

Go here to see the original:

AnastasiaDate Explains How to Make Summer Romance Last with Matches from Around the World - MENAFN.COM

Severe weather knocks out power throughout Shenandoah Valley – WHSV

Posted on by

New Yorks attorney general sued the National Rifle Association on Thursday, seeking to put the powerful gun advocacy organization out of business over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for lavish personal trips, no-show contracts for associates and other questionable expenditures.Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit, filed in Manhattan state court, highlighted misspending and self-dealing claims that have roiled the NRA and its longtime leader, Wayne LaPierre, in recent years from hair and makeup for his wife to a $17 million post-employment contract for himself.Its clear that the NRA has been failing to carry out its stated mission for many, many years and instead has operated as a breeding ground for greed, abuse and brazen illegality, she said at a news conference. Enough was enough. We needed to step in and dissolve this corporation.Simultaneously, Washington D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine like James, a Democrat sued the NRA Foundation, a charitable arm of the organization designed to provide programs for firearm safety, marksmanship and hunting safety, accusing it of diverting funds to the NRA to help pay for lavish spending by its top executives.In a statement, NRA President Carolyn Meadows labeled James a political opportunist who was pursuing a rank vendetta with an attack on its members Second Amendment rights.You could have set your watch by it: the investigation was going to reach its crescendo as we move into the 2020 election cycle, said Meadows, who announced a countersuit by the NRA in federal court in Albany that could set the stage for a drawn-out legal battle lasting well past Novembers election.The New York lawsuit made only civil claims, but James said the investigation was ongoing and any criminal activity discovered would be referred to prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service.The NRA's financial troubles, James said, were long cloaked by loyal lieutenants but became public as deficits piled up. The organization went from a nearly $28 million surplus in 2015 to a $36 million deficit in 2018.James argued that the organizations prominence and cozy political relationships enabled a culture where nonprofit rules were routinely flouted and state and federal laws were violated. Even the NRAs own bylaws and employee handbook were ignored, she said.Though it is headquartered in Virginia, the NRA was chartered as a nonprofit in New York in 1871 and continues to be incorporated in the state.

Go here to see the original:

Severe weather knocks out power throughout Shenandoah Valley - WHSV

Similar Predispositions Link Gambling Addiction and Crime, New Research – Casino Reports

Posted on by

The University of Buffalo in New York State has been dedicating efforts to better understanding the nature of problem gambling and how it affects individuals. Its latest research conducted by a sociologist associated with the university comes to show that there is a link between the background characteristics of people associated with crime and problem gambling.

Christopher Dennison, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Buffalos College of Arts and Sciences, recently pointed out that one of the latest researches into problem gambling behavior and tendencies has reached a pivotal point. He conducted the research along with Jessica Finkeldey, an assistant professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia, and Gregory Rocheleau, an assistant professor at Ball State University

Its insight will allow us to better understand the people going through gambling addiction and the way their brains work. Criminals and people with an unhealthy relationship with gambling have more in common. Mr. Dennison recently made it clear that the specific characteristic used to predict that a person would eventually develop an unhealthy relationship with gaming could also be used for predicting that a person could become a criminal.

This link comes in handy when previous notions have to be debunked. Up until this point, the problem gambling has been considered the trigger of crime activities. Seeking more money an individual could gamble could lead to crime, or the crime proceeds could easily be laundered with the help of gambling activities. Now, the University of Buffalo has found a link between the two practices connecting them on an entirely new level.

The people showcasing tendencies of problem gambling development in the future are also predisposed to criminal activities. Mr. Dennison pointed out that the general discrepancy between people experiencing gambling addiction and the ones that have never gambled led to a change of perspective and some doubts regarding the cause and effect theory on problem gambling.

Individuals experiencing gambling addiction find themselves unable to think of anything else, gambling takes up a substantial portion of their daily schedule. They also experience preoccupation with the very thought of gaming. Mr. Dennison further clarified that the issue with problem gambling is that it takes over the entire life of the individual experiencing its negative impact.

They fail to keep the time spent gambling within the healthy range, as they use it as a form of escapism from reality and everything bothering them in life. He also made it clear that both problem gambling and criminal activities show similar symptoms. This has been discovered as a groundbreaking new link between the two practices.

Some of the predispositions associated with both crimes and gambling addiction are substance use in the past, socioeconomic status, along with the occasional association with individuals observing delinquency at an earlier stage of their life. The new research Mr. Dennison completed showed that these variables make up a so-called confounding bias. The research could optimize the treatment of both behaviors for improved positive results.

More:

Similar Predispositions Link Gambling Addiction and Crime, New Research - Casino Reports

Your Pension May Be Gambling On Human Life, Profiting From COVID Deaths – Forbes

Posted on by

Your pension may gambling on highly-controversial life settlement funds which profit when people die ... [+] prematurely from COVID.

Whether you know it or not, your pension may be gambling on highly-speculative life settlement funds which profit when people die prematurely from COVID. Life settlement funds are controversial for a host of obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. These investments in a pension ensuring the retirement security of workers is doubly problematic.

Many public and private pensions are gambling on highly speculative funds that invest in so-called longevity-contingent assets, such as life insurance policies insuring the lives of individuals who are generally at least 70 years old. The insured individual must have a life expectancy ranging from, say, not less than two years to not more than 15 years. A given fund may have exposure to hundreds of lives in the portfolio with an average insured age of over 80 years old.

The sooner the terminally ill and other elderly insured individuals die, the betteras far as your pension is concerned.

With more than 80% of COVID deaths in the United States occurring in people aged 65 and older, this should be the best of times for gambling on these controversial funds which often promise annualized returns ranging from 8-12%. (Actual net returns are likely to be less than half those promised.)

If so, would it comfort you to know your pension was profiting from the misery of others?

Do you know whether your pension invests in life settlements? Have any such investments been clearly disclosed to you? Do the people managing your pension even know?

Believe it or not, they may not.

Today many alternative investment funds provide that they may withhold disclosure of underlying investments from pensions and participants, including stinky stuff like payday loans and life settlements.

Life settlement funds are controversial for a host of obvious and not-so-obvious reasons. Gambling on these highly speculative investments in a pension ensuring the retirement security of workers is doubly problematic.

Many regulators, lawmakers and other governmental authorities, as well as many insurance companies and insurance industry organizations, oppose the selling and buying of longevity-contingent assets. The industry and some of its participants have long been in legal and regulatory hot water. Opponents of the industry argue that these life insurance transactions are contrary to public policy by promoting financial speculation on human life and all-too-often involve elements of fraud and other wrongdoing.

Ask yourself: Why would an elderly, sickly or terminally ill insured person sell his or her life insurance policy? Because he or she needs cash to cover rising medical costs and living expenses? What are the chances the sale of that individuals life insurance policy may have been coerced or induced by fraud? Its no surprise that thoughtful regulators and lawmakers would be highly concerned.

The limited regulatory oversight of these funds is another major red flag. Many funds take the position that whole life settlements do not constitute securities under the federal securities laws and do not register as investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Compliance with other federal and state securities laws is also a concern. The SEC has long had difficulty reigning in industry abuses since unless securities are involved the agency generally lacks jurisdiction.

Worst of all, since the portfolio investments of these funds do not currently have a readily available market for valuation purposes, the likelihood that portfolio values, as well as investment returns may be inflated by the managers is high. This is particularly troublesome for open-ended investment funds, where new investors may be buying into a fund at an already inflated Net Asset Value (NAV). The life settlement asset class has had a troubled past with respect to inflated NAVs caused by funds underestimating life expectancies.

In other words, fund managers, are so hopeful that the old and sick insureds will die sooner rather than later, they assume the life expectancies will be shorter.

In Europe, a number of open-end funds (so-called sickened death bond funds) have gated, trapping investors. After waiting several years for the funds to liquidate, investors have recovered only pennies on the dollar.

In my opinion, additional regulatory action regarding overvaluations of the portfolios of these funds is almost certainly coming. If so, your pensionyour retirement securitymay be at risk.

In 2016, the Office of the Virgin Islands Inspector Generalissued a scathing report finding that the Virgin Islands General Employees Retirement System had entered into an extremely risky and questionable life settlement investment that jeopardized about $42 million of its investment portfolio. This was done without performing the necessary due diligence and obtaining the necessary expert advice, before exposing the pension fund to this high-risk investment. As a result, GERS has already written-off 20% or $8.4 million of the remaining value. In addition, GERS also granted a $10 million line of credit to the same partnership that is handling the viatical. The majority of the proceeds were to pay past due and near term premiums for the policies.

An advisor to the pension noted, There is uncertainty on the use of viaticals as an investment by a defined benefit plan. Also, The nature of the investment in viaticals, that is an investment seeking profits off death, raises issues of social responsibility.

To be sure, in my opinion, life settlement funds are the antithesis of socially responsible investing.

Should your retirement savings be in longevity-contingent assets supporting speculation on human life which often involve elements of fraud and other wrongdoing? First, find out whether your pension is invested in these funds, then let your voice be heard. Best case scenarioyour pension is profiting from the misery of others. Far more likelyits losing money playing in this nasty sandbox.

For more on how to protect your pension, see my book Who Stole My Pension?

Read the original post:

Your Pension May Be Gambling On Human Life, Profiting From COVID Deaths - Forbes

Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup – August 6, 2020 – CalvinAyre.com

Posted on by

In the fast moving world of gambling, sometimes you might miss news that could be important to you. To make sure youre all caught up on gaming industry news, be it online or brick and mortar, were rounding up the some of the announcements and partnerships from the last week that you might have missed.

Dont miss out on all of the latest announcements. Our Press Release section is updated constantly.

OneTouchinks partnership with Slotegrator

Mobile-first games developerOneTouchhas partnered with the fast-growing content aggregator, Slotegrator, in a move that further bolsters its international footprint.

Under the agreement, OneTouchs engaging suite of slot and table games, includingDragon Tiger,Wild SorceryandNeon 2077, is set to launch across Slotegrators global partnership network.

The online aggregators operator portfolio covers an international range of regulated jurisdictions, comprising a selection of high-profile platform partners across major European markets and the CIS.

The deal sees OneTouch continue to extend the reach of its diverse portfolio, following on from its comprehensive commercial agreements recently signed with Revolver Gaming as well as Jazz Gaming Solutions.

Soft2Bet enhances Nordic influence with Frumzi launch

Casino platform provider Soft2Bet has further expanded its commercial presence in the Nordic marketswith the launch of a new online casino brand, Frumzi.

The latest member of Soft2Bets ever-growing brand portfolio gives players access to a diverse array of new content,and a PaynPlay registration option that provides instant deposits/withdrawals via Trustly.

There are now more than 20 innovative online casinos and sportsbooks under the Soft2Bet umbrella, including widely popular brands such as CampoBet and Wazamba.

Soft2Bets latest bespoke product continues the companys impressive extension of its player reach in regulated markets across the globe, with the group set to obtain further EU certification in addition to itsSGA, MGA and Curacao licences.

Relax Gaming launches with Princess Casino

Relax Gaming,igaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, has expanded its footprint in Romania, launching with renowned local operator Princess Casino.

Popular titles from the suppliers in-house portfolio including the Tumble Series,Money TrainandSnake Arenahave been made available to the online casinos players, complemented by the extensive library of third-party studio games available through the Relax platform.

With a quality range of content from big brands such as BTG, 4ThePlayer and ReelPlay, as well as Relaxs Silver Bullet studio partners, the deal provides Crowd Services-operated Princess Casino with a hand-picked collection of games that have been tailored to the Romanian market.

GAMING1launches groundbreaking AI player protection tools

Leading gaming and sports betting partnerGAMING1has developed an innovative new product suite to promote responsible gambling.

The toolkit, which was designed by the companys in-house product development team, aims to monitor all players activities and detect any early sign of problem gambling.

The new system deploys artificial intelligence and data science technologies to determine and monitor individuals at risk, before GAMING1s Responsible Gaming Operation team uses machine learning technologies to further analyse problematic behaviour.

Those identified at the highest risk level according to the companys proprietary modelling are then provided with rapid and comprehensive assistance by its in-house team of player protection experts.

Playtech Poker and Casino content now live with Enlabs

Playtech,the worlds leading gambling technology company, has welcomedEnlabs brands Optibet.lv and BestPoker.com to the Playtech iPoker network the leading poker network in the world.

At a time where Poker as a vertical is evolving in line with market challenges, Playtech is continuing to develop and expand the iPoker network. This new partnership sees Playtech enter the Latvian poker market, in line with Playtechs wider strategy to focus on growth in regulated markets worldwide. The iPoker network offers an excellent liquidity pool, backed by premium software and services developed to comply with regulatory requirements in multiple jurisdictions.

The new partnership will bring not only Playtechs award winning Poker product to Enlabs customers, but also Playtechs industry leading Casino content including access to Playtechs extensive offering of branded titles such asJustice Leagueand theSporting LegendsSuite.

United Remote weave warm Wazdan welcome.

Aggregator and platform United Remote has announced a new partnership with online casino slots developer Wazdan to further extend its games portfolio and provide additional choice to the aggregators established B2B distribution channel.

For further information visitwww.united-remote.com

Wazdan Partners with Lithuanias Most Popular Betting Platform, TOPsport

Innovative slots producer, Wazdan, is excited to unveil their latest partnership, with Lithuanias most popular online betting platform, TOPsport.

TOPsport is a leading betting and casino platform in Lithuania, offering players sports betting and more than 1000 casino games including video slots, exclusive games, table games, classic slots, poker, lotteries and even racing. All from a list of high-profile providers, of which Wazdan is now proudly a part of.

BF Games partners with Crocobet in Georgia

Creative development studio BF Games has signed a deal with Crocobet to offer its entire portfolio of casino content to the leading operator in Georgia.

The deal gives Crocobet access to BF Games entire slots portfolio, including classic hits such asBook of Gods, Stunning Hot, Crystal Mania, Hot ClassicandBonnie & Clyde,as well as newly-released summer titleHot Sunrise.

Crocobet is a well-established local operator in Georgia, offering its customers a wide range of casino and slot games as well as a complete sportsbook.

OneTouch pens key agreement with Bitcasino for live dealer products

Mobile-first games developerOneTouchhas announced a deal with specialist cryptocurrency casino operator, Bitcasino.

The agreement will see an engaging selection of the studios live dealer products. go live with the popular online casino later this year, including live dealer Baccarat, Roulette and Blackjack.

Founded in 2014, Bitcasino is the worlds first licensed Bitcoin-focused operator, with OneTouchs latest commercial partnership boosting its appeal amongst a wide range of audiences.

The providers engaging portfolio of slot and table games, which is known for its innovative mobile-first designs and intuitive single-touch interactivity, will be enjoyed by a rapidly growing fanbase thanks to the recent string of deals it has signed with the likes of Slotegrator and Revolver Gaming.

BetGames.TV strikes major content deal with Logrand Entertainment Group

BetGames.TV, the leading live dealer betting games supplier, has announced a partnership with Logrand Entertainment Group which sees its entire portfolio now live onStrendus, the operators main brand in Mexico.

The studio has signed numerous strategic agreements across LatAm in recent months, and this latest deal further enhances the companys presence in the regions thriving regulated markets.

Classic live games such asWheel of Fortune,BaccaratandBetGames.TVs innovative spin on Texas Holdem poker,6+ Poker,are now all available onStrendusand its associate brand Mustangmoney.

Camanbet shifts from purely retail to omnichannel approach with BtoBet

Leading iGaming platform provider has intensified its partnership with Camanbet, with the Venezuela-based operator going live online by making use of the Neuron 3 platform.

Camanbet have been present on a national level for the past 14 years, primarily through its vast retail network. Nonetheless the operator had been for the past months exploring ways of diversifying its business strategy by also taking its operations online in order to target a new fold of player. Through its online and mobile version, players can now have access to a wider selection of verticals including live casino, slots, and virtual sports.

GrooveGaming gets connected to LatAm specialist BetConnections.

Yet again aggregator GrooveGaming is in the news with a deal to supply content to LatAm specialistBetConnections, as GrooveGaming continues to expand rapidly on the back of some of the most robust technology in the iGaming industry.

GrooveGaming is the aggregator of choice for a host of big industry names including EveryMatrix, iGP, Digitain, Microgaming, ProgressPlay, Alea, Quickfire and BetConstruct, amongst others, with BetConnections providing a significant stepping stone into the LatAm market.

Selected by BetConnections on the depth of its portfolio, GrooveGamings powerful platform includes over 4000 casino games as well as a wealth of aggregated content ranging from slots, online casino and live casino, to poker and table games, that operators can access via easy integration to drive player engagement and revenue.

BetConnections also took into account that GrooveGaming has been recognised as one of the 10 Best Technology Solution Providers of 2020 by IndustryEra, firmly demonstrating that the aggregatorstechnology development is being acknowledged not only in the iGaming industry, but also from outside it.

Excerpt from:

Gambling Industry Announcement and Partnership Roundup - August 6, 2020 - CalvinAyre.com

Bring Vegas to Your Home with These Top 5 Gambling Movies on Netflix – Programming Insider

Posted on by

Vegas is famous for its enormous and luxurious casinos. We have seen many movies where the main character does the magic on the poker table. When you cant go to Vegas, you can bring Vegas to your home. All you need to do is watch some classic movies that feature amusing gambling stories. There are tons of movies that include a casino in the plot, but we only picked the top 5 for you. They are available on Netflix so that you can enjoy them from the comfort of your own home. Make sure that you dont miss the carefully chosen list of the most popular gambling movies!

Croupier

Gambling movies show different aspects, so this one is different from the others. It is all about which perspective you want to see. Croupier is a story about a dealer that takes you into the shady world of gambling. People here put big stakes on the table, rather than gambling with only their pay. The movie takes you into the worlds of small card rooms, rather than the flashy and luxurious casinos. This is a classic movie made in 1998, so it is worth seeing.

Casino Royale

One of the Bond movies included a casino in the plot. Casino Royale is one of Bonds toughest missions. The undercover spy is on a mission to investigate the mysterious deaths of other spies. Agent 007 discovers one common weakness among agents: being seduced by women. Bonds charm will gain Lady Fiona on his side. These two will work together to stop Le Chriffes plan to finance a terrorist group by cheating in the casino. This classic was filmed back in 1967. If you havent watched the casino blockbuster, you have certainly missed a lot. Next time you enjoy your favorite game at sites like pokerrules.club, dont miss watching the movie.

Oceans 11

Oceans 11 is a good comedy and an action movie. A group of eleven criminals joins together for a heist worth $150 million. Their ultimate plan is to rob three Vegas casinos. But, things get pretty complicated here. The owner is in a relationship with Tess, the ex of the leader of Oceans 11. This movie guarantees a great plot twist, as it gathers the elite from Hollywood. Clooney is the leader in this fun action movie and the chief planner of the casino robbery. This is one of the old-fashioned heist movies that you shouldnt miss.

Rounders

Mike McDermott is a law student that has a hidden hobby. He is a poker player, nut not many know that he is an actual genius. He doesnt only play for the fun nor the money. Mike is determined to enter the World Series and build his reputation in the poker world. But, not many things will g according to plan. The movie shows his side of the story while struggling to balance his love relationship, school, and endless love for poker. He joins the shady poker scene of New York to fulfill his mission.

The Cooler

The movie is a romantic drama with some gambling elements to spice things up. In the old-school casino language, a cooler is an employee whose presence brings bad luck to the gamblers. The casino manager, played by Alec Baldwin, sees this as an excellent opportunity. Bernie is the cooler of the Shangri-La casino, where he falls in love with Natalie. She then changes his life for the better. The movie puts an accent on Alec Baldwins exceptional performance as the manager of the casino.

Excerpt from:

Bring Vegas to Your Home with These Top 5 Gambling Movies on Netflix - Programming Insider

Calidi Biotherapeutics in San Diego receives FDA Approval for COVID-19 Treatment clinical trial – – KUSI

Posted on by

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company at the forefront of stem cell-based delivery of oncolytic viruses, announced that the Investigational New Drug (IND) application submitted by its partner, Personalized Stem Cells, Inc. (PSC), has received FDA approval for the treatment of COVID-19 and pneumonia patients using stem cell therapy.

Calidi has partnered with PSC for over two yearsmost recently contributing the stem cell lines used to manufacture treatment for the upcoming first trial, CoronaStem 1, which will be conducted among 20 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in California.

We are extremely pleased to continue our partnership with PSC, securing and providing stem cells from healthy donors in strict accordance with FDA guidelines, said Allan J. Camaisa, Chairman and CEO of Calidi Biotherapeutics. Weve seen the impressive capabilities of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells firsthand through Calidis years of work, and strongly believe that they can help provide a therapeutic solution for the global pandemic, in addition to serving as vehicles for oncolytic virus delivery and potentiation upon direct injection into cancerous tumors. The combined effect of efficient cell-based delivery, direct cancer cell killing by the oncolytic viruses and induction of anti-tumor immunity is responsible for the potent anti-tumor effects of this approach not only at the injected tumor site, but also at distant metastatic tumor sites.

The CoronaStem 1 study will proceed in the coming weeks, managed and conducted by PSC, among a limited number of COVID-19 patients, as outlined in the IND submission. PSC plans to proceed onto a larger phase 2 clinical trial and potentially into FDA compassionate use programs to reach more patients pending the success of the initial trial.

Read more from the original source:

Calidi Biotherapeutics in San Diego receives FDA Approval for COVID-19 Treatment clinical trial - - KUSI

Edited Transcript of BLCM.OQ earnings conference call or presentation 6-Aug-20 9:00pm GMT – Yahoo Finance

Posted on by

Houston Aug 7, 2020 (Thomson StreetEvents) -- Edited Transcript of Bellicum Pharmaceuticals Inc earnings conference call or presentation Thursday, August 6, 2020 at 9:00:00pm GMT

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - CFO

* Richard A. Fair

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director

* Nicholas M. Abbott

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Research Division - MD of Equity Research of Biotechnology

Greetings, and welcome to the Bellicum Pharmaceuticals 2Q 2020 Financial Results and Corporate Update Conference Call. (Operator Instructions) As a reminder, this conference is being recorded. Thursday, August 6, 2020.

I would now like to turn the conference over to Stephen Jasper from Westwicke. Please go ahead.

Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for joining the call. With me today on the call is Rick Fair, Bellicum's President and Chief Executive Officer; and Atabak Mokari, Chief Financial Officer. Later, during the Q&A session, Aaron Foster, Head of Research, will also be available.

Earlier this afternoon, Bellicum released financial results for the second quarter and 6 months ended June 30, 2020. If you have not received this release or if you'd like to be added to the distribution list, you can do so on the Investor Relations page of the company's website.

As a reminder, today's conference call will include forward-looking statements made under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Bellicum's research and development plans, clinical trials, plans regarding regulatory filings, review and approval of its product candidates, commercialization expectations and our financial outlook. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties and reflect Bellicum's opinions only as of the date of this call. Bellicum undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Actual results may differ from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including those discussed in the Risk Factors section of Bellicum's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

And now I will turn the call over to Rick Fair, Bellicum's President and CEO.

Richard A. Fair, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director [3]

Thanks, Stephen. Good afternoon, everyone, and thanks for joining us. On our call today, I'll provide an update on our GoCAR pipeline, and Atabak will update you on our financial results. Before I talk about our individual programs, let me briefly remind you how GoCAR is differentiated from other cell therapy approaches. Our platform is unique in 2 distinct ways. First, we've engineered GoCAR to deliver more potent and durable efficacy relative to current generation cell therapies. We believe we can accomplish this primarily through our coactivation domain, MyD88, CD40 or MC. We believe MC signaling can boost effector cell proliferation and survival, enhance functional persistence by resisting exhaustion in the suppressive tumor microenvironment and stimulate the cancer patients' own immune system to attack tumors.

Second, we've engineered GoCAR for higher performance relative to current generation cell therapies, potentially offering superior control via our molecular switch technology. Other cell therapies behave unpredictably due to their autonomous activity, but GoCAR anti-tumor effects can be controlled by the scheduled intermittent administration of rimiducid. GoCAR activity can be dialed up or down by adjusting the interval between rimiducid doses or suspending further rimiducid administration. In our dual-switch product candidates, we can further improve controllability by incorporating our CaspaCIDe safety switch, which would -- can rapidly eliminate cells when triggered to manage acute toxicities if they occur.

We believe our GoCAR platform may address many of the shortcomings of current cell therapies. Our preclinical investigations have demonstrated some of these potential benefits, and we are now observing supportive evidence of these effects in the clinic. We are pursuing 2 strategic paths to establish clinical proof of concept: First, we are targeting solid tumors, where the effects of MC signaling may help overcome the challenges of the hostile tumor microenvironment, T cell exhaustion and heterogeneous antigen expression that have confounded previous CAR-T efforts. Our 2 solid tumor CAR-T -- GoCAR-T candidates, or BPX-601, targeting PSCA, and BPX-603 targeting HER2.

Our second strategy is the pursuit of an allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapy. We believe that our GoCAR platform has the potential to drive proliferation and persistence of allogeneic immune cells and to stimulate a host immune response, both of which will be critical to delivering effective off-the-shelf therapies. We seek to demonstrate the value of our approach with our BCMA GoCAR-NK.

Let me now provide an update on each of these programs. BPX-601 targets prostate stem cell antigen or PSCA. The clinical data we have presented to date from an ongoing Phase I/II dose escalation trial in pancreatic cancer have shown encouraging safety, biologic activity, and biomarker data that supports the hypothesized benefits of the GoCAR platform in solid tumors. Specifically, we are particularly encouraged by observations of tumor infiltration, GoCAR-T mediated immunomodulation, persistence of cells for up to 9 months and changes in gene expression in the tumor microenvironment, consistent with a productive CAR-T cell immune response.

We are now enrolling Cohort 5C, our first-in-human evaluation of repeat rimiducid dosing. Our preclinical experience suggests that regular rimiducid dosing can reactivate and expand GoCAR-T cells in the presence of tumor antigen over time, without creating T cell exhaustion and thus, maximize the clinical efficacy potential. We plan to present interim results for this cohort at a medical meeting by the end of this year.

Like many others, we have experienced the COVID-19 related impact on screening and enrollment, which may impact the number of patients and duration of follow-up that we will present. In addition, primarily due to COVID-19 restrictions at our study sites, we have been unable to date to collect post-treatment biopsies in Cohort 5C, limiting to some degree what we can assess in these patients. We will continue to work with our investigators to overcome these COVID-19 obstacles to the extent possible, and are in the process of adding a few more sites to the study to increase prescreening activity.

Looking ahead, we have submitted a protocol amendment to the FDA with several modifications to the study. Upon FDA and IRB clearance of this amendment, we plan to expand eligibility to third-line pancreatic cancer patients, which we believe will enable more prescreening. Second, informed by the risk-benefit profile we've observed to date, we will extend dose escalation to 10 million cells per kilogram. Lastly, we will add a cohort of patients with hormone refractory, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Assuming prompt FDA clearance of this amendment, we expect to begin enrollment under this amended protocol later this year. Based on the data we've seen so far and the proposed study amendments, we remain optimistic about BPX-601, both as a product candidate and as proof-of-concept for our GoCAR platform.

Now let me update you on BPX-603. This program is Bellicum's first dual-switch product candidate, which has been designed to target solid tumors that express HER2. Academic CAR-T trials targeting HER2 have demonstrated clinical activity and reasonable safety. We believe that our dual switch technology in BPX-603 may be uniquely suited to improve upon these earlier efforts by driving greater efficacy through MC signaling and providing an extra layer of safety via our switch platform.

The FDA recently cleared our IND for BPX-603, and we are currently in study start-up to initiate a Phase I/II clinical trial later this year. The trial is a traditional 3 plus 3 dose escalation followed by Phase II expansions in multiple HER2-positive cancers. Dose escalation will begin at 100,000 cells per kilogram in a basket of HER2-positive solid tumors, and patients will be sequentially enrolled throughout dose escalation. Patients will receive standard Flu/Cy conditioning followed by BPX-603 cells. The first patient in each dose cohort will be followed without subsequent treatment, while the remaining patients in each cohort will receive weekly rimiducid to either dose-limiting toxicity or disease progression. We are excited to get this study underway, and we'll keep you posted on our progress.

Now let's move to our BCMA GoCAR-NK program. CAR-NK cells represent an intriguing next wave in the evolution of cell therapy, so we are excited about the potential for our first off-the-shelf GoCAR-NK candidate. NK cells may be particularly well suited for allogeneic cell therapy since they have innate cytotoxicity with low propensity for causing graft-versus-host disease.

We presented encouraging preclinical data from our NK discovery program at the 2019 SITC meeting and published a paper on this work, Blood Advances, this year in May. The data showed that our GoCAR platform synergizes with secreted IL-15 to enhance NK cell proliferation, survival and cytotoxic function. In addition, GoCAR-NK cells expressing our MC coactivation domain and IL-15 resulted in superior in vivo efficacy in multiple preclinical tumor models. Based on these initial investigations, we believe that GoCAR-NK cells have the potential to be a best-in-class off-the-shelf cell therapy. We selected BCMA as the target for our initial program since it is, well validated from autologous CAR-T studies, and we expect cell therapy to play a major role in multiple myeloma treatment.

The next step for the field is to deliver similar clinical benefit with an off-the-shelf therapy, which may provide faster and more certain time to treatment, greater scalability, convenience and a lower cost to manufacture. Based on our preclinical findings, we believe that GoCAR-NK may deliver more durable efficacy than other off-the-shelf cell therapy strategies. We will seek to demonstrate this in our development program. Our preclinical development is ongoing, and we expect to present additional data for this program by the end of 2020.

That concludes the summary of our programs. So let me now turn the call over to Atabak for a review of our financial results.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Atabak Mokari, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - CFO [4]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you, Rick. R&D expenses were $11.8 million for the second quarter of 2020 compared to $20 million for the second quarter of 2019. The reduction in expenses in the second quarter of 2020 was primarily due to reduced expenses related to reduced RIVO-CEL-related activities, reduced expenses resulting from the April 2020 manufacturing facility sale and the reduction in force that was implemented during the second half of 2019. These reduced expenses were partially offset by increased expenses related to our GoCar-T and GoCAR-NK programs.

General and administrative expenses were $3.8 million for the second quarter of 2020 compared to $7.5 million during the comparable period in 2019. The lower expenses in the second quarter of 2020 was primarily due to the reduction in RIVO-CEL-related commercialization activities and the effect of the reduction in force that reduced employee-related charges.

Bellicum reported a net loss of $43.2 million for the second quarter of 2020 compared to a net loss of $26.9 million for the comparable period in 2019. The second quarter 2020 results included a noncash loss of $30.7 million related to the change in fair value of warrant liability and net gain on dispositions of $3.8 million due to the manufacturing facility sale.

Turning to our balance sheet. As of June 30, 2020, cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $68 million. In the second quarter, we had a cash loss from operations of approximately $14.2 million, which was a decrease from prior quarters given the steps we have taken to streamline the organization.

In April, Bellicum closed a transaction in which the MD Anderson Cancer Center acquired our manufacturing facility in Houston for $15 million. Concurrent with the transaction, Bellicum repaid $7 million of its Oxford Finance debt obligation.

Based on current operating plans, Bellicum expects cash utilization of $55 million to $65 million for the full year 2020 compared to cash loss from operations of approximately $30.5 million for the 6 months ended June 30, 2020. We believe that the current cash resources will be sufficient to meet operating requirements into the second half of 2021.

And now I'll hand the call back over to Rick.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard A. Fair, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director [5]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, Atabak. Reviewing our accomplishments so far in 2020, I'm pleased by the advancement of our GoCAR pipeline across our 3 programs. I'm particularly enthusiastic as we anticipate an increasing number of potential data milestones. Over the next 24 months, for BPX-601, we expect to present 2 updates in pancreatic cancer and our first data in prostate cancer. For BPX-603, we expect steady start in our first patient from dose escalation. And for our GoCAR-NK program, we expect multiple preclinical presentations and IND submission.

I remain excited about Bellicum's future, the potential of our GoCAR pipeline and look forward to updating you on our future progress, including our first-in-human data with repeat rimiducid dosing and preclinical data on our GoCAR-NK program later this year.

I'll now open the call to questions. Operator?

================================================================================

Questions and Answers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operator [1]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Operator Instructions) And our first question comes from the line of Jim Birchenough with Wells Fargo Securities.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicholas M. Abbott, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division - Director & Associate Analyst [2]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's Nick on for Jim. And keeping us on the toes there with a new way to register and address all of your question. So the first thing, Rick, on 601. So has there been any readthrough from emerging repeat dose rimiducid data that's sort of led to this, I think, what we'd interpret as a renewed interest in expanding the 601 program?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard A. Fair, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director [3]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No, I think the expansion in the prostate, which is probably what you're referring to, Nick, is -- been a long-standing interest of ours. And I think we've now -- we're approaching the end of the dose escalation that we initiated in pancreatic cancer and now's the time to explore an expansion mode, a different tumor type. I think we all acknowledge that pancreatic cancer is a very challenging tumor. And we certainly don't want to miss a signal by not looking a little more broadly. So I think this is really just fulfillment of the previously articulated plan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicholas M. Abbott, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division - Director & Associate Analyst [4]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay. And then, in terms of the patients that you'll be enrolling with prostate cancer, do they have to fail the specific number of lines of treatment? And then, just from a perspective of this is a very bone-centric cancer, do you have preclinical data that supports that 601 is able to penetrate bone mets?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard A. Fair, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director [5]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes. On your first question, eligibility inclusion criteria, patients have to have received an anti-androgen therapy and either received or are ineligible for a taxane. And then for the subsets of patients that qualify, either MSI-high for anti-PD-1 or BRCA mutant for PARP inhibitor have to have received those therapies as well. So it's a later line patient population.

As far as bone mets, I don't think we have any specific preclinical data for BPX-601, but we will certainly be looking at the translational data as we embark and treat the patients in the study.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicholas M. Abbott, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division - Director & Associate Analyst [6]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And then just on 603, you gave us some outlines on -- of the trial design, so 3 plus 3, those patients. So is that the first patient at every dose level would not receive rimiducid?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard A. Fair, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director [7]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, that's correct. The -- so it's a traditional 3 plus 3 design with some modifications, and that's certainly one of them. So you would expect in each cohort and dose level in each of the study, the first patient would receive cells only, and the second 2 patients in the absence of a dose-limiting toxicity would receive cells plus weekly rimiducid.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nicholas M. Abbott, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division - Director & Associate Analyst [8]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And so presumably that first patient then will stay in the hospital, be intensively monitored. Do you have -- I mean, what -- can you discuss what the triggers are for administering the rapalog to activate the kill switch?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard A. Fair, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director [9]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think in summary, depending on the toxicity, it's essentially failure of standard of care. So these patients, as you say, will be admitted and will be monitored carefully. The on-target, off tumor effects that you'd be most interested in with this antigen, of course, are cardiopulmonary. So certainly, we'll be active monitoring. And if adverse events occur, they'll be treated with standard of care for whatever the adverse event. And then if standard of care fails, then they'll receive tensile and the small molecule activator of the safety switch in this construct.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operator [10]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our next question comes from the line of Kit Ma with Jefferies.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wai Kit Ma, Jefferies LLC, Research Division - Equity Associate [11]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is Kit. I'm on for Biren. I'm wondering what type of response can we expect with BPX-601 in the current trial. What will be the bar to move this forward into Phase II trial?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Richard A. Fair, Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - President, CEO & Director [12]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sure. Thanks, Kit. So it depends on the tumor type, of course. I think what we've said about pancreatic cancer is that you'd need to see something like a 15% response rate with a 6-month duration of response to be meaningful activity in the setting and be worth expansion in prostate cancer, probably a bit higher on the response rate, something more like a 30% to 35% response rate with similar durability to be a meaningful candidate to advance. So those are the thresholds that we're looking at.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operator [13]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Operator Instructions) Our next question comes from the line of Wangzhi Li with Landenburg.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wangzhi Li, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., Research Division - MD of Equity Research of Biotechnology [14]

See the original post here:

Edited Transcript of BLCM.OQ earnings conference call or presentation 6-Aug-20 9:00pm GMT - Yahoo Finance

Barnhart: It’s Time for A&E to Reinvent Itself (Again) – PRIMETIMER

Posted on by

A&E has built its brand around true crime of one sort or another for the better part of the last three decades, from Bill Kurtis (left) in the 90s, to Dan Abrams (middle) in the 2010s,

With the possible exception of BET, no cable channel has made less of its tremendous potential over the years than A&E. Formed in cables infancy in 1984 from a merger of two networks, one called Arts and one called Entertainment, A&E spent the Eighties trying to live up to its mission. There were shows about dance, music, travel, live comedy. Peter Graves hosted Biography, one-hour profiles of artists and (mostly) entertainers. A&E acquired Sherlock Holmes and other series from the BBC so many shows, in fact, that TV Guide called the channel BBC West. Politicians questioned the need to keep funding public broadcasting when channels like A&E, Discovery and CNN seemed perfectly capable of doing PBSs job.

And then the ratings came in. By the early 1990s A&Es co-owners, Hearst and Disney, were moving away from the A and looking desperately for anything that could E. Thats when they found that crime pays.

Bill Kurtis, the square-jawed Chicago news anchor, began taking over A&Es prime-time schedule in 1991 with documentary-style programs about murders and other violent crimes. From a state-of-the-art virtual studio that let him do multiple shows in the same space, Kurtis presented such A&E staples as American Justice, Cold Case Files, L.A. Detectives, and his signature show, Investigative Reports, which A&E stripped nightly, overtaking Biography (which was getting kicked to its own minor channel anyway).

The network that once produced a documentary called Dogs hit it big with Dog the Bounty Hunter, a reality show that made a star of Duane Dog Chapman, who profited off the countrys broken cash-bail system and did a poor job of hiding his contempt for Black people. Gene Simmons, another piece of work, got a reality show on A&E. The calls to London for high-class programming ceased as unscripted programming completely took over. A beautifully-done drama called 100 Centre Street, which showed the criminal-justice system as a flawed institution run by humans, was canceled by A&E after one year.

Yes, there have been highlights. A&Es IndieFilms division provided crucial funding and a platform to worthy docs like Jesus Camp, Happy Valley, and Life, Animated. I thought Hoarders was a good concept for a reality show, though Intervention was better. But the addiction to quick-hit ratings led A&E to hoard more and more true crime shows, so it was perhaps inevitable that they would land on a show inspired by the most prolific crime show of all time, and I dont mean Law & Order.

From its debut at the dawning of the reality TV era in 1989 until 2013, COPS was a staple of the Fox network lineup, consistently winning both its Saturday-night time periods with edited, formulaic, voyeuristic drive-alongs with local police. Justice advocates protested the show for decades, saying it drove home a narrative of predominantly white cops protecting law-abiding citizens from poor people of color. But as 2017 dawned and the 1000th episode of COPS aired on Spike TV (now the Paramount Network), there seemed no end in sight.

Inevitably, A&E came up with a COPS of its own Live PD. Hosted by ABC legal analyst Dan Abrams, Live PD did COPS one better by broadcasting its drive-alongs in real time from such crime hotspots as Missoula, Montana, and Springfield, Missouri. Frequently the top-rated cable show on Friday and Saturday nights, Live PD spawned several spinoffs and zillions of views for its clip reels on YouTube.

And then George Floyd was killed. The effects of his death are still reverberating through our culture as I write this, but surely one of the quickest and most dramatic results was the decision by Paramount to cancel COPS.That was not such a big deal;the show is over 30 years old and will live onin reruns, which are running 24/7on their own PlutoTVchannel (which ViacomCBS owns, along with COPS). But then came the stunner A&Es decision to cancel Live PD and all of its spinoffs, a huge deal since those programs filled a lot of real estate onA&Es lineup.

The blowback was swift, asA&Es primetime viewership was cut in half the next week. Thatnews wascelebrated by right-wing websiteswith headlines likeGet Woke, Go Broke. Alt-right mediainterpretsany concessions tothe Black Lives Movement as a sign of moral weakness. Ironically, the show promoted police transparency, one of the reforms championed by BLM and others, by following officers on their rounds in cities across the country, declared The Federalist. That canard has long been refuted by studies that found people who watch shows like COPS and Live PD believe their communities to be more crime-infested than they actually are.

As with the removal of Confederate statues, cancelling Live PD was an overreaction brought on by years of inaction. Abrams and A&E took no responsibility for the messaging being sent out by their programming, which if anything escalated the same damaging narratives about people of color that COPS had trafficked in for decades. Marijuana busts are at the heart of the mass incarceration problem, yet Live PD cops made drama out of finding bags of weed. Even seasoned cops complained that Live PD was doing them no favors with its distorted picture of law enforcement.

After Floyds death, A&E quickly pulled episodes of Live PD. A week later, it pulled the plug. This is a critical time in our nations history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD, the network said in a statement. Going forward, we will determine if there is a clear pathway to tell the stories of both the community and the police officers whose role it is to serve them. And with that, we will be meeting with community and civil rights leaders as well as police departments.

Ive long thought that crime TV was overdue for a course correction. So many people have been wrongfully convicted on spurious evidence by political prosecutors and judges behaving badly, cant anyone squeeze some drama out of the other side of the courtroom? Well, now is A&Es chance to do just that. With one-third of all Black men in America having a felony conviction on their records, mostly for non-violent offenses, thats a bunch of viewers and their families that would welcome a revamped, reformed Live PD. It will take creativity, because no ones really doing this right now, outside of perhaps Netflix. But it was A&Es long habit of favoring cheap, expedient programming that got them into this mess. Getting out will require innovation, imagination and, dare I say it, art.

Aaron Barnharthas written about television since 1994, including 15 years as TV critic for theKansas City Star.

Read this article:

Barnhart: It's Time for A&E to Reinvent Itself (Again) - PRIMETIMER

Verdant Power progressing tidal energy project in New York – Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

Posted on by

Tidal energy turbines are integrated with the TriFrame in preparation for a fall deployment in the East River.

(Courtesy Verdant Power)

Offshore staff

NEW YORK CITY Verdant Power has taken additional steps toward the installation of three, fifth-generation tidal power turbines on the companys TriFrame mount at its Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project site in the East River in New York City.

The turbines were transported from the companys New Jersey marine engineering support services facility to a marine vessel installation services area. They have been integrated onto a TriFrame mount in preparation for on-water delivery and deployment at the RITE Project site.

In addition, the RITE Project Control Room on Roosevelt Island is being readied for the turbine system installation, which is planned for autumn 2020.

The company plans to install three of its fifth generation Free Flow Systems or kinetic hydropower system (KHPS) turbines on a single TriFrame mount in the East River. This will be the pre-commercial phase of the companys RITE Project to design its KHPS tidal turbine, optimize the economics of installation and maintenance of arrays, and prove performance.

This is the final pre-commercialization phase in a process that has seen 23 government agencies approve work on the RITE Project, said Verdant Power CEO John T. Banigan. We are proud to have been the first licensed tidal power project in the US.

Our focus is on maximizing system power performance, increasing availability and reliability, and reducing project capex and operating costs, added Banigan. The RITE Project not only will demonstrate clean power from the tidal currents, but also will demonstrate tidal power as a viable energy resource advancing our industry in the US and globally.

The RITE Project site will generate electricity under a hydrokinetic pilot project license issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The project has been supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the US Department of Energy, in addition to New York-based private equity capital support.

08/07/2020

Go here to read the rest:

Verdant Power progressing tidal energy project in New York - Offshore Oil and Gas Magazine

Offshore bank, investment and trust accounts are these still allowed? – IOL

Posted on by

By Opinion 13h ago

Share this article:

By Coreen van der Merwe

Unpacking the enigma around offshore starts with one simple certainty; nothing in the South African Income Tax or Reserve Bank regulations prohibits South Africans from opening a bank account, investment account or setting up an offshore trust.

Many South Africans are feeling very uncertain about going offshore with their money, and understandably so. The spread of Covid-19, the economic forecast for South Africa (and also the rest of the world) and the Rands weakening value is enough to make any South African jittery and anxious about investing; not just locally, but also abroad. However, exposure to international assets is essential for the following reasons: it provides protection against the depreciation of the Rand, it helps to diversify investments and it allows access to a greater range of opportunities to invest in.

With all the complexity around moving wealth offshore, the real brainteaser for most is how to do it as quickly and cost effectively as possible and at what stage do I need to consider setting up an offshore trust.

Offshore bank and investment accounts

We are finding that many South Africans have international transactional needs for both business and personal reasons, yet some are only aware of one-dimensional foreign currency accounts, often referred to as CFC accounts. This type of account allows the account holder to manage foreign receipts and payments through their local bank, but it is all subject to Exchange Control regulations.

In comparison, the multiple benefits of having an offshore bank account enable South African accountholders to conveniently receive payment for work done outside of the country, make international payments and to access international funds by way of a debit or credit card. Most importantly, the general rule is that if the income was earned abroad while the South African resident was physically outside of the country, the income can be retained offshore. From here the funds can be transferred to a variety of different investment accounts also based offshore.

While there may not be any tax liability in the jurisdiction where the account is being held, accountholders will usually still be taxable in South Africa for any interest or capital gains that is earned on the account. The tax you may be required to pay depends heavily on the way you choose to invest and the type of investment account. Generally, the interest or gains realised need to be included in your taxable income for the year even though these are earned offshore because we are taxed on our worldwide income in South Africa.

Offshore bank or investment account(s) also need to be declared. The tax authorities in jurisdictions where the accounts are held, may have signed up for Common Reporting Standards (CRS). The account details, balances and interest earned will automatically be shared with South African tax authorities and therefore, the account is not confidential by any means.

Although your details may not be confidential, your money will remain outside of South Africa. In terms of de-risking wealth, it is a completely legal and acceptable solution to escape the volatility of the rand and to diversify your investments.

When exploring the benefits of opening an offshore account, the key is to choose your preferred offshore banking institution by taking into consideration the minimum balance requirements, transactional fees, reputation and jurisdiction. Some banks require face-to-face meetings with the account holder while others are comfortable to work through a licenced service provider like Sovereign Trust, in which case, a face to face meeting might not be required.

Offshore investment companies usually do not require a face to face interview, but an introduction by a regulated financial advisor might be required before an account can be opened with their company. Annual platform and trading fees should also be considered.

Trust accounts

At what point should you consider setting up a trust to house the funds in your offshore bank or investment account and why?

We will start with answering the why. If your intention is to achieve any or a combination of the goals listed below, setting up a trust and investing in the trusts name, becomes an option:

To ensure that setting up an offshore trust is a feasible exercise, you need to consider the annual trustee fees (which will depend on the jurisdiction, the type of trust and also the activity levels of the trust), the amount available to invest as well as the possible returns that can be achieved. As an absolute minimum requirement, the return should cover the annual trustee and other annual costs associated with the trust and investment.

Coreen van der Merwe is the director at Sovereign Trust (SA) Limited.

PERSONAL FINANCE

Read more from the original source:

Offshore bank, investment and trust accounts are these still allowed? - IOL

Fairspin: Over $ 500000 in Earnings and 10 ETH Gifts – Somag News

Posted on by

Fairspin is the first online casino with Blockchain-based verification control. Each user can track their deposits and withdrawals through public smart contracts. The casino also continually publishes its account balance, recent game data and total bet and win amount on its home page.

The project has been operating under license by Curaao eGaming and TruePlay Blockchain platform since 2018. Fairspin players have won more than 130,000 ETH so far. This amount continues to increase rapidly thanks to high payout percentages, high bonuses, regular promotions and fast withdrawals to crypto wallets.

New Record High Withdrawal and Over $ 500,000 In EarningsIn July, one of the new Fairspin players broke two consecutive records, with the biggest win and the highest one-time cash draw. The member carried out various transactions on July 5th. The largest transaction was recorded at 250 ETH ($ 57,060). This withdrawal equalized the record 101 ETH ($ 23,395) withdrawals registered by the same user.

The player earned a total of 2,731 ETH ($ 650,803) in July and transferred his winnings to the cryptocurrency wallet.

All the withdrawals of the player were made immediately and no transaction fee was charged as he deposited money in the cryptocurrency.

To give an example of how Fairspin users make big money in cryptocurrencies: On July 13, a player received 209.403 TPLAY (Fairspins own casino currency). Reached this balance as of 5:50:04 PM. You can check the net processing time on Etherscan.

A minute later, at 05:51:12, the balance of the players crypto wallet reached 209.4 ETH (equivalent to 209,403 TPLAY).

Absolute control and fast transactions on the money earned are among the main advantages appreciated by Fairspin users.

Blockchain casino greatly expanded its bonus program list in July. Gifts are currently given to players of all levels.

Beginners receive up to 30 free spins and 140 free spins for registration, and 40 ETH for their first deposit.

Users depositing within one hour of registration receive 120% bonus instead of standard 100% bonus.

All players earn 5% cash, 2% cash weekly and 1% cash monthly from Monday to Wednesday. In addition, a deposit bonus of 20% to 25% is offered between Thursday and Sunday.

VIP users receive the most profitable bonuses: up to 25% cash back, 100% bonus on all deposits, 100 free spins per week, $ 5,000 bet (standard limit is $ 100) and x3 for tournament rewards they take the multiplier.

More than 2000 games from leading providers are on the platform. Game main categories: live games, slots, roulette, card games, video poker and lottery.

Fairspin is constantly expanding its game library. Blockchain casino was integrated by more than 100 new live games by Evolution Gaming in July: roulette, blackjack, poker, baccarat, dice, fortune wheel and a soccer match simulator. Fairspin users can now play games with professional dealers and other players from all over the world.

It is worth noting that the above-mentioned huge amount of 2,731 ETH ($ 650,803) was won in live games: Roulette A, Roulette Macao, Live Blackjack C, Live Blackjack D and Live Blackjack E.

Fairspin promoted the Free Spin Funnel on July 13-26. With this, users can earn unlimited free spins. The 20 most active players share the 10 ETH prize pool at the end of the race.

Playsons August Cash Days tournament with a 40,000 euro prize pool is until 8 August, and between 14-23 August is the 280,000 euro prize pool until August 24, and Playson Summer Deluxe 50,000 euro prize pool Chase Money from Booongo Fairspin will also be open to participation.

Continued here:

Fairspin: Over $ 500000 in Earnings and 10 ETH Gifts - Somag News

Casino guests return to the slots as Detroit’s gaming halls reopen – The Detroit News

Posted on by

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

Detroit For Curtis Martin, the reopening of Detroits three casinos was long overdue.

Im glad theyre opened, but I think theyve been closed for too long, said Martin as he looked for the entrance to Greektown Casino-Hotel on Wednesday.

The 87-year-old Detroit resident was among hundreds of casino guests making a first trip back to a Detroit casino Wednesday, more than four months after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered them closed in March to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Im hoping to win, Martin said before he and his girlfriend, Rosa Jemison, 91, joined a small group waiting outside of an entrance on Lafayette.

Andrew Donaldson of Detroit wears a mask as he plays the penny slots Wednesday at the MGM Grand Detroit.(Photo: Todd McInturf, The Detroit News)

Once inside the casino, guests would find numerous safety measures including temperature checks, sanitation stations, spaced-out seating at slot machines and fewer guests on the casino floor. All casinos are to adhere to a set of state-mandated safety guidelines including 15% occupancy.

MotorCity Casino Hotel and Greektown Casino-Hotel opened their doors to the general public on Wednesday.MGM Grand Detroit welcomed back its top-tier customers in its loyalty program on Wednesday and will reopen to the general public Friday.

We wanted our best customers to get the first taste of what the new normal is and two there are so many new safety protocols its definitely a different experience, said Matt Buckley, senior vice president of marketing and operations for MGM Grand Detroit. We wanted our team members to get used to it too before we have the masses come in and overwhelm them.

Matt Buckley, MGM Grand Detroit senior vice president of marketing and operations, describes the precautions the casino has undertaken, including, spacing out slot machines at least six feet and turning off slot machines in between.(Photo: Todd McInturf, The Detroit News)

The reopening has meant the return to work for hundreds of casino employees.

Most importantly, this decision allows us to initially recall up to 50% of our staff, providing critical employment and health benefit, said Bruce Dall, president of MotorCity Casino Hotel. The casino was also able to extend health benefits through the end of the month for employees not yet called back.

MGM Grand Detroit was able to initially bring back 1,200 of the 2,800 employees it had before the shutdown, officials said.

The three casinos have struggled with financial losses since they were ordered closed March 16.Their year-to-date combined revenue of $299.2 million was down by 59.3% through June compared with $735.4 million in combined revenue reported for the same period in 2019, according to the Michigan Gaming Control Board.

The city of Detroit has also been hurtby the loss in tax revenue generated by the three casinos. In a statement Wednesday, David P. Massaron, the city's chief financial officer, said that thatbased on the current capacity limitations and changes in operations, its too early to predict revenues from the casinos.

The MGM Grand has installed a hand-washing station in the middle of the casino floor. Dealer Audrey Jones washes her hands before taking a break.(Photo: Todd McInturf, The Detroit News)

"In our budget, we assumed we would be receiving $3 million per month in early months as the casinos reopened," he said. "At this point it is unclear that revenues will be at that level.

At MGM Grand Detroit on Wednesday, blackjack dealers stood behind Plexiglas waiting for players while the cleaning crew moved throughout the casino floor wiping down machines and commonly touched surfaces. The 200 hand sanitizing stations throughout the building were a mix ofsinks, wipedispensers and hand sanitizer.

Among the gamblers on the floor was Andrew Donaldson of Detroit. He was there with his wife Julie Haung, who he describes as a "high roller." The couple would visitthe casino once or twice a week before the shutdown.

"I've got to see what it's like with a whole bunch of people," he said. "It's quite free right at the moment."

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @CWilliams_DN

Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2020/08/05/casino-guests-return-detroit-gaming-halls-reopen/3290904001/

Read more:

Casino guests return to the slots as Detroit's gaming halls reopen - The Detroit News

Local researchers tracking COVID-19 through antibody testing project – TribDem.com

Posted on by

A Windber research program is expanding to help address questions nagging scientists and doctors studying the COVID-19 pandemic.

The antibody testing project is a collaboration of Chan Soon Shiong Medical Center at Windber and Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine.

At a Thursday morning press briefing to promote the states COVID-19 testing program, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine explained the differences between COVID-19 tests, including the antibody test that is being studied in Windber.

Unlike the diagnostic testing that has confirmed more than 100,000 COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, the antibody tests show previous exposure to the virus, Levine explained.

Those are the tests of our immune response to the virus, Levine said. The clinical utility of the antibody test for each individual is not really clear yet. We dont know as much about the antibodies as wed like to.

The antibodies are produced by the immune system to fight the virus, but scientists still dont know how long they last or how well they protect against future infections, Levine said.

Those are the questions that Windber is studying, said Stella Somiari, senior director of the molecular medicine institute.

Participants are being tested every three months for at least a year to track the antibodies, she said Thursday during a press event at Windber.

Maybe some negatives will become positives, Somiari said.

Do they still have that positive after three months? We want to understand how long this immunity lasts.

Windbers research project began in May with testing of hospital employees who volunteered. More than 200 have been tested.

On Thursday, Windbers leaders announced the program is expanding to cancer patients through the hospitals Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center.

Taunia Oechslin Girls Night Out Foundation is funding the tests for cancer patients through Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center at the hospital.

Erin Goins, director of the Murtha center, said the initiative fits well with the Oechslin organizations mission of helping breast cancer patients.

Thats why they raise so much money every year for our patients, Goins said. If we can go ahead and do a study with our breast cancer patients, absolutely, its for the patients. Thats what theyre all about.

Levine said the antibody test could provide information in population-based studies, noting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is doing some research in that area.

Somiari said Windber is not currently part of the CDCs work, but expects future collaborations.

I think at some point, we all have to talk, she said. The data has to all come together so we can talk and compare.

The antibody testing will not replace the diagnostic testing, known as the polymerase chain reaction or PCR test, Levine stressed. The diagnostic tests looks for active coronavirus DNA in the patients respiratory system.

Until a vaccine or a cure is developed, PCR testing will remain key in controlling the spread of COVID-19, Gov. Tom Wolf said at the Thursday morning briefing.

We are continuing to build our testing capacity, Wolf said.

We need to do that because we know that rapidly identifying and isolating people who have been infected by COVID-19 is a key part of reducing the spread of this deadly disease.

He recognized Walmarts network of 13 testing sites, primarily in rural areas of the state.

Testing is key, Wolf said.

The issue is not just how many tests you have the capacity to do, its how accessible those tests are how easily people can get to them.

Statewide testing capacity has expanded from less than 8,000 tests a day in April to an average of almost 22,000 a day, currently. Wolf said the capacity allows for testing of about 4% of the state population each month.

Here in Pennsylvania, we are doing what we can everything we can to expand our testing capacity, and get test results in the hands of the patients as quickly as possible.

Wolf said state officials are pressing the federal government to enable commercial labs to turn around test results more quickly.

Wolf said the labs may be giving a higher priority to states with more significant surges, noting Pennsylanias COVID-19 cases have stabilized, somewhat.

Cambria County adds 10 new cases

Thursdays report showed the rolling seven-day average dropped for the eighth consecutive day to an average of 777 new cases a day. The seven-day average climbed through most of July, peaking at 974 cases a day on July 29.

Cambria, Blair and Indiana counties each showed double-digit increases in COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with 807 new cases statewide, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported.

The state also reported 38 additional deaths, bringing the state totals to 116,521 confirmed cases and 7,282 deaths related to COVID-19 since the coronavirus pandemic hit Pennsylvania in March.

Cambria Countys 10 new cases bring its COVID-19 totals to 322 cases and three deaths.

It was the countys second consecutive double-digit report, apparently driven by new cases at the federal prison in Loretto. The Bureau of Prisons website on Thursday reported 40 cases among inmates, up from 31 cases on Wednesday and 12 on Tuesday.

Elsewhere in the region:

Somerset had no new cases and remains at 127 cases and three deaths.

Blair County added 14 cases to reach 255 cases and three deaths.

Indiana County also added 14 cases to reach 297 cases and six deaths.

Bedford County added two cases to reach 136 cases and four deaths.

Clearfield County added six cases to reach 150 cases and no deaths.

Westmoreland County added nine cases to reach 1,484 cases and 46 deaths.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

Read more here:

Local researchers tracking COVID-19 through antibody testing project - TribDem.com

Suppression of c-Met-Overexpressing Tumors by a Novel c-Met/CD3 Bispec | DDDT – Dove Medical Press

Posted on by

Lei Huang,1 Kun Xie,1 Hongwen Li,1 Ruiqin Wang,1 Xiaoqing Xu,1 Kaiming Chen,1 Hua Gu,1 Jianmin Fang1 3

1Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, Peoples Republic of China; 2Department of Neurology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China; 3Biomedical Research Center, Tongji University Suzhou Institute, Suzhou, Jiangsu, Peoples Republic of China

Correspondence: Hua Gu Tel +86-21-6598-2867Correspondence Email gu_hua@tongji.edu.cnJianmin Fang Tel +86-21-6598-2878Email jfang@tongji.edu.cn

Introduction: Overexpression of c-Met, or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) receptor, is commonly observed in tumor biopsies and often associated with poor patient survival, which makes HGF/c-Met pathway an attractive molecular target for cancer therapy. A number of antibody-based therapeutic strategies have been explored to block c-Met or HGF in cancers; however, clinical efficacy has been very limited, indicating that blockade of c-Met signal alone is not sufficient. Thus, an alternative approach is to develop an immunotherapy strategy for c-Met-overexpressing cancers. c-Met/CD3 bispecific antibody (BsAb) could bridge CD3-positive T lymphocytes and tumor cells to result in potent tumor cell killing.Materials and Methods: A bispecific antibody, BS001, which binds both c-Met and CD3, was generated using a novel BsAb platform. Western blotting and T cells-mediated killing assays were utilized to evaluate the BsAbs effects on cell proliferation, survival and signal transduction in tumor cells. Subcutaneous tumor mouse models were used to analyze the in vivo anti-tumor effects of the bispecific antibody and its combination therapy with PD-L1 antibody.Results: BS001 showed potent T-cell mediated tumor cells killing in vitro. Furthermore, BS001 inhibited phosphorylation of c-Met and downstream signal transduction in tumor cells. In A549 lung cancer xenograft model, BS001 inhibited tumor growth and increased the proportion of activated CD56+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. In vivo combination therapy of BS001 with Atezolizumab (an anti-programmed cell death protein1-ligand (PD-L1) antibody) showed more potent tumor inhibition than monotherapies. Similarly, in SKOV3 xenograft model, BS001 showed a significant efficacy in tumor growth inhibition and tumor recurrence was not observed in more than half of mice treated with a combination of BS001 and Pembrolizumab.Conclusion: c-Met/CD3 bispecific antibody BS001 exhibited potent anti-tumor activities in vitro and in vivo, which was achieved through two distinguished mechanisms: through antibody-mediated tumor cell killing by T cells and through inhibition of c-Met signal transduction.

Keywords: c-Met, bispecific antibody, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, checkpoint antibody

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

Read more:

Suppression of c-Met-Overexpressing Tumors by a Novel c-Met/CD3 Bispec | DDDT - Dove Medical Press

Atos Partners with University of Oxford on Largest AI Supercomputer in the UK – HPCwire

Posted on by

PARIS and LONDON, Aug. 4, 2020 Atos has signed a four-year contract worth 5 million with the University of Oxford to deliver a new, state of the art, deep learning supercomputer built on the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD architecture, which will enable UK academics and industry to drive forward scientific discoveries and innovation in machine learning and artificial intelligence, as part of the JADE2 project.

The largest AI-focused supercomputer in the UK with over 500 NVIDIA GPUs, this high-performance system is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC),and aims to build on the success of the current JADE1(Joint Academic Data Science Endeavour)facility a national resource providing advanced GPU computing facilities to world-leading AI and machine learning experts from a consortium of eight UK universities and the Alan Turing Institute.

The JADE2 supercomputer is built on NVIDIA DGX systems, and uses the DDN A3I storage solution. It will more than triple the capacity of the originalJADEmachine and provide increased computing capabilities to a wider consortium of over twenty universities and the Turing Institute, helping to meet the level of demand for AI-focused facilities created as a result of the success of the JADE resource.

Professor Wes Armour at the University of Oxfordsaid:The successful delivery of JADE has created more demand among UK researchers and industry for powerful computing facilities which can accommodate high end, data intensive AI workloads.Building on the success of the JADE collaboration with Atos, and by significantly expanding the JADE consortiums computing capacity, the new Deep Learning supercomputer supplied by Atos will allow us to meet this demand and help many institutions to make some potentially ground-breaking discoveries. It will cement JADEs status as the de facto national computing facility for academic AI research.

Alison Kennedy, Director, STFC Hartree Centresaid:We are pleased that the delivery and hosting of this cutting-edge JADE-2 hardware and the resultant increase in capability will support the development and expansion of research computing skills across industry and academia. This aligns directly with the Hartree Centres mission and we are delighted to continue the collaboration with Atos and Oxford University which builds upon the previous success of JADE.

Agns Boudot,Senior Vice President, Head of HPC & Quantumat Atos,concluded:We are proud to be working with the University of Oxford on the delivery of JADE2, which will provide researchers and industry with more computing power to enable new scientific breakthroughs and innovation in machine learning and AI. We believe this high-performance system, coupled with our expertise, will help the UK to address key AI and machine learning challenges, while supporting the UKs ambition to be a world-leader in these areas.

The DGX SuperPOD system will comprise a cluster of 63 DGX nodes, having 504 NVIDIA V100 Tensor Core GPUs in total, interconnected with NVIDIA Mellanox InfiniBand networking, all being fed by DDNs AI400 storage, making it the largest such system in the UK.

The system is to be hosted at theSTFC Hartree Centrein Daresbury, near Warrington, UK.

1JADE Joint Academic Data science Endeavour. This proposal, led by the University of Oxford, with support from the Alan Turing Institute (ATI), and 22 universities, is the national GPU system supporting multidisciplinary science with a focus on machine learning and molecular dynamics.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of 12 billion. European number one in Cloud, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the Group provides end-to-end Orchestrated Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, Business Applications and Digital Workplace solutions. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos|Syntel, and Unify. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

Source: Atos

Read this article:

Atos Partners with University of Oxford on Largest AI Supercomputer in the UK - HPCwire

Five Movies Worth Watching About the Threat of Nuclear War – Council on Foreign Relations

Posted on by

Yesterday marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. This Sunday marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the bombing on Nagasaki. Thankfully, nuclear weapons have never been used since. However, nuclear war remains an ever-present danger. Nine countries currentlypossess nuclear weapons, and several others potentiallyaspire to acquire them. TheBulletin of Atomic Scientistshas its famed Doomsday Clock set to100 seconds before midnight, the closest it has ever been to the twelve oclock hour. So it seems appropriate this week to recommend films that remind us of the threat we prefer to forget.

We wont rehashall the ruleswe follow in making recommendations. Just remember that we recommend a movieonly once. SoDr. Strangeloveisnt on this weeks list because it was on our list offive foreign-policy satires worth watching.

More on:

Nuclear Weapons

Nonproliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament

Wars and Conflict

Here are our five recommendations, plus bonus picks from two colleagues.

The Water's Edge

Crimson Tide(1995). The submarine USSAlabamaheads to sea after rebels seize nuclear missile sites in eastern Russia. While on patrol, the submarine receives part of a command that mayor may notbe an order to launch its nuclear missiles against the rebel-controlled sites. TheAlabamascaptain and its executive officer (XO) clash over whether to proceed with the attack or wait for additional information. Convinced that the combat-tested captain, played byGene Hackman, is too eager to act, the cautious, young XO, played byDenzel Washington, stages a mutiny. The fate of the world hangs in the balance. DirectorTony Scottleverages the submarines close quarters tohighlightthe isolation and tension of the crew. WatchingCrimson Tideis even more anxiety-inducing if you know that the plot isnt far-fetched. During the Cuban missile crisis,commanders aboard a Soviet submarine clashedover whether to fire their vessels nuclear-armed torpedo after they lost contact with Moscow. Perhaps as Washingtons character contends, in the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself. You can watchCrimson TideonAmazon Prime,Google Play, orYouTube.

Miracle Mile(1988).Miracle Milebegins as a standard romance: Harry (Anthony Edwards) meets Julie (Mare Winningham) at a caf, and its love at first sight. The cheery start turns sour when Harry accidentally receives a panicked phone call warning of an imminent nuclear attack. He has one hour to find Julie and flee to safety.Miracle Milewas released at the tail end of the Cold War, when duck-and-cover drills had faded from U.S. schools but latentfears of a nuclear attackpersisted. DirectorSteve De Jarnettheightens the audiences anxiety by never cutting away from Harrys perspective: You are Harry Washello, De Jarnett said. These days, a warning about an incoming nuclear attack is less likely to come through a pay phone than through our smart phones, as people in Hawaiilearned two years ago. Thankfully, that early-morning emergency warning was a mistake. You can watchMiracle MileonAmazon PrimeoriTunes.

On the Beach(1959). How would you spend your last days if you knew the world was ending? This is the question that drivesOn the Beach, an adaptation of Nevil Shutes 1957best-selling novel. A nuclear war has devastated the Northern Hemisphere, leaving Australia as the worlds only safe haven. As deadly radioactive fallout steadily drifts toward the continent, many survivors resign themselves to their fate. But when a radio signal is detected coming from the rubble of the west coast of the United States, the nuclear submarineUSSSawfishheads off to discover its sourceand a possible reason for hope. Looking to stress the films universal theme and capitalize on the star power of its castwhich includesGregory Peck,Ava Gardner, andFred AstairedirectorStanley Kramerscheduled the movies premiere on the same day ineighteen different citiesacross the world, including Moscow. You can findOn the Beachon theDigital ArchiveoriTunes.

Thirteen Days(2000). For thirteen days in 1962, the world stood at the brink of nuclear war as the United States and Soviet Union faced off in theCuban missile crisis.Thirteen Daysdramatizes the view from inside the Kennedy administration after the discovery that the Soviets were deploying medium-range nuclear missiles just ninety miles off the U.S. coast. We know how the crisis ends. Still,Bruce Greenwoodas President John F. Kennedy andKevin Costneras advisor Kenneth ODonnell convey the intense anxiety of those thirteen days as they desperately search for a peaceful solution while trying to maintain the upper hand against the Soviets. DirectorRoger Donaldsontakes a fewliberties with history, but University of Virginia professor Philip Zekilow observed that the film is accurate where it counts. You can watchThirteen DaysonAmazon Prime,Google Play, orYouTube.

More on:

Nuclear Weapons

Nonproliferation, Arms Control, and Disarmament

Wars and Conflict

WarGames(1983). A youngMatthew Broderickplays teenager David Lightman, a technology whiz who nearly sparks World War III when he hacks into a computer network and begins playing an interactive game. Ominously titled Global Thermonuclear War, it is actually a program running on a U.S. military supercomputer. The program thinks David is the Soviet Union preparing to launch a nuclear attack, so it tries to strike first. DirectorJohn Badhamuses lighthearted humor to explore the deadly serious concept of mutual assured destruction as the teen tries to stop the United States from retaliating against a false threat.WarGamespremiered the heroic hacker archetype andinspired a generationof budding techies. After seeing the movie at Camp David, President Ronald Reagangrew concernedthat a similar hack could happen in real life. That led him to issue the first national security directive on computer security. You can watchWarGamesonAmazon Prime,Google Play, orYouTube.

For bonus picks this week, we turned to CFRs two visitingStanton Nuclear Security Fellows,Jooeun KimandJoseph Torigian. Jooeun, who specializes in nuclear nonproliferation in East Asia, recommends:

Fail Safe(1964). When a communications system error sends U.S. bombers with nuclear payloads to attack Moscow, the president of the United States (Henry Fonda) scrambles to prevent doomsday.Fail Safesshowing at the box office washurtby the release just ten months earlier ofDr. Strangelove, which had a similar plot but with a satiric edge. (Stanley Kubrick,Dr. Strangeloves director,suedthe producers ofFail Safefor plagiarism and won an agreement that delayed its release.) DirectorSidney Lumetdistinguishes his drama, however, with thehumanity of its charactersand anarguably smarter takeon how a nuclear war might start. Jooeun says: Fail Safeis a somber reminder of how machines can fail and cause nuclear accidents. It also reminds us how rational decision-making by the commander-in-chief is so important in stopping a nuclear war and gaining trust even from an adversary. The depiction of the political scientist in the movie reminds me personally that scholarly and theoretical contributions to nuclear nonproliferation are important, but in the war room it is practical application that matters most. You can findFail SafeonAmazon Prime,Google Play, orYouTube.

Joseph, who works on Chinese and Russian foreign policy, suggests:

Colossus: The Forbin Project(1970). Hoping to avoid any human error that could lead to war, the United States entrusts its nuclear arsenal to a new supercomputer: Colossus. In appropriate science-fiction fashion, the artificial intelligence (AI) soon outsmarts its creators and connects to a similar electronic brain built in the Soviet Union. The AIs threaten both countries with nuclear war if scientists interfere in their pursuit of world dominationall in the name of peace. The film is based on the 1967 novelColossusby D. F. Jones and directed byJoseph Sargent. Joseph says: Although less well-known thanDr. Strangelove,Colossus: The Forbin Projectis another classic satire on nuclear war with a similarly negative view of humanity's future. WhileDr.Strangelovecaptured the essence of mutually assured destruction, the focus inColossuson out of control AI makes it an especially prescient warning for today's world. You can watchColossus: The Forbin ProjectonHoopla,Vimeo, orXfinity Stream.

Next week we will recommend World War II films worth watching.

Check out our other foreign-policy movie recommendations:

Originally posted here:

Five Movies Worth Watching About the Threat of Nuclear War - Council on Foreign Relations

Break it down: A new way to address common computing problem – Washington University in St. Louis Newsroom

Posted on by

In this era of big data, there are some problems in scientific computing that are so large, so complex and contain so much information that attempting to solve them would be too big of a task for most computers.

Now, researchers at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new algorithm for solving a common class of problem known as linear inverse problems by breaking them down into smaller tasks, each of which can be solved in parallel on standard computers.

The research, from the lab of Jr-Shin Li, professor in the Preston M. Green Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering, was published July 30 in the journal Scientific Reports.

In addition to providing a framework for solving this class of problems, the approach, called Parallel Residual Projection (PRP), also delivers enhanced security and mitigates privacy concerns.

Linear inverse problems are those that attempt to take observational data and try to find a model that describes it. In their simplest form, they may look familiar: 2x+y = 1, x-y = 3. Many a high school student has solved for x and y without the help of a supercomputer.

And as more researchers in different fields collect increasing amounts of data in order to gain deeper insights, these equations continue to grow in size and complexity.

We developed a computational framework to solve for the case when there are thousands or millions of such equations and variables, Li said.

This project was conceived while working on research problems from other fields involving big data. Lis lab had been working with a biologist researching the network of neurons that deal with the sleep-wake cycle.

In the context of network inference, looking at a network of neurons, the inverse problem looks like this, said Vignesh Narayanan, a research associate in Lis lab:

Given the data recorded from a bunch of neurons, what is the model that describes how these neurons are connected with each other?

In an earlier work from our lab, we showed that this inference problem can be formulated as a linear inverse problem, Narayanan said.

If the system has a few hundred nodes in this case, the nodes are the neurons the matrix which describes the interaction among neurons could be millions by millions; thats huge.

Storing this matrix itself exceeds the memory of a common desktop, said Wei Miao, a PhD student in Lis lab.

Add to that the fact that such complex systems are often dynamic, as is our understanding of them. Say we already have a solution, but now I want to consider interaction of some additional cells, Miao said. Instead of starting a new problem and solving it from scratch, PRP adds flexibility and scalability. You can manipulate the problem any way you want.

Even if you do happen to have a supercomputer, Miao said, There is still a chance that by breaking down the big problem, you can solve it faster.

In addition to breaking down a complex problem and solving in parallel on different machines, the computational framework also, importantly, consolidates results and computes an accurate solution to the initial problem.

An unintentional benefit of PRP is enhanced data security and privacy. When credit card companies use algorithms to research fraud, or a hospital wants to analyze its massive database, No one wants to give all of that access to one individual, Narayanan said.

This was an extra benefit that we didnt even strive for, Narayanan said.

Read more:

Break it down: A new way to address common computing problem - Washington University in St. Louis Newsroom

Embrace the circular economy – Daily Pioneer

Posted on by

As nations move towards a post-pandemic fiscal recovery, they must adopt strategies for long-term sustainable development and create resilient economies

The pandemic and the response to it by various governments around the world have posed unprecedented challenges, the effect of which would be felt for decades to come. People and economies are suffering not only due to the huge loss of lives but also from the slowdown of economic activities during the lockdown. According to the Union Minister of Road Transport Nitin Gadkari, the contagion is expected to cause a loss of over Rs 10 lakh crore to Indias economy. The World Bank, too, estimates that 12 million people in India could be pushed into poverty. While initially, the most visible impact of the crisis was on the healthcare sector due to shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, critical medical supplies and healthcare professionals trained in the handling of a contagion, its impact is now being felt on the free movement of people, goods and services, too.

A circular economy is based on the principles of reducing our waste and pollution throughout the lifecycle stages, keeping products and materials in use for long and regenerating natural systems. Circular economy-based concepts, such as cascaded reuse of resources to design reusable masks to substitute single-use masks, supported by Government-formulated guidelines and awareness about the same, are steps in the right direction.

The global market for refurbished medical devices is also predicted to witness significant growth. Recently, fuel cell manufacturer Bloom Energy started to refurbish ventilators to meet the supply gap in hospitals in the US. Due to COVID-19, organisations preferred work from home (WFH) and educational institutes preferred to learn from home using virtual platforms for meetings and online classes, which led to an unprecedented surge in demand for refurbished laptops. This cascaded use of refurbished laptops would also be critical in filling the void that has emerged in supporting online education to rural and urban poor students. Measures like these will create new market opportunities, increase the use of existing assets and reduce the pressure on the environment created by the demand for virgin raw materials.

Integrating circularity in various governments recovery agenda and strategies thus assumes importance. In April, the City of Amsterdam launched its Circular 2020-2025 strategy, which outlines the actions it would take to cut down the use of new raw materials to half by 2030. The local government also considers this strategy to be the basis for economic recovery from the effects of COVID-19. Similarly, the European Union (EU) and South Korea have both adopted Green Deals as central pillars to their economic recoveries, both leveraging regenerative models and circular economy principles. The deployment of idle railway coaches by Indian Railways as isolation wards during the surge of Coronavirus infections is adapting the approach to use existing infrastructure to an extent possible. This provides an opportunity for other governments to integrate resilience, low carbon and sustainable growth thinking into their recoveries by avoiding short-term emission-intensive projects.

Rethinking the mostly linear global supply chain systems by adopting a circular economy as a mode of production can help economies withstand supply disruptions like those experienced in the current pandemic. This was particularly visible in the case of stressed food production and distribution, which was experienced during the hastily-implemented lockdowns. By creating new and shorter supply chain connections between producers and consumers, we can ensure a continuous supply of essential goods in vital sectors and help improve resilience through stock availability and competitiveness while not giving up the commitment to achieving the UN-set Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In order to support the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, newer ecosystems need to be envisaged that are based on local, shorter and more distributed supply chains via localised material sourcing. At the start of the pandemic in India, the availability of PPEs was critically low, owning to non-availability of local manufacturers, long gestation period to import their machines and the high cost. In line with the spirit of Vocal for Local and with various Government initiatives, India is today the second-largest manufacturer of PPE body overalls within a short span of four months. There is also a need to engage in collaborative consumption to share resources by replacing traditional ownership of products with lending, borrowing and the availability of repair services to facilitate reuse. This would help reduce panic buying. For instance, the assurance of the Delhi Government to provide Pulse Oximeters for monitoring oxygen levels of patients undergoing home isolation is a positive step in this direction. Acceptance of such pay for services rather than owning facility options would gain momentum if hygiene is ensured. Local waste sites can be turned into resource centres that undertake recovery and recycling of plastics.

Circular innovations can address manufacturing and supply chain shortages within the healthcare sector, too, where circular knitted fabric (washable and reusable) can be used to produce non-medical protective face masks. The need for investment in technology for designing responsible packaging solutions that maintain food safety and quality standards and prevent contamination can enhance the sustainability of the home delivery services that people are increasingly relying upon. Such solutions could also help continue efforts to reduce the usage of plastics and styrofoam. Several initiatives by various Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies and collaborations involving various stakeholders have been done across the globe to minimise single-use plastics.

In addition, enhancing material productivity also plays a significant role in addressing the diminishing cost competitiveness of industries (such as the Indian automobile sector in comparison to China, Singapore, Indonesia, and Bangladesh) due to high material cost. The circular economy emphasises reuse, and through this has the potential to generate not only environmental benefits but cost benefits, too, and create new revenue opportunities. For example, the focus on manufacturing durable goods would help them to generate income from rentals, repairs and refurbishment while reducing the environmental footprint.

In the COVID-19 crisis, digital solutions have promoted virtual workspaces, a mobile Government and a multitude of platforms to monitor and trace infections. Digitalisation has not only been limited to medical solutions or WFH set-ups but has been an instrument in supporting online education modes, too.

Digital technology can play a role in creating city and village systems that are regenerative and restorative by offering de-materialisation opportunities, increasing our knowledge and understanding of data on the lifecycle of materials, people and external conditions, allowing for more informed decisions based on accurate data. This would help close the loop of material cycles and contribute to keeping products/materials in use for a longer period of time.

For example, digital technology can help aggregate local marketplaces dealing in secondary and alternative materials and formalise the informal sector waste-pickers. Real-time tracking technologies provide information on where a product ends up and how it will be reused or recycled.

However, despite the many opportunities that circular thinking presents, ongoing efforts in this direction have been hit due to the pandemic. For example, in the waste management sector where significant work was done to manage plastic waste, many efforts have been halted during the lockdown, particularly in the private recycling space.

Recycling plants are mostly shut or are operating at limited capacity with a lot of the informal sector workers, who played the role of aggregators (such as the junk collectors) leaving urban centres for their native places. Procurement of recyclable waste has also become a challenge. Among plastics, virgin plastic may become even cheaper than secondary raw material plastic due to falling prices of hydrocarbon fuels resulting from the current low demand. This will also affect the economic viability of many plastic recyclers. Efforts would be required to stimulate the demand for recycled materials and close the price gap between virgin and recycled plastics.

As countries step towards economic recovery after COVID-19, they should undertake circular economy strategies for long-term sustainable development and for creating resilient economies. The BRICS nations recently acknowledged the heightening of social vulnerabilities and job losses due to the pandemic and have emphasised on the need for improving the environment and promoting the circular economy in national plans as steps towards recovery. The time is ripe for us to rethink our consumption patterns, to build in resilience, circularity and an efficient rural-urban connection to reduce the vulnerability of our economic and social systems and move towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

(Bakshi is Senior Fellow and Tewari is Fellow and Area Convenor, TERI)

Read this article:

Embrace the circular economy - Daily Pioneer

Lake Cowichan says its Not The Wild West – My Cowichan Valley Now

Posted on by

Photograph courtesy of Tube Shack

Lake Cowichan has a message for those people looking for a place to party: If you intend on abusing our waterfront residents and those of the surrounding areas, you are not welcome here.

There is growing frustration in Lake Cowichan over the actions of a few that are spoiling the enjoyment of tubing on the Cowichan River for others, as well as the people who live along the river.

The community is encountering problems this summer such as excessive alcohol consumption, verbal abuse and people making toilet stops on riverfront properties.

Acting mayor Tim McGonigle says Lake Cowichan and the local RCMP are working to get a handle on the inappropriate activities of a few unruly visitors.

He says as the town transitions from a resource-based economy it values the tourism opportunities available, but is not willing to sacrifice the liveability of our small Community in the process.

McGonigle adds, If you are looking to come here and rowdily let off steam, so to speak, dont bother.

The local council wants people coming to enjoy the recreation activities available to remember that Lake Cowichan is not the Wild West. All Provincial applicable Laws and Regulations related

to COVID-19 are also enforceable in the town.

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 is asked to stay away. The town has concerns regarding its ability to handle the increased number of visitors during at a time that is fraught with the high risk of infection of COVID-19.

Tube Shack owner Aaron Frisby says they have managed to transforming this activity into a family-friendly pastime, but says like many other things, 2020 has changed that.

Frisby says most of problems were on weekends and perhaps it was simply the result of a summer blow-out for people coming out of coronavirus lockdown.

Property owners along the Cowichan River, the Town of Lake Cowichan, and The Tube Shack are all asking would-be tubers who are planning to party on the river this summer to stay away.

See original here:

Lake Cowichan says its Not The Wild West - My Cowichan Valley Now