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May 31, 2021
Chandigarh University introduces Industry-driven Futuristic Programs in Emerging Fields of Blockchain Technology, Electric Vehicles, Digital Marketing, and Data Sciences for the Academic Session 2021-22.
• Pandemic has resulted in a paradigm shift in new talent hunt by the multinationals; They are looking for professionals with specialized skill-set in emerging technologies.
Photo: A building at the campus of Chandigarh University at Mohali, Punjab, India.
CHANDIGARH, India, May 28, 2021 — While multinational companies have adopted or shifted to new technologies due to change in the working environment during the pandemic, universities and institutions have started redesigning their academic syllabuses to make their students industry-ready professionals. Chandigarh University has taken the lead in this field by introducing 20 new Industry-driven futuristic educational programs, which it would offer from the academic session 2021-22. The newly introduced programs are in the areas of Engineering, Management, Sciences, Para-Medical, Humanities, and Computer Applications.
While giving details about the newly introduced programs, the Registrar, Chandigarh University, said, “Out of the 20 new programs, 10 are Under-Graduate programs, and 10 are Post-Graduate programs. In the Engineering area, we are introducing the Bachelor of Engineering program in Computer Science Engineering with the specialization in the emerging field of Blockchain Technology and Development & Operations (DevOps). In contrast, we are introducing Master’s Programs in the areas of Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering with the specializations in the emerging fields of Health Safety & Environment Engineering and Electrical Vehicles respectively.” Both Blockchain and DevOps are emerging technologies in the IT sector. They are widely used to develop IT solutions used by Finance & Banking, Healthcare, Energy, Insurance, Supply Chain, Travel, and Real Estate sectors. New technologies are estimated to create more than 97 million jobs by 2025.
“In the field of management, CU has introduced BBA programs in Business Analytics and Digital Marketing. Both are emerging fields and offer lucrative job options in the industry. We have also introduced an MBA program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, which is a fast-growing industry due to thriving e-commerce,” added the Registrar. Other courses in the field of IT introduced from this year include M.Sc. Data Sciences, BCA with specialization in Augmented Reality & Virtual Release, and MCA programs, specializing in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, and Cloud Computing & Development Operations.
The Registrar of the University further stated that “Government of India has taken the initiative known as INSPIRE to encourage the students to take up Science & Technology as their career choice. Being a partner of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for INSPIRE program, Chandigarh University has introduced nine programs in the field of Basic and Applied Sciences.” The newly launched programs include B.Sc. Microbiology, B.Sc. (Hons) Maths, B.Sc. Forensic Sciences, M.Sc. Bioinformatics, M.Pharma in Industrial Pharmacy, M.Sc. Industrial Chemistry and M.Sc. Nutrition & Dietetics.
“Chandigarh University has been a pioneer in offering job-oriented programs which meet the industry requirements. The industry dynamics are changing fast, and jobs with new skill-set are replacing the existing job profiles. Both students and academia have to upgrade their knowledge about the changing workforce environment in the industry and plan their future course of action accordingly,” said the Chancellor of Chandigarh University.
Chandigarh University (CU) is a private educational institution in the Punjab State with its campus near Chandigarh, a city in India, about 250 kilometers north of Delhi and 200 kilometers southeast of Amritsar. CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and other disciplines.
Source: Chandigarh University
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:33 AM | View the original post
May 24, 2021
Bloomberg New Economy Forum 2021 to Convene Global Leaders In-Person in Singapore November 16-19.
• Michael R. Bloomberg to host a fourth annual forum focused on advancing the world’s most significant economic opportunities amidst Covid-19 recovery, from East to West and across the developing world.
• The first-ever “Bloomberg New Economy Catalyst” virtual event welcomes a new wave of world-shifting visionaries on June 30.
Photo: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Mayor Bloomberg, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group, and Paul Dickinson, CEO of the Carbon Disclosure Project, announced Climate Week NYC, a series of events throughout New York City to address the urgent need for action on climate change. June 23, 2009. Image Credit: The Climate Group. [File Photo]
NEW YORK, May 2021 — Bloomberg Media has announced that the Bloomberg New Economy Forum will convene on November 16-19, 2021, in Singapore. As the global economy emerges from lockdown, the fourth annual Forum will bring together the world’s most influential business executives, heads of state, innovators, and academics. Leaders from East to West, public and private sectors, developed and developing nations will mobilize behind the effort to build a sustainable global economy that creates jobs, reduces inequality, and improves general health.
“The time since the last New Economy Forum has dramatically underlined why the event, and the themes that drive it, are so important. The pandemic has shown how interconnected we are and why cooperation is critical,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Three-Term Mayor of New York City. “New vaccines show the power of technology and public-private partnerships to address humanity’s challenges. And the disproportionate impacts of the virus, and uneven global access to vaccines, have shown how far we have to go to build an equitable future. The New Economy Forum is a chance for leaders to talk with one another and think big on these and other key issues - including the challenges and opportunities around climate change. We’re looking forward to returning to Singapore, one of the world’s most innovative cities and home of the inaugural Forum.”
The Bloomberg New Economy Forum returns with the resounding support of host country Singapore, at a time when the shifting balance of power between East and West presents challenges as well as a tremendous opportunity. The intimate gathering will be limited to approximately 400 global leaders in a commitment to helping ensure the delegates’ safety by maintaining the protocol outlined in Singapore and innovating new ways of safely convening in person.
“I am pleased that Singapore would host the 2021 Bloomberg New Economy Forum, where business leaders will convene to discuss pertinent global issues. The second time Singapore will be hosting the Forum, following our inaugural Forum’s successful hosting in 2018. Health and safety remain Singapore’s top priority, and we will work closely with the Bloomberg team to create a safe and conducive environment to welcome all delegates here in November,” said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Forum delegates will join the action and participation-oriented programs to develop a global recovery strategy for the worst economic crisis since World War II. As governments worldwide spend aggressively to recover from the impact of Covid-19, the race to net zero and other critical themes will permeate discussions within the Forum’s five editorial pillars — Climate, Cities, Finance, Trade, and Public Health. Face-to-face exchanges in Singapore will help define priorities, workshop ideas and explore scenarios to move the world forward in the year ahead.
For the first time, Bloomberg New Economic will also welcome a new community of visionary leaders for the Bloomberg New Economic Catalyst virtual event on June 30. These entrepreneurs, technologists, and policy innovators — many of them from emerging economies — are already creating a world-shifting change set to transform the future. The event will spotlight their work at the leading edge of areas, including space, climate, finance, and health. This collective will also play a pivotal role in helping shape the dialogue at the annual Bloomberg New Economy Forum in November, applying fresh ideas and big thinking to address humanity’s biggest challenges.
Led by Editorial Director Andrew Browne, Bloomberg New Economy-driven conversations are also being elevated on Bloomberg Media’s global news platforms year-round. The newly launched Bloomberg New Economic Daily newsletter, weekly segments on Bloomberg Television and Bloomberg Radio, and the virtual New Economic Conversation event series keep this highly influential community of leaders connected and audiences informed.
With Dr. Henry A. Kissinger as Honorary Chair and Henry M. Paulson, Jr. as Chair, the Bloomberg New Economy Forum Advisory Board provides support across these efforts. It is composed of more than 40 distinguished government and business leaders from around the world.
• Members of the Advisory Board include:
- Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries Limited
- Charlene Barshefsky, former U.S. Trade Representative and Senior International Partner
- WilmerHale; Margaret Chan, former Director-General, World Health Organization
- Bill Gates, Co-Chair, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Gita Gopinath, Chief Economist, International Monetary Fund
- Yoriko Kawaguchi, former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former Minister of the Environment, Japan, and Visiting Professor and Fellow, Musashino University
- Jorge Paulo Lemann, Founder, 3G Capital
- Jean Liu, President, Didi Chuxing
- Strive Masiyiwa, Founder and Executive Chairman, Econet Group
- Lubna Olayan, Chair of the Executive Committee, Olayan Financing Company and Chair, SABB
- Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor
- Minouche Shafik, Director, London School of Economics and Politics and former Deputy Governor, Bank of England
- Neil Shen, Steward of Sequoia Capital, Founding and Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital China
- Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, first female President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Laureate
- Lawrence H. Summers, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, President Emeritus and Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University
- Teresita T. Sy-Coson, Vice-Chairperson, S.M. Investments Corporation; and many more.
• Bloomberg would present the 2021 forum in partnership with:
- ADNOC
- Dangote Industries Limited
- ExxonMobil
- HSBC,
- Hyundai Motor Company
- Mastercard
- Tata Sons
- Vanke.
McKinsey and Company is the exclusive knowledge partner, and IDA Ireland joins as a Spotlight Economy Partner.
Bloomberg Media is a leading, global, multi-platform brand that provides decision-makers with timely news, analysis, and intelligence on business, finance, technology, climate change, politics, and more. Powered by a newsroom of over 2,700 journalists and analysts, it reaches influential audiences worldwide across every platform, including digital, social, T.V., radio, print, and live events. Bloomberg Media is a division of Bloomberg L.P.
Source: Bloomberg Media
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:48 AM | View the original post
May 23, 2021
IMF (International Monetary Fund) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva addresses the Global Health Forum in Italy, Announces $50 Billion Proposal to End the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Photo: IMF (International Monetary Fund) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Washington, DC, United States. IMF Photo/Cory Hancock. Image provided by & copyright © IMF.
• IMF (International Monetary Fund) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva’s Remarks to the Global Health Summit, organized by the European Commission and Italy, as chair of the G20. May 21, 2021.
Excellencies,
I would like to thank Prime Minister Draghi, President Von de Leyen, and their staff for preparing this vital Summit.
By now, we all know there is no durable end to the economic crisis without an end to the health crisis. That means the pandemic policy is a monetary policy highly relevant to the work of the IMF. The economic recovery depends on how we conduct it.
In particular, the pandemic policy matters for preventing this dangerous divergence of economic fortunes about which we have been warning. It will only worsen as the gap widens between wealthy countries that have access to vaccines and emerging countries that do not, and it will slow down the exit from the crisis for everybody.
IMF staff published today a contribution to the ongoing efforts made by many others to address the gap in vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics many developing countries face—and help bring the Pandemic substantially under control everywhere for everyone’s benefit. It builds on the work of WHO, World Bank, Gavi, African Union and has three broad elements, at the estimated cost of $50 billion.
First. Vaccination of at least 40 percent of the population in all countries by end-2021, and at least 60 percent by the first half of 2022. To do so requires additional upfront grants to COVAX, donating surplus doses, and free cross-border flows of raw materials and finished vaccines.
Second. Insurance against downside risks such as new variants that may necessitate booster shots. It means investing in additional vaccine production capacity by 1 billion doses, diversifying production, scaling up genomic surveillance and supply-chain surveillance, and contingency plans to handle virus mutations or supply shocks.
Third. Management of the interim period where vaccine supply is limited with widespread testing and tracing, therapeutic and public health measures, and, at the same time, ramping up preparations for vaccine deployment together with any approved dose-stretching strategies.
Of the $50 billion, we envisage grant financing of at least $35 billion. G20 governments have already identified it as essential to address the $22 billion funding gap noted by the ACT-Accelerator. It would need to be topped up by an additional $13 billion in grant contributions.
The remainder of the overall financing plan - around $15 billion - could come from national governments, supported by COVID-19 concessional financing, primarily from facilities already created by multilateral development banks.
Notably, the proposal requires not just commitments but upfront financing, upfront vaccine donations, and upfront ‘at risk’ precautionary investments. It is essential that all necessary funding is available as soon as possible.
The outsized benefits dwarf the costs of the plan. As we have been stressing, a faster end to the Pandemic saves lives. It could inject the equivalent of $9 trillion into the global economy by 2025 due to a quicker resumption of economic activity. And advanced economies — asked to contribute most to this effort — would likely see the highest return on public investment in modern history, capturing 40 percent of the GDP gains and roughly $1 trillion in additional tax revenues.
Concrete and coordinated action is the way out of this unprecedented health and economic crisis. With the support of our membership, we are working towards making an essential contribution to the exit from this crisis by boosting global reserves with $650 billion Special Drawing Rights — significant for countries faced with the toughest challenges. We are stepping up lending where needed, and we are working on debt sustainability. You can count on us to play our part.
Thank you.
Source: International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international financial institution headquartered in Washington, D.C. It consists of 190 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty worldwide.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:51 AM | View the original post
May 22, 2021
WHO Director−General's speech on Global Health Summit − Italian G20 Presidency and the European Commission − 21 May 2021.
Photo: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). Image provided by & copyright © WHO.
• The WHO Director−General’s speech on Global Health Summit − Italian G20 Presidency and the European Commission − 21 May 2021:
Prime Minister Draghi,
President Ursula Von der Leyen,
Excellencies, dear colleagues, and friends,
I would like to thank the Italian G20 Presidency and the European Commission for their leadership in initiating the Rome Declaration.
We welcome the declaration, especially the commitment to support and enhance the existing multilateral health architecture for preparedness, prevention, detection, and response, with an appropriately, sustainably, and predictably funded, effective WHO at its center.
And we welcome the other commitments to strengthening national and global preparedness for preventing future pandemics.
But our commitment to the future is measured by our actions today.
Yesterday alone, more than 13 thousand people around the world lost their lives to COVID-19 - nine every single minute. Today the number will be similar. And tomorrow, and the next day.
And people will continue to die as long as the global disparity in vaccines persists.
Yes, the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines is a triumph of science. But their inequitable distribution is a failure for humanity.
Almost 90% of all vaccines administered globally have been in G20 countries.
We can only end the pandemic if everyone has the tools to stop it.
So today, I have three requests.
First, end this pandemic with a combination of tailored public health measures and the equitable distribution of vaccines.
We call on G20 countries to fully fund the ACT Accelerator, as a matter of urgency;
To share more doses faster through COVAX. We thank all countries that have announced generous donations today. It is a very encouraging start towards the hundreds and millions of doses we will need in the coming weeks and months.
And to scale up manufacturing as a matter of urgency, through sharing technology and know-how, and waiving intellectual property provisions, focusing on Africa.
The G20 has all the means to vaccinate the world, and the world cannot wait any longer.
Second, strengthen health security, nationally and globally.
We welcome the commitments of the Rome Declaration to support the full implementation of the International Health Regulations and for a multisectoral, all-of-government, all-of-society, evidence-based, One Health approach to health security.
WHO is committed to working with all Member States to explore every avenue for keeping the world safer. It includes the proposal for a treaty on pandemic preparedness and response.
We believe such a treaty would create a high-level framework for political accountability that redefines the way countries deal with health emergencies - and that would encompass all countries, not just the richest and most powerful.
The treaty could address the challenges we’re facing now.
And third, drive progress towards universal health coverage in all countries, based on vital primary health care.
The pandemic has demonstrated that health is not a luxury but the cornerstone of social, economic, and political stability.
It will not be the last pandemic. We might be able to prevent some, but we cannot cease all.
Business as a routine will produce the typical result: a world that is unsafe, unprepared, and unfair.
But with bold ideas, bold commitments, and bold leadership, we can write a healthier, safer, fairer future for our children and children’s children.
I thank you.
Grazie Mille, Prime Minister. And back to you.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
• The World Health Organization is a specialized United Nations agency responsible for international public health. WHO’s primary role is to direct and coordinate international health within the United Nations’ system and lead partners in global health responses.
• The Global Health Summit took place in Rome on Friday, 21 May. Italy organized this G20 event in partnership with the European Commission.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:45 AM | View the original post
May 21, 2021
MotoGP Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing: Jack Miller takes victory at the Grand Prix of France in Le Mans.
The second consecutive success for the Aussie rider. Fourth place for Francesco Bagnaia after a remarkable comeback.
It’s another one-two for Ducati in France as Johann Zarco closes second with the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Pramac Racing Team.
Photo: Jack Miller. Grand Prix of France in Le Mans. May 16, 2021. Image provided by & copyright © DUCATI.
Photo: Francesco Bagnaia. Grand Prix of France in Le Mans. May 16, 2021. Image provided by & copyright © DUCATI.
Le Mans, France, May 16, 2021 — Just two weeks after the extraordinary success taken at Jerez de la Frontera, Jack Miller scored another sensational victory at the Bugatti Circuit of Le Mans, where the French Grand Prix took place this afternoon.
The Australian dominated a tough race that saw riders dealing with a bike swap following the “flag-to-flag” rule. As they started with dry conditions, the sky soon became clouded, and after only a few laps, it started pouring rain. On lap five, Miller, who was in fourth place after going straight into the gravel, returned to the pits to make the bike change but managing to rejoin in third place. However, the Ducati Lenovo Team rider had to serve a double long lap penalty for exceeding 60km/h in the pit lane. Jack remained third and, at lap 12, after Márquez crashed out, he overtook Quartararo, taking the lead where he stayed until the chequered flag, securing his second consecutive win this season. Behind him, home hero Johann Zarco finished second with the Ducati Desmosedici GP of the Pramac Racing Team.
Excellent performance also for Francesco Bagnaia, fourth today at the finish line in a comeback. The Italian rider, who started with the sixteenth fastest time, had dropped back into nineteenth place on the first lap, but he could rejoin in the eleventh position after the bike swap. Forced to take a double long lap penalty as well, Pecco didn’t lose concentration. Thanks to a steady pace, he could catch up with his rivals, passing them to fourth.
At the end of the fifth round of the 2021 MotoGP season, Ducati and the Ducati Lenovo Team are first in the constructors’ and teams’ standings. In the riders’ Championship, Bagnaia is now second, just one point behind Quartararo, while Miller occupies the fourth position.
• Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) - 1st
- “Winning two races in a row is a dream for me, especially after such a difficult race where I even had to take a long double lap and ended up in the gravel. So to be able to get this result is extraordinary! The race was long and tough mentally. I tried to keep my concentration and kept telling myself to stay calm. In this way, I managed the tires well and saved them until the end, managing the advantage over Johann, who was getting very close towards the end. It was a fantastic victory!”
• Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) - 4th
- “I got a bad start and made a mistake on the first lap, going wide at Turn 6. Then, there was the flag-to-flag: it was the first time for me! It wasn’t easy, but in a way, I enjoyed it. In the beginning, I didn’t feel completely comfortable on the bike, but in the wet, I was able to find my rhythm right away. Finishing fourth in these conditions is an excellent result, considering that I was very slow in the rain last year. Now I am second in the Championship, just one point behind Quartararo, so I’m delighted”.
• Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
- “It was another great day! I’m happy because we have two great riders this year! Both Jack and Pecco did an incredible race, and we could have taken first, second and third today. We need to see what happened in the pit lane when we exceeded the speed limit during the flag to flag. Congratulations also to Zarco for another great podium”.
The Ducati Lenovo Team will be back on track from 28th to May 30 for the Italian GP at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, the first home race for the Bologna-based team in the 2021 MotoGP World Championship.
Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the premier class of motorcycle road racing events held on road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).
Source: DUCATI
|GlobalGiants.Com|
LOOK at this group at the front! âš”ï¸
— MotoGP™ðŸ (@MotoGP) May 16, 2021
Absolutely everyone with the fastest lap! 😂#MotoE | #FrenchGP 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/o0bvGPUlHP
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:43 PM | View the original post
May 20, 2021
United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) asks Companies Worldwide to Tackle Road Safety Crisis.
Photo: Participants at a UNITAR International Training Program in Geneva. Image Credit: UNITAR.
Photo: Traffic Lights. Image Credit: VÃctor VillamarÃn.
NEW YORK, May 19, 2021 — The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) collaborates with Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) in a joint effort to curb road traffic fatalities in recognition of the United Nations Road Safety Week (May 17-23, 2021).
UNITAR has asked companies and public entities worldwide to download and implement its “Management Practices for Safer Roads Toolkit.” The Toolkit provides government officials, road engineers, and urban planners with a proven methodology and evidence-based solutions to address road safety issues in their communities.
The Toolkit is accessible via desktop on UNITAR’s website or as a Learning App in the Play Store and App Store for Android and iOS devices. UNITAR is also providing dedicated training workshops to assist governments in utilizing the Toolkit and designing their action plans to support road safety.
The Toolkit and its app provide practical solutions to improve existing road infrastructure to benefit all road users. Among its features, the app provides a checklist to support users in monitoring their Road Safety management progress throughout the different stages of the “Plan-Do-Check-Act” Toolkit’s methodology. This week, the partnership hosted a virtual workshop with public officials in South Africa to exhibit how to best apply the Toolkit to existing faults in the country’s roads.
“We hope that this Toolkit and Learning App serve as a substantive contribution to advance our shared goal of making cities safe, resilient, and sustainable,” said Dr. Deisi Kuztra, member of the Board of Trustees for UNITAR. “The Agenda 2030 reminds us of the urgency to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, thus improving road safety with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons,” she emphasized.
For Road Safety Week 2021, celebrated on May 17-23, the United Nations has called on policymakers globally to take action in favor of low-speed streets worldwide, limiting speeds to 30 km/h (20mph) in residential areas. The knowledge and materials available in the Toolkit provide governments with a clear framework for practical speed limitations and black spot management, among others.
“As part of our tremendous efforts to expand the accessibility of this Toolkit, we have now made it available in 6 languages, including English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Portuguese, and most recently in Italian. We hope it will greatly benefit the organizations and governments working to make a positive impact toward improving road safety,” said Catalina Garcia, Global Director of Corporate Affairs at AB InBev. “The app’s methodology has been continuously tested and improved upon through several local projects in countries like Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, India, Mexico, and South Africa. We are certain that its adoption will continue to lead to positive results and save more lives, and especially now that it’s readily available on any mobile device.”
Road traffic-related deaths and injuries have unparalleled health and socioeconomic implications for society, particularly in areas with high death and injury rates. According to the latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.35 million people die on the world’s roads every year, and up to 50 million more are left injured or disabled, a majority of whom are young breadwinners between the ages of 15 and 29. Because of this, the United Nations has set the ambitious goal of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 percent by the year 2030 as part of its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNITAR and AB InBev’s new app draws from AB InBev’s methodology, collecting data on the number and location of deaths by road user type. It relies on management routines, identifying hazardous and critical road locations where excessive numbers or severity of crashes occur, outlining corrective measures, and implementing and monitoring the appropriate interventions.
The “Management Practices for Safer Roads” mobile app in English is available for free from the App Store for iOS users and the Play Store for all Android devices.
The alliance between UNITAR and AB InBev, through the Partnership for Action on Road Safety, seeks to educate and inform on the importance of road safety. It also facilitates the exchange of experiences and best practices resulting in a long-term collaboration within different factors in society to generate concrete measures that improve mobility and road safety globally and ultimately save lives.
• The partnership’s key objectives are:
- Contribute to the advancement of Global Road Safety Performance Targets
- Mobilize stakeholders in support of road safety initiatives
- Facilitate knowledge and experience sharing
- Conduct innovative road safety intervention in cities with high road traffic death rates
- Support and advise governments and other partners with knowledge-related services, as well as practical tools and solutions
The alliance also seeks to develop projects on road safety that incentivize taking measures that reduce the various risk factors, such as exceeding the speed limit and irresponsible driving, and the vehicle and road infrastructure design. The initiative intends to socialize this methodology of road safety with governments worldwide and support them in designing and implementing local solutions.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) provides innovative learning solutions to individuals, organizations, and institutions to enhance global decision-making and support country-level action for shaping a better future. UNITAR was created in 1963 to train and equip young diplomats from newly independent UN Member States with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate through the diplomatic environment. Over the years, UNITAR has acquired unique expertise and experience in designing and delivering various training activities. It has become a leading institute in providing customized and creative learning solutions to institutions and individuals from both the public and private sectors. With a strategy fully focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNITAR supports Governments to implement the 2030 Agenda.
Source: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:38 AM | View the original post
May 18, 2021
Tissot presents Seastar 1000 Quartz Chrono Aquatic Elegance.
Photos: Tissot Seastar 1000 Quartz Chrono Aquatic Elegance.
• Stylish above and below the water
Tissot Seastar 1000 Quartz Chrono is now available as a timepiece. It is already indispensable in the water with a host of valuable features, thanks to its ability to handle pressure up to 30 bar (1000 ft) and its accessible quartz movement, which promises unfailing reliability.
• Features
- Swiss made
- Chronograph Quartz movement
- Screw-down crown, case back, and pushers
- Anticlockwise aluminum rotating bezel
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- 316L stainless steel engraved case
- Water-resistant to 30 bar (300 m / 1000 ft)
- 316L stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp and safety and diver extension or rubber strap with standard buckle
- Diameter:45.5mm
Source: TISSOT
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:38 AM | View the original post
May 17, 2021
Oxford University and Oracle Partner to Speed Identification of COVID-19 Variants
• The partnership will enable global genomic sequencing and examination through a specialist platform developed on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to help mitigate the impact of potentially dangerous COVID-19 variants.
Photo: Oracle Cloud Manages COVID-19 Vaccination Program in the United States. Image provided by & copyright © ORACLE.
OXFORD, England and AUSTIN, Texas, May 16, 2021 — The emergence of more infectious variants of the COVID-19 virus is threatening to slow the global recovery and potentially thwart current vaccine immunity. To help governments and medical communities identify and act on these variants faster, Oxford University and Oracle have created a Global Pathogen Analysis System (GPAS) combining Oxford’s Scalable Pathogen Pipeline Platform (SP3) with the power of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). This initiative builds on a Wellcome Trust-funded consortium including Public Health Wales, the University of Cardiff, and Public Health England.
“This powerful new tool will assist public health scientists in research establishments, public health agencies, healthcare services, and diagnostic companies around the world. It would help them in further understanding of infectious diseases, starting with the coronavirus,” said Derrick Crook, Professor of Microbiology in the Nuffield Department of Medicine at the University of Oxford.
“The Global Pathogen Analysis System will help to establish a global common standard for assembling and analyzing this new virus, as well as other microbial threats to public health. It adds a new dimension to our ability to process pathogen data. We are excited to partner with Oracle to further our research using this cutting-edge technology platform,” added Crook.
First used for tuberculosis, SP3 has been repurposed to unify, standardize, analyze, and compare sequence data of SARS-CoV-2, yielding annotated genomic sequences and identifying new variants and those of concern. SP3’s processing capability has been enhanced with extensive new development work from Oracle, enabling high performance and security plus 7/24 worldwide availability of the SP3 system in the Oracle Cloud. The SP3 system will now deliver comprehensive and standardized COVID-19 analyses within minutes of submission on an international scale. GPAS would share the results with countries around the globe in a secure environment.
“The opportunity of applying systematic examination for genetic variants in a range of pathogens will have major benefits for global public health. This program, with Oracle as a partner, takes us a step closer to this goal,” said Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford.
Coupled with the extensive machine learning capabilities in the Oracle Cloud, collaborating scientists, researchers, and governments worldwide can process, analyze, visualize, and act on a vast collection of COVID-19 pathogen data for the first time. It includes identifying variants of interest and their potential impact on vaccine and treatment effectiveness. For example, analytics dashboards in the system will show which specific strains spread more quickly than others and whether genetic features contribute to increased transmissibility and vaccine escape. Already, Oxford has processed half the world’s SARS-CoV-2 sequences, more than 500,000 in total.
“There is a critical need for global cooperation on genomic sequencing and examination of COVID-19 and other pathogens,” said Oracle Chairman and CTO Larry Ellison. “The enhanced SP3 system will establish a global standard for pathogen data gathering and analysis, thus enabling medical researchers to understand better the COVID-19 virus and other microbial threats to public health.”
The next step will be to extend this service to all pathogens while simultaneously collaborating with scientists from research establishments, public health agencies, and private companies to ensure this work can support decision-making on pandemic response strategies worldwide.
The platform will be free for researchers and non-profits to use worldwide.
Oxford is world-famous for research excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Its work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a vast network of partnerships and collaborations. Its research’s breadth and interdisciplinary nature sparks creative and inventive insights and solutions.
Sources: Oracle & Oxford University
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:59 AM | View the original post
Miss Universe MEXICO, Andrea Meza, crowned 69th Miss Universe.
Photo: Andrea Meza, Miss Universe Mexico 2020, is crowned Miss Universe after the 69th Miss Universe Competition on May 16, 2021, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The new winner will move to New York City, where she will live during her reign and become a spokesperson for various causes alongside The Miss Universe Organization. Photographer: BENJAMIN ASKINAS. Image provided by & copyright © The Miss Universe Organization, New York.
HOLLYWOOD, FL (May 17, 2021) - Miss Universe Mexico Andrea Meza was crowned Miss Universe live on FYI and Telemundo last night from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Andrea will use her year as Miss Universe to advocate for women’s rights and against gender-based violence.
After a National Costume Competition, rounds of interviews, a preliminary competition, and the live Finals, Andrea was crowned with the Mouawad Power of Unity Crown, presented to her by outgoing Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi.
“I am so honored to have been selected among the 73 other amazing women I stood with tonight,” said Miss Universe Andrea Meza. “It is a dream come true to wear the Miss Universe crown, and I hope to serve the world through my advocacy for equality in the year to come and beyond.” Andrea Meza, 26, is from Chihuahua City and represented her home country, Mexico, as Miss Universe Mexico, in the 69th annual Miss Universe competition. Andrea has a degree in software engineering and is an activist, and currently works closely with the Municipal Institute for Women, which aims to end gender-based violence. She is also a certified make-up artist and model who is passionate about being active and living a healthy lifestyle. She enjoys extreme sports in her free time, including rappelling and sandboarding. Andrea is also the official Tourism Brand Ambassador for her hometown, Chihuahua, promoting the best tourist attractions and rich culture her home offers.
“It is certainly emotional to see the crown begin a new journey tonight with Andrea,” said Paula M. Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization. “After a year unlike any other, I am so grateful for the extra months we got to spend with Zozi, and I know Andrea will reign with strength, ambition, and grace.”
The inspiring show was hosted by Access Hollywood’s Mario Lopez and actress and model Olivia Culpo, with an electrifying performance by Grammy-nominated artist Luis Fonsi. Miss Universe 2017 Demi- Leigh Tebow, Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst, and Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the show throughout the night.
At this year’s Miss Universe competition, women representing 74 countries competed in multiple categories. The show aired in over 190 countries and territories across the globe. Andrea will move to New York City to represent the brand and various philanthropic organizations during her reign.
The Mouawad MISS UNIVERSE Power of Unity Crown, crafted from 18-karat gold, is set with more than 1,725 white diamonds and three golden canary diamonds. These hundreds of diamonds are in intricate interplays of motifs of petals, leaves, and vines, representing communities across the seven continents whose bonds unite them in the exact purpose of empowering one another. The crown’s centerpiece is a shield cut golden canary diamond weighing a magnificent 62.83ct. In harmony with the diamonds surrounding it, it inspires the crown’s name, the Power of Unity.
Following countries entered the top 10:
- Jamaica - Miqueal-Symone Williams
- Dominican Republic - Kimberly Jimenez
- India - Adline Castelino
- Peru - Janick Maceta
- Australia - Maria Thattil
- Puerto Rico - Estefania Soto
- Thailand - Amanda Obdam
- Costa Rica - Amanda Obdam
- Mexico - Andrea Meza
- Brazil - Julia Gama
Photo: Adline Castelino, Miss Universe India 2020, top 5, taking her final walk on stage before the conclusion of the 69th Miss Universe Competition on May 16, 2021, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Photographer: BENJAMIN ASKINAS. Image provided by & copyright © The Miss Universe Organization, New York.
Source: The Miss Universe Organization, New York.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 8:33 AM | View the original post
May 14, 2021
Direct Relief Sends Thousands of Oxygen Concentrators to India via FedEx-Donated Charter Flights
• Upcoming humanitarian airlift also includes 1.8 million KN95 masks.
Photo: A Direct Relief shipment weighing 8.8 tons arrives in Quito, Ecuador. The shipment contained ICU kits filled with essential medicines to treat Covid-19 and oxygen concentrators, protective gear, and other medical items for health facilities in the country. (Photo by Isadora Romero for Direct Relief) [File Photo]
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 14, 2021 — A FedEx-donated Boeing 777 fully loaded with oxygen concentrators and other supplies from Direct Relief is flying this weekend to India — for the second time in as many weeks — to help patients with Covid-19 survive the pandemic’s deadliest surge yet.
Clinicians have correlated drastic drops in the blood oxygen levels of Covid patients with a greater likelihood of death. India has experienced crippling shortages of medical-grade oxygen, in part due to the need to transport oxygen cylinders hundreds of miles via cryogenic tankers, from production plants to hospitals, then back for refilling. According to BMJ, 41% of patients admitted to the hospital with Covid-19 require supplemental oxygen, while only 2% need mechanical ventilation.
Oxygen concentrators don’t require tanks, just electric power to remove nitrogen from the air and produce purified oxygen. Direct Relief is delivering two oxygen concentrator types — high-flow and low-flow. High-flow oxygen concentrators are used in hospitals to treat patients needing intensive care, providing 10 liters per minute of oxygen. Low-flow concentrators generate 5 liters per minute and help hospitals safely discharge patients who are stable but require at-home breathing support.
The May 15 flight from Newark to Delhi will deliver 286 high-flow oxygen concentrators and 500 low-flow concentrators. It would add to the 3,500 concentrators from Direct Relief transported via another FedEx-donated charter that arrived May 9. Tata Memorial Center in Mumbai cleared the items and distributed them within two days to more than 40 hospitals in the region. This weekend’s flight also includes 1.8 million KN95 masks, 125,000 gloves, and other medical items.
Direct Relief staff and partner organizations in India will distribute the supplies throughout the country to medical facilities caring for Covid-19 patients. Direct Relief has provided medical assistance to India since 1960, working with various partners, from medical outreach camps to rural clinics and hospitals, community-based health centers, and tertiary level facilities in large urban areas.
“It’s our mission to use our global logistics network to help deliver critical aid to India, where it’s needed most right now,” said Raj Subramaniam, president, and COO, FedEx Corp. “We’ve been fighting this pandemic from the frontlines since the beginning and will continue the fight until it’s over.”
“Direct Relief is grateful beyond words for FedEx, once again, delivering urgently-needed assistance to people in India at a scale the FedEx team is uniquely able to handle,” said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President, and CEO. “The decisive action to donate the company’s enormous capacity and exceptional skills is a huge humanitarian force multiplier — and a powerful example of the type of public-spirited leadership needed to get everyone, everywhere, safely to the other side of the pandemic.”
Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies. Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need — without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay.
Source: Direct Relief
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:41 PM | View the original post
May 11, 2021
Miss Universe Contestants arrive at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, for the 69th Miss Universe Competition.
Photo: (L-R) Andrea Meza, Miss Universe Mexico 2020; Amanda Petri, Miss Universe Denmark 2020; Sunniva Frigstad, Miss Universe Norway 2020; and Viivi Altonen, Miss Universe Finland 2020. They have arrived at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, for the 69th Miss Universe Competition, wearing Invisi Smart masks. The Miss Universe delegates would be touring, filming, rehearsing, and preparing to compete for the Miss Universe crown before the show airs live on Sunday, May 16 at 8:00 PM ET. Photographer: BENJAMIN ASKINAS. Image provided by & copyright © The Miss Universe Organization, New York.
The 69th MISS UNIVERSE Competition would air from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood on Sunday, May 16, 2021. The competition will broadcast LIVE around the world from 8:00 to 11:00 PM ET.
The three-hour event will feature women representing dozens of countries competing in multiple categories, including the personal statement, swimsuit, evening gown, and interview. The event would end with Zozibini Tunzi crowning her successor.
Seminole Hard Rock’s Safe & Sound protocols follow similar guidelines as enacted successfully during the 2020 MISS USA Competition, produced in Memphis, Tennessee, in November. These policies include mask usage, social distancing, quarantining upon arrival, and rigorous testing in coordination with health officials.
The show will air in over 160 countries and territories across the globe.
Here is the list of the participants:
2021 MISS UNIVERSE COMPETITION CONTESTANTS
COUNTRY — NAME
- Albania — Paula Mehmetukaj
- Argentina — Alina Luz Akselrad
- Armenia — Monika Grigoryan
- Aruba — Helen Hernandez
- Australia — Maria Thattil
- Bahamas — Shauntae Miller
- Barbados — Hillary-Ann Williams
- Belgium — Dhenia Covens
- Belize — Iris Salguero
- Bolivia — Lenka Nemer
- Brazil — Julia Gama
- British Virgin Islands — Shabree Frett
- Bulgaria — Radinela Chusheva
- Cambodia — Sarita Reth
- Cameroon — Angele Kossinda
- Canada — Nova Stevens
- Cayman Islands — Mariah Tibbetts
- Chile — Daniela Nicolas
- China — Jiaxin Sun
- Colombia — Laura Victoria Olascuaga
- Costa Rica — Ivonne Cerdas
- Croatia — Mirna Naiia Maric
- Curaçao — Chantal Wiertz
- Czech Republic — Klára VavruÅ¡ková
- Denmark — Amanda Petri
- Dominican Republic — Kimberly Jimenez
- Ecuador — Leyla Espinoza Calvache
- El Salvador — Vanessa Velásquez
- Finland — Viivi Altonen
- France — Amandine Petit
- Ghana — Chelsea Tayui
- Great Britain — Jeanette Akua
- Haiti — Eden Berandoive
- Honduras — Cecilia Rossell
- Iceland — ElÃsabet Hulda Snorradóttir
- India — Adline Castelino
- Indonesia — Ayu Maulida Putri
- Ireland — Nadia Sayers
- Israel — Tehila Levi
- Italy — Viviana Vizzini
- Jamaica — Miqueal-Symone Williams
- Japan — Aisha Harumi Tochigi
- Kazakhstan — Kamila Serikbai
- Korea — Hari Park
- Kosovo — Blerta Veseli
- Laos — Christina Lasasimma
- Malaysia — Francisca Luhong James
- Malta — Anthea Zammit
- Mauritius — Vandana Jeetah
- Mexico — Andrea Meza
- Myanmar — Thuzar Wint Lwin
- Nepal — Anshika Sharma
- Netherlands — Denise Speelman
- Nicaragua — Ana Marcelo
- Norway — Sunniva Frigstad
- Panama — Carmen Jaramillo
- Paraguay — Vanessa Castro Guillén
- Peru — Janick Maceta Del Castillo
- Philippines — Rabiya Mateo
- Poland — Natalia PiguÅ‚a
- Portugal — Cristiana Silva
- Puerto Rico — Estefania Soto Torres
- Romania — Bianca Lorena Tirsin
- Russia — Alina Sanko
- Singapore — Bernadette Belle Ong
- Slovak Republic — Natália HoÅ¡táková
- South Africa — Natasha Joubert
- Spain — Andrea MartÃnez
- Thailand — Amanda Obdam
- Ukraine — Yelyzaveta Yastremska
- Uruguay — Lola De los Santos
- USA — Asya Branch
- Venezuela — Mariangel Villasmil
- Vietnam — Khanh Van Nguyen Tran
Photo: Maria Thattil, Miss Universe Australia 2020. Image provided by & copyright © The Miss Universe Organization, New York.
Maria Thattil is a multi-hyphenate. She is a founder, speaker, corporate professional, digital creator, and fierce activist for inclusivity, equality, and empowerment. Before she started training to be an accredited life coach, she graduated with a Psychology degree with Honours and then with a Masters degree in Management. Maria’s biggest hobby is volunteering. She is a member of the United Nations Association of Australia. Maria is an Australian woman of Indian descent, a daughter of immigrants. She believes her upbringing has gifted her with unique experiences that fuel her passion for inclusivity.
Source: The Miss Universe Organization, New York
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:55 AM | View the original post
May 10, 2021
Indian Army takes over University Hostel, converts it into COVID Hospital.
Photo: May 10, 2021. Indian Army Western Command sets up 100 bedded COVID hospital at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Lieutenant General R P Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, announced the operationalization of the 100-bedded COVID Hospital at the hostel for international students in Panjab University in the presence of the Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator V P Singh Badnore. Source & Image Credit: Western Command - Indian Army.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:54 AM | View the original post
May 9, 2021
Global Citizen's "VAX LIVE: The Concert To Reunite The World" mobilizes 26 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses.
NEW YORK, May 9, 2021 — International advocacy organization Global Citizen tonight announced that the “VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World” campaign helped mobilize over 26 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and $302 million to the ACT-Accelerator to provide equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests, treatments, and other medical tools to the world’s most marginalized communities and healthcare workers on the frontlines.
VAX LIVE was taped at SoFi Stadium for a COVID 19-compliant audience composed of fully vaccinated frontline healthcare and essential workers and is the first large-scale music event held at the stadium. The goal of the VAX LIVE campaign was to ensure everyone, everywhere, has access to COVID-19 vaccines and inspire vaccine confidence worldwide.
Selena Gomez served as host, and Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, served as Campaign Chairs. Performers included Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, and J Balvin. Special appearances by President Biden, First Lady Dr. Biden, and Vice President Harris along with Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha, Olivia Munn, and Sean Penn.
The VAX LIVE campaign called on governments to begin sharing vaccine doses immediately. It asked pharmaceutical companies, such as Moderna, to urgently provide millions of doses to the most impoverished nations at-cost pricing. To help ensure equitable access to the vaccine, Global Citizen and its partners led a coordinated drive across the private sector to raise critical funds - “dollars for doses” - for the vaccine-sharing program COVAX AMC.
• VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World received messages of support and commitments from:
- His Holiness Pope Francis
- President of the United States Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden
- Vice-President of the United States Kamala Harris
- President of France Emmanuel Macron
- Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau
- Prime Minister Plenković of Croatia Andrej Plenković
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
- Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg
- U.A.E. Minister of State for International Cooperation Her Excellency Reem al Hashimy
- Minister of Health of Portugal Marta Temido.
Commitments announced through the course of the VAX LIVE campaign and special included:
GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS
Canada: CAD 375 million [$299.2 million] towards the ACT-Accelerator for COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments to support countries in need.
Norway: will share all of its extra doses, an additional 4.5 million doses on top of the 700,000 it has already committed. It translates to one dose shared for every Norwegian Citizen.
Spain: will donate 7.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for the Latin American and Caribbean region.
The U.A.E.: will donate 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses and support the delivery of 25 million doses.
New Zealand: will share an additional 200,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses for a total of 1.2M for the South Pacific region.
Croatia pledged €500,000 [$600,000] to COVAX and will start donating 50,000 doses before the end of June.
Portugal: has committed to providing 1 million doses to Portuguese-speaking countries.
Italy: expressed its intentions to make a substantial new pledge to COVAX soon. Italy will also use its G20 presidency to boost global manufacturing capacity.
PHILANTHROPIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR COMMITMENTS
Philanthropic and corporate commitments raised $39.6 million for COVAX, which was matched by GAVI for an additional $23.6 million, resulting in a total of $63.3 million, enough to acquire 12.66 million vaccines. Combined with government pledges, this amounts to over 26 million vaccine doses to those most in need.
SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS MADE TOWARD THE COVAX AMC FOR PROCUREMENT OF VACCINES:
- Mastercard will be contributing $25 million
- Cisco will be donating $5 million
- Procter & Gamble will be donating $5 million
- The Analog Devices Foundation will be contributing $1 million
- Seadream Family Foundation will be donating $1 million
- Stanley Black & Decker will be donating $1 million
- Coca-Cola Foundation will be donating $500 thousand
- Spotify will be donating $500 thousand
- Alight Solutions will be contributing $250 thousand
- Centene Charitable Foundation will be donating $250 thousand
- BlackBerry will be contributing $160 thousand
COMMITMENTS MADE TOWARD THE WHO COVID-19 SOLIDARITY FUND FOR MEDICAL TOOLS AND SUPPLIES INCLUDED:
- Accenture will be contributing $1 million
- Terumo will be donating $1 million
- Spotify will be donating $500 thousand
Overall, $65.8M has been mobilized through VAX LIVE by philanthropists, the private sector, and the Gavi matching mechanism in commitments to vaccine procurement, medical tools, and supplies.
“We have been overwhelmed by the support for VAX LIVE, from governments, philanthropists, the private sector, our campaign chairs, and Global Citizens from across the world. They have joined forces to mobilize critical COVID-19 vaccines where they are needed urgently,” said Hugh Evans, C.E.O. of Global Citizen. “But more needs to be done, especially from G7 nations that have yet to commit to sharing any doses. The U.K. alone will have 113 million surplus doses. We need to continue our efforts to urge the chair of the G7, Boris Johnson, the rest of the G7 and G20 nations, and vaccine manufacturers to share additional doses urgently to help ensure equitable vaccine access globally.”
VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World aired on A.B.C., A.B.C. News Live, C.B.S., FOX, and streamed on YouTube, iHeartMedia broadcast radio stations and the iHeartRadio App. VAX LIVE also aired on AXS TV, Albavision across Latin America, Multishow from Globo Group in Brazil, Caracol T.V. in Colombia, T.V. Azteca in Mexico, S3 in South Africa, Canal+ and MultiChoice across Africa, Sky in the U.K., Network 10 in Australia, CSTAR (Canal + Group) in France, the Viacom 18 network across India and South Asia, and Insight T.V. globally. As the exclusive global streaming partner, YouTube also streamed an extended version of VAX LIVE on the Global Citizen channel for a total run-time of 90 minutes.
Global Citizen also announced commitments from the longtime partners of Global Citizen — Live Nation, N.B.A., WNBA, N.F.L., M.L.S., N.H.L., WWE, Formula 1, NASCAR, and MLB. They would commit tickets to some of the most amazing live events of the coming year! These leagues have been working together to follow enhanced COVID-19 guidelines to ensure that audience members can once again enjoy live events safely.
“VAX LIVE: The Concert to Reunite the World” was part of Global Citizen’s overall 2021 Recovery Plan for the World, a year-long campaign and series of events that aims to help end COVID-19 for all, end the hunger crisis, resume learning everywhere, protect the planet and advance equity for all. Global Citizen is the world’s most significant movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty by 2030.
Source: Global Citizen
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Jennifer Lopez Performs “Ain’t Your Mama” | VAX LIVE by Global Citizen
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:40 PM | View the original post
May 6, 2021
QS announces USA University Rankings 2021 — The top colleges driving Diversity and Employability.
Photo: Sather Tower, University of California, Berkeley. Image Credit: Daniel Parks.
Photo: A building at UCLA campus. Image Credit: Yoshi Huang.
LONDON, May 6, 2021 — Offering unique insight into diversity drives, research excellence, and employability enhancement, QS Quacquarelli Symonds - recognized internationally for their QS World University Rankings portfolio - released their second annual list of America’s top universities. Harvard University remains the national number-one.
The focus on Diversity provides students with information about which universities are doing most to reduce sectoral gender and racial inequities. The University of California Davis and New York University jointly lead in the Diversity indicator.
Only six of the top-20 universities also achieve a top-20 score for Diversity & Internationalization.
Among the Top-100, the highest student ethnic diversity institutions are UC Riverside, UC Irvine, and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
All bar one of the top-10 for Student Ethnicity Mix is a public university, indicating that public universities are meeting their social obligations to increase Diversity.
Among the Top-100, the institutions with the highest proportion of female staff are liberal arts colleges - Barnard College and Wellesley College, with over 60% female academic staff.
Some of America’s top research institutions perform less strongly in gender diversity. MIT, scoring third for Research, has only 28% female staff, and Stanford (second for Research) only records 35% of its staff as female.
QS’s data shows that tech-focused institutions still lag behind their peers in terms of widening female workforce participation. Among the ranking’s top 100, the institutions with the lowest ratio of female to male staff are Caltech, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Institute of Technology, and MIT.
The QS USA University Rankings also prioritizes employability and teaching quality as crucial lenses to assess institutional performance.
Jack Moran, a QS Spokesperson, said: “While the overall QS World University Rankings continue to command record levels of interest, we know that the American higher education sector is wrestling with questions that do not fall within the scope of our global rankings - questions of equity, access, representation, and social justice. The QS USA University Rankings shine some independent light on those institutions that are doing most to foster the important relationship between education and social change.”
Containing more than 350 universities, this year’s QS USA Rankings is the largest yet. New York state leads as the most represented state, with 74 universities. California is the next best-performing with 38.
Public universities continue to perform strongly, with two places in this year’s top five and seven in the top 30. If you’re looking to take advantage of the benefits of studying at a public university, any of these institutions would be worth considering.
QS USA University Rankings 2021
• Top 100
- Harvard University — Cambridge
- Stanford University — Stanford
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — Cambridge
- University of California, Berkeley (UCB) — Berkeley
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — Los Angeles
- Yale University — New Haven
- Columbia University — New York City
- Princeton University — Princeton
- New York University (NYU) — New York City
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia
- University of Chicago — Chicago
- Cornell University — Ithaca
- Duke University — Durham
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles
- Northwestern University — Evanston
- Carnegie Mellon University — Pittsburgh
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor
- Brown University — Providence
- Boston University — Boston
- California Institute of Technology (Caltech) — Pasadena
- Emory University — Atlanta
- Rice University — Houston
- University of Washington — Seattle
- Washington University in St. Louis — St. Louis
- Georgetown University — Washington DC.
- University of California, San Diego (UCSD) — San Diego
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville
- The University of Texas at Austin — Austin
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign
- University of Rochester — Rochester
- Dartmouth College — Hanover
- University of North — Carolina
- University of California, Davis — Davis
- University of Florida — Gainesville
- Tufts University — Medford
- The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) — Chicago
- Georgia Institute of Technology — Atlanta
- Stony Brook University, State University of New York — Stony Brook
- University of Virginia — Charlottesville
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick — New Brunswick
- University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) — Santa Barbara
- Pennsylvania State University — University Park
- George Washington University — Ashburn
- University of California, Irvine — Irvine
- University of Notre Dame — Notre Dame
- University of Miami — Miami
- Northeastern University — Boston
- The Ohio State University — Columbus
- University at Buffalo SUNY — Buffalo
- University of Maryland, College Park — College Park
- Purdue University — West Lafayette
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities — Minneapolis
- Boston College — Newton
- Michigan State University — East Lansing
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Amherst
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison
- Syracuse University — Syracuse
- Lehigh University — Bethlehem
- University of Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh
- Arizona State University — Phoenix
- Brandeis University — Waltham
- Temple University — Philadelphia
- Texas A&M University — College Station
- The University of Arizona — Tucson
- The University of Houston — Houston
- Binghamton University SUNY — Binghamton
- Drexel University — Philadelphia
- North Carolina State University — Raleigh
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — Troy
- University of Connecticut — Storrs
- The University of Georgia — Athens
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University — Blacksburg
- University of New Mexico — Albuquerque
- Indiana University Bloomington — Bloomington
- Tulane University — New Orleans
- University of Colorado Boulder — Boulder
- Florida State University — Tallahassee
- University of South Florida — Tampa
- Illinois Institute of Technology — Chicago
- University of California, Riverside — Riverside
- University of California, Santa Cruz — Santa Cruz
- Howard University — Washington DC.
- University of Texas Dallas — Richardson
- Santa Clara University — Santa Clara
- Wake Forest University — Winston-Salem
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County — Baltimore
- University of Utah — Salt Lake City
- George Mason University — Fairfax
- New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) — Newark
- University of Massachusetts Boston — Boston
- University of Kansas — Lawrence
- University at Albany SUNY — Albany
- Oregon State University — Corvallis
- University of Delaware — Newark
- University of the Pacific — Stockton
- Rutgers University-Newark — Newark
- The University of Hawaii at MÄnoa — Honolulu
- San Diego State University — San Diego
• 101-110
- University of Iowa — Iowa City
- The University of Oklahoma — Norman
- Baylor University — Waco
- College of William and Mary — Williamsburg
- Stevens Institute of Technology — Hoboken
- University of Central Florida — Orlando
- University of Cincinnati — Cincinnati
- University of Kentucky — Lexington
- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville — Knoxville
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute — Worcester
• 111-120
- DePaul University — Chicago
- Florida International University — Miami
- Georgia State University — Atlanta
- Portland State University — Portland
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) — Rochester
- University of Louisville — Louisville
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln — Lincoln
- University of New Hampshire — Durham
- University of North Texas — Denton
- University of Oregon — Eugene
- University of San Francisco — San Francisco
- University of South Carolina — Columbia
• 121-130
- Fordham University — New York City
- Loyola University Chicago — Chicago
- San Francisco State University — San Francisco
- Seattle University — Seattle
- Southern Methodist University — Dallas
- University of Missouri, Columbia — Columbia
- University of Vermont — Burlington
- Wayne State University — Detroit
• 131-140
- American University — Washington DC.
- Bentley University — Waltham
- Clemson University — Clemson
- Colorado State University, Fort Collins
- Loyola Marymount University — Los Angeles
- Pepperdine University — Malibu
- The University of Alabama — Tuscaloosa
- University of Denver — Denver
- University of Rhode Island Kingston
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond
- West Virginia University — Morgantown
• 141-150
- Clark University — Worcester
- Clarkson University — Potsdam
- Michigan Technological University — Houghton
- Rowan University — Glassboro
- San Jose State University — San Jose
- Saint Louis University
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham
- University of Colorado, Denver — Denver
- University of Nevada - Reno — Reno
• 151-160
- CUNY Baruch College — New York City
- CUNY Hunter College — New York City
- Hofstra University — New York City
- Kansas State University — Manhattan
- Missouri University of Science and Technology — Rolla
- Oklahoma State University — Stillwater
- Suffolk University — Boston
- The University of Missouri, Kansas City — Kansas City
- The University of North Carolina at Charlotte — Charlotte
- Villanova University — Villanova
• 161-170
- Andrews University — Berrien Springs
- Auburn University — Auburn
- Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis — Indianapolis
- Ohio University — Athens
- Pace University-New York — New York City
- Rutgers University-Camden — Camden
- Simmons University — Boston
- St. John’s University: New York City — New York City
- University of San Diego — San Diego
- Yeshiva University — New York City
• 171-180
- Chapman University — Orange
- Dominican University of California — San Rafael
- Elon University — Elon
- Loyola University Maryland — Baltimore
- Northern Arizona University — Flagstaff
- Nova Southeastern University — Fort Lauderdale
- University of Memphis — Memphis
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro — Greensboro
- Valparaiso University — Valparaiso
- Washington State University — Pullman
• 181-190
- Georgia Southern University — Statesboro
- James Madison University — Harrisonburg
- Miami University, Oxford
- Rollins College — Winter Park
- Texas Christian University — Fort Worth
- Texas Tech University — Lubbock
- The College of New Jersey — Ewing Township
- University of Dayton — Dayton
- University of Hartford — West Hartford
- University of Idaho — Moscow
• 191-200
- Brigham Young University — Provo
- CUNY Queens College — New York City
- California Lutheran University — Thousand Oaks
- California State University - Fullerton — Fullerton
- Iowa State University — Ames
- Kent State University — Kent
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology — Socorro
- New York Institute of Technology — New York City
- Stetson University — United States
- The University of Massachusetts Lowell — Lowell
- University of Mississippi — Oxford
- University of Scranton — Scranton
- The University of Texas at San Antonio — San Antonio
- University of Wisconsin Milwaukee — Milwaukee
• 201-250
- Ball State University — Muncie
- Boise State University — Boise
- Butler University — Indianapolis
- CUNY The City College of New York — New York City
- California State Polytechnic University - Pomona — Pomona
- California State University - Los Angeles — Los Angeles
- The Catholic University of America — Washington DC.
- Chaminade University of Honolulu — Honolulu
- CUNY College of Staten Island — Staten Island
- Creighton University — Omaha
- Dominican University — River Forest
- East Carolina University — Greenville
- Fairfield University — Fairfield
- Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton — Boca Raton
- Hawaii Pacific University — Honolulu
- Immaculata University — Immaculata
- Ithaca College — Ithaca
- La Salle University — Philadelphia
- Louisiana State University — Baton Rouge
- Marquette University — Milwaukee
- Marymount University — Arlington
- Mississippi State University — Starkville
- Montana State University — Bozeman
- North Dakota State University — Fargo
- Northern Illinois University — DeKalb
- Old Dominion University — Norfolk
- Rider University — Lawrenceville
- Roosevelt University
- The State University of New York at Geneseo — Geneseo
- SUNY New Paltz
- Seattle Pacific University — Seattle
- Sonoma State University — Rohnert Park
- SUNY Oswego — Oswego
- Texas State University, — San Marcos
- University of Alaska Anchorage — Anchorage
- University of Alaska Fairbanks — Fairbanks
- University of Bridgeport — Bridgeport
- The University of Maine — Orono
- University of Michigan-Dearborn — Dearborn
- University of Missouri Saint Louis — St. Louis
- The University of Nevada - Las Vegas — Las Vegas
- University of Redlands — Redlands
- University of St Thomas — St Paul
- The University of St. Thomas - Houston — Houston
- University of Toledo — Toledo
- University of Tulsa — Tulsa
- University of Wyoming — Laramie
- Western Illinois University — Macomb
- Western Washington University — Bellingham
- William Paterson University of New Jersey — Wayne
• 251-300
- Adelphi University — Garden City
- Alfred University
- Appalachian State University (ASU) — Boone
- Augsburg University
- Bryant University — Smithfield
- CUNY Lehman College — New York City
- California State University, San Marcos College
- California State University Northridge Los Angeles
- California State University Sacramento
- California State University - Long Beach
- California State University - San Bernardino
- Campbell University
- College of Charleston
- Gonzaga University — Spokane
- Illinois State University Normal
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania Indiana
- Manhattan College — New York City
- Morgan State University — Baltimore
- Northeastern Illinois University
- Notre Dame of Maryland University — Baltimore
- Oakland University — Rochester
- Pacific Lutheran University — Tahoma
- Providence College — Providence
- Regis University — Denver
- SUNY Brockport Brockport
- The State University of New York at Fredonia — Fredonia
- SUNY Oneonta — Oneonta
- Saint Mary’s College of California — Moraga
- Saint Peter’s University
- South Dakota State University — Brookings
- St. Edward’s University — Austin
- University of Arkansas Fayetteville — Fayetteville
- University of Evansville — Evansville
- University of Illinois, Springfield (UIS) — Springfield
- University of La Verne — La Verne
- University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
- University of New Haven — New Haven
- University of North Florida — Jacksonville
- University of North Georgia
- University of Portland Portland
- University of South Alabama (USA) — Mobile
- University of South Dakota — Vermillion
- University of Texas Arlington — Arlington
- The University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire — Eau Claire
- Western Connecticut State University
- Western Michigan University — Kalamazoo
- Wilkes University
• 301-350
- Buffalo State College (SUNY)
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis — Obispo
- California State University - Stanislaus
- California State University Dominguez Hills — Carson
- Carthage College
- Central Michigan University — Mount Pleasant
- Chestnut Hill College — Philadelphia
- Christian Brothers University
- Delaware State University
- Duquesne University — Pittsburgh
- Eastern University
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University — Tallahassee
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Frostburg State University
- Hamline University — Saint Paul
- Hampton University — Hampton
- Jacksonville University
- John Carroll University — University Heights
- King’s College — Wilkes-Barre
- Lamar University
- Lawrence Technological University — Southfield
- Lynn University
- Madonna University — Livonia
- Manhattanville College — Purchase
- Marist College — Poughkeepsie
- Mercer University — Macon
- Mount St Mary’s College — New York City
- Nazareth College — Rochester
- Niagara University
- Our Lady of the Lake University, — San Antonio
- Radford University
- SUNY Cortland Cortland
- SUNY Plattsburgh
- SUNY Potsdam
- Salisbury University
- Sam Houston State University
- Shenandoah University — Winchester
- Towson University — Towson
- Truman State University — Kirksville
- University of Guam
- University of Michigan-Flint — Flint
- University of Montana Missoula — Missoula
- University of Nebraska - Omaha
- University of North Carolina Wilmington — Wilmington
- University of North Dakota — Grand Forks
- The University of Tampa — Tampa
- University of the Incarnate Word
- Utah State University — Logan
- Waynesburg University — Waynesburg
- Wichita State University — Wichita
- Xavier University of Louisiana — New Orleans
— METHODOLOGY —
QS evaluated the US universities according to the following 17 metrics. They fall into four broad groupings (Employability, Diversity & Internationalisation, Learning Experience, and Research).
• Employability (24.5%)
- This category looks at the employment prospects of students graduating from US higher education institutions through metrics that include the results of the Employer Reputation Survey, Alumni outcomes, and salary post-graduation.
• Employer reputation (10%)
- QS Employer Reputation metric is based on almost 45,000 responses to the QS Employer Survey and asks employers to identify those institutions from which they source the most competent, innovative, effective graduates. The QS Employer Survey is also the world’s largest of its kind.
• Alumni outcomes (10%)
- QS has been recording the educational background of over 30,000 highly influential employers, sector leaders, and award-winning professionals, as well as individuals.
• Salary after ten years (4.5%)
- This indicator looks at the average salary of graduates (who received federal financial aid) ten years after first entering university.
• Diversity & Internationalisation (25%)
- This broad category attempts to understand to what extent a higher education institution is striving towards being as inclusive as possible while promoting an environment that seeks to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality and Goal 10: Reduced Inequality.
• Gender pay gap (2.5%)
- One of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to achieve Gender Equality through female equality in the workplace and eradicating unfair practices targeting women.
• Faculty gender diversity (2.5%)
- This indicator is also used against the backdrop of the UN’s SDG to achieve Gender Equality. It aims to capture whether there is equal representation of both male and female employees within the faculty of a higher education institution. Institutions that are moving towards an equivalent model are demonstrating their commitment to progress towards achieving Gender Equality.
• The ratio of undergraduate students receiving Pell grants (5%)
- This indicator focuses on the percentage of enrolled undergraduate students that got a Pell Grant. The Pell Grant program provides grant assistance to eligible undergraduate postsecondary students with demonstrated financial needs to help meet higher education expenses.
• Students’ ethnicity mix (5%)
- The student fabric of a higher education institution is an important indicator that reflects its openness and attention to nurture a diverse, culturally sensitive, and tolerant student cohort. An institution with a diverse student ethnic mix demonstrates that it cultivates inclusiveness and promotes social mobility while offering its students a diverse student learning experience crucial in today’s global world.
• Number of Fulbright recipients per institution (5%)
- This indicator looks at which US institutions are top producers of US Fulbright students over a combined period of 3 years. The Fulbright Programme is the US government’s flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State. Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Programme has provided more than 390,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.
• The proportion of international students (5%)
- A highly international university acquires and confers several advantages. It demonstrates an ability to attract students from across the world, suggesting that it possesses a solid global brand.
• Learning experience (22%)
- This category aims to reflect the overall learning environment provided by a higher education institution to its students through the level of support it offers all its students regardless of background.
• Average instructional expenditure per FTE (full-time equivalency) student (10%)
- Average teaching spending per FTE (full-time equivalency) student demonstrates how many financial resources a higher education institution spends on average teaching per student. This indicator is used as a proxy to determine how strongly an institution is committed to offering the most effective learning environment possible.
• Retention rate (5%)
- It is a measure of the rate at which students persist in their educational program at an institution, expressed as a percentage. That is the percentage of the first-time bachelor (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduates from the previous fall who are again enrolled in the current fall for four-year institutions. For all other institutions, this is the percentage of first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from the previous fall who either re-enrolled or completed their program by the current fall.
• Pell grant student graduation rates compared with other students (3.5%)
- This indicator focuses on how well an institution supports students in financial need awarded a Pell grant. The number of grant recipients graduating within 150% of standard time to program completion, compared to the average graduation rate for students that did not receive a Pell grant or Stafford loan.
• Student-faculty ratio (3.5%)
- Students’ teaching quality is typically cited as the highest importance metric when comparing institutions. It isn’t easy to measure, but QS says it has determined that measuring student/faculty ratios is the most effective proxy metric currently available. This indicator assesses the extent to which institutions can provide undergraduate students with meaningful access to faculty members and recognizes that a high number of faculty members per undergraduate student will reduce the teaching burden on each academic.
• Research (28.5%)
- This category demonstrates how the Research of a higher education institution is having an impact. It focuses on the quality of the Research, regardless of the size of an institution. How much open and internationally collaborative its research outputs are, whether within academia or with industry.
• Academic Reputation (13.5%)
- Academic reputation is measured using a global survey. Scholars identify the institutions where they believe the best work is currently taking place within their field of expertise. The survey collates the expert opinions of over 94,000 individuals in the higher education space. It has grown to become the world’s largest survey of academic thought in terms of size and scope and is an unparalleled means of measuring sentiment in the academic community.
• Citations per paper (7%)
- Citations per paper focus on the performance of the documents an institution produces that get indexed in Scopus. It assesses the number of citations per Research Paper published, aiming to explain the impact each institution’s research has within the research community.
• International Research Network (IRN) (5%)
- This indicator assesses the degree of international Diversity in research collaboration for each evaluated institution. The Margalef Index, widely used in environmental sciences, has been adapted to estimate the richness of the selected international research partners for a given institution.
• Partnerships with Employers per Faculty (3%)
- This indicator uses Elsevier’s Scopus database to establish which universities collaborate successfully with global companies to produce citable, transformative research. This year’s ranking accounts for university collaborations with 2,000 top global companies listed by Fortune and Forbes. The figure is adjusted to account for the number of faculty at each university.
Source: QS Quacquarelli Symonds
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:48 PM | View the original post
May 5, 2021
HeiQ launches a high-tech mask featuring ground-breaking copper technology shown to deactivate the COVID-19 virus.
Photos: HeiQ MetalliQ Type IIR surgical mask with an antiviral copper coated surface that deactivates 97.79% SARS-CoV-2. (Images provided by HeiQ).
ZURICH, May 5, 2021 — HeiQ, a global leader in textile and materials innovation, has launched HeiQ MetalliQ, a futuristic-looking, high-tech surgical mask that destroys all viruses and bacteria tested, up to 100% efficacy, the company announced.
HeiQ MetalliQ doesn’t only look metallic. The mask with a patented design contains an ultra-thin pure copper coating applied via a high-tech vapor deposition process, called HeiQ MetalliX, which converts a minute amount of copper into a vapor that deposits evenly to surround each fiber. HeiQ MetalliX is a patent-pending technology created by HeiQ’s innovation partner, Australian materials technology company, Xefco.
According to HeiQ, studies conducted by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia (Doherty Institute) showed that fabrics treated by the HeiQ MetalliX technology significantly deactivated the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) in as little as 5 minutes.
The testing protocol simulated the real-life interaction of aerosol droplets contaminating textile products such as face masks. Each sample was exposed to a high loading of SARS-CoV-2 followed by 5, 15, and 30 minutes incubation at room temperature before the amount of remaining infectious SARS-CoV-2 viruses was measured. The fabric samples treated with HeiQ MetalliX indicated a virus reduction of over 97.79% in five minutes, 99.95% in 15 minutes, and around 99.99% in 30 minutes, relative to the inoculum control.
“Our team of experts continues its vital work to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus,” Dr. Julie McAuley, Senior Research Officer at the Doherty Institute, stated. “Testing the ability of different surface treatments to reduce the infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is one way that our research can help provide insights towards helping to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. McAuley added.
Copper is a naturally occurring element present in the earth’s crust, soil, oceans, lakes, and rivers. It is also a trace element that occurs naturally in all humans, plants, and animals. Copper has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties demonstrated by laboratory studies. According to HeiQ, HeiQ MetalliX treated materials release copper ions which deactivate viruses and bacteria.
HeiQ Medica in Spain manufactures HeiQ MetalliQ. Here, HeiQ also conducts R&D activities for medical devices.
“You can pretty much ‘heiq’ everything to add additional functions to an everyday product. This time we up our game once again in antiviral protection, with an upgraded and premium appearance. Spring is calling. As we emerge from lock-down, we want to be extra protected and protect the others. HeiQ MetalliQ provides that extra level of confidence. Further, it gives an edgy look, making it an improved alternative to surgical masks in many ways,” said Carlo Centonze, co-founder and CEO of HeiQ Group.
Founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and listed on the London Stock Exchange, HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation, creating effective, durable, and high-performance textile technologies. HeiQ says its mission is to improve the lives of billions of people through pioneering textiles and materials innovation. With a total capacity of 35,000 tons per year, HeiQ manufactures its products in the USA, Switzerland, and Australia, supplying its specialty chemical products in over 60 countries worldwide.
Source: HeiQ
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:44 AM | View the original post
May 4, 2021
International Jazz Day 2021 Concludes with Spectacular All-Star Global Concert Featuring Performances from Cities Across the Globe
• Hosted by Michael Douglas at United Nations Headquarters in New York, Concert Caps Extraordinary 10th Anniversary Celebration Spanning More than 190 Countries.
Photo: A Jazz Day Poster.
WASHINGTON, May 3, 2021 — With more than 190 countries participating, the International Jazz Day 10th Anniversary celebration concluded with a thrilling All-Star Global Concert reaching millions worldwide. Hosted by Michael Douglas and led by Herbie Hancock and musical director John Beasley, the concert brought together renowned artists from over 20 countries. It was made possible by Lead Partner Toyota, with United Airlines serving as Airline Partner.
The 2021 Global Concert featured memorable moments illustrating the unifying power of jazz. From New York, Veronica Swift and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen opened the program with “Sing,” an uplifting tribute to the positive change that music can bring to the world. Other standout performances included pianist and composer Jacob Collier in London, Beninese songstress Angélique Kidjo in Paris, Japanese pianist Junko Onishi in Tokyo, Ivan Lins in Rio De Janeiro, and vocalist/trumpeter Mandisi Dyantyis in Cape Town. Capping the remarkable presentation from Los Angeles was a sensational interpretation of “God Bless The Child” by vocalist Andra Day.
Anchored by Academy Award winner Michael Douglas from UN Headquarters in New York, the 2021 concert showcased jazz as a truly global art form. As United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted, “Ten years ago, we launched the very first International Jazz Day in the United Nations General Assembly Hall at the initiative of UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. With every passing year, this has been a joyous celebration - not only of music but also of freedom, diversity, and human dignity. These are the values the United Nations works to protect and promote around the world.”
UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz presented free educational and outreach programming throughout the day. In one of the most anticipated events, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock engaged in a moving dialogue on the history and legacy of International Jazz Day.
International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities on all seven continents to honor the international art form of jazz. The event is celebrated with thousands of concerts and jazz-related programming worldwide each year on April 30, highlighting its essential role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination, and promoting human dignity.
Source: Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:17 AM | View the original post
May 3, 2021
The Empire State Building to Celebrate 90 Years
• New Historical Tours, Giveaways, and Other Year-Long Anniversary Celebrations Planned
Photo: The Empire State Building as seen from the “Top of The Rock.” Image Credit: Joe Shlabotnik.
Photo: The Empire State Building is illuminated in red to celebrate the landing on Mars of NASA’s Perseverance rover, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in New York City. Photo Credit: (NASA/Emma Howells). [File Photo].
NEW YORK, May 01, 2021 — The World’s Most Famous Building, the Empire State Building (ESB), celebrates its 90th anniversary on May 1, 2021.
“The Empire State Building, the international icon and symbol of dreams, was a record-breaker and trendsetter 90 years ago,” said Anthony E. Malkin, chairman, president, and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. “Today, she is fully modernized for the 21st century, a world leader in energy efficiency retrofits in the built environment, indoor environmental quality, and on building health practices.”
“Since we first opened our doors 90 years ago, the Empire State Building Observatory has been the must-visit for travelers from around the world,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Observatory. “We’ve welcomed everyone from the Queen of England to the Queen of Christmas (Mariah Carey) through our doors, and our most important visitors are our Observatory guests from around the world who today visit our brand new, $165 million recreation of our entire experience. With New York reopened as of July 1, we look forward to visits from our fans near and far who can safely travel to celebrate this important anniversary.”
• Brand-New Offerings for Visitors
To mark 90 years, the Empire State Building will kick off a wealth of new offerings, with more announcements throughout the year-long festivities.
Birthday Lighting: ESB’s world-famous tower lights will sparkle in white with a special “90” illuminated in the mast throughout the night.
New Historical Tour: The new 90 in 90 Tour will take guests on a 90-year journey in 90 minutes as they explore the building’s rich history. Treated like a VIP with their own ESB Ambassador at their side, guests quickly become insiders and go behind the scenes at the Empire State Building.
90th Anniversary Collectors’ Items: The Empire State Building’s gift shop will offer limited edition 90th Anniversary items available only on-site.
Birthday Giveaway: With the purchase of a Sunrise, Premium, or All Access ticket to the Observatory, guests will receive a complimentary, celebratory 90th-anniversary tote bag.
David Yurman Window Display: America’s foremost luxury jewelry brand David Yurman will launch its new “Empire Collection” of women’s jewelry and men’s accessories with a window display in the building’s famed Fifth Avenue lobby.
Sweeping Views with Starbucks Coffee: For the entire month of May, guests who show their Observatory ticket at the 34th Street Starbucks located inside ESB before or after their visit will receive a $0.90 tall, hot or iced coffee and a Starbucks reusable cup while supplies last.
• A Reimagined Guest Experience
Since its construction, the Empire State Building has taken pride in its status as the World’s Most Famous Building - an international symbol of technology, imagination, and ambition. Recent renovations and a reimagined visitor experience serve as examples for other buildings and attractions across the globe.
Reimagination of The Observatory Experience: A five-year, $165 million overhaul of the visitor journey to the 86th Floor Observatory was completed in 2019 and introduced a new dedicated guest entrance at 34th Street, an immersive 10,000 square-foot museum, and additional exhibits on the redesigned 80th Floor. A brand-new 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows completes the redo.
Sustainability Retrofit: Over the last ten years, the Empire State Building underwent a ground-breaking energy and efficiency retrofit as part of the $550 million Empire State ReBuilding program that transformed it into one of today’s most efficient historical landmarks. The building is in the top 20 percent of all Class A commercial assets in the nation. As a result of these efforts, ESRT earned the highest possible GRESB 5 Star Rating and Green Star recognition for sustainability performance in real estate and was named a Fitwel Champion for healthy, high-performance buildings. ESB looks forward to a more sustainable future with a recently announced target to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
Updated Tower Lights: In 2012, the Empire State Building upgraded its world-famous tower lights to display more than 16 million colors. The new lights debuted with the building’s first music-to-light show set to Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” and “Empire State of Mind.” The building recently brought back the classic show during 2020 to bring a moment of joy to all New Yorkers during the pandemic.
Restoration of an Art Deco Classic: In 2009, the Empire State building fully restored its Fifth Avenue Lobby celestial ceiling mural. The project used aluminum leaf and 23-karat gold, the same materials from 1931, and took more than 20,000 person-hours. Just last year, the building restored its silhouette to the original design that influenced various architectural styles. With the removal of multiple antennas and a new coat of silver waterproof paint, ESB sparkles like new.
“Over the past 90 years, the Empire State Building has been the undisputed landmark of the New York City skyline, with its iconic tower lights that shine as a symbol of hope, strength, and perseverance,” said Mr. Malkin. “We will continue to innovate and push boundaries in technology, sustainability, and tourism to ensure that the Empire State Building remains America’s Favorite Building for the next 90 years as well.”
The Empire State Building, “The World’s Most Famous Building,” is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Empire State Realty Trust, Inc owns it. The $165 million reimagination of the Empire State Building Observatory Experience creates an all-new experience with a dedicated guest entrance, an interactive museum with nine galleries, and a redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory with floor-to-ceiling windows. The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air Observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building’s iconic history to its current place in pop culture. Officially opened on May 1, 1931, and now celebrating its 90th anniversary year, the Empire State Building welcomes more than 4 million annual visitors from around the world.
Source: Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:13 AM | View the original post
May 1, 2021
United Way Worldwide Announces Launch of India COVID-19 Relief Fund
Give. Advocate. Volunteer. LIVE UNITED.
Photo: Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide (center) with Student United Way Award Winners (L-R): Alicia Meyer, Campus Adviser of the Year, Montana State University; Krystal Draper, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; Hoa Bui, President of Student United Way at the University of California Riverside; Caasi Algazi, Founder of Student United Way at the University of California Riverside; and Elizabeth Collins, Student Leader of the Year, Montana State University. United Way Community Leaders Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. May 2, 2012.
Students on more than 60 campuses across the United States are improving their local communities. This powerful force is known as Student United Way, the student voice of the worldwide United Way movement. Image Credit: Neil Parekh. [File Photo]
ALEXANDRIA, VA., May 01, 2021 — United Way Worldwide today announced that it had established a relief fund for United Way India to provide immediate assistance in containing the coronavirus and responding to the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The India COVID-19 Relief Fund will provide immediate help in medical equipment for hospitals, including oxygen supplies, ventilators, beds, Bipap Machines, and more. The Fund will also supply hygiene and food kits for communities to prevent further spread of the virus.
As India experiences the world’s worst outbreak, United Way India will distribute donations from the Fund to support the most acutely impacted in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi NCR, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar.
Just this week, India reported the most significant single-day spike of new COVID-19 cases at 379,000 and more than 200,000 deaths, 3,000 occurring in the past 24 hours alone. These numbers have overwhelmed the healthcare system, particularly in highly populated cities, devastating the most vulnerable population.
“The resurgence of the COVID-19 virus and the devastating impact on India’s healthcare system highlights that the fight against the pandemic is far from over and shows how vulnerable communities are still at risk,” said Neeraj Mehta, Interim President and CEO, United Way Worldwide. “I am heartened by the work of the United Way India network and am confident that we can provide much-needed critical support to alleviate the suffering of marginalized populations.”
Over the past year, the United Way India network of seven local United Ways has supported more than five million people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and provided infrastructure enhancement to more than 100 hospitals. The United Way India network has raised and distributed $60 million in relief funds to more than 60 cities throughout India.
Through the work of 100,000 volunteers, United Way has distributed over 291,951 food kits and served more than 555,886 hot meals. Additionally, the United Way India network has provided 146 hospitals with infrastructure reinforcements, including additional beds, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and medical supplies. It has also distributed 804,154 N-95 & 3-Ply masks and 346,104 personal protection equipment (PPE) kits.
Response efforts are led locally by United Ways in the cities of Baroda, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata.
United Way said it fights for every person’s health, education, and financial stability in every community.”With global reach and local impact, we’re making life better for 48 million people annually. United Way is the world’s largest privately-funded nonprofit, working in 95% of U.S. communities and 40 countries and territories. That’s why we’re the mission of choice for 2.5 million volunteers, 7.7 million donors, and 45,000 corporate partners. In the wake of COVID-19, we’re helping people stay in their homes, stock their pantries, and protect their lives and livelihoods. And we’re working to build resilient, equitable communities,” United Way elaborated.
Source: United Way Worldwide
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 3:04 PM | View the original post
