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Global Leaders Decry the Trivialization and Hijacking of the ‘Apartheid’ Label to Attack the Jewish State

Combat Hate Foundation

Leaders from around the world spoke out last week against appropriation of the term “apartheid” from its historical South African context with the goal of defaming and isolating Israel by portraying it as a racist entity. At a conference co-hosted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), NGO Monitor, and the World Zionist Organization titled “ Trivializing History: How Anti-Israel Activists Have Hijacked the South African ‘Apartheid’ Label to Attack the Jewish State,” world leaders, diplomats, legislators, and policymakers discussed what must be done to restore the “apartheid” term to its proper context and delegitimize its use in discourse about a conflict to which it has no relevance. “Categorizing Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state is just plain antisemitic,” said Vice President of the European Parliament and Special Envoy on Combating Religious Discrimination Including Antisemitism Nicola Beer. “In my opinion, such characterization counters progress made in the region concerning the peace process, instead it deepens the rifts and fuels antisemitism around the world.” The conference was held in response to the global rise in antisemitism. The “apartheid” campaign questions Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state by framing Israel as an inherently racist state. During the past 18 months, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International published reports accusing Israel of “apartheid,” and the UN established two bodies where the claim of apartheid will be prominently featured. These attempts distort history of what happened during South Africa’s past system of institutionalized racial segregation. Continuous misuse of the “apartheid” conversation trivializes the suffering endured by true apartheid victims of the oppressive apartheid regime. “The suffering of South Africans under Apartheid was unique and attempts to apply the same label to Israel trivialize that history and are unacceptable,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jiří Kozák. “We consider this open antisemitism. By claiming that Israel is a racist endeavor is in violation of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. Claims of ‘apartheid’ is not about questioning a particular policy, but about challenging the nature of the Jewish state.” “Whatever the world’s greatest and most unforgiveable crime is in any particular moment of history, the Jews will be accused of it,” said Member of the UK House of Lords Baroness Ruth Deech. “Those who accuse Israel of ‘apartheid’ are themselves racist in that their real mission is to deny the legitimacy of the only Jewish state in the world and if they got their way they would return Jews to dispersion, slaughter, and discrimination.” “Attempts to link South Africa’s past system of institutionalized racial segregation to the nuanced complexity of contemporary Israel-Palestinian relations debase history and trivialize the unique suffering of ‘apartheid’ victims,” U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar said. “We must acknowledge the dangerous effects of falsified name-calling.” “A lot of political prisoners during the Apartheid era would have loved to live as a Palestinian in Israel,” said Member of the European Parliament and Vice Chair of the Budgetary Committee Niclas Herbst. “Applying the ‘apartheid’ label serves no purpose other than to delegitimize the Israeli state, demonizing the Jewish people and ultimately bring about Israel’s destruction,” said Former Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defense of the Republic of Ireland Alan Shatter. Alongside the conference, CAM released a public petition urging people to sign a pledge to “urge decision-makers at the international, national, and local levels to vocally reject and condemn the ‘apartheid’ libel of Israel.” NGO Monitor released a number of reports debunking the claims made by Amnesty International and other NGOs. Examples of such reports can be found here and here. These releases highlight their work fighting the “apartheid” libel. “We are combating the ‘apartheid’ calumny with a carefully orchestrated strategy and a dissemination of the truth and the facts,” Elan Carr, CAM Advisory Board Member and Former US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism, said. "The antisemitic ‘apartheid’ campaign will be defeated because it is built on lies and hate." NGO Monitor Vice President Olga Deutsch commented, “It is heartwarming to see how many officials rallied to denounce the ‘apartheid’ smear. Preserving the uniqueness of the ‘apartheid’ narrative is central for the South African people, but in the context of today’s event is also crucial for the global Jewish community facing violent antisemitic attacks. Strong message from our elected officials is imperative in setting the tone for the rest of us.” Watch a video of the full event here. The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is a global coalition engaging more than 500 partner organizations and 1.7 million people from a diverse array of religious, political, and cultural backgrounds in the common mission of fighting the world’s oldest hatred. CAM acts collaboratively to build a better future, free of bigotry, for Jews and all humanity. Contact Details Ashley Perry info@combatantisemitism.org Company Website https://combatantisemitism.org/

July 12, 2022 08:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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India PM Modi Inaugurates Akshaya Patra's Kitchen at Varanasi

The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA

Los Angeles, CA (July 11, 2022 ) - Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Akshaya Patra Foundation’s newest kitchen at the LT College in Varanasi, on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were in attendance at the ceremony. The event was presided by Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman and Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice-Chairman of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Sandeep Singhal, Co-Founder & MD of WestBridge Capital, India along with his team also visited the kitchen on the day of the inauguration. After the inauguration, the Prime Minister inspected the facility where meals were served to the children. The guests commended Akshaya Patra’s efforts to address hunger & malnutrition in the country and pledged their support for the organization’s endeavours. Expressing immense gratitude, Madhu Pandit Dasa, said “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the honourable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji for taking time off from his busy schedule to inaugurate our new kitchen in Varanasi. I want to thank the honourable Governor, Smt. Anandiben Patel ji and honourable Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath ji for gracing this auspicious occasion. Today, we write yet another chapter in our association with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.” He added, “I also want to thank Mr. Sumir Chadha and Mr. Sandeep Singhal, co-Founders, West Bridge Capital & their team for sponsoring this kitchen and supporting our efforts to address classroom hunger. Such collaborative efforts by all the stakeholders will surely take us closer to our mission to ensure a world where children do not have to choose between education and food.” The construction of the state-of-the-art centralized kitchen was supported by WestBridge Capital, an India focussed investment firm managing over US$7 billion of capital. WestBridge Capital has, over the last two decades, identified and invested in multiple high-quality businesses across public and private markets and developed deep expertise and broad networks in Indian business markets. Apart from Akshaya Patra, WestBridge Capital has been engaged in making investments in varied philanthropic projects on an ongoing basis across education, health and environment thematics. The kitchen covers an area of 3 acres and marks Akshaya Patra’s 62nd kitchen which will serve 100,000 students in the district. Akshaya Patra has been an implementing partner of the Government of Uttar Pradesh for the school lunch program. About The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Established in 2000, The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world’s largest school meal program, providing hot, nutritious school lunches to over 1.8 million children in over 20,000 schools through 61 kitchens in 14 states and two Union Territories in India. It costs only $20 to feed a child for an entire school year. In 2006, the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The foundation is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and supports the Akshaya Patra mission by raising funds and awareness in the United States. For Further Information: Sagar Thumma, Director - Marketing; sagar@apusa.org About Akshaya Patra Established in 2000, Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest NGO school meal program, providing hot, nutritious school lunches to over 1.8 million children in around 20,000 schools through 61 kitchens in 14 states and two Union Territories in India. It costs only $20 to feed a child for an entire school year. Since the COVID-19 lockdown began on March 24th, Akshaya Patra has served more than 118 million meals to migrant workers and our beneficiaries and their families. Contact Details Akshaya Patra Foundation USA +1 781-438-3090 contact@apusa.org Company Website https://www.akshayapatrausa.org/

July 11, 2022 01:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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With support from the Mellon Foundation, AUW to soon launch a Humanities major

Asian University for Women

CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH - Media OutReach - 8 July 2022 - Thanks to a grant of $1 million from the Mellon Foundation, Asian University for Women (AUW) is planning to launch a new Humanities major for undergraduate studies at the University. The Mellon grant, together with support from other sources, will enable AUW to enlist nine post-doctoral fellows to design and teach this new Humanities initiative. The Humanities major will comprise studies in Literature, History, Philosophy and Comparative Religion. Unlike the existing majors at AUW, the Humanities major would be only available to students who also co-major in one of the natural sciences or mathematics offerings at AUW and produce a thesis that bridges knowledge from both the Humanities and the scientific fields. Kamal Ahmad, AUW's Founder noted that "Too often Humanities have been viewed as a purview of the leisure class. At AUW we think of Humanities as at the core of all of our existence. Our sense of imagination, joy, dignity and an unsevered will are all rooted in the Humanities. By studying history, literature, philosophy and religion in a systematic way, the AUW community will strengthen both its intellectual breadth but also more rigorously examine the fundamental questions that affect our society. We are grateful to the Mellon Foundation for so generously supporting AUW in these endeavors." New leadership at AUW is adding an astonishing breadth of expertise in the humanities at this invigorating moment. Joining as Vice Chancellor of AUW in February of 2022, Rubana Huq brings a humanities perspective to the University’s helm with her PhD in English literature from Jadavpur University, and her career as an accomplished poet in addition to her success in business. David Taylor also joined AUW in 2022 as the Dean of Humanities and is leading AUW’s new Humanities Program through its first year. David Taylor previously acted as the longtime Director of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations at Aga Khan University, and holds a PhD in Political Science from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London with a focus on South Asian history and politics. Rubana Huq and David Taylor have spearheaded the humanities initiative and share an optimistic vision for the future role of the humanities at AUW: “The Humanities program at AUW will provide the foundation to discover and understand the human experience. Through the Humanities program, scholars will gain meaningful insights and will plan with creativity and reason. We hope that the humanities scholars at AUW will strive to preserve the past, understand the realities of today and use the knowledge to shape tomorrow.” – Rubana Huq, Vice Chancellor of AUW “To study the humanities is to share in the hopes and aspirations of peoples across the world and across the centuries. It is to understand that the human mind, individually and collectively, can produce radically different worldviews, forms of social organisation at all levels from family to nation, and ways of relating to the natural world. Students of the humanities learn that it is important to understand the past and present in order to build a better future for themselves and all the inhabitants of planet earth.” – David Denis Taylor, Dean of Humanities at AUW AUW is gratified to be partnering with institutions and outstanding scholars of the Humanities worldwide in support of the program. Sunil Amrith, the Renu and Anand Dhawan Professor of History at Yale University, has taken a key role in envisioning a Humanities program and its integral role at AUW: “AUW’s new Humanities Program is an inspired effort to harness the power of the humanities to enhance AUW’s commitment to educating future leaders. The program will foster intercultural understanding by expanding students’ imaginations; it will instill in them a sense of how history shapes the present; it will help them to develop lifelong skills that could not be more vital: critical intelligence, clarity of expression, and deep empathy. It gives me hope to see AUW embrace this bold new initiative at a time of such strife and suffering in the region, and all around the world.” – Sunil Amrith, Professor of History at Yale University The selected post-doc fellows will be named as Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellows in the Humanities at AUW. In addition to the fellowships, the awardees will receive support for research, travel, and will be mentored by a senior academic from their field. They will be based on the AUW Campus in Chittagong where furnished faculty housing will be available. There will be options to seek appointment as Assistant Professors at AUW following the completion of the fellowship period. Those interested in the positions should send a copy of their CV with a cover letter along with a teaching statement, a research statement, and a sample course description and syllabus to Hildi.Gabel@asian-university.org. About Asian University for Women (AUW): Founded in 2008 and located in Chittagong, Bangladesh, AUW is the first of its kind: a regional institution dedicated to women’s education and leadership development through liberal arts and sciences education. It is international in outlook but rooted in the contexts and aspirations of the people of Asia. Chartered by the Parliament of Bangladesh, AUW exists solely to support a rising network of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from across the region. It seeks out women who show significant academic achievement and potential, demonstrate courage and a sense of outrage at injustice, and are empathic to the woes of other people. 1160 students from 17 countries currently attend AUW: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Timor Leste, Vietnam, and Yemen. More than 85% of AUW students are on full or near-full scholarships funded by supporters from around the world. The University has graduated over a thousand students to date. A majority of AUW graduates secure employment in the private and public sectors in their home countries while about 25% go on to pursue graduate studies at other institutions of higher learning including Oxford, Cambridge, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, Brandeis and Tufts, among others. To learn more about Asian University for Women, please visit https://asian-university.org. Contact Details Hildi Gabel +1 617-914-0500 hildi.gabel@asian-university.org

July 08, 2022 11:23 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Volatus Aerospace Chairman Joins The Hague Court of Arbitration for Aviation

Volatus Aerospace Corp.

Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: VOL) (OTCQB: VLTTF) ("Volatus" or "the Company") is proud to announce that Ian McDougall, Chairman of the Volatus Aerospace Board of Directors, has accepted the invitation of The Hague Court of Arbitration to join their Aviation Advisory Board. Located in The Hague, Netherlands and administered by the Netherlands Arbitration Institute, THE HAGUE COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR AVIATION is a non-profit and modern specialized court of arbitration and centre for mediation for the global aviation industry. Its mandate is to provide practical and flexible arbitration and mediation solutions in accordance with international best practices, tailored to the needs of the commercial and private aviation sectors and focused on ensuring enforceability in over 160 countries pursuant to the New York Convention. “Ian will contribute deep aviation expertise and market awareness in both traditional aviation and the rapidly emerging drone sector,” said Glen Lynch, CEO of Volatus Aerospace. “We’re proud of his involvement in this important and prestigious legal initiative.” “It’s an honour to be invited to participate on the Aviation Advisory Board for The Hague Court of Arbitration,” said Ian McDougall. “I look forward to the important work ahead.” About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout Canada, the United States, Latin America and most recently in Europe. Operating a vast pilot network, Volatus serves commercial and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, and design, manufacturing, and R&D. Through its subsidiary Volatus Aviation, Volatus carries on the business of aircraft management, charter sales, and cargo services using piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous aircraft. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Corporation with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding (i) the business plans and expectations of the Corporation; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans, strategies or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Corporation, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information reflects the Corporation’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Corporation; meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV; and anticipated and unanticipated costs and other factors referenced in this news release and the Circular, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Circular under the caption “Risk Factors”. Although the Corporation has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Source: Volatus Aerospace Corp. TSXV: VOL Contact Details Rob Walker +1 514-447-7986 rob.walker@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com

July 07, 2022 11:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Hong Kong Baptist University biologists discover three new coral species in Hong Kong waters

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 7 July 2022 - Biologists from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have discovered in Hong Kong waters three new species of hard coral which have never been identified anywhere else in the world. The findings come shortly after their discovery of one new coral and two new nudibranch species, which was announced last year under their research project on coral health in Hong Kong. Professor Qiu Jianwen (right) and Mr Yiu King-fung (left) introduce the new coral species. The new marine species were identified by Professor Qiu Jianwen and MPhil student Mr Yiu King-fung of HKBU’s Department of Biology. The descriptions of the new corals have been accepted for publication in the academic journal Zoological Studies. New species found during coral health research About eight years ago, Professor Qiu and his team started a series of research projects related to coral health in Hong Kong, including studies on the impact of coral bioeroding sea urchins and coral-eating nudibranchs, as well as coral bleaching caused by global warming. A coral facility was set up at HKBU to culture corals and conduct controlled experiments to examine their physiological changes under different culture conditions. With continuous field surveys and in-depth research, the team has revealed the high diversity of sun corals in Hong Kong waters. The three new sun coral species discovered this time were named by the HKBU team as Tubastraea dendroida, Tubastraea chloromura and Tubastraea violacea, and they all belong to the genus Tubastraea. The samples were collected when the team surveyed coral-eating nudibranchs at Sung Kong and Waglan Island in the eastern waters of Hong Kong. With the addition of three new members, the number of known species in the Tubastraea genus has increased from seven to ten. The features of the three new sun coral species are as follows: Tubastraea dendroida Similar to most sun corals, Tubastraea dendroida has a typical bright orange colour, but its shape is rather unique. Instead of growing in clumps like most of its related species, this new species has a tree-like structure, with the main stem of its colony attenuating from the base to the tip. The HKBU team therefore named it “ dendroida ” to reflect its tree-shaped body. Tubastraea violacea Covered with a thin layer of pale purple tissue on the corallites (skeletal cups), Tubastraea violacea stands out from other related sun coral species as its polyp wall tissues and skeleton are violet in colour, and it has been named “ violacea ” accordingly. Nevertheless, its tentacles are yellow and the corallites have a thick wall. Based on comparisons with DNA sequences in public databases, the team found that this species may have colour variants elsewhere, such as a yellow colour variant in New Caledonia in the South Pacific. Tubastraea chloromura This coral has a delicate olive green skeletal wall and a circle of yellow tentacles surrounding its mouth. As a result, the species has been named “ chloromura ”, with “ chloro ” and “ murus ” meaning “green” and “wall”, respectively. From coral gene sequences recorded in public databases, HKBU biologists envisage the potential distribution of Tubastraea dendroida and Tubastraea violacea in Japan and the Western Pacific Ocean. However, at this stage, Tubastraea chloromura is only known to inhabit Hong Kong waters. All of these three coral species are non-reef-building corals. They do not host symbiotic algae that produce nutrients and energy via photosynthesis. Living in deeper waters at depths of between 10 and 30 metres, they gain energy and nutrients by capturing zooplankton from seawater using their tentacles. New species discoveries suggest rich biodiversity “Our discovery of three new species of Tubastraea enhances our knowledge of the diversity of this sun coral genus. Given that corals are one of the best-studied marine animals, our study reveals how little we know about marine diversity, and how many undescribed species are still awaiting our discovery,” said Professor Qiu. Identification of the three new coral species comes less than a year after Professor Qiu and his team announced their last discovery in October 2021. While implementing a project supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund to assess the diversity and impact of coral-eating nudibranchs, the team discovered a new sun coral species in the genus Tubastraea and two new species of nudibranchs in the genus Phestilla in Hong Kong waters. Looking back, the last time a new hard coral species was discovered and named in Hong Kong was about 20 years ago. “The discovery is very encouraging as it provides strong evidence of the high marine biodiversity in Hong Kong waters, and it helps fill in the knowledge gaps in biodiversity as advocated in the Government’s Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. It also inspires us to further explore the diversity of marine animals, study their functions and ecosystem services, and protect them from potential human disturbances,” Professor Qiu added. Video: Please click here to download the video and footage. Photos: 20220707_photo1 Professor Qiu Jianwen (right) and Mr Yiu King-fung (left) introduce the new coral species. Please click here for more photos: 20220707_photo2.1 Tubastraea dendroida: A colony in the field. 20220707_photo2.2 Tubastraea dendroida: Skeleton of two colonies. 20220707_photo3.1 Tubastraea violacea: A colony with extended tentacles. 20220707_photo3.2 Tubastraea violacea: A colony with tentacles retracted. 20220707_photo4.1 Tubastraea chloromura: A colony with tentacles retracted. 20220707_photo4.2 Tubastraea chloromura: (Left) Close-up of a corallite with extended tentacles. (Right) Close-up of the skeleton of a corallite. Contact Details Wong Suk-ling +852 3411 2119 lingwong@hkbu.edu.hk

July 07, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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New Survey Shows the Next Generation Embraces Remote Work for Transition from University to Career in UK

Velocity Global

A survey released today by Velocity Global, the leading provider of global talent solutions, shows that U.K. university-aged adults embrace remote work in their career transition plans. The University to Career Survey examined 500 university-aged respondents’ attitudes on remote work as they prepare to transition into the workforce. “The next generation wants more flexibility in their work arrangements, whether that is the option of working entirely remote or in a hybrid work model, to allow them to strike a better balance between their ‘personal’ lives and their ‘work’ lives,” said Sarah Fern, chief people officer at Velocity Global. “Students want the ability to work with anyone, anywhere, anytime. If employers are going to recruit the best people entering the marketplace, they would be wise to take these desires into account in their hiring and employment practices.” Key findings on remote work: 72% of respondents are to consider a job that is remote 84% of students would consider taking less money for their job if it allowed a remote option The majority (59%) say being remote increases their productivity 9 out of 10 respondents report work-life balance as being either the most important factor (44%) or a somewhat important factor (48%) in selecting a career Fewer than 1 in 5 (16%) prefer to work from an office five days per week Only half (50%) of respondents plan to have a traditional (Monday-Friday, 9-to-5) in-person job, and 1 out of 4 (24%) never expect to hold a traditional office job Impacts on emotional well-being: The survey also found a large impact on the emotional well-being of respondents as a result of the move to remote work and learning due to COVID-19. 63% of respondents acknowledged remote work/study negatively impacted their mental health “a lot” (14%) or “somewhat” (49%) 85% reported a high level of stress or anxiety about entering the workforce, including 30% who indicated they are “very” anxious about entering the workforce, and an additional 55% said they are “somewhat” anxious about doing so Participation in the gig economy: An overwhelming majority of students intend to supplement their primary job with a side gig. 82% of respondents either definitely (20%) or possibly (62%) expect to have a side gig in addition to their primary job “It’s clear that the traditional workforce in the U.K. needs to adapt with this growing trend towards flexibility,” said Fern. “People are telling us how they will succeed, and it includes full-time, part-time, contract, and freelance work. Employers will be more likely to recruit and retain the best people when they incorporate these lessons into their hiring strategies.” Methodology: This survey was conducted on behalf of Velocity Global by Rep Data. All selected samples were subjected to stringent quality control standards, including technological controls such as automatic geographical IP detection, tracking and deduplication, open-end pre-screening, and re-captchas. Rep Data sourced multiple suppliers to ensure a representative sample, each supplier possessing its own unique recruitment model and incentive structure, which increased sample source diversity and quality. About Velocity Global Velocity Global accelerates the future of work for anyone, anywhere, anyhow. Its Global Work Platform TM simplifies the employer and talent experience through its proprietary cloud-based talent management technology, backed by personalized expertise and unmatched global scale. With talent solutions in more than 185 countries and all 50 United States, the platform combines global Employer of Record and Contractor Management to onboard, manage, and pay talent worldwide. Thousands of brands rely on Velocity Global to build international teams without the cost or complexity of setting up foreign legal entities or state registrations. Velocity Global was named a “Leader” in Global Employer of Record services by prominent analyst firm NelsonHall. Founded in 2014, the company has hundreds of employees across six continents. For more information, visit velocityglobal.com. Contact Details Erick Sanchez +1 720-650-4348 news@velocityglobal.com Company Website https://velocityglobal.com/

July 07, 2022 04:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Minuteman Press Franchise Owners André and Cindie Nel Grow Business in Costa Mesa, CA

Minuteman Press International Inc

In January 2020, André and Cindie Nel realized their dream of owning a business in the US by purchasing their Minuteman Press franchise located at 2930 College Ave., Unit C in Costa Mesa. “We have both always been entrepreneurs at heart,” says Cindie. As a dynamic husband and wife duo, André and Cindie have combined their strengths to create a highly successful Minuteman Press business in Costa Mesa, California, with strong growth since buying the business during the pandemic and through to today. Journey from South Africa to Costa Mesa Hailing from South Africa, André, as part of an owner run business, built a significant multi temperature logistics and distribution company for several large US fast food franchise brands. Cindie, through her strong sales and account management skills, built an innovative telecommunications brand. Cindie shares, “André, recognizing the value in investing in leading US Franchise organizations, set about purchasing a franchise in the US. Minuteman Press International, with its solid track record and stellar reputation not only in the US but in other global markets including South Africa, made the Minuteman Press franchise opportunity a front runner. This, combined with André being a college marketing major and me being a public relations major, meant there was an obvious synergy in the commercial print world, and this made Minuteman Press the perfect business opportunity for us.” Now operating in Costa Mesa for over two and a half years, André and Cindie have fully integrated themselves and Minuteman Press into their community. André says, “Costa Mesa is an inclusive community with businesses choosing to shop and support local and we have seen huge benefits in both supporting and receiving local support. Support includes not only business but also sharing facilities and neighborhood responsibilities.” “With so much being ‘virtual’ in today’s society, print is still something tangible that people can touch and feel and use to connect more personally with potential and existing clients. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the importance of connecting with one another at every opportunity, be it postcards, brochures, apparel, signage, customized mailings, etc. Print is highly personal and society is craving more and not less of it.” -Cindie Nel, co-owner, Minuteman Press, Costa Mesa Building the Business in Costa Mesa To grow the business, André and Cindie have successfully differentiated themselves from the competition. André explains, “Earning our clients’ trust through personal service, quick turnarounds and over delivering on expectations sets us apart from our competitors. We’ve learned to understand each client’s specific requirements and tailor our solutions accordingly. Rather than be a ‘Jack of all Trades’ we strive to become an expert for their essential needs and grow into their requirements from there.” For Minuteman Press in Costa Mesa, key product growth areas include customized labels, stickers, books, and custom branded apparel. André says, “We’ve invested and skilled up in the label/sticker and book capabilities. We’ve realized the key is in-house, quick turnaround service. We are price competitive, however, not the cheapest in town. Our clients love our personal service, with pre-production samples and our ability to meet tight in-hand deadlines setting us apart from our larger competitors.” He continues, “We have also managed to grow our customized apparel business through a great partnership with a decorator with whom we work closely in understanding the balance between exceptional quality and meeting customer in hand dates.” When it comes to marketing the business, Cindie shares, “Our biggest growth initiatives have been online marketing through Google optimization, with our five-star Google Reviews being a massive contributing success factor. The Minuteman Press pedigree is also key in clients locating us through Internet search filters. Other major growth contributing factors have been personal networking and client referrals. One of our largest clients, a realty company, is a friend of ours and it’s rewarding to be a part of their marketing and business development success.” She adds, “When you’ve invested in paid Internet optimization and client referrals, it’s critical you answer the phone and email as quickly and as professionally as possible to ensure these opportunities are secured.” Why Minuteman Press? For André and Cindie, joining the Minuteman Press franchise family enabled them to realize their dream of owning a business while also providing additional resources and support. Cindie says, “Becoming integrated into the Minuteman Press franchise system has been seamless and successful due to the informative training at World HQ and the ongoing solid local support from our Regional VP Dan Byers and the local field team. Minuteman Press checks all the right boxes in terms of onboarding, operational and financial training, and franchise support.” She continues, “Additionally, where Minuteman Press hits the ball out the park is in the inclusive ‘Minuteman Press family’ culture where everyone supports each other in challenging times and cheers each other on and celebrates sincerely in each other’s achievements. This is what makes Minuteman Press the unique and special place that it is. During these unprecedented times we’ve all been facing, the kindness and generosity shown by our Minuteman Press family has been remarkable.” When asked about the rewards of business ownership, Cindie states, “Our biggest personal reward for owning our own business is that we get to remain connected with our children through time flexibility and the ability to support them financially. Our son, Ethan, is a Computer Science Engineering Major at UCSC. We love that we get to visit him and the beautiful campus and town of Santa Cruz. Our daughter, Madison, a Junior at San Clemente High School, is an aspiring actress and we love having the time and ability to share her dreams and passions.” Cindie adds, “Our professional rewards are how our clients have become our partners and friends resulting in doubling the turnover of our business in the brief two and a half years we’ve owned our shop. This has been achieved with the mindset that every project is about how we can add value to our clients’ businesses or employees. Without our strategic relationships with our suppliers and service providers this would be impossible, so we therefore value, support and deeply invest in these companies who are an extension of our family.” Advice to Others For others who are looking into owning a business, Cindie shares, “Our advice to business owners is to do as we did; learn from the best. The key to success is to know your local market and client base and to let them dictate what and how much to invest in in-house capabilities.” She concludes, “Become experts in your field. Never hand over a job that is anything less than exceptional and also package and label your orders in the manner that you as a client would like to receive them. Always be excited and enthusiastic about every job you do for your client and rewards will follow!” Minuteman Press in Costa Mesa is located at 2930 College Ave., Unit C, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. For more information, visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/ca/costa-mesa/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 06, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cloud Learning Market Heats Up With This New Development

Amesite Inc.

Amesite Inc. (NASDAQ: AMST) is an artificial intelligence (AI) software company delivering an online learning platform and custom learning content creation for businesses, universities, nonprofits and government agencies. Amesite solutions include end-to-end infrastructure, reportedly allowing organizations to seamlessly create branded learning content and online courses. https://clients.tradigitalir.com/amst/ Amesite has just announced the launch of its upgraded, V5 cloud-based learning platform. The newest addition will contain many of the same features as the previous V4 model but with even more improvements. The company says that V5 now includes e-commerce solutions, online portals and learning systems in a box — new learning solutions can be branded to organizations in as quickly as 24 hours. It also offers further capabilities for integrations with other third-party software and partner sites. These features will be presented with an upgraded set of navigation buttons, allowing customers using the site to move more easily throughout the learning system. Designed For A Rewarding Experience? One of the reported hallmarks of Amesite is its feature-rich, intuitively designed platform. Users have a number of high-technology tools at their disposal. Amesite also has a goal of being strongly dedicated to ensuring its solutions are up-to-date and as modernized as possible. It looks to ensure content on the platform can be easily updated and regularly introduces new upgrades and features. Amesite says the latest V5 platform was developed out of direct feedback from current customers. Many were focused on scaling but didn’t have the resources to implement a whole IT department or hire contractors. Instead, Amesite developed V5 to fill this growing need. Through Amesite, users are already able to create customized courses and learning programs adapted to their organization’s audience. Many can opt to build courses from scratch or integrate their own content onto the platform. Amesite states that its technology helps ensure content is up-to-date and that necessary upgrades can be integrated seamlessly. The platform also enables active course monitoring, customer service and other infrastructure measures that support organizations as they scale. When Amesite was initially launched in 2017, the company was hyper-focused on last-mile delivery. This meant success was measured by each student’s ability to complete their educational journey. Since then, Amesite has grown to cater to an ever-growing array of online educational needs. The new V5 platform is the latest update in Amesite’s aim to lead the online learning market for businesses and other institutions. By 2026, the global e-learning market is expected to reach almost $400 billion. Other key players within this space include Coursera Inc. (NYSE: COUR) and Powerschool Holdings Inc. (NYSE: PWSC). Amesite has developed a number of strategic industry partnerships. For instance, the platform is hosted on Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) Azure Cloud. Amesite reports that it also serves a number of elite organizations, including the City University of New York (CUNY) and EWIE Group of Companies (EGC), and proudly boasts a 98% retention rate. Learn more about Amesite here. Amesite Inc., an artificial intelligence driven platform and course designer, provides online products in the United States. The company uses machine learning to offer a mass customized experience to learners. Its customers include businesses, universities and colleges, K-12 schools, and non-profit organizations. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Amesite, Inc. +1 734-876-8141 info@amesite.com Company Website http://www.amesite.io

July 06, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra to hold Annual Gala Concert featuring AI virtual choir, AI virtual dancers, and an AI media artist

Hong Kong Baptist University

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 6 July 2022 - The Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra (HKBU Symphony Orchestra) will present an innovative performance showcasing human creativity alongside artificial intelligence at its Annual Gala Concert, to be held on 14 July (Thursday) at 8:00pm in the Hong Kong City Hall. Poster for the HKBU Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Gala Online Concert Dubbed “ A Lovers’ Reunion ”, the Concert echoes the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s reunification with the motherland. As the first human-machine collaborative performance of its kind in the world, the Concert will give the audience a brand new symphonic experience driven by the integration of cutting-edge AI technologies. The AI technologies developed for this performance are provided by researchers from HKBU’s Augmented Creativity Lab led by Professor Guo Yike, Vice-President (Research and Development). Professor Guo is the project leader of a research project entitled “ Building Platform Technologies for Symbiotic Creativity in Hong Kong ” – a HK$52.8 million research fund awarded by the Theme-based Research Scheme (11th round) under the Research Grants Council (RGC) for a period of five years. The team comprises Professor Johnny M Poon, deputy project coordinator; Dr Liu Qifeng, Associate Professor of Practice, Dr Xue Wei, Assistant Professor, and Dr Chen Jie, Assistant Professor of the Department of Computer Science at HKBU. The HKBU Symphony Orchestra will share the stage with an AI virtual choir to perform a newly arranged choral-orchestral version of the song Pearl of the Orient. It will be the world’s first AI choir to perform a choral piece with Chinese lyrics. The AI choir was developed and “trained” by scientists and artists from the Augmented Creativity Lab at HKBU. The team has also trained an AI artist to create a cross-media visual narrative based on the lyrics and music to accompany the choral piece. The audience is invited to share the AI’s imagination of Hong Kong as the Pearl of the Orient. Another highlight of the Concert is a ballet performance featuring AI virtual dancers in Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, accompanied live by the HKBU Symphony Orchestra. The ideas for the choreography come from the natural world, which provides dance movements inspired by a newly discovered species of box jellyfish in Hong Kong. In collaboration with professional dancers from the Hong Kong Dance Company, the AI-generated dancers have been trained to perform the ballet with movement-data collected by HKBU scientists. The Concert will also spotlight the artistic prowess of our award-winning student musicians in the performances of Saint-Saëns’s Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28; Borne’s Fantaisie brillante sur ‘Carmen’; and Lauryn Kurniawan’s Rasa for string quartet and gamelan. Professor Guo Yike said: “HKBU is dedicated to building a world-class AI art-tech platform that will drive a new revolution that transforms the creative and cultural industries. It will enable Hong Kong to assume a leading position in art-tech on the global stage. The first human-machine collaborative performance of its kind in the world presented by HKBU at the Gala Concert is an important outcome of the ‘Building Platform Technologies for Symbiotic Creativity in Hong Kong’ research project. It is also a milestone of AI research revealing the unlimited potential of human-machine symbiotic creativity.” Professor Johnny M Poon, who is also the music director and conductor of the HKBU Symphony Orchestra and the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, said: “In addition to celebrating HKBU’s young musicians, the innovative concert showcases how the University is using technology to push the envelope of human imagination in the arts and cultural sphere. “By leveraging our established strengths in both the arts and sciences, HKBU is taking a transdisciplinary approach that will advance the development of the arts, culture and creative media in Hong Kong. Our art-tech research also enables musicians and artists to go beyond the traditional forms and interact with the audience in brand new ways.” Contact Details Communication and Public Relations Office Wong Suk-ling +852 3411 2119 hkbunews@hkbu.edu.hk

July 06, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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