6 Quick Tips for Bomb Cyclone Winter Driving

January 4, 2018

BETHESDA, Maryland, Jan. 4, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — When it comes to winter car care, many motorists think of antifreeze and batteries, but vehicles need extra attention in winter, especially when a bomb cyclone hits and temperatures drop.

“Most people never heard of ‘bombogenesis” until heavy snow and dangerous cold recently hit many areas of the country, including several states that usually don’t experience this type of severe weather,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Making sure your vehicle is properly prepared for the elements will help you avoid the aggravation of an unplanned road emergency.”

The non-profit Car Care Council offers six quick tips to help your vehicle perform at its best during cold weather months.

Keep the gas tank at least half full; this decreases the chance of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing.
Check the tire pressure, including the spare, as tires can lose pressure when temperatures drop. Consider special tires if snow and ice are a problem in your area.
Have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed.
Allow your car a little more time to warm up when temperatures are below freezing so that the oil in the engine and transmission circulate and get warm.
Change to low-viscosity oil in winter as it will flow more easily between moving parts when it is cold. Drivers in sub-zero temperatures should drop their oil weight from 10-W30 to 5-W30 as thickened oil can make it hard to start the car.
Consider using cold weather washer fluid and special winter windshield blades if you live in a place with especially harsh winter conditions.

Drivers should stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper cables, flashlight, blanket, extra clothes, bottled water, dry food snacks and needed medication. The Car Care Council also recommends a thorough vehicle inspection by a trusted professional service technician as winter magnifies existing problems such as pings, hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling.

About the Car Care Council
The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For the latest car care news, visit the council’s online media room at http://media.carcare.org. To order a free copy of the popular Car Care Guide, visit the council’s consumer education website at www.carcare.org.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539428/Car_Care_Council_Be_Car_Care_Aware_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Car Care Council

(Español) En su nuevo libro, el Dr. Andrés Panasiuk expone la sabiduría que mana de El hombre más rico del mundo

January 4, 2018

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

American Honda Sets 3rd Straight Annual Sales Record with Best-Ever December

January 3, 2018

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American Honda and the Honda Division set new all-time annual light truck sales records in 2017. The Honda CR-V lead the way with its own annual record, with 377,895 units sold.

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) today reported its third consecutive all-time annual sales record on sales of 1,641,429 Honda and Acura vehicles in 2017, an increase of 0.2 percent over its previous best set in 2016. AHM also set new annual and monthly sales records for light trucks, recording 840,450 sales in 2017 for a 3.3 percent gain, and 86,740 sales in December, rising 1.4 percent. The Honda Division also reported record annual sales, gaining 0.7 percent on total vehicle sales of 1,486,827 while Honda trucks set new December and annual records, rising 3.4 percent on December sales of 75,856 and 4.1 percent on 2017 sales of 734,269. Total Acura Division sales declined 12.2 percent in December on sales of 15,062, and 4.2 percent in 2017 on total vehicle sales of 154,602.

Honda
With eight completely new or refreshed models in 2017, including a new generation of electrified vehicles, the Honda brand continued its commitment to strengthening passenger car light truck sales by leveraging its North American production operations to attract a record number of customers for the 4^th consecutive year.

Honda’s effort to better leverage its North America production operations to grow light truck sales continued to pay dividends:

Newly dedicating a production line in Honda’s Alabama to Pilot in October helped the three-row SUV to December sales of 18,602, a jump of 54 percent.
CR-V, built at three plants in North America, also posted strong December sales of 36,983 units, to set a new annual sales mark of 377,895 as Honda’s best-selling model.
HR-V set a new annual record as well, topping last year’s mark by 14.6 percent on sales of 94,034 for the year.

Honda also maintained its unique commitment to passenger car and strong retail sales leadership:

Civic continued its record run with sales of 31,406 units in December on the way to a new all-time annual sales mark of 377,286 units.
The all-new 2018 Accord continued to show strength in the incentive-heavy mid-size segment, as the 2.0 turbo model began to hit showrooms – triggering the full marketing launch set to begin in January. Overall, Accord topped 320,000 sales in 2017.
Sales of the all-new Honda Clarity series of electrified vehicles reached a major milestone with December sales of more than 1,400 units signaling Honda’s effort to take electrification mainstream, led by the launch of the all-new 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid in all 50 states.
Overall, Honda Division set the following sales records:

Total vehicles, best ever annual sales – 1,486,827
Trucks, best ever monthly sales – 75,856
Trucks, best ever annual sales – 734,269

“2017 was a terrific year for the Honda brand with the continued fortification of our light truck and passenger car lineups, and a new generation of electrified vehicles combining to reach a record number of new customers for a fourth consecutive year,” said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of the Automobile Division & general manager of Honda Sales. “Eight all-new or refreshed product launches is an impressive achievement for any car company, but it put us in a strong, competitive position to maintain our unique commitment to retail sales to individual buyers.”

Acura
Acura recorded its best sales month in 2017 in December, showing a positive trend with sales increasing over the last three months of the year. In addition to strong truck sales for RDX and MDX, sedan sales showed promise with TLX topping 3,000 sales in December.

RDX ended 2017 with 51,295 sales for the year, the only vehicle in the fast-growing entry luxury SUV segment with three consecutive years above 50,000 units in sales – a critical foundation for the all-new RDX Prototype that will make its world debut the North American International Auto Show this month.

“The continued strength of the RDX is a great foundation for the next-generation RDX we will debut to the world in prototype form in Detroit later this month,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager of Acura Sales. “This is the first in a new generation of Acura products based on our Precision Crafted Performance brand direction and we’re pleased to reach this moment with growing momentum for the Acura brand.”

	American Honda Vehicle Sales for December 2017
							Month-to-Date				Year-to-Date
							December 2017	December 2016	DSR** % Change	MoM % Change	December 2017	December 2016	DSR** % Change	YoY % Change
	American Honda Total						149,317	160,477	-3.4%	-7.0%	1,641,429	1,637,942	0.5%	0.2%
	Total Car Sales						62,577	74,909	-13.2%	-16.5%	800,979	824,699	-2.6%	-2.9%
	Total Truck Sales						86,740	85,568	5.3%	1.4%	840,450	813,243	3.7%	3.3%
	Honda					Total Car Sales	58,399	69,949	-13.3%	-16.5%	752,558	771,195	-2.1%	-2.4%
	Honda					Total Truck Sales	75,856	73,380	7.4%	3.4%	734,269	705,387	4.4%	4.1%
	Acura					Total Car Sales	4,178	4,960	-12.5%	-15.8%	48,421	53,504	-9.2%	-9.5%
	Acura					Total Truck Sales	10,884	12,188	-7.3%	-10.7%	106,181	107,856	-1.2%	-1.6%
	Total Domestic Car Sales						55,307	62,639	-8.3%	-11.7%	682,968	749,038	-8.5%	-8.8%
				Honda Division			51,315	57,871	-7.9%	-11.3%	635,784	697,016	-8.5%	-8.8%
				Acura Division			3,992	4,768	-13.1%	-16.3%	47,184	52,022	-9.0%	-9.3%
	Total Domestic Truck Sales						86,740	85,568	5.3%	1.4%	840,450	813,243	3.7%	3.3%
				Honda Division			75,856	73,380	7.4%	3.4%	734,269	705,387	4.4%	4.1%
				Acura Division			10,884	12,188	-7.3%	-10.7%	106,181	107,856	-1.2%	-1.6%
	Total Import Car Sales						7,270	12,270	-38.5%	-40.7%	118,011	75,661	56.5%	56.0%
				Honda Division			7,084	12,078	-39.1%	-41.3%	116,774	74,179	57.9%	57.4%
				Acura Division			186	192	0.6%	-3.1%	1,237	1,482	-16.3%	-16.5%
	Total Import Truck Sales						0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
				Honda Division			0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
				Acura Division			0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
MODEL BREAKOUT BY DIVISION
	Honda Division Total						134,255	143,329	-2.7%	-6.3%	1,486,827	1,476,582	1.0%	0.7%
		* ACCORD					22,115	33,873	-32.2%	-34.7%	322,655	345,225	-6.2%	-6.5%
		* CIVIC					31,406	31,482	3.6%	-0.2%	377,286	366,927	3.2%	2.8%
		CLARITY					1,425	8	18,397.6%	17,712.5%	2,455	8	30,687.8%	30,587.5%
		CR-Z					19	160	-87.7%	-88.1%	705	2,338	-69.7%	-69.8%
		* FIT					3,434	4,425	-19.4%	-22.4%	49,454	56,630	-12.4%	-12.7%
		INSIGHT					0	1	-100.0%	-100.0%	3	67	-95.5%	-95.5%

		CROSSTOUR					0	0	0.0%	0.0%	5	726	-99.3%	-99.3%
		* CR-V					36,983	37,778	1.7%	-2.1%	377,895	357,335	6.1%	5.8%
		HR-V					7,543	9,034	-13.3%	-16.5%	94,034	82,041	15.0%	14.6%
		ODYSSEY					9,874	10,411	-1.5%	-5.2%	100,307	120,846	-16.7%	-17.0%
		PILOT					18,602	12,072	60.0%	54.1%	127,279	120,772	5.7%	5.4%
		RIDGELINE					2,854	4,085	-27.4%	-30.1%	34,749	23,667	47.3%	46.8%

			***		Memo: Accord FHEV		1,160	3,124	-61.4%	-62.9%	22,008	9,179	140.5%	139.8%
					Memo: Civic Hybrid		2	12	-82.7%	-83.3%	65	896	-92.7%	-92.7%
	Acura Division Total						15,062	17,148	-8.8%	-12.2%	154,602	161,360	-3.9%	-4.2%
		ILX					835	1,079	-19.6%	-22.6%	11,757	14,597	-19.2%	-19.5%
		NSX					56	68	-14.5%	-17.6%	581	269	116.7%	116.0%
		RLX / RL					186	192	0.6%	-3.1%	1,237	1,478	-16.0%	-16.3%
		TLX					3,101	3,621	-11.1%	-14.4%	34,846	37,156	-5.9%	-6.2%
		TSX					0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	4	-100.0%	-100.0%

		MDX					6,076	6,243	1.1%	-2.7%	54,886	55,495	-0.8%	-1.1%
		RDX					4,808	5,945	-16.0%	-19.1%	51,295	52,361	-1.7%	-2.0%

			***		Memo: ILX Hybrid		0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	1	-100.0%	-100.0%
					Memo: RLX Hybrid		69	31	131.1%	122.6%	292	235	24.7%	24.3%
					Memo: MDX Hybrid		228	0	0.0%	0.0%	1,807	0	0.0%	0.0%
	Selling Days						26	27			306	307
	**** Hybrid						1,534	3,396	-53.1%	-54.8%	25,461	12,985	96.7%	96.1%

	* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts
	** Daily Selling Rate
	*** Memo line items are included in the respective model total
	**** Hybrid includes FHEV, PHEV, CR-Z, Civic Hybrid, Insight, ILX Hybrid, RLX Hybrid, RLX Sport Hybrid, MDX Sport Hybrid and NSX

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SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Mazda Reports December 2017 and Full-Year 2017 Sales

January 3, 2018

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The Mazda CX-5 posted its best-ever sales numbers in 2017

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported December U.S. sales of 26,893 vehicles, representing a decrease of 6.5 percent versus December of last year. There were 26 selling days in December 2017, versus 27 the year prior. As such, on a Daily Selling Rate (DSR) basis, the company posted a decrease of 2.9 percent.

The company also reported calendar year (CY) 2017 total sales (combined fleet and retail) today, totaling 289,470, down 2.8 percent, versus CY2016. There were 306 selling days in CY2017, versus 305 in CY2016; the full-year DSR represented a decrease of 3.1 percent.

Key December and CY2017 sales notes:

As part of Mazda’s brand value management strategy, MNAO continued to significantly reduce fleet sales with 11,346 vehicles sold in CY2017. This number represents a decrease of 44.3 percent year-over-year (YOY).
Backing fleet numbers out of the total vehicles sold, MNAO posted a 0.2 percent increase in retail-only sales for CY2017, with 278,124 vehicles sold.
Mazda CX-5 posted record sales numbers in December, marking its best-ever month since first going on sale in February of 2012. Posting its tenth best-ever month in CY2017, CX-5 recorded a YOY increase of 17.6 percent, with 14,097 vehicles sold in December.
Following the introduction of the new 2017 Mazda CX-5 in March, a record 127,563 CX-5 vehicles were sold in CY2017; marking an increase of 13.7 percent YOY, and beating its previous best-ever sales year in CY2016.
Sales of the seven-passenger Mazda CX-9 rose 26.3 percent YOY, with 3,276 vehicles sold in the month of December. With 25,828 vehicles sold in CY2017, the CX-9 finished the year up 60.9 percent.
The Mazda MX-5 Miata finished December down 32.0 percent YOY, with 493 vehicles sold, while full-year sales of the two-seat roadster were 11,294, marking a YOY increase of 19.3 percent.
As crossover vehicle sales continue to dominate the U.S. market, Mazda’s CX-line posted YOY sales growth, with CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9 posting an increase of 16.8 percent in December. The three crossover vehicles finished the year up 15.6 percent, with 169,746 vehicles sold in CY2017.
With much of the U.S. now in the winter months, Mazda’s i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive system – available as an option on all Mazda crossover SUVs – continues its popularity among crossover SUV buyers, with 59.9 percent of buyers choosing the option.
MNAO reported Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) sales of 3,858 vehicles in the month of December, marking an increase of 20.8 percent YOY. Full-year sales resulted in a record CPO year for MNAO, posting YOY sales growth of 17.0 percent with 43,730 vehicles sold.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported December sales of 5,619 vehicles, down 16 percent versus December of last year. Total CY2017 sales for MMdM were 54,163 vehicles, representing a decrease of 1.0 percent when compared to CY2016.

Forward-looking announcements made by Mazda in 2017 focused on human-centric vehicle development and building the Mazda brand. Major announcements included:

Next-generation engine technologies with SKYACTIV-X
A long-term vision for future technology development with Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030
Next-generation KODO—Soul of Motion design vision through VISION COUPE
A partnership for future collaboration to include a new production facility in the United States, technologies for electric vehicles, development of connected-car technologies and collaboration on safety technologies
A new era for Mazda Motorsports through Mazda Team Joest
A recommitment to the communities in which it does business through Mazda Drive for Good

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

	Month-To-Date				Year-To-Date

	December	December	%	% MTD	December	December	%	% YTD
	2017	2016	Change	DSR	2017	2016	Change	DSR

Mazda3	5,669	8,102	(30.0)%	(27.3)%	75,018	95,567	(21.5)%	(21.8)%
Mazda5	–	2	(100.0)%	(100.0)%	10	375	(97.3)%	(97.3)%
Mazda6	1,776	3,688	(51.8)%	(50.0)%	33,402	45,520	(26.6)%	(26.9)%
MX-5 Miata	493	733	(32.7)%	(30.2)%	11,294	9,465	19.3%	18.9%
CX-3	1,582	1,646	(3.9)%	(0.2)%	16,355	18,558	(11.9)%	(12.2)%
CX-5	14,097	11,989	17.6%	22.1%	127,563	112,235	13.7%	13.3%
CX-9	3,276	2,594	26.3%	31.1%	25,828	16,051	60.9%	60.4%

Total Vehicles

CARS	7,938	12,525	(36.6)%	(34.2)%	119,724	150,930	(20.7)%	(20.9)%
TRUCKS	18,955	16,229	16.8%	21.3%	169,746	146,844	15.6%	15.2%

TOTAL	26,893	28,754	(6.5)%	(2.9)%	289,470	297,773	(2.8)%	(3.1)%


Selling Days	26	27			306	305

The Mazda VISION COUPE concept reveals Mazda’s next-generation KODO—Soul of Motion design vision

Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/624276/Mazda_CX_5.jpg
Photo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/624277/Mazda_VISION_COUPE.jpg
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SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

MoneyGram And Ant Financial Announce Termination Of Amended Merger Agreement

January 2, 2018

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DALLAS and HANGZHOU, China, Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MoneyGram (NASDAQ: MGI) and Ant Financial Services Group today announced that they have mutually agreed to terminate their Amended Merger Agreement following the inability of the companies to obtain the required approval for the transaction from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”), despite extensive efforts to address the Committee’s concerns. MoneyGram and Ant Financial also announced that they plan to work together on new strategic initiatives in the remittance and digital payments markets that will help each company achieve its objective of enabling consumers around the world to enjoy better money transfer services.

Alex Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of MoneyGram, said, “The geopolitical environment has changed considerably since we first announced the proposed transaction with Ant Financial nearly a year ago. Despite our best efforts to work cooperatively with the U.S. government, it has now become clear that CFIUS will not approve this merger. We are disappointed in the termination of this compelling transaction, which would have created significant value for our stakeholders. The MoneyGram Board and management team greatly appreciate the significant time and energy that so many of our colleagues have devoted to trying to complete the transaction.”

Under the new strategic business cooperation, MoneyGram and Ant Financial will explore and develop initiatives to bring together their capabilities in remittance and digital payments to provide their respective customers with user-friendly, rapid-response and low-cost money transfer services into China, India and the Philippines, among other Asian markets, as well as in the U.S. and other key regions around the world.

Mr. Holmes continued, “While we are disappointed by this outcome, we are confident in the future of MoneyGram and are excited about the benefits of our future cooperation with Ant Financial. By increasing access to digitally enabled customer wallets on the receiving side, we will be able to reduce distribution costs and improve transaction processing time. Together with Ant Financial, we hope to be the preferred money transfer option globally, and we look forward to bringing the considerable benefits of this collaboration to all of our stakeholders, including stockholders, customers, agents and employees.”

Doug Feagin, President of Ant Financial International, said, “We remain excited and encouraged about Ant Financial’s future prospects around the world as we continue to establish new partnerships and pursue opportunities that bring innovative services to our ecosystem. Establishing this new strategic cooperation with MoneyGram will add a partner with global remittance capabilities to our ecosystem and, while Ant Financial won’t have a direct ownership relationship with MoneyGram, we look forward to working closely with the MoneyGram team to make our platform even more accessible – particularly to unbanked and underserved communities globally – and create even better experiences for our customers.”

As previously announced on April 16, 2017, MoneyGram and Ant Financial entered into an amended merger agreement under which Ant Financial would acquire all of the outstanding shares of MoneyGram for $18.00 per share in cash. In accordance with the Merger Agreement, simultaneous with termination of the agreement, Ant Financial paid MoneyGram a $30 million termination fee.

MoneyGram will provide additional financial and operational information during its fourth quarter 2017 earnings call.

About MoneyGram
MoneyGram is a global provider of innovative money transfer services and is recognized worldwide as a financial connection to friends and family. Whether online, or through a mobile device, at a kiosk or in a local store, we connect consumers any way that is convenient for them. We also provide bill payment services, issue money orders and process official checks in select markets. More information about MoneyGram International, Inc. is available at moneygram.com.

About Ant Financial
Ant Financial Services Group is focused on serving small and micro enterprises, as well as individuals. Ant Financial is dedicated to bringing the world more equal opportunities through building a technology-driven open ecosystem and working with other financial institutions to support the future financial needs of society. Businesses operated by Ant Financial Services Group include Alipay, Ant Fortune, Zhima Credit and MYbank.

For more information on Ant Financial, please visit our website at www.antfin.com; or follow us on Twitter @AntFinancial.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward‐looking statements, which may include projections of future results of operations, financial condition or business prospects. Actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ from those expressed or implied in these forward‐looking statements for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to the ability of MoneyGram and Ant Financial to successfully bring together and market to customers capabilities in remittance and digital payments or realize material benefits from their strategic cooperation efforts, the possibility of adverse impacts resulting from the termination of the merger agreement with Alipay (UK) Limited, market demand, global economic conditions, adverse industry conditions, legal proceedings, the ability to effectively identify and enter into new markets, governmental regulation, the ability to retain management and other personnel, and other economic, business or competitive factors. Additional information concerning factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in MoneyGram’s SEC filings. The forward‐looking statements in this release reflect the current belief of MoneyGram as of the date of this release. MoneyGram undertakes no obligation to update these forward‐looking statements for events or circumstances that occur subsequent to such date.

MoneyGram Contact
Investor Relations:
Suzanne Rosenberg
214-979-1400
[email protected]

Media Relations:
Michelle Buckalew
+1 214-979-1418
[email protected]

Michael Freitag / Joseph Sala / Viveca Tress
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Phone: +1 212-355-4449

Ant Financial Contact
USA: Sard Verbinnen & Co
Paul Kranhold / Reze Wong / Andrew Duberstein
+1 415 618 8750 / +1 212 687 8080
[email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected]

China: Sard Verbinnen & Co
Rick Carew / Yin Ai
+852 3899 6630
[email protected] / [email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/600838/MoneyGram_International_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MoneyGram

Keith D. Carter, M.D., Begins Term as 2018 President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology

January 2, 2018

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Keith D. Carter, M.D., FACS, began his term as the 122nd president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology on Jan. 1. Dr. Carter was elected by the Academy’s community of ophthalmologists in recognition of his scientific leadership, international reputation as a leading academician and teacher, and his deep commitment to advocacy for patients and the profession.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/623817/Carter_Keith_2017_Headshot_Final.jpg

Dr. Carter will focus his presidential year on enhancing the community impact of the Academy and the profession. He brings 30 years of experience as an innovative physician educator to issues of access to care, enhancement of quality programs, incorporation of new technology into the patient-centered experience, and to promoting diversity within medicine.

“Diversity benefits not only the educational experience but also allows us to better represent the patient populations we serve and address the unfortunate health disparities that surround us,” Dr. Carter said. “I look forward to working with the Academy board, various committees, and subspecialty leaders, and serving as the Academy’s president in the year ahead.”

Before serving as president-elect in 2017, Dr. Carter was an at-large member of the Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2010. Other leadership roles within Academy include the Ethics Committee, Committee for the Medically Underserved–Mentor Program, Self-Assessment Committee, Public Liaison Committee, Annual Meeting Program Committee, and Subcommittee for Ocular Tumors, Pathology, and Orbit, Lacrimal Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Carter’s clinical specialty is in oculoplastic surgery. A faculty member at University of Iowa Health Care since 1988, he now serves as chairman and head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and holds a joint appointment as professor of otolaryngology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine.

He is a graduate of Purdue University Pharmacy School and earned his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency training at the University of Michigan and oculoplastics and orbital surgery fellowship at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart® program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit aao.org.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/287412/american_academy_of_ophthalmology_Logo.jpg

SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology

Qtum Foundation, Trusted IoT Alliance, and Chronicled, Inc. to Develop Secure IoT Use Cases

January 2, 2018

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Chronicled, Inc. and The Qtum Foundation have announced a collaboration to combine the Internet of Things (IoT) with Blockchain technology, developing real-world use cases integrating smart devices with a secure distributed ledger back end. This will take place in collaboration with researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. Through this partnership, Qtum and Chronicled will work together to define and support a roadmap of fundamental research at UC Berkeley, developing post-quantum applied cryptography, zkSNARK-based privacy-preserving smart contracts, and zero knowledge proofs for large computations.

“The partnership with Chronicled and UC Berkeley represents the frontier of innovation in IoT, smart contracts, and privacy for enterprise applications. We are delighted to be partnering with some of the strongest researchers and innovators in the world who are leading enterprise implementations,” said Qtum Foundation founder Patrick Dai.

Qtum is developing a leading blockchain data network in Asia, using a hybrid model that combines the UTXO transaction model with a virtual machine layer for smart contracts. Meanwhile, Chronicled will pursue development of smart contracts to integrate IoT device registrations on the Qtum blockchain. Both Chronicled and Qtum are members of the Trusted IoT Alliance, a consortium of companies ranging from startups to Fortune 100 enterprises. The Alliance is focused on leveraging the power of the blockchain to secure high-value physical assets. Members of the Alliance, which is based in San Francisco, include Bosch, BNY Mellon, Cisco, and UBS.

“We have been collaborating with the team at Qtum for almost a year through the Trusted IoT Alliance, and we are excited to bring the latest IoT integration capabilities to Qtum,” said Chronicled CTO Maurizio Greco. “We see a future where trusted device provisioning, authentication, data logs, and payments are just around the corner.”

A team of researchers at UC Berkeley is currently focused on using applied cryptography to develop solutions for identity, ownership, and provenance validation as well as other use cases at the intersection of blockchain and IoT. Through collaboration with Chronicled and Qtum, they hope to devise real-world use cases and gain insight from two teams that have been developing and applying the technology for enterprise customers.

“It is great to work with strong commercialization partners who both value the need for fundamental research and who see a path to commercialization of the applied cryptographic methods that we have under development in the lab,” said Alessandro Chiesa, Assistant Professor at UC Berkeley.

For his part, Trusted IoT Alliance Executive Director Zaki Manian said, “We are excited to be in a position to administer development grants to integrate Trusted IoT devices with the Qtum Blockchain technology. We see a win-win for our members in the Alliance and the Qtum ecosystem.”

Software developers and researchers are encouraged to visit the Trusted IoT website to apply for grants, here: https://github.com/Trusted-IoT-Alliance/Quantum-Foundation-Proposals

About Chronicled
Based in the innovation hub of Silicon Valley, Chronicled is a technology company leveraging blockchain and IoT to power smart, secure supply chain solutions. Chronicled offers a Blockchain-based Smart Supply Chain Platform and secures IoT device identities, data, and event logs and automates IoT-dependent business logic using smart contracts. Chronicled is also a founding member of the Trusted IoT Alliance, with the mission of creating open source tools and standards to connect IoT and blockchain ecosystems to deliver business value.

About Qtum
Qtum is a blockchain application platform. At its core, Qtum combines the advantages of the Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model, an Account Abstraction Layer allowing for multiple virtual machines, and a proof-of-stake consensus protocol aimed at tackling industry use cases. The Qtum Foundation, headquartered in Singapore, is a decision making body charged with accelerating the development of this open network and protocol. Learn more at qtum.org.

CONTACT:
Sam Radocchia, CMO, [email protected]
John Scianna, [email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/509495/Chronicled_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Chronicled

If you own a Vitamix household blender with a blade assembly dated between January 1, 2007 and October 1, 2016 or a Vitamix commercial blender purchased after September 15, 2015 but before August 9, 2016, your rights may be affected by a class action settlement.

January 2, 2018

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SEATTLE, Jan. 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit known as Vicki Linneman, et al. v. Vita-Mix Corp., et al., Case No. 1:15-cv-748, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleging that the top seal of blade assemblies in certain Vitamix containers may fleck, causing black flecks to enter food or drink during blending. These flecks are of a non-stick material (polytetrafluoroethylene or “PTFE”) that is common in cookware and many other products in the food industry. Plaintiffs’ Complaint does not allege any medical harm resulted from any consumption of PTFE. Vitamix produced information from an independent third-party lab reporting that the flecks are harmless when consumed and do not present a human health or safety risk. However, Plaintiffs allege that, as a result of the black flecks Vitamix blenders are worth less than what consumers and businesses paid to purchase them. Vitamix denies the allegations in the Lawsuit and has asserted numerous defenses. The Court has not ruled on the merits of Plaintiffs’ claims.

Who’s included? You are included in the settlement as a “Class Member” if you: (a) own a Vitamix household blender with a blade assembly dated on or after January 1, 2007 but before October 1, 2016; or (b) own a Vitamix commercial blender that was (i) purchased on or after September 15, 2015 but before August 9, 2016 or before April 7, 2017 in the case of a commercial blender from the XL product line, (ii) never used in connection with the Replacement Seal, and (iii) purchased through a third- party, such as a dealer, distributor, or restaurant supply store and not acquired directly from Vitamix.

What does the settlement provide? Class Members who timely submit a Valid Claim are eligible for certain benefits depending on whether they purchased a household or commercial Vitamix blender. Class Members who own a Vitamix household blender may choose between (1) a $70 gift card to purchase certain Vitamix products; or (2) a newly designed replacement blade assembly that does not produce flecks. Owners of one or more Vitamix commercial blenders submitting Valid Claims can receive a new replacement blade assembly from Vitamix, with a maximum of two blade assemblies. Vitamix has also agreed to pay (1) reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses to Class Counsel, as awarded by the Court; (2) court-approved Service Awards of $3,000 each to the two Named Plaintiffs; and (3) the costs and expenses of administering the Settlement.

How to get benefits? To receive any settlement benefits, you must submit a valid Claim Form on or before September 28, 2018. Details regarding how to submit a claim are available on the Settlement Website at www.BlenderSettlement.com.

What are your options? If you submit a claim or do nothing and the Court approves the Settlement, you will give up your right to sue Vitamix for any of the claims released in the Settlement. If you do not want to receive a Gift Card or Replacement Blade Assembly, but you want to keep your right to sue Vitamix separately for the same claims resolved by this settlement, you must exclude yourself by submitting an exclusion request postmarked no later than March 7, 2018. If you do not exclude yourself, you may object and notify the Court that you or your lawyer intend to appear at the Court’s Fairness Hearing. Objections and intentions to appear are due and must be filed with the Court no later than March 7, 2018.

The Court will hold a hearing on March 28, 2018 to determine whether to approve: the settlement agreement; Class Counsels’ request for fees and expenses; payments to the Named Plaintiffs; and settlement administration expenses. The payment of these amounts will not reduce the amount of the Class benefits. Class Counsel’s Fee Application (not to exceed $9 million) will be filed with the Court by January 31, 2018, and it will also be posted to the Settlement Website.

Want more information? THIS IS ONLY A SUMMARY. Details regarding the Settlement (including the Settlement Agreement), your rights, the Claim Form, and important dates can be found at www.BlenderSettlement.com. You may also call toll-free (855) 233-4747 or email [email protected] with any questions.

Questions? Call the Settlement Administrator at (855) 233-4747 or go to www.BlenderSettlement.com; PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT.

SOURCE JND Class Action Administration

Goya Gives 120,000-Pounds Of Food, $10,000 And Toys to Catholic Charities Of The Archdiocese Of Newark During The Christmas Season

December 28, 2017

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JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, Dec. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In celebration of the Christmas season, Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic owned food company in the United States, will make its annual donation of 120,000 pounds of Goya products, $10,000 for coats and blankets, and toys collected by Goya employees. The donation will go to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark, one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest social service agencies that helps over 76,000 individuals and families each year.

“As an institution in the community, we strive to be a company of compassion and to do our part in helping others who need it the most, especially during the Christmas season,” said Rafael Toro, Director of Public Relations of Goya Foods. “Through our Goya Gives initiative, we support over 250 organizations like Catholic Charities, who are committed to helping and improving the welfare of our communities.” The donation of $10,000 will cover the costs of winter coats and blankets that will be distributed to the homeless in New Jersey and the toys will go to children and families staying at the Hope House Homeless Shelter in Jersey City and St. Rocco’s Emergency Family Shelter in Newark.

“On behalf of our entire Catholic Charities family, and all those in need who we serve, we are most appreciative of Goya’s incredible generosity,” stated John Westervelt, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark. “The support provided to our homeless population, via coats, blankets, and gifts to the children in our family shelters, will help to brighten the holidays for many. The ongoing and substantial donation of food helps us to provide assistance to those without enough to eat throughout the year.”

The donation is part of Goya Gives, a national initiative committed to promoting and supporting the overall well-being of our communities through social responsibility, environmental initiatives, and company values. Over the years, Goya has donated millions of pounds of food to organizations worldwide and continues to support over 250 organizations and cultural institutions. For more information about Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com.

For more information about Catholic Charities or naming opportunities, please contact Peter Ruccione at Catholic Charities at (973) 639-6531, or visit our website at www.ccannj.org for more information.

About GOYA: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; the combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings, and convenient preparation makes Goya products ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com

About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark: Tracing its roots to 1903, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark is a not-for-profit social service agency of the Roman Catholic Church within the Archdiocese of Newark. As one of New Jersey’s oldest and largest agencies, Catholic Charities serves approximately 76,000 individuals and families each year in over 87 programs. Catholic Charities as a ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark participates in the Church’s social mission by recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of all people and responding with sincere Christian compassion to the corporeal needs of the poor and marginalized. The service of Catholic Charities is inspired by faith in Jesus Christ, Sacred Scripture, and the continuing exposition of Catholic social teaching. Through these activities, Catholic Charities strives to assist individuals in need, strengthen families, and provide those it serves with an experience of God’s mercy. This mission is pursued through a network of caring, effective, and well-managed social service professionals within the four counties served by the Archdiocese: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union. The programs provide shelters for the homeless, food to the impoverished; care for the elderly and mentally ill, and education to children with developmental disabilities. Catholic Charities is a Ministry of the Church, a concrete illustration of the Church’s commitment to ease suffering and bring social justice and hope to all, without regard to religion, race or culture.

Media Contact:
Natalie Maniscalco
845.659.6506
[email protected]

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SOURCE Goya Foods

MoneyGram Names W. Alexander Holmes to Succeed Pamela H. Patsley As Chairman of the Board of Directors in February 2018

December 28, 2017

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DALLAS, Dec. 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MoneyGram (NASDAQ: MGI), a leading global money transfer and payment services company, today announced that W. Alexander Holmes, Chief Executive Officer of MoneyGram, has been appointed to the additional role of Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective February 2, 2018. In this new role, Holmes will succeed Pamela H. Patsley, who will retire from the MoneyGram Board, completing a planned leadership transition that was first announced in July 2015. Following these changes, the MoneyGram Board will consist of nine directors, six of whom are independent.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/623185/MoneyGram_Alexander_Holmes.jpg

“Today’s announcement is the final step in our previously announced succession plan, resulting in a well-deserved additional role for CEO Alex Holmes and an equally well-deserved retirement for Pam Patsley,” said J. Coley Clark, Chair of the Human Resources and Nominating Committee of the MoneyGram Board. “MoneyGram has benefitted greatly from the outstanding and dedicated leadership of Alex and his team, and we believe that he is the ideal successor to Pam as Chairman of the Board. The other directors and I are grateful to Pam for her years of service and dedication to MoneyGram. Among many other accomplishments, she was the driving force of the strong culture and spirit that define MoneyGram today, and we wish her the very best going forward.”

“The contributions Pam has made throughout her tenure at MoneyGram are innumerable,” said Holmes. “On a personal note, Pam has served as an inspiring mentor and I am truly grateful for her support, guidance and friendship. As the incoming Chairman, I look forward to continuing her legacy and working closely with my fellow directors and our outstanding management team as we execute MoneyGram’s strategy for future growth and value creation.”

“We have developed an incredibly talented team at MoneyGram, and I have been honored to work alongside them for the past nine years,” said Patsley. “Today, MoneyGram is well-positioned as a leader in global payment transfers, and continues to execute its strategy to accelerate digital revenue growth, strengthen its capital structure, and improve profitability. I am confident in the future of the Company under Alex’s dedicated leadership.”

About MoneyGram
MoneyGram is a global provider of innovative money transfer services and is recognized worldwide as a financial connection to friends and family. Whether online, or through a mobile device, at a kiosk or in a local store, we connect consumers any way that is convenient for them. We also provide bill payment services, issue money orders and process official checks in select markets. More information about MoneyGram International, Inc. is available at moneygram.com.

MoneyGram Contact
MoneyGram International, Inc.
Suzanne Rosenberg
214-979-1400
[email protected]

Media Relations:
Michelle Buckalew
214-979-1418
[email protected]

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SOURCE MoneyGram