Month: May 2025

FARMINGTON, Conn., May 7, 2025 /3BL/ – Students from Pembroke Pines Charter High School in Pembroke Pines, Florida are the first-ever global winners of the Otis Made to Move Communities student challenge for their idea to develop a smartphone app that uses Artificial Intelligence to aid visually impaired people.

More than 250 students from 28 schools across 16 countries and territories participated in this year’s challenge. Students used STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) principles and leadership skills to design concepts that leverage AI to enable more inclusive mobility. Otis (NYSE: OTIS), which hosts the competition and supports it with colleague volunteers, is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company.

“Congratulations to the students from Pembroke Pines High School. Their project showcased the innovative thinking that emerges when STEM skills and AI are applied to solve real-world issues,” said Randi Tanguay, Otis Chief Communications Officer and a judge in the global competition. “As ‘digital natives’ these students are growing up in a world where the internet and technology, including AI, are a part of daily life. We hope this experience inspires them to keep exploring, identifying challenges, and finding opportunities to use technology for the benefit of their communities and society. I am confident these students are our future leaders and innovators.”

Over the last several months, students at the participating high schools, with the guidance of Otis volunteer mentors, designed concepts leveraging AI technology to enable more inclusive mobility in their communities, and presented their ideas to Otis judges in each of the company’s four regions: Americas, Asia Pacific, China and EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa). In previous years Otis selected winners at the regional level only. For the first time this year, the challenge also named a global winner.

The team from Pembroke Pines placed first in Otis’ Americas regional challenge, competing against six other teams from across the U.S., Canada and Brazil. Pembroke Pines went on to compete against winning school teams from the three other Otis regions in the final round to determine a global champion.

“It has been inspiring to watch students learn how AI can be applied to make a positive difference in our community and the world,” said Pembroke Pines science teacher Darlene Laffler. “Thank you to the students, our staff and the Otis volunteer mentors for making this experiential learning possible.”

All schools with participating student teams received grants from Otis to support STEM programming at their schools. As global champions, the students from Pembroke Pines earned their school a total of $35,000 in grants. The three other regional winning teams each received $20,000 for their schools.

About the Made to Move Communities program

Launched in 2020, the Made to Move Communities program engages young minds to explore real-world urbanization challenges and develop innovative solutions with the potential to create more connected communities and improve mobility for all. This initiative brings together students, educators, and Otis colleagues as mentors with the goals of advancing STEM and leadership skills to help build the next generation of talent, ensuring future workforce readiness, and sustaining innovation.

Each year, the program focuses on a different theme that aligns with global priorities, such as sustainability, accessibility or technology. This year’s theme challenged students to incorporate AI into their inclusive mobility solution. The program encourages students to think critically and creatively, applying STEM principles to address mobility-related issues. Through workshops, mentorship, and collaboration, participants gain valuable insights and skills that prepare them for future careers while making a positive impact on society. Each participating school receives a grant at the conclusion of the program to support ongoing STEM education in their schools.

To date, the Made to Move Communities program has reached more than 1,000 student participants globally, involved more than 950 Otis volunteer mentors, and delivered nearly 100 grants totalling over $1 million to support ongoing STEM education at participating schools.

To learn more about the Made to Move Communities program, visit www.otis.com/mtmc.

About Otis
Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide – the industry’s largest Service portfolio. You’ll find us in the world’s most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo.

Media Contact:
Katy Padgett
+1-860-674-3047
kathleen.padgett@otis.com

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SOURCE Otis Worldwide Corporation

by Jeff Simmons, President & CEO at Elanco

Amid the buzz of the latest innovations in pet health at the Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX), was an area with yoga mats, mood lighting and calming music tracks – or better known to attendees as the Zenrelia (ilunocitinib tablets) Zen Garden.

For many itchy dogs and their pet owners, finding Zen isn’t as easy as going to a yoga class or meditating. From constant collar jingles as they react to another itch to rubbing against baseboards – to the point of bleeding… these are the heartbreaking realities for millions of pets and their owners.

As someone with an itchy dog, I’ve experienced firsthand the frustration and helplessness, as my family and I watched our yellow lab, Laken, continue to try and find relief. It’s a situation that Dr. Joya Griffin, best known as Dr. Joya, a board-certified veterinarian dermatologist and host of the National Geographic show Pop Goes the Vet, knows all too well. We sat down in the Zen Garden at VMX to discuss her journey into veterinarian dermatology – inspired by her family dog Gizmo – and the often-overlooked emotional toll of itchy pets and the demand for new solutions.

Moment to Remember: When a dog is constantly scratching, it’s not just a skin issue; it disrupts the entire family dynamic. The pet is uncomfortable, the owner is distressed, and the joy of that human-animal bond is diminished.

The journey for an itchy pet and its owner is often an emotional roller coaster. There’s the initial worry as a pet owner watches their pet suffer, then frustration if various treatments are unsuccessful. For some, there’s the financial burden of ongoing care or lack of time to commit to an extensive treatment plan. That’s why Dr. Joya’s focus isn’t just on treating the itch; it’s about understanding the emotional turmoil the pet and pet owner experience. Since allergic skin disease does not heal overnight, Dr. Joya values building trust and rapport with her patients.

Best Quote: “People will remember very little about what you said, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.”

From her relationship with Gizmo to the countless patients who come into the clinic distraught over the itch their dog experiences, one thing is clear – we care about our pets because they are family. It’s why we seek out and demand the best care for them. It’s one of the many reasons why Elanco launched Zenrelia, a safe, highly effective, and convenient once-daily oral JAK inhibitor for control of pruritus (itching) associated with allergic dermatitis and control of atopic dermatitis in dogs at least 12 months of age.

Big takeaway: Veterinary Dermatologists don’t just treat your pet’s skin problems. They understand these conditions affect both you and your pet emotionally. By working together with pet owners, they find solutions that help your beloved family member feel normal again.

Thank you, Dr. Joya and all the veterinarians. The connection you establish with pets and their owners to ensure the best treatment plan, bringing relief and joy while providing emotional support as they navigate the journey of atopic dermatitis, is no easy feat. Thank you for continuing to go beyond to make life better for our pets.

Need a moment of Zen? Catch the full conversation on YouTube.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

See package insert including the Boxed Warning. For full prescribing information speak with your veterinarian, call 1 888 545 5973 or visit www.elancolabels.com/us/zenrelia.

WARNING: VACCINE-INDUCED DISEASE AND INADEQUATE IMMUNE RESPONSE TO VACCINES. Based on results of the vaccine response study, dogs receiving Zenrelia are at risk of fatal vaccine-induced disease from modified live virus vaccines and inadequate immune response to any vaccine. Discontinue Zenrelia for at least 28 days to 3 months prior to vaccination and withhold Zenrelia for at least 28 days after vaccination. Dogs should be up to date on vaccinations prior to starting Zenrelia. Do not use in dogs less than 12 months old or dogs with a serious infection. Dogs should be monitored for the development of infections because Zenrelia may increase the chances of developing an infection. Neoplastic conditions (benign and malignant) were observed during clinical studies. The most common side effects were vomiting, diarrhea and tiredness. Zenrelia has not been tested in dogs used for breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs and has not been evaluated in combination with glucocorticoids, cyclosporine, or other immune suppressive drugs.

Previously published by Primera Hora

Por Osman Pérez Méndez

El municipio de Cataño anunció el lanzamiento de una iniciativa conjunta con las empresas Bacardí Corporation y Reciclaje del Norte para reutilizar vidrio en varios negocios del área del malecón de la Bahía de Cataño.

Según se explicó, como parte de la iniciativa los negocios participantes recibirán unos contenedores especiales de 32 galones, provistos por Bacardí y Reciclaje del Norte, para que depositen en ellos las botellas de licor vacías. Luego, ese vidrio será transportado a las instalaciones de la empresa Bloques Caribe, Inc., en Guaynabo, donde será triturado y reutilizado como agregado para la fabricación de bloques de construcción.

Magaly Feliciano, directora global de sostenibilidad de Bacardí, sostuvo que esta iniciativa refleja “el compromiso que tenemos todos en conjunto por promover y mantener la sostenibilidad ambiental y el cuidado del medio ambiente”.

Explicó que el proyecto comienza con “una fase piloto con estos ocho establecimientos” en el malecón de Cataño, pero se hace “con miras a expandir a otras áreas de Cataño y de Puerto Rico”.

“Nosotros tenemos como meta asegurar reducir la huella ambiental, pero también hacer un impacto positivo en las comunidades donde operamos”, afirmó Feliciano. “Así que estamos bien contentos de comenzar con este proyecto aquí en nuestra casa, en el hogar del Ron Bacardí. Y esperamos que sea de mucho beneficio y muy exitoso para la comunidad de Cataño”.

Continue reading here.

The Schlumberger Foundation is thrilled to announce the recipients of its 2025-2026 Faculty for the Future grant awards. This year, 143 incredible women from developing and emerging economies have been awarded grants to pursue advanced studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects at leading academic institutions across the globe. Among these, 56 are new awards and 87 are renewals, continuing the Foundation’s mission to empower women in science and technology.

Since its inception in 2004, the Faculty for the Future program has been a catalyst for change. Today, its community includes to more than 950 women leaders in STEM from 95 countries. These women are not just scholars; they are pioneers in fields that are crucial to their home countries. From engineering to life sciences, the grantees are tackling major Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as access to food, energy, water, and understanding climate change.

At a ceremony this week in Accra, Ghana, four of the new 2025-2026 Fellows received their awards in person. These remarkable women are addressing some of the world’s toughest problems – renewable electricity storage, deforestation, sustainable construction and the use of robotics in medicine and agriculture. Their work demonstrates the power of combining technical excellence with an understanding of local context.

Capella Festa, president of the Schlumberger Foundation, emphasized the program’s impact: “The Faculty for the Future program is not just about providing financial support; it’s about transforming lives. Our grantees are making significant contributions to their communities and the world. They are the future leaders, educators, and innovators who will drive sustainable development.”

And the journey doesn’t end when Fellows are awarded their PhD or postdoctoral; unlocking their maximum potential means ensuring they thrive as agents of change. The Schlumberger Foundation is committed to supporting these women as they continue to make significant contributions to their communities and the world.

By empowering women to excel in these fields, the Foundation is not just supporting individual dreams but also driving global progress towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

View original content here.

By Ashley Foster

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 7, 2025 /3BL/ – Regions Bank announced a series of disaster-recovery financial services designed to help people and businesses impacted by devastating severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that affected parts of the Midwest and Southeast from April 2 through April 7.

“For many, recent storms have been life altering; first and foremost, our hearts are with each and every person experiencing loss of any kind,” said Kate Danella, head of Regions’ Consumer Banking Group. “Our teams are part of these communities, and we’re ready to listen to customers’ unique needs and offer solutions to help them get through this time. We’re also offering specific discounts, loan programs and fee waivers as the recovery moves forward. This is a very difficult time, but we’ll get through it together as friends and neighbors.”

For many, recent storms have been life altering; first and foremost, our hearts are with each and every person experiencing loss of any kind.Kate Danella, head of Regions’ Consumer Banking Group

Areas covered by these offers include several communities^[2] in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Additional communities may be added pending further damage assessments. Special options available for a limited time in affected communities include:

• Regions Mortgage Disaster Relief Purchase and Renovation loan programs.^[1]
• Regions will waive ATM surcharges for non-Regions customers using Regions ATMs in the impacted areas^[2] for seven days beginning April 15, 2025.
• Non-Regions ATM fees will be waived when Regions customers use other banks’ ATMs in the impacted areas^[2] for at least seven days beginning April 15, 2025. (Note: Fees charged by other banks or ATM owners may still apply.)
• No check-cashing fees will be charged for FEMA-issued checks when cashed in a Regions branch.^[3]
• Personal and business loan payment assistance is available.^[4]
• Payment deferrals are available for current credit card holders.^[4]
• Business loan payment deferrals of up to 90 days are available, expiring July 15, 2025.^[4]
• One penalty-free CD withdrawal is available upon request (unless within seven days of issuance or renewal) for up to 90 days, expiring July 15, 2025.
• An interest rate discount of up to 0.50% on new personal unsecured loans when customers in impacted areas apply in a branch or by phone^[5]. The offer is available for up to 90 days, expiring July 15, 2025.
• An interest rate discount of up to 0.50% on non-business auto loans when customers in impacted areas apply in-branch or by phone^[6]. The offer is available for up to 90 days, expiring July 15, 2025.
• Customer Assistance:
• For help with personal loans, credit cards, lines of credit, mortgage or home equity line of credit: 1-800-221-7471
• For help with any other banking need: 1-800-411-9393

Customers are also encouraged to visit Regions Bank’s online Disaster Relief Center at www.regions.com/DisasterRelief, as well as Regions’ Customer Assistance Program at www.regions.com/help/customer-assistance-program, for timely information on financial recovery programs, loan assistance resources, and more.

“Our communities matter greatly to us, and our ability to support them during times of rebuilding and recovery helps us create pathways toward renewed stability,” said John Jordan, head of Retail for Regions Bank. “Whether through local Regions branches, our Contact Centers or our website, we are ready to hear from you and help you move forward.”

Additionally, Regions urges both people and businesses to stay informed and safe from fraud, as scammers frequently use natural disasters to access accounts of those in need.

About Regions Financial Corporation
Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $157 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,250 banking offices and more than 2,000 ATMs. Regions Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.
 

^{[1] All loans and lines of credit are subject to terms and conditions, fees, documentation requirements, and credit approval.}

^{[2] Offers are available for a limited time and only to individuals and businesses affected by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding April 2-7 in the following ZIP codes. Other ZIP codes may be added to this list based on updated storm surveys and damage reports: 37010, 37032, 37040, 37041, 37042, 37043, 37044, 38015, 38023, 38039, 38041, 38044, 38053, 38063, 38361, 38370, 38375, 38618, 38642, 38647, 38661 38665, 39153, 39481, 40007, 40011, 40018, 40036, 40051, 40057, 40058, 40075, 40107, 40150, 40245, 40269, 40299, 40342, 40355, 40359, 40363, 40372, 40383, 40601, 40602, 40603, 40604, 40618, 40619, 40620, 40621, 40622, 41008, 41098, 42001, 42023, 42024, 42031, 42050, 42053, 42056, 42086, 42240, 42327, 42371 42748, 46051, 46112, 46278, 47108, 47165, 47260, 47281, 47421, 47446, 47467, 47519, 47527, 47553, 47567, 47581, 47720, 47725, 62246, 62255, 62258, 62264, 62284, 62468, 62918, 62924, 62939, 62940, 62941, 62942, 62949, 62956, 62966, 62970, 62975, 62996, 63021, 63025, 63026, 63088, 63099, 63127, 63740, 63744, 63763, 63787, 63845, 63901, 63902, 63932, 63954, 63961, 63967, 65276, 71866, 72020, 72075, 72112, 72329, 72338, 72350, 72358, 72370, 72395, 72396, 72411, 72415, 72434, 72437, 72447, 72455, 72460, 72501, 72503, 72519, 72527, 72540, 72550, 72553, 72555, 72556, 72560, 72562, 72564, 72567, 72571, 72575, 72579, 72824, 72833, 72834, 72904, 72956, 75426, 75668. Offers may be subject to other exclusions and restrictions and are subject to change without notice. All loans and lines, deferrals, extensions, or forbearances may be subject to required documentation and credit approval. Residency restrictions may apply. Special loan interest rates may be determined by applicant’s credit profile and may not extend to products offered by third parties, such as Avant.}

^{[3] The FEMA no-check-cashing fee offer is available only to Regions customers; if you are not a Regions customer, you must enroll in Now Banking. No checking account is required to enroll in Now Banking. Regions reserves the right to refuse to cash any check.}

^{[4] May be subject to credit approval. Interest will continue to accrue during the period that the payment is skipped or deferred. For installment loans, deferring or skipping payment may extend the maturity of your loan but will not automatically extend any optional insurance. Forbearances, skipped payments and deferrals (a) may vary by customer, (b) postpone – rather than forgive – certain payment obligations and (c) may require payment in full of the postponed payments at the end of the forbearance or deferral period, in addition to any other amounts that come due, unless you make other arrangements with Regions to resolve the delinquency.}

^{[5] New personal unsecured loan and new auto loan rate discounts may not be combined with other special offers or discounts.}

^{[6] You must have a deposit account with Regions that has been open for at least six months in order to be eligible for an automobile loan. Auto loan rate discount of up to 0.50% includes 0.25% disaster relief rate discount with an additional 0.25% rate discount when you enroll in auto debit payments from an existing Regions checking account. Auto loan rate discounts cannot be combined with other special offers or discounts.}