Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Direct Relief is mobilizing emergency medical aid and supporting search and rescue operations following two powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday evening, collapsing buildings, disrupting power, and creating urgent medical needs across affected areas.

The first 72 hours after an earthquake are critical for reaching people trapped beneath collapsed structures and connecting survivors quickly to emergency medical care. Direct Relief is providing emergency funding to support the deployment of Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras, or BUSF, a Spain-based search and rescue organization, to assist with operations on the ground.

At the same time, Direct Relief is preparing medical aid commonly needed after earthquakes, including first aid supplies, hygiene items for displaced families, medicines used in treating acute injuries, and chronic disease medications for people whose access to routine care may be interrupted.

“The people of Venezuela are facing a tragic and rapidly unfolding emergency, and Direct Relief is moving with urgency to help,” said Amy Weaver, Direct Relief’s CEO. “The priority right now is reaching people who may still be trapped, supporting the teams working to rescue them, and ensuring that medical care is available as survivors are brought to safety. Direct Relief will do everything it can to support the health providers and emergency responders caring for people affected by this crisis.”

One of the most serious medical concerns after earthquakes is crush syndrome, which can occur when people are trapped under rubble for hours. The pressure can damage muscle tissue, and when a person is freed, toxins released into the bloodstream can cause kidney failure and other life-threatening complications. Immediate access to trauma care, IV fluids, laboratory monitoring, and dialysis can be critical.

Venezuela’s health system was already under severe strain before the earthquakes, making the immediate response more complex. Direct Relief is working with longtime healthcare partners in the region to assess urgent needs and determine where medical aid can be moved safely and effectively.

Direct Relief has a long history of responding to earthquakes, including the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes in 2023, the Haiti earthquakes in 2010 and 2021, the Nepal earthquakes in 2015, and the Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011. Across those responses, the organization has supported local health providers, search and rescue teams, emergency medical care, displaced families, and longer-term recovery of health services.

Direct Relief will continue responding to requests from healthcare partners as needs emerge.

To support Direct Relief’s Venezuela earthquake response, including search and rescue efforts and emergency medical care, visit: DirectRelief.org/donate

One hundred percent of contributions designated for Venezuela earthquake response will be used exclusively for Venezuela earthquake response efforts.

Key Points

• Senior Personal Safety Professional Fred Bowser helps teams identify hazards, strengthen work plans and apply Marathon Petroleum’s safety standards across terminals and pipeline operations in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
• Bowser says keeping safety personal, discussing hazards before work begins and reviewing near misses as learning opportunities help employees stay alert and improve how work is performed.
• He also highlighted the role of audits, data and strong communication in supporting safer day-to-day operations, including a recent hot work repair completed safely through careful planning and added controls.

National Safety Month offers an opportunity to highlight the people who help keep safety at the center of everything we do. As a senior personal safety professional, Fred Bowser supports safe operations by helping teams identify hazards, build safe work plans, strengthen safety culture and apply Marathon Petroleum’s safety standards. His perspective reflects the care, preparation and accountability that uphold Marathon Petroleum’s core value of safety each day.

Bowser joined Marathon Petroleum in September 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Science in safety management from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Science in safety, security, and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University. He supports Marathon’s Buffalo Terminal in New York; Midland and Floreffe terminals in Pennsylvania; Youngstown, Wellsville, Steubenville, Brecksville and Cleveland terminals in Ohio, along with the East Sparta area pipeline operations in Ohio.

How would you summarize your primary responsibilities as a safety professional at Marathon?
My role is centered on serving as a safety consultant during normal operations, project implementation and emergency response events. I help identify potential issues before work begins, answer safety related questions in real time and support employees and contractors in understanding how to promote the highest safety standards.

What motivates you to keep safety top of mind daily?
For me, safety is personal. I want to return home to my family each day and want the same for every employee, contractor and visitor. That mindset helps keep the importance of safe work front and center.

How do you help other employees remain focused from task to task?
I encourage teams to discuss hazards and mitigation steps before work begins. Whether during pre-job meetings, shift starters or toolbox talks, those conversations help employees stay aware of changing conditions and better prepare for the task ahead.

What is a near miss and how can reviewing near misses enhance workplace safety?
I define a near miss as an event that could have resulted in a negative outcome but did not. I believe that treating near misses as learning opportunities encourages more reporting and helps strengthen safety performance. Reviewing those events can raise awareness of hazards, improve mitigation strategies and even lead to stronger standards for how work is performed.

Can you share an example of a safety risk you identified and how you helped mitigate it?
Earlier this year, I supported a team working through a storage tank issue that required hot work repair on a floating roof. I worked with Operations and the project team to develop a safe work plan that identified hazards and outlined the right controls. With stakeholder approval, the team put additional monitoring in place to help verify that conditions remained safe throughout the job. The work was completed safely and without incident.

What role do audits and safety data play in improving day-to-day operations?
Audits can help determine whether teams are following established policies and procedures and whether those procedures clearly explain how to complete work safely. That information can lead to practical improvements that support safer operations every day.

What skills or personal traits are helpful for being an effective safety professional?
Strong communication skills, creative problem solving and sound character all contribute to success in the role. Those qualities help safety professionals build trust, solve challenges and support safer outcomes across the business.

Originally published on 3M News Center

Inside a modern data center, speed is everything. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, the pressure on technology companies to build and activate massive computing infrastructure fast has never been greater. One of the biggest bottlenecks? Getting large numbers of fiber optic links installed quickly and reliably. Using traditional fiber connections can be a labor-intensive process that is sensitive to contamination. 3M is addressing that challenge with its Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) technology, a fiber-optic interconnect solution designed to simplify connectivity.

The problem with traditional fiber optic connections

Fiber optic cables transmit data light through extremely small optical pathways. Traditional physical-contact connectors require highly precise alignment at the point of contact, often with carefully polished surfaces to maintain signal performance. A single speck of dust can interrupt the connection and require inspection, cleaning or rework.

That level of precision requires specially trained technicians, careful handling and frequent rework, all of which translate into time and cost. For hyperscalers and data center operators racing to bring AI infrastructure online, that can become a significant operational challenge.

A solution that transforms optical connections

3M’s EBO proprietary ferrules use a lens array to expand the optical beam at the connection interface. By spreading the beam wider at the point of contact, it avoids the same kind of direct physical fiber-to-fiber contact used in traditional connectors and eliminates the need for precision polishing and reduces inspection and cleaning. The result is a connector that is more forgiving, more durable and dramatically faster to deploy.

3M debuted its EBO concept in 2019 and the team engineered the technology around three priorities: high-density connectivity for demanding computing environments, manufacturability at scale, and a differentiated, expanded-beam approach that helped 3M become the first to demonstrate single-mode expanded beam at scale.

“3M’s EBO ferrule was designed and engineered to solve a very practical problem for customers — how to make fiber connectivity easier, faster and more reliable in increasingly dense computing environments,” said Alex An, vice president of the Data Center Vertical at 3M.  “The industry had been working for years to solve this challenge in single-mode connectivity, and 3M was the first to demonstrate expanded beam optics at scale for these applications. It’s a great example of our teams bringing multiple technology platforms and disciplines together in a many-to-one approach to meet evolving market and technical demands.”

Reducing work from weeks to days

Early customer deployments tell a compelling story. Data center operators using 3M EBO ferrules are reporting significant reductions in network bring-up timelines, in some cases compressing work that once took weeks down to just days. They have also reported strong signal performance in live environments where dust and routine handling are part of normal deployment conditions.

For the world’s largest technology companies, all competing to be first to train and deploy the next generation of AI models, those time savings represent a meaningful competitive advantage. One that, according to 3M, has taken some customers from cautious optimism during a pilot to declaring: “We can’t imagine doing this any other way.”

Innovation built on collaboration

3M EBO technology is the product of close coordination across 3M’s product, lab, marketing, manufacturing and supply chain teams, a model the company is building into its approach across industries. What made the technology possible, according to the team, is a combination distinctive to 3M: materials science expertise, precision manufacturing acumen, and the ability to scale toward the volumes hyperscalers require.

3M EBO represents what the team sees as a major step forward in fiber optic networking, enabling expanded beam optics at scale for single-mode fiber applications. The single-mode fiber applications are exactly those used in modern data centers and in AI networks.  

And it is, by design, just the beginning. 3M sees EBO as the foundation of a broader roadmap of data center solutions, with more innovation to come.

FAQ

What is 3M Expanded Beam Optical technology (EBO)?

3M EBO technology is a fiber optic connector solution from 3M that uses a lens array to expand the optical beam at the connection point, eliminating the need for precision polishing and making connections far less sensitive to dust. The result is a faster, simpler and more reliable installation process.

How does 3M EBO technology differ from traditional fiber optic connectors?

Traditional connectors require optical fibers to align precisely at a polished contact point, a process that demands skilled technicians and is highly sensitive to contamination. 3M EBO ferrules expand the beam at the interface, removing the need for direct fiber-to-fiber contact and making connections as simple as plugging in a USB cable.

Why does this technology matter for AI and data centers?

AI model development requires massive, densely networked computing infrastructure that must be built and activated quickly.  3M EBO technology can help reduce data center network bring-up timelines from weeks to days, giving operators a significant speed advantage in a highly competitive market.

What comes next for 3M’s data center connectivity solutions?

3M describes EBO as a critical component in a broader solution-set that spans from construction and the grid to the rack for data center innovation, with plans to continue developing solutions that address the toughest challenges facing hyperscalers and AI infrastructure operators.

Milestone builds on Carnival Corporation’s long-standing commitment to the Dominican Republic through local partnerships and community engagement in Puerto Plata

MIAMI, June 25, 2026 /3BL/ – Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), the world’s largest cruise company, today announced the expansion of its surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic, marking the second Latin American country to join the company’s initiative to safely redirect prepared, unserved meals to local communities where its ships visit.

As part of Carnival Corporation’s Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy, the donation of approximately 200 portions of prepared, unserved meals from Carnival Cruise Line’s Mardi Gras was provided to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata, Carnival Corporation’s local program partner, for distribution to area organizations assisting families and the elderly. Supported by government collaboration, coordination with local partners ashore and Carnival Cruise Line’s culinary teams, the effort is designed to move meals from ship to shore safely and consistently. The program is expected to expand quickly to all Carnival Cruise Line ships calling on Amber Cove.

With the addition of the Dominican Republic, the program has expanded to 19 ports since launching in 2017, helping address food insecurity in port communities where the company’s ships visit. As of year-end 2025, the program has provided more than 320,000 meal portions to global communities since its inception, with plans to continue expanding the model into new markets.

“Bringing our surplus meal donation program to the Dominican Republic is an important part of expanding this work across Latin America,” said Vicky Rey, vice president of government relations for Latin America, Carnival Corporation. “This work depends on clear processes, strong coordination with government and local partners, and a shared commitment to supporting the local community. Amber Cove’s long-standing presence in Puerto Plata gives us a strong foundation to build on. We are grateful to the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata for serving as our local program partner, to our business partner Fabio Valenzuela, advisor to Rannik Group, and to government authorities for helping make this possible.”

“We value Carnival Corporation’s continued investment in Puerto Plata and its work with the Archdiocese of Puerto Plata to help ensure these meals reach organizations serving people in need,” said Claritza Rochtte Peralta de Senior, governor of Puerto Plata. “This donation reflects the value of bringing the right partners together to support communities across the province.”

The announcement builds on Carnival Corporation’s long-standing role in Puerto Plata through Amber Cove, which opened in 2015 as an $85 million cruise destination that helped return cruise tourism to the region after more than three decades. Since then, Amber Cove has welcomed approximately seven million visitors, helped position Puerto Plata as a leading Caribbean cruise destination and created opportunities for local tour operators, artisans, vendors, transportation providers and small businesses.

The meal donation milestone adds to Carnival Corporation’s broader work with local partners in Puerto Plata, including Maimón Basura Cero, a collaboration with the District Municipality of Maimón and Fundación Héroes del Medio Ambiente that is nearing completion of its third and final phase. The initiative is designed to strengthen local waste management by reducing solid waste sent from Maimón to the Puerto Plata landfill, encouraging separation at the source and supporting recycling and circular economy opportunities within the community.

As the leading cruise operator in the Dominican Republic, Carnival Corporation’s eight global cruise lines will visit six Dominican ports in 2026, bringing more than 1.3 million guests and representing 50% of the country’s cruise market share.

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About Carnival Corporation 

Carnival Corporation is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines – AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. Carnival Corporation Ltd. trades under the ticker symbol CCL on the NYSE and is a member of the S&P 500.

For more information, please visit www.carnivalcorp.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruises.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com.

To learn more about Carnival Corporation’s purpose and our commitment to sustainability, go to Our Impact.

Carnival Corporation Media Contacts:

Jody Venturoni, Carnival Corporation, jventuroni@carnival.com

Janna Rowell, Carnival Corporation, jrowell@carnival.com

Every year on June 26, Chemours joins the global community in celebrating World Refrigeration Day, recognizing the technologies and expertise that support our modern world. This year’s theme, “Cool Intelligence,” highlights not only innovation in the industry but also the smart decisions and practical know-how that drive progress every day.

The work of talented teams at Chemours, a chemistry company with decades of experience in thermal management and material innovation, enables many of the systems people rely on every day, ensuring performance and reliability. In refrigeration, our experts have helped develop new classes of materials that enable high-performance cooling while reducing environmental impact—fundamentally changing how those systems operate.

From digital infrastructure to everyday refrigeration, these innovations are shaping the future of cooling.

Liquid Cooling: Meeting the Demands of the Digital Age

As digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) continue to advance, the need for reliable and efficient cooling solutions grows. Traditional air cooling is reaching its limits in high-performance environments like data centers. Two-phase immersion cooling offers a smarter alternative, circulating advanced refrigerants through closed systems to absorb and transfer heat much more efficiently. This process reduces energy and water consumption, improves system reliability, and keeps critical operations running smoothly.

Refrigerants: The Foundation of Efficient Cooling

Behind every high-performing cooling system is a refrigerant engineered for safety, sustainability, and reliability. Opteon™ refrigerants from Chemours are designed with low global warming potential (GWP) and high energy efficiency, supporting responsible cooling across industries, from preserving food and vaccines to enabling the latest in AI-powered technology.

Cool Intelligence: Powered by People

Yet innovations in cooling solutions are only possible through dedicated experts who make it happen, turning advanced technology into practical solutions that support customers and communities.

At Chemours, our employees’ hands-on experience, problem-solving skills, and commitment to excellence are what bring Cool Intelligence to life every day. From engineering and installation to maintenance and continuous improvement, it’s the skill and care of our teams that ensure reliable, efficient, and sustainable outcomes.

On this World Refrigeration Day, Chemours recognizes the essential role of intelligent cooling, helping to protect food, health, and comfort worldwide, while supporting a sustainable future.

To see how Cool Intelligence comes to life across our work, follow our Opteon™ and Chemours LinkedIn channels for more World Refrigeration Day content.

If you’re running a small business, one of the most important investments you can make is securing your own website URL.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your brand online, a website URL serves as your business’s online home base.

Entrepreneurs today rely solely on social media profiles or online marketplace listings. While those channels can help you reach customers, they don’t give you full control over your online presence. A website URL does.

At GoDaddy, we’re known as the world leader in website URLs. We understand the importance they play in empowering entrepreneurs at every stage of their business.

To help you better understand these benefits, we’re sharing our top 10 reasons every small business should own a website URL.

Take a look…

1. Look More Professional

   A custom website URL like YourBusiness.com instantly makes your business appear more credible and established.

2. Own Your Online Identity

   Social media platforms can change overnight. Your website URL is a digital asset that belongs to you.

3. Help Customers Find You

   A website URL gives customers a central place to learn about your business, products, and services.

4. Create Branded Email Addresses

   An email like info@yourbusiness.com builds trust with customers and reinforces your brand.

5. Protect Your Brand

   Securing your website URL prevents others from claiming your business name online.

6. Support Your Marketing

   Use your URL for your website, landing pages, email campaigns, promotions, and more.

7. Meet Customer Expectations

   Today’s customers expect legitimate businesses to have a website they can visit.

8. Prepare for Growth

   A website URL creates a foundation for future expansion, whether that’s ecommerce, bookings, or new services.

9. It’s Affordable

   A website URL is one of the lowest-cost investments you can make in your business’s long-term success.

10. Stand Out from Competitors

    A memorable website URL helps customers remember your business and choose you over the competition.

A URL is much more than a website address. It’s the foundation of your online brand.

It helps customers find you, builds trust, protects your business identity, and gives you the flexibility to grow on your own terms. Whether you’re launching a new venture or strengthening an existing one, securing a website URL is one of the smartest and most cost-effective decisions you can make.

Learn more about website URLs from GoDaddy and start building a stronger online presence for your business today.

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PITTSBURGH, June 25, 2026 /3BL/ – Wesco hosted its annual Day of Caring events for employees at locations around the globe, reinforcing the company’s commitment to giving back to the communities where employees live and work.

Wesco’s Day of Caring events provide employees with opportunities to connect with local nonprofit organizations, participate in volunteer activities, and learn more about ways to give back through the company’s Wesco Cares program. These efforts include matching gifts, paid volunteer time off, and support for organizations such as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and other community partners focused on humanitarian aid, affordable housing and education. 

This year’s global activities, held in June, included both in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities, as well as events across major Wesco locations, bringing employees together in support of local communities.

During the Day of Caring, Wesco also announced John C. Tieri, Account Executive, Electrical and Electronic Solutions, based in Carol Stream, Illinois, as the recipient of the 2026 Wesco Cares Champion of the Year Award. 

The Wesco Cares Champion of the Year Award recognizes employees who demonstrate a strong commitment to making a positive impact beyond the workplace through volunteerism and community engagement. 

As a volunteer firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), John C. Tieri dedicates significant personal time to serving his community, meeting the same training and certification requirements as full-time first responders while balancing his role at Wesco. 

His service includes responding to emergencies, supporting his local fire district, and stepping in during critical situations when additional support is needed. According to his Fire Chief, John is an “exemplary firefighter/EMT and an outstanding person” who consistently goes above and beyond without seeking recognition. 

As part of the recognition, John C. Tieri will receive a $2,500 award to donate to an eligible organization of his choice through the Wesco Cares giving platform. 

“We are proud to recognize John as our 2026 Wesco Cares Champion of the Year,” said Chris Wolf, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Wesco Cares Executive Sponsor. “His dedication to serving others, both in his community and at Wesco, reflects the spirit of giving back that defines our culture.”

Wesco Cares supports employee-led giving and volunteerism through programs that empower employees to contribute their time, talent, and resources to causes that matter most to them. Through these efforts, Wesco continues to make a meaningful impact in communities around the world. 

To learn more about Wesco’s community impact, visit Wesco in the community.