Tag: 3BL

LAS VEGAS, October 2, 2025 /3BL/ – Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) will contribute $400,000 to Americares as part of a two-year grant through the Sands Cares global community engagement program. Funding supports global emergency response and readiness programs, including continued investment in the organization’s Asia-Pacific emergency response hub.

With this commitment, Sands has joined the Americares Rapid Impact and Support for Emergencies (RISE) program, which provides the health-focused relief and development organization with a reliable stream of flexible funding to maintain a constant state of readiness and launch robust responses to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The Sands Cares contribution supports Americares Global Readiness Team, which strengthens emergency and humanitarian assistance by enhancing organizational preparedness for responses.

Americares responds to more than 35 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. Americares relief workers are among the first to respond to emergencies, helping to restore health services for survivors. The organization’s teams increase access to essential medicines and supplies, as well as provide medical care, surge staffing, emergency funding and psychosocial support for disaster survivors, frontline health workers and first responders. Americares maintains a Global Roster of more than 800 trained professionals who can be mobilized for deployment.

Sands has supported Americares since 2020 with Sands Cares funding for the Americares Asia-Pacific response hub in the Philippines and U.S. regional emergency readiness activities in Greater New York and the South/Southeastern United States.

“Sands’ generous support has greatly strengthened our Asia regional response operations as well as our global readiness to respond swiftly and effectively when disaster strikes,” Americares Deputy Senior Vice President of Emergency Programs Provash Budden said. “In becoming a RISE member, Sands has recognized the increased urgency of being ready to respond to more frequent and intense extreme weather events and more complex humanitarian crises.”

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), disasters now directly affect approximately 200 million people annually, cause medical emergencies and disrupt health care services with long-term health implications, including mental health impact. Populations most disproportionately impacted are people in low-income communities and countries that already lack the resources needed for adequate preparedness and response.

The 2025-2027 Sands Cares grant supports the following activities:

2025-2027 U.S. Headquarters Activities

Sands’ participation in the Americares RISE program will support Global Roster recruitment and training, equipment and the pre-positioning of response supplies. In year two of the Sands Cares engagement, Americares plans to host a World Health Organization EMT Type 1 Mobile Training for Global Roster members in the United States.

2025-2027 Asia-Pacific Activities

Sands Cares funding for the Asia-Pacific region will support Americares efforts to recruit at least 25 new emergency response roster members, pre-position relief supplies and equipment in regional warehouses, as well as host ongoing trainings for Asia-Pacific Global Roster members and Americares staff. ⁠Americares also plans to host a World Health Organization EMT Type 1 Mobile Training for Global Roster members in the Philippines.

Americares and Sands Cares – Previous Accomplishments

Through engagements beginning in 2020, Sands has helped Americares substantially grow its disaster readiness response capacity in the Asia-Pacific region, establishing a response hub in the Philippines and increasing its regional emergency roster from 20 to more than 180 members in 2024. With Sands Cares support, Americares also conducted its first large-scale emergency simulation

exercise at the Philippines regional hub. As a result, Americares launched responses out of the Philippines hub for Typhoons Doksuri, Noru, Goni, Vamco and Rai; Tropical Storm Nalgae; the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines and severe flooding in Vietnam.

In 2023, Sands expanded its support for Americares to the United States with a two-year contribution to help Americares build emergency response capabilities in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, as well as the South/Southeastern United States. Sands Cares’ support allowed Americares to recruit 25 new Global Roster members from the Tri-State area and host its first-ever, in-person Global Roster onboarding training in Queens, New York.

With funding from Sands Cares in 2024, Americares Global Readiness Team recruited 24 new emergency responders. They fill critical roles such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, mental health and psychosocial support professionals, and safety and security officers throughout the Southeastern United States. Through Sands Cares support, Americares led a second Global Roster Onboarding Training in April 2025 for 14 of the new recruits in Houston. Sessions covered Americares emergency response interventions, deployment processes, equipment, safety, security and more.

“We recognize the growing number of global disasters and crisis situations along with Americares proven ability to mobilize on-the-ground response efforts that address both the immediate and long-term health of people impacted,” Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, said. “Joining the RISE program reflects our desire to support Americares so that it can be nimble and effective to meet global humanitarian needs, while we continue our investment in the great work Americares is doing at the Asia-Pacific response hub.”

Sands’ partnership with Americares reflects its Sands Cares priority on supporting hardship relief initiatives in its communities around the world. To learn more about the company’s corporate responsibility programs and other Sands Cares community engagement activities, visit https://www.sands.com/responsibility.

To learn more about Americares, visit https://www.americares.org/.

About Americares

Americares is a health-focused relief and development organization that helps people and communities around the world access health in times of disaster and every day. Each year, Americares reaches 85 countries on average, including the United States, with life-changing health programs, medicine, medical supplies and emergency aid. Americares is one of the world’s leading nonprofit providers of donated medicine and medical supplies. For more information, visit americares.org

About Sands (NYSE: LVS)

Sands is the leading global developer and operator of integrated resorts. The company’s iconic properties drive valuable leisure and business tourism and deliver significant economic benefits, sustained job creation, financial opportunities for local businesses and community investment to help make its host regions ideal places to live, work and visit.

Sands’ portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands® in Singapore and The Venetian® Macao, The Londoner Macao®, The Parisian® Macao, The Plaza® Macao and Four Seasons® Hotel Macao, and Sands® Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd.

Dedicated to being a leader in corporate responsibility, Sands is anchored by the core tenets of serving people, communities and the planet. The company’s ESG leadership has led to inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and North America, as well as Fortune’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. To learn more, visit www.sands.com.

Contacts:

Kristin Koca
Sands
702.923.9142
Kristin.Koca@sands.com

Donna Porstner
Americares
203.658.9579
dporstner@americares.org

When Jimmy Chin shot the world’s first free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017, staying easily connected to his family wasn’t an option. On expeditions like that one, it could take days to reach them. Fast forward just a few years, and things look very different. Not only has T-Mobile been named America’s Best Network, it now has one that delivers data from space with T-Satellite with Starlink.

And that means Chin can stay connected in places no terrestrial network can reach.

A pro climber and Oscar-winning filmmaker, Chin first put T-Satellite to the test this summer with science YouTuber Mark Rober in a video for T-Mobile. Shot deep in a remote area of Washington State, Chin said he found the service to be a “total game changer.”

“Part of the nice thing about being in a remote area is that sometimes you can’t communicate. It allows you to be 100% present and in the moment, which is really important,” Chin says. “Now that I am a father, though, I always make sure I have some way to communicate with the outside world. As life changes, so does what you need — and just being able to communicate with my family in ways and places never possible before is a huge deal!”

With T-Satellite now powering satellite-optimized apps like WhatsApp and AccuWeather, that means being able to check the weather or send a quick voice note even in the most remote of places in the U.S.

We talked with Chin about a life of adventure — and how T-Satellite, the largest satellite-to-mobile service, is helping him stay closer to the people who matter most wherever the climb takes him.

You’ve lived a life full of adventure as a professional climber, skier and filmmaker. You were even among the first three Americans to ski down Mt. Everest! How would you describe yourself in your own words?

That is definitely an answer that has evolved over time! First and foremost, I describe myself as a father. My kids mean the world to me. Beyond that, I would say I am an adventure enthusiast. There is no place I feel more at home than out in the wild — whether surfing a great swell, skiing down a mountain with fresh snow or climbing a rock wall with my friends. And of course, I love doing all of this with a camera in my hands!

You’ve been at the helm of movies such as Free Solo, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2019, and you’re a world-class athlete often on to the next big mountain with fellow elite athletes — including the climber profiled in Free Solo, Alex Honnold. What is it about adventure that draws you in?

Each day is different and unexpected things happen. I think that’s why I’m drawn to it. Our world also moves so fast, I love being in nature and reminding myself we really aren’t always in charge!

What was it like to be on an expedition before T-Satellite?

Even a small injury from anyone on an expedition requires attention by the whole team, and without this technology, you couldn’t call for help.  Or if something happened at home and they needed to reach you, it could sometimes take days.

What’s a way technology like T-Satellite can play a role in your future adventures?

The great thing about technology is that it allows us to push limits in a more safe and informed way — and T-Satellite makes that possible. Not only does it allow me to remain in contact with my loved ones, but it also can provide a further safety net for me and for the entire team out on an expedition. It’s vital.

That’s why I am incredibly excited by T-Satellite. It really elevates our ability to communicate on all levels. I learned that over 500,000 square miles in the U.S. aren’t covered by cell towers. That’s nearly twice the size of Texas! And I probably spend more time than most in those areas. So to have a provider like T-Mobile that prioritizes communication virtually everywhere in the country is really appealing to adventurers like me.

Recently, you were in a video with Mark Rober about T-Satellite. Can you give us the behind the scenes scoop on that experience?

We met in one of the most beautiful and remote places in the lower 48. We also had the most perfect day! As I think most people know, I love being in wild, remote areas that are rarely explored — so to experience that with Mark was a thrill. I have long been an admirer of his. And then to have him show up and say he had been texting his dad the whole time and let me communicate with my family through T-Satellite was a total game changer. It was really fun to experience this with Mark and to see how this technology is going to really help me on my future expeditions.

Learn more about T-Satellite and the next era of connectivity here.

Mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector represent significant opportunities for growth, but they also bring complex challenges. Amid the excitement of expanding your operations, one critical question demands attention: How do you bring newly acquired pipelines and facilities under the umbrella of your existing API RP 1173 Pipeline Safety Management System (PSMS)?

This is not just a compliance box to check. A well-integrated PSMS safeguards your people, protects the environment, and preserves the hard-earned reputation of your organization. Inadequate integration introduces risk, risk of incidents, regulatory scrutiny, operational disruption, and long-term liability.

Why Integration of New Assets Should Be a Priority

API RP 1173 was developed to provide a framework for managing pipeline safety through risk identification, prevention, and empowers operators to manage safety across the entire asset lifecycle.

Applying this framework consistently, especially to newly acquired assets, ensures a unified standard across your organization and prevents “blind spots” in your operations. Without proper integration, new facilities may operate in isolation, with outdated procedures, unclear responsibilities, or inconsistent expectations, all of which pose significant safety and compliance risks.

Starting with EHS Due Diligence

Successful integration begins before the acquisition is finalized. Pre-acquisition EHS due diligence is the first step toward understanding what you are buying, beyond just infrastructure and market share. It is about uncovering potential liabilities, assessing compliance histories, and evaluating the maturity of existing safety programs.

Gap Analysis

Once the deal is complete, the next critical move is a gap analysis, comparing the new facility’s safety culture, policies, and systems against your established PSMS. This is not just about documents. It is about how things are done on the ground.

Our teams typically conduct on-site evaluations, personnel interviews, and documentation reviews to understand where alignment exists and where it falls short. We assess key elements of RP 1173 such as leadership commitment, risk management, operational controls, incident investigation, and emergency preparedness. This analysis helps build a clear picture of what needs to change and what is already working well.

Developing a Realistic Integration Plan

Integration does not happen overnight. A phased, prioritized plan is crucial for managing expectations and allocating resources effectively.

Immediate safety-critical gaps should be addressed first, followed by efforts to harmonize systems, processes, and cultures over time. The plan should define clear timelines, assign internal owners for each part of the process, and identify where external support may be needed, whether in training, documentation, or technology integration. By mapping out the journey, you create accountability and avoid overwhelming teams on either side of the acquisition.

Implementation: Turning Plans into Action

With the plan in place, implementation begins, starting with aligning policies and procedures. Newly acquired assets often come with legacy documentation that does not meet your organization’s standards. Updating these materials to reflect your RP 1173 framework ensures consistency across the board.

Next, employee training and system integration are essential. Teams need to understand your safety philosophy, operational controls, and emergency protocols not just in theory, but in everyday practice. In many cases, this includes hands-on workshops and leadership coaching to help embed a proactive safety culture.

System integration follows. This could mean incorporating safety performance data from the new assets into your existing reporting structure or aligning audit and review processes. At the same time, any known gaps, whether environmental or procedural, should be actively addressed through remediation, upgrades, or other corrective actions.

Measuring Success: Verification and Continuous Improvement

Post-integration audits are essential for confirming that the new facility is operating in compliance with PSMS and your internal standards. These assessments offer a chance to validate progress, recalibrate as needed, and strengthen oversight.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) help monitor how the newly integrated assets are performing over time. Management reviews should be conducted regularly to assess effectiveness and drive continuous improvement, keeping your PSMS dynamic, relevant, and responsive to operational realities.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Integration is not without its challenges. Companies often underestimate how complex it is to align systems, cultures, and expectations. Communication breakdowns with newly acquired personnel can derail early progress. When resources are stretched thin, integration may be delayed or deprioritized, putting safety and compliance at risk.

Cultural alignment is also crucial. The best PSMS can fail if the people responsible for executing it do not feel ownership or understand its purpose. Lastly, it is a mistake to view RP 1173 as a static checklist. It is a living system that requires active management and engagement at all levels.

How Antea Group Supports Pipeline Operators

Antea Group has extensive experience helping energy companies manage the EHS complexities that come with mergers and acquisitions. Our services include:

• Strategic EHS due diligence to uncover risks and hidden value.
• Compliance audits and post-integration assessments to ensure alignment internal standards and process.
• Safety consulting to develop and deploy customized PSMS programs.
• Environmental remediation and incident management support for legacy issues.

What sets us apart is our business-focused approach. We understand that every acquisition is different and that success depends on blending technical rigor with operational practicality.

Final Thoughts

Integrating new assets into your PSMS is more than a task, it is a leadership opportunity. It demonstrates your commitment to safety, accountability, and operational excellence.

When approached with structure and intent, RP 1173 integration can turn a good acquisition into a great one, to enhance not only your portfolio but also your performance and reputation.

In fact, as RP 1173 continues to mature and is more commonly adopted across the industry, API staff have stated that they are “So proud to see industry coming together under Pipeline Safety Management Systems”

Do not let EHS integration be an afterthought.
Contact Antea Group today to ensure a seamless, complaint, and safe transition for your new pipeline facilities.

Company’s meal donation program now spans almost 20 port destinations worldwide with plans to expand into new markets globally as part of its ongoing Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy

MIAMI, October 2, 2025 /3BL/ – Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world’s largest cruise company, today announced it has signed a series of historic memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with food banks and community partners in Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, becoming the first cruise company to sign formal meal donation agreements with these organizations and bringing its fresh meal donation program to Latin America for the first time. The food banks participating in the agreements are part of the Global FoodBanking Network, a respected international alliance.

Carnival Corporation’s meal donation program redirects surplus prepared and unserved meals from the company’s ships to a growing network of trusted local partners for distribution to families and communities in need. Part of the company’s Less Left Over strategy to cut food waste, the program maximizes the use of high-quality surplus meals to help address food insecurity in communities where it is established. By expanding to three new ports, the program will now operate in 19 destinations worldwide.

“Expanding our meal donation program into Latin America is an important step in giving back to the amazing ports and destinations who warmly welcome our guests into their communities and make their visits so memorable,” said Vicky Rey, vice president of government affairs for Latin America, Carnival Corporation. “Our goal is to help feed families and children who may not have a hot meal to eat every day by donating healthy and delicious meals we prepared but did not serve onboard. We’re grateful to our partners in Mexico, Honduras and the Dominican Republic who helped make this possible.”

In Mexico, Carnival Corporation signed an agreement with Bancos de Alimentos de Mexico (Red BAMX). Through this collaboration, meals will first be distributed through a pilot program expected to be launched in Ensenada and then extended to other locations with food banks and where Carnival Cruise Line ships call.

In Honduras, Carnival Corporation signed an agreement with Mayor Ron McNab of Roatán. Through this partnership, unserved ready-to-eat meals and surplus ingredients from Carnival Cruise Line ships will be distributed to schools, hospitals and community organizations across Roatán.

In the Dominican Republic, Carnival Corporation signed agreements with the Catholic Diocese of Puerto Plata and Banco de Alimentos República Dominicana. Through this partnership, meals will be distributed to schools, hospitals and community organizations across Puerto Plata, with the food bank providing expertise to support implementation and local distribution.

Carnival Corporation’s surplus meal and food donation program began in 2017 through its Costa Cruises line, in partnership with the food bank charity Fondazione Banco Alimentare, in what was a first for global shipping. To date, the program has helped deliver more than 300,000 unserved meals to support community partners in Spain, Italy, France, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Carnival Corporation is working to expand the program to additional locations and is collaborating with officials across the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America to evaluate how the existing framework can meet local legal, health and operational food donation guidelines.

The program is just one of dozens of initiatives across Carnival Corporation and its cruise lines that are part of the company’s Less Left Over strategy to minimize surplus food waste while continuing to offer world-class food and dining experiences to its guests.

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc 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.

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 positive impact worldwide on people and the planet, go to www.carnivalcorp.com/impact/.

Carnival Corporation Media Contacts

Jody Venturoni, Carnival Corporation, jventuroni@carnival.com

Janna Rowell, Carnival Corporation, jrowell@carnival.com

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, employees at Aflac Northern Ireland set out to raise funds for The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity (CCUC) with the Three Peaks Challenge, a trek to the Mournes that includes Slieve Binnian, Slieve Commedagh and, finally, an ascent to the top of Slieve Donard.

Aflac Northern Ireland, located in Belfast, is a global IT and cybersecurity center that develops technology and innovative solutions to help support Aflac customers in their greatest time of need. A supporter of CCUC for five years, Aflac Northern Ireland took that commitment to new heights on Sept. 12, when 53 employees swapped their keyboards for hiking boots to help build awareness of pediatric cancer and raise funds for CCUC.

The result: More than £23,000 (about $31,000 USD) were raised and donated to support the Children’s Cancer and Haematology Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast.

“Care is at Aflac’s core, particularly when it comes to supporting children and families affected by cancer and blood disorders. Through our longstanding collaboration with CCUC, we’re able to be there for families during a difficult time,” said, Aflac Northern Ireland Head of Talent and Culture Sarah Milliken. “We set out to raise £10,000, but thanks to the enthusiasm of our team, we surpassed that goal and are eager to see every pound go directly to the Children’s Cancer and Haematology Unit.”

Each year, more than 60 children in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders, and any child with one of these conditions will visit the Children’s Cancer Unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital during their treatment journeys. Funds raised during the Three Peaks Challenge will help provide crucial resources such as equipment, as well as training and development for staff.

Aflac Northern Ireland’s collaboration with The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity builds on Aflac’s ongoing global mission to help support children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders, as well as the medical professionals who care for them.

Since 2020, Aflac Northern Ireland has raised a total of £100,000 (approximately $134,400 USD) — that’s in addition to the deliveries of 100 My Special Aflac Ducks® to help bring smiles to children and help them express their feelings through play. My Special Aflac Duck is a cherished robotic companion that uses medical play and realistic motions to emulate emotions and interact with children as they navigate their cancer or sickle cell disease journeys. As part of Aflac’s 30-year and nearly $192 million commitment to children and families facing these conditions, the company has given, free of charge, more than 39,000 My Special Aflac Ducks to children with cancer or sickle cell in the United States, Japan and Northern Ireland.

Learn more about Aflac’s commitment to providing support for those facing pediatric cancer and blood disorders by visiting AflacChildhoodCancer.org.

Aflac WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2500936

EXP 10/26

CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 2, 2025 /3BL/ – On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, Discovery Education presents elementary, middle, and high school students across the United States a unique virtual career learning opportunity that will help prepare them for success in the workforce of tomorrow. The Discovery Education Futures Fair is a free, online event offering interactive presentations from professionals across a number of industries, mentorship opportunities, and hands-on activities that will give students new insights into future career opportunities and the skills needed to achieve their goals. Discovery Education is the creator of essential PreK-12 learning solutions used in classrooms around the world.

Powered by Discovery Education’s corporate partners, the upcoming virtual Futures Fair offers students the opportunity to interact with a vast array of businesses and professionals dedicated to helping the next generation prepare for future careers. With the goal of increasing career awareness and preparing students for post-secondary success, the Discovery Education Corporate Partnerships business bridges industries and classrooms to bring real-world education into classroom instruction.

The free Futures Fair events include a series of 30-minute virtual sessions via Zoom featuring professionals from various industries sharing an age-appropriate overview of their job, industry, and the path they took to achieve it. Students will discover the future-ready abilities used in careers today, such as trade-specific skills and the 5 Cs (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and character). These virtual sessions will be accompanied by standards-aligned, hands-on student learning tasks designed to reinforce the skills outlined by industry presenters.

Organizations participating in the Futures Fair are 3M, ASME, Clayco, CVS Health, Drug Enforcement Administration, Genentech, Hartford, Honda, Honeywell, Illumina, LIV Golf, Meta, Norton, Nucor, Polar Bears International, Prologis, The Home Depot, Verizon, and Warner Bros. Discovery.

All Futures Fair sessions will run from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM ET on November 5. Learn more and register for the Discovery Education Futures Fair at discoveryeducation.com/futures-fair.

Educators who use Discovery Education services enjoy access to additional resources supporting Futures Fair and beyond. The Careers Hub and Career Connect solutions within Discovery Education Experience, the essential classroom companion, feature curated career resources and additional live guest speakers from a number of high-demand industries. With personalized content recommendations, immersive AR/VR lessons, and curriculum-aligned resources, Discovery Education Experience continues to help educators engage students in meaningful learning that prepares them for success today and in the future.

“Recent research showed that 92% of students report that engaging lessons make learning more enjoyable. One way to create engaging classroom lessons is to show students that what is taught in the classroom connects to a future career,” said Brian Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Education. “Futures Fair offers educators an easy and fun way to immerse students in enriching and inspiring career-connected learning that seamlessly integrates into the classroom environment. Discovery Education is excited to bring this no-cost learning opportunity to students and teachers nationwide.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions, visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

###

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art, PreK-12, digital solutions help educators engage all students and support higher academic achievement. Through award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, and innovative classroom tools that are effective, engaging, and easy to use, Discovery Education helps educators deliver powerful learning experiences. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Through partnerships with districts, states, and trusted organizations, Discovery Education empowers teachers with essential edtech solutions that inspire curiosity, build confidence, and accelerate learning. Learn more at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts
Grace Maliska
Discovery Education
Email: gmaliska@discoveryed.com

Forecasting has always been the backbone of resilient supply chains. Yet in today’s world of constant disruption, traditional forecasting methods often fall short. Market forces shift overnight, consumer demand patterns evolve rapidly, and geopolitical risks can derail even the best-laid plans.

As highlighted in DP World’s new playbook – Smarter, Safer, Stronger: How AI Can Transform the Global Supply Chain – artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a critical tool for logistics leaders – helping companies predict what’s ahead, respond faster, and build agility into their operations.

The Forecasting Challenge

Modern supply chains generate vast amounts of data — from historical demand patterns and supplier activity to real-time market signals and global trade shifts. The challenge? Human decision-makers alone can’t process this volume at speed. This is where AI excels.

By digesting complex, multi-source datasets, AI delivers insights that are faster, more accurate, and more holistic than manual forecasting. Companies using AI have reported a 50% reduction in forecasting errors and a 65% decrease in lost sales.

In an environment where every second counts, those gains can be the difference between resilience and disruption.

Digital Twins: Testing the Future Without the Risk

One of the most promising AI applications in planning is the use of digital twins — virtual replicas of real-world operations. Digital twins allow companies to run “what if” scenarios without disrupting day-to-day business.

“Digital twins allow you to do a stress test without actually putting any strain on your employees or facilities,” explains Glen Clark, CEO in U.S. and Mexico and Regional Head of Contract Logistics for DP World.

For example, a company can model what happens if throughput increases by 20%, identify where bottlenecks occur, and explore new strategies before committing resources. This simulation-driven approach gives logistics leaders confidence in their decisions, while boosting creativity in problem-solving.

Smarter Freight and Inventory Decisions

AI-powered forecasting tools don’t just predict demand — they optimize the flow of goods across complex networks. By assessing routes, partner availability, regulations, and even emissions data, AI can help companies align their shipping decisions with cost, speed, and sustainability goals.

This means fewer inefficiencies in freight forwarding, better use of warehouse space, and smarter labor allocation. It also helps mitigate risks — ensuring that when disruption strikes, supply chains remain agile and dependable.

A Future of Resilient Planning

The logistics industry is moving beyond reactive forecasting to proactive, AI-powered planning. By embedding intelligence into every decision, companies can sharpen predictions, improve responsiveness, and strengthen customer trust.

As Glen Clark puts it: “With AI, we can answer questions that, in the past, would have taken an extensive amount of time. Now, we can stay ahead of what’s coming and be more creative in our problem-solving”.

Learn More

Artificial intelligence isn’t just about faster predictions – it’s about building resilient supply chains that thrive in uncertainty. To explore how AI can transform your planning and forecasting capabilities, download DP World’s AI Playbook: Smarter, Safer, Stronger: How AI Can Transform The Global Supply Chain, available now on the DP World website.

Authored by Baker Tilly’s Kunaal Patel, Michael Chen and Rich Croghan

The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) marks one of the most sweeping legislative shifts affecting corporate governance, financing structures, and compliance obligations for companies operating in high-growth, innovation-driven industries. While the bill’s broad scope impacts companies across every sector, technology and life sciences firms—particularly those that are venture-backed, closely held, or recently public—face unique and immediate implications.

Here is a high-level look at some of the key provisions of OBBBA that are reshaping the landscape for technology and life sciences; areas that present risk and opportunity for companies navigating the act. Whether you’re preparing for a funding round, evaluating M&A strategy, or managing evolving disclosure requirements, understanding how this new law reshapes the playing field is critical.

Key Corporate Implications

1. R&D Expenditures: Immediate Deductibility Restored

Effective for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2024, R&D expensing has been reinstated, which could be especially impactful for life sciences and tech innovators.

• Fully deduct domestic R&D expenses in the year incurred
• Foreign R&D must still be capitalized over 15 years

Planning opportunities:

• Retroactive refunds via amended returns may be possible (for small businesses with ≤ $31 million in gross receipts and that are not a tax shelter). On Aug. 28 the IRS issued guidance in Rev. Proc. 2025-28 for taxpayers to make certain elections and accounting method changes provided under §70302 of the OBBBA. Before making the election, speak with your Baker Tilly advisor.
• Option to continue amortizing expenses from 2022–2024

2. Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS): Expanded Benefits

Modifications to Section 1202, small business stock gain exclusion, which may affect the attractiveness of qualifying stock for founders and investors in emerging technology and life sciences companies.

What changed:

• Holding period: Now phased in (3 years = 50%, 4 years = 75%, 5 years or more = 100% exclusion)
• Lifetime exemption: Increased from $10 million to $15 million
• Gross asset limit: Raised from $50 million to $75 million

3. Reinstatement of bonus depreciation for property

Permanently restores 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying property placed in service after Jan. 19, 2025.

• Property must be acquired and placed into service AFTER Jan. 19, 2025, for 100% bonus depreciation.

4. Interest Expense Deduction: Return to EBITDA-Based Calculation

Reverts to a more generous EBITDA-based interest expense limitation for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2024. This provision will allow a permanent addback of depreciation and amortization when calculating interest expense limits, potentially easing interest deductions for capital-intensive companies.

• Particularly beneficial for VC- or PE-backed tech companies with leveraged financing, improving after-tax profitability

5. Reforms to taxation on foreign income

Changes to Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) and Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII) regimes that could reshape cross-border tax strategy for U.S. multinational companies.

• Renamed from Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI) to Net CFC Tested Income (NCTI)
• Renamed from a Foreign-Derived Intangible Income (FDII) to Foreign-Derived Deduction eligible Income (FDDEI) deduction
• Section 250 deductions reduced, increasing the effective tax rate from 10.5% to 12.6% for NCTI and 13.125% to 14% for FDDEI, respectively
• Elimination of Qualified Business Asset Investment (QBAI)
  • May result in more U.S. shareholders having (and being subject to tax on) deemed inclusions of NCTI where related CFC income would no longer be shielded by QBAI as a substance-based exclusion
  • May result in more eligible domestic exporters reaping newfound (incremental) tax benefits through a FDDEI deduction made available on the first dollar of qualifying export income in the absence of a QBAI floor
• Narrowing of the expenses allocable to NCTI and FDDEI, respectively, generally works to reduce incidence of residual U.S. tax being due on deemed inclusions of NCTI having an effective rate of foreign taxation ≥14% and, separately, increase qualifying export income eligible for FDDEI deduction

Changes to pro rata share rules on allocation of subpart F and/or NCTI deemed inclusion amounts amongst buyer and seller as parties to an M&A transaction necessitate a closer look at agreements and anticipated deal economics

6. Introduction of book-to-tax conformity

The book-to-tax conformity may influence financial reporting and planning, particularly for public companies. OBBBA has sought to narrow some of the gaps between tax laws and financial reporting, introducing new planning challenges.

This is a critical time to continue to engage in meaningful dialogue about how these changes may impact your businesses, especially given the industry’s strong ties to innovation and global operations.

For more information on this topic or to learn how our specialists can help you navigate OBBBA, contact the team.

Saint-Gobain North America, a leading manufacturer of light and sustainable building products and high-performance solutions, today launched Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities, a manufacturing workforce development program for high-school students. With the goal of bringing visibility to manufacturing as a valuable and rewarding career path, Saint-Gobain will partner with high schools to help grow local talent. Through a classroom curriculum focused on the real world of manufacturing, along with visits to nearby Saint-Gobain facilities, the program experience will give students an up-close look at the industry and its opportunities.

The program comes as the manufacturing industry faces deep workforce challenges. According to a study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, the manufacturing sector will require over 3.8 million jobs over the next decade. At its current trajectory, over 1.9 million of those jobs could remain unfilled if action is not taken.¹ With Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities, Saint-Gobain aims to reach a new generation of workers who may not otherwise consider manufacturing as a viable career path.

“Our Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities program is a win-win for students, the manufacturing industry and local economies,” said Mark Rayfield, President & CEO of Saint-Gobain North America and CertainTeed. “In the manufacturing industry anyone can have a long and successful career, and by bringing manufacturing directly to high schools, we aim to show students the rewarding role they can play in building the future of the industry.”

Piloted earlier this year with Granville County Public Schools in Granville County, North Carolina and Shakopee High School in Shakopee, Minnesota, the program has shown early success with participants citing a heightened interest in manufacturing following completion. The program is expected to expand to at least ten additional sites during the 2025-2026 school year, with plans for continued growth throughout the United States and Canada in subsequent school years.

Today’s announcement illustrates Saint-Gobain’s strong commitment to the communities where it operates. Other recent community initiatives include:

• In August, Saint-Gobain’s Norton Abrasives plant in Travelers Rest, South Carolina partnered with the Good360 and the City of Travelers Rest to build “welcome home kits” to provide aid to families, including those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
• Also in August, CertainTeed Gypsum in Moundsville, West Virginia donated over 27,000 sq. ft. of wallboard to assist in rebuilding efforts after flash flooding in the Town of Triadelphia.
• Saint-Gobain regularly works with partners Habitat for Humanity Canada, Homes for Our Troops and Rebuilding Together to help provide shelter for those in need of affordable or specialized housing.

With over 160 locations in the United States and Canada, every current and future member of the company’s team plays a vital role in achieving its goals. A current list of job openings at all Saint-Gobain locations can be found on the company’s career website.

To learn more about Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities visit www.sustainingfuturesraisingcommunities.com

About Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities

Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities is a manufacturing workforce development program designed to help empower students to build a strong foundation for careers in manufacturing. The program gives students a chance to explore immersive manufacturing environments with a focus on plant jobs, helping them connect what they learn in school to what is possible in the workplace. Sustaining Futures, Raising Communities is part Saint-Gobain North America’s broader commitment to manufacturing workforce development.

For more information visit www.sustainingfuturesraisingcommunities.com

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group, celebrating its 360th anniversary in 2025, remains more committed than ever to its purpose “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€46.6 billion in sales in 2024
161,000 employees, locations in 80 countries
Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and follow us on Twitter @saintgobain

MEDIA CONTACTS
Peter Clark
(+1) 603 513 8513
 

¹https://nam.org/study-manufacturing-in-u-s-could-need-up-to-3-8-million-workers-30626/?stream=workforce

PORTLAND, Ore., October 2, 2025 /3BL/ —Free Geek, a nonprofit with offerings that help narrow the digital divide, has announced a grant of $300,000 from the KeyBank Foundation. Funds from this grant will support the organization’s efforts to provide digital literacy training and education, hardware (new and refurbished) and support through digital navigators. 

Free Geek maximizes its impact by partnering with community-based organizations that are already providing other services in related areas, including affordable housing, workforce development and food assistance. The organization will work in partnership with Home Forward, the housing authority serving Multnomah County and surrounding areas, to establish Free Geek’s ‘Train the Trainer Program’ at its low-income housing buildings and communities. The goal is to first close tool and digital skill gaps community members at Home Forward properties are already experiencing, and then Free Geek-trained community builders will develop plans to further build the specialized skills needed to reach goals that will enrich their lives. 

As community members go through Free Geek’s programs, they will learn to use these digital tools and devices to find success in Home Forward’s key programs, which include employment support, credit repair, building savings, starting a business, youth resources, homeownership, educational goals and basic digital literacy.

“We see firsthand that the digital divide continues to be a persistent challenge for communities in Multnomah County that are home to some of our most disconnected communities who do not own a computer, and many others don’t know how to use them effectively,” said Juan Muro, Executive Director of Free Geek. “Through our partnership with Home Forward, this investment will ensure that these families have the same benefits as others and their children have access to online resources to be successful in school. Free Geek will use the investment to help bridge the digital divide by working to connect more people to the internet, getting devices into the hands of people who need them and providing the digital skills to thrive.”

“At KeyBank, our mission is to help our communities thrive, and that means addressing educational gaps that might be hindering our neighbors from reaching their full potential,” said Josh Lyons, president of KeyBank in Oregon and SW Washington.

“KeyBank was drawn to the far-ranging goals of this program that will help participants advance their skills in myriad ways, from being able to secure higher-paying jobs to obtaining a better understanding of financial literacy to gaining easier access to healthcare and conducting everyday tasks like paying bills and staying connected to their communities,” said Angel Reyes, Oregon and SW Washington Corporate Responsibility Officer.

About Free Geek

Free Geek is a Portland-based non-profit organization with a mission to repurpose technology and discover sustainable solutions while providing educational resources. Its ultimate aim is to foster a vibrant community where individuals are empowered to unlock their full potential. Through their dedicated efforts, they strive to transform the world by leveraging technology, sustainability, and education to create a brighter, more inclusive future, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

About KeyCorp

In 2025, KeyCorp celebrates its bicentennial, marking 200 years of service to clients and communities from Maine to Alaska. To learn more, visit KeyBank Heritage Center. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $185 billion at June 30, 2025. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC. 

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