Pairing the endless possibilities of space exploration with the limitless opportunities of education, Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) and NASA are partnering to show students how science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) make feats like space exploration possible with mISSion imaginaTIon. The partnership and its programs aim to spur the imaginations of the next generation of scientists, engineers, explorers and innovators who are in today’s math and science classrooms.
Combining expertise, TI Education Technology and NASA have developed programs that promote STEM-focused lessons for students and teachers in middle and high school. Launching today, the mISSion imaginaTIon online quiz allows participants to see if they have what it takes for a year-long mission aboard the International Space Station. After discovering how ready they are to live in space, students can then put their STEM skills to the test with the mISSion imaginaTIon design challenge, which asks students to devise solutions to four space-related challenges.
“Imagination is the fuel that feeds progress and innovation,” said Peter Balyta, Ph.D., (@pbalyta), president of TI Education Technology. “Alongside NASA, we are excited to unleash student creativity as students explore how science, technology, engineering and math can solve future problems on earth, in space and beyond.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7418651-ti-nasa-mission-imagination/
The elegant design possibilities are the most visually evident – but far from the only – advantages of Volvo Car Group’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).
The ingenious new architecture also enables the company to reinforce its safety leadership and increase its momentum towards the aim that by 2020, no one should be killed or seriously injured in a new Volvo.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64160-volvo-car-crash-free-future
Volvo Cars will play a leading role in the world’s first large-scale autonomous driving pilot project in which 100 self-driving Volvo cars will use public roads in everyday driving conditions around the Swedish city of Gothenburg.
The aim is to pinpoint the societal benefits of autonomous driving and position Sweden and Volvo Cars as leaders in the development of future mobility.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64153-volvo-self-driving-cars-unique-swedish-project
The Ad Council and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the launch of a new public service advertisement (PSA) to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. While the PSA targets all communities, We Prepare Every Day is the first in a series of videos that aim to deliver a strong preparedness message by showing people with disabilities taking charge to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies.
The PSA provides equal access to all viewers and includes open captioning, a certified deaf interpreter, and audio description for viewers who are blind or have low vision.
The launch of the PSA coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 2015. The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for people with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation and telecommunications. The ADA guarantees the civil rights of more than 56 million Americans.
To view the multimedia news release visit http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7576951-fema-ad-council-emergency-preparedness/
Corporates today are on the lookout of new and novel ways to use their CSR funds effectively. A genuine step towards improving the quality of education in urban and especially rural areas would definitely interest them. And to make this possible, STEM Learning Pvt Ltd has launched Mini Science Centres (MSC) to promote experiential learning. STEM Learning is a pioneer in installing Mini Science Centres at schools in India. So far, they have installed over 40 Mega Science Centres and 250+ Mini Science Centres in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Their aim is to reach one million students from rural as well as urban areas of the country.
The Mini Science Project is an innovative concept developed by STEM Learning and consists of 60+ table-top models that are designed as per the syllabus of SSC, CBSC and ICSE Boards. These models come with a two-year warranty and maintenance. STEM learning also provides training to teachers to improve the effectiveness of these models in English and other vernacular languages.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7561751-stem-learning-mini-science-centre/
L’Oréal announced the winners of its International Awards for Social Responsibility in Dermatology, “Caring to Inspire Skin Confidence” at the 23rd World Congress of Dermatology taking place in Vancouver, Canada.
For North America
Dr. Danielle Marcoux from Canada
Camp Liberté – Summer camp for children with skin disorders
This one-week summer camp run by volunteer dermatologists and nurses enrolled children aged 7 to 12 with moderate-to-severe skin disorders, as well as their families, to bring them together for support, social interaction and to increase their confidence. All the activities aim to increase patients’ confidence and self-esteem, improve social skills, reduce stigma about their condition and improve adherence to treatment.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7554651-loreal-announces-2015-awardees/
Johnnie Walker The Journey, since its inception, has always told stories of progress. Through Storyline, Johnnie Walker The Journey aims to inspire people by highlighting incredible, real stories that have made a positive difference in the world. Bringing to life its mantra of #KeepWalking, Johnnie Walker The Journey introduces ‘Ode to Lesvos’, the first among a series of short films that aim to inspire people to embrace positivity and bring them together to build a better tomorrow for the world.
Can you really ignore what’s in front of your eyes? Because tomorrow it could be me. I could be on a boat with my family and I would like to be helped,” says fisherman Stratis Valamios in Ode to Lesvos.
This time, 12 months ago, Stratis’ life changed beyond recognition as he spent months on end rescuing men, women and children from the waters around his home. His village, with a population of around 150, became the front line of the refugee crisis as hundreds of thousands of people came ashore, fleeing war and seeking a better future.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7932651-ode-to-lesvos-refugee-crisis/
Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and the American Diabetes Association today issued a new challenge to the millions of Americans affected by type 2 diabetes as part of the program America’s Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals. In 2015, award-winning artist Tim McGraw, celebrated actress S. Epatha Merkerson and chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz each shared their personal connection to type 2 diabetes. This year, they’re calling on people to share their stories.
Living with diabetes isn’t easy, and that’s why America’s Diabetes Challenge encourages people with type 2 diabetes to work with their doctor to set and reach their A1C goal. The program will aim to identify the most common challenges patients submit and will offer tips to help address them. The program is also designed to help people learn if they’re at risk of low blood glucose, known as hypoglycemia, and how to help reduce that risk.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7785551-merck-americas-diabetes-challenge/
Using an entrepreneurial distribution model, the Natural Light project will now donate a second instalment of 20,000 solar lamps. These will be sold by new sales agents in off-grid communities in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and, for the first time, in Malawi.
The aim of this project, besides bringing a sustainable light source to off-grid communities, was to create a business model for local sales agents to make a living. This has been a great success. Today more than 50 sales agents in three African nations – Zimbabwe, Zambia and Sierra Leone – have their own businesses selling Natural Light solar lamps.
The Natural Light project, in collaboration with social business Little Sun, and NGO Plan International, was created to celebrate the VELUX Group’s 75th anniversary. Following an international design competition last year, which received 172 submissions from all over the world, the winning design was chosen and 14,500 units of the solar lamp were distributed in Africa – one for each employee of the VELUX Group and its sister companies.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8006751-velux-more-natural-light-shine-in-africa/
In honor of Smokey Bear’s 72nd birthday, the Ad Council, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) that aim to help prevent wildfires nationwide by increasing awareness about less commonly known ways that wildfires can start. The new “Rise from the Ashes” campaign uses wildfire ashes as an artistic medium to illustrate the devastation caused by wildfires and highlight less obvious wildfire causes.
“Education is a critical part of reducing the number of unwanted, human-caused wildfires we experience every year,” said U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Jim Hubbard. “We believe that this new iteration of Smokey Bear’s long-running PSA campaign will demonstrate campfires are not the only way to start a wildfire and that Smokey Bear is counting on them to take action to prevent accidental fire starts.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7896651-ad-council-smokey-bear-wildfire-psa/
QROPS - Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes were introduced in 2006 as part of a major overhaul of Britain\'s pension framework, aimed at simplifying pension transfers to another country. New legislation was passed by the UK tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), in order to comply with an EU directive that pensions be free to move across Europe\'s borders. This ruling means that individuals, wishing to retire to countries such as France, Spain and Portugal can effectively take their UK pension funds with them: http://www.axis-finance.com/what-are-qrops.php
Who can apply for a QROPS?
A QROPS is specifically designed to allow anyone, not intending to retire in the UK, to transfer existing and frozen UK pension plans into a more appropriate retirement vehicle.
Individuals who are, or have been members of a UK registered pension fund and are currently living outside of the UK, or intending to leave the UK on a permanent basis, can consider transferring their retirement fund into a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France
Transfers to QROPS
The UK Government allows transfers to QROPS to be made free of UK tax. Their aim is to simplify the affairs of individuals leaving the UK on a permanent basis and to encourage them to continue saving in order to provide an income when they retire. There is no official limit to the amount of funds that may be transferred to a QROPS: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-France-pension-transfers
QROPS - HMRC Rules
What makes a scheme a QROPS?
In order to transfer your UK pension into a QROPS, it is necessary for the overseas pension scheme to be accepted by HMRC. The criteria outlined by HMRC for an overseas scheme to qualify as a QROPS include:
- The pension scheme must be established outside of the UK
- It must be recognised for tax purposes in the country where it is located
- It must be regulated in the country in which it is established
Age that benefits can be taken from a QROPS
The QROPS regime mirrors that of a regulated pension scheme in the UK. Benefits, including lump sum payments, from the transferred funds may not be distributed earlier than the normal retirement age of 55, if an individual has been a non-UK resident for less than five complete tax years: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-living-in-France-HMRC-Rules
QROPS Reporting requirements
HMRC should be notified if a payment is made within the first five tax years of a member becoming non-UK tax resident. Any benefits paid before five complete tax years of non-UK residency and not in accordance with UK Pension rules will be deemed an unauthorised payment.
The scheme manager does not have to notify HMRC if the payment is made 10 or more years after the day of the transfer that created the QROPS fund for the \'relevant member\', provided that the person is non UK resident for the duration of this period. This 10 year \'bracket\' for reporting payments took effect as of 6 April 2012.
QROPS List
When transferring your UK pension to a scheme overseas, it is important to check that the scheme meets the conditions to be a qualifying recognised overseas pension scheme (QROPS). Not all transfers to overseas or offshore schemes are QROPS transfers; it is therefore essential to verify that the scheme receiving your UK benefits is on the QROPS list published by HMRC, otherwise a transfer will be treated as a transfer to a non-qualifying overseas scheme and substantial penalties may be applied by HMRC at the time of transfer: http://www.axis-finance.com/qrops-list-living-in-France
How do I know if it is a legitimate QROPS scheme?
QROPS approved plans that agree to have their details published are listed on the HMRC website. A UK Pension administrator will confirm a QROPS listing before agreeing to a transfer. If not listed, the administrator will contact HMRC
Today, HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF), along with the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, has launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) recognizing the critical role fathers play in the lives of their children.
The public service campaign created by the non-profit Ad Council coincides with Tell a Joke Day and centers on the popularity and growing trend of telling “Dad” jokes. Through sharing dad jokes, the PSAs aim to communicate to fathers that the smallest moments spent with their children can make the biggest difference in their children’s lives. The ads direct fathers to Fatherhood.gov where users will find helpful tips, tools, information and jokes to help them get more involved with their kids.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8156551-ad-council-fatherhood-dad-jokes/
