Month: April 2022

Posted on

FOWPAL Invites Everyone to Observe the Third International Day of Conscience on April 5

To Observe International Day of Conscience on April 5

FOWPAL will observe the International Day of Conscience virtually on April 5, with a focus on conscience education (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQQz_ViMrGg) to build character in younger generations and help the world move toward a better and more stable future.

“Let us sow the seeds of conscience in education, saving the world with conscience education.” ~ Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL

LOS ANGELES, April 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — April 5, 2022 marks the third UN-designated International Day of Conscience, and the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) will host a virtual observance from 3:00-5:00 pm GMT on that day, with a focus on conscience education, integrating the balance between the development of technology and spirituality to build character in younger generations and help the world move toward a better and more stable future.

FOWPAL firmly believes that conscience is the key to resolving all problems. It launched the movement of An Era of Conscience in 2014, and beginning in 2018, it collaborated with the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Bahrain, Kiribati, Equatorial Guinea, and other countries on a draft resolution titled “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience.” On July 25, 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the draft resolution submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, declaring April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Thereafter, FOWPAL has been engaged in activities each month to honor various UN-designated days, with an emphasis on conscience, uniting global citizens to act with conscience, transforming their communities, countries, and the world. To date, it has held more than 60 such events, where leaders from all walks of life from around the world have shared their insights on fostering sustainable development through conscience, urging the world to work together to promote a culture of peace with love and conscience.

The promotion of International Day of Conscience is gaining momentum around the world. Last month, a webinar on the International Day of Education organized by FOWPAL was broadcast on MNN (Manhattan Neighborhood Network) in New York. During the forum, FOWPAL President Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze delivered a speech titled “Transforming Education with Love and Conscience,” highlighting, “The core value of education lies in inspiring people’s conscience and self-awareness, thereby shaping individuals and the landscape of future society. The most important education for everyone from birth to death is conscience education.” Through the power of education for all, the promotion of the movement of An Era of Conscience is expected to inspire global citizens’ conscience and good deeds to create a future of love and peace together.

To commemorate the third International Day of Conscience, FOWPAL not only will host online events on April 5, but also has organized a series of activities with various organizations around the world since April 1, aiming to gather conscience advice from all walks of life and inject positive energy for the sustainable development of the Earth. The International Day of Conscience is a day for all of humanity, and everyone’s conscience and good deeds, great or small, are powerful forces in changing the world. FOWPAL invites everyone to send their conscience words and actions (video, text, photos, drawings, etc.) to its International Day of Conscience (ICDAY) mailbox at icday@fowpal.org or post them on its social media pages, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

FOWPAL also invites schools of all levels worldwide to observe this day during the week of April 5 (April 4 to 8) to promote conscience education, allowing the seeds of goodwill to be planted in students’ hearts and guiding them to better themselves. FOWPAL has created free materials for conscience education, and the citizens of the world are welcome to use them to foster positive values. They are also encouraged to send FOWPAL recordings (videos, articles, photos, etc.) of their practice and promotion of conscience-driven education. As a result, thoughts and actions of conscience will spread throughout the world, positively impacting everyone.

The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has shocked the entire world. The global community shares a common destiny, and the war’s brutality and casualties have deepened global citizens’ aspirations for peace. With a song titled “A Prayer for Peace” and another prayer for the world, FOWPAL hopes that the deceased will rest in peace and the survivors will be comforted. It prays for an end to the war and people’s suffering so that people can return to their safe and stable lives as soon as possible and work together to bring about world peace.

The pandemic is still raging around the world, so people must exercise caution. FOWPAL has been sharing a one-minute video, featuring useful tips for epidemic prevention titled “3 Don’ts, 5 Do’s and 6 tips,” encouraging everyone to share it widely through their platforms to benefit the people of the world. FOWPAL’s President Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze emphasizes, “With conscience, comes a peaceful world; with happiness, comes a joyful family.” FOWPAL hopes that everyone’s conscience will be awakened and that everyone will work together for a peaceful and sustainable future!

About the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL): Established in 2000 in the United States by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, FOWPAL is an international love and peace organization, with members from around the world. Guided by the principle of “Changing the world for the better starting with one good thought,” it aims to promote world peace and love through various activities such as world summits of love and peace, ceremonies of ringing the “Bell of World Peace and Love,” and cultural exchange performances. To date, 399 prominent figures from 122 countries have rung the Bell, made their wishes for love and peace, and pledged to work for the world’s sustainable future. Among them are 43 heads of state and government, seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates, UN ambassadors, and other visionary leaders.

Media Contact:
Lily Chen
Representative
info@fowpal.org
626-202-5268
www.fowpal.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39aef07a-a15a-4451-9fca-f99e21017c2d

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

Posted on

Council of Agriculture launches pet management division

Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture (COA) has established a pet management division, which will be responsible for the regulation of the pet industry, as well as pet ownership and welfare, the COA announced on Sunday.

At a press conference in Taipei, COA Minister Chen Chi-chung (???) noted that around 2.5 million dogs and cats are currently kept as pets in Taiwan, while the yearly output value of the domestic pet industry had grown to over NT$500 million (US$17.42 million).

“At the current 10 percent annual growth rate, that means there could be 12 million pet dogs and cats in the country by 2040,” Chen said, adding that pets deserve welfare protection “just as people do.”

In a press release, the COA said the new section was being set up ahead of planned amendments to the Animal Protection Act, which will strengthen government oversight of the pet industry and try to guarantee the welfare of animals being kept as pets.

It will also be responsible for drafting a “white list” of animal species and breeds that can be kept as pets, based on the standards of animal welfare, human and animal safety, and the risk of the pets becoming invasive species, the COA said.

The section will initially have six employees at COA headquarters and around 100 staffers working in local government offices, with an annual budget of NT$150 million, according to the COA.

Speaking at the event, President Tsai Ing-wen (???) said the planned legal amendments would focus on “traceability,” by mandating that pets be registered at birth and each time they change owners throughout their lives.

The establishment of the section follows criticism from animal protection groups — especially those dealing with Taiwan’s abandoned pet and stray animal problems — that the COA was not doing enough to crack down on irresponsible pet owners and breeders.

Last month, Chen said the new section would initially focus on dogs and cats, but would expand in the future to include other pet types, such as birds and reptiles.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Posted on

CORONAVIRUS/Most new local COVID-19 cases linked to known clusters: CECC

Most of the 183 new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases reported in Taiwan on Sunday were linked to known clusters, but the origins of some cases were not clear and the final day of a large gathering was called off as case numbers rose.

A total of 45 new cases were added to a Keelung cluster that started with a gathering of police officers at a karaoke bar in late March, bringing the total to 205 cases, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

The new cases in the cluster involved police offices, teachers and students, the CECC said.

A group of infections related to several schools in Sanxia Discrict in New Taipei grew to 44 cases Sunday, with 20 of the 71 new cases reported in the city linked to that cluster.

Also in the city, a cluster first identified in a residential complex in Zhonghe District added 14 new cases Sunday, bringing the total to 66, the CECC said.

In Taichung, a cluster connected to a wedding banquet grew to 51 cases after adding 16 on Sunday, including nine of the 15 cases reported in Hsinchu County.

The nine new cases were identified as close contacts of a nurse who tested positive for COVID-19 after attending the wedding banquet in Taichung in March.

There were, however, multiple isolated cases with unknown sources of infection.

One of them involved an aide to Kuomintang (KMT) Legislator Liao Kuo-tung (???), who confirmed Sunday that the individual tested positive for the disease. People considered to be close contacts of the infected individual, however, have all tested negative, he said.

Though the central government said it will not consider imposing stricter prevention measures even as case numbers have risen to new highs for the year in recent days, some local governments were still taking precautions.

The Pingtung County government decided to call off the final day of the three-day Taiwan Music Festival in Kenting on Sunday after receiving a report Saturday that a person attending the festival tested positive for COVID-19, according to Information and Tourism Department chief Yin Feng-lan (???).

The local government had the infected individual check into a hospital and sent nearly 10,000 text messages to people who had attended the festival on Friday and Saturday to get COVID-19 tests, Yin said.

It has also transported 3,000 rapid test kits to the festival’s service center in Kenting and set up four COVID-19 testing centers in Hengchun, Pingtung County Magistrate Pan Meng-an (???) said in a Facebook post.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Posted on

U.S., Taiwan hold meeting on expanding international participation

United States and Taiwan officials held a high-level working group meeting in the U.S. on Thursday about how to expand Taipei’s international participation, according to the U.S. State Department.

In a statement released on Friday, the State Department said the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) had convened high-ranking representatives from the department and Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for consultations in Washington, D.C. on expanding Taipei’s participation in United Nations agencies and in other international organizations.

“This discussion focused on opportunities for Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May and the possibilities for Taiwan’s participation at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” the State Department said in the statement.

“The two sides also discussed Taiwan’s contributions through its membership or meaningful participation across other multilateral fora, including regional organizations and multilateral initiatives,” the State Department said.

“All participants recognized the importance of working closely with all those who share our concerns regarding attempts to exclude Taiwan from contributing its expertise, resources, energy, and generosity to the international community,” the State Department added.

According to the State Department, the meeting was attended by a U.S. delegation comprising State Department Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs Michele J. Sison, Deputy Assistant Secretaries for International Organization Affairs Nerissa Cook and Jane Rhee, U.S. Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Matt Murray, and AIT Managing Director Ingrid Larson.

The Taiwan delegation included TECRO Representative Hsiao Bi-khim (???), TECRO Deputy Representative Wang Liang-yu (???), Secretary General of MOFA Lily Hsu (???), Director General of MOFA’s International Organizations Department Sharon Wu (???), Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) New York Director General James Lee (???), and TECO Geneva Director General Nicole Su (???), the State Department said.

In response, MOFA expressed its gratitude in Taipei on Saturday, saying the high-level working group meeting had been held in person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020 to show the U.S.’ “rock-solid” friendship and support for Taiwan.

MOFA said the meeting recognized Taiwan’s constructive role in multinational cooperation in the post-pandemic era and reiterated that Washington would continue to extend assistance to Taipei to expand its presence on the world stage and push critical global agendas.

While expanding its international participation, MOFA added, Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded countries such as the U.S. to contribute more to maintaining the international order and strengthening multinational governance and regional cooperation.

The high-level working group meeting was held before the 75th WHA, a decision-making body of the World Health Organization, is scheduled to open on May 22 and run through May 28. The WHO is a U.N. agency that focuses on global health issues.

Taiwan, whose official name is the Republic of China, was expelled from the United Nations in 1971 and from the WHO in 1972.

Since then, Taiwan has not been able to participate in the WHA, except for 2009-2016, when it attended as an observer through an invitation from the WHO amid warmer cross-Taiwan Strait relations.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Posted on

CORONAVIRUS/Taiwan to expand medical capacity as daily COVID cases spike

Taiwan is planning to address a recent surge in new COVID-19 cases, which reached a new 2022 high on Saturday, by expanding its medical capacity and quarantine facilities, according to Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???).

The plan was announced on the same day the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported 160 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 244 imported cases — both new single day highs for 2022.

Under the plan, hospitals in Taipei, New Taipei, Keelung and Taoyuan will be required to set aside either 5 percent or 20 percent of their beds for COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms or who are aged 65 and above, depending on each hospital’s role in COVID-19 prevention protocols, Chen said.

Patients under 65 with mild or no symptoms will be isolated in designated quarantine hotels or existing government quarantine centers that will be staffed with medical workers, Chen said.

The goal, Chen said, is to have two designated quarantine hotels per 10,000 people.

Related: Taiwan adjusts policy on triaging of COVID-19-positive travelers (March 23)

The CECC will not consider home quarantine for confirmed cases under the plan, he said, without indicating when it will take effect.

People will also be sent to different facilities depending on whether their cases are imported or domestically transmitted, he said.

Travelers who test positive upon arrival in Taiwan will be sent to quarantine centers in central or southern Taiwan, while confirmed local cases will be sent to hospitals or quarantine facilities in areas where they reside, Chen said.

The CECC’s attempt to bolster Taiwan’s medical capacity comes after it was caught unprepared in May 2021 when COVID-19 cases spiked suddenly. Hospital beds in Taipei and parts of New Taipei filled up quickly, and many patients, including the elderly, were forced to isolate at home without any medical supervision.

The 160 new domestic cases reported Saturday were distributed across 14 cities and counties, including the offshore county of Kinmen, up from the 104 in nine cities and counties reported on Friday, according to the CECC.

A total of 83 of Saturday’s new domestic cases were asymptomatic, while the sources of 52 newly reported infections were still being looked into.

Keelung cluster

Of the 160 new domestic cases, 42, including 37 residents in Keelung, were linked to a cluster in the northern port city, in which the number of cases totaled 157, according to a list of 10 major clusters the CECC is monitoring in Taiwan.

Several initial cases reported in the Keelung cluster in late March have been found to be caused by the Omicron BA.2.3 subvariant of the coronavirus, according to the CECC.

CECC official Victor Wang (???) said in Keelung on Saturday morning that in the past two to three days, the ratio of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has remained steady at around five to six per 1,000 who went to testing sites across the city.

He expected that it would take some time before the number of new cases in Keelung drops.

Other cases

Meanwhile, New Taipei reported 52 new cases, the highest in Taiwan, with 17 linked to a cluster involving several schools in the city’s Sanxia District, and 10 connected to a cluster first identified in a residential complex in Zhonghe District, according to the CECC.

Seven cases have been added to a cluster first identified at a construction site at Datan Power Plant in Taoyuan, bringing the number of cases in the cluster to 96, the CECC said.

The number of cases in another cluster involving a wedding in Taichung rose by seven Saturday to 33, according to the CECC.

Two cases in the Taichung wedding cluster have been confirmed to be the Omicron Ba.2.3 subvariant, but the strain is genetically different from that found in the Keelung cluster, Chen said.

Imported cases

A total of 244 new imported COVID-19 cases were reported Saturday, including 186 travelers who tested positive at the airport from among 2,525 who arrived in Taiwan that day, Chen said.

The total number of arrivals was one of the highest in recent weeks after the government began easing restrictions on visits to Taiwan by students and short-term stays by businesspeople.

One of those with an infection that originated abroad was table tennis player Lin Yun-ju (???), who tested positive Friday upon arrival after returning from tournaments in Doha, Qatar, according to Chen. Other members of Taiwan’s team tested negative, he said.

To date, Taiwan has confirmed 24,033 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in early 2020, including 16,133 domestically transmitted infections.

With no deaths reported Saturday, the number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities in the country remained at 853.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Posted on

Families commemorate loved ones on 1-year anniversary of train crash

Family members of the 49 people who died in a Taroko Express train crash in eastern Taiwan last year came together to commemorate their loved ones on the one-year anniversary of the accident on Saturday.

More than 40 members of the victims’ families gathered at the crash site near Qingshui Tunnel in Hualien County for the commemoration.

An EMU3000 train numbered 408 made a temporary stop at the tracks near the tunnel Saturday to blow its horn in honor of the victims before continuing its journey southbound.

According to the Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA), the EMU3000 has been used in lieu of the Taroko Express to serve as the No. 408 train after the accident.

A few family members who attended the commemoration tried to comfort one another, saying their loved ones had become angels in heaven and were now in a good resting place.

However, some were not as forgiving.

“Take back your money and bring back my son!” a victim’s father shouted, directing his anger at a TRA staff.

The morning event in Hualien was attended by several officials including TRA Director-General Du Wei (??), TRA Deputy Director-General Feng Hui-sheng (???), National Train Driver Union Chairman Huang Lung-hua (???), and Taiwan Railway Labor Union Secretary-General Wu Chang-chih (???).

Seven automated alarm systems which are used as early warnings for drivers have been installed along the tracks between Heren Tunnel and Qingshui Tunnel, Wu Ching-tien (???), Hualien’s station manager, told reporters at the event.

Wu also said the TRA was working with the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology to test a mechanism which integrates existing automated alarm systems so that trains can automatically apply their emergency brakes in case fallen objects are detected on the tracks.

On April 2 last year, the No. 408 Taroko Express train, which set off from Shulin Station in New Taipei at 7:16 a.m. bound for Taitung County, hit a crane truck that had tumbled down a hillside onto the tracks as it approached Qingshui Tunnel at 9:28 a.m., causing it to crash into the wall of the tunnel.

All eight carriages of the train carrying 496 passengers derailed, killing 49 people and injuring more than 200 and resulting in the deadliest train crash in Taiwan in several decades.

After months of discussions, the TRA agreed earlier this week to pay a total NT$150 million in damages to the families of the 49 victims.

The TRA will also hold an anniversary commemoration at the Taipei main Station at 7 p.m. Saturday in remembrance of the deadly accident.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel

Posted on

ITA Airways Launches Direct Flight From Milan Malpensa To New York JFK

New Route Enriches the Company’s Intercontinental Offer

ITA AIRWAYS LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHT FROM MILAN MALPENSA TO NEW YORK JFK

ITA Airways continues to increase the routes of its 2022 summer season. From Saturday 2 April, the company’s offer will be enriched with the launch of the new connection from Milan Malpensa to New York JFK.

ROME, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITA Airways continues to increase the routes of its 2022 summer season.

From Saturday 2 April, the company’s offer will be enriched with the launch of the new connection from Milan Malpensa to New York JFK. The flight will operate 5 times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday and it will depart Milan Malpensa at 1.40 p.m., landing in New York at 5.00 p.m. local time. The return New York – Milan Malpensa flight will depart at 8.55 p.m. local time, landing at 11.05 a.m.

The flight will be operated with Airbus A330-200 aircraft with three travel classes: Business, Premium Economy and Economy, offering high standards of service according to traditional Italian hospitality.

ITA Airways is adding this new route to the currently operating New York JFK – Rome Fiumicino flight, and to the connections from Rome to Miami and Boston which were launched in March. With this additional route to New York, the company continues its expansion process in the US market, the most strategic market after Italy, the home market, aiming to reach a total of 42 flights per week between US and Italy by August 2022.

ITA Airways’ Summer 2022 schedule includes 64 new destinations, of which 23 are domestic, 34 international and 7 intercontinental. It is the intercontinental destinations that are the big new feature for this new season of ITA Airways, which, thanks to its latest-generation Airbus A330s and A350s, will reach the most important destinations in world tourism. In fact, in the coming months new destinations from Rome Fiumicino to Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo and Tokyo will be launched.

All the new ITA Airways flights can be purchased on the ita-airways.com website, and through the company’s call center, travel agencies and airport ticket offices.

For more information:
LaPresse SpA Communication and Press Office Director
Barbara Sanicola – barbara.sanicola@lapresse.it
+39 02 26305578 M +39 333 3905243

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eed3603a-4e07-40a5-a719-54ea31194d97

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.

Posted on

Virtusa named “Star Performer” in Everest Group’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2022 – Global

Everest Group’s PEAK Matrix® Assessment Focuses on Growing Demand for AI Services

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Virtusa Corporation, a global provider of digital strategy, digital engineering and IT services and solutions that help clients change and disrupt markets through innovation engineering, today announced it has been named a “Star Performer” in Everest Group’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2022 – Global.

For this year’s AI assessment, Everest Group reviewed [21] global service providers. These evaluations examined each company’s market impact including a comprehensive view of the service provider’s service focus, key Intellectual Property (IP) / solutions, and domain investments, as well as case studies. The assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2021, interactions with leading AI service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the AI services market.

The assessment also considered each service providers’ vision and strategy, scope of services offered, innovation and investments, and its delivery footprint. In this 2022 Global assessment, Virtusa was named as a “Star Performer,” which recognizes businesses that have demonstrated the strongest forward movement across market success and capabilities, year on year.

“We are honored that the Everest Group has named us a ‘Star Performer’ for AI services given this is a huge focus for our company,” said Krishna Thiagarajan, SVP Global Capabilities and Tech Solutions, Virtusa. “Businesses are hungry for AI but many struggle to truly reap the benefits, and adoption is hampered. Virtusa not only helps clients adopt AI technologies, but also quickly helps them use it as a competitive advantage.”

This distinction acknowledges Virtusa’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) leadership and vision – and showcases the company’s portfolio of industry solutions that make it easier for organizations to benefit from AI including:

vLife™ – Using a self-service portal, payers, providers, biopharmas, and medical device companies can access industry-based solutions using pre-trained machine learning (ML) models, jump-start snippets of code, tools, and accelerators specific to the healthcare and life sciences industries.

Contact Center – Virtusa’s Call Center solution uses Conversional AI to enable call center facilities to deliver personalized information across channels and gather insightful data – reducing call times while improving employee efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Fraud Detection – Applies AI and ML to better detect fraudulent transactions while building customer trust and ensuring compliance.

The title of Star Performers is awarded to providers with the maximum number of top-quartile performance improvements across these evaluation parameters and at least one area of top-quartile improvement performance in both market success and capability advancement.

PEAK Matrix® assessments provide the analysis and insights enterprises need to make critical selection decisions about global services providers, locations, products, and solutions. Likewise, providers of these offerings look to the PEAK Matrix® to gauge and calibrate their contributions against their peers.

About Virtusa

Virtusa Corporation is a global provider of digital business strategy, digital engineering, and information technology (IT) services and solutions that help clients change, disrupt, and unlock new value through innovative engineering. Virtusa serves Global 2000 companies in Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Healthcare, Communications, Media, Entertainment, Travel, Manufacturing, and Technology industries.

Virtusa helps clients grow their business with innovative products and services that create operational efficiency using digital labor, future-proof operational and IT platforms, and rationalization and modernization of IT applications infrastructure. This is achieved through a unique approach blending deep contextual expertise, empowered agile teams, and measurably better engineering to create holistic solutions that drive the business forward at unparalleled velocity enabled by a culture of cooperative disruption.

Virtusa is a registered trademark of Virtusa Corporation.  All other company and brand names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective holders.

Media Contact:

Matt Berry
Conversion Marketing
matt@conversionam.com
Posted on

Patrick Franco Named Vice Chairman at Global Heritage Fund

Former Investment Banker and Public Company Chief Operating Officer To Accelerate Strategic Growth in Leadership Role

Patrick Franco

Patrick Franco

SAN FRANCISCO, April 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Heritage Fund announces that Patrick Franco will assume full-time leadership as Vice Chairman to accelerate strategic expansion activities. Global Heritage Fund, an international non-profit organization, invests in cultural heritage to advance sustainable economic development and provides emergency response to cultural heritage during crises.

Mr. Franco has extensive experience as a strategic advisor and COO, leading teams in blue chips and start-ups. He served as Chief Operating Officer and Director of Foxtons Plc, London’s leading estate agent. He led digital transformation programs, including scaling up marketing, technology, and data analytics to improve customer experience. He was instrumental in Foxtons ESG programs and an ardent advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion within the property sector.

Prior to Foxtons, Mr. Franco served as Chief Operating Officer Credit Suisse Asset Management UK. There, he held strategy and business development roles across investment banking and wealth management in London, New York, and emerging markets. He joined Credit Suisse with a BA in Modern History & Politics from Oxford University (Pembroke College) and an MBA from University of Chicago (highest honors). Patrick is a dual U.S. and UK citizen and lives in London.

“Patrick has served on the Board of Global Heritage Fund for a decade, meeting with donors and key stakeholders in heritage conservation. I’m excited to work with him to execute our strategy to double the organization’s revenues and dramatically increase our impact,” said Global Heritage Fund Board Chair, Ro King. “Not only is Patrick an avid explorer, having visited 80+ countries, he also deeply cares about developing sustainable models for high-value tourism and local communities in need. There is no better ambassador for Global Heritage Fund.”

“Patrick’s record of accomplishment executing transformational growth initiatives and driving operational excellence can be applied at Global Heritage Fund,” said Executive Director, Nada Hosking. “His commitment to our mission is evident as he engages with our projects and communicates our work to key stakeholders. I look forward to working with Patrick on strategies and partnerships to deliver our mission at scale.”

“The Global Heritage Fund team is immensely talented, and I am delighted to work with them to build on the organization’s recent momentum,” noted Mr. Franco. “The world’s cultural heritage is tested severely by destructive forces from climate change to armed conflict and demands increasingly urgent, innovative, and adaptive approaches to preserve our past. Global Heritage Fund is the perfect platform from which to take on this challenge.”

ABOUT GLOBAL HERITAGE FUND

Founded in 2002 with the premise that cultural heritage protection can catalyze responsible social and economic development, Global Heritage Fund has worked in 20 countries supporting over 30 projects through creative collaborations and grassroots partnerships. Global Heritage Fund achieves its mission by developing programs that connect communities to expertise and funding, build resilience among stakeholders, create opportunity for local populations, foster innovation and creativity, and support sustainable travel. These efforts enhance local communities while preserving invaluable links to our shared human history.

Learn more at globalheritagefund.org.

For more information, please contact:

US enquiries

Matthew Strebe

Global Heritage Fund

mstrebe@globalheritagefund.org

+1 (510) 499-3819

UK enquiries

Olivia Jarrell

Global Heritage Fund

ojarrell@globalheritagefund.org

Related Images

Image 1: Patrick Franco

Vice Chairman at Global Heritage Fund

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment

Posted on

Philips showcases new innovations in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders at EHRA 2022

April 1, 2022

  • Integrated portfolio for atrial fibrillation offers solutions across electrophysiology, cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) lead extraction and ECG monitoring
  • New release of KODEX-EPD cardiac imaging and mapping system from Philips incorporates new innovations for RF and cryoballoon therapy for cardiac arrhythmias
  • Philips reinforces its commitment to facilitating adherence to international best-practice guidelines for lead management and lead extraction
  • Wearable ePatch Holter monitor aids diagnosis and follow-up of atrial fibrillation patients to reduce stroke risk

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, is showcasing its integrated portfolio of diagnosis, guidance, and treatment solutions for atrial fibrillation at the 2022 European Heart Rhythm Association Annual Meeting (EHRA 2022, April 3-5, Copenhagen, Denmark). A key highlight in the company’s booth that will support the treatment of the growing number of patients with atrial fibrillation will be the launch of the latest release of the KODEX-EPD system from Philips. It offers enhanced imaging and mapping capabilities for RF ablation, including the new Tissue Engagement Viewer and support for the Medtronic DiamondTempTM ablation system. For cryoballoon ablation, KODEX-EPD supports a new saline-based occlusion assessment workflow [1].

Other highlights include enhancements to the company’s Electrophysiology Suite; the company’s newest lead management tools for the safe removal of infected cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) leads; and Philips’ unobtrusive wearable ePatch extended wear Holter monitoring service, which is part of the Philips Ambulatory Monitoring and Diagnostics portfolio. Providing support for confident diagnosis, enhanced electrophysiology (EP) procedure efficacy and efficiency, reduced X-ray exposure, and post-procedure therapy monitoring, these new innovations significantly elevate the physician’s experience towards optimal treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.

Atrial fibrillation is the world’s most common cardiac arrhythmia, with a particularly high prevalence in developed countries, partly due to lifestyle and an aging population. The condition, which also significantly increases the risk of stroke, dementia, and heart failure, already affects around 37 million people worldwide (approximately 0.5% of the world’s population)[2] – a number that is predicted to double in the next 40 years.

Philips’ electrophysiology and cardiac lead extraction solutions uniquely leverage imaging systems and software with specialized diagnostic and therapeutic devices designed to support the treatment of the growing number of patients with heart rhythm disorders. Running on the company’s Azurion platform, Philips Electrophysiology Suite seamlessly integrates imaging, devices, software, informatics, and services. It assists at every stage of an atrial fibrillation patient’s journey, providing cardiologists with greater insight and confidence in electrophysiology procedures while allowing them to meet increasing clinical demand at affordable cost.

New KODEX-EPD release with expanded compatibility
The latest release of KODEX-EPD, launched at EHRA, features a range of innovations for both RF and cryoballoon ablation therapy. Enhanced imaging and mapping capabilities support physicians with precise RF ablation procedures, including the new Tissue Engagement Viewer that provides information about catheter-tissue contact without the need for special catheters.

Philips has expanded the compatibility of the KODEX-EPD system to support the Medtronic DiamondTempTM ablation system for real-time, temperature-controlled ablation. For cryoballoon ablation, the KODEX-EPD system features a new saline-based occlusion assessment workflow [1], which further reduces the need for X-ray imaging with iodinated contrast media, which is particularly valuable for patients with allergies to iodine or chronic kidney disease.

Philips continues to engage with Medtronic to support physicians in ablation procedures to optimize patient outcomes and minimize exposure to X-ray and iodinated contrast media. The results of these activities will be presented during the EHRA congress at various scientific sessions and a Philips-sponsored symposium.

CIED lead extraction and lead management
Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices are life-saving devices that improve quality of life for many patients. However, 1 in 20 of these patients develop a CIED infection [3] within three years. Patients diagnosed with CIED infections are often treated with antibiotics, which is not an effective treatment option on its own. 50%-100% of patients treated solely with antibiotics will experience an infection relapse [4,5].

A large EHRA survey conducted in 2020 demonstrated that medical professionals lack awareness and experience in CIED infection management [6]. According to the latest European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) International Consensus Document [7], definite CIED infections are a Class I indication for full device extraction. Nevertheless, it is estimated that more than 75% of indicated patients do not receive Class I guideline care, which is a full system extraction, leading to negative health outcomes and higher costs. Philips is committed to supporting evidence-based medical approaches and innovating solutions to help physicians improve outcomes and decrease mortality for CIED infection.

Although adverse events during a procedure can potentially be life threatening, lead extraction is a highly successful, potentially life-saving procedure with a clinical success rate of 97.7% and a procedural safety rate of 99.72% [8]. Philips supports physicians with Lead Management solutions through a broad portfolio of tools designed for safety and predictability, including both laser and mechanical lead extraction devices.

Philips ePatch
When diagnosing AF – a heart irregularity that can lead to blood clots and increase the risk of stroke – it is important to record its frequency, duration, and severity. It is equally important to check that irregularities do not recur in the days and weeks after therapy. While conventional Holter monitors that perform these evaluations have been around for a long time, they typically involve the attachment of up to seven ECG electrodes to the patient’s chest, linked to a belt-worn control unit. These can be cumbersome for patients to wear – which can impact the diagnostic yield – while the application process, data analysis and reporting can be labour-intensive and inefficient for clinical staff. Philips ePatch replaces this cumbersome set-up with a small unobtrusive sensor and patch(es) adhered to the patient’s sternum for up to 14 days of continuous, high-quality ECG recording for reliable diagnosis. Philips ePatch is splash proof, it can be worn in the shower and enables the patient to keep an active lifestyle. Philips also provides an end-to-end service for ePatch deployment, supporting efficient workflows, enhancing the patient experience and enabling robust data analysis using our cloud-based AI-enabled Cardiologs software.

For more information and to register for the Philips Lead Management scientific session with an expert infectiologist and cardiologist or our session on the evolution of dielectric imaging and next-generation ECG monitoring, please visit Philips’ EHRA 2022 webpages.

[1] For use exclusively with Medtronic Arctic Front Advance™ cryoablation catheters.
[2] GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2018; 392: 1789-1858.
[3] Cantillon D, et al. Complications and Health Care Costs Associated With Transvenous Cardiac Pacemakers in a Nationwide Assessment. J Am Coll Cardiol EP. 2017 Nov, 3 (11) 1296–1305.
[4] del Rio A, Anguera I, Miro JM, et al. Surgical treatment of pacemaker and defibrillator lead endocarditis: the impact of electrode lead extraction on outcome. Chest 2003;124:1451–9.
[5] Chua, J.D., et al. (2000). Diagnosis and management of infections involving implantable electrophysiologic.
[6] Archana Rao et al 2020 Knowledge gaps, lack of confidence, and system barriers to guideline implementation among European physicians managing patients with CIED lead or infection complications: a European Heart Rhythm Association/European Society of Cardiology educational needs assessment survey. Europace (2020) 0, 1.
[7] Blomström-Lundqvist C, Traykov V, Erba PA, et al. EP Europace, Volume 22, Issue 4, April 2020, Pages 515–549, https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euz246.
[8] Wazni, O. et. al. Lead Extraction in the Contemporary Setting: The LExICon Study: A Multicenter Observational RetrospectiveStudy of Consecutive Laser Lead Extractions, J Am Coll Cardiol, 55:579-586.

DiamondTemp and Arctic Front Advance are trademarks of Medtronic companies.

For further information, please contact:

Joost Maltha
Philips Global Press Office
Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116
E-mail: joost.maltha@philips.com

Fabienne van der Feer
Philips Image Guided Therapy
Tel: + 31 622 698 001
E-mail: fabienne.van.der.feer@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people’s health and well-being, and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum – from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips generated 2021 sales of EUR 17.2 billion and employs approximately 78,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

Attachments

Proudly powered by WordPress