Qintess Announces An Investment Of Ten Million BRL Towards Programs Fostering Entrepreneurship, Diversity And Social Innovation In Brazil

SÃO PAULO, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — QINTESS, one of the top ten major IT companies in Brazil, announces an investment of R$ 10 million over the next five years to support and foster entrepreneurship, diversity, and social innovation in Brazil. Vale do Dendê, an entrepreneurial innovation center based in the city of Salvador, will be the first organization to receive funding. Resources for training and…

SÃO PAULO, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — QINTESS, one of the top ten major IT companies in Brazil, announces an investment of R$ 10 million over the next five years to support and foster entrepreneurship, diversity, and social innovation in Brazil. Vale do Dendê, an entrepreneurial innovation center based in the city of Salvador, will be the first organization to receive funding. Resources for training and seed capital will be provided to young Afro-descendant-led startups and businesses focused on cultivating diversity and creating growth in this area.

This national initiative, spearheaded by Qintess, seeks to increase the number of entrepreneurs in the tech industry who are of African descent, who are from the LGBTI+ community and who are disabled, as well as from other marginalized communities. It also seeks to help small businesses make the transition to digital in order to remain viable during and after the Coronavirus pandemic. Collaborative businesses, gaming companies and digital startups will be supported with training, with global and national mentorship, as well as with access to seed capital.

Qintess has selected Vale do Dendê as their strategic partner in the social business space because of their successful track record with regard to organizing and supporting entrepreneurs from marginalized communities. They are one of Brazil’s leaders among businesses focused on social impact. Vale do Dendê focuses on the Northeast of Brazil, one of the regions currently in the most need of investment. Furthermore, this partnership will result in the establishment of new innovation hubs mirroring the ones currently in place at Vale do Dendê. These will exist in every capital where Qintess is located, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Curitiba and Fortaleza.

As part of this strategic partnership, Qintess will be sponsoring Vale do Dendê to ensure that the organizational culture and vision created by its founders is cultivated and given the opportunity to grow and expand. «This initiative is coherent with my philosophy. It is fundamental for the companies to develop and implement concrete actions instead of only talking about diversity and inclusion», says Nana Baffour, CEO, Chairman and Culture Chief Officer of Qintess.

Qintess’ aims to have 2,000 young people from marginalized communities virtually trained in coding (Java, .Net, and Python) within the next five years. The company also looks to accelerate 500 companies by leveraging professional mentors with great market experience as well as their relationships with investors. Fifty of these companies will have access to Qintess’ company fund of R $2.5 million as seed capital to scale their businesses.

According to Lauro Chacon, Vice-President of Qintess Human Capital, this initiative meets the company’s strategies in considering ESG practices in order to promote sustainable growth. «We are an organization oriented to people and we use best environmental, social and corporate governance practices to guide our business. When establishing a partnership such as this one, it is important to reinforce our commitment to promoting diversity, to speeding up innovation and to contributing to all of our clients, collaborators and stakeholder ecosystems, as well as to society as a whole.», he says.

Qintess’ executives and its team of collaborators will bring new digital technologies and management techniques to increase Vale do Dendê’s scalability. Valde do Dendê has been operating an acceleration program since 2018. This initiative, which operated out of a physical hub inside one of the biggest bus and subway stations in Salvador, has already benefitted 90 startup companies.

«It is a moment of celebration and pride! I have no doubts that all of the legacy built by Vale do Dendê for Salvador and Brazil’s ecosystem will be strengthened by this partnership.», says Ítala Herta, Vale do Dendê’s co-founder.

«This partnership with Qintess confirms our bet on the importance of Salvador’s outskirts in particular, and of the Northeast in general, in the development of a creative economy and of innovation in Brazil. I believe the country will not fulfill its destiny of being a great nation if it is not capable of integrating young Afro-Brazilians into sustainable development», says Rosenildo Ferreira, co-founder and Innovation and Marketing Director of Vale do Dendê. 

«We are very happy to be entering in this agreement with Qintess. We believe that because Qintess is a great technology company with great investment capacity, it can support our dream and allow it to thrive for many years, expanding on the work we have started,» says Paulo Rogério Nunes, co-founder and Executive Director of Vale do Dendê.

Teams involving Qintess’ and Vale do Dendê’s executives and collaborators are beginning their joint activities this month. The plan is to implement more than one round of acceleration and of training courses in the technology sector for young people, which will be in operation until the end of the year.

According to Roberto Silva, Qintess Regional Director for The Northeast and Minas Gerais, that partnership makes Vale do Dendê the protagonist in digital transformation for the region. «We are very proud of this partnership because we are going to bring together social entrepreneurship and cutting-edge technology to promote responsible practices.»

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SOURCE Qintess

Cape Cod Project Brings Innovation to Long-Term Care

BOURNE, Mass., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Canal Street Crossing – a private, fully permitted residential and health care development in Bourne, Massachusetts – is bringing an innovative model for long-term care to Massachusetts seniors, just…

BOURNE, Mass., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Canal Street Crossing – a private, fully permitted residential and health care development in Bourne, Massachusetts – is bringing an innovative model for long-term care to Massachusetts seniors, just as the impact of COVID-19 on this population is being fully realized.

In the US, 40% of all COVID-19 fatalities have been associated with long-term care facilities and nursing homes. In Massachusetts COVID-19 related deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities account for 62% of the state’s total. More than 80 long term care facilities in Massachusetts reported at least 20 resident deaths and five homes recorded more than 50 deaths each.

«We’re building a development which we believe will become a new standard for long-term care for our senior and disabled populations, one that may prevent recurrence of the tragedy we are currently witnessing,» said Bob Gendron, CEO and President of GenReal, Inc., which owns the projects.

Gendron, a Cape Cod native and a global leader in facilities management, cited the current physical environment of care in nursing homes as having a significant impact in the high infection and fatality rates. Often rooms are occupied by four residents and conventional nursing home wings can house as many as 40 residents. The common areas promote intermingling of populations sick and healthy. Medical attention is focused on immediate physical symptoms and not long-term health care management.

Canal Street Crossing takes a more innovative approach to design and management, using the nationally recognized Green House Project Model, developed in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Under this model, each elder has a private room and bathroom suite, and also encourages social interaction by bringing together 10-14 elders in homelike settings with shared space. The private suites are wired with rapid response telehealth technology and Certified Nursing Assistants manage each home on a 24/7 basis.

«As the vision came together for this project, our team knew that we needed to bring ideas at the forefront of design and care together to meet the challenges being face by our seniors,» said Gendron. «By bringing together key services, an innovative model and state-of-the art architectural design, we’ll be able to keep seniors safer and improve their overall quality of life.»

The Canal Street Crossing campus will contain 30 independent living units, 48 supportive assisted living units, 28 skilled nursing home beds and 14 memory care beds. A health care facility will be located on the campus, consisting of medical and diagnostic services as well as a full range of health care services.

GenReal, Inc., will own the project. The supportive assisted living, skilled nursing care beds and the memory unit beds will be managed by Navigator Elder Homes. A program for older adults, known as PACE, will be integrated on the campus and owned and administered by Harbor Health Services, Inc.

CONTACT:
Patrick Murphy
617-898-7985
pmurphy@cref.com

 

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SOURCE Canal Street Crossing

BTL files complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission to seek an exclusion order to prevent the unlawful importation of infringing Cooltone and Coolsculpting products into the United States

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — BTL Industries, Inc. («BTL»), the leading manufacturer of the EMSCULPT body-contouring device and other products for non-invasive body-shaping procedures, filed a complaint today with the United States International Trade Commission («ITC»), asking the Commission to prevent Allergan Limited, Allergan, Inc., Allergan USA Inc., Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., Zeltiq Ireland Unlimited Company («Allergan»), and Zimmer…

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — BTL Industries, Inc. («BTL»), the leading manufacturer of the EMSCULPT body-contouring device and other products for non-invasive body-shaping procedures, filed a complaint today with the United States International Trade Commission («ITC»), asking the Commission to prevent Allergan Limited, Allergan, Inc., Allergan USA Inc., Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc., Zeltiq Ireland Unlimited Company («Allergan»), and Zimmer MedizinSysteme GmbH, Germany («Zimmer») from importing products that infringe BTL’s patents into the United States. BTL concurrently filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Federal District Court in the District of Delaware against Allergan and Zimmer on the same matter.

The U.S. International Trade Commission is an independent, quasi-judicial federal agency with broad investigative responsibilities on matters that affect trade and commerce, including intellectual property infringement.

«We have asked the ITC to determine whether Cooltone and Coolsculpting products infringe BTL’s patents and, if they are found to be infringing, to issue an exclusion order barring importation of Cooltone and Coolsculpting products into the U.S., as well as issuing a cease-and-desist order prohibiting Allergan and Zimmer from selling their infringing products and their components in the American market space,» said Ron Borsheim, VP of Business Development.

BTL’s ITC complaint and Delaware lawsuit follows a lawsuit that BTL filed with the U.S. District Court in Delaware in December 2019 on similar matters.

About BTL Group:
Founded in 1993, BTL Group has grown to become an innovator and world leader in non-invasive products and treatments for the aesthetics and physiotherapy industries. With over 2,000 employees in more than 53 countries, BTL offers the most advanced non-invasive solutions for body shaping, skin tightening & other medical aesthetic treatments, including treatment of incontinence. BTL’s brands include EMSCULPT, EMSELLA, EXILIS, and EMTONE.

About Emsculpt:
BTL’s Emsculpt has been a clear innovation leader in the muscle category, revolutionizing the non-invasive body shaping market. Utilizing its proprietary high intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM®), the Emsculpt introduced an entirely new category of muscle toning and muscle strengthening to the aesthetic industry that goes beyond waistline reduction and elimination of fat cells. For more details, go to www.emsculpt.com.

 

(PRNewsfoto/BTL)

 

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SOURCE BTL

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Announces Pendency of Class Action Involving Purchasers of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. Common Stock

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ —

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

)

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ —

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

)

CASE NO. 1:17-CV-1580 (LGS)

)

IN RE CHICAGO BRIDGE & IRON 

)

COMPANY N.V. SECURITIES LITIGATION

)

)

)

SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION

TO:     All those who purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. («CB&I») on the New York Stock Exchange («NYSE») during a Class Period from October 30, 2013, through and including June 23, 2015 (the «Class»).

Excluded from the Class are the Defendants, officers and directors of CB&I, members of their immediate families and their legal representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns, and any entity in which Defendants have or had a controlling interest.

PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY.
YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY PROCEEDINGS IN THIS ACTION.

This Notice is being sent pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the «Court»), entered March 23, 2020, certifying the above-captioned action as a Class Action. This Action has not been settled and continues to be litigated. Accordingly, no claim form need be filed at this time.

If you are a member of the Class, your rights are affected by this Action, and you may have the right to participate in any recovery. You also have the right to exclude yourself from the Class in accordance with the directions set forth in a more detailed Notice of Pendency of Class Action, which was mailed separately to persons and entities identified from the records of Defendant Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. as members of the Class. That Notice of Pendency of Class Action describes in more detail this Class Action and your rights with respect thereto.

If you have not received a more detailed Notice by mail, please contact:

Chicago Bridge Iron Securities Litigation
P.O. Box 3410
Portland, OR 97208-3410
Telephone: (855) 958-3609
www.ChicagoBridgeIronSecuritiesLitigation.com

Inquiries other than requests for the Notice may be made to Class Counsel:

Lewis S. Kahn, Esq.
Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
1100 Poydras Avenue, Suite 3200
New Orleans, Louisiana 70163
Telephone: (504) 455-1400
Fax: (504) 455-1498

PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR WRITE THE COURT OR THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK FOR INFORMATION OR ADVICE.

Dated: August 6, 2020

BY ORDER OF THE COURT

United States District Court

Southern District of New York

 

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SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Phoenix Recovery Academy Officially Opens Enrollment for Alternative Learning Environment

FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — For two years; organizers, advocates, and supporters have been tirelessly working towards opening a high school for young people who need an alternative learning environment that supports their recovery from substance use disorder. On that foundation and mission, the Phoenix Recovery Academy (operating as a program under Phoenix Foundation of Maryland) is now officially opening enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic…

FREDERICK, Md., Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — For two years; organizers, advocates, and supporters have been tirelessly working towards opening a high school for young people who need an alternative learning environment that supports their recovery from substance use disorder. On that foundation and mission, the Phoenix Recovery Academy (operating as a program under Phoenix Foundation of Maryland) is now officially opening enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic year.

«This school will be a light in the dark,» says Sara Varga, Head of School for Phoenix Recovery Academy. «Seeing the culmination of the hard work and dedication of the community volunteers, including our board members, means lives will change, and hope will be afforded to so many families worried right now,» concludes Varga.

Phoenix Recovery Academy will be accepting rolling admissions with an inaugural first day scheduled for August 31. This non-public high school will service adolescents grades 9 through 12, is tuition-based with scholarships available, and is open to students who are as serious about their education as they are about their recovery from substance use disorder.
Applications can be filled out online at http://www.phoenixrecoveryacademy.org or e-mail svarga@phoenixrecoveryacademy.org .

More on Phoenix Recovery Academy:
Founded in 2020, Phoenix Recovery Academy serves central Maryland and beyond. Located at 117 E. Church St. in Frederick, Maryland, the Phoenix Recovery Academy is the first recovery high school to serve Maryland in 20 years. The Phoenix Recovery Academy models itself as a place of education while being a critical support structure for adolescents to
succeed in their recovery from substance use disorder. Phoenix Recovery Academy and similar schools allow students an alternative to a traditional high school setting; a setting where they work towards their personal goals in recovery, while continuing their education.
Find more information online at http://www.phoenixrecoveryacademy.org.

 

SOURCE Phoenix Foundation of Maryland

Christopher House Names Ashley Vuu New Chief Talent and Equity Officer

CHICAGO, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Christopher House, a family of schools closing opportunity gaps for thousands of low-income majority Latino children and families in Chicago through an innovative continuum of personalized education with immersive family supports, is thrilled to announce that Ashley Vuu is joining the organization as Chief Talent and Equity Officer.

In this newly created role, Vuu will lead high-impact,…

CHICAGO, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Christopher House, a family of schools closing opportunity gaps for thousands of low-income majority Latino children and families in Chicago through an innovative continuum of personalized education with immersive family supports, is thrilled to announce that Ashley Vuu is joining the organization as Chief Talent and Equity Officer.

In this newly created role, Vuu will lead high-impact, people-focused strategic initiatives that not only develop Christopher House’s internal culture, but also help drive alignment with the organization’s values and vision, including a commitment to social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion.

«We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ashley to our team,» said Christopher House Interim Co-CEO Libby Shortenhaus. «Her years of global HR leadership and expertise will be invaluable to us at Christopher House as we work to recruit and retain best in class staff, while creating a supportive, rewarding culture that places a high value on the rich diversity of our workforce and the communities we serve.»

Vuu has served as a leader for multinational workforces and large scale HR restructuring efforts. She brings more than ten years of experience in the technology industry where she’s conquered many of the issues the workforce faces today including strategic engagement and retention initiatives as well as global, federal, & state compliance.

Vuu will lead in all aspects of human capital and recruiting functions, including on-boarding and off-boarding talent, training and development, leadership and succession planning, performance management, employee compensation, benefits, employment law, compliance, employee relations and culture.

«I’m thrilled to be joining the Christopher House team and can’t wait to start doing this impactful work,» Vuu said. «I admire the crucial role Christopher House plays in closing opportunity gaps for at-risk children and families and I’m ready to help support a staff and culture that reflects the organization’s mission.»

Christopher House operates three schools – a flagship school in Belmont-Cragin, offering Christopher House’s full birth through eighth grade continuum along with parent education and support services. They also operate schools in Uptown and Logan Square offering early childhood education, after school services, and full immersive family supports. Their most recent expansion is the JoAnne L. Cicchelli Middle School – to serve 6th – 8th graders at the Belmont-Cragin campus.

About Christopher House
Christopher House is a family of schools working to close the opportunity gap for low-income children and their families from birth through high school to pursue success in school, the workplace, and life. Christopher House’s renowned continuum of education engages the entire family and works to break the cycle of poverty.

 

SOURCE Christopher House

Everest Group Projects -6% Growth, Loss of Up to Nearly $50B in Potential Revenue for Global IT Infrastructure Services in 2020 Due to COVID-19

DALLAS, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Everest Group now predicts the 2020 growth rate of IT infrastructure services market will be as low as -4% to -6%, which represents lost revenues ranging from US$33 billion to nearly $50 billion. In the pre-COVID-19 world, the IT infrastructure services market was slated to grow at a modest rate of 2-3%; however, the pandemic has led to uncertainties across the globe. Recovery of the market will…

DALLAS, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Everest Group now predicts the 2020 growth rate of IT infrastructure services market will be as low as -4% to -6%, which represents lost revenues ranging from US$33 billion to nearly $50 billion. In the pre-COVID-19 world, the IT infrastructure services market was slated to grow at a modest rate of 2-3%; however, the pandemic has led to uncertainties across the globe. Recovery of the market will depend on the COVID-19 recovery curve across different countries, which remains uncertain.

The severe demand slump being experienced in the IT services industry is reflective of the strains the COVID-19 pandemic has placed upon enterprises, including:

  • Demand reduction
  • Supply chain disruption
  • Business and service continuity challenges
  • Cybersecurity risks

Going forward, organizations that can rapidly prioritize or quickly re-energize their infrastructure transformation efforts stand the best chance of surviving the crisis and emerging stronger than before. Everest Group urges enterprises to identify relevant infrastructure transformation opportunities across workplace, cloud, network and security.

«A well-planned transformation will not only rescue enterprises in the short-term, but also revitalize them for future growth,» said Ashwin Venkatesan, vice president at Everest Group. «While infrastructure will play a key role in rescuing enterprises from this crisis, they will have to take a holistic view and focus on evolving the services delivery model, seek efficiency and optimization measures, push toward modernization and digitalization, pivot to new business models, and invest in talent of the future.

«As we emerge from this pandemic, we will enter a world of the ‘next normal’ rather than ‘return to the normal,'» continued Venkatesan. «We believe that COVID-19 will act as an inflection point, giving way to structural changes in the global services industry such as ushering in new models of delivery, enabling enterprises to pivot to ‘newer’ business models, and increasing the appetite for modernization and digital transformation.»

Everest Group provides an in-depth analysis of these new, COVID-19 inspired enterprise priorities in its recently published State of the Market Report on cloud and infrastructure services, «Combatting COVID-19 Through Infrastructure-led Transformation.» The report also provides an analysis of the IT services market; IS buyer adoption trends across geographies, industry verticals and revenue sizes; and key trends shaping the cloud and IS market. In addition, the report offers Everest Group’s outlook for the market for 2020-2021.

***Download a complimentary abstract of the report.***

IT Infrastructure Services Market Highlights

  • The United States takes the lion’s share (90%) of the deal volume emanating from North America. The United Kingdom dominates the European deals landscape with typically 30-35% of the volume, followed by Germany at 10-15%. Australia and New Zealand captured 30-35% of the deals in the Asia Pacific region.
  • Banking, Financial Services and Insurance continues to be the early adopter of technology innovation, but this market segment has witnessed growth in recent times primarily due to regulatory pressures.
  • COVID-19 has accelerated the modernization journey of enterprises to cloud.
  • Work from home has become the next normal and will be an integral part of the workplace of the future.
  • Networks are finally getting due recognition, and software-defined networking is driving growth.

***Read about the full scope and content of the report here***

About Everest Group
Everest Group is a consulting and research firm focused on strategic IT, business services, engineering services, and sourcing. Our clients include leading global enterprises, service providers, and investors. Through our research-informed insights and deep experience, we guide clients in their journeys to achieve heightened operational and financial performance, accelerated value delivery, and high-impact business outcomes. Details and in-depth content are available at http://www.everestgrp.com/.

 

SOURCE Everest Group

Global Gas Industry Set to Resume Growth Post-Pandemic, Adopt Low-Carbon Technologies for Long-Term Growth

Covid-19 will reduce gas use in 2020, but recovery will be underpinned by favourable economics, widening access and a longer-term drive towards emissions reductions, including a role for hydrogen and other green gas technologies

LONDON, BARCELONA, Spain, and MILAN, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – After growing by more than 2% in 2019, global gas use is set to fall by around 4% in 2020, as the Covid-19…

Covid-19 will reduce gas use in 2020, but recovery will be underpinned by favourable economics, widening access and a longer-term drive towards emissions reductions, including a role for hydrogen and other green gas technologies

LONDON, BARCELONA, Spain, and MILAN, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ – After growing by more than 2% in 2019, global gas use is set to fall by around 4% in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic reduces energy consumption across the global economies. However, the resulting low gas prices, as well as clean air and climate policies, will promote further switching to gas from other more polluting energy sources, such as oil and coal. This trend was already underway before the pandemic, thanks to cost-competitive gas in key sectors including power, industry and transport, and major regions including Europe, North America and Asia.

The Global Gas Report 2020, published today by the International Gas Union (IGU), research company BloombergNEF (BNEF) and Snam, the Italian-headquartered international gas infrastructure company reviews key global gas industry developments over the last year, provides a high-level outlook for future gas market developments, and examines the potential of hydrogen as a clean fuel to help meet climate goals.

The report shows that medium-term growth will come from increasing cost-competitiveness and increased global access to gas. A particular growth opportunity exists in liquefied natural gas. LNG imports reached 482 billion cubic meters in 2019, up 13% from 2018, and while this figure is expected to fall by around 4.2% in 2020, it could rebound quickly to previous levels as soon as 2021, depending on the persistence and longevity of the pandemic.

Ample natural gas resources exist to support demand growth, but greater gas infrastructure development is needed to support growth in the medium term. India is planning to almost double the length of its gas transmission grid, while China will grow its gas network about 60% by 2025.

Ashish Sethia, global head of commodities at BNEF, commented: «The pandemic has created disruption in the global energy sector, but low gas prices will ultimately stimulate demand growth as the economy recovers. We have already seen unprecedented coal-to-gas switching in Europe, and clean air policies in major growth markets such as India and China will drive more gas adoption in the next few years.»

Joe Kang, President of IGU, said: «This pandemic crisis comes at great cost to the industry, the economy and society at large. It also reminded the world about the value of clean air and healthy environment for wellbeing, providing a unique opportunity to rebuild better. Gas is an abundant, clean, accessible and flexible substitute to more polluting energy sources, and supporting greater fuel switching from coal and oil to gas in the immediate term, while ensuring infrastructure is ready to accommodate progressively greater scale of clean gas technologies in the coming decade, is the way to secure a sustainable and prosperous future.»

Low-carbon gas

In the longer term, there are major opportunities to scale up the use of low-carbon gas technologies, but these depend on substantial policy action and infrastructure investment in the coming years. Clean hydrogen could abate up to 37% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, according to BNEF estimates. However, this would require a range of meaningful steps, including emissions pricing linked to clear, Paris-aligned long-term climate targets; harmonized standards governing hydrogen use; coordinated strategies regarding regional and global infrastructure roll-out, and the deployment of hydrogen-ready equipment, such as pipelines, gas turbines and end-use appliances.

Jon Moore, CEO of BNEF, said: «It is increasingly clear that the goals of the Paris Agreement cannot be met without a substantial scale-up of clean gas technologies – such as hydrogen. While the economics are challenging today, a joined-up policy approach could unleash the investment needed to bring costs down, develop scalable business models and drive adoption across the hard-to-abate sectors.»

The development of an international hydrogen market could also accelerate adoption. The report finds that Germany, which is pursuing rapid development in hydrogen, could procure cost-competitive hydrogen (at about $1/kg) in 2050 from a variety of sources, including via electrolysis from its own domestic renewable power, or via pipeline imports from North Africa or Southern Europe.

Snam CEO Marco Alverà said: «The hydrogen market is on the verge of a revolution. The goal is to bring down the cost of green hydrogen until it becomes competitive with fossil fuels in many applications in the next five years. A smart way to scale up hydrogen production is blending it with natural gas in existing gas pipelines, something Snam has been testing for two years. We envision a future where clean hydrogen produced in Southern Italy or North Africa can be transported through our pipelines to serve Central and Northern European needs. While matching supply and demand in the most efficient way, the infrastructure is expected to play a central role in supporting the penetration of hydrogen in the energy mix.»

Natural gas in the long term

The report also reviews the long-term outlook for natural gas under different existing scenarios, including those from the International Energy Agency, BNEF and IGU analysis. The IEA’s Stated Policies Scenario, from its 2019 World Energy Outlook, envisions gas use growing 1.4% per year to 2040, while BNEF’s economics-led New Energy Outlook 2019 foresaw 22% growth in power sector gas demand to 2050.

In contrast, the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario sees natural gas use declining from the end of the 2020s onward as the global energy demand flattens and the world embraces stronger climate action. And both IGU and BNEF analysis indicate that around one-third of energy-related emissions could be abated by adoption of clean gas technologies. This divergence in outlooks highlights both the risks and the opportunities for the global gas sector in the energy transition – and the importance of actions taken by both industry and government to capture the new opportunities and mitigate the risks for the sector in the coming decades.

About BloombergNEF
BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a leading provider of primary research on clean energy, advanced transport, digital industry, innovative materials, and commodities. With a team of experts spread across six continents, BNEF leverages the world’s most sophisticated data sets to create clear perspectives and in-depth forecasts that frame the financial, economic and policy implications of industry-transforming trends and technologies. Available online, on mobile and on the Terminal, BNEF is powered by Bloomberg’s global network of 19,000 employees in 176 locations, reporting 5,000 news stories a day. Visit https://about.bnef.com/ or request more information.

About IGU
The International Gas Union is the global voice of gas, representing over 95% of the gas industry worldwide, in 85 countries, across all 5 continents. Its mission is to advocate for the social, technical, and economic progress of the global gas industry. The IGU works to improve the competitiveness of gas in the world energy markets by promoting transparency, public endorsement, and the removal of barriers to progress, innovation, access, and development. To achieve this, the IGU also often collaborates with other industry partners, public agencies, and multilateral organisations.

The IGU is committed to a sustainable future, which will require a wide spectrum of clean energy technologies including gas, a critical tool for the world to meet climate goals and deliver on the Sustainable Development agenda.

About Snam
Snam is one of the world’s leading energy infrastructure operators and one of the largest Italian listed companies in terms of market capitalization. Through its international subsidiaries, it operates in Albania, Austria, China, France, Greece, the UAE and UK. The company has the largest natural gas transmission network and storage capacity among European peers and is also one of the main operators in regasification. As part of a €6.5 billion plan to 2023, Snam invests €1.4 bn in the SnamTec project, focused on innovation and new energy transition businesses, from sustainable mobility to biomethane and energy efficiency. Snam also aims to enable and promote the development of hydrogen to foster decarbonisation in the energy sector and industries. For more information, visit snam.it.

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SOURCE International Gas Union

Celgard Successful in UK Court and is Granted Injunction Against Senior Battery Separator Imports Through Trial

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Following the United Kingdom (UK) court’s grant on May 7, 2020 of an interim injunction against Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co., Ltd. (Senior) as requested by Celgard, LLC (Celgard), a subsidiary of Polypore International, LP (Polypore), and the UK court’s May 21, 2020 order continuing the effect of the interim injunction, the UK court issued a Judgement on July 30, 2020 granting an injunction through…

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Following the United Kingdom (UK) court’s grant on May 7, 2020 of an interim injunction against Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co., Ltd. (Senior) as requested by Celgard, LLC (Celgard), a subsidiary of Polypore International, LP (Polypore), and the UK court’s May 21, 2020 order continuing the effect of the interim injunction, the UK court issued a Judgement on July 30, 2020 granting an injunction through trial and will make an order in the terms sought by Celgard that blocks Senior’s import of Battery Separators into the UK through trial. 

Celgard® dry-process coated and uncoated microporous membranes are used as separators in various lithium-ion batteries used primarily in electric drive vehicles (EDV), energy storage systems (ESS) and other specialty applications.

The court’s Judgement in favor of Celgard not only granted the injunction against Senior, it also held that Celgard had established a serious issue to be tried that Senior had used its trade secrets in developing and manufacturing battery separators and that England was the proper forum for the importation dispute. Celgard intends to fully pursue its trade secret case against Senior.

On April 30, 2020, Celgard filed an application for an urgent injunction against Senior in the High Court of Justice in London, England. On May 7, on an ex parte basis, the UK court granted an interim injunction to prevent Senior from importing certain battery separators into the UK.

Earlier, on March 2, Celgard filed a Complaint against Defendants Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co. Ltd. (Senior-China), Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co. Ltd. (US) Research Institute (Senior-California), Xiaomin (Steven) Zhang, Sun Town Technology, Inc., Global Venture Development, LLC, and Global Venture Development, Inc. (collectively, Global Venture) (collectively, WDNC Defendants) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (WDNC) for trade secret misappropriation, unfair and deceptive trade practices and unfair competition, civil conspiracy, unjust enrichment and conversion.

Additionally, Celgard filed a Second Amended Complaint against Defendants including Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co. Ltd. (US) Research Institute (Senior-California) and others (collectively, NDCA Defendants) for patent infringement, breach of contract and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (NDCA). 

The WDNC Complaint alleges the WDNC Defendants, including a former Celgard employee, Xiaomin (Steven) Zhang, now CTO of Senior-China who changed his name to Bin Wang at the request of Senior-China, purposely and unlawfully misappropriated Celgard’s trade secrets and confidential information and continue to do so. Several other violations of the law are also alleged. 

The NDCA Second Amended Complaint alleges the NDCA Defendants infringe Celgard’s United States Reissued Patent RE47,520 (the ‘520 patent), formerly United States Patent 6,432,586 (the ‘586 patent), and Celgard’s United States Patent No. 6,692,867 (the ‘867 patent). See Release.

In December 2019, Celgard filed a First Amended Complaint in the NDCA adding to the suit the Defendants Farasis,Sun Town, and Global Venture. See Release. 

In September 2019, Celgard filed suit against Senior who sells separators globally that they make in Shenzhen, China. Celgard’s Complaint alleged Senior had infringed Celgard’s U.S. ‘520 and ‘867 patents, and has unlawfully misappropriated and misused Celgard’s trade secrets and confidential information, among other violations and seeks compensation for damages. See Release.

In September 2019, Celgard successfully settled a patent infringement lawsuit against Targray International. See Release. Celgard also successfully settled two suits in June 2019, against MTI Corporation. See Release.

The UK Judgement and the successful outcome of the Targray and MTI cases further solidifies the integrity of Celgard’s intellectual property (IP) regarding coated and uncoated separators for lithium-ion batteries. Celgard will continue to prevent the unfair exploitation of its technology and IP to safeguard its assets and customers.

About Celgard and Polypore

Celgard specializes in coated and uncoated dry-process microporous membranes used as separators that are a major component of lithium-ion batteries. Celgard’s battery separator technology is important to the performance of lithium-ion batteries for electric drive vehicles, energy storage systems and other applications.

Celgard, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Polypore International, LP, an Asahi Kasei Company.

Polypore is a global company with facilities in nine countries specializing in microporous membranes used in electric and nonelectric vehicles, energy storage systems and specialty applications. Visit www.celgard.com and www.polypore.com.

Polypore International, LP

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Egan Law Launches «Walk In» Family Law and Immigration Clinic (FLIC)

SANTA MARIA, California, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Egan Law today announced the opening of FLIC (Family Law & Immigration Center).  FLIC’s Executive Director and Supervising Attorney M. Jude Egan reports that the center is providing a new model of legal assistance services to those who otherwise may not be able to afford to hire full-service legal assistance or pay retainer fees, or who choose to assert more control…

SANTA MARIA, California, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Egan Law today announced the opening of FLIC (Family Law & Immigration Center).  FLIC’s Executive Director and Supervising Attorney M. Jude Egan reports that the center is providing a new model of legal assistance services to those who otherwise may not be able to afford to hire full-service legal assistance or pay retainer fees, or who choose to assert more control over their legal fees and costs. «The need for this center stemmed from the lack of lower-cost legal resources in the areas of family and immigration law. Existing legal aid clinics are often limited by their mandates to only serve people under a certain income threshold or with defined immigration status and are, in any event, limited by available staffing resources,» said Egan.  

FLIC, Family Law & Immigration Center, a “Walk In” Family Law and Immigration Clinic. FLIC will operate on the ‘doctor’s office model’ offering full-service legal assistance at a minimum cost without retainer fees . . . regardless of immigration status.

According to the 2010 US census, 64% of households in Santa Maria speak a language other than English and 62% of households subsist within 125% of the poverty line. Additionally, approximately 65% of family law parties are representing themselves in the family court, while data from the American Immigration Council indicates that only 37% of immigrants in removal cases had counsel nationwide, with the number far lower for Central American immigrants. 

Egan, who is also a Certified Family Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California, adds that because «FLIC operates on a clinic or doctor’s office model, it is not subject to government limitations on whom it can serve.  All are welcome without regard to income or immigration status.  An attorney counsels the client, sets forth strategy and advises the client and assigns staff members to draft and submit documents to the Courts or the consulate.»  

FLIC’s access-to-a-lawyer-at-any-time model distinguishes it from Legal Document Assistant and self-help legal services, who can help with legal forms, but are not permitted to dispense legal advice under state law. «While there is a place for Legal Document Assistants in poor communities, they are often pushed to inappropriately dispense legal advice. I’ve seen this ‘advice’ cost parties tens of thousands of dollars and even cause them to lose their case so many times. Just a 30-minute meeting with a lawyer could have avoided sometimes tragic results,» said Egan. «We are not trying to take aim at LDAs or self-help legal providers, per se, but FLIC can provide accurate legal advice and deliver paperwork on a timely basis for the same or less than the cost of a non-lawyer, leaving clients with the possibility of full-service engagement if they decide to go that route and access to counsel at any time for a fraction of the cost of full-service representation.»

Elizabeth Ramirez Barragan, an immigration attorney who also handles family law matters and FLIC’s Assistant Director and Staff Attorney says, «One of the biggest challenges of working with full-service law firms is that the lawyer and the client often do not know exactly how much a legal action is going to cost. We help anyone, from those trying to control their legal costs to those who need legal help but can’t afford to hire a lawyer to do it all for them; and they know exactly how much it will cost them before the work is done.»  Furthermore, Ramirez explains, «FLIC lets clients pick and choose the legal services they get from a menu of options each with a set price, from simple consultations and drafting documents to full-service representation. All of this is done so that almost anyone can afford to hire a lawyer to advise them throughout their case» 

ABOUT FLIC: FLIC provides legal advice, helps draft divorce, custody and child and spousal support motions and declarations, fee waiver applications and financial disclosures. Our team will fill out proper forms under direction from lawyers, and provide advice on how to handle a case in court, including how to fix problem cases.  For immigration, we will assist you with all aspects of immigration law from DREAM Act filings to visa applications. Attorneys may also make limited scope appearances for clients, by mutual agreement, on a case by case basis.  

FLIC attorneys and staff are meeting with clients via Zoom. We are licensed across the State of California and can assist people in matters across the State. 

For more information, visit www.fliconline.us

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SOURCE FLIC – Attorney M. Jude Egan