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  • Over 9,000 Amazon shoppers love this multi-device charging station: 'No more cords getting tangled!'

    Declutter your space and your cords with this powerful fast-charging device that charges six devices at once while keeping them organized.

  • These Fancy Rubber Clogs Are The Ultimate Dog Walking Shoe

    In November, following an especially filling helping of Thanksgiving leftovers, I sat down to peruse Zara’s Black Friday sale and immediately zeroed in on a pair of clogs. They were tan, bulky-looking, and made of rubber. The pair in question, called “Lightweight Sport Sole Clogs,” brought to mind Bottega Veneta’s now-famous — or, infamous, if you ask some — bulbous, ankle-height Puddle Boots, minus the boot part and the $650 price tag. (At the time, Zara’s iteration cost $35.90, though, they all sold out after being discounted to under-$10.) They also resembled classic Crocs, albeit slightly chicer, thanks to muted colorways and a lifted sole, and featuring no holes. As someone who doesn’t do much of anything outside these days, thus eliminating any uses for an outdoor shoe, I didn’t need them at all. But I wanted them. And after spending the holidays all by my lonesome, I deserved them. Three to five business days later, they were mine. At that point, I hadn’t yet become aware of their true purpose. I wore them as “inside shoes” — footwear you slip into after ditching your germ-infested outside shoes at the door — but called them “gardening shoes,” because they resembled pairs I’d seen from outdoorsy brands like Hunter and Birkenstock. It wasn’t until I posted my clogs on social media, that I realized what their destiny really was: A cross between a Croc and a rainboot, my Zara clogs are the ultimate dog walking shoe. Soon after posting my clogs to Instagram, I got a Slack message from my coworker, entertainment editor Morgan Baila: “So you know I got a dog, right?” (Her dog Lucca has his own Instagram account named @luccabailathelagotto.) “I wanted to get Crocs because I’m running in and out all day, but then I saw your story,” she said. “Should I get Crocs or Zara?” Having become inseparable from my own Zara clogs, going as far as to purchase a second pair in black, I suggested the latter. A few weeks later, I spotted them on her feed. She wore them to walk her dog, ditching the black UGG boots she previously wore for the outings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Morgan Baila (@morganbaila) When I asked for her review, she shared — quite poetically I might add — this about their allure: “A mix between a Croc, a garden shoe, and a floating device, these clogs are light as air and have a comfortable sole perfect for running behind Lucca on shorts walks and playing in muddy grass,” she wrote. “They’re so ugly that they’re kinda hot.” She added that because they’re made of rubber, Lucca can also chew on them without ruining them. In her words, they’re puppy-proof. View this post on Instagram A post shared by karyn fiebich (@karynfiebich) As a proud feline-owner myself, I didn’t have any means of fact-checking her. So I called on another dog mom named Karyn Fiebich, who, like Baila, after seeing my clogs on social media, bought herself a pair. She now wears them to walk her dog, as well as make flower deliveries for her Portland-based flower shop Osa Floral. “My black lab daughter Gemma and I go on a lot of walks in varying elements,” Kiebich tells Refinery29. “Not only are rubber clogs weather-proof, but they also add a little bit of personality and drama during my every day, usually uneventful activities.” Drama is right. “It’s a ridiculously oversized, cloud-like shoe that is literally the most comfortable thing I’ve worn on my feet,” she says. Of course, Zara didn’t invent rubber clogs. As previously mentioned, the Spanish fashion brand’s take is just a slightly elevated version of Croc’s signature slip-ons, which have, too, been making the rounds in fashion. In fact, The New York Times declared that they “won 2020” in September, following Bad Bunny’s collaboration with the function-first brand. Sadly, as Zara’s been known to do, they sold out of the style soon after slashing their prices to single digits. And as winter weather approached, they were replaced with quilted snow boots and lug-soled Wellies. That being said, a quick tour of the footwear market led me to a whole slew of stylish gardening options that you (and your dog) will love just as much. If you don’t believe the cat lady, ask a fellow dog-owner — they’re probably wearing a pair right now. At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Hailey Bieber's “Ugly” Shoe Combo Is So RelatableUGGs: The “Ugly” Shoe Everyone Loves To HateBirkenstock x Valentino Is Back With A New Line

  • Wayne Pivac hails ‘highly-motivated’ George North ahead of 100th Wales cap

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  • Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market Research Report by Product, by Application, by End-user - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

    Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market Research Report by Product (Dual-Channel and Single Channel), by Application (Depression, Dystonia, Epilepsy, Essential Tremor, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)), by End-user - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19New York, Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market Research Report by Product, by Application, by End-user - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05993444/?utm_source=GNW Market Statistics:The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. This helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available.1. The Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market is expected to grow from USD 1,018.35 Million in 2020 to USD 1,963.38 Million by the end of 2025.2. The Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market is expected to grow from EUR 892.90 Million in 2020 to EUR 1,721.52 Million by the end of 2025.3. The Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market is expected to grow from GBP 793.79 Million in 2020 to GBP 1,530.44 Million by the end of 2025.4. The Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market is expected to grow from JPY 108,683.74 Million in 2020 to JPY 209,542.39 Million by the end of 2025.5. The Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market is expected to grow from AUD 1,478.77 Million in 2020 to AUD 2,851.08 Million by the end of 2025.Market Segmentation & Coverage:This research report categorizes the Deep Brain Stimulation Devices to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:Based on Product , the Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market studied across Dual-Channel and Single Channel. Based on Application, the Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market studied across Depression, Dystonia, Epilepsy, Essential Tremor, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Pain Management, and Parkinson’s Disease. Based on End-user, the Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market studied across Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Hospitals, Neurology Clinics, and Research Centers. Based on Geography, the Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. Company Usability Profiles:The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market including 3D Systems, Inc., ANSYS, Inc, ANSYS, Inc., Autodesk Inc., Bentley Systems, Inc., Caddie Software, Cadonix Ltd., CNC Software Inc., Dassault Systèmes SE, Encore Software, FUJIFILM Holdings Corp., General Electric Co., Gstarsoft Co. Ltd, Gstarsoft Co., Ltd, Hexagon AB, IMSI Design LLC, IronCAD LLC, Kubotek USA, Menhirs NV, Nanosoft, PTC Inc, Siemens PLM Software, SmartDraw, LLC, SolidCAM GmbH, Trimble Inc., VariCAD, and ZWSOFT CO. LTD. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.FPNV Positioning Matrix:The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.Competitive Strategic Window:The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth.The report provides insights on the following pointers:1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developmentsThe report answers questions such as:1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market?2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market during the forecast period?3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market?4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market?5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market?6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Deep Brain Stimulation Devices Market?Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05993444/?utm_source=GNWAbout ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.__________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

  • Weill Neurohub Joins Forces With Genentech and Roche to Advance Neuroscience Research

    UCSF, UC Berkeley announce partnership with Genentech to speed development of therapeutics for brain diseases and CNS disorders such as Alzheimer’s.

  • Axar Patel: 2 Tests, 18 Wickets and a Dream Run on Home Pitches

    Axar Patel has taken fifers in three innings since making his Test debut in Chennai.

  • Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust Continues Monthly Distributions, Declares Distributions of $0.11 Per Share

    The Board of Trustees of The Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (NYSE:GDV) (the "Fund") approved the continuation of its policy of paying fixed monthly cash distributions. The Board of Trustees declared cash distributions of $0.11 per share for each of April, May, and June 2021.

  • Invesco ltd: Form 8.3 - Willis Tower Watson Plc

    Form 8.3 IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 8.3 OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL ACT, 1997, TAKEOVER RULES, 2013 DEALINGS BY PERSONS WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE 1. KEY INFORMATION Name of person dealing (Note 1)Invesco Ltd.Company dealt inWillis Towers Watson plcClass of relevant security to which the dealings being disclosed relate (Note 2)Ordinary Shares IE00BDB6Q211Date of dealing24-02-2021 INTERESTS AND SHORT POSITIONS Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of relevant security dealt in (Note 3) LongShort Number (%)Number (%)(1) Relevant securities1,447,621 1.122% 2,900 0.002%(2) Derivatives (other than options) (3) Options and agreements to purchase/sell Total1,447,621 1.122% 2,900 0.002% Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other than the class dealt in (Note 3) Class of relevant security:LongShort No. (%)Number (%)(1) Relevant securities (2) Derivatives (other than options) (3) Options and agreements to purchase/sell Total DEALINGS (Note 4) Purchases and sales Purchase/sale Number of relevant securities Price per unit (Note 52Purchase1,736225.64 USDSale6,609225.64 USDSale10,050226.41 USD (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options transactions) Product name, e.g. CFDNature of transaction (Note 6)Number of relevant securities (Note 7)Price per unit (Note 5) (c) Options transactions in respect of existing relevant securities (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Product name,e.g. call optionWriting, selling, purchasing, varying etc.Number of securities to which the option relates (Note 7)Exercise priceType, e.g. American, European etc.Expiry dateOption money paid/received per unit (Note 5) (ii) Exercising Product name, e.g. call optionNumber of securitiesExercise price per unit (Note 5) (d) Other dealings (including transactions in respect of new securities) (Note 4) Nature of transaction (Note 8)DetailsPrice per unit (if applicable) (Note 5) 2. OTHER INFORMATION Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or relating to the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative referred to on this form is referenced. If none, this should be stated. Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached? (Note 9) NO Date of disclosure25-02-2021Contact namePhilippa HolmesTelephone number+44 1491 417447If a connected EFM, name of offeree/offeror with which connectedN/AIf a connected EFM, state nature of connection (Note 10)

  • New Research Shows 80% of Us Consider Hearing Loss Serious, So Why Do We Ignore It?

    Washington D.C., Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Do you know someone who has trouble hearing but isn’t addressing it? Is that someone you? New research from the Hearing Industries Association (HIA) reveals that 4 out of 5 Americans consider hearing loss serious, but ignoring the problem is more common than you may think. Fewer than 16% of adults ages 20-69 who need a hearing aid use one. That number almost doubles to 30% for adults over age 70 who need a hearing aid but don’t use one, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.1 Overall, an estimated 38 million Americans have a hearing loss.2 Good hearing health is essential; it keeps us connected to the ones we love and the activities we enjoy. In recognition of World Hearing Day on March 3, take action to protect your hearing, and reach out to those you care about who may be hesitant to address their hearing loss. Here are seven reasons to take action today. 1. If you notice hearing loss, get tested to find out why. You may have hearing loss that comes with age, or you may have a medical problem that needs immediate attention. You may just have wax in your ears! Regardless of the problem, there is likely a solution to improve your hearing. 2. You may not notice you have hearing loss because it happens gradually. On average, Americans wait 6 years to address hearing loss. They may be ignoring some of the signs of early hearing loss: turning up the volume; asking “what?” more often; having trouble hearing children’s or women’s voices; or having trouble differentiating individual voices when a room is loud. When should you start testing? According to The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), if you are not having hearing loss, you should get tested every 10 years until you turn 50, and every 3 years after that.3 “Like an annual physical, dental or eye exam, a hearing test needs to be part of our routine checkups. Good hearing is a key element of being healthy and an important contributor to our overall quality of life,” said Kate Carr, President of the Hearing Industries Association. 3. You are at risk of losing more than your hearing. Hearing loss is associated with higher rates of depression, dementia and falls that require hospitalization.4 Even mild hearing loss doubles the risk of dementia, moderate loss triples the risk and those with severe loss are 5 times more likely to develop dementia.5 Another problem associated with hearing loss is isolation. COVID has demonstrated how important staying connected is to our happiness and wellbeing. Now more than ever, hearing well is a priority. “Good hearing increases social engagement, improves communication, lowers the risk of isolation and depression, and is part of healthy aging,” adds Carr. 4. Hearing aids are far better today than in the past. Advances in technology have made hearing aids smaller and more sophisticated. Worn in or behind the ears, hearing aids with Bluetooth can stream sound from a phone or TV directly into your ear. New processor technology can help amplify the sounds you want to hear and help mask tinnitus. Some hearing aids can adapt to your habits and environments to improve your hearing experience. Particularly helpful during the pandemic, new innovations enable some hearing aids to help you hear people who are wearing a mask. 5. Better hearing can be affordable. Like other technology you use daily there is an upfront investment, so to demonstrate the true value, consider the cost per day over the life of the hearing aid. For a few dollars a day, you can stay connected and engaged. The investment on your hearing could even benefit your budget in the future since untreated hearing loss is associated with 46% higher total health care costs over a 10-year period.6 Check your insurance policy to see if hearing health is covered. Veterans can get hearing aids at no cost. While traditional Medicare doesn’t cover hearing health, most Medicare Advantage programs include a hearing benefit. 6. You can manage much of your hearing health from home. Thanks to advances in telehealth and technology, you can handle many hearing appointments from the comfort of your home. Because of COVID, many Americans are taking advantage of telehealth. HIA research shows 42% of respondents used telehealth in the past year. Your initial assessment and annual checkups need to be done in person, but if you opt for a hearing aid, many future appointments can be done remotely. Today’s hearing aid apps connect you with your audiologist so adjustments can be made without going into their office. 7. Hearing health is a sign of the times. Today, people of all ages are using earbuds or headsets. With the pandemic, adults and kids are plugged in for hours at a time for phone calls, meetings, and schoolwork. Pay attention to the volume: Sounds above 85 dB can be harmful. Excessive noise exposure contributes to hearing loss, so protect delicate inner-ear hair cells against excessive noise by wearing protective noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs. Be proactive about your hearing wellness throughout your life. Carr concluded, “Hearing can be one of those things we take for granted until something happens and then we realize its importance to our lives. The better strategy is to act now, before there is a problem.” It is easy to take action. Visit betterhearing.org for links to online tests. Better yet, link to a hearing professional near you and schedule an in-person hearing test today. About Hearing Industries Association (HIA) HIA is a forum for the companies that manufacture and distribute hearing aids, components and supplies for the hearing aid industry. Our mission is to be the trusted voice on hearing health care for product innovation, public policy, patient safety and education. http://www.betterhearing.org #WorldHearingDay, #HearWellStayVital, and #TestYourHearing Sources: 1 Based on calculations by NIDCD Epidemiology and Statistics Program staff using data collected by (1) the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) annually for number of persons who have ever used a hearing aid [numerator], and (2) periodic NHANES hearing exams for representative samples of the U.S. adult and older adult population [denominator]; these statistics are also used for tracking Healthy People 2010 and 2020 objectives. See also Use of Hearing Aids by Adults with Hearing Loss (chart). 2 “How Many People Have Hearing Loss in the United States?”, Johns Hopkins Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, https://www.jhucochlearcenter.org/how-many-people-have-hearing-loss-unaited-states.html 3 “Hearing Screening”, American Speech-Learning-Hearing Association, https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/hearing-screening/ 4-5 “The Hidden Risks of Hearing Loss”, Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-hidden-risks-of-hearing-loss 6 “Trends in Health Care Costs and Utilization Associated With Untreated Hearing Loss Over 10 Years.” Nicholas S. Reed, Aylin Altan, Jennifer A. Deal, Charlotte Yeh, Alexander D. Kravetz, Margaret Wallhagen, Frank R. Lin JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019 Jan; 145(1): 27–34. Published online 2018 Nov 8. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2018.2875, PMCID: PMC6439810. CONTACT: Martha Wilcox 703-598-7576 wilcoxwords@gmail.com

  • Step Surpasses One Million Users in Less Than Four Months

    Step, the new modern-day financial services company built for teens and families, today announced it has crossed one million users. A first of its kind, Step offers users the ability to build credit before they turn 18 through a free, FDIC insured bank account, secured spending card and P2P payments platform. The company also recently closed a new venture debt facility and added major star power with baseball legend Alex Rodriguez and digital megastar Josh Richards joining Step as investors.

  • With most of their kin protesting in Delhi, Haryana farmers, particularly women, keep farms running, livelihoods alive

    The involvement of women like Santosh Sandhu, particularly from the state of Haryana, which is not known for being progressive, is noteworthy, especially given that they're tending to households as well as farmlands.

  • Mitel Global Partner Awards Celebrate Standout Performances for 2020

    Mitel Global Partner Awards spotlight outstanding achievements from Mitel partners across the Americas region.

  • Khloé Kardashian Responds To Photoshop Accusations Over Her New Instagram Pics

    The images bear a striking resemblance to Slender Man….

  • Gabelli Equity Trust 10% Distribution Policy Reaffirmed and Declared First Quarter Distribution of $0.15 Per Share

    The Board of Directors of The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc. (NYSE:GAB) (the "Fund") reaffirmed and satisfied its 10% distribution policy by declaring a $0.15 per share cash distribution payable on March 24, 2021 to common stock shareholders of record on March 17, 2021.

  • Upswing Partners with UNCF to Support The Fund II Foundation -UNCF STEM Scholars Program

    Upswing’s Partnership with UNCF Builds on Commitment to Remove Barriers from Degree Equality and Create a Connected College Experience for Underserved StudentsAUSTIN, TX, Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Upswing, an online student engagement organization, is partnering with UNCF(United Negro College Fund) to provide academic support for UNCF’s Fund II Foundation – UNCF STEM Scholars Program (STEM Scholars Program), connecting STEM students with an online academic advising platform, tutoring, advising and mental health services. UNCF is awarding over 500 African American undergraduate students scholarships that are pursuing careers in STEM fields through the STEM Scholars Program. Selected scholars receive funding, internships, mentoring, and other tools to help them reach their goals throughout their entire college matriculation, assuming they maintain a certain grade point average and meet other program requirements. And now, during COVID-19, while many institutions are still online with limited access to student academic services, Upswing is another valuable resource to help students reach their goals. Upswing will additionally connect STEM Scholars Program scholars with academic support resources such as live and online tutoring and advising, access to a virtual assistant that quickly provides answers to their questions, and a mental health module to address students’ nonacademic needs with free access to mental health and wellness resources. “This enhanced support of the UNCF STEM Scholars Program is very welcome,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF’s president and CEO. “We thank Upswing for its investment in our students and our mission and look forward to growing this unique partnership.” Upswing’s Support Services to Enhance STEM Scholars’ Achievements Upswing understands mental health and wellness are critical, but often overlooked, components to academic success and make its Mental Health and Wellness Module available 24/7 at no cost to UNCF institutions for STEM scholars students. STEM Scholars Program scholars can address their nonacademic mental health needs with Upswing’s Mental Health & Wellness Module. UNCF students will also have access to Upswing’s virtual assistant, Ana. Ana mimics a personal adviser's experience through automated nudging sequences, two-way conversational interactions and sentimental analyses. It acts as a mass communication tool to reach STEM students on their phones. UNCF plans to use Ana for mid-semester check-ins with scholars and scheduling lessons with students. Finally, UNCF STEM Scholars have access to Upswing’s user-friendly, online advising and tutoring. A virtual learning classroom environment is easily accessible to students with the look and feel of social media platforms. UNCF STEM Scholars can connect with advisors and tutors from the Mathematical Sciences Institute (MSI) and Upswing’s tutors through an integrated services platform to receive academic support, tutor session feedback and analyses. Tracking student success is critical for the STEM Scholars Program. UNCF has access to an easy-to-use dashboard that aggregates and summarizes usage data to track student performance, giving them in-depth knowledge to make informed decisions around student success. “Access to quality education is critically important because it influences the trajectory of a student’s life. We’re proud to partner with UNCF and their STEM Scholars Program by providing academic support services that change lives for underrepresented and minority groups across the country,” says Melvin Hines, co-founder and CEO of Upswing, and a former HBCU professor. Upswing’s partnership with UNCF builds on its commitment to remove the barriers from degree equality by creating a connected college experience for underserved students. Empowering anyone who wants to improve their circumstances through education can access the necessary resources to succeed. About Upswing Upswing is an Austin, Texas-based online student engagement organization focused on removing the barriers to degree equity. Learn more about Upswing at https://upswing.io/ About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding nearly 20% of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, ‟A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF. CONTACT: Monique LeNoir United Negro College Fund, Inc. (UNCF) 202-810-0231 monique.lenoir@uncf.org Renee´ Hewitt Upswing 917.965.8712 renee@upswing.io

  • MulticoreWare Inc. Becomes CEVA’s Trusted Partner for Imaging & Computer Vision

    MulticoreWare Inc., joins CEVA, the leading licensor of sensor-hub Digital Signal Processors, AI engines and complementary framework & various software SDK’s, as their trusted partner to enable services on all computing platforms by implementing optimized kernels and frameworks in CEVA’s pipeline.

  • Stock market news live updates: Stocks mixed, tech shares pressured as yields climb

    Stocks traded choppily Thursday morning as a rapid rise in Treasury yields spooked equity investors.

  • US contracts to buy homes decline, still a January record

    SILVER SPRING, Md. — The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes declined again with the number of properties for sale not matching the surging demand in the U.S. The National Association of Realtors’ index of pending home sales fell 2.8% to 122.8, which was still a record high for the month. December's index, which was also a record high, was revised upward. Despite the recent declines, contract signings are still 13% ahead of where they were last year at this point, a sign that the housing market remains strong despite the widespread economic damage caused by the pandemic. Contract signings are considered a barometer of purchases that will take place the next one to two months as the spring buying season opens. Regionally, the West led the declines with a 7.8% drop, followed by the Northeast's 7.4% retreat. Contract signings fell 0.9% in the Midwest and were up a slight 0.1% in the South. However, pending home sales are still up significantly in all four regions compared with last year. Prospective buyers are jumping into the market to try and take advantage of historically low interest rates, but prices for both existing and new homes have risen significantly the past year with the number available close to record lows. The supply of new homes on the market could get a boost this spring. The Commerce Department reported last week that applications for building permits spiked 10.4% in January and according to the Realtors group, there have been eight straight months of increases for single-family home building permits. Matt Ott, The Associated Press

  • US jobless claims at 730K, still high but fewest in 3 months

    WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week in a sign that layoffs may have eased, though applications for aid remain at a historically high level. Jobless claims declined by 111,000 from the previous week to a seasonally adjusted 730,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. It is the lowest figure since late November and the sharpest one-week decline since August. Still, before the virus erupted in the United States last March, weekly applications for unemployment benefits had never topped 700,000. The latest figures coincide with a weakened job market that has made scant progress in the past three months. Hiring averaged just 29,000 a month from November through January. Though the unemployment rate was 6.3% in January, a broader measure that includes people who have given up on their job searches is closer to 10%. All told, 19 million people were receiving unemployment aid as of Feb. 6, up from 18.3 million the previous week. About three-quarters of those recipients are receiving checks from federal benefit programs, including programs that provide jobless aid beyond the 26 weeks given by most states. Last week's drop in applications was concentrated in two states, California and Ohio, where they fell by a combined 96,000. Ohio officials had said earlier this month that a surge in new applications was driven in part by a jump in potentially fraudulent claims. That now appears to have faded. California's system operates on a biweekly bases, which can make its weekly data choppy. This month's devastating winter storms and power outages in Texas and some neighbouring states might have also disrupted the filing or processing of some claims. Applications for jobless aid fell by one-sixth in Texas to about 35,000. Yet last week's decline in applications was broad-based, with 36 states and the District of Columbia reporting fewer people seeking unemployment benefits. That suggests that employers might be cutting fewer jobs. "The drop may be signalling a turning point for labour market conditions,” said Nancy Vanden Houten, lead economist at Oxford Economics. Still, she cautioned, "the data continue to suffer from noise related to issues of backlogs and fraud. We expect a more sustainable labour market recovery to take hold closer to mid-year with broader vaccine distribution and the arrival of more fiscal support." In the meantime, economists say, widespread business shutdowns in states hit by the ice storms could cause an increase in applications for jobless aid in coming weeks. Despite the weakened job market, key sectors of the economy are showing signs of picking up as vaccinations increase and government rescue aid works its way through the economy. The Federal Reserve's ultra-low-rate policy is providing important support as well. Retail sales soared last month as many Americans spent the $600 checks that were included in a relief package enacted in December. Factory output also rose and has nearly regained its pre-pandemic levels. And sales of newly-built homes soared last month. Michelle Meyer, an economist at Bank of America, on Monday upgraded her forecast for growth this year to 6.5%, which would be the fastest since 1984. Daily coronavirus infections are down more than 70% from their peak, Meyer noted, which should lead to more states and cities relaxing business restrictions. Further economic relief is also likely, she said, as Congress considers President Joe Biden's proposal for a new aid package amounting to $1.9 trillion. The Fed has pegged its short-term interest rate near zero to encourage more borrowing and spending. Chair Jerome Powell stressed in testimony to Congress this week that the Fed plans to keep its rate ultra-low until the job market has recovered – even if inflation has begun to surpass the Fed’s 2% target level by then. That soothed the stock market, which had fallen in the past week on fears that rising interest rates and the threat of inflation might lead the Fed to raise rates too quickly and potentially derail the economy. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note has risen sharply in anticipation of more robust economic growth and is now 1.45%. At the start of the year, the 10-year yield was below 1%. In his testimony this week, Powell downplayed the inflation risk and instead underscored the economy’s struggles, including the 10 million jobs that remain lost since the pandemic erupted nearly a year ago. That’s a deeper job loss than was inflicted by the Great Recession of 2008-2009. But on Wednesday, Richard Clarida, a Fed vice chair, sounded a more optimistic note in remarks to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Clarida pointed to the distribution of vaccines and the economic relief package that the government enacted late last year as reasons for a sunnier outlook. “The prospects for the economy in 2021 and beyond,” Clarida said, “have brightened, and the downside risk to the outlook has diminished.” Even the ice storms and widespread power outages in Texas, damaging as they were to residents and businesses there, are unlikely to inflict a major blow on the overall U.S. economy, according to Oxford Economics. Oren Klachkin, lead U.S. economist at Oxford, estimates that the harsh winter weather will slightly lower growth in the January-March quarter to a still-blistering 6.8% annual rate, down from a previous estimate of 7.1%. Christopher Rugaber, The Associated Press

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