September 6, 2022

Brian May, Jane Goodall, Diane Ackerman and the NASA Communications Unit Announced as Winners of the Stephen Hawking Medal at STARMUS VI Armenia

Brian May wins Stephen Hawking Medal

YEREVAN, Armenia, Sept. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Some of the most influential names in science, music and arts have been named as the latest Laureates of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication at STARMUS VI festival.

The winners are Diane Ackerman, poet and essayist; Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace; and the NASA Communications Unit.

In addition, a special Stephen Hawking Medal will be presented to STARMUS co-founder and Queen guitarist Dr. Brian May at the request of the Advisory Board and petitions of STARMUS alumni, including Nobel laureates, astronauts and science communicators. The award reflects Dr. May’s outstanding contribution to both music and to the public understanding of science.

Brian May was presented with the award by legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who played at a special ‘Sonic Universe’ concert at the festival, alongside System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, astronaut Chris Hadfield and supergroup Sons of Apollo. He also played tribute to Freddie Mercury on stage, on what would have been his 76^th birthday.

The Stephen Hawking Science Medal are prestigious international awards that recognise the merit and importance of popular science at an international level. The medal is named after Professor Stephen Hawking, who was also its first recipient, and is organised by STARMUS, an international science and art festival that this year is taking place in Yerevan, Armenia.

Previous winners have included Hans Zimmer, Elon Musk, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jim Al-Khalili, Jean Michel Jarre and Buzz Aldrin.

The design of the medal is a portrait of Professor Hawking by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, the first man to perform a spacewalk and member of the Advisory Council for STARMUS since its first edition.

The medals will be presented at a special ceremony at STARMUS tomorrow, 6 Sept. 2022.

Professor Garik Israelian, co-founder and director of STARMUS Festival, says, “These medals were created with the support of Stephen Hawking to celebrate those outstanding individuals and teams who honour his legacy in communicating scientific ideas and breakthroughs to inform, inspire and engage the widest possible audience. We congratulate all those receiving medals today as they join the growing list of prestigious Stephen Hawking Medal Laureates.”

Stephen Hawking Medal Winner Diane Ackerman says: “I’m deeply honored and delighted to receive this medal from such a distinguished gathering of curious and creative minds. That Starmus encompasses both the Arts and the Sciences makes it especially meaningful to me, since I’ve always been a writer–in poetry and prose–who is enthralled by the sciences. Science and art share the same spark of curiosity, the same fire of invention.”

Marc Etkind, NASA Associate Administrator for Communications, says: “It is a great honour for everyone at NASA to receive this prestigious award. Our mission at NASA is to explore the unknown in air and space, to innovate for the benefit of humanity, and inspire the world through discovery.”

Stephen Hawking Medal winner Dr. Brian May says, “First of all, I want to pay tribute to Freddie; it’s amazing to receive this extraordinary present on his birthday! Thank you so much to the board; this medal really means so much to me. STARMUS reflects so much about what I passionately believe in, that science and art do not live in isolation; to be a great scientist without being something of an artist, and you can’t be an artist without something of an understanding of the universe we live in. Thank you Stephen Hawking for this medal and award, and Rick Wakeman, for the introduction, as I didn’t know I am that person.”

STARMUS this year is being held in Armenia and dedicated to the 50^th anniversary of the first soft landing on Mars by “Mars 3” and the first orbiter “Mariner 9”. “Mariner 9” took the first high-quality images of Mars while “Mars 3” brought the first rover, Prop-M, to the surface of Mars. It was founded to create a platform that unites world-renowned scientists, Nobel Prize laureates, astronauts, and the brightest minds in science, art and technology. The festival enables them to share their experience, knowledge and the latest inventions with attendees, helping to inspire people across the globe to explore the world of science.

Armenia was chosen for its long and impressive history of astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. For much of the 20^th century, it was home to the Soviet space programme, and to this day, it remains a key location for the international community, housing The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory and the Aragatz Station.

The Stephen Hawking Medal press conference with Laureates is at 2.30pm AMT/ 11.30am BST / 6.30am EDT

For more information and interview opportunities, please contact Four Communications

caroline.jones@fourcommunications.com |

nathaniel.ashley@fourcommunications.com |

The Stephen Hawking Medal press conference with Laureates will take place at 2.30pm AMT/ 11.30am BST / 6.30am EDT. To request accreditation to join, please email starmus@fourcommunications.com

(L-R) Rick Wakeman, Brian May, Garik Israelian

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

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Brian May wins Stephen Hawking Medal

September 6, 2022

China launches rescue effort in southwestern Sichuan after 6.8-magnitude quake

UPDATED at 11:25 A.M. EDT on 2022-09-06

Rescue workers in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan scrambled to evacuate and assist thousands of victims of Monday’s 6.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Luding county, which has left at least 66 people dead and 253 others injured, according to the latest official Chinese figures.

Ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping’s call for “all-out relief efforts … prioritizing saving lives and minimizing casualties” featured prominently on the front pages of state-controlled media outlets on Tuesday.

A resident of Moxi township, not far from the epicenter that was measured at 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the provincial capital Chengdu, said the epicenter was in the Hailuogou scenic tourist region just a few kilometers outside the town.

“Basically, a lot people were crushed under [collapsed] houses in their own homes; most of the deaths and casualties were crushed under houses,” the resident, who gave only the surname Li, told RFA earlier on Tuesday.

“The official announcement is that 29 people died in Kardze prefecture, with the total number of 46 deaths, including deaths in Shimian county and villages around the Hailuogou area,” Li said at the time. “For example, some people were trapped under landslides when they were walking along the road.”

Li said the rescue efforts had been “very fast” to appear in the region.

Many of the buildings around Hailuogou were built to rent out to tourists using apps, Li said.

“A lot of people around Hailuogou borrowed money, or their relatives gave them money, and they built these houses with loans,” Li said, adding that the government had insisted that local people develop the tourist industry rather than living off the proceeds of illegal logging.

“Many had lost their land, and had no income, so they thought they’d invest in these guesthouses and restaurants, all on the back of borrowing, but the government doesn’t make long-term plans,” he said, adding that there was poor safety supervision of the new buildings springing up in an earthquake-prone area.

Meanwhile, authorities in Chengdu continued to enforce a citywide COVID-19 lockdown despite buildings splitting and shaking in the city, according to video clips uploaded to social media.

Resident Wang Yan said she felt the quake very strongly in her apartment.

“I was at home, and started to feel dizzy — the stool I was sitting on swayed around,” Wang said. “I wanted to get up and go to the toilet, but I couldn’t stand up.”

“It was like trying to walk on cotton cloth, and it kept swaying for a long time,” she said.

A resident of Mianyang, which was worst-hit during the May 12, 2008, quake that left 89,000 dead, said they saw strange animal behaviors shortly before the quake hit.

“There were bats and birds grouped together, flying around, and fish in the fish-ponds round here started jumping out of the water,” the resident said. “People said it meant there was going to be an earthquake.”

“Sure enough, it had happened within eight hours,” the person said.

Rescue workers carry an injured person after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Luding county, Ganzi prefecture, in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Sept. 6, 2022. Credit: CNS/AFP — Rescue workers carry an injured person after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Luding county, Ganzi prefecture, in southwestern China’s Sichuan province, Sept. 6, 2022. Credit: CNS/AFP

Emergency response level raised

Late on Monday night, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where Luding county is located, raised its prefectural emergency response for earthquakes to level-I, the highest in the four-tier emergency response system, the Global Times reported.

It cited “media reports” and Sichuan officials as saying that more than 6,500 rescue workers, including firefighters and armed police, had been dispatched to the area, along with four helicopters and two drones, while more than 50,000 residents had been evacuated.

The Xi’an Satellite Control Center has deployed satellite Gaofen-3 to enable satellite users to receive remote sensing images of the earthquake-hit regions in a timely manner, enabling experts to assess ongoing risks in the disaster zone.

A Twin-Tailed Scorpion drone was dispatched to assist in inspections and communication coverage at 5.00 p.m. local time, to restore cell phone signals for local residents and rescue teams, the paper said.

A large number of residential communities had warned local residents of the quake in advance through loudspeakers across Sichuan, while tens of millions of residents saw the warnings on TV or through mobile phones, as did epidemic prevention and control staffers.

“They were able to take emergency shelter in a timely manner,” it quoted a government statement as saying, adding that some 150 million yuan in funding was being channeled into the relief effort.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.

The story was updated to include the latest official figures on the number of people killed and injured.

September 6, 2022

Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute successfully treats its first cardiac patients with new 3D Philips Intracardiac Echocardiography Catheter

September 6, 2022

Innovative real-time 3D intracardiac echocardiography catheter – VeriSight Pro – allows interventionalists to navigate cardiac procedures with ease and deliver better care to more patients
Reduced need for sedation and anesthesia helps increase cath lab efficiency by shortening patient preparation and recovery times

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced that Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute (Florida, U.S.) has successfully started treating patients with Verisight Pro, Philips’ real-time 3D Intracardiac Echocardiography (ICE) catheter, during minimally-invasive image-guided procedures for structural heart disease. Offering superior 2D and 3D live imaging, VeriSight Pro allows interventionalists to navigate procedures with ease, provide superior care, and optimize performance of the interventional suite to benefit more heart patients. With Philips’ intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) catheter VeriSight Pro, additional groups of patients can now be treated, such as those who are not suitable for transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) [1], which typically requires heavy sedation or general anesthesia.

Dr. Ramon Quesada and Dr. Bernardo Lopez-Sanabria are the first two interventional cardiologists to use this technology for Baptist Health.

“VeriSight Pro’s technology is a game changer, allowing us to give people who need this procedure a chance for a smoother and safer recovery,” said Dr. Ramon Quesada, interventional cardiologist with Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. “As physicians, we are always exploring new ways to care for our patients and provide them with the best treatment options for their long-term future.”

“This device allows our physicians to capture the very best possible live images and enable our team to deliver quality outcomes for our cardiac patients, so they can get back to their daily routines,” said Dr. Bernardo Lopez-Sanabria, interventional cardiologist at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. “I am honored to be the first physician in South Florida to use this new technology and bring it to our community.”

Ultrasound imaging to guide structural heart repair and electrophysiology procedures has conventionally been via transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), in which an ultrasound probe is placed on the patient’s chest, or via transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which involves the insertion of an ultrasound probe into the patient’s esophagus so that it lies close to their heart. However, TTE typically results in sub-optimal imaging, while TEE requires heavy sedation or general anesthesia so that the patient can tolerate the procedure. To overcome these limitations, Philips ICE catheter utilizes an ultra-miniature ultrasound probe mounted on the end of a 3mm diameter (9 French) catheter, allowing it to be routed via the patient’s vasculature to inside their heart – the same route used to introduce other catheters during minimally-invasive cardiac surgery. Based on Philips’ innovative xMATRIX array 3D ultrasound transducer technology, VeriSight Pro’s probe captures high-quality 2D and 3D live images of the heart, including a 90-degree by 90-degree 3D field of view, simultaneous viewing of two scan planes (for example, to measure the long and short axes of the left atrial appendage), plus 3D volume and color-flow images. Unique to Philips’ device, interventionalists can digitally change the scan angle to capture different views without having to manually reposition the ultrasound tip.

“The exceptional 2D and 3D imaging capabilities of the new Philips Intracardiac Echocardiology Catheter – VeriSight Pro – make it a superb choice for image guidance in interventional procedures, reducing reliance on general anesthesia and the logistical hurdles that go with it,” said Chris Landon, Senior Vice President and General Manager Image Guided Therapy Devices at Philips. “Adoption of the technology by Baptist Health’s Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, one of the most innovative and top institutes in the world, is a significant milestone in bringing better heart care to more patients.”

Philips’ FDA 510(k)-cleared 3D ICE catheter, VeriSight Pro, has the potential to improve the standard of care for structural heart disease and electrophysiology procedures and broaden the range of treatment options open to patients. The reduced need for heavy sedation or general anesthesia accelerates workflows, contributing to increased cath lab efficiency and shorter patient preparation and recovery times. The catheter is designed for use with Philips’ premium cardiology ultrasound systems, EPIQ CVx and EPIQ CVxi.

Philips Intracardiac Echocardiology Catheter – VeriSight Pro – adds to the company’s comprehensive suite of integrated solutions for the treatment of structural heart disease, which combines interventional X-ray, 3D ultrasound, and related interventional tools to enable confident navigation and positioning of devices to optimize outcomes and reduce procedure times.

[1] A transesophageal echocardiogram is done by inserting a probe with a transducer down the esophagus

For further information, please contact:

Joost Maltha
Philips Global Press Office
Tel: +31 6 10 55 8116
Email: 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 79,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter.

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September 6, 2022

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings to Participate in the RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Conference

PHOENIX, Sept. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings Corp. (“WillScot Mobile Mini” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: WSC), the North American leader in modular space and portable storage solutions, today announced that Tim Boswell, President and Chief Financial Officer, and Matt Jacobsen, Senior Vice President Finance, will participate in a presentation and host private investor meetings at the RBC Capital Markets Global Industrials Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. on September 13, 2022. The presentation will take place at 1:20 p.m. PT.

About WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings

WillScot Mobile Mini Holdings trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol “WSC.” Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the Company is a leading business services provider specializing in innovative flexible workspace and portable storage solutions. WillScot Mobile Mini services diverse end markets across all sectors of the economy from a network of approximately 280 branch locations and additional drop lots throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Additional information can be found on the company’s website at www.willscotmobilemini.com

Contact Information

Investor Inquiries:

Nick Girardi
nick.girardi@willscotmobilemini.com

Media Inquiries:

Jessica Taylor
Jetaylor@willscotmobilemini.com

September 6, 2022

Woman killed, two injured in army shelling of Sagaing region village

A 48-year-old woman was killed and two more women injured by heavy artillery as junta troops shelled and entered a village in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region on Monday.

Locals identified the victim as a woman named Thin, who only goes by one name.

Residents of Maung Htaung village, in Budalin township, told RFA Thin was hit by artillery while she was buying lemons at a local grocery store.

One local, who declined to be named for security reasons, told RFA an army column shelled the village and then entered it to look for food.

“Military troops entered the village violently and took what they wanted. Even though there is no fighting [here], there is no food where they are stationed in Ku Taw village,” the local said. “Some people could not run away because it happened suddenly.”

The local identified the two injured villagers as Hnin, who also goes by one name, and Yin Nu who both worked at the store. They were also caught in the shelling and are receiving medical treatment at a nearby clinic.

Local residents said although there was no resistance from the villagers, troops burned down around 20 houses.

RFA’s calls to the military council’s Minister for Social Affairs in Sagaing Region went unanswered on Tuesday.

Residents said almost all the villagers have now fled because the army is still there.

Maung Htaung is a large village with more than 1,000 households. Internet access has been cut off since the end of last year when the military council launched a special operation in Sagaing Region.

In a report released Tuesday UNICEF said that as of Aug. 29 the number of displaced people across Myanmar had reached more than 1.3 million. The figure includes those who abandoned their villages due to fighting in the past 19 months, as well groups forced to leave their homes before the coup on Feb. 1 last year.

Sagaing was the worst-hit region with 528,300 people forced to flee their homes, UNICEF said.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) 2,265 people have been killed by the junta across Myanmar in the 19 months since last year’s coup.

September 6, 2022

Colliers becomes market leader in Nordics

Acquisition adds dominant player in Sweden and Norway

TORONTO, Sept. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading diversified professional services and investment management company, Colliers (NASDAQ and TSX: CIGI), announced today that it has agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Pangea Property Partners (“Pangea”), a leading capital markets advisor in Sweden and Norway. Pangea will merge with Colliers’ existing company-owned operations in Sweden, become the new company-owned operation in Norway, and re-brand as Colliers. Pangea’s partners, together with the existing leadership team of Colliers Sweden, will retain a significant equity stake in the combined business under Colliers’ unique partnership model. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 2009, Pangea brings an exceptional leadership team and world-class expertise from their offices in Oslo in Norway and Stockholm in Sweden. The combined Colliers Sweden and Norway operations will have more than 80 professionals and offer a full suite of services for our clients including capital markets advisory, debt advisory, project finance, leasing and sales brokerage, valuations, and project management.

“Building on our top tier operations in Denmark and Finland, this merger adds market leadership in Norway and Sweden and together establishes Colliers as the dominant player in the entire Nordic region,” said Davoud Amel-Azizpour, CEO of Colliers | EMEA. “We are excited about our new partnership and the opportunity to leverage our best in class platform in this important and rapidly growing region.”

“Pangea has grown significantly over many years in the Nordics as well as internationally. The combination of Pangea and Colliers is a perfect match with our strategy and ambition to become the leading property advisor in the Nordics. It is important to us that we partner with an organization that shares our business philosophy and culture,” said Bård Bjølgerud, Founding Partner and CEO of Pangea, who will assume the role of CEO, Nordics, Colliers.

About Colliers

Colliers (NASDAQ, TSX: CIGI) is a leading diversified professional services and investment management company. With operations in 63 countries, our 17,000 enterprising professionals work collaboratively to provide expert real estate and investment advice to clients. For more than 27 years, our experienced leadership with significant inside ownership has delivered compound annual investment returns of 20% for shareholders. With annual revenues of $4.5 billion and $81 billion of assets under management, Colliers maximizes the potential of property and real assets to accelerate the success of our clients, our investors and our people. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com, Twitter @Colliers or LinkedIn.

Colliers Contacts:

Christian Mayer
Chief Financial Officer | Global
(416) 960-9500

Davoud Amel-Azizpour
Chief Executive Officer | EMEA
(44) 20 7487 7020