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OPPO Find X5 Pro's ultra night video mode empowers the story of Joana Pastrana

OPPO

SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach - 8 March 2022 - OPPO celebrates International Women's Day in collaboration with Director Laura Sisteró to produce the story of Joana Pastrana, who is a world-class boxer and held the International Boxing Federation's mini-flyweight title for three years in a row. Her achievements were hard won through training and self-betterment. Joana Pastrana represents the spirit of OPPO's Save the Night initiative, which celebrates the empowerment of women who find they have to push harder and train longer in a world that can seem out of sync with their ambitions. (Shot on Find X5 Pro) A story of empowerment Joana Pastrana's story is told in a short film made in association with OPPO, directed by Laura Sisteró, and shot in part using the new OPPO Find X5 Pro. It shows what the night can be if we choose to make it so: "In the dark, I just saw an opportunity. While everyone went back home to rest, I was ready to chase my dream," says Pastrana. For her, the night was a time to work, and push harder. Competing in a male-dominated sport only made her self-empowerment more crucial. "I didn't see many women up there," says Pastrana. "I had to become my own role model. And from then on, I never stopped. I trained harder and harder. This was the only way to achieve my goals", she says. After three years of competing in the amateur circuit, Pastrana made her professional debut in 2016. At the time she was the only professional boxer in Madrid. By the middle of 2018 she was already a global champion in her weight class. Pastrana is an inspirational figure, an example of what self-motivation through empowerment can bring. Few could, or would even want to, box at a professional level. However, her words can inspire us all. She says, "the night can be the time to dream wide awake." It's a reminder that while dreams and aspirations may seem remote, they may be within reach. This is a sentiment worth celebrating. (Shot on Find X5 Pro) Behind the camera The aim of OPPO's Joana Pastrana short film was to offer a view into her world. She walks through the empty city streets at night towards her boxing gym, capturing images with the OPPO Find X5 Pro. She straps up her wrists and takes to the ring to train. As she sits at the end of the session, exhausted, Pastrana visualizes the match to come, when all her efforts will be put to the test. The film-making challenge was to capture the emotional and physical investment here in a 90-second format. Director Laura Sisteró's tools were the industry standard Arri Alexa camera and a less likely partner, the OPPO Find X5 Pro. OPPO Find X5 Pro can be the night companion. Its camera is optimized to produce stunning results, for stills or video, even in the most challenging lighting. An OPPO Find X5 Pro will record night-time memories, challenges, victories and defeats, which can form an important part of a motivational journey. The phone was put to the test in the shooting of this short film, used to film some of the more difficult scenes in the piece. The phone used by Pastrana to visually narrate her journey through the street in photo form. Shots of Pastrana training both in and outside the ring used the OPPO Find X5 Pro's Ultra Night Video mode. This marks a paradigm shift in the video quality of OPPO phones, bringing the quality associated with enhanced low-light stills to moving images. "I was quite surprised by the capabilities the phone has to take pictures at night," says director Laura Sisteró. A tapestry of software and hardware in the OPPO Find X5 Pro makes this a reality. Its wide and ultra-wide cameras use large, high-quality Sony IMX766 sensors. 5-axis OIS avoids motion blur and allows for longer shutter speeds, and OPPO's self-developed MariSilicon X NPU fine tunes the camera's advanced processing algorithms to suit each shooting situation. To create a night-time short film with the OPPO Find X5 Pro, take some of the creative choices made in the short film as inspiration. Note how Pastrana is not the only character here. The quiet atmosphere of the streets is brought into focus by the use of Pastrana's footsteps as the primary soundtrack to each exterior shot. This sits in stark contrast to the traffic noise of the first few seconds of footage, shot during the day. Director Sisteró plays with the shadows and light contrasts of the night-time city, and lets scenes bathe in the warmth of street light and the artificial lighting of neon signs. At night, each shadow can be an outlet for creative expression. This visual language is a key part of the telling of Pastrana's story ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5epW6JpoCw ). The phone is available from mid-March. Read more about the OPPO Find X5 Pro at the OPPO website. #OPPO Contact Details OPPO Media Contact press@oppo.com

March 08, 2022 07:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Influencer DeStorm Power to Launch First Art-backed NFT Entertainment System

NFT Brands, Inc

Today, March 5th, 2022 at 8 p.m. PST, macro social media influencer, musician, actor and creator, DeStorm Power will release his first collection of NFTs backed by his self-created, customized collection of “ MetaTars.” The collection will move beyond a standard NFT offering by allowing holders to become part of an exclusive community with access to a complete entertainment system, including virtual concerts, festivals and private parties, amongst other perks. The exclusive community will also be owned and operated by the NFT holders. DeStorm Power’s “MetaTars” Collectibles aims to bridge the gap between the Metaverse and the natural world by launching a utility-based initiative that focuses on forming a community of like-minded people interested in business, creativity, art, food, marketing, ideas, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The initial “MetaTars Genesis” is a collection of 666 alien-like humanoids created by DeStorm Power. Each NFT holder uses its own token (the MetaTars Token) as currency in its ecosystem. Growing up poor in Baltimore with a single mother and seven siblings, DeStorm Power always had a love of art. When his mom couldn’t afford art supplies or even paper, she told him “write on the walls, we’re getting evicted anyway.” All of his artwork was auctioned off when he couldn’t pay for the storage unit it was stored in. Despite all, he rose to the ranks of macro-influencers, with over 5.5 million followers on instagram and over 3 million on YouTube, a former host of MTV’s Punk’d reboot, an American Music Award honoree and an Emmy award nominee for the most watched short film on the internet. “I am an avid supporter of digitalization and the existence of individuality in a digital world. These MetaTars are very special to me, as they allow the public to learn more about my artistic and creative talents in a new way,” said DeStorm Power, creator of the MetaTars collection. “The MetaTars not only showcase my passion for the Metaverse, but how I can extend positivity to my supporters. The MetaTars will also benefit buyers who plan to mint their NFT, as they will own each specific NFT they are minting. It serves as not only an acquisition of property in the metaverse, but an investment as the value of every NFT increases and can be traded continuously.” The Collection MetaTars Genesis is a collection of 666 alien-like humanoids created by DeStorm Power. The first collection is named “Genesis,” signifying the birth of DeStorm’s MetaTars creation and the beginning of the collection series. “The Exodus Collection” will follow with a group of alien-like humanoids called “UltraTars.” Anyone who collects all five colored faces of MetaTars, two StarTars (the platinum ones), or two ShadowTars (the midnight black), will unlock a free UltraTar when the Exodus collection is released. Early users who join the Discord channel and invite friends to join will be eligible for giveaways. Buyers who contribute content or bring in new followers will be rewarded with unexpected prizes. For more information and updates, sign up at: https://metatars.club/ NFT Brands, Inc., a company specializing in partnerships with brands, celebrities, and key figures to develop and launch custom NFT & Metaverse projects, is supporting this launch. Contact Details N6A Trisha Larocchia tlarocchia@n6a.com

March 05, 2022 07:37 PM Eastern Standard Time

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IMA Financial Group Unveils the Metaverse’s First Insurance Research & Development Facility

IMA Financial

IMA Financial Group today announced the launch of IMA Web3Labs, the metaverse’s first insurance and risk management research and development facility. It will be located in Decentraland, a virtual world based on blockchain technology. Funded by IMA’s investment arm, IMA Investments Inc., Web3Labs sets new industry expectations for exploring, testing and bringing to market risk and insurance strategies specific to the metaverse. “IMA is known as a thoughtful and strategic partner that finds innovative and effective solutions to manage risk for our clients,” said Paul Washington, Executive Vice President of IMA Financial Group and head of IMA Investments. “Web3Labs allows us to explore the risks associated with digital and meta assets from within the metaverse, so we can better prepare our clients to manage such risks. Our investment in IMA Web3Labs will also enable IMA to explore the infinite applications of blockchain technology to best understand how it might fundamentally shift the landscape of the $1 trillion commercial insurance industry.” With a long history of building risk management and insurance programs customized to clients in complex, emerging industries, IMA recognized a gap between the growth in NFTs and fundamental risk transfer and management strategies to secure them — a gap that leaves business operations in the decentralized finance market at risk, according to Washington. In 2021, $20 billion of NFTs were traded, and the market value of the asset class today exceeds $40 billion. IMA plans to mint its own NFTs and use other tools to advance its expertise in the growing digital and meta opportunities ecosystem. “We aren’t content to take the ‘wait and see’ approach that our industry often favors,” said Justin Jacobs, Senior Vice President of Marketing at IMA Financial Group and architect of IMA Web3Labs. “Society is at an inflection point, proven out by the popularity of meta-platforms. We need the ability to swiftly test, learn and adjust in a meta-native environment so we can build strategies and products that manage risks beyond the confines of the metaverse.” About IMA Financial Group Based in North America, IMA Financial Group Inc. is an integrated financial services company focused on protecting the assets of its widely varied client base through insurance and wealth management solutions. Because IMA is employee-owned, its 1,800-plus associates are empowered to provide customized solutions for their clients’ unique needs. Contact Details IMA Financial Group Ruth Rohs +1 303-615-7513 ruth.rohs@imacorp.com Center Reach Communications Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Company Website https://imacorp.com/

March 04, 2022 12:12 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Ultimate Odds Announces Seed Funding Round

Ultimate Odds

Ultimate Odds, a next generation fantasy sports platform that combines sports betting lines and odds with fantasy players into one experience, today announced it has completed its seed funding round. Led by Philadelphia-based entrepreneurs Justin Batushansky and Jonathan Bierig, Ultimate Odds aims to launch its flagship fantasy sportsbook product in 2022. Participating in the seed round are gaming industry veterans Seth Young, the former Chief Strategy Officer at PointsBet who now holds the same title with Fifth Street Gaming; Benjie Cherniak, principal at Avenue H Capital and former Managing Director of Don Best Sports acquired by Scientific Games; and gaming industry investor and consultant Quinton Singleton, with additional support from Stephen Jurgella and 305 Ventures, a Miami-based venture capital fund managed by the co-founder of Simplebet, Joey Levy, among others. Fifth Street Gaming CEO Seth Schorr has also been named an advisor to the business. Ultimate Odds, offers an alternative to traditional wagering. It is bridging the gap between fantasy sports and sports betting by bringing the feel and process of sports betting into a fantasy sports format. The traditional fantasy starting positions like quarterback, running back and wide receiver are replaced with drafted bets, like the Chiefs moneyline, Jaguars over/under, a running back’s yardage over/under, and are played head-to-head with your opponent. The winner of each contest is determined by which player has the longest calculated parlay odds based on their successful drafting and management of their roster of “bets” on a daily or weekly basis. “We are thrilled with our seed investment team,” said Justin Batushansky and Jonathan Bierig, co-founders of Ultimate Odds. “Our investors understand there is a shortage of standout innovative and engaging games in the market. Ultimate Odds was created to bring the fantasy sports and sports betting world closer together because the players are often one in the same.” "The Ultimate Odds experience is not only highly engaging but also differentiates from the pack, presenting a true competitive gaming experience within the fantasy and sports betting space,” said Benjie Cherniak, principal at Avenue H Capital. “The offering is perfectly suited to an emerging generation of sports enthusiasts.” "I'm thrilled to be a part of the Ultimate Odds journey. The game concept is fantastic, and I love the company's fresh approach to fan engagement,” said Seth Young, Chief Strategy Officer at FSG Digital and managing partner at The Strategy Organization "It’s unique, it’s compelling, it’s fun, and it also addresses a unique angle in the burgeoning affiliate market in the USA.” About Ultimate Odds: Ultimate Odds is a next generation gaming product that combines sports betting and fantasy into one highly engaging experience. Ultimate Odds is at the forefront of the US sports gaming industry with a modern product that educates new bettors and creates a competitive space for sports fans. For more information on Ultimate Odds, please visit: https://ultodds.com/ Contact Details HPL Digital Sport Michael Adorno +1 212-931-6143 madorno@hotpaperlantern.com Company Website https://ultodds.com/

March 03, 2022 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Kramer launches its new high-performance, highly scalable KDS-7 AVoIP streaming solution

Kramer Electronics

Kramer Electronics Ltd. is pleased to announce the release of KDS-7, a full AVoIP streaming solution for anywhere that low-latency, high-quality 4K60 content distribution and switching is required. Delivering a superb user experience, enterprise IT-grade security and advanced, yet intuitive management, the KDS-7 line is a perfect fit for Enterprise, Education, Homeland Security, Military or Government sites of any size. Built as a complete solution, the KDS-7 product line comprises a full range of networked end points, including encoders, decoders and auto-switch encoders, as well as a dedicated manager device. It supports 1K video sources and easily scales to suit the AV needs of numerous rooms and locations, for any size business or campus. Enterprise-grade IT security, built-in to all KDS-7 devices, protects the IT network. The KDS-7 product line expands the benefits of AVoIP. With AVoIP, the AV encoders and decoders are connected to the end-points of the organization’s IP network. Leveraging the switching power of the IP network eliminates the limits on AV deployments, which would otherwise be constrained by the number of physical AV ports on hardware, and that consume a great amount of real estate and energy. This simple and reliable approach enables huge numbers of devices in a single network and makes expanding into new spaces easier and less costly. Kramer’s AVoIP offering is already widely recognized for providing optimum scalability and flexibility, with multiple solutions adopted at growing scale by Enterprise, Education, Homeland Security, Military and Government organizations. Now, with the KDS-7 line, Kramer is introducing even greater scalability and flexibility. Plug-and-play integration into any IP network speeds up deployment and significantly reduces costs. High-resolution video, support for large-scale video wall installations, and full compatibility with end-user devices, including USB-C connection for simple collaboration and simultaneous charge, ensure an outstanding experience for users. “At Kramer we’re proud to be a leader in creating AVoIP products that accelerate hybrid work, improve hybrid learning across campuses and enhance performance of command and control centers at large-scale installations,” commented Gilad Yron, CEO Kramer Electronics. “Our new KDS-7 AVoIP product line furthers our mission, providing a superior user experience with its ability to support a large number of video sources, with low latency, fast switching, intuitive manageability and advanced security capabilities.” We are dedicated to delivering better, smarter solutions that enhance physical-digital engagement and collaboration. Kramer solutions are based on our cutting-edge products and technologies for traditional AV, AV over IP, unified communication and collaboration (UCC) and wireless collaboration, and advanced management and control. Contact Details Kramer Electronics Ltd. Ornit Sade Benkin +972 52-332-7700 osade@kramerav.com Company Website https://www.kramerav.com/

March 03, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Spiceology Teams Up With Marley Kitchen to Launch Taste-Good, Feel-Good Line of Seasonings

Spiceology

Spiceology, a leading spice and flavor company, is announcing its collaboration with Marley Kitchen, the food-driven brand created by members of Bob Marley's family to share the soul and spirit of the Caribbean. Now available for purchase, the line of Caribbean-inspired seasonings was developed with the culinary support of Cedella Marley and the Marley Family. “We’re advocates for experimenting with flavor while nourishing the mind, body and soul, and one of the most important aspects of that comes down to what we put in our bodies,” said Cedella Marley of Marley Kitchen. “We knew we wanted to work with Spiceology to bring our interpretation of the flavors of the Caribbean to life because of their commitment to high-quality ingredients and lack of fillers. We value this as a family and a community and felt confident that working with Spiceology would help us bring our flavors to tables around the world.” Inspired by some of Bob Marley’s favorite dishes and his health-forward focus on food, the new blends, One Love, One Heart and One World, were intended to be paired with whole foods, grains and vegetable-forward dishes. One Love ($14.95): Hemp Heart & Honey Ginger Butter Blend - This warm and sweet blend offers flavor notes of earthiness from Hemp Hearts and Turmeric, richness from Butter Powder, and a warm sweetness from Honey Granules, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Ginger; this blend is ideal for granola, yogurt, lamb, rice pilafs, quinoa, hummus, compound butter, and Jamaican toto bread. One Heart ($14.95): Jamaican Curry Blend - Drawing inspiration from traditional Jamaican curries and African flavors, this blend is warm but not spicy, complex yet approachable. With strong notes of Coriander, Mustard, Cumin, and Ginger, this blend was designed to elevate chicken, fish, lentils, and legumes. One World ($14.95): Cardamom Coconut BBQ Blend - With the perfect balance of sweetness, citrus and heat and inspired by traditional Berbere blends of Africa, this blend’s layers of warm and tropical ingredients were thoughtfully added in, including Turmeric and Coconut Sugar. Try this on lentils, legumes, fish, stews, and chicken. “While creating these blends, we prioritized ingredients like Hemp Hearts, Ginger, Fenugreek, and Turmeric,” said Chef Tony Reed, Senior Director of Innovation and Partnerships. “These are ingredients with amazing flavor that are good for you, while also bringing the flavors of the Caribbean to life. Whether you’re making granola or a curry, these blends offer flavor profiles that might be new to many home cooks and some chefs and will be fun to experiment with.” The blends can be found on Spiceology.com and are available in individual 9 oz glass jars and a 3-pack of 2 oz glass jars. For more information, see here. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing spice company in America and is on a mission to bring the magic back to spices, the world’s first currency. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop develops innovative blends and offers over 400 ingredients that are ground fresh in small-batches and shipped fresh to consumers and chefs. Spiceology’s “experiment with flavor” ethos is not only embraced through excellent ingredients and unique combinations, but also through responsible business practices designed to create a better world with diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of the workforce. Spiceology products can be found on spiceology.com, in specialty retailers and grocers, in restaurants around the US, and as far away as Australia and Dubai. Visit spiceology.com for more information or to place an order, or follow Spiceology on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT MARLEY MERCHANDISING LLC. The Marley brand honors the timeless values of Bob Marley by uniting people around the world under the banner of One Love. Marley Merchandising, LLC, a wholly owned Marley family entity, owns, licenses and markets a portfolio of Marley consumer brands globally, including: House of Marley®, Marley Beverage Co™, Marley Natural®, Marley One™, Marley Kitchen®, Marley Coffee®, and Bob Marley®. For more information, visit bobmarley.com and @bobmarley on social media. Contact Details Spiceology Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

March 02, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Gym Aesthetics announces the launch of Gymetaverse and the first avatar Ares from the Gym A X Dustland Runner NFT project in The Sandbox

Gym Aesthetics

STUTTGART, GERMANY - Media OutReach - 2 March 2022 - As the metaverse evolves around society, various industries are falling in line to get in on the ground floor for one of the biggest movements the world has ever seen. NFTs (non-fungible tokens) will soon begin to take over commonplace assets like concert tickets and sports cards, ushering in a new era of innovation and exclusivity. Bridging the gap between the fitness world and the metaverse, Gym Aesthetics is proud to announce the development of Gymetaverse and its partnership with OliveX to launch Gym A X Dustland Runner NFT avatar series on Sandbox, giving users access to The Dustland Runner. OliveX, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands Corporation Limited (“Animoca Brands”), which has entered into a Licensing Agreement with Marvel Entertainment for the development of digital fitness content. The fashionable and dynamic German fitness apparel company is launching the exclusive NFT series to compliment OliveX’s mobile game to enhance life’s experiences beyond physical and temporal boundaries. Gymetaverse seamlessly integrates the concept of the gym and metaverse to provide an interactive new experience to gym lovers. Amid the current societal landscape where in-person fitness is limited, Gymetaverse is eliminating the confines of a traditional neighborhood gym or fitness center. Users can accomplish their fitness goals anywhere through virtual workouts, including more engaging fitness activities and immersive gamification of fitness within a digital space to accomplish one’s wildest dreams. The Gym A X Dustland Runner NFT Avatar series developed by Gym Aesthetics and OliveX is a collection of 10,000 playable NFT avatars for the Sandbox, each with unique utility that goes beyond the standard simple NFT. As a leading NFT project to launch with OliveX, the collection Gym A X Dustland Runner introduces its first NFT avatar Ares; one of the leading characters in the club. Ares is an amateur boxer of the Gym A X Dustland Runner who strives to become a professional boxer. Growing up as an orphan due to the loss of family in the war, Ares is an introvert who merely relies on boxing to temper his inner strength. For more infomation and upcomig announcements, please visit Gymetaverse and the Gym A X Dustland Runner official discord: https://discord.io/gymetaverse. In addition to gaining exclusive access to The Sandbox, Gym A X Dustland Runner NFT holders may also access to OliveX’s fitness mobile game The Dustland Runner. The Dustland Runner is the world’s first Move-To-Earn audio fitness game, powered by $DOSE token. Players who connect their wallet on the Dustland website ( www.thedustland.com ) will be entitled to its first “Kettlemine NFT”, named after the first of the seven settlements in Dustland, which is accessible to anyone with a valid MetaMask wallet. Dustland Runner official discord: https://discord.gg/775hMGpCaV About Gym Aesthetics Gym Aesthetics is a fashionable and dynamic German fitness apparel brand appealing to both the aesthetics and the functional needs of its customers worldwide. Founded in 2013 Gym Aesthetics is the brainchild of two Bosch engineers serving the automobile industry, Phil and Aleks, and two professional YouTubers and athletes, Karl and Ralf. Its initial flashy wide stringers and short, thigh hugging shorts stormed the German bodybuilding community with enormous success, and rapidly achieved cult status. 2017 marked a new chapter for Gym Aesthetics when an Asian fund company spotted its potential and invested in the German brand to further reinforce its brand image, and expand its product range and market share globally. About OliveX (BVI) and $DOSE OliveX (BVI) Limited is building a fitness metaverse where players can work out at home, in the gym, or outdoors to gain in-game rewards. These experiences are linked together with $DOSE, which can be attained as a reward in one experience and spent in another. Gym Aesthetics Website: https://us.gymaesthetics.com #GymAesthetics Contact Details Roy corporate@gymaesthetics.com

March 02, 2022 04:55 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Corporate Watchdog Calls for Disney to Be as Tough on China as They are on Russia

National Legal & Policy Center

Following the announcement on Monday by The Walt Disney Company that it would halt all new movie releases in Russia following that nation’s invasion of Ukraine, National Legal and Policy Center is calling on the entertainment conglomerate to apply its indignance to equally menacing China. NLPC owns stock in Disney, and has a resolution before its fellow shareholders that will be presented and voted upon at the company’s annual meeting next Wednesday, March 9. The resolution calls for Disney to annually produce a report that outlines its due diligence – or explains its lack thereof – as it pertains to evaluating the human rights impacts of its business and associations with foreign entities. The board of directors of Disney – a multi-billion-dollar corporation – opposes the measure, calling it a “misplaced premise” that is “neither a necessary nor productive use of the Company’s resources.” Despite being called upon by human rights groups to back off from its coziness with the oppressive regime in the Far East, Disney has persisted in its relationship in order to maintain its access to the vast and lucrative Chinese market. Now that Vladimir Putin has initiated an invasion of Ukraine in an unprovoked power grab, Disney CEO Robert Chapek is showing he has a backbone, and that the company has limits to the degrees of evil and aggression it will accept from its international partners. Paul Chesser, director of NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project, hopes Disney’s response to Russia’s belligerence will also cause Chapek to revisit the company’s relationship with China. “The global community, including much of the corporate world, is outraged by Russia’s assault on its neighbor – and rightfully so,” Chesser said. “We applaud Disney and other companies that have said they will punish Putin with their own measures, but now we ask: What about China?” News reports indicate that China supports Russia’s violent colonialism, appearing to be the only major nation on Putin’s side. China is also a threat to many of its surrounding countries, especially Taiwan, where it continually flaunts its military might to demonstrate its control over the island. The authoritarian government has also been accused of genocide against the Muslim-minority Uighurs in the province of Xinjiang, imposition of a brutal crackdown and imposition of control over Hong Kong, oppression of the Tibetans, and subjugation of the Chinese people overall to its communist control. Despite China’s unacceptable conduct, Disney is among several corporations that have embraced a relationship with the tyrannical regime. Previous CEOs have groveled to Chinese prime ministers in the past, seeking to have access to their market restored after some films offended the dictators. Disney took a back seat in an ownership deal with the government to build the Disney Resort in Shanghai, and the company’s subsidiaries eagerly censor their own offerings to comply with the regime’s demands. And for the 2020 release of the live-action film “Mulan,” Disney even gave thanks for the assistance provided by the provincial government in Xinjiang, which is responsible for many of the evils against the Uighurs. “Disney is doing the right thing by withholding its entertainment offerings in response to Russia’s unjustified war,” Chesser said. “But China could be considered at least an equal aggressor, against both its own people, its neighbors, and even far-away nations. “It’s time for corporations to stop rewarding such behavior. We urge Disney to implement transparency about its relationship with the Chinese regime, and better yet, to impose its own sanctions until the communist government improves its human rights record.” The full text of NLPC’s shareholder resolution for The Walt Disney Company can be viewed here. Founded in 1991, NLPC promotes ethics in public life and government accountability through research, investigation, education, and legal action. Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Paul Chesser +1 703-237-1970 pchesser@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

March 01, 2022 01:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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LevLane Advertising Announces SVP, Partnerships and Development

LevLane

LevLane Advertising, a full-service, award-winning advertising agency based in Center City, Philadelphia, has announced Carl Cherkin, former Vice President of Communications and Business Development at Philadelphia Union, as the agency’s first Senior Vice President of Partnerships and Development. LevLane is a nationally recognized agency which offers creative services, brand planning, social media strategy, public relations, analytics, and more. It was founded almost 40 years ago and has grown to employ more than 75 full-time employees today. Bruce Lev, LevLane’s CEO, Chief Creative Officer, and co-founder, said that while driving in new business and expanding the agency’s presence in the region are primary goals for Cherkin, he fully expects him to step in and contribute in areas outside of partnerships and development. “That’s just who Carl is, and the exact reason we brought him onto our team.” In his previous role at Philadelphia Union, Cherkin was a member of the executive team responsible for launching Philadelphia Union, the city’s successful Major League Soccer team, where he remains a consultant, now in his 13 th season with the club. In addition to the ground-breaking launch, he established a number of successful relationships with corporate sponsors, Chambers of Commerce, and a vast and varied array of businesses, while continuing to generate a continuum of profitable business development opportunities at all levels for the club. Prior to his work in business development and communications, he had a successful career spanning decades in journalism and public relations. For Cherkin, the transition from Emmy Award-winning television sportscaster to business development executive was natural. “I’ve spent my entire career making connections and building relationships, it’s what I love to do,” he said. “I am looking forward to being a part of the team that pushes LevLane into its next phase of growth. We have incredible talent here and my hope is that our reputation for attracting creative powerhouses and impressive clientele makes us the number one agency in Philadelphia and mid-Atlantic region.” The agency has experienced steady growth throughout the past several decades—the decision to bring on a senior vice president for partnerships and development ensures that the agency as a whole remains energized. ‘‘This is an exciting time for LevLane and for me as well. I’ve been given a unique opportunity to work in an environment where the culture, already created, is so vitally important. That my lifelong friend Bruce Lev has been the driving force behind that culture, makes it that much more meaningful,” said Cherkin. “It’s incredibly motivating and at the same time challenging, to know that any and all of contributions I make to this extraordinary group of people will continue to enhance the growth and success of LevLane and its clients.” About LevLane LevLane is an award-winning, full-service, independent advertising agency in Philadelphia, PA, that has been building brands that people love for nearly 40 years. Contact Details Lauren Stralo +1 610-401-4825 lstralo@levlane.com Company Website https://www.levlane.com

March 01, 2022 08:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

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