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President Tsai Joins Women Leaders to Reaffirm Climate Commitment

Foundation of Women’s Rights Promotion and Development

TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach - 11 March 2022 - President Tsai Ing-wen made a commitment on Tuesday to climate justice through policy that places equal emphasis on environmental integrity, economic development, and social justice at a time when women around the world have borne the brunt of climate change. President Tsai attends the evening events with female members of the diplomatic corps, supporting climate actions together. In response to the main theme of UN CSW66, Taiwan displays women for climate actions during Taiwan Gender Equality Week (TGEW). She made the pledge at Women's Power Night, an event in celebration of International Women's Day that was jointly organized by the Foundation for Women's Rights Promotion and Development (FWRPD) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and brought together female members of the diplomatic corps and NGO and social enterprise leaders. Also to be held would be nearly 30 virtual international conferences that are part of an ongoing initiative to make clear to the world Taiwan's resolve to strive for gender equality and climate justice. During the event, president Tsai stated, "Taiwan continues to pursue broad engagement with like-minded nations and international organizations to promote women's empowerment. We have joined Indo-Pacific partners in innovative regional initiatives for women's economic empowerment. And our civil society organizations maintain a robust presence at the NGO Forum of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Thanks to their efforts, we have been able to share our experiences with the world, particularly in achieving Sustainable Development Goals for gender equality and women's empowerment, and also to forge stronger links with global partners." Women have sustained greater impact of climatic and environmental disasters than men, the FWRPD said, but they stand out not only as first victims but also as frontline defenders. Many parties concerned about climate justice and equal rights have thus been welcomed on board the 2022 Taiwan Gender Equality Week ( www.tgew.org ) as partners to learn more about the key role women play in climate action and explore possible ways to take effective environmental action. Indeed, collective change and action is needed as we all have to work together toward climate justice and gender equality. Contact Details Foundation of Women’s Rights Promotion and Development Helen Lee helen.lee@wrp.org.tw

March 11, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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ibble Launches Social Networking App Landing One Of The Largest Series Seed Funding In Texas History

ibble

ibble, a new social media app empowering people to spark conversations and ignite new ideas has received $12.7MM, the largest series seed funding round in Texas history. Leading the seed round was Drive Capital followed by TTV Capital, Unknown Ventures, and Get Engaged Media. The investment in ibble comes amidst societies overwhelming frustrations with current social media platforms as they increasingly cut content; remove conversations and restrict engagement. “ibble is a Social Media App built on the idea of learning through conversations and having the ability to talk directly with the experts without the friction that currently exists on traditional social media apps and platforms,” said Raymond Kaminski, CEO and Co-founder of ibble. “We believe that talking with your community, not at your community, through the power of audio and video can spark more meaningful conversations and create more insightful engagement." ibble’s mission is to help people connect with and learn from experts through the power of video and audio conversations. Users are able to ask experts questions directly as well as spark conversations with their peers, naturally expanding candid conversations without friction. Is an expert always right? No, of course not. We believe what makes someone an "expert" is their relentless pursuit of the truth about a certain subject and their willingness to share it. For people who have been frustrated by structured and ad focused social media platforms that stifle conversations and are not easily suited to video and audio conversations, the solution is ibble – the social media app built by a distinguished team of entrepreneurs who believe that conversations and connections must have a healthy environment to thrive and grow in this digital age. “Brands, celebrities, influencers, the news, sports figures and more are looking for new ways to engage but that is almost impossible when dealing with the limits of current social media apps and platforms,” said Irving Lee, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships at ibble. “We built ibble knowing that authenticity is not found in a like, comment or status update, and how could it? ibble provides a platform that celebrates real conversations with real people and threads that mirror real life conversations; conversations you can jump in and out of." With ibble anything is possible through the power of conversation. Users can start a video or audio conversation about their favorite show. They can also ask their favorite influencer or celebrity a question and get a response back with a simple click of a button. ibble makes conversation easy because ibble has made conversation through social media possible, with a focus on the natural flow of conversations and questions. For brands, shows, influencers, celebrities and others, ibble has made it easy to talk with their community members directly while not having to worry about being throttled or competing brands advertised to them while they are communicating with them. About ibble ibble is the social media app that enables experts and their communities to directly engage through audio and video conversations. ibble makes events more accessible and adds depth through back-and-forth video and audio posts. Learn more at https://www.getibble.com/ Contact Details ibble Jason Jepson +1 949-394-7033 press@ibble.io Company Website https://www.getibble.com/

March 10, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Nice Healthcare Raises $30M Series A To Reinvent The Way Primary Care is Delivered

Nice Healthcare

Nice Healthcare, the clinic that comes to you, today announced that it has closed a Series A funding round of $30 million led by DNA Capital, with participation from existing investors Waterline Ventures, Conductive Ventures, and Santa Barbara Venture Partner and new investors Brown Venture Group, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Daren Cotter, and Eddie Cisneros. Nice Healthcare is solving systemic pain points by bringing integrated primary care directly to the patient with in-home and virtual visits, lab tests, x-rays, mental health services, prescription medication and physical therapy. The company’s unique blend of innovation and personal touches are a welcomed disruption in modern medicine. Nice Healthcare focuses on bringing affordable healthcare benefits to small and medium sized businesses, the backbone of the US Economy. Small businesses generate 44% of US economic activity and employ 48% of US employees, yet few healthcare innovations are focused on this segment. Further, much of the innovation often caters to tech savvy, high earning consumers or those who are marginalized. What is often missed is the middle, working class families. Nice Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare solution that enables SMBs to offer medical care to families that is affordable and accessible. ”Healthcare innovation is worthless if it does not simultaneously and immediately reduce health insurance premiums, reduce patient out-of-pocket costs, and make care more accessible,” said Thompson Aderinkomi, Co-founder and CEO of Nice Healthcare. “Nice Healthcare has accomplished these three things from day one and this funding will enable us to bring our truly impactful model of care to more homes nationwide.” In addition to the Series A, Nice is also announcing an expansion of its C-suite to support continued growth with key executive hires, including the addition of Steven Bayer as Chief Experience Officer, Charles Wyatt as Chief Financial Officer and Shadé Akande as Chief People Officer. Since 2020, the company experienced 300% growth, added physical therapy and mental health to its service offerings and expanded into 20 markets to support demand. “We at DNA Capital are delighted to partner with Nice as they continue to scale their high touch and affordable primary care services to large cross sections of rural and suburban middle to low income working individuals and families across America,” said Partha Mishra, Partner at DNA Capital who joined Nice’s Board of Directors. “We are equally excited to back one of the most diverse founding teams and a culture that celebrates diversity and promotes respect for one another and inspires trust amongst the people they have the privilege to serve.” Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nice Healthcare is currently available in parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Iowa, Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington, with plans to expand into more markets. More than 400 small businesses currently use Nice Healthcare for their employees healthcare benefits. In addition to the investors who participated in Nice’s Series A financing round, OATV was an early investor and has been instrumental in supporting the growth of the company. To learn more about Nice Healthcare, visit www.nice.healthcare. Nice Healthcare is making truly integrated comprehensive healthcare accessible, allowing patients to easily get care for their everyday needs. By utilizing a mix of technology, logistics, and expert clinical care, they bring a fully integrated clinic to you, providing in-home and virtual primary care, mental health therapy, and physical therapy Their clinicians can also offer patients x-rays, 35 labs and blood draws and a formulary with over 550 medications with no out-of-pocket costs. Since launching in Minnesota in 2017, Nice has expanded its integrated care services to 12 states. Contact Details Nice Healthcare Karen Swim, APR +1 586-461-2103 pr@nice.healthcare Company Website https://www.nice.healthcare/

March 10, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

Innersense Organic Beauty Launches I Create Shine

Innersense Organic Beauty

Award-winning clean beauty brand, Innersense Organic Beauty, is expanding their hair care line with I Create Shine, a new luxurious glossing serum. This silicone-free shine oil is formulated to work on all hair types. Crafted with a lightweight blend of cold-pressed plant extracts, this luxe formula flash-absorbs into strands, radiating shine from beneath the hair’s surface. Smoothing macadamia and cranberry seed oils seal in glossy moisture while shutting out frizz, while antioxidant-rich sunflower and sesame oils shield against damage. Lotus flower provides antioxidant properties to smooth and gloss hair, and the light fragrance promotes relaxation and serenity. I Create Shine is vegan, gluten free, cruelty free and made with organic ingredients. The product is dispensed from a recyclable glass dropper bottle that is housed in a 100% PCR recyclable unit carton. Innersense Organic Beauty is both Plastic and Carbon Neutral and offsets all of their plastic usage as well as carbon emissions. “Developing products that are essential for hair health is important to us, and we are excited to announce our first new product launch of the year,” says Greg Starkman, Co-Founder of Innersense Organic Beauty. “It took us 3 years to create this lightweight, silicone-free formula that utilizes only plant oils to nourish and protect all hair types and textures.” I Create Shine (50 ml) retails for $40 and is available at innersensebeauty.com. About Innersense Organic Beauty Beauty professionals Greg and Joanne Starkman founded Innersense Organic Beauty to bring clean, pure and toxin free hair care to salons, retailers and consumers. The clean hair care brand’s products include shampoos, conditioners, scalp scrub, styling and treatment products for all hair types. For more information, visit innersensebeauty.com. For press inquiries: Archita Patel BPCM archita@bpcm.com Contact Details Archita Patel +1 281-725-2121 archita@bpcm.com Company Website https://innersensebeauty.com/

March 09, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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MyYogaTeacher Launches Official 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Program Online

MyYogaTeacher

MyYogaTeacher announces the launch of a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) program, which will be offered three times each year, and features live instruction by a group of highly-skilled, certified, India-based and -trained instructors. Unlike the self-paced, pre-recorded, video-based packages sold online, which offer digital materials, videos, and only a handful of live sessions led by an instructor, MyYogaTeacher’s courses are 100% live, taking place daily over a period of 95+ days. MyYogaTeacher was named one of “The 6 Best Online Yoga Classes of 2022” by Byrdie. “Our students have a wide range of reasons for pursuing teacher training,” says Jitendra Gupta, the Indian-born CEO of MyYogaTeacher, who co-founded the company with Mexican-American entrepreneur Will Allen, after pursuing yoga to improve his personal physical and mental well-being. “Some definitely have a desire to teach yoga, but others simply want to improve their practice and challenge themselves a bit further by expanding their yogic knowledge and taking their physical practice to the next level.” The program is open to students of all levels. The Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training program features 6 highly-qualified MyYogaTeacher instructors, and is led by Rohan Shroff, who earned a Masters in Science in Yoga from SVYASA University in Bangalore and has over 1300 hours of yoga teacher training from well-known and respected institutions in India. Rohan has graduated over 500 students from online and in-person teacher training programs, including over 100 MyYogaTeacher students, and he also teaches Pranayama, Meditation, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yoga Sutras, and Methodology, at MyYogaTeacher. Besides live instruction on a variety of topics–yoga history, theory, anatomy and physiology–in addition to asana practice, pranayama, chanting, meditation, yoga sutras, and more, the program includes a 150-page e-book, recordings of the classes so students can return to each session and review, plus a community setting that keeps students engaged, motivated and energize. They can also live chat with instructors (Bodhi Abishek Singh, Gomati Woli, Stuti Asher, Umesh Balavaradaraju, Bharath Ram) and fellow students. “What’s great is that your investment in teacher training is nowhere close to the cost you will incur by traveling to India during our post-Covid era,” says Gupta. “And we offer students a 14-day free trial so if they are not happy with the coursework, they can cancel.” The first round of this YTT program runs from March 5 to May 28, and the program will be offered 3 times each year. The next round will take place in the summer of 2022. Learn more about the program and featured instructors here. About MyYogaTeacher MyYogaTeacher is reconnecting yoga to its roots and sharing it through live lessons taught by the world’s foremost teachers who studied yoga at India’s most elite universities and schools. With over 100,000 registered U.S. students, it offers over 40 group classes daily, and provides private sessions, along with over one million minutes of live interactions each month. The Cupertino, California-based company was co-founded in 2018 by Jitendra Gupta and Will Allen. Gupta is the successful former co-founder of Punchh, who turned his struggle with burnout into a platform to help others. Allen is a former mechanical engineer who left the lucrative aerospace industry to travel the world, and pursue yoga and meditation over the past decade. MyYogaTeacher recently received $3 million in seed round funding, led by TSVC, with participation from Leonis Investissement, Weekend Fund, All Access Fund, and Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments. For more information, visit MyYogaTeacher.com. Contact Details Carolyn Kamii PR Carolyn Kamii +1 310-251-0550 carolyn@carolynkamii.com Company Website https://www.myyogateacher.com/

March 09, 2022 04:30 AM Pacific Standard Time

Fine Hygienic Holding recognized as one of few Global Top Employers for the first time

Fine Hygienic Holding

In recognition of its excellent work environment, Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), the world leading wellness group and manufacturer of hygienic paper products and long-lasting germ protection solutions, has been recognized as a global Top Employer for 2022 by the prestigious Top Employers Institute. FHH was named Top Employer Middle East 2022, as one of few employers worldwide recognized at the awards for its outstanding human resources strategy as well as employees’ experience and culture. The group’s operations in Egypt, Jordan, KSA and the UAE all achieved the highest global benchmark of HR practices which cover the areas of People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning and Development, Well-being and Diversity & Inclusion. Marking the group’s latest achievement, James Michael Lafferty, FHH’s CEO, said, “We are very proud of being recognized as a top employer in the field of FMCG. Attaining this certificate proves yet again that our motto – if we take care of our people, the business will take care of itself – is being put into action every single day. We know that our success as a company derives from the strength of our most important asset, our Fine people. That is why we are constantly working to create an environment that attracts and retains the very best, and always celebrate employees who excel both in their performance and in embodying our company values.” Fine Hygienic Holding has around 3,000 employees from more than 40 nationalities spread among its operations in the MENA region with two headquarters: Amman and Dubai. To achieve the “Top Employer” award, the company went through a multi-stage certification program. Companies from all over the world wishing to participate in the award are required to fill a detailed survey covering six HR domains consisting of 20 topics and undergo extensive auditing for each HR process. The Top Employers Institute specializes in the alignment of practices and policies through a global program based on benchmarking best HR practices to grant the global workforce with full outstanding people practices. About Fine Hygienic Holding: Fine Hygienic Holding (FHH), one of the world’s leading wellness groups and MENA’s leading manufacturer of hygienic products, serves consumers in more than 80 countries around the world. Originally established as a paper manufacturer, FHH has transformed into a wellness company dedicated to enhancing global health and wellbeing. Committed to becoming “the shining star of the Arab FMCG business world,” the Group focuses on wellness, sustainability, pioneering CSR programs, and state-of-the-art production processes. Fine Hygienic Holding offers a diverse array of award-winning products including sterilized facial tissues, napkins, kitchen towels, toilet paper, baby diapers, adult briefs, jumbo rolls, as well as away-from-home products to accommodate all types of private and public institutions, in addition to its advanced range of personal protective equipment (PPE) and long-lasting germ protection solutions, it also brings Nai natural iced teas and innovative nutritional supplements, Motiva, to the market. Along with multiple accolated and awards over the years, particularly for its products and CSR initiatives, the company was recognized as a Top Employer Middle East 2022 by the prestigious Top Employers Institute in every country it operates. Contact Details Rana Kawalit │ Corporate Communication & PR Director Rkawalit@finehh.com Company Website https://www.finehh.com/

March 08, 2022 11:24 PM Eastern Standard Time

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NEW XFINITY REWARDS PROGRAM UNLOCKS A WORLD OF UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES, EARLY ACCESS TO THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES, AND SPECIAL PERKS AND DISCOUNTS FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS

Comcast Houston

Comcast today announced the launch of Xfinity Rewards, a rewards program for all customers across the country. Xfinity Rewards was built around a simple idea: to give back to customers, just for being a customer, through unique and unforgettable experiences that only Comcast NBCUniversal can deliver. The multi-faceted program spans media and entertainment, sports, music, and technology. Members enjoy special perks like $1 Movie Rentals, access to free content, discounts at Universal Parks & Resorts, early access to the latest Comcast technologies, products, features like the new xFi Advanced Gateway with Supersonic WiFi, and Xfinity Mobile benefits and savings. Customers can also redeem rewards for unforgettable experiences like exclusive live stream events, have a chance for a meet and greet with Olympic gold-medalist Nathan Chen, a trip to the Latin American Music Awards in Las Vegas, or tickets to be part of the live audience at Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in New York, just to name a few. “The entire Xfinity Rewards experience has been shaped and inspired by our customers. They told us they wanted meaningful rewards rooted in unforgettable experiences, so we’ve brought together the best of Comcast NBCUniversal to deliver just that,” said Jason Wicht, Senior Vice President of Growth Operations. “Xfinity Rewards truly speaks to our mission to connect people to more of what they love, with the most innovative technology available anywhere, while giving back and saying thanks - just for being a customer.” How Xfinity Rewards Works Joining Xfinity Rewards is free for customers. Signing up only takes a minute through the Xfinity App or online at xfinity.com/rewards. Upon enrolling, members are placed in Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond tier based on how long they’ve been a customer, with access and the types of rewards based on tenure with Comcast. Rewards are available immediately upon signing up for the program so members can start exploring and enjoying them right away with new opportunities added frequently throughout the year. Launching Xfinity Rewards with Supersonic WiFi Xfinity Rewards is all about unlocking unforgettable experiences – and what better place to start than right at home. Beginning March 4, at 12:00 p.m. EST, Xfinity Rewards Diamond members who subscribe to Gigabit Internet will receive early access to Comcast’s most innovative and powerful device to date delivering reliable, supersonic WiFi. The next generation Gateway, only from Xfinity, is capable of multi-Gig speeds and can power a house full of hundreds of connected devices all at once. It won’t be available to the public until April 2022, but eligible Xfinity Rewards members can redeem this reward beginning March 4 through the Xfinity App or online at Xfinity.com/rewards while supplies last. Save Hundreds on Xfinity Mobile, Rated #1 in Customer Satisfaction Customers who sign up for Xfinity Rewards can access even more product discounts and perks as part of the program, including up to $150 towards a new Xfinity Mobile device and up to $100 towards new or existing service for Xfinity Mobile customers. Xfinity Mobile, rated number one in customer satisfaction by ASCI two years in a row, combines the best nationwide cellular 5G with more than 20 million WiFi hotspots to deliver fast speeds and a more flexible way to pay for cellular data. Customers can mix and match between Unlimited or By-the-Gig shared data and can switch back and forth on any line at any time. Xfinity Mobile offers Unlimited data for $30 a line per month when you get 4 lines with Xfinity Mobile. Discounts to Universal Parks & Resorts and Other Comcast NBCUniversal Brands Xfinity Rewards members can experience the action, thrills, and excitement of Universal Orlando’s three amazing theme parks, Universal Studios Florida, Universal Island of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay water theme park, at specially discounted prices. Enjoy a Universal Orlando Resort 3-day ticket for the price of a regular 2-day admission ticket or save on a 2 Park 1-Day VIP experience for a personally guided tour of Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure. There’s also a sweepstakes for a 3-night trip for four people to Universal Orlando including roundtrip airfare, accommodations at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, and admission to all three theme parks. In addition, Xfinity Rewards members get instant access to exclusive discounts across many popular Comcast NBCUniversal brands – including 20% off merchandise at NBC and Bravo stores, discounts on subscriptions to premium services like GolfPass, NBC Sports Edge, and CNBC Pro, and early access to TODAY’s Steals and Deals with Jill Martin. Unforgettable Sports, Music, and Entertainment Experiences Members also have access to experiences and events made possible through Xfinity’s wide array of sports, music, and entertainment partnerships – like a VIP experience to watch all the drama unfold live at NASCAR, tickets to NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB games, exclusive virtual cooking demonstrations with award-winning celebrity chefs like Bren Herrera, host of Cleo TV’s Culture Kitchen, and Chef G. Garvin of Aspire TV's G. Garvin Live!, virtual meet and greets with Bravolebrities, tickets to top music events like the Latin American Music Awards in Las Vegas in April, and even a super VIP experience like the chance to meet Olympic gold medalist, Nathan Chen. Simple Delights like $1 Movies and Access to Free Content While there are tons of great experiences, discounts, and perks for being a member of Xfinity Rewards, sometimes the best moments are the simple everyday opportunities to connect with loved ones. In addition to offering tons of great movies for just $1, Xfinity Rewards members can also redeem rewards for movies like The Mighty Ducks, The Minions Movie, In the Heights, and It’s a Wonderful Life for free. And there are tons of games and activity kits featuring hit characters from Boss Baby, The Minions Movie, Sing 2, and more to keep the whole family entertained for hours. There’s truly something for everyone with Xfinity Rewards. For more information about Xfinity Rewards, download the Xfinity App or visit xfinity.com/rewards. About Comcast: Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. Contact Details Comcast Houston Foti Kallergis +1 832-986-0196 Michael_Bybee@cable.comcast.com Company Website https://houston.comcast.com/

March 08, 2022 08:13 AM Central Standard Time

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Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia Launches Heart Disease Prevention Campaign

Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia (CCP)

Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia (CCP) — the region’s largest and most extensive cardiology practice — has launched a state-of-the-art heart disease prevention program — the CB4 Prevention Program. The practice has locations at more than 36 offices in five counties, making it uniquely qualified to reach and potentially save the highest number of patients possible. CCP has over 100 cardiologists on staff who are experts across all specialties. Each physician on the team offers comprehensive cardiovascular care and education based on the latest research, and uses cutting-edge, innovative technology to treat and diagnose cardiovascular diseases. Patients looking to identify their risk factors and take preventive action against heart disease will have access to advance testing as needed, as well as an individualized program based off of the initial consultation with a doctor through CB4. “Preventative care is an incredibly important first step for patients to take, as heart disease is easier to prevent than it is to treat,” said Dean Karalis, MD, FACC, FNLA, a CCP physician. “CB4 is about awareness as much as it is about heart disease prevention—success requires us to create a highly-individualized, ongoing program for each patient based on a number of factors including risk factors and family history.” As part of the prevention evaluation, the patient will have blood work drawn to screen for high cholesterol as well as other cardiovascular risk factors. The lab work will include a comprehensive metabolic panel and a Hemoglobin A1c Test (diabetes screener). The results of the bloodwork will give one of the practice’s 11 CB4 cardiologists — all of whom are preventative-trained and focused cardiologists — clear insight to develop a plan of action from a preventative angle. The CB4 Prevention Program can be scheduled through any of the CCP offices in the Philadelphia region. Appointments are available in person or virtually. About Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia CCP is affiliated with virtually every major hospital in the region and serves patients from over 36 offices in all five Southeastern Pennsylvania counties. Contact Details Lauren Stralo +1 484-747-0172 lstralo@levlane.com Company Website https://ccpdocs.com/

March 08, 2022 08:53 AM Eastern Standard Time

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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