Connect with us
  • tg

Stock Markets

Columbia University cancels main commencement ceremony after protests

letizo News

Published

on

By Julia Harte

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Columbia University on Monday canceled its main graduation ceremony after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests roiled the Ivy League college’s campus, but it will still hold smaller, school-based events.

“Security concerns were one of the main reasons for our decision on whether to hold a large commencement ceremony,” a university official, who declined to be identified, said. Graduation had been scheduled for May 15.

Columbia in a statement called the past few weeks “incredibly difficult for our community.”

The protests at Columbia, which drew national attention, have inspired similar demonstrations at dozens of universities around the U.S. Students have called for a ceasefire in Gaza and have demanded their schools divest from companies with ties to Israel.

On Monday, Hamas said it agreed to a ceasefire proposal with Israel in Gaza. Israel said it was a “softened” Egyptian proposal that was not acceptable to Israel.

During the seven-month-old war more than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military operations in Gaza, according to health officials in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave. The war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 252 others, of whom 133 are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

As protests gathered steam at U.S. colleges, some universities, including Columbia, called in riot police wielding batons and flash-bang grenades to disperse and arrest hundreds of protesters, citing a paramount need for campus safety. Civil rights groups have decried such tactics as unnecessarily violent infringements on free speech.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or
remove ads
.

The turmoil on campuses has prompted colleges across the United States to relocate, modify or cancel commencement ceremonies altogether.

In April, the University of Southern California also called off its main-stage ceremony, one week after canceling the valedictorian speech by a Muslim student who said she was silenced by anti-Palestinian hatred.

Columbia said on Monday it had consulted with student leaders in deciding how to handle graduation. The majority of the smaller ceremonies, which had been set to take place on its upper Manhattan campus, where most of the protests have taken place, will take place at the main athletic complex about five miles (8 km) away.

The demonstrations have emerged as a political flashpoint during a contentious U.S. election year as Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican former U.S President Donald Trump face off in a rematch for the White House.

RALLY FOR ISRAEL, JEWISH STUDENTS

Republican U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson — who condemned Columbia’s administrators, accusing them of being too lenient on demonstrators during a campus visit in April — blasted them again on Monday, saying the decision to cancel commencement denied thousands of graduates the recognition they deserved.

Johnson also called on the school’s board of trustees to remove university President Nemat Minouche Shafik, adding that the cancellation showed she would rather “cede control to Hamas supporters than restore order.”

A rally to support Jewish, Israeli-American and Israeli students was planned for Monday evening near Columbia’s campus by an Israel advocacy group, the Israeli-American Council, which called the campus protests “anti-Israel and antisemitic”.

3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or
remove ads
.

New York City police cleared a Columbia building last week that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian protesters, arresting more than 100 people in and around the campus and dismantling an encampment.

Other U.S. universities have continued grappling this week with how to clear their campuses of protesters.

At Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, interim President Alan Garber said on Monday that protesters who continued participating in a two-week-old encampment would be referred for “involuntary leave,” meaning they may not be able to sit for exams, reside in Harvard housing or be on campus until reinstated.

“As we begin our extensive preparations for Commencement, this ongoing violation of our policies becomes more consequential,” said Garber, citing reports from some students that the camp disrupted their ability to sleep, study and move freely about the campus.

At the University of California, Los Angeles, where pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protesters clashed last week and where police arrested more than 200 people while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment on Thursday, Chancellor Gene Block on Sunday announced a new Office of Campus Safety.

Stock Markets

Dillard’s, Inc. Announces $0.25 Cash Dividend

letizo News

Published

on

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.

© 2007-2024Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Continue Reading

Stock Markets

MODULAR ATP Study of the mCRM™ System Meets Primary Safety and Efficacy Endpoints

letizo News

Published

on

Additional data from APPRAISE ATP trial reinforce modular therapy approach with EMBLEM™ Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator and EMPOWER™ Leadless Pacemaker

MARLBOROUGH, Mass., May 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: NYSE:) today announced positive six-month results from the ongoing pivotal MODULAR ATP clinical trial of the mCRM™ System, the first modular cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system that consists of the EMBLEM™ Subcutaneous Implantable Defibrillator (S-ICD) System and the EMPOWER™ Leadless Pacemaker (LP). As components of the mCRM System, the devices are designed to work together wirelessly to coordinate painless intracardiac anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy, provide rate-responsive bradycardia pacing support and to prevent sudden cardiac death without the risk of leads in the heart or under the sternum. Findings were presented at Heart Rhythm 2024, the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society, and simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

In addition to evaluating the safety and performance of the EMPOWER LP as a standalone pacemaker, the trial evaluated the ability of the EMBLEM S-ICD System to successfully communicate a wireless request to the LP to deliver ATP therapy. Findings from the trial met all pre-specified six-month safety and effectiveness endpoints, and demonstrated:

  • A major complication-free rate of 97.5% after implantation of the EMPOWER LP.1
  • A communication success rate of 98.8% from the EMBLEM S-ICD System to the EMPOWER LP.2
  • An ATP success rate of 61.3%,3 and no patient requests for deactivation of ATP or bradycardia pacing due to pain or discomfort.
  • Pacing capture thresholds, which indicate stable device fixation within the heart, of ‰¤ 2.0 V at 0.4 ms in 97.4% of patients.

“We saw excellent overall clinical performance of the mCRM System in this study, including a high rate of communication success from the S-ICD to the leadless pacemaker, and a low rate of major leadless pacemaker complications,” said Prof. Reinoud Knops, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Cardiology and Electrophysiology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands. “These findings are noteworthy, as high percentages of communication success and pain-free termination of spontaneous arrhythmia episodes indicate a potential upgrade pathway for patients currently implanted with an S-ICD who develop a need for ATP or pacing.”

Also presented at Heart Rhythm 2024 were results from the APPRAISE ATP clinical trial “ a prospective, randomized, multicenter study evaluating ATP as a primary strategy for terminating ventricular tachycardias in primary prevention (PP) patients (i.e., those without a history of spontaneous sustained ventricular arrhythmias). The trial enrolled 2,626 PP patients indicated to receive an ICD at 134 centers globally and is the largest head-to-head trial of ATP in this patient group. In the study, patients were randomized 1:1 to standard transvenous-ICD therapy “ ATP plus an ICD-delivered shock to terminate a ventricular tachycardia “ versus shock only. Across five years of follow up, data demonstrated a statistically significant, but small absolute first all-cause shock reduction in only 1% of patients per year. Shock burden, or the number of shocks experienced by a patient, was not significantly different between the two arms, and the vast majority of patients in the ATP-plus-shock arm did not require ATP therapy.

“Together, data from the MODULAR ATP and APPRAISE ATP trials reinforce the promise of the groundbreaking mCRM System, illustrating a clear path forward for physicians to offer therapies that prevent sudden cardiac death and deliver ATP for the small number of patients who benefit from it,” said Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and global chief medical officer, Boston Scientific. “Instead of subjecting all patients to the risks of more invasive approaches, such as placing leads in the heart or tunneling them under the sternum to provide therapies they might not require, these data indicate physicians may have the opportunity to tailor therapy to the patient’s individual needs and health.”

The company anticipates U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the mCRM System in 2025. For more information on the mCRM System and MODULAR ATP trial, visit www.bostonscientific.com/mcrm. To learn more about the EMBLEM MRI S-ICD System, visit www.sicdsystem.com.

The EMPOWER LP is an investigational device and limited by U.S. law to investigational use only. It is not available for sale. Some device references are for informational purposes only and are pending CE Mark. Not available in the European Economic Area.

Dr. Reinoud Knops is a paid consultant of Boston Scientific Corporation. He has not been compensated in connection with this press release.

About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical technologies that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our portfolio of devices and therapies helps physicians diagnose and treat complex cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, oncological, neurological and urological diseases and conditions. Learn more at www.bostonscientific.com and connect on LinkedIn and X, formerly Twitter.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans and product performance and impact, and new and anticipated product approvals and launches. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; manufacturing, distribution and supply chain disruptions and cost increases; variations in outcomes of ongoing and future clinical trials and market studies; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A “ Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A “ Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

CONTACTS:Steve Bailey
Media Relations
(651) 582-4343 (office)
Steve.Bailey@bsci.com

Jon Monson
Investor Relations
(508) 683-5450
BSXInvestorRelations@bsci.com

1 Major complications defined as any complication related to the EMPOWER LP or its implantation procedure that results in system revision, permanent loss of LP function, hospitalization, or death.
2 During communication tests, the S-ICD attempted to command the LP to deliver pacing at a rate approximately 10 beats per minute faster than the patient’s intrinsic rhythm.
3 ATP success rate defined as terminating ventricular arrhythmia.

Continue Reading

Stock Markets

Adidas plans cheaper versions of popular shoes

letizo News

Published

on

(Corrects May 16 story to reflect error in live translation, Adidas (OTC:) is making cheaper versions for Deichmann and Intersport, not Foot Locker (NYSE:))

By Linda Pasquini

(Reuters) -Adidas is launching cheaper versions of its three-striped shoes like the white and black suede Samba as it aims to spread the trend, CEO Bjorn Gulden said on Thursday at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Germany.

“It’s important to understand that not everyone can afford to buy a shoe for 120 or 150 [dollars], but everyone wants to take part in the same trends,” Gulden told investors in a presentation in Furth, near Adidas’ headquarters in Herzogenaurach.

Adidas will offer similar versions of the Samba and other shoes for $60 to $80, more affordable entry points than the $100 to $150 price tag for the main shoe lines, according to a presentation slide shown by Gulden.

“What we do at the top, 100 [dollars] and higher, we’re bringing that down,” Gulden said. The cheaper models are aimed at retailers like Deichmann and Intersport, he added.

Continue Reading

Trending

©2021-2024 Letizo All Rights Reserved