ANDOVER, Mass., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI), a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, was recognized today as one of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2025 , presented by Newsweek and Statista, Inc. "We are honored to be recognized for the second consecutive year as one of our nation's most responsible companies by Newsweek and Statista,” said John T.C. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer of MKS. "We are committed to providing our customers with world-leading innovative technology to help them succeed in a manner that also protects our planet and the communities in which we work and live.” The America's Most Responsible Companies ranking analyzes companies through a holistic view of corporate responsibility. An overall score is calculated for each company based on over 30 key performance indicators for the top 2,000 publicly traded U.S. companies by revenue and a public survey of 26,000 U.S. residents evaluating each company's corporate social responsibility reputation. About MKS Instruments MKS Instruments enables technologies that transform our world. We deliver foundational technology solutions to leading edge semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications. We apply our broad science and engineering capabilities to create instruments, subsystems, systems, process control solutions and specialty chemicals technology that improve process performance, optimize productivity and enable unique innovations for many of the world's leading technology and industrial companies. Our solutions are critical to addressing the challenges of miniaturization and complexity in advanced device manufacturing by enabling increased power, speed, feature enhancement, and optimized connectivity. Our solutions are also critical to addressing ever-increasing performance requirements across a wide array of specialty industrial applications. Additional information can be found at www.mks.com . Contacts: Bill Casey Senior Director, Marketing Communications Telephone: +1 (630) 995-6384 Email: [email protected] Kelly Kerry, Partner Kekst CNC Email: [email protected]
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.” Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another recordMINNEAPOLIS — Even as UnitedHealth Group workers have been wrongly made to feel unsafe by a barrage of threats and vitriol over the past nine days, CEO Andrew Witty said in a New York Times op-ed Friday that insurers must do better in being transparent with patients when coverage for care is denied. “Health care is both intensely personal and very complicated, and the reasons behind coverage decisions are not well understood,” Witty wrote in the guest column. “We share some of the responsibility for that. Together with employers, governments and others who pay for care, we need to improve how we explain what insurance covers and how decisions are made.” The comments follow a wave of public anger that crashed over the insurance industry online and in social media since the killing of Brian Thompson, the UnitedHealthcare chief executive and Maple Grove resident who was shot repeatedly on a sidewalk in New York City. The outrage was fueled by early media reports on Thompson’s death that quoted his wife as saying the executive had received threats, possibly over denials, and because the words “deny” and “delay” reportedly were found written on bullet casings recovered from the crime scene. UnitedHealth Group confirmed Thursday night that shooting suspect Luigi Mangione did not have health insurance from UnitedHealthcare, contrary to speculation that the 26-year-old might have been motivated by a coverage dispute with the company. Safety concerns amid the animosity prompted two other health insurers in the Twin Cities to temporarily close offices this month. Leaders of Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group have appreciated “an enormous outpouring of support” from some, Witty wrote, for Thompson as well as the company’s UnitedHealthcare insurance division. “Yet we also are struggling to make sense of this unconscionable act and the vitriol that has been directed at our colleagues who have been barraged by threats,” he said. “No employees ... should have to fear for their and their loved one’s safety.” UnitedHealth Group employs about 19,000 people at its corporate headquarters as well as the health insurance business and Optum, which runs clinics and manages pharmacy benefits. In the op-ed, Witty echoed themes he started to send during an investor conference that was interrupted by word that Thompson had been killed on his way into the event. The company is well aware of problems with the U.S. health care system, he said, and is focused on driving change. “We know the health system does not work as well as it should, and we understand people’s frustrations with it,” Witty wrote. “No one would design a system like the one we have. And no one did. It’s a patchwork built over decades.” When making decisions on whether to deny coverage or pay for patient services, health insurers rely on clinical evidence to determine whether a treatment is safe and will bring the best patient outcome, Witty wrote. For months before Thompson’s killing, tensions over health insurance denials were on display in Minnesota during contract disputes between UnitedHealthcare and two large health systems in the state. Bloomington-based HealthPartners and Duluth-based Essentia Health threatened to drop out of the insurance company’s Medicare Advantage networks, saying the denial rate was excessive at UnitedHealthcare. The insurance company called the allegations outlandish and untrue, while suggesting hospitals in contract disputes often try using patients as leverage to win higher reimbursement rates. Ultimately, both health systems agreed to contracts so they’ll stay in-network next year for UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans. In October, a report by a U.S. Senate subcommittee found problems at three national health insurers including UnitedHealthcare, which reportedly denied prior authorization requests for post-acute care at three times the rate of other requests. The company said in response it still approves the vast majority of requests for post-acute care for patients after hospitalizations, and that it is federally required to give those claims heightened scrutiny. In July, 11 people were arrested outside its Minnetonka headquarters during an event to spotlight coverage denials. The company responded by stressing the safety of its workers while asserting it had resolved the group’s concerns for individual patients and was open to further dialogue. Health policy experts say there’s been a lack of comprehensive data on how frequently denials occur as well as the reasons for them. Surveys have shown public support for making more information available to patients. In his editorial, Witty did not advance any specific proposals but called for greater understanding of how health care is complex and change is difficult. “While the health system is not perfect, every corner of it is filled with people who try to do their best for those they serve,” Witty wrote. “Brian was one of those people. ... The ideas he advocated were aimed at making health care more affordable, more transparent, more intuitive, more compassionate — and more human.” ©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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(BPT) - Consumers are facing increasing costs on virtually every purchase these days and auto insurance is no exception. While skyrocketing costs of this auto-related expense can be attributed to everything from parts replacement to service — even health costs as a result of accidents — consumers can better manage these increases with thoughtful study and attention to detail. Some of the common causes for higher insurance rates are Inflation, car accidents, extreme weather conditions such as hail, hurricanes and wind, along with increased vehicle theft claims. Mercury Insurance has partnered with financial literacy influencer Sam Jarman to highlight specific ways consumers can address these rising costs. "Your car is the second biggest expense for most people, right behind your home, and car insurance is a big part of that," said Jarman. "Checking rates and coverage with your Mercury Insurance agent makes sense along with choosing a car with low maintenance costs." 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Install an anti-theft device on your car – Drivers may receive an additional discount on your auto insurance if you install an anti-theft device on your car. Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs – You can get a fast and easy quote from your Mercury Insurance agent. To receive a quote, you can reach us at 844-514-2893. To learn more about common types of auto insurance discounts, visit https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/resources/auto/understanding-types-of-auto-insurance-discounts.html . For more information on your auto insurance, you can reference the Insurance Information Institute . Best trending stories from the week. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. You may occasionally receive promotions exclusive discounted subscription offers from the Roswell Daily Record. Feel free to cancel any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter you received. You can also control your newsletter options via your user dashboard by signing in.Mixed outlook for S’pore’s e-commerce industry amid growing competition, economic uncertaintyKuwait: The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has emphasised its commitment to the strength and cohesion of the GCC, the unity of its members, and achieving greater coordination, integration, and interconnection in all fields, to fulfil the aspirations of the citizens of the member states. The final statement issued by the GCC Supreme Council in its 45th session, held in Kuwait on Sunday, reiterated that GCC states stand united against any threats faced by any of the member countries. The Supreme Council reviewed the report of the General Secretariat regarding the progress made in implementing the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to enhance joint Gulf action, which was approved by the Supreme Council in its 36th session in December 2015. The Supreme Council directed the relevant authorities, councils, ministerial and technical committees, and the General Secretariat, as well as all Council agencies, to increase efforts to complete the remaining steps in implementing the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ vision, in accordance with a defined timeline and careful follow-up. The Supreme Council reviewed the report on the achievements of the Health Cities Programme in the member states, a report on the implementation of the International Health Regulations regarding joint Gulf efforts in public health emergencies, and the report related to the implementation of the Supreme Council’s decision on the labour inspection programme. The Supreme Council praised the accomplishments and efforts of the member states in combating corruption, including the adoption of a guide to enhance integrity through the governance of state-owned enterprises. The Supreme Council emphasised the importance of enhancing joint action to maximise the impact of the member states' efforts and initiatives related to energy transformations and climate change, activating cooperation, exchanging experiences, and developing enabling capabilities with regional countries under the umbrella of the Green Middle East Initiative. The Supreme Council reaffirmed its commitment to adopting the fundamental pillars of social, economic, and environmental energy transformations by implementing the principle of shared yet differentiated responsibilities, as agreed upon in the United Arab Emirates Agreement during the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai in 2023, and continued sustainable investments in hydrocarbon resources. The Council welcomed the outcomes of COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in this context. The Supreme Council stressed the importance of supporting global energy market stability and adopting a balanced approach that does not exclude energy sources but instead innovates technologies that enable emissions management and efficient use of all energy sources to facilitate sustainable economic growth for all. The Council called for enhanced cooperation among member states to implement a circular carbon economy approach in related policies, mechanisms, strategies, plans, and initiatives, including nationally determined contributions. The Supreme Council praised the successful hosting of the “Expo 2023 Doha for Horticulture” in Qatar under the theme “Green Desert, Better Environment”, which was attended by 77 countries and millions of visitors, focusing on enhancing environmental sustainability, combating desertification, and encouraging innovation and modern technologies in agricultural development. The Supreme Council approved the recommendations of the Joint Defense Council at its 21st session and expressed its satisfaction with the progress of joint military action to achieve operational integration among the armed forces of the member states. The Supreme Council endorsed the Joint Defence Council’s recommendation to appoint H E Major General Abdulaziz bin Ahmed bin Salim Al Balawi as the Commander of the Unified Military Command of the GCC, wishing him success in his mission. The Supreme Council welcomed the efforts undertaken by the Interior Ministers’ Committee regarding the unified tourist visa and the project for developing the traffic systems, endorsing the outcomes achieved and delegating the Interior Ministers to take the necessary actions in this regard. The Supreme Council affirmed respect for the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, based on international charters, norms, and laws, rejecting any threats faced by any member state. The Supreme Council condemned in the strongest terms the shocking and horrific crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces in the Gaza Strip as part of a genocide and ethnic cleansing agenda, including the killing of civilians, torture, summary executions, enforced disappearances, forced displacement, and looting. The Supreme Council praised the efforts of Qatar in mediating a ceasefire and facilitating the delivery of assistance to the besieged Gaza Strip, reaffirming the contents of the joint statement issued on August 8, 2024, by Amir H H Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Egypt President H E Abdel Fattah El Sisi, and US President H E Joe Biden concerning the necessity of reaching a ceasefire, releasing hostages and detainees, and calling for the resumption of negotiations. The Supreme Council welcomed the decision issued by the International Court of Justice on May 24, 2024, ordering Israel to immediately cease military actions or any other activities in the Rafah governorate based on the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Supreme Council welcomed the United Kingdom’s announcement on September 3, 2024, to suspend licenses for arms exports to the Israeli occupation to avoid their use in committing serious violations of international humanitarian law, including equipment used in the current war on the Gaza Strip. The final statement affirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause, the need to end the Israeli occupation, and its support for the sovereignty of the Palestinian people over all occupied Palestinian territories. The Supreme Council expressed its support for the efforts of Saudi Arabia in launching the “International Coalition to Implement the Two-State Solution” in New York on September 26, 2024, in partnership with Norway and the European Union, to set a timeline for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and to end the Israeli occupation. The Supreme Council reaffirmed its firm stances and previous resolutions condemning the continued Iranian occupation of the three islands (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa) belonging to the United Arab Emirates. The Supreme Council affirmed that the Al Durra field is entirely situated within Kuwait’s maritime territories. It declared that ownership of natural resources in the shared submerged zone adjacent to the Saudi-Kuwaiti partitioned area, including the entire Al Durra field, is exclusively shared between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The Supreme Council emphasised the importance of fostering dialogue and respect among peoples and cultures, rejecting anything that promotes religious hatred and extremism. The Supreme Council condemned the ongoing foreign support for terrorist groups and sectarian militias in the Middle East, which threaten Arab national security, destabilise the region, and obstruct international counter-terrorism efforts, particularly those of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The Council expressed its deep concern over the military escalation in the region, including the missile attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran on October 26, 2024, and their negative impact on regional security and stability. The Supreme Council expressed the GCC countries’ concern about the developments in the Iranian nuclear file, stressing the importance of reaching constructive understandings on this issue to maintain regional security and stability. It affirmed the GCC countries’ readiness to cooperate and deal effectively with this file, and their participation in all regional and international negotiations and meetings related to it.
– Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF, is embroiled in a bitter internal power struggle as suspensions and purges target officials perceived to oppose efforts to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s presidency beyond 2028. The conflict, which has escalated since the party’s October conference in Bulawayo, exposes deep divisions within Zanu-PF over succession plans and the controversial “2030 project.” In October, Zanu-PF officially resolved to back Mnangagwa for a term extension until 2030. However, the President has publicly maintained that he will not seek to exceed his constitutionally mandated two terms, creating confusion and fueling factional tensions. Critics accuse powerful party figures of sidelining potential rivals in a bid to control the race for Mnangagwa’s eventual successor. At the centre of the turmoil is Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, widely regarded as a leading contender to succeed Mnangagwa. Alleged supporters of Chiwenga are being purged on charges of disloyalty. Masvingo province, a traditional Zanu-PF stronghold, has emerged as a hotspot for infighting. Simon Muchafa, a provincial executive member, ignited controversy when he accused retired army general Engelbert Rugeje of backing Chiwenga. In a leaked audio recording, Muchafa declared he would not support a presidential candidate from outside Masvingo, signalling his opposition to Chiwenga. Following these remarks, over ten provincial members were slapped with prohibition orders, including youth leader Brighton Mushekwa and Kudakwashe Gopo. Provincial leaders, including Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Ezra Chadzamira, accused them of aligning with Chiwenga and accepting bribes to undermine the “2030 project.” Despite Muchafa’s inflammatory statements, he has not faced disciplinary action, raising concerns about fairness in the purge process. Meanwhile, the composition of the provincial disciplinary committee has come under scrutiny, with figures linked to Chiwenga reportedly sidelined, further intensifying suspicions of bias. The crackdown extends beyond Masvingo. In Chiredzi, key figures such as Israel Lunga, Levy Gumbo, and Felix Bangu have been removed. In Harare, Emmanuel Juta faces a disciplinary hearing on December 11th after receiving a prohibition order. In Mashonaland East, Provincial Minister Aplonia Munzverengi and Uzumba MP Wiriranai Muchemwa are reportedly next in line for disciplinary action over alleged ties to the so-called “Hwedza project,” a rival faction. The escalating factionalism is now spilling into the public domain. Former Masvingo Provincial Commissar Isaac Makomichi, suspended after questioning the “2030 project,” defended his stance. “You should not suspend someone for asking,” he said, questioning the legitimacy of extending Mnangagwa’s term when the President himself had expressed intent to retire in 2028. Zanu-PF’s internal strife highlights growing tensions over succession and the push for political dominance. The “2030 project” has become both a rallying point and a source of division, with its political fallout likely to shape the future of the ruling party as it approaches the next election. : OnlineAlyssa Nakken leaves Giants for Guardians: report