Author: Neel Achary

The Boca Raton Museum of Art Presents Sri Prabha: Resonator Reanimator

The Boca Raton Museum of Art presents the new exhibition Sri Prabha: Resonator-Reanimator(on view June 14 – October 22).“Sri Prabha brings to light the tools of perception; and visitors who experience this tour de force at the Boca Raton Museum of Art will find an imaginative, multi-sensory panorama of art,” says Irvin Lippman, the Executive Director of the Museum. Prabha masterminds these site-specific installations by fusing ideas from Vedic eastern philosophies and his visions of western science, to explore our connection to the natural world. Melded together, they land the viewer within a psychedelic multiverse of saturated colors. “The idea is for people to go through a portal and realize we are more similar than different, that all of these elements floating around space came together and created us,” says Sri Prabha. “We are all interconnected, and we can change our behavior to work together and collaborate. As civilizations, we like to think that we are different from each other, but we are really not. Our technology is changing rapidly, but our behavior has not kept up.”

His work emphasizes the artist’s keen interest in contemporary environmental issues, and how humans interact with the natural world. The artist is currently based in Fort Lauderdale, he was born in Hyderabad, India in 1969, and has lived in the United States since 1978. The exhibition is curated by Kelli Bodle, the Associate Curator of the Museum. The Museum is located in Palm Beach County, Florida at the Mizner Park entertainment district.

The new Brightline commuter train system features a new train station conveniently located within walking distance of the Museum, with connections to Miami, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando.

Prabha was recently selected as one of the winners of the 2022 Art Basel Miami Beach public art showcase by the City of Miami Beach, for a monumental installation Cosmic Occupancy (see the video of his spectacular light projection orb for Art Basel at https://vimeo.com/777854294 .)

At the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Prabha has created site-specific, multi-sensory installations that people can walk through – mixed media, video, soundscapes and audio frequencies, light projections, interactive structures, traditional Indian sari fabrics, abstract paintings, digital print collages, assemblages, and more. “Through these installations I want to encourage the viewers to meditate on what has come before us, all the way back to the primordial ooze, through today and what we are all passing through together ahead. I want people to get lost in the experience, and get trippy in a shamanistic way.” Abstract, patterned digital projections of light sweep the walls, covering paintings and sculptures to create constantly shifting organic forms. Paired with audio of meditative, lulling sounds, the overall feel is that of preparing the mind for meditation. Within this mind frame of meditation, visitors will experience references by the artist to the smallest and greatest elements of our universe. Spiraling, pulsing amorphous shapes call to mind the view through a microscope, and twinkling flashes of light are reminiscent of a telescope’s sight. One of the exhibition’s interactive elements, titled Spaceresearchcentre, allows people to enter a teepee-like structure to meditate while surrounded by video projections and flashes of light that flicker softly on the fabric walls.

Watch the PBS Television profile about the artist at pbs.org/video/artist-profile-sri-prabha-art-loft-801-j0u7oh/. Prabha’s works are in several private collections in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Miami, New York, Washington, DC, and Copenhagen. His exhibitions include: the Florida Prize 2019 at Orlando Museum; Verge Art Fair New York; the King County Public Arts Program Seattle; Art Palm Beach; the South Florida Cultural Consortium at MOCA, the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami; and the Toronto Art Fair, among others.

About the Museum
Founded by artists, theBoca Raton Museum of Art was established in 1950 as the Art Guild of Boca Raton. The organization has grown, now in its eighth decade, to encompass a Museum, Art School, and Sculpture Garden. As one of South Florida’s leading cultural landmarks, the Museum provides educational programs and a robust exhibition schedule to the community, and to visitors from around the world.

Fia Calls on Organisations and Companies to Assess Their Safety Footprint at the Vision Zero Conference

At the Vision Zero Conference organised by the Government Offices of Sweden, the Swedish Transport Administration – Trafikverket and the Swedish Innovation Agency Vinnova, the FIA gathered road safety experts to highlight the key role organisations and private sector companies can play in improving safety of the roads.

FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism Jacob Bangsgaard, TotalEnergies SVP HSE Michel Charton, FIA Foundation Executive Director Saul Billingsley, World Health Organization Head of Safety and Mobility Nhan Tran and Swedish Transport Administration Director of Traffic Safety Maria Krafft discussed about the FIA Road Safety Index, an innovative tool enabling companies and organisations to measure their safety footprint over their entire value chain.

The Index offers an effective solution for companies and organisations to commit to safer roads as it gives them a framework to assess their performance, report on it and improve their road safety impact by building a culture of safety.

The panel started with the announcement of TotalEnergies as being the first private sector company to receive 3-star recognition, the highest level of achievement as part of the FIA Road Safety Index.

FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism Jacob Bangsgaard reminded the fact that the FIA Road Safety Index, based on different level of achievements, is conceived as a tool for progress. “It is not about shaming those who don’t have the 3-star level yet, it is about encouraging them to reach that level and it is about inspiring any organisation to include traffic safety in their sustainability reporting,” he said.

He also highlighted how the FIA is planning to rely on its network of 243 Members in 147 countries to support the deployment of the Index. “We are representing Mobility Clubs from all over the world and we will work with our Members to spread the message on the importance of calculating the road safety footprint on a national level, help us do the assessments and involve the industries,” he underlined.

TotalEnergies SVP HSE Michel Charton explained why they decided to implement the Index and first insisted on the scale of the impact that TotalEnergies can have on making the roads safer. “Globally, (TotalEnergies travels) 600 million kilometers per year, in countries with different risk levels: western European countries, but also in Brazil, in India, and in almost all African countries,” he said.

“Our journey started when we said we want 0 fatality in our company,” he continued.

Charton also underlined what the Index is bringing to companies: “Benchmarking is a very important work because we cannot progress without it and this Index is a way to see where we are, a way to see what we have to improve, a way to see what can be the goals.”

“We were proud to participate and to be the first audited company and we are honoured to be ranked three stars. I hope it is the very beginning of something big that can that can help all the private sector to improve safety on the road,” he concluded.

The FIA Foundation supported the development of the Index and FIA Foundation Executive Director Saul Billingsley also emphasised the power of benchmarking and how the Index can become a key part of organisations and companies’ social responsibility reporting policy.

“The Index is an important tool to help companies that have not internalised road safety work to see what others are doing, step up, and make the changes we need. The FIA Foundation hopes that this will be the start of something which will end with investors and shareholders viewing companies’ road safety footprint as an essential part of ESG, at the core of social and planetary responsibility,” he said.

World Health Organization Head of Safety and Mobility Nhan Tran also insisted on the fact that, when developing the global plan for the Decade of Action 2021-2030, the influence of private sector entities in shaping safer mobility and transport systems was highlighted and that the Index offers a tailor-made solution to increase their involvement.

“The performance measure of the Index provides a tool that is public, that is transparent, that can be used by consumers, by the media to hold private sector entities accountable for their road safety footprint. This is a very unique mechanism that has been put in place by the FIA Index that helps us to work in parallel with government actions and with the private sector actions. For us, this is a really important milestone in terms of our engagement strategy with both public and private sector,” he said.

Swedish Transport Administration Director of Traffic Safety Maria Krafft, who had been involved in the development of the FIA Road Safety Index as part of the pilot phase, also insisted on the need to onboard the private sector and explained that it must be understood that mobility can only be sustainable if it is safe.

“I think that we need to be much better at including road safety in the sustainability world because that is where the private sector is and that is the language the private sector understands. We can be better at showing the problem and the level of road safety consequences. So I think that this benchmarking tool can help us to get out there,” she declared.

Bel Trading & Consulting Ltd Pioneering Drone Security Solutions For Civil Airports

Warsaw, POLAND, 12 July 2023 – Bel Trading & Consulting Ltd is a successful company specializing in providing drone security for civil airports.

It is widely known how vulnerable civil aircraft are during takeoff and landing when encountering small objects, particularly in the engine area. Aircraft are designed to withstand the impact of a small number of small birds entering the engines or colliding with the fuselage or windows. However, the unauthorized launch of large birds or, even worse, metallic electronic drones near airports can cause serious damage and lead to aircraft accidents or system failures, posing risks to flight safety. Cargo and agricultural drones of larger size pose a particular danger as they can potentially cause more significant damage in the event of a collision with an aircraft.

There are various methods available to counter unauthorized flights of private or recreational drones launched by irresponsible individuals in the vicinity of airports during takeoff and landing in adjacent areas.

Bel Trading & Consulting Ltd offers automated drone suppression systems as part of its arsenal to create safe corridors for aircraft in proximity to airports. Both standalone solutions and cutting-edge technology from global leaders in this field are provided. These systems have been successfully deployed and are in operation in various airports across Asia and Europe. Comprehensive solutions have been used, including interference jammers disrupting communication between the drone operator and the drone itself, as well as GPS positioning suppression systems for drones. Additionally, other diverse systems are available for intercepting or disabling drones, ensuring their removal from the hazardous areas of takeoff and landing.

Bel Trading & Consulting Ltd is ready to offer its clients and partners a range of existing solutions, as well as complete design services for necessary solutions. The company also provides support for equipment procurement, installation, system calibration, and ongoing maintenance. All requirements will be implemented professionally and reflected in the desired system configuration, taking into account practical experience in deploying similar systems. The most reliable and efficient solutions will be recommended to achieve maximum equipment performance and reliability, enabling full automatic operation with minimal operator intervention.

All solutions offered by the company have been extensively tested and proven effective and practical in their specialized equipment segment. No modern large civil airport can do without the deployment and application of such protective counter-drone systems, as they serve as one of the preventive measures for ensuring the safety of aircraft takeoff and landing.

A spokesperson for Bel Trading & Consulting Ltd said, “We are pleased to consider all cooperation options, whether it’s supplying or procuring equipment to counter unauthorised drone flights in aviation-sensitive areas, or engaging in joint development or modification of such automatic systems. Customer preferences will be promptly considered and fulfilled during the design, installation, and configuration of the counter-drone system. You can rest assured that through our collaborative efforts, assigned tasks will be accomplished with maximum efficiency within the planned budgetary framework.”

US CPI: Fed will raise rates this month despite cooler than expected inflation

July 12 2023

The US Federal Reserve won’t be swayed and will raise interest rates this month despite inflation coming in cooler than expected, says the CEO and founder of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organizations.

Nigel Green of deVere Group’s warning comes as the latest US CPI comes in lighter than economists predicted.

He says: “Despite the data showing that the battle against inflation in the world’s largest economy is being won, we expect the Federal Reserve will resume its interest rate hiking agenda this month.

“The central banks’ officials will argue that there is still work to be done to tame inflation and they are unlikely to be dissuaded from their course of action for the time being.

“While we believe that the Fed will raise rates in July, there is now less justification for further hikes later this year.”

The deVere CEO is urging the US central bank not to raise interest rates past July.

“Investors are increasingly concerned that the Federal Reserve could with further hikes overtighten and that would steer the US economy into a major recession.

“The central bank must also ensure the broader picture is maintained and not be too cautious by overdoing the hikes, which would trigger the US recession deeper and longer.

“As the world’s largest economy, this would clearly have a serious, negative impact on the global economy.

“The most aggressive tightening campaign in decades is not quite finished – but the tide could be turning.

“Against this backdrop, a good fund manager will help you pick out the winners and losers to help you sidestep the risks to your wealth and seize the opportunities to build it for the long-term.”

Euroconsult mark 40-year milestone with shareholder refresh

As Euroconsult celebrates its anniversary, the company announces a fully integrated future, positioning itself for further growth and enhancing its offering as it reflects on 40 years of strategic reliable guidance for space stakeholders.

New York, Paris, Montreal, Yokohama, Sydney, July 12th, 2023 – Leading space advisory firm, Euroconsult, has announced a major process of evolution for the group and its shareholders, as the company seeks to enable and drive forward its next decade of success via a simplified, fully integrated operational structure.

Since its establishment in 1983 Euroconsult has been at the heart of the space sector, providing strategic decision-making assistance to over 1,200 clients across 60 countries to date. Its first-class consulting and market intelligence services are trusted by both government and private organizations, including the likes of ESA, NASA, CNES and JAXA. Starting out by analyzing the impacts of technological innovations on the development of end-user segments, its expanding team of experts has continued to witness, react to, and advise on significant shifts in space strategies and capabilities over the years, perpetually adapting its offering to respond to developments within the sector.

Following the firm’s recent celebration of forty years in the business, it has today welcomed a new investor BNP Paribas Development, who will join CEO Pacôme Révillon and the other new and existing shareholders. Meanwhile, a wider restructuring will see more responsibility provided to its current management team and some legacy shareholders stepping down. The full integration of all the group’s subsidiaries is set to strengthen the synergies between its various businesses, with engineering arm Satconsult moving to a wholly-owned status, in a move that the company believes will simplify operations and ensure that more value is created for customers and partners.

CEO PacomeRevillon, who is among those who have underlined their commitment to the company through significant reinvestment, stated “It’s a thrilling time as we celebrate forty years of excellence in our field, target further growth, and welcome the arrival of BNP Paribas Développement to the group.

“Euroconsult increased its size by 60% in the last three years, refining and expanding our operations, whilst reinvigorating our team to ensure we can continue delivering the highest level of value for our clients.

“I would like to thank departing shareholders for the role they have played in our incredible journey so far, with some being present since the company’s inception. To those new shareholders who have joined us for this next stage in evolution, I wish to share my appreciation for their vision and confidence in the group’s high prospects. Finally, I would like to thank the advisers who contributed to the success of this exciting process, including Equideals, Vaughan Avocats, and FCN.”

BNP Paribas Développement’s appointment is a boost for Euroconsult, who aims to leverage the relationship with a high-profile investor that aligns with the company’s development model while allowing the group to retain its independence as a specialist advisor.

On the company’s investment, BNP Paribas Développement’s, Philippe Dunystated, “As an organization that views the global commercial space sector as a high potential growth area, we couldn’t be more pleased to have joined the Euroconsult family.

We look forward to supporting Euro consult’s important role in the space ecosystem as they build upon four decades of success, strengthening their group in a manner that aligns neatly with the company’s core values and vision for continual improvement in market intelligence, consultancy services, technology consulting, and executive events
& training”.

As with the expanding sector it serves, Euroconsult plans to continue exploring new verticals and applications, staying ahead of competitors by evolving and leveraging space-derived data to provide reliable strategic guidance to space stakeholders.

Fitch Ratings revised up OQ’s Standalone Credit Profile (SCP) to “bbb-” while reaffirms its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BB’ with Positive Outlook

Muscat, 12 July 2023:

Fitch Ratings, the international credit rating agency, has upgraded OQ’s standalone credit profile (SCP) from “b+” to “bbb-” and reaffirmed the Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘BB’, with positive outlook, this represents a significant improvement as OQ is now rated as investment grade. It attributed the new rating to OQ’s ability to meet its long-term financial obligations.

Fitch highlighted the exceptional achievements of the OQ Group, including reducing its debt as part of the Balance Sheet Optimisation programme, which demonstrated a committed approach to financial discipline. The credit rating agency shed light on the improved EBITDA net leverage ratios, establishment of financial policy and increased hydrocarbon production among the significant achievements that contributed to the improved SCP.

OQ’s rating is further bolstered by its diverse operations across exploration, production, refining, marketing, petrochemical segments, with focus on energy transition going forward, as well as the key role of the company as a national champion for clean energy.

The positive recognition reflects the unwavering commitment to excellence and positions OQ as a strong player in the industry. The agency also emphasised OQ’s proactive management of its balance sheet, leveraging strong cash flow generation and proceeds from asset sales to prepay debt. This positive shift in financial performance is largely attributed to the successful execution of the Group’s projects and robust financial performance due to higher oil and gas prices.

Powers Insurance & Risk Management Hires Giovanni Favazza

Favazza named Commercial Lines Risk Management Advisor at one of St. Louis’ largest family-owned insurance agencies.

(St. Louis, Mo., July 12, 2023) Powers Insurance & Risk Management, one of the largest family owned and operated independent insurance agencies in the bi-state region, recently hired Giovanni “Johnny” Favazza as Commercial Lines Risk Management Advisor. His responsibilities include generating new leads, as well as handling existing commercial accounts, in the property and casualty marketplace. Favazza will focus on enhancing business development by creating the most fitting insurance and risk management service solutions for each client.

Favazza grew up in his family’s business, Favazza’s Restaurant on the Hill. Prior to joining Powers, he worked as a Senior Account Executive at one of the largest insurance brokerages in Texas. He previously served as an Associate for a California-based investment advisory firm. Favazza earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Managerial Finance from the University of Mississippi located in Oxford, Miss.

“Gio brings the strong analytical skills and detail-oriented credentials it takes to work in our fast-paced insurance environment,” said Powers Insurance & Risk Management’s president JD Powers. “He has already achieved extensive industry success, and we are excited to have him on our team so he can generate long-lasting benefits for our clients.”

Founded in 1991, Powers Insurance & Risk Management provides personal and business insurance, surety, risk management, and employee benefits. Founded in 2006, sister company Valley Insurance Agency Alliance is a cohesive family of over 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois that generates more than $600 million in written premium. VIAA is the regional founding member for SIAA – The Agent Alliance, a $12.5 billion national alliance. The companies are headquartered at 6825 Clayton Ave. For more information, call (314) 725-1414 or visit www.powersinsurance.com.