Taking Action To Help Promote Better Health Outcomes Through Lower Insulin Costs

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Taking Action To Help Promote Better Health Outcomes Through Lower Insulin Costs

While federal and state efforts to limit insulin copayments will help millions of Americans, it may not solve the problem of high costs for people whose insurance doesn’t cover their insulin or the roughly 28 million* Americans without insurance. Walmart is working to help communities fill this gap.

By Dr. Cheryl Pegus, Executive Vice President, Walmart Health & Wellness

Associate Karina pointing to a ReliOn pen

We know that people living in rural America are 17% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those in urban areas. For many with diabetes, their health depends on having reliable access to insulin to help control blood sugar levels and prevent complications that diabetes causes.

The average cash price for insulins in the United States in late 2021 had risen more than 40% compared to early 2014. Sadly, but not surprisingly, 1 in 4 individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the United States resorted to rationing their insulin because of the high cost. The consequences of skipping or reducing insulin treatments can be severe, including increased likelihood of complications such as blindness, amputations, heart attack and kidney failure.

Ensuring access to affordable insulin is a goal we can and should achieve collectively. We are encouraged to see lawmakers at the federal and state levels recognize the urgency to make insulin more affordable. In his recent State of the Union address, President Biden called for a nationwide $35 cap on insulin copayments for those enrolled in private health plans or Medicare. The U.S. House approved a bill that does just that this week while the Senate is pursuing bipartisan agreement on a similar measure.

Unwilling to wait for federal action, 16 states across the country – starting with Colorado in 2019 – have enacted their own caps on insulin copayments, ranging from $25 to $100 a month, for consumers with commercial health insurance. Eight more states are considering legislation to do so this year.

While these federal and state laws limiting insulin copayments will help millions of Americans, they still don’t solve the problem of high insulin costs for people whose insurance doesn’t cover their insulin or the roughly 28 million Americans without insurance. Walmart is helping to fill that gap.

At Walmart, we are using our size and scale to bring down costs for our customers who must pay out of pocket for insulin, providing a more affordable option for those who can’t benefit from copay limits. By working directly with insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk, we are selling insulin products under our own private ReliOn label that saves customers up to 75% off the cash price of branded analog insulin. That translates to a savings of up to $101 per vial or $251 per package of branded FlexPens®.

ReliOn private label of Novolog (insulin aspart) injection analog insulin in vials and FlexPens® as well as ReliOn NovoLog® Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine and insulin aspart injectable suspension) are available at Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies nationwide to anyone with a prescription, regardless of their insurance status. Our suite of more affordable insulin products and diabetes-management devices is part of Walmart’s legacy of introducing innovative solutions that increase access to quality, affordable health care resources, including the industry-leading $4 generic prescription program launched more than a decade ago.

Walmart Health is also looking to better provide for patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and assist employers and other institutions supporting the specific health needs of their employees by launching the Walmart Health Virtual Care Diabetes Program. Available as a standalone or as part of a comprehensive medical and behavioral telehealth program, the Walmart Health Virtual Care Diabetes Program was developed in partnership with the American Diabetes Association for employers and payors to help their employees and members close gaps in diabetes management among employees and their families through early intervention, which could lead to better health outcomes.

While drug pricing in the United States is complicated and involves many stakeholders, the public’s need for life-saving medications like insulin at predictable and more affordable prices should drive all of us to do more and do better.

LG Earns Robot Safety Control Certification From Det Norske Veritas

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LG Earns Robot Safety Control Certification From Det Norske Veritas

First in the World to Receive ISO 13849-1 Certification for Mobile Service Robots,
LG Confirms Its Leadership in the Field of Robot Safety Technology

Logo of LG Electronics

LG Electronics (LG) has again proven its technological capabilities and commitment to creating safe, new innovations for a better life, becoming the first company in the world to receive the ISO 13849-1 certification* for its safety controller module utilized in mobile service robots. The new certification applies to LG’s advanced safety controllers for robots and was issued by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), an international accredited registrar and classification body headquartered in Norway.

LG’s newly developed safety controller for robots ensures the highest level of operational safety and reliability by actively managing robots’ settings, monitoring signals from robots’ sensors in real-time and providing protective deceleration or stop-control whenever any risk is detected.

Composed of only one module, LG’s safety controller boasts a significant advantage over conventional controllers – it can be easily adapted according to the individual specifications of each robot, or to meet the unique requirements of each customer.

Previously, manufacturers had to analyze and evaluate every single aspect of functional safety for each robot they produced, but this is no longer the case thanks to LG’s sophisticated controller. This is expected to help the company authenticate and launch new service robots, such as those from its well-known LG CLOi ServeBot and LG CLOI GuideBot series, more quickly than before.

A leader in the fast-changing robotics industry, LG has accumulated a wealth of data and knowhow through many decades of tireless innovation. The company has introduced a wide variety of robot solutions optimized for settings such as hotels, hospitals and restaurants, and leveraging its diverse technological capabilities, including in the areas of autonomous driving systems, sensors, artificial intelligence and cameras.

Recently, the company announced its full-fledged entry into the next-generation logistics robot market with the launch of LG CLOi CarryBot, developed in collaboration with CJ Logistics, one of South Korea’s largest parcel delivery firms.

“As autonomous robots for both industry and consumer applications are becoming more common, the field of robot safety technology continues to grow in importance,” said Dr. Baek Seung-min, head of the Advanced Robotics Lab at LG Electronics. “We are leading the way in this critical area, leaning on our considerable technological capabilities and real-world experience in applied robotics to provide the highest level of functional safety for the next-generation of autonomous robots.”

Philips awarded top honor by Red Dot jury with Design Team of the Year award

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Philips awarded top honor by Red Dot jury with Design Team of the Year award
  • Prestigious title awarded for the team’s multi-disciplinary and human-centered approach to designing solutions that improve people’s lives
  • Celebratory event accompanied by presentation of awards for Philips’ three Red Dot Design ‘Best of the Best’ product ratings

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced that the company’s Experience Design Team has been awarded the honorary title of ‘Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022’. The Red Dot design organization awarded the title in recognition of the Philips Experience Design Team’s multidisciplinary approach to creating integrated solutions that address major challenges in healthcare, such as ageing populations, the increase in chronic illnesses, the COVID-19 pandemic, and escalating healthcare costs, together with its strong focus on the user and patient experience.

On behalf of the team, Philips’ Chief Design Officer Sean Carney was presented the award during the Red Dot award ceremony that took place on the evening of Monday, June 20 in Essen, Germany. It is the first time in the history of the Red Dot Design Award (1988) that this award has been bestowed on a design team for the second time.

Philips’ Experience Design Team comprises a multidisciplinary team of designers operating out of 13 design centers across North and South America, Europe and Asia. Applying deep human insights and cutting-edge technologies, the team helps to create healthcare products and services that truly improve lives, making it a key part of Philips’ mission to improve the lives of 2.5 billion people a year by 2030, including 400 million in underserved communities.

The multidisciplinary Philips Experience Design Team has been proving for years that it is a leader in the field of healthcare technology. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022 award is a well-deserved recognition of their work.

Dr. Peter Zec

Founder and CEO of Red Dot

“Philips’ design team has achieved what many wish for, but few manage – holistic solutions that require the interplay of technology and design to make a lasting positive impact on the progress of their own company and the transformation of healthcare,” said Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot. “The multidisciplinary Philips Experience Design Team has been proving for years that it is a leader in the field of healthcare technology. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year 2022 award is a well-deserved recognition of their work.”

“For more than a decade we’ve recognized that integrated systems combining smart devices, systems, software, and services with real-time data and patient histories are the only way to deliver on the quadruple aim of better patient outcomes, enhanced patient and staff experiences, and lower cost of care, and do it across the entire patient journey,” said Sean Carney, Chief Design Officer at Philips. “I am immensely proud that my team has been awarded the prestigious title of Red Dot: Design Team of the Year in recognition of the outstanding healthcare solutions they are helping deliver.”

In April, Philips received three Red Dot Design ‘Best of the Best’ awards for ground-breaking design excellence, bringing the company’s cumulative ‘Best of the Best’ total over the years to 27, next to more than 460 Red Dot awards in total. This year’s Red Dot: Best of the Best awards are for its MR 5300 1.5T MRI scanner, a smart, connected and sustainable diagnostic solution that is designed to simplify and automate complex clinical and operational tasks, while offering an industry-unique answer to minimizing the use of scarce helium, the Philips Avent Connected Baby Monitor, a new connected baby/video monitor system to support parents and their baby securely, and the Fresh Air Mask Lite, designed to allow people to comfortably breathe clean air and do it in style.

Selected independently

Red Dot design awards are awarded for submitted products that are judged by the Red Dot jury to be outstanding in terms of their aesthetic appeal, functionality, smartness or innovation. The Red Dot: Design Team of the Year is selected independently from design teams with a consistent track record of innovative, top-class design achievements.

Learn from Philips Experience Design team member Hyelin Lee what it means to put human-centered and sustainable circular-ready design front-and-center in the end-to-end design process.

The work of Title IX isn’t over

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The work of Title IX isn’t over

Picture this: The wind and waves are whipping in a fury. You’re plunged into the frigid North Sea with no coastline in sight. You must escape from a submerged helicopter that has crashed miles from shore.

This was a training exercise when I started my career as a research engineer for utility company British Gas more years back than I care to admit. Most notably, I was the only woman on an offshore oil rig, among a group of more than 40 men.

The instructor facilitating the drill made me go first. After the rest of the group made the same plunge, we did it again and again, but each time he made me go first. After several rounds, I asked why he was singling me out.

“Because if you go first,” he replied, “the 40 men behind you will realize they can do it, too.”

I was young, tiny and blond. The wetsuit they supplied was made for a man because they didn’t make them for women, and I nearly drowned because it didn’t fit correctly and icy seawater gushed in.

I realized a critical life lesson that day that I would carry with me. That lesson would go on to inform and define my career and ambition to drive gender equity in the workplace: Women have long blazed trails and led society to greater feats, but had to work twice as hard while getting half the credit. The truth is, the world was designed by men for men without women in mind or in partnership.

Today is the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX, a U.S. law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Designed to address vast inequalities in education, Title IX has had the most dramatic and lasting impact on women’s and girls’ sports. Before Title IX, colleges and universities spent only 1% of their athletic budgets on women’s sports, and only 1 in 27 girls played sports. A funding gap still persists, but today, 2 in 5 girls play sports.

Title IX has had a ripple effect far beyond America, pushing the needle towards greater gender equity across the world. In fact, the movement has morphed and expanded to reflect an intersectional lens, with more nuances and more people, including protecting students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Today is an apt reminder that we have fought long and hard for gender equity, and yet, the fight is far from over.

Our world is full of brilliant possibilities. But they’re not always open to everyone. And where identities intersect — such as race, sexual orientation or physical ability — those opportunities can slip even further out of reach. This holds us all back.

The last few years have only made this clearer. Is that woman in the perilously ill-fitting wetsuit so different from the lone woman who finds herself in the corporate boardroom or C-suite, trying to make her voice heard in a room of men who still ask her to make the coffee? She is a Black woman entrepreneur trying to get access to capital. And she is a young girl fascinated by science but doesn’t see herself reflected in any of the adults around her. 

The work to ensure equal opportunity is far from done. There is clearly still a need for a great change. It’s why I chair the 30% Club, where we run the largest cross-company global mentorship program in the world with more than 2,600 participants across more than 190 companies. That’s why Mastercard participates in Boards for Impact, which now has more than 60 company executives sitting on not-for-profit boards to ensure that more women find their way into leadership positions.

It’s also why Mastercard has worked to ensure that women earn $1 for every $1 a man earns and why we’ve linked executive and employee compensation to closing the gender pay gap. It’s why Mastercard is one of the largest supports of women’s sports, including soccer and our title sponsorship of the Mastercard Mini 10K, which began in 1972 as the first woman-only road race. It’s also why we’re partnered with Financial Alliance for Women, which works to increase women’s access to bank accounts, loans, investment products and capital, and why we’ve brought Girls4Tech, our award-winning STEM education program for young girls, to 2 million girls in 52 countries and counting. And it’s why we stand up for LGBTQ rights.

The sum total of our efforts, along with that of others driving this work in the public, private and nonprofit sectors, means greater gender equity for all, not just in sports, but wherever women seek to fulfill their potential.  

“I supposed the purpose of my bill,” Patsy Mink, the Hawaii congresswoman who sponsored Title IX, later reflected, “is really to free the human spirit to make it possible for everyone to achieve according to their talents and wishes.”

Whether that means a business suit, a tracksuit or a wetsuit, let us use the 50th anniversary of Title IX as inspiration to create the next chapter of what’s possible, for all women, everywhere.

KFC GLOBAL NAMES TARUN LAL PRESIDENT OF KFC U.S. BUSINESS

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KFC GLOBAL NAMES TARUN LAL PRESIDENT OF KFC U.S. BUSINESS

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) announced today that Tarun Lal has been named President of KFC U.S., effective July 15, 2022.

Lal is currently managing director (MD) of the KFC Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey, Africa and India markets and is a 25-year KFC brand veteran. He will report to Dyke Shipp, KFC Division President, and relocate to the KFC U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Ky.

“Tarun has proven to be a best-in-class operator with a strong commercial outlook and approach,” said Shipp. “As he joins the U.S. brand, we are confident he will be met with a similar passion for consistent execution and achieving breakthrough results.”

Lal has served in various roles at KFC and its parent company, Yum! Brands, including General Manager (GM) of KFC Africa, KFC Global Chief Operations Officer and GM for KFC India.

In his current role, his leadership has driven tangible impact across KFC’s strategic initiatives. As GM of KFC Africa, Lal’s extensive understanding of the business, and partnering skills, added tremendous value to the KFC Sub-Saharan Africa business. Under his management, the KFC Africa team unlocked growth across the region, including successful brand launches in multiple new markets.

Lal is an active and vocal champion of female advancement, equity, inclusion and belonging, sponsoring talent initiatives like the Next-Generation of Women (N.O.W.) strategy designed to support KFC’s commitment to reach gender parity in leadership roles by 2025.

Lal replaces Kevin Hochman, who departed KFC U.S. on June 3 to assume a senior position at another public company.

About KFC   

KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., has been serving Finger Lickin’ Good Original Recipe® fried chicken since 1952. Beyond the top secret 11 herbs & spices, KFC specialties include the KFC Chicken Sandwich, Extra Crispy™ chicken and Extra Crispy™ Tenders, KFC Famous Bowls®, Pot Pies, Secret Recipe Fries, biscuits and homestyle sides. There are more than 26,000 KFC restaurants in over 145 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM). For more information, visit www.kfc.com. Follow KFC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. 

Feeding hungry people and building climate-resilient communities – Nestlé enters new partnership with World Central Kitchen

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Feeding hungry people and building climate-resilient communities – Nestlé enters new partnership with World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen Relief Mozambique

By collaborating with World Central Kitchen (WCK), Nestlé will help feed hungry people in communities that have been stricken by extreme weather events related to the climate crisis. Nestlé will support WCK in an initial one-year agreement and with a CHF one million donation to its Climate Disaster Fund.

“We chose to partner with World Central Kitchen due to its close alignment with our business and our donations activities related to hunger relief and food access”, said Nina Kruchten, Head of Corporate Donations at Nestlé. “Through its frontline work across the globe, WCK helps ease increasing food insecurity issues related to climate change. And in keeping with Nestlé’s purpose, WCK does it through the power of food.”

The non-profit has three areas of focus:

  • Providing meals to hungry people impacted by climate disasters. WCK brings food, water and other resources to affected areas.
  • Building resilience in frontline communities. WCK supports communities to feed themselves and helps farmers adapt to a rapidly changing climate. It invests in local food producers and teaches foodservice professionals and culinary students the WCK model. That way they are ready to respond in their own communities when needed.
  • Changing the systems that leave people hungry and thirsty. WCK works with local and state governments to take successful models and scale them up.

These efforts mirror much of the work Nestlé has undertaken as part of its Net Zero Roadmap. The company is not only addressing its own operations and product portfolio to reduce its carbon footprint. It is also supporting farmers and suppliers to implement regenerative agriculture practices and is scaling up its reforestation program, given that nearly two-thirds of its emissions come from agriculture. Nestlé aims to halve its emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

Some examples of WCK’s work include the relief team that responded in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Batsirai which hit the east coast of Madagascar in February of this year. The team worked quickly to set up a WCK Field Kitchen, which used fresh ingredients from a local market for meals and employed local people to cook. Another example is the WCK team that formed a network of local restaurant partners to cook for people in need following extreme rainfall and flooding in Bahia, Brazil at the end of last year. And yet another is the nineteen food-related businesses across the US Virgin Islands and The Bahamas that recently received WCK grants, one of which was Sejah Farm of the Virgin Islands which plans to create an agricultural learning center.

On top of helping people impacted by natural disasters, WCK also responds to prolonged humanitarian crises such as the one in Ukraine. Nestlé has also supported this effort, and the WCK team has already provided over 27 million meals across eight countries to those affected by the war in Ukraine.

Canon to join the Rugby World Cup commercial family for New Zealand 2021 and France 2023

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Canon to join the Rugby World Cup commercial family for New Zealand 2021 and France 2023

TOKYO, June 27, 2022—Canon Inc. (hereafter: Canon) announced today that the company will serve as a Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2021, which will take place in New Zealand from October 8 to November 12, 2022* and Official Supplier for Rugby World Cup 2023, which will take place in France from September 8 to October 28, 2023.

Rugby World Cup New Zealand 2021 logo

Rugby World Cup New Zealand 2021 logo

Rugby World Cup France 2023 logo

Rugby World Cup France 2023 logo

With the aim of promoting further development of the rugby world, Canon has become a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand (9th Women’s edition). Canon has also signed a contract to become Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup France 2023 (10th Men’s edition).

This latest agreement marks Canon’s involvement for the third consecutive Rugby World Cup having previously sponsored Rugby World Cup 2015 in England, and Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan. In addition, and for the first time, this new sponsorship establishes Canon as a Worldwide Partner of the women’s tournament, further supporting the advancement of gender equality in rugby.

As a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 and Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023, Canon offers the full support of its diverse businesses, ranging from products and solutions—including cameras, lenses, video camcorders, network cameras and medical equipment. As with other sporting competitions in the past, both in Japan and overseas, Canon will provide behind-the-scenes support services to members of the press covering Rugby World Cups 2021 and 2023, including camera and lens maintenance services and product loans, to enable the best possible capture of the top-class athletes competing at the zenith of their sport.

The Canon Group will continue contributing to the advancement of sports through the use of Canon products and technologies.

  • *Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament scheduled for 2021 has been postponed to 2022.

Reference

Comment from World Rugby Chief Executive Officer Alan Gilpin

“Having recently confirmed both men’s and women’s editions of Rugby World Cup up until 2033, there couldn’t be a more pivotal time to welcome Canon on board. Their relentless focus on innovation echoes our vision to make rugby as relevant and accessible as possible and their support will accelerate the development of our sport across the globe. We have had the great pleasure of working with Canon for a number of years and we are very proud to be continuing our long-standing relationship for Rugby World Cups 2021 and 2023. Canon shares our passion for driving gender parity across the game and we are delighted to be welcoming them to the partner family for the pinnacle women’s 15s tournament that kicks off in New Zealand later this year.”

Comment from Canon Inc. Chairman & CEO Fujio Mitarai

“Following on from Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Canon is delighted to continue backing the tournaments as Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand and Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. I am delighted that we have been granted this opportunity to support both the men’s and women’s tournaments. In addition to supporting professional photographers and news media as they capture the intense action of the world’s top teams facing off in peak condition; Canon, will do its utmost to support World Rugby—the owner of both tournaments—as well as the organising committees, relevant authorities, local government and other corporate sponsors.”

Overview of Tournaments: Rugby World Cup 2021

Host countryNew Zealand
Tournament periodOctober 8 – November 12, 2022
Participating teams12 (New Zealand, England, France, United States of America, Canada, Australia, Wales, South Africa, Scotland, Fiji, Japan, Italy)

Overview of Tournaments: Rugby World Cup 2023

Host countryFrance
Tournament periodSeptember 8 – October 28, 2023
Participating teams20 (South Africa, England, Wales, New Zealand, Japan, France, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Fiji, Samoa, Uruguay, Georgia. Remaining five teams to be determined through qualifying matches.)

Strengthening the Pipeline of Women Behind the Camera in the Arab World

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Strengthening the Pipeline of Women Behind the Camera in the Arab World

We are committed to telling stories about and by women across our slate in the Arab world. The Arab world has a long-standing history of women in entertainment, and we’ve had incredible successes and firsts from the region that we’re all very proud of. But in order to give more people a chance to see their lives reflected on screen, we need more women behind and in front of the camera.

To that effect, we have partnered with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture which will provide a one-time grant of $250,000 to women producers and directors in the Arab world through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity

We have shortlisted five projects spearheaded by women from Tunisia, Lebanon, and Morocco – all of whom are eager to tell stories that are unique and authentic to them but carry universal themes that transcend languages and cultures.

Asmae El Moudir is a director and producer from Morocco whose film, ‘The Mother of All Lies’ has been shortlisted for the non-fiction category. Diala Kachmar (From the other shore), Jana Wehbe (The Day Vladimir Died) and Tania Khoury (Manity) – all exceptional female producers from Lebanon are spearheading three exciting fiction projects, and Sarra Abidi – director and producer from Tunisia is excited to bring her story, My Name Is Clara, to life on screen. 

While they hail from different cities/regions and have different specialities — some are producers, some are writers and some are directors — all the women receiving support share a common urge to tell stories that haven’t been told before and tackle subjects often considered unconventional for women.

Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity aims to help create new opportunities for underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry.

“More and more Arab women filmmakers are creating moving images that have the power to shed light on the realities of the region. This second collaboration with Neftlix, this time to support women in the field of cinema, complements perfectly AFAC’s mission to promote diversity of voices and narratives,” stated Rima Mismar, AFAC’s Executive Director.

This initiative continues our commitment to amplifying women’s voices as we work with both established creators and new voices in the Arab world to tell more layered and multidimensional stories.  It builds on our work to date with shows like Al Rawabi School for Girls and Finding Ola all of which hail from women, for women.

We strive to be a meaningful part of the Arab world’s creative industries – building the right opportunities, amplifying underrepresented voices, and ultimately bringing fresh and authentic Arab content to our members around the globe.

JoAnn Kharma

Communications Manager, Middle East & North Africa

jkharma@netflix.com

Allianz launches “MoveNow” program to move people of the next generation

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Allianz launches “MoveNow” program to move people of the next generation

Allianz is launching the MoveNow program to support and strengthen young people by facilitating access and offering opportunities to become and stay active. The mission is to prepare the next generation for the future by moving their body, mind and soul.

The pandemic has led to a decreasing sport activity of young people in Germany. This is the result of a representative survey1 conducted by appinio on behalf of Allianz. In the present study Allianz compares the physical activity of a representative sample of 1,000 5-24-year-olds before, during and after the most recent COVID-19 lockdowns in Germany. Due to regulations of the government such as the closing of sport clubs and fitness centres, children and adolescents were deprived of following their regular sporting activities. Consequently, 66 percent of children2 between the ages of 5 and 15 as well as 51 percent of young people from the age of 16 to 24 in Germany were less active in sports.

Today, two and a half years after the initial outbreak of the coronavirus, the young generation still struggles to find their way back into an active routine. While 56 percent of children are back to doing sports as frequently as before the pandemic, 39 percent have lost their motivation and find it difficult to get active again. The surveyed young people are even more affected: More than one in two (54 percent) adolescents are still fighting to follow a regular sport routine, only 37 percent are just as active again.

Insurance company Allianz is tapping into this issue by launching the MoveNow program to support and strengthen young people by facilitating access and offering opportunities to become and stay active. The mission is to prepare the next generation* for the future by moving their body, mind and soul. It is proven that regular activity has a high impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of children and young adults. Children between the age of 5 and 15 are happier, more balanced and active if they regularly participate in sports. The young people surveyed feel that sport makes them more active and physically fit (29 percent), healthy (27 percent), more balanced (25 percent) and happier (24 percent). Only six percent stated that sports do not offer them any added value. 

A lower activity leads to decreasing positive attitudes. As a result, 41 percent of children in Germany were especially unbalanced and bored during the pandemic, which has a negative impact on the physical and social development. 36 percent lacked contact with teammates, another 15 percent even became depressed. Also, one in five of the young adults stated that they felt depressed.

As Official Worldwide Insurance Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, Allianz has teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to strengthen the role of sport in society to create a healthier environment for young people. Together with the IOC, Allianz is working on a thought leadership piece to enhance the understanding of why it is important to enable the next generation to move their body, mind and soul as well as how to find a sustainable approach. With the MoveNow program, Allianz commits to move people of the next generation across the globe through 24 initiatives in the upcoming months until the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. The program picks up on many sport activations and festivals Allianz has conducted over the last years and includes initiatives like youth camps, sports activities and digital events such as a fitness series with the IPC launching later this year. 

As a kick-off for the Road to Paris, the MoveNow program will begin on July 26th – two years before the Olympic Games Paris 2024. It will be spearheaded by a social participation initiative which is led by influencers, both of athletes and non-athlete’s backgrounds, who will engage their communities in sports challenges of all sorts. 

Especially sport events and competitions are a great way to get young people moving again. According to the survey results, 49 percent of the young people and 42 percent of the children surveyed like the challenge of achieving one’s personal best most about sports. The answers to what would make young people exercise regularly again are a friend for mutual motivation (39 percent), more free sports activities (37 percent), making new social contacts (24 percent) and trying out a new sport (23 percent).

Dr. med. Sonja Beyer, company physician at Allianz says: “We at Allianz understand that it’s not a given for everyone to be confident in tomorrow, having a positive outlook about their own well-being and future perspective. Especially the next generation is hit hard by the current crises from COVID-19 to climate. In these times we must deliver on our purpose and promise. We are convinced of a positive effect of sports on body, mind and soul. Therefore, we are proud to introduce the MoveNow program to get young people moving again so that they are ready for tomorrow.”

1 The appinio study commissioned by Allianz was conducted in June 2022 among children and adolescents between the age of 5 and 24 years in a nationwide representative sample (N=1000) in Germany.

2 Children between the ages of 5 and 15 surveyed by their parents.

* Up to 32 years old.

eBay Acquires Leading NFT Marketplace, KnownOrigin

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eBay Acquires Leading NFT Marketplace, KnownOrigin

The deal combines eBay’s reach and reputation with KnownOrigin’s leading technology to empower a new wave of NFT creators, sellers and buyers

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY), a global commerce leader that connects millions of sellers and buyers around the world, and KnownOrigin, one of the most innovative non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces, today announced that eBay has acquired KnownOrigin. KnownOrigin’s technology and platform provides artists a place to create unique, authentic, digital collectibles, in the form of NFTs. 

This acquisition is an important step in eBay’s tech-led reimagination, ushering in a new era of digital collecting to the world’s top destination for collectibles. KnownOrigin, which was founded in 2018 in Manchester, UK, enables artists and collectors to create, buy and resell NFTs via blockchain-support transactions. Since its founding,KnownOrigin has seen significant growth as it has revolutionized the way people create, buy, and sell NFTs.

“eBay is the first stop for people across the globe who are searching for that perfect, hard-to-find, or unique addition to their collection and, with this acquisition, we will remain a leading site as our community is increasingly adding digital collectibles,” said Jamie Iannone, CEO of eBay. “KnownOrigin has built up an impressive, passionate and loyal group of artists and collectors making them a perfect addition to our community of sellers and buyers. We look forward to welcoming these innovators as they join the eBay community.”  

eBay’s tech-led reimagination has resulted in significant upgrades to the company’s technology, performance and customer experience, including tools that make it easier than ever to discover, buy or sell anything. As a part of this, eBay began allowing the buying and selling of NFTs in May 2021. 

“We founded KnownOrigin to empower creators and collectors by giving them the ability to showcase, sell, and collect unique, authenticated digital items,” said David Moore, co-founder, KnownOrigin. “As interest in NFTs continues to grow, we believe now is the perfect time for us to partner with a company that has the reach and experience of eBay. With more than twenty-five years building similar communities of passionate individuals, we are excited by the opportunity to bring a whole new audience on this journey. This is the start of a new chapter in the KnownOrigin story and we couldn’t choose a better time to focus on building and innovating with the team at eBay. This partnership will help us attract a new wave of NFT creators and collectors.”

Details on the Transaction

eBay is acquiring KnownOrigin and the companies have signed and closed the deal as of June 21, 2022. Further details were not disclosed. 

About eBay

eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce leader that connects people and builds communities to create economic opportunity for all. Our technology empowers millions of buyers and sellers in more than 190 markets around the world, providing everyone the opportunity to grow and thrive. Founded in 1995 in San Jose, California, eBay is one of the world’s largest and most vibrant marketplaces for discovering great value and unique selection. In 2021, eBay enabled over $87 billion of gross merchandise volume. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “approximate,” “believe,” “commit,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “would,” “will” and other similar words or expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect eBay’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and actual events may differ materially from historical results or current expectations. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of future performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, assumptions and other factors, many of which are outside the control of eBay. The forward-looking statements in this document address a variety of subjects including, for example, the potential benefits of the acquisition, including maintaining eBay’s position in the collectibles category and bringing new audiences to the NFT market. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements: the possibility that eBay may not fully realize the projected benefits of the acquisition and business disruption following the transaction. In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to eBay’s overall business, including those more fully described in eBay’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this document speak only as of this date. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

Contacts

eBay Investor Relations Contact: Joe Billante, ir@ebay.com

eBay Media Relations Contact: Trina Somera, press@ebay.com 

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