Latest news with #Hachem
New York Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Groom's comment on wedding day divides social media
An Aussie groom dropping the F-word while giving a glowing compliment towards his beautiful bride has divided social media. Entrepreneur James Hachem, who is a founder of the skincare brand Alya Skin and clothing brand Sasha Therese, wed social media influencer Antonia Apostolou in a lavish ceremony in Italy in June. The wedding, which has been posted on both the bride and groom's social media accounts, is completely over-the-top and beautiful. The bride wore a classic white gown with a stunning veil, and the groom looked dapper in a black and white suit. The influencer, in true influencer fashion, shared a snippet of their vows on her TikTok account, where she has over 4 million likes and more than 100,000 followers. @antoniahachem Aussies in the middle of their elegant Italian ceremony ♬ original sound – antoniahachem 'Aussies in the middle of their elegant Italian wedding,' she jokingly captioned the clip. The video then showed Hachem, who was featured on the Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2021, disrupting their vows to take a moment to gush about his new bride. 'F–k me does she not look insane?' he asked the wedding guests. Apostolou, who has already changed her name to Hachem on social media, was seen laughing at her groom's grand statement, and the crowd also laughed along, clapping and cheering. James Hachem and Antonia Apostolou's wedding was in June. @antoniahachem/TikTok The ceremony then started and the groom appeared to be overcome with emotions as the marriage celebrant began to speak. That 7-word remark quickly divided people online, amassing over 500,000 views in the process. Some people absolutely loved Hachem's cheeky remark, with one person branding it 'gold' and another stating, 'you married the right man'. 'Best moment,' someone else said. 'He was nervous and blurted out what he thinks. Kind of cute,' another theorised. 'I feel like this could be a red flag but weird because I sort of like it too,' one person wrote, with another saying, 'this or nothing'. Someone else argued that you can tell the Aussies from the non-Aussies in the comment section based on how 'foul' they find the use of swear words. 'Can't get more Aussie than this,' another declared. Hachem's reaction to his bride was posted on TikTok and went viral. @antoniahachem/TikTok On the other hand, there were other people who weren't as sold on his choice of phrasing, particularly the fact that he dropped a swear word in the middle of his wedding ceremony. 'That ruined the classy moment,' one person claimed. 'I would be mortified,' someone else said. 'I would die of embarrassment,' another wrote. One person said the video was 'proof money can't buy class', with another branding the move 'bogan'. Another person argued it was 'disrespectful' to make those kinds of remarks in front of the bride's family. Someone else said it was 'vulgar', while one claimed it gave her the 'ick'.
LBCI
23-04-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Lebanese chargé d'affaires highlights new economic vision during embassy reception in Washington
Lebanon's Chargé d'Affaires a.i. Wael Hachem welcomed guests at the Lebanese Embassy on the occasion of the country's official delegation visit to the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, underscoring a renewed national push for reform and global engagement. 'This visit carries exceptional significance,' Hachem said, noting it is the first official visit of its kind since the start of President Joseph Aoun's term. He described the president's agenda as one 'rooted in transparency, reform, and the restoration of trust in the state and its institutions.' Quoting President Aoun, Hachem said: 'The world is waiting for us, and we must prove that we have become capable of managing the country's assets with transparency and fairness, in a manner that preserves everyone's dignity and restores confidence—both between citizens and their state, and between Lebanon and the world.' The reception marked a key diplomatic moment for Lebanon, as the delegation—led by Lebanese ministers, the central bank governor, and heads of parliamentary committees—engaged with senior officials from global financial institutions. 'The delegation brings with it a realistic yet ambitious agenda, one that reflects Lebanon's firm and unwavering commitment to reform,' Hachem said, framing the meetings as a 'valuable opportunity to showcase the new face of Lebanon.' Hachem praised the role of the new government, headed by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and emphasized the importance of coordination with international counterparts 'from governments, central banks, the private sector, and international organizations.' He also thanked members of the U.S. administration and Congress for their support and highlighted the role of Lebanon's foreign minister in deepening U.S.-Lebanon ties. 'We continue to work tirelessly with our American partners... to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between Lebanon and the United States.' Special thanks were extended to U.S. Envoy Morgan Ortagus, whose presence was described as a 'renewed vote of confidence in Lebanon.'
Miami Herald
11-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
A ‘second life' for your old sneakers. Miami company recycles and reuses them
Whether you're a marathon runner or someone who just takes the dog on a walk, chances are you've bought multiple pairs of sneakers in a year. But when those brand crisp new white shoes turn brown, the soles go thin or your toes poke through a hole, they eventually get thrown in the Goodwill pile during spring cleaning or in the trash. Either way, your old shoes are likely to end up in a landfill. Moe Hachem thinks there's a way to give those shoes a 'second life.' He's founded a Miami shoe recycling and reuse company, Sneaker Impact, with the aim of reducing the environmental and climate footprint of the massive athletic shoe industry. It's not a new idea but he's taking steps to address 'waste colonialism' criticism that other shoe and clothing recycling enterprises have faced over dumping the wrong stuff in the wrong places. 'Our team inspects each and every pair that comes here.' Hachem said. 'Every shoe is accounted for. We are prolonging the life of the shoes.' There are thousands of Sneaker Impact drop-off locations in gyms, specialty sneaker stores and run clubs around the United States, including local spots like FootWorks Running, Brickell Run Club and the University of Miami that get sent to its 75,000-square-foot facility in Little Haiti. Every day thousands of shoes are delivered and added to the piles of piles of merchandise, boxes, and bags that stack up to the facility's ceiling. Hachem's family has been in the used retail merchandise business for decades, and there are still thousands of old clothes in the building but sneakers, since 2020, have been the company's focus. The deliveries include the gold standard for reuse and reselling, clean trendy name brands like Nike Air Force 1, Jordan's and seemingly brand new HOKA and On-Cloud running shoes. They all get mixed in with sneakers with holes and ripped soles, which nobody is likely to want to wear again. Every shoe that comes in is sorted by quality and the big 'second life' decision: Are they intact enough to be shipped out and resold or bound for the recycling process, which means cannibalizing it for useful components. 'End-of-life' shoes with worn-out treads or other major issues get sent to the grinding room. Through the shoe grinder One of the biggest challenges of recycling sneakers is sorting out the multicolored piles that come out of the grinder. Many shoes have more than 15 materials, including plastic — and how they're glued together doesn't make them easy to recycle. But with new and more expensive equipment, Hachem expects Sneaker Impact to make a dramatic expansion: from shredding and sorting hundreds of shoes a day to thousands of shoes an hour. The new sorting machine is tall enough to need a step stool to get up to the top to dump buckets of the ground-up sneakers into the opening, and within minutes, it spits out product by color and material depending on what's selected on a touch-screen. During a test run when the Herald visited, the machine was able to spit out black pieces with about 85% accuracy. Hachem said they're still working out the bugs. He's experimenting with using recycled foam and rubber to make new products too. Floors around his office at the Miami headquarters are made entirely from rubber and foam from recycled sneakers. He imagines that rubber flooring might be a good choice for playgrounds while foam might add extra comfort under carpets. Sneaker Impact has also partnered with California-based companies, Community Made and Blumaka, to use the materials to create prototypes of new sneakers, slides and boots that he unveiled for the first time to the Herald. The slides have a similar comfort to Crocs. But the majority of the shoes are shipped outside of the U.S. to be sold in second-hand markets, mainly by boat to Haiti, Honduras, Guatemala and Bolivia in 20-foot shipping containers with 10,000 pairs of shoes packed in each. Shoes that are dirty or have holes but have their soles and treading intact are also sent to be repaired or washed at overseas marketplaces, he said. 'You're not only reducing waste but creating micro-business opportunities,' Hachem said. 'In developing countries, these shoes are a necessity. If a perfectly fine sneaker has been worn for 100 miles and you're shipping it to the right market, we don't think it's the right call to grind it and shred it.' 'Waste colonialism' Old clothing, particularly shoes, are a growing waste problem. Some statistics show that 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown out every year and sneakers can take more than 1,000 years to decompose in a landfill. Efforts to 'recycle' clothes have had mixed success. The U.S. is the largest exporter of second-hand clothing in the world and sends out more than a billion pounds of used clothing each year — but the majority of is unsellable and basically trash, according to the Or Foundation which has played a leading role in documenting fashion waste. 'Waste colonialism is throwing our trash into developing countries,' said Francesca Bellumini, an associate instructor of sustainable fashion at Columbia University who lives in Miami. Over the years, retail companies like Zara and H&M have caught flack for getting paid to send products that litter the global south. Bellumini calls it 'corporate green-washing.' What doesn't get sold from Goodwill or Salvation Army gets baled up and sold to textile buyer, likely to also end up in another country. For example, the Or Foundation found that at Kantamanto, the world's largest secondhand clothing market located in Ghana, roughly 40% of the millions of items that pass through every week leave the market as waste. 'The beach has piles of clothing taller than I am,' Liz Ricketts, co-founder and executive director of the non-profit, Or Foundation, said to the Herald on a call from Ghana. 'We are removing 20 tons of textile waste a week. And we could be doing more.' Ricketts said things escalated for two reasons: low-quality products making up the majority of the supply and Ghana not having the financial resources to build a landfill or incinerator. She described low-quality products as anything that requires the vendor to invest money to make the product resellable. 'If a retailer is in debt and they get a bale of product and they have to wash everything and repair everything that takes money, and they might not have that money,' she said. 'If it's good enough for someone in America, then sure it's something that probably will be worth it for a retailer here.' Sneaker Impact has had contracts with Ghana in the past and said it's not currently shipping there but Hachem acknowledges there are similar concerns in the Caribbean. He said his company is working to send products to places that actually need or can use them. 'Sending a sweater to Ghana, even if it's a nice North Face, is not the right place,' Hachem said. 'Sending a size 13 shoe to Bolivia, or Honduras is the wrong market. You can send the same pair to Ukraine and it would be useful.' Bellumini appreciates how Sneaker Impact is attempting to create a circular market from a ground-up approach: 'The problem is huge and wicked at this point and there's no one solution,' Bellumini said. 'I'm not saying that the action of one person, or the action of one individual or brand or enterprise is not working. Actually, it starts from one person or one Moe, and I have never seen somebody dedicating so much money and so much time and so much effort into solving a problem.' Ashley Miznazi is a climate change reporter for the Miami Herald funded by the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Colon Cancer Awareness Month – What everyone needs to know to prevent and detect colon cancer
MURRAY, Utah (ABC4 Utah) – Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in men and women under age 50. According to the American Cancer Society almost 153,000 individuals in the United States were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer in 2024, and more than 53,000 died from the disease. March is Colon Cancer Awareness month and Intermountain Health is working to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of prevention and early detection. Awareness is crucial, as many cases of colon and rectal cancer can be prevented. In fact, colon cancer has a 90% survival rate when its detected early. Understanding Your Risks Colon cancer can affect anyone, but certain factors can increase your risk: • Age: Most cases occur in individuals aged 50 and older • Family History: A family history of colon cancer or polyps can increase your risk. • Personal History: Previous polyps or inflammatory bowel disease heighten your risk. • Lifestyle Factors: Diets high in red and processed meats, smoking, heavy alcohol use and lack of physical activity can contribute to an increased risk. However, it's not just older adults who need to be vigilant. Colorectal cancer incidence has been steadily increasing in younger Americans for the last several decades, with the sharpest rise seen in the incidence of rectal cancer. In 2020, 11% of all colon cancer and 15% of all rectal cancer diagnoses were estimated to occur in individuals under age 50. 'Waiting for symptoms is too late,' said Christine Hachem, MD, interim medical director of gastroenterology and digestive health for Intermountain Health. 'Screening occurs when you have no symptoms and feel well. Early detection is critical to catching colorectal cancer and saving lives.' This rise is alarming because younger patients often have more advanced cases by the time they're diagnosed. Factors contributing to this trend may include environmental exposures, dietary habits, and sporadic genetic mutations, said Dr. Hachem. 'Younger individuals face unique barriers when it comes to colon cancer screenings, such as a lack of awareness about the need for screening, fear or discomfort associated with the procedure and challenges in navigating the healthcare system,' said Vik Padival, MD, an Intermountain Health gastroenterologist at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. 'It's crucial for everyone, regardless of age, to understand their personal risk factors and discuss them with their healthcare provider to determine the best screening plan.' Updated national guidelines make it possible for more people to be screened with a colonoscopy and stool-based testing starting at age 45. Colonoscopies are considered the gold standard for colon cancer detection, as it not only detects abnormalities, but removes precancerous lesions. Intermountain Health makes it easier to schedule a colonoscopy with an online system, ensuring you have access to this vital screening option. For most patients a colonoscopy is then only needed once every 10 years, or once every five years if your doctor determines you have an increased risk of colon cancer. Earlier screening may be recommended for anyone with a personal history of polyps or family history of colon cancer. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (with Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis) or other chronic conditions that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, talk with your doctor or a GI specialist to determine when and how often you should be screened. 'Don't delay your screenings,' said Dr. Hachem. 'It could save your life.' Other Easy and Convenient Screening Options Intermountain Health offers home-based tests that are both effective and convenient, allowing you to get what you need, when you need it, without leaving your home. Individuals who are 45 to 75 years old with average risk may qualify for Intermountain's on-demand colon cancer screening kits. This is an option that allows you to get a test kit in the mail and send it back to the lab for testing without the need for an appointment. • Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): This simple, non-invasive test detects hidden blood in the stool, an early sign of colon cancer. You can complete it at home, and if the results are positive or abnormal, a follow-up colonoscopy may be necessary. • Cologuard: Combining the FIT with a DNA test, Cologuard detects abnormal DNA markers in stool samples. It's also non-invasive and can be done at home. A positive or abnormal result will require a follow-up colonoscopy. Why Choose Home-Based Tests? Home-based tests like FIT and Cologuard offer several advantages: – Convenience: Complete the test at home without a doctor's visit. – Non-Invasive: No preparation or sedation required. – Accessibility: Ideal for those who may have difficulty scheduling or accessing colonoscopy appointments. Act Today Understanding your risks and exploring your screening options are vital steps in preventing colon cancer. If you are 45 or older, you can order an at-home colon cancer screening kit to have a test kit mailed to you without needing a doctor's visit. If you have risk factors, like a family or personal history of colon cancer or polyps, talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened. For more information about Intermountain Health's on-demand services, click here. To schedule a colonoscopy, or to find a physician click here. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Sponsored by Intermountain Health. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Colon Cancer Awareness Month – What you should know to prevent and detect Colon Cancer early
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Good Things Utah) – Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer related deaths in men and women under age 50. According to the American Cancer Society almost 153,000 individuals in the U.S. were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer in 2024, and more than 53,000 died from the disease. March is Colon Cancer Awareness month and Intermountain Health is working to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of prevention and early detection. Awareness is crucial, as many cases of colon and rectal cancer can be prevented. In fact, colon cancer has a 90% survival rate when its detected early. Understanding Your Risks Colon cancer can affect anyone, but certain factors can increase your risk: – Age: Most cases occur in individuals aged 50 and older. – Family History: A family history of colon cancer or polyps can increase your risk. – Personal History: Previous polyps or inflammatory bowel disease heighten your risk. – Lifestyle Factors: Diets high in red and processed meats, smoking, heavy alcohol use and lack of physical activity can contribute to an increased risk. However, it's not just older adults who need to be vigilant. Colorectal cancer incidence has been steadily increasing in younger Americans for the last several decades, with the sharpest rise seen in the incidence of rectal cancer. In 2020, 11% of all colon cancer and 15% of all rectal cancer diagnoses were estimated to occur in individuals under age 50. 'Waiting for symptoms is too late,' said Christine Hachem, MD, interim medical director of gastroenterology and digestive health for Intermountain Health. 'Screening occurs when you have no symptoms and feel well. Early detection is critical to catching colorectal cancer and saving lives.' This rise is alarming because younger patients often have more advanced cases by the time they're diagnosed. Factors contributing to this trend may include environmental exposures, dietary habits, and sporadic genetic mutations, said Dr. Hachem. 'Younger individuals face unique barriers when it comes to colon cancer screenings, such as a lack of awareness about the need for screening, fear or discomfort associated with the procedure and challenges in navigating the healthcare system,' said Nathan Merriman, MD, senior medical director of the surgical specialties and digestive health clinical program for Intermountain Health. 'It's crucial for everyone, regardless of age, to understand their personal risk factors and discuss them with their healthcare provider to determine the best screening plan,' added Dr. Merriman. Updated national guidelines make it possible for more people to be screened with a colonoscopy and stool-based testing starting at age 45. Colonoscopies are considered the gold standard for colon cancer detection, as it not only detects abnormalities, but removes precancerous lesions. Intermountain Health makes it easier to schedule a colonoscopy with an online system, ensuring you have access to this vital screening option. For most patients a colonoscopy is then only needed once every 10 years, or once every five years if your doctor determines you have an increased risk of colon cancer. Earlier screening may be recommended for anyone with a personal history of polyps or family history of colon cancer. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (with Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis) or other chronic conditions that affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, talk with your doctor or a GI specialist to determine when and how often you should be screened. 'Don't delay your screenings,' said Dr. Hachem. 'It could save your life.' Patient Story The only way to detect colon cancer it is through screening. People with an average risk of colon cancer should start their screenings at age 45. Mark Seguin, 38, of Sandy, knows first-hand the importance of early screening, watching for symptoms, and being in tune with your body. Just four years ago, Seguin was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer after experiencing cramping on his right side that he first thought was appendicitis. A colonoscopy discovered a three-centimeter tumor. Seguin underwent successful surgery to remove the tumor and almost 24 inches of his colon and then followed up with three months of aggressive chemotherapy. He's now considered cancer free and is on the one screening per year plan. 'I did all the genetic testing, and it came up negative – my surgeon told me I simply won the bad luck lottery,' said Seguin. 'But I am lucky to be alive thanks to not only me speaking up with my symptoms, but also a care team who listened and acted quickly to get me into a treatment plan.' Dr. Merriman says what he did next is critical. Even though he didn't have any genetic markers, Seguin told his family. Seguin's sister then got her colonoscopy where pre-cancerous colon polyps were removed. Other Easy and Convenient Screening Options Intermountain Health offers home-based tests that are both effective and convenient, allowing you to get what you need, when you need it, without leaving your home. Individuals who are 45 to 75 years old with average risk may qualify for Intermountain Health's on-demand colon cancer screening kits. This is an option that allows you to get a test kit in the mail and send it back to the lab for testing without the need for an appointment. • Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT): This simple, non-invasive test detects hidden blood in the stool, an early sign of colon cancer. You can complete it at home, and if the results are positive or abnormal, a follow-up colonoscopy may be necessary. • Cologuard: Combining the FIT with a DNA test, Cologuard detects abnormal DNA markers in stool samples. It's also non-invasive and can be done at home. A positive or abnormal result will require a follow-up colonoscopy. Why Choose Home-Based Tests? Home-based tests like FIT and Cologuard offer several advantages: – Convenience: Complete the test at home without a doctor's visit. – Non-Invasive: No preparation or sedation required. – Accessibility: Ideal for those who may have difficulty scheduling or accessing colonoscopy appointments. Act Today Understanding your risks and exploring your screening options are vital steps in preventing colon cancer. If you are 45 or older, you can order an at-home colon cancer screening kit to have a test kit mailed to you without needing a doctor's visit. If you have risk factors, like a family or personal history of colon cancer or polyps, talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened. For more information about Intermountain Health's on-demand services, click schedule a colonoscopy, or to find a physician click here. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Sponsored by Intermountain Healthcare Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
