Latest from PYD
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Parents face hurdles vaccinating children
Parents are being prevented from vaccinating their children because of obstacles such as difficulty booking appointments and a lack of reminders on what jabs are needed and when, a report suggests. Child health experts say "practical or logistical reasons" are discouraging families more often than fears over the vaccines. Vaccine uptake in the UK has fallen over the last decade, leading to outbreaks of measles and whooping cough. UK health officials say they are committed to working with the NHS to improve vaccine uptake among children. Since 2022, no childhood vaccine in the UK has met the World Health Organisation target of 95% of children vaccinated, which ensures protection of vulnerable people. As a result, measles and other preventable diseases have made a comeback. A commission of experts from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) spent a year looking at why. Dr Helen Stewart, officer for health improvement at RCPCH, said the steady decline in vaccination rates in a wealthy country like the UK was "extremely concerning". But she said vaccine hesitancy, when parents waver over getting their children vaccinated, "is only part of a very complex picture". "The reality is that there are many who simply need better support and easier access to appointments," Dr Stewart said. Although confidence in vaccines is still relatively high, the report found barriers to accessing jabs are why many families don't protect their children. Some of the most common barriers include: difficulties getting through to book appointments at GP surgeries difficulties getting time off work for appointments limited transport options or no parking at GP surgeries not seeing the same GP each time so lack of trust not being able to speak to a GP or nurse to ask about the vaccines lack of reminders for jabs being sent out from GP not enough clear information about what jabs their child needs and when "One of the findings of this new report is that parents have no easy way to check their child's vaccination status," says children's emergency medicine specialist, Dr Stewart. "When I ask if the child is up to date with their vaccinations, the most common response is 'I think so'." Poorer families, some ethnic minority groups and migrant communities are much less likely to be vaccinated, and these inequalities have become more obvious since the pandemic, the report says. It also notes an absence of health visitors often means parents have no one they feel comfortable discussing vaccines openly with. Rise of vaccine distrust - why more of us are questioning jabs The report recommends using NHS apps to improve the experience of booking jabs, investing and expanding vaccination services, and funding health visitors to deliver some of them. It also calls on the development of the 'digital red book' to be finalised so parents can keep track of their children's vaccinations. The NHS website lists the full schedule of vaccinations for children, from babies, up to the age of 15. Dr Julie Yates, deputy director for immunisation programmes at UK Health Security Agency, said plans were in place to improve childhood vaccine uptake by ensuring more flexible appointment booking systems, making vaccines more widely available across different locations, and making access easier in all communities. "Despite the challenges, it is also important to note that parents have high confidence in vaccinations with almost 90% agreeing vaccines are effective," Dr Yates said. Alison Morton, chief executive of the Institute for Health Visitors, said the report presented "a compelling case" to ensure babies and children are protected against serious diseases which can cause so much unnecessary harm. Helen Bedford, professor of children's health at University College London, said improvements needed investment in staff and infrastructure. "Our children have the right to be protected from preventable diseases which can cause illness, disability or even death," she said, adding that a fall in children getting their vaccines had resulted in the deaths of 11 young babies from whooping cough last year. Falling vaccinations among children isn't just an issue in the UK, in 2023 there were nearly 16 million children who had not had any vaccinations, most of them in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccination plea after measles cases rise in Scotland Millions of children at risk as vaccine uptake stalls Measles highest in 25 years in Europe, WHO says
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Hazel Ortega's Life Story Inspires New Theatrical Play ‘Liberándome' by Acclaimed Mexican Writers
A powerful stage play based on her life story is the new theatrical project written by Adriano Numa and Gerardo Lazos, acclaimed Mexican authors. 'My hope is that Liberándome reaches every corner it can — to touch lives, to transform the hearts of those who act in it, those who watch it, and even those who read it.'— Hazel Ortega LOS ANGELES , CA, UNITED STATES, June 30, 2025 / / -- Renowned behavioral psychologist, author, and philanthropist Hazel Ortega is preparing to launch one of the most meaningful projects of her career: a theater play based on her life and bestselling book 'From Bounced Checks to Private Jets'. The play, titled Liberándome, is a bold and moving adaptation that will explore the raw truths behind Hazel's rise from extreme poverty, family adversity, and systemic limitations — into a life of purpose, abundance, and healing. This brings her bestselling book to life and continues her mission of transformation. Penned by celebrated Mexican contemporary playwrights Adriano Numa and Gerardo Lazos — known for their acclaimed social and psychological works — 'Liberándome' is designed to inspire audiences to question the limiting beliefs we often tag ourselves with. Through the lens of Hazel's personal transformation, the play challenges viewers to reprogram the narratives inherited from trauma, poverty, and oppression. Hazel's deeply personal story is also connected to her years of work with people recently released from incarceration, both in California and across Mexico. In alignment with her ongoing collaboration with Instituto de Reinserción Social, the premiere of Liberándome in Mexico City will be offered as a special donation performance by High Tide Global Foundation to this very population — giving voice, empathy, and empowerment to those seeking a second chance. This initiative is an extension of Hazel's philanthropic mission through the nonprofit, High Tide Global Foundation, which for years has supported underserved communities with education and empowerment tools. The theatrical project is expected to reach schools, correctional facilities, and independent theaters throughout Latin America and beyond. In addition to the play, Hazel Ortega will continue her high-impact work with the upcoming edition of Manifest University Express, set to take place on July 15, starting at 4:00 PM for the Spanish version and at 6:00 PM for the English version, in Whittier, California. This one-day immersive experience is completely free and open to the public, and will feature a keynote talk by Hazel Ortega alongside special guest Berké Brown in the English session, as well as inventor Blanca Estevez in the Spanish one — offering powerful tools for manifestation, personal growth, and mindset transformation. With 'Liberándome' and 'Manifest University Express', Hazel Ortega continues proving that storytelling, education, and community service are the most powerful tools to change lives — and that no one is ever too far from freeing themselves and building a life beyond their wildest dreams. To attend, please register by RSVP at the following page — look for the free event on July 15. international News TheWoodPr email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Business
- Associated Press
5IR Funds Leads $10M Round in GreatX to Unlock Real Estate Yield Through DeFi
Dallas, TX June 30, 2025 --( )-- 5IR Funds, a venture fund backing foundational technologies of the fifth industrial revolution, including infrastructure for the tokenized economy, today announced it is leading a $10 million strategic investment in GreatX, a decentralized finance-native (DeFi) protocol built to transform real estate equity into capital-protected, yield-generating digital assets. At the intersection of real-world assets, behavioral finance, and stablecoin infrastructure, GreatX introduces a programmable liquidity layer for the $12.3 trillion of income-producing real estate currently trapped in long-term, illiquid structures. Rather than tokenizing real estate titles, GreatX mints U.S. Treasury–backed tokens that can be optionally assigned to revenue-generating hotel properties—activating yield from both cashflow and appreciation, all while preserving principal. The result: a secure, composable asset that behaves like a stablecoin but performs like a portfolio. 'We believe GreatX represents the next evolution in RWA tokenization: asset-backed, behaviorally designed, and DeFi-native from inception,' said David Carstens, Founder and General Partner at 5IR Funds. 'In a world awash with speculative real estate plays, GreatX delivers something that actually works—for both yield seekers and protocol composability. This is the kind of real-world capital stack DeFi has been waiting for.' Backed by the Patel Family Office, a 3rd-generation real estate investment and management firm based in Dallas with deep experience in owning and managing hotels globally , GreatX is launching with institutional-grade hospitality assets in the U.S. and a 10,000+ investor pipeline spanning North America, the Middle East, and Asia. 'Our goal was never just tokenization—it was transformation,' said Kim Diamond, Co-Founder of GreatX and former Managing Director at Standard & Poor's. 'We've spent our careers building real-world portfolios. With GreatX, we've architected a product that speaks the native language of DeFi, but brings the full weight of institutional real estate discipline.' The raise will accelerate GreatX's platform rollout, regulatory pathways, and token issuance. The protocol is set to launch its first tranche of asset-linked, assignable tokens by Q4 2025. Why It Matters • $380T Global Real Estate is the world's largest store of wealth—and its least liquid • $205B Stablecoins represent programmable capital with no native yield mechanism • GreatX bridges both: U.S. Treasuries + Real Estate Cashflow = Capital-Protected RWA Yield About GreatX GreatX is a DeFi-native platform unlocking real estate equity via U.S. Treasury-backed tokens that offer stable yield, capital protection, and upside exposure through optional property assignment. Built in partnership with the Patel Family Office and led by real estate and structured finance veterans, GreatX enables global investors to access institutional real estate returns—without the friction of traditional real estate ownership. More: Contact: [email protected] About 5IR Funds 5IR Funds is a venture capital fund backing the breakthrough companies and foundational technologies of the Fifth Industrial Revolution. With a $200 million target fund , 5IR makes early-stage investments in pioneering companies across artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, advanced materials, and virtual reality (VR). Led by a team of experienced technologists, entrepreneurs, and intellectual property experts, 5IR provides more than capital—it delivers strategic partnership, an extensive network, and the specialized guidance needed to build defensible, market-defining businesses. More: Contact: [email protected] Contact Information: 5IR Funds Zachary Todd 972-755-5420 Contact via Email Read the full story here: 5IR Funds Leads $10M Round in GreatX to Unlock Real Estate Yield Through DeFi Press Release Distributed by
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Asteroid 2024 YR4 might smash into the moon
Earlier this year, astronomers alerted the world to a startling possibility: based on initial calculations, it appeared that a recently discovered asteroid known as 2024 YR4 had a not-zero chance of colliding with Earth in 2032. At 174–220 feet wide, the space rock has the potential to destroy a sizable city in less than a decade's time. In this case, however, 'not-zero' never amounted to anything higher than a three percent probability. And after gathering additional information from an array of terrestrial observatories as well as the James Webb Space Telescope, experts concluded in March that 2024 YR4 didn't pose any direct threat to the planet. But just because Earth was spared doesn't mean our moon is safe. Based on the most recent calculations, the chance that the asteroid has a 2032 date with the lunar surface is higher than it ever was for us. 'The probability that asteroid 2024 YR4 will strike the Moon on 22 December 2032 is now approximately 4 percent, and this probability was still slowly rising as the asteroid faded out of view,' the European Space Agency said in its most recent update. Okay, so it's not that much more likely than 2024 YR4's highest probability for Earth. But a 96-percent likelihood of missing the moon leaves room for the space rock to defy the odds. Astronomers will now need to wait until its orbit sends it around the sun in mid-2028 to begin conducting further observations. So what happens if 2024 YR4 really does collide with the moon? That's a great question—one that even the experts can't answer at the moment. 'No one knows what the exact effects would be,' admitted ESA Planetary Defense Office director Richard Moissl. 'It is a very rare event for an asteroid this large to impact the Moon—and it is rarer still that we know about it in advance.' Moissl added the collision 'would certainly leave a new crater on the surface,' but it's not currently possible to accurately predict how much material would eject into space, and whether Earth's gravitational pull would catch any of it. That said, there isn't a major worry that an asteroid of 2024 YR's size would result in lunar armageddon. Moissl also explained that while the impact would likely be visible from Earth, astronomers remain 'excited by the prospect of observing and analyzing it.' If you're still uneasy about errant asteroids hurtling towards us, take comfort in knowing that international space agencies are working to improve our early detection capabilities and plan for worst-case scenarios. The ESA, for example, is currently planning to launch its Near-Earth Object Mission in the Infrared (NEOMIR) satellite in the early 2030s. NEOMIR is designed to position itself at the first Sun-Earth Lagrange Point, one of five locations where the planet's gravitational forces and the satellite's orbit interact to allow for a stable observation point. Once there, the array will be able to scan for unknown asteroids larger than 197-feet-wide that are potentially en route to Earth. This will provide governments and agencies much more time to identify, analyze, and plan for space emergencies. 'NEOMIR would have detected asteroid 2024 YR4 about a month earlier than ground-based telescopes did,' Moissl explained. 'This would have given astronomers more time to study the asteroid's trajectory and allowed them to much sooner rule out any chance of Earth impact in 2032.'
Associated Press
25 minutes ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) of Nasdaq Metrio™
Nasdaq Does your organization have software in place to streamline sustainability reporting processes? When it comes to sustainability reporting, the right technology can deliver more than just compliance - it can drive quantifiable business impact. Thanks to Nasdaq Metrio's one-to-many disclosure and reporting capabilities, investment in built-for-purpose sustainability software is helping organizations demonstrate clear ROI. Nasdaq Metrio customers interviewed for a 2025 commissioned Forrester Consulting Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) study reported they recovered their initial investment within the first year of implementation, seeing net benefits quickly Download the case study to dive deeper into the cost benefits of deploying a built-for-purpose sustainability data management platform. Download the Case Study Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Nasdaq, Inc.
