Category: Business

Categories
Business Lifestyle Perspectives Regulations & Security

AM Best upgrades Credit Ratings of Independence Life and Annuity; affirms Credit Ratings of Sun Life Financial and most of its subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance — AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) of Independence Life and Annuity Company (Independence) (Wilmington, DE). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) has been revised to stable from positive.

 

Additionally, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term ICRs of “aa” (Superior) of Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Ontario, Canada) and Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.) (Lansing, MI).

 

These companies are the core insurance subsidiaries of Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) (Ontario, Canada) [NYSE: SLF] (collectively referred to as Sun Life Group). Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “a” (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IRs) of SLF. (Please see below for a detailed listing of the Long-Term IRs.) Lastly, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) of Professional Insurance Company (Dallas, TX), an SLF runoff subsidiary. The outlook of these ratings is stable.

The ratings of Independence reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, limited business profile, very strong enterprise risk management (ERM) and support from its parent organization. The rating upgrades of this entity are driven by its growth within the stop-loss insurance market beginning in 2020 after being in runoff prior to a strategic change. While premium growth remains moderate on an absolute basis, the company has seen meaningful growth on a percentage basis over the past several years.

 

The ratings of Sun Life Group reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and very strong ERM. The group has maintained a favorable risk-adjusted capital level over the long term, partly due to the extensive array of stress and scenario testing conducted on capital, earnings, liquidity and other key metrics. The company continues to produce strong operating earnings from a diverse mix of business lines leading to dominant market positions in several products.

 

Finally, the ratings of Professional Insurance Company reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, very limited business profile and very strong ERM. The company continues to manage the runoff of its remaining liabilities profitably.

 

The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:

Sun Life Financial Inc.—

— “a-” (Excellent) on CAD 750 million 2.38% subordinated debentures, due 2029

— “a-” (Excellent) on CAD 1 billion 2.58% subordinated debentures, due 2032

— “a-” (Excellent) on CAD 750 million 2.06% subordinated debentures, due 2035

— “a-” (Excellent) on CAD 400 million 5.40% subordinated debentures, due 2042

— “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 250 million 4.45% Class A non-cumulative preferred stock, Series 3

— “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 300 million 4.45% Class A non-cumulative preferred stock, Series 4

— “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 250 million 4.50% Class A non-cumulative preferred stock, Series 5

— “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 155 million 1.825% Class A non-cumulative preferred stock, Series 8R

— “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 125 million floating rate Class A non-cumulative preferred stock, Series 9QR

— “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 171 million 2.967% Class A non-cumulative preferred stock, Series 10R

— “bbb+” (Good) on CAD 29 million floating rate Class A non-cumulative preferred shares, Series 11QR

The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada—

— “a+” (Excellent) on CAD 150 million 6.30% subordinated debentures, Series 2, due 2028 (originally issued by Clarica Life Insurance Company)

Sun Life Capital Trust—

— “a” (Excellent) on CAD 200 million 7.093% non-cumulative Sun Life ExchangEable Capital Securities, call date 2032

The following indicative Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with stable outlooks:

Sun Life Financial Inc.—

— “a” (Excellent) on senior unsecured debt

— “a-” (Excellent) on subordinated debt

— “bbb+” (Good) on preferred stock

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Kevin Varvaro

Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 882 2410
kevin.varvaro@ambest.com

Michael Adams
Associate Director
+1 908 882 1592
michael.adams@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

Categories
Business Digital - AI & Apps Environment Lifestyle Technology

Microsoft announces AI Generative Erase for users to remove objects, people from images in its Photos app on Windows 10 and higher

Sean Hollister / The Verge:

 

 

This good dog is about to go off-leash. GIF: Microsoft

— Google and Samsung aren’t the only ones baking magical AI selective photo erasers into their devices — they’re about to become table stakes for Windows PCs too.

 

Microsoft has just announced Generative erase, a feature that lets you do similar things in the Photos app that comes bundled with Windows.

 

Above and below, you can see how Microsoft disappears a dog’s leash and some unintentional photobombers using the power of generative AI:

 

While that may not be quite as nifty a party trick as other AI fakery you’ve seen, you won’t need to buy a new Pixel or Galaxy to integrate this into your life, either. Microsoft says it’s not only rolling this out to Windows 11, but also backporting all of the Photos’ AI edit features to Windows 10, in addition to Windows 11 for Arm64 devices. Those include a background removal feature as well.

 

These tools are for Windows Insiders for now, though. Says Microsoft: “This update is beginning to roll out to Windows Insiders in all channels today (including Windows Insiders on Windows 10 in the Release Preview Channel). Make sure to update your app to version number 2024.11020.21001.0 or higher.”

 

The company’s blog post doesn’t say whether AI-edited photos will come with metadata or watermarks so you can distinguish them from unedited ones.

 

 

Read More

 

 

— Techmeme

Categories
Business Digital - AI & Apps International & World Lifestyle Technology

Samsung: Galaxy Book4 series, with Intel Core Ultra chips and AMOLED touchscreens, available in US, UK, other markets Feb. 26

The Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, Book 4 Pro, and Book 4 Pro 360 are all coming soon.

 

 

Mark Tyson / Tom’s Hardware:

 

 

—  Samsung has announced that its first AI PC series will become available son Feb. 26.

 

The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 series consists of three base designs: Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, Book 4 Pro, and Book 4 Pro 360. All feature embedded Intel NPUscourtesy of one of Core Ultra 9/7 processors.

Other common yet desirable qualities of the Galaxy Book 4 family are a Dynamic AMOLED 2X touch screen with 120% DCI-P3, AKG quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, lengthy battery life, a new discrete Samsung Knox security chip, and enhanced connectivity as standard.

 

In the video embeded above, Samsung details ways the NPU will be useful to accelerate AI on the laptop. For example, we see AI in action in Adobe creative software and using Microsoft Copilot assistance for various smart and labor-saving tasks in Windows. (though at the moment, that’s cloud-based). Another major focus of the brief video is on smart connectivity, which is particularly tightly integrated for owners of Samsung’s Android phones.

 

Though Samsung has great claims for the audio-visual experience on offer from all the above laptops and boasts about the utility delivered by its onboard AI, readers should, as always, check for reviews on sites like Tom’s Hardware. We reviewed the Galaxy Book 3 Ultra last April, and it was surprisingly good though. Of course, the AI PC experience delivered by Samsung will also rely on partner software, and we are at a stage where developers are still establishing compelling use cases for PCs with onboard NPUs.

 

Samsung US hasn’t listed or detailed any of the new Galaxy Book 4 devices at the time of writing, though it is selling off Book 3 models in an event that ends on February 25. We note Samsung Canada has all the models available for pre-order, though. The Canadian page is selling multiple configurations of all three designs with configuration options for GPU, CPU, and storage (depending upon the model) at prices ranging from CAD$999 (USD$740) to CAD$2,999 (USD$2,222). Pricing also seems to be shown in South Korean and Indian markets.

 

 

Read More

 

— Techmeme

Categories
Business Energy Environment Lifestyle Technology

AT&T and L&T Technology Services collaborate to accelerate solutions to address climate change

Pioneering solutions that pair connectivity with engineering expertise to reduce emissions

 

EDISON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $LTTS #ConnectedClimateInitiative — L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS), a prominent global digital engineering and R&D services company, and AT&T, one of the largest telecommunications companies worldwide, Friday announced a strategic alliance aimed at curbing global emissions.

 

This groundbreaking collaboration will utilize the combined resources and expertise of both companies to develop advanced solutions that can significantly reduce environmental impact.

As part of this collaboration, LTTS will participate in AT&T’s Connected Climate Initiative (CCI), a collaborative effort that works on connectivity-based solutions to reduce greenhouse emissions by 1 gigaton by 2035. The effort brings together a diverse group of organizations to unleash the power of connectivity solutions, including the Internet of Things (IoT), fiber, 5G, and edge computing, to reach this goal. As a participant in the CCI, LTTS will collaborate with AT&T to work toward the collective emissions reduction commitment and help enable companies to make sustainable business decisions.

 

“Armed with AT&T’s formidable telecommunications infrastructure and our own deep-seated expertise in engineering DNA, we are poised to make substantial strides towards a future less dependent on carbon,” said Alind Saxena, President, Sales and Executive Director at L&T Technology Services (LTTS).

 

“This collaboration is a pledge to the planet. We’re not just developing technologies – we’re crafting a sustainable legacy, one that significantly reduces our environmental footprint.”

 

For L&T Technology Services (LTTS), sustainability transcends the realm of mere commitment; it forms an integral part of the organizational ethos, deeply embedded in all their actions. The company offers an extensive suite of sustainability services that encompasses a wide range of solutions, all meticulously designed to mitigate environmental impact and drive positive change.

 

LTTS’ offerings span from green engineering solutions and energy management strategies to waste reduction initiatives and community engagement programs. These solutions empower organizations to integrate sustainability into every facet of their operations. With a keen focus on innovation and collaboration, LTTS guides its global customers through the complexities of sustainability, equipping them to attain their environmental and social objectives while ensuring business success.

 

LTTS will work with AT&T to deliver a suite of cutting-edge services designed to leverage AT&T connectivity to help companies achieve emissions reduction targets. Examples of this collaboration include:

  • Developing engineering and connectivity solutions that are geared towards driving digital transformation for a greener future across various industries
  • gEdge, a scalable, ready-for-implementation immersive data center-in-a-box solution
  • i-BEMS, an energy-efficient building automation framework
  • Design and engineering for renewable energy utilizing connectivity to enhance reliability and efficiency of energy supply to the network grid
  • Engineering and connectivity solutions focused on accelerating cleaner, sustainable energy such as green hydrogen
  • Carbon sequestration technology and connectivity-enabled measurement and verification platforms

 

“As we work towards achieving the Gigaton goal, we know that it’s collaborations like this one, combining our respective resources and expertise, that will help us get there,” said Shannon Carroll, AVP of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T. “Together with LTTS, we’re committed to create a more sustainable tomorrow.”

 

About AT&T

We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

 

About L&T Technology Services Ltd

L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) is a listed subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited focused on Engineering and R&D (ER&D) services. We offer consultancy, design, development and testing services across the product and process development life cycle. We also have more than 100 labs dedicated to R&D and Engineering, 20 + labs specifically for Sustainability and Innovation. Our customer base includes 69 Fortune 500 companies and 57 of the world’s top ER&D companies, across industrial products, medical devices, transportation, telecom & hi-tech, and the process industries. Headquartered in India, we have over 23,200 employees spread across 22 global design centers, 28 global sales offices and 105 innovation labs as of Dec. 31, 2023.

 

For more information, please visit https://www.LTTS.com/

Contacts

Media Contact:
Aniruddha Basu

L&T Technology Services Limited

E: Aniruddha.Basu@Ltts.com

Anindita Sarkar

L&T Technology Services Limited

E: Anindita.Sarkar@Ltts.com

Categories
Business Digital - AI & Apps Lifestyle Perspectives Regulations & Security Technology

AT&T on Feb. 22 outage: ‘Caused by the application and execution of an incorrect process’ while expanding its network, ‘not a cyber attack’

—  AT&T says they have “restored wireless service to all our affected customers.”

 

ABC News:

 

 

A temporary network disruption that affected AT&T customers in the U.S. Thursday was caused by a software update, the company said.

A man walks past the AT&T store in New York’s Times Square, June 17, 2015. — Brendan McDermid/Reuters, FILE

 

AT&T told ABC News in a statement ABC News that the outage was not a cyberattack but caused by “the application and execution of an incorrect process used as we were expanding our network.”

 

“We are continuing our assessment of today’s outage to ensure we keep delivering the service that our customers deserve,” the statement continued.

 

The software update went wrong, according to preliminary information from two sources familiar with the situation.

 

Sources have told ABC News that there was nothing nefarious or malicious about the incident.

 

The outage was not caused by an external actor, according to a source familiar with the situation. AT&T performs updates regularly, according to the source.

 

In an earlier statement to ABC News, AT&T said some customers were “experiencing wireless service interruptions” and advised them to make calls over Wi-Fi.

 

The company issued an update later Thursday afternoon saying that its network had been fully restored.

 

“We have restored wireless service to all our affected customers. We sincerely apologize to them. Keeping our customers connected remains our top priority, and we are taking steps to ensure our customers do not experience this again in the future,” the company said in a message on its website.

 

Two sources briefed on the situation told ABC News that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), among other agencies, had been urgently investigating to determine whether the AT&T outage was the result of a cyberattack or a hack, or simply some sort of technical malfunction.

 

As of 5 a.m. ET, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reported, according to a confidential memo obtained by ABC News, that “the cause of the outage is unknown and there are no indications of malicious activity.” CISA is an agency within DHS tasked with monitoring cyber threats.

 

The FCC has been in touch with AT&T to figure out what caused the outage, according to National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby.

 

Kirby told reporters Thursday afternoon that DHS and the FBI were looking into the outage as well and working with the tech industry and network providers to see what can be done “from a federal perspective to enhance their investigative efforts to figure out what happened here.”

 

“The bottom line is we don’t have all the answers,” he said. “We’re working very hard to see if we can get to the ground truth of exactly what happened.”

 

Several police departments and municipalities warned local residents of what they described as a nationwide outage. In turn, officials urged callers to contact emergency services by alternative means.

 

“There is a nationwide AT&T outage that is preventing wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 9-1-1),” the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, which serves the Charlotte, North Carolina area, said in a post on X.

 

The county government in Fairfax, Virginia, released a similar warning.

 

“There is a nationwide AT&T outage that is preventing wireless customers from making and receiving any phone calls (including to 9-1-1),” the Fairfax County Government said on X. “Try calling from a landline or ask a friend or family member to call 9-1-1 on your behalf.”

 

In response to an earlier request from ABC News, CISA said they had no comment on the outage.

 

AT&T serves more than 100 million customers across mobile and broadband services, according to the company’s website.

 

Verizon and T-Mobile both told ABC News that their respective networks are not experiencing outages but customers may experience difficulty when contacting individuals affected by outages at other providers.

 

“Verizon’s network is operating normally. Some customers experienced issues this morning when calling or texting with customers served by another carrier. We are continuing to monitor the situation,” a Verizon spokesperson said.

 

T-Mobile similarly told ABC News, “We did not experience an outage. Our network is operating normally. Down Detector is likely reflecting challenges our customers were having attempting to connect to users on other networks.”

 

 

Read More

 

 

— Techmeme

Categories
Business Lifestyle Perspectives

AM Best revises Issuer Credit Rating outlook to negative for PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best has revised the outlook to negative from stable for the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) of PEMCO Mutual Insurance Company (PEMCO) (Seattle, WA). The outlook of the FSR is stable.

The Credit Ratings (ratings) reflect PEMCO’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

 

The negative outlook on the Long-Term ICR reflects the company’s limitations in its business profile, which has created capital and operating performance challenges in recent periods leading to declines in its risk-adjusted capitalization. Although risk-adjusted capitalization remains within the strongest range, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), the cushion materially eroded from prior periods and capital erosion also resulted in higher underwriting leverage metrics. Surplus declined in 2021 and 2022, as well as through the first 9 months of 2023, totaling 21% ($75 million) from the five-year high mark in 2020. Underwriting loss severity increased in consecutive periods reflecting pressure brought by the company’s concentrated risk profile that focused on personal lines coverage within the state of Washington. Weather and wildfire losses also impacted results in recent periods. Furthermore, material unfavorable loss reserve development was reported in third-quarter 2023, reflecting pressures brought on by the escalation in PEMCO ‘s loss costs amid inflation and supply chain pressures. Management is addressing volatility with material rate increases, more stringent new business qualifications and targeted de-risking; however, these actions have yet to gain material traction.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2024 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Christopher Draghi

Director
+1 908 882 1749
chris.draghi@ambest.com

Richard Attanasio
Senior Director
+1 908 882 1638
richard.attanasio@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Associate Director, Public Relations
+1 908 882 2310
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Al Slavin
Senior Public Relations Specialist
+1 908 882 2318
al.slavin@ambest.com

Categories
Business Digital - AI & Apps Energy Lifestyle Local News Science

Universal Display Corporation increases quarterly cash dividend to $0.40 per share

EWING, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $OLED#OLED — Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED), enabling energy-efficient displays and lighting with its UniversalPHOLED® technology and materials, today announced that its Board of Directors approved an increased cash dividend of $0.40 per share on the Company’s common stock for the first quarter of 2024, up from the previous quarter’s dividend of $0.35 per share.

 

The dividend is payable on March 29, 2024, to shareholders of record on March 15, 2024. The dividend reflects our expected continued cash flow generation, and commitment to return capital to our shareholders. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.

 

About Universal Display Corporation

Universal Display Corporation (Nasdaq: OLED) is a leader in the research, development and commercialization of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technologies and materials for use in display and solid-state lighting applications. Founded in 1994 and with subsidiaries and offices around the world, the Company currently owns, exclusively licenses or has the sole right to sublicense more than 6,000 patents issued and pending worldwide.

 

Universal Display licenses its proprietary technologies, including its breakthrough high-efficiency UniversalPHOLED® phosphorescent OLED technology that can enable the development of energy-efficient and eco-friendly displays and solid-state lighting. The Company also develops and offers high-quality, state-of-the-art UniversalPHOLED materials that are recognized as key ingredients in the fabrication of OLEDs with peak performance. In addition, Universal Display delivers innovative and customized solutions to its clients and partners through technology transfer, collaborative technology development and on-site training. To learn more about Universal Display Corporation, please visit https://oled.com/.

 

Universal Display Corporation and the Universal Display Corporation logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Universal Display Corporation. All other Company, brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks.

 

All statements in this document that are not historical, such as those relating to the projected adoption, development and advancement of the Company’s technologies, and the Company’s expected results and future declaration of dividends, as well as the growth of the OLED market and the Company’s opportunities in that market, are forward-looking financial statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this document, as they reflect Universal Display Corporation’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in Universal Display Corporation’s periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, in particular, the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Universal Display Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Universal Display Corporation disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this document.

 

Follow Universal Display Corporation

Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

(OLED-C)

Contacts

Universal Display:
Darice Liu

investor@oled.com
media@oled.com
+1 609-964-5123

Categories
Business Entertainment News Environment Lifestyle Science Travel & Leisure

Luxurious new Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa to welcome guests this spring

The new luxury safari overnight experience at Six Flags Great Adventure Resort is now accepting reservations

 

JACKSON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Six Flags Great Adventure Resort is thrilled to announce the grand opening of Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa, welcoming guests beginning June 14.

 

Reservations are now being accepted for the new luxury glamping experience nestled in the heart of the 350-acre Six Flags Wild Safari, home to over 1,200 animals. The exclusive resort promises an unforgettable, first-class experience for those seeking an indulgent retreat.

 

Guests will be immersed in a one-of-a-kind resort destination where every detail has been meticulously crafted to create a haven of serenity and adventure. From the moment guests arrive, they will be greeted with warm hospitality and personalized care, with no detail overlooked.

 

Key Features of the Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa:

  1. Luxurious accommodations: The resort offers 20 glamping suites that vary in size, sleeping two to six guests. Each suite is thoughtfully designed to provide the utmost comfort and style with world-class amenities.
  2. Unmatched views and VIP experiences: During their stay, guests can choose their own adventure. Whether relaxing with sweeping views from their suite, participating in close-up animal encounters or exploring the local watering holes of the Six Flags Great Adventure theme park or Hurricane Harbor water park, guests will have opportunities to create memories to last a lifetime.
  3. Included benefits: With a two-night minimum stay, guests will enjoy a giraffe feeding, daily breakfast, multi-park passes giving access to all 3 Six Flags Great Adventure Resort parks, and more.
  4. VIP dining: Guests will embark on an indulgent culinary journey with featured items curated to enhance the glamping experience.
  5. Spa services: Guests can rejuvenate their senses at the Savannah Sunset Spa which features holistic treatments with expert therapists to promote relaxation and wellness.
  6. Event spaces: Ideal for small gatherings from weddings to corporate retreats, Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa offers a versatile event space with stunning views and top-notch service to make every celebration unforgettable.

 

“We are excited to welcome guests this spring to the Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa, where opulence meets the open savannah in the heart of New Jersey,” said Park President Brian Bacica. “Our team is planning every detail to create a luxury experience welcoming guests to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of our resort. Whether you seek relaxation, a family adventure, or a romantic getaway, Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa promises to exceed your expectations.”

 

Savannah Sunset Resort and Spa is part of one of the largest investments at Six Flags Great Adventure Resort in nearly two decades. In celebration of the destination’s 50-year history, Six Flags Great Adventure Resort is also debuting its 15th roller coaster this summer. THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity, the first coaster of its kind in North America, joins the highly-anticipated return of the Safari Off Road Adventure, and modern updates to the nostalgic Log Flume and Big Wheel rides. In addition, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor will open Splash Island, a new family-centric area giving guests of all ages an opportunity for some interactive fun in the sun.

 

Visit https://www.sixflags.com/savannahsunset to reserve your spot for this one-of-kind luxurious safari overnight experience right here in the United States.

 

Six Flags Great Adventure will open for the 2024 season on March 16. Enjoy all season long with a Season Pass starting as low as $13/month after initial payment. In preparation for their 50th anniversary season, the destination is hiring for a variety of positions with great hourly pay, exciting perks and valuable benefits. Apply today at sixflagsjobs.com or text FUN to 732-307-6688 to begin the hiring process.

 

About Six Flags Great Adventure Resort

Six Flags Great Adventure Resort boasts 4 world-class attractions including, Six Flags Great Adventure theme park, Hurricane Harbor water park, the Wild Safari, and new, luxury Savanah Sunset Resort and Spa. The resort destination is home to the World’s Ultimate Thrill Park with award-winning rides like Kingda Ka, Nitro, El Toro and Jersey Devil Coaster. The theme park offers two areas created just for young guests, family rides the whole family can enjoy together, live entertainment, shopping and a wide variety of dining options. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is one of the Northeast’s largest water parks with more than 25 refreshing attractions for the whole family. The Wild Safari is one of the largest safaris outside of Africa where guests get up-close experiences with more than 1,200 animals from around the globe. www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

 

About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: SIX) is the world’s largest regional theme park company with 27 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 63 years, Six Flags has entertained hundreds of millions of guests with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions. Six Flags is committed to creating an inclusive environment that fully embraces the diversity of our team members and guests. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.

 

Follow us on Twitter @sfgradventure
Follow us on Instagram @sfgradventure
Follow us on TikTok @sixflagsgreatadventure
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/SixFlagsGreatAdventure
#MySixFlags #SixFlagsGreatAdventure

Click Here for Photos and Videos

Contacts

Staci Wheeler, anwheeler@sftp.com

Categories
Business Energy Environment Perspectives Science

American Water ranks no. 1 in utilities industry on Forbes America’s Best Large Employers 2024 list

CAMDEN, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — American Water (NYSE: AWK), the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., announced today that it has been ranked number 1 in the utilities industry on Forbes America’s Best Large Employers 2024 list. The ranking is based on an independent survey of employees.

 

“American Water is honored to receive recognition on Forbes America’s Best Large Employers 2024 list,” said M. Susan Hardwick, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Water. “We are extremely fortunate to have such an engaged, talented and diverse workforce, focused on building a better workplace where our people can thrive.”

 

Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to survey more than 170,000 U.S.-based employees at companies with at least 1,000 employees. Companies with more than 5,000 employees were eligible for the category of large employers. Survey respondents were asked if they would recommend their employer to others and given the chance to rate other employers in their respective industries. All survey responses were tallied and weighted to produce a score for each company.

 

View the full list of Forbes America’s Best Large Employers 2024 here.

 

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

 

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Contacts

Media Contact:

Alicia Barbieri

Director, Communications and External Affairs

American Water

(856) 676-8103

alicia.barbieri@amwater.com

Categories
Business Digital - AI & Apps Energy Lifestyle Perspectives Technology

Apple says the iPhone 15 lineup can retain 80% of its original battery capacity after 1,000 charge cycles, up from its original estimate of 500 charge cycles

Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:

 

 

—  In addition to changes to the Battery Health settings in iOS 17.4, Apple has more iPhone battery news to share Wednesday.

 

Apple says that it is updating the battery cycle lifespan for iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.

 

Apple initially said that the iPhone 15’s battery would retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles. Now, the company tells 9to5Mac that the iPhone 15 can retain 80% of its original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles.

 

Apple says that its testing involved charging and discharging the battery 1000 times under specific circumstances representing common use cases. The improvement is due to Apple making continued updates to battery components and power management systems over the years.

 

Apple says that this change in battery cycle lifespan only applies to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Previous iPhone models continue to be rated at retaining up to 80% capacity at 500 complete charge cycles. The company adds, however, that it is currently investigating older iPhone models, as well.

 

As a refresher, here’s what Apple means when it refers to battery capacity in iPhone:

Maximum battery capacity measures the device battery capacity relative to when it was new. A battery will have lower capacity as the battery chemically ages which may result in fewer hours of usage between charges. Depending upon the length of time between when the iPhone was made and when it is activated, your battery capacity may show as slightly less than 100%.

 

If you have an iPhone 15, you can check your battery’s charge cycle count in the Settings app. Apple does not show battery cycle information on older iPhone models.

 

Read More

 

— Techmeme