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Global Action for a World Without Nuclear Weapons Marks 79 Years Since Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings

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Fourth annual #CranesForOurFuture Campaign takes flight with entertainers, prominent organizations, and public figures sharing paper cranes on social media.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — People around the world–from artists and cultural icons to Nobel laureates, members of Congress, and global leaders and organizations–are marking 79 years since the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings by taking part in #CranesforOurFuture, the largest digital demonstration of support for a world without nuclear weapons.

To participate in the campaign between August 6 and 9, the dates of the 1945 atomic bombings of Japan, people fold and share paper cranes on social media with a message about why moving closer to a world without nuclear weapons is important to them. Now in its fourth year, #CranesForOurFuture reaches and inspires millions.

Below is a partial list of notable participants as of Friday morning, August 9. The complete, updated list is available here.

Artists and cultural icons like Yoko Ono, George Takei, Ted Turner, the Indigo Girls, and Graham Nash.Global security leaders, including Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Mariano Grossi, former Vice President of Egypt Mohamed ElBaradei, former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, U.N. General Assembly President Dennis Francis, U.N. Under-Secretary General Izumi Nakamitsu, and former Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini.Current and former U.S. officials, including U.S. Representatives John Garamendi, Robin Kelly, Jim McGovern, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Dina Titus, former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, U.S. Ambassador Laura Holgate, former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, former Governor of California Jerry Brown, and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.Cranes Collection creators and fashion designers Isla Read, Gigi Murakami, Dauphinette, Claire Griffith, Zero Waste Daniel, Jordy Arthur, Christopher Jay Heller, and Laurén Bienvenue.Scores of organizations and institutions, including the U.N. Office of Disarmament Affairs, Nobel Peace-prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Union of Concerned Scientists, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Arms Control Association, United Nations Foundation, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Korematsu Institute, International Crane Foundation, and the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

This year, as part of #CranesForOurFuture, a diverse group of cutting-edge fashion designers and artists created custom designs inspired by the origami crane—renewing its cultural resonance as a symbol of hope and peace. The Cranes Collection represents humanity’s capacity to craft something beautiful and give people an opportunity to live and wear their values.

In an article in Sourcing Journal about the campaign’s fashion initiative, designer Olivia Cheng, whose Dauphinette-brand designs have graced runways during New York’s famed Fashion Week, talked about creating a dress made with paper cranes. “The mission behind #CranesForOurFuture is something that really resonated with me on a personal level,” she said.

#CranesForOurFuture was established by the Hiroshima Prefecture, Nagasaki Prefecture, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), and Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace. The effort is joined by a broad coalition of institutions and public figures committed to a safer future for all, with support and participation growing each year. Hidehiko Yuzaki, the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture and President of Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe) shared a call for peace and a world without nuclear weapons in a recent op-ed in the Seattle Times.

In 2023, #CranesForOurFuture reached millions online and off. This year, a new nuclear arms race is underway, wars are raging in two regions with nuclear weapons, and technology is adding risks to an already-fragile system that’s based on the threat of mass destruction. That leaves the world just one mistake, miscalculation, or blunder away from a disaster.

In addition to online activism, local organizations are also holding more than 45 in-person events around the country calling for a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.

“As we mark the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world faces the biggest risk of nuclear conflict since the Cold War,” said former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz, who is co-chair and CEO of NTI. “It doesn’t need to be this way. A single girl inspired a global movement with her story and the symbol of the paper crane. And when the last nuclear arms race was spinning out of control, people joined forces to call for a safer world, leading to the elimination of 80 percent of global nuclear arsenals. We can finish the job.”

The paper crane is a universal symbol of peace which first gained global attention thanks to a young girl named Sadako Sasaki. Sadako was just two years old when she survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, only to succumb to the long-term effects of radiation poisoning a decade later. Guided by a tradition dating back centuries in Japan, Sadako folded 1,000 paper cranes in the hope that her wish to live would be granted. While Sadako did not survive, her legacy of paper cranes did, inspiring her classmates, and then the world, with a message of peace, hope, and resilience. Sadako’s story serves as a reminder that every action, no matter how small, can contribute to creating a safer world for all.

More information about #CranesforOurFuture, including campaign highlights can be found at CranesforOurFuture.org.

The Nuclear Threat Initiative is a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security organization focused on reducing nuclear, biological, and emerging technology threats imperiling humanity.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-action-for-a-world-without-nuclear-weapons-marks-79-years-since-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-bombings-302218863.html

SOURCE Nuclear Threat Initiative

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Achieve named to Az Business Magazine’s ’10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona’ for 2026

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July 23, 2026

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Recognition highlights the company’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to grow and lead

SAN MATEO, Calif., July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Achieve, the leader in digital personal finance, has been named among the 2026 10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona by Az Business Magazine. The annual recognition highlights organizations that create supportive environments where women can thrive professionally, advance into leadership roles and build meaningful careers.

The honor reflects Achieve’s ongoing investment in workplace programs that support employee growth, flexibility, leadership development and career advancement. Women serve in leadership roles across the organization and play a critical role in shaping the company’s culture, products and long-term success.

“Creating an environment where women can grow, lead and build rewarding careers is central to who we are as a company,” said Achieve Senior Vice President of Human Resources Heather Marcom. “We’re honored to be recognized among Arizona’s top workplaces for women and remain committed to fostering a culture where employees feel supported, valued and empowered to do their best work.”

Achieve maintains a major corporate presence in the Phoenix area, where hundreds of employees contribute to the company’s mission of helping people move from struggling to thriving financially. The company supports employees through leadership development opportunities, employee resource groups, mentorship and learning programs designed to help team members reach their professional goals.

The recognition adds to a growing list of workplace honors for Achieve. Earlier this year, the company was named among the Top 3 Best Workplaces for LGBTQ+ Employees by BestCompaniesAZ and was also recognized by AZ Big Media as one of Arizona’s Most Admired Companies.

“Strong organizations are built by diverse perspectives and inclusive leadership,” said Marcom. “We’re proud of the talented women across Achieve who help drive our business forward every day and grateful for the impact they make on our employees, customers and communities.”

The 10 Best Places for Women to Work in Arizona list is determined through a public voting process conducted by AZ Big Media and published in Az Business magazine.

About Achieve

Achieve, THE digital personal finance company, helps everyday people get on, and stay on, the path to a better financial future. Achieve pairs proprietary data and analytics with personalized support to offer personal loans, home equity loans, debt relief and debt consolidation, along with financial tips and education and free mobile apps: Achieve MoLO® (Money Left Over) and Achieve GOOD™ (Get Out Of Debt). Achieve is frequently recognized for providing top-rated customer experience and satisfaction by both consumers and leading personal finance review platforms and has 2,200 dedicated teammates across the country, with hubs in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.

Achieve refers to the global organization and may denote one or more affiliates of Achieve Company, including Achieve.com, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #138464); Achieve Home Loans, Equal Housing Opportunity (NMLS ID #1810501); Achieve Personal Loans (NMLS ID #227977); Freedom Debt Relief (NMLS ID # 1248929); and Freedom Financial Asset Management (CRD #170229).

Contacts

Austin Kilgore
akilgore@achieve.com
214-908-5097

Elina Tarkazikis
etarkazikis@achieve.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/achieve-named-to-az-business-magazines-10-best-places-for-women-to-work-in-arizona-for-2026-302833720.html

SOURCE Achieve

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National Press Club Statement on the withdrawal of subpoenas targeting New York Times journalists

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July 23, 2026

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WASHINGTON, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. released the following statement:

“The Justice Department’s decision to withdraw subpoenas targeting journalists at The New York Times is a welcome and necessary step to protect the public’s constitutional right to an independent press.

These subpoenas should never have been issued in the first place. Compelling journalists to reveal confidential sources sends a chilling message to those who seek to inform the public and threatens the very foundation of press freedom.

Every American should understand what is at stake when the government turns its investigative powers on journalists. It is not routine. It is an extraordinary intrusion that strikes at the heart of the First Amendment and your right to information about your government.

The greatest danger was not the subpoenas themselves, but the message they sent: That sources could be exposed, that whistleblowers should remain silent, and that the American people might know less about the actions of their own government.

A strong democracy depends on a press that can report freely, hold power to account, and inform the public without intimidation.

We urge continued vigilance to ensure that journalists can do their jobs without interference and that protections for source confidentiality are upheld consistently.”

About the National Press Club

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists and a leading voice for press freedom in the U.S. and worldwide.

Contact: Beth Francesco, Executive Director of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, media@press.org

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-press-club-statement-on-the-withdrawal-of-subpoenas-targeting-new-york-times-journalists-302833722.html

SOURCE National Press Club

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NCC Launches NCC Connect™ to Put Credit, Fraud, and Compliance Inside the CRM Dealers Already Use

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July 23, 2026

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A powerful new solution that embeds credit access, fraud detection, and compliance directly into the dealership’s existing CRM — removing the system-switching that slows deals and exposes dealers to risk.

AUSTIN, Texas, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — NCC, a leading provider of credit and compliance solutions for automotive dealerships, today announced the launch of NCC Connect™, a powerful platform that runs credit, fraud, and compliance from inside the CRM a dealership already uses — without friction or duplicate entry.

“Dealers don’t need another system to log into,” said Brian Skutta, President and CEO of NCC. “They need the tools they already have to work better together. NCC Connect puts credit, fraud detection, and compliance right where the team already works — inside the CRM they use every day.”

“Dealers don’t need another system to log into,” said Brian Skutta, President and CEO of NCC. “They need the tools they already have to work better together. NCC Connect puts credit, fraud detection, and compliance right where the team already works — inside the CRM they use every day.”

As deals grow more complex and fraud more sophisticated, dealers are juggling more disconnected systems than ever — the CRM, the credit system, the compliance tools — switching between them on every transaction. Each switch breaks momentum, invites a skipped step, and slows the path to funding. NCC Connect meets this moment with a single, seamless solution that keeps the full credit, fraud, and compliance engine right where the team already works.

Why NCC Connect Matters Right Now

Dealers lose time and margin switching between the CRM, credit, and compliance systems on every dealAuto lending fraud continues to climb, with industry fraud exposure reaching a record $10.4 billion in 2025, according to Point Predictive’s 2026 Auto Lending Fraud Trends ReportState compliance is tightening, with laws like California’s SB 766 (CARS Act) taking effect October 1, 2026Every disconnected step is another chance for an error, a delay, or a deal that stalls before funding

These pressures are forcing dealers to consolidate, and NCC Connect delivers the edge.

Product Highlights:

Inside the CRM — Soft-pull and hard credit access from all three major bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax — without leaving the workflowFraud & Identity Built In — Identity verification and synthetic fraud detection delivered within the credit pull, flagging Red Flag conditions before the deal moves to fundingCompliance on Autopilot — FCRA and FTC controls with automatic, audit-ready documentation stored in the deal record99.99% Uptime — The industry’s highest, so the platform is there when a deal is on the desk

NCC Connect runs soft-pull pre-qualifications and hard credit pulls from any bureau or score model without leaving the CRM, while customer data stays inside the existing CRM structure. Every credit, fraud, and compliance result is captured on the deal record — giving dealers a single, audit-ready source of truth and a faster, cleaner path to funding.

NCC Connect extends the same powerful, credit-first engine behind NCC’s Complete Credit™ platform into the CRM where dealers already work. For dealers, that means more approvals, stronger fraud protection, and faster funding, without changing how the team works.

Learn more about NCC Connect at https://nccdirect.com/ncc-connect/

About NCC:

With offices in Austin, TX, Bettendorf, IA, and Las Vegas, NV, NCC has been a trusted partner in credit-driven retailing for automotive dealerships for nearly three decades. We combine a powerful credit and compliance engine with a fully integrated Desking platform to drive maximum profitability. Our focus on innovation, user-friendly products, and dependable systems — supported by a dedicated account management team — has solidified our reputation as a leader in the industry. www.nccdirect.com

Media Contact

Holly Smith, NCC, 1 8285732722, hsmith@nccdirect.com, https://nccdirect.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/ncc-launches-ncc-connect-to-put-credit-fraud-and-compliance-inside-the-crm-dealers-already-use-302832007.html

SOURCE NCC

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