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Global Times interview with Maria João Rodrigues on China-Europe relations

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BEIJING, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The 2024 Understanding China Conference is being held in Guangzhou, capital of South China’s Guangdong Province, from Monday to Wednesday. What is the significance of understanding China? How should Europe understand China amid a time of global turmoil and changes? Are more Europeans willing to have a positive interaction with China? Maria João Rodrigues (Rodrigues), president of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies and former member of the European Parliament, discussed these issues with Global Times (GT) reporter Li Aixin.

GT: On the topic of “understanding China,” what do you think is the most important aspect for the world to understand about China?

Rodrigues: I’ve been in China for several important moments. I first came in 1997, quite a long time ago, and I’ve witnessed how China has moved through different stages of development. I must say that, in my case and for many others, this is quite impressive because, in a very short period of time, China has been able to address critical issues.

China has almost eradicated absolute poverty and is steadily improving the average living standards of Chinese people. This is remarkable because we are talking about a massive transformation of a country on a very large scale, achieved in a relatively short time. I know that behind this progress lies a well-prepared strategy.

The fact that China has been able to combine two key features of development is remarkable. One of these features is innovation. China has been able to innovate new products and services for the domestic population, while also exporting them around the world. The other key feature is social inclusion. There is a strong focus on social inclusion within China, addressing the needs of the population at large and systematically improving living conditions. Achieving both of these things at the same time is not easy, but China is a prime example of how this can be done.

GT: You once mentioned, “instead of being systematic rivals, Europe and China should be global partners to improve global governance. This can make a big difference for the world.” Could you elaborate on this?

Rodrigues: It is true that we started with a very intensive partnership – we are partners. Then, competition is also part of our relationship. But on the global level, China and Europe can do a lot together to tackle global challenges, starting with climate change, sustainable development as a whole, reducing poverty, and supporting developing countries to catch up more quickly on sustainable development goals.

To achieve this, they need to rely on stronger financial resources, trade opportunities and technological cooperation. Europe and China both have important resources in technology, trade and finance. Together, they can truly support developing countries in catching up.

GT: Is the number of people in Europe who are willing to understand and engage in dialogue with China, increasing or decreasing?

Rodrigues: I would say that we have mixed trends. Europeans are very interested in China because it is an ancient civilization, a civilization they recognize as being sophisticated. They admire it because Europe, too, is an old civilization, and we relate to each other well in that regard.

Furthermore, the European population has benefited greatly from importing many goods from China, which has also helped improve living standards in Europe. This openness between China and Europe has continued. But more recently, because China has become very successful and is now a highly competitive economy, some sectors in Europe are feeling the pressure. China has a trade surplus with Europe, and European authorities are addressing this with their Chinese counterparts, saying – let’s cooperate, but in a way that this trade surplus is reduced.

GT: The EU decided to impose tariffs of up to 45.3 percent on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) from October 30. Do you see any solution to this dispute between China and Europe?

Rodrigues: The starting point of this issue is related to China’s success. China was able to start producing EVs that are cheaper and more affordable for the middle class. Europe, however, is still not there, as it began producing EVs, but only for the high-end market.

We need to maintain openness. Trade opportunities should remain open for both sides – China and Europe. Therefore, what I believe should be done from the European side is to develop an industrial plan to produce EVs for the middle class in Europe, which are more affordable.

I think this is on the horizon. The main carmakers in Europe are preparing to achieve this goal. Once they do, we can have natural competition between Chinese and European brands in open markets and trade. This is my hope, but we will have to see.

I can also tell that within EU institutions, there is a discussion on what the plan should be – an industrial plan to develop electric cars that should be cheaper and more affordable. So, this discussion is also taking place in European institutions.

If the resolution can be reached, Europe and China will give a strong signal to the world that we don’t believe in a protectionist reaction. Regarding trade, we prefer to have openness.

GT: Will the next US administration bring more opportunities or more risks for ChinaEurope relations?

Rodrigues: There is something very important to understand – Europe will define its relationship with China on its own. Europe needs to have its own criteria to assess why a relationship with China is important and under what conditions. This is something that the EU must do on its own.

The EU is a political entity that truly wants to maintain openness to the world and develop international cooperation to address global challenges. We also want a stronger multilateral system.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-interview-with-maria-joao-rodrigues-on-china-europe-relations-302321921.html

SOURCE Global Times

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Tampax spotlights all-star athlete lineup led by Olivia Miles, bringing “Queen’s Court” fan experience to women’s basketball’s biggest moments

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CINCINNATI, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rising star Olivia Miles is leading Tampax’s growing roster of elite athletes, as the brand spotlights its commitment to supporting women in sport through confidence, performance and trusted protection.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/tampax/9386052-en-tampax-and-all-star-lineup-brings-queens-court-fan-experience-to-wnba

All-star lineup empowering, educating women in sports

In partnership with WNBA draftee Olivia Miles and Olympic medalist Maia Shibutani, Tampax is continuing its commitment to support women in sport — bridging winter and summer athletes through a shared focus on performance and preparation.

“As an athlete, every detail matters when it comes to performance, and that includes how I manage my period,” said Miles. “Partnering with Tampax feels incredibly empowering because they truly understand the need for reliable protection that allows us to compete at the highest level without a second thought. But it’s more than just reliable protection; it’s about trusting the products you use on and off the court.”

“As an Olympic athlete, I know firsthand that periods don’t take a break for training or competition. The need for reliable, comfortable, and safe period care is universal across all sports – whether you’re on the ice, court, or anywhere else,” shared Shibutani. “Seeing organizations like Tampax step up to champion female athletes, and to provide products that instill confidence and trust, is vital for breaking down stigmas and empowering the next generation.”

As part of its associate partnership with the 2026 WNBA Draft presented by State Street Investment Management SPY, Tampax introduced “Queen’s Court,” an interactive, fan-facing experience designed to connect fans to the energy and culture of the game—bringing them closer to the athletes and moments shaping women’s basketball.

Tampax provided athletes and fans alike the opportunity to explore its unique space prior to the draft, which included access to #1 US OB/GYN recommended tampons *based on a 2026 survey designed for comfort and performance.

“Our partnership with the WNBA, and specifically our presence at the WNBA Draft with the Queen’s Court, is a natural and powerful alignment for Tampax,” said Chelsey Harshman, Senior Brand Director at Tampax.

“We understand the unique challenges women athletes face, and our mission is to ensure that period care is never a point of concern or limitation. By being the Official Period Protection Partner of the WNBA and the Toronto Tempo, we’re not just providing products; we’re providing confidence, comfort, and the assurance of trusted protection built on safe ingredients.”

Why is Tampax partnering with women’s professional sports?
Because performance doesn’t pause for a period.

Tampax is helping normalize conversations around periods and empowering women to be at their best while ensuring athletes have access to protection they can trust.

Through its women sports partnerships, Tampax is:

Providing reliable and safe period protection designed for athlete comfort and performanceHelping break stigma around periods in sportsReinforcing the importance of knowing and trusting the products athletes use

The goal is simple: give athletes one less thing to think about, so they can focus on their game.

About Olivia Miles
Olivia Miles is a rising star and one of the faces of the next generation of the WNBA. A native of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, she starred at Notre Dame before finishing her collegiate career at TCU. During her collegiate career, Miles earned All-American honors and multiple All-Conference selections, while consistently ranking among the national leaders in assists. She was selected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, cementing her status as a rising star at the professional level.

About Maia Shibutani
Maia Shibutani is a two-time Olympic medalist, author, producer, and speaker. Alongside her brother and ice dance partner Alex Shibutani, she made history as part of the first ice dance team of Asian descent, and the first team of color, to medal at the Olympic Winter Games. The duo are three-time World medalists, five-time U.S. National Champions, and were inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2023.

Off the ice, Maia is a co-author of the “Kudo Kids” series and the children’s books Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All (2023) and Incredible: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Changed the World (2025), and is developing film and television projects. She is an advocate for education, diversity, and representation, serving in ambassador roles with organizations including the U.S. Department of State and Right To Play. Her honors include the Asia Society Game Changer Award, induction into the Asian Hall of Fame, and recognition as a Gold House A100 honoree.

About Tampax
Procter & Gamble‘s leading tampon brand, Tampax, exists to help women and girls better manage their periods through superior internal period protection and medically accurate period education. With more than 80 years of period protection expertise, Tampax meets a variety of needs with a product lineup that includes Tampax Pearl, Tampax Radiant, Tampax Pure Cotton, and Tampax Pocket Radiant. Only Tampax tampons offer a LeakGuard™ Braid and five absorbency sizes to help provide leak-free periods.

About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at https://www.pg.com/news.

Contact

Amanda Brown
Senior Communications Manager, North America Feminine Care
brown.a.8@pg.com

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tampax-spotlights-all-star-athlete-lineup-led-by-olivia-miles-bringing-queens-court-fan-experience-to-womens-basketballs-biggest-moments-302746382.html

SOURCE Tampax

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Oracle Health Demonstrates Interoperability Leadership, Achieves CMS Aligned Network Status

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Delivers solution to eliminate check-in paperwork by leveraging CLEAR1 in support of CMS’ “Kill the Clipboard” initiative

AUSTIN, Texas, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Advancing its mission to provide patients with access to their healthcare data when and where they need it, Oracle Health is now a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Aligned Network. Oracle Health has also developed and delivered an easy-to-implement solution that allows patients to digitally verify their identity and provide access to their health records at check-in. This eliminates redundant information gathering and reflects Oracle Health’s commitment to reducing the administrative burden across the healthcare ecosystem and increasing interoperability.

“Oracle Health is committed to making sure patients have access to and remain in control of their health data. Our participation in the CMS Aligned Networks will help health systems and patients connect data across settings, reduce fragmentation, and improve how clinicians and patients access the information they need,” said Seema Verma, executive vice president and general manager, Oracle Health and Life Sciences. “Oracle will continue working with government and industry leaders to deliver a secure, interoperable, and AI-enabled healthcare system that improves experiences for patients and clinicians while driving down the cost of care delivery.”

Streamlining the patient intake process

CMS’ “Kill the Clipboard” initiative encourages providers to replace paperwork intake processes with a seamless digital check in. Oracle will be integrating CLEAR1, CLEAR’s secure identity platform, to enable patients with a simple way to check in and give providers access to the health data they have opted to share by simply showing a QR code. The data will then flow directly into EHR workflows. CLEAR1 is Full Service certified by the Kantara Initiative for NIST Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) and Authenticator Assurance Level 2 (AAL2), high-assurance standards that are foundational to trusted healthcare data exchange.

“Healthcare has long relied on fragmented, manual intake processes that create friction for patients and administrative burden for providers,” said David Bardan, SVP, Head of Healthcare, CLEAR. “By integrating CLEAR1 with Oracle Health, we’re working to help eliminate the clipboard entirely—enabling a simple, secure digital check-in that verifies the person and seamlessly connects their information into clinical workflows. This will be a meaningful step toward a more interoperable, patient-centered healthcare experience where trust, privacy, and ease of use are built into every interaction.”

New Jersey-based health system AtlantiCare is already using the solution to drive a better, more connected care experience for patients and providers.

“As one of the first healthcare systems in the nation to pledge support for the CMS Interoperability Framework, AtlantiCare is excited to partner with Oracle Health to deliver on that vision,” said Jordan Ruch, CIO of AtlantiCare. “We’ve completed full integration of this technology into our ambulatory check-in workflows, positioning us to deliver a faster, paper-free experience for patients, providers, and staff. This eliminates waiting room forms and repetitive medical history collection, with verified patient information flowing securely and seamlessly into our system as we prepare for broader rollout.”

Simplifying patient and provider access to health information

In addition to unveiling its offering to eliminate paperwork at check in, Oracle Health has taken another step toward helping accelerate secure, patient-centered healthcare data sharing by becoming a CMS Aligned Network. This most recent achievement builds on years of work enabling standards-based data exchange across care settings.

By becoming a CMS Aligned Network, Oracle Health has demonstrated its technology supports CMS-aligned approaches to simplify and accelerate healthcare data sharing for patients and providers. Oracle Health’s open and interoperable platform communicates with other CMS Aligned Networks as well as Qualified Health Information Networks® (QHINs) to create a single front door for patients to access and share their health information with providers.

Oracle Health is committed to enabling patient access to health data that is as simple as accessing bank records and is available conveniently when and where they need it. Last year, Oracle Health Information Network Inc., a subsidiary of Oracle, became a designated QHIN as a part of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement™ (TEFCA™).

About Oracle
Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks
Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oracle-health-demonstrates-interoperability-leadership-achieves-cms-aligned-network-status-302746757.html

SOURCE Oracle

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OrthAlign Accelerates Global Growth Strategy with Announcement of CE Mark in Europe

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IRVINE, Calif., April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — OrthAlign, Inc., the leader in handheld orthopedic enabling technology, today announced it has received CE Mark under the EU MDR for its portfolio of navigation solutions, enabling commercialization across European markets. Both the Lantern® and OrthAlign Plus® platforms are now CE marked and available for sale.

This milestone expands access to OrthAlign’s proven technology across a region increasingly focused on efficiency, flexibility, and cost control in joint replacement.

OrthAlign’s handheld systems are well aligned with the needs of European healthcare systems. Delivered in a single-use format with per-case pricing, the technology eliminates the need for capital equipment, service contracts, and complex infrastructure. Hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers can more easily manage costs while maintaining access to advanced surgical technology.

“Our technology was designed to be accessible and easy to implement,” said Eric Timko, CEO of OrthAlign. “With no pre-operative imaging requirements, minimal training, and rapid product availability, we enable surgeons to adopt technology without disrupting existing workflows.”

OrthAlign’s open-platform supports compatibility with all major implant systems, giving surgeons flexibility across techniques and preferences while helping facilities standardize solutions across sites of care. It delivers consistent outcomes across total knee, revision knee, partial knee and total hip procedures.

With more than 450,000 procedures performed globally, OrthAlign has established a strong track record of delivering accurate, real-time data while maintaining procedural efficiency. The systems are designed to integrate seamlessly into the operating room, offering time-neutral performance compared to manual techniques without the added complexity of traditional navigation or robotics.

“The European market is increasingly prioritizing solutions that balance clinical performance with operational and economic efficiency,” added Timko. “We believe OrthAlign is uniquely positioned to meet that need.”

OrthAlign will begin immediate commercial rollout in key European markets, supported by distribution partners and clinical education programs. For distribution inquiries please contact info@orthalign.com

About OrthAlign

OrthAlign, Inc. is a global medical device company focused on delivering simple, accurate, and cost-effective handheld technology for joint replacement surgery. Its product portfolio, including OrthAlign Plus and Lantern, empowers surgeons with real-time data to improve alignment and procedural efficiency, without the need for capital equipment.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/orthalign-accelerates-global-growth-strategy-with-announcement-of-ce-mark-in-europe-302747234.html

SOURCE OrthAlign

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