網頁

星期五, 10月 30, 2015

“麻州挑戰”告別2015獎16團隊 四分之一華人創辦

(本報記者菊子波士頓報導)號稱全世界最大的創業加速器“麻州挑戰(Mass Challenge)10月28日晚發出150萬元獎勵金,宣佈16家公司獲獎。其中至少4家由華人創辦。
這4組團隊分別為從昆蟲取得蛋白做脆片(chip)等食品,王薇等人創辦的“六食品(Six Foods)“,來自台灣,都在麻省理工學院就讀的賴才達,芮裕馨,黃婷筠所創辦的”新鮮水(Aqua Fresco)“,在哈佛大學及麻省理工學院合辦的醫療科學及科技項目中唸博士的李想和夥伴創辦,在“創啟未來”大賽中得過獎的偵察(Recon),以及在紐英崙中華資訊網路協會創業俱樂部受過培訓,劉延豐和傅昀等人創辦的“電視螢幕(TVision)“。
“波士頓創新(BostInno)”指出,今年的“麻州挑戰”尤其值得受人矚目,因為44%的創新團隊中,都至少有一名女性共同創辦人。
“麻州挑戰”今年5月時宣佈,在來自22國的2200個創業團隊中,有128個團隊獲選成為“麻州挑戰”培訓對象,分別在倫敦,波士頓接受為期4個月的培訓,輔導者包括曾任支付寶(Paypal)波士頓營運長的張紹遠(David Chang)。
        28日晚,不下1500人擠進波士頓會議展覽中心(BCEC),在麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker),波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Martin Walsh)聯袂出席致詞,牛頓市市長華倫賽堤(Warren Setti)應邀頒獎的隆重中,情緒高昂的見證其中打入決賽的26家公司,各自闡述他們的產品。
            其中16家獲得最後獎勵。BiorasisEstrenon,Hyliion ,以及在印度的Sanitation and Health Rights等4 家公司,各獲得10萬元,包括前述四家華人創辦公司在內的其餘12家公司各獲5萬元獎金。
            BiorasisLaunch Pad Medical這兩家公司還贏得CASIS 和波音太空站研究項目合頒的50萬元獎金。
            當年和紐英崙中華資訊網路協會創辦人陳五福,以及許基康一起創辦瀑布通訊公司(Cascade),如今在麻省理工學院捐設了德許龐帝中心(Deshpande)的印度裔企業家Gururaj Deshpande,也出席頒獎,還和新到任的加拿大駐波士頓總領事David N. Alward一起勉勵年輕人。
            在麻州州長、波士頓市長之外的致詞者是最近在波士頓備受爭議的日常體育幻想公司“徵招王(Draft King)“創辦人羅賓斯(Jason Robins)。他在會中強調,波士頓市是個最好的創立消費者科技公司地點,他不會考慮遷往其他城市。
            麻州挑戰的波士頓執行總經理(MD)史考特貝利(Scott Bailey)表示,過去45個月以來,128個團隊在500 多名輔導者協助下,都有極大進步,分別獲得23百萬元到2500萬元的資助,絕大部份的團隊人員都成倍增長。下一期的麻州挑戰預定明年一,二月開始。
            麻州挑戰創辦人哈松(John Harthorne)會後透露,該機構在英國倫敦設立的分支機構,已順利舉辦第一次的“倫敦挑戰”,發岀50萬英鎊獎金。今年將正式推出“以色列挑戰”。明年,該機構將繼續和亞洲各國協商,預計2017年時,會陸續和新加坡,韓國達成合作協議。

圖片說明:

            麻州挑戰的波士頓執行總經理(MD)史考特貝利(Scott Bailey(右一)等人頒獎給李想(右二)的偵察(Recon)“團隊。(菊子攝)

            麻州挑戰營運長皮耶瑞(Desmond Pieri)(右起)等人頒獎給傅昀,劉延豐,Dan Schiffron。(菊子攝)

            來自台灣的賴才達(右起),芮裕馨,黃婷筠創辦”新鮮水(Aqua Fresco)“得獎。(菊子攝)

            創辦人之一的王薇代表“六食品(Six Foods)“領獎。(菊子攝)


            麻州挑戰創辦人哈松(John Harthorne) 透露,2017年該機構將在亞洲落地。(菊子攝)

波士頓亞美電影節選片更加多元化 曹育倫獲獎

波士頓亞美電影節創辦人甄翠嬿(左)送電影節T恤給導演
Benson Lee(右)。(周菊子攝)
波士頓亞美電影節創辦人甄翠嬿(左起)在電影節開幕時訪問”首爾
搜尋“一片導演
Benson Lee,以及片中雙胞胎主角。(周菊子攝)
(Boston Orange 周菊子劍橋市報導)波士頓亞美電影節今年(2015)很亞裔,7部劇情片,20 部短片,以韓,印,柬埔寨等多元亞裔為重心。華裔製作的紀錄片“我在中國的生活”,以及短片“好萊塢之東”出現全場售罄熱況。
            波士頓亞美電影節由甄翠嬿創辦,迄今仍為“亞裔文化資源中心(AARW)“麾下的一項活動,但自有一組工作人員,每年都有不少熱愛電影的義工加入。
            今年選映的影片,要不是在紐英崙首映,就是在波士頓首映,對大波士頓人來說,幾乎全是新片。
            其中的“我在中國的生活”,以及短片“好萊塢之東”,依序是由在本地長大,現已移居加州的伍少文,以及目前仍住在波士頓的曹育倫製作,同一天放映,一早就門票售罄。
            開幕片“首爾搜尋(Seoul Searching)“在劍橋市的布瑞托戲院上映。導演Benson Lee和影片中的雙胞胎Uatchet Jin JuchNekhebet Kum Juch 博得熱烈掌聲。
波士頓亞美電影節創辦人甄翠嬿(左起)和“好萊塢之東”的製片及演員,Chris Catch
電影節共同主任陳曉瑩等人在電影節海報前合影。(周菊子攝)
            Benson Lee 在影片放映後的問答時間中坦言,拍電影真的不容易,這部片的劇本在他腦海中迴盪了16年,才終於有機會拍成影片。找適合演員,也歷盡艱辛。片中的雙胞胎是他在影片要開拍之前的一星期,才透過網路,從大波士頓找到的。當晚看過影片的人,都非常感動。
            “我在中國的生活”是伍少文陪他父親伍堯經回中國探親的移民生涯追憶,既有“少小離家老大回,鄉音未改鬢毛衰“ 的感嘆,也有親人團聚,舊情依然的溫馨。
  “我在中國的生活“一片導演伍少文(右)和弟弟伍少武(左)聯袂出席電影節。(周菊子攝)
            “好萊塢之東“則是曹育倫和善寫電影劇本的合作夥伴Chris策劃,拍攝,剪輯成30分鐘的短片,主旨在描繪醉心電影的亞裔,在進軍好萊塢時,幾乎無法避免“刻板印象(stereotype) “魔掌,能夠拿到的角色,經常是男的得會功夫,女的作為伴遊。
            曹育倫事後在臉書上透露,“好萊塢之東”一片不但讓他在兩個不同的電影節中贏得最佳演員獎,該片還獲得塔薩爾(Tulsa)美國電影傑的最佳劇本獎。
            同晚的另一部短片,“答案D亞裔(D. Asian)“,最是引起全場爆笑。影片描述一名猶太裔小男孩在考試卷上填寫族裔欄時,把自己的族裔填為亞裔,老師悄悄把他叫過去,溫言軟語的告訴他寫錯了自己的族裔時,他義正詞嚴的回應表示,以色列座落在亞洲之內,他當然應該是亞裔。
波士頓亞美電影節共同主任甄翠嬿(左一),陳曉瑩(右一)和“我在中國的生活“一片
導演伍少文(右四),其父伍堯經(其左三)等人在影片放映後合影。(周菊子攝)
伍堯經(左起)、伍少文兩父子在影片放映後,和親友在海報前合影留念。
(周菊子攝)
            波士頓亞美電影節兩名共同主任,甄翠嬿、陳曉瑩在電影節手冊上的歡迎詞中指出,今年是第七屆波士頓亞美電影節,也是1995年移民及國籍法通過的50週年,他們特地把“家在美國(Home in America) “訂為為電影節主題。
            電影節的開幕片是以韓國文化夏令營為背景的喜劇片“首爾搜尋“,大片包括贏得奧斯卡獎的“吳漢潤博士的殺戮戰場(The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor )” ,以及閉幕片,由Meera Simhan演的“美國印度小姐(Miss India America)“。
            甄翠嬿透露,今年11月中,將再邀請“我在中國的生活”一片來波士頓放映。



“好萊塢之東”一片放映後,演員Danni Wang(左起),Chris Catch,曹育倫等人合影。
           

    

外交部“回首光華四十與我”徵稿

外交部的《台灣光華雜誌》為慶祝邁向40週年,舉辦「回首《光華》四十與我」的徵稿活動,即日起至1115日(週日)下午五點(台灣時間)收件,將錄取40名。
            外交部的《台灣光華雜誌》創刊於民國六十五年,歷經時代轉變。外交部希望凝聚讀者對《光華》的深刻記憶,翻閱時的感動,特地以「回首《光華》四十與我」為題,舉辦徵稿活動。
有意參加徵稿活動者,可至臉書蒐尋<光華四十>粉絲頁,點入「光華四十與我徵稿」即可參加。只要在「我        《光華》,因為        」兩處填入對《光華》的情感、記憶,或是期許、展望的創意感想詞句,就完成投稿網友並可分享作品到自己的臉書粉絲頁,為其他網友瀏覽。

徵稿活動歡迎各界踴躍投稿,參加期間自即日起至1115日(週日)下午五點(台灣時間)止。經評選後,將不分名次錄取四十人,各可獲《台灣光華雜誌》一年份與《博采豐物——2016年光華案曆》一冊。

LEADER OF MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR HEROIN TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION SENTENCED TO PRISON

LEADER OF MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
HEROIN TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION SENTENCED TO PRISON
 
BOSTON – A leader of a Lawrence heroin trafficking organization that operated in Massachusetts and New York was sentenced today to 13 years in federal prison.
 
Ygoa Almonte-Baez, 48, of Dorchester, Mass., and the Bronx, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 13 years in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $2 million.  In June 2015, Almonte-Baez was convicted by a federal jury for one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
 
On July 26, 2013, federal agents raided Almonte-Baez’s stash house in Lawrence and seized over 21 kilograms of highly pure heroin.  Agents also found digital scales, grinders, cutting agents and other tools used for processing and packaging heroin for distribution.  Almonte-Baez recorded the sales and related payments for his heroin business in ledgers that showed millions of dollars in heroin sales in 2013 alone.  The same day that agents arrested Almonte-Baez, they also seized over $372,000 in drug proceeds from a courier who testified at trial that he worked for Almonte-Baez picking up tens of thousands of dollars at a time from wholesale heroin customers. 
 
According to the charging statutes, the judge was legally required to impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison.  Prosecutors sought a lengthier sentence arguing that the 21 kilograms of heroin agents seized from Almonte-Baez was only a small portion of what his organization distributed.  Furthermore, it was of such high purity that it likely would have been diluted by a factor of three before begin distributed in street-level transactions, amounting to approximately 120,000 dosage units. 
 
This case was prosecuted as part of the federal response to New England’s opioid crisis.  A substantial increase in the purity of heroin in recent years, as well as a reduction in its price, has persuaded many individuals addicted to prescription medication to switch to heroin.  Overdoses from heroin have climbed substantially as a result. 
 
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Essex County Sheriff Frank G. Cousins, Jr.; and Lawrence Police Chief James X. Fitzpatrick, made the announcement today.  The case was investigated by the DEA’s Cross Borders Initiative and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D’Addio and Susan Winkler. 
 

MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANY PAYS $677,000 FOR OVERCHARGING MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES

MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANY PAYS $677,000 FOR OVERCHARGING MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
Illinois-based Company Pays Total of $26.75 Million in Federal-State Settlement

BOSTON  An Illinois-based medical waste disposal company paid more than $677,000 to Massachusetts as part of a federal-state settlement of allegations that the company overcharged government entities millions of dollars for its services.
Stericycle, Inc. has paid a $26.75 million settlement to 12 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government, resolving allegations that the company violated the U.S. and state False Claims Acts.
 “Companies that defraud taxpayers by overcharging for their services must be held responsible,” AG Healey said. “We are pleased to have worked with our federal and state partners to recover these critical funds.”

Stericycle has provided medical waste disposal services to school districts, health departments, colleges, police departments, nursing homes and municipalities. The lawsuit alleged that Stericycle violated state and federal false claims laws by overcharging government customers by automatically increasing its charges up to 18 percent annually in violation of prices set by contracts.

The settlement resulted from a lawsuit by a whistleblower, or “relator” under the False Claims Act, who was a former employee of the company. Under the terms of the settlement, Massachusetts has recovered more than $677,000 to compensate for damages to local government entities that used the company’s services.
The other states that joined the settlement were California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, along with the District of Columbia, and the federal government.
This matter was handled for Massachusetts by Assistant Attorney General Eric Gold of AG Healey’s Health Care Division, along with Assistant Attorney General Gillian Feiner, Chief of the False Claims Division.

星期四, 10月 29, 2015

WARNER CHILCOTT AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO HEALTH CARE FRAUD SCHEME AND PAY $125 MILLION

WARNER CHILCOTT AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY TO HEALTH CARE
FRAUD SCHEME AND PAY $125 MILLION
Former President Arrested Today in Boston
 
BOSTON – Pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott has agreed to plead guilty to health care fraud and pay $125 million to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of the drugs Actonel®, Asacol®, Atelvia®, Doryx®, Enablex®, Estrace®, and Loestrin®, and various formulations of these drugs. 
 
In a related development, former Warner Chilcott President W. Carl Reichel was arrested this morning in Boston for conspiring to pay kickbacks to physicians.  Reichel will make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Boston today at 2:30 p.m. 
 
In addition, in recent weeks, three former Warner Chilcott district managers pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and criminal HIPAA violations, and a Springfield, Mass. physician was indicted for taking kickbacks, criminal HIPAA violations and obstruction of justice.
 
“Doctors’ medical judgment should be based on what is best for the patient, and not clouded by expensive meals and other pharmaceutical company kickbacks,” said United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.  “Pharmaceutical company executives and employees should not be involved with treatment decisions or submissions to a patient’s insurance company.  Today’s enforcement actions demonstrate that the government will seek not only to hold companies accountable, but will identify and charge corporate officials responsible for the fraud.”
 
“The Justice Department is committed to protecting the integrity of physician prescribing decisions and ensuring that financial arrangements in the healthcare marketplace comply with the law,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “The Department will continue to hold companies and responsible individuals accountable when they use improper incentives, like those alleged here, to promote their products.”
“Pharmaceutical companies and their employees have a significant responsibility to sell and market drugs in an ethical and legal manner,” said Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw of the FBI’s Boston Field Office.  “This settlement and the related indictments reflect the commitment of the FBI and our government partners to aggressively investigate companies and individuals who fail that responsibility and seek to profit from fraudulent activities.”
“Placing financial gain above the legitimate needs of patients is deplorable,” said Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Paying kickbacks and even providing instructions on how to defraud Medicare are practices that will not be tolerated.”
 
“These types of health care fraud investigations have great impact on VA operations because the settlement will return funds to VA for the continued care of our nation’s Veterans,” said Jeffrey G. Hughes, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.  “The VA OIG will continue to work with its law enforcement partners and the Boston U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat fraud in the health care arena.”

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH TRANSATLANTIC POLICY LAB FOR CITY OF BOSTON'S RESILIENCE STRATEGY

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH TRANSATLANTIC POLICY LAB FOR CITY OF BOSTON'S RESILIENCE STRATEGY

Partnership is a Product of Boston's Relationship with 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation

BOSTON - Thursday, October 29, 2015 - Today, Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced in collaboration with 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) that the Transatlantic Policy Lab (TAPL) will convene a social equity lab in Boston to assess the ways inequalities in income and opportunity affect Boston's shared resilience and develop policy recommendations to reduce these inequalities. "Every resident of Boston should have access to the wealth of opportunities in this city every day so we can remain competitive and be able to thrive in the face of an emergency," said Mayor Walsh. "This study will provide vital assessments of our equity gaps to help reduce the impact of potential threats on our communities, and I'm looking forward to reviewing the results and taking the next steps towards becoming an even stronger city, for ourselves and our children." Boston is one of only two cities worldwide, along with Athens, Greece, to be selected as pilot sites for the TAPL's work with 100RC. The TAPL will convene 16 experts from the United States and the European Union to work in conjunction with the host cities in efforts to reduce income inequality and inequality of opportunity. This process will be conducted in close cooperation with members of the Walsh Administration, with input from the local community being an integral role in the process. The TAPL social equity lab is provided to the City of Boston by the 100RC as part of their Platform of Partners. The 100RC Platform consists of private sector, public sector, academic, governmental, and non-profit partners who provide access to important resilience-building resources at no direct cost to the 100RC member cities. The TAPL, established by the Bertelsmann Foundation in collaboration with the Open Society Foundations and the German Marshall Fund of the United States, has been engaged as one of 100RC's platform partners. As part of the social equity lab, the TAPL will review existing research on Boston's equity gaps and engage community partners, residents, and City agencies to develop policy recommendations that will be incorporated into Boston's Resilience Strategy. The Resilience Strategy will support Boston's ability to become more prepared for, able to withstand, and bounce back from the 'shocks' -- catastrophic events like floods, infrastructure failure and acts of terrorism -- and 'stresses' -- slow-moving disasters like persistent racial and economic inequality, lack of affordable housing and unemployment -- which are increasingly part of 21st century life. The social equity lab is part of an ongoing effort led by Mayor Walsh's newly appointed Chief Resilience Officer, Dr. Atyia Martin, who is overseeing the development and implementation of a comprehensive Resilience Strategy for the City. In just over seven weeks, Dr. Martin has held over 50 meetings with community and faith-based organizations, City agencies, and business groups to set for the stage for Boston's Resilience Strategy Launch, which officially began on October 28th in partnership with 100RC and with support from HR&A Advisors, Inc. "Boston faces equity challenges, like many cities worldwide, and this process is an important part of ensuring we continue to grow as a thriving, healthy and innovative city," said Dr. Martin. "Assessing our resilience is necessary to meet Mayor Walsh's goal for a socially and economically healthy city, from the bottom-up. I'm excited to partner with the Transatlantic Policy Lab and 100RC to make this possible." "Partnerships like the one between Boston and the Transatlantic Policy Lab are a crucial component of 100 Resilient Cities' offering to member cities," said Liz Yee, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Solutions at 100 Resilient Cities. "We're proud to provide best-in-class tools and services to foster resilience building efforts at no direct cost to our member cities, and excited to leverage the solutions and learnings from this engagement to identify where these approaches can be scaled to address similar challenges in other cities, and encourage the market to develop solutions where there are existing gaps." The social equity lab complements Boston's overall resilience initiative, which includes a unique focus on social resilience in a city affected by historic and persistent divisions of race and class. As part of this initiative, Dr. Martin will support all of Boston's major planning efforts, working across City departments and with external stakeholders, and has been particularly tasked with fostering a citywide dialogue on the root causes of Boston's divisions and inequities, helping the city to unite and build collective capacity for change. The two-year position is fully funded through 100RC. About 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation 100 Resilient Cities - Pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) helps cities around the world become more resilient to social, economic, and physical challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. 100RC provides this assistance through: funding for a Chief Resilience Officer in each of our cities who will lead the resilience efforts; resources for drafting a resilience strategy; access to private sector, public sector, academic, and NGO resilience tools; and membership in a global network of peer cities to share best practices and challenges. 100RC currently has 67 member cities. For more information, visit: www.100ResilientCities.org. 100RC recently launched the third and final round of the 100 Resilient Cities challenge, where cities can apply to become part of the final cohort of cities in the global network of 100 cities. For application information, visit: www.100ResilientCities.org/challenge.