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Extend the PSLF Waiver

Menendez, Kaine, Gillibrand, Van Hollen, Sarbanes, Hayes, Courtney Urge the Biden Administration to Extend the PSLF Waiver.

The bicameral group of lawmakers asked for the waiver deadline to be extended until July 1, 2023

U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), alongside U.S. Representatives John Sarbanes (D-Md.-03), Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05), and Joe Courtney (D-Conn.-02), today led a bicameral group of nearly 100 colleagues in urging U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to extend the limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) waiver deadline until July 1, 2023 – when the Department of Education’s new PSLF regulations are set to take effect, in order to ensure all public servants with federal student loans can benefit from this historic waiver. Since the Department announced the limited PSLF waiver last October, more than 189,000 public servants have had their student loans forgiven through the program and one million have received an average of one additional year of PSLF credit.

“To date, the waiver has been overwhelmingly successful in reducing barriers for borrowers to receive PSLF relief, as the waiver accounts for almost all (91%) of the borrowers who have received forgiveness through the PSLF program through July 31, 2022,” wrote the lawmakers to Secretary Cardona. “The limited waiver [has] also [been] a lifeline for Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers who—for the first time—have seen their payments acknowledged in the PSLF program.”

Despite how many public servants have already benefited from the limited waiver, the lawmakers highlighted that these borrowers represent only a fraction of the public servants who are eligible for PSLF. According to the Student Borrower Protection Center’s estimates, only 15% of the 9 million public service workers with student debt have filed paperwork to track their qualifying payments under PSLF. The lawmakers also echoed the more than 20 state attorneys general who warned that fundamental programmatic problems with the PSLF program will immediately return – likely in a more exacerbated manner – if the waiver ends before the Department of Education implements its new PSLF regulations.

“Extending the PSLF waiver will also allow more military service members and federal employees to make progress towards loan forgiveness through PSLF. Though the Department has announced that it is currently working to ensure that all federal agencies and departments automatically provide credit for PSLF for members of the military and federal employees, this program is not yet in place,” added the lawmakers. “Military and federal data matches are critical to ensuring that the Department can identify which borrowers are eligible for PSLF and provide them automatic relief.”

Sen. Menendez and many of his colleagues have long called on the Department of Education to make comprehensive fixes to the PSLF program, which has faced scrutiny for several implementation challenges since its inception in 2007, with only 1 to 2 percent of PSLF applicants being approved each year prior to the Biden Administration proposing a sweeping overhaul of the PSLF program. Today’s effort comes more than a month after Sen. Menendez and several of his colleagues led a group of more than 100 lawmakers in calling on the Biden Administration to extend the PSLF waiver deadline.

This effort is supported by 35 advocacy groups, including: AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Accountable.us, American Association of University Women (AAUW), American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), American Council on Education (ACE), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Psychological Association (APA), OCA- Asian Pacific American Advocates, Association of Young Americans (AYA), Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW), Community Service Society of New York (CSSNY), Consumer Action, Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), Fosterus, Maryland Center for Collegiate Financial Wellness (MCCFW), National Action Network Washington Bureau, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), National Council of Nonprofits, National Education Association (NEA), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), New Leaders, New Jersey Citizen Action, Public Law Center, Social Current, Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC), Student Debt Crisis Center (SDCC), The Arc, The Education Trust, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), UnidosUS, and Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC).

Joining Sens. Menendez, Kaine, Gillibrand, and Van Hollen in the Senate in signing the letter are: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

Joining Reps. Sarbanes, Hayes, and Courtney in the House in signing the letter are: Reps. Alma Adams (D-N.C.-12), Colin Allred (D-Texas-32), Cynthia Axne (D-Iowa-03), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44), Karen Bass (D-Calif.-37), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.-16), Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.-02), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio-11), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.-24), Sean Casten (D-Ill.-06), Judy Chu (D-Calif.-27), David Cicilline (D-R.I.-01), James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.-06), J. Luis Correa (D-Calif.-46), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.-07), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn.-03), Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.-11), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.-12), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas-35), Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.-13), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.-03), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.-07), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-Ill.-04), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas-29), Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.-34), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.-03), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas-18), Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-53), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.-06), John B. Larson (D-Conn.-01), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.-14), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.-03), Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.-08), Lucy McBath (D-Ga.-06), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.-04), James McGovern (D-Mass.-02), Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.-09), Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.-04), Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.-32), Marie Newman (D-Ill.-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-At-Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.-14), Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.-06), Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.-20), Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.-09), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine-01), Katie Porter (D-Calif.-45), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.-07), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.-05), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08), Deborah K. Ross (D-N.C.-02), C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-02), Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.-01), Gregorio Sablan (D-N. Mariana Is.-At-Large), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09), David Scott (D-Ga.-13), Adam Smith (D-Wash.-09), Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.-07), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.-11), Thomas Suozzi (D-N.Y.-03), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-15), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-13), David Trone (D-Md.-06), Juan Vargas (D-Calif.-51), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.-12), Peter Welch (D-Vt.-At-Large), Susan Wild (D-Pa.-07), Nikema Williams (D-Ga.-05), and John A. Yarmuth (D-Ky.-03).

Find a copy of the letter HERE and below.

Dear Secretary Cardona:

Thank you for your continued efforts to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. As you are aware, the limited PSLF waiver, announced last October, has significantly improved the lives of the more than 189,0001 public servants who have had their student loans forgiven though the program and the one million2 who have received an average of one additional year of PSLF credit. Given the upcoming October 31, 2022 limited PSLF waiver deadline, we write to reiterate our request3 that the Department of Education extend its deadline until July 1, 2023—when the Department’s new PSLF regulations will take effect—in order to ensure that all public servants with federal student loans are able to benefit from this historic waiver. 

To date, the waiver has been overwhelmingly successful in reducing barriers for borrowers to receive PSLF relief, as the waiver accounts for almost all (91%) of the borrowers who have received forgiveness through the PSLF program through July 31, 2022.4 The limited waiver is also a lifeline for Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers who—for the first time—have seen their payments acknowledged in the PSLF program. Yet, data indicates that only a fraction of the public servants who are eligible for PSLF have utilized the waiver. According to the Student Borrower Protection Center’s estimates, only 15% of the 9 million public service workers with student debt have filed paperwork to track their qualifying payments under PSLF.5

As more than 20 state attorneys general have pointed out, “[g]iven the essential benefits provided by the limited PSLF waiver, and the fact that fundamental problems with the PSLF program will immediately return (likely in an exacerbated form) upon the waiver’s end, we have grave concerns about the plans to end the waiver . . . before the Department’s new PSLF regulations take effect.”These attorneys general, alongside the education advocacy, government, and non-profit community as a whole, agree that operationalizing and explaining the waiver has been an incredible challenge for the Department, as well as its servicers. Such challenges have left numerous public servants confused about how the waiver, consolidation, and the Department’s one-time review to fix forbearance and deferment failures will work. This is especially true for FFEL borrowers and borrowers who still hold joint consolidated loans from the Department, many of whom are still unaware that they may have an opportunity to qualify for PSLF under the limited PSLF waiver.

Importantly, extending the PSLF waiver will also allow more military service members and federal employees to make progress towards loan forgiveness through PSLF. Though the Department has announced that it is currently working to ensure that all federal agencies and departments automatically provide credit for PSLF for members of the military and federal employees, this program is not yet in place. Military and federal data matches are critical to ensuring that the Department can identify which borrowers are eligible for PSLF and provide them automatic relief.

Since the deadline of October 31, 2022 to qualify for PSLF under the waiver program is less than one month away, we ask that the Department extend this deadline in order to ensure that all public servants with federal student loans are able to benefit from this historic waiver.

Sincerely,

Follow Senator Menendez on Instagram I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube I Flickr I Website

360 Breaking News via 360 Magazine by 360 Magazine

October Top Stories

2022 has proven to be nothing short of a significant and eventful year. Overcoming the summer months, 360 reviews, and highlights the main news of the month of October. Below are the top news stories for the beginning of the autumn month!

Putin has again threatened a third world war if Ukraine joins NATO

Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Alexander Venediktov, has announced that Ukraine’s admission to NATO could lead to a third world war. “Kyiv is well aware that such a step would mean a guaranteed escalation into a third world war,” Venediktov said, according to TASS.

Ukrainian President Zelensky declared an offer for fast-track entry into the NATO military alliance in late September after Putin held a ceremony in Moscow to proclaim the four illegally annexed regions.

Five killed in shooting in North Carolina

Five people have died in a shooting in Raleigh, a residential area of North Carolina, in the United States. Two others have been injured. The author of the shots, a young man dressed in camouflage who was carrying a rifle, has been arrested. The suspect hid in a house but has finally been arrested. Witnesses portray the shooter as a teenager dressed in camouflage clothing. At the moment the cause for which he fired is unknown.

Chaos in France due to lack of fuel

The shortage of gasoline at service stations is causing numerous problems in France. The workers of the French refineries remain firm and warn that they will continue with the strike despite the fact that the Government has activated this Wednesday, October 12, the intervention of some plants so that they supply fuel to the gas stations. France’s objective is to alleviate the shortage of gasoline at service stations, something that is causing several problems.

The main suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, accused of several sexual crimes

Christian Brückner, 45, the main suspect in Madeleine McCann‘s disappearance, has been charged by German prosecutors with numerous sexual offenses he allegedly committed in Portugal between December 28, 2000, and June 11, 2017. Two years ago, the German police already announced that they were investigating Brückner in connection with the disappearance of the British minor in her vacation apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007.

The Braunschweig prosecutors have issued a statement this Tuesday, October 11: “The accused (of various sexual crimes) is the same person against whom charges were brought in connection with the disappearance of the British girl, then three years old, Madeleine Beth McCann Specifically, he is charged with three crimes of aggravated rape and two crimes of child sexual abuse.”

The ‘killer nurse’ killed babies by injecting them with insulin

Lucy Letby, 32, better known as the ‘killer nurse’, is on trial for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murder of ten more babies. The nurse worked at the hospital in Chester (England) where a significant number of deaths of healthy newborns was experienced, something that raised suspicion among those responsible for the hospital. Investigators found out that she injected newborns with insulin. At this time, the ‘angel of death’ tearfully guarantees not to have touched a syringe.

Lizzo responds to Kanye West’s fatphobic comments during his concert in Toronto

Lizzo has been the latest focus of Kanye West‘s criticism. The American rapper, who has been involved in various controversies for several weeks, took advantage of his interview with Tucker Carlson to talk about his brand of sneakers and express his opinion about Lizzo’s body.

The artist is recognized for her great lunch for the inclusion and acceptance of the diversity of bodies, she has not remained silent and has wanted to defend against fatphobia. You can see Lizzo’s response to Kayne West HERE.

Selena Gomez announces a new song with the premiere of her documentary ‘My Mind and Me’

On the occasion of Mental Health Day (October 10), Selena shared the official trailer for this very special film. In it, we see the images that introduce us to the vital episodes that this documentary will investigate: her childhood, her illness, and her musical career, among others.

The single can be heard in the official trailer that the singer has shared HERE. The documentary My Mind & Me premieres on November 4 on AppleTV+.

Russia launches an air strike against Kyiv in response to the “attack” on the Kerch bridge

Several explosions have shaken the morning of October 10 in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as confirmed by the authorities. It is the first air attack in Kyiv in two months and a significant number of victims is expected.

Similarly, Ukraine has denounced a new bombing of Zaporizhia, where there is at least one death in residential buildings. These attacks are Russian President Putin‘s response to the attack on the Kerch Bridge, one of the main connecting routes between Russia and Crimea.

UPDATE

  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asks the population of Kyiv not to leave the bunkers and resist. Zelensky on Telegram: “The anti-aircraft alarm does not stop throughout Ukraine. There are missile strikes. Unfortunately, there are deaths and injuries. I ask you: do not leave the shelters.”
  • Putin’s revenge for the explosion in Crimea: the moment they bomb a bridge in Kyiv. Putin consummated his revenge in the last few hours after the explosion of the Crimean bridge. Russian forces have launched a barrage of missiles on eleven cities, including Lviv, Zaporizhia, and Nicolaiev.

The author of the massacre in the kindergarten in Thailand, a former police officer, kills his family and commits suicide

Panya Khamrap, the former Thai police officer who has killed more than 30 people, including children, in his son’s nursery, has committed suicide after murdering his family. The former police officer was fired by the Thai government after being involved in a drug case. Panya Khamrap broke into his son’s nursery in Thailand early in the morning armed with bladed weapons and pistols and killed at least 35 people, 22 of them children and an eight-month pregnant woman.

New South Wales is flooded by heavy torrential rains

Torrential rains have inflicted heavy flooding in New South Wales, Australia. The Australian authorities continue with their message of prudence and caution to the citizenry as a result of the serious flooding that the storm has caused in the previous days. The Australian emergency services have had to respond to nearly 350 warnings and incidents, with a total of 21 rescues of isolated people in areas flooded by water.

Actor Chris Fountain suffers a stroke

Former English Coronation Street actor Chris Fountain has revealed he was left “talking like a little boy” after suffering a mini-stroke. After waking up in his house and talking ‘like a baby’. The actor spent five days in a London hospital. “I woke up one morning and knew something was wrong,” the actor confesses. “My mom called me and I couldn’t get my words out,” he explains. Chris now has to see a speech therapist to retrain his brain.

Supermodel Carmen Dell’Orefice’s posing causes a sensation

At 91 years old, Carmen Dell’Orefice is a clear example that age is just a number. The New York supermodel has worked on a photo shoot for New You magazine in which she has decided to pose topless. Carmen Dell’Orefice is shown lying on a bed wearing flesh-colored underwear and covering her chest with a wide white bedspread.

Police use Alexa device to solve the murder of two scientists

Camila Behrensen, 24, and Pablo Guzman, 25, were found dead in their apartment. The two were shot and their house burned down, near the biomedical research center where they worked. The Kansas City (Missouri) police have used the Amazon Alexa device in search of clues that will lead them to determine the murder of the two young people.

Investigations have found that they were killed with a firearm and later burned. The detectives in charge of the case believe that the Alexa device could have captured the audio prior to the time of the crime, something that would make it easier to find the murderer of the scientists. In order to study the device located in the apartment, they needed a special permit that would allow them to reproduce the recordings.

Another girl dies detained in Iran after protesting the death of Mahsa Amini

The daughter of a former Iranian president was arrested for “provoking and inciting rioters” during demonstrations over the death of Mahsa Amini. The immense violence with which the protests in Iran are being contained leaves us with another victim.

They have killed again a 17-year-old girl, who went on stage to criticize the death of Mahsa Amini. Ten days later, the police authorities handed over her body to her parents. They also denounce that her body was stolen by those same authorities shortly before celebrating her funeral.

UPDATE

  • Nika Shakarami, a 17-year-old girl killed in Iran: they stole her body and buried it secretly

Nika Shakarami was a 17-year-old minor who died in protests over what happened to Mahsa Amini in Iran and has become an icon of the feminist struggle. The young woman’s family denounces that the young woman’s body was stolen and buried elsewhere, which caused protests in Khorramabad.

South Korea and the US respond to Kim Jong-un by launching several missiles into the sea and one crashes into a military base

Fear of a great war is growing in the world. While the threats from Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue to increase war tension on an international scale, also raising fears of an offensive with nuclear weapons, now it is North Korea that has sounded the alarm after launching a missile that flew over Japan. North Korea met with a response from the US and South Korea, which have also launched deterrent missiles in a drill. One of them has crashed in a South Korean base.

A 28-year-old man was convicted of raping and impregnating his 15-year-old sister in Yacuiba, Bolivia

The aggressor identified as Juan C.L.R has been sentenced for the crime of serious rape through a trial placed in the First Sentencing Court of Yacuiba (Bolivia) after he himself was accredited as guilty of raping and impregnating his 15-year-old sister. After determining the seriousness of the crime, the judges issued the maximum codeine (30 years) to the man.

Elon Musk sparks controversy with his proposal on how to end the war in Ukraine

Businessman and investor Elon Musk has sparked controversy with a proposal to end the war in Ukraine. In the tycoon’s peace proposal, Ukraine should cede Crimea (the European peninsula and territory between Russia and Ukraine) to the Russian country. Several European politicians, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have responded to the owner of Tesla. Zelensky reacted to the Tesla CEO’s proposals by posting his own poll on Twitter in which he asks, “Which Elon Musk do you prefer? – The one who supports Ukraine – The one who supports Russia»

The dangerous arrest of a man accused of kidnapping in Florida: he used his son as a shield

Brandon Leohner (27) has been arrested for trying to kidnap his own son, just one year old, in Florida, United States. The body cameras of the local police show the danger that was experienced during the arrest: Brandon used the baby to protect himself.

The officers had to yell at him multiple times: “’Put the kid down, put the baby down,’ but Brandon Leohner continued to use his son as a human shield after forcing him out of his girlfriend’s house. One of the officers attacked him even though he was carrying the child. Finally, the young man is arrested and accused of kidnapping and using a minor as a shield in addition to resisting authority and reckless driving.

Youth gangs shake Madrid, Spain

Shots, machetes, and knives. Youth gangs have gone from controlling neighborhoods to getting fully involved in violent robberies, drug trafficking, prostitution, and credit card cloning. The first weekend of October, criminal groups were in the news with two young people killed in the south of Madrid. The members of these gangs, many of them imported from Latin America, sign up many minors who fall into this kind of family.

Revolt of prisoners in a prison in Ecuador ends with 15 dead, among them the well-known narco ‘El Patron’

Violence shakes the Latacunga prison in Ecuador. The revolt resulted in twenty wounded and 15 dead. It is the provisional balance of the confrontation between two rival bands. In the last two years, Ecuadorian prisons have become the main scene of these bloody clashes.

During the brawl between prisoners, some of them tried to escape from the prison. Once outside, they did not get very far and were arrested. Finally, the police managed to enter and take control. They pacified the war unleashed in the prison that also ended with the life of the main narco in Ecuador, Leandro Moreno, known as El Patron.

Panic in Japan: North Korea launches a ballistic missile and Japanese authorities ask their citizens to take refuge

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has warned that North Korea has launched a ballistic missile that would have fallen into the Pacific Ocean, flying over Japan, a fact that has not happened since 2017. The Japanese authorities have asked citizens to protect themselves and hide underground or, failing that, not leave their homes. North Korea maintains that it is a military test. It is the fifth such launch in the last ten days.

In search and capture Marina Ovsyannikova, the journalist who protested live against the Russian invasion

The Russian authorities have communicated a search and arrest warrant against the journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, based on the alleged violation of the Penal Code. In March she interrupted a live program to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was under house arrest for her stance against her in the Kremlin, the residence of the Moscow government.

Hurricane ‘Orlene’ approaches Mexico with a strong storm of rains, wind, and storm surges

Orlene strengthened to Category 4 the first weekend of October as it neared the west coast of Mexico, where it is about to make landfall with very high winds, torrential rains, and storm surges. The approach of the hurricane is causing torrential rains in the western regions of Nayarit and Jalisco, and intense not only on the western coast of Mexico but also in Colima and southern Sinaloa.

The National Meteorological Service (SMN) has issued alerts to protect the population in the tourist cities of San Blas and Mazatlan, where school classes and other activities have been suspended. It is expected that there will be gusts of air that reach 220 km/h.

A young Russian rapper commits suicide to avoid going to war

“I will not kill mine,” says Ivan Petunin. The story of the young Russian rapper shocked the entire country. The singer has decided to take his own life to avoid having to go to war. Ivan Petunin, 27, was recorded explaining the drastic decision he had made: “If you are watching this video, then I am no longer alive. I cannot take the sin of murder on my soul, I do not want to do it, I will not kill mine for any ideal”, he begins explaining.

“My final decision is exactly how I am going to die. I choose to stay forever in history, as someone who has not supported what is happening and make one last protest”, he points out. Finally, Ivan Petunin’s body was found dead near a building in Krasnodar, Russia.

Tragedy on a football field in Indonesia: 125 dead, including 17 children, due to riots

125 people have died on the Indonesian island of Java following riots at the Kanjuruhan stadium following a football match.
The security forces responded quickly with the use of tear gas that caused a huge human stampede in the stadium. At first, the figure increased to 174 deaths, but later 129 victims were found.

The chief inspector general of the East Java Police, Nico Afinta, has reported that the protests broke out after the defeat of Arema FC against their opponent. The fans of the losing team jumped onto the playing field with the purpose of complaining about the result.

Ukraine invasion: Would Vladimir Putin press the nuclear button?

Russian President Putin goes one step further in his defiance. The notices have jumped in NATO after the mobilization by Russia of the Belgorod submarine. It is believed that it is to test the Poseidon nuclear missile, one of the deadliest for humanity. Putin is increasingly cornered and the threat of nuclear attack is once again in the spotlight. Some allies of Vladimir Putin bet on the nuclear attack and put pressure on the Russian president in order to activate the nuclear button.

Lula da Silva wins the elections in Brazil although he will face Jair Bolsonaro in the second round

da Silva and Bolsonaro will face each other in a second round of the presidential elections, because neither candidate has exceeded 50 percent of the votes in this first round that took place this Sunday, September 2 in Brazil. With 97.07 percent of the votes counted, da Silva, leader of the Workers’ Party, has become the winner of the first round, obtaining 7.88 percent of the votes. Meanwhile, the current president and leader of the Liberal Party, Bolsonaro, has achieved 43.68 percent, according to data released by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. The official date to know the name of the new president of Brazil will be October 30.

Björgvin Arnarson chats up Chucky with Vaughn Lowery in 360 MAGAZINE exclusive.

BJÖRGVIN ARNARSON – CHUCKY

Listen to Björgvin Arnarson and Vaughn Lowery chat all things CHUCKY on 360 MAG Apple/Spotify podcast HERE.

Björgvin Arnarson plays ‘Devon’ on the hit TV series, CHUCKY.

Björgvin is an up-and-coming American television actor with a fraternal twin brother. In 2019, this biracial (Icelandic father and Floridian mother) boy wonder made his acting debut as a guest star on Family Time. When asked about his early acting experiences, Arnarson said, “I always liked performing. I used to do community theater back then, I also made short films with my brother… Then my mom asked, ‘Why don’t you start auditioning?’ I replied, ‘Sure!’… I did one commercial, a low-budget film, some horror movies, and a book trailer. I booked some small things and then booked CHUCKY.” 

Subsequently, Arnarson broke into film with a supporting role in horror, starring Vadhir Derbez and Guy Pearce, The Seventh Day. Additionally, he solidified a bit part in Hulu’s hit comedy series, PEN15, earning numerous credits in a short span. When questioned about daily set life, he asserts, “I never know what scene we’re shooting until the day of, so I have to be prepared to be super dramatic or super not dramatic.” He further elaborates, “Shooting out of order is interesting to me …like we’re shooting episode 3 but it’s only the end scene, and we’ll shoot the beginning later.” 

Björgvin portrays Devon Evans in the TV version of the cult classic, CHUCKY, premiering October 5. “I was on my computer playing games, my dad told me that I booked it. I was like ‘Oh Dang Okay!’” Arnarson recalled the day he got the role. “The first thing I did was watch all of the Chucky movies.” 

Born into a family that is both artistic and supportive, it is not surprising that Björgvin Arnarson is an eclectic actor with enormous dedication. Arnarson mentioned that he has a twin brother who is a talented musician and ballet dancer, “We’re fraternal, not identical, but he is three minutes older, he always says that, but whatever.” When they were babies, his mother danced and sang for them, and they soon found out that his father was once in a band and performed in the theater.

While this tailspin continues to earn honors, Arnarson enjoys reading comics, playing the piano and being an active company in the local artistic scene. “I like photography, digital art… putting things together into one big piece… filmmaking, mixed media, Manga… and I’m a big music guy,” Arnarson said.

DEVON EVANS is a boy-next-door and true crime addict who runs a podcast called “Hackenslash,” which sheds light on local crime in his hometown of Hackensack. Evans is hell-bent on making sense of the mysterious Hackensack tragedies, not only from the past but also from the present. Devon is a student at Perry Middle School and is dating “Jack Wheeler” (Zachary Arthur).

CHUCKY is a continuation of the emblematic cinema franchise that retraces the murderous events of the famous killer doll. In the television series, Chucky encounters former allies, sworn enemies and new prey, as he tries to inspire fear, nervousness and chaos wherever he goes.

After his horrible plot to invade America’s children’s hospitals was thwarted in the first season, Chucky now seeks revenge on those he blames, surviving teens Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind), along with his ex-Tiffany ( his sworn enemy).

The series averaged 11.6 million viewers in season 1. Season 2 will premiere on October 5 (trailer) on SYFY and USA Networks.

Article: Andrea Esteban, Vaughn Lowery

ADDITIONAL BJÖRGVIN QUOTES:

“In season one, I was pretty nervous,” Arnarson confessed, “but going into season two, it feels more like second nature, I can focus more and get into the character.” 

“Working with the doll is pretty interesting, you get to see all the things that go behind it. it is not super hard working with it because it feels like a person.”

FUN FACTS:

Press Conference

Jake and Devon Pullover

Björgvin plans on dropping a skate-inspired clothing collection soon.

Plans on Attending Comic Con.

BTS of Interview on YT.

Tatev Oganyan by Jonathan Stinson via 360 Magazine

Changing the Game in Cannabis

Q&A With Tatev Oganyan of the Oganyan Agency: Changing the Game in Cannabis

The 360 Magazine had the honor of interviewing a woman who is changing the game in the cannabis space as well as luxury consumer goods as one of the top attorneys in California. She is a force to be reckoned with due to her many accolades and talents. Mrs. Oganyan speaks on gender equality, balancing her professional and personal life, her favorite hobbies including her successful “Happy High Hour” events in Orange County, the future of the cannabis industry, and which A-list celebrities are investing in cannabis companies. Read the informative interview below and keep up with Tatev on INSTAGRAM and her website TheOganyanAgency.com

As a powerful female attorney in the cannabis space, do you find being a woman has made it harder for your success? We read all the time about actresses not being paid the same as their male co-stars. Would you say the cannabis industry is similar or not at all? 

I think being a woman has its challenges in most industries including acting and cannabis, especially as you move up the corporate ladder. I have seen my fair share of gender inequality, which could be detrimental to cannabis companies. Without a doubt, there are a lot more hurdles for women to overcome but we are stronger because of it in an industry that requires thick skin. You must know your worth and advocate for yourself, negotiate your pay and work hard to get what you want because it will not be handed to you.

How do you balance your professional life and your personal life? 360 read that you work with your husband, what are your tips on leaving work stress at the office? 

My husband is of counsel at The Oganyan Agency for corporate and commercial real estate matters so it’s not uncommon to talk business while we brush our teeth.

We just got back from our honeymoon in Croatia, which we had to postpone for eight months due to work deadlines. We powered through and our clients were very grateful. Here are some tips that work for us

  • Get organized and coordinate scheduling for work and personal time on a regular basis.
  • Respect professional boundaries and personal space at home and in the office, which is important for privacy and comfort.
  • Find ways to instill passion in each project and have fun. Your clients will appreciate it.
  • Make time for nature to unplug and stay active.
  • Be present.

Our readers would love to know some of your favorite hobbies. 

My creative outlet is drawing, painting, and curating unique experiences through experiential marketing. This week, we hosted a Happy High Hour, which was an exclusive taste testing event for industry insiders and influencers to meet Trendi, an indoor premium California flower brand that launched this summer.

Where do you see the Cannabis Industry within the next year? 

Without federal legalization, sound regulation, and tax breaks, the market will continue to be volatile as the illicit market thrives. Large operators will continue to buyout challenged operators. Mergers and acquisitions will accelerate as larger companies expand their footprint to boost revenue. The stigma will reduce as education and research improves and more states legalize cannabis. A lot more Americans will be open to using cannabis regularly for medicinal and recreational purposes.

Do you believe cannabis will be legalized on a federal level? If so, when do you see that happening? 

I believe cannabis will be legalized but no time soon, unfortunately. I am optimistic about the prospects of full federal legalization in the long run because I believe it has broad popular support from the American people.

Just look at how long progress takes at the federal level with the SAFE Banking Act which was first introduced in 2013. It would be a huge boom to the legitimacy of the cannabis industry if cannabis companies could bank like every other legitimate business.

It’s 2022 and despite the Act’s continued bipartisan support, we see it held up for one reason or another by both Democrats and Republicans. Overall, we believe the momentum is there for the bill to eventually pass, but it is not a priority for this legislative season.

Tell us who inspires you and did they help influence you to pursue your career in the cannabis space? 

My cannabis backstory happened largely by chance. I applied for a job on Indeed fall of 2016 and the industry was not disclosed to me until the final interview. I requested time to consider the offer since I was unsure if cannabis was legal at the time. My husband (then boyfriend) helped me research California laws on cannabis and encouraged me to pursue a legal career in cannabis. He also believed in my entrepreneurial spirit since law school and motivated me to start my own business in 2020. Today, we tag team our largest projects together.

What are 3 tips or professional advice you have for our readers who are looking to open a dispensary and have never been in the cannabis industry before? 

  • Only the cream of the crop makes it. Don’t expect to get rich overnight. The heavy tax burdens (up to 40%), ever-changing regulations, and competing illicit markets make it challenging to operate a profitable dispensary.
  • Know your market. Integrate yourself into the cannabis culture for long-term industry success.
  • The industry is not for the faint-hearted. Learn to eat bad news for breakfast because you must be relentless to survive when navigating unseen waters.

Since 360 is a lifestyle magazine and also focuses on celebrities, do you see a shift in celebrities being open publicly about using cannabis recreationally? 

We are seeing more celebrities openly discuss cannabis or CBD consumption especially celebrities who want to get into the cannabis industry. Fans expect authentic ventures and collabs. Cannabis consumers are very quick to reject cash grabs.

In order to succeed, celebrities must connect with the culture and lifestyle by openly sharing their story and relationship with weed. Otherwise, their involvement will seem merely opportunistic.

Do you think celebrities will start investing in cannabis companies? 

Cannabis is an emerging industry and a hot commodity with strong ties to Hollywood, hip-hop, and reggae cultures. In recent years, more celebrities are investing in cannabis-connected businesses. Many like Mike Tyson, Bella Thorne and Seth Rogen are already creating their own cannabis brands. Brands that exemplify celebrity personas capitalize on an existing fan base, which can help drive retail sales. It’s exciting to see how celebrity-backed products attract new cannabis-curious consumers and audiences.

Lastly, if you could give advice and inspiration to your younger self starting off in law school, what would you say? 

I would tell my younger self to enjoy the ride as much as the destination. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun because the work will always be there. Trust your instincts and stop doubting yourself. Use your fear as fuel to learn. Being scared and uncomfortable is a sign of personal growth.

Polestar 3 by Polestar Press via 360 Magazine

Polestar 3 Premieres on October 12

The SUV for the Electric Age – Polestar 3 Premieres on October 12

Polestar cars (Nasdaq: PSNY) will premiere its first SUV, Polestar 3, at a launch event on October 12, 2022, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Featuring Polestar CEO, Thomas Ingenlath, and Polestar Head of Design, Maximilian Missoni, the event will be live-streamed globally beginning at 1 p.m. EST, allowing consumers a glimpse at the brand’s debut in the SUV market. For those who want to tune in, the live broadcast will be available at https://youtu.be/oga1XJAX8ms.

Polestar 3 is a powerful, design-led electric performance SUV that appeals to the senses with a distinct shape while providing excellent driving dynamics. “We had to ask ourselves: ‘what should a modern SUV look like?’ Polestar 3 defines the SUV for the electric age, and in designing it we addressed some of the fundamentals of the archetype: proportions, stance, and aerodynamics,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO.

Built on a new all-electric technology base, Polestar 3 also features the latest in high-tech components. This includes a centralized core processor from NVIDIA, and a long list of advanced safety systems from Volvo Cars and leading industry suppliers such as Zenseact, Luminar and Smart Eye.

At Polestar, performance means more than straight-line acceleration. At launch, each version of the Polestar 3 will feature a rear-biased dual motor powertrain and torque vectoring via a dual-clutch system on the rear electric motor. Delivered as standard, adaptive dual-chamber air suspension, and active dampers will allow Polestar 3 to switch between comfort and firm suspension dynamics while adjusting to the road conditions once every two milliseconds (500 Hz).

“It’s this instant ability to transform from a comfortable cruiser to a sharp, agile performance car in less than the blink of an eye that makes Polestar 3 special as an electric performance SUV,” continued Ingenlath. “It also benefits from a low center of gravity and wide track for ultimate stability, and an exciting feeling behind the wheel.”

The optional Performance Pack provides the Polestar 3 with 517 hp and 671 lb.-ft. of torque, along with Polestar Engineered chassis tuning for the active dampers and air suspension. Polestar’s signature Swedish gold details are also added, including valve caps, seat belts and a laser-etched interior light strip.

Additional information regarding Polestar 3 will be shared throughout the event on October 12. Join the live stream to learn more about the brand’s SUV for the electric age.

About Polestar 

Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC (Nasdaq: PSNY) (“Polestar”) is a Swedish premium electric vehicle manufacturer. Founded by Volvo Car AB (publ.) (together with its subsidiaries, “Volvo Cars”) and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd (“Geely”), in 2017,  Polestar enjoys specific technological and engineering synergies with Volvo Cars and benefits from significant economies of scale as a result.  

Polestar is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and its vehicles are currently available and on the road in markets across Europe, North America, China, and the Asia Pacific. By 2023, the company plans that its cars will be available in an aggregate of 30 markets. Polestar cars are currently manufactured in two facilities in China, with additional future manufacturing planned in the USA. 

In the US, the local Polestar office is located in the New York metro area, in Mahwah, New Jersey. Polestar Spaces have been opened in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Orange County, Calif.; New York City; Denver, Colorado; Boston; Central and Southern New Jersey; Dallas and Austin, Texas; Detroit; Minneapolis; Phoenix; Seattle; Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; Connecticut; South Florida; and Washington D.C., with more to follow in Central California, the Pacific Northwest, and Hawaii. 

Polestar has produced two electric performance cars. The Polestar 1 was built between 2019 and 2021 as a low-volume electric performance hybrid GT with a carbon fiber body, 619 hp, 738 lb-ft of torque, and an electric-only range of 52 miles (EPA) – the longest of any hybrid car in the world.  

The Polestar 2 electric performance fastback is the company’s first fully electric, high-volume car. The Polestar 2 model range includes three variants with a combination of long- and standard-range batteries as large as 78 kWh, and dual- and single-motor powertrains with as much as 476 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque. 

From 2022, Polestar plans to launch one new electric vehicle per year, starting with Polestar 3 – the company’s first electric performance SUV which is expected to debut in October 2022. Polestar 4 is expected to follow in 2023, a smaller electric performance SUV coupe.  

In 2024, the Polestar 5 electric performance 4-door GT is planned to be launched as the production evolution of Polestar Precept – the manifesto concept car that Polestar released in 2020 that showcases the brand’s future vision in terms of design, technology, and sustainability. As the company seeks to reduce its climate impact with every new model, Polestar aims to produce a truly climate-neutral car by 2030. 

In March 2022, Polestar revealed its second concept car, an electric performance roadster which builds on the design, technology and sustainability ambitions laid out by Precept and showcases the brand’s vision for future sports cars. The hard-top convertible presents an evolution of the unique design language first shown by Precept and emphasizes a dynamic driving experience. The concept further develops the focus on sustainability and technology, aiming towards greater circularity. Polestar confirmed in August 2022 that a version of the concept will be produced as the Polestar 6 electric performance roadster, with launch expected in 2026. 

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Arab Fashion by Arab Fashion Council Press via 360 Magazine

Arab Fashion Week Returns

Arab Fashion Week Returns to Dubai Design District with an International Line-up of Women’s Shows and a Pioneering Collaboration

  • Barbie will take center stage through global collaboration with Lebanese designer Jean Louis Sabaji
  • For the first time, Arab Fashion Week will host over 35 designers from the MENA region, as well as Europe, Asia, and the Americas, within the d3 space and on its B2B platform
  • Eco-conscious brand The Giving Movement will debut its new clothing line FiftyMade
  • Sustainability and fashion tech will be paramount on the runway

Michael Cinco, Arab Fashion Week

In a strategic partnership, the Arab Fashion Council and Dubai Design District (d3) are delighted to announce the return of Women’s Arab Fashion Week with Couture FW 22/23 and Spring Summer 2023 Ready-To-Wear shows taking place at d3 from October10-15, 2022.

Staged within the city’s design and fashion pulse, the creative world – and more than 35 designers – will unite in Dubai at d3. Supported by TECOM Group PJSC’s creative platform, the six-day calendar will be packed with runway shows, an international collaboration, roundtable talks, and activations.

As the global fashion industry continues to emerge from the pandemic, Arab Fashion Week will welcome regional and international editors, buyers, industry leaders, and global celebrities, to view a curated selection of fashion-forward designers from the MENA region, Europe, the Americas and Asia.  A roster of new designers and returning ones are expected to be on the season’s dynamic calendar and La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, the French body responsible for coordinating Paris Fashion Week, will once again present Paris-based label Weinsanto.  It will be the fifth occasion in which Weinsanto participates at Arab Fashion Week, highlighting the ever-growing relevance of Dubai to global brands.

The Giving Movement

An occasion of firsts, UAE-based brand, The Giving Movement will debut its new range of clothing named FiftyMade on the catwalk, while Atelier Forger will take centre stage as the first Syrian label to showcase at Arab Fashion Week.

Emerging and established designers from as far afield as Mexico, Nicaragua, Thailand, Malaysia and Ukraine will also be participating in Arab Fashion Week for the first time – and these are in addition to names from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Turkey, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, France, the UK, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Paraguay, and Belarus.  Some 23 countries will be represented in total.    

Furthermore, Arab Fashion Week will kick off with a special event commemorating Barbie, the 2021 recipient of the Fashion Icon Award. The Arab Fashion Council forged a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the world’s most diverse doll, tapping Lebanese couturier Jean-Louis Sabaji as the first Arab designer ever to work with the global icon, following similar partnerships with Balmain and Moschino. The historic capsule will be unveiled on October 10 at d3.

Jean Louis Sabaji

To usher in the season of physical presentations, the runway shows will be broadcasted on live screens positioned around the d3 space. The public will also be invited to view the live shows via the Arab Fashion Week and Arab fashion Council social media platforms.

Khadija Al Bastaki, Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3), said: “We are proud, with our strategic partner the Arab Fashion Council, to announce the line-up for this autumn’s Arab Fashion Week, which will be by far, the largest edition to date with more than 35 designers set to hit the runway over the six-day event – from all corners of the world. We look forward to welcoming the creative community to d3 to engage, connect and be inspired, and to see many emerging and established talents hit our runway for the first time, as well as to partake in workshops, panels and wider activations. It is very much our mission at Dubai Design District to elevate the creative ecosystem here in Dubai and the wider region with opportunities to showcase, tap into new stakeholders and audiences, and – most importantly – rethink the regular. Arab Fashion Week continues to be at the very heart of our regional fashion industry while also taking the global narrative on all that is happening here in our region to new heights, further growing Dubai’s reputation as a global fashion hub.  We look forward to welcoming all fashion lovers and enthusiasts.”

Khadija Al Bastaki, Vice President of Dubai Design District (d3)

Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer of the Arab Fashion Council, says: “The Arab Fashion Council is focused on its ardent mission to build strategies and bridge the divide between international companies and regional ones – structured in a way that supports the Council’s mission dedicated to fostering and supporting the global trajectories of our local talent and businesses that represent our creative heartlands. We are very excited about having pioneered a global collaboration between Barbie and Lebanese couturier Jean-Louis Sabaji, the first Arab in history to work with the global icon. We also celebrate Arab Fashion Week’s success as the region’s #1 creative platform, propelling its designers onto a global stage and before international brands, buyers, and worldwide media. Together with d3, we continue to champion Dubai’s role as the region’s fashion capital.”

Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer, Arab Fashion Council

Serge Carreira, Head of Emerging Brands Initiative, La Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, said: “We are pleased to continue to strengthen on the long-run the collaboration with the Arab Fashion Council. Some of our most promising talents could build strong and consistent relationships and explore the market in the region season after season. This contributes undoubtedly to pave the way for a global success.”

The Arab Fashion Council is also pleased to announce the participation of its international corporate sponsors: Meta, Microsoft, Windows, Electra, Schwarzkopf professional, KIKO Milano, Waldorf Astoria DIFC, Launchmetrics, Ferronato Switzerland, and Quintessentially.

Serge Carreira, Head of Emerging Brands Initiative, Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode

For more info on Women’s Arab Fashion Week, visit:
www.arabfashionweek.org
www.instagram.com/arabfashionweek/

Books by 360 Magazine via 360 Magazine

MARVEL COMICS CELEBRATION

MARVEL COMICS CELEBRATES COMICSPRO’S LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY WITH TWO STUNNING COVERS STARRING PETER PARKER AND MILES MORALES!

Check out Marvel’s variant covers for this year’s LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY, available to all retailers on November 23

Local Comic Shop Day returns for its eighth year on November 23! The annual event organized by ComicsPRO, comics industry’s trade organization, celebrates the independent spirit of local comic book shops and encourages customers to visit their local shops during the holiday season! Marvel Comics is proud to participate once again, this time with two LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY VARIANT COVERS! In honor of the 60th anniversary of Spider-Man, they’ll grace the covers of November’s issues of both of Spider-Man’s current ongoing series: Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr.’s Amazing Spider-Man and Dan Slott and Mark Bagley’s Spider-Man. Drawn by acclaimed artist Francesco Mobili, these dramatic pinups showcase everyone’s favorite webslingers—Peter Parker and Miles Morales!

Be sure to contact your local comic shop for inquiries regarding availability! For more information about ComicsPRO, please visit www.comicspro.org. Check out both covers below and celebrate the place where a passion for Pop Culture begins on LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY!

To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com

MAZING SPIDER-MAN #13 LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY 2022 VARIANT COVER by FRANCESCO MOBILI
SPIDER-MAN #2 LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY 2022 VARIANT COVER by FRANCESCO MOBILI

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media for over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing, publishing, games, and digital media.

For more information, visit Marvel.com

music by 360 Magazine via 360 Magazine

WARNER MUSIC x THE LIONZ COLLECTIVE

WARNER MUSIC LATINA JOINS FORCES WITH THE LIONZ COLLECTIVE TO BRING THE EXPLOSIVE TALENT OF
BARRANQUILLA TO THE WORLD

There is no doubt that Colombia has played an important role in Latin music’s historical and global expansion in the 21st century. While in recent years the focus has been on the talent emerging from Medellin, the hometown of global superstars like J Balvin, Maluma, and Karol G, attention is now shifting to Barranquilla, Colombia’s golden gate, which has seen a boom with his new move. In an exciting new development for Latin music, today, Warner Music Latina and Lionz, LLC (as part of The Lionz Collective, a collective that combines music, artist development, and creativity), announced their joint initiative to turn Latin the emerging stars of Barranquilla into artists known to all.

The innovative project is being led by Warner Music Latina and directed by experienced LIONZ songwriter, producer and executive Humberto “Humby” Viana, veteran Latin and American record industry creative and executive Brian Harrison Alvarez and Darío José. “DJ Dari” Insignares, one of the creative minds behind the Barranquilla sound.

“We are excited about this new partnership with The Lionz Collective that will help develop and export the Barranquilla sound and talent throughout the Latin American region and beyond.” – Hector Ruben Rivera, SVP/Head of A&R at Warner Music Latina.

“It is proven that Colombia is a country full of talent and an exporter of music to the whole world. This alliance with Lionz means a lot to us and to be the pioneers in officially opening an artistic development cluster on the Atlantic coast.” – Maria Montejo, General Marketing Manager of Warner Music Colombia.

“If there’s one thing I know after more than 20 years in music at the highest levels, it’s that when you hear something undeniable that advances art instead of chasing it, you go all out and fast. That’s how movements become tides and that’s how legends are born.” – Brian Harrison Alvarez, Founder, LIONZ.

“He carried Barranquilla in his blood. Very happy for the city and the globalization of its sound. For those who paved the way, thank you. Now is our time.” – Humberto “Humby” Viana, Founder, LIONZ.

The Lionz Collective brings together artists, creatives and tastemakers from the US and Latin America with a mission to innovate pop culture. The Lionz Collective is made up of a group of companies that includes LIONZ, a full-service record label; THE ROAR OF THE LION, music publisher and manager; and THE LIONZ DEN, an artist management, production and art incubator company.

With a diversified roster of eight unique artists starting in the streets of Barranquilla (Lou, Dante Damage, Piri Blackboy) and embracing a fresh and innovative take on pop (Jean Pi, Diana K), seasoned artists ready for international exposure (VAECH ), to gaining the credibility needed for an acquisition (MC Killer and the Caribbean Cartel) and having a rising superstar of their own (Darho), Lionz and Warner have made their best bet yet: transform Barranquilla art into the musical legends of tomorrow.

GLENFIDDICH by Betsy Kaplan via 360 Magazine

Glenfiddich Launches Collection of 3 Aged Expressions

The World’s Most Awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky Launches Collection of Three Exceptionally Aged Expressions, Bridging the Past with the Present 

Today, Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky launched its Time Re: Imagined collection in the U.S.: a first-ever, ultra-premium range of three extraordinary single malt Scotch whiskies, including Glenfiddich 30-Year-Old, 40-Year-Old, and 50-Year-Old

The remarkable range represents the pinnacle of Glenfiddich’s signature distillery style, with each of the three liquids maturing over decades to develop richness and depth of flavor that is rarely encountered. Since the 1960s, just three Glenfiddich Malt Masters have been at the helm, overseeing and nurturing the patient development of these precious casks through various climatic conditions. 

Each expression, alongside artistically developed outer packaging, encapsulates the maverick spirit known to the brand and celebrates moments of time relative to their production. The rarest within the Time Re:Imagined Collection, the 50-Year-Old, portrays Simultaneous Time, exploring theparallel and complex conditions that have influenced the liquid. Glenfiddich’s 40-Year-Old represents Cumulative Time, drawing attention to the layers of accumulated flavor, made possible via the remnant vatting process, first pioneered by the brand. Completing the Collection is the 30-Year-Old, embodying Suspended Time – representing the moment when the Malt Master suspends the development of the whisky, showcasing the purest expression of the distiller’s character. 

“In whisky production, we often talk about the role of Malt Masters, and it is our responsibility to find the delicate balance between the taste of the whisky and the intensity of the oak cask,” says Brian Kinsman, Malt Master, Glenfiddich. “But we don’t always acknowledge how each cask, each bottle, is absolutely unique because of the time it has spent maturing. Both nature and time play huge roles in making whisky taste like it does, and Glenfiddich’s Time Re:Imaginedpays homage to this process and the exquisite liquid both time helps to create.”

Lorne Cousin, U.S. National Ambassador, Glenfiddich, said: “Glenfiddich was founded on groundbreaking and innovative principles in 1887 and the independent spirit of the brand shines through in these liquids.” Allan Roth, U.S. Ambassador, Glenfiddich, added: “The quality of the collection not only evokes the time and care gone into nurturing these expressions to create incredible flavor, but is also a tribute to the events that have helped shape the taste of each cask over time.” 

Kevin Canchola, U.S. Ambassador, Glenfiddich, shared: “The extremely rare 50-Year-Old is a beautiful testament to the Glenfiddich Malt Masters’ work over five decades.” “It is an extraordinarily rare and precious liquid, which delivers a superb balance of oak tannin and lingering sweetness,” David Allardice, U.S. Ambassador, Glenfiddich, concluded.

To create the complex flavor of the rarest in the collection – the Glenfiddich 50-Year- Old – whiskies from three different American Oak refill casks, all matured in the same warehouse, were married together and finished in an American Oak refill cask for two years. There are only 220 decanters of this astounding expression, making it an extremely precious and sought-after collectors’ item. 

The Time Re: Imagined Collection is now available in limited quantities in the U.S. at suggested retail prices of $1,299, $4,600 , and $50,000 for the Glenfiddich 30-Year-Old, 40-Year-Old, and 50-Year-Oldrespectively.

Time Re:Imagined Product Details (Tasting Notes + Packaging Information)

  • Glenfiddich 30-Year-Old (Aged 30 Years –  43% ABV) 

Color: Rich bronze

Nose: An exquisitely structured balance of hearty oak married with sweet, subtle sherry notes

Taste: Deep, woody flavors interlaced with delicate floral accents, in a complex combination

Finish: Warm, honeyed and exceptionally long-lasting

Suspended Time: The 30-Year-Old depicts the moment when Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, suspends the whisky’s maturation to bottle it, capturing the whisky at the precise moment in time, a perfect expression, preserved for all eternity. 

Packaging: The outer packaging design showcases moving ribbons, each one frozen to form elegant cut-out windows, revealing the regal decanter inside. With the moment of maturation captured in all its splendor, the dynamic lines and complex structure create an illusion that the bottle is suspended effortlessly, in mid-air, suspended in time.  

   

  • SRP: $1,299.00Glenfiddich 40-Year-Old (Aged 40 Years –  44.6% ABV)

Color: Dark mahogany

Nose: A deeply layered expression of dried fruits, dark chocolate, roasted coffee and ripe black cherries – completed with subtle waves of gentle wood smoke, polished leather and cloves

Taste: A luxuriously full and silky smooth taste, with memories of past releases in every nuanced note; Evolving from deep dried fruit notes to rich fruitcake, dates, raisins and stewed apples, before giving way to dry oaky notes, with subtle hints of bitter chocolate and peat

Finish: Complex, memorable, and exquisitely long-lasting

Cumulative Time: The 40-Year-Old is a bold, maverick representation of remnant vatting – a pioneering process, only used by Glenfiddich’s Distillery, where the remnants of the previous batch are carried over and married with the casks selected for each subsequent release.

Packaging: The outer packaging design brings layers of transforming flavors to life with a bold and maverick take on a geological metamorphosis. The decanter is housed in a stunning sculptural container and stopper made from jesmonite – a material with individual characteristics that render every piece completely unique. The vessel truly embodies the evolution of one thing becoming another, with dramatic grooves carved into the stone-like material, that expose the intertwining veins flowing through it. 

    SRP: $4,600.00

  • Glenfiddich 50-Year-Old (Aged 50 Years –  43.8% ABV) 

Color: Antique gold

Nose: Rich orange peel and clementine meet complex notes of Madeira cake and muscovado sugar; Scents mature over time into the dewy petrichor of a Dufftown morning, mingling with flowering geranium

Taste:  A lingering sweetness softens into deep, silky smooth oak tannin and sun-dried vanilla

Finish:  Oaky, sweet and incredibly long lasting

Simultaneous Time: The 50-Year-Old explores complex conditions that have influenced the whisky, including air pressure, temperature and humidity, as the nature of maturation changes alongside these conditions. Hot summers speed up the maturation process and cold winters slow it down – dramatically affecting the outcome of the liquid and lending itself to the whisky’s unique taste.

Packaging: The outer casing is an artistic representation of the climatic data that created this extraordinary whisky. Manuel Jiménez García, a computational architect, decrypted the meteorological data into an algorithm, and generated a physical design language to build the structure’s bespoke form – bringing life to every second of every day, of every month of those 50 years.

SRP: $50,000.00

ABOUT GLENFIDDICH

Founded in Dufftown, Scotland by innovator William Grant, Glenfiddich first ran from the stills on Christmas Day, 1887. Adopting revolutionary methods and practices Grant’s maverick attitude to whisky production saw Glenfiddich excel for over a hundred and thirty years, becoming the first single malt whisky to be promoted outside of Scotland, and ultimately, the best-selling and most awarded single malt whisky in the world*. While Glenfiddich is now sold in over 180 countries across the world, the brand is one of the few single malt distilleries to remain entirely family-owned and is still produced in the same distillery which William Grant and his children hand-built.

ABOUT WILLIAM GRANT & SONS

William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third-largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur. 

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest-growing spirits portfolios in the US with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Fistful of Bourbon, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Flor de Caña Rum, The Knot, and Raynal French Brandy.

For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.williamgrantusa.com

ABOUT MANUEL JIMENEZ GARCIA

Manuel Jimenez García is the co-founder and principal of madMdesign, a computational design practice based in London, co-founder of the robotic manufacturing and design brand Nagami, based in Avila, Spain, and co-founder of Automated Architecture Ltd (AuAr), a design-tech automation company based in London. His work is part of the permanent collection of the Centre Pompidou (Paris) and has been exhibited worldwide in venues such as Victoria & Albert Museum (London), Canada´s Design Museum (Toronto), The Design Museum (London), Royal Academy of Arts (London), Zaha Hadid Design Gallery (London), Philadelphia Museum of Art and Clerkenwell Design Week (London).

Manuel is heavily influenced by the data-driven forms found in nature and this is reflected in his collaborations with brands including BMW, Audi, Jimmy Choo, Dior and British Fashion Council. He is known for creating algorithms and modeling forms that not only represent nature, but also abstract it into new creations that emerge between the natural and artificial, featuring shapes previously inconceivable without computational design and digital manufacturing.

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absentation by Kostas Salomidis via 360 Magazine

ABSENTATION – Death Metal

Fifth full-length album from Death Metal act ABSENTATION is out now!

Watch ABSTENTION-Reflections (Official Stream Album) Death Metal by clicking HERE

ABSENTATION was formed in 2003 in Damascus/Syria and released their debut EP, Death Chapter in 2005. The band entered the studio in 2007 and released their first full length, Mental Battle Resurrection, via ADP Records. In 2008 ABSENTATION prepared to record a follow up full length, but only released two singles as Syria was torn apart by war (The black rite & La Pacta Daemonum) the black rite song got Killer lyrics in Noisecreep. After a long time suffering from the war, Salah relocated to Germany and decided to continue making music. He entered the studio to record a new full length Titled (Ascending to Desolate) the album finished and released in February 2018, it was a pure old school death metal.

Then ABSENTATION wrote a new album (the Intellectual Darkness) and released in January 2019 via Darzamadicus records, the album gained good reviews and end up on one of best 15 death metal albums in 2019 on one of lists, then Salah decided to shift the music into more complexity and to use 7 string for the next album, he wrote (Antimatter Rites) which released in 1st March 2020 via Darzamadicus records. The album is technical brutal death metal and gained until now good reviews like 9/10 on metal temple reviews and others. In 2022 Salah collaborated with the Drummer Marco Pitruzzella aka (Lord Marco) the drummer of (Rings of Saturn-Six Feet Under-Sleep Terror) to release the upcoming album Reflections on 9-9-2022

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