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Several Significant Donations Impact The Institute Of World Politics

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The Institute of World Politics, an independent graduate school of national security and international affairs, has received several significant gifts within the past year that are advancing the school’s mission to educate principled, well-rounded leaders in national security and international affairs.

Recently, IWP received significant funding from Ned and Carol Spieker from the Silicon Valley area to support its Cyber Intelligence Initiative (Ci2). This program is focused not on technological vulnerabilities, but instead on human vulnerabilities, such as ignorance of how hostile intelligence organizations operate, poor cyber hygiene, and inadequate analysis of cyberattacks, their patterns, and their targets. The program is under the direction of IWP’s Senior Vice President for Cyber Intelligence, Dean Lane, retired Navy Captain and retired Silicon Valley CIO and CEO.

“We are pleased to contribute to the Institute’s Cyber Intelligence Initiative,” Mr. Spieker commented. “We know some cyber threats can be costly or existential to financial networks, power and communications grids, and even civil society. This is a strategic investment, because it addresses a critical, non-technical aspect of cyber security that few other educational institutions are equipped to offer. IWP seems to be leading the way in cyber intelligence and counterintelligence.”

This gift for Ci2 is one of several big gifts that IWP has received over the past year. IWP also recently received a $2 milliongift from its Vice Chairman, John Lovewell, and his wife Cynthia.

“Cynthia and I believe the success of IWP is critically important to the future of the United States,” said Mr. Lovewell. “There are many worthy community causes competing for our support. But these community charities lose their relevance if the political economy on which they depend is overcome by external threats or fails from within. For this reason, we cannot think of a higher or more urgent priority than supporting those institutions dedicated to preserving the American experiment.”

He added: “After 14 years as a Trustee, I know IWP offers far and away the best and most comprehensive graduate education in our field. It is not even close. No other institution offers the complete curriculum of integrated, full-spectrum, hard and soft power statecraft; a clear-eyed view of human nature and the global strategic environment; a study of the American founding and the political economy of our Republic; and an in-depth emphasis on ethical, selfless, courageous, and prudent leadership. Leaders who master this knowledge possess keys to national security and ‘winning without war,’ as John Lenczowski says.”

Last June, the Sarah Scaife Foundation gave a sizable gift to support the Doctor of Statecraft and National Security program at IWP. This grant allowed IWP to market this program and to cover costs related to the administration of the program, including faculty salaries. As a result, several new doctoral students joined IWP in January.

Additionally, a $1 million matching challenge for the Kościuszko Chair of Polish Studies was met, thanks to a $75,000gift from the Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union and another $75,000 gift from Adam and Ava Bak. This gift unlocks an additional $1 million for an endowment for the Kościuszko Chair from the American Institute of Polish Culture, made possible by Lady Blanka Rosenstiel. This match has enabled IWP to put a total of $2 million into the Kościuszko Chair endowment.

The Kościuszko Chair serves as a center for Polish Studies in the broadest sense, including teaching, researching, and writing about Poland’s history, culture, government, and foreign policy and relations between the United States and this strategic country in NATO’s Eastern flank. This Chair, originally established at the University of Virginia in 1998, was inaugurated at IWP on November 7, 2008. The Chair is held by Dr. Marek Chodakiewicz, a professor of history at IWP and expert on the Intermarium region. The Kościuszko Chair holds an annual Spring Symposium in honor of Lady Blanka to show gratitude and appreciation for her dedication to the study of this strategic region.

This run of success is welcome to John Bergholz, who began as Vice President for Institutional Advancement late in the fall of 2017. Mr. Bergholz said: “When I came on board, we were behind on our totals, down a couple of staff, and had our work cut out for us. President Lenczowski and I went on what we would later call a ‘development surge’ as we crisscrossed the country and contacted our supporters in personal meetings. New major donors came forward, and old friends stepped up generously.”

The results of the “surge” included a gift this past summer of half a million dollars to the Institute for general operations from the WEM Foundation, thanks to Betty and Whitney MacMillan. Other significant support included an anonymous gift of $100,000 from a new donor to close the fiscal year. Fundraising activity has not let up, as the “surge” continues via personal approaches to donors, a new planned giving program, and a new and innovative direct mail and social media schedule to which donors are responding as IWP pushes forward in 2019.

IWP is enormously grateful to these most generous supporters, and to all of the supporters who enable its faculty to teach its students all of the arts of statecraft and their integration, American founding principles, and the Western moral tradition.

 

SOURCE Institute of World Politics

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Sleep interiors brand gets job offer from Peter Jones despite not securing investment in Dragons Den

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LONDON, March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Tonight on BBC1, REMY founder Abeer Iqbal, entered the Den, and despite intense grilling and no investment, left with a six-figure job offer from Peter Jones

Abeer’s pitch began with the Dragon’s keen to experience his sleep-enhancing furniture. When Steven and Peter laid on his hero  ‘The Pod’, a reinvention of the beanbag, and under REMY’s best-selling ‘The Lounger’ weighted blankets, the dragons closed their eyes and pretended to snore. Which was ironic, as despite being told he’d enter the Den around 5pm, Abeer actually went in at 9.30pm, after the dragons had been receiving pitches since early that day, which to Abeer’s own admission “wasn’t easy”. Deborah Meaden said, “This might have been a fatal mistake to put your dragons to sleep before we start the pitch” – recognising that it had been a long day.

After 10+ years working in tech, helping multi-million pound businesses grow their empire at software giants like Shopify, Abeer experienced burn-out, which led him to develop REMY. Despite Abeer telling the dragons that he left the high-pressure industry due to stress and anxiety Peter Jones still offered him a job back in the rat race with a six-figure sum (which he still hasn’t taken). 

After leaving the Den, Abeer admitted feeling the “most anxious ever” and that he “just wanted to get back to his wife for a hug”.  Abeer shared, “I didn’t sleep for days, replaying every moment in my mind. I wanted to forget it.” But it’s not all bad, as Abeer explains, “the anxiety I experienced from the Den gave me a lightbulb moment and led me to create our most popular product yet – The Hugger Pillow. I needed a hug, so I created one”. 

Abeer continues, “I returned the next day to collect my items from the studio. I bumped into a fresh-faced Peter and Toukar in the carpark, they both praised my experience, Peter once again offered me a job and Toukar asked me to call him when I start the next business.”

The global ‘sleep economy’ is booming, projected to reach a record high of $585 billion this year. But Abeer felt he was unable to communicate this, “If I could have my time again, I would focus on the industry of Rest and Sleep rather than the specific products we were trying to innovate. I don’t think I articulated to the Dragon’s the size of the business opportunity that there is with REMY. In terms of what’s next, we are moving towards becoming a household name in rest and sleep but offering products in multiple categories.”

The Dragon that seemed to understand Abeer’s passion for this industry was Sara Davies, saying “I actually fundamentally don’t agree with what I’ve heard here. What I see in front of me, yes he is great at the e-commerce side of things but he gave up a career in corporate because he was passionate about this area. And if there’s one thing I know about business it’s that you will succeed when you pursue the thing you are passionate about. I wouldn’t discourage you to give up. Keep doing it and good luck. I think you could sell anything”.

You can watch Abeer Iqbal on Dragons’ Den on BBC iPlayer.

remysleep.com / @WEAREREMY

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Bitrue Coin (BTR) Analyzes User Behavior and Announces Upcoming Developments to Enhance Utility

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SINGAPORE, March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bitrue, a leading cryptocurrency exchange serving over 10 million users globally, announces a focus on user behavior analysis to further develop the utility of its native token, Bitrue Coin (BTR).

“Understanding how our users interact with BTR is crucial for its continued growth,” states Robert Quartly-Janeiro, Chief Strategy Officer of Bitrue. “This analysis will guide upcoming developments that enhance the value proposition of BTR within the Bitrue ecosystem.”

The announcement follows a recent surge in interest surrounding exchange tokens, and digital assets used to pay for services to unlock benefits within specific cryptocurrency exchanges. Currently, BTR offers a compelling range of benefits to Bitrue users, including:

  • Reduced Trading Fees: BTR holders enjoy lower trading fees on the Bitrue exchange, incentivizing active participation in the platform’s marketplace.
  • Governance Voting Rights: BTR grants voting rights on select new listings, allowing users to influence the direction of the Bitrue platform.
  • Staking Opportunities: BTR holders can stake their tokens to earn passive rewards, providing an additional avenue for generating income within the Bitrue ecosystem.
  • Exclusive Airdrop Potential: BTR holders may be eligible for airdrops of new tokens listed on the Bitrue exchange, offering the chance to discover promising crypto projects early.
  • VIP Investment Caps: BTR unlocks higher investment caps for certain cryptocurrencies on the Bitrue platform, catering to high-volume investors.

“BTR already plays a multifaceted role in the Bitrue experience,” Quarterly-Janeiro continues. “By strategically expanding its utility based on user behavior analysis, we aim to solidify BTR’s position within the exchange token market and elevate its value proposition for our user base.”

The specific developments based on user behavior analysis are not disclosed at this time. However, Bitrue assures its users of continued transparency and will share details in due course.

Media Contact: Lily Ho, [email protected]

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Affordability, customisation and convenience: Term plans from India become more attractive and accessible for NRIs

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Term insurance from India emerges as preferred choice for NRIs seeking affordability and convenience

DUBAI, UAE, March 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Policybazaar, India’s leading online insurance marketplace, is witnessing a significant increase in non-resident Indians (NRIs) choosing term insurance from India via its platform. This surge is driven by the unparalleled ease, affordability and accessibility offered by the Indian insurance market. While several factors contribute to the growing interest in term insurance in India, affordability and convenience stand out as primary reasons. The demand among the 18-60 age group has seen an impressive 130% year-on-year growth, with India emerging as the preferred choice for NRIs.

The surge in demand from NRIs can be credited to several standout features and benefits. Term policies from India cost up to 30-50% less for NRIs residing in the UAE and Singapore. Additionally, policies with coverage of up to INR 5 crores can be easily obtained with tele-medical check-ups from India, eliminating the need for physical visits. Unlike some countries with restricted policy terms and coverage, Indian term plans offer coverage for longer duration, extending up to 99 years.

Sarbvir Singh, Joint Group CEO, Policybazaar, states, “We are witnessing exponential growth in term insurance purchases from NRIs, particularly from the Gulf nations and Singapore. Policybazaar has focused its efforts on expanding term insurance protection in both Indian and overseas markets. The unmatched benefits offered by India, including competitive pricing, larger covers, and streamlined processing through video/tele medicals, are significant contributors to this demand. It is heartening to see NRIs realizing the importance of securing their dependents’ future and choosing Indian term insurance policies.”

Term Insurance for a 35 year old male, non-smoker
Policy term – 30 years

Country

India

UAE

Cover Amount

INR 2 Cr / AED 881 K

AED 900 K

Max Cover Upto

99 years

80 years

Premium in AED

AED 977.8

AED 1,539

Premium in INR

INR 22,193.00

INR 34,892.00

Free Add-ons

Early Payout on Terminal Illness + Waiver of Premium

Price Benefit

36% cheaper in India

Source: Policybazaar.com

NRIs are also eligible for 18% GST exemption* upon purchasing term insurance plans from India, when paying via their NRE accounts. This attractive pricing, along with the availability of longer-term plans, has led to a rise in demand among NRIs, especially from Gulf nations, where 65% of term insurance buyers hail from, with the UAE alone contributing 35%.

Rhishabh Garg, Head of Term Insurance at Policybazaar, adds, “The evolution in the Indian term insurance industry is marked by innovative offerings designed to meet the distinct needs of consumers overseas. The consumer-centric features in term plans from India are increasingly appealing to NRIs, which include return of premium at no extra cost, early pay-outs for terminal illness, premium waivers for permanent disability, and immediate pay-out of up to INR 2 lakhs on claim intimation for immediate obituary expenses.”

The accessibility of these plans is further enhanced through seamless processing for NRIs, whose average annual income exceeds INR 35 lakhs. Insurers now also offer a sum assured of up to 5 crores, ensuring adequate coverage based on Human Life Value (HLV) calculations. NRIs can also leverage Policybazaar’s search and comparison engine to browse the best suitable plans as per their needs and preferences.

With a commitment to providing comprehensive coverage and protection, Policybazaar continues to redefine the landscape of term insurance for NRIs, empowering them to secure their loved one’s future with peace of mind. As NRIs continue to seek comprehensive coverage and value-driven solutions, Policybazaar remains dedicated to delivering innovative term insurance products and services tailored to their evolving needs.

*Tax benefits are subject to change in tax laws

About Policybazaar.com

Policybazaar.com is one of India’s largest insurance marketplace. It is the flagship platform of PB Fintech, which owns the fintech brand, Paisabazaar.com, and lending & insurance marketplace in the UAE region, Policybazaar.ae. Policybazaar.com started with the purpose to educate people on insurance products and with its offerings has addressed the large and highly underpenetrated online insurance markets.

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