Latest news with #Olivares
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Feindef 2025 sees record year: more than 44,000 attendees, 78% increase in international visitors
MADRID, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ -- The International Defense and Security Exhibition of Spain, Feindef, had a record year in 2025, with more than 44,000 attendees, an increase of 78% in international presence, and the signing of numerous strategic agreements, becoming a "benchmark platform for cooperation" for the sector for three days. With a strong international focus, the biennial fair, which has the institutional support of the Spanish Ministry of Defense, reinforced its global role. Feindef Foundation President Ángel Olivares said the focus was "essential" to guarantee "our security and defense" and that, at the same time, "opens a very hopeful path for the future." The fair, held from May 12 to 14 at Ifema Madrid, had 601 exhibitors (75% SMEs), of which 187 were international, and more than 90 delegations from different countries. There was "intense diplomatic and commercial activity with representatives from 56 nations," according to organizers. The European Defense Agency (EDA), Europol, the UN, NATO, the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), and the European Commission were among the organizations participating. During the three days, key issues in the sector were covered, such as unmanned systems, cyber defense, advances in artificial intelligence applied to military logistics, dual application technologies, and other major structural challenges, such as the importance of attracting and retaining talent and making young people more security aware. The fair served as an "ideal framework to facilitate agreements on international strategic alliances," said Olivares. The president also saw it as a space to continue advancing towards "a single defense market in Europe." This is in a context, in which EU leaders have agreed to boost security and defense spending, which, according to Brussels, could result in a rise of up to 800 billion euros. The event also served as a platform for formalizing more than a dozen relevant agreements. Those include ones reached by Ukraine with both national and international companies, those made by TEDAE (Spanish Association of Technology Companies for Defense, Security, Aeronautics and Space) and AESMIDE (Association of Contractors with Public Administrations), letters of intent signed by the Spanish Ministry of Defense with the European Defense Agency (EDA), and a memorandum of understanding signed between Spanish industry and Turkish Aerospace for an integrated training program for the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Medscape
15-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Doc: ‘I Forgot I Was 7000 Miles Away' During Surgical First
On a cold Wednesday morning in January, Ruben Olivares, MD, sat down at a computer workstation in Cleveland to perform surgery on a man with prostate cancer. Olivares, a urologist at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, directed a robot to send high-intensity, focused ultrasound waves to the tumor. But this time, the patient was not in a nearby operating room, or in the same building — or even the same country. Instead, the man was in a facility more than 7000 miles away, at Cleveland Clinic's hospital in Abu Dhabi. Ruben Olivares, MD, a urologist in the Glickman Urological Institute at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, worked remotely with Waleed A. Hassen, MD, the chair of urology at Cleveland Clinic, Abu Dhabi, who managed the on-site procedure in which a man with prostate cancer underwent high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy to ablate his tumor. In what is believed to be the world's first remotely-conducted, transcontinental robotic-assisted focal therapy for prostate cancer, Waleed Hassen, MD, MBA, department chair of urology for the Abu Dhabi hospital, sat near the patient to launch the software program and transferred to Olivares control of the robotic arm used to deliver the therapy. 'During the procedure, I forgot I was 7000 miles away,' Olivares told Medscape Medical News . 'I did a case in a regular fashion and, with all the people interested, I started doing teaching and educated everyone. The case was seamless,' thanks in part to an imperceptible video lag of less than 120 milliseconds, he added. The patient, expected to have a life expectancy of at least 10 more years, is now cancer-free, Olivares said. The procedure was intended to serve as proof that this type of remote surgery was possible using a regular landline. The achievement was the result of 2 years of planning, Olivares said, including testing the equipment and finding an appropriate patient who was agreeable. Olivares traveled to the Abu Dhabi location in 2023; he has since established a tumor board for which colleagues at Cleveland Clinic's various locations — including outposts in Florida, Canada, Nevada, and the United Arab Emirates — send him MRIs, biopsies, and other test results, and they discuss who is an appropriate candidate for focused ultrasound for prostate cancer. Olivares and his colleagues incorporate MRI images and a robotic platform that scans the prostate in real-time to determine exactly where to aim the ultrasound to ablate the tumor while sparing nearby healthy tissue. If a patient moves, Olivares can adjust the robotic arm accordingly. 'The future looks very promising,' Olivares said. 'We have to be able to offer new alternatives, new ways to solve all problems, regardless of where the patient lives.' He foresees a time when he could help guide physicians performing the procedure elsewhere while staying connected in real time: 'If a problem happens, I can take over and do the case from here.' Accelerating Adoption Teleinterventions between physical locations have occurred since the 1990s, but the field is gaining momentum, said Louis Kavoussi, MD, MBA, chairman of urology and director of Teleintervention at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York. The first widely known telesurgery occurred in 2001, when surgeons at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City performed a remote, robotic gallbladder removal on a patient in Strasbourg, France. While successful, the procedure, supported by French Telecom, was determined to be too expensive for the transatlantic cable to be done on any regular basis, and garnered little interest, he said. With recent advances in technology, surgeons in China, Japan, and India have been performing robotic urological telesurgeries in remote locations, said Vipul Patel, MD, medical director of the Global Robotics Institute at AdventHealth in Celebration, Florida, and director of Urologic Oncology at the AdventHealth Cancer Institute. 'There's just a huge interest' in the technology, Patel said. 'All the societies, all the countries, all the robotic companies — I think we're starting to realize that we can truly help healthcare equity globally with telesurgery, and everyone's just jumping on board now.' Patel said the COVID-19 pandemic gave the field an important push. 'Patients could be seen virtually for medical issues but not for surgery. Telesurgery was born out of the need to treat patients remotely,' he said. A small number of medical schools, including Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, have started training programs in telesurgery. In 2023, Patel and colleagues from AdventHealth traveled to China, Japan, and India to see their equipment and work with companies there to develop telesurgery applications. As part of the visit, they were given licenses to operate in China, where Patel performed five robotic prostatectomies on patients located up to 5000 km (about 3106 miles) away to test the capabilities, with surgical colleagues at the patients' bedsides in case the equipment malfunctioned or another problem arose. The surgeons present locally never had to intervene. 'It was the same as if the patient was in our home OR [operating room],' Patel said. 'It was amazing that we could operate at such distances, and it was if the patient was in the room with us.' Patel's training facility in Florida is now connected to robotic systems in Brazil, Kuwait, Angola, China, and Morocco to teach and coach surgeons through telesurgeries in those countries. 'The global implications in terms of humanitarian healthcare equity are massive,' said Patel, who gave a plenary talk on telesurgery for the American Urological Association (AUA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Las Vegas last month. 'If we could teach remotely from here to underserved areas of the world, we could actually advance healthcare. Obviously, it helps patient care as well, But I think first, if you could teach remotely, you can help so many more people.' Conquering Lag Some hurdles still to be worked through are determining how far apart surgeons can be from the patient to perform operations safely, achieving a lag of < 155 milliseconds in some areas, and ensuring secure connections that cannot be breached. Still, telesurgeries could become more mainstream in the United States and other areas within 2-5 years, Patel and Kavoussi said. Legal and patient care issues also must be worked out, he said. Patel is executive director of the Society for Robotic Surgery, where he is working on guidelines for telesurgeries to ensure the patient is protected and clinicians conduct procedures in an ethical, orderly manner. Device manufacturers are working on designs for 'several hundred' new robots with different capacities, Kavoussi said. For example, some could be employed in telestroke programs where experts in one hospital can use them remotely to guide a wire through a patient's body to the site of a clot for the delivery of clot-busting drugs or devices to remove a blockage, in any emergency room. 'This is something that's coming,' he said. 'This is just the tip of the iceberg is what we're beginning to see now.' Kavoussi is on the board of Sovato. Olivares and Patel reported no relevant financial conflicts of interest.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged in fatal Hammond bar massacre
Caprice Cashaw randomly pulled in front of a Hammond bar just after he lost at least $7,000 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. He was 'mad' and took it out on his girlfriend — beating her while driving back from the casino. He pulled in front of the Portside Pub, 1516 Indianapolis Blvd., to keep assaulting her. Four people in the bar stepped outside to help her. When she tried to run, he opened fire, killing two people — a new bartender and longtime female patron — and wounded three others, including his girlfriend. Cashaw, 31, was charged Tuesday with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. Each charge includes a firearms enhancement in commission of the crime. He is in custody, being held without bond. In a Facebook post, Portside Pub said they were 'devastated and heartbroken.' Hammond Police were called March 30 to the scene. They found bartender Paul Olivares, 25, of Whiting, unresponsive, shot in the head. Nearby, patron Lorraine Reyna, 59, of Whiting was lying partially outside, motionless in the doorway, and she was shot multiple times. Their deaths were ruled homicides. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. 'Paul and Lorrie both had hearts of gold and truly loved people,' according to the bar's Facebook post. 'They were great people who were so kind to everyone and with their big hearts they would never hesitate to help someone.' 'Lorrie was known for a long time for her generosity and the way she always made you feel like a friend. Both will never be forgotten,' it said. 'They taught us a lot about how to conduct ourselves in this world.' Inside the bar, Cashaw's girlfriend was lying face down, still breathing. She had been shot 10 times, court records show. Another man was on his hands and knees, shot multiple times. Another woman was shot in the leg, hiding in a walk-in cooler. The bar's footage, without audio, showed a dark Chrysler 300 pull up and park just north of the bar's entrance around 3:44 a.m. A man — whom Cashaw said was him — got out and beat the girlfriend. She tried to run, but he forced her back inside the vehicle. Just then, Reyna appeared to hear what was happening outside. She went to look, then went back in the bar, 'distressed,' according to the affidavit. All four — her, Olivares, the other man and woman later wounded — went outside where Cashaw's girlfriend was screaming for help. 'What's going on, Olivares said, according to other security footage. 'Get inside the bar,' Olivares said. The other man and woman went inside and closed the door. Open the door, Olivares is heard saying over and over. Cashaw appears to open fire, shooting Olivares. He shoots Reyna in the back, records show. The affidavit stated he fired around 20 rounds outside. The girlfriend ran and collapsed halfway inside. Cashaw fired into the bar with a semi-automatic gun. In the footage inside the bar, the other wounded man is seen clutching his stomach. The other woman is holding her leg. Sparks appear to hit bar stools from the bullets. Cashaw walks past the girlfriend — he later told police he thought she was dead — and goes out of camera view, then removes an empty 30-round magazine from his gun. In total, he fires four shots in the bar, there's a 20-second break, before another gunshot is heard. He looks at his girlfriend again, then leaves. Cashaw later said he had the girlfriend's cell phone on him. Police found 21 9-mm bullet casings outside and seven inside. A witness told police that Cashaw said he lost $10,000 at the Horseshoe that night. Police learned he was staying with a Pepe's employee in Hobart and arrested him there. Cashaw said he and his girlfriend had a two-year 'tumultuous' relationship. He was 'mad' he lost $7,000 that night and took it out on her, he said. After 'several minutes' of beating her, he was 'calm' just before Reyna came outside. When the girlfriend ran, he started shooting, 'knowing he was hitting others.' He admitted shooting Olivares in the head, who was already on the ground before he left. The girlfriend and man who survived were both in serious, but stable condition. The man was shot twice in the neck and stomach, according to court records. Records show Cashaw has a pending January 2022 case for cheating at gaming, resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor criminal recklessness. In court documents, a gaming officer accused him of nearly running him over as he left. Cashaw had swiped $900 back from the baccarat table at Ameristar in East Chicago, according to court records. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
01-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Man charged in fatal Hammond bar massacre
Caprice Cashaw randomly pulled in front of a Hammond bar just after he lost at least $7,000 at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond. He was 'mad' and took it out on his girlfriend — beating her while driving back from the casino. He pulled in front of the Portside Pub, 1516 Indianapolis Blvd., to keep assaulting her. Four people in the bar stepped outside to help her. When she tried to run, he opened fire, killing two people — a new bartender and longtime female patron — and wounded three others, including his girlfriend. Cashaw, 31, was charged Tuesday with two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. He is in custody, being held without bond. In a Facebook post, Portside Pub said they were 'devastated and heartbroken.' Hammond Police were called March 30 to the scene. They found bartender Paul Olivares, 25, of Whiting, unresponsive, shot in the head. Nearby, patron Lorraine Reyna, 59, of Whiting was lying partially outside, motionless in the doorway, and she was shot multiple times. Their deaths were ruled homicides. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. 'Paul and Lorrie both had hearts of gold and truly loved people,' according to the bar's Facebook post. 'They were great people who were so kind to everyone and with their big hearts they would never hesitate to help someone.' 'Lorrie was known for a long time for her generosity and the way she always made you feel like a friend. Both will never be forgotten,' it said. 'They taught us a lot about how to conduct ourselves in this world.' Inside the bar, Cashaw's girlfriend was lying face down, still breathing. She had been shot 10 times, court records show. Another man was on his hands and knees, shot multiple times. Another woman was shot in the leg, hiding in a walk-in cooler. The bar's footage, without audio, showed a dark Chrysler 300 pull up and park just north of the bar's entrance around 3:44 a.m. A man — whom Cashaw said was him — got out and beat the girlfriend. She tried to run, but he forced her back inside the vehicle. Just then, Reyna appeared to hear what was happening outside. She went to look, then went back in the bar, 'distressed,' according to the affidavit. All four — her, Olivares, the other man and woman later wounded — went outside where Cashaw's girlfriend was screaming for help. 'What's going on, Olivares said, according to other security footage. 'Get inside the bar,' Olivares said. The other man and woman went inside and closed the door. Open the door, Olivares is heard saying over and over. Cashaw appears to open fire, shooting Olivares. He shoots Reyna in the back, records show. The affidavit stated he fired around 20 rounds outside. The girlfriend ran and collapsed halfway inside. Cashaw fired into the bar with a semi-automatic gun. In the footage inside the bar, the other wounded man is seen clutching his stomach. The other woman is holding her leg. Sparks appear to hit bar stools from the bullets. Cashaw walks past the girlfriend — he later told police he thought she was dead — and goes out of camera view, then removes an empty 30-round magazine from his gun. In total, he fires four shots in the bar, there's a 20-second break, before another gunshot is heard. He looks at his girlfriend again, then leaves. Cashaw later said he had the girlfriend's cell phone on him. Police found 21 9-mm bullet casings outside and seven inside. A witness told police that Cashaw said he lost $10,000 at the Horseshoe that night. Police learned he was staying with a Pepe's employee in Hobart and arrested him there. Cashaw said he and his girlfriend had a two-year 'tumultuous' relationship. He was 'mad' he lost $7,000 that night and took it out on her, he said. After 'several minutes' of beating her, he was 'calm' just before Reyna came outside. When the girlfriend ran, he started shooting, 'knowing he was hitting others.' He admitted shooting Olivares in the head, who was already on the ground before he left. The girlfriend and man who survived were both in serious, but stable condition. The man was shot twice in the neck and stomach, according to court records. Records show Cashaw has a pending January 2022 case for cheating at gaming, resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor criminal recklessness. In court documents, a gaming officer accused him of nearly running her over as he left.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Austinites likely to vote on a bond package in 2026, what you need to know
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin leaders are eying a comprehensive bond package that you are expected to vote on in November 2026. The 2026 Bond Election Advisory Task Force is working through what may be included in that ask of taxpayers. That task force has two appointees from each council office and the mayor. It meets once every month, starting in January of this year. Austin working early to address 'budget asteroids'; it may mean a tax rate election 'The city has real needs whether it be parks, whether it be road infrastructure…the council has asked for a comprehensive approach,' Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. While the task force is still in the early stages of figuring out what it might work into that bond package, they're gathering information from city staff on what each department may want to prioritize. The task force's March meeting including briefings from city leaders working on transportation, homelessness and housing. 'Ultimately we want to get to the place where we're coming to you later this year with a list of needs and scored and evaluated and prioritized projects…and share what that yields for you all,' Transportation Officer Michelle Marx said. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked lawmakers to make it harder for a local taxing entity to raise its tax rate — including through bond elections, KXAN has previously reported. Abbott wants to require at least two-thirds voter approval to secure a rate increase. Gov. Abbott calls for more restrictions to prevent local taxing entities from raising rates When it comes to bonds, KXAN found only 34.7% of bonds approved by Texas voters in the past six years made it past that two-thirds threshold, according to state data. Locally, Travis County voters most recently approved an affordable childcare proposition in November 2024. The proposition passed with 59.44% of the vote but fell short of a supermajority. Nearly half of the city's public improvement bond funding going back to 2006 has been for mobility and transportation. The city has also asked, and received, bond funding for parks, public safety and affordable housing. The city is still paying off those public improvement bonds (those are the ones that go to voters), including the $350 million approved by voters for affordable housing in 2022. 'Not even talking about a future bond election, the tax rate and the amount that impacts the typical tax payer will go up,' said Kimberly Olivares, director of financial services, in an Audit and Finance Committee meeting last week. Olivares said the city has $1.9 billion in general obligation debt that has been authorized but not issued, $1.4 billion of that being voter-approved debt. For the average Austin homeowner, that means even without a 2026 bond package, your property tax rate is expected to go up. The debt service property tax rate for the average homeowner in Austin is $396.29 for 2025, Olivares said. It's expected to be $541.41 in 2029. According to city staff, a SpeakUpAustin landing page is expected to be published next month. That's the city's website for gathering public feedback. Later this year — in September and October — city staff anticipated it would conduct town halls on the topic. The final report on public engagement will be published in spring 2026, city staff said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
