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By Steve Contorno and Kristen Holmes for CNN Donald Trump once publicly speculated that Time would never name him the news magazine's "Person of the Year." Now, the honour will be bestowed on him twice. Time will name Trump as this year's choice on Thursday, recognising the president-elect as the individual or group deemed to have wielded the greatest influence on global affairs "for good or for ill." To celebrate the unveiling of the magazine cover, Trump will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. Trump sat for a wide-ranging interview with the magazine last month. Time declined to comment. Trump's 2024 selection mirrors his first recognition in 2016, when Time named him Person of the Year after his unexpected rise to the presidency. This time, the unveiling caps a remarkable comeback and a resurgence that has the potential to upend modern American politics. Despite the magazine's dwindling circulation, Time's Person of the Year remains an annual cultural touchstone and the distinction has become an obsession of sorts for Trump throughout the years. A Time cover naming him Person of the Year in 2009 hung in several of his golf clubs, The Washington Post reported nearly a decade later, though no such issue was ever printed. Through his widely followed Twitter account, Trump regularly weighed in on the annual selection and amplified accounts suggesting it should be him. He criticised the magazine in 2011 for picking "The Protester" in a nod to the revolutions breaking out across the Arab world and the Occupy movement in the US. A year later, he said Time had "lost all credibility" because it failed to list him among its 100 most influential people of the year. Trump has also privately complained about the choices, in particular when Taylor Swift won in 2023. Trump has often been fixated on the power the pop star wields and posted, "I hate Taylor Swift," on social media earlier this year after she endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Over time, the title became a symbol of the mainstream fame and respect Trump sought out but appeared out of reach. In 2015, when the magazine named then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel its Person of the Year, he wrote on Twitter, "I told you @TIME Magazine would never pick me as person of the year despite being the big favorite," before adding: "They picked person who is ruining Germany." Even after Time named Trump its person of the year in 2016 - which he called "a great honour" on social media - he continued to closely monitor the results. The following year, Trump claimed he was in the mix for the distinction again but wouldn't agree to an interview and photo shoot. Time disputed his version of events. Despite his regular criticism of the media, Trump has regularly granted access to legacy outlets - including Time . He sat down for an extended interview in April of this year with the magazine at his Palm Beach club. Harris turned down a similar opportunity, the magazine's owner said in October. Over the decades, the title has been granted to a wide array of figures, from heads of state and activists to entrepreneurs and, in some instances, brutal authoritarian leaders. Every US president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, except Gerald Ford, has been named Person of the Year at least once. President Joe Biden and Harris were co-honorees after they defeated Trump in 2020. Members of Trump's family are expected to attend the Thursday event, including Ivanka Trump, according to a source familiar with planning. It marks a rare public appearance for the president-elect's daughter, who served as a senior adviser during his first term. - CNNNavigation of route through GPS data resulted in a tragic incident in Badaun district on Sunday. Three people lost their lives after their car fell into the Ramganga River from an under-construction bridge. According to police, the fatal accident happened around 10:00 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling to Dataganj from Bareilly. The PTI report, noted that GPS navigation was being used by the vehicle driver who was directed to proceed through the damaged section of the bridge. "Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the GPS. As a result, the driver was misled and did not realize the bridge was unsafe," PTI quoted Circle Officer of the area Ashutosh Shivam as saying. Furthermore, the Circle Officer pointed to the absence of safety barriers or warning signs on the under-construction bridge that may have prevented the foreseeable disaster . The report further states that the car was moving at high speed, due to which the driver was unable to bring the vehicle to a halt when the bridge ended. The car plunged 25 feet into the Ramganga with its three passengers, all of whom died on the spot, a social media user on X reported. As soon as the news came in, Police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Badaun's Dataganj police station rushed to the scene, where they recovered the vehicle and the dead bodies. The bodies were sent for post-mortem, the Circle Officer said. The deceased were identified as Kaushal, Vivek, and Amit, who were returning after attending a wedding, a user on X said, Social media users raised concerns over the risks of relying solely on navigation technology, as one user stated, “Never trust Google maps blindly.” A second user commented, “Heartbreaking. Always double check routes. Prayers for the victims.” Another user replied, "Tragic incident! Relying solely on Google Maps can be risky. A fourth user wrote, “Google maps ne bhej diya or mili mout.” A fifth user posted, “How did google maps show the road as open ? I thought they have satellites to map routes and traffic ! This murder is on @Google.”AP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:46 p.m. EST
University of Macau Emerges as a Research Powerhouse: A Decade of Transformation on Hengqin IslandBy commandeering smart thermostats and water heaters and sipping power from in-home EV chargers, virtual power plants are being formed across the country. Here's how they work and how they help green energy efforts. You already know that a smart thermostat can help you save energy in your home and that an electric car can cut down on planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. But you might not know that these pieces of technology can also help support the shift to greener energy by linking up to something known as a virtual power plant (VPP). What is a virtual power plant? As its name implies a VPP is more of a concept than a physical structure. The idea is to leverage existing technologies used by residents such as smart thermostats and solar power storage batteries known as distributed energy resources or DERs. These resources can be called into service to not only supply energy to power grids when needed, but also reduce the demand for electricity during peak demand times, effectively freeing up more energy for use. How are virtual power plants being used? Consultancy firm ScottMadden reports that according to an analysis from researchers Wood Mackenzie, . In Hawaii for example, a company known as installed smart water-heater control modules inside over 3,000 households on the islands of Maui and Oahu. The modules learn how a household uses the water heater, then it turns it on and off to not only save the family money, but to also lessen the load on the main electrical grid as needed. This is part of a process known as "demand response." The modules also monitor the water system to detect leaks or other inefficiencies that might be wasting consumers' money. In another effort to take maximum advantage of the energy saving potential of smart devices, in November of this year, Texas power company NRG with VPP company Renew Home to deploy smart thermostats to hundreds of thousands of customers. The goal is to help consumers ease off a power grid that is being tested repeatedly by extreme weather. Renew Home says the capacity of the project will be equivalent to the output 294 wind turbines or of 12 gas-powered peaker plants, power-generating facilities that only come online when demand exceeds grid capacity. Renew Home was created when Google's Nest Renew merged with OhmConnect, a free service that monitors utility company outputs and alerts users to cost fluctuations. Google , showing just how important VPPs are becoming. Battery boost Meanwhile, in North Carolina, utility operator Duke Energy launched a pilot program as part of its , which allows the company to access the solar storage batteries of its customers 18 times between December and March, nine times between March and September, and nine other independent times. In return, customers get a monthly or a one-time credit from the company. Tapping into the power stored in these batteries when needed can support the grid during peak hours and North Carolina is just one of a growing number of states where such programs are being put into place. Even through a partnership with South California Edison that gives users the chance to support the local energy grid during emergency electric events. The initiative is called the which lets owners of Tesla's in-home battery volunteer to support the grid during times when the local grid needs emergency support. Participants receive $2 for each kWh their Powerall delivers during an event. In San Francisco, clean-power pioneer Ava Energy is also by remotely managing in-home chargers. If, for example, a user won't need their car fully charged until morning, the company can manage charging remotely to shift its charging schedule out of the peak dinnertime hours to another part of the night, when prices are also cheaper for consumers. Can VPPs really make a difference? The short answer is, more than most of us realize. The US Department of Energy estimates the current VPP capacity in the United States as somewhere between 30 to 60 GW. But, says the DOE, if that figure could grow to 80 to 160 GW, it . In terms of cost, says that residential DERs could provide peak power at a net cost 40-60% cheaper than traditional alternatives like utility level battery storage systems or natural gas peaker plants. That, says the consultancy, could result in savings of between $15-35 billion over traditional peak-power supply options along with "over $20 billion in additional societal benefits – such as those related to emissions and resilience – over 10 years." As countries shift away from reliance on fossil fuels and their residents boost their uptake of smart devices, solar energy systems, and electric vehicles, bringing more VPPs online certainly makes a lot of practical – and financial – sense. To learn a bit more about VPPs, check out this enlightening video of a conversation between Brattle's Ryan Hledik and Matthew Sachs, CEO of Peak Power, a company involved with clean energy tech, including the optimization of grid-interactive buildings, and more.This photo taken on Dec. 8, 2024 shows Israeli troops near the buffer zone between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights. (Photo: Xinhua) As the world closely watches the power transition in Syria, Israeli forces have reportedly launched large-scale attacks across the country, targeting major strategic military infrastructure, including in the capital Damascus. These developments raise concerns about the process of power transition in Syria and further instability in the region. Israel pounded Syrian army bases on Tuesday in strikes it says aim to keep weapons from falling into hostile hands, but denied its forces had advanced into Syria beyond a buffer zone at the border, Reuters reported on Tuesday, after Syrian sources said the incursion had extended to within 25 kilometers of the capital Damascus. Three security sources said the Israelis had advanced beyond the demilitarized zone. One Syrian source said they had reached the town of Qatana, several kilometers to the east of the buffer zone and just a short drive from Damascus airport, but an Israeli military spokesperson said troops had not left the demilitarized zone, the report said. On Sunday, Israel quickly moved in and seized the buffer zone separating the occupied Golan Heights from Syrian-controlled areas. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in the 1980s, but the international community has never recognized the move, according to Xinhua News Agency. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Netanyahu said the occupied Golan Heights would remain with Israel "for eternity," Al Jazeera reported. We want to see the situation in Syria stabilize as soon as possible, and we do hope an inclusive political process can be initiated as soon as possible. The factions and parties in Syria should take the interest of the people as their priority, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN said when answering a question on the situation of Syria. The UN Security Council members on Monday of local time convened for closed consultations on Syria situation, according to CCTV News. Mohammed Al-Bashir has officially taken over Syrian transitional government, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday. Israel's attacks in Syria are driven by concerns over weapons proliferation after the end of Assad's rule. Also, in recent years, Israel has focused on expanding its security borders and buffer zones, adopting an aggressive posture, Zhu Yongbiao, a professor from the School of Politics and International Relations in Lanzhou University, told the Global Times. Its primary targets in Syria are chemical weapons facilities and military infrastructure, aimed at weakening anti-Israel forces. Regardless of who holds power, Israel seeks to exploit Syria's instability to pursue its strategy, Zhu said. Given the ongoing instability in Syria, a major conflict between Syria and Israel is unlikely in the short term. However, if Syria achieves unity, Israel's actions would likely face strong resistance due to nationalist sentiments within a unified government. On the other hand, if Syria remains fragmented and chaotic, it is possible Israel will continue its actions in Syria, Zhu said. Some regional countries, including Qatar, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have decried Israel's seizure of land in Syria. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Doha considers the Israeli incursion "a dangerous development and a blatant attack on Syria's sovereignty and unity as well as a flagrant violation of international law," according to a report from Al Jazeera. Assad's prime minister, Mohammed Jalali, on Monday agreed to hand power to the rebel-led Salvation Government. The main rebel commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani met with Jalali and Vice President Faisal Mekdad to discuss the transitional government, Reuters reported. Syria's political transition faces substantial challenges. Forces led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has advanced into the capital, have a strong religious orientation, and while it has shown signs of adjustment in recent years, it remains uncertain whether it can evolve into a moderate and inclusive leadership force, said Ding Long, a professor with the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University. Currently, the transfer of power in the new regime seems low-risk. However, the main challenge lies in how long a new government can remain stable and whether it can survive the frictions between different factions. Foreign influences and interventions could also further exacerbate divisions and infighting, testing the new government's viability, said Zhu. The possibility of regional fragmentation and warlord control in Syria remains high and the international community is closely monitoring the situation in Syria and its spillover effects on the region, particularly concerning refugee issues and terrorism, Zhu said. After more than a decade of turmoil, Syria is grappling with severe refugee and humanitarian crises, and the international community has been providing humanitarian assistance. However, such support hinges on the Syrian government being open to broad cooperation with the international community, said the expert.
Scientists are focusing on the energy centers of cancer cells – in a literal sense – to damage these power sources and induce widespread death in cancer cells. In a recent study, researchers combined methods to administer gene therapy that disrupts energy using nanoparticles designed to specifically target only cancer cells. Tests indicated that the targeted treatment is successful at reducing glioblastoma brain tumors and aggressive breast cancer tumors in mice. The research team addressed a major hurdle by utilizing a cutting-edge technique to dismantle mitochondria – the energy centers of the cell – through a method that creates light-activated electrical currents within the cell. They named this innovative technology mLumiOpto. “We disrupt the membrane so mitochondria cannot work functionally to produce energy or work as a signaling hub. This causes programmed cell death followed by DNA damage – our investigations showed these two mechanisms are involved and kill the cancer cells,” said co-lead author Lufang Zhou, professor of biomedical engineering and surgery at The Ohio State University . “This is how the technology works by design.” Mitochondria play a crucial role as the powerhouses of cells, generating the energy necessary for cellular functions. For years, they have been seen as a promising target for anti-cancer therapies, yet their impermeable inner membrane has posed significant challenges. Five years ago, Zhou’s lab discovered a way to take advantage of a vulnerability in the inner membrane—an electrical charge difference that maintains its structure and ensures its proper functionality. “Previous attempts to use a pharmaceutical reagent against mitochondria-targeted specific pathways of activity in cancer cells,” he said. “Our approach targets mitochondria directly, using external genes to activate a process that kills cells. That’s an advantage, and we’ve shown we can get a very good result in killing different types of cancer cells.” Zhou’s previous cell experiments demonstrated that a protein capable of generating electric currents could cause a disruption in the mitochondrial inner membrane, and researchers utilized a laser to activate this light-sensitive protein. In this latest research, the team developed an internal light source, which is crucial for adapting the technology for clinical applications. The approach involves introducing genetic material for two types of molecules: a light-sensitive protein called CoChR that generates positively charged currents and an enzyme that emits bioluminescence. These components are encapsulated in a modified viral particle and delivered to cancer cells, leading to the production of the proteins as their genes are expressed within the mitochondria . A subsequent injection of a specific chemical activates the enzyme’s light, which in turn triggers CoChR, resulting in the collapse of the mitochondria. Another important aspect of this treatment is to make sure it does not affect healthy cells. Liu’s laboratory focuses on the development of targeted therapies for cancer. The basis for the delivery mechanism in this study is the well-researched adeno-associated virus (AAV), which is a minimally infectious virus designed to transport genes and facilitate their expression for therapeutic applications. To improve the system’s specificity for cancer, the team introduced a promoter protein that increases the expression of the CoChR and bioluminescent enzyme exclusively in cancer cells. Additionally, the researchers developed the AAV using human cells, encapsulating the gene-packed virus in a natural nanocarrier that mimics extracellular vesicles, which are commonly found in human blood and biological fluids. “This construction assures stability in the human body because this particle comes from a human cell line,” Liu said. Finally, the researchers developed and attached to the delivery particle a monoclonal antibody designed to seek out receptors on cancer cell surfaces. “This monoclonal antibody can identify a specific receptor, so it finds cancer cells and delivers our therapeutic genes. We used multiple tools to confirm this effect,” she said. “After constructing AAVs with a cancer-specific promoter and a cancer-targeting nanoparticle, we found this therapy is very powerful to treat multiple cancers.” Research conducted on mouse models demonstrated that the gene therapy approach significantly decreased tumor size when compared to untreated animals in two fast-growing, difficult-to-treat cancers: glioblastoma brain cancer and triple negative breast cancer. Besides reducing tumor size, the treatment also prolonged the survival of mice afflicted with glioblastomas. Imaging studies of the animals further verified that the gene therapy’s effects were confined to cancerous tissue and were not observable in normal tissues. The findings also implied that linking the monoclonal antibody provided the additional advantage of generating an immune response targeting cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment. The research team is exploring further potential therapeutic impacts of mLumiOpto for glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and other cancers. A provisional patent application for the technologies has been submitted by Ohio State. Journal reference:
Iconic Portofino Tower Condominium Hits the Market listed by Bo PalazolaLANDOVER, Md. – Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Dallas’ Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown, and the Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Recommended Videos Part of that was the play of backup Cooper Rush, who threw for 247 yards and two TDs in his third start in place of starter Dak Prescott. Part was also the defense forcing two turnovers, as Chauncey Golston ripped the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.’s hands for what was called an interception of Daniels in the second quarter, and Donovan Wilson stripped John Bates midway through the fourth. KaVonte Turpin provided the fireworks with a spinning, 99-yard kickoff return TD seconds after Daniels found Zach Ertz in the end zone and scored on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three with 3:02 left. In the final three minutes alone, the Commanders (7-5) scored 10 points and allowed Thomas' TD. All that after the score was 10-9 through three quarters before madness ensued. Washington's playoff hopes that looked solid not long ago are now in serious jeopardy after losing to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dallas. Before the scoring outburst late, much of this defeat had to do with Daniels and the offense not being able to find any kind of a rhythm. The Cowboys did, despite playing without their two best offensive linemen, top cornerback and starting tight end. Rush's 6-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert was Dallas' first third-quarter TD of the season, and his 22-yarder to Luke Schoonmaker came after Wilson's forced fumble. Daniels finished 25 of 38 for 274 yards, including his second interception of the game on a failed Hail Mary as the clock expired. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards to spring the upset for the Cowboys, who were 10 1/2-point underdogs on BetMGM Sportsbook. Injuries Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game. Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was injured on a kickoff return in the final seconds. ... Robinson left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game since being acquired at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Up next Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trae Young might be the NBA's biggest enigma. Young's fans can point to numbers and say he's an elite player. His detractors can point to numbers and say he's overrated. Both arguments have validity. To some, his cocky ways are endearing. To others, they're infuriating. This can't be argued: He's helping Atlanta author one of the season's surprise stories. The Hawks are in the NBA Cup semifinals, set to play Milwaukee on Saturday before the other semifinal between Oklahoma City and Houston. The title game is Tuesday night. “When we talk about Trae, the word I like to use is evolution,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “And every player evolves. They just evolve in different ways. He's been an important part of our young guys' growth and being able to elevate them.” The Hawks haven't had a ton of big moments in Young's seven seasons. But he has shown a propensity for rising to the occasion: ousting New York in the 2021 playoffs, ousting the Knicks from the quarterfinals of this tournament to get to Las Vegas — and now comes another chance on national TV on Saturday, facing the Bucks with a chance to play for a trophy. “I feel like this team has been embracing the challenge each and every night from the beginning of the season,” Young said. “We haven’t looked too far ahead in any moment. We’re just taking it day by day. Even though early on in the season we may have had some struggles and some bumps in the road and some guys out, we stuck with the process and focus on each day." Here's part of the pro-Young argument: He's averaging 21 points and 12 assists something that only Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas have done over a full season, and he's on pace to lead the league in assist average for the first time. Here's part of the anti-Young argument: Among the 220 players with at least 50 3-point attempts this season he ranks 189th at 30.8%, and of the 248 players with at least 100 field goal attempts this season he ranks 231st at 38.4%. Choose your side. They're both valid. But it's clear that Young — who made no secret that he was upset over not being picked for the team that won gold for USA Basketball at the Paris Olympics this past summer — is growing and maturing. “He’s doing a better job on both ends of the floor,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “Defensively he’s figured out a way of keeping himself out of actions. I know that sounds easy. That’s hard to do, and he’s brilliant at it, he really is. ... He must be really studying the game on both ends of the floor, and you can see that in his play. And he’s earned the trust of his players. This team likes playing with him, that’s obvious. I couldn’t say that in the past, but now they love playing with him.” Hawks forward Jalen Johnson doesn't deny that point. “He’s so good, man,” Johnson said. "It’s crazy, like just seeing it in person and on TV prior to me playing with the Hawks and getting drafted by the Hawks, it was crazy just watching it. A guy that’s undersized, being able to score at will, being able to make any pass at will. And then next thing you know you’re his teammate and you’re on the receiving end of those passes. “Watching those clutch late game buckets, it’s a joy to watch. It’s a gift that he has that’s very special and not many people have had it at that elite of a level. It’s been great being his teammate. It’s been a blessing.” Saturday is an opportunity. The semifinals are the only games on the NBA calendar for that day; the title game Tuesday — which doesn't count in the standings — is the only game on the NBA slate that night as well. Young will have tons of eyeballs on him Saturday and would have tons more on him Tuesday if the Hawks find a way to win another big game against the Bucks. They're 3-1 against Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland and Boston already this season, 1-0 against Milwaukee. The potential is clear for the Hawks. The potential for Young has always been clear as well. Only now, it's starting to be realized. “The narrative about me not being able to do certain things or being too mad or frustrated about certain things is — I mean, just aren’t true,” Young said. "I think you’re just now being able to see like with the young team we have, just some of the different things we’ve been doing this year, I think just now you’re starting to kind of see it because the results are showing and we’re winning now. We’re here in this final four of the Cup, and it’s a big deal.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBAWhat Is Willow, Google’s New Computing Quantum Chip? By recently took a major leap in the technology scene as it unveiled its new computing chip, the . Also called , netizens are now highly curious about what it is and its features. Describing the chip as one of the finest processors ever, Google also mentioned that the Quantum Chip is the product of 10 years of hard work. Here is everything tech enthusiasts need to know about Willow and what are its major advantages as listed by Google. What is Google’s Williow? Willow, Google’s latest Quantum Chip, is a state-of-the-art chip that would help solve complex problems in the least time possible, which the standard computers would take years to solve. Announcing the launch of Willow, Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai took to and shared the news with the world. He wrote, “Introducing Willow, our new state-of-the-art quantum computing chip with a breakthrough that can reduce errors exponentially as we scale up using more qubits, cracking a 30-year challenge in the field.” Pichai further detailed that this Quantum chip can carry out computation within just 5 minutes which would eventually take other computers 10 septillion years to perform. Additionally, in its , Google stated that to check the performance of Willow they used the RCS (random circuit sampling) benchmark. It is the “hardest benchmark” for a quantum computer in today’s time. In the blog, the founder and lead of Google Quantum AI, Hartmut Neven stated, “Willow was fabricated in our new, state-of-the-art fabrication facility in Santa Barbara — one of only a few facilities in the world built from the ground up for this purpose.” Neven also asserted that the number of qubits used enhances the performance of the Quantum Chip. He added, “We published results showing that the more qubits we use in Willow, the more we reduce errors, and the more quantum the system becomes.” Ishita Verma is an SEO contributing writer for ComingSoon. She is passionate about delivering authentic content and holds experience in SEO content writing. Apart from her quest to ensure her content is promising, Ishita is an avid Kdrama and anime watcher. Ishita is a bibliophile and also pursues gaming as one of her favorite pastimes. Share article
VIQ Solutions Announces Retirement of Director and Chief Operating Officer
IRVING, Texas , Nov. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RumbleOn, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBL) (the "Company" or "RumbleOn") announced today that it has commenced a $10.0 million fully backstopped registered equity rights offering (the "Rights Offering"), pursuant to which the Company is expected to receive aggregate gross proceeds of $10.0 million , less expenses related to the Rights Offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Rights Offering for general corporate purposes which may include repayment of the Company's convertible senior 6.75% promissory notes due January 1, 2025 . The proceeds raised will also satisfy, in part, the additional capital financing obligations of the Company pursuant to a recent amendment to the Company's credit agreement with Oaktree. The Company is distributing at no charge to the holders of (i) its Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Class A common stock"), and (ii) Class B common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Class B common stock" and, together with the Class A common stock, the "common stock"), in each case as of the close of business on November 25, 2024 (the "Record Date"), non-transferable subscription rights (the "Subscription Rights") to purchase up to 2,392,344 shares of Class B common stock at price of $4.18 per share (the "Subscription Price"). The aggregate subscription value of all shares of Class B common stock available for purchase in the Rights Offering is $10.0 million . Each holder of common stock as of the Record Date (each, an "Eligible Stockholder") will receive one Subscription Right for each share of the common stock owned as of the Record Date. Each Subscription Right entitles the holder to purchase 0.0677 shares of Class B common stock. The Company will not issue any fractional shares of Class B common stock in the Rights Offering. Instead, the Company will round down the aggregate number of shares of Class B common stock the Eligible Stockholders are entitled to receive to the nearest whole number. Accordingly, as each Subscription Right represents the right to purchase 0.0677 shares of Class B common stock, an Eligible Stockholder must hold at least 15 shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock to receive sufficient Subscription Rights to purchase at least one share of Class B common stock in the Rights Offering. Eligible Stockholders will not be entitled to exercise an over-subscription privilege to purchase additional shares of Class B common stock that may remain unsubscribed as a result of any unexercised Subscription Rights. The Subscription Rights will expire and will have no value if they are not exercised prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time , on the expiration time for the Rights Offering (the "Expiration Time"), which is currently expected to be 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on December 12, 2024 , unless the Company, in its sole discretion, extends the period for exercising the Subscription Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Support and Standby Purchase Agreement (defined below), the Company reserves the right to cancel, terminate, amend, or extend the Rights Offering at any time prior to the Expiration Time. On November 26 , 2024, the Company entered into a support and standby purchase agreement (the "Support and Standby Purchase Agreement") with Stone House Capital Management, LLC, which is a holder of Class B common stock and is managed by Mark Cohen , a member of the board of directors of the Company (together with its affiliates, the "Standby Purchaser"), and Mark Tkach and William Coulter , each of whom is a holder of the Class B common stock and a member of the board of directors of the Company (collectively, the "Support Purchasers" and, together with the Standby Purchaser, the "Investors"). The Support and Standby Purchase Agreement provides, among other things, that (i) the Standby Purchaser will purchase from the Company in a private placement any shares of Class B common stock included in the Rights Offering that are not subscribed for and purchased by Eligible Stockholders (collectively, the "Backstop Securities") for the same per share Subscription Price payable by the Eligible Stockholders electing to exercise their Subscription Rights in the Rights Offering; and (ii) each Support Purchaser will exercise all of his respective Subscription Rights in full prior to the Expiration Time. Other Important Information The Subscription Rights will not be listed for trading on any stock exchange or market. Therefore, there will be no public market for the Subscription Rights. However, the shares of Class B common stock issued upon the exercise of the Subscription Rights will remain listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC under the symbol "RMBL." The Company expects that Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, LLC, the subscription and information agent for the Rights Offering, will distribute subscription documents for the Rights Offering to Eligible Stockholders beginning on or about November 26, 2024 . Holders of shares of common stock held in "street name" through a brokerage account, bank or other nominee should contact their broker, bank or other nominee for details regarding participation in the Rights Offering. For any questions or further information about the Rights Offering, please contact the information agent, at (888) 789-8409 (Toll-Free), or via email at shareholder@broadridge.com . Neither the Company nor its board of directors has made or will make any recommendation to holders regarding participation in the Rights Offering. Holders should make an independent investment decision about whether to participate in the Rights Offering based on their own assessment of the Company's business and the Rights Offering. The offering of the Class B common stock pursuant to the Rights Offering is being made pursuant to the Company's existing effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-281862) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and a prospectus supplement (and the accompanying base prospectus) filed with the SEC on the date hereof. The information in this press release is not complete and is subject to change. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. The Rights Offering will be made only by means of the prospectus supplement (and the accompanying base prospectus) filed with the SEC on the date hereof. About RumbleOn RumbleOn, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBL), operates through two operating segments: our Powersports dealership group and Wholesale Express, LLC, an asset-light transportation services provider focused on the automotive industry. Our Powersports group is the largest powersports retail group in the United States (as measured by reported revenue, major unit sales and dealership locations), offering over 500 powersports franchises representing 50 different brands of products. Our Powersports group sells a wide selection of new and pre-owned products, including parts, apparel, accessories, finance & insurance products and services, and aftermarket products. We are the largest purchaser of pre-owned powersports vehicles in the United States and utilize RideNow's Cash Offer to acquire vehicles directly from consumers. For more information on RumbleOn, please visit rumbleon.com . Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements The Company's press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding the Company's plans to launch a Rights Offering, the anticipated final terms, timing and completion of the proposed Rights Offering, and the use of proceeds from the proposed Rights Offering. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "continues," "could," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "hopes," "may," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "should," "targets," "would" and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from current expectations and beliefs, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: whether the proposed transactions will be completed in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that all of the closing conditions for the proposed Rights Offering are not satisfied; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could cause the Company not to proceed with the Rights Offering; the determination of the final terms of the proposed Rights Offering; the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the proposed Rights Offering; risks related to the diversion of management's attention from RumbleOn's ongoing business operations; the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally, as well as the other risk factors set forth under the caption "Risk Factors" in the registration statement, as amended, and in RumbleOn's Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 30, 2024 , June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 and in any other subsequent filings made with the SEC by RumbleOn. There can be no assurance that RumbleOn will be able to complete the proposed Rights Offering on the anticipated terms, or at all. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and RumbleOn specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rumbleon-announces-commencement-of-10-0-million-fully-backstopped-registered-rights-offering-302316964.html SOURCE RumbleOnAscendis Pharma A/S, a global pharma company applying its innovative TransCon technology platform to build a leading and fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives, announced that the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for review to treat adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) for TransCon hGH (lonapegsomatropin-tcgd; marketed as Skytrofa for paediatric GHD). The US FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of July 27, 2025. “This marks another step towards achieving our objective to expand Skytrofa’s label beyond paediatric GHD and expand its reach to address new groups of patients,” said Jan Mikkelsen, Ascendis Pharma’s president and chief executive officer. “Adult GHD is an undertreated condition associated with significant comorbidities and higher annual healthcare costs compared to the 5-10% of patients who receive treatment, indicative of the high unmet need.” The sBLA submission is based on results from foresiGHt, a phase 3 randomized, parallel-arm, placebo-controlled (double-blind) and active-controlled (open-label) trial that compared the efficacy and safety of weekly TransCon hGH with weekly placebo and daily human growth hormone (hGH) in adults with GHD. The trial evaluated 259 adults with GHD aged 23 to 80 years old, randomized 1:1:1, titrated to receive a target fixed dose of TransCon hGH, placebo, or daily hGH based on age and oral estrogen intake with approximately equivalent hGH mg/week for TransCon hGH and daily hGH. TransCon hGH demonstrated superiority on its primary efficacy and key secondary efficacy endpoints at Week 38, with TransCon hGH-treated participants showing a statistically significant reduction from baseline in trunk fat and increase in total body lean mass at Week 38 compared to placebo. In the trial, TransCon hGH was generally safe and well tolerated, with no discontinuations related to study drug and with comparable safety and tolerability to daily hGH treatment. Growth hormone deficiency plays an essential role in the health of children and adults, promoting normal growth in children and maintenance of normal body composition and cardiometabolic health throughout adulthood. In adults, growth hormone boosts protein production, promotes fat utilization, enhances muscle mass, and helps regulate blood sugar levels. Adult GHD is a condition in which an individual’s body does not produce enough growth hormone. Symptoms and morbidity can include central obesity, metabolic syndrome, decreased bone density, alterations in lipid profile and markers of cardiovascular risk, fatigue, general weakness, lack of muscle tone, and psychological symptoms such as cognitive impairment, social isolation, lack of motivation, and depression.Contrary to assertions by some so-called experts who have been prattling all week that Dele Farotimi wrote what he could not logically substantiate in his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, this was a pre-meditated confrontation. Having depleted the legal means to get justice, he wrote to re-litigate the case in the court of public opinion. He seems calculatedly driven by the Yoruba proverb that says no one dies at the same spot they uttered blasphemy. In the time between your speaking and being punished, much can happen to change social dynamics. From the potpourri of events in the past week, Farotimi got what he wanted. One cannot say the same for Afe Babalola who, by now, would have realised that giving a traducer what they want is not the most prudent battle move. My reading is that Farotimi knew Babalola’s peculiar weakness and worked it to advantage. I will get to that momentarily. The blowback from this case is another instance that hopefully teaches our elites to rein in their tendency to exploit the warped Nigerian justice system that allows criminal defamation as a legal recourse. Criminal defamation might be legal, but it is unjust. It is a law that exists to regulate the differentials of power and access, one of the many ways rich people further privatise public resources. Since lawmakers are too compromised to expunge the law and law enforcers incapable of the reflexivity that will enlighten them on the stupidity of using state resources to fight an individual over another’s integrity, the best we can do for now is pressure the entitled “big man” not to take that path. In a criminal case, the prosecutor investigates to convict. The Nigerian police, perennially short of resources, spares no expense when sent to prosecute criminal defamation on behalf of another narcissist. Why should the state do that on behalf of an ordinary individual? Babalola, especially, is a man of ample resources, who can afford to fight for his reputation on his own dime. So, on Friday, Babalola’s legal team held a press conference in Ado Ekiti. Among several things, the lead lawyer Owoseni Ajayi said was: “Those pushing Farotimi are not his friends. By the time they led him to the dungeon, he would realise they were deceiving him. Let me advise his family members to apologise to Aare. Aare Babalola is a builder, not interested in destroying Farotimi.” I was intrigued by what he said it takes for them to call off the police hounds. If someone injured your reputation, and that reputation is truly worth the price you placed on it, why would you not be interested in watching them destroyed? Why would Ajayi, so sure of their victory that he boldly asserted that the only possible conclusion to the case is the dungeon, want to settle for the cheap spectacle of Farotimi’s family members with their clasped hands rolling on the floor and begging? What sealed the picture for me was an article by Kenneth Ikonne where he, like Ajayi, also urged Farotimi to go “beg” Babalola. According to Ikonne, he had won a preliminary objection against Babalola’s suit—which a lawyer is supposed to do, right? —but he was so intimidated by his own victory against the legal giant that he had to go beg Babalola. While Ikonne’s adulating article drips with flattery, it also unwittingly reveals a kabiyesi-complex. It is an attitude that revels in watching other humans’ heads perpetually bowed in servile reverence so they can repay your self-denigration with overwhelming niceness. Babalola seems like a man who likes to be liked, an attitude is consistently weakening because you must always play nice. Please note that there is a vast difference between being nice because you are a decent human and niceness as manipulation, a means to seduce others into becoming your subject. People of the latter category will take you to the top of the pinnacle, show you the extent of their power and glory, and nicely offer you a portion if only you would bend obsequious knees before them. If you refuse, they will then kick your calves until you fall on your face. Babalola is so used to a world where junior lawyers who defeat him in court still come to his Ado Ekiti palace to prostrate before him that Farotimi’s boldness to confront him must have been jarring. He resorted to his standard weapons of warfare, but as he must have also found out in the past week, the battle terrain has changed. Even if he wins the case, what will be the social value of a reputation held up by the courts? If Farotimi begs him as his lawyer and others have enjoined, what is done cannot be undone. Related News [UPDATED] Defamation: Court denies human rights activist Dele Farotimi bail Defamation: Farotimi gets N50m bail, to submit passport Defamation: Farotimi gets N50m bail, to submit passport However, this goes down, I commend Farotimi’s boldness. We all agree that the Nigerian judiciary is rotten, but the logic of producing rational evidence has made it virtually impossible to progress beyond merely abstract observations. Until we begin to mention names and point accusing fingers at specific people, the issues will remain intractable. Statistically, Nigerian judges and magistrates are the highest receivers of bribes in 2023, beating even the Customs/Immigration! This is according to the NBS. Those who facilitated these transactions are not ghosts. We have all been witnesses to the several instances where retiring judges have severely deplored the rot in the judiciary. It is amusing to see some people pretending Farotimi revealed what they did not already know. Our society maintains an overly reverential attitude toward people who have money and power, and are elderly. When a person combines all three, we are virtually cowed before their almighty presence. Otherwise, why can we not ask, if defamation is an offence that supposedly lessens someone’s reputational worth, what exactly would constitute it in the case of persons who have practised law in morally decrepit and with progressively weakened institutions like Nigeria for 60-plus years? Which of the atrocities that presently bedevils the country does not have the hands of the so-called learned class in it? This is not to disparage the legal profession or caricature lawyers, but we cannot talk about what is wrong with Nigeria today without the role lawyers have played in vandalising the temple of justice. From the so-called “legal luminaries” who—through endless frivolous election petitions—rendered democracy incoherent to the ones with the “SAN” appendage to their names who fraternise with politicians, they remade the country in their amoral image. We were all here when a partner in the firm of a high-profile lawyer solicited the client of another, saying their principal’s political influence would “significantly switch things in favour” of the prospective client. While that woman was disowned and eventually debarred, it was a moment of self-revelation as to how the justice system operates. Big names in the legal system do not necessarily correspond with a deep knowledge of the law. It just means they know which judge to buy and which string to pull. We witnessed a lawmaker publicly admitting that his judge’s wife helped his colleagues win their various cases. In a serious country, every case that a woman adjudicated would have been recalled and scrutinised, but this is Nigeria. Nothing ever happens here. This is the utterly compromised ecosystem in which Babalola has practised law and thrived to the point he built a magnificent university. He was also a lawyer and confidant to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose administration reputation was thoroughly corrupt. Nobody, not even the staunchest of his defenders, has said of Farotimi’s allegations that “it cannot possibly be true”. What they all say is, “It cannot be proven,” and that is telling enough. Given the contradictions of his profession, Babalola should have been circumspect enough to not jump into a public contest over his reputation. He seems to me like a man who has invested in being nice just so that he would not be remembered as a villain in Nigeria’s story. Now he is no longer the man with the carefully curated legacy who set out to redeem his image but the one who proved his critic right.