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SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) (Nasdaq: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, today announced its intention to offer, subject to market conditions and other factors, $750 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 (the “notes”) in a private placement (the “offering”) to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Nutanix also expects to grant the initial purchasers of the notes an option to purchase up to an additional $112.5 million aggregate principal amount of the notes within a 13-day period from, and including, the initial issuance date of the notes. The notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Nutanix. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears. The notes will mature on December 15, 2029, unless earlier converted, redeemed, or repurchased. The notes will be convertible at the option of holders, subject to certain conditions and during certain periods. Upon conversion, the notes may be settled in cash, shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock or a combination of cash and shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock, at Nutanix’s election. The interest rate, initial conversion rate and other terms of the notes are to be determined at the time of the pricing of the offering. Nutanix intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to (i) repurchase a portion of its outstanding 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 notes”) concurrently with the pricing of the offering in separate and privately negotiated transactions with certain holders of its 2027 notes (the “concurrent note repurchases”) effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix’s agent, and (ii) repurchase up to $200.0 million of shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock in privately negotiated transactions with institutional investors effected through one of the initial purchasers of the notes or its affiliate, acting as Nutanix’s agent, at a price per share equal to the last reported sale price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the date of the pricing of the notes (the “Share Repurchase”). Any such Share Repurchase would not reduce the amount available for future repurchases under Nutanix’s existing share repurchase program. Nutanix intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including working capital, capital expenditures and potential acquisitions. From time to time, Nutanix evaluates potential acquisitions of businesses, technologies or products. Currently, however, Nutanix does not have any understandings or agreements with respect to any acquisitions. The terms of the concurrent note repurchases are anticipated to be individually negotiated with each holder of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, and will depend on several factors, including the market price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock and the trading price of the 2027 notes at the time of each such concurrent note repurchase. Certain holders of any 2027 notes that Nutanix agrees to repurchase may have hedged their equity price risk with respect to such 2027 notes and may, concurrently with the pricing of the notes, unwind all or part of their hedge positions by buying Nutanix’s Class A common stock and/or entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to Nutanix’s Class A common stock. Any repurchase of the 2027 notes, and the potential related market activities by holders of the 2027 notes participating in the concurrent note repurchases, together with the repurchase by Nutanix of any of its Class A common stock concurrently with the pricing of the notes, could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of Nutanix’s Class A common stock, which may affect the trading price of the notes at that time and the initial conversion price of the notes. Nutanix cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the notes or its Class A common stock. No assurance can be given as to how much, if any, of the 2027 notes or the Class A common stock will be repurchased or the terms on which they will be repurchased. Neither the notes nor the shares of Nutanix’s Class A common stock potentially issuable upon conversion of the notes, if any, have been, or will be, registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction, and unless so registered, may not be offered or sold in the United States, except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale is unlawful. About Nutanix Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding Nutanix’s financing plans, Nutanix’s ability to complete the offering, the timing and size of the offering, the concurrent note repurchases and the Share Repurchase, Nutanix’s intended use of the net proceeds of the offering. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including, but not limited to, whether Nutanix will be able to consummate the offering, the final terms of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions with respect to the offering of the notes, prevailing market conditions, the anticipated use of the net proceeds of the offering of the notes, which could change as a result of market conditions or for other reasons, and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of the words “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions by Nutanix’s management that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain and subject to a number of risks. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or predicted by Nutanix’s forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to other risks detailed in Nutanix’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, and the risks discussed in Nutanix’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Nutanix undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by applicable law. © 2024 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) in the United States and other countries. Other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. Investor Contact: Richard Valera ir@nutanix.com Media Contact: Lia Bigano pr@nutanix.comCanadian National Railway Co. stock outperforms market despite losses on the dayHere's how Detroit Lions can clinch a playoff berth in Week 13 | Sporting News
Your black plastic kitchen utensils aren’t so toxic after all. But you should still toss them, group says
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Evaluating strategic options for iopofosine I 131 a late-stage clinical program with compelling Phase 2 data and a substantial market opportunity Focusing on advancing radiotherapeutic assets including alpha- and Auger-emitting radioconjugates into Phase 1 solid tumor studies FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLRB), a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of cancer, today announces a strategic update on its clinical development programs for its proprietary phospholipid ether drug conjugate platform that delivers a broad array of therapeutic modalities to target cancers. Due to recent communications with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA, or the Agency) regarding a confirmatory study to support accelerated approval and the regulatory submission for iopofosine I 131, the Company has decided to pursue strategic options for the further development and commercialization of this product candidate. The CLOVER-WaM study was conducted in accordance with earlier FDA communications from an end of Phase 2 meeting and from a meeting in early 2024, during which the Company was informed that positive results for major response rate (MRR) as the primary endpoint could be acceptable to support accelerated approval of iopofosine I 131 as a treatment for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM). Based upon a recent Type-C meeting with the FDA, the Company now believes that a submission seeking accelerated approval would need to be based on the MRR data from CLOVER-WaM and enrollment in a randomized, controlled confirmatory study that is designed to generate data on progression-free survival (PFS). "While iopofosine I 131's positive WM data along with the high unmet medical need for these patients support further investment, we have determined that such a program may best be brought to market by a larger organization with greater resources. Importantly, partnering or divesting this program supports our commitment to providing this potentially life-saving drug to the patients who need it as quickly as possible,” stated James Caruso, president and CEO of Cellectar. "We believe iopofosine I 131 represents a compelling opportunity as it has shown strong efficacy and good tolerability based on our clinical studies. Moreover, the commercial work we conducted demonstrates iopofosine I 131's substantial market opportunity based upon the product profile, which includes off-the-shelf global distribution, orphan pricing and existing unmet medical need.” Cellectar remains confident in the potential of its phospholipid ether drug conjugate platform and the targeted radiotherapies in its development pipeline. Iopofosine I 131's clinical success validates the platform's ability to target cancers and Cellectar will leverage its experience to focus on the development of its earlier clinical programs. Specifically, Cellectar will focus on those assets it believes have the highest therapeutic potential and opportunity for value creation. As highlighted by recent acquisitions and collaborations within the radiopharmaceutical sector, precision isotopes like alpha- and Auger-emitters have emerged as the leading therapeutics of interest. Consequently, the Company will now focus its resources on targeting solid tumors by advancing CLR 121225, its actinium-225 based program, and CLR 121125, its iodine-125 Auger-emitting program into the clinic. Cellectar expects to file Investigational New Drug applications in the first half of 2025 for both CLR-121225 and CLR-121125, which will allow the initiation of Phase 1 clinical studies in solid tumor cancers. Both programs have demonstrated robust in vivo activity, tolerability, excellent targeting and uptake in preclinical solid tumor models. The Company believes this approach will provide an expedited timeframe to achieve safety and proof-of-concept data in patients. The Company's strategic reprioritization will impact all departments and result in an immediate reduction in headcount of approximately 60%, which should be complete by the end of the fourth quarter 2024. The Company anticipates that the implementation of the restructuring will extend its cash runway into the third quarter of 2025. "We are being methodical in our efforts to reorganize the company with the goal of conserving cash while maintaining the flexibility to execute immediate priorities and build for long-term growth and value creation. This reorganization is difficult but necessary for the future growth potential of Cellectar,” said Mr. Caruso. "I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our departing employees for their significant contributions to our work and their dedication to making a difference in the lives of patients.” About Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. Cellectar Biosciences is a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary drugs for the treatment of cancer, independently and through research and development collaborations. The company's core objective is to leverage its proprietary Phospholipid Drug Conjugate TM (PDC) delivery platform to develop the next-generation of cancer cell-targeting treatments, delivering improved efficacy and better safety as a result of fewer off-target effects. The company's product pipeline includes lead asset, iopofosine I 131, a small-molecule PDC designed to provide targeted delivery of iodine-131 (radioisotope), CLR 121225, an actinium-225 based program being targeted to several solid tumors with significant unmet need, such as pancreatic cancer, CLR 121125, an iodine-125 Auger-emitting program targeted in other solid tumors, such as triple negative breast, lung and colorectal, proprietary preclinical PDC chemotherapeutic programs and multiple partnered PDC assets. In addition, iopofosine I 131 is under evaluation in Phase 2b studies for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM) and central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, alongside the CLOVER-2 Phase 1b study, targeting pediatric patients with high-grade gliomas, for which Cellectar is eligible to receive a Pediatric Review Voucher from the FDA upon approval. The FDA has also granted iopofosine I 131 Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations for various cancer indications. New data from the CLOVER-WaM Phase 2 clinical trial were recently presented in an oral presentation at the 66th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2024). For more information, please visit www.cellectar.com or join the conversation by liking and following us on the company's social media channels: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This news release contains forward-looking statements. You can identify these statements by our use of words such as "may," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "estimate," "continue," "plans," or their negatives or cognates. These statements are only estimates and predictions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future experience and results to differ materially from the statements made. These statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations as to such future outcomes. Drug discovery and development involve a high degree of risk. Factors that might cause such a material difference include, among others, uncertainties related to the ability to raise additional capital, uncertainties related to the disruptions at our sole source supplier of iopofosine, the ability to attract and retain partners for our technologies, the identification of lead compounds, the successful preclinical development thereof, patient enrollment and the completion of clinical studies, the FDA review process and other government regulation, our ability to obtain regulatory exclusivities, the availability of priority review vouchers, our ability to successfully develop and commercialize drug candidates, competition from other pharmaceutical companies, product pricing and third-party reimbursement. A complete description of risks and uncertainties related to our business is contained in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Contacts MEDIA: Christy Maginn Bliss Bio Health 703-297-7194 [email protected] INVESTORS: Anne Marie Fields Precision AQ 212-362-1200 [email protected]
Vor Biopharma Inc. VOR shares are trading higher on Friday after the company announced it has entered into a securities purchase agreement for a private investment in public equity financing (PIPE). What To Know: The company expects to generate about $55.6 million in gross proceeds from the PIPE. Vor plans to utilize these proceeds in order to fund clinical and preclinical development of its pipeline candidates and for general corporate purposes. As part of the PIPE, Vor will issue a total of 55,871,260 shares of common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase an additional 69,839,075 shares, priced at $0.99425 per share and warrants. If exercised for cash, the warrants would result in additional gross proceeds to Vor of up to approximately $58.5 million. The PIPE was led by Reid Hoffman who believes in the potential of Vor’s trem-cel therapy to treat acute myeloid leukemia. The therapy utilizes CRISPR/cas9 to modify the bone marrow of patients. “Early data released by Vor suggest a potent effect, which now must be confirmed by future trials. I am delighted to support this company that uses a game-changing technology that will hopefully impact the lives of patients with this lethal cancer – but even more the trajectory of cancer therapy in general,” said Hoffman. Related Link: Spotlight on SolarEdge Technologies: Analyzing the Surge in Options Activity VOR Price Action: At the time of writing, Vor stock is trading 40.8% higher at $1.18, according to data from Benzinga Pro . Image: Image: Emilian Danaila from Pixabay © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.NEW YORK -- President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that's he's preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect's threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park." Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn't a trolling-free zone for Trump's adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A." In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden's spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump's taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” ___ Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.LONDON — A woman who claimed mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse was awarded nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) on Friday by a civil court jury in Ireland. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced the woman to do anything against her will and said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. His lawyer had called Hand a gold digger. The fighter, once the face of the Ultimate Fighting Championship but now past his prime, shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable for assault after deliberating about six hours in the High Court in Dublin. He was mobbed by cameras as he left court but did not comment. He later said on the social platform X that he would appeal the verdict and the "modest award." Hand's voice cracked and her hands trembled as she read a statement outside the courthouse, saying she would never forget what happened to her but would now be able to move on with her life. She thanked her family, partner, friends, jurors, the judge and all the supporters that had reached out to her online, but particularly her daughter. "She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice," she said. "I want to show (her) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served." The Associated Press generally does not name alleged victims of sexual violence unless they come forward publicly, as Hand has done. Under Irish law, she did not have the anonymity she would have been granted in a criminal proceeding and was named publicly throughout the trial. Her lawyer told jurors that McGregor was angry about a fight he had lost in Las Vegas two months earlier and took it out on his client. "He's not a man, he's a coward," attorney John Gordon said in his closing speech. "A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is." Gordon said his client never pretended to be a saint and was only looking to have fun when she sent McGregor a message through Instagram after attending a Christmas party. He said Hand knew McGregor socially and that they had grown up in the same area. She said he picked her and a friend up in a car and shared cocaine with them, which McGregor admitted in court, on the way to the Beacon Hotel. Hand said she told McGregor she didn't want to have sex with him and that she was menstruating. She said she told him "no" as he started kissing her but he eventually pinned her to a bed and she couldn't move. McGregor put her in a chokehold and later told her, "now you know how I felt in the octagon where I tapped out three times," referring to a UFC match when he had to admit defeat, she said. Hand had to take several breaks in emotional testimony over three days. She said McGregor threatened to kill her during the encounter and she feared she would never see her young daughter again. Eventually, he let go of her. "I remember saying I was sorry, as I felt that I did something wrong and I wanted to reassure him that I wouldn't tell anyone so he wouldn't hurt me again," she testified. She said she then let him do what he wanted and he had sex with her. A paramedic who examined Hand the next day testified that she had never before seen someone with that intensity of bruising. A doctor told jurors Hand had multiple injuries. Hand said the trauma of the attack had left her unable to work as a hairdresser, she fell behind on her mortgage and had to move out of her house. Police investigated the woman's complaint but prosecutors declined to bring charges, saying there was insufficient evidence and a conviction was unlikely. McGregor, in his post on X, said he was disappointed jurors didn't see all the evidence prosecutors had reviewed. He testified that the two had athletic and vigorous sex, but that it was not rough. He said "she never said 'no' or stopped" and testified that everything she said was a lie. "It is a full blown lie among many lies," he said when asked about the chokehold allegation. "How anyone could believe that me, as a prideful person, would highlight my shortcomings." McGregor's lawyer told jurors they had to set aside their animus toward the fighter. "You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him – there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise," attorney Remy Farrell said. "I'm not asking you to invite him to Sunday brunch." The defense said the woman never told investigators McGregor threatened her life. They also showed surveillance video in court that they said appeared to show the woman kiss McGregor's arm and hug him after they left the hotel room. Farrell said she looked "happy, happy, happy." McGregor said he was "beyond petrified" when first questioned by police and read them a prepared statement. On the advice of his lawyer, he refused to answer more than 100 follow-up questions. The jury ruled against Hand in a case she brought against one of McGregor's friends, James Lawrence, whom she accused of having sex with her in the hotel without consent. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Charles Shyer, the Oscar-nominated writer and filmmaker known for classic comedies like “Private Benjamin,” “Baby Boom” and “Father of the Bride” that he made alongside Nancy Meyers, has died. He was 83. Shyer died in Los Angeles on Friday, his daughter, filmmaker Hallie Meyers-Shyer told The Associated Press on Sunday. No cause was disclosed. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Former US President Jimmy Carter dies at 100, Atlanta Journal-Constitution reportsThe Flyers’ visit to Columbus is another painful reminder of the void left by the late Johnny and Matty GaudreauMaryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex often used for raincoats and other outdoor gear, alleging its leaders kept using “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks associated with them. The complaint, which was filed last week in federal court, focuses on a cluster of 13 facilities in northeastern Maryland operated by Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates. It alleges the company polluted the air and water around its facilities with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances , jeopardizing the health of surrounding communities while raking in profits. The lawsuit adds to other claims filed in recent years, including a class action on behalf of Cecil County residents in 2023 demanding Gore foot the bill for water filtration systems, medical bills and other damages associated with decades of harmful pollution in the largely rural community. “PFAS are linked to cancer, weakened immune systems, and can even harm the ability to bear children,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said in a statement. “It is unacceptable for any company to knowingly contaminate our drinking water with these toxins, putting Marylanders at risk of severe health conditions.” Gore spokesperson Donna Leinwand Leger said the company is “surprised by the Maryland Attorney General’s decision to initiate legal action, particularly in light of our proactive and intensive engagement with state regulators over the past two years.” “We have been working with Maryland, employing the most current, reliable science and technology to assess the potential impact of our operations and guide our ongoing, collaborative efforts to protect the environment,” the company said in a statement, noting a Dec. 18 report that contains nearly two years of groundwater testing results. But attorney Philip Federico, who represents plaintiffs in the class action and other lawsuits against Gore, called the company’s efforts “too little, much too late.” In the meantime, he said, residents are continuing to suffer — one of his clients was recently diagnosed with kidney cancer. “It’s typical corporate environmental contamination,” he said. “They’re in no hurry to fix the problem.” The synthetic chemicals are especially harmful because they’re nearly indestructible and can build up in various environments, including the human body. In addition to cancers and immune system problems, exposure to certain levels of PFAS has been linked to increased cholesterol levels, reproductive health issues and developmental delays in children, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Gore leaders failed to warn people living near its Maryland facilities about the potential impacts, hoping to protect their corporate image and avoid liability, according to the state’s lawsuit. The result has been “a toxic legacy for generations to come,” the lawsuit alleges. Since the chemicals are already in the local environment, protecting residents now often means installing complex and expensive water filtration systems. People with private wells have found highly elevated levels of dangerous chemicals in their water, according to the class action lawsuit. The Maryland facilities are located in a rural area just across the border from Delaware, where Gore has become a longtime fixture in the community. The company, which today employs more than 13,000 people, was founded in 1958 after Wilbert Gore left the chemical giant DuPont to start his own business. Its profile rose with the development of Gore-Tex , a lightweight waterproof material created by stretching polytetrafluoroethylene, which is better known by the brand name Teflon that’s used to coat nonstick pans. The membrane within Gore-Tex fabric has billions of pores that are smaller than water droplets, making it especially effective for outdoor gear. The state’s complaint traces Gore’s longstanding relationship with DuPont , arguing that information about the chemicals' dangers was long known within both companies as they sought to keep things quiet and boost profits. It alleges that as early as 1961, DuPont scientists knew the chemical caused adverse liver reactions in rats and dogs. DuPont has faced widespread litigation in recent years. Along with two spinoff companies, it announced a $1.18 billion deal last year to resolve complaints of polluting many U.S. drinking water systems with forever chemicals. The Maryland lawsuit seeks to hold Gore responsible for costs associated with the state’s ongoing investigations and cleanup efforts, among other damages. State oversight has ramped up following litigation from residents alleging their drinking water was contaminated. Until then, the company operated in Cecil County with little scrutiny. Gore announced in 2014 that it had eliminated perfluorooctanoic acid from the raw materials used to create Gore-Tex. But it’s still causing long-term impacts because it persists for so long in the environment, attorneys say. Over the past two years, Gore has hired an environmental consulting firm to conduct testing in the area and provided bottled water and water filtration systems to residents near certain Maryland facilities, according to a webpage describing its efforts. Recent testing of drinking water at residences near certain Gore sites revealed perfluorooctanoic acid levels well above what the EPA considers safe, according to state officials. Attorneys for the state acknowledged Gore’s ongoing efforts to investigate and address the problem but said the company needs to step up and be a better neighbor. “While we appreciate Gore’s limited investigation to ascertain the extent of PFAS contamination around its facilities, much more needs to be done to protect the community and the health of residents,” Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain said in a statement. “We must remove these forever chemicals from our natural resources urgently, and we expect responsible parties to pay for this remediation.”By Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times A recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children’s toys and hair accessories. The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were “an order of magnitude lower” than the EPA’s thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it’s actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren’t enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn’t be in these products in the first place. “The math error does not impact the study’s findings, conclusions or recommendations,” said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they’re heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you’re wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It’s nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That’s because these products that include recycled e-waste don’t disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it’s also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study “had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them,” she said. Anytime you’re looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you’re going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn’t a definitively timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Lorenzo Shipping raises P270M to settle debtArsenal up to second after Kai Havertz goal sees off struggling IpswichModern train likely to hit tracks in January next year Railways working on plan to launch new train like Green Line Express between Islamabad and Karachi via Lahore A high-speed express train like Green Line is expected to be launched between Islamabad and Karachi via Lahore by the Pakistan Railways in January next year. "The primary goal of this new train service is to provide passengers with advanced amenities and an enhanced travel experience," an official in the Ministry of Railways said. Currently, the official said the teams from relevant departments are working on preparations for the launch of this modern train, which is expected to begin by the end of January next year. The official emphasised that Pakistan Railways is focused on improving passenger services and using new technology to locally produce coaches, which will eliminate the need for imports. Additionally, he said the department is working to enhance food quality and cleanliness to ensure a comfortable and clean environment for passengers. The Green Line Express, which was inaugurated in 2015 by the then prime minister at Islamabad's Margalla Railway Station, currently takes about 20 hours to travel from Islamabad to Karachi Cantonment Station, with stops at key locations such as Rawalpindi, Lahore, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Sukkar/Rohri, Hyderabad, and Drigh Road. The official said the train offers various classes, including AC, AC parlour, and Economy Class, along with a modern dining car that provides high-quality services. The Pakistan Railways had outsourced commercial management of 13 trains, as well as brake and luggage vans, for better efficiency and earning, Parliamentary Secretary for Railways Muhammad Usman Awaisi had told the National Assembly earlier this month. Awaisi claimed that the decisions were taken to optimise the utilisation of available resources which boosted the earning of Railways, adding that they achieved Rs946 million in the fiscal year 2023-24. Awaisi detailed that the earning was possible through implementation of financial restructuring plans aimed at reducing operational costs, optimising revenue generation, and improving financial discipline. Giving the strategies adopted and measures taken to achieve the earning, it was stated that load optimisation strategy was adopted that entailed in operating full train loads as per hauling capacity of the locomotives. Passenger trains were being operated on the average with 19 coaches which had resulted in revenue of Rs43.512 billion (Rs7.763 billion more than the target), The News reported. Freight trains with a load of 3,400 tonnes had enhanced revenue freight earnings to Rs25.025 billion (Rs2.699 billion over target). Passenger fare and freight tariffs have been indexed with fuel price. Pricing decision is based on market dynamics. E-ticketing App "Railway Automated Booking and Travel Assistance" (Rabta) had also been introduced for ease of customers and better service delivery. After the approval of Railway Land and Property Rules 2023, Rs3.246 billion had been generated from lease of land. The parliamentary secretary said that the Railways had developed long-term strategic plans to revitalise the sector, improve service quality, enhance safety standards, and ensure sustainability in revenue generation. He said up-gradation of ML-1, which is a rail link between Karachi and Peshawar, will increase the line's capacity from 34 to 100 and 20 trains per day. Awaisi informed the House that 80 new high-capacity freight wagons and 32 passenger AC standard coaches would also be inducted this year to increase the revenue. Pakistan becomes gateway for China-UAE trade under TIR system Finance czar stresses broader consensus for sustainable economic stability PM warns of strict action against inflated electricity bills 'Hard-earned' economic stability to continue on back of remittances, exports: finance ministry
The events that have unfolded in South Korea this month, beginning with President Yoon Suk-yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec 3, have underscored both the remarkable resilience and underlying fragility of the country's democracy. The system survived this time, but no democracy is safe if it constantly faces severe stress tests. First, the good news. The National Assembly quickly passed a resolution to rescind Mr Yoon's declaration of martial law. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest Mr Yoon's decision and pressure lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party to support his impeachment. Their efforts worked: while PPP representatives walked out of the Assembly during the first impeachment vote, they supported the motion the second time, and it passed. Mr Yoon has now been suspended and must wait up to six months for the Constitutional Court to decide whether to uphold his impeachment. If it does, a new presidential election will be held within 60 days. This uneasy period has been made even more uncertain by interim President Han Duck-soo's refusal to nominate three justices to fill the nine-member court. Mr Han himself has now been impeached. This ongoing drama highlights fundamental vulnerabilities in South Korea's political system. The 1987 constitutional amendment that ended the country's military dictatorship introduced a single-term, five-year presidency. Citizens were so elated finally to be able to elect their president by direct popular vote that few questions were asked about the constraints on presidential power. It has since become apparent, however, that South Korea's constitutional framework lacks sufficient checks and balances. Though the constitution tasks prime ministers with recommending the appointment or dismissal of cabinet members, successive presidents have unilaterally wielded these powers. Moreover, ruling parties have functioned more as extensions of the presidential office than as independent entities capable of exercising meaningful oversight. Even the judiciary may be susceptible to the president's influence. With no institution effectively restraining executive power, many political scientists and commentators have labelled South Korea's system an "imperial presidency". While South Koreans choose their "emperor" through direct elections, they are heavily influenced by partisan and often-misleading information. Private YouTube channels and social-media accounts, among others, have turbocharged a longstanding problem that makes it all too easy for unqualified or authoritarian-leaning leaders to win power. In the four decades since democratisation, four South Korean presidents have been imprisoned, one has committed suicide, and three, including Mr Yoon, have faced impeachment. There is one political actor that might be able to challenge the president: the opposition party. But South Korea's winner-take-all political system -- in which the victors claim all the spoils, and the losers are left empty-handed -- promotes extreme polarisation and relentless power struggles. It does not help that South Korea's politics are dominated by just two parties, the PPP and the Democratic Party. This partly reflects the predominance of single-member electoral districts. In the 2020 legislative elections, the ruling and opposition parties secured 90% of seats in parliament, despite winning only two-thirds of the proportional representation (party-list) votes, meaning that nearly one-third of the electorate was effectively left without representation. In two-party systems, opposition parties often reject even sensible government initiatives, fearing that any success for the ruling party might diminish their electoral prospects. The antagonism inherent in South Korea's two-party system formed the basis of Mr Yoon's justification for declaring martial law. In a Dec 12 address, Mr Yoon accused the opposition of disrupting government operations by seeking "the impeachment of numerous government officials, who, even without wrongdoing, faced long suspensions from their duties". Mr Yoon also pointed out that, since his election, there have been "178 rallies" calling for his resignation or impeachment. Though this hardly justifies Mr Yoon's decision to declare martial law, it does support the conclusion that the 1987 constitutional system has outlived its usefulness. In fact, beyond hampering domestic governance, extreme polarisation undermines foreign-policy continuity, with each transfer of power bringing a radical shift in external relations. If Mr Yoon's impeachment is upheld, his signature diplomatic initiative -- improving South Korea's long-contentious relations with Japan, and establishing a robust trilateral partnership with that country and the United States -- could be weakened or even reversed. This might destabilise the Indo-Pacific region at a delicate moment, with Donald Trump's return to the White House adding to the climate of uncertainty in the region. The authoritarian axis of China, Russia, and North Korea will certainly jump on any opportunity to exploit instability or antagonism. To break the cycle of political crises, facilitate better governance, and bolster policy stability, South Korea must establish a new political framework that includes stronger checks and balances and fosters genuine power-sharing. For example, the popularly elected president's mandate could be reformed to focus primarily on foreign policy, with domestic governance being delegated to a prime minister selected by the National Assembly. If, in time, a more stable and effective party system emerges, South Koreans might consider moving toward many more seats for proportional representation and a parliamentary system. No democracy is free of imperfections. But the flaws in South Korea's system are becoming a barrier to good governance -- and they are increasingly reverberating internationally, like a malign version of the country's K-pop bands. Rather than following the same old pattern of maximising their own short-term gains without regard for the future, South Korean politicians must take the opportunity the current crisis presents to pursue meaningful and long-awaited institutional reforms. ©2024 Project Syndicate Yoon Young-kwan, a former foreign affairs minister of South Korea, is Chairman of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
Key details about the man accused of killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEOClippers hit the road looking to win, regardless of who’s on the court
John McGinn put Villa ahead (Jan Woitas/AP) Aston Villa’s impressive Champions League debut continued as they strengthened their chances of automatic qualification to the last 16 after a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig. Ross Barkley’s 85th-minute winner gave them victory after they had twice squandered the lead in Germany. John McGinn and Jhon Duran goals at the start of each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner. But Barkley had the final say less than two minutes after coming off the bench as his deflected effort earned the points which sent his side third in the new Champions League league phase. John McGinn put Villa ahead (PA Wire via DPA) The top eight automatically qualify for the next stage and with games against Monaco and Celtic to come, Unai Emery’s men are a good bet to avoid the need for a play-off round in their first foray in this competition. Leipzig are out, having lost all six of their games. Villa enjoyed a dream start and were ahead with less than three minutes on the clock. Matty Cash, playing in a more advanced position on the right, crossed for Ollie Watkins, who nodded down into the path of McGinn and the skipper made no mistake from close range. That gave the visitors confidence and they had enough chances in the first 15 minutes to have the game wrapped up. Lois Openda missed a chance for the hosts (Jan Woitas/AP) Lucas Digne’s cross from the left was begging to be converted but Watkins could not make contact from close range and then Morgan Rogers shot straight at Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi. Then Youri Tielemans found himself with time and space on the edge of the area from Watkins’ tee-up but the Belgium international disappointingly dragged wide. All that good work was undone in the 27th minute, though, as Emiliano Martinez was left red-faced. The Argentinian was too casual waiting to collect Nicolas Seiwald’s long ball and Openda nipped in to get the ball first and tap into an empty net. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Duran was introduced at the break and needed just a couple of minutes to fire a warning when he drilled wide after a loose ball fell to him 14 yards out. But the Colombian got his goal in the 52nd minute, though it was another moment for the goalkeeper to forget. Duran was invited to drive forward and unleashed a 25-yard shot, which was hardly an Exocet, but still was too much for Gulacsi, who barely even jumped. It was his 10th goal of the season and sixth from the bench as he continues his super-sub role. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. The striker was not complaining and he thought he had doubled his tally shortly after when he converted Cash’s centre but the provider was ruled offside by VAR. Five minutes later, Villa found themselves pegged back again with a finish of real quality. Openda was sent clear by another long ball and his cross was perfect for Baumgartner to cushion a far-post volley back across goal and into the corner. Digne brought a save out of Gulacsi and then Openda shot straight at Martinez as both sides pushed for a winner. It was Villa who got it as Barkley saw his deflected effort wrong-foot Gulacsi and hit the back of the net.
Pandemic 2025? 11 diseases docs most worried about - including Disease X and Covid 2.0Bills Bills LB Von Miller on whether QB Josh Allen should win the MVP award: “I played with Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford and those guys are special in their own right. But this year, Josh is just doing something totally different. It’s amazing to witness it.” ( Ryan O’Halloran ) Jets “I definitely want to go into free agency, and it’s not because I don’t want to be a New York Jet,” Reed told ESPN’s Rich Cimini . “I definitely want to be a New York Jet, but I feel like they had the whole offseason, and even throughout the season, to extend it, and they didn’t. I feel like for me, personally, it would be best to go into free agency and see what’s out there.” Jets QB Aaron Rodgers became the most sacked quarterback in NFL history on Sunday, being sacked 566 times throughout his career. ( Rich Cimini ) Patriots Patriots HC Jerod Mayo acknowledged that fans were chanting for him to be fired after the team’s blowout loss to the Chargers on Saturday. “You hear those things. But at the same time, they paid to sit in the seats, and we’ve got to play better,” Mayo said of the chants, via Mike Reiss of ESPN . “If we play better, we don’t have to hear that stuff.” Veteran defensive linemen Deatrich Wise Jr. and Davon Godchaux were quick to jump to Mayo’s defense when interviewed about the chants. “I think he’s doing a great job, keeping us motivated and prepared and locked in on our goals every week,” Wise Jr. said. “It’s up to the players. Coaches coach, players play. I only speak about myself, and I felt like there were a lot of games I could have played better to help the team win. I feel like Mayo is putting people in the right positions, he’s very positive but also criticizes people in a motivating way. I don’t think we should write him off right now. A lot of coaches start off tough, but there are multiple coaches who are OK now and in the playoffs. I feel like we need to continue to believe in Coach and he’ll find a way to make everything right next year.” “The guy’s in his first season. It’s not going to be golden. We didn’t expect to win a Super Bowl this year. I get it, nobody wants to get beaten 40-7, but the chant is ridiculous,” Godchaux added. “Everybody plays a part in this. It isn’t just Jerod Mayo. Players. Coaches. Front office. We just have to get better as a whole organization. I believe in this organization. We just had probably the best team in the NFL right now on the ropes last week [in Buffalo]. I don’t believe in all that other ridiculous stuff. The guy is in his first year. It’s just ridiculous.” Mayo on potentially coaching for his job: “I’m always under pressure and it’s been that way for a very long time.” ( Chad Graff ) Mayo says it was a coach’s decision to start Rhamondre Stevenson at running back after saying pregame that Antonio Gibson would be the starter. ( Doug Kyed ) Patriots QB Drake Maye on taking a shot to the head on Saturday: “I feel good — I still feel good — and then I was good to go...Those guys up front are battling their butts off, so I’m not going to go to the coach and say, ‘Hey, take me out.’ That’s not me.” ( Mike Reiss ) Patriots C Cole Strange on making his debut at the center position: “I don’t think I had any bad snaps. I had one early in the third quarter, but that’s a timing thing, and I’ll fix that. I believe that most of my mistakes were more mental than technical, so I consider those easy fixes. I’m extremely confident I’m moving in the right direction.” (Reiss) Per Adam Schefter , the Patriots would clinch the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with a loss next week against the Bills. This article first appeared on NFLTradeRumors.co and was syndicated with permission.
Some quotations from Jimmy Carter . We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. I have come to realize that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment. Political and religious leaders must attempt to provide a society within which these human attributes can be nurtured and enhanced. — from 1975 book “Why Not the Best?” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens. Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.