5 million dollars in peso
It's almost Christmas once again, so it's time to dream a little and hope Santa grants our wishes. or signup to continue reading As many people wrap up their working year, a lot head off on a road trip either to be with family for festivities, or for a long-awaited holiday break. With this in mind, the editorial team has put together a list of its dream road trip cars. Whether it's a low-slung sports car, comfortable executive tourer, all-terrain beast, or a mixture of all of the above, there's no hypothetical budget holding us back this time around. While many of us lust over classic cars, for this challenge we've stuck strictly with new cars that you can currently buy in Australia. Here's what we chose for our ultimate road trip cars. There is nothing like a Rolls-Royce, and when it comes to a road trip, I couldn't think of a better car to eat up the miles in as you cruise from one destination to another. Having spent a lot of time in both the and , my only reason for choosing the Roller is its presence on the road. Otherwise, either of these British super luxury SUVs is ideal for any road trip. To be fair, my is 90 per cent as good as the Cullinan for about 1/7th the price, so that's a far cheaper and more practical solution for a road trip, and you won't look completely out of place the minute you leave the CBD. The open-ended nature of this question forced me to think especially hard about my priorities, and I landed at adequate seating for family and friends, plenty of boot space to stack up presents, a luxurious cabin, and sweet driving dynamics for a beachside blast. Pretty fussy, I know. But thankfully such a car exists, in the form of the . Based on the , the BMW Alpina B3 GT Touring is like an with a prettier face, unique features, and arguably even more curb appeal. Under the bonnet it packs a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine producing 389kW of power and 730Nm of torque... healthy to say the least. The B3 also gains unique Alpina styling – just check it out in Alpina Green Metallic paint with the 20-spoke gold alloys! Inside, I'd opt for the full merino leather package in brown, which dials comfort up to 11. You'll be paying around $200,000 for a fully specced example of the BMW Alpina B3 GT Touring, but I can't imagine a better vehicle in which to rack up kilometres over the Christmas break. My ultimate road trip car would need to be a large off-road SUV, to fit all my gear and allow me to head off the beaten track, and the hottest property in that market segment right now is the new . But as good as it looks and drives, the new 250 Series also brings mega price hikes, so much so it makes even the look cheap. While the Prado now starts at a cool $72,500 before on-roads, you can get a rear-drive twin-turbo four-cylinder turbo-diesel Everest with more power and a 10-speed auto from just $54,240 before on-roads, or the 4×4 version from only $59,240 before on-roads. Or you could get a lusty Everest Sport V6 from $74,640 before on-roads – about $2000 more than a base Prado – or even the go-anywhere Tremor V6 from $76,590 before on-roads, which is still less than a Prado GXL (from $79,990 before on-roads) and way more affordable than its 2.8-litre Prado Altitude equivalent (from $92,700 before on-roads). Given it delivers similar off-road capability, seven-seat flexibility, technology and refinement for far more sensible money, it's no wonder Aussies are voting with their feet for the locally designed and engineered Everest, which will become the nation's favourite large SUV for the first time this year. Bit of a random one, but in a world dominated by SUVs, I didn't want to pick something a little different. The is a forgotten gem, using the capable A6 Avant as a base, jacking it up and fitting adaptive air suspension for a cushy ride. As standard, the A6 allroad's '45 TDI' spec V6 diesel offers a healthy 183kW and 600Nm for effortless and refined cruising, while claiming to use just 6.6L/100km on the combined cycle – meaning nearly 1000km per fill of its 63-litre tank. It's a shame the allroad is now on its way out to make way for the new A6 e-tron coming in 2025. Perhaps we'll see a hybridised A7 allroad at some point, or even an all-electric A6 allroad e-tron somewhere down the track. Anyway, #savethewagons Given I have no budget this time, I'm going all out. My ideal road trip means long stints on the highway and the occasional off-road jaunt, which leaves me with a few options. One that stands out the most is the , which soaks up highway kilometres like nothing and can also carve up virtually any off-road track. In particular I'd go for the 110 OCTA which is a new twin-turbo V8 flagship, set to arrive in local showrooms from March 2025. I know it's a little late for a Christmas present, but Santa knows no bounds. At $355,588 drive-away for Victorian buyers in Edition One guise it's eye-wateringly expensive, but it's filled to the gills with standard equipment and unique touches. I'll take it in Faroe Green exterior paint with the Khaki/Ebony perforated Ultrafabric upholstery. Although it doesn't feature JLR's iconic 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, I'd still gladly take the keys to this BMW twin-turbo V8-powered off-road beast and go for a fang. Both the and are large, comfortable sedans with air suspension and available fuel-efficient powertrains. The A8 50 TDI and long-wheelbase 50 TDI L pack a 210kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 with a 48V mild-hybrid system, and fuel economy of between 6.6 and 6.7L/100km. The LS, in contrast, offers an available 3.5-litre V6 hybrid with 264kW and claimed fuel economy of 6.8L/100km. While I haven't driven the A8, I have spent time with an LS which wafted down the road like a feather floating onto a cloud. And that was the "sporty" LS500 F Sport! Ok, perhaps something with a bit more ground clearance than these two would be preferable if we're road-tripping through regional Australia and its often shocking roads, but I'm a sedan man at heart. So which is it, a German diesel or a Japanese hybrid? I'm not sure. Give me around $230,000 and I'll try to figure it out. You're going to want to be comfortable on a road trip, and there's no doubt the is more than capable of meeting that criteria. The luxury Prado is large outside, spacious inside, and equipped with everything you could possibly need like a 14.0-inch infotainment system, five USB-C ports, tri-zone climate control, as well as even a full-size spare wheel for some extra security. Better yet, the "base" GX550 Luxury is a seven-seater capacity, which means all your friends and family can come along for the ride. If you're like me who would probably be taking a road trip through Victoria's High Country and out to the state's east coast, you'll likely be travelling some rough rural roads and some steep inclines all on the same route. I've found the GX is able to deal with each scenario fairly well, with its comfortable ride and quiet cabin making for comfortable hours behind the wheel. It'll have no problem with power either, because that 3.4-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 packs plenty of punch at 260kW and 650Nm. Fuel economy might be the only concern given Lexus quotes 12.3L/100km on the combined cycle, but expect that figure to be lower after prolonged stints on higher-speed roads. Equally, there is quite the price to overcome at $116,000 before on-road costs. If you can get past that, why not road-trip in (GX550) Luxury? A fast wagon. That's just about every Dad's dream, provided you don't want to go off-road or look at any potholes. As I get older, my desire for practicality has risen, but the love for performance hasn't faded. The takes what is an extremely capable performance car and adds extra space with minimal compromise to either its go-fast characteristics or luxury styling. I'm not interested in going off the beaten path, I just want to get to my destination in comfort, but once there I want to explore the countryside and not regret passing up on a suitable car for the twisties. I was fortunate enough to drive the B3 GT sedan back-to-back with an M3 a few years ago, and the Alpina reminded me of my old G6E Turbo – if it was all-wheel drive, even more powerful and lavishly equipped with modern technology. I truly believe that so long as you're not going off-road, it's the jack of all trades, plus it has the 'if you know, you know' feeling which you just can't get in the hot BMW M cars. Now this is a topic I can weigh in on! I plan on doing a lap of Australia in the near future, and while my holds a special place in my heart, if I had to pick my ultimate road trip car, it'd be a . I know, shocker, right? But hear me out! When it comes to outback reliability, Toyota really is unmatched. The LC70 might look and feel like it time travelled straight from the 90s, but that's exactly what makes it perfect. The basic electronics means you can splash through creek crossings without turning your rig into an expensive paperweight — and if anything does go wrong, every country town will have the parts you need. Now, I'd love to brag about having the V8, but since Toyota has recently axed it, I'll have to settle for the 2.8-litre four-cylinder (my left leg will thank me later). And of course, I wouldn't hit the road in a stock LC70 — where's the fun in that? No, I'm dreaming big here. Think roof conversion (when available for the new model), rear fitout, ECU remap, lifted suspension, 35s, bullbar, snorkel, and obviously an exhaust upgrade loud enough that you would be able to hear me coming from a mile away. Basically, if I won the lottery tomorrow, the mods list would be longer than the trip itself! But in summary, tough as nails, packed with space, and impossible to kill – the LC70 is my perfect road trip rig! Money no object, I'd be climbing into a , with the Ram Box and a canopy fitted. It's the peak of comfort and practicality, it's reasonably economical at highway speeds, and will handle virtually any terrain you could throw it at. Plus, it looks downright bad-ass in black-on-black. I think this one is a no brainer. A vehicle that can go anywhere, is quick, makes noise and can be decked out with endless accessories is all that you'll ever need for a road trip. And it's the perfect vehicle to help recover Alborz when he gets stuck in his land-going houseboat. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementFruster scores 15, Eastern Illinois beats Blackburn 99-55Companies tighten security after a health care CEO’s killing leads to a surge of threats
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Gisèle Benoit still gets goosebumps when she remembers the first time she saw a family of eastern wolves emerge from the forests of the Mauricie National Park, under the backdrop of a rising moon. It was 1984 and Benoit, then in her early 20s, had been using a horn to try to call a bull moose when she instead heard a long howl, followed by an adult wolf stepping out to a rocky shore accompanied by a half-grown youth and four pups. “I will never forget that,” she said of the magical moment. “It’s anchored in my heart forever.” It was only later that Benoit, an artist and documentary filmmaker, learned that the wolves she saw weren’t grey wolves but rather rare eastern wolves. The species, whose population is estimated at fewer than 1,000 mature adults, could soon be further protected by new measures that are raising hopes among conservationists that attitudes toward a once-feared and maligned animal are shifting. In July, the federal government upgraded the eastern wolf’s threat level from “status of special concern” to “threatened,” based on a 2015 report by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. That report found the population count may be as low as 236 mature individuals in its central Ontario and southern Quebec habitat. The eastern wolf is described as medium-sized canid with reddish-tawny fur that lives in family groups of a breeding pair and their offspring. Also known as the Algonquin wolf, it is largely restricted to existing protected areas, including Algonquin Park in Ontario. The federal Environment Department said in an email that development of a recovery strategy is underway, adding it would be “written in collaboration with provincial governments, federal departments responsible for the federal lands where the eastern wolf is found as well as First Nations groups and Indigenous organizations.” The order triggers protection for the species on federal lands and forces Ottawa to prepare a recovery plan. However, the fight for protection could be an uphill battle in Quebec, which does not even recognize the eastern wolf as a distinct species. A spokesperson for Quebec’s Environment Department said Quebec considers the eastern wolf a “genetic group” rather than its own species. “Recent study shows that the eastern wolf is a distinct entity, even if it comes from several crosses between the grey wolf and the coyote,” Daniel Labonté wrote in an email. “However, scientific knowledge does not demonstrate that this genetic grouping constitutes a species in its own right.” Labonté added that this lack of recognition was not a barrier to protecting the animal, since the law also allows for protection of subspecies or wildlife populations. In October, Quebec launched a program to collect samples to improve knowledge on the distribution of large canines, including the eastern wolf. The government said it is currently “impossible to assert that there is an established population” in Quebec due to low numbers — amounting to three per cent of analyzed samples — and the “strong hybridization that exists among large canids.” Véronique Armstrong, co-founder of a Quebec wildlife protection association, says she’s feeling positive about both the Canadian and Quebec governments’ attitudes. While wolves were once “stigmatized, even persecuted,” she said, “we seem to be heading in the direction of more protection.” Her group, the Association québécoise pour la protection et l’observation de la faune, has submitted a proposal for a conservation area to protect southern Quebec wolves that has already received signs of support from three of the regional municipalities that would be covered, she said. While it’s far from settled, she’s hopeful that the battle to protect wolves might be easier than for some other species, such as caribou, because the wolves are adaptable and can tolerate some human activity, including forestry. John Theberge, a retired professor of ecology and conservation biology from the University of Waterloo and a wolf researcher, spent several years along with his wife studying and radio-collaring eastern wolves around Algonquin Park. Back in the 1990s and 2000s, they faced a “huge political battle” to try to expand wolf protection outside park boundaries after realizing that the far-ranging animals were being hunted and trapped in large numbers once they left the protected lands. Conservationists, he said, faced resistance from powerful hunter and trapper lobbies opposed to protecting the animals but in the end succeeded in permanently closing the zones outside the park to hunting and trapping in 2004. Theberge says people who want to save wolves today still face some of that same opposition — especially when governments including Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia kill wolves to protect endangered caribou. But he believes the public support for protecting wolves has increased from when his career began in the 1960s, when they were treated with fear and suspicion. “Nobody wore T-shirts with wolves on them back then,” he said. Over the years, there have been questions about whether the eastern wolf may be a grey wolf subspecies or a coyote-wolf hybrid. But in the order protecting the wolves, the federal government says genetic analyses have resolved that debate, showing that it is a “distinct species.” Benoit, Theberge and Armstrong all believe that while it’s important to protect the eastern wolf from a genetic diversity perspective, there is value in protecting all wolves, regardless of their DNA. Wolves, they say, are an umbrella species, meaning that protecting them helps protect a variety of other species. They kill off weak and sick animals, ensuring strong populations. They’re also “highly developed, sentient social species, with a division of labour, and strong family alliances,” Theberge said. Benoit agrees. After years spent watching wolves, she has developed great respect for how they live in close-knit families, with older offspring helping raise new pups. “It’s extraordinary to see how their way of life is a little like humans’,” she said. Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press
TOPEKA — School districts across Kansas will receive a 20-page report containing guidance on cell phones that recommends daytime cell phone bans, mental health awareness and bolstered parental oversight. The Kansas State Board of Education hasn’t mandated digital device policies, instead deferring to local districts and schools to create their own. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the report’s recommendations and directed Kansas Department of Education staff to send it to local districts. “Prior to the vote, Board Chair Melanie Haas of Overland Park emphasized the State Board accepting the report was an acknowledgement of the task force’s work, not an endorsement of the recommendations,” said Denise Kahler, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Education, in a Tuesday news release. The 36-member task force consisted of state board members, district officials, school employees, students, parents and legislators who crafted 22 recommendations for locales. They met weekly between late August and early November and divided their recommendations into three categories: personal devices in school, screen time and mental health and parental oversight of district-owned devices. State education officials proposed the task force in July, envisioning it as a way to examine how students use cell phones and other digital devices and the toll social media takes on their mental health. It was a way to help districts distill research into clear guidelines that they can use if they choose to create local policies, said Randy Watson, state education commissioner, at Tuesday’s meeting. “This is not the state board telling any local district what you shall do,” he said. Initial recommendations suggest districts should mandate K-12 students’ personal cell phones be powered off from the beginning of the school day to the end, including during lunch and passing periods, and stored in an off-limits location. Such restrictions are called bell-to-bell policies. “A 2024 study reveals 72% of high school teachers, 33% of middle school teachers, and 6% of elementary school teachers say students distracted by cell phones in class is a major problem,” the report said. Some studies also link screen time and school performance, the report said. The task force also recommended districts create personal device policies for school staff, develop safety and emergency procedures that don’t rely on students’ personal devices and identify a district’s technology gaps so students aren’t forced to use their own devices. Parental oversight had the lengthiest list of recommendations, with 13 items. The task force suggested policies should allow families to have stronger oversight over their students’ district-owned devices Some included broader parental controls, full access to student devices, the ability to block certain websites and the use of systems that let families see a mirrored view of a student’s screen. About 47% of voting task force members opposed the screen mirroring recommendation, and 45% opposed the recommendation suggesting districts allow families to manage and request additional blocked websites on district-owned devices, according to the report. The task force also endorsed stronger educational efforts to help parents understand how they can manage and monitor student devices. Under mental health and screentime, the task force recommended districts implement independent, research-based guidance on online use and its effects on mental health, regular breaks from screens throughout the school day and means of communication with students and families outside of social media platforms. About 40% of voting members opposed the recommendation for communication outside of social media.
In this article HIMS NVO NOVO.B-DK LLY Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A production line of Wegovy injection pens for the Asian market at the Novo Nordisk A/S pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Hillerod, Denmark, on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images One interpretation of the law of supply and demand is that when demand outstrips supply, scammers get busy. That's certainly the case with the super-popular weight-loss drugs from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. As millions of Americans are prescribed injectable Ozempic and Mounjaro to treat type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy and Zepbound for obesity — and countless more without prescriptions seek them as "vanity drugs" to shed unwanted pounds — the manufacturers can't keep up production. The GLP-1s, as they're known, are pricey, too , and insurance often doesn't cover them , provided consumers can find them. That confluence of factors has laid the groundwork not only for a confusing online marketplace for compounded versions of the drugs — allowed by the Food and Drug Administration when proprietary ingredients are determined to be in short supply — but a proliferation of nefarious scams offering to sell both brand-name and counterfeit GLP-1s on websites and social media platforms. Consumers have received Lilly- and Novo-branded GLP-1s from unauthorized sellers, counterfeit versions, completely different medications or nothing at all — other than an expensive rip-off. Most disturbing, Novo told CNBC that as of mid-November, it is aware of 14 deaths and 144 hospitalizations of people who had taken compounded semaglutide, the active pharmaceutical ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. It recently asked the FDA to ban the copycat drugs . Within the past year, cybersecurity experts, consumer advocates, pharma researchers and media investigators have uncovered scores of accounts and content on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms, as well as numerous websites, where bad actors have been doing business, much of it illegal or at least unethical. In May, a joint investigation by the nonprofits Digital Citizens Alliance and Coalition for a Safer Web revealed how consumers are flocking to TikTok — which faces an uncertain future after a federal court on Friday upheld a law that would seek to ban the company in the U.S. on Jan. 19 — and other social media platforms and websites to purchase branded and illicit GLP-1s, often without a prescription. According to the report, scammers create accounts promising to sell the drugs for between $200 and $400 for a month's supply — far below market prices — paid through Zelle, Venmo and PayPal rather than traditional credit cards so as to avoid tracking. "Scammers take advantage of human emotion and human want, and the emotion and want now is that everybody wants to lose weight," said Eric Feinberg, vice president of content moderation for the Coalition for a Safer Web. "It's a perfect audience to use online to take advantage of people psychologically and emotionally." A common ruse the investigation exposed was sellers saying the drugs were coming from overseas and then claiming that the order was held up in customs, requiring an additional $300 to $500 payment to release it. The scammers were devious, said Tom Galvin, executive director of Digital Citizens Alliance. "They send a tracking number from a delivery service that shows you where your package is, but the tracking number is BS." Digital Citizens shelled out just over $3,000 to purchase GLP-1s, and yet the money yielded no deliveries of the drugs. No-delivery ploys can exact a serious financial toll on victims, but "the more scary ones are where you do get a product and don't even know whether you can trust [it] or if it's a valid company," said Abhishek Karnik, director for threat research and response for cybersecurity firm McAfee. Phishing for weight-loss drug victims Tracking activity over the first four months of this year, McAfee's Threat Research Team uncovered just how prolific weight-loss scams have become across malicious websites, scam emails and texts, posts on social media and online marketplace listings. From January through April, McAfee researchers discovered 449 risky website URLs and 176,871 dangerous phishing attempts centered around Ozempic, Wegovy and semaglutide, an increase of 183% compared to October through December 2023. Karnik's team has continued to monitor these criminal activities. "We've identified [a total of] 367,000-plus phishing attempts, and between May and August, the number of [risky] URLs we found increased by 135%," he said. JAMA Network Open in August published the results of a study by an international group of researchers who searched the global internet to ferret out websites for online pharmacies advertising semaglutide for sale. Among the 317 operations found, more than 42% were illegal, operating without a valid license, selling medications without prescriptions and shipping unregistered and falsified products. Six purchases were made, but only three were delivered. A recent CNBC investigation explored the murky international world of counterfeit weight-loss drugs. Among its findings, investigators recounted the seizure in the UK last year of hundreds of what appeared to be Ozempic pens, but were in fact insulin pens relabeled as Ozempic. They also discovered from Lilly that its retatrutide, a novel GLP-1 drug still in clinical trials and not FDA-approved, was being marketed to the public. watch now VIDEO 18:50 18:50 CNBC investigates the black market of obesity drugs CNBC Investigations Counterfeits and diverted drugs — branded GLP-1s sold on the black market — originate from many countries, including India, China, the UK, Mexico and Turkey. One of the destinations where they make their way to the U.S. was New York's JFK International Airport. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, since January 1, the agency had made more than 198 seizures of products labeled as Ozempic. In response to this glut of fraudulent activity, social media companies and web operators have employed human monitors and machine technology to identify and shut down online scammers. A TikTok spokesperson, without detailing its various monitoring efforts, referred to the company's community guidelines. "We strictly prohibit the trade of drugs, and we do not allow attempts to defraud or scam members of our community," the spokesperson said. "Our advertising policies also prohibit the advertising of weight-loss products, including weight-loss injections and fat-burning pills." Despite official policies, however, undeterred violators find workarounds when their accounts are shuttered. They might set up another account with the drug names misspelled, spaces between letters or mash-ups of semaglutide and terzepitide. Many instruct interested buyers to direct message them or send links to Telegram and other dark websites that encrypt content and provide anonymity. "The social media platforms are the new street corners for drug dealers, and they move from place to place," Galvin said. "It's a game of whack-a-mole." Bags of counterfeit Novo Nordisk A/S Ozempic and Wegovy, foreground, and other fake drugs at a warehouse operated by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in London, UK, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2024. The UK task force tracks down illegal websites, monitors social media and even carries out raids to stamp out sales of fake "skinny jabs" as both organized crime and unscrupulous lone entrepreneurs look to capitalize on the weight-loss frenzy. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images For this article, CNBC found more than a dozen TikTok accounts that appeared to be selling GLP-1s in violation of its policies, including @ozempic_weightloss, @sema.irel and @semaglutideandtr. Soon after relaying the information to TikTok, we were told that all had been removed, except one, which was not in violation. The widespread compounding of GLP-1s is another contributor to the dodgy marketplace for the drugs. In April and December of 2022, respectively, the FDA determined that semaglutide and tirzepatide were in short supply, opening the floodgates for compounding pharmacies and outsourcing facilities to manufacture, distribute and market copies, typically sold through telehealth companies, medical spas and wellness centers. Compounded GLP-1s, unlike Lilly's and Novo's brands, are not FDA-approved , which means they do not undergo the agency's review for safety, effectiveness and quality before they're marketed. Instead, the FDA and state boards of pharmacy register, license and inspect compounding facilities and ingredients. And while some compounders meet regulatory requirements, such as Henry Meds, Noom Med, Ro and Hims & Hers Health , many others don't. Publicly traded Hims & Hers launched its gender-focused telehealth platform in 2017, adding compounded semaglutide to its weight-loss program this past May. "We waited until we were able to find the right compounding partner," said Dr. Patrick Carroll, the company's chief medial officer. Besides that partner, BPI Labs, Hims & Hers acquired another, MetasourceRx, in September. The company also sells branded Ozempic and next year will offer liraglutide, the first generic GLP-1. FDA scrutiny In the meantime, the FDA is investigating the bad actors in the compounding world. "Purchasing prescription drugs from unregulated, unlicensed sources without a prescription is risky," a spokesperson for the agency told CNBC. "We urge consumers to be vigilant and to utilize tips tools from the FDA's BeSafeRx campaign to help them safely buy drugs online." In May, the KFF Health Tracking Poll found that about one in eight adults (12%) said they had taken a GLP-1 drug, with about half, or 21 million, actively using the medications. Nearly 80% purchased the drugs or a prescription for them — at a cost between $936 to $1,349 per month before insurance coverage, rebates or coupons — from a primary care doctor or a specialist, according to the survey. Fewer reported getting them from an online provider or website (11%), a medical spa or aesthetic medical center (10%), or from somewhere else (2%). But that doesn't count the inestimable number of individuals who have obtained GLP-1s without prescriptions through unregulated online channels and illicit online compounding pharmacies, many operating overseas. While social media companies police illegal sellers of GLP-1s, hundreds of influencers are touting the drugs and their journeys using them across the platforms with impunity, according to a Fast Company report. Many influencers are recruited and paid by telehealth companies. Meanwhile, household names have been increasingly speaking out about their personal use of these drugs, which increases familiarity and curiosity among the public. In October, People profiled 64 celebrities — including Kathy Bates, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Andy Cohen, Billie Jean King and Rob Lowe — who have talked about their weight-loss drug experiences, mostly on social media. Currently, Lilly's and Novo's GLP-1s are prescribed only for type 2 diabetes and obesity. But as researchers find additional conditions that can be treated with the drugs — including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, dementia and addiction, and most recently even knee pain — prescriptions will increase exponentially. In September, an article in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy warned against manufacturers that use a legal loophole to sell vials containing semaglutide and tirzepatide to consumers without a prescription by stating that the drugs are for "research purposes only" and/or "not for human consumption." The authors conducted an internet search for such scofflaws, uncovering 40 websites selling what were labeled as "peptides" to consumers. The FDA has sent warning letters to a handful, including Miami-based US Chem Labs in February, citing several violations and requesting action within 15 days. As of Dec. 6, CNBC found that the company still listed compounded semaglutide as available on its website. US Chem Labs could not be reached by phone and an email request for comment was not returned by press time. The authors of the Annals of Pharmacotherapy article also identified three companies that were advertising GLP-1s on Facebook, owned by Meta . "Our policies prohibit content that defrauds people by promoting false or misleading health claims, including those related to weight loss, and we remove this kind of content when we become aware of it," a Meta spokesperson told CNBC. CNBC subsequently sent Meta the names of the three companies, and several days later their Facebook pages were removed. Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk battle with copycat drugs Workers walk past manufacturing equipment at Eli Lilly & Co. manufacturing plant in Kinsale, Ireland, on Sept. 12, 2024. Lilly has been bulking up its production capacity since 2020, investing more than $17 billion into developing new plants and expanding existing facilities for the weight-loss and diabetes drugs that are expected to become some of the best-selling medicines of all time. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Lilly and Novo are in a quandary regarding compounders. The copycats have filled a void while the branded GLP-1s are in shortage, attracting patients who can't access or afford them. But now the manufacturers want their domains to themselves. Lilly has sent cease-and-desist letters to numerous compounding sellers, and both companies have filed lawsuits against numerous compounding pharmacies, alleging trademark infringement and deceptive marketing. On October 2, the FDA declared that Lilly's tirzepatide was no longer in short supply, ostensibly putting compounders of that ingredient out of business. Two weeks later, though, after a public outcry from compounders' patients and a federal lawsuit brought by compounding pharmacies, the FDA backtracked, saying it would reevaluate whether the drug is available and make a decision in mid-November. Yet, on November 22, the FDA said it was still assessing the situation and agreed to not take action against compounders of tirzepatide until December 19, unless the agency makes an earlier decision. Novo's semaglutide is still listed as "currently in shortage" by the FDA, although the agency also lists Ozempic and Wegovy as "available." A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told CNBC, "It's important to note that availability doesn't always mean immediate accessibility at every pharmacy. Patients may experience variability at specific locations, regardless of whether a drug is in shortage." Lilly and Novo have advocated for broadening insurance coverage for the drugs, and the Biden administration recently proposed that Medicare and Medicaid extend their coverage for obesity medications. Although that plan could be scuttled by the incoming Trump administration. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Trump's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has suggested that obesity should be tackled through healthy eating, not drugs. The obesity drug market volatility has shown up in recent earnings. In its third-quarter report on October 30, Lilly fell short of profit and revenue expectations , partly due to disappointing sales of its GLP-1s, even as demand for them continued to soar. A week later, Novo reported third-quarter earnings in line with expectations, strengthened by robust sales of Ozempic and Wegovy. Nonetheless, the Danish company narrowed its 2024 full-year growth guidance, reflecting, according to a statement from the company, "expected continued periodic supply constraints and related drug shortage notifications." Both pharma giants continue to invest billions to increase production facilities and capacity. This week, Lilly said it was investing $3 billion to increase obesity drug production at a Wisconsin plant. Regardless, demand for GLP-1s — no matter if they're branded, compounded or counterfeit or where they're purchased from — is certain to keep growing. That will put more pressure on social media platforms and web operators to guard against scams. Galvin suggested that the companies need to work together to identify scammers as they navigate between platforms to avoid detection. "Too many platforms look at this as a PR problem and not an internet safety problem," he said. "If they were collaborating with each other to identify the bad actors and shared that information, people would find a lot less of them."Jonnu Smith’s clutch OT catapults Dolphins to season-saving comeback win over JetsThe Guardian view on AI’s power, limits, and risks: it may require rethinking the technology
A MULTI-MILLION euro investment is set to transform a former convent and school in the village of Doon. Ballyhoura Rural Services, which took ownership of the former Sisters of Mercy Convent and secondary school, have €8.4m plans to bring a new lease of life to the buildings which have been out of use for 20 years. Initially, 23 homes for people fighting loneliness and isolation will be developed - but there is more to come, all going well, said John Walsh, the chairman of Ballyhoura Rural Services. READ MORE: Limerick's Debenhams building back in temporary use “It’s a depressing enough site in the village. But changing it would be a part of the village’s renewal,” he explained. “It’ll be massively significant for the village of Doon.” Ballyhoura Rural Services has formally announced its intention to apply for planning permission from Limerick City and County Council to develop the independent living units. But Mr Walsh also hopes to transform the old secondary school building to provide residential units in its old dormitory rooms. “We are meeting with the HSE to identify their requirements in rural Limerick. We would follow the direction they would give us into the future,” he told Limerick Live. For now the focus is on developing these independent living units, Mr Walsh said. “A number of things held it up. The initial planning ran out. But the funding is in place there, and the quotes are with contractors. We should definitely be ready to go early to mid 2025. It’s just a case of getting the planning permission over the line.” The planning application will stipulate the change of use of the three-storey convent building to accommodate the 23 independent community living units. A new entrance will be provided from the east side of the building. A new car park will be provided and modern-day extensions to the convent will be removed. A commercial kitchen is also proposed for the ground floor, according to a planning notice. Community space will be available in the former chapel, and John says he hopes this can be enjoyed by the whole village. “We’d like this to be a social hub for the village. Everyone in the village could utilise this,” he said. The independent living units will provide a mix of single and double bedroom apartments. Occupants will be aged over 50 and have lifetime tenancies. The old convent building is around 33,000 square feet, and has previously been described as being dilapidated. The Sisters of Mercy donated the convent and the former St Joseph’s Secondary School on the same campus in Doon to Ballyhoura Rural Services back in April 2019. Local Fianna Fail councillor Martin Ryan has admitted he is upset a second planning application has been necessary, adding he feels an extension could have been sought to the first one. He said: “I’m disappointed a new application has to be lodged instead of the original application being extended. It’s a further delay when we need services delivered.”
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are doing more than leaving the Christmas lights up ’til January. Indeed, the couple is celebrating the season by sending very extravagant presents to Travis’ fellow Kansas City Chiefs player Chris Jones and his girlfriend Sheawna Weathersby. In a photo Sheawna shared to her Instagram Story Dec. 25, she showed off presents from the couple: an orange Louis 200 box and several other wrapped gifts-including one large bag with a tag adorned with Taylor’s signature cursive scratch, “Merry Christmas She She and Chris! Travis and Taylor.” Another gift was addressed solely to “She She” in Taylor’s handwriting, adding, “Merry Christmas, Love Tay Tay.” Naturally, Sheawna was floored by the gifts. “So blessed and grateful this holiday season,” she added in text alongside the live photo. “Thank yoouuu Tay Tay!” Taylor has proven to be an extra set of hands for Santa Claus this year-also gifting items like a matching Miu Miu set and Dyson Airwrap to fans she visited at Children’s Mercy Hospital earlier this month. And while the “Fortnight” singer has always had a penchant for gift-giving, Sheawna has also proven to be one of her truest WAG confidants this NFL season. After all, the Mississippi native-who shares sons Deuce, 6 and Carson, 2, with Chris-has shown a glimpse into her friendship with Taylor on social media. In a photo Sheawna shared back in September, she proved she and the Miss Americana star were attached at the hip while rooting for their boyfriends’ team from a suite in Arrowhead Stadium. The Eras Tour performer squeezed into a selfie with the business owner, closing her eyes and nuzzling her face toward her pal as Sheawna gave the camera a peace sign. As for whether Taylor was expecting her stocking to be stuffed to the brim by all of her loved ones this year? Like anyone, she would never turn one down-but she isn’t expecting anything with a hefty price tag, either. “You gotta dig down and come up with something special,” Travis’ dad Ed Kelce explained of finding the perfect gift for Taylor on the Baskin and Phelps podcast earlier this month. “The amount of money is meaningless. You’re not gonna impress Taylor Swift with a gift that costs $100,000.” He emphasised, “Get something that tweaks the strings of her heart that you spend 10 bucks on and then she’ll just be all gooey.” For Taylor, the holidays are certainly a time of giving.
Northwestern hopes hot streak continues vs. Northeastern