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The 45th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), slated for Sunday in the sisterly State of Kuwait, is expected to make many recommendations that align with the serious challenges facing the Arab region, including the situation in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as the difficult political, economic and security circumstances that cast their shadows over many countries, political analysts said. In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), analysts expected the discussions to focus on economic challenges and pushing the wheel of development towards achieving more accomplishments. In this context, they stressed the importance of exploring means to promote the GCC Common Market and Customs Union, given the great importance of this file for the countries of the region. Nasser Al Otaibi, political analyst and editor-in-chief of the Kuwait's Al-Jarida newspaper, said the upcoming GCC Supreme Council Summit is being held at a critical time while the entire region is facing devastating wars and conflict, fateful issues and a crossroads. These critical circumstances cast their shadows on the GCC countries, making them a main focus on the Summit's agenda. Al Otaibi added that joint defense and security cooperation will also occupy a prominent place on the agenda in light of the tense conditions sweeping the Middle East. He also expected that the discussions will include ways to address the continued Israeli aggression, violations and crimes, while calling on the international community to support the steps of the International Court of Justice that condemns the violations of the Israeli Prime Minister and his former Defense Minister. The GCC summit will also address all pending issues for the member states with other countries outside the council, such as the maritime borders issue between Kuwait and Iraq, which still needs to be resolved by the Iraqi government, he added. Among the most prominent issues that will be addressed at the upcoming GCC Summit is navigation security in the Arabian Gulf and oil tankers protection, in order to ensure the stability of global markets and protect the vital energy artery, Al Otaibi emphasised. The Summit will confirm the cohesion of the GCC states in addressing new developments, emphasizing the unity of the Gulf house, based on deep-rooted common ties, he indicated. As for the expected recommendations, Al Otaibi said the Summit may call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and acheive a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and to put an end to the ongoing Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. In addition, the recommendations may call for building on the two arrest warrants issued by the International Court of Justice against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, sending a decisive message to countries supporting Israel that Arab countries, including the GCC countries, are exasperated by the systematic attacks and ongoing bloodshed under the pretext of "self-defense." Dr. Ahmed Qasim Hussein, a researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and editor-in-chief of Arab Policies journal, said the upcoming GCC Summit is being held amid complex security and political challenges, including the regional situation in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and the ongoing unrest in the region. He indicated that these conditions combined cast a shadow over the security of the Arab region in general, and the security of the GCC in particular. He indicated that the repercussions of the Israeli war on Palestine and Lebanon will be one of the pivotal issues that will be addressed at the GCC Supreme Council Summit. He also expected that economic challenges, including strengthening the GCC Common Market and Customs Union, will receive special importance, given their vital role in supporting economic integration among the GCC countries. The Summit is expected to pay special attention to technology and digital development, with a focus on the rapid transformations in the artificial intelligence sector. Such issues require effective responses and joint strategies to enhance the capabilities of the GCC countries in dealing with these developments, in a way that achieves sustainable economic growth and contributes to consolidating the region's position as a global center in the field of innovation and technology, Hussein said. Hussein pointed out that strengthening joint GCC action is pivotal to confronting the current security and economic challenges facing the region. To this end, he expected the recommendations to include the establishment of effective mechanisms to deal with emergency crises, in light of the increasing military escalation between Iran and Israel. Hussein called on the GCC states to adopt a pioneering role by launching a regional initiative aimed at mobilizing international support to end the suffering of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples as a result of the Israeli aggression. He stressed the importance of investing the diplomatic and political capabilities of the GCC states and their leaders to influence the course of events and stop this aggressive war, in order to realize regional peace and stability. Dr. Tarek Hamoud, Professor of Political Science at Lusail University, said the Gulf Cooperation Council reflects the most successful Arab experience in terms of joint regional cooperation, which highlights the importance of its meetings in general; stressing the significance of the upcoming GCC Supreme Council Summit in Kuwati in light of the current circumstances that the region is going through. The current session is being held at a time when two Arab countries, Palestine and Lebanon, are being subjected to a brutal Israeli war, in addition to the political, economic and security crises suffered by other countries such as Syria, Sudan, Iraq and Yemen, which represent a great geopolitical importance for the GCC states, Hamoud said. These regional issues will occupy a prominent place on the summit agenda, in addition to internal issues specific to the GCC countries, such as enhancing cooperation in areas of strategic connectivity, whether in employment or facilitating movement between the GCC countries, he added. Related Story Qatar pitches for expediting GCC-EU FTA negotiations Qatar's hospitality sector sees improved room yield in September: NPCKOLHAPUR: While the suspense over whether the caretaker chief minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, is disappointed after the meeting in New Delhi with Union home minister Amit Shah is yet to be cleared, the health of Shiv Sena chief Shinde, who cancelled all his scheduled meetings and returned to his native village Dare Tamb in Satara on Friday, is reported to have deteriorated and he is kept under the medical observation of doctors. This news comes just hours after Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Shirsat on Saturday revealed that Shinde is expected to make a significant political decision within the next 24 hours, as suspense mounts over who will be the next chief minister to lead the Mahayuti-ruled state. Civil Surgeon for Satara, Dr Yuvraj Karpe, said, "CM Shinde is facing a respiratory tract infection and is having fever, an itchy throat along with weakness. His pulse rate and blood pressure are normal. Blood samples were checked and don't show any symptoms of dengue or malaria. He was given an injectable dose on Saturday evening for bacterial infection (Monocef and Beplex saline 100ml)." When asked about the reason behind the health deterioration of Shinde, Dr Karpe said, "He travelled a lot in the last month and also worked on his farm, resulting in exertion. We have suggested he rest for the next two days due to weakness. CM Shinde started feeling ill from Friday night. He felt better on Saturday morning but again at noon he started having a fever. We have stationed an ambulance, physician, a surgeon, and a brother along with medicines equipped in the ambulance," added Dr Karpe. Meanwhile, former minister from Shiv Sena, Deepak Kesarkar, arrived at Dare Tamb village to meet CM Shinde on Saturday but had to return without meeting the CM after learning about his health condition. Earlier on Friday, the Shiv Sena chief left for his native place a day after meeting Union home minister Amit Shah at his residence in Delhi. Other Mahayuti allies, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, and Bharatiya Janata Party chief JP Nadda were also present at the meeting.
Portland, Oregon, swears in new government and mayor who campaigned to end homelessness
Husband Of Iranian Rights Lawyer Arrested In TehranNEW DELHI: India’s economic growth slowed to 5.4 percent year-on-year in the September quarter, official data showed Friday, a significant decline from the 6.7 percent during the previous quarter. Friday’s figure still places the world’s most populous country among the fastest-growing major economies globally, but suggests a moderation in breakneck expansion seen over the past year. The data is likely to put pressure on the Reserve Bank of India to cut interest rates after holding them steady at 6.50 percent for more than 18 months. The latest growth data could now spur the bank to start cutting rates this year. Year-on-year gross domestic product came in much below most analyst estimates. The Indian economy had expanded 6.7 percent year-on-year in the previous April-June quarter. A government statement laid blame for the lower than expected growth figures on sluggish manufacturing and mining activity. The moderation in economic growth is also unwelcome news for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which failed to secure an outright mandate in this year’s general elections, leaving it reliant on coalition parties to govern. Its two biggest allies have reportedly sought billions of dollars in financial assistance for infrastructure projects in their states. Modi’s government pledged in its post-election budget to spend $24 billion on employment and training to address uneven economic growth and mollify disgruntled voters. Rising food costs in India have added to Modi’s political troubles and also prevented the central bank from shifting to a dovish stance on inflation. While India posted world-beating growth of 8.2 percent in the year to March, the International Monetary Fund expected the pace to cool to 7 percent for the 2024-25 fiscal year. — AFP
Portland, Oregon, swears in new government and mayor who campaigned to end homelessness
Palvella Therapeutics to debut on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "PVLA” as a publicly traded rare disease biopharmaceutical company advancing a late clinical-stage pipeline and a platform for treating serious, rare genetic diseases Strong balance sheet with approximately $80.0 million of cash and cash equivalents, including proceeds from a PIPE financing co-led by BVF Partners, L.P. and Frazier Life Sciences Cash expected to fund operations into the second half of 2027, including through Phase 3 SELVA clinical trial of QTORINTM 3.9% rapamycin anhydrous gel (QTORINTM rapamycin) for the treatment of microcystic lymphatic malformations (microcystic LMs) and Phase 2 clinical trial in cutaneous venous malformations (cutaneous VMs) Microcystic LMs is a chronically debilitating and lifelong genetic disease affecting an estimated more than 30,000 diagnosed patients in the U.S. QTORINTM rapamycin has the potential to be the first approved therapy and standard of care in the U.S. for microcystic LMs and cutaneous VMs WAYNE, Pa., Dec. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Palvella Therapeutics, Inc. (Palvella), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies to treat patients suffering from serious, rare genetic skin diseases for which there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies, today announced the completion of its previously announced merger with Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Pieris). The combined company will operate under the name Palvella Therapeutics, Inc., and its shares are expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 16, 2024, under the ticker symbol "PVLA". Palvella will continue to be led by Wes Kaupinen, its Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and other members of the Palvella management team. The transaction was approved by Pieris stockholders at a special meeting held on December 11, 2024, and the transaction had been previously approved by Palvella stockholders. "With strong support from leading healthcare-dedicated investors, Palvella is well positioned to enter the public markets and pursue our vision of becoming the leading rare disease company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies to treat patients suffering from serious, rare genetic skin diseases," said Mr. Kaupinen. "This transaction will enable us to accelerate late-stage development of QTORINTM rapamycin, our lead product candidate, for microcystic LMs and cutaneous VMs while also further advancing additional novel product candidates from our QTORINTM platform." Concurrent with the merger, Palvella completed a previously announced oversubscribed $78.9 million private placement co-led by BVF Partners, L.P., an existing investor, and Frazier Life Sciences, a new investor, and with participation from a syndicate of leading healthcare-dedicated investors. Additional new investors include Blue Owl Healthcare Opportunities, Nantahala Capital, DAFNA Capital Management, ADAR1 Capital Management, and a healthcare dedicated fund. Existing investors Samsara BioCapital, Petrichor, CAM Capital, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Integrated Finance Group (an AscellaHealth partner company), BioAdvance, and Gore Range Capital also participated in the financing. Palvella's cash and cash equivalents of approximately $80.0 million is expected to fund operations into the second half of 2027, including through results from the SELVA Phase 3 clinical trial of QTORINTM rapamycin for the treatment of microcystic LMs and Phase 2 clinical trial of QTORINTM rapamycin in cutaneous VMs. Palvella's research team developed QTORINTM, a patented and versatile platform designed to generate novel topical therapies that penetrate the deep layers of the skin to locally treat a broad spectrum of serious, rare genetic skin diseases. Well-accepted mechanisms of action of rapamycin and other therapeutic agents represent potential therapies for rare genetic skin diseases. However, the adverse event profile of those agents through systemic exposure poses significant barriers to patient adoption. Palvella's QTORINTM product candidates are designed for targeted, localized delivery of therapeutic agents to pathogenic tissue of interest while minimizing systemic absorption and thereby reducing the risk of unwanted adverse events associated with systemic therapy. Palvella's lead product candidate QTORINTM rapamycin is a novel, patented 3.9% rapamycin anhydrous gel currently under development for the treatment of microcystic LMs, cutaneous VMs, and other serious, functionally debilitating skin diseases driven by the overactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. QTORINTM rapamycin has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Fast Track Designation, and Orphan Drug Designation for microcystic LMs and is the recent recipient of up to a $2.6 million FDA Orphan Products Grant. QTORINTM rapamycin has also received Fast Track Designation for venous malformations. QTORINTM rapamycin is protected by issued composition patents covering anhydrous gel formulations of rapamycin, as well as methods of use, in the U.S., Japan, Australia, China and Israel and pending patent applications broadly covering anhydrous gel formulations of rapamycin, as well as methods of use, in the U.S. and other countries. In the third quarter of 2024, Palvella initiated SELVA, a 24-week, Phase 3, single-arm, baseline-controlled clinical trial of QTORINTM rapamycin administered once daily for the treatment of microcystic LMs. The primary efficacy endpoint is the change from baseline in the overall microcystic LM Investigator Global Assessment (mLM-IGA) at week 24. The Phase 3 study is enrolling approximately 40 subjects, age six or older, at leading vascular anomaly centers across the U.S. Transaction Details Based on the final exchange ratio of approximately 0.30946 shares of Pieris common stock for each share of Palvella common stock, at the closing of the merger, there are approximately 13.95 million shares of the combined company's common stock outstanding on a diluted basis, with prior Pieris stockholders owning approximately 11% on a diluted basis and prior Palvella stockholders (including investors in the private placement) holding approximately 89% of the combined company's outstanding common stock on a diluted basis. In connection with the closing of the merger, Pieris issued a non-transferable contingent value right (CVR) to Pieris shareholders of record immediately prior to the closing, which does not include the former holders of shares of Palvella or the private financing investors. Holders of the CVR will be entitled to receive payments from proceeds received by the combined company, if any, under Pieris' existing partnership agreements with Pfizer and Boston Pharmaceuticals, in addition to other potential licensing agreements involving certain of Pieris' legacy assets, as well as certain potential payments related to historical research and development tax credits, which may or may not be realized. TD Cowen served as lead placement agent and Cantor served as a placement agent for Palvella's concurrent financing. Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP served as legal counsel to Palvella. Cooley LLP served as legal counsel to the placement agents. Stifel served as the exclusive financial advisor to Pieris and Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky, and Popeo, P.C. served as legal counsel to Pieris. About Microcystic Lymphatic Malformations Microcystic LMs are a rare, chronically debilitating genetic disease caused by dysregulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/mTOR pathway. The disease is characterized by malformed lymphatic vessels that protrude through the skin and persistently leak lymph fluid (lymphorrhea) and bleed, often leading to recurrent serious infections and cellulitis that can cause hospitalization. The natural history of microcystic LMs are persistent and progressive without spontaneous resolution, with symptoms generally worsening during life, including increases in the number and size of malformed vessels that lead to complications and lifetime morbidity. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for the estimated more than 30,000 diagnosed patients with microcystic LMs in the United States. About Palvella Therapeutics Founded and led by rare drug disease drug development veterans, Palvella Therapeutics (Nasdaq: PVLA) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies to treat patients suffering from serious, rare genetic skin diseases for which there are no FDA-approved therapies. Palvella is developing a broad pipeline of product candidates based on its patented QTORINTM platform, with an initial focus on serious, rare genetic skin diseases, many of which are lifelong in nature. Palvella's lead product candidate, QTORINTM 3.9% rapamycin anhydrous gel (QTORINTM rapamycin), is currently in the Phase 3 SELVA clinical trial in microcystic lymphatic malformations (microcystic LMs) and a Phase 2 trial in cutaneous venous malformations. For more information, please visit www.palvellatx.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn. QTORINTM rapamycin is for investigational use only and has not been approved or cleared by the FDA or by any other regulatory agency. This press release contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act)). These statements may discuss goals, intentions, and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the management of Palvella and Pieris, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management of Palvella and Pieris. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "may,” "will,” "should,” "would,” "expect,” "anticipate,” "plan,” "likely,” "believe,” "estimate,” "project,” "intend,” and other similar expressions or the negative or plural of these words, or other similar expressions that are predictions or indicate future events or prospects, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the sufficiency of the combined company's capital resources; the combined company's cash runway; the expected timing of the closing of the proposed transactions; statements regarding the potential of, and expectations regarding, Palvella's programs, including QTORINTM rapamycin, and its research-stage opportunities, including its expected therapeutic potential and market opportunity; the expected timing of initiating, as well as the design of Palvella's Phase 2 clinical trial of QTORINTM rapamycin in cutaneous venous malformations. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the limited operating history of each company; the significant net losses incurred since inception; the ability to raise additional capital to finance operations; the ability to advance product candidates through preclinical and clinical development; the ability to obtain regulatory approval for, and ultimately commercialize, Palvella's product candidates, including QTORINTM rapamycin; the outcome of early clinical trials for Palvella's product candidates, including the ability of those trials to satisfy relevant governmental or regulatory requirements; the fact that data and results from clinical studies may not necessarily be indicative of future results; Palvella's limited experience in designing clinical trials and lack of experience in conducting clinical trials; the ability to identify and pivot to other programs, product candidates, or indications that may be more profitable or successful than Palvella's current product candidates; the substantial competition Palvella faces in discovering, developing, or commercializing products; the negative impacts of the global events on operations, including ongoing and planned clinical trials and ongoing and planned preclinical studies; the ability to attract, hire, and retain skilled executive officers and employees; the ability of Palvella and Pieris to protect their respective intellectual property and proprietary technologies; reliance on third parties, contract manufacturers, and contract research organizations. The foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual events to differ from expectations should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in Pieris' most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, as well as the registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC by Pieris in connection with the merger. Palvella and Pieris can give no assurance that the conditions to the proposed transactions will be satisfied. Except as required by applicable law, Palvella and Pieris undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release contains hyperlinks to information that is not deemed to be incorporated by reference into this press release. Palvella Therapeutics Contact Information Investors Wesley H. Kaupinen Founder and CEO, Palvella Therapeutics [email protected] Media Stephanie Jacobson Managing Director, Argot Partners [email protected]Doing business in US? Don't wait for state ruling on AI to act, warns former Senate chief of staff
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'Malcolm in the Middle' to offer new episodes with Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek are reuniting for a new four-episode run of “Malcolm in the Middle” for Disney+ — 25 years after the beloved sitcom first launched. The show ran for seven seasons starting in 2000 and was hailed for looking at ordinary life through the eyes of an extraordinary youngster, now fully grown: Malcolm, played by Muniz, has a genius I.Q. The new four episodes will be crafted by original series creator Linwood Boomer. No air dates were announced. “Malcolm in the Middle” originally aired on Fox and ended its run in 2006. Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. The accusations made national headlines at the time, stirring tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes. Crystal Mangum, who is Black, said in an interview with the “Let’s Talk with Kat” podcast that she “made up a story that wasn’t true” about the white players who attended a party where she was hired to perform as a stripper “because I wanted validation from people and not from God.” The former Duke players were declared innocent in 2007 after Mangum’s story fell apart under legal scrutiny. Sophia, a famous robot and global icon of AI, wins hearts at Zimbabwe's innovation fair HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Sophia, a world-renowned robot, has been the center of attention at an Artificial Intelligence and Innovation fair in Zimbabwe this week. Described as an AI global icon by the U.N., Sophia can hold human-like conversations with people and recognize their gestures. As a special guest at the week-long event at the University of Zimbabwe, she answered questions on academic topics from researchers. Children quizzed her about the bible, God and her birth. She also made clear her aversion to human food and romance. The United Nations Development Program said it brought Sophia to Zimbabwe as part of efforts to “inspire youth, policymakers, and innovators to embrace AI as a catalyst for development.” Stanley recalls millions of travel mugs over concerns the lids might fall off, causing burns Stanley is recalling approximately 2.6 million of its switchback and trigger action stainless steel travel mugs sold in the U.S. because of a potential burn hazard. The company said that the mug’s lid threads can shrink when exposed to heat and torque, causing the lid to detach during use, posing a burn hazard. Stanley has received 91 reports worldwide, including 16 in the U.S., of the recalled travel mugs’ lids detaching during use, resulting in 38 burn injuries worldwide, including two burn injuries in the U.S., with 11 consumers worldwide requiring medical attention. Miami Dolphins release veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday, ending the former Pro Bowler’s short tenure with the team. Beckham had missed the past two days of practice for what the team called personal reasons. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel indicated that the decision to part ways was mutual. Beckham signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in May, but started the season on the physically unable to perform list after offseason knee surgery. Since his Dolphins debut in Week 5 against New England, Beckham had just nine catches for 55 yards in nine games. Bird strike disables a jetliner engine and forces an emergency landing at JFK airport NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities say a bird strike involving an American Airlines jetliner disabled one of the plane’s two engines shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The plane was forced to turn around and land at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Airline officials say no one was injured. Flight 1722 took off from LaGuardia at 7:43 p.m. Thursday with a destination of Charlotte, North Carolina. Airport officials say it safely made an emergency landing at Kennedy at 8:03 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The agency received reports of 19,400 strikes at 713 airports across the U.S. last year alone. Rarely do they force jetliners to make emergency landings. 49ers LB De'Vondre Campbell refuses to enter game after losing his starting spot SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco linebacker De’Vondre Campbell refused to enter the game in the third quarter after losing his starting job when Dre Greenlaw returned from an injury. Campbell played 90% of defensive snaps for the 49ers but was benched after Greenlaw came back for his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season’s Super Bowl. When Greenlaw left with soreness in the third quarter Thursday night against the Rams, Campbell told the coaches he didn't want to play and left the field. Coach Kyle Shanahan says he has never seen that before and the team will “figure out something” on how to deal with it going forward. 'Crown of Thorns' returns to Notre Dame Cathedral for public veneration PARIS (AP) — An ancient relic that many Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” has returned to Notre Dame, five years after it was saved from the flames of the cathedral’s devastating 2019 fire. The crown — a circular band of branches encased in a gilded golden tube — was brought back to its historic home Friday in a ceremony. The event was presided over by the archbishop of Paris and attended by knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, marking a key moment in the cathedral’s restoration journey. In 1239, it was acquired by King Louis IX of France, who brought it to Paris. 'Vanderpump Rules' star James Kennedy arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Police say “Vanderpump Rules” star James Kennedy has been arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence. Police in Burbank, California, say officers investigated reports of an argument between a man and a woman at a residence late Tuesday night and arrested the 32-year-old Kennedy. He was released from jail after posting bail. A representative of Kennedy did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The Burbank city attorney will decide whether to file charges. Kennedy is a DJ and reality TV star who has appeared for 10 seasons on “Vanderpump Rules” — the Bravo series about the lives of employees at a set of swank restaurants. Dick Vitale says he's cancer-free after 4th bout with the disease in just over 3 years Dick Vitale said he’s cancer-free after his fourth bout with the disease in just over three years. The 85-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst posted Thursday on X that he got the news after a morning scan, saying: “SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER !” Vitale posted on X. “OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your (prayers). Yes I’m cutting the nets down baby it’s my National Championship!” Vitale had surgery in the summer to remove cancerous lymph nodes from his neck. The Basketball Hall of Famer was previously treated for melanoma and lymphoma, and had radiation treatments last year for vocal cord cancer.
Article content The losses keep piling up for the Toronto Blue Jays. On the field, there were 88 of them during a disastrous and disheartening 2024 to cap off a colossal two-year plunge into the basement of the American League East. Off the field, there was another spectacular swing and miss on a generational free agent, losing out on Juan Soto a year after a similar much-hyped failure in a bid to land Shohei Ohtani. And up next, perhaps the biggest misfire yet for the front office braintrust of general manager Ross Atkins and team president Mark Shapiro, which is truly saying something if it ends up happening. If the Jays let Vlad Guerrero Jr., get to free agency 11 months from now — which seems more like a certainty by the day — the current iteration of the franchise may never recover. Sure, after losing out to Soto — who signed that epic 15-year, $765-million US deal with the New York Mets on Sunday — the Jays can regroup and make re-signing Guerrero a priority. But even if the team did re-sign its star first baseman, who is about to enter his age 26 season, Vladdy would be a fool to accept nothing but an insanely rich offer. And Vlad Guerrero Jr. is no fool. As one of the top young hitters anywhere, he’s well-regarded by superstars around the game and loves being in their company. And watching the frenzy in which owners are spending on free agents these days, he knows it will soon be his turn. The indifference by the Jays to let it get to this point — mixed in with a losing visit to an arbitration hearing a year ago — is as baffling as it is blundering. By shopping at the very top of the market the past two off-seasons while presumably ignoring Guerrero, the Toronto front office is now at acute risk of letting the player long seen as the face of a winning franchise get away for nothing. Think about it: Owner Rogers Communications was reportedly willing to bid more than $1 billion Canadian in its futile bid for Soto while saving the Guerrero business for later. How can it not insultingly erode whatever loyalty Vladdy might have for the team and a city he professes to love? There’s never been any doubt that he will be handsomely paid, but with each passing day, there’s less guarantee it will be by the only big league franchise he’s ever known. Guerrero’s payday isn’t likely to be in the Soto stratosphere, but let’s start the projections with eight figures (likely with a five as the first digit) and a minimum of 10 years. If Jays management had any hope of extending Guerrero before his free-agent showcase season, good luck with that now. Guerrero knows the money is coming, whether it’s from Toronto or a long list of suitors that would woo him a year from now. He also must know that a bet-on-himself season as Soto just did, will be the way to go. Given the tenor of negotiations with the Jays and the money other stars are getting, why would he do otherwise? On one hand, the team’s public stance on Guerrero has been muted. (To be fair, there’s little transparency about much from Atkins, who prefers a vague answer to just about anything regarding his team, so we really don’t know how much the franchise values its star slugger.) On the other, it’s certainly well-known that, for two off-seasons now, the Jays have helped drive up the price for both Ohtani and now Soto after being armed to discharge obscene amounts of Rogers cash. What good is it, though, if you have clearance to spend the dough but can’t get what you want for it? To be fair, now that the Soto deal has mercifully been completed, the doors to free agency 2025 should swing wide open at the winter meetings down in Dallas. Fittingly, Jays fans must be bracing themselves for the next round of well-placed rumours that the team is “in” on (name players X, Y and Z here.) Trouble is, there are plenty of other big-spending teams out there willing to do the same and those players will want to land with franchises that are proven winners, or at least look that way. That, of course, circles back to Guerrero, a player widely regarded as a superstar and the home-grown Toronto talent that the team promised it would build World Series contenders around. With his future uncertain, the attractiveness for other big names to come to Toronto lessens noticeably, especially given the overall dearth of organizational talent. For his part, Guerrero has enthusiastically, and regularly, stated that he would love to be a Blue Jay for life. He might even mean it. But for it to happen, he’s going to get paid and he’s not going to accept a home-town discount. Instead, he continues to see his market grow stronger and the prospect of heading to free agency that much more enticing. So what does all of this mean for the Jays front office now? Unlike last year, when the non-Ohtani options were meek and the returns pitiful in terms of high-end impact, Atkins needs to strike big. Being “in” on the big guns is getting old in a hurry and giving the Jays an unflattering reputation in the marketplace. And each failure to significantly improve the roster via free agency or trade exposes another weakness. In the early days of their tenure, Atkins and Shapiro promised they’d be a successful draft-and-develop team. How has that worked out for them? Worse, they are now in danger of losing one of the true development success stories that remains. rlongley@postmedia.com X: @longleysunsportQUEBEC CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2024-- H 2 O Innovation Inc. (“H 2 O Innovation” or the “Corporation”) is proud to announce the award of several capital equipment projects to its Water Technologies & Services (WTS) business line. This is the result of the strong work of our team and commitment towards delivering top of the class solutions to our clients. The Corporation is happy to announce that after having secured and performed the engineering portion of the work, it is now under contract for the fabrication and supply of its largest wastewater treatment facility in Canada. The Corporation will provide a 67,000 m 3 /day (17.7 MGD) 6-train ultrafiltration facility for the City of Innisfil, Ontario for the treatment of secondary effluent to minimize the discharge of phosphorous into Lake Simcoe. H 2 O Innovation had provided a 38,000 m 3 /day (10.04 MGD) drinking water facility to the City of Innisfil back in 2017. Another project is located in the Province of Quebec, Canada. The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach is implementing a major upgrade to their drinking water facility. The Corporation provided the initial phase back in 2007 and has been providing maintenance and operation services since the original plant start-up. The expansion will include the addition of a second nanofiltration train, along with the associated pre and post treatment unit operations, to provide a total capacity of 1,100 m 3 /day (0.29 MGD). The southwestern part of Ontario, Canada, is also seeing the addition of a project. A new municipal wastewater treatment facility for a rapidly growing community will be implemented. The system will be a three train membrane bioreactor (MBR) using an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process to treat up to 886 m3/day (0.23 MDG). In an innovative delivery model, H 2 O Innovation will be supplying the biological and membrane tanks along with prefabricated buildings with all industrial mechanical equipment pre-installed, plumbed and wired to minimize on site installation and overall project cost as well as shorten the overall schedule. In Cheltenham, Maryland, a packaged membrane bioreactor (MBR) wastewater treatment system with the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) was confirmed. The system is designed to meet very stringent nutrient limits on the effluent for both nitrogen and phosphorus. A ceramic-based membrane solution was selected and will be implemented to treat the phase 1 flow of 11,500 m3/day (3.04 MGD). Finally, a new project in the United States will see the Corporation provide its third facility to a battery recycling company. The new 3-train, 4,900 m3/day (1.29 MGD) reverse osmosis (RO) project will complement the existing ones and is part of a wider partnership where the Corporation is also renting one of its mobile ultrafiltration-based FlexBox unit to this same client. “I am incredibly proud of our team for their relentless pursuit of excellence. Securing these projects is a significant milestone for us, reflecting our collective effort to innovate and lead in our industry. These new projects open exciting opportunities for us to enhance our offerings and better serve our clients. We are eager to leverage our expertise to drive success in these initiatives,” Innovation is in our name, and it is what drives the organization. H O Innovation is a water solutions company focused on providing best-in-class technologies and services to its customers. The Corporation’s activities rely on five pillars: (i) Water Technologies & Services (WTS) applies membrane technologies and engineering expertise to deliver equipment and services to municipal and industrial water, wastewater, and water reuse customers, (ii) Specialty Products (SP) is a set of businesses that manufacture and supply a complete line of specialty chemicals, consumables, and engineered products for the global water treatment industry, (iii) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) provides contract operations and associated services for water and wastewater treatment systems; (iv) Water Infrastructure Development (WID) is developing WaterHubs, through performance financing, our turn-key projects can be designed, built and operated at no upfront capital expense to our clients, and (v) Maple and Agri-food, offering a complete line of equipment dedicated to maple syrup production and the agri-food industry. Through innovation, we strive to simplify water. For more information, visit . H 2 O Innovation Inc. View source version on : CONTACT: Communication Department +1 418-688-0170 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: UTILITIES NATURAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENT ENERGY ENGINEERING GREEN TECHNOLOGY OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES MANUFACTURING SOURCE: H2O Innovation Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/19/2024 01:25 PM/DISC: 12/19/2024 01:24 PM