Lipscomb secures 112-54 win against Division-III AsburyTata Martino bids farewell to Inter Miami; Javier Mascherano expected to be next coach
Titans keep losing as coach Brian Callahan tries to show some progress
( MENAFN - PR Newswire) Exclusive Christmas Package Offer Starting from $499 For Two to $699 For Three HONG KONG, Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MONOPOLY DREAMSTM Hong Kong offers to magnify your festive excitement with its exclusive Christmas Package starting from 21st Dec, 2024 till 1st Jan, 2025. Bundled perfectly for families, friends and MONOPOLY fans of all ages, you don't need to wait till Boxing Day to unwrap your dream fun. Irresistible offers with more than 30% discounts, ranging from $499 Package-for-2 to $699 Package-for-3, coming with "Walk into MONOPOLY", "Häagen-Dazs Festive Ice Cream", "Cotton Candy", Gashapon treats, together with a Christmas gift for every person. MONOPOLY DREAMS leverages the classic elements of Monopoly, with emphasis on interactive experience to highlight tourist spots suiting all ages, has soon flourished as a "must visit" destination for local and foreign visitors soon since its inauguration. Keeping abreast of the times, MONOPOLY DREAMS is now equipped with AR and 4Dx interactive game technology, bringing the famous board game to life to explore Mr Monopoly's Vault and hoover up properties like a billionaire by devoting in the "Walk into MONOPOLY" game, and win prizes. There are also a wide range of boardgames in the MONOPOLY retail shop perfect for festive gifting to beloved family members, friends and fans. For details of Christmas Exclusive Packages and ticketing channels, please visit MONOPOLY DREAMSTM Hong Kong's official website: Address: Level 3, Peak Galleria, 119 Peak Road, Hong Kong Opening Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 【 ABOUT MONOPOLY DREAMS HONG KONGTM 】 MONOPOLY DREAMS HONG KONGTM is the first MONOPOLY (aka TYCOON)-themed attraction in the world, as well as a brand-new tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It is located at the most popular tourist spot – the Peak, which is the most expensive title deed and the supreme "king of property" in the MONOPOLY Hong Kong Edition. MONOPOLY classical elements like Train Station, Water Works, Ultimate Banking will be ready to give you the best MONOPOLY experience! Everyone can try their luck and pursue their dreams in MONOPOLY DREAMS TM! Let's Own It All together! For more details, please visit MONOPOLY DREAMSTM Hong Kong official website: SOURCE Monopoly Dreams MENAFN17122024003732001241ID1109004995 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Bollywood and Hollywood witnessed an extraordinary year in 2024 with a lineup of films which were a combination of impactful storytelling, star power and technology. From Stree 2 to Inside Out 2, the film industry showcased an impressive lineup of blockbusters that captivated audiences worldwide. (Also Read: HT Rewind 2024 | Only sequels in the building: How Hollywood killed originality as remakes, franchises ruled box office ) Bollywood's Box Office Titans 2024 Kalki 2898 AD Kalki 2898 AD starring Prabhas in the lead role is a sci-fi epic narrating the story of a warrior who tries to earn money illegally in a dystopian future. The star-studded cast includes Prabhas and Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani in the prominent roles. It was directed by Nag Ashwin. With over-the-top graphics and extensive overseas release, the film grossed approx. ₹ 1100 crore at the box office worldwide. Stree 2 This Rajkumar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor starrer was a surprise entry in the club of Bollywood Blockbusters 2024. It minted approx ₹ 850 crore at the worldwide box office. It was directed by Amar Kaushik. The film marked the fourth instalment in the Maddock Supernatural Universe and is the sequel to Stree (2018). Along with the lead cast, the film also stars Pankaj Tripathi, Abhishek Banerjee, and Aparshakti Khurana. Actor Varun Dhawan also had a special cameo in the movie. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 The much-anticipated sequel of Kartik Aaryan starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 didn't disappoint the fans. It was directed by Anees Bazmee and starred Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles. The film garnered approx ₹ 422 crore at the box office worldwide. Singham Again Rohit Shetty's Singham Again continued the legacy of his blockbuster "cop universe." Ajay Devgn reprised his iconic role as Bajirao Singham, delivering high-octane action sequences that enthralled fans. This action-packed spectacle raked approx-- ₹ 300 crore globally. Singham Again also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone among others. Ajay, in a candid conversation with ANI, said, “I am thankful to the audience for giving us so much love. For a long time, the police were always shown in a negative light in films. Singham as well as Gangaajal was one of the first films that showed how an ideal police officer should be. After that, it became a trend of making positive films about police.” Pushpa 2: The Rule It's not even been a month since the film's release, and this Allu Arjun-starrer has already bagged Bollywood's highest-grosser crown. According to Mythri Movie Makers, the official production house of Pushpa 2: The Rule, its worldwide collection has surpassed the ₹ 1700 crore mark. On the massive success of Pushpa 2: The Rule, Allu Arjun expressed his heartfelt gratitude to fans at the "Thank You India" press meet. He said, "I have to say something about the box office number. The number you see is a reflection of the people's love. The numbers are temporary, but the love that is etched in your hearts will remain forever. Thank you for that love." Directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Muttamsetty Media, the film witnessed Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil reprising their roles as Pushpa Raj, Srivalli, and Bhanwar Singh Shekawat. Allu Arjun plays the role of the red sandalwood smuggler in the film. Hollywood's Box Office Titans of 2024 As 2024 draws to a close, the global box office has been dominated by sequels and franchise films, engaging audiences worldwide. Take a look at the highest-grossing Hollywood films of the year. Inside Out 2 A sequel that resonated with the viewers and minted nearly USD 1.7 billion at the global box office featured Riley entering puberty and experiencing new, more complex emotions. It was directed by Kelsey Mann and stars Amy Poehler, Maya Hawke and Kensington Tallman in the lead roles. Deadpool & Wolverine The Marvel film never stays out of the race for highest box office grosser. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman played the roles of Deadpool and Wolverine, respectively. Shawn Levy directed it. It minted over USD 1.138 billion. Despicable Me 4 The love for minion characters in Despicable Me often turns out to be profitable for producers. Directed by Chris Renaud, the main character's voice were given by Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig and Pierre Coffin. It collected around USD 969 million. Dune: Part Two Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two expanded the saga of Paul Atreides while delivering breathtaking visuals and an intense narrative centred around politics, power, and rebellion. The movie grossed over USD 714 million globally. Moana 2 This animated film is another addition to the Hollywood's highest-grossing movies. Directed by David G Derrick, the film revolves around Moana who craves adventure to the far seas of Oceania. It has grossed USD 725 million. As 2024 ends, the box office reports of the highest-grossing films indicate that the audience is inclined towards diverse stories, emotional connections, and stunning visuals. This year's box office hits have set a high standard, and as we look to 2025, the film industry is gearing up for big releases, including Salman Khan's Sikandar, Hrithik Roshan's War 2, Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par and more.Sir Keir Starmer was speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) conference in Estonia where he met leaders of other Baltic states. After signing an energy partnership with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Bergen, Sir Keir flew to Estonia where he spoke alongside Mr Store and their Estonian counterpart Kristen Michal. Asked what else could be done to support Ukraine, Sir Keir said: “There is an ever-increasing demand for more capability. That is understandable, and Ukraine needs all the capability that it can get, so I think all of us have put in more capability into Ukraine by way of equipment.” He added: “A lot of money has been raised, funding has been raised, but more is going to be needed.” The Prime Minister’s also discussed making the economic case at home for continued support for Ukraine. Sir Keir said: “Making the case on the significance of Ukraine, making the case, to double down, linking it back to each of our countries – what does it mean for us if Russia succeeds, is a really important question that we have to answer with our people to make it clear why it is that we are so supportive of Ukraine, why it is that we must stand with our allies on this, why it is we must make sure that Nato is put in the strongest position as well. “Now, this is a different world to the world of 10, 20 years ago, to recognise the world that we are living in, there’s a positive case as well to be made. “Defence spending doesn’t sort of sit in a silo over here with no effect on the rest of the economy, no effect on technology. “It has a huge effect on technologies, the cutting edge of technology and change which can then be used in other areas. “It binds countries together. I think all of us have got joint projects on in terms of defence capabilities that bind us together. There’s a huge number of well-paid jobs that are very important to our economy in defence spending as well. “But we have to make that positive case. I don’t personally feel that we can sort of sit back and assume that all of those in our respective countries necessarily accept all of our arguments unless we make them in that positive way, which I do think the argument can and should and must be made. “But the challenge that you put to us is the right challenge, which is it’s very difficult when finances are tight, as they are in all of our countries.” On Tuesday morning the Prime Minister will meet Taavi Madiberk, the founder of Estonian tech start-up manufacturing low-cost air defence missiles, Frankenburg Technologies, which is planning to open a new office in London Specialising in the manufacture of the missiles, the rapidly growing company already collaborates closely with the UK defence industry, sourcing a significant portion of its subsystems locally, including from propulsion specialists Roxel in Worcestershire. The Prime Minister will again attend the JEF summit, joining leaders from the Nordics and Baltics to discuss support for Ukraine, the sustained threat posed by Russia and wider European security. He will then visit British forces serving in the region to deter malign Russian threats.Manufacturers are now obliged to fit devices sold in the 27-nation bloc with a USB-C, the port chosen by the European Union as the common standard for charging electronic tools. "Starting today, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, speakers, keyboards and many other electronics sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port," the EU Parliament wrote on social media X. The EU has said the single charger rule will simplify the life of Europeans and slash costs for consumers. By allowing consumers to purchase a new device without a new charger, it will also reduce the mountain of obsolete chargers, the bloc has argued. The law was first approved in 2022 following a tussle with US tech giant Apple. It allowed companies until December 28 this year to adapt. Makers of laptops will have extra time, from early 2026, to also follow suit. Most devices already use these cables, but Apple was more than a little reluctant. The firm said in 2021 that such regulation "stifles innovation", but by September last year it had begun shipping phones with the new port. Makers of electronic consumer items in Europe had agreed on a single charging norm from dozens on the market a decade ago under a voluntary agreement with the European Commission. But Apple, the world's biggest seller of smartphones, refused to abide by it and ditch its Lightning ports. Other manufacturers kept their alternative cables going, meaning there were about half a dozen types knocking around, creating a jumble of cables for consumers. USB-C ports can charge at up to 100 Watts, transfer data up to 40 gigabits per second, and can serve to hook up to external displays. At the time of its approval, the commission said the law was expected to save at least 200 million euros ($208 million) per year and cut more than a thousand tonnes of EU electronic waste every year. "It's time for THE charger," the European Commission wrote on X on Saturday. "It means better-charging technology, reduced e-waste, and less fuss to find the chargers you need." ub/giv
OTTAWA - Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada’s hotel. The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country’s under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier. “You only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?” Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning. “Is that how this works?” That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament. Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians. The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight. “We’re certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water,” said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. “We’ve got to be really careful.” Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front. There were, of course, desperate spurts — especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime — but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects. “We played really, really hard,” Anholt said in defending his players. “We controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good ... 99 times out of 100 we win that game.” Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year’s Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players. Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia’s net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area. “Tough blow for the kid,” Anholt said. “The way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed.” Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday’s ugly result in the nation’s capital. “We’re good,” said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. “Everyone’s lost a hockey game before.” But not like that — or to that opponent on that stage. “Bit of a (crappy) feeling,” said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. “We all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard. “We’ll bounce back.” Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team’s overall roster construction. “We’re not really worried about it,” defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year’s team, said of the outside noise. “We know we didn’t play well.” Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there’s a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee. The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League. “Great player,” Cowan said. “He finds ways.” Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments. “Let’s not panic,” he said. “The world hasn’t fallen in. It’s hard, but we’ll learn from it.” It’s something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny. “People are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you,” said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. “Gotta keep doing you.” Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn’t getting 2024 vibes from this year’s group. “Not even in any way, shape or form,” he said. “We’ve just got to take care of business.” They get a first shot at redemption Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024.NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety” Related From Our Partner
Alaska Airlines and UP.Labs launch Odysee, an AI-enabled startup taking a new approach to schedule optimization (PRNewsfoto/Alaska Airlines) Daily year-round service will seamlessly connect our guests between the nation's capital and one of our key West Coast hubs SEATTLE , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines is proud to announce new nonstop service between San Diego International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), becoming the only airline to offer this direct route and enhance connectivity to the nation's capital. Tickets will soon be available for purchase on www.alaskaair.com . On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation approved our application as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024 to operate roundtrip service between San Diego and DCA. For nearly 40 years, we've proudly served San Diego with the exceptional and caring service that we're known for. We've connected our guests to DCA since 2001 and today offer nonstop service from Seattle , Portland , San Francisco and Los Angeles . "We are pleased the DOT sees the value of Alaska providing direct service between San Diego and DCA, and we thank the many leaders, local businesses and organizations who supported our bid," said CEO Ben Minicucci. "This new route reflects our commitment to San Diego , home of the nation's largest military community, and offers our guests a seamless travel option to our nation's capital." "Today is a great day for the San Diego Region with the announcement of a new, nonstop flight to Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport. This flight will further connect our growing defense, research and innovation economies to our leaders in the Capitol," said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria . "Securing this flight was a team effort by our partners from Alaska Airlines, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, and our congressional delegation. I especially want to thank U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker for selecting San Diego as one of the five new DCA flight slot recipients." As the carrier with the most nonstop destinations from San Diego , Alaska will offer 40 nonstop destinations and more than 70 peak-day departures when our new service to DCA begins. Together with our Global Partners, we offer one-stop service from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to more than 330 destinations.* Currently, SAN has the greatest number of passengers of any U.S. airport without service to DCA. Whether you're flying nonstop or catching a connecting a flight at SAN, www.alaskaair.com has options for what works best for you: you can book flights on 22 partner airlines or redeem Mileage Plan miles, all on our site. "We are very pleased Alaska Airlines has received approval to begin nonstop service between San Diego International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport," said Kimberly J. Becker , president and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. " San Diego has been the largest origin-destination market without service to Reagan National Airport and it has significant defense, biotech, and communications technology sectors that require efficient access to the core of the national capital region. This new nonstop route will greatly enhance the connectivity between these two strategic regions for business and our leisure passengers." Alaska's elevated travel experience offers a blend of comfort and caring service for a seamless journey, including no change fees, the most legroom in First Class* and Premium Class, satellite Wi-Fi and the most generous Mileage Plan with the fastest path to elite status. Savor the best of West Coast-inspired food and beverages, including complimentary snacks and chef-curated meals. With access to Alaska Lounge locations for members and First Class guests on flights more than 2,000 miles, you can unwind in ultimate comfort before take-off. Building off our newest Lounge in San Francisco , we're set to nearly double our footprint in 3 years. We recently announced a plan to continue expanding our Lounge program, including in San Diego and Honolulu , followed by a new world-class Lounge in Seattle to support international service. We'll begin with an expanded Anchorage Lounge early next year and open our new Portland Lounge in 2026. In September, we began adding more Premium Class seating across our mainline fleet, including our 900ERs, 800s and MAX9s. We plan to increase our 737-800 First Class seats from 12 to 16 to make it easy for our guests to upgrade and meet the demand for premium seating. In First Class, our new premium seating will provide a calf rest, new seatback device holder, 6-way headrest with neck support and USB-C charging capabilities. In our 737-800 Main Cabin and Premium Class, guests will continue to experience comfort and convenience at every seat with improved features, including new device holders with built in cup holders, USB-C charging and a 6-way headrest with dedicated neck support. About Alaska Air Group Alaska Air Group, Inc. is based in Seattle and comprised of subsidiaries Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc., Horizon Air and McGee Air Services. With our recent acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, we now serve more than 140 destinations throughout North America , Central America, Asia and across the Pacific. We are committed to safety, remarkable customer care, operational excellence, financial performance and sustainability. Alaska Airlines is a member of the one world Alliance. With one world and our additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Book travel throughout the Pacific on Hawaiian Airlines at hawaiianairlines.com . Learn more about Alaska Airlines at news.alaskaair.com and Hawaiian Airlines at newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com/blog . Alaska Air Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as "ALK." View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alaska-airlines-selected-to-connect-san-diego-and-ronald-reagan-washington-national-airport-with-nonstop-service-302334277.html SOURCE ALASKA AIRLINESIN FOCUS: 5 years since Singapore's PMD footpath ban, are pedestrians safer?
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Mod Streamlines Conditions For Ukrainian Arms ProducersIn a significant breakthrough for biomedical research and drug development, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have introduced an innovative open-source AI model named Boltz-1. This powerful tool accelerates understanding biomolecular structures, a critical aspect of developing new drugs and therapies. Developed by researchers at the MIT Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning in Health, Boltz-1 marks a pivotal milestone as the first fully open-source model that rivals the advanced capabilities of Google’s AlphaFold3. This new model promises to democratize access to cutting-edge tools in structural biology, enabling researchers around the globe to collaborate and advance scientific knowledge. Leading the development of Boltz-1 were MIT graduate students, Jeremy Wohlwend and Gabriele Corso, alongside Saro Passaro, a research affiliate at the Jameel Clinic, and esteemed MIT professors Regina Barzilay and Tommi Jaakkola. AI model Wohlwend expressed the ambition behind Boltz-1, stating, “We hope for this to be a starting point for the community. We chose the name Boltz-1 to signify that this is not the end of the line. We are eager for contributions from researchers around the world.” The role of proteins in biological processes cannot be overstated; their shape directly influences their function. Thus, predicting and understanding protein structure is vital for designing new drugs and engineering proteins for specific uses. However, the complex folding process of amino acid chains into 3D structures has been challenging for researchers for many years. DeepMind’s earlier models, like AlphaFold2—whose creators were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry—have made significant strides in accurately predicting protein structures. However, criticisms arose when AlphaFold3, which builds upon AlphaFold2 by incorporating a generative AI model, was only partially open-source and commercially available. This prompted the scientific community to seek alternative solutions, leading to the development of AI-based Boltz-1. Improving drug discovery The MIT team began by replicating the foundational approach of AlphaFold3 AI. They then delved into the underlying generative diffusion model, identifying enhancements that improved accuracy and efficiency. The result is not only the documentation of the model but also the entire pipeline for training and fine-tuning Boltz-1, which the team has made available for other scientists to utilize and build upon. Regina Barzilay, a professor and member of the development team, praised her colleagues’ dedication, saying, “I am immensely proud of everyone involved in bringing Boltz-1 to fruition. This project demanded countless hours of hard work, and we are excited about exploring further improvements in the future.” The journey to develop Boltz-1 had its challenges. Wohlwend noted that navigating the ambiguity in data from the Protein Data Bank—a comprehensive repository of biomolecular structures—required extensive domain knowledge and perseverance. Yet, their rigorous experimentation confirmed that Boltz-1 achieves accuracy levels comparable to AlphaFold3 across various complex molecular predictions. Peer recognition for the project has been overwhelmingly positive. Biomedical research Tommi Jaakkola hailed the team’s achievements , stating, “What they’ve accomplished is remarkable. Their hard work will make biomolecular structure prediction more accessible and will revolutionize advancements in molecular sciences.” The team is committed to improving Boltz-1, streamlining prediction times, and enhancing its capabilities. They encourage researchers to explore the model through its GitHub repository and engage with fellow users via Slack. Mathai Mammen, CEO of Parabilis Medicines, praised Boltz-1 as a “breakthrough” model. He explained that by open-sourcing their advancements, the MIT team democratizes essential structural biology tools, which could significantly expedite the development of transformative medicines. As researchers look to the future, Wohlwend stated, “There are many years of work ahead to enhance these models. We are excited to collaborate and see how the community utilizes this tool.” With the launch of Boltz-1, the MIT team has made strides in science and set the stage for collaborative innovation in biomedical research.Mavericks hit year-end turbulence with Luka Doncic out with calf strain