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The world according to Jim: • Sad to say, but the evidence is mounting that the traditional bowl game, historically considered an end-of-season reward for all of the toil that college football players put in during the year, might be reaching its expiration date. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin may have been the loudest voice, willing to call out the current procedure as a “dumb system,” but I’d guarantee he wasn’t and isn’t the only coach complaining about the perfect storm of the early signing period and opening of the transfer portal coming right on the heels of the end of the sport’s regular season and right before the bowls. Or maybe we should just refer to them as “non-playoff games,” as differentiated from those games, beginning this weekend, that really have something at stake. ... • The main impact, of course, is that players intending to transfer – as well as those who are already thinking about their NFL draft status – are more inclined to skip the bowl game. Really, since the choice exists and their futures are at stake here, can you blame them? ... • But the issue really came into stark relief this past week. Marshall, scheduled to face Army in the Independence Bowl – um, actually the “Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl” – pulled out because it ran out of players. Marshall head coach Charles Huff, who was in the final year of his contract, took the Southern Mississippi job, and more than 20 players immediately hit the portal. (For those familiar with the school’s nickname, this was a different sort of Thundering Herd.) Could the Radiance Techologies people, whoever they are, have come up with enough NIL money to convince those players to stay just one more game? We’ll never know. Instead, Louisiana Tech – a 5-7 team during the regular season, but conveniently located an hour’s drive from the game site in Shreveport – took Marshall’s place. ... • This reminds us of the 2021 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. UCLA was scheduled to play North Carolina State, but a little more than five hours before kickoff the Bruins had to bow out because a COVID-19 outbreak depleted their defensive line. • As it turned out, four other bowl games that year were canceled and two others had to replace teams that pulled out, in the days of the Omicron variant. That was unforeseen, although by then we were deep enough into the pandemic that it shouldn’t have been a total surprise. (And the portal, first instituted in 2018, was just beginning to turn college football into a form of mass free agency.) The date that the portal opens now practically invites bowl opt-outs, so this should be not at all surprising. Indeed, it’s another example of how the leadership void at the top of college sports has turned the whole enterprise, and especially football, into one big squirrel derby. ... • That description, incidentally, came from a football guy: Gene Murphy, the late Cal State Fullerton (and later Fullerton JC) coach who had, shall we say, a distinctive way with the language. The definition of squirrel derby: Utter chaos. ... • Can we blame Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette for this trend? Both skipped bowl games at the end of 2016 to prepare for the NFL draft (and to avoid the risk of an injury that could send them spiraling on draft lists). Stanford’s McCaffrey skipped the Sun Bowl and LSU’s Fournette the Citrus Bowl. It was an outlier then but wouldn’t be for long. ... • So what happens the first time a player on one of the playoff teams decides to opt out? The suspicion here: He certainly wouldn’t be helping his draft status. ... • Along those same lines, would anyone else in the NFL dare take a chance on soon to be former 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell now? As you might expect, after Campbell declined to play in the second half last week against the Rams, and then walked to the locker room during the fourth quarter, the club suspended him for the rest of the regular season and cleared out his locker. Whatever the player’s reasons, if you’re a coach or a personnel guy would you even think of signing someone who walked out on his previous team in such an egregious fashion? Opting out is one thing. Flat out quitting is another. ... • We are now approaching the third anniversary of the schoolyard 3-pointer seen around the world, the half-court (or so) shot that third-grade teacher and former college player Kathleen Fitzpatrick (aka Ms. Fitz) sank, earning her entire class at Holy Trininty School in Georgetown hot chocolate. That clip never gets old. ... • What seems less relevant, NBA fans? The NBA Cup final, or the league’s attempt to reinvent an All-Star Game that has become increasingly unwatchable? ... • Reminder: From the moment the banner celebrating the “in-season tournament” championship went up on the wall at the Arena Formerly Known As Staples Center a year ago, the Lakers lost 11 of their next 15. So when the Milwaukee Bucks talk about using this year’s mini-title as an impetus toward a real one in June, take it for what it’s worth (i.e., not much). ... • If they need a reminder, Darvin Ham – Lakers head coach then, Bucks assistant now – can provide it. Related Articles College Sports | Alexander: Chargers’ playoff hopes dwindle as margin for error shrinks College Sports | Alexander: Melissa Ludtke recalls her battle for access College Sports | Alexander: Golden at-bat? It would only tarnish baseball College Sports | Alexander: Trojans’ season filled with valuable lessons College Sports | Alexander: Kings goalie Erik Portillo can be proud after dazzling NHL debut Ham’s Lakers had the same record through 27 games last season, 15-12, that JJ Redick’s team has at the same point this year. Last year’s team finished 47-35 with a roster full of play-in level players beyond LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and there’s not that much difference in talent level this year. In an interview with Andscape Ham noted, “Anywhere else I’m probably looking at an extension with what I did.” He’s not wrong, and that’s the savage part of Laker Exceptionalism. ... • Their best plan right now? Try to work a couple more of those weeks off for LeBron into the middle of the schedule. The most recent one seemed to have the desired effect. The goal has to be to make sure he’s at his best by playoff time, and if that means running afoul of the league’s load management standards, so be it. jalexander@scng.comPalvella 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]Former President Jimmy Carter left one last parting gift for president-elect Donald Trump after his death at 100 on Sunday. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs , the American flag should fly at “half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president.” This means that on Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, all flags will be at half-staff in honor of the late president. The longest-living U.S. commander-in-chief, Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia, his son, Chip, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday. Trump sent his condolences to Carter’s family in a Truth Social post Sunday, writing: “Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.” He added: “Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.” One last gift from Jimmy Carter, all flags will be at half-staff on Inauguration Day pic.twitter.com/vQsl8wlrXY Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continue to bolster the box office’s holiday performance, with both films raking in over $60 million this week. After an initial disappointing opening weekend, Disney’s prequel to its beloved tale bounced back over the Christmas stretch, bringing in a domestic total of around $63.8 million since Wednesday. Meanwhile, Sonic 3 trailed slightly behind with an estimated gross of $60.4 million since Christmas. As both films continue to perform well domestically and overseas, other new releases like Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu also found surprising wins at the holiday box office—with the vampire flick posting $40.3 million during its five-day opening. Elsewhere, the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown , is also on course to gross $23.3 million over the five-day Christmas stretch, while Nicole Kidman’s raunchy erotica for A24, Babygirl , reported a $7 million five-day opening. Wicked also continues to defy gravity, posting a global gross of $634.4 million and surpassing Mamma Mia! as the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation of all time. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Boxing Week sales are still in full swing, folks! As an avid J.Crew fan , I can honestly say that the brand’s discount-laden factory store (the brand’s online outlet) is a great way to get high-quality wardrobe staples without the big price tag. J.Crew Factory always offers discounts up to 40 percent off J.Crew, but for a limited time, you can unlock even more savings from already discounted items. Right now, J.Crew Factory is offering 70 percent off clearance items with the code SALE70 at checkout. Now’s the time to invest in evergreen staples like jeans and office-friendly blazers while they’re half off, or grab a few outwear essentials to round out your cold-weather lineup. The sale also includes tons of denim for just $50, pure cotton crewneck T-shirts for $20, and even new arrivals like NYE frocks and cashmere items. And the sale is not just for women; the gents’ and kids’ sections are equally full of additional savings. President Joe Biden let slip last year that former President Jimmy Carter asked him to give his eulogy—over a year before he died. Biden, 82, revealed the request after Carter, then 98, entered hospice care at his longtime home in Plains, Georgia in February 2023. “He asked me to do his eulogy,” Biden told a crowd of donors at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser about one month later. But Biden quickly caught himself, telling the donors “excuse me, I shouldn’t say that.” Carter died on Sunday, over two months after turning 100, his family confirmed. Speaking to reporters on Sunday night, Biden reflected on his decades-long relationship with the former president. “I’ve been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years, it dawned on me,” the president said. “He used to kid me about it, that I was the first national figure to endorse him in 1976 when he ran for president.” Biden did not comment again on the proposed eulogy when he addressed the public. The president said he would be ordering a state funeral for Carter—the first since the death of former President George H.W. Bush in 2018. A TV news reporter was assaulted by a Colorado man who shouted during the attack, “This is Trump’s America now!” criminal court documents allege. Arrested on Dec. 18 in Grand Junction, Patrick Thomas Egan, 39, was held on suspicion of bias-motivated crimes, second-degree assault, and harassment. According to an arrest affidavit in the case, Egan allegedly followed the car of KKCO/KJCT reporter Ja’Ron Alex while he was on assignment, and told him at a stoplight: “Are you even a US citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a marine and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” He then allegedly tackled Alex and put him in a headlock where he “began to strangle him” before his co-workers intervened and helped. Witnesses also said that it looked like Alex was having difficulty breathing during the attack, which the Associated Press reports was caught on surveillance footage. Alex later told police he believed he was targeted because he is a Pacific Islander. Egan is slated to appear in court on Jan. 2 to determine if formal charges will be filed. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “ CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S. Kieran Culkin once got Mark Ruffalo high while on the job after switching out a prop joint with the real thing. In a profile with The Guardian published Saturday, Culkin recalled the prank his 17-year-old self concocted while starring alongside Ruffalo in an off-Broadway play in 2000, and explained that he “just watched” as Ruffalo took a draw of the “fake” joint before passing it to his co-stars on stage. “I’m like, ‘I thought this was a good prank. I’m stupid. Oh my God, I’m so sorry.’ But actually, they loved it,” Culkin remembered. “Mark says, ‘I haven’t smoked pot in 10 years; the second half’s going to be so much fun.’ There was this other actor who had never smoked pot in her life. She goes, ‘Is this what being high is? This is lovely.’ And then Phyllis Newman comes in and goes, ‘I haven’t smoked pot since the 1960s. Thank you, darling.’” The Succession star proceeded to express that he was “17 and stupid” and added, “I’m 42 now. I know better. I’m not going to try to get anyone high on stage.” President-elect Donald Trump is now the oldest living former U.S. president after Jimmy Carter’s passing at 100 on Sunday. Born in 1946, Trump is 78 years old—and is followed by George W. Bush, also 78, who was born just 22 days later. Bill Clinton, 78 himself, was also born in August 1946. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden, 82, is now the oldest living U.S. president and will be the oldest former president after Trump’s inauguration in January next year. Barack Obama is the youngest living former president at 63. Carter’s death was confirmed by his son Chip in a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday. He died at his home in Plains, Georgia at 3:45 p.m. after entering hospice care in February 2023. Trump remembered the longest-living U.S. president in a Truth Social post Sunday, writing: “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.” Loved ones of Hudson Meek, the teen actor who died in a car accident last week, gathered to celebrate his life on Saturday. The “celebration of life” service, held at a Baptist church in Homewood, Alabama, was livestreamed on the Baby Driver star’s Instagram. Several of the loved ones shared their favorite memories of the 16-year-old, and a choir sang in tribute. Fans expressed their appreciation for the service and their condolences in the comment section. “Wonderful celebration of Hudson’s life,” wrote user @melindaeubankswest, while @jeanniecmom added, “Praying for Hudson’s family at this difficult time. Fellow teen actor Grace Culwell shared in the comments that she was in attendance, writing: ”Such a beautiful service & so glad we were able to be there. Sending so much love & prayers to you all.” Meek died on Dec. 21 in from injuries sustained during a fall from a moving car on Dec. 19 in his hometown, Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Meek was known best for appearing in the 2017 crime movie Baby Driver alongside Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx. A post shared by Hudson Meek (@hudsonmeek) Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were spotted enjoying themselves at Jeff Bezos ’ holiday party at a high-end sushi restaurant in Colorado, on Saturday. The power couple appeared smiling and holding hands in photos, published by Page Six, that showed them departing the gathering at Matsuhisa’s location in Aspen. Their invite came after Bezos traveled to Mar-a-Lago earlier this month to bend the knee to her father, President-elect Donald Trump. Saturday’s event appeared to serve as a date night for Trump’s eldest daughter and his former adviser after they attended his Mar-a-Lago Christmas gala earlier this week alongside their three kids. The pair kept it casual for the gathering—Kushner wore a dark-teal button-down and black slacks, while Trump donned a brown suede dress, a tan leather jacket, and a pair of high-heel boots. Page Six reported that actor Kevin Costner also made an appearance at the party after being spotted earlier with Jennifer Lopez at a different nearby spot, although she was not at the Amazon founder’s event. Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez shot down rumors last week that they had married in the same resort town where the gathering was held. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur . It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black , vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini. Two Sasquatch hunters were found dead after they went missing while searching for the mythical beast on Christmas Eve . The men, aged 37 and 59, were found after a 60-strong volunteer search and rescue team joined authorities in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State . They had intended to be home for Christmas Day, but a family member reported them missing to Skamania County authorities after they didn’t return by the morning. Police said the harsh weather conditions and their ill-preparedness for the forest contributed to the men’s deaths. Seven law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard used canines, drones, ground teams and helicopters to locate them. “Their exhaustive search efforts resulted in bringing family members home to their loved ones,” the sheriff’s office said of the search teams. The force extended their “deepest sympathies and condolences to the families” involved. Andy Cohen’s biggest gripe with CNN star and New Year’s Eve partner-in-crime Anderson Cooper? Cooper’s annual giggle fit. Cohen explained to People why the anchor’s unceasing laughter adds extra chaos throughout their annual special. “Well, [it’s] that I have to be the straight guy,” Cohen said. “Literally, he’s in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I’m the one that’s hitting all the commercial breaks.” Cohen said he turns “into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes” while Cooper becomes “Mr. Bravo.” “It’s a very funny role reversal,” the Bravo star said. The longtime friends have hosted the CNN event together since 2017 after former co-host Kathy Griffin was booted in the wake of backlash for posing with a mask depicting the severed head of Donald Trump. Cohen and Cooper have found themselves in various antics since then— some alcoholic , some not —leading to Cooper’s own frustrations with the Bravo host. Cooper joked on Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live earlier this month that he constantly worries about “who [Cohen’s] gonna insult and what the clean up on aisle 3 is gonna be in the morning.”

Elon Musk hits out at Sydney Morning Herald for ‘boring audiences to death’Donald Trump transfers £3 billion of Trump Media shares to trustMesut Dogan I previously assigned a “Sell” rating on Oracle Corporation ( NYSE: ORCL ) in September 2024, highlighting their partnership with Amazon ( AMZN ). Oracle delivered 9% revenue growth and 10% adjusted EPS growth for Q2 Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Donald Trump transfers £3 billion of Trump Media shares to trust

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A company spokesperson confirmed Thursday evening that the e-commerce giant will also stream Trump’s inauguration on its Prime Video service, a separate in-kind donation worth another $1 million. Earlier in the day, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. Amazon’s plans — first reported by The Wall Street Journal — came after Trump said Thursday morning that the company’s founder, Jeff Bezos, planned to visit him next week. The two men feuded in the past. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. The Biden administration later pursued a contract with both Amazon and Microsoft. More recently, Bezos struck a more conciliatory tone. Last week, he said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term while also endorsing the president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. In October, Bezos did not allow the Post to endorse a presidential candidate, a move that led to tens of thousands of people canceling their subscriptions and to protests from journalists with a deep history at the newspaper. At the time, Bezos wrote in an op-ed in the newspaper that editorial endorsements create a perception of bias at a time when many Americans don’t believe the media. Separately, the donation from Meta, which also was first reported by the Journal, came just weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the offering Thursday. Stephen Miller, who was appointed deputy chief of staff for Trump’s second term, said Zuckerberg, like other business leaders, wants to support Trump’s economic plans. The tech CEO seeks to change his company’s perception on the right following a rocky relationship with Trump. Trump was kicked off Facebook after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The company restored his account in early 2023. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. This year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly during the campaign. In July, he posted a message on his own Truth Social platform threatening to send election fraudsters to prison in part by citing a nickname he used for the Meta CEO. “ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!” Trump wrote. Corporations traditionally made up a large share of donors to presidential inaugurals, with an exception in 2009, when then-President-elect Barack Obama refused to accept corporate donations. He reversed course for his second inaugural in 2013. Facebook did not donate to either Biden’s 2021 inaugural or Trump’s 2017 inaugural. Google donated $285,000 each to Trump’s first inaugural and Biden’s inaugural, according to Federal Election Commission records. Inaugural committees are required to disclose the source of their fundraising, but not how they spend the money. Microsoft gave $1 million to Obama’s second inaugural, but only $500,000 to Trump in 2017 and Biden in 2021. Amazon donated roughly $58,000 to Trump’s 2017 inaugural, much lower than than $1 million it now plans to donate. The company also streamed Biden’s inauguration on Prime Video in 2021.

A number of tech billionaires — including many who have not previously backed Trump — are beginning to open their pocketbooks for President-elect Donald Trump , contributing large amounts of money to his inaugural fund . Among them are Amazon's Jeff Bezos, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Meta's Mark Zuckerberg. Their donations triggered a furious reaction from many commenters on social media. "REMINDER: Jeff Bezos blocked his Washington Post from endorsing VP Harris — now Bezos gives Trump one million dollars to his inaugural committee and Amazon will stream the event!!" progressive talk radio host Dean Obeidallah wrote on X. "The US is a plutocracy!" David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, warned that things won't go well for the donors. "Because he owns The Washington Post, Bezos would know more than anyone that one of the first scandals in the first Trump term was the excess and graft involved in Trump’s inauguration operation, orchestrated by the cast of shady characters who put it all together," he wrote. "As for those business leaders cozying up to Trump to curry favor, they might want to read 'Garden of Beasts' to see the effectiveness of their strategy (or ask Justin Trudeau)." But it wasn't just liberals who were upset. Some pro-Trump commenters were also enraged at what they saw as attempts to influence the president-elect's agenda by a number of wealthy businessmen, some of whom have criticized him in the past . ALSO READ: The reckoning: Plenty of hurts coming for the people who didn't care about their country "Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos & Mark Zuckerberg are all donating $1,000,000 to Trump’s inaugural committee to try to 'get on the good foot' with the new administration," wrote right-wing podcaster Joey Mannarino. "Don’t be fooled. These men haven’t changed and $1,000,000 to them is sofa change. They’re bad actors. Period." "Tech titans like Zuckerberg, Bezos, and Sam Altman are throwing millions at Trump’s inaugural fund, probably hoping to avoid being hit with censorship crackdowns or personally blamed for the AI apocalypse (cough, Sam, cough)" wrote social media personality Mario Nawfal. "With Trump back in the driver’s seat, it seems Big Tech is hedging its bets by tossing cash at the problem. Translation: When in doubt, pay up and pray."

What’s open and closed over Christmas and New Year’s in OttawaGabriel, Hunter, Jeanty, Ward named Heisman finalists

S ince Donald Trump won the US election, Steve Nelson has been busier than ever. The veteran Washington recruitment agent is used to a high turnover of jobs whenever the White House changes hands but nothing comes close to the scramble to escape Trump’s plans to “dismantle the deep state” and overhaul the US government. Twice as many staff than in previous transitions are clamouring for a parachute before Trump takes office on January 20, he said, amid panic about cost-cutting, threats to uproot or close agencies and a reluctance to carry out Trump’s policies. The president-elect is expected to sign an executive order on day one removing job-for-life protections from tens of thousands of career civil servants beyond the 4,000 political appointees who come and go with different administrations. Critics say the move will take America back towards the “spoils” system of patronage that was largely replaced by a merit-based civil service system 140 years ago.(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .

AP News Summary at 2:23 p.m. ESTRock Island denies permit for Del's to expand junk yard operation

B.C. Premier David Eby says his party has reached an agreement in principle with the B.C. Greens to ensure "stable governance" for the next four years. The agreement, subject to annual reviews, spells out the basis on which B.C. Greens provide "confidence" to the B.C. NDP and areas where the parties will work together. They include healthcare, where the B.C. NDP will support the growth of Community Health Centres, a key proposal of the B.C. Greens during the election campaign. Other key elements include housing with the government actively supporting efforts by various groups to "protect, purchase and build 30,000 units of non-market housing" over the next four years with 7,500 units as a goal by the end of 2025. Electoral reform also makes a return with the establishment of a special commitment to "review and consider preferred methods of proportional representation" as part of deliberations designed to "increase democratic engagement, address increasing political polarization, and improve the representativeness of government." The agreement does "not lay out the full program" of government "nor does it presume support" for "initiatives and other matters not addressed within this agreement" but gives Eby's government more stability once the legislature returns next year. The agreement echoes without replicating the confidence-and-supply agreement of 2017 that allowed the B.C NDP to return after 16 years in opposition as a minority government with the help of three B.C. Greens. The B.C. NDP currently holds 47 seats, enough for a bare majority, while the B.C. Greens hold two seats. More to come...By BARBARA ORTUTAY, AP Technology Writer Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters said they visit YouTube every day. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. This small decline could be due to pandemic-era restrictions easing up and kids having more time to see friends in person, but it’s not enough to be truly meaningful . X saw the biggest decline among teenage users. Only 17% of teenagers said they use X, down from 23% in 2022, the year Elon Musk bought the platform. Reddit held steady at 14%. About 6% of teenagers said they use Threads, Meta’s answer to X that launched in 2023. The report comes as countries around the world are grappling with how to handle the effects of social media on young people’s well-being. Australia recently passed a law banning kids under 16 from social networks, though it’s unclear how it will be able to enforce the age limit — and whether it will come with unintended consequences such as isolating vulnerable kids from their peers. Related Articles National News | Fewer US grandparents are taking care of grandchildren, according to new data National News | Luigi Mangione’s arrest thrust his family into the spotlight. Who are the Mangiones of Baltimore? National News | Companies tighten security after a health care CEO’s killing leads to a surge of threats National News | Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge National News | Unidentified drones spotted flying at locations across NYC, including LaGuardia Airport Meta’s messaging service WhatsApp was a rare exception in that it saw the number of teenage users increase, to 23% from 17% in 2022. Pew also asked kids how often they use various online platforms. Small but significant numbers said they are on them “almost constantly.” For YouTube, 15% reported constant use, for TikTok, 16% and for Snapchat, 13%. As in previous surveys, girls were more likely to use TikTok almost constantly while boys gravitated to YouTube. There was no meaningful gender difference in the use of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Roughly a quarter of Black and Hispanic teens said they visit TikTok almost constantly, compared with just 8% of white teenagers. The report was based on a survey of 1,391 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10, 2024.By Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In its latest jab at Beijing, the U.S. will empower companies like Google and Microsoft to act as gatekeepers worldwide for highly sought-after access to AI chips, two people familiar with the draft plan said. Under the regime, to be released as soon as this month, these companies would have to comply with strict requirements, from reporting key information to the U.S. government to blocking Chinese access to AI chips. That would permit them to offer AI capabilities within the cloud overseas without a license, the sources said. The new rules, some of whose details are being reported for the first time, show officials are scrambling in the waning days of the Biden administration to streamline the process for approving AI chip exports while also preventing bad actors from accessing them. The U.S. fears China could harness the power of AI to supercharge its military, unleash powerful cyber attacks or even train a bioweapon. The Commerce Department declined to comment on the content and timing of the new regulations. Sources cautioned the administration's plans may change. Alphabet's Google and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure takes a page from a national security agreement Microsoft inked with the U.S. government in April allowing it to provide AI technology to Emirati firm G42, the people said, whose historic ties to China fueled worry in Washington. Under the new draft rules, other companies beyond those with gatekeeper status will compete for licenses to import a smaller number of high-end Nvidia and AMD artificial intelligence chips in each country, one of the sources said. Nvidia, which makes the world’s most powerful AI chips, said it is ready to work with the administration on the rules. AMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Exempted from the regime's caps would be 19 allied countries like the Netherlands and Japan plus Taiwan, which would have unlimited access to the AI chips or the capability they provide, two of the sources said. Also outside the framework would be a list of nuclear embargoed countries, including Russia, China, Iran and Venezuela, which are already blocked from acquiring U.S. AI semiconductors and would remain so. The U.S. government is conducting a final review of an "Artificial Intelligence Diffusion" rule drafted by the Commerce Department, according to a government posting this week, indicating it may be closing in on publication. Three sources said the posting referred to the AI caps. The Information Technology Industry Council, an advocacy association whose members include AMD and Google, is concerned the Biden administration is rushing the complex rule out without industry input that could head off adverse consequences. “If reports are accurate, such changes would dramatically expand the scope of export controls and have significant global implications," Naomi Wilson, the council’s senior vice president of Asia and global trade policy, said in a statement. The rules build on a program unveiled in September that gives permission to pre-approved data centers overseas to receive AI chips without a license, two sources said. To achieve that status, data centers must provide information about customers, business activities, access restrictions and cybersecurity. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Chris Sanders and Chizu Nomiyama)

Amazon, Meta each donate $1M to Trump’s inauguration fundUnwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire Tablets

BREAKING: B.C. NDP and B.C. Greens sign 'stable governance' agreementRevolutionizing Supply Chain Resilience with Multi-Tier Criticality Management (MTCM)SUZHOU, China , Dec. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hangzhou Sino-US Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as " Huadong Medicine "), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. (SZ.000963), and SynerK PharmaTech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "SynerK") have reached a strategic cooperation. The two parties will jointly develop the small nucleic acid (siRNA) drug SNK-2726, targeting angiotensinogen (AGT) for the treatment of hypertension. Huadong Medicine has obtained the exclusive option, once exercised, for the right to develop, register, manufacture and commercialize the drug in Greate r China. SynerK owns intellectual property rights of SNK-2726, which is currently in the IND filing preparation stage. According to the agreement, the two parties will jointly develop SNK-2726 to a certain stage. At the same time, Huadong Medicine obtains the exclusive option and may pay the exercise fee in the future to obtain the rights for exclusive development, registration, production and commercialization of SNK-2726 in Greater China . After Huadong Medicine exercises its rights, SynerK will also be entitled to receive subsequent R&D milestones and sales milestones, as well as tiered loyalties based on net sales after commercialization. Dr. Tao Lan, CEO of SynerK, said: "We are very excited about the opportunity to cooperate with Huadong Medicine . Huadong Medicine's corporate philosophy of 'scientific research-based and patient-centered' coincides with our mission of 'changing patients' lives.' This cooperation further demonstrates the potential of SynerK's GalNexus siRNA platform. Through this 1+1>2 collaborative effort, we expect to accelerate the development of SNK-2726 and bring new treatment options to patients." Lv Liang, chairman and general manager of Huadong Medicine , said: "We are very pleased to reach this strategic cooperation with SynerK to develop the innovative siRNA drug SNK-2726 together. SynerK has novel nucleic acid drug technology platforms with independent intellectual property rights. Huadong Medicine will use its deep accumulation in innovative drug research and development and rich experience in clinical and commercialization of drugs in the cardiovascular field. Through close cooperation with SynerK, we will jointly accelerate the development of SNK-2726 and benefit more hypertensive patients as soon as possible." About SNK-2726 SNK-2726, with independent intellectual property rights owned by SynerK, is a subcutaneous RNAi drug targeting angiotensinogen (AGT). It is being developed for the treatment of hypertension and is currently in the IND application preparation stage. AGT is the upstream precursor in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). AGT in the blood circulation is produced mainly by the liver. Inhibiting the production of AGT can effectively block the activity of the RAAS system and reduce blood pressure. Preclinical study results showed that SNK-2726 can potently inhibit the synthesis of AGT in the liver and has prolonged effects, which can lead to a stable and continuous decrease of AGT, and ultimately lower blood pressure. About SynerK SynerK is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development of RNA-targeted therapies. It operates in the USA ( Boston, MA ) and China (Suzhou and Beijing ). The cofounders are industry experts with rich experience in nucleic acid drug discovery and development. SynerK aims to build a world-class RNA-targeted therapeutic company by developing products that have the potential to be first-in-class or best-in-class treatments, targeting diseases that are difficult to cure with existing therapies. For more information, please visit: www.synerk.cn About Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. Huadong Medicine Co., Ltd. (stock code: 000963.SZ) was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Hangzhou , Zhejiang . The company adheres to the corporate philosophy of " scientific research-based and patient-centered." After more than 30 years of development, the company's business covers the entire pharmaceutical industry chain, with four major business segments: pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical business, aesthetic medicine, and industrial microbiology. It has developed into a listed, large-scale comprehensive pharmaceutical company integrating innovative pharmaceutical research and development, production, and distribution. In 2023, the company achieved operating income of 40.624 billion yuan , with more than 10,000 employees, and has extensive commercial coverage and marketing capabilities. For more information, please visit www.eastchinapharm.com SOURCE SynerK