LONDON — Pooches in pullovers paraded past Buckingham Palace on Saturday for a gathering of dogs in Christmas sweaters to raise funds for rescue charities. People and dogs take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday outside Buckingham Palace in central London. About 130 pets, and their owners, walked Saturday from St. James's Park and along the Mall, the wide boulevard that leads to the royal palace as part of the Christmas Jumper Parade. Flossie the dog barks Saturday during the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade in central London. Prizes were awarded for best-dressed pets, with contenders including canine Santas, puppy elves and a French bulldog dressed in a red beret and pink jacket adorned with red bows. People and dogs take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday in central London. The event was organized by Rescue Dogs of London and Friends to raise money for charities that rehome dogs from overseas. People take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday in central London. Christmas sweater animal parades have become something of an annual tradition in London. People and dogs take part in the Rescue Dogs of London and Friends Christmas Jumper Parade on Saturday outside Buckingham Palace in central London. There are more to come this year, including an event for corgis — the late Queen Elizabeth II's favorite breed — on Dec. 7 and the dachshund-friendly Hyde Park Sausage Walk on Dec 15. From bags of kibble in the grocery store to modern home sizes, things are getting smaller—and evidently, Americans are starting to look for furry friends that match. Small breeds like terriers and toys have largely dethroned the retrievers that once dominated the most popular breed rankings. This is a continuation of a trend that began in 2022 when the Labrador retriever lost its 31-year-long streak as #1 to the French bulldog, according to the American Kennel Club. This shift may be partially attributable to the rising costs of pet products and veterinary care since smaller dogs are more economical for tighter budgets. Moreover, as remote work and nomadic living become increasingly more common, smaller dogs may appeal to those looking for pets that require less space and are easier to transport. In fact, only two sporting dog breeds are the most popular in any American state—and neither is a Labrador retriever. The most popular dog overall represents 4% of all dogs in the country—constituting over 2.3 million out of 58 million households with dogs. Ollie used data from U.S. News & World Report to further explore which dog breeds are the most popular in which states and what factors may drive residents' preferences. Named after the northern Mexican state from which it originates, the Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed and one of the oldest, with a lineage that dates as far back as the ninth century. Today, the breed makes up a remarkable 4% of all dogs in the United States and is the most popular overall in 21 states. It ranks within the top five most common breeds in 42 states in total. Requiring just 200 to 250 calories per day but boasting a lifespan of 14 to 16 years, the Chihuahua offers owners low-cost longevity and is known for its adaptability and amusing personality. The French bulldog is a compact companion known for being friendly yet quiet, making it suitable for a range of lifestyles and homes. The breed has roots in the English bulldog, which was bred to a smaller size to accompany its working English owners, many of whom were artisans. As such trades closed amid the Industrial Revolution, these workers and their little bulldogs moved to France, where the breed's popularity began. The French developed a more standardized appearance which was iterated upon in the U.S. to develop the iconic bat ears. The breed has recently seen a massive increase in popularity, with AKC registrations surging by 1,000% between 2012 and 2022. Now, the French bulldog is the most popular dog in Florida, California, and Hawaii and is in the top five most common dogs in nearly half the remaining states. With webbed paws and an affinity for water, golden retrievers are lucky pups to be the favored breed of the Midwest. They are the most popular dogs in states bordering the Great Lakes—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio; the entirety of the New England region minus Rhode Island; plus North Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Virginia. The iconic golden breed was developed in 19th-century Scotland to retrieve both from land and water during hunts, hence its swimming-related adaptations. Golden retrievers are known for their affectionate nature and eagerness to please, making them well-suited for service and other working dog roles. As loyal as they are intelligent, German shepherds are among the favored breeds for guide, military, police, and search and rescue roles. The breed, which first arrived in America in the early 20th century, also enjoys peak popularity in Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Athletic in nature, the breed requires lots of exercise, making them well-suited for homes with or near lots of open land. They are also well-adapted to cold temperatures and harsher climates due to their thick double coats of fur. The shih tzu, whose name means "lion" in Chinese, is king of the Empire State (New York) as well as Iowa, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. Roughly a quarter of New York state residents live in apartments, making the dog that averages 9 to 16 pounds perfect for compact households. Despite being known for its playfulness, the breed does not require much physical activity or space. The breed dates back over 1,000 years but was first brought to America surprisingly recently, following World War II. According to the American Kennel Club, every shih tzu alive today has direct lineage to just 14 shih tzus that were saved when the breed nearly went extinct during the Communist revolution. Representing the best of both worlds, the golden retriever and poodle hybrid is known for its friendly, sociable demeanor and trainability. Bred to be guide dogs in the 1960s, the hybrid is not recognized as an official breed by the AKC, so there is no breed standard. Goldendoodles can thus range from mini-sized to about 90 pounds and may have fur that is curly, straight, or somewhere in between. While not official, the family-friendly dog has left paw prints all over the country, ranking in the top five most popular dogs in 37 states. In Idaho and Utah, the goldendoodle is the most popular overall. Maxing out at just 7 pounds, the Yorkshire terrier is the most popular breed among Maryland and Washington D.C. residents. This is not necessarily surprising considering the housing stock of the nation's capital is comprised mostly of apartment units, making the pint-sized pup perfect for metropolitans. The toy breed was bred to chase rats out of mines and mills in 19th-century England, arriving in North America in the 1870s and gaining official recognition by the AKC in 1885. Now, the breed is among the top five most common dogs in 26 states. The breed is a true terrier at heart, known for its feisty yet affectionate nature.' Additional research by Eliza Siegel. Story editing by Carren Jao. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. This story originally appeared on Ollie and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. 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Revenue grows 125% year over year Current hashrate surpasses 33.5 EH/s on track for 37 EH/s LAS VEGAS , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CleanSpark, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLSK) (the "Company"), America's Bitcoin Miner®, today reported financial results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 . "Our performance this year reflects a sustained growth trajectory, solidifying our position as one of the top Bitcoin miners in the world, as we move into an anticipated new bull market," said CleanSpark CEO Zach Bradford . "Reflecting on the past year, our results in FY 2024 and the positioning of the company going into 2025 demonstrated the wisdom of our counter-cyclical growth and capital allocation strategy. We produce durable, high performing growth and have been since our earliest days in Bitcoin mining," Bradford said. "CleanSpark has prioritized owned infrastructure as its core foundation, putting us in the best position to optimize our portfolio of data centers to drive ROI to our shareholders as we continue to rapidly deploy additional hashrate on our path to 37 EH by year-end and 50 EH and beyond in 2025." "We anticipated that there would be prime opportunities for M&A paired with organic growth, and over the past year we capitalized by adding 423 MWs to our operating portfolio bringing us to 726 MW, as of today. As we continue focusing on scale in FY 2025 and beyond, we will develop the remaining hundreds of MW in the near-term pipeline while always staying opportunistic," said Bradford. "The team produced our strongest year of financial performance to date, solidifying a track record of effective execution and keeping commitments to shareholders. This fiscal year included the fourth halving event in Bitcoin 's history, and our organizational commitment to operational excellence has allowed us to weather it more successfully than many of our industry peers," said CleanSpark CFO Gary Vecchiarelli . "Even with the halving event impacting block rewards and a significant increase in difficulty, our production outpaced both, yielding approximately 7,100 BTC thanks to our growth in hashrate and the efficiency improvements to our fleet. "CleanSpark's financial strength continued to grow in fiscal 2024," said Vecchiarelli. "Heading into 2025, we have significant scale and size, a healthy balance sheet, industry leading operations and a strong liquidity position, and we are well positioned to pursue diverse capital raising strategies," Vecchiarelli said. Financial Highlights: Full Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024 . Balance Sheet Highlights as of September 30, 2024 Assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity The Company had working capital of $517.5 million and $66.0 million of loans payable as of September 30, 2024 . 1 See "Non-GAAP Measure" and the related reconciliation below Investor Conference Call and Webcast The Company will hold its fiscal year 2024 earnings presentation and business update for investors and analysts today, December 2, 2024 , at 1:30 p.m. PT / 4:30 p.m. ET . Webcast URL: https://investors.cleanspark.com The webcast will be accessible for at least 30 days on the Company's website and a transcript of the call will be available on the Company's website following the call. About CleanSpark CleanSpark (Nasdaq: CLSK), America's Bitcoin Miner ® , is a market-leading, pure play bitcoin miner with a proven track record of success. We own and operate a portfolio of mining facilities across the United States powered by globally competitive energy prices. Sitting at the intersection of Bitcoin , energy, operational excellence and capital stewardship, we optimize our mining facilities to deliver superior returns to our shareholders. Monetizing low-cost, high reliability energy by securing the most important finite, global asset – Bitcoin – positions us to prosper in an ever-changing world. Visit our website at www.cleanspark.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, but may not be limited to, statements regarding the Company's expectations, beliefs, plans, intentions, and strategies. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "targets," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "forecasts," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the risk that the electrical power available to our facilities does not increase as expected; the success of its digital currency mining activities; the volatile and unpredictable cycles in the emerging and evolving industries in which we operate, including the volatility of BTC prices; increasing difficulty rates for bitcoin mining; bitcoin halving; new or additional governmental regulation; the anticipated delivery dates of new miners; the Company's ability to successfully completed acquisitions, including integration risks relating to completed and potential acquisitions, the ability to successfully deploy new miners; the dependency on utility rate structures and government incentive programs; dependency on third-party power providers for expansion efforts; the expectations of future revenue growth may not be realized; and other risks described in the Company's prior press releases and in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading "Risk Factors" in those filings. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as to the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of any new information, changed circumstances or future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Non-GAAP Measure The Company presents adjusted EBITDA, which is not a measurement of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"). The Company's non-GAAP "Adjusted EBITDA" excludes (i) impacts of interest, taxes, and depreciation; (ii) the Company's share-based compensation expense, unrealized gains/losses on securities, and, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration with respect to previously completed acquisitions, all of which are non-cash items that the Company believes are not reflective of the Company's general business performance, and for which the accounting requires management judgment, and the resulting expenses could vary significantly in comparison to other companies; (iii) non-cash impairment losses related to long-lived assets (including goodwill); (iv) realized gains and losses on sales of equity securities, the amounts of which are directly related to the unrealized gains and losses that are also excluded; (v) legal fees related to litigation and various transactions, which fees management does not believe are reflective of the Company's ongoing operating activities; (vi) gains and losses on disposal of assets, the majority of which are related to obsolete or unrepairable machines that are no longer deployed; (vii) gains and losses related to discontinued operations that would not be applicable to the Company's future business activities; and (viii) severance expenses. The Company previously excluded non-cash impairment losses related to digital assets and realized gains and losses on sales of bitcoin from its calculation of adjusted EBITDA, but has determined such items are part of the Company's normal ongoing operations and will no longer be excluding them from its calculation of adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that providing this non-GAAP financial measure that excludes these items allows for meaningful comparisons between the Company's core business operating results and those of other companies, and provides the Company with an important tool for financial and operational decision making and for evaluating its own core business operating results over different periods of time. In addition to management's internal use of non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA, management believes that adjusted EBITDA is also useful to investors and analysts in comparing the Company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis. Management believes the foregoing to be the case even though some of the excluded items involve cash outlays and some of them recur on a regular basis (although management does not believe any of such items are normal operating expenses necessary to generate the Company's bitcoin related revenues). For example, the Company expects that share-based compensation expense, which is excluded from adjusted EBITDA, will continue to be a significant recurring expense over the coming years and is an important part of the compensation provided to certain employees, officers, and directors. Additionally, management does not consider any of the excluded items to be expenses necessary to generate the Company's bitcoin related revenue. The Company's adjusted EBITDA measure may not be directly comparable to similar measures provided by other companies in our industry, as other companies in the Company's industry may calculate non-GAAP financial results differently. The Company's adjusted EBITDA is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to operating (loss) income or any other measure of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. Although management utilizes internally and presents adjusted EBITDA, the Company only utilizes that measure supplementally and does not consider it to be a substitute for, or superior to, the information provided by GAAP financial results. Accordingly, adjusted EBITDA is not meant to be considered in isolation of, and should be read in conjunction with, the information contained in the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. CLEANSPARK, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except par value and share amounts) September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 121,222 $ 29,215 Restricted cash 3,056 — Receivable for equity offerings — 9,590 Prepaid expense and other current assets 7,995 3,258 Bitcoin (See Note 2 and Note 6) 431,661 56,241 Receivable for bitcoin collateral (See Note 2 and Note 12) 77,827 — Note receivable from GRIID (see Note 7) 60,919 — Derivative investments 1,832 2,697 Investment in debt security, AFS, at fair value 918 726 Current assets held for sale — 445 Total current assets $ 705,430 $ 102,172 Property and equipment, net $ 869,693 $ 564,395 Operating lease right of use asset 3,263 688 Intangible assets, net 3,040 4,603 Deposits on miners and mining equipment 359,862 75,959 Other long-term asset 13,331 5,718 Goodwill 8,043 8,043 Total assets $ 1,962,662 $ 761,578 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 82,992 $ 39,900 Accrued liabilities 43,874 25,677 Other current liabilities 2,240 311 Current portion of loans payable 58,781 6,992 Current liabilities held for sale — 1,175 Total current liabilities $ 187,887 $ 74,055 Long-term liabilities Operating lease liability, net of current portion 997 519 Finance lease liability, net of current portion — 9 Loans payable, net of current portion 7,176 8,911 Deferred income taxes 5,761 2,416 Total liabilities $ 201,821 $ 85,910 Commitments and contingencies - Note 18 CLEANSPARK, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued) (in thousands, except par value and share amounts) September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 Stockholders' equity Preferred stock; $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; Series A shares; 2,000,000 authorized; 1,750,000 issued and outstanding (liquidation preference $0.02 per share) Series X shares; 1,000,000 and 0 authorized, issued and outstanding, respectively 3 2 Common stock; $0.001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 270,897,784 and 160,184,921 shares issued and outstanding, respectively 271 160 Additional paid-in capital 2,239,367 1,009,482 Accumulated other comprehensive income 418 226 Accumulated deficit (479,218) (334,202) Total stockholders' equity 1,760,841 675,668 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,962,662 $ 761,578 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. CLEANSPARK, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands, except per share and share amounts) For the year ended September 30, 2024 September 30, 2023 September 30, 2022 Revenues, net Bitcoin mining revenue, net $ 378,968 $ 168,121 $ 131,000 Other services revenue — 287 525 Total revenues, net $ 378,968 $ 168,408 $ 131,525 Costs and expenses Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown below) 165,516 93,580 41,234
Defamation: Abuja, Oyo courts bar further sale of Farotimi’s book
We’re all trying to save money this Christmas and cutting back on rising energy costs is one of the biggest ways to take back financial control. While we don’t want to deprive ourselves of Christmas cheer, the addition of festive lighting throughout our home is inevitably going to have an impact on our electricity bills. As it happens, you can dramatically reduce the added energy cost of Christmas, by simply opting for more efficient tree lighting. Read more: Parents issued warning over gifting e-scooters, scramblers and quad bikes to kids this Christmas Read more: Urgent recall issued on popular baby product due to choking hazard It turns out, using modern LED lights is the way to go, and will save you a fortune in comparison to older filament fairy lights. In addition, it’s crucial this year that households pay attention to how many hours per day they have their tree switched on. Using more energy efficient lights means you could only end up spending €1.10 for the entire festive season according to Paula Boston, visual merchandiser at retailer Festive Lights. “With rising electricity prices, it’s only natural to wonder if fairy lights, as pretty as they are, are going to cost you a small fortune. The answer, thankfully, is a resounding no,” she said. "Modern Christmas lights use LEDs rather than filament bulbs which are less energy efficient. “Plus, as they are designed to be decorative rather than offer practical lighting, they do tend to use relatively little electricity." That research was backed up by Martin Desmon of Wizer Energy who said people should be paying particular attention to the Christmas decorations being used by older generations, as they could be paying far more than necessary. "Rising energy costs are probably the biggest concern for people at the moment, myself included," said Martin. "Thankfully technology has come on leaps and bounds, LED bulbs are far more durable and energy efficient than the old incandescent bulbs, meaning there's no fear of racking up a sky-high bill come January"
Telehealth prescriptions should be available for more mental health and substance use patients, says commission
November 30 - A melee broke out at midfield of Ohio Stadium after Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday. After the Wolverines' fourth straight win in the series, players converged at the block "O" to plant its flag. The Ohio State players were in the south end zone singing their alma mater in front of the student section. When the Buckeyes saw the Wolverines' flag, they rushed toward the 50-yard line. Social media posts showed Michigan offensive lineman Raheem Anderson carrying the flag on a long pole to midfield, where the Wolverines were met by dozens of Ohio State players and fights broke out. Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer was seen ripping the flag off the pole and taking the flag as he scuffled with several people trying to recover the flag. A statement from the Ohio State Police Department read: "Following the game, officers from multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in breaking up an on-field altercation. During the scuffle, multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray. OSUPD is the lead agency for games and will continue to investigate." Michigan running back Kalel Mullings on FOX said: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. It's bad for the sport, bad for college football. At the end of the day, some people got to learn how to lose, man. "You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost the game. We had 60 minutes and four quarters to do all that fighting. Now people want to talk and fight. That's wrong. It's bad for the game. Classless, in my opinion. People got to be better." Once order was restored, officers cordoned the 50-yard line, using bicycles as barriers. Ohio State coach Ryan Day in his postgame press conference said he wasn't sure what happened. "I don't know all the details of it. But I know that these guys are looking to put a flag on our field and our guys weren't going to let that happen," he said. "I'll find out exactly what happened, but this is our field and certainly we're embarrassed at the fact we lost the game, but there's some prideful guys on our team that weren't just going to let that happen." The Big Ten has not yet released a statement on the incident. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
HONEYWELL AND BOMBARDIER SIGN LANDMARK AGREEMENT TO DELIVER THE NEXT GENERATION OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY; HONEYWELL UPDATES 2024 OUTLOOK
ATLANTA — Holidays are a time for families and friends to gather, but for older people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, it can cause so much stress and confusion that they could be in danger of what experts calls wandering. “I would say around the holiday time is the biggest challenge for people with dementia,” said Kim Franklin, senior manager of programs and services at the Georgia chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Schedules are changing, people are traveling, families are coming together and friends are coming over. There’s a lot of chaos going on and that can cause a person to wander. They want to get away. It’s hard for them to process what’s happening.” The Alzheimer’s Association reports 72 percent of dementia patients who wander are found alive by the next day. Alerting 911 as soon as the person goes missing is critical. The odds of survival decrease as more time passes. Angel Alonso, president of Georgia Emergency Search and Recovery based in Gwinnett County, said the vast majority — between 60 and 70 percent — of the 30 to 40 calls the nonprofit received last year involved people with the disease. “We get so many Alzheimer’s calls,” said Vice President John Clark, who is also volunteer instructor with the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. For caregivers and loved ones, a relative who goes missing is devastating. Two of Clark’s grandparents had dementia, so he gravitated to search and rescue to help other families and caregivers keep their loved ones safe. He’s consulted with police departments across metro Atlanta on the best ways to find people with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can cause people to lose their ability to recognize people and places that are familiar. According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are often warning signs that a person might wander. Six in 10 people with dementia will wander during the course of the disease. That includes people returning from a regular walk or drive later than usual. Or they may talk about fulfilling former obligations, such as going to work or talk about going home even when they’re at home. Sometimes they become restless and pace or make repetitive movements. Clark recounted one call for help when a family reported a missing relative, but they insisted she couldn’t have gone far because of a bad knee that limited her to walking no further than the mailbox. Searchers found the missing woman 7 miles from home. Even those who have never shown an interest in wandering might start without warning. Dan Goerke is fortunate. His late wife, Diane, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012, once went missing from the car of a caregiver. The caregiver had stopped for an errand. Diane had waited alone in cars as people ran errands before. But this time, when the caregiver returned, Diane was gone but her seat belt was still fastened. “It was like she disappeared into thin air,” said Goerke, who said he doesn’t blame the caregiver. Fortunately, she was found uninjured and nearby a short time later that same day. Goerke said it’s hard for caregivers to always be on guard for wandering. “We have so many things to juggle that’s not necessarily at the top of our minds. We have to manage medications, take them to doctor’s appointments, cook meals and taking care of things day to day,” he said. Clark said when searching for someone with dementia, one of the keys is to know what the person was like before their diagnosis. Often their long-term memories are still strong. They once found a woman who walked out of her home and went to where she used to shop and to her old job, although it had closed. Recently, GESAR unveiled a new tool to search for missing people: Maverick. An 8-month-old chocolate Labrador retriever, Maverick is in training to be part of the GESAR search and research team that will track missing people, including wandering dementia patients in metro Atlanta. In cases involving children and people with dementia, a dog’s personality can also be an asset. Labs like Maverick are friendly and affectionate, not imposing or threatening like some other breeds — and less likely to scare the person who is lost. Canines can be used in searches in both rural and urban areas. “He’s an asset,” said Maverick’s handler, Carmen Alonso. “His nose can pick up odors and track where a person has been that we might not think to go that direction.” At the Cobb County Police Department, Public Information Officer Sgt. Eric Smith said if dogs are needed to search for a wanderer they call the sheriff’s department, which has bloodhounds. “They’re not apprehension dogs so there’s little or no likelihood of a bite,” he said. Technology can also help, Smith said. Searchers can use drones and families can install technology on a person’s car to help locate it or use other kinds of trackable devices including on their phone. “We get so many Alzheimer’s calls,” said Clark, who is also a volunteer instructor with the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Most cases they’ve worked on have had favorable results, according to the Georgia Emergency Search and Recovery organization. No two searches are the same, said Sgt. Jeremy Blake of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. “When responding to calls for a missing person, the response is different than that of a fleeing suspect,” he wrote in an email. “The K-9s that are used to track missing persons are not trained in the apprehension of suspects. ... Often times, if the K-9 cannot locate the missing person, they can provide officers with a more accurate direction of travel than they may previously had.” Nearly 7 million U.S. residents age 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s according to the most recent Facts & Figures report. Of those, more than 188,000 Georgians ages 65 and older also have been diagnosed with the disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association Georgia Chapter. Facts on wandering: There is a better chance of being found in urban environments because of a higher probability of a “good Samaritan” stepping in. Wanderers may give no forewarning. Often those with memory issues wander away during activities they’ve done safely in the past, such as shopping or sitting on a front porch. Some people who still drive can become disoriented and drive for miles away from home. According to the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office, on average, half the calls for missing persons involve the elderly or someone with disabilities. If a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia disappears: Call 911 as soon as possible. Have a photograph available for first responders and an article of clothing to provide a scent for search dogs. Sharing what the missing person liked to do in prior years can be a key: Did they have a job they went to every day? Did they like to fish or go to a certain spot? Searchers will need to know the last time the person was seen to help determine how far a person might have wandered. Source: Alzheimer’s Association and Cobb County Police Department.
Emmerdale viewers have been left reeling as the soap seems to have disclosed the tragic fate of Leyla Harding in an upcoming storyline. Leyla, portrayed by Roxy Shahidi, has been a fixture in the Dales since 2008, captivating audiences with her involvement in numerous gripping plots and moments of light-hearted humour. Her journey has seen her character grapple with substance abuse and engage in tumultuous love affairs. Notably, she was also a victim of the infamous Meena Jutla (played by Paige Sandhu), who shot her earlier this year. Yet, it was in October that whispers began of Leyla's impending doom, with an intense exit plot set to rock the Emmerdale fanbase. The revelation of Roxy Shahidi's departure follows a landmark year for her, featuring appearances on Dancing on Ice and the reality show Drama Queens. An insider divulged to The Sun: "Roxy has adored her time on the soap and has made so many happy memories since first joining when she was just 17. The cast have become like family to her, and she has grown so much as an actress. But now, she feels it's the perfect time to spread her wings and try something new.", reports Leeds Live . Now, speculation is rife among fans who believe the show has hinted at the manner of Leyla's death - and it appears to be a heart-wrenching turn of events. Recently in the Dales, Leyla has been seen assisting Brenda Walker (Lesley Dunlop) with her wedding plans to Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell). Last week saw Brenda adamant about including fireworks in their celebration, yet Leyla managed to convince her otherwise. Additionally, the village electrician Noah Dingle, portrayed by Jack Downham, called on Eric for a job. But fans are piecing together the mentions of electricity and fireworks and suspect they might foretell how Leyla will meet her end in Emmerdale. On social media, speculations are rife, with one viewer commenting: "With all the talk of electricity, fire and fireworks, I wonder if it's a hint, to do with Leyla's exit? ". Another person echoed this sentiment, saying, "I've been thinking this too, so sad she's leaving! " Meanwhile, a third added their concern: "Oh god I hope not [sick face emoji] but perhaps it will be a big stunt or something." Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm If you love your soaps pick up Love TV's Best of British Soaps, packed with all your favourite characters and storylines. As well as interviews and quizzes. Click here to buy or it's on sale at participating retailers.
Canada Post strike threatens to impact healthcare charity, and patients, this holiday seasonFor their last holiday season in the White House, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden decked the halls with a theme of "A Season of Peace and Light." When guests first enter the White House for holiday tours, they're greeted by a massive, rotating starlight above the East Wing. The first tree on the tour is dedicated to Gold Star Families. It's made of six oversized and stacked stars representing the branches of the military. Names of fallen service members are written on gold star ornaments on the four accompanying Christmas trees around the room, according to the White House website . Brass-colored bells suspended from archways down the East Colonnade surround guests with the "peaceful sounds of the holiday season." The White House Library is a forest of vintage ceramic Christmas trees. RELATED STORY | Capitol Christmas tree arrives in Washington after 4,000-mile journey from Alaska The ceiling of the East Room is wrapped in a canopy of reflective medallions that mimic the feeling of a peaceful snowfall. This is where guests will find the Nativity scene that has been displayed during every White House holiday season since 1967. In the Blue Room, guests will find the official White House Christmas Tree, a Fraser fir from North Carolina, on display in the center of a whimsical carousel. Every year the room's chandelier is removed to accommodate the tall Christmas trees. Military families from the USS Delaware and the USS Gabrielle Giffords, Navy vessels that First Lady Biden sponsors, made dazzling paper garlands that wrap around the State Dining Room. One of the most anticipated features every year is the Gingerbread White House. The sugary replica features a large starburst and a cheerful scene of ice skaters this year. The White House said the gingerbread masterpiece took 25 sheets of gingerbread dough, 10 sheets of sugar cookie dough, five pounds of pastillage, 45 pounds of chocolate, 50 pounds of royal icing and 10 pounds of gum paste to come to life. In total, there are 83 Christmas trees throughout the White House adorned with approximately 9,810 feet of ribbon and over 28,125 ornaments. Over 165,075 lights decorate the trees, garlands, wreaths and displays. RELATED STORY | Experts share tips on how to have a bugfree Christmas "It has been the honor of our lives to serve as your President and First Lady. Our hope is for the Nation to be blessed with the peace and light of the holiday season. We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays," the president and first lady wrote in the welcome letter for the commemorative White House Holiday Guide. It took over 300 dedicated volunteers from across the country a full week to decorate the inside and outside of the White House, who the first lady thanked during a special event to mark the holiday season. The first lady invited National Guard families to be the first to experience this year's magical decorations and had their children on stage at the special event.
Upon closing, the transaction would secure global IP rights for NKGen. NKGen and its partners can begin to commercialize troculeucel in Korea, Japan and other markets where natural-killer (“NK”) cell therapy is already legal. NKGen proposal included up to $18 million in committed funding. Closing expected in 1Q 2025. SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NKGen Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: NKGN) (“NKGen” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative autologous and allogeneic natural killer cell therapeutics, today announced it has been selected as the preferred stalking horse bidder for NKMax Co., Ltd. (“NKMax”) in NKMax’s court-managed rehabilitation process in South Korea. NKMax filed for rehabilitation in South Korea, roughly similar to Chapter 11 in the US, on April 18, 2024, and currently holds an approximate 25% equity interest in NKGen. NKGen’s proposal included up to $18 million in committed funding from a third-party investor. As is typical in US bankruptcies, there will now be a public offering process, with NKGen having final right of first refusal on any other qualified offers, with the final decision and ultimate rehabilitation plan approved by NKMax’s creditors and the court expected in February 2025 and closing thereafter (the “Acquisition”). NKGen and its financing partners expect to hold a majority of the equity of NKMax at closing. NKMax currently holds master global rights to the intellectual property (“IP”) for troculeucel (formerly known as SNK01) and other proprietary IP that is licensed to NKGen for markets outside Asia. Such an acquisition is expected to put global rights under the control of NKGen. Prior to entering into the rehabilitation process, NKMax announced plans and commenced initial groundwork to commercialize the troculeucel treatment for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases in Japan and South Korea, where such NK cell treatment is legal already. Additional production capacity at NKMax’s GMP facility will be an added benefit which could help accelerate production for US trials. “ As we have made tremendous progress in our clinical program especially with the launch of our phase II trial for moderate stage Alzheimer’s disease, we felt that it was essential for us to preserve the very close scientific and clinical partnership with the NKMax team, rather than have NKMax acquired by someone without any cell therapy knowledge or experience”, commented Paul Y. Song, MD, Chairman and CEO of NKGen Biotech. “As we continue to work towards US FDA approval, we will be able to begin to commercialize troculeucel in countries like Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico and others where an autologous non-genetically modified cell therapy is considered as a legal treatment and already readily available. We believe that we will be much stronger and will deliver more value for our patients and shareholders when operated as one global team.” NKGen does not believe the NKMax rehabilitation process has had any material negative impact on NKGen’s business or prospects. About Troculeucel Troculeucel is a novel cell-based, patient specific ex vivo expanded autologous natural killer (“NK”) cell, immunotherapeutic drug candidate. NKGen is developing troculeucel for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and a broad range of cancers. Troculeucel is the International Nonproprietary Name (“INN”) for SNK01 assigned by the World Health Organization (“WHO”). The WHO INN approval of troculeucel establishes a universally recognized nonproprietary drug name for SNK01 and marks a significant step on our journey toward bringing this therapy to market. About NKMax Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, NKMax Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on advancing immune cell therapies. In addition to its therapeutic innovations, NKMax develops and commercializes bioreagents and immunodiagnostic kits, with revenues derived from these products as well as health supplements. In 2016, NKMax completed its GMP-certified manufacturing facility, and obtained approval from the Korean MFDS (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety) in 2018, strengthening its capabilities in high-quality cell therapy production. Listed on the KOSDAQ, a South Korean stock exchange, NKMax's trading has since been suspended during the course of ongoing rehabilitation efforts. About NKGen Biotech NKGen is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative autologous and allogeneic NK cell therapeutics. NKGen is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, USA. For more information, please visit www.nkgenbiotech.com . Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “could”, “continue”, “expect”, “estimate”, “may”, “plan”, “outlook”, “future” and “project” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the closing of the Acquisition, which may not close on the terms or timing anticipated, or at all, the satisfaction or waiver of any conditions to the closing of the Acquisition, the anticipated impacts or benefits of the Acquisition, the closing of the expected funding for the Acquisition, the risk of shareholder litigation in connection with the Acquisition, including resulting expense or delay; the risk that NKMax’s business will not be integrated successfully or that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, the successful and timely completion and the commercialization of troculeucel, statements regarding the Company’s plans and expected timing for developing troculeucel and SNK02, including the expected timing of completing and announcing further results from its ongoing clinical studies; and the Company’s expected timing for developing its product candidates and potential benefits of its product candidates. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the Company’s ability to execute its plans and strategies; risks related to performing clinical studies; the risk that initial and interim results of a clinical study do not necessarily predict final results and that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues, following more comprehensive reviews of the data, and as more patient data become available; potential delays in the commencement, enrollment and completion of clinical studies and the reporting of data therefrom; the risk that studies will not be completed as planned; the risk that the abstract will not be published as planned including delays in timing, format, or accessibility; and NKGen’s ability to raise additional funding to complete the development of its product candidates. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s filings and reports, which may be accessed for free by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov and on the Company’s website under the subheading “Investors—Financial and Filings”. Investors should take such risks into account and should not rely on forward-looking statements when making investment decisions. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made, except as required by law. Internal Contact: Denise Chua, MBA, CLS, MLS (ASCP) SVP, Corporate Affairs 949-396-6830 dchua@nkgenbiotech.com External Contacts: Chris Calabrese Managing Director LifeSci Advisors, LLC ccalabrese@lifesciadvisors.com Kevin Gardner Managing Director LifeSci Advisors, LLC kgardner@lifesciadvisors.comPaul Sullivan: Leave it to the Bears to botch a coach firing even your Aunt Martha could see coming
Justin Trudeau taking the time to reflect following Freeland departureTesla is facing a lawsuit alleging its claims about Autopilot and Full Self Driving's (FSD) capabilities contributed to a fatal crash, giving the courts yet another chance to hash out claims similar to those in previous lawsuits. In this instance, driver Genesis Giovanni Mendoza Martinez died, and his brother Caleb was seriously injured, when the former's Tesla Model S slammed into a fire truck parked diagonally across two lanes of a California interstate highway for traffic control in an unrelated incident. According to the lawsuit [PDF], originally filed in California's Contra Costa Superior Court in October, the plaintiffs' lawyers claim Mendoza's Model S was operating under Autopilot at the time of the collision, and he had "generally maintained contact with the steering wheel until the time of the crash." The lawsuit was recently removed to the US District Court for the Northern District of California following a filing by Tesla. Like several previous cases involving fatalities or serious injuries that occurred while a Tesla was operating with Autopilot/FSD active, Mendoza's surviving family argue that, while he was using it with appropriate caution, he was nonetheless misled into believing Tesla's self-driving capabilities were more capable than they actually are due to "Tesla's long-term advertising campaign designed to persuade the public that its vehicles were capable of driving themselves." "Not only was [Giovanni] aware that the technology itself was called 'Autopilot,' he saw, heard, and/or read many of Tesla or Musk's deceptive claims on Twitter, Tesla's official blog, or in the news media," the lawsuit argued. "Giovanni believed those claims were true, and thus believed the 'Autopilot' feature with the 'full self driving' upgrade was safer than a human driver, and could be trusted to safely navigate public highways autonomously." The argument that Tesla is overblowing Autopilot and FSD's capabilities isn't a new one: Tesla has fought, and is still fighting, so many lawsuits and regulator investigations into the matter that it's difficult to keep count. One of the cases it's fighting involves the 2019 death of Jeremy Banner , whose Model 3 smashed into a tractor-trailer in cross traffic. That case bears a striking similarity to the 2016 death of Joshua Brown , whose Model S also collided with a tractor-trailer crossing a highway ahead of him. Tesla claimed that it addressed the issue linked to Brown's death, but given the similarities to Banner's death, regulators have been worried the carmaker might not be doing all it can to prevent such deaths. Mendoza's fatal accident bears similarities to both Brown's and Banner's cases, as well as a prior investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that found Tesla Autopilot tended not to notice emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road. That investigation resulted in a voluntary recall and over-the-air software update by Tesla that a lawyer for Mendoza's family said was insufficient. Genesis Mendoza's death caused by the failure of Tesla's vision system is yet another example of Tesla overstating and overhyping what its technology can do "Genesis Mendoza's death caused by the failure of Tesla's vision system is yet another example of Tesla overstating and overhyping what its technology can do; knowing full well that it was incapable of identifying and responding to an emergency vehicle flashing lights," lawyer Brett Schreiber told The Register in an email. "Rather than taking the responsible step of recalling these vehicles, Tesla simply pushed an over the air update," Schreiber continued. "This limited bug fix left tens of thousands of vehicles on the road continuing to suffer from the same defect, putting both Mr. Mendoza, members of the public and emergency first responders needlessly at risk. "The time for Tesla to be held accountable is coming," Schreiber concluded. Whether that will actually happen remains to be seen, however. Tesla has managed to escape liability in two prior cases that made many of the same arguments that Mendoza's lawyers make in their case, namely that Tesla overhyped Autopilot and FSD's capabilities, fostering overreliance among drivers based on Tesla's safety assurances. Justine Hsu, who alleged that her Tesla Model S swerved onto a curb in Autopilot mode in 2019, lost her case when a jury decided her vehicle acted as it should have, and that the company had disclosed everything it should have regarding the safety of the system. Several months after the Hsu verdict, Tesla defeated a case that made similar allegations in the fatal Autopilot accident that killed Micah Lee and injured two of his passengers. Tesla's answer to the Mendoza lawsuit (included in the PDF linked above) has been much the same: Namely, Autopilot and FSD worked as intended, and the accident was instead caused by "the negligence, acts or omissions of another, not Tesla." Whether the Mendoza case cracks Tesla's legal show remains to be seen, but there is precedent: While Tesla defeated the aforementioned two Autopilot accident cases last year, it chose to settle a third earlier this year involving the death of Walter Huang on the condition the amount it paid out remained secret. Tesla said in April that, if the payout became public knowledge, it could be perceived as evidence of Tesla's potential liability, and be devastating to the EV maker if others took up legal arms in response. Both Tesla and Mendoza's lawyers have requested trial by jury in this most recent case. Neither Tesla nor its lawyers in this case responded to questions. ®
Deepfake: Growing menace and complex security concern
