If the book "Fifty Shades of Grey" left an impression on you, you’re not alone. The 2024 Intimacy Status Report by Israeli company Arya reveals that 35% of respondents expressed interest in spicing up their relationships. 3 View gallery Arya app ( Photo: Arya ) According to the report, which is akin to a modern version of the legendary Masters and Johnson studies, 100,000 users of Arya’s platform aren’t looking for casual flings. Instead, they’re searching for ways to reignite romance and passion in long-term relationships that have fallen into routine. Unsurprisingly, 90% of users dissatisfied with their sex lives reported that this dissatisfaction negatively impacted their overall relationship. If you’re wondering how technology fits into all of this, the answer lies in artificial intelligence. Arya is a relationship-enhancement app currently making waves in the U.S. market. It uses AI to learn couples’ preferences and desires, offering tailored “scenarios” that encourage them to explore new dimensions of intimacy. To complement this experience, Arya sends couples a “surprise box” containing curated items designed to enhance their connection and, of course, their user experience. So far, 200,000 users have registered on Arya’s platform in the U.S., with tens of thousands actively engaging – couples receiving new activities to try every month. The user base has grown tenfold over the past year, likely fueling the company’s recent announcement of an $8.5 million Series A funding round, just a year after its previous round. To date, Arya has raised a total of $16 million. The funding round was led by Ibex Investors, with participation from previous backers Play Ventures, Patron Fund, and BigBets.vc, as well as private investors like Yasmine Lukatz (“The Shark”), Naama Barkler, founder and CEO of BetterHealth, Neil Parikh, co-founder of Casper, and others. Ofer Yehudai, Arya’s co-founder and CEO, explained in an interview with Ynet that there has been a major shift in quality-of-life investments in recent years. People are increasingly willing to spend on mental health, nutrition and sleep quality, and, in line with this, couple wellness is becoming an equally important part of the conversation. 3 View gallery Arya surprise box ( Photo: Arya ) “People are used to finding love online,” Yehudai explained. “But how do you maintain it? That’s where there’s a gap. It’s easy to forget that between online dating, couples therapy, and divorce, there are years of good, healthy relationships. But the tools to sustain them are quite limited.” A possible successor to Tinder? Could Arya be the next step after Tinder, designed for those who found love online and now want to preserve it using online tools? “Eighty percent of our customers are millennial moms aged 35 to 45 – women who decided to take responsibility for their relationships and intimacy. What unites all our users is that they’re people willing to invest in their quality of life. They care about nutrition, put effort into looking better, and want to live their lives to the fullest.” Why is the majority of your user base women? “When you speak to professionals, they’re not surprised that, in most cases, the woman takes the lead. It’s a well-documented phenomenon in the realms of intimacy and relationships. In most cases, the woman takes responsibility for the relationship in this area, while the partner goes along. Interestingly, in the 20% of cases where the man is the client, these couples tend to stay together much longer.” Shaping intimate connections Arya provides a variety of activities for its users, although Ynet refrains from delving into specifics due to its family-friendly nature. Ultimately, most people know what’s being referenced, but many feel uncomfortable discussing such topics – even with their partner. Yehudai recounted a story about a friend, Yaniv, and his wife. Everyone has a “Yaniv” in their life, but in this case, Yaniv decided to playfully gift the couple an adult toy. It became a subject of jokes but also sparked curiosity without either partner feeling pressured. “Arya is like Yaniv,” Yehudai said. “It knows both of us, picks the gift, and if it misses the mark it’s Arya’s fault – not ours.” 3 View gallery ( Photo: shutterstock ) Arya operates differently from other relationship apps. Users communicate with its AI, called the “concierge,” via text. Couples share what interests them, what they want to learn, and where their boundaries lie. The concierge, much like Yaniv, suggests ideas from its “experience” and surprises them with exciting gifts. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv The company was founded in 2022 by entrepreneurs Ofer Yehudai and Tomer Magid, both seasoned innovators with multiple successful startup exits. They partnered with Dr. Yael Doron, known as “Yael from Married at First Sight,” as a scientific advisor. Recently, Arya appointed renowned intimacy coach and sexologist Shan Boodram – AASECT certified sex educator, an American Board of Sexology certified Sexologist, with a M.S. in psychology – as its Chief Intimacy Officer (CIO). In addition to its scientific team and experts who developed the platform’s content and activities, Arya also operates a human support center to assist when the AI encounters situations it cannot handle. Does the AI serve as a replacement for a partner? “Today, you see many apps offering virtual partners, friends, or companions. We’re trying to show that our AI is different – it connects you to someone in real life in a better way, rather than replacing them.” Insights into relationship dynamics With hundreds of thousands of users, Arya has amassed rich data on the romantic and intimate preferences of Americans. For example, one-third of couples want to be more adventurous than they currently are, one-third aim to reignite the spark in their relationship, and one-third are looking to try completely new experiences. Most users engage with the concierge three to four times a week, and once a month, they receive a new “scenario” featuring intriguing items from the world of intimacy. Over the past two years, Arya’s AI has been trained on texts that no other AI models are familiar with – or perhaps wouldn’t even want to be. This specialized data is invaluable for identifying behavioral patterns, human preferences, and suggestions to enhance users’ satisfaction with their lives. For Yehudai, Arya’s mission feels deeply meaningful. “There are 72 million couples in the U.S. Our goal, without cynicism, is to create couple wellness. When you see feedback from couples saying, ‘I rediscovered my spouse,’ it gives you energy. There’s enormous potential here. The trend among millennials and younger generations is that they’re having less intimacy. We’re here to offer them new tools to invest in their intimacy and relationships.” >LAFAYETTE, Ind., Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash (NYSE: WNC) , the visionary leader of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, today announced the renewal of its strategic agreement with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ: GT), one of the world’s largest tire companies. This agreement reinforces Goodyear’s position as the preferred tire supplier for Wabash's van, tank and platform trailers, and provides Wabash customers with full-service tire management support. “We are excited to continue our long-standing relationship with Goodyear,” said Richard Mansilla, vice president, global supply chain at Wabash. “This agreement strengthens our supply chain with a premium brand, enhances customer support and contributes to the continued growth of the Wabash ecosystem. We look forward to building on our shared commitment to industry innovation and exceptional service.” Goodyear has been a trusted supplier to Wabash for more than 15 years, playing a key role in supporting its trailer product lines as Wabash has expanded its equipment offering. This renewal leverages Goodyear’s extensive network of company-owned locations and dealerships, helping enable streamlined tire management and service access for Wabash customers and increased uptime and operational efficiency. “Goodyear's collaboration with Wabash underscores our combined focus to deliver high-quality, innovative products and seamless, end-to-end services to van, tank and platform trailer customers,” said Joe Burke, vice president of Goodyear’s North America Commercial business. “We are excited to continue advancing solutions that enhance the Wabash customer experience and help ensure they carry their cargo with confidence.” Wabash: Changing How the World Reaches You® Wabash (NYSE: WNC) is the visionary leader of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries that is Changing How the World Reaches You®. Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, the company enables customers to thrive by providing insight into tomorrow and delivering pragmatic solutions today to move everything from first to final mile. Wabash designs, manufactures, and services a diverse range of products, including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, flatbed trailers, tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade processing equipment. Learn more at onewabash.com . About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 71,000 people and manufactures its products in 54 facilities in 21 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate . Media Contacts: Dana Stelsel Director, Communications (765) 771-5766 dana.stelsel@onewabash.com Amanda O’Neil Director, Americas Communications, Goodyear (330) 796-4114 Amanda_oneil@goodyear.com Investor Relations Contact: Ryan Reed Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations (765) 490-5664 ryan.reed@onewabash.comThank you for your feedback on our plan for a front page refresh. I was cheered (and a little surprised) by the largely positive reception. I’ll try to capture the range of views here in a balanced way, though, from “love it” to “mess”. Quick recap: We have plans to update our masthead to 1) reflect what people actually call us ( The i / The i Paper ), 2) build recognition among existing readers and a new generation discovering our journalism, 3) include a strapline with our commitment to “impartial news and intelligent debate”, 4) update our logo, to make us easier to recognise out of context. (Away from our print front page, “ The i Paper ” is clearer than an isolated letter “ i ” on its own.) We know you are open-minded and highly engaged with this newspaper you care about so much. I’ll start with a few positive reactions then move on to critical views. “Clever, effective and succinct,” writes Diana Hunt. “Modern and appealing,” adds Rose McCray, who asks about the typeface, which reminds her of The New York Times . (I’ll take that.) The font is a serif, Larken, noted for its “natural softness and expressiveness”, and will feature in our iweekend edition. More about that on Saturday. “For what my opinion is worth,” adds Shirley Johnson from Linton Colliery, Northumberland, “I really like the newly-styled ‘ i ’. Lower-case and somehow look like a person! And I love that you refer to yourselves as The i Paper , which is what I call you.” She adds: “I hope you don’t abandon the bullet points below the main headline.” Fear not, Shirley: the rest of our front page design remains the same. A prominent red masthead still features in the top left corner for easy recognition, alongside our familiar layout. Bristol’s Karen Sadler isn’t a fan. “Muddled and inelegant” is her verdict – she prefers the existing. Chelmsford’s Peter Adkins is open to change but calls the mocked-up layout “appalling”. He adds: “Other than that, keep up the good work.” Read Next The best new books to read in September, from Zadie Smith’s The Fraud to the new Richard Osman Gill Roche dislikes the use of “ paper ”, asking with consternation: “What else could it be – Richard Osman’s latest book?” Gill, I confess that was also my starting point. I was won over by its versatility in different settings – crucial so that people recognise our (trusted) journalism in a rather noisy environment, whether they come into contact with it in print , online, on other media like TV, or word of mouth. Plymouth’s Richard Haighton says “ The i ”, but adds: “Always great to move on” – which sort of sums up the mindset of our readers over the past 14 years. Dave Beck likes the “modern” look. He wonders whether we might find a way to abbreviate it within articles, perhaps with an updated glyph (icon). I’ll speak to the Production team, Dave. Good to hear from so many regulars, as well as new readers. Subscriber Mike Newman, who writes to me periodically from Shefford, Beds, to keep me vigilant about the political balance of our columnists, sends encouragement: “Congratulations on the revamp. Love the ‘ i ’ logo.” We publish a selection of letters (critical and positive) on page 24 today, and we welcome reader feedback. You can reach me on i@inews.co.uk or @olyduf f on social media.

Published 5:31 pm Friday, December 27, 2024 By Data Skrive Trying to find Tanner Hudson’s stats? Here is everything you need to know. Hudson’s season stats include 143 yards on 18 receptions (7.9 per catch) and one touchdown, plus one carry for one yard. He has been targeted 22 times. Don’t miss a touchdown this NFL season. Catch every score with NFL RedZone on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Sign up today and watch seven hours of commercial-free football from every NFL game every Sunday. BetMGM is one of the most trusted Sportsbooks in the nation. Start with as little as $1 and place your bets today . Targets Receptions Yards YAC TDs Yards/Catch 22 18 143 89 1 7.9 Catch NFL action all season long on Fubo. Week Opponent Targets Receptions Yards TDs Week 1 @Patriots 3 2 18 0 Week 7 @Browns 1 0 0 0 Week 9 @Raiders 3 2 14 0 Week 10 @Ravens 7 6 42 1 Week 11 @Chargers 2 2 13 0 Week 13 @Steelers 4 4 28 0 Week 14 @Cowboys 1 1 19 0 Week 15 @Titans 1 1 9 0 Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .London-listed Savannah Resources will accelerate its lithium mine project in northern Portugal to ensure first commercial output in 2027, it said on Thursday, despite uncertainties about price and demand it said were temporary. Some mines around the globe that produce lithium, used in electric vehicle batteries, have curtailed operations or delayed expansions. Prices have dropped by nearly 90% over the last two years as supplies have increased and demand has fallen short of expectations. However, Savannah chairperson Rick Anton said in a statement he looked forward to 2025 "with great confidence", and the company had "all the key elements in place to significantly advance the project". Savannah, which wants to build four open pit mines in the northern Barroso region to extract enough lithium each year for about half a million batteries for EVs, hopes to start production in 2027. Anton said that, despite the "short-term uncertainty" surrounding lithium prices and the energy transition, Savannah, as a pre-production company, "is largely insulated from these issues and can focus firmly on the tasks it has to execute". "The first of these (tasks) is to progress our project as quickly as we can towards production," he said, adding he hoped "to take advantage of the more favourable conditions and higher prices, which will return to the market in the future". He said the recovery should be sustained by the carbon emissions reduction legislation in all major global markets and the status of lithium-ion batteries as the preferred technology for multiple applications. The company has said Barroso's deposit of spodumene is the biggest in Europe and has estimated reserves of 28 million metric tons of high-grade lithium. But the project has put the European Union's ambition to reduce dependence on countries such as China for strategic raw materials to the test as it faces opposition from local residents and environmentalists.When it comes to science, there’s something to be said for longevity. Consider the Lamprey River. The Lamprey, which flows 212 miles from Northwood through Durham to Newmarket, isn’t exactly a huge river but it is the largest contributor of fresh water to the Great Bay. That means it is also the largest source of the nutrients which are vital to the bay but also the largest source of excess nutrients that can overwhelm the bay from runoff. Keeping track of what is happening over the years would help understand how to cope with similar situations throughout the state. Fortunately, that’s what we’re doing. “It’s a watershed going through the process of suburbanization, like many places in New Hampshire,” said Adam Wymore, an associate professor at UNH who recently became the new director of the New Hampshire Water Resources Center. “The landscape is slowly changing as society is changing and it’s a great place to track those changes and the implications for our water resources.” Since 1999 the center has been observing the Lamprey River in a project started under its former director, recently retired Bill McDowell. For two and a half decades, researchers and students have collected data about the changing water flow, levels of nitrogen and greenhouse gases and dissolved organic matter, calibrating the effect of development throughout the watershed as well as the changing climate. That latter point is significant. “You can only track something like climate change with long-term records. ... A 3-year project is great in many ways but you can’t track that kind of change with it,” said Wymore. The data is specific to the Lamprey but can be generalized to similar watersheds in the state and region. And our towns and cities are going to need all the information they can get in coming years if we want to keep our streams and rivers from getting overwhelmed. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess This research isn’t actually the main job of the UNH-based New Hampshire Water Resources Center. Its founding principle is to distribute grants for research related to water quality and quantity in New Hampshire. The center, one of 54 set up in every state and territory, runs a competitive grants program using money from Congress passed through the U.S. Geological Center. The program was established in the 1960s because we realized that only government money can ensure long-term projects like this. A decade ago I wouldn’t have cared too much about it, to be honest. New England has always been in a pretty good spot hydrology-wise – not too wet, not too dry – so what’s the big deal? But the climate emergency, with its biblical floods followed by flash droughts, has shaken my complacency. “We’re bouncing between extremes. 2023-24 was an extraordinarily wet year, and all of a sudden the faucet turned off,” said Wymore, referencing our current drought. “This has brought uncertainty into our daily management of life.” Wymore, a Massachusetts native who came to UNH as a post-doc 11 years ago, has been assistant director of the center since 2020. He says the main change he sees happening is that it has become “very centered on the effects of climate change.” “Climate change introduces a level of uncertainty which we are still grappling with. ... That is really the new urgent priority: how that interacts with changes in land use, with population growth. It’s the interaction of those factors that we need to understand,” he said. Which brings us back to long-term studies: “Continuity is really important for the questions that we’re asking.” At this point I’m afraid I can’t avoid politics. The Trump Administration’s blueprint for action, Project 2525, would gut the USGS with the idea that private companies will take over the useful bits and somehow do it better. But there is absolutely, positively no way that private interests would fund 25 years of measuring chemistry and hydrology on an unexciting river when they can’t monetize the result. If we destroy accumulated expertise and experience in the name of simplistic “market good, government bad” thinking, then the measurement will stop and we will be more ignorant. Ignorance isn’t good, folks. Let’s not do that. David Brooks can be reached at dbrooks@cmonitor.com

The secret to making successful financial New Year’s resolutionsBy Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. The start of a new year can bring a surge of motivation around setting new goals, including financial resolutions. One way to help those goals become reality, financial experts say, is to make them as specific as possible. Then, track your progress, while allowing flexibility for unexpected challenges. “It’s easier to track progress when we know where we are going,” says Sylvie Scowcroft, a certified financial planner and founder of The Financial Grove in Cambridge, Massachusetts. That’s why she encourages her clients to set clearly defined goals, often related to paying off a specific debt, saving a certain amount per month or improving their credit score. Here are more tips from financial experts about crafting 2025 financial goals : Pick your top priorities Trying to accomplish too much can feel overwhelming. Instead, pick your priorities, says Cathleen Tobin, CFP and owner of Moonbridge Financial Design in Rhinebeck, New York. She suggests focusing on those big, often emotionally-driven goals to find motivation. “It’s more compelling than just a number,” she says. For example, do you want to make sure you’re on track for retirement or save money for a house? “Start there.” Be as specific as possible Scowcroft says she sees clients get tripped up by selecting overly broad goals, such as “get better with money.” Instead, she encourages people to select specific action items, such as “sign up for a budgeting tool and set aside time each month to learn where my money is going.” That level of specificity provides direction so you know what steps to take next, she adds. For example, if your top priority is to become debt-free, then your specific goal might be to pay off an extra $200 of your debt balance each month. Tobin says labeling savings accounts so they correspond with goals can also help. An emergency fund could be named something like “Peace of mind in 2025,” so you remember why you’re saving every time you make a transfer. “It’s more motivating than just ‘emergency fund,’” Tobin says. Track your progress Measuring your progress as the year unfolds is also a critical component of successful goal setting, Tobin says. She compares it to weight loss. If you want to lose 20 pounds by June, then you need to lose about a pound a week for the first six months of the year. Similarly, she says it helps to break savings goals into microsteps that specify what you need to do each week. Schedule a weekly or monthly check-in with yourself to make sure you are meeting those smaller goals along the way. You might want to review your debt payoff progress or check your credit score , for example. “Being able to break it down into steps that can be done each week or twice a month really helps,” Tobin says. Automate where you can If your goal is to save more money , then setting up an automatic transfer each month can help turn that goal into reality, as long as you know you have the money in your checking account to spare. “It reduces the mental load,” says Mike Hunsberger, CFP and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning in St. Charles, Missouri, where he primarily supports veterans and current members of the military. He recommends starting small to ease into the change. “I wouldn’t jump to double what you’re currently saving,” he says. For example, when it comes to saving in a retirement account, if you’re starting with a 3% contribution, you might want to bump it up to 4%, then slowly increase it from there. “My number one piece of advice is to start small, but make sure you scale over time,” Hunsberger adds. “Because it’s gradual, you probably won’t notice it impacting your lifestyle.” Adjust as needed “Stay flexible,” Scowcroft says. “Part of it is just being kind to yourself and not being too rigid.” When unexpected challenges come up, such as a big unplanned expense, you might have to pause making progress on your goal and reset. You might even need to change your goal. Scowcroft says that doesn’t mean you “failed,” just that life changed your plans. Dwelling on any negativity won’t help your forward progress. Team up with a friend Sharing your goals with a friend can also make it easier to reach them, Scowcroft says. “It really helps to have an accountability buddy,” she says. She suggests putting a regular “money date” with your friend on the calendar so you can ask each other how you’re doing, brainstorm any challenges or even budget together side-by-side . “It’s a fun excuse to meet up with a friend.” More From NerdWallet Kimberly Palmer writes for NerdWallet. Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kimberlypalmer. The article The Secret to Making Successful Financial New Year’s Resolutions originally appeared on NerdWallet .

NEW YORK -- The ball that will drop in Times Square to usher in 2025 has been unveiled days before it's final run. Organizers of the iconic New Year's Eve party in New York City screwed the last crystals onto the ball Friday atop One Times Square. Rapper Pitbull was also atop the skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan as the ball was lit for a test run. The ball is covered with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles of varying sizes. It weighs almost 12,000 lbs. and measures 12 feet in diameter. After it ushers in 2025, the ball will be retired and a brand new one will debut in Times Square next year. "The new ball will come in 2025, which will be a completely different design, but also is dynamic, but much more digitally interactive," said Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown, the company that owns One Times Square. "This ball will go onto the lower floors of the building as part of an immersive arts and culture exhibit." Last year, the ball got a makeover featuring a bow tie lighting pattern . Mark Prussin contributed to this report. John graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University at Albany with dual majors in journalism and communication. He also minored in political science. During his senior year, he juggled both classes and a full-time job as a web producer for News10 ABC in Albany, New York.Remember when Neil deGrasse Tyson was going to be the next Carl Sagan? The Left held Tyson up as the apex of scientific thought and the future of the discipline. Instead, Tyson has turned into a massive wet blanket who likes to spoil Christmas by explaining how it's impossible for Santa to visit everyone on Christmas Eve and that we've 'misgendered' Rudolph . Bet he's a blast at the office Christmas party. Anyway. You'd think Tyson would be all in on space exploration, and that getting to Mars would be something he'd really, really like to see happenin. You'd be wrong. Watch: Neil Degrasse Tyson criticizes Elon's plan to go to Mars, saying "What's the return on investment? Nothing." pic.twitter.com/84euhIzsh7 Seriously? Nothing? We wouldn't learn anything? Expand human knowledge and space exploration? Let's be honest. He said this for one reason only: he doesn't like Elon Musk. And that, frankly, is sad. Tyson is a pompous windbag with zero vision. He sure is. Neil’s just upset he doesn’t have a plan to get us to mars. If anyone else had a plan to go to Mars, Tyson would be on board for it. Neil DeGrasse Tyson is a political commissar, not a scientist. He’s there to shoot the scientists who dare to retreat from the party dogma. Bingo. What's the ROI on Neil Degrasse Tyson's opinion? Zero. Less than zero. Neil has made a living off talking about space but gaslights Elon for wanting to go there Bezos also wants to go there, but where is that criticism? This isn’t about space. It’s personal for Neil and that writes him off as unprofessional. Exactly this. Shameful for a scientist to say this. Science has one commandment: contribute to science. Returns on investment come later, maybe years or even decades later. The knowledge we'd gain immediately is a return on that investment. It is absolutely incredible to me to watch a man of science argue AGAINST space exploration simply because he doesn’t like the guy advocating for it https://t.co/7ETGBK7zCg It really is. For a student of Carl Sagan to say this, just shows what an utter baffon Degrasse-Tyson has become. Exploration infrastructure, doesn't have an ROI, until suddenly it does. When you solve problems & improve outcomes, it becomes a stepping stone. Neil KNOWS THIS, So sour grapes. https://t.co/ngbxcxODGV pic.twitter.com/HPLLDu08Jq All because he doesn't like Musk's politics. Insurance policies rarely have a "return on investment". But they are a hedge against disaster. https://t.co/BpJAiLW8px Bingo. Why does a pseudo scientist who doesn’t know a thing about raising venture capital complain Musk plans to go to Mars? Why worry about return on investment? Taxpayer aren’t paying. He has no expertise on non-governmental space ventures (note note not bad-mouthing Gates)—quiet son. https://t.co/i4RDVKUD48 Because he doesn't want Musk to have a win. “What’s the ROI of going to Mars?” Uhhh going to Mars...? https://t.co/VKjNjSpAhm Yeah. It's MARS. The ROI on going to Mars is knowledge. https://t.co/bLMB3TYXEv And Tyson doesn't care.

VitaGraft KidneyTM quantifies the amount of DNA fragments in transplant patients' blood that originate from the donor organ, a key biomarker for assessing graft health. This process is commonly referred to as donor-derived cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA) testing and is widely used in clinical practice today. In this latest study, Oncocyte's proprietary diagnostic dd-cfDNA test using digital PCR was able to diagnose antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney transplant recipients nearly a year ahead of standard protocols 1 . "We are excited to see our dd-cfDNA technology demonstrate strong predictive value for AMR, supporting clinicians in identifying AMR in patients sooner, thereby enhancing the opportunity for better outcomes,” said Oncocyte Chief Science Officer Dr. Ekkehard Schuetz. "The trial's results further validate dd-cfDNA as a critical biomarker that can bridge diagnostic gaps for transplant patients.” For further context, de-novo donor specific antibody (dnDSA) is a routine biomarker used in kidney transplant management. The appearance of dnDSA in a patient -- that is, the patient is found to be dnDSA-positive (dnDSA+) -- signals an increased risk of AMR. This latest study shows that compared to standard of care, VitaGraft Kidney can significantly reduce the time to diagnosis of AMR in dnDSA+ patients. It is also the first randomized interventional study to validate any dd-cfDNA technology as a rule-in test for biopsy in a high-risk population. Catching AMR early, when kidney graft loss can be minimized, is becoming increasingly important as physicians explore the use of drugs, including the anti-CD38 drugs felzartamab and daratumumab, to manage rejection. Monitoring with VitaGraft in this high-risk patient population could support early intervention with these new therapeutic options. Once patients are on therapy, monitoring for therapeutic efficacy is also important to manage potential unwanted side effects. Publications using VitaGraft to monitor for efficacy for both aforementioned drugs can be found in the New England Journal of Medicine and Transplant International . In addition, earlier this year, Oncocyte signed an agreement with a European biotechnology company to be the provider of dd-cfDNA testing for a Phase II clinical trial for a separate therapeutic in AMR. Oncocyte expects to submit for claims expansion to its payor, MolDX 2 , to support the use of VitaGraft for these high-risk patients in the clinic. If granted, it would expand the use case beyond the current for-cause claim, opening significant new revenue opportunities. In sum, this clinical trial provides compelling evidence for dd-cfDNA monitoring as a tool for enhancing early intervention and improving outcomes for patients at increased risk of transplant rejection. Oncocyte scientists and inventors of the technology, Dr. Schuetz, Julia Beck and Kirsten Bornemann-Kolatzki, co-authored the study, which was initiated by researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin under the leadership of Prof. Klemens Budde. The study was published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation: Oxford Academic and may be found by accessing this link. Additional study details: Highlighting potential for improved patient outcomes, as well as implications for broader clinical applications and future therapies The interventional randomized trial, conducted between June 2021 and July 2023, involved 40 kidney transplant recipients with dnDSA, assessing longitudinal dd-cfDNA monitoring as a guiding tool for diagnostic biopsy compared to standard clinical practices. Oncocyte's proprietary dd-cfDNA technology was able to detect the onset of AMR significantly earlier in patients by guiding the indication for biopsy (median time from inclusion to diagnosis: 2.8 months) compared to the control group using standard of care (14.5 months). As noted above, this early intervention could offer a valuable advantage in transplant care by enabling prompt treatment before irreversible damage occurs. "This study underscores the impact of dd-cfDNA as a critical biomarker for early AMR detection, providing healthcare teams with timely data enabling them to initiate treatments sooner," said Dr. Aylin Akifova, first author from Charité. This study also suggests that dd-cfDNA monitoring could also be instrumental in identifying subclinical AMR-a silent condition that, if undiagnosed, can lead to significant graft damage. Additionally, the findings come at a crucial time, as mentioned above, as promising new treatments, including CD38-targeted therapies, are showing unprecedented efficacy in treating AMR. Early diagnosis with dd-cfDNA could provide the earliest window for intervention, offering an advantage for patients suffering from AMR, a disease with historically very limited treatment options. "We congratulate Charité's research teams on these compelling findings, which further underscore our mission to empower clinicians with tools for precision diagnostics while also democratizing access to novel molecular diagnostic testing to improve patient outcomes,” said Josh Riggs, CEO of Oncocyte. "We look forward to expanding the clinical applications of dd-cfDNA technology and supporting transplant communities worldwide with our innovative diagnostic solutions.” About Oncocyte Oncocyte is a diagnostics technology company. The Company's tests are designed to help provide clarity and confidence to physicians and their patients. VitaGraftTM is a clinical blood-based solid organ transplantation monitoring test. GraftAssureTM is a research use only (RUO) blood-based solid organ transplantation monitoring test. DetermaIOTM is a gene expression test that assesses the tumor microenvironment to predict response to immunotherapies. DetermaCNITM is a blood-based monitoring tool for monitoring therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients. For more information about Oncocyte, please visit https://oncocyte.com/ . For more information about our products, please visit the following web pages: VitaGraft KidneyTM - https://oncocyte.com/vitagraft-kidney/ VitaGraft LiverTM - https://oncocyte.com/vitagraft-liver/ GraftAssureTM - https://oncocyte.com/graftassure/ DetermaIOTM - https://oncocyte.com/determa-io/ DetermaCNITM - https://oncocyte.com/determa-cni/ VitaGraftTM, GraftAssureTM, DetermaIOTM, and DetermaCNITM are trademarks of Oncocyte Corporation. CONTACT: Jeff Ramson PCG Advisory (646) 863-6893 [email protected] Forward-Looking Statements Any statements that are not historical fact (including but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will,” "believes,” "plans,” "anticipates,” "expects,” "estimates,” "may,” and similar expressions) are forward-looking statements. These statements include those pertaining to, among other things, the expectation that Oncocyte will submit for claims expansion to MolDX to support the use of VitaGraft for high-risk patients in the clinic, which may expand the use case and open significant new revenue opportunities, the company's anticipated expansion of clinical applications of dd-cfDNA technology, the company's goal to support transplant communities worldwide with its innovative diagnostic solutions, and other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of diagnostic tests or products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, the capacity of Oncocyte's third-party supplied blood sample analytic system to provide consistent and precise analytic results on a commercial scale, potential interruptions to supply chains, the need and ability to obtain future capital, maintenance of intellectual property rights in all applicable jurisdictions, obligations to third parties with respect to licensed or acquired technology and products, the need to obtain third party reimbursement for patients' use of any diagnostic tests Oncocyte or its subsidiaries commercialize in applicable jurisdictions, and risks inherent in strategic transactions such as the potential failure to realize anticipated benefits, legal, regulatory or political changes in the applicable jurisdictions, accounting and quality controls, potential greater than estimated allocations of resources to develop and commercialize technologies, or potential failure to maintain any laboratory accreditation or certification. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and accordingly such statements should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of Oncocyte, particularly those mentioned in the "Risk Factors” and other cautionary statements found in Oncocyte's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, which are available from the SEC's website. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. Oncocyte 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.Ankara, Dec 3 (AP) The recent rapid advance by opposition fighters in Syria shows that Syrian President Bashar Assad must reconcile with his own people and hold dialogue with the opposition, the Turkish foreign minister said Monday. At a joint news conference in Ankara with his Iranian counterpart, Hakan Fidan said Turkey and Iran, which support opposing sides in Syria's civil war, have agreed to resume diplomatic efforts along with Russia to restore calm days after insurgents launched a lightning offensive and captured almost all of the country's largest city, Aleppo. Also Read | Attack on Bangladesh Mission in Agartala: Interim Government Demands Thorough Investigation Into Attack on Diplomatic Mission Amid Arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. The swift advance by fighters that Turkey supports was a huge embarrassment for Assad and it comes at a time when his allies — Iran and groups it backs and Russia — are preoccupied with their own conflicts. The push is among the rebels' strongest in years and raises the prospect of another violent front reopening in the Middle East when U.S.-backed Israel is fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both Iranian-allied groups. Also Read | Philippines 'Food Poisoning': 3 Dead, 32 Hospitalised After Eating Endangered Sea Turtle Stew. Fidan, whose country has backed forces opposed to Assad, blamed the recent flare-up of the conflict on the Syrian government's refusal to enter a dialogue with the opposition that Turkey supports. “Recent developments show once again that Damascus must reconcile with its own people and the legitimate opposition,” the Turkish minister said. “Turkey is ready to make all the necessary contribution toward this.” Fidan's comments emerged amid Turkish frustration that recent efforts toward a reconciliation with Assad have fallen flat. The comments indicated that the shock offensive launched by opposition fighters could be aimed at pressuring the Syrian leader to engage in political talks. Turkey has been seeking to normalize ties with Syria to address security threats from groups affiliated with Kurdish militants along its southern border and to help ensure the safe return of more than 3 million Syrian refugees. Assad has insisted that Turkey's withdrawal of its forces from northern Syria be a condition for any normalization between the two countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who visited Assad on Sunday before traveling to Ankara, reiterated Tehran's full support for the Syrian government. Iran has been one of Assad's principal political and military supporters and has deployed military advisers and forces after 2011 protests against Assad's rule turned into an all-out war. Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have deployed in Syria to back the government's counteroffensive against the insurgents, an Iraqi militia official and a war monitor said Monday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based opposition war monitor, some 200 Iraqi militiamen riding on pickups crossed into Syria overnight through the strategic Bou Kamal crossing. They were expected to deploy in Aleppo to support the Syrian army's pushback against the insurgents, the monitor said. Meanwhile, Associated Press video showed armed insurgents at Aleppo's international airport, one of them standing on a Syrian government flag and others tearing down a poster of Assad. Insurgents were also seen mounting abandoned aircraft and walking around airport grounds strewn with weapons and ammunition boxes. The rebel offensive in Syria has caused concern among neighboring countries that the conflict could spill over. In Iraq, Interior Ministry spokesperson Brig. Gen. Miqdad Miri said security forces have deployed in greater numbers to protect their large border with Syria. Fidan reiterated Turkey's support for Syria's territorial integrity, but suggested that Turkey would not hesitate to intervene against Syrian Kurdish militia groups that Turkey considers to be terrorists if they “exploit the environment of instability.” “It was a mistake to ignore the legitimate demands of the opposition and for the (Syrian) regime not to sincerely engage in the political process,” Fidan said. Turkey, he added, "will never, ever allow terrorist organizations that seek to exploit the environment of instability," Fidan said. “We will eliminate any threat to our national security and our people wherever it emerges.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that the instability in Syria would come to an end “in line with the legitimate demands of the Syrian people.” He spoke Monday at a joint news conference with the president of Montenegro. Both Fidan and Araghchi said Turkey, Iran and Russia would convene a new three-way meeting to address the conflict in Syria. "We have decided to hold closer consultations and dialogue, and with God's permission, we will cooperate to further improve the situation toward peace and stability in our region,” Araghchi said. Russia, whose intervention in Syria's civil war on behalf of Assad was crucial in turning the conflict in his favor, has said it will continue to support him. “We continue our contacts at the appropriate level,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday. “A position will be formed regarding what is needed to stabilize the situation.” The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said the Assad regime has ignored Security Council resolutions and refused to come to the table. “We are watching that situation very closely, and we will continue to engage with partners in the region to find a path for the situation to go back to calm,” she said. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu appears to be leading in the initial round of the national presidential election, according to exit polls released on Sunday. Ciolacu has secured 25% of the vote, positioning him ahead of centre-right leader Elena Lasconi at 18%. Hard-right contenders Calin Georgescu and George Simion closely follow, with 16% and 15% respectively. The current data doesn't account for votes cast by the large Romanian diaspora, who could play a crucial role in shaping the ultimate outcome. While analysts anticipate Ciolacu will surpass Simion in a final face-off, they acknowledge that the social democrat might face challenges against Lasconi in the runoff scheduled for December 8. (With inputs from agencies.)

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First Quarter Hou_Stover 19 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 14:42. Ten_FG Folk 51, 11:15. Ten_Westbrook-Ikhine 38 pass from Levis (Folk kick), 1:57. Second Quarter Ten_Pollard 10 run (Folk kick), 11:03. Hou_Collins 5 pass from Stroud (Fairbairn kick), 6:17. Hou_FG Fairbairn 28, 1:47. Ten_FG Folk 56, :00. Third Quarter Ten_FG Folk 51, 9:08. Hou_Ward 65 interception return (Fairbairn kick), :04. Fourth Quarter Hou_FG Fairbairn 54, 9:46. Ten_Okonkwo 70 pass from Levis (Folk kick), 9:35. Ten_safety, 1:13. A_71,055. INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING_Tennessee, Pollard 24-119, Levis 8-10, Chestnut 1-3. Houston, Mixon 14-22, Stroud 3-18. PASSING_Tennessee, Levis 18-24-1-278, Boyd 0-1-0-0. Houston, Stroud 20-33-2-247. RECEIVING_Tennessee, Boyd 6-55, Ridley 5-93, Pollard 3-10, Westbrook-Ikhine 2-48, Okonkwo 1-70, Chestnut 1-2. Houston, Collins 5-92, Mixon 5-23, Dell 3-72, Stover 3-26, Schultz 2-20, Woods 1-8, Metchie 1-6. MISSED FIELD GOALS_Houston, Fairbairn 28.

The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, US officials said. The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.Liberal MP accuses opposition MPs of wasting time on another Boissonnault probe

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2024-- Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (Nasdaq: FFIE) (“FF”, “Faraday Future”, or the “Company”), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, today announced that its first Faraday X (FX) prototype mules will arrive in Los Angeles at the end of this month. The first two FX mules will begin their product development and testing in the U.S. shortly thereafter at FF’s manufacturing facility in Hanford, CA, with a stop in Las Vegas, NV from January 5-7, which coincides with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). While in Las Vegas, the Company will provide updates on the progress of the FX strategy. The first prototype mules’ delivery and shipping route has taken them from FF’s Headquarters in Beijing to Los Angeles. The FX brand is accelerating its efforts to deliver "twice the performance at half the price" AIEV products to U.S. consumers and is advancing toward the goal of delivering performance and technology capable EV’s at an affordable price point. Faraday Future is the pioneer of the Ultimate AI TechLuxury ultra spire market in the intelligent EV era, and the disruptor of the traditional ultra-luxury car civilization epitomized by Ferrari and Maybach. FF is not just an EV Company, but also a software-driven intelligent internet Company. Ultimately FF aims to become a User Company by offering a shared intelligent mobility ecosystem. FF remains dedicated to advancing electric vehicle technology to meet the evolving needs and preferences of users worldwide, driven by a pursuit of intelligent and AI-driven mobility. This press release includes “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, which include statements regarding FX and the timing for public display of prototype mules, product development and testing, and accelerating development efforts, are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors, among others, that may affect actual results or outcomes include, among others: potential unforeseen delays regarding the customs clearing process for the prototype mules; the Company’s ability to secure the necessary funding to execute on the FX strategy, which will be substantial; the Company’s ability to secure additional agreements with OEMs that are necessary to execute on the FX strategy; the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern and improve its liquidity and financial position; the Company’s ability to pay its outstanding obligations; the Company's ability to remediate its material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and the risks related to the restatement of previously issued consolidated financial statements; the Company’s limited operating history and the significant barriers to growth it faces; the Company’s history of losses and expectation of continued losses; the success of the Company’s payroll expense reduction plan; the Company’s ability to execute on its plans to develop and market its vehicles and the timing of these development programs; the Company’s estimates of the size of the markets for its vehicles and cost to bring those vehicles to market; the rate and degree of market acceptance of the Company’s vehicles; the Company’s ability to cover future warranty claims; the success of other competing manufacturers; the performance and security of the Company’s vehicles; current and potential litigation involving the Company; the Company’s ability to receive funds from, satisfy the conditions precedent of and close on the various financings described elsewhere by the Company; the result of future financing efforts, the failure of any of which could result in the Company seeking protection under the Bankruptcy Code; the Company’s indebtedness; the Company’s ability to cover future warranty claims; the Company’s ability to use its “at-the-market” program; insurance coverage; general economic and market conditions impacting demand for the Company’s products; potential negative impacts of a reverse stock split; potential cost, headcount and salary reduction actions may not be sufficient or may not achieve their expected results; circumstances outside of the Company's control, such as natural disasters, climate change, health epidemics and pandemics, terrorist attacks, and civil unrest; risks related to the Company's operations in China; the success of the Company's remedial measures taken in response to the Special Committee findings; the Company’s dependence on its suppliers and contract manufacturer; the Company's ability to develop and protect its technologies; the Company's ability to protect against cybersecurity risks; and the ability of the Company to attract and retain employees, any adverse developments in existing legal proceedings or the initiation of new legal proceedings, and volatility of the Company’s stock price. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 28, 2024, as amended on May 30, 2024, and June 24, 2024, as updated by the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s first quarter 2024 Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on July 30, 2024, and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. View source version on : CONTACT: Investors (English):ir@faradayfuture.com Investors (Chinese):cn-ir@faradayfuture.com Media:john.schilling@ff.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA NEVADA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY EV/ELECTRIC VEHICLES LUXURY ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES/FUELS TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY AUTOMOTIVE TRAVEL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RETAIL AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING SOURCE: Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/19/2024 04:30 PM/DISC: 12/19/2024 04:28 PM

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