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j.co sm megamall floor LeBron James made his Christmas debut in 2003. Victor Wembanyama was born 10 days later. That’s right: James has been featured on the NBA’s big day for longer than Wembanyama has been alive. And on Wednesday — when the league celebrates Christmas with games for the 77th time — the league’s oldest player and brightest young star will be big parts of the holiday showcase. It’s another Christmas quintupleheader, with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, Minnesota going to Dallas for a Western Conference finals rematch, Philadelphia heading to Boston to renew a storied rivalry, James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, and Denver playing at Phoenix in the nightcap. “Very excited, of course,” Wembanyama said of his first Christmas game opportunity. “First of all, spending Christmas in New York, it’s going to be like the movies, I hope. Get a little snow.” His first Christmas wish came true: Light snow fell in Manhattan on Tuesday morning. James said he’s relishing another chance to share the holiday spotlight with Curry — someone he’s played against on Christmas three previous times. “Any time you get an opportunity to be on the court and compete against one of the greatest to ever play this game, you don’t take it for granted,” James — who turns 40 next week — said of facing his U.S. Olympic teammate. “I don’t know how many more opportunities we’ll get to go against each other.” The Christmas games have been looked at for decades as the time when more fans tend to start watching basketball. The NFL — which is going head-to-head against the NBA on Wednesday — is seeing its regular season winding down, and the five NBA games will all be shown nationally either on ABC or ESPN. The Spurs-Knicks game will also have a special alt-cast starring Mickey Mouse and some of his friends, the first animated presentation of an NBA game. It’ll be shown on ESPN2 and stream on Disney+ and ESPN+. “I wish there were more of our great players who had a chance to play on that stage on Christmas Day,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. “It’s been an interesting turnaround from certainly my earlier days in the league when we got a lot of complaints about playing on Christmas — and now it comes the other way, which is, ‘Why aren’t we playing on Christmas?’ I wish we could accommodate even more teams.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!Bradley Chubb update puts Dolphins between a rock and a hard placeWe Found the Best Black Friday Apple Deals: $100 Off the Apple Watch, $400 Off MacBooks and More

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A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from Dec. 12 to 18 found that 65 percent of Filipinos expect a “happy” Christmas this year, a decline from 73 percent over the past two years. The survey results, released on Tuesday, Dec. 24, also revealed that 10 percent of Filipinos expect a “sad” Christmas, an increase from 6 percent in 2023. Meanwhile, 26 percent anticipate a holiday that is neither happy nor sad. SWS said the expectation of a happy Christmas was highest in Mindanao at 73 percent, followed by the Visayas at 71 percent, Balance Luzon at 59 percent, and Metro Manila at 58 percent. Compared to 2023, expectations dropped by 14 points in Metro Manila (from 72 percent), 11 points in Balance Luzon (from 70 percent), and seven points in the Visayas (from 78 percent). In Mindanao, however, the figure remained unchanged at 74 percent. Filipinos grateful for health, family, life In response to the open-ended question, “As Christmas and the end of the year approaches, may I know what one or two things are you most thankful for in your life right now?” SWS said the December 2024 survey found that 47 percent of Filipinos are most thankful for good health, 25 percent for family, and 24 percent for being alive. Other common responses included job/career/income (7 percent), God (7 percent), food to eat (6 percent), coping with daily hardships (5 percent), all the blessings (4 percent), peace and safety (3 percent), happy life (3 percent), and prosperity (3 percent). Smaller percentages mentioned surviving an illness or surgery, having no worries or problems, education, financial support, and love life/spouse (1 percent each). Less than 1 percent cited house, friendship/good relationships, material things, and motorcycle/vehicle, while 2 percent did not provide an answer. SWS said good health, family, and being alive were also the most common answers in December 2023. The Fourth Quarter 2024 Social Weather Survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 2,160 adults aged 18 years and above nationwide: 1,080 in Balance Luzon (Luzon outside Metro Manila), and 360 each in Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The sampling error margins are ±2 percent for national percentages, ±3 percent in Balance Luzon, and ±5 percent for Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.Refer Friends, Win Big: Jingo Launches Rewards Program

NEW YORK and LONDON , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. PDCC (the "Company") today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 1,200,000 shares of its 8.00% Series A Preferred Stock Due 2029 (the "Preferred Shares") at a public offering price of $25 per share, which will result in net proceeds to the Company of approximately $28.8 million after payment of underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Preferred Shares are rated 'BBB' by Egan-Jones Ratings Company, an independent rating agency. In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 180,000 Preferred Shares pursuant to the same terms and conditions. PDCC (PRNewsfoto/Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc.)" alt="Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. PDCC (PRNewsfoto/Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc.)"> The offering is expected to close on December 18, 2024 , subject to customary closing conditions. The Company intends to list the Preferred Shares on the New York Stock Exchange within 30 days of the original issue date under the symbol "PDPA." Lucid Capital Markets, LLC ("Lucid"), B. Riley Securities, Inc. and Kingswood Capital Partners, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers and InspereX LLC and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC are acting as lead managers for the offering. Investors should consider the Company's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The preliminary prospectus, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), contains this and other information about the Company and should be read carefully before investing. The information in the preliminary prospectus and this press release is not complete and may be changed. The preliminary prospectus and this press release are not offers to sell these securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted. A registration statement relating to these securities is on file with and has been declared effective by the SEC. Copies of the preliminary prospectus (and the final prospectus, when available) may be obtained by writing to Lucid Capital Markets, LLC, 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022, by calling Lucid toll-free at 646-362-0256 or by sending an e-mail to Lucid at prospectus@lucid.com . Copies also may be obtained on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Egan-Jones Ratings Company is a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO). A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and any such rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the applicable rating agency. About Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. PDCC is an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Its primary investment objective is to maximize its portfolio's total return, with a secondary objective of generating high current income. The Company seeks to achieve these objectives by investing primarily in equity and junior debt tranches of CLOs collateralized by portfolios of sub-investment grade, senior secured floating-rate debt issued by a large number of distinct US companies across several industry sectors. The Company is externally managed by Pearl Diver Capital LLP. For more information, visit www.pearldivercreditcompany.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those described in the prospectus and the Company's other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement made herein. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE Investor Contact: Info@Pearldivercap.com UK: +44 (0)20 3967 8032 US: +1 617 872 0945 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pearl-diver-credit-company-inc-prices-offering-of-series-a-preferred-stock-302330836.html SOURCE Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Tweet Facebook Mail After a year of interest rates remaining firmly stuck at their decade-high of 4.35 per cent, Australian mortgage holders are desperate for some relief from the Reserve Bank in 2025. Economists are largely expecting the cash rate to start coming down midway through the year, although there are differing opinions on how many cuts the RBA will deliver. This is what we know. EXPLAINED: What the RBA is really looking at when it sets interest rates  Michele Bullock has given few clues about when interest rates will start dropping. (Louie Douvis/AFR) When will interest rates come down? We don't know when interest rates will start easing off, and RBA Governor Michele Bullock has been very cautious to avoid suggesting a timeframe for when (or even if) she and her board will pull the trigger on a cut. Other economists are far more willing to speculate when that will happen. Commonwealth Bank is the most optimistic of the big four banks. It believes the RBA will ease the cash rate by 0.25 per cent in its first meeting of 2025, in February. The other three believe Australians will have to wait until the middle of the year for that relief. ANZ, Westpac and NAB have all pencilled in the first rate cut in May. READ MORE: What apps will and won't be covered by social media ban The broader market falls slightly in between the two. As of early December, financial markets are pricing in a cut in April, although economists were slightly more optimistic about an early move following Michele Bullock's comments after the RBA's last rates decision of the year . It's worth keeping in mind these are little more than predictions, and have been proven inaccurate in the past. Earlier this year, forecasts were pointing to a cut well before Christmas, only to be pushed further and further back as core inflation remained out of the RBA's target range and unemployment stayed low . One forecast that was a bit of an outlier when it was released was that of Treasury. Included deep in May's federal budget papers was the line "the cash rate is assumed to gradually ease from around the middle of 2025". That was far more conservative than other forecasts at the time, but is now in line with what economists largely expect. READ MORE: Shelter from the storm? The big swimming conundrum answered  The federal budget's interest rate forecast appeared conservative when it came out, but other economists have since followed its lead. (Getty) What will interest rates be at the end of 2025? Here's where there's a bit more conjecture around the cash rate. The big four are predicting anywhere between two and five cuts in 2025. If CBA and Westpac are on the money, interest rates will be eased four times over the course of the year, bringing them down to 3.35 per cent by next Christmas. ANZ isn't as rosy on mortgage holders' prospects. It's only expecting two cuts, and an end-year cash rate of 3.85 per cent. NAB has gone in the opposite direction, expecting 18 months of inaction to be followed by five cuts in the six meetings between May and December. That would bring interest rates down to 3.1 per cent by the end of 2025. READ MORE: When will Australia's next federal election be held?  ANZ's economists believe Australians will only get two interest rate cuts next year. (Dion Georgopoulos) Outside the big four, we see more variation. The market is pricing in an end-year cash rate of 3.6 per cent, while global economic body the OECD believes it will reach 3.35 per cent by "early 2026". They might seem like small differences, but the impact on household finances would be significant. For example, for someone with the average home loan of $640,998, a 0.25 per cent change in interest rates means $144 less in mortgage payments each month, or $1728 over the course of a year. Five rate cuts next year would therefore represent a very welcome $720 in savings every month – $432 more than what would be the case if there are only two. The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Michail Antonio spoke to his West Ham team-mates via a video call from his hospital bed before they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night. Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday. Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us. “I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.” West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off. The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK. Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up nine fingers to a TV camera. The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him. “I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.” Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR. But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row. While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt. “A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said. “But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group. “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.” There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry. “I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game. “I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.” O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him. “The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”Despite Mary Lou McDonald’s confidence around shaping a coalition without Fine Gael and Fianna Fail – the two parties that have dominated the landscape of Irish politics for a century – the pathway to government for Sinn Fein still appears challenging. With counting following Friday’s election still in the relatively early stages – after an exit poll that showed the main three parties effectively neck-and-neck – there is some way to go before the final picture emerges and the options for government formation crystalise. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Simon Harris, has dismissed talk of a Sinn Fein surge and said he was “cautiously optimistic” about where his party will stand after all the votes are counted. Meanwhile, Ireland’s deputy premier and Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, insisted his party has a “very clear route back to government” as he predicted seat gains. The counting process could last days because of Ireland’s complex system of proportional representation with a single transferable vote (PR-STV), where candidates are ranked by preference. The early indications have turned the focus to the tricky arithmetic of government formation, as the country’s several smaller parties and many independents potentially jockey for a place in government. Ms McDonald told reporters at the RDS count centre in Dublin that she would be “very, very actively pursuing” the potential to form a government with other parties on the left of the political spectrum. The smaller, left-leaning parties in Ireland include the Social Democrats, the Irish Labour Party, the Green Party and People Before Profit-Solidarity. Ms McDonald said her party had delivered an “incredible performance” in the election. “I think it’s fair to say that we have now confirmed that we have broken the political mould here in this state,” she said. “Two party politics is now gone. It’s consigned to the dustbin of history and that, in itself, is very significant.” She added: “I am looking to bring about a government of change, and I’m going to go and look at all formulations. “If you want my bottom line, the idea of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael for another five years, in our strong opinion, is not a good outcome for Irish society. “Obviously, I want to talk to other parties of the left and those that we share very significant policy objectives with. So I’m going to do that first and just hear their mind, hear their thinking. But be very clear, we will be very, very actively pursuing entrance into government.” In Friday night’s exit poll, Sinn Fein was predicted to take 21.1% of first-preference votes, narrowly ahead of outgoing coalition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail at 21% and 19.5% respectively. Prior to the election, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both ruled out entering government with Sinn Fein. Fine Gael leader Mr Harris rejected suggestions Sinn Fein had broken new ground. He told reporters in his count centre in Greystones, Co Wicklow: “Certainly we haven’t seen a Sinn Fein surge or anything like it. “I mean, it looks likely, on the figures that we’ve seen now, fewer people, many fewer people would have voted Sinn Fein in this election than the last one. “In fact, I think they’re down by around 5% and actually the parties, particularly the two parties, the two larger parties in government, are likely to receive significant support from the electorate. So definitely, politics in Ireland has gotten much more fragmented.” He said it was too early to tell what the next government would look like. “I think anybody who makes any suggestion about who is going to be the largest party or the construct of the next government, they’re a braver person than I am,” he said. “Our electoral system dictates that there’ll be many, many transfers that will go on for hours, if not days, before we know the final computations at all. “But what I am very confident about is that my party will have a very significant role to play in the years ahead, and I’m cautiously optimistic and excited.” Fianna Fail’s Mr Martin told reporters at a count centre in Cork he was confident that the numbers exist to form a government with parties that shared his political viewpoint. Mr Martin said it “remains to be seen” whether he would return to the role of Taoiseach – a position he held between 2020 and 2022 – but he expressed confidence his party would outperform the exit poll prediction. “It’s a bit too early yet to call the exact type of government that will be formed or the composition of the next government,” he said. “But I think there are, there will be a sufficiency of seats, it seems to me, that aligns with the core principles that I articulated at the outset of this campaign and throughout the campaign, around the pro-enterprise economy, around a positively pro-European position, a government that will strongly push for home ownership and around parties that are transparently democratic in how they conduct their affairs.” Asked if it would be in a coalition with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Social Democrats, he said that would be “racing a bit too far ahead”. The final result may dictate that if Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are to return to government, they may need more than one junior partner, or potentially the buy-in of several independent TDs. Mr Martin said it was unclear how quickly a government can be formed, as he predicted his party would gain new seats. “It will be challenging. This is not easy,” he added. The junior partner in the outgoing government – the Green Party – looks set for a bruising set of results. Green leader Roderic O’Gorman is in a fight to hold onto his seat, as are a number of party colleagues, including Media Minister Catherine Martin. “It’s clear the Green Party has not had a good day,” he said. The early counting also suggested potential trouble for Fianna Fail in Wicklow, where the party’s only candidate in the constituency, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, is considered to have a battle ahead, with the risk of losing his seat. Meanwhile, there is significant focus on independent candidate Gerard Hutch who, on Saturday evening, was sitting in fourth place in the four-seat constituency of Dublin Central. Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne, in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud. Mr Byrne, 33, died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. A Special Criminal Court judge described Mr Hutch, 61, as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation and said he had engaged in “serious criminal conduct”. The constituency will be closely watched as other hopefuls wait to see if transfers from eliminated candidates may eventually rule him out of contention. In the constituency of Louth, the much-criticised selection of John McGahon appeared not to have paid off for Fine Gael. The party’s campaign was beset by questioning over footage entering the public domain of the candidate engaged in a fight outside a pub in 2018. The Social Democrats have a strong chance of emerging as the largest of the smaller parties. The party’s leader, Holly Cairns, was already celebrating before a single vote was counted however, having announced the birth of her baby girl on polling day.

American Airlines grounds flights delaying passengers at Logan AirportThe official Black Friday sale might be behind us, but many of its deals are still available. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of great savings on Apple products as we approach Cyber Monday. Retailers like Best Buy , Walmart , and Amazon have slashed prices on MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods, AirTags, and Apple Pencils, so there's never been a better time to grab what you want at a discount. Stay tuned — CNET’s experts will keep updating this list to ensure you don’t miss any great holiday discounts. If you're only in the market for a new pair of headphones, we've got a separate roundup with all the best Black Friday AirPods deals as well. And if you're not looking for Apple tech, there are plenty of laptop and tablet deals from other top brands right now, too. Best Black Friday Apple deals CNET named the M3 MacBook Air , the latest model in Apple's lightweight lineup, the overall best laptop of 2024 . It features a stunning 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, an 18-hour battery life, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It's also designed to work with Apple Intelligence , and right now you can grab all four colors of this configuration at an all-time low price. The new M4 MacBook Pro just hit shelves this month, and you can already score some savings when you order it at B&H Photo. There are a number of configurations on sale, but prices start at $1,399 for the model with 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM and a 10-core processor. The second-gen AirPods Pro are still a top choice for the best earbuds of 2024 , thanks to their top-notch noise-canceling capabilities, impressive sound quality and excellent voice-calling performance. They boast an IP54 weather-resistance rating and have a battery life of up to 30 hours with the charging case. This Amazon Black Friday deal drops them to a new record-low price. This is the first time this 2024 Apple tablet has gone on sale. The updated iPad features a 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display screen, an ultrafast A17 Pro chip and an upgraded camera system. It has a 12MP Ultra Wide front camera and a 12MP wide back camera to help you take photos, scan documents or make video calls. A few color varieties have already sold out, so act quickly. You can already score savings on this top-rated 2024 desktop . Built with an ultrafast M4 chip, an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU, this desktop can handle creative projects, gaming or everyday activities. Its 24-inch 4.5K Retina display offers colors with enhanced accuracy and features 500 nits of brightness. Make sure to use the on-screen coupon for the best price. Best Black Friday AirPods and headphone deals The second-gen AirPods Pro are still a top choice for the best earbuds of 2024 , thanks to their top-notch noise-canceling capabilities, impressive sound quality and excellent voice-calling performance. They boast an IP54 weather-resistance rating and have a battery life of up to 30 hours with the charging case. This Amazon Black Friday deal drops them to a new record-low price. Best Black Friday Mac and MacBook deals This previous-gen MacBook Air is our top pick for Apple users on a budget. It comes with 8GB of unified memory and 256GB of storage. The 13.3-inch laptop has a battery life of up to 18 hours, and its lightweight design makes it nice and portable, which is excellent for students and commuters who need a dependable laptop at a more affordable price. Best Black Friday Apple Watch deals One of Apple's latest wearables and our overall favorite smartwatch of 2024 , the Apple Watch Series 10 is currently on sale for the first time since it hit shelves in September. It features a vibrant OLED display, an 18-hour battery life and advanced health monitors like an ECG function. Various color and band combinations are on sale with prices from $329. The 46mm size is also on sale from $359 , a $70 price cut. Best Black Friday iPad deals The most advanced and powerful Apple tablet on the market. It runs on the powerful M4 Chip and features a nine-core CPU, a 10-core GPU and a 16-core neural engine for heavier workloads. Best Black Friday deals on Apple accessories: AirTags, Apple Pencil and more Apple's latest stylus is perfect for artists in particular. It allows you to draw, sketch, color, take notes, and even mark up documents. The stylus can also use apps like Notes, but a million more apps are available on the App Store. It is compatible only with select iPad models . Is Apple offering Black Friday discounts? Apple did not announce any plans for an official Black Friday Sale. And because Apple rarely directly discounts its own products, we don't expect that to change. In past years, the most we've seen in the way of holiday deals is a free gift card or subscription with your purchase. Where can I find the best Black Friday Apple deals? Though Black Friday is officially over and Apple might not be the go-to place for deals, plenty of third-party retailers also stock Apple gear and are out to tempt buyers with steep discounts during Black Friday week and leading up to Cyber Monday. You'll find some serious bargains on Apple tech at major retailers like Amazon and Walmart and smaller online competitors like Newegg and B&H Photo frequently offer savings as well. What time of year are Apple products the cheapest? If you're looking to add Apple products to your life then, historically speaking, the best time of year to purchase Apple products is Cyber Week, which eventually leads to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.THE Co-op has axed a popular variety of festive crisps - leaving shoppers crying for their return. The retailer's Ultimate Roast Potato crisps were a hit with customers - although some laughed at the name and pointed out that all crisps are made from potatoes. After getting rave reviews last year customers have since sadly realised they are not returning this December, leading to passionate pleas to the Co-op . One said on X : "Finding out that @coopuk aren't doing their Ultimate Roast Potato crisps this year has made me sad. "In my humble opinion , they need to become a permanent fixture on the shelves!" Another added: "Where did your roast potato crisps go? Read more in money "They are 10x better than the pizza flavoured crisps. Please can we have them back?" While a third said: "Gutted that my favourite crisps ever are not to be seen this Christmas . Have you discontinued them? "Please tell me you haven't. "I normally stockpile them each year." Most read in Money "I hope they'll look into stocking them next year as all the other Christmas crisps are so highly flavoured. "These were just perfect - the rosemary, garlic & salt - so uncomplicated. Gutted." The Co-op confirmed to The Sun that the flavour was no longer sold, having been replaced by its "Irresistible Camembert and Black Garlic Crisps". A spokesman said many of its sharing bags of crisps - including the festive Camembert ones, Pigs in Blankets, Turkey Tikka Masala and Serious Saucy - were currently on offer for £1.25 for Co-op Members, while non-members pay £1.75. Retailers and brands often release Christmas-themed versions of their regular products to drive up sales before Christmas. Some are bought back year after year, but it can upset customers' traditions if they are discontinued in favour of a new variety. In the case of Roast Potato crisps, The Co-op has been selling them every winter since 2019, leading to a substantial fanbase. ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders. Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether. They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers. There are several reasons why this could be done. For example, government regulation, like the "sugar tax," forces firms to change their recipes. Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs. They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable. For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018 . It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version. Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year. Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks . While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose. CHRISTMAS FOODS AXED Cadbury's Festive Friends biscuits, which were this year phased out in favour of Festival Animals - caused a storm of protest. One fan even started a petition on Change.org to reverse the decision. This month, The Sun also revealed Cadbury is no longer producing its Dairy Milk Mousse Snowman and Dairy Milk Winter Orange Crisp bars, which again have been missed by fans. M&S has also scrapped one of its popular Christmas drinks from shelves ahead of the big day. The retailer confirmed the Clementine Hot Chocolate had been discontinued but did not rule out the possibility of a come back. The popular hot chocolate featured Belgian chocolate flakes with some citrus notes. READ MORE SUN STORIES Shoppers loved the sweet drink - but unfortunately won't be able to get their fix this season. One user on X begged for the retailer to bring the flavour back - saying her family "hasn't stopped talking about it for two years since Christmas 2022." Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping. Limit the amount of presents - buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb. Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you're not having to buy multiple presents. Plan ahead - if you've got the stamina and budget, it's worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales. Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you're not forking out more than you should though. Buy in Boxing Day sales - some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25. Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent. Shop via outlet stores - you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts. They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.

The suspect in the high-profile killing of a health insurance CEO that has gripped the United States graduated from an Ivy League university, reportedly hails from a wealthy family, and wrote social media posts brimming with cerebral musings. Luigi Mangione, 26, was thrust into the spotlight Monday after police revealed he is their person of interest in the brutal murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, a father of two, last week in broad daylight in Manhattan in a case that laid bare deep frustration and anger with America's privatized medical system.(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Sara Harmouch , American University (THE CONVERSATION) The fall of President Bashar al-Assad has left a critical question: After a half-century of brutal dynastic rule has come to an end, who speaks for Syrians now? One group staking a major claim for that role is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , which, under the leadership of Abu Mohammad al-Golani, spearheaded the opposition advance that toppled Assad. But what does the group stand for? And who is al-Golani? The Conversation turned to Sara Harmouch , an expert on Islamist militant groups, for answers. What is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham? Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has its roots in the early stages of the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 as a popular uprising against the autocratic government of Assad. The group originated as an offshoot of the Nusra Front, the official al-Qaida affiliate in Syria. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was initially recognized for its combat effectiveness and its commitment to global jihadist ideology, or the establishment of strict Islamic rule across the Muslim world. In a shift in 2016, the Nusra Front publicly cut ties with al-Qaida and adopted the new name Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which means “Front for the Conquest of the Levant.” The following year, it merged with several other factions in the Syrian war to become Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant.” This rebranding aimed to move away from al-Qaida’s global jihadist agenda, which had limited the group’s appeal within Syria. It allowed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to focus on issues specific to Syrians, such as local governance, economic issues and humanitarian aid. Despite these changes, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s core ideology continues to be rooted in jihadism, with the primary objective of overthrowing the Assad government and establishing Islamic rule in Syria. Who is al-Golani? How central is he to the group’s success? Abu Mohammed al-Golani was born Ahmed al-Sharaa in 1982 in Saudi Arabia. Al-Golani spent his early years in Damascus, Syria, after his family returned from Saudi Arabia in 1989. His jihadist career began in Iraq, where he joined fighters aligned with al-Qaida after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion . In 2011, under the direction of Iraqi militant and then-al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, al-Golani was tasked with establishing the Nusra Front in Syria. The group quickly became a formidable force within the Syrian civil war. It was under al-Golani’s leadership that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham sought to portray itself as pragmatic, less focused on global jihad and more on governance issues in the region of Idlib, Syria’s largest rebel stronghold. This shift in strategy forms part of al-Golani’s effort to transform his national and global image from that of a jihadist leader to a more politically viable figure in Syrian politics. Al-Golani’s shift toward a more pragmatic approach, particularly post-2017, has been crucial in helping Hayat Tahrir al-Sham control territories and assert itself as a regional governing force. His recent moves, like adopting a more moderate persona and engaging in traditional public service, reflect al-Golani’s central role in the military and the political evolution of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – underpinning the group’s hold on power and its efforts at gaining legitimacy both locally and internationally. How did the group rise to become a major force in Syria? To keep power over the territories it controlled, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham employed a mix of strategies that includes establishing governance systems that could provide stability and services while legitimizing their control in the eyes of local populations. Aiming to expand and take more territory, the group’s leaders concluded that it needed to win over the international community to minimize international opposition and effectively work with the broader Syrian revolutionary movement. This involved working with other actors in Syria, aiming to present a united front that could be more palatable to international observers and potential allies. To do that locally, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham brought many groups within Syria under its control. Regionally and internationally, it reshaped its image through public relations campaigns, such as engaging in social services. Since 2017, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has been the prevailing force in Idlib , which, after government forces retook control of Aleppo in December 2016, emerged as the last major bastion for various rebel groups. Over the years, the group has solidified its control in the region by functioning as a quasi-governmental entity , providing civil services and overseeing local affairs – such as controlling highways and collecting duties on commercial trucking – despite reports of human rights abuses. In recent years, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s propaganda has emphasized protecting Syrian territory and its people from the Assad government. This has helped the group enhance its position among local communities and other rebel groups. In an effort to further burnish its image, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ramped up its public relations efforts, both at home and abroad. For example, it has engaged with international media and humanitarian organizations to negotiate – and film – aid deliveries to the areas it governs. Doing so helped Hayat Tahrir al-Sham gain some local support , positioning itself as a defender of Sunni Muslim interests. Meanwhile, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham bolstered its military capabilities by establishing a military academy, reorganizing its units into a more conventional military structure and creating specialized forces adept at executing coordinated and strategic attacks. The recent advance appears to be proof that this strategy has paid off. What does the US think of the group and al-Golani? The U.S. has long listed al-Golani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and the Nusra Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In May 2018, the U.S. State Department expanded this designation to include Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. As a result of these designations, the group and its members face legal restrictions, travel bans, asset freezes and banking restrictions. Additionally, the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to US$10 million for information on al-Golani. However, news has been circulating that the U.S. is considering removing the $10 million bounty on the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leader, while the United Kingdom is thinking of removing the group from its terror list. What happens if al-Golani emerges as a post-Assad leader? First, we should note that these are very early days, and it remains unclear what Syria will look like post-Assad. But based on my years researching Islamic history and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, I’m willing to venture a few educated guesses. Historically, Islamic empires have used distinct governance frameworks to drive their expansion and administration, which might inform Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s approach to mirroring these successful strategies. First, I think al-Golani is likely to strive for authentic religious leadership, positioning himself as a leader whose personal piety and adherence to Islamic principles align with the religious sentiments of the population at large. This could be complemented by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham emphasizing the role of Sunni Islam in Syria’s state functions and integrating religious legal practices into the nation’s laws. Just as it has established on a localized scale, effective administration might become a cornerstone of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham governance. In Idlib, for example, the group established systems for taxation and community engagement. This is essential for building trust, especially among previously marginalized groups. Additionally, by allowing some autonomy for regions within Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham could mitigate the risk of unrest, balancing strict Islamic law enforcement with Syria’s cultural and ethnic diversity. Overall, should Hayat Tahrir al-Sham under al-Golani try to steer the formation of Syria’s new government, we might expect a governance approach that aims for a blend of traditional Islamic governance and modern statecraft, striving to stabilize and unify the diverse and war-torn country. However, the group’s controversial status and history of militant activities could pose significant challenges in gaining widespread international recognition and internal support. Sections of this article were first published in an article for The Conversation on Dec. 2, 2024. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/abu-mohammed-al-golani-may-become-the-face-of-post-assad-syria-but-who-is-he-and-why-does-he-have-10m-us-bounty-on-his-head-245612 . Licenced as Creative Commons - attribution, no derivatives.South Florida-San Jose State live updates: How to watch, predictions, odds for Hawaii Bowl

It's a college football player's favorite bowl game on ESPN tonight as the South Florida Bulls take on the San Jose State Spartans in the 2024 Hawaii Bowl . There is plenty of intrigue surrounding both schools in this game. San Jose State had a flurry of close matchups throughout the season, including a 21-point loss to Boise State that was tied at halftime. Furthermore, the Spartans ' head coach, Ken Niumatalolo, is a Hawaii native who would love nothing more than to show out for his home state. On the other side, USF is playing in its second bowl game in as many years, a testament to head coach Alex Golesh's ability to turn the program around after they'd only won four games combined in the three years prior to his arrival. USF was able to decimate Syracuse in the Boca Raton Bowl, 45-0, last year, so perhaps San Jose State will need to take the Bulls more seriously than it has taken some of its other opponents. Follow along live for the 2024 Hawaii Bowl. CFP Fix: The College Football Playoff is already broken. Matt Hayes is here with a plan to fix it When is the Hawaii Bowl between USF and San Jose State? The Hawaii Bowl game between the South Florida Bulls and the San Jose State Spartans kicks off at 8 p.m. ET at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu. How to watch USF and San Jose State in the Hawaii Bowl The Hawaii Bowl game between the South Florida Bulls and the San Jose State Spartans will be televised nationally on ESPN. Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Emerance Maschmeyer turned in 34 saves on 35 shots on goal and the Ottawa Charge held off the New York Sirens 3-1 on Sunday for their second win in six games. Playing their first game in 10 days, the Charge got a first-period goal from Emily Clark and Shiann Darkangelo and Kateřina Mrázová added second-period goals to build a 3-0 lead through two periods. Ottawa has scored at least three goals in all five of its meetings with New York over two seasons. Alex Carpenter earned a third-period assist to extend her scoring streak to nine straight games dating to last season. Sarah Fillier’s goal moved her into a tie for the league lead with eight points in her first eight games after being drafted No. 1 by the Sirens. Ottawa’s defense neutralized much of New York’s speed advantage and used a strong penalty kill to take a 1-0 lead after one period after Clark tipped home a wrist shot from the point by Brianne Jenner six minutes into the game. The Charge added two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period but could not capitalize on a pair of power plays late in the period. Fillier wasted little time getting New York on the board in the third period, firing a shot past Maschmeyer 23 seconds into the period, but the keeper saved the next dozen shots, including an almost three-minute finish when the Sirens pulled goalkeeper Corinne Schroeder to gain a player advantage. New York’s Jill Saulnier was activated off long-term injured reserve following an upper body injury sustained in the opening game December 1. ___ AP hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/hockey

John Elway: remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in draft mitigated by watching Broncos rookie Bo Nix

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- Proprietary data and samples from TRACERx and Achilles' Material Acquisition Platform (MAP) will be transferred to AstraZeneca under the Transaction - - Conclusion of Strategic Review - LONDON, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achilles Therapeutics plc (NASDAQ: ACHL) today announced that it has transferred the commercial license of data and samples from the TRACERx® Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) study to AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN). TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through therapy (Rx)), led by Professor Charles Swanton at University College London (UCL), UK, is one of the largest tumor evolution studies to generate deep sequencing multi-region and multi-time-point genetic data from over 3,200 tumor samples from over 800 lung cancer patients. As part of the transaction, AstraZeneca will also take over as sponsor of Achilles' Material Acquisition Platform (MAP), and receive tumor samples and data collected thus far. MAP is a proprietary network that has collected donor tumor tissue and blood from nearly 300 cancer patients undergoing standard-of-care cancer surgery across multiple solid tumor indications, including lung, melanoma, head and neck, renal, bladder, and breast. "We are pleased that as a leader in Oncology, AstraZeneca recognizes the scientific value of our TRACERx and MAP assets,” said Dr Iraj Ali, CEO of Achilles Therapeutics. "We believe that these assets have the potential to positively impact Oncology R&D and will support the development of new and improved therapies for cancer patients.” AstraZeneca has agreed to pay Achilles Therapeutics $12M for the assets in total. BofA Securities provided strategic financial advice to Achilles for the transaction. Completion of this transaction signals the conclusion of Achilles' strategic review which was announced in September 2024. Achilles now plans to undertake additional measures, including a further reduction in employee headcount and a decrease in the size of its Board of Directors, while remaining compliant with Nasdaq and SEC requirements. About Achilles Therapeutics Achilles is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that has been developing AI-powered precision T cell therapies targeting clonal neoantigens: protein markers unique to the individual that are expressed on the surface of every cancer cell. Achilles has used DNA sequencing data from each patient, together with its proprietary PELEUS TM bioinformatics platform, to identify clonal neoantigens specific to that patient, to enable and support development of product candidates specifically targeting those clonal neoantigens. About TRACERx TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through therapy (Rx)), led by Professor Charles Swanton at UCL, is one of the largest tumor evolution studies to generate deep sequencing multi-region and multi-time point genetic data from over 3,200 tumor samples from over 800 lung cancer patients. TRACERx has transformed the understanding of tumor evolution and has convincingly shown that tumors originate from a single cell that evolves in a Darwinian manner and the early (clonal) mutations are preserved in all subsequent primary and metastatic tumor cells. The study, which has generated numerous publications, uncovered important mechanisms of cancer evolution and immune evasion by analyzing genetic signatures in lung tumors and tracking how they evolve over time from diagnosis through to relapse. These findings provide the ability to identify a novel class of tumor markers called clonal neoantigens that are present on all tumor cells yet absent from healthy tissue, making them ideal cancer targets. TRACERx represents the largest investment in lung cancer research by Cancer Research UK. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements that are based on the Company management's belief and assumptions and on information currently available to the Company's management. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company's clinical trials and the Company's beliefs about its goals for the discontinued trials; expectations related to the Company's cash runway and operating expenses and capital expense requirements; the Company's ability to engage with third parties who are developing alternative modalities to target clonal neoantigens for the treatment of cancers and the Company's review and evaluation of potential strategic options and their impact on stockholder value. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or the Company's future operational or financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company has no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. For further information, please contact: Meru Advisors Lee M. Stern [email protected]Walker & Dunlop Arranges 2nd Largest Sale in San Diego in 2024