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Cooking up a breakthrough: Engineers refine lipid nanoparticles for better mRNA therapies November 22, 2024 University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science Engineers have cooked up a new way to improve mRNA delivery, developing an optimal 'recipe' for ionizable lipids -- key ingredients in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the molecules behind the COVID-19 vaccines and other innovative therapies. The method mirrors the iterative process of developing a culinary dish and may lead to safer, more effective mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email Penn Engineers have cooked up a new way to improve mRNA delivery, developing an optimal "recipe" for ionizable lipids -- key ingredients in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the molecules behind the COVID-19 vaccines and other innovative therapies. The method, described in Nature Biomedical Engineering , mirrors the iterative process of developing a culinary dish and may lead to safer, more effective mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Just as a chef perfects a dish by experimenting with flavors and textures, the researchers used an iterative process, testing variations to find the ideal structure for the ionizable lipid. This lipid's structure influences the ability of LNPs to successfully deliver their contents and advances mRNA therapies for vaccines and gene editing. A Breakthrough in LNP Design Nanoparticles have transformed how mRNA vaccines and therapeutics are delivered by allowing them to travel safely through the body, reach target cells and release their contents efficiently. On its own, RNA is fragile, and would otherwise dissolve without ever reaching its intended target. At the heart of these nanoparticles are ionizable lipids, special molecules that can switch between charged and neutral states depending on their surroundings. This switch is essential for the nanoparticle's journey: In the bloodstream, ionizable lipids stay neutral, preventing toxicity. But once inside the target cell, they become positively charged, triggering the release of the mRNA payload. Led by Michael J. Mitchell, Associate Professor in Bioengineering, the researchers refined this delivery process by optimizing the structure of ionizable lipids. Moving beyond existing methods limited by tradeoffs between speed and accuracy, the team developed a step-by-step, "directed chemical evolution" process. Through five cycles, with each further refining the lipids, they created dozens of high-performing, biodegradable lipids -- some even surpassing industry standards. The Secret Sauce: Directed Chemical Evolution To develop safer, more effective ionizable lipids, the Penn Engineers employed a unique approach that combines two prevailing methods: medicinal chemistry, which involves slowly and laboriously designing molecules one step at a time, and combinatorial chemistry, which involves generating many different molecules quickly through simple reactions. The former has high accuracy but low speed, while the latter has low accuracy and high speed. "We thought it might be possible to achieve the best of both worlds," says Xuexiang Han, the paper's first author and, until recently, a postdoctoral fellow in the Mitchell Lab. "High speed and high accuracy, but we had to think outside the traditional confines of the field." By borrowing the idea of directed evolution, a technique used in both chemistry and biology that mimics the process of natural selection, the researchers combined precision with rapid output to achieve their ideal lipid "recipe." The process begins with the generation of a wide variety of molecules, which are screened for their ability to deliver mRNA. The best-performing lipids are then used as starting points for generating another round of molecular variants, and so on, until only high-performing variants remain. An Innovative Ingredient: A 3 Coupling A crucial contributor to the team's recipe for improved ionizable lipids is A 3 coupling, a three-component reaction named for its chemical ingredients: an amine, an aldehyde and an alkyne. The reaction, which has never been leveraged to synthesize ionizable lipids for LNPs, uses inexpensive, commercially available ingredients and produces only water as a byproduct, making it a cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice for rapidly producing the large numbers of ionizable lipid variants needed as ingredients for directed evolution. "We found that the A 3 reaction was not only efficient, but also flexible enough to allow for precise control over the lipids' molecular structure," says Mitchell. This flexibility was key to fine-tuning the ionizable lipid properties for safe and effective mRNA delivery. Why This Advance Matters This new method for designing ionizable lipids is expected to have broad implications for mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, which are poised to treat a range of conditions, from genetic disorders to infectious diseases. In this work, the optimized lipids improved mRNA delivery in preclinical models for two high-priority applications: editing genes that cause hereditary amyloidosis, a rare disease that results in abnormal protein deposits throughout the body, and improving delivery of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. In both cases, the engineered lipids showed higher performance than current industry-standard lipids. Beyond these specific applications, the new approach has the potential to accelerate the development of mRNA therapies overall. While it can take years to develop an effective lipid using traditional methods, the team's directed evolution process could reduce this timeline to just months or even weeks. "Our hope is that this method will accelerate the pipeline for mRNA therapeutics and vaccines, bringing new treatments to patients faster than ever before," says Mitchell. A New Frontier for mRNA Delivery LNPs represent a safe, flexible way to deliver genetic material, but their success hinges on the properties of their ionizable lipids. The Penn Engineers' iterative design process allows researchers to improve these lipids with unprecedented speed and precision, bringing the next generation of mRNA therapies closer to reality. With this innovative recipe for LNPs, Penn Engineers have taken a major step forward in advancing mRNA technology, offering hope for a faster and more efficient path to life-changing treatments. This study was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science and supported by a U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's New Innovator Award (DP2 TR002776), a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface (CASI), a US National Science Foundation CAREER Award (CBET-2145491), an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant (RSG-22-122-01-ET) and iECURE. Additional co-authors include Kelsey L. Swingle, Junchao Xu, Ningqiang Gong, Lulu Xue, Giangqiang Shi and Il-Chul Yoon of Penn Engineering; Rohan Palanki, of Penn Medicine and Penn Engineering; Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, Rakan El-Mayta, Garima Dwivedi, James M. Wilson and Drew Weissman of Penn Medicine; and Claude C. Warzecha of Gemma Therapeutics. Story Source: Materials provided by University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science . Original written by Ian Scheffler. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Cite This Page :
Ireland's centre-right parties close in on re-electionWhite House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaignLOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams keep doing just enough to win, and a team that appeared to be rebuilding this season has climbed all the way to the brink of another playoff berth. The Rams improved to 9-6 and took control of the NFC West on Sunday with their fourth straight victory since Thanksgiving. Their 19-9 win over the New York Jets in sub-freezing temperatures was not dominant — they trailed 9-6 entering the fourth quarter, and they were outgained by nearly 100 yards — but Los Angeles still matched its largest margin of victory this season and continued to look like a looming nightmare for any postseason opponent. The Rams have now won eight of 10 since their bye week, when they were 1-4 and the NFL world wondered whether they would trade Super Bowl MVP receiver Cooper Kupp or even quarterback Matthew Stafford to spur their roster reboot. Los Angeles decided not to punt its season, and Sean McVay's team has driven from last to first. “You don’t want to ride the emotional roller coaster that these games can take you on,” McVay said Monday. “You do have the ability to stay steady, to stay the course and try to right the ship. Certainly that’s not complete by any stretch, but our guys have done an excellent job of not allowing the way that we started, especially in those first five games, to affect what we did coming off that bye.” The Rams also have clinched their seventh winning record in eight regular seasons under McVay — an achievement that shouldn’t get lost in the recent successes of a franchise that had 13 consecutive non-winning seasons before it rolled the dice and hired a 30-year-old head coach back in 2017. After winning it all in February 2022 and then having the worst season by a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, the Rams have made the most of their time in between true powerhouse status and a major rebuild. They also started slowly last year, entering their bye at 3-6 before a 7-1 finish. The Rams can become the first team in NFL history to make back-to-back postseason appearances after being three games under .500 each year. These Rams don't stand out on either side of the ball, although their talent level appears to be higher on offense than defense. Instead, they've mastered a delicate balance of complementary football — the offense and defense covering each other's weaknesses and setting up their teammates for success. The Rams have scored more than 30 points just once all season, and they managed only 31 points in their last two games combined. Their defense has allowed only one touchdown in the past two games — but right before that, Josh Allen and the Bills racked up 42 points and 445 yards in the most recent of a few defensive stinkers from LA this season. The Rams keep winning anyway, and now they can clinch McVay's fourth NFC West title by beating Seattle in two weeks. “Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” McVay said. Kyren Williams and the offensive line are driving the Rams' offense. After a slow start caused partly by McVay being forced to abandon the running game when the Rams repeatedly fell behind early, the 2023 Pro Bowler has surged to career highs of 1,243 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns with his 122-yard performance in New York. Stafford's 110 yards passing were his fewest with the Rams and the second-fewest in his 16-year career from a full game. Sunday's weather was a major factor, but the Rams must throw the ball effectively to somebody other than Puka Nacua. Kupp has just 193 yards receiving in his past five games combined. Defensive back Jaylen McCollough made a career-high nine tackles in only 31 snaps. The undrafted rookie continues to be a remarkable find, earning playing time alongside veteran safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl and fellow rookie Kam Kinchens. CB Cobie Durant didn't play for the second straight week despite being cleared to return from his bruised lung. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon got every snap in place of Durant, who started LA's first 13 games. McVay praised Witherspoon's recent play when asked why Durant didn't get on the field in New Jersey. The Rams' improved health, particularly on both lines, is the key to their surge. McVay reported no new injuries out of the road trip following Tyler Higbee's successful season debut. 12-1 — The Rams’ record in December with Stafford as their starter over his four years in LA. The Rams need to win at least one of their final two games to wrap up their first NFC West crown since 2021. They host eliminated Arizona on Saturday night, but can't clinch the division unless the Seahawks lose to moribund Chicago. The Rams are currently the NFC's third seed, but that doesn't matter a whole lot because both the third and fourth seeds will have to play one of the NFC North's two powerful wild-card teams in the opening round. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
LAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It's an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world's premier racing series, and we're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. "The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team," Michael Andretti posted on social media. "I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!" The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years, and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti's application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1's current grid. "General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. "Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024," F1 said in a statement. "Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." Get local news delivered to your inbox!A scientific report – 2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines – has been published by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services (USDA-HHS). The 421-page document is intended to inform new guidelines in 2025, although these will now fall within the scope of Trump Administration selected political appointees. Updated every five years, the document guides everyone from dieticians to consumers, to food producers to food retailers, in the creation and facilitation of national nutrition programs and nutrition education. Key recommendations in this report include : According to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra : “This report will help to ensure that the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines is based on current scientific evidence and medical knowledge, and that future guidelines factors in socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and culture. I want to thank the Committee for all their hard work, as well as the American people for sharing their voice with us in this process. Together, we can help Americans enjoy a healthy diet, and the health benefits that are possible as a result.” The primary recommendation within the document is with eating more beans, peas and lentils, while reducing the intake of red and processed meats. A healthy dietary pattern for people 2 years and older “is higher in vegetables, fruits, legumes (eg, beans, peas, lentils), nuts, whole grains, fish/seafood, and vegetable oils higher in unsaturated fat, and lower in red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened foods and beverages, refined grains, and saturated fat.” The also report addresses other factors that shape health and welfare in the context of diet. Notably, this is manifest in terms of social class. In the section titled Eat Healthy Your Way, the report recognizes that healthy eating and nutrition-related chronic health conditions vary among individuals and between sociodemographic groups. Notably, the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes is higher among lower-income (working class) families. Concerns have been expressed about what the incoming Administration will do with the findings, given that the essence of the soon-to-be-government’s approach to food policy is deregulation. “This is a deregulatory agenda,” Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition and food policy at New York University, has told The Guardian . “And what we know historically from deregulation is that it’s really bad for consumers, it’s bad for workers, it’s bad for the environment.” Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.
Andalucía Trade organizes a “trade mission” to the ‘European Hydrogen Week’ in Belgium with six Andalusian companies The Business Agency for Economic Transformation and Development, Andalucía Trade, has organised the presence of six Andalusian companies from the green hydrogen sector at the ‘European Hydrogen Week 2024’, which was held from 18 to 21 November in Brussels. As detailed by the Agency in a note, at this event the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines, together with the Andalusian Energy Agency, have led the presence of Andalusia at the European Hydrogen Week with an exhibitor and active participation in the B2B conferences organized by the Commission and in the High-Level Political Conference. This trade mission also coincided on 20 November with a visit by the Deputy Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines, Ana María Vielba, to the Andalusian Energy Agency’s exhibition space at the show, where she had the opportunity to interact with participating companies from Huelva and Seville. Within the framework of this action, the six Andalusian firms have had the opportunity to “explore reference clusters and projects” in Belgium and the Netherlands, with notable visits to the Port of Antwerp and companies such as the Belgian Fluxys Hydrogen, “thus strengthening strategic connections for the development of this key area for renewable energies.” The main objective of this action has thus been to “boost the internationalisation of Andalusian green hydrogen”. In addition, it has sought to “strengthen strategic alliances in a key sector for the energy transition, helping to consolidate Andalusia as a leader in sustainable solutions”. The trade mission’s agenda began on November 19 with a visit to the Centre on Regulation in Europe (Cerre), a Brussels-based think tank specialising in “the regulation of key sectors of the European economy, such as energy, telecommunications, transport and the digital economy.” The Andalusian delegation then met with the Dutch hydrogen cluster (NL Hydrogen) at the event, which included the presence of Dutch firms HyGear, Nedstack, SoluForce, Hydrogen Valley Noord-Holland; as well as knowledge institutions such as TNO and New Energy Coalition; and representatives of the port of Rotterdam (Haven Rotterdam). Representatives of Provincie Zuid-Holland also participated, an entity that “promotes strategic projects for the production and use of green hydrogen in industry and sustainable mobility in the southern region of the Netherlands.” The delegation also held meetings with Groen Vermogen NL, a Dutch initiative focused on “boosting green hydrogen projects to support the energy transition”; Stirling Cryogenics, a company specialising in “cryogenic technologies based on Stirling engines”; and Air Products, “a global company of US origin, leader in industrial gases and hydrogen technologies”. During the afternoon, networking activities took place at the exhibitors’ stands. On November 20, the trade mission also visited Fluxys Hydrogen, a Belgian firm specializing in natural gas and hydrogen infrastructure that will operate the country’s hydrogen network. This independent operator estimates that the first hydrogen networks could be operational in the country by mid-2026. They also held a meeting with Hydrogen Europe, the main European association representing the hydrogen industry, including companies, research organizations and other key players. This meeting was coordinated by the Andalusian Energy Agency, which is a member of the aforementioned association. Likewise, this Thursday the Andalusian delegation closed the mission with a visit to the main green hydrogen projects in the Port of Antwerp, highlighting the upcoming installation of “one of the largest electrolysers manufactured by AEM Electrolyser.” In addition, the strategic agreement with the Port of Namibia was explored, which will allow “storing green hydrogen produced in this country, consolidating Antwerp as a key node in the sustainable energy transition.” In this context, the six Andalusian companies participating in this mission organized by Andalucía Trade come from Huelva (Gabitel Soluciones Técnicas and Realza Ingenieros) and Seville (Clan Tecnológica, The Lean Hydrogen Company, H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies and Ghenova). This action organized by the Agency may be co-financed with funds from the European Union, charged to the Andalusian ERDF Operational Program 2021-2027, with a community contribution of 85%, or any other European Program likely to co-finance this action. According to data from Andalucía Trade, EU Hydrogen Week brings together industry leaders, policy makers, researchers and end users interested in the role of hydrogen in the energy transition in Brussels. READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Andalucía Trade organizes a “trade mission” to the ‘European Hydrogen Week’ in Belgium with six Andalusian companies, Hydrogen Europe and GH2 India sign MoU at EUH2Week At the European Hydrogen Week, where India is the exclusive partner country, Hydrogen Europe and the Green Hydrogen Association (GH2 India) signed a Memorandum of... European Hydrogen Week 2024 concludes Hydrogen Europe offers its recognition and gratitude to all exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, supporters, and visitors who have made the 2024 European Hydrogen Week one to remember... SINTEF at Hydrogen Week 2024: From research to market deployment Hydrogen has the potential to contribute to significant reductions in greenhouse gases from a variety of industries and processes, such as ammonia and...After a weekend full of blowouts in the College Football Playoff, fans were itching for a chaotic, fun-filled thriller of a bowl game. That is exactly what the fans got in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl as Northern Illinois knocked off Fresno State 28-20 in double overtime. The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl never disappoints. Congratulations, @NIU_Football ! #PotatoBowl | #BowlSeason pic.twitter.com/h6oWji0X6G After controlling and leading most of the game, Fresno State had a chance to win it with a 35-yard field goal with four seconds remaining. That wasn't what happened, as Dylan Lynch would miss his third field goal of the game and send it into overtime, giving Northern Illinois new life. Fresno State K Dylan Lynch misses his THIRD field goal of the game and we are headed to OT!! pic.twitter.com/sXs9sErCxl NIU did not have a lead in the game until it scored on the first play of double overtime and converted the two-point conversion to take a 28-20 lead. The touchdown and conversion were scored on a reverse pass as well as NIUs own version of the "Philly Special," which was made well known by the Eagles in the Super Bowl. #MACtion NIU now leads 28-20! @NIU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/2GxIuLPlzv Fresno State would have a chance to respond and send the game to a third overtime and alternating two-point attempts, yet it was unable to do so. On 4th-and-9 with the game on the line, Fresno State quarterback Joshua Wood was sacked by NIU's Jordan Hansen to end the game and secure the victory for the Huskies. NIU BEATS FRESNO STATE ON A HUGE SACK IN DOUBLE OVERTIME The Huskies earn their 8th victory of the year and cap off their season with a win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. pic.twitter.com/yxosnpbIEa Northern Illinois quarterback Josh Holst was named the MVP of the game. Holst finished with 247 total yards and two touchdowns. Fresno State quarterback Joshua Wood was responsible for 212 total yards and two touchdowns for the game. Northern Illinois finished the season 8-5 after the win, its second straight season with an above .500 record.
SHAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: Halper Sadeh LLC Investigates PDCO, NURO, PWOD, CARA on Behalf of Shareholders
The Ohio State Buckeyes suffered a shocking upset defeat at the hands of the Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 edition of "The Game," with the final score settling in at 13-10. Ohio State did not play nearly well enough to come out on top in this one, and it led to a lot of fingers being pointed at head coach Ryan Day. While the Buckeyes only scored 10 points in this one, they had countless opportunities to put away the Wolverines throughout this one. Poor coaching marred them throughout, though, and while the players on the field obviously have to deliver, it was tough to overlook Day and the coaching staff's shortcomings in another big game. For one of his former players in Tyreke Johnson, this result wasn't much of a surprise. Johnson took to social media to air out Day in the aftermath of this crushing loss, saying he knew that Day wasn't cut out to be the Buckeyes coach because of what he did during the team's National Championship Game against Alabama back in 2021. "Y’all can say I’m hating or whatever y’all want but I knew coach Day was not the answer when we played in the national championship against Bama and at half time he didn’t say a word to the team just went in the office and started to blame other coaches," Johnson said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Y’all can say I’m hating or whatever y’all want but. I knew coach Day was not the answer when we played in the national championship against Bama and at half time he didn’t say a word to the team just went in the office and started to blame other coaches. Johnson, who currently is a cornerback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, doesn't paint Day in a very good light, and it's clear he doesn't believe he's cut out to be Ohio State's head coach. While the Buckeyes have been one of the best teams in the nation all season long, Day's inability to win on the biggest stages continues to haunt him. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The Buckeyes season isn't over, but things aren't looking good right now considering how this loss to the Wolverines unfolded. The team will have to turn their attention towards the Penn State Nittany Lions contest with the Maryland Terrapins, as that will determine whether or not they will play in the Big Ten Championship Game. Related: Gus Johnson Facing Extreme Backlash for Commentary During Michigan-Ohio State BrawlResearchers develop edible biofilm for extending fruit shelf lifeNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Monday, with those benefiting the most from lower interest rates and a stronger economy leading the way. The S&P 500 climbed 0.3% to pull closer to its all-time high set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 440 points, or 1%, to its own record set on Friday, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Treasury yields also eased in the bond market amid what some analysts called a “Bessent bounce” after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants Scott Bessent , a hedge fund manager, to be his Treasury Secretary. Bessent has argued for reducing the U.S. government’s deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. Such an approach could soothe worries on Wall Street that Trump’s policies may lead to a much bigger deficit, which in turn would put upward pressure on Treasury yields. After climbing above 4.44% immediately after Trump’s election, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell back to 4.26% Monday, down from 4.41% late Friday. That’s a notable move, and lower yields make it cheaper for all kinds of companies and households to borrow money. They also give a boost to prices for stocks and other investments. That helped stocks of smaller companies lead the way, and the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks jumped 1.5%. It finished just shy of its all-time high, which was set three years ago. Smaller companies can feel bigger boosts from lower borrowing costs because of the need for many to borrow to grow. The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks the market’s expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with overnight interest rates, also eased sharply. The Fed began cutting its main interest rate just a couple months ago from a two-decade high, hoping to keep the job market humming after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. But immediately after Trump’s victory, traders had reduced bets for how many cuts the Fed may deliver next year. They were worried Trump’s preference for lower tax rates and higher spending on the border would balloon the national debt. A report coming on Wednesday could influence how much the Fed may cut rates. Economists expect it to show that an underlying inflation trend the Fed prefers to use accelerated to 2.8% last month from 2.7% in September. Higher inflation would make the Fed more reluctant to cut rates as deeply or as quickly as it would otherwise. Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle expects that to slow by the end of next year to 2.4%, but he said inflation would be even lower if not for expected tariff increases on imports from China and autos favored by Trump. In the stock market, Bath & Body Works jumped 16.5% after delivering stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The seller of personal care products and home fragrances also raised its financial forecasts for the full year, even though it still sees a “volatile retail environment” and a shorter holiday shopping season this year. Much focus has been on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain, given high prices across the economy and still-high interest rates. Last week, two major retailers sent mixed messages. Target tumbled after giving a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season. It followed Walmart , which gave a much more encouraging outlook. Another big retailer, Macy’s, said Monday its sales for the latest quarter were in line with its expectations, but it will delay the release of its full financial results. It found a single employee had intentionally hid up to $154 million in delivery expenses, and it needs more time to complete its investigation. Macy’s stock fell 2.2%. Among the market’s leaders were several companies related to the housing industry. Monday’s drop in Treasury yields could translate into easier mortgage rates, which could spur activity for housing. Builders FirstSource, a supplier or building materials, rose 5.9%. Homebuilders, D.R. Horton, PulteGroup and Lennar all rose at least 5.6%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 18.03 points to 5,987.37. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 440.06 to 44,736.57, and the Nasdaq composite gained 51.18 to 19,054.84. In stock markets abroad, indexes moved modestly across much of Europe after finishing mixed in Asia. In the crypto market, bitcoin was trading below $95,000 after threatening to hit $100,000 late last week for the first time. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
On Monday, the Detroit Red Wings placed defenseman Simon Edvinsson on injured reserve with an upper-body injury. In a corresponding move, the team called up defenseman William Wallinder from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins . UPDATE: The #RedWings have placed Simon Edvinsson on IR retroactive to December 18th. pic.twitter.com/PsHfWgipqF Edvinsson’s placement on IR is retroactive to Dec. 18, when he left the Red Wings’ matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers due to injury. That night, the Swedish blueliner left the game halfway through the first period and didn’t return. It hasn’t been revealed what is ailing Edvinsson. Per the NHL’s IR rules, Edvinsson could return as soon as this coming Friday when Detroit hosts the Toronto Maple Leafs . More information will most likely come out after the holiday break. Edvinsson has been one of the Wings’ top blueliners in his first full-time season in the NHL, spending a lot of time on the no. 1 pair with Moritz Seider. Through 30 games, he has scored three goals and 10 assists for 13 points, with a plus/minus of +5 while averaging 20:44 of ice time per game. Like Edvinsson was last year, Wallinder is one of the Red Wings’ top defensive prospects. Originally taken by the team in the second round, 32nd overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft, the 22-year-old has continued to grow during his time with the Griffins. After playing behind Edvinsson in the AHL last season, Wallinnder has seen top-pairing minutes frequently through the first half of the 2024-25 campaign. The Solleftea native missed close to a month of the season due to injury but has been one of Grand Rapids’ most productive defenders in December. In 19 games with GR, Wallinder has registered a goal and seven assists for eight points, with a -3 rating. The Red Wings (13-16-4) are seventh in the Atlantic Division, eight points out of a Wild Card spot. This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.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.
Year end charitable givingWASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a defense bill Wednesday that authorizes significant pay raises for junior enlisted service members, aims to counter China's growing power and boosts overall military spending to $895 billion while also stripping coverage of transgender medical treatments for children of military members. The annual defense authorization bill usually gains strong bipartisan support and has not failed to pass Congress in nearly six decades, but the Pentagon policy measure in recent years has become a battleground for cultural issues. Republicans this year sought to tack on to the legislation priorities for social conservatives, contributing to a months-long negotiation over the bill and a falloff in support from Democrats. Still, the bill passed comfortably 85-14, sending it to President Joe Biden . Eleven senators who caucus with Democrats, as well as three Republicans, voted against the legislation. The bill "isn't perfect, but it still includes some very good things that Democrats fought for,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y., in a floor speech. “It has strong provisions to stand up against the Chinese Communist Party here on a national security basis.” In the House, a majority of Democrats voted against the bill last week after House Speaker Mike Johnson insisted on adding the provision to ban the military health system from providing transgender medical care for children. The legislation easily passed by a vote of 281-140. Senate Republican leaders argued that its 1% increase for defense spending was not enough, especially at a time of global unrest and challenges to American dominance. Senate Republicans had argued for a generational boost to defense spending this year, but are planning another push for more defense funding once they control the White House and Congress next year. “We are currently experiencing the most dangerous national security moments since World War II,” said Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, who will chair the Senate Armed Services Committee next year. He has pushed for larger boosts to defense funding that would break spending caps that were agreed to in the bipartisan deal to suspend the nation's debt ceiling last year. The annual defense authorization bill directs key Pentagon policy, but it would still need to be backed up with an appropriations package. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said in a floor speech this week that without the topline increase “major bill provisions like a pay raise for enlisted servicemembers will come at the expense of investments in the critical weapons systems and munitions that deter conflict and keep them safe.” The legislation provides for a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others. Lawmakers said those were key to improving the quality of life of service members at a time when many military families rely on food banks and other government assistance programs to make ends meet. “It includes major quality of life improvements, enhancing things like childcare, housing, medical services, employment support for military spouses and much more,” said Sen. Jack Reed , D-R.I., who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. The legislation also directs resources towards a more confrontational approach to China , including establishing a fund that could be used to send military resources to Taiwan in much the same way that the U.S. has backed Ukraine. It also invests in new military technologies, including artificial intelligence, and bolsters the U.S. production of ammunition. The U.S. has also moved in recent years to ban the military from purchasing Chinese products, and the defense bill extended that with prohibitions on Chinese goods from garlic in military commissaries to drone technology. The Chinese foreign ministry responded to that move last week by calling the bans laughable. “I don’t think it could ever occur to garlic that it would pose a ‘major threat’ to the U.S.,” said Mao Ning, a ministry spokeswoman. “From drones to cranes, from refrigerators to garlic, more and more Chinese-made products have been accused by the US of ‘posing national security risks’. But has the US shown any reliable evidence or rationale to back up those accusations?” But in Congress, Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been mostly united in their stance that China is a rising threat. Instead, it was culture war issues that divided lawmakers on the bill, which took months to negotiate. The Republican-controlled House had passed a version of the bill in June that would have banned the Defense Department's policy of reimbursing costs for service members who travel to another state for an abortion, ended gender affirming care for transgender troops and weeded out diversity initiatives in the military. Most of those provisions did not make it into the final package, though Republicans are expecting Donald Trump to make sweeping changes to Pentagon policy when he enters office in January. The bill also still prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in “sterilization.” For some Democrats, the ban on treatments for transgender children — care they said could be life-saving — was a red line. In a floor speech, Sen. Tammy Baldwin , D-Wis., said she has always voted for the NDAA, but would not do so this year. She said that the policy change for transgender children would affect between 6,000 and 7,000 families, according to estimates her office has received. “The NDAA has embodied the idea that there is more that brings us together than separates us, that our service members and national defense are not to be politicized. That we put our country over a party when the chips are on the table," she said. “Unfortunately, this year that was ignored — all to gut the rights of our service members to get the health care they need for their children.” Associated Press writer Didi Tang contributed to this report.Agricultural extension service bill scales through first reading in SenateINSW stock touches 52-week low at $38.11 amid market shifts
Colorado state officials and the Union Pacific Railroad reached a tentative agreement on the future of the 100-year-old Moffat Tunnel — and, in the process, set the stage to in the mountains between Denver and Craig, officials announced Monday. Barring any major hiccups between now and the formal signing in May, the state will extend the 99-year lease allowing Union Pacific to use the tunnel for another 25 years. In exchange, the state will receive expanded access to Union Pacific’s railroad tracks for passenger trains from Denver to northern Colorado over that time frame. The final technical details still need to be finalized, but the state’s key negotiators were confident Monday that this agreement would set the stage for final approval. If all proceeds smoothly, regular daily passenger train service between Denver and Grand County — a portion of the full corridor — could begin in time for the start of the ski season in late 2026. For several years, Amtrak has run the revived Winter Park Express ski train along that route seasonally, but only around weekends — including . The mountain rail expansion could eventually lead to up to three roundtrip services per day between Denver and Craig, with several stops, including Winter Park and Steamboat Springs, along the way. “This is a big step forward in making Mountain Rail from Denver to Craig a reality,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement. “Passenger Rail on this corridor will relieve traffic to one of Colorado’s iconic mountain communities and provide safe, reliable, affordable transportation options for tourists and skiers as well as workers traveling along the corridor.” The build-out of passenger rail would happen in phases and likely take decades to complete. This agreement helps set that in motion. The state legislature this spring, with hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government. The deal announced Monday will also settle the use of the Moffat Tunnel, with the expiration of the 99-year lease just weeks away. The state owns the tunnel and leases the tracks that run through it to Union Pacific, which other train operators can then pay to use. The 6.2-mile Moffat Tunnel is the only rail tunnel in the state that spans the Continental Divide. It connects Gilpin and Grand counties west of Denver. At more than 9,200 feet in elevation, it is the highest point in Amtrak’s national rail network, according to . The tunnel serves as a crucial rail connection between the Front Range and the Western Slope, as well as the grander American West. “The historic Moffat Tunnel has been part of the joint Union Pacific and Colorado rail network for nearly 100 years, connecting local, regional and national customers in Colorado to each other and the world,” Union Pacific President Beth Whited said in a statement. “We’re excited about the opportunity this renewed lease gives us to continue to serve our customers, while strengthening our partnership with the State of Colorado. It’s a great example of what is possible when we work together.” The terms of both agreements also cover items such as who’s responsible for maintenance, upkeep and infrastructure upgrades. Union Pacific is generally on the hook for the tunnel, while the state would pay a proportionate share of operating and maintenance costs for the UP-owned tracks along the mountain passenger rail corridor, in addition to shouldering the costs of any needed capital improvements.
Repealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that'll changeAlex Ovechkin is expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a broken left leg
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