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wild ace scatter Aadi Enters into Exclusive License for Three-Asset ADC Portfolio Developed through a Collaboration between WuXi Biologics and HANGZHOU DAC Aadi Enters Agreement to Sell FYARRO ® and Associated Infrastructure to KAKEN Pharmaceutical for $100M ; Announces PIPE Financing of $100M Cumulative Capital Expected to Fund Operations into Late 2028, Including Anticipated Clinical Data for the ADC Portfolio Co-Founder and Former CEO of ProfoundBio, Baiteng Zhao, Appointed to Aadi Board of Directors Aadi to Hold Webcast and Conference Call on December 20 at 8:00 AM EST LOS ANGELES , Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aadi Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: AADI) today announced it has entered into an exclusive license agreement for development and global commercialization of a three-asset portfolio of preclinical, next-wave antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), in collaboration with WuXi Biologics (2269.HK), a leading global Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO), and HANGZHOU DAC BIOTECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. ( HANGZHOU DAC), a global leader in ADC innovation. Per the terms of the license agreement, Aadi is granted exclusive rights to certain patents and know-how pertaining to three preclinical ADC programs leveraging HANGZHOU DAC's CPT113 linker payload technology targeting each of Protein Tyrosine Kinase 7 (PTK7), Mucin-16 (MUC16) and Seizure Related 6 Homolog (SEZ6). Aadi will pay aggregate upfront payments of $44 million for in-licensing such ADC programs. Additionally, Aadi is obligated to pay cumulative development milestone payments of up to $265 million , cumulative commercial milestone payments of up to $540 million and single-digit royalties of sales. To support this transaction, Aadi entered into a subscription agreement with certain qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors for a private investment in public equity ("PIPE") financing that is expected to result in gross proceeds of approximately $100 million , before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses. The Company is selling an aggregate of 21,592,000 shares of its common stock ("Common Stock") at a price of $2.40 per share, representing a premium of approximately 3.4% to the closing price on December 19, 2024 on Nasdaq, and pre-funded warrants ("Pre-Funded Warrants") to purchase up to an aggregate of 20,076,500 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $2.3999 per Pre-Funded Warrant share. The syndicate was led by Ally Bridge Group, with participation from new investors OrbiMed, Invus, Kalehua Capital and other accredited investors, Tae Han co-founder of ProfoundBio, as well as existing investors, including Avoro Capital, KVP Capital and Acuta Capital Partners. The PIPE financing is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to stockholder vote and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. "I'm thrilled to announce our partnership with WuXi Biologics and HANGZHOU DAC to bring forward this thoughtfully selected ADC portfolio. We were deliberate in identifying broadly expressed tumor targets where first-generation ADCs have already shown proof of concept. With our next wave ADC portfolio, we aim to build upon these earlier therapies to deliver improved outcomes for people living with cancer," said David Lennon , PhD, President and CEO of Aadi Bioscience. "The financing underscores the confidence our investors have in both the potential of this portfolio and the strength of Aadi's management team." About the ADC Portfolio Each of the three ADC assets utilizes HANGZHOU DAC's CPT113 ADC platform, which consists of a highly stable yet cleavable linker that delivers a Topoisomerase I (TOPO1) inhibitor payload. The CPT113 platform's linker stability and novel payload has the potential to be highly competitive among the next generation ADC platforms. To effectively leverage the CPT113 platform, Aadi selected tumor targets that are upregulated in high-potential cancer indications and where clinical efficacy has been demonstrated by first-generation ADCs. These assets were discovered through the collaborative efforts of WuXi Biologics and HANGZHOU DAC, utilizing the innovative antibody discovery platform provided by WuXi Biologics and advanced linker-payload technology provided by HANGZHOU DAC. "Leveraging our advanced antibody discovery service, we're glad to enable Aadi to accelerate the discovery of precision therapies targeting some of the most challenging cancers," said Dr. Chris Chen , CEO of WuXi Biologics. "This collaboration underscores our wide recognition as an industry leader in discovery service solutions, and further validates our ability to provide integrated discovery technology platforms for global partners to develop next-generation modalities. We look forward to partnering with Aadi and HANGZHOU DAC to expeditiously move these assets forward into clinical development and benefit patients worldwide." " HANGZHOU DAC's CPT-ADC platform is designed to enable next wave ADC capabilities that surpass first-generation technologies, including two programs already in clinical development in China ," said Dr. Robert Y. Zhao , President and CEO of HANGZHOU DAC Biotechnology. "As a global leader in ADC innovation, we are excited to partner with Aadi and WuXi Biologics to deliver this promising portfolio to patients." Aadi to Sell FYARRO for $100 Million , Cumulative Capital Expected to Fund Operations into Late 2028 In a separate agreement, KAKEN Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., an R&D driven pharmaceutical company in Japan , has entered into a stock purchase agreement under which KAKEN will acquire Aadi Subsidiary, Inc. and all of its assets, including FYARRO ® (sirolimus protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) and associated infrastructure, including the majority of Aadi employees who support the FYARRO ® business. FYARRO is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), with cumulative revenue of $25.2 million reported over the prior four quarters ended September 30, 2024 . Per the terms of the agreement, Kaken will pay Aadi $100 million in cash at closing, subject to certain adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to Aadi stockholder approval and certain closing conditions. Upon the closing of this transaction, KAKEN will also acquire the rights to the Aadi name and trademark. "We are enormously proud of the impact FYARRO has had for people with PEComa, and Kaken's capabilities, coupled with the proven track record of the Aadi team, ensures physicians and patients will continue to have access to this critical treatment," said Lennon. The net proceeds from the PIPE financing and the sale of FYARRO, together with the Company's existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities are expected to fund operations into late-2028, including anticipated clinical data readouts for the ADC portfolio. Baiteng Zhao Appointed to the Board of Directors, Brings Significant ADC Expertise Baiteng Zhao, PhD, joins Aadi's board of directors. Zhao co-founded ProfoundBio, a clinical stage next-gen ADC developer, in 2018 and served as the Chairman and CEO of the company until it was acquired by Genmab for $1.8 billion in May 2024 . Prior to ProfoundBio, Dr. Zhao worked at Seagen (now part of Pfizer) for more than eight years and was responsible for the modeling and simulation strategies for the development pipeline and supported preclinical and clinical development of ADC drug candidates. "We are delighted to welcome Baiteng to our Board. His deep expertise and successful track record in ADC development will be instrumental as we tenaciously move this exciting portfolio forward," said Caley Castelein , MD, Chair of the Board of Directors of Aadi Bioscience. "I am thrilled to join the Board at this pivotal moment for Aadi," said Baiteng Zhao, PhD, Board of Directors of Aadi Bioscience and co-founder of ProfoundBio. "PTK7, MUC16 and SEZ6 represent highly promising targets that are commonly overexpressed in cancers with significant unmet therapeutic needs. Coupled with an advanced linker-payload platform that has the potential to enable next-gen ADCs, I believe Aadi is uniquely positioned to make a meaningful impact on patient outcomes. I look forward to collaborating with the leadership team and fellow Board directors to advance these innovative programs and drive transformative progress for patients." Advisors Leerink Partners is serving as financial advisor to Aadi on the sale of FYARRO and the licensing of the ADC portfolio. Jefferies LLC is acting as exclusive placement agent for the PIPE financing. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. is serving as legal counsel to Aadi. McDermott Will & Emery LLP is serving as legal counsel to Kaken. Cooley LLP is serving as legal counsel to Jefferies LLC. Nomura Securities Co., Ltd. is serving as financial advisor to KAKEN. Conference Call Information The Aadi management team is hosting a conference call and webcast tomorrow, Friday, December 20 th at 8:00 AM EST ( 5:00 AM PST ) to discuss these updates. Participants may access a live webcast of the call and the associated slide presentation on these data through the "Investors & News" page of the Aadi Bioscience website at aadibio.com . To participate via telephone, please register in advance at this link . Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number along with a unique passcode and registrant ID that can be used to access the call. A replay of the conference call and webcast will be archived on the Company's website for at least 30 days. Additional Information for Stockholders This communication relates to the proposed sale of FYARRO and the proposed PIPE financing and may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of such transactions. In connection with these proposed transactions, Aadi will file a Proxy Statement with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other documents that Aadi may file with the SEC or send to Aadi stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions. Before making any voting decision, investors and securityholders are urged to read the Proxy Statement and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transactions as they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transactions and related matters. Stockholders may obtain a copy of the Proxy Statement and other documents the Company files with the SEC (when they are available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov , as well as on the Investor and News section of Aadi's website at www.aadibio.com . Certain stockholders of Aadi holding approximately 36% of Aadi's outstanding shares, as of the date hereof, including members of its board of directors and related entities, have entered into voting and support agreements in favor of KAKEN Pharmaceutical and Aadi, pursuant to which such stockholders have agreed to vote in favor of the stock purchase transaction with KAKEN Pharmaceutical and the other transactions described above. Participants in the Solicitation Aadi and its respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Aadi in connection with the proposed transactions. Information about Aadi's directors and executive officers is set forth in Aadi's definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 26, 2024 , and in subsequent filings made by Aadi with the SEC. Other information regarding the interests of such individuals, as well as information regarding Aadi's directors and executive officers and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transactions, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph. No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities nor a solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the proposed transactions or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. The offer and sale of securities of Aadi described above are being made in a transaction not involving a public offering and the securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be reoffered or resold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. Concurrently with the execution of the subscription agreement, the Company and the investors entered into a registration rights agreement pursuant to which the Company has agreed to file, following the closing of the PIPE financing, a registration statement with the SEC registering the resale of the shares of Common Stock and the shares of Common Stock underlying the Pre-Funded Warrants sold in the PIPE financing. About Aadi Bioscience Aadi is a precision oncology company with a vision to make bold choices in applying technology to efficiently deliver improved precision oncology therapies for people living with difficult-to-treat cancers. More information on the Company is available on the Aadi website at www.aadibio.com and connect with us on LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the business of Aadi Bioscience that are not a description of historical facts within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs and expectations and may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: the timing and completion of the proposed sale of FYARRO to Kaken Pharmaceuticals and the anticipated timing of the closing of the transaction; expectations regarding the timing, closing and completion of the PIPE financing; Aadi's expected cash position at the closing and cash runway of the company following the sale of FYARRO and PIPE financing; the future operations of Aadi; the development and potential benefits of any of Aadi's product candidates, including the preclinical ADC assets proposed to be licensed from WuXi; anticipated preclinical and clinical development activities and related timelines, including the expected timing for announcement of data and other preclinical and clinical results and potential submission of IND filings for one or more product candidates; and other statements that are not historical fact. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks associated with (i) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the proposed sale of FYARRO or the PIPE financing are not satisfied, including the failure to timely obtain stockholder approval for the transactions, if at all; (ii) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed transactions and the ability of each of Kaken and Aadi to consummate the proposed sale of FYARRO; (iii) risks related to Aadi's ability to manage its operating expenses and its expenses associated with the proposed transactions pending the closing; (iv) risks related to the failure or delay in obtaining required approvals from any governmental or quasi-governmental entity necessary to consummate the proposed transactions; (v) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transactions; (vii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the proposed sale of FYARRO or the proposed PIPE financing; (vii) the uncertainties associated with Aadi's product candidates, as well as risks associated with the preclinical and clinical development and regulatory approval of product candidates, including potential delays in the completion of preclinical studies and clinical trials; (viii) risks related to the inability of Aadi to obtain sufficient additional capital to continue to advance these product candidates; (ix) uncertainties in obtaining successful preclinical and clinical results for product candidates and unexpected costs that may result therefrom; (x) risks related to the failure to realize any value from product candidates being developed and anticipated to be developed in light of inherent risks and difficulties involved in successfully bringing product candidates to market; and (xi) risks associated with the possible failure to realize certain anticipated benefits of the proposed sale of FYARRO or the proposed PIPE financing, including with respect to future financial and operating results. Additional risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements are included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 , including under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in Aadi's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and elsewhere in Aadi's reports and other documents that Aadi has filed, or will file, with the SEC from time to time and available at www.sec.gov . All forward-looking statements in this press release are current only as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable law, Aadi undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Contact: IR@aadibio.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aadi-bioscience-transforms-with-in-licensing-of-novel-adc-portfolio-100-million-sale-of-fyarro-and-100-million-pipe-financing-302336743.html SOURCE Aadi Bioscience

MENLO PARK, Calif., Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sight Sciences , Inc. (Nasdaq: SGHT) (“Sight Sciences,” or the “Company”), an eyecare technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative, interventional technologies that elevate the standard of care, today announced the results of a Budget Impact Analysis (“BIA”) of the TearCare ® System (“TearCare”) for the treatment of MGD-associated dry eye disease (“DED”) in the United States. A BIA estimates the fiscal impact of adopting a new technology or treatment within a specific provider environment or patient population – in this case, identifying the health savings associated with increased adoption of TearCare as compared to prescription dry eye medications for patients with DED.* The analysis, projected over a two-year period, focused on moderate to severe MGD- associated DED in U.S. patients over 18 years of age. It compared the financial impact of TearCare to commonly prescribed dry eye medications, including Restasis 0.05% branded and generic, and Xiidra 5%. Key findings indicated that a 20% increase in market share of TearCare compared to prescription dry eye medications would yield an estimated annual savings of $36.87 per member per year (“PMPY”) in a hypothetical health plan with one million covered lives. The study showed a direct relationship between increased utilization of TearCare in place of prescription medications and total costs savings from a US payer perspective. “In addition to the strong clinical efficacy of TearCare shown in the SAHARA and OLYMPIA randomized controlled trials, this budget impact analysis reported that increased adoption of TearCare treatments for patients with MGD-associated DED was estimated to result in meaningful cost savings. We believe the combination of the strong clinical data from the SAHARA RCT and the findings of this budget impact analysis create a compelling case for payors to cover treatments performed with TearCare at an appropriate reimbursement level,” said Paul Badawi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sight Sciences. “Pioneering market access to interventional dry eye treatments with TearCare on behalf of patients and the eye care providers who care for them is a core component of our strategy and this milestone represents progress towards delivering this innovative technology to a portion of the 17.9 million patients diagnosed with dry eye disease in the U.S.” Authors and affiliations : Phoenix Riley, PharmD, MSc (AESARA, Inc.); Cristina Masseria, PhD (AESARA, Inc.); Chad Patel, PharmD (AESARA, Inc.); Roberta Longo, PhD (AESARA, Inc.); Lorie Mody, PharmD (AESARA, Inc.), and Thomas Chester, OD, FAAO (Cleveland Eye Clinic). *The BIA was developed in accordance with established ISPOR guidelines, but it was based upon various assumptions, including with respect to cost of treatments, respective usage and market uptake of prescription drops and TearCare, efficacy (including duration of effect), safety and similar factors. These assumptions may not be consistent with actual clinical and market conditions, and changes in one or more of these assumptions could cause individual health plan results to differ. Paper Reference: Chester, T., Longo, R., Masseria, C., Riley, P., Patel, C., & Mody, L. (2024). Budget impact analysis (BIA) of the TearCare System for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD)-associated dry eye disease (DED) in the United States (US). Expert Review of Ophthalmology , DOI: 10.1080/17469899.2024.2444930. About Sight Sciences Sight Sciences is an eyecare technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative and interventional solutions intended to transform care and improve patients’ lives. Using minimally invasive or non-invasive approaches to target the underlying causes of the world’s most prevalent eye diseases, Sight Sciences seeks to create more effective treatment paradigms that enhance patient care and supplant conventional outdated approaches. The Company’s OMNI ® Surgical System is an implant-free glaucoma surgery technology (i) indicated in the United States to reduce intraocular pressure in adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma; and (ii) CE Marked for the catheterization and transluminal viscodilation of Schlemm’s canal and cutting of the trabecular meshwork to reduce intraocular pressure in adult patients with open-angle glaucoma. Glaucoma is the world’s leading cause of irreversible blindness. The Company’s SION ® Surgical Instrument is a bladeless, manually operated device used in ophthalmic surgical procedures to excise trabecular meshwork. The Company’s TearCare System technology is 510(k) cleared in the United States for the application of localized heat therapy in adult patients with evaporative dry eye disease due to Meibomian Gland Disease (“MGD”) when used in conjunction with manual expression of the meibomian glands, enabling clearance of gland obstructions by eyecare providers to address the leading cause of dry eye disease. For more information, visit www.sightsciences.com . Sight Sciences, the Sight Sciences logo, TearCare, SmartHub and SmartLids are trademarks of Sight Sciences registered in the United States. OMNI and SION are trademarks of Sight Sciences registered in the United States, European Union and other territories. © 2024 Sight Sciences. All rights reserved. Forward-Looking Statements This press release, together with other statements and information publicly disseminated by the Company, contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and includes this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Any statements made in this press release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation statements regarding estimated costs savings associated with use of the TearCare System; and the belief that the findings of this budget impact analysis create a compelling case for payors to cover treatments performed with TearCare at an appropriate reimbursement level. These statements often include words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “suggests,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “may,” “will,” “forecast” and other similar expressions. We base these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, plans and assumptions that we have made in light of our experience in the industry, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances at such time. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time they are made, you should be aware that many factors could affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to and involve numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as may be updated from time to time in subsequent filings, and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. These cautionary statements are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Media contact pr@SightSciences.com Investor contact: Philip Taylor Gilmartin Group 415.937.5406 Investor.Relations@Sightsciences.com

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French opposition MPs voted to oust the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier after just three months in office, a historic move which hurled the country further into political uncertainty. For the first time in over sixty years, the National Assembly lower house toppled the incumbent government, approving a no-confidence motion that had been proposed by the hard left but which crucially was backed by the far-right headed by Marine Le Pen. MPs joined forces to back the no-confidence motion, with a majority 331 votes in support of the move. Barnier was expected to tender his resignation and that of his government to President Emmanuel Macron shortly. French government likely to collapse after no-confidence vote What brought about Barnier's downfall? This time, Macron had ushered in the crisis by calling a snap election in June that delivered a polarised parliament. With its president diminished, France risks ending the year without a stable government or a 2025 budget although the constitution allows special measures that would avert a US-style government shutdown. The MPs punished Barnier for opting to use special constitutional powers to ram part of an unpopular budget, which sought 60 billion euro ($A98 billion) in savings in an effort to shrink the deficit, through parliament without a final vote. National Rally chief Marine Le Pen had said collapsing the government was "the only way the constitution gives us to protect the French from a dangerous, unfair and punitive budget". Source: AFP / Stephane De Sakutin What's next for France? France faces a period of deep political uncertainty that is already unnerving investors in French sovereign bonds and stocks. Earlier this week, France's borrowing costs briefly exceeded those of Greece, generally considered far more risky. Macron must now make a choice. Three sources told Reuters that Macron aimed to install a new prime minister swiftly, with one saying he wanted to name one before a ceremony to reopen the Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday. Any new prime minister would face the same challenges as Barnier in getting bills, including the 2025 budget, adopted by a divided parliament. French election: Leftist alliance projected to win most seats in surprise swing There can be no new parliamentary election before July. Macron could alternatively ask Barnier and his ministers to stay on in a caretaker capacity while he takes time to identify a prime minister able to attract sufficient cross-party support to pass legislation. The danger for Macron is that his opponents vote down one prime minister after the next.Chance of direct attack by Russia ‘remote’, says UK armed forces chiefTwo Democratic state senators re-elected on Nov. 5 are expected to resign on Jan. 9, prompting calls to reform the vacancy process for selecting replacements. Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, is expected to resign on Jan. 9. Hansen won re-election with better than 80% of the vote. His only opponent for his Senate District 31 seat was a Libertarian. Hansen has been hired as the CEO of Durango-based La Plata Electric, a co-op that will pay him at least $500,000 annually. Sen. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, announced Thursday she will step down on Jan. 9. Buckner ran unopposed in the Nov. 5 election. She's retiring to focus on family and travel and mentor young community leaders. A third member of the state Senate, Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, was elected to the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 5 but has not yet announced when he will step down. Vacancies in the state legislature are a growing problem. In the 2023-24 session, 28 lawmakers out of 100 gained their seats through the vacancy process at some point in their legislative history. That included Buckner, Hansen, and Van Winkle. The number of people on a vacancy committee that elected a new House or Senate member ranged from a low of four to a high of 95, with an average of about 40, according to a Colorado Politics analysis. House members represent about 89,000 constituents; Senate members represent about 165,000. As a result, the system lets a handful of party insiders choose who represents hundreds of thousands of Coloradans. Democrats and Republicans alike have criticized the vacancy process, although some also argued that, while it's not ideal, it's practical. Buckner was selected to replace her late husband, Rep. John Buckner, in 2015. Hansen was chosen for the Senate District 31 seat in 2020 after Sen. Lois Court stepped down due to illness. Van Winkle was appointed to his Senate seat in June 2022 to finish out the term of Sen. Chris Holbert of Douglas County. Van Winkle ran for and won the seat in the 2022 election. He did not return a call for comment. The announcements are raising eyebrows and generating concern over three more vacancies, which are unlikely to be filled until after the 2025 session starts on Jan. 8. In the 2024 session, Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, hoped to address the problem with a concurrent resolution that would require voter approval to begin changing the vacancy process. Under House Concurrent Resolution 24-1004, any state representative or senator appointed by a vacancy committee would be prohibited from serving the term immediately following the term for which they were appointed, meaning they'd be barred from running for that seat in the following election. While the resolution won a bipartisan 7-4 vote from the House State, Civic, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee, it died on the House calendar. Marshall said Thursday he'll run it again in the 2025 session. Marshall reacted to the latest announcement via X (formerly Twitter). Tweet by Rep. Bob Marshall, D-Highlands Ranch, on the rash of vacancies in the state Senate due to resignations. Marshall is no longer alone in wanting to reform the vacancy process. Thursday, Democratic State Party Chair Shad Murib voiced his support for reform. A statement from the state party noted that both Democratic districts—Senate District 31 (Hansen) and Senate District 29 (Buckner)—are single-county districts, meaning the state party has a say in advising both the county parties and district leadership on how to administer their vacancy committees. The statement added that the Denver Democratic Party, which will handle the SD31 vacancy, will prioritize "transparency, accessibility, and fairness in this process and plans to host opportunities for the public to get to know the candidates, livestream the meeting, and promote candidate and vacancy information on its website." The SD 29 vacancy will be handled by the Arapahoe County Democratic Party, which, according to the statement, has "a proven track record of running excellent and accessible vacancy committees." He thanked Buckner and Hansen for their service and said the party places a "high premium on transparency, accountability and public access to the vacancy process." But the time for reform has come, Murib indicated. "The growing number of senators and representatives of both parties serving in office as a result of vacancy committee selections and not traditional elections should concern every Coloradan, and it certainly concerns me," he said. "Regardless of the high standards we place on ourselves to run as great a vacancy committee process as the law allows, the fact remains that vacancy committees are small and don’t provide for the same type of public input and scrutiny as a traditional election. In some cases, vacancies have preempted vigorous primary campaigns that allow Democrats, Republicans, and unaffiliated voters to choose Party nominees without anyone having the advantage of incumbency." State law and the state's "unique and prohibitive budget restrictions provide real logistical concerns regarding reform, including cost and the potential for districts to go unrepresented for months. Because of this, we have been hesitant to entertain conversations about transitioning to special elections or reforming this process." The time has come, he said, to make the process better. "Speculation that lawmakers strategize their resignations to hand-pick their replacements, or climb the ladder of elected office, is also a growing sentiment among the public. While we have worked hard to prevent this from ever occurring, it is incumbent on us to do everything we can to bolster trust in our democracy by acknowledging and addressing this issue proactively." Murib pledged to communicate with the governor’s office, the Secretary of State, and House & Senate leadership in the coming days to begin discussing reforms to the vacancy committee process. Marshall told Colorado Politics during the spring that "if you have a democratic form of government, having 30% chosen by a cloistered group of individuals runs counter to that entire idea or ideal." Marshall indicated that even allowing the governor to make those appointments would be better than the status quo since the governor is elected and held accountable by all the voters. He has also advocated for a special election process, although acknowledging it's expensive and could lead to even further delays in representation under the Gold Dome. In February, Marshall told Colorado Politics that he had been told a constituent wanted to be in the legislature but didn’t want to run for election. “I want a vacancy appointment!” the constituent said. “People are starting to think it’s the norm," Marshall said. "It’s not." Initiative 197, pushed in 2024 by former DaVita CEO Kent Thiry, would have required a special election for vacancy appointments unless there isn't enough time before a general election to do so. In that case, the governor would make the appointment for the vacancy. Thiry, however, abandoned that effort to focus on Proposition 131, his ranked-choice voting/open primary election measure. Voters rejected it by about six percentage points. The 2025 General Assembly will have at least 19 members who gained their seats through the vacancy process, with 11 in the House and eight in the Senate, including the replacements for Buckner, Hansen and Van Winkle. However, depending on whether current House members win those vacancies, that could add up to another three to the list of House members selected through the vacancy process.

Dr Troy Baisden. Photo: Waikato University By Pretoria Gordon and Mary Argue of RNZ Changes to a critical science fund are short-sighted and will have negative effects on universities' ability to carry out research in humanities and social sciences, a senior academic at Victoria University says. But a business group said the changes to the Marsden Fund were the right move - and would boost productivity, living standards and economic growth. Science, Innovation and Technology minister Judith Collins on Wednesday announced changes to the fund, which is administered by the Royal Society and provides grants for scientific research. Collins said humanities and social sciences would no longer be supported, and the independent panels that made funding decisions would be disbanded by next year, as part of a "more strategic approach to science funding across the board". Every application for funding must now describe its potential to generate economic, environmental, or health benefits for New Zealand, and 50 percent of grants from the Marsden Fund each year must have the potential for economic benefit. Association of Scientists co-president Dr Troy Baisden told RNZ's Morning Report programme today the move was a "very dangerous problem" that all scientists were worried about. "This is just ill-informed. "If we undermine the foundation of everything that we do, the things that everyone wants from science fall down with the foundations, and this is a change that undermines the norms that underlie these sort of fundamental research systems throughout the world." Baisden said New Zealand had an odd system for funding research and the amounts awarded were only enough to get started, not completely fund things. "This government has a mandate to rebuild the economy and it is critical that we spend taxpayers money on research that can generate real benefit to New Zealand," the minister told RNZ. "It is also important to note that only 50 percent of funding needs to show economic benefit, the Marsden Fund will continue to support blue-skies research that advances new ideas, innovation and creativity and where the benefit may not be immediately apparent." Professor Nic Rawlence. Photo: supplied Morning Report "They do vitally important research we think." Many of the projects were very collaborative, he said. He pointed to work on the New Zealand wars, or investigating the barriers to vaccine uptake, or climate mitigation. "The archaeology example, we are looking at how Māori and Pakeha lived in New Zealand, how their societies functioned and if we don't learn from history were doomed to repeat it, which will have big economic impacts." Without the Marsden Fund there were no other funding options, Rawlence said. "The danger here is with humanities and social sciences funding being scrapped... that could result in a brain drain with people going overseas." In 2024, the amount of Marsden funding available was approximately $77.7 million. The Royal Society, which has administered investment of the Marsden Fund on behalf of the New Zealand Government for 30 years, said it would be assessing the broader implications of these changes. President Dame Jane Harding said it would continue to work to support the social sciences and humanities through a range of mechanisms in addition to funding. "Increasingly it is understood that research needed to generate benefits for our country will need to be interdisciplinary, integrating knowledge from experts in the social sciences and humanities with science, engineering, and technology. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Margaret Hyland. Photo: supplied Surprise and concern An email sent to all Victoria University staff from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Margaret Hyland said it had taken the whole sector by surprise. "We have fundamental concerns about the changes, which we believe are short-sighted and will have significant negative effects on all universities' ability to carry out valuable and critical research in humanities and social sciences." She said all universities in New Zealand were united in their condemnation of the changes. "We know that humanities and social sciences research is hugely valuable to us as a university, and necessary for the well-being of society in general. "We'll be doing everything in our power to ensure such valuable research is supported." Hyland told RNZ she stood by her statement. "It was our response to learning about the changes and we wanted our people to know of our level of concern and unwavering support for our researchers." A statement from Universities New Zealand said the announcement was very concerning. While investment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines were important for shorter-term economic benefit, it said, longer-term transformation of innovation and the lifting of productivity required social and culture change also. "We know that government fu nding is tight, and we know that government has to be able to defend where taxpayer money is going. But the answer is not to cut out the humanities and social sciences from the Marsden Fund." 'The right move' Catherine Beard. Photo: supplied BusinessNZ welcomed the change, with advocacy director Catherine Beard calling it "the right move". "New Zealand continues to languish in the productivity space. It's a problem that can be partly solved through innovation. "Directing the Marsden Fund to focus more narrowly on research that will help to support high-tech, high-productivity, high-value businesses and jobs is the right move." New Zealand's research and development expenditure is growing, but is still well behind the OECD average, Beard said. "Setting clear expectations by funding research that can boost New Zealand's economy and living standards is a welcome step toward a better tomorrow." Labour's research, science and innovation spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell said New Zealand only spent half the OECD average for science, research, and development. "It's time the government saw research as a priority. "We want to keep talented people here, who contribute to the growth of New Zealand's knowledge base and economy. These cuts leave academics and researchers with fewer options, ... making them more likely to join the thousands of people leaving the country to pursue opportunities elsewhere. "Critical thinkers are essential to advancing our economy, protecting our environment, and building our cultural identity." However, the ACT Party said the changes would help the funding deliver long-term benefits for New Zealanders. "Politicians shouldn't decide which specific research projects are funded, but we have a duty to ensure taxpayer money is focused on research that delivers tangible benefits for society and the economy," science, innovation, and technology spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar said. Some projects were hard to justify to taxpayers who were struggling to afford the basics, she said. "Every dollar spent on these grants is a dollar that is not supporting research in the hard sciences, or for that matter, life-saving medicines, essential infrastructure, or tax relief for struggling households."

Alberta minister wants to see $100B in data centre infrastructure in next five years EDMONTON — Alberta's Technology Minister Nate Glubish says he's hoping to see $100 billion worth of artificial intelligence data centres under construction within the next five years. Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press Dec 4, 2024 12:10 PM Dec 4, 2024 12:20 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Nate Glubish shakes hands with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith after Glubish was sworn into cabinet as Minister of Technology and Innovations in Edmonton, Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Glubish says he's hoping to see $100 billion worth of artificial intelligence data centres under construction within the next five years.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson EDMONTON — Alberta's Technology Minister Nate Glubish says he's hoping to see $100 billion worth of artificial intelligence data centres under construction within the next five years. Such centres are filled with computer servers used by companies like Meta to develop and train large-scale artificial intelligence models. Glubish says Meta, as well as other major companies including Google and Amazon, are on the hunt for space to build more facilities, and he wants Alberta to be an option. He says landing some data centres would create jobs and bring in much needed new tax revenue for the province. Glubish also says that since Alberta's electricity grid regulations allows for off-grid power generation, he thinks the province is an ideal location. He says allowing for off-grid power connections where power generators supply data centres directly also means there's less risk for Albertans, as there wouldn't be major drains on the electrical grid. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Alberta News CFIA makes second cucumber recall in less than a week in B.C., Alberta Dec 4, 2024 1:17 PM Smith noncommittal on overriding Charter as court challenge looms over trans bills Dec 4, 2024 1:10 PM 'We do need to harvest': Alberta government expands cougar hunting areas, quotas Dec 4, 2024 11:51 AM

Mister Car Wash Announces Transfer of Stock Listing to Nasdaq

BAKE Cheese Tart Returns To Singapore: A Freshly Baked Delight From Hokkaido Media Outreach Newswire APACSAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2024-- Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced that it will host an Investor Day on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The event is expected to start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time (10:00 a.m. Pacific time) and conclude at approximately 3:30 p.m. Eastern time (12:30 p.m. Pacific time). This event will be held at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, NY. A live webcast will also be accessible from the Cloudflare investor relations website at cloudflare.NET . A replay of the presentations will be available following the completion of the event. About Cloudflare Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business. Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe. Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud . Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at radar.cloudflare.com . Follow us: Blog | X | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219983219/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations Information Phil Winslow, CFA ir@cloudflare.comPress Contact Information Daniella Vallurupalli press@cloudflare.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NETWORKS INTERNET SECURITY TECHNOLOGY SOFTWARE SOURCE: Cloudflare, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/19/2024 04:15 PM/DISC: 12/19/2024 04:13 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219983219/en

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2024-- Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE: FC), a leader in organizational performance improvement, announced today that the conference call to review the Company’s first quarter fiscal 2025 financial results will take place on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. MT). The Company’s financial results are expected to be released after the close of the market on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Interested persons may access a live webcast at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/gk9ap76y or may participate via telephone by registering at https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe59413e64e764817b6ae5c75d8008324 . Once registered, participants will have the option of 1) dialing into the call from their phone (via a personalized PIN); or 2) clicking the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly to their phone. For either option, registration will be required to access the call. A replay of the conference call webcast will be archived on the Company’s website for at least 30 days. About Franklin Covey Co. Franklin Covey (NYSE: FC) is the most trusted leadership company in the world with operations in over 150 countries. We transform organizations by partnering with our clients to build leaders, teams, and cultures that get breakthrough results through collective action, which leads to a more engaging work experience for their people. Available through the Franklin Covey All Access Pass®, our best-in-class content and solutions, experts, technology, and metrics seamlessly integrate together to ensure lasting behavior change at scale. This approach to leadership and organizational change has been tested and refined by working with tens of thousands of teams and organizations over the past 30 years. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219219776/en/ CONTACT: For Further Information: Stephen D. Young Chief Financial Officer 801-817-1776 KEYWORD: UTAH UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: CONSULTING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TRAINING HUMAN RESOURCES EDUCATION SOURCE: Franklin Covey Co. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/19/2024 04:03 PM/DISC: 12/19/2024 04:03 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241219219776/en