Chucky Al Shamsi is Spreading Positivity & Happiness on Social MediaWATERTOWN, Mass. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D BioLabs LLC ("3D BioLabs" or "3DB"), has reached a pivotal milestone in the field of regenerative medicine as recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . 3DB's study has demonstrated a new approach to creating large organs to solve the organ transplant shortage. Using 3D printing, computational fluid dynamics, and organ specific cells, their study demonstrated effective blood flow and cell viability and function within the model device, marking a significant advance toward a bioengineered liver replacement. The study was led by 3D BioLabs Scientific Founder Dr. Joseph P. Vacanti , the Distinguished John Homans Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Mass General Hospital. 3D BioLabs 3D printed device (3DPD) has been engineered to mimic native liver tissue structure by using fractal architecture to support both vascular anastomosis and hepatocyte function. The device features embedded portal-venous (PV) channels that enable continuous blood flow when implanted and hepatobiliary (HB) channels that support the viability of liver cells. Active perfusion of tissue scaffolds allows for improved oxygen and nutrient availability to increase cell density, further supporting the feasibility of the device as a functional liver tissue substitute. Dr. Vacanti said: "We are extremely pleased to reach this pivotal milestone in the development of functioning 3D printed organs, which furthers our mission of solving the long-standing issue of organ transplant shortages. With our recent study, we are one step closer to achieving an engineered alternative to liver transplantation, addressing critical organ shortages and helping patients in need." 3DB's proprietary technology builds upon decades of work in tissue engineering, beginning with the first patent in tissue engineering granted to Dr. Vacanti in 1988 and the Vacanti ear mouse in 1997. This milestone is supported by recent work implanting large and complex devices into pigs for as long as one week. For further details, visit 3DBioLabs.com . About 3D BioLabs: 3D BioLabs is comprised of scientists, engineers and visionary clinical scientists that aim to improve world health by providing man made organs for individuals suffering from organ failure and other complex problems of tissue loss. Our mission is the development of a platform technology that will result in sophisticated designs that allow for precise mimicry of what happens inside humans more closely than other systems, where decades of research have reached barriers based on organ size and complexity. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/3dbiolabs-achieves-pivotal-milestone-in-development-of-3d-printed-liver-implant-302324302.html SOURCE 3D BioLabs
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Buy the dips in software, chips as AI growth story far from over: UBSBy MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana.
Report: Iowa CB Jermari Harris opts out of rest of seasonA panel of three appellate judges issued a ruling this week reversing part of the preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Idaho’s abortion trafficking statute, which criminalizes the act of helping a minor obtain an abortion without parental permission. The judges said the state can enforce the law when it comes to transporting or harboring a minor for that purpose, but not for giving a minor information about their options, which they said infringes on free speech rights. BOISE — While some abortion access advocates viewed the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling this week in a case over so-called “abortion trafficking” as another dismal development in their fight against anti-abortion laws, those representing the plaintiffs say it’s a clear win in the ongoing case. A panel of three appellate judges issued an opinion Monday reversing part of the preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Idaho’s abortion trafficking statute, which became law in 2022. The law originated from House Bill 242 and states that an adult who helps a minor procure or obtain an abortion by “recruiting, harboring or transporting” them without parent or guardian permission can be charged with a felony and face two to five years in prison. It includes those who go out of state, where the procedure is legal, such as Oregon, Washington and Montana. Idaho is the only state in the Northwest with a near-total ban on abortions. The appellate panel said Idaho can enforce the law as it relates to “harboring or transporting” a minor, but it cannot prosecute individuals who simply provide information about where to obtain an abortion, or who provide other types of financial or logistical assistance to receive an abortion where it is legal. Those activities, the court said, could have fallen under the “recruiting” portion of the statute. Plaintiffs’ attorney Wendy Heipt said the ruling is especially significant because it will ensure people can give accurate information to minors about their options. The minors who need that assistance the most are often the most vulnerable, she said, such as those with abusive caregivers. “This is the first case at this level to (acknowledge that right), and that is a major victory,” Heipt said. Legislation crafted with similar language as HB 242 became law in Tennessee earlier this year, but a judge blocked its enforcement in September with a preliminary injunction. That case is ongoing. Lawmakers in Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma also introduced similar legislation in 2024 that failed to advance, and the New Hampshire Bulletin reported a state Republican representative filed a similar bill ahead of the 2025 legislative session. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said the decision was a “tremendous victory for Idaho” in a statement on Monday. “Idaho’s laws were passed specifically to protect the life of the unborn and the life of the mother,” he said. “Trafficking a minor child for an abortion without parental consent puts both in grave danger, and we will not stop protecting life in Idaho.” He pointed out that the judges decided to reverse parts of the injunction because they think the plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed in court, which he views as a positive indication for the state’s case. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said a decision reversing part of the preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of Idaho’s abortion trafficking statute was a “tremendous victory for Idaho." Idaho attorney Lourdes Matsumoto and two advocacy organizations, the Northwest Abortion Access Fund and the Indigenous Idaho Alliance, filed the lawsuit in July 2023 alleging the law restricts freedom of speech and the right to freely associate, and arguing it was too vague to be constitutional. Matsumoto and the staff within the advocacy organizations said the law interfered with their ability to counsel minors who are facing unplanned pregnancies, including any financial or logistical help in obtaining the abortion in another state. U.S. 4th District Court Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham issued the injunction in November 2023, and Labrador appealed to the regional circuit court, which determined the injunction could only hold on the “recruiting” aspect of the law. Heipt, of the gender equity organization Legal Voice, said there were several big wins for them in the 63-page ruling, including the affirmation that the groups have the right to sue, that the state attorney general is the right defendant, and that the recruiting part of the statute is unconstitutionally broad. Heipt said while some took the ruling as confirmation that Idaho could restrict interstate travel through the law, that part of the statute hasn’t actually been argued in court yet and wasn’t part of the injunction or the circuit court’s opinion. “This is a preliminary step. We have not yet had our full day in court, nor have we had a chance to explain the third prong of our argument (on) interstate travel,” she said. “That’s still coming, and I’m looking forward to it.” Judge Margaret McKeown, the lead author of the 9th Circuit opinion who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, wrote that the recruiting piece of the law was broad enough that it presented potential conflicts with First Amendment rights to freedom of speech. The judge said courts have deemed that protesters who try to dissuade people from entering abortion clinics are also protected under free speech laws. “Even expressions of persuasive encouragement might be prosecuted under the statute,” McKeown wrote. “Imagine an Idaho resident who lives near the border of Oregon and displays a bumper sticker that reads: ‘Legal abortions are OK, and they’re right next door. Ask me about it!’ A minor sees the sticker and, feeling desperate, approaches the driver to request a ride across state lines.” In that scenario, if the driver offered the minor cash for the procedure, the driver could be prosecuted for “recruiting.” McKeown added that the language also seems to encompass the ability to get a legal abortion in Idaho under one of the few exceptions, including rape and incest. “That is, an adult concerned for the wellbeing of an underage victim of incest would be prohibited from counseling and then assisting that victim in obtaining an abortion without informing a parent — who may well be the perpetrator,” McKeown wrote. Others in the advocacy space, such as Planned Parenthood Great Northwest Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, called the decision “devastating.” Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman, state director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates in Idaho, said the law has created a massive chilling effect among Idahoans, and the ruling is unlikely to change that problem. “We are hearing from Idahoans out at restaurants who find out you work for Planned Parenthood and ask, ‘If I go to Oregon for an abortion and come back to Idaho, will I be arrested?’” DelliCarpini-Tolman said. “These laws, the way they interplay, are confusing to the average Idahoan, and it’s important to point out that it is intentional, to help create that chilling effect.” DelliCarpini-Tolman added that data from an organization called Jane’s Due Process in Texas has found more than one-third of young women seeking abortions there said they feared physical, emotional or sexual abuse if their parents found out about their pregnancy. “The numbers are there, they don’t lie, they show us the position that we’re putting young people in in Idaho,” she said. “For proponents of the bill to act like they’re trying to protect young Idahoans is the utmost hypocrisy, because those are the very people that it’s going to harm the most.” Wendy Olson, an Idaho-based attorney who is also representing the plaintiffs, said both sides have two weeks to appeal the decision with the 9th Circuit, and her clients are still weighing their options. Dan Estes, spokesperson for Labrador’s office, told States Newsroom they are also considering their next move, which could include asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider the case. If neither side appeals, the case will proceed in district court for full arguments, but it’s unclear when that hearing would be held. Given the judges’ comments about their likelihood of victory in the case, Olson said they expect to spend time developing further evidence to strengthen their arguments for their day in court. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com . Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and X . Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Marvell Unveils Industry's First Coherent-lite 1.6 Tbps O-band-optimized DSP for Data Center Campus ConnectivityAston Villa edged a close encounter with RB Leipzig to go third in the Champions League table on another night where Jhon Durán strengthened the argument he should be starting. Twice they were pegged back as some suspect goalkeeping from Emiliano Martínez gave the home side hope but Unai Emery’s side scored an 85th-minute winner courtesy of the substitute Ross Barkley for their fourth victory in the competition. Villa had returned to winning ways in their past couple of games in the Premier League but to guarantee progression in the Champions League Emery wanted his players to “break our limit” and secure the three points that would move them into the top eight. Leipzig’s record of zero points in the competition so far did not
Remembering poet Nikki Giovanni and her impact on Philadelphia
New Aquila DSP Delivers Cost, Power, and Scalability for 2 km to 20 km Connectivity, Extending Marvell Optical Interconnect Leadership SANTA CLARA, Calif. , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvell Technology, Inc . (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced Marvell® Aquila , the industry's first coherent-lite DSP optimized for 1.6 Tbps coherent optical transceiver modules operating at O-band wavelengths. By combining advanced coherent modulation with scalable O-band optics, the Aquila DSP delivers a power and performance-optimized solution tailored for the emerging market for distributed campus data center interconnects spanning up to 20 km with high bandwidth and low latency. The industry is shifting from large-scale facilities to campus-based data centers due to power and space constraints. While PAM4 interconnects remain the standard for inside data center connections and coherent data center interconnect (DCI) interconnects address regional data center connectivity, both areas where Marvell is the industry leader, campus-based data centers require optimized interconnects spanning 2-20 km, driving the need for coherent-lite technology. Marvell, leveraging its unique expertise in both PAM4 and coherent DSPs, is leading this market transformation. Traditional coherent DSPs are optimized for C-band tunable optics, which lack the scalability needed for high-volume data center deployment. The new Aquila coherent-lite DSP introduces an innovative O-band coherent architecture that delivers cost efficiency, power savings, and scalability, enabling the next generation of campus-based data center connectivity. "Interconnect bandwidth, data center traffic, and data center capacity needs are all growing at accelerated rates because of AI, and operators are limited by the available power delivery in a single building," said Xi Wang , vice president of product marketing for Optical Connectivity at Marvell. "Aquila offers data center operators a new, groundbreaking avenue for optimizing their infrastructure for sustainability and developing campus facilities that can scale with their customers' demands for cloud and AI services." "The transition to distributed data centers is creating a growing demand for innovative solutions to address campus connectivity challenges," said Osa Mok , chief marketing officer at TeraHop Ltd. (previously known as InnoLight Technology). "Marvell's Aquila represents a significant step forward, bringing coherent technologies to this evolving market. By combining the advancements from Aquila with TeraHop's expertise in coherent modules and scalable optical solutions, we are establishing a new standard for performance and efficiency in campus networks." "Shipments of coherent-lite solutions are expected to grow from sample volumes this year to over 1 million units per year by 2029," said Vlad Kozlov , founder and CEO of LightCounting. "Coherent-lite technology like Aquila from Marvell expands the options available to hyperscalers, providing a more energy-efficient solution to an emerging and critical use case." Aquila is one of the latest members of the Marvell interconnect portfolio, optimized for specific use cases to help data centers maximize the utilization and performance of their infrastructure while reducing overall cost and power per bit. The extensive 1.6 Tbps portfolio also includes the Marvell LPO TIA and driver chipset; Ara , the industry's first 3nm PAM4 interconnect platform; Nova family of PAM4 DSPs featuring 200 Gbps electrical and optical interfaces; and Alaska® A PAM4 DSP for active electrical cables. Aquila Coherent-lite DSP Attributes Availability The Marvell Aquila coherent-lite DSP is sampling to select customers. About Marvell To deliver the data infrastructure technology that connects the world, we're building solutions on the most powerful foundation: our partnerships with our customers. Trusted by the world's leading technology companies for over 25 years, we move, store, process and secure the world's data with semiconductor solutions designed for our customers' current needs and future ambitions. Through a process of deep collaboration and transparency, we're ultimately changing the way tomorrow's enterprise, cloud, automotive, and carrier architectures transform—for the better. Marvell and the M logo are trademarks of Marvell or its affiliates. Please visit www.marvell.com for a complete list of Marvell trademarks. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future events, results or achievements. Actual events, results or achievements may differ materially from those contemplated in this press release. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by us from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and no person assumes any obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, contact: Kim Markle pr@marvell.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marvell-unveils-industrys-first-coherent-lite-1-6-tbps-o-band-optimized-dsp-for-data-center-campus-connectivity-302328132.html SOURCE MarvellCanada's anti-money laundering agency is looking to introduce a system that gives financial institutions and other businesses real-time feedback through scorecards, two sources said, as the regulator ramps up initiatives to tackle financial crime. The proposed reporting system follows stricter financial crime penalties in Canada announced earlier this week after the country's No. 2 bank TD was ordered to pay a record US$3 billion fine and pleaded guilty in a historic U.S. money laundering case in October. The regulator, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC), is looking at technology, including AI, to deliver the scorecard and is expected to introduce it next year, one source said. FINTRAC aims to give more real-time feedback to reporting entities to improve collaboration across the industry, another source said. Canada's federal government made new proposals in its fall economic statement on Monday to give the regulator more powers, including increasing financial penalties by as much as 40 times and issuing compliance orders. U.S. regulators' probe into TD Bank resulted in calls for stronger regulations in Canada. In pleading guilty, TD admitted former employees helped criminals launder millions of dollars. Canadian banks TD, Royal Bank of Canada and CIBC have been fined by FINTRAC in the past two years for failing to comply with money laundering and terrorist financing rules. Canada faces growing pressure to tackle financial crime ahead of a review by the Financial Action Task Force, an intergovernmental body made of up 40 international members. (Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Hugh Lawson)Canadians call out Trudeau for post about GST cut on groceries
Republican senators slammed US spy chiefs on Friday for operating “in the shadows” to cover up bombshell evidence of COVID-19 leaking out of a Chinese lab — and renewed calls for a thorough independent investigation of alleged meddling by political appointees into the pandemic’s origins. “For years, we’ve exposed the federal government’s role — especially the Intelligence Community — in concealing the origins of COVID-19, with the Biden administration complicit every step of the way,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) told The Post. “For this reason, I recently wrote to the Intelligence Community’s Office of Inspector General, giving these authorities records and additional critical support to launch an investigation into potential integrity breaches in the intelligence community COVID origins assessment process,” he said. “The US Intelligence Community operates in the shadows, but I will keep demanding sunlight, pushing for transparency and accountability, and fighting for answers for every American lost in this devastating pandemic,” Marshall added. In the first year of the pandemic, Defense Department and FBI scientists uncovered evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 had likely been engineered and later erupted in Wuhan, China, after a lab accident. However, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines never presented their findings to President Biden, sources familiar with the compiling of the agency’s August 2021 report told The Post on Thursday. That evidence included a 2008 scientific study from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) showing Chinese researchers — like the infamous “bat lady” Dr. Shi Zhengli — had optimized viruses for easier transmission to humans and trained up on their techniques while collaborating with a US lab in Texas years before the pandemic. It also comprised a highly detailed genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 as well as proof that the WIV scientists learned how to stitch new viruses together seamlessly, making it difficult to see whether the resulting virus is manufactured or not. But the trio of scientists at the Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Center for Medical Intelligence who revealed dozens of data points in favor of a so-called “lab leak” were “silenced” by their superiors and told to stop collaborating with the FBI on their parallel COVID origins probes, according to the sources. Months before the intel report was issued, Sen. Chuck Grassley had demanded Haines turn over information that would have contained much of the scientists’ lab leak findings — but agency higher-ups crushed that effort, the sources added. “Director Haines’ failure to fully respond to longstanding congressional oversight requests resulted in material information within the intelligence community from being shared with Congress, the American people, and even the President himself,” the Iowa Republican told The Post. “The individuals who politicized this administration’s COVID origins investigation performed a shameful disservice to the American people,” he added. Other sources close to the intelligence community’s efforts also pointed the finger at “political appointees” for pushing the theory of natural spillover from animals to humans as the origin of the pandemic — despite what one noted was a “paucity of evidence” in favor of the hypothesis. Spy bosses further forbade the three scientists from rebutting a since-debunked March 2020 paper on “the proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2” — prompted by then-National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci — that sought to discredit the lab leak theory. Additionally, FBI scientist Jason Bannan, whose team was also providing evidence in favor of the lab leak theory, was left out of the White House briefing with Biden, 82, which ultimately informed the commander in chief that SARS-CoV-2 “was probably not genetically engineered.” “Being the only agency that assessed that a laboratory origin was more likely, and the agency that expressed the highest level of confidence in its analysis of the source of the pandemic, we anticipated the FBI would be asked to attend the briefing,” Bannan told the Wall Street Journal , which first reported on the scientists getting sidelined. “I find it surprising that the White House didn’t ask.” Marshall previously obtained whistleblower documents in November that had been left off Haines’ report used to brief Biden on Aug. 24, 2021, which he said revealed the intel community’s probe was deeply “flawed,” prompting him to demand that Intelligence Community Inspector General Thomas Monheim launch an investigation. “The [Office of the Director of National Intelligence] assessment remains flawed,” the Kansas Republican wrote in a Nov. 14 letter to Monheim, noting that some “conflicted individuals may have censored the laboratory-origin related intelligence. “[I]f true, this signals an alarming breach of integrity in the investigative process,” he added. “Today I write with urgency to request that your office investigate the federal government’s COVID-19 origin analytical process and results.” The whistleblower, Marine Corps. Lt. Col. Joseph Murphy, who serves in the military branch’s Warfighting Lab based in Quantico, Va., found in July 2021 that an unclassified grant proposal, known as Project DEFUSE, had been improperly uploaded to a classified portal and, as a result, was left out of the ODNI report a month later. The proposal, which scientists have said contains a “blueprint” for creating SARS-CoV-2 , was submitted by EcoHealth Alliance, a Manhattan-based nonprofit that received more than $1.4 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal grants for research between 2014 and 2021 at the WIV. The grant funding went toward “genetic experiments to combine naturally occurring bat coronaviruses with SARS and MERS viruses, resulting in hybridized (also known as chimeric) coronavirus strains,” according to a 2023 Government Accountability Office report. The DEFUSE proposal was never funded, but NIH officials have since acknowledged that the WIV conducted so-called “gain of function” research that made viruses more infectious during that period — and the Wuhan lab was debarred last year from receiving US taxpayers’ money for the next 10 years . EcoHealth Alliance has also been suspended from receiving federal grants, and a US House committee recommended its president, Dr. Peter Daszak, for prosecution after his organization approved experiments under likely unsafe lab conditions and failed to submit a progress report on its WIV grant for nearly two years. Daszak had previously tried to “ downplay ” the involvement of Chinese researchers in the 2018 DEFUSE grant proposal — and former federal officials like ex-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield suggested on a biosecurity panel in October that even unfunded projects can be tested under other research grants. At least one of the US-based collaborators on one of the WIV grants that EcoHealth did fund, University of North Carolina researcher Dr. Ralph Baric, also was consulted by ODNI as part of its COVID origins probe, posing a direct conflict of interest, according to Marshall. NIH officials and EcoHealth reps have repeatedly denied that any of the experiments could have resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan more than 800 miles from the closest bats that could have infected humans. The virus went on to kill more than 1.2 million Americans. Biden had ordered ODNI to launch an investigation in May 2021 into whether the COVID-19 pandemic began with a laboratory accident or had a natural origin. The agency released another unclassified report in June 2023 that still maintained: “Almost all IC [intelligence community] agencies assess that SARS-CoV-2 was not genetically engineered .” Reps for the Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General did not respond to a request for comment.
Purpose Investments Inc. Announces 2024 Final Annual Income And Capital Gains Distributions For Purpose Mutual Fund Trusts With December 15, 2024 Tax Year-End
New Milestone for Chinese EVs! XPeng Reaches Impressive Sales in Europe
René Bennett | (TNS) Bankrate.com If you’re an iPhone user, you might not realize that you already have access to Apple Cash. It’s a digital cash card that’s built into Apple devices and can be found in the default Wallet app. (Note: You must link an eligible debit card to use this service.) The main function of Apple Cash is to make it easier for Apple device users to send money to one another, including sending money through the iMessage app. But Apple Cash is more than just a peer-to-peer (P2P) payment service — it can be used to shop online, in stores or to make in-app purchases. Apple Cash is a convenient way to transfer money between friends and family. Once it’s set up, a user can simply open the iMessage app and send money to a contact through their chat. It’s also useful for those who use Apple Pay, a separate service that allows Apple device users to make contactless payments with any linked card, including an Apple Cash card. Here are some important things to know about setting up and using Apple Cash. Apple Cash is a digital cash card that’s stored in the Wallet app of Apple devices, and it can be used for making P2P payments, as well as purchases through Apple Pay. When you receive money from another Apple Cash user, that money appears in your Apple Cash balance. The balance can then be spent or transferred to a linked bank account or debit card. Sending money to peers with Apple Cash can be done either directly from the digital Apple Cash card (in the Wallet app) or through the iMessage app. You can send or receive anywhere between $1 and $10,000 per message. The money shows up on the recipient’s Apple Cash card instantly, but it may take from one to three days for the balance to be transferred to a bank account. Instant transfers to a bank account are possible, but it comes with a 1.5% fee. There’s also an option to set up Apple Cash Family for children who are under 18 years old. This option limits the amount a child can send to $2,000 per message. Those younger than 18 also cannot add money to their Apple Cash card from a bank account; rather, their balance only grows when they receive money from another Apple Cash user. Apple Cash is a digital card within your Wallet that allows you to spend your Apple Cash online, in stores and in apps as well send and receive money. Apple Pay, however, allows you to make purchases using any credit card or debit card you have stored in your Wallet — including Apple Cash. With Apple Pay, you add credit and debit cards to your Wallet and then have the ability to pay right with your phone (or other Apple product). To set up Apple Cash, you’ll need three things: —A compatible Apple device. —Two-factor authentication enabled for your Apple ID (this can be done in Settings). —An eligible debit card to load funds onto the Apple Cash card. In the Settings app, you can turn on Apple Cash in the Wallet and Apple Pay section. Tap on the Apple Cash card icon and follow the instructions on the screen. You’ll be asked to agree to the terms and conditions, after which your device will set up Apple Cash for you. The Apple Cash card, once set up, can be found in your device’s Wallet app. If you want to set up Apple Cash Family, you’ll first need to have Family Sharing turned on, which can be done in Settings. The family organizer can add children to Apple Cash in the Family Sharing section of Settings. You’ll need to have a debit card linked to your digital Wallet to add money to an Apple Cash card. You can add a debit card to Wallet in the same place where you set up Apple Cash — the Wallet and Apple Pay section of Settings. Once a debit card is linked to your Wallet, open Wallet and tap on the Apple Cash card. Then, tap the More button (an icon with three dots). This will open a page where you can see your Apple Cash balance, add money and transfer funds to a bank account. Tap Add Money and enter the amount you’d like to add (the minimum is $10). You’ll be asked to confirm which debit card you want to use to fund the Apple Cash balance, and then the money is added to the Apple Cash card. There are two ways to send a payment to someone using Apple Cash: directly from your Wallet or in the iMessage app. Both the sender and recipient need Apple Cash to send or receive money. To send money from Wallet, simply tap the Apple Cash card in Wallet and then tap Send. Type in the contact name or phone number of the recipient. Enter the amount you’d like to send (between $1 and $10,000), then review the payment and confirm it with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. In iMessage, open the conversation with who you’d like to send money to, or start a new one. Tap on the app button, which appears next to the type bar, and then tap on the Apple Cash icon. You’ll be prompted to enter an amount (between $1 and $10,000). Once you’ve reviewed the amount, tap Send and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode. The first time money is sent to someone, the recipient will need to accept the payment within seven days for it to go through. After the first instance, payments are automatically accepted. If you’re using Apple Cash to make a purchase either online or in a store, you’ll need to pay using Apple Pay. To request money from your iPhone, open the conversation in the Messages app. Tap the plus icon, followed by Apple Cash. Then, tap Request. Tap the send button to send your payment request. Once the request is sent, the person you sent it to can confirm or change the amount they send to you. You can also request money from your Apple watch. Open your messages app, choose a conversation, tap the plus icon and then choose Apple Cash. Once you enter the amount you are requesting, swipe left on the Send button. Tap Request. As you start to accumulate money on the Apple Cash card, you may want to move it to a debit card or a bank account . This can be done by going to the same place where you added funds to the card, by clicking the icon with three dots next to your digital card. Related Articles Slash your bills with a phone call: 7 pro negotiating tips 3 ways to earn an extra $500 for the holidays What’s new for Medicare in 2025? Homeownership is getting unaffordable for the middle class Home sellers and buyers: What you must know for 2025 Enter an amount to be transferred, then tap Next. You’ll be asked whether you want to do an instant transfer (for a 1.5% fee) or a transfer in one to three business days for free. After making a selection, the screen will instruct you to set up a bank account if you don’t already have one set up. You’ll confirm the payment, and the transfer is initiated. Instant transfers can only be made to an eligible debit card, not a bank account. Money is sent within 30 minutes when you select instant transfer. —Zelle: If your bank is offers Zelle, it might be a good idea to take advantage of the P2P payment service. Zelle can be accessed directly from your bank’s mobile app, and it allows you to send instant transfers at no extra cost. —Venmo: Anyone can use Venmo, as long as they’ve downloaded the app. Unlike Apple Cash or Zelle, it’s a standalone P2P payment app. Venmo comes with a social element — users can follow each other and add fun emojis to their payments, although they can also keep their account activity private. —PayPal: This P2P payment service is a good option if you want to send money internationally. It also offers a PayPal Debit card, which, like the Apple Cash card, can be used to make purchases online or in stores. —Samsung Pay Cash: Samsung device users can use this option instead of Apple Cash. Similar to Apple Cash, it is a digital wallet that you can access from a Samsung mobile device. However, to take full advantage of Samsung Pay Cash, users will need to undergo an extra registration process to upgrade to a Full Card Account. Apple Cash makes it easy for Apple device users to send money to each other. Users can simply tap the Apple Cash icon in their text messages to send money through iMessage. It can also be used as an extra repository for spending money and can be used for purchases anywhere Apple Pay is accepted. With that said, only Apple device users can send and receive money using Apple Cash, so those looking for a more universal payment service may want to consider other P2P payment apps . ©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.