Latest news with #The2025
Wales Online
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Britain's Got Talent's 2024 winner and their impressive confession about the £250,000 prize
Britain's Got Talent's 2024 winner and their impressive confession about the £250,000 prize The 2025 finale is almost upon us so let's remind ourselves of who won last year and what they've done with the dosh Sydnie Christmas won last year's BGT, but what has she done with the prize money? (Image: (Image: ITV) ) Last year, Sydnie Christmas captured the public's hearts after winning Britain's Got Talent with her show stopping performance of Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz. However, following the competition she disclosed some surprising facts regarding the show's £250,000 prize money. Despite the impressive sum she won on the beloved ITV programme, the singer shared that she hasn't spent a single penny of her winnings. Instead, Sydnie has safely stashed all of it into savings, with an eye toward her future aspirations. She said: "With the prize money, I've put it all away in a savings account because I want to save for a house at some point." For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter . Sydnie explained: "All I ever wanted was stability, to be able to move on in the future and one day have children and things like that, so now, luckily enough, I've been given that." Even though her savings remain untouched, life for Sydnie has been far from idle post-BGT victory. She's not only wrapped up work on her album but also enjoyed performing live, as well as that she's been a semi-regular competition presenter on ITV daytime TV. She said: "I've finished working on the album, which is cool. I've had a few gigs, really cool gigs, in front of loads of people." A standout moment for her was the Blackpool Illuminations. The Express reported Sydnie saying: "The Blackpool Illuminations were just unbelievable. I heard there was 80,000 people there, but then I also heard there was 100,000 people there. It was just ridiculous, best experience ever." Reflecting upon the intense moments during Britain's Got Talent, Sydnie confessed that despite thoroughly enjoying the process, it was nearly overshadowed by her anxiety. She said: "Both the semi-final and final, for one, I went last and I nearly threw up." Her nerves were tested by repeated scheduling decisions. She explained: "They kept putting me on last, I was like, 'guys, this is not fair two days in a row, oh my goodness." The tension didn't abate at that point. She remembered the fraught moments preceding the winner's revelation: "It was the waiting before they announced who won, it was awful. I nearly had a full-on panic attack." Since winning the competition, Sydnie has returned to the BGT stage to perform during this year's semi-finals. The returning winner, sang with her friend and past Britain's Got Talent contestant, Loren Allred, who is the voice behind the Greatest Showman hit Never Enough. Sydnie posted on social media: "Full circle moment going back to where it all started, but to be able to do it with a friend makes it all that much sweeter. "I will fly the @bgt flag for the rest of my days. I'm forever grateful. And the dreams that you dare to dream. Really do come true." Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below
Business Wire
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Strand Therapeutics Announces Initial First-in-human Phase 1 Data for STX-001 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors at The 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Strand Therapeutics, a leader in next-generation mRNA-based therapeutics, today announced exciting preliminary Phase 1 clinical data for its lead investigational candidate, STX-001, in patients with advanced solid tumors. The study marks the first clinical evidence of Strand's proprietary programmable mRNA technology platform and represents a major milestone in the company's mission to bring next-generation mRNA therapies to patients with cancer. 'This is a transformative moment for Strand and for the field of synthetic mRNA therapeutics,' said Jake Becraft, PhD, CEO and Co-founder of Strand Therapeutics. 'The Phase 1 data for STX-001 provide early clinical validation of our platform." Share In the ongoing first-in-human Phase 1, open-label, dose-escalation clinical trial, STX-001 demonstrated a favorable safety profile and encouraging signs of anti-tumor activity as a monotherapy in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-refractory solid tumors, including melanoma and other solid tumor indications. As of the April 3rd, 2025 data cutoff, the trial had enrolled 22 patients across multiple sites in the United States and Australia. All patients were treated with STX-001 as a monotherapy (without combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, etc.) with injections to surface accessible lesions. The data will be presented at The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago on June 1 by Sarina Piha-Paul, M.D., professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. 'This investigational therapy has the potential to address an important unmet need in patients with checkpoint inhibitor-refractory advanced cancers,' said Dr. Piha-Paul. 'We're observing systemic immune activation and antitumor responses, including in non-injected lesions, across multiple tumor types, which is encouraging and supports continued evaluation.' Key highlights from the Phase 1 trial include: Preliminary Clinical Activity: Multiple RECIST responses were observed, including a confirmed complete response and multiple partial responses. Furthermore, there were multiple cases of prolonged disease stabilization. Safety and Tolerability: STX-001 was well-tolerated up to 300 µg. Treatment-related adverse events were consistent with STX-001's intended mechanism of action of immune activation. Pharmacodynamic Activity: Biomarker analysis confirmed dose-dependent increase in plasma IL-12 and IFN-γ, as well as infiltration of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. 'This is a transformative moment for Strand and for the field of synthetic mRNA therapeutics,' said Jake Becraft, PhD, CEO and Co-founder of Strand Therapeutics. 'The Phase 1 data for STX-001 provide early clinical validation of our platform's ability to deliver programmable, tumor-localized immunotherapy safely and effectively. Our mRNA medicines as a therapeutic modality offer the potential capability to broaden pathways to treatment for patients while seamlessly integrating into the existing healthcare ecosystem.' STX-001 encodes IL-12, an immunomodulatory protein, which the company has designed such that it can reprogram the tumor microenvironment and stimulate a systemic anti-tumor immune response. Unlike traditional mRNA therapies, Strand's approach uses self-replicating mRNA, ensuring localized and durable therapeutic activity. The company is currently conducting dose expansion in the Phase 1 trial. Upon completion, the company plans to transition into a Phase 2 trial of STX-001 as a monotherapy. The company also plans to initiate dose escalation of STX-001 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and expand into additional solid tumor indications. In addition, Strand is advancing a broader pipeline powered by the company's first-in-class cell-type specific mRNA engineering platform, including advancing STX-003, an intravenously administered version of STX-001, to patients in 2026. ASCO Poster Presentation Information: Abstract Title: Phase I dose escalation trial of STX-001, an LNP-encapsulated self-replicating mRNA expressing IL-12, in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors. Session Type: Poster Date and Time: June 1, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM CDT Abstract Number: 9556 Location: Hall A Full abstract is available on the ASCO Annual Meeting Website. The study, an open-label, dose escalation trial, evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and preliminary antitumor activity of STX-001 in patients with advanced solid tumors. STX-001 was well-tolerated up to 300 µg, with dose-dependent and manageable treatment-related adverse events. Promising early clinical activity was observed, including multiple RECIST responses and durable disease stabilization. Findings support the further development of STX-001 as a monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of solid tumors. Additional Commentary Professor Georgina Long AO, BSc, PhD, MBBS, FRACP, FAHMS, AAHMS, FAA, Medical Director of Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA), and Chair of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Translational Research at MIA and Royal North Shore Hospital, The University of Sydney: 'I am encouraged by this early data. While intratumoral therapies offer a promising approach by initiating immune activation at the injected tumor site, they have historically struggled to generate robust systemic responses. STX-001 may represent a meaningful step forward, with early clinical evidence showing cases of regression of non-injected lesions, a sign of systemic immune engagement.' Tasuku Kitada, PhD, Co-Founder, President, and Head of R&D at Strand Therapeutics: 'Patients who are refractory to immune checkpoint inhibitors urgently need new treatment options. While IL-12 has long been recognized as a powerful immune stimulator, its clinical potential has been limited by toxicity, and to date, no IL-12–based therapies have been approved by the FDA. STX-001 is designed to overcome these challenges, delivering localized IL-12 expression to activate the tumor microenvironment and drive systemic immune responses, all while seeking to minimize toxicities. These early data suggest we may finally be able to realize the promise of IL-12 in cancer therapy.' About STX-001 STX-001 is an investigational multi-mechanistic, synthetic self-replicating mRNA technology that expresses an IL-12 cytokine for an extended period of time, directly injected into the tumor microenvironment in order to promote immune modulation and antitumor activity. The company received IND clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2023 to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for STX-001, and announced its first patient dosed just before the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting. Additional study details can be found at using identifier: NCT06249048. About Strand Therapeutics Strand Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing programmable mRNA therapeutics to transform the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. Founded by synthetic biology pioneers from MIT, Strand's proprietary platform integrates synthetic gene circuits with mRNA delivery to enable targeted, controlled, and intelligent therapies. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, visit Follow us on LinkedIn and on X at @StrandTx.
Boston Globe
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Which Boston restaurants will get Michelin stars?
Advertisement Regardless, our time is now, and there are plenty of exciting restaurants to consider. Which ones will Michelin include in its 2025 Boston guide? Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up The cheese cart at the defunct L'Espalier deserved a Michelin star of its own. Gretchen Ertl for The Boston Globe/Globe Freelance 3 stars It is unlikely that any restaurants will receive the top 3-star distinction. Michelin sees these as superlative establishments that raise cooking to an art form — the kind creating dishes that are known by name to restaurant groupies. There are about 150 in the world; in the United States, the dozen-plus include places such as Alinea in Chicago, Eleven Madison Park in New York, and the French Laundry in California. 2 stars Two stars are awarded when Michelin finds exceptional food that reflects the vision, personality, and talent of the chef. Although there are arguments to be made here (particularly regarding personality), I don't realistically think we will see a 2-star award. There are about three dozen of these restaurants in the US, including Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York, minibar in D.C., and Saison in San Francisco. In 2023, debut guides for Atlanta and Colorado named five 1-star restaurants in each location, and went no higher. Michelin doesn't grade on a curve. Advertisement At Ostra, sweet Maine lobster is served in split shells, lazy man's luxury. Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe 1 star This is the category where I'd expect to see some traction, else why enter the market at all? For this recognition, Michelin looks for restaurants that serve expertly prepared, distinctive food made with the highest-quality ingredients. The top contenders could be At O Ya, by South Station, owners Tim and Nancy Cushman offer 20-course omakase menus of inspired sushi, sashimi, and more. This isn't a hushed, reverential, traditional experience; it's a little (but just a little) more rock 'n' roll. It is distinctive, strong of voice, and a showcase for fine ingredients, and when it's at its best, it's sublime. Advertisement "Variations on Chocolate and Strawberry," a dessert once served at Deuxave, where plating is always striking. Barry Chin After that, the 1-star picture gets fuzzier. Chef-owner Rachel Miller in front of Nightshade Noodle Bar in Lynn. Alyssa Blumstein At Wa Shin, chef Sky Zheng was previously head chef at the Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa in New York; it feels like the likeliest contender among a newer crop of The 2025 guide will keep to the Interstate 95/Route 128 corridor. If it should expand in future editions — to the Cape and Islands, for instance — that could open things up in interesting ways. (Although a New England guide would be of great use, it's hard to imagine Massachusetts would want to share its shine.) Advertisement Wa Shin chef Sky Zheng was previously head chef at the Michelin-starred Sushi Nakazawa in New York. Bib Gourmand Boston's culinary gems might show best in another Michelin category: the Bib Gourmand, awarded for great cooking and good value. The guide also has a 'recommended' designation, for restaurants with food that is above average, as well as a green star for those that model sustainability. For context, in the first year of their guides, Atlanta had 10 Bib Gourmands, two green stars, and 29 recommended restaurants, and Colorado had nine Bib Gourmands, four green stars, and 30 recommended restaurants. These could merit the distinction: Fried chicken with maple umeboshi at Brassica in Jamaica Plain. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Advertisement Crudo with squid ink chicharron at Moëca. Carlin Stiehl for The Boston Globe Island Creek, Aunt Dotty, and Tumblecan oysters at the Winsor House in Duxbury. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Sarma's tuna malawach. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff Niku udon at Yume Ga Arukara in Cambridge. Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe Recommended The line between this category and Bib Gourmand isn't always clear. Here is a short list of places that might be considered: Advertisement Amar, Bar Mezzana, Bar Vlaha, Bar Volpe, Bistro du Midi, Chickadee, Comfort Kitchen, Field & Vine, Grill 23, Gustazo, La Padrona, Mistral, Mooo…., Pammy's, Saltie Girl, Select Oyster Bar, Short & Main, Somaek, Sorellina, Spoke Wine Bar, Sushi Sang Lee, Talulla, Three 1 One, Toro, Uni, Washoku Renaissance, Woods Hill Pier 4 (also a possible green star). Devra First can be reached at
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2025 Honda Prologue Gets Range Boost to a Maximum of 308 Miles
The 2025 adds a new front electric motor that adds both power and range. Front-wheel-drive Prologues now make 220 horsepower, up by eight, and all-wheel-drive variants produce 300 hp, a 12-hp increase. The front-wheel-drive versions gain 12 miles for a 308-mile range while the all-wheel-drive Prologue now maxes out at 294 miles of range. The Honda Prologue—the automaker's first dedicated EV for the United States—got off to a hot start in 2024. Despite not going on sale until the end of the second quarter, the Prologue managed to rack up 33,017 sales in 2024, making the electric mid-size SUV the sixth-biggest-selling EV in the U.S. last year. But Honda is making the Prologue more enticing for EV shoppers in 2025, implementing a new front power unit for the 2025 Prologue to both boost the power output and improve the SUV's range. The Prologue is sold with both single-motor/front-wheel-drive and dual-motor/all-wheel-drive setups. For the front-wheel-drive Prologue, the new electric motor has resulted in an eight-horsepower bump to a total of 220 horsepower. Torque is also up to 243 pound-feet, a seven-pound-foot increase. Despite being more potent, the Prologue also travels farther on a charge, with the front-wheel-drive variant gaining an additional 12 miles of range, pushing the total range figure to 308 miles. The new motor has also brought a higher output for the all-wheel-drive variants, which add 12 horsepower for a total of 300 ponies and 25 pound-feet of torque for a total of 355 pound-feet. Range has also increased, with the EX and Touring trim adding 13 miles for a 294-mile range and the Elite trim's range increasing by 10 miles to a total of 283 miles. The 2025 Prologue will start at $48,850 for the base EX model in front-wheel-drive form, only $55 more than last year. The Touring trim starts at $53,150 for the front-wheel-drive powertrain, and upgrading to all-wheel drive for the EX or Touring will see the price rise by $3000. The top-of-the-line Elite trim is available exclusively with all-wheel drive and starts at $59,350. Honda also says that all 2025 Prologues are eligible for the $7500 federal tax credit for EVs. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Backcountry Is a Tech-Focused Off-Roader
The 2025 is a new limited-edition trim that prioritizes standard tech and off-road-focused features. The Backcountry features the same plug-in-hybrid powertrain as the 4xe Sahara, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The new Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is limited to 5800 units and costs $66,185. If just having a plug-in-hybrid Jeep Wrangler wasn't high-tech enough for your off-road excursions, Jeep is introducing a new limited-edition Wrangler 4xe Backcountry trim that is meant to better serve trail-loving technophiles. Building on the upscale and comfort-oriented plug-in-hybrid 4xe Sahara trim, which comes standard with leather upholstery, heated seats, and an available 12.3-inch touchscreen, the 4xe Backcountry ups its tech quotient while also adding new accessories to make it more capable off-road. As far as tech goes, the 4xe Backcountry's new additions include a nine-speaker Alpine audio system and the inclusion of a portable Jeep power box that can draw energy from the Backcountry's hybrid battery pack and be used to charge devices or power small appliances. Like the 4xe Sahara, the 4xe Backcountry features a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with built-in navigation. To encourage adventure, the infotainment system includes off-road trail guides for 62 Jeep Badge of Honor trails as well as an integrated geocaching app. While some Jeep owners use their Wranglers to get off the grid, the 4xe Backcountry comes with onboard Wi-Fi if you aren't part of that camp. Outside of the new tech goodies, the Backcountry also gets some significant off-road bits. It wears steel bumpers at both ends, a Mopar grille guard, and rock rails along its door sills to limit damage from any boulder bashing. To prevent bashing from happening in the first place, the Backcountry comes standard with a front trail camera to survey the path ahead. It also comes standard with unique matte-black 20-inch wheels wrapped in 275/55R-20 General Grabber all-terrain tires for supreme traction on any surface. To help it look the part, it has Backcountry decals on its hood, fenders, and rear swing gate and comes with a removable three-piece body-colored hardtop. A towing package is also included, which adds seven- and four-pin wiring harnesses, auxiliary switches, and a receiver hitch. The Wrangler 4xe Backcountry is limited to 5800 units and retails for $66,185, which is $6595 more than the 4xe Sahara. If you want to hear what an Alpine audio system sounds like echoing through a dense forest, now's your time to find out. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!
