Latest news with #Vera
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New miscarriage of justice watchdog chair calls leadership 'unimpressive'
The watchdog that examines potential miscarriages of justice has "unimpressive" leadership and is "incompetent", said its new chair as she takes up her role. Dame Vera Baird has been appointed to head up the Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC), which currently has serial child killer in its inbox. The CCRC is an independent public body that reviews possible miscarriages of justice in the criminal courts of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and refers cases to the appeal courts. The commission has had four critical reviews in the last 10 years, which Dame Vera said "all find the same thing". Speaking to Sky News after her appointment was announced, she said: "They don't communicate with applicants, are reluctant to challenge the Court of Appeal, they look for reasons not to refer rather than to refer and are quite often incompetent." Dame Vera is now charged with turning things around. She cites the example of Andrew Malkinson who was wrongly convicted of rape and spent 17 years in jail, when for most of that time DNA evidence had emerged that could have cleared his name. He had applied three times to the CCRC but was rejected twice on cost-benefit grounds. It's one of several cases leading to calls for "root and branch" reform of the CCRC from the Justice Committee, which said the watchdog "has shown a remarkable inability to learn from its own mistakes". An inquiry by Chris Henley KC also found that case workers missed multiple opportunities to help Malkinson. The previous chair, Helen Pitcher, was forced to resign in January and chief executive Karen Kneller told the committee of MPs they needed a strong replacement. Ms Kneller said in April: "We don't have that figurehead and without that figurehead I think it is difficult for the organisation." But that replacement did not think much of her evidence to MPs. "I didn't find her impressive," said Dame Vera, who will be meeting her new colleague next week. "I was really quite concerned about, first of all, the kind of fairly sketchy way in which she even allowed that they got it wrong in Malkinson, and these assertions that she was sorry that people only judged them by the mistakes, and they all took them very seriously, but actually they were otherwise doing a very good job. "My fear is that the attitude in the case of Malkinson and others, points to there being an attitude that's not positive, that's not mission-driven, that is not go-getter in other cases. So, are they getting it done properly?" A month later, a committee of MPs said Ms Kneller's position was no longer tenable. Committee chairman Andy Slaughter said: "As a result of our concerns regarding the performance of the CCRC and the unpersuasive evidence Karen Kneller provided to the committee, we no longer feel that it is tenable for her to continue as chief executive of the CCRC." Read more from Sky News:Body found in search for missing BritonUkrainian attack puts Russian and world on notice In February, the CCRC received an application from Lucy Letby, the former nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. It's a high-profile, complex case, arriving at a significant moment of flux. Asked if she thought the CCRC could deal with it, Dame Vera said: "Remember I'm quite new to it. It will need complexity. It will need a team. It will need the readiness to commission reports, I would guess from what's been said about the lack of scientific value in some of the things that were asserted. "So it's going to be a very complex task." In the Baird Inquiry into Greater Manchester Police last year, Dame Vera strongly criticised the force. She has a reputation for exposing hard truths to institutions, but now she is the institution. She will need to drive the changes.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vera Therapeutics to Participate in the Goldman Sachs 46th Annual Global Healthcare Conference
BRISBANE, Calif., June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vera Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: VERA), a late clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing transformative treatments for patients with serious immunological diseases, today announced that the Company's management team will participate in a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs 46th Annual Global Healthcare Conference, which is taking place in Miami Beach, FL from June 9 – 11, 2025. The management team will also participate in one-on-one investor meetings. Fireside Chat Details:Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Time: 3:15pm EDTWebcast: A replay of the event will be available for 90 days and can be accessed by visiting the 'Investor Calendar' section of the Vera Therapeutics website. About VeraVera Therapeutics is a late clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for serious immunological diseases. Vera's mission is to advance treatments that target the source of immunological diseases in order to change the standard of care for patients. Vera's lead product candidate is atacicept, a fusion protein self-administered as a subcutaneous injection once weekly that blocks both B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL), which stimulate B cells and plasma cells to produce autoantibodies contributing to certain autoimmune diseases, including IgAN, also known as Berger's disease, and lupus nephritis. In addition, Vera is evaluating additional diseases where the reduction of autoantibodies by atacicept may prove medically useful. Vera is also developing MAU868, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize infection with BK virus (BKV), a polyomavirus that can have devastating consequences in certain settings such as kidney transplant. Vera retains all global developmental and commercial rights to atacicept and MAU868. Vera also holds an exclusive license agreement with Stanford University for a novel, next generation fusion protein targeting BAFF and APRIL, known as VT-109, with wide therapeutic potential across the spectrum of B cell mediated diseases. For more information, please visit For more information, please contact: Investor Contact:Joyce AllaireLifeSci Advisors212-915-2569jallaire@ Media Contact:Debra CharlesworthVera Therapeutics415-854-8051corporatecommunications@
NDTV
2 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
2026 Hyundai Verna Facelift Snapped Testing In India, Here's What To Expect
Hyundai is now working to introduce the facelifted avatar of the Verna in India. While there has been no confirmation about the official details, the recent spy shots say a lot about the exterior of the 2026 Hyundai Verna facelift. Launched way back in 2023, the popular C+ segment sedan is in its 4th generation avatar. 2026 Hyundai Verna Facelift: Powertrain Expected The 2026 Hyundai Verna facelift is likely to borrow the engines from the model currently on sale. It is expected to get the same powertrain options, which include a 1.5L NA Petrol engine and a 1.5L Turbo Petrol engine, mated with a 6-speed gearbox (MT, CVT) and a 7-speed DCT gearbox option. Also Read: 2026 Hyundai Verna Facelift: Exterior Expected The spy shots of the 2026 Hyundai Verna facelift suggest that the updated avatar will carry most of the exterior elements as seen on the current model. There might be a bit of revision of the bumper design, however, the taillight is retained, and it also has the LED dots on the light bar as seen in the current model on sale. The spy shots do not reveal the front fascia of the facelifted Verna, but the peripheral view does hint that it has a revised front with a less aggressive outline. Hyundai Verna facelift Photo Credit: rushlane 2026 Hyundai Verna Facelift: Interior Expected While the 2026 Hyundai Verna is expected to retain most of the exterior elements, there are a few updates expected on the inside. Hyundai is likely to update the Vera facelift with a new infotainment unit and is expected to get ventilated front seats, a rear wireless phone charger, a panoramic sunroof, the brand's digital key feature, and more.
Leader Live
2 days ago
- General
- Leader Live
Criminal cases review body ‘must win back trust' as interim chairwoman announced
Dame Vera Baird KC will become the interim chairwoman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which has been heavily criticised for its handling of the Andrew Malkinson case, one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history. The barrister will take up the post from June 9 until December 8 next year, and is tasked with carrying out an urgent review into the running of the independent body and making sure lessons have been learnt from previous cases. The independent body is currently tasked with reviewing the convictions of serial child killer Lucy Letby. Announcing the move on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs: 'In recent years the commission has lost the trust of the public. 'It must now win it back. 'So today I have appointed Dame Vera Baird, a former victims commissioner, to be its interim chair. 'She will review the commission, its governance and leadership and ensure it delivers once more for those who have been victims of injustice.' Her appointment comes after former chairwoman Helen Pitcher resigned in January following Mr Malkinson's case but claimed she had been scapegoated. Mr Malkinson served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, and was knocked back twice by the CCRC until his legal team carried out crucial DNA testing that was then repeated by the commission and led to his release. A review found that he could have been released 10 years earlier if the CCRC had obtained new DNA evidence as early as 2009, and thousands of cases are being reviewed in the wake of the bungled handling of the case. Last month, the Commons Justice Committee also warned that the position of the current chief executive of the CCRC, Karen Kneller, is no longer tenable. MPs said in a report it follows 'unpersuasive' evidence from her on the CCRC's challenges and response to public criticisms in April, and concerns on the performance of the review body. On her new role, Dame Vera said: 'It is vital the public can have confidence in an organisation whose constitutional importance is so central to a fair and just system. 'I look forward to working alongside the many hardworking and dedicated members of staff to restore that confidence, ensuring recommendations stemming from multiple reviews over the last decade are being effectively implemented, as well as identifying further areas for improvement.' A CCRC spokesperson said: 'Dame Vera brings decades of experience in the criminal justice system and a strong commitment to ensuring justice for all. 'Everyone at the CCRC looks forward to working with her to continue our mission to find, investigate and send potential miscarriages of justice back to the courts.'
South Wales Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- South Wales Guardian
Criminal cases review body ‘must win back trust' as interim chairwoman announced
Dame Vera Baird KC will become the interim chairwoman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which has been heavily criticised for its handling of the Andrew Malkinson case, one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British legal history. The barrister will take up the post from June 9 until December 8 next year, and is tasked with carrying out an urgent review into the running of the independent body and making sure lessons have been learnt from previous cases. The independent body is currently tasked with reviewing the convictions of serial child killer Lucy Letby. Announcing the move on Tuesday, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs: 'In recent years the commission has lost the trust of the public. 'It must now win it back. 'So today I have appointed Dame Vera Baird, a former victims commissioner, to be its interim chair. 'She will review the commission, its governance and leadership and ensure it delivers once more for those who have been victims of injustice.' Her appointment comes after former chairwoman Helen Pitcher resigned in January following Mr Malkinson's case but claimed she had been scapegoated. Mr Malkinson served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit, and was knocked back twice by the CCRC until his legal team carried out crucial DNA testing that was then repeated by the commission and led to his release. A review found that he could have been released 10 years earlier if the CCRC had obtained new DNA evidence as early as 2009, and thousands of cases are being reviewed in the wake of the bungled handling of the case. Last month, the Commons Justice Committee also warned that the position of the current chief executive of the CCRC, Karen Kneller, is no longer tenable. MPs said in a report it follows 'unpersuasive' evidence from her on the CCRC's challenges and response to public criticisms in April, and concerns on the performance of the review body. On her new role, Dame Vera said: 'It is vital the public can have confidence in an organisation whose constitutional importance is so central to a fair and just system. 'I look forward to working alongside the many hardworking and dedicated members of staff to restore that confidence, ensuring recommendations stemming from multiple reviews over the last decade are being effectively implemented, as well as identifying further areas for improvement.' A CCRC spokesperson said: 'Dame Vera brings decades of experience in the criminal justice system and a strong commitment to ensuring justice for all. 'Everyone at the CCRC looks forward to working with her to continue our mission to find, investigate and send potential miscarriages of justice back to the courts.'
