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  • UK proposes compensation scheme for victims of China bitcoin fraud

    UK proposes compensation scheme for victims of China bitcoin fraud

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    The UK has proposed establishing a compensation scheme for victims of a Chinese investment fraud that could allow the Treasury to retain much of a £5bn bitcoin fortune.

    The crypto haul is at the centre of a battle at the High Court in London between UK authorities and thousands of Chinese investors who were cheated and who contend the British state should not benefit.

    The court heard on Wednesday that the director of public prosecutions, Stephen Parkinson, told victims about the possibility of establishing such a scheme, although details were not provided.

    In 2018, police seized 61,000 bitcoin from devices at a mansion in Hampstead, north London. The government is now trying to keep the majority of the haul, which has soared in value in the past seven years and is currently worth about £5bn.

    Zhimin Qian, 47, also known as Yadi Zhang, who was wanted by Chinese authorities for masterminding an investment fraud, fled the country after converting much of her investors’ cash into bitcoin.

    She and her Malaysian assistant Seng Hok Ling, 47, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges last month at Southwark Crown Court in London. They are due to be sentenced next month.

    UK authorities recently obtained access to additional cryptocurrency assets worth about £67mn, the court was told.

    Counsel for the CPS, led by Martin Evans KC, said in written submissions that Zhang had last month disclosed access codes and passwords for a ledger and two cryptocurrency wallets.

    “The ledger had been found in a purpose-made concealed pocket within a pair of jogging bottoms which [Zhang] was wearing at the time of her arrest,” the written submission said.

    Evans told the court that the compensation scheme proposal would provide “adequate protection” for victims.

    In a statement following the hearing, William Glover, director at law firm Fieldfisher, representing a group of victims, said: “While there is likely still some distance to go in the proceedings, we are pleased with the outcome of the hearing.

    “The DPP has effectively accepted responsibility to create a form of compensation scheme for those who may be unable to seek redress through the existing statutory provisions,” he added.

    The CPS said it had maintained throughout the course of legal proceedings that it intended to seek a civil recovery order to compensate victims for their lost investment insofar as they have not otherwise been compensated.

    It would consider how all victims could be compensated, not just those participating in the UK legal proceedings.

    The bitcoin spoils are so large that some Treasury officials have privately queried whether they could help chancellor Rachel Reeves plug the UK’s fiscal gap — estimated at up to £30bn by 2029 — at her Budget in November.

    However, other government officials have cautioned that the haul is likely to be subject to a protracted legal battle, and the Treasury has been told it cannot use it in their calculations.

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  • New research aims to develop targeted therapy for hard-to-treat osteosarcoma

    New research aims to develop targeted therapy for hard-to-treat osteosarcoma

    For children and young adults diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a common type of bone cancer for that age group, the odds of survival can be devastatingly low (20-30%) when the disease spreads to the lungs.

    Treatments for osteosarcoma…

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  • Expanding Radioligand Options Redefine mCRPC Management and Individualize Patient Care

    Expanding Radioligand Options Redefine mCRPC Management and Individualize Patient Care

    As new radioligand agents reshape the prostate cancer treatment paradigm, these rapid advances in prostate cancer management underscore the importance of patient-centered care discussions, according to Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH.

    In an interview with OncLive®, Morgans highlighted the current role of radioligand therapies for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and emphasized the importance of shared decision-making with patients in prostate cancer management, especially with the increasing number of treatment options.

    She also discussed the clinical applications of radium-223 plus enzalutamide (Xtandi) in patients with mCRPC in another part of the interview.

    Morgans is a genitourinary medical oncologist and director of the Survivorship Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, as well as an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

    PSMAddition Trial Topline Findings

    • The phase 3 PSMAddition trial (NCT04720157) met its primary end point, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in radiographic progression-free survival with lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan combined with standard of care (SOC) vs SOC alone in patients with PSMA-positive metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).
    • These results suggest that lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan, which is already approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, shows potential for use in an earlier disease setting, addressing a significant unmet need for patients with HSPC.
    • The PSMAddition data are planned to be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

    OncLive: Where do radioligand therapies fit into the mCRPC treatment paradigm?

    Morgans: Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan [Pluvicto] is the currently available radioligand therapy that is a PSMA-targeted agent available in a heavily pretreated, post-chemotherapy and now prechemotherapy mCRPC setting.1 We are enthusiastically awaiting the first-line use of this agent in [patients with] metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. We expect to see [the phase 3 PSMAddition trial (NCT04720157) of the agent in this setting] report out soon, because we’ve heard that it may be a positive trial.2 In that trial, [in patients with] metastatic hormone-sensitive disease, lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan is added to androgen deprivation therapy [ADT] and an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor [ARPI] vs ADT plus an ARPI [alone]. [Those data are] going to be interesting.

    This agent is being assessed in various additional areas. The radioligand therapy area is one that we are going to see a lot of change and advance in over the next few years, because the drugs that are being developed may use lutetium 177 as a radioactive component, but some of them are using other agents, like actinium 225, copper, or lead. There are multiple radioactive moieties that are being used and delivered to prostate cancer cells, including beta-emitting ones such as lutetium 177, as well as alpha-emitting ones. One of the most advanced there is actinium 225. We may see these different options open up for us.

    We also see that [investigators] are targeting different proteins or different parts of the cancer that might also give us new opportunities [beyond the] PSMA protein. There’s a lot going on in radioligand therapy. There’s a lot of discovery and a lot of learning from a clinical perspective and from a patient perspective. We should keep our eyes on this, because this area of care is destined to change rapidly over the next few years.

    What factors influence your decision to use radioligand therapies in your practice?

    We use radioligand therapies in patients in part of a shared decision-making process. For patients with advanced disease, [such as] those who have already received chemotherapy and some who may have already received radium-223, we’re considering using treatments like lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan, but integrated earlier [into the treatment paradigm]. Importantly, one size does not fit all. Even when it comes to radioligand therapies, there’s a lot of enthusiasm around PSMA-targeting agents, but they’re not necessarily the best treatment for every patient, and we have conversations with patients about all their options. These include chemotherapy, radium-223, a PARP inhibitor, or a PARP [inhibitor–based] combination, depending on the patient’s germline and somatic genetic testing [results]. Any of these could be options, or perhaps a clinical trial might be of more interest or a better fit for an individual patient.

    Many patients are using radioligand therapies, particularly lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan, earlier [in the treatment course], but we are also still using radium-223, chemotherapy, and everything else. Having open and candid conversations about all the aspects of treatment, including monitoring dosing frequency, [being aware of] whether [the treatment is administered] orally or intravenously, [knowing] what the adverse effects are, [and knowing] what the restrictions may be regarding radiation safety, when it comes to the radioligand therapies, are all important considerations for patients. We end up using [radioligand therapies] at various points across the spectrum after these long and important conversations with patients, as well as with their families.

    How do you integrate patients’ goals and preferences into your treatment decision-making strategies?

    Shared decision-making is still a critical part of prostate cancer care and may be increasingly important as the number of treatment opportunities continues to grow. All these nuanced details end up coming into play in those conversations and may be more or less important to any individual patient. It’s important that we take the time to have those conversations, and that we give patients materials or resources to use, so if they can’t make a choice right now, they can go home, think about it, read about it, learn about it, come back, and continue to have conversations if [the decision is] not clear right away. Shared decision-making isn’t going away in advanced prostate cancer care. The more [treatment] opportunities we have and the more advances we make, the more opportunities we’ll have to match each patient with the right treatment for them.

    References

    1. FDA expands Pluvicto’s metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer indication. FDA. March 28, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-expands-pluvictos-metastatic-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer-indication
    2. Novartis Pluvicto demonstrates statistically significant and clinically meaningful rPFS benefit in patients with PSMA-positive metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. News release. Novartis. June 2, 2025. Accessed October 15, 2025. https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/novartis-pluvictotm-demonstrates-statistically-significant-and-clinically-meaningful-rpfs-benefit-patients-psma-positive-metastatic-hormone-sensitive-prostate-cancer

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  • First Locally-Acquired Case Of Chikungunya Virus Reported In New York

    First Locally-Acquired Case Of Chikungunya Virus Reported In New York

    New York health officials recently confirmed the state’s first locally-acquired case of chikungunya virus, marking the first such case in the United States…

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  • Iran’s Jafar Panahi takes us on a tour through his many award-winning films

    Iran’s Jafar Panahi takes us on a tour through his many award-winning films

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    As a child born in a working-class neighborhood in south Tehran, future director Jafar Panahi would save all the pocket change his father gave him so he could go to the movies. Yet it was a role in…

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  • Geologists Discover The First Evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old “proto-Earth” – astrobiology.com

    1. Geologists Discover The First Evidence of 4.5-billion-year-old “proto-Earth”  astrobiology.com
    2. Potassium-40 isotopic evidence for an extant pre-giant-impact component of Earth’s mantle  Nature
    3. Scientists Just Found a Piece of Earth Older Than…

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  • Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Yields 10-Year OS and RFS Advantages in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer

    Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Yields 10-Year OS and RFS Advantages in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer

    Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy improved survival outcomes vs pelvic radiotherapy alone in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer, with the most clinically relevant benefit observed in those with p53 abnormalities, according to preplanned…

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  • El Tesoro® Tequila Announces El Tesoro® Mundial: Yamazaki® Edition

    El Tesoro® Tequila Announces El Tesoro® Mundial: Yamazaki® Edition

    El Tesoro® Tequila Announces El Tesoro® Mundial: Yamazaki® Edition – Its First Collaboration with The House of Suntory

     

    The Mundial Collection continues its tradition of partnering with renowned distilleries from around the world with new Japanese whisky collaboration from Suntory Global Spirits

    New York, NY – (October 15, 2025) – El Tesoro de Don Felipe® Tequila, the acclaimed third-generation family-operated tequila brand now led by Master Distiller Jenny Camarena, unveils the newest installment of its premium, limited-edition cask-finished series, “The Mundial Collection.” In collaboration with The House of Suntory, the founding house of Japanese whisky, both distilling and blending traditions are proud to unite and introduce El Tesoro® Mundial: Yamazaki® Edition.  

     

    El Tesoro® Mundial: Yamazaki® Edition brings together three masters of distilling: Carlos and Jenny Camarena, the former and newly appointed Master Distillers of El Tesoro, and Shinji Fukuyo, The House of Suntory’s fifth-generation Chief Blender. Known for their expertise in deciphering peak conditions and flavor profiles among their storied warehouses, this extraordinary tequila delicately expresses the notes that Yamazaki®, The House of Suntory’s iconic single malt, is known for. This groundbreaking partnership unites the cultures of Japan and Mexico in one special bottle, made for fans of premium aged spirits worldwide.

     

    “It is our greatest honor to share this opportunity with our friend Shinji Fukuyo-san and the team at The House of Suntory,” says Jenny Camarena, Master Distiller and CEO at El Tesoro and La Alteña Distillery. “Our Mundial Collection is one of the most exciting projects at La Alteña. Each time we release a new one, we show another way tequila can take the shape of something new that can express ideas and flavors one would never expect. My brother Carlos began working on the Yamazaki Edition years ago, and it’s been my pleasure to see it come to its final stage. We are so excited to bring a united piece of Mexico and Japan distilling and blending excellence to our fans.”

     

    Mundial Yamazaki® Edition is an El Tesoro Añejo, aged for 12 months in authentic Yamazaki® 12-Year-Old Japanese sherry and wine casks, adding notes of red berries and warm spices for a truly distinctive tequila intended for savoring. As a special one-time release, this is the first and only time El Tesoro has been rested in Yamazaki® casks.

     

    Expressions in the Mundial Collection see one-of-a-kind special releases of El Tesoro® tequilas matured in unique casks that have previously held some of Suntory Global Spirits’ premium spirits from across the globe, all of which share a strong commitment to craftsmanship and high-quality production.

     

    The first edition, El Tesoro® Mundial Collection: The Laphroaig® Edition, was released in 2021 and shined a light on the proud distilling tradition of tequila with the barrel-aging expertise of Scotch. The result was a gentle hint of salty ocean air and peat smoke for a truly distinctive tequila. The second edition, El Tesoro Mundial Collection: Knob Creek® Rye Edition, was released in 2023 and featured El Tesoro Añejo aged in the distinctive casks of Knob Creek Rye Whisky barrels, resulting in a beautiful balance between subtle sweetness and spice. Last year, Camarena released the Basil Hayden Toast Edition – a delicate finish of toasted caramel on top of a beautifully aged reposado.

     

     

    EL TESORO® MUNDIAL COLLECTION: YAMAZAKI® EDITION
    SRP: $199.99
    ABV: 42%
    APPEARANCE: Gold, clear, shiny with a captivating sparkle. 
    AROMA: Aromatic agave, minerals, oak, dry fruits, nuts, honey, delicate florals, fresh tobacco.
    PALATE: Mineral, toasted almonds, pecans, raw honey, balanced bitterness, warm spices, sherry notes, toasted coffee beans, dark chocolate.
    FINISH: Long and lingering with sherry notes, fruits, seasoned oak, red berries, warm spices, clove, pepper.

     

    ABOUT EL TESORO® TEQUILA
    Since the first drop of El Tesoro® ran off the still of La Alteña Distillery more than 80 years ago, every decision has been made to celebrate the agave’s unique flavor. El Tesoro® is a truly authentic tequila made slowly and carefully to capture the agave’s essence in a bottle. The El Tesoro® portfolio of core products available in the U.S. includes the following (all 40% ABV as El Tesoro® is always distilled to proof): Blanco ($50 SRP), Reposado ($65 SRP), Añejo ($85 SRP), Extra Añejo ($150 SRP) and Paradiso ($180 SRP). For more information, please visit www.eltesorotequila.com

     

    ABOUT THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY
    Since 1923, Suntory has been renowned as the founding house of Japanese Whisky. Founder Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki, and the Suntory legacy continued with Torii’s son and Suntory’s second Master Blender, Keizo Saji, who continued to establish distilleries including the Hakushu Distillery. 

    As the generations of Suntory’s master blenders carry on, Suntory Whisky remains committed to heritage and innovation. The House of Suntory is proud to confirm that all exported Suntory Japanese Whisky products are 100% distilled, matured, and bottled in Japan and compliant with the new production and labelling standards set by the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSLMA). The House of Suntory has been named Distiller of the Year four times at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014), with Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo being named Master Blender of the Year for the first time ever and Yamazaki® 12 Year Old being recognized as the Supreme Champion Spirit in 2024. Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined, and complex. The portfolio includes Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Chita®, Kakubin®, Hibiki®, Suntory Whisky Toki™ and Ao®. The House of Suntory portfolio also offers Roku™ Japanese Gin and Haku™ Japanese Vodka. Created from Japanese ingredients by the master artisans at The House of Suntory, Roku™ Gin and Haku™ Vodka represent the nature and spirit of Japan. In 2023, Suntory Whisky celebrated one hundred years of whisky innovation—a major milestone not only for the brand’s history, but for Japanese spirits culture as a whole. To mark this anniversary, The House of Suntory rolled out its centennial campaign throughout 2023.

     

    ABOUT SUNTORY GLOBAL SPIRITS
    As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails. A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.

    For more information on Suntory Global Spirits, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com and www.drinksmart.com. 
     

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  • Vale and Wabtec Sign Agreement to Test Ethanol Use in Locomotives on the Vitória-Minas Railway

    Vale and Wabtec Sign Agreement to Test Ethanol Use in Locomotives on the Vitória-Minas Railway

    • Goal is to study the use of ethanol in engines as an alternative to diesel
    • Tests will be conducted through 2027 in Vitória-Minas Railway fleet
    • Partnership advances the decarbonization of the company’s rail operations

    Vale and locomotive manufacturer Wabtec Corporation [NYSE: WAB] have announced a partnership to study a dual-fuel engine capable of running on both diesel and a diesel-ethanol blend. The studies will initially be conducted in laboratories to validate the concept and evaluate performance, emissions reduction, and ethanol/diesel substitution rate. The tests are expected to run through 2027 to assess future application in the Vitória-Minas Railway (EFVM) fleet.

    The agreement to use ethanol, a renewable fuel that replaces fossil diesel consumption, is part of a series of joint initiatives with Wabtec to advance Vale’s rail decarbonization program. In January, the companies announced an agreement to purchase 50 locomotives equipped with Evolution Series engines capable of operating with up to a 25-percent biodiesel blend. In the coming years, Vale and Wabtec will conduct a series of tests aiming to further increase this percentage.

    “Innovative initiatives like these, aimed at adopting alternative fuels in our locomotives, are part of Vale’s commitment to accelerating the decarbonization of our rail network,” said Carlos Medeiros, Vice President of Operations of Vale. “In 2024, Vale’s rail network accounted for 14% of the company’s carbon emissions”.

    “For the first time, Wabtec will use ethanol as an energy source in a locomotive, a milestone in the global rail industry. We are committed to developing technological solutions that accelerate the transition to more efficient and sustainable transportation,” said Danilo Miyasato, President and Regional Leader of Wabtec LATAM.

    Net Zero
    In 2020, Vale announced its goal to reduce direct and indirect emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) by 33% by 2030. This is another step toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement’s ambition to limit global warming to below 2°C by the end of the century. The company also committed to reducing net emissions from its value chain (Scope 3) by 15% by 2035.

    About Vale
    Vale is a global mining company that exists to improve life and transform the future together. One of the world’s largest producers of iron ore and nickel, and a significant copper producer, Vale is headquartered in Brazil and operates globally. Its operations include integrated logistics systems, with approximately 2,000 kilometers of railways, maritime terminals, and 10 ports around the world. Vale aims to be recognized by society as a benchmark in safety, the best and most reliable operator, a talent-driven organization, a leader in sustainable mining, and a reference in value creation and sharing.

    About Wabtec
    Wabtec Corporation (NYSE: WAB) is revolutionizing the way the world moves for future generations. The company is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions and value-added services for the freight and transit rail industries, as well as the mining, marine and industrial markets. Wabtec has been a leader in the rail industry for over 155 years and has a vision to achieve a sustainable rail system in the U.S. and worldwide. Visit Wabtec’s website at www.wabteccorp.com.

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