Constellation Energy is in discussions with the US state of Pennsylvania governor’s office and state legislators regarding funding for a potential restart of a unit at the Three Mile Island power facility,Reutershas reported.
The ongoing talks have been described as “beyond preliminary” by two sources.
The move indicates that Constellation is moving forward with plans to bring back part of the nuclear generation site in southern Pennsylvania, which was operational from 1974 until its closure in 2019.
The unit at Three Mile Island that may be restarted is distinct from the facility’s unit 2, which suffered a partial meltdown in 1979 – the most notorious nuclear accident in US history.
The move would be the first re-opening of a US nuclear power plant following a shutdown.
Despite the anticipated high costs, logistical hurdles and potential public and political resistance due to safety and environmental concerns, nuclear energy is gaining renewed interest as the US sees an increase in power demand, particularly from the technology sector.
On Wednesday, Barclays shifted its stance onPacira Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PCRX) stock, downgrading from Overweight to Equalweight and slashing the price target to $25 from $38.
The move follows the recent approval of eVenus, which poses a significant risk to the sales trajectory of Pacira's leading product, Exparel. Exparel is a substantial revenue generator for Pacira, accounting for 78% of the company's revenues according to Barclays' 2024 estimates.
The approval of eVenus could lead to the launch of a generic version of Exparel by eVenus and its partner Fresenius Kabi. Although there is ongoing litigation surrounding the 495 Patent, the expiration of the 30-month stay could allow for an At-Risk Launch, which Barclays sees as a low-probability event. Nevertheless, the potential for this launch creates uncertainty for Pacira.
Barclays notes that while there are additional patents in place to safeguard Exparel, it is likely that these too will be challenged in time. This prospect introduces the risk of persistent negative news that could affect the stock's performance. Despite this, there is some near-term upside anticipated from the implementation of NOPAIN in 2025, which is expected to benefit the company.
The NOPAIN Act is a legislative initiative aimed at reducing opioid use by increasing access to non-opioid pain management therapies. The implementation of NOPAIN could provide a boost to Exparel sales, as it is a non-opioid pain relief drug. However, the overshadowing patent concerns seem to be a primary factor in Barclays' reassessment of Pacira's stock outlook.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday will award the Medal of Honor posthumously to two U.S. Army privates who were part of a daring Union Army contingent that stole a Confederate train during the Civil War, the White House said.
Philip Shadrach and George Wilson, will receive the medals during a White House ceremony that will recognize their "gallantry and intrepidity" during what become known as the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the earliest special operations in U.S. Army history, the White House said.
The operation, which took place 200 miles (322 km) behind Confederate lines on April 12, 1862, saw Union Soldiers dressed as civilians hijack a train in Georgia and drive it north into Tennessee for 87 miles, placing explosives on the track behind them as they headed north to destroy Confederate infrastructure.
Six of those participants became the Army's first recipients of the then-newly created Medal of Honor. Over the next two decades, another 13 members were recognized for their role in mission, but Shadrach and Wilson, who were both hanged for their actions after being captured, were never recognized until now.
The White House ceremony offers Biden a brief respite from mounting criticism from some of his fellow Democrats after his shaky and halting performance in last week's presidential debate against Republican former President Donald Trump.
The mission saw 24 men infiltrate the South in small groups, rendezvousing north of Atlanta at Marietta, Georgia. On the day the operation was executed, 22 of the men commandeered a locomotive known as "The General" and proceeded north, tearing up railroad tracks and cutting telegraph wires as they went.
Shadrach, a native Pennsylvanian orphaned at an early age, was only 21 years old when he volunteered for the dangerous mission. Wilson, born in Ohio, was a journeyman shoemaker who enlisted in the Union Army in August 1861.
The White House said it was not clear why Shadrach and Wilson were not originally recommended for the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the armed forces who show great personal bravery or self-sacrifice and distinguish themselves at the risk of their own lives while engaged in military actions.
Saudi writer and producer Abdul Aziz al-Muzaini has been sentenced to 13 years in prison and 13 years of travel ban, on charges of promoting terrorism and homosexuality through his Netflix show and old tweets.
In a video posted on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) addressed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, al-Muzaini said that a committee in Saudi Arabia’s audiovisual commission brought up to 30 charges against him in connection with his popular animated series Masameer in 2021, shortly after it premiered on Netflix.
Al-Muzaini says he was questioned by Saad al-Suhaimi, the chairman of the committee, who first questioned his choice of partnering with Netflix instead of working with MBC, a Saudi network.
Masameer County, screenshot via NetFlix
Al-Muzaini told his interrogator that he had already spoken to Israa Osseiri, head of the General Authority for Audio-visual Media, to make sure his show does not violate any laws. This prompted al-Suhaimi to message Osseiri, ordering her to stay away from the case.
According to a Royal Court letter released during the time of late Saudi King Abdullah, al-Suhaimi’s committee enjoys independence from the general audio-visual authorities.
Al-Muzaini says his interrogator told him "not to think that this is it, that there is entertainment now, there is the Riyadh season," alluding to the recent developments in the Saudi entertainment industry and the loosening of restrictions. "It seems he has found, through me, a person he can exert his authority over,” al-Muzaini said in the video.
Middle East Eye has contacted the Saudi government and Netflix for comment. The accusations brought against al-Muzaini includethe use of language in his series, wheresentences such as “may God curse you” and “you donkey” amounted to a crime.
The final and most serious charge accuses al-Muzaini and his company, Myrcott, of supporting terrorism and homosexuality through their series Masameer. According to al-Muzaini, his accusers interpreted the first episode of his show, which mocks Islamic State, as an implicit endorsement of the group.
Al-Suhaimi then brought forward a series of tweets made by al-Muzaini between 2010 and 2014 which were used to bring other charges against him.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution service hadinitially requested a 25-year imprisonmentfollowed by a 25-year travel ban, which were reduced to 13 years each by the country’s Terrorism Court last month.
Abdul Aziz al-Muzaini is the producer of the Netflix animated series Masameer, via X
Al-Muzaini said that prior to the ruling, he was reassured by informed people that the case was unworthy and only needed to be solved through bureaucracy. He was also told that al-Suhaimi, along with everyone who signed the accusations against him, were fired, when al-Suhaimi was simply reassigned to another committee.
The writer and producer deleted his video a few hours after posting it and shared a post on X quoting Bin Salman saying he will hold the corrupt accountable.
He then shared a post praising the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Turki al-Sheikh. Al-Muzaini’s case comes as Saudi Arabia faces criticism from many human rights organizations over its alleged use of the entertainment sector to try to lessen its reputation as an authoritarian regime.
GSK acquires full rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize globally mRNA candidate vaccines for influenza and COVID-19, including combinations
CureVac receives €400 million upfront and up to an additional €1.05 billion in development, regulatory and sales milestone payments as well as tiered royalties; all previous financial considerations from the prior collaboration agreement replaced
Dupixent approved in the EU as the first-ever targeted therapy for patients with COPD
First-in-world approval of Dupixent for adults with uncontrolled COPD with raised blood eosinophils based on two landmark phase 3 studies showing Dupixent significantly reduced exacerbations, improved lung function and also improved health-related quality of life
Dupixent is the first new treatment approach for COPD in more than a decade and a new option for approximately 220,000 adults in the EU
Approval represents the sixth approved indication for Dupixent in the EU and seventh approved indication globally
A former state authority head tried to score kickbacks as part of a disastrous “predatory” program meant to help disadvantaged people set up cannabis shops, a new lawsuit alleges.
Reuben McDaniel, the ex-chief of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, rejected a multimillion-dollar deal to install security cameras in cannabis dispensaries last year — because he and his cronies were upset they wouldn’t be able to siphon off enough taxpayer money from the agreement, an Illinois-based firm claims in its Manhattan Supreme Court suit.
“DASNY Agents determined through internal correspondence that they were unsatisfied with the potential profits that they would be entitled to from the illegal cut of the NY Projects that they were attempting to negotiate,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit is tied to the state’s troubled pot legalization program.AFP via Getty ImagesThe video player is currently playing an ad.
The plaintiffs — America Safe Cities and its CEO Thomas Bowling — contend in court documents that McDaniel and “DASNY Agents” said the firm would receive a $100 million no-bid contract to install surveillance systems at more than 300 cannabis dispensaries, as well as SUNY and CUNY campuses.
McDaniel, a former Gov. Andrew Cuomo appointee, quietly left the agency last year.
The authority is the state’s “facilities finance and construction authority,” according to its LinkedIn page — and the lawsuit is only the latest black eye for it.
DASNY and Gov. Kathy Hochul have previously been criticized for signing off on a funding agreement with a private equity firm to help provide financing for people convicted of drug offenses to set up cannabis dispensaries through the state’s Cannabis Social Equity Fund.
The fund ended up charging prospective attendees exorbitantly high, arguably predatory, interest rates on loans backed by the state based on massively overinflated projections on how much income they would generate.
According to bombshell reporting from the CITY, Hochul’s office ignored red flags raised by her own cannabis regulatory agency about the DASNY fund.
The new lawsuit also targets Emory Alexander, a “consultant” who connected McDaniel and Bowling as early as 2021, well over a year before the equity fund’s first dispensary would open.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s pot program rollout has been plagued by issues.Paul Martinka
It alleges that Alexander worked as McDaniel’s “liaison” and “designated agent” between 2021 and 2023 — at the same time a LinkedIn page appearing to belong to Alexander lists himself as president of America Safe Cities for eight months beginning in October 2022. It’s unclear exactly what role Alexander may have played in the alleged scheme.
“DASNY does not comment on pending litigation,” a DASNY rep wrote in response to questions from The Post.
Bowling did not respond to request for comment.
Alexander could not be reached for comment.
A rep for the state inspector general’s office said he won’t “confirm or deny the existence of any investigations,” as is the office’s protocol.
McDaniel quietly stepped down last year and has since taken over as managing director at the Alice L. Walton foundation.
The foundation did not respond to a query from The Post.
