Rolls-Royce unveils Spectre: What to know about the $413K EV

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Meet the world’s first “ultra luxury electric super coupe.”

The $413,000 Rolls-Royce Spectre is not be the world’s most expensive electric vehicle (that title goes to the $2.4 million Rimac Nevera hypercar). Nor is it the fastest. Its EPA-estimated range of 260 miles falls short of the industry-leading Lucid Air Grand Touring ($154,000), which gets 516 miles on a full charge.

Yet Rolls-Royce will undoubtedly sell every Spectre, a two-door fastback that seats four, it builds next year at the company’s headquarters in Goodwood, England.

“Demand has been incredible. While we haven’t even shown Spectre publicly, we have more hard orders already than we had in total for Dawn or Cullinan,” Martin Fritsches, president and CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars America, told ABC News, referring to the company’s convertible and SUV models. “We have already seen hundreds of our clients visit the Bespoke design studios in Goodwood to start configuring their Spectre commission.”

Last year, the 117-year-old brand decided it would cease production of its gas-guzzling, 12-cylinder engines and replace its entire lineup with EVs by 2030. The Spectre, the company’s first electric vehicle, will be available starting in late 2023. Bespoke customizations can easily add 20% more in value to the Spectre’s MSRP, Fritsches noted.

The 6,559-pound coupe sprints from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and delivers 664 ft-lb of torque and 577 horsepower. Designers gave the Spectre 23-inch wheels along with the widest grille ever put on a Rolls-Royce. Even the brand’s famous Spirit of Ecstasy mascot got a makeover: The figurine was remodeled to have a lower, more dynamic stance that’s also aerodynamic. Moreover, Spectre is the first Rolls to offer Starlight Doors, which add 4,796 illuminated “stars” to the interior.

“Spectre represents the start of our electric era [and] has been under development for many years,” Fritsches said. “The prime directive of this project was to ensure that Spectre is a Rolls-Royce first and foremost and happens to be powered as an electric car second.”

Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds, expects the Spectre to be an instant hit for Rolls-Royce, potentially even exceeding demand for the Cullinan SUV, the company’s top-selling model.

“There will be a lot of hand-raisers and it will be sold out for years,” Drury told ABC News. “The price of these vehicles has no meaning to customers. Rolls-Royce operates on a different level than anyone else — it has guaranteed sales.”

Even a global recession, which some market strategists are predicting this year, would have little if any impact on the company’s future sales, according to Michelle Krebs, executive analyst at Cox Automotive.

“Expensive cars have done very well over the last few years and EVs in general are bought by the most affluent people,” Krebs told ABC News. “The demographic of customers who buy these vehicles are less affected by the economy.”

In 2021, Rolls-Royce delivered a record 5,586 vehicles to clients around the world, a 49% increase from 2020. Rolls-Royce has already sold 4,701 vehicles in the first nine months of 2022, with customer orders extending well into next year, Fritsches said.

The introduction of the Spectre could put pressure on Tesla, the undisputed EV leader, and German carmaker Porsche, which has seen customers rapidly shift to its all-electric Taycan, with sales last year outpacing the brand’s venerable 911 sports car. EVs are the fastest-growing auto segment in the U.S., accounting for 6.4% of the total market, up from 2.6% last year, Krebs said. Tesla has reported a 64% rise in sales this year though its stronghold on the market has started to slip with the arrival of more EVs.

General Motors’ Cadillac division, however, may be Rolls-Royce’s most serious competitor in the ultra-luxe space. Its new $300,000 Celestiq electric concept will lead the brand’s electric future and become Cadillac’s new flagship vehicle, according to company executives. Like the Spectre, the Celestiq will be hand-built, handcrafted and customized to owners’ discerning specifications. It arrives by 2025.

Dan Pund, executive editor of Road & Track, said EVs present a new challenge to high-end automakers: how to stand out when the number of cylinders and driving engagement no longer matters.

“Powertrain is not the differentiating factor anymore — styling now is so important,” Pund told ABC News.

As for Rolls-Royce’s electric ambitions, Pund said customers can anticipate the same level of comfort and luxury they have always sought in the brand.

“It makes sense for them to go electric,” he said. “Enormous torque, smooth, quiet rides — this is what the company is known for.”

Fritsches said the Spectre, much like the marque’s Black Badge models, will keep the company relevant in an industry that’s quickly moving away from gas-powered conveyances.

“We are already seeing newcomers to Rolls-Royce who have been waiting for us to make the commitment to electrification,” he said.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are on the way: Here’s what to know

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The biggest shopping day of the year is on the way.

Though Black Friday will offer hundreds of deals from tons of retailers, you can shop early this year and expect to save even more.

“By starting to shop earlier, retailers are giving holiday shoppers longer durations of time to stretch those paychecks that are already tight,” ABC News technology and consumer correspondent Becky Worley said on Good Morning America.

Whether you are trying to figure out what to purchase or when, read below to stay in the know:

When is Black Friday this year?

Black Friday falls on Nov. 25 this year, the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Deals will be starting within the next few weeks. With markdowns starting early this year, it’s important to have a list and plan ahead before hot ticket items sell out.

What should I shop for on Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is just three days after Black Friday and is strictly an online shopping event. Cyber Monday will be on Nov. 28.

Historically, tech items see the largest markdowns on Cyber Monday.

Overall, both Black Friday and Cyber Monday should have overlapping opportunities to save.

Tips for conquering Black Friday shopping like a pro

Make a list. Think — who do you need to shop for this holiday season and how much are you willing to spend?
Plan your non-negotiable purchases ahead of the sale.
Use price tracking tools and coupon extensions.

First look at the new Napa Valley Monopoly board that’s perfect for food and wine lovers

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Grab the corkscrew, a bottle of your favorite cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay and some fellow wine-loving friends to transport your next game night to California’s legendary wine country.

Top Trumps USA, under license from Hasbro, exclusively unveiled the new Monopoly Napa Valley Edition with ABC News’ Good Morning America on Tuesday, offering a first look at the board, player tokens and more.

This iteration of the classic game replaces Atlantic City squares with representations of iconic wineries, historic landmarks and time-honored local businesses across Napa Valley.

The premier wine region made up of five main towns — American Canyon, Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga — is home to award-winning winemakers, Michelin star restaurants and picturesque views from the Silverado trail to the hillside of Howell Mountain. Fans of the destination can pretend to own or rent a small-scale version of California’s first American Viticulture Area through this limited-edition game.

Pictures of sprawling vineyards, hot air balloons and the Grape Crusher Statue are prominently placed in the center of the board with pops of merlot-hued graphics and grape vines.

The featured wineries for players to purchase include Frank Family Vineyards, Beringer, Sterling Vineyards, JaM Cellars, Hall Wines and Napa Cellars. Neighboring culinary-related properties up for grabs include the sprawling food hall at Oxbow Public Market, The Model Bakery with imagery of their famously fluffy brick-oven-cooked English muffins, as well as Bounty Hunter and La Chev Bakery.

“The iconic Monopoly game is an opportunity for everyone to live the Napa Valley lifestyle in the comfort of their home while enjoying our award-winning wines,” Beringer Vineyards General Manager and Sr. Winemaker Ryan Rech told GMA. “Graced with stately 19th century architecture and beautiful gardens, Beringer’s estate, including the Victorian-era Rhine House, was designated as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Now, to be immortalized on the Monopoly game board for generations to come is not only fun, but feels like another milestone for our landmark estate and allows all ages to enjoy the Napa Valley experience.”

Like the perennial Monopoly board, players can build houses and hotels to improve properties and charge rent, as well as pick up Chance and Community Chest cards for unexpected prizes and penalties as they trade their way to success.

Silverado Resort, Senza Hotel and one of Napa’s many bed and breakfasts are depicted, as well as Napa Valley College, Alta Luxury Transportation and FlyWithWine.

There are eight tokens for players to choose from: the boot, the race car, the top hat, the cat, the dog, the battleship, the thimble and the wheelbarrow.

“We’re thrilled to launch Monopoly Napa Valley Edition in time for the holidays and to celebrate one of the most beloved, culturally rich and geographically beautiful wine regions in the world,” Jennifer Tripsea, a representative for the game and puzzle brand, said in a statement. “We’ve spent months creating a portrayal of the area’s dynamic communities that we hope locals and visitors alike will enjoy for years to come.”

She added that the team behind the new game “incorporated important feedback from locals to truly make this a fun and engaging game for Napa Valley residents and beyond.”

“Napa Valley’s roots as a wine-growing region trace back to the early 1800s and still today it is the epitome of beautiful wine country scenery, incredible luxury properties, and legendary world class wine,” Rech said. “Founded in 1876 by entrepreneurial German brothers Frederick, a financier, and Jacob, a winemaker, I can’t imagine a Napa Valley Monopoly board without Beringer!”

The new Napa Valley board is available for $39.95 on Amazon, CVS and the Top Trumps USA website, as well as local retailers in Napa Valley.

Whether you’ve visited in person, live locally or have it at the top of your travel bucket list, this game offers a fun taste of what Napa has to offer.

Suspected Stockton serial killer ‘didn’t make many mistakes,’ set for arraignment

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(STOCKTON, Calif.) — The suspected Stockton, California, serial killer is due to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon after police say he was apprehended while “out hunting” for another victim this weekend.

Wesley Brownlee, a 43-year-old Stockton resident who police say is linked to six slayings, was arrested early Saturday while driving, Stockton police chief Stanley McFadden said.

Ahead of Brownlee’s arraignment on Tuesday, the police chief said the suspect was near perfect in covering up his tracks and being careful.

“He didn’t make many mistakes. We know he purposely stayed in the dark,” McFadden said Monday.

Both police and the San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office said it’s remarkable they were able to make an arrest in less than 90 days of the crime spree.

Authorities said they zeroed in on Brownlee from tips. Police said they then surveilled him as he allegedly prowled the streets for another victim.

McFadden said Brownlee was apprehended while wearing dark clothing and a mask around his neck. Police said he was also armed with a gun.

“He was on a mission to kill. He was out hunting,” McFadden said in a statement. “We are sure we stopped another killing.”

The six slayings — all fatal shootings of men — spanned from April 2021 to September 2022, according to police.

Five of the six killings were in Stockton; one was in Oakland, about 70 miles away. All of the shootings were at night or in the early morning.

A seventh victim, a 46-year-old woman, was shot in April 2021 and survived her injuries, police said.

A motive isn’t known.

Bodycam footage shows shooting that killed Las Vegas police officer

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(LAS VEGAS) — Las Vegas police released body camera footage on Monday showing the moment a man allegedly fired 18 shots at two officers, killing one of them.

Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Truong Thai returned fire as he laid on the ground. The suspect — Tyson Hampton, 24, of Las Vegas — was arrested several blocks away after the pre-dawn shooting on Oct. 13, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.

“The blue vehicle that Hampton was driving doesn’t just accelerate and try to leave the area. He’s driving very slowly as he fires back at the officers and the citizens on the street,” Las Vegas Police Assistant Sheriff Andy Walsh said during a press conference on Monday, while playing videos from both officers’ body-worn cameras.

Hampton faces eight felony charges, including murder and attempted murder, as well as one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. He made an initial court appearance on Oct. 14, where he did not speak and was temporarily represented by a deputy public defender. He is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas, pending his arraignment on Tuesday.

“The tragic part about this is (that) from the evidence, this defendant was being investigated for a misdemeanor,” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson told reporters on Oct. 14. “That’s why it’s a sad day. It didn’t have to happen. This officer didn’t have to lose his life.”

Hampton’s wife had called 911 at about 1 a.m., saying she had been battered by her husband. Thai and Officer Ryan Gillihan were assigned to respond. Gillihan arrived first and spoke with Hampton’s wife, who was with her mother, several blocks east of the Las Vegas Strip. Hampton was sitting in his car a short distance away, according to police.

Footage from Thai’s body camera shows the officer arriving on scene and walking over to Hampton’s car to ask him “what’s going on,” but the man didn’t reply. Thai tells Hampton to put his hands on the steering wheel, which he does without saying anything, even as the officer asks him again “what’s going on tonight.” Hampton then looks over to the passenger side of the vehicle and removes his right hand from the steering wheel. Thai reaches into the car and attempts to control Hampton’s arm while ordering him to “get out of the car.”

As Hampton begins to drive away, Thai walks backward to his patrol vehicle while Gillihan walks toward Hampton’s car. Hampton then points a gun out of the driver’s side window and unleashes a barrage of bullets, striking his mother-in-law and Thai, who was wearing a ballistic vest. Both officers fire back as Hampton drives away from the area, as seen in their bodycam videos.

A short time later, Hampton’s vehicle was spotted by another officer driving not far from where the shooting occurred. Hampton refused to stop for all marked police vehicles and a PIT maneuver (precision immobilization technique) was conducted. Hampton was then taken into custody with the assistance of a K9 unit, according to police.

Thai, who was shot in the torso, was transported to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, where he died from his wounds. He was 49 and had been a member of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 1999. Hampton’s mother-in-law was also transported to the hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

Trump Organization charged Secret Service $1.4M to stay at his properties, committee says

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The Trump Organization on some occasions charged the Secret Service more than five times the government rate to stay at Donald Trump-owned properties while the agency was protecting him and his family, according to documents obtained by Congress.

In total the Secret Service spent at least $1.4 million in tax dollars at Trump Organization hotels and other properties over 669 expenditures between January 2017 and September 2021, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Chair Carolyn Maloney wrote in a Monday letter to Kimberly Cheatle, the director of the Secret Service.

Maloney, D-N.Y., wrote in her letter to Cheatle that the Secret Service had provided only partial accounting of when its agents had stayed at Trump properties and how much the agents paid.

Some of the trips were while agents were accompanying Trump’s children Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, according to Maloney.

The oversight committee requested documents and details on the agency’s Trump spending in 2020, citing “disturbing” news reports of “exorbitant charges” by the former president’s properties.

Donald Trump did not divest himself of his businesses when he took office, though he said his sons were in charge — an arrangement that has drawn scrutiny and criticism from Democrats and ethics experts ever since.

According to the records the Secret Service has since provided the oversight committee, Maloney wrote Monday, “the Trump Organization charged the Secret Service a nightly rate in excess of the government per diem rate at least 40 times from the beginning of the Trump Administration through September 15, 2021. In several instances, the rates charged were more than three times the per diem rate.”

Maloney wrote that the Secret Service had granted at least 40 exceptions when agents were paying above the accepted rate at Trump properties. But she wrote that there may have been other instances of higher-than-accepted rates for which agents did not seek exemptions.

Maloney noted that the charges contradict previous statements made by Trump Organization officials, such as when Eric Trump, the president’s middle son, said in 2019: “If my father travels, they [government employees] stay at our properties for free — meaning, like, cost for housekeeping.”

The next year, in response to a Washington Post article about how much the Secret Service was being charged by the Trump Organization, Eric Trump said in a statement: “We provide the rooms at cost and could make far more money renting them to members or guests.”

On Monday, Maloney wrote that the records the committee obtained dispute this.

“Despite claims by the Trump Organization that federal employees traveling with the former President would stay at Trump properties ‘for free’ or ‘at cost,’ new information … shows that the former President’s company charged the Secret Service excessive nightly rates on dozens of trips,” she wrote.

The acceptable government rate is based on an average of daily hotel prices based on location and season, Maloney wrote.

In one example from 2017, Maloney wrote, agents were charged $1,185 per room per night at the Trump International Hotel in Washington.

Maloney wrote that there were two gaps in what the Secret Service had provided the committee, however: data on what the agency paid when staying at overseas Trump Organization properties and data on four trips to Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

There are some records of government spending for the Secret Service while Trump was abroad: In July 2018, the State Department spent about $70,000 on behalf of the agency for a stay at Trump’s Scottish hotel.

Separately, the State Department spent at least $38,500 at the Trump hotel in Vancouver, including some $15,000 for rooms for Secret Service agents in February 2017.

In a statement on Monday, Eric Trump, who is executive vice president of the Trump Organization, said that “any services rendered to the United States Secret Service or other government agencies at Trump owned properties, were at their request and were either provided at cost, heavily discounted or for free.”

“The company would have been substantially better off if hospitality services were sold to full-paying guests, however, the company did whatever it took to accommodate the agencies to ensure they were able to do their jobs at the highest levels,” Eric Trump continued. “They are amazing men and women.”

Eric Trump insisted that his father “funded the vast majority of his campaign with hundreds of millions of dollars of his own money and turned away billions of dollars in real estate deals worldwide after winning the Republican Primary.”

In a separate statement, a Secret Service spokesperson said the agency “has received a letter from the House Oversight Committee requesting information pertaining to protection-related hotel charges, and the agency will respond directly to the committee with the requested information.”

The cost of Secret Service for presidential families has made headlines beyond Trump. Earlier this year, ABC News reported that agents had been paying more than $30,000 a month for a residence in Malibu, California, close to where President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, was staying.

Mother admits to murder of her 5-year-old daughter, police say

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A mother allegedly admitted to intentionally killing her 5-year-old daughter before taking her to the hospital where her body was found partially wrapped in plastic and mesh bags, police say.

The incident occurred on Sunday when Melissa Towne drove to HCA Tomball Hospital, located just north of Houston, Texas, at approximately 12 p.m. and asked hospital personnel for a wheelchair because “her daughter’s body was hurting,” according to a statement from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

“An emergency room nurse walked to Towne’s Jeep Cherokee, where she found Towne’s 5-year-old daughter partially wrapped in plastic and mesh bags,” the statement read. “The child was unresponsive and a laceration was visible on the child’s neck.”

The 5-year-old girl was pronounced dead 10 minutes later.

The Tomball Police Department was notified about the death and responded to the hospital where Towne was detained and reportedly told the authorities that she killed her daughter at Spring Creek Park before driving her to the hospital, police say.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide and Crime Scene Units responded to the crime scene and took over the investigation into the death.

“Towne was transported to the Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit, where she provided investigators with a statement admitting to intentionally killing her daughter,” police said in their statement released to the media. “The Harris County District Attorney’s Office accepted a charge of Capital Murder against Melissa Towne and she was booked into the Harris County Jail.”

ABC New’s Houston station KTRK-TV obtained a statement from the surviving members of the little girl’s family.

“We ask for privacy and respect for [the victim’s] father, James, and our family as we all figure out how to grieve her horrible loss and try to figure out how to go on from here. [The 5-year-old girl] has grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a father that all loved her dearly and never thought such a tragic event would happen to such an innocent child. She will always hold a special place in all of our hearts. We will always remember her as the sweetest little girl who never met a stranger. She was so full of love and giggles and her bright blue eyes shined so full of curiosity. We are hoping and praying justice will be served and the heartless monster who took our sweet girl away from us pay for the innocent life she took,” the statement said.

The initial probable cause magistrate judge set Towne’s bond at $15 million, according to KTRK.

A spokesperson with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services also released a statement to KTRK regarding the case against Towne.

“Child Protective Services is investigating this tragic death alongside law enforcement. The child’s mother, Melissa Towne, does have prior history with CPS, but specific details of CPS investigations are confidential according to law,” the statement read. “Ms. Towne has three additional children ranging in age from 2 years old to 18 years old, who are safe and have been living with other family members.”

It’s unclear if there were any potential witnesses, according to authorities.

The investigation into the alleged murder is ongoing.

Female athlete represents Iran without hijab at overseas climbing competition

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(LONDON) — A female athlete from Iran did not wear a hijab at an international competition over the weekend in open defiance of her country’s mandate, amid fierce protests against the Islamic Republic’s restrictions on women’s dress.

Iranian sport climber Elnaz Rekabi, 33, was seen competing without the Islamic headscarf at the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s Asian Championships in Seoul on Sunday. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women are required to wear a hijab in Iran. They must also abide by the mandatory rule outside Iran when they are officially representing the country abroad.

Rekabi is believed to be one of the first Iranian female athletes to disobey the hijab requirement — a move that was widely praised by observers on social media as “historic,” “daring,” “courageous” and “powerful.”

Sadaf Khadem, 27, was bare-headed and wore shorts when she became the first female Iranian boxer to win an overseas fight in 2019. Khadem had intended to return to Tehran after the competition but was forced to stay in France, after Iranian authorities reportedly issued an arrest warrant over her violations of the strictly enforced Islamic dress code. Iranian women who don’t cover up in public are routinely arrested by the country’s morality police.

Rekabi got to the final round of the weeklong annual Asian Championships and finished in fourth place on Sunday. The Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation announced the result on its website alongside an undated image of Rekabi wearing a hijab.

Rekabi did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment on Monday, while telephone calls to the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation went unanswered.

Large-scale protests have swept across Iran in recent weeks, sparked by the death of a young woman who was detained by the morality police for breaching the dress code. Mahsa Amini, 22, died in police custody in Tehran on Sept. 16, three days after she was arrested over allegedly wearing her state-mandated hijab too loosely. Iran requires women to don the garment in a way that fully covers their hair while in public.

Iranian police have denied that Amini was mistreated. They said she suffered a heart attack at the police station and died after being in a coma for two days.

Female protesters in Iran have been seen taking off their headscarves and cutting their hair to show solidarity with Amini. The movement has garnered global attention, with people around the world taking to the streets in support of the Iranian protesters.

The widespread demonstrations in Iran have been met with a brutal crackdown by authorities, who are disrupting internet access and allegedly using both excessive and lethal force. Nearly 8,000 protesters have been arrested and at least 240 have been killed, including 32 children, according to U.S.-based rights monitor HRANA.

BTS to serve in South Korean military amid heated debate over their exemption

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(SEOUL, South Korea) — After a heated debate in South Korea on whether to change laws to exempt members of K-pop band BTS from serving their mandatory military duty, their management company, BigHit Music, made a surprise announcement that BTS will enlist after all.

“The members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service,” starting with the eldest member, Jin, who is turning 30 this year, BigHit Music told ABC News Monday.

Almost all South Korean men are required to enlist for up to two years when they’re between the ages of 18 to 28.

Jin was able to request delayed conscription until the end of this year, thanks to a revised law passed in 2020 in favor of BTS. That law allowed pop culture artists to postpone the draft if the president of South Korea awarded them an Order of Cultural Merits. BTS members were the only male K-pop artists to receive that honor.

Monday’s surprise announcement came during a heated debate about whether to change the current conscription exemption laws to include pop artists like BTS. All South Korean men are required to serve in the military for at least 18 months, with an exception for global award-winning athletes and classical musicians recommended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to replace the military duty with alternative services.

Military service duties have been one of the biggest hurdles for South Korean male idol groups because each member is of different age and they do not have a choice as to exactly when they will serve. For example, popular K-pop groups like Super Junior had to halt their music performances at the height of their popularity to serve military duty and recently came back as a complete group after 10 years.

“The conscription requirements naturally lead to uncertainty of the members to come back in one complete team [for boy band groups], but BTS seems to have evolved beyond that concern,” columnist Kim Hern-sik told ABC News.

Lawmakers have been discussing a bill revision for over a year, prompting the National Assembly’s Defense Committee to conduct a survey on how South Korean people feel about conscripting BTS. A majority of 60.9% said they are in favor of exempting the group members from military service while 34.3% opposed the idea. But there has been strong opposition, especially from young men.

BigHit Music made it clear on Monday that all seven BTS members will take responsibility for their military service regardless of the results of future bureaucratic decisions.

“For now, this is the last concert scheduled for us. I am not sure when I would be able to be in a concert again, so I’m thinking I should cherish this moment,” BTS leader Jin told a crowd of 50,000 during a concert last Saturday, hinting at the possibility of their decision to enroll as required.

BigHit Music’s announcement on Monday explained that Jin will follow the enlistment procedure as soon as he finished his solo release at the end of October. Other members of the group will carry out their military service according to their individual plans.

“Both the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment,” Bighit Music added in their announcement via their official social platforms.

Cancer vaccine may be ready by 2030, say founders of COVID vaccine makers BioNTech

October 18, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(LONDON) — The world could be only a few years away from a cancer vaccine, according to the couple behind the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine.

“We feel that a cure for cancer or to changing cancer patients’ lives is in our grasp,” professor Ozlem Tureci told BBC News in an interview over the weekend.

Her husband, professor Ugur Sahin, with whom she cofounded the German pharmaceutical company BioNTech, said he thought cancer vaccines could be widely available “before 2030.”

The husband-and-wife duo founded BioNTech in 2008 originally to develop and produce treatments for individualized cancer immunotherapy, using mRNA technology. But when the pandemic hit, they adapted this technology to create one of the first and most effective COVID-19 vaccines.

Scientists have been working on a cancer vaccine for decades. One approach is to teach the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells — ideally preventing cancer from growing in the first place. Further along are other types of vaccines designed to treat people who already have cancer, including one Food and Drug Administration-approved cancer vaccine for people with advanced prostate cancer.

“From the very beginning, our focus has always been on exploiting the full potential of the body’s immune system to successfully help address cancer and infectious diseases,” the company’s website says.

In this recent interview, the two professors explained that their experience of developing the COVID vaccine could help accelerate their work on a cancer vaccine as it launched the mRNA technology into the mainstream.

“What we have developed over decades for cancer vaccine development has been the tailwind for developing the COVID-19 vaccine, and now the Covid-19 vaccine and our experience in developing it gives back to our cancer work,” Tureci said, explaining that “mRNA acts as a blueprint and allows you to tell the body to produce the drug or the vaccine … and when you use mRNA as a vaccine, the mRNA is a blueprint for the ‘wanted poster’ of the enemy — in this case, cancer antigens which distinguish cancer cells from normal cells.”

“The development of several COVID vaccines in record time showed the possibilities of mRNA vaccine technology, which could one day become an effective treatment to help beat cancer,” Dr. Sam Godfrey, research information lead at Cancer Research U.K., said.

“Just as science was our route out of the pandemic, science is our route to beating cancer. We’re optimistic that, in the future, we will see mRNA technology and other exciting vaccine approaches giving doctors more treatment options to help beat cancer,” Godfrey added.

Many other pharmaceutical companies, including vaccine maker Moderna, are also working on mRNA vaccines to target specific cancers.

“Using vaccines to treat cancer is an exciting emerging field,” Godfrey said. “We’ve already partnered with Vaccitech to trial one of the world’s first therapeutic vaccines for lung cancer, and we are funding cutting-edge research learning how virus and vaccine technology might activate the immune system against cancer.”

This approach is not without roadblocks. For example, the BioNTech vaccine needs to be custom-designed for each person. However, a preliminary study in pancreatic cancer suggested the vaccine might help delay cancer reoccurrence, though more research is needed.

“Every step, every patient we treat in our cancer trials helps us to find out more about what we are against and how to address that,” Tureci said, before adding a note of caution: “We are always hesitant to say we will have a cure for cancer. We have a number of breakthroughs and we will continue to work on them.”

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