A new wind that will strengthen collaboration between the federal government and the organised private sector that will enable the government to respond with appropriate policies to the challenges of manufacturers has started blowing, writes Dike Onwuamaeze The large turnout was an indication of the importance stakeholders in the Nigerian industrial sector to the opportunity to engage with the federal government. The meeting was the, “Town Hall Meeting with the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh,” which was organised in Lagos by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and members of the Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN), on Wednesday, December 5, 2024. It was their first opportunity to interact exclusively with a cabinet minister entrusted with overseeing the country’s industrial sector since the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. Presenting an “Overview of the State of the Industrial Sector,” which was focused on discussing the manufacturing sector’s critical roles, pressing challenges and solutions, the Director General of MAN, Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, emphasised that manufacturing is the backbone of the Nigerian industrial sector that included construction, utilities, mining and quarrying. Ajayi-Kadir stated that manufacturing contributed 46.5 per cent of Nigeria’s industrial output in the first nine months of 2024. He added that manufacturing sector also contributed $55,74 billion out of the $118.22 billion value addition that was recorded by the Nigerian industrial sector in 2023. He said: “Clearly, manufacturing is the most vibrant sector of any industrialised economy, considering its cross-cutting linkages with all other sectors and if prioritised, Nigerian manufacturing can generate a minimum of $6.72 billion of foreign exchange and contribute over 80 percent of non-oil export. “Therefore, the structural change engendered by higher value-added manufacturing operations is the essential route for our economy to achieve higher income level and better quality of life for Nigerians.” He added that manufacturing is a major contributor to the GDP, export earnings, foreign direct investments, technological advancement, innovations and diversification of the economy. “Manufacturing industries are labour-intensive and create numerous jobs, both directly and indirectly. Manufacturing requires a skilled workforce, which encourages education and training, leading to a more skilled labor force. “Manufacturing industries support the development of local supply chains, which lead to the growth of other sectors such as services and agriculture. “Research and development (R&D) in manufacturing have spillover effects on other sectors, driving overall technological progress within an economy,” Ajayi-Kadir said. Yet, he told the minister of state that in spite of these critical roles, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector has declined over the past few decades due to difficulties that have hindered investments from local and foreign investors. “These difficulties include insufficient funding, infrastructure deficit, skills’ shortage, poor access to foreign exchange, inefficient supply chain, heavy dependence on imported raw material and insecurity. “Others are unstable economic indicators, high inflation rate, electricity challenges, Naira devaluation and multiple taxations. These have led to closure of companies. For instance, in 2023 alone, 767 manufacturing firms had to shut down their operations nationwide. “Therefore, revitalising the industrial sector would require focused interventions across several critical verticals that would include the creation of financial instruments and mechanisms that provide affordable credit to manufacturers; offering incentives for banks and financial institutions to lend to the manufacturing sector, especially Small and Medium Industries (SMIs). It would also includeensuring market access and trade facilitation by assisting manufacturers in obtaining international quality certifications that would enhance their competitiveness,” he added. Ajayi-Kadir noted that Nigerian textile manufacturers have been driven out of the local market by unwholesome business practices like product counterfeiting, excessive importation and smuggling of textile products He also made key actions recommendations to the Federal Government of Nigeria to revitalise the country’s industrial sector. They are effective budgetary allocation, promotion of patronage for Made in Nigeria products, initiating measures that would promote foreign exchange liquidity, energy and tax reforms, attracting foreign investments and reduced interest rates. “Federal Government of Nigeria should facilitate investment in the modernisation and reinforcement of the power infrastructure, including feeders, transformers, and distribution networks, to reduce technical losses and improve the reliability of power supply,” he said. Speaking during the town hall meeting, the Director General of Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Mr. Chris Oputa, said that access to finance is one of their biggest challenges. Oputa, therefore, called for a five year real industrial development plan for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). “In that five year plan, all banks in Nigeria must be compelled by law to dedicate 50 per cent of their credits wholly to the MSMEs,” he said. He argued that 90 per cent of the jobs in the Nigerian economy are being created by the MSMEs, which are the engine room of the country’s economy. He also observed that it is only people that are engaged in criminal activities that hide what they are doing and regretted that in Nigeria, the MSMEs are constrained to hide what they are doing even though they are not criminal activities. He, therefore, tasked the government to initiate measures that would bring the activities of the MSMEs into the open so that their businesses, especially their export activities, would be regularised. Otherwise few people would be overburdened with taxations as the government would have no chance to see what the real operators of the economy are doing. Similarly, the Director General of Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, told the minister of state that he was interacting with the real bodies that made up the Nigeria organised private sector. He frowned at occasions the government would parley with few billionaire businessmen and claimed that it has consulted the OPSN. In his contribution, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Mr. Eke Ubiji, asked the minister to revive the forum the OPSN used to have dialogue with the government, adding that the SMEs and other operators in the economy are really suffering. The Director General of the Raw Material Research and Development Council, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, emphasized the need to save the Nigerian economy from being trapped in colonial structure. He said that legislation is ongoing on a law that would ban the exportation of raw materials that have not attained a minimum of 30 per cent value addition. After listening to various presentations that were made by the industrialists and members of the OPSN, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, assured that he would be their ambassador and champion. Enoh said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was intentional in designating him as the minister in charge of the industrial sector after the recent cabinet reshuffle. Tinubu’s intention is to have someone that will be dedicated to industry. He remarked that the challenges of the industrial sector have always been the same perennial problems and promised that his tenure would bring a way forward out of these recurring challenges. “For me this session can only make sense if we can make a movement. I see myself as having an opportunity to make a positive change because I am the Minister of State for Industry to provide leadership for the sector. The minister will not be absent anymore when conversation that has to do with the sector is being made,” he said. According to him, no country has been able to transit from developing to developed economy without strong industrial sector. Enoh said: “Therefore, Nigeria is going to be more intentional in developing its industrial base like India and China that attained their present status as one of the world’s industrial giants through conscious and deliberate implementation of policies. “I say this as a statement of intent that we have an opportunity for a new beginning together. To take one step together; to take second step together in building a sustainable partnership. That is what that will make sense. “We are not just coming to talk and make recommendations. We have to come and review key progress that has been made from these recommendations. “We are trying to do industrial push at a season of constraints but challenging moment like this gives us the opportunity to even do much better and make tremendous progress. We have to be strategic in what we offer. We will not make it business as usual.” The minister of state said that there would be a multi-stakeholders’ forum to be co-chaired by himself and the President of MAN, Mr. Francis Meshioye. The forum would foster a deliberate inter-ministerial collaboration because, “We cannot make progress alone. He also assured that the stakeholders’ engagement would henceforth be held quarterly. “I am greatly concerned with what is practical. I am very concerned with what is real. I am very concerned with actions that can give us results. “That is what this country is in dire need of. Nigerian people cannot wait to see results. I believe that by working together we will be able to achieve these results. “The key thing to me is that there is a new regime that understands and appreciates the value of proper engagement. There must be clarity, actions and results. “This is a time for realism. It is not for much talk. Like I have said the challenges are so significant. I am not going to promise of instant solutions. I would not do so. “But I can bet is that I am going to commit to visible actions that are going to be supported by timelines and measurable results. We need to make sure that every commitment is achievable and impactful. Not promising too much but promise those things that are achievable.”Pam Bondi chosen for Trump’s attorney general pick after Matt Gaetz withdrawscasino slot websites 。

By Olusola Jide Jide Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), has announced plans to review the minimum salary for players following the conclusion of the 2024/2025 season. Speaking during a roundtable with journalists in Akure on Tuesday, Elegbeleye emphasized the importance of transparency, credibility, and professional refereeing in attracting investors to the league. “Starting next season, we will implement an upward review of players’ salaries,” he said. Elegbeleye, a former Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), reiterated the league’s zero-tolerance policy for hooliganism and violence at match venues. He also highlighted the league’s progress in officiating, starting with the introduction of communication gadgets, which lays the groundwork for the eventual adoption of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. According to Elegbeleye, young referees will undergo training on VAR usage, adding that all Nigerian referees are graduates of higher institutions. He further assured stakeholders of the NPFL’s commitment to upholding standards and adhering to league rules without favoritism. He pointed to the league’s enforcement of penalties, including point deductions and financial sanctions, as a means of discouraging violence and intimidation at match venues. According to him, “we have started with the reduction of three points from any erring team and financial punishment to ensure that the visiting teams are not intimidated. “Since we started reducing three points it is the home teams that are now protecting away teams. The home team must win syndrome has reduced drastically, on match day one of the current season, we recorded no fewer than four away wins. “We must insist on the rule and not compromising the standards to get it right. There are lots of investors who are ready to partner us for the growth of the league.” Elegbeleye noted. The NPFL Chairman also emphasized the importance of checks and balances to foster growth in the league. “There are many investors ready to partner with us to elevate the league. By adhering to the rules and maintaining transparency, we can get it right,” he said. Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.

Littler, Humphries reach Players quarters to remain on collision courseBethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas Eve during the war in Gaza BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem is marking another somber Christmas Eve under the shadow of war in Gaza. Manger Square lacked its usual festive lights and crowds of tourists on Tuesday. Instead, the area outside the Nativity Church was quiet. The church was built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. The war, the violence in the occupied West Bank it has spurred and the lack of festivities has deeply hurt Bethlehem's economy. The town relies heavily on Christmas tourism. The economy in the West Bank was already reeling because of restrictions placed on laborers preventing them from entering Israel during the war. Pope Francis kicks off a yearlong Jubilee that will test his stamina and Rome's patience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has opened the great Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The ceremony kicks off the 2025 Holy Year. It's a celebration of the Catholic Church that is expected to draw some 32 million pilgrims to Rome. And it will test the pope’s stamina and the ability of the Eternal City to welcome them. This begins the Christmas Eve Mass. The ceremony inaugurates the once-every-25-year tradition of a Jubilee. Francis has dedicated the 2025 Jubilee to the theme of hope. Trump vows to pursue executions after Biden commutes most of federal death row FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump says he'll “vigorously pursue” capital punishment after President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of most people on federal death row partly to stop Trump from pushing forward their executions. Trump criticized Biden’s decision on Monday to change the sentences of 37 of the 40 condemned people to life in prison without parole. Trump said that he will direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty “as soon as I am inaugurated.” Trump was vague on what specific actions he may take. 21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Violence that engulfed Mozambique after the country’s highest court confirmed ruling party presidential candidate Daniel Chapo as the winner of disputed Oct. 9 elections has killed at least 21 people, including two police officers. Mozambique Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a news conference in Maputo late Tuesday that a wave of violence and looting was sparked by the court’s announcement a day earlier. He said it was led by mostly youthful supporters of losing candidate Venancio Mondlane, who received 24% of the vote, second to Chapo, who got 65%. Prosecutors find workers in 'slavery like' conditions at Chinese car company site in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A task force led by Brazilian prosecutors says it has rescued 163 Chinese nationals working in “slavery-like” conditions at a construction site in northeastern Brazil, where Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is building a factory. The Labor Prosecutor’s Office released videos of the dorms where the construction workers were staying, which showed beds with no mattresses and rooms without any place for the workers to store their personal belongings. In a statement issued Monday, the prosecutor’s office said the workers had been hired in China by Jinjian Group, one of the contractors on the site, which is located in Camaçari, a city in the Salvador metropolitan region. NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it's their duty to spread their love of Jesus ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love of Jesus. A month later, Bates told The Associated Press it is a duty to share his faith. The NFL is filled with players and coaches who feel the same way, such as Houston's C.J. Stroud, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens. Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaii's Kilauea volcano HONOLULU (AP) — Lava is erupting from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano for the second straight day. The eruption has stayed within Kilauea’s summit caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and no homes are threatened. Molten rock began spewing out of the volcano before dawn on Monday when fissures opened in the caldera floor and shot lava high into the air. It then oozed across the caldera floor. Scientists expect activity to fluctuate in coming days. The lava paused Monday afternoon but fountains reemerged Tuesday morning. The eruption has occurred in an area that’s been closed to the public since 2007 due to hazards including crater wall instability and rockfalls. Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s online media association confirms that two reporters were killed and others wounded in a gang attack on the re-opening of Port-au-Prince’s biggest public hospital. Street gangs have taken over an estimated 85% of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and they forced the closure of the General Hospital early this year. Authorities had pledged to reopen the facility Tuesday but as journalists gathered to cover the event, suspected gang members opened fire in a vicious Christmas eve attack. The killed journalists were identified as Markenzy Nathoux and Jimmy Jean. An unspecified number of reporters had also been wounded in the attack, which was blamed on the Viv Ansanm gang. Hurricane-force winds bear down on California, latest in stretch of extreme weather LOS ANGELES (AP) — California has been hit hard by extreme weather over the past several weeks. Atmospheric rivers, which are long stretches of wet air that can produce heavy rains, brought a record-setting rainfall before Thanksgiving. A series of atmospheric rivers are producing strong waves and storms near Santa Cruz this week. Thousands were left under evacuation warnings and orders because of a fire around Malibu. Climate change means that strong storms will be responsible for a greater share of the state's yearly precipitation and the periods between those events will be drier. Heavy travel day starts with brief grounding of all American Airlines flights WASHINGTON (AP) — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide due to a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne Tuesday about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop, which prevented planes from taking off. American said in an email that the problem was caused by vendor technology in its flight operating system. Aviation analytics company Cirium said flights were delayed across American’s major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time. Nineteen flights were cancelled.

Commanding 2nd half powers St. Mary Catholic Central to Ford Field, D7 state final

By LISA MASCARO and FARNOUSH AMIRI WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country’s hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about her 2017 visit to war-torn Syria as she ducked into one of several private meetings with senators who are being asked to confirm Trump’s unusual nominees . Related Articles National Politics | Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it? National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | Honor after exoneration: Port Chicago sailors’ fight for justice isn’t over National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results But the Democrat-turned-Republican Army National Reserve lieutenant colonel delivered a statement in which she reiterated her support for Trump’s America First approach to national security and a more limited U.S. military footprint overseas. “I want to address the issue that’s in the headlines right now: I stand in full support and wholeheartedly agree with the statements that President Trump has made over these last few days with regards to the developments in Syria,” Gabbard said exiting a Senate meeting. The incoming president’s Cabinet and top administrative choices are dividing his Republican allies and drawing concern , if not full opposition, from Democrats and others. Not just Gabbard, but other Trump nominees including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, were back at the Capitol ahead of what is expected to be volatile confirmation hearings next year. The incoming president is working to put his team in place for an ambitious agenda of mass immigrant deportations, firing federal workers and rollbacks of U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies. “We’re going to sit down and visit, that’s what this is all about,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., as he welcomed Gabbard into his office. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary pick Hegseth appeared to be picking up support from once-skeptical senators, the former Army National Guard major denying sexual misconduct allegations and pledging not to drink alcohol if he is confirmed. The president-elect’s choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel , who has written extensively about locking up Trump’s foes and proposed dismantling the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched his first visits with senators Monday. “I expect our Republican Senate is going to confirm all of President Trump’s nominees,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on social media. Despite widespread concern about the nominees’ qualifications and demeanors for the jobs that are among the highest positions in the U.S. government, Trump’s team is portraying the criticism against them as nothing more than political smears and innuendo. Showing that concern, nearly 100 former senior U.S. diplomats and intelligence and national security officials have urged Senate leaders to schedule closed-door hearings to allow for a full review of the government’s files on Gabbard. Trump’s allies have described the criticisms of Hegseth in particular as similar to those lodged against Brett Kavanaugh, the former president’s Supreme Court nominee who denied a sexual assault allegation and went on to be confirmed during Trump’s first term in office. Said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., about Hegseth: “Anonymous accusations are trying to destroy reputations again. We saw this with Kavanaugh. I won’t stand for it.” One widely watched Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a former Army National Guard lieutenant colonel and sexual assault survivor who had been criticized by Trump allies for her cool reception to Hegseth, appeared more open to him after their follow-up meeting Monday. “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process,” Ernst said in a statement. Ernst said that following “encouraging conversations,” he had committed to selecting a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks. As I support Pete through this process, I look forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources.” Ernst also had praise for Patel — “He shares my passion for shaking up federal agencies” — and for Gabbard. Once a rising Democratic star, Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress, arrived a decade ago in Washington, her surfboard in tow, a new generation of potential leaders. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020. But Gabbard abruptly left the party and briefly became an independent before joining with Trump’s 2024 campaign as one of his enthusiasts, in large part over his disdain for U.S. involvement overseas and opposition to helping Ukraine battle Russia. Her visit to Syria to meet with then-President Bashar Assad around the time of Trump’s first inauguration during the country’s bloody civil war stunned her former colleagues and the Washington national security establishment. The U.S. had severed diplomatic relations with Syria. Her visit was seen by some as legitimizing a brutal leader who was accused of war crimes. Gabbard has defended the trip, saying it’s important to open dialogue, but critics hear in her commentary echoes of Russia-fueled talking points. Assad fled to Moscow over the weekend after Islamist rebels overtook Syria in a surprise attack, ending his family’s five decades of rule. She said her own views have been shaped by “my multiple deployments and seeing firsthand the cost of war and the threat of Islamist terrorism.” Gabbard said, “It’s one of the many reasons why I appreciate President Trump’s leadership and his election, where he is fully committed, as he has said over and over, to bring about an end to wars.” Last week, the nearly 100 former officials, who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations, said in the letter to Senate leaders they were “alarmed” by the choice of Gabbard to oversee all 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. They said her past actions “call into question her ability to deliver unbiased intelligence briefings to the President, Congress, and to the entire national security apparatus.” The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to coordinate the nation’s intelligence agencies and act as the president’s main intelligence adviser. Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.John Bolton , President-elect Donald Trump ’s former national security adviser , said that an international crisis is “much more likely” during the Republican’s second term. Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, told The Guardian the president-elect has an “ inability to focus ” and bases his decisions on personal relationships and “neuron flashes.” “It’s typical Trump: it’s all braggadocio,” Bolton told the outlet. “The world is more dangerous than when he was president before. The only real crisis we had was COVID, which is a long-term crisis and not against a particular foreign power but against a pandemic.” “But the risk of an international crisis of the 19th-century variety is much more likely in a second Trump term,” he added. “Given Trump’s inability to focus on coherent decision-making, I’m very worried about how that might look.” The 76-year-old was no stranger to the defense world when he joined Trump’s administration. He served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security from 2001 to 2005 and Ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006. Bolton said he expected Trump to rise to the occasion during his first term, as many other presidents had done before him. “What I believed was that, like every American president before him, the weight of the responsibilities, certainly in national security, the gravity of the issues that he was confronting, the consequences of his decisions, would discipline his thinking in a way that would produce serious outcomes,” Bolton told The Guardian. “It turned out I was wrong,” he continued. “By the time I got there a lot of patterns of behaviour had already been set that were never changed and it could well be, even if I had been there earlier, I couldn’t have affected it. But it was clear pretty soon after I got there that intellectual discipline wasn’t in the Trump vocabulary.” Bolton previously slammed Trump’s cabinet picks as well, explaining he was likely selecting them based on loyalty rather than their philosophies or qualifications . “And the word loyalty is often used,” Bolton told CNN last month. “I think that’s the wrong word. Actually, I think what Trump wants from his advisors is fealty, really a futile sense of subservience.” “And you know, he may get that, but I will tell you that that will not serve him well over the course of his next term, and it certainly won’t serve the country well,” he continued. Bolton left Trump’s administration in September 2019, noting he left after months of disagreement with the Republican. Trump later claimed he fired Bolton. Since leaving his administration, Bolton has been an outspoken critic of Trump. In 2020, he published The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir , a scathing account of his experience serving in his first administration. “I don’t think he’s fit for office,” Bolton said during an interview with ABC News about the book’s release. “I don’t think he has the competence to carry out the job.”[INTERVIEW] Startup pushes robotic automation to cut drone repair errors

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NoneNEW YORK, Dec. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Edwards Lifesciences, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation . Investors have until December 13, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Edwards Lifesciences securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is captioned Patel v. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation , et al. , No. 24-cv-02221. What is the Lawsuit About? The Complaint alleges that Edwards is an international company that researches, develops, and provides products and technologies for heart valve repair and replacement therapies, as well as critical care monitoring solutions. Edwards categorizes its therapies and technologies into four categories: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (“TAVR”), Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (“TMTT”), Surgical Structural Heart therapies, and Critical Care therapies. As alleged, Edwards consistently touted the TAVR platform, the significant unmet demand for TAVR, and the Company’s ability to capitalize on that demand by scaling its various patient activation activities. These statements were allegedly materially false and misleading. In truth, TAVR’s demand and growth had stalled as Defendants’ patient activation activities failed to reach the perceived low-treatment-rate population and healthcare organizations prioritized other treatments over TAVR. On July 24, 2024, Edwards slashed guidance for TAVR for fiscal 2024 and announced disappointing financial results for TAVR for fiscal 2Q 24. This is allegedly because developments in new procedures, including Defendant’s own TMTT, put significant strain on hospital structural heart teams such that they were underutilizing TAVR, despite the Company’s continued claims of a significantly undertreated patient population. The news disclosed on July 24, 2024 caused a significant 31% decline in the price of Edwards stock, from $86.95 per share on July 24, 2024 to $59.70 per share on July 25, 2024. Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation . What Can You Do? If you invested in Edwards Lifesciences you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Shedeur Sanders 'lucky' to avoid ejection after heated on-field incident in Kansas game

Olivia “Livvy” Dunne is taking a real plunge into the holidays, cold weather be damned. The LSU gymnast and social media star is back in her home state of New Jersey, and on Tuesday afternoon, she decided to take a polar plunge into the water at Belmar Beach. Clad in a two-piece red bikini, Dunne, 22, posted a video on her Instagram story braving the near-freezing elements to dip into the water before running back onto the sand, greeted by what appeared to be her golden retriever, Roux . Dunne, also posting a video of the swim to her 8.1 million followers on TikTok, admitted that she does in fact “hate the cold.” It’s been a busy few days for the NIL star, who celebrated officially graduating with a Bachelor’s degree from LSU last week . Her post-fall-semester adventures have taken her around the New York area, including a pitstop at Rockefeller Center on Saturday to see the world-famous Christmas tree. She also posted a photo of a meal she shared with her boyfriend, Pirates star pitcher Paul Skenes , at Cucina Alba, an Italian restaurant in the Chelsea neighborhood. On Monday, Dunne took the trek over to Newark to see the Devils throttle the rival Rangers, 5-0 . She posted her selfie on her social media, showing off her custom Devils 2024 Stadium Series jersey with her name stitched on the back. Dunne was shown on the scoreboard during the game and posed for photos with fans, including some who waited in a sizable line among the Prudential Center seats . As for what comes next for Dunne, who boasts an NIL valuation of $4.2 million, she is set to return to LSU for her fifth and final year of eligibility with the gymnastics team that will be defending its 2024 national title.

NEW YORK, Dec. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that it has filed a lawsuit against Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVLV) and certain of the Company’s current and former senior executives. If you invested in Evolv, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/evolv-technologies-holdings-inc . Investors have until December 31, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Evolv’s securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and is captioned Buchan v. Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. , No. 1:24-cv-12768. A copy of the lawsuit can be found here: https://www.bfalaw.com/siteFiles/Cases/EvolvFiledComplaint.pdf What is the Lawsuit About? Evolv is a security technology company that utilizes AI-based screening designed to help create safer experiences. The complaint alleges that Evolv’s financial statements prepared for the periods between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2024 contained material misstatements relating to Evolv’s revenue recognition and other reported metrics that are a function of revenue. On October 25, 2024, Evolv announced that the Company’s financial statements issued between the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2024 should not be relied upon due to material misstatements impacting revenue recognition and other previously reported metrics that are a function of revenue. The Company revealed that certain sales, including sales to one of its largest channel partners, were subject to extra-contractual terms and conditions not shared with the Company’s accounting personnel and that certain Company personnel engaged in misconduct in connection with those transactions. The Company also announced that it has self-reported these issues to the Division of Enforcement of the Securities and Exchange Commission and was delaying filing its upcoming quarterly report for the third quarter of 2024. On this news, the price of Evolv stock declined roughly 40%, from $4.10 per share on October 24, 2024, to $2.47 per share on October 25, 2024. Then, on October 31, 2024, Evolv announced the termination of the Company’s CEO, Peter George, effective immediately. The Company announced that Michael Ellenbogen, Evolv’s Chief Innovation Officer will serve in an interim role until a successor is appointed. On this news, the price of Evolv stock declined roughly 8%, from $2.34 per share on October 30, 2024, to $2.15 per share on October 31, 2024. Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/evolv-technologies-holdings-inc . What Can You Do? If you invested in Evolv you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/evolv-technologies-holdings-inc Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/evolv-technologies-holdings-inc Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

NEW YORK, Dec. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against PACS Group, Inc. PACS and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in PACS, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting : https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc . Investors have until January 13, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in PACS securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Manchin v. PACS Group, Inc. , et al. , No. 24-cv-08636. What is the PACS Lawsuit About? The Complaint alleges that PACS is one of the largest operators of skilled nursing facilities in the United States. As alleged, PACS repeatedly represented to shareholders that it possesses a winning "turnaround" strategy to make its nursing facilities profitable. However, in truth, it is alleged that PACS's turnaround was driven by illicitly accessing Medicare benefits for thousands of patients. On November 4, 2024, prominent investment research firm Hindenburg Research published a report titled: "PACS Group: How to Become A Billionaire In The Skilled Nursing Industry By Systematically Scamming Taxpayers." After a 5-month investigation that included interviews with 18 former PACS employees, competitors, and an analysis of more than 900 PACS facility cost reports, Hindenburg alleged that "PACS abused a COVID-era waiver, inappropriately accessing skilled care Medicare benefits for thousands of patients across its national portfolio of facilities." Hindenburg further estimated that "the scheme drove more than 100% of PACS' operating and net income from 2020 – 2023, enabling PACS to IPO in early 2024 with the illusion of legitimate growth and profitability." On November 6, 2024, PACS then announced that it was postponing its Q3 earnings and that it had "received civil investigative demands from the federal government regarding the Company's reimbursement and referral practices that may or may not be related to this week's third-party report." The news caused a significant decline in the price of PACS stock. On November 4, 2024, the price of the company's stock fell 27.8%, from a closing price of $42.94 per share on November 1, 2024, to $31.01 per share on November 4, 2024. On November 6, 2024, the price of the company's stock fell 38.8%, from a closing price of $29.54 per share on November 5, 2024, to $18.09 per share on November 6, 2024. Click here if you Suffered Losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc . What Can You Do? If you invested in PACS you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/pacs-group-inc Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.