Stock Markets
Israel reduces troops in south Gaza, Egypt to host new talks
By Ari Rabinovitch and Nidal al-Mughrabi
JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israel said on Sunday it had withdrawn more soldiers from southern Gaza, leaving just one brigade, as it and Hamas sent teams to Egypt for fresh talks on a potential ceasefire in the six-month conflict.
Israel has been reducing numbers in Gaza since the start of the year to relieve reservists and is under growing pressure from its ally Washington to improve the humanitarian situation, especially after last week’s killing of seven aid workers.
The military spokesperson did not give details on reasons for withdrawing soldiers or numbers involved. But Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the troops will be preparing for future operations in Gaza.
Both Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls Gaza, confirmed they were sending delegations to Egypt.
Hamas wants any deal to bring about an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has said that, after any truce, it would topple Hamas, which is sworn to its destruction.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no deal without a hostage release and that he would not cave to international pressure. Hamas says an agreement must include freedom of movement of residents across the Gaza Strip.
More than 250 hostages were seized and some 1,200 people killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies. More than 33,100 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
Around 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza. Asked about troop withdrawals from the enclave, Israel’s Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi told reporters that the military was adapting its methods to what has been and will be a long war.
Gallant said Israel will press on with the war until Hamas no longer controls Gaza or threatens Israel as a military group.
“The forces are exiting and preparing for their next missions,” Gallant said at a meeting with military officials, according to a statement from his office, and “also their coming mission in the Rafah area”.
PALESTINIAN HOPES
Israel says an incursion into the Rafah area, near the border with Egypt, is needed to eliminate Hamas but anxious foreign powers have said it could exact an unacceptable toll on civilians, with more than a million people sheltering there.
Israel says it will evacuate civilians before launching an incursion.
Palestinian residents of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, which has come under Israeli bombardment in recent months, said they had seen Israeli forces leaving the centre of the city and retreating to eastern districts.
Medics said they found at least 12 Palestinian bodies in the area. Some residents from Khan Younis, who have been sheltering in Rafah, began returning to their neighbourhoods after the Israeli troops left.
“It seems at the end it may be a happy Eid,” said Imad Joudat, 55, who lives with his eight-member family in a tent in Rafah, referring to the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday that starts mid-week.
“The occupation withdrew forces from Khan Younis, the Americans are pressuring after some foreigners were killed and Egypt is holding a big round with the Americans, the Israelis, Hamas and Qatar. This time we are hopeful,” Joudat told Reuters via a chat app.
Israel is under increased pressure from the United States, with President Joe Biden demanding that it improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza and work towards a ceasefire, and saying that U.S. support could depend on that.
It was the first time Biden, a staunch supporter of Israel, has sought to leverage U.S. backing to influence Israeli military behaviour. The U.S. is a major supplier of arms to Israel.
Biden has also urged the leaders of Egypt and Qatar to pressure Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal ahead of a fresh round of talks in Cairo.
Israel is also on alert for a possible retaliatory attack from Iran in reaction to the killing of Iranian generals on April 1.
Stock Markets
BioAge Labs (BIOA) Azelaprag Trial Halt Raises Questions About Pre-IPO Disclosures – Hagens Berman
San Francisco, California–(Newsfile Corp. – December 25, 2024) – On December 9, 2024, just months after conducting an initial public offering in September 2024, BioAge Labs, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIOA) made the startling announcement that it was discontinuing a Phase 2 study for its lead product, azelaprag, intended to treat metabolic diseases such as obesity.
Hagens Berman has opened an investigation and urges investors in BioAge who purchased shares in the company’s IPO or on the open market and suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/bioa
Contact the Firm Now: BIOA@hbsslaw.com
844-916-0895
BioAge Labs, Inc. (BIOA) Investigation:
The investigation is focused on the propriety of BioAge’s disclosures about the safety data and other matters related to azelaprag, which the company said in its IPO documents has been “well-tolerated in 265 individuals across eight Phase 1 clinical trials.”
BioAge’s disclosures came into question after the market closed on December 6, 2024, when the company announced the discontinuation of the STRIDES Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating azelaprag in combination with tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity. BioAge said that liver transaminitis was observed in patients receiving azelaprag.
This news drove the price of BioAge shares down almost 80% on December 9, 2024.
“We’re focused on whether BioAge was transparent to investors about the azelaprag safety profile before the December 6 announcement,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.
If you invested in BioAge and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now »
If you’d like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the BioAge investigation, read more »
Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding BioAge should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email BIOA@hbsslaw.com.
# # #
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/235182
Stock Markets
Celsius Holdings (CELH) Hit with Investor Class Action Amid Accusations of Oversold Inventory to Pepsi- Hagens Berman
CELH Investors with Losses Encouraged to Contact the Firm
San Francisco, California–(Newsfile Corp. – December 25, 2024) – Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:), Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH) and certain of its C-Suite officers are embroiled in a securities class action lawsuit, claiming they misrepresented and concealed crucial information about the company’s financial performance, especially concerning its key customer, PepsiCo (NASDAQ:).
Hagens Berman is investigating the allegations and urges investors in Celsius who purchased shares and suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.
Class Period: Feb. 29, 2024 – Sept. 4, 2024
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Jan. 21, 2025
Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/celh
Contact the Firm Now: CELH@hbsslaw.com
844-916-0895
Celsius Holdings, Inc. (CELH) Securities Class Action (WA:):
The lawsuit alleges that during the Class Period, Celsius failed to disclose to investors several critical points:
- Oversold Inventory: Celsius significantly oversold inventory to Pepsi beyond demand, leading to a potential drastic reduction in future purchases.
- Declining Sales: As Pepsi depleted its overstock, Celsius’ sales were projected to decline, impacting its financial health and outlook.
- Unsustainable Sales Rates: The sales rates to Pepsi were unsustainable and created a misleading impression of the company’s performance.
- Misleading Metrics: Consequently, Celsius’ business metrics and financial prospects were overstated
The situation came to light on May 28, 2024, when Celsius’ stock price plummeted nearly 13% following reports from Nielsen indicating slowed sales growth. Analysts highlighted the possibility of significantly reduced sales as Pepsi cut back its inventory.
The stock took another hit on September 4, 2024, dropping over 11% after a company presentation revealed a shortfall of $100 million to $120 million in Pepsi orders compared to the previous year. It was also disclosed that Pepsi had held several million excess cases over the last 18 months.
These revelations have led shareholder rights firm Hagens Berman to investigate the allegations.
“We’re investigating whether Celsius deliberately painted an overly optimistic picture of its relationship with Pepsi, misleading investors about the true state of its financial health and sales sustainability,” said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.
If you invested in Celsius and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm’s investigation, submit your losses now »
If you’d like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Celsius case and our investigation, read more »
Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Celsius Holdings should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CELH@hbsslaw.com.
# # #
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs’ rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Berman’s team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/235180
Stock Markets
Suriname fugitive ex-President Desi Bouterse dead at 79
By Ank Kuipers
PARAMARIBO (Reuters) -Suriname’s fugitive former President Desi Bouterse has died aged 79, the country’s government said on Wednesday, almost a year after he fled authorities to avoid jail following his conviction over the murder of 15 political activists in 1982.
“The government has been informed through the family and its own investigations of the passing of Mr. D. Bouterse, ex-President of the Republic of Suriname,” Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin told Reuters.
The former leader died on Tuesday, the government said, without confirming where, or even in which country. Last week Surinamese authorities raided his home – where supporters gathered to pay their respects on Wednesday morning – but did not find him.
Surinamese President Chan Santokhi, who investigated the case as a police commissioner and later as justice minister, expressed condolences to Bouterse’s family and urged calm in a statement.
“In the spirit of the holiday season and year-end, the president calls on all to remain dignified and calm, maintain peace and order and engage in prayer in the spirit of these special days,” the statement said.
Bouterse dominated politics in the tiny South American country for decades, leading a coup in 1980 and finally leaving office in 2020.
In 2019 he and six others were convicted for their role in the 1982 murders of 15 leading government critics – including lawyers, journalists, union leaders, soldiers and university professors – for which Bouterse received a 20-year prison sentence.
Bouterse had claimed the murdered men were connected to a planned invasion of the former Dutch colony.
Following years of legal back and forth, Bouterse was ordered to report to prison in January but he did not show up on the appointed date.
Though Bouterse avoided prison by going on the run, Reed Brody, a U.S. war crimes prosecutor who monitored the case for the International Commission of Jurists, said justice had caught up with the convicted former president before he died.
“Thanks to the victims’ relatives and their supporters who never gave up, Bouterse will go down in history as a convicted murderer,” Brody said.
The former president’s family will make a statement later on Wednesday, members of his political party told journalists.
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