Stock Markets
Sydney knife attacker had mental health issues, ideology not motive, police say
By Scott Murdoch and Alasdair Pal
SYDNEY (Reuters) -The man who fatally stabbed six people in Sydney had mental health issues in the past and there is no indication ideology was a motive in the attack in one of the city’s busiest shopping centres, police said on Sunday.
The attacker, identified by police as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi, was known to police in the neighbouring state of Queensland, and police have spoken to his family after Saturday’s attack, according to police from New South Wales and Queensland states.
Cauchi’s family recognised him and contacted police on Saturday after seeing news reports of the killings.
“The family, when they viewed footage of the event on TV, thought that may well have been their son and they reached out to authorities,” said Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe.
The family said they were devastated by his actions, expressing condolences to the victims and the police officer who shot him dead.
“Joel’s actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened,” the family said in a statement. “He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”
‘TERRIBLE SCENE’
Witnesses described how Cauchi, wearing shorts and an Australian national rugby league jersey, ran through the Westfield Bondi Junction mall with a knife.
He fatally stabbed six people and injured at least 12 before he was killed by Inspector Amy Scott, who confronted him solo while he was on the rampage.
Some shoppers and staff at the mall in Sydney’s east tried to stop him and crowds sheltered in shuttered shops.
“This was a terrible scene,” New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters.
“There is still to this point nothing that we have, no information we received, no evidence we have recovered or intelligence that we have gathered that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation, ideology or otherwise.”
Cauchi had recently moved to Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, from neighbouring Queensland. Police said they had searched a small storage facility he had been renting but found no major evidence to indicate an attack was coming.
He had been diagnosed with mental health issues when he was 17 and had been in contact with police frequently in the past four to five years, said Lowe of the Queensland police. Cauchi had not been arrested or charged with any crimes in Queensland, he added.
Cauchi led an itinerant lifestyle, had recently been sleeping in his car and had only infrequently stayed in touch with his mother via text messages, Lowe said.
Attacks such as Saturday’s stabbing are rare in Australia, a country of about 26 million people with some of the world’s toughest gun and knife laws.
TRIBUTES GROW
Five of the six people killed were women, police said on Sunday, while those taken to hospital with stab wounds included a nine-month-old baby, who was in a serious but stable condition.
The baby’s mother, Ashlee Good, died in hospital from her injuries, her family said in a statement.
Faraz Tahir, a 30-year-old security guard at the mall who was the sole man killed during the attack, arrived in the country last year as a refugee from Pakistan, according to a statement from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia, to which he belonged.
There was a heavy police presence on Sunday at the mall, which was closed to shoppers, with nearby streets cordoned off. A mound of floral tributes to the victims began to grow, with mourners arriving every few minutes.
“The individual stories of those who have been killed, the complete strangers rushing in to help as well as acts of courage and bravery mean that – whether you know the individuals who have been killed or not – you’re grieving today,” said New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns.
“The entire state will get behind those families in the days ahead as they recover and go through the inevitable grief of such a horrifying event.”
Britain’s King Charles, who is Australia’s head of state, posted on the royal family’s X account: “Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had received condolence messages from all over the globe, adding that the attack had highlighted the bravery of ordinary citizens.
“We have seen the footage of ordinary Australians putting themselves in harm’s way in order to help their fellow citizens. That bravery was quite extraordinary,” said on Sunday. “It’s the best of Australians amidst this tragedy.”
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
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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