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Instablog9ja
20 m
10
The Adamawa State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man, identified as Hussaini Salihu, for allegedly d£filing a minor.
The suspect was arrested on Wednesday, July 24, for s+xually a§§aulting the 12-year-old girl (name withheld).
He was said to had lured the victim into his house, had carnal knowledge of her, and then gave her N2,000.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Suleiman Nguroje, in a statement on Thursday evening, July 25, said the suspect ran away when he sensed that he would not be allowed to get away with his act.
“He was later trailed and apprehended by the police following a report from the victim’s mother,” the statement said.
It added that the suspect had voluntarily made a statement confessing to doing what he was accused of, and he will be charged in court.
Investopedia
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Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed after a report showing U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a greater-than-expected annualized rate of 2.8% in the second quarter.
Although indications of persistent economic strength temporarily took the spotlight on Thursday, boosting stocks in intraday trading, the concerns about muted tech earnings that sent stocks tumbling in the previous session reemerged in the afternoon.
The S&P 500 ended the day 0.5% lower, while underperformance from the communication services and technology sectors contributed to a decline of 0.9% for the Nasdaq. The Dow also receded from midsession highs but held onto a daily gain of 0.2%.
Shares of Edwards Lifesciences (EW) plummeted 31.3%, marking the heaviest losses among S&P 500 components, after the medical technology provider missed second-quarter revenue estimates. Although EPS came in slightly ahead of forecasts, Edwards cut its full-year sales forecasts for its transcatheter aortic heart-valve replacements (TAVR), one of its key revenue generators. The company also announced plans to acquire JenaValve Technology and Endotronix as it aims to expand its position in the cardiac health market.
Ford Motor (F) shares also came under pressure after a mixed earnings report, sinking 18.4% after the carmaker's quarterly EPS fell short of expectations despite better-than-expected revenue. Revenue for Ford's electric vehicle (EV) division declined 37% from the prior year, and the company recently announced that it would scrap plans to convert a plant in Canada to EV production, focusing instead on ramping up manufacturing of its Super Duty pickups.
Ford was not the only company in the auto industry facing a post-earnings decline on Thursday. Shares of LKQ Corp. (LKQ) dropped 12.4% after the car parts recycler missed second-quarter sales and profit estimates. The company also reduced its outlook for the remainder of the year, citing macroeconomic challenges in Europe and decreasing volumes.
ServiceNow (NOW) shares soared 13.4% to reach a record high and notch the top daily performance of any S&P 500 stock. The provider of cloud-based workflow management software exceeded analysts' estimates with its second-quarter sales and profits, with robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) products helping to drive a 23% year-over-year increase in subscription revenue.
A strong earnings report also helped lift shares of California-based insurer Molina Healthcare (MOH), which jumped 12.3%. The company beat second-quarter sales and profit forecasts, with 19% year-over-year revenue gains driven by securing new Medicaid contracts and growing existing businesses. Earlier in the week, Molina announced it would acquire ConnectiCare, a health plan serving Marketplace and Medicare members in Connecticut, expanding the company's footprint in government-managed care.
Hospital and health care service provider Universal Health Services (UHS) topped sales and profit estimates with its second-quarter results, and its shares gained 10.2%. Despite underperformance from the company's behavioral health services, growth in acute care helped drive the strong performance and prompted UHS to boost its full-year guidance.
Commercial real estate firm CBRE Group (CBRE) also reported better-than-expected revenue and earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter, and its shares added 9.3%. CBRE boosted its full-year profit forecast, citing strong demand for leasing and loan servicing services, even as borrowing costs remain elevated. The company also pointed to a stabilization of the office real estate market, with particular signs of improvement in New York City.
A beat-and-raise quarter also helped lift shares of RTX Corp. (RTX), which gained 8.2% and hit an all-time high. The aerospace and defense manufacturer topped quarterly sales and profit estimates and boosted its full-year forecasts, citing demand for its products underpinned by strong commercial air traffic and high levels of military spending.
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Instablog9ja
1 h
11
No fewer than seven operatives of the Nigerian Army have been confirmed d£ad after their vehicle h+t an expl%sive in Mugunu area of Maiduguri, Borno State.
The unfortunate incident occurred on Thursday morning, July 25, according to SaharaReporters.
The vehicle reportedly hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram along the Gamboru Ngala-Maiduguri Road in Borno State.
The Army reportedly received a distress call during early on Thursday that Boko Haram t£rrorists were att@cking a neighbouring community and they quickly mobilised themselves to rescue the community.
In response to the Boko Haram siege, the commandant ordered the deployment of three vehicles carrying armed soldiers to the community. Tragically, one of the vehicles struck an electro-explosive device (EED) in the Mugunu area of Maiduguri, resulting in the loss of all but one of the soldiers on board.
A military source said: “They (referring to the deceased soldiers) were called that a neighbouring community is under att@ck by Boko Haram.
So their commandant said they should go. So they moved with the commandant around 5 am (on Thursday) in a convoy. The first and second vehicles passed, his own was the third, the EED device exploded and sc@ttered all of them in the vehicle. They were seven.
We are waiting for their official call because they said they would look for their parts and pack them to the morgue and attach their service number before they contact family members of the deceased soldiers.”
At the time of filing this report, information about the identities of the deceased remained limited. However, according to reliable sources, SaharaReporters has confirmed that one of the victims has been identified as Luke, a native of Cross River State.
Investopedia
1 h
15
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Lululemon Athletica (LULU) shares tumbled to their lowest level since the spring of 2020 as analysts raised concerns about the fashion athletic wear maker’s financial performance in a slowing retail environment.
The company's shares fell 9.1% to finish Thursday's session at $247.32. The stock was the biggest decliner on the Nasdaq Composite.
JP Morgan lowered its price target from $457 to $338, and dropped the company from its Analyst Focus List. It kept its Overweight rating.
The analysts especially pointed to Lululemon’s decision to pause sales of its recently-released Breezethrough collection, as management cited “an intent to make design adjustments necessary based on guest feedback” to deliver an improved product experience.
The analysts said the news has compounded recent in-stock and color palette execution concerns, which have delayed “the reacceleration catalyst likely to 4Q/Holiday with our recent fieldwork pointing to no signs of near-term improvement through 2Q.”
JP Morgan lowered its estimate for fiscal year 2024 earnings per share (EPS) to $13.90, which it said reflected below-consensus second-half revenue growth of 9%, and fiscal year 2025 EPS to $14.97 on another 9% revenue increase.
Adding to the downward pressure was word Citi downgraded the stock and also lowered the price target.
Shares of Lululemon Athletica have lost about half their value since the start of 2024.
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Edwards Lifesciences Stock Plummeted Today. Here's Why
Edwards Lifesciences (EW) Shares Sw...
Investopedia
2 hrs
12
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Edwards Lifesciences (EW) shares swooned Thursday, dropping after the company damped expectations for heart valve replacement sales growth on Wednesday.
The company said it expects full-year sales growth of 5% to 7% for its transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) treatment, down from the 8% to 10% forecast earlier. TAVR involves replacing a diseased heart valve using a catheter rather than through open-heart surgery.
Full-year sales of transcatheter mitral and tricuspid therapies (TMTT) are expected to come in on the higher end of Edwards’ previously issued range of $320 million to $340 million. The company reiterated its surgical sales growth projection of 6% to 8%.
Shares of Edwards plunged 31% to finish at $59.76 Thursday, leaving them down about 22% this year. The stock was the day's worst performer in the S&P 500.
In the second quarter, Edwards posted earnings per share (EPS) of 61 cents, falling short of the 74 cents expected by analysts, according to Visible Alpha. Revenue was $1.39 billion, below expectations. TAVR revenue rose 5% year-over-year to $1 billion.
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Healthwatch
4 hrs
30
Animals renowned for their outstanding night vision include owls, cats, tarsiers (a tiny primate in Southeast Asia) — and even the dung beetle.
But humans? Not so much.
Over time, many people suffer from night blindness, also known as nyctalopia. This condition makes seeing in dim or dark settings difficult because your eyes cannot adjust to changes in brightness or detect light.
What are the dangers for those experiencing night blindness?
Night blindness is especially problematic and dangerous when driving. Your eyes cannot adjust between darkness and the headlights of oncoming vehicles, other cars may appear out of focus, and your depth perception becomes impaired, which makes it difficult to judge distances.
Night blindness also may affect your sight at home by making it hard for your vision to quickly adjust to a dark room after turning off the lights. "This can cause people to bump into furniture or trip and suffer an injury," says Dr. Isabel Deakins, an optometrist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear.
What happens in the eye to create night blindness?
The ability to see in low-light conditions involves two structures in the eye: the retina and the iris.
The retina, located in the back of the eye, contains two types of light-detecting cells called cones and rods. The cones handle color vision and fine details while the rods manage vision in dim light.
The iris is the colored part of your eye. It contains muscles that widen or narrow the opening of your pupil to adjust how much light can enter your eyes.
If your irises don't properly react, the pupils can dilate and let in too much light, which causes light sensitivity and makes it hard to see in bright light. Or your pupils may remain too small and not allow in enough light, making it tough to see in low light.
What causes night blindness?
Night blindness is not a disease but a symptom of other conditions. "It's like having a bruise on your body. Something else causes it," says Dr. Deakins.
Several conditions can cause night blindness. For instance, medications, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, and antipsychotics, can affect pupil size and how much light enters the eye.
Eye conditions that can cause night blindness include:
However, one issue that raises the risk of night blindness that you can't control is age. "Our eyes react more slowly to light changes as we age, and vision naturally declines over time," says Dr. Deakins. "The number of rods in our eyes diminish, pupils get smaller, and the muscles of the irises weaken."
What helps if you have night blindness?
If you notice any signs of night blindness, avoid driving and get checked by an eye care specialist like an optometrist or ophthalmologist. An eye exam can determine if your eyeglass prescription needs to be updated.
"Often, a prescription change is enough to reduce glare when driving at night," says Dr. Deakins. "You may even need separate glasses with a stronger eye prescription that you wear only when driving at night."
Adding an anti-reflective coating to your lens may help to cut down on the glare of the headlights of an oncoming car. However, skip the over-the-counter polarized driving glasses sold at many drug stores. "These may help cut down on glare, but they don't address the causes of night blindness," says Dr. Deakins.
An eye exam also will identify glaucoma or cataracts, which can be treated. Glaucoma treatments include eyedrops, laser treatment, or surgery. Cataracts are corrected with surgery to replace the clouded lens with an artificial one. Your eye care specialist can also help identify dry eye and recommend treatment.
Ask your primary care clinician or a pharmacist if any medications that you take may cause night blindness. If so, it may be possible to adjust the dose or switch to another drug.
Three more ways to make night driving safer
You also can take steps to make night driving safer. For example:
Source: Harvard Health Publishing
