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GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Cooper Bowser scored 16 points as Furman beat South Carolina State 68-64 on Saturday. A jumper from Tom House gave Furman a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds remaining and the Paladins closed out the win by going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Bowser added three steals and four blocks for the Paladins (10-1). Eddrin Bronson scored 11 points while going 3 of 8 from the floor, including 2 for 6 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line. Nick Anderson had 11 points and shot 3 for 9 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Drayton Jones led the Bulldogs (5-7) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Omar Croskey added 13 points for South Carolina State. Davion Everett also had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .By KAITLYN HUAMANI The commencement of the holiday season often means the lengthening of to-do lists. There are lights to hang, cards to mail , cookies to bake and, of course, gifts to buy . Gift exchanges, whether they’re among friends, family or co-workers, can be a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. But can also be another stressor during a busy time of year. Secret Santa exchanges — where participants are assigned a gift recipient and tasked with finding them a perfect present within a price limit — sometimes mean that those in friend groups are paired with “frenemies,” someone inevitably draws themselves, or colleagues who are virtually strangers are matched up. Those possible pitfalls inspired Peter Imburg to create Elfster , a free online Secret Santa organizer, after he saw the time and effort it took to coordinate the logistics of a gift exchange with his family over 20 years ago. More top-down organization, he says, helps things run more smoothly. Say goodbye to picking names from a hat Elfster, for instance, creates pairings, asks for wish lists, offers gift suggestions at different price points and sends reminders, among other features meant to make the organizational hurdles of a gift exchange less daunting. “The organizer is like the hero. They make it all happen,” Imburg said, adding that his site aims “to make it a lot easier for the organizer to do that with a minimal amount of effort.” Reliable gift ideas Cameron Rogers, a New Jersey-based social media content creator and podcast host on wellness and motherhood, understands the stress that gift exchanges can bring up. “Having to give generic gifts to people I’m not necessarily close with is extremely difficult,” Rogers said. “I can pick a good gift for my husband or my kids or my mom, but for people who I don’t know the ins and outs of their lives, I think it’s hard to pick something that you know they’re actually going to enjoy.” Related Articles Health | Researchers launch “moonshot” to cure blindness through eye transplants Health | California halts the sales of raw milk due to bird flu virus contamination Health | Nursing homes fell behind on vaccinating patients for COVID Health | A twice-yearly shot could help end AIDS. But will it get to everyone who needs it? Health | States poised to end coverage for millions if Trump cuts Medicaid funding She recently shared a guide to Secret Santa gifts under $50 on her social media channels, emphasizing how challenging it can be to find something within a set price range that will be well-received. Gifts with a specific purpose — kitchen gadgets, home items or winter gear — and gifts that have a personalized aspect like a monogram are good go-to options for anyone feeling lost after receiving their Secret Santa assignment, she said. Imburg said the “gift gurus” at Elfster also have suggestions, especially for recipients who aren’t offering any clues as to what they’d like. In a similar vein as Rogers, the Elfster team offered ideas for some practical gifts, like water bottles, blankets and massage guns. Other no-nonsense home and kitchen items, like food storage containers, charging stations and more are featured on the site’s “Top Trending Gift Ideas for 2024” list. Gift cards, although they are not particularly glamorous, are an essentially foolproof option, Rogers said, and they won’t leave your recipient wondering where they’ll find room on their shelf for another mug or book. “I don’t want to give someone something solely to check a box,” Rogers said. “I want them to enjoy it, instead of being like, ‘What do I do with this now?’” Embrace Secret Santa as a stress reliever, instead Some gift-givers find that Secret Santa (and its many counterparts like White Elephant and Yankee Swap) actually cuts down on stress and spending, as it’s often done in place of giving individual presents to each member of a group. Nicole Troiano of Cranston, Rhode Island, finds them to be a fun way to handle holidays with large groups — even if co-workers may need to ask around to get specifics on their assigned person. “It’s fun to do it that way and think about something that would be good for that person,” she said. “And then, when they open it, they’re like, ‘Oh my God!’” By the weekend after Thanksgiving, Troiano had already purchased and wrapped her gift for the exchange she’s taking part in this year. After her swap, a lucky participant will be the new owner of a cutting board, two bottles of wine wearing bottle-size ugly sweaters, and gourmet chocolates.casino game website 。

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As part of its commitment to promoting integrity, trust, and positive behavioral change in Nigeria’s public service, Accountability Lab Nigeria on Thursday recognized five exceptional public servants with its 2024 Integrity Icons Award. The awardees are: Inspector Kamoshi Tada from Fagge Police Station, Kano State; Olugbenga Johnson Kuye of the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre (LASAEC); Ezekiel Osemuahu of the Edo State Public Procurement Agency; Temitope Ojoge of Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Ondo State; and Idowu Quadri, serving with the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Agency (LCDA), Lagos State. Speaking at the 8th edition of the Integrity Icon Summit held in Abuja, the Country Director of Accountability Lab, Odeh Friday, explained that the awardees were chosen from over 2,500 nominations submitted by Nigerians. The event was organized in partnership with the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Luminate, and the Yar’Adua Foundation. According to Odeh, Accountability Lab is unwavering in its mission to “name and fame” individuals who uphold honesty, accountability, and responsible leadership in a nation struggling with widespread corruption and a lack of transparency. “We are here today to celebrate amazing public servants who are doing the right thing—exceptionally well—to build trust between citizens and their government offices. Today, the Integrity Icon names and fames them,” Odeh said. Highlighting the initiative’s goal, he added: “For over eight years, we have been building a network of public servants with integrity—people who embody the right behaviors and norms to enhance trust in public service. By celebrating these icons, we aim to inspire hope among Nigerians and show that governance can indeed work for citizens.” Odeh also underscored that integrity in public service extends beyond avoiding bribes: “It’s also about ensuring accurate data reporting, proper procurement practices, and transparency in community projects. These actions build trust in government institutions, and that is why citizens, not us, nominate the icons. We review over 2,500 nominations to ensure their stories meet our criteria.” ALSO READ: Why Soludo awarded 621km of road in less than three years — Commissioner The keynote speaker, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), lamented the low trust Nigerians have in their government. Citing a report, he noted that only 43% of Nigerians express trust in governance, a gap he attributed to corruption, lack of transparency, poor service delivery, and broken promises. Speaking on the topic, “Building Trust in Governance Processes: The Power of Ethical Behaviors and Positive Norms,” Dr. Igbuzor stated: “The trust deficit has profound implications, from political instability and economic downturns to weakened social cohesion. For instance, this deficit has triggered protests and uprisings, such as in Sudan (2019), Sri Lanka (2022), and the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria (2020).” He proposed several practical measures to rebuild trust, including: strengthening governance institutions to enforce ethical standards, promoting inclusive governance to address the diverse needs of society, building capacity for ethical leadership, leveraging technology for accountability, and recognizing and rewarding integrity. Dr. Igbuzor emphasized: “Rebuilding trust in governance is both an urgent necessity and a collective responsibility. Ethical behaviors and positive norms form the cornerstone of trustworthy governance, fostering transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.” “As we celebrate these individuals of integrity, let their example serve as a call to all leaders and institutions to prioritize ethical conduct. Restoring trust is not just about institutional reforms; it’s about restoring hope and confidence in leadership and creating a system where citizens feel represented and valued.” Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel nowS’South Govs Must Work Together For Regional Dev’t — FubaraU.S. House passes bill to avoid government shutdown, sends it to Senate for approval

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Industrial gases sector expands capacity KARACHI: The industrial gases sector is undergoing significant expansion as companies invest in new plants and enhance the capacity of existing facilities. These developments aim to ensure a steady supply of gases to meet the needs of the healthcare sector, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and the growing demands of other industries within the large-scale manufacturing (LSM) sector. Sector data reveals that the full operational impact of new plants on revenue and market share is yet to be realised. Upcoming contracts and facility relocations are also expected to influence the sector’s financial performance. The rising demand for specialty gases, such as argon and rare gases (neon, krypton and xenon), is being driven by advancements in research and technology industries. Meanwhile, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, commonly used in packaged foods to maintain freshness, are experiencing increased demand due to a higher consumption of canned and packaged products. The sector has demonstrated improved margins and stronger interest coverage ratios, indicating financial resilience. However, an increase in working capital days raises concerns about cash flow management, underscoring the importance of optimal working capital practices. In FY24, the sector’s actual production capacity stood at 119.3 million units, a 1.6 per cent decline from 121.3 million units in FY23. Pakistan Oxygen contributed 51.8 per cent of the total production, while Ghani Chemicals accounted for 48.2 per cent. The marginal decline in production was attributed to slower demand and subdued performance across the overall LSM sector. Despite these challenges, the expansion plans of key players are expected to boost production capacity. This growth will likely enhance the availability of medical gases for hospitals and support CPEC-related development projects as the economy recovers, driving future demand. The sector is on the brink of significant milestones, including the commissioning of the fifth Air Separation Unit (ASU) plant and an import-substitute chemical project by a major player in the Hattar Special Economic Zone. These projects are in their final phases and are expected to commence operations soon. Domestic production continues to dominate the supply of industrial gases, with imports accounting for less than 1.0 per cent of total supply despite a gradual increase in import volumes over the years. The sector’s performance indicators remained robust in FY24 and are expected to strengthen further with economic stabilization and consolidation. However, challenges such as slower-than-expected growth in the LSM sector, higher energy costs, and increasing working capital days could temper the sector’s anticipated growth trajectory.Closing the year with Ayaz Melo: Part - I There were dozens of sessions that attracted thousands of participants who remained engaged with discussions Participants enjoying music at Ayaz Melo Hyderabad. — Facebook@AyazMelo/File November and December appear to be favourite months for cultural and literary festivals in the various cities of Pakistan: Islamabad Literary Festival (ILF), Multan Literary Festival (MLF) that the organisers had to postpone at the last moment due to smog, Faisalabad Literary Festival (FLF), International Cultural Festival and Aalami Urdu Conference in Karachi, and finally Ayaz Melo in Hyderabad from December 20 to 22. It was the 10th Ayaz Melo that has become a hallmark of Hyderabad , the second largest city of Sindh. The moving forces behind this Melo are four women: Amar Sindhu, Arfana Mallah, Haseen Musarrat, and Zakia Aijaz. Men such as Imdad Chandio, Majeed Chandio, and Taj Joyo provide ample support to the team helping them navigate through the arrangements. Speakers come from across Pakistan, making this festival truly cosmopolitan. This year too, there were dozens of sessions and book launches that attracted thousands of participants who remained engaged with the discussions. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); For the 10th Ayaz Melo, the organisers extended the invitation to this columnist to be the keynote speaker at the inaugural session. I gladly accepted the invitation and delivered the keynote address discussing the increasing extremism in Sindh and in the rest of the country. I also outlined some avenues to build a pathway towards a more tolerant society. I began by giving some background to extremist tendencies in Sindh citing examples from history and then moved on to define and delineate the concepts of extremism and toleration. Here I present a summary of what I said in my keynote address at the Ayaz Melo. Traditionally, Sindh and other provinces of Pakistan – and the rest of the Indian subcontinent – have remained overall tolerant societies for ages. Nearly all areas of Pakistan have experienced influxes of people coming from other countries located on eastern and western borders. The intermingling of cultures and genes inculcated a sense of diversity among the local people who mostly welcomed people from outside, especially when they came to seek refuge from atrocities in their own lands. Sindh, perhaps, was the most tolerant of the areas that now constitute Pakistan. So if the local people have been tolerant and welcoming, how come this region is witnessing the worst kind of extremism and intolerance now? It appears that some myopic rulers and sectarian leaders at various times in history have tried to impose some strict codes of conduct that led to extremism. For example, the reign of Jam Nizamuddin II – commonly known as Jam Nindo – in Sindh was a fairly tolerant period in the 15th and 16th centuries. But after the end of the Samma dynasty in the early 1500s, Sindh came under the rule of the Arghuns and the Tarkhans in quick succession. That was followed by nearly a century of Mughal rule starting in the 1590s when Sindh became a province of the Mughal empire known as Thatta Suba. The Mughals appointed subedars (provincial administrators) who were not always tolerant rulers. Ultimately when Kalhoro subedars declared independence and formed their own dynasty of rulers in the 18th century, an intolerant course became the official policy in Sindh. GM Syed in his book ‘Peghaam-e-Lateef’ has reproduced orders by Kalhoro rulers announcing strict imposition of religious codes of conduct across his domain. That was the time when Makhdoom Bilawal, Inaayat Shah Sufi, and Shah Lateef emerged as sane voices of tolerance promoting harmony in society. Shah Lateef delivered messages of diversity and did not confine himself to any one religion or sect. He followed the path of Shah Inaayat and Makhdoom Bilawal who believed in the supremacy of common people over some exalted castes and creeds. The universality of Shah Lateef’s message resonates throughout his Risalo (poetry collection) which contains over 30 surs. Reading and comprehending the poetry of Shah Lateef can play an essential role in trying to counter extremism and promoting tolerance in Sindh. With this background, we may try to identify and understand several types of extremism prevalent in our society such as cultural, ethnic, gender-based, political, religious and social extremisms. Cultural extremism can be defined as a form of extremism that promotes one particular culture but does not tolerate any other culture. Cultural extremism promotes hatred against cultural diversity and the expression of different ideas. The organisers of Ayaz Melo have faced such extremism from the beginning but this year there was outright onslaught criticising the Melo for its content, funding, and presentations. The main thrust of this criticism was against the partial funding that the Melo receives from the culture department of Sindh. Some claimed that the Melo had become a mouthpiece of the PPP government – I for one can vouch that there has been no soft corner for the PPP government in the discussions and speeches at the Melo. Most speakers pointed out the shortcomings of the provincial government, but this was not enough for the critics of the Melo. Cultural extremism was also evident when the songs and dances at the Melo also came under close scrutiny and some people objected to the festive mood of a literary festival that according to them should have been more serious. This cultural extremism also reflected itself in gender-based extremism as the main organisers of the Ayaz Melo are overwhelmingly women. Amar Sindhu, Arfana Mallah, Haseen Musarrat, Zakia Aijaz and others were all at the receiving end of this gender-based extremism. There were social media campaigns against them, but these courageous women continued their marvellous work and once again proved that no cultural or gender-based extremism could halt their progress or dampen their spirits. This was tantamount to gender-based violence that may not be physical but was verbal. Ethnic extremism often takes the form of narrow nationalism in which one ethnic group claims superiority or exclusive rights to a city, province, or territory. This ethnic extremism tries to exclude other ethnic or linguistic groups from their sphere of influence to impose a uniform ethnic code with a single identity. Such extremism is not new in countries such as Pakistan where ethnicity has played a crucial role in recent history. The organised profiling and targeting of various groups such as students studying in a province other than their own is an example of ethnic extremism. Political extremism in Pakistan manifests itself when one or more political groups do not allow other political entities to function freely and consistently target them as enemies. Altaf Hussain and his politics in Sindh is an example of political extremism as he promoted the use of arms against his opponents and organised gangs that tortured and maimed activists belonging to other ethnic groups and political parties. Imran Khan and his fascist tendencies are another example of this political extremism, which has been an integral part of PTI politics since its inception. Religious extremism is perhaps the most devastating type of intolerance as it encourages common people to follow a certain interpretation of a particular religion or sect. From younger to older people in Pakistan, all segments of society appear to have taken a lead from various extremist groups that use slogans promoting violence. Lynching and targeted killings have been on the rise in the country. From Dr Shahnawaz Kunbhar in Sindh to Priyantha Kumara in Punjab to Mishal Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are thousands of victims of this religious extremism that has even affected security personnel who at times violate the law to target the accused. Social extremism promotes an ideology that is based on intolerance, hatred or violence aiming to deny or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others. This type of extremism is interconnected with other types as we notice increasing incidents in which all types of extremism come together to make this society a hellish place for those who dare to differ in any cultural, political, religious or social ways. To be continued The writer holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, UK. He tweets/posts @NaazirMahmood and can be reached at: mnazir1964@yahoo.co.uk'Why fish only cut Pakistan's cable': Bilawal slams PML-N govt over 'internet slowdown'

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Chinese consul general visits LCCI for trade ties, strong partnershipLOS ANGELES , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that investors with substantial losses have opportunity to lead the securities fraud class action lawsuit against ASML Holding N.V. ("ASML" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: ASML ). Class Period: January 24, 2024 – October 15, 2024 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: January 13, 2025 If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the ASML lawsuit, you can submit your contact information at www.glancylaw.com/cases/asml-holding-nv/ . You can also contact Charles H. Linehan , of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights. The complaint filed alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the issues being faced by suppliers, like ASML, in the semiconductor industry were much more severe than Defendants had indicated to investors; (2) the pace of recovery of sales in the semiconductor industry was much slower than Defendants had publicly acknowledged; (3) Defendants had created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to customer demand and anticipated growth, while also downplaying risk from macroeconomic and industry fluctuations, as well as stronger regulations restricting the export of semiconductor technology, including the products that ASML sells; and (4) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , Twitter , or Facebook . To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire , of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to [email protected] , or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com . If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Contacts Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP , Los Angeles Charles Linehan , 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 [email protected] www.glancylaw.com SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP

Could comeback spark winning streak for West Virginia or NCCU?Horizon Aircraft Secures $8.4 Million Strategic Investment

What antitrust enforcement will look like during a second Trump administration is, like antitrust law, complicated. Notions that Republicans are pro-business and therefore will take a laissez-faire approach to antitrust enforcement are outdated and simplistic. During Trump’s first term antitrust enforcement was far from moribund , blending traditional Republican preferences for deregulation with a populist skepticism toward Big Tech and market concentration generally. This anomalistic meeting of progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans in the antitrust space even garnered a mash-up moniker – the “ Khanservaties ” – a group of conservative Republicans including Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and erstwhile Attorney General nominee and former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who praised Biden-appointed Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan. Vice President-elect J. D. Vance also provided backhanded praise for Khan, stating , “I look at Lina Khan as one of the few people in the Biden administration that I think is doing a pretty good job.” Ironically, while for distinct reasons and from opposite sides of the political spectrum, leaders in both political parties have favored a pro-worker, anti-tech antitrust agenda that has permeated antitrust enforcement for the last 8 years. Antitrust “techlash,” at least against disfavored tech companies, and a focus on workers will likely continue during Trump’s second term. We predict antitrust enforcement during the second Trump administration will be unpredictable, and probably idiosyncratic, likely reflecting president-elect Trump’s views of specific companies or industries. That said, we expect criminal antitrust enforcement priorities will remain much the same, while FTC likely will take a less aggressive stances regarding the use of competition rulemaking and the exercise of enforcement powers under Section 5 of the FTC Act (e.g., the non-compete rule), as well as mothballing Robinson-Patman Act enforcement. Merger review is harder to predict and will be a mixed bag, as described below. Antitrust Agency Leadership & Staff – Some Stay and Some Will Go On December 4, 2024, President-Elect Trump announced that Gail Slater would be nominated to be the Assistant Attorney General (AAG) for Antitrust at the Department of Justice (DOJ), stating “Big Tech has run wild for years, stifling competition in our most innovative sector and, as we all know, using its market power to crack down on the rights of so many Americans, as well as those of Little Tech! I was proud to fight these abuses in my First Term, and our Department of Justice’s antitrust team will continue that work under Gail’s leadership.” Slater has been an economic advisor to then-Senator J.D. Vance, an attorney advisor and staff attorney at the Federal Trade Commission and held roles at an Internet Trade Association and Fox. Her focus has been on tech policy. Plans for the FTC have not been announced. If FTC Chair Khan resigns, as is typical when there is a presidential party change, one of the two Republican Commissioners is expected to be named acting FTC Chair. This will leave two Republican Commissioners and two Democratic Commissioners until a replacement is confirmed, likely creating an impasse for any non-bipartisan decisions and slowing Commission decision-making. Although top political positions at both the FTC and DOJ change when the political party that holds the White House changes, each agency is comprised primarily of career staff. While there is much buzz about career staff worry and departures , it is also notable that during the Biden administration the DOJ Antitrust Division did a lot of hiring , and those attorneys will continue to do work through political transition. Antitrust Agency Resources – Can they Dodge the DOGE? The newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) executive advisory committee to be co-chaired by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and focused on government efficiency will likely have its sights set on antitrust enforcement agencies. The One Agency Act , makes the FTC low-lying fruit for the DOGE. The Act, which passed out of the House Judiciary Committee in April 2024, would consolidate antitrust enforcement authority by transferring all FTC antitrust functions, employees, assets, and funding to the DOJ. The FTC would maintain its consumer protection authority. Similar legislation proposed to end the overlap in FTC and DOJ merger review and civil investigation authority has been previously unsuccessful, but the Act’s prospects for passage seem higher now given the Republican majorities in both houses of Congress. The FTC and DOJ’s informal clearance process for civil antitrust matters has been derided for inefficiency and would seem an easy focus for the DOGE’s prioritization of government efficiency. While personnel and open matters could move from FTC to DOJ this consolidation would be substantively significant if accomplished. For instance, the FTC has expanded its investigations of unfair methods of competition under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which it claims provides for broader enforcement of than the Sherman Act, and that vehicle would likely cease to exist if the antitrust enforcement is consolidated within DOJ. Possible antitrust enforcement consolidation within DOJ makes President-elect Trump’s pick of Gail Slater to lead the DOJ Antitrust Division even more significant. Criminal Enforcement – Likely to Stay the Same Cartels have been called the “the Supreme evil of antitrust” by the Supreme Court and criminally prosecuting agreements among competitors to fix prices, rig bids, or allocate markets or employees are likely to remain a high priority for the DOJ’s Antitrust Division during Trump’s second term. Notably, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General (DAAG) for Criminal Enforcement at the DOJ’s Antitrust Division is not a political appointee and the current criminal leadership typically stays intact through administration changes, providing continuity for the Antitrust Division’s criminal program. In addition, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division has the sole authority to criminally prosecute antitrust offenses under the Sherman Act, the One Agency act would not impact continuity in criminal prosecution. While Biden administration antitrust enforcement was touted as aggressive, DOJ’s own criminal enforcement statistics show that during the first Trump administration the number of criminal antitrust cases filed and the amount of total criminal fines and penalties were slightly higher than during the Biden Administration. With past as prologue, we do not anticipate a dip in criminal antitrust enforcement during the second Trump administration, although administration priorities may change. One area we expect to remain an antitrust priority during the next administration is criminally prosecuting collusion relating to government contracts, procurement, and funding. The Antitrust Division-led Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) has been highly active prosecuting price fixing, bid rigging, market allocation and related fraud relating to government procurement and funds during the Biden Administration, but it was actually launched in 2019 during the first Trump Administration. The prosecution of collusion where government taxpayer dollars are lost typically garners bipartisan support and is notably consistent with desire for government efficiency espoused as part of Trump’s 2024 campaign platform. Accordingly, we expect the DOJ to continue to continue to support the PCSF’s focus on prosecuting fraud, waste, and collusion in government procurement during the second Trump Administration. We also expect criminal enforcement of labor-focused cases including criminal investigation and prosecution of no poach and wage fixing cases to continue in the second Trump administration, as it remained an antitrust focus from 2016-2020 and the original criminal cases in this area were brought during Trump’s first term. One area of uncertainty in the criminal antitrust space is whether the Antitrust Division will continue its focus on criminal monopolization cases. In 2022, the Antitrust Division announced that it intended to criminally investigate and prosecute individuals or companies who violate Section 2 of the Sherman Act and proceeded to bring its first criminal monopolization cases. This was a marked change after decades of criminal antitrust enforcement focusing solely on hardcore, per se anticompetitive agreements like price fixing, bid rigging or market allocation among two or more horizontal competitors under Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Section 2 of the Sherman Act traditionally focuses on alleged unilateral anticompetitive practices by one company used to maintain or obtain its monopoly, and these alleged violations are typically brought as civil monopolization cases (e.g. tech cases). These cases are likely to be resource intensive given the need to prove an intent to monopolize to a beyond a reasonable doubt standard and may be deprioritized by the new administration. Overall, we expect criminal antitrust enforcement to remain much the same as it has been for the last eight years. Merger Review: All I Need is a Remedy The Biden administration’s DOJ and FTC effectuated three significant merger review policy changes, and it is possible that all three may be reversed in the Trump Administration. First, the Agencies revised substantially the Merger Guidelines, which is the substantive framework they use to evaluate whether they consider a proposed transaction to substantially lessen competition under Section 7 of the Clayton Act. Given those new Guidelines have been in place for only a year and the subject of considerable controversy (perhaps most notably taking the position that a firm with 30% market share should be considered “dominant” under existing antitrust law), it is possible, and perhaps even likely, they will be withdrawn, and the agencies will go back to operating under the 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines. Second, the agencies finalized new Hart-Scott-Rodino Act rules , which will be effective February 10 th , 2025. The new rules expand the types of information merging parties must provide and have been the subject of some criticism in the market. They were issued on a bi-partisan basis (a unanimous vote at the FTC), however, and we do not expect the new administration to withdraw or revise them, Third, during the Biden administration, FTC and DOJ have shown severe skepticism toward remedies (i.e., settlements) in mergers, with only a handful of remedies accepted by the agencies. Prior to the Biden administration, structural remedies, whereby the merging parties divest a product or line of business to a third party to resolve the agency’s competitive concerns, were common, with both agencies issuing specific merger remedies guidance. We expect the agencies to return to this practice in a Trump Administration. Aside from policy, the merger enforcement records of the previous few administrations is fairly consistent, but also difficult to gauge as we discussed in a previous post . In addition to the tech industry, transactions in the healthcare industry have consistently been subject to scrutiny across administrations. That said, we do think that one industry – private equity – will not be the target it has been under the Biden administration . Robust Civil Antitrust Enforcement, Techlash, and Focus on AI – Likely to Continue Big Tech has faced heightened antitrust scrutiny, and we expect tech and AI are likely to remain under the antitrust microscope during Trump’s second term. Trump and Congressional Republicans have railed against Big Tech consolidation and tech monopolies as a threat to free speech excluding conservative voices. Concerns of a different focus, but concerns with the same tech targets, nonetheless. While Trump also has high-powered backers in tech, including Elon Musk, we can expect antitrust “techlash” to continue during the next Trump Administration, at least against tech companies who have fallen out of Trump’s favor. Trump’s nomination of Gail Slater as AAG for Antitrust at the DOJ and his statements about big tech running wild and stifling competition when announcing her nomination further underscore this resolve. AI and the use of antitrust law as a means to reign in those who wield its power is a hot area of focus without much clarity on how the next administration will proceed. One thing that is clear is that President-elect Trump intends to end the Biden AI Executive. As stated in the 2024 GOP Platform , “We will repeal Joe Biden’s dangerous Executive Order that hinders AI Innovation, and imposes Radical Leftwing ideas on the development of this technology. In its place, Republicans support AI Development rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Trump repeated this numerous times on the campaign trail. What, if anything, the Trump administration will do in the AI space remains to be seen. So, we are likely to see an overall tension between a desire for deregulation and a desire to protect from perceived AI risks, and we will be watching closely how the next administration tackles those issues and the use of antitrust laws for this purpose. Conclusion While we expect some easing of antitrust pressures for merging parties, we also expect robust but likely unpredictable and possibly selective antitrust enforcement over the next four years that attempts to balance a desire for deregulation with a dash of Khan-era populist beliefs and continued disdain for Big Tech. State enforcers and private litigants are not beholden to the President, and it is expected they will both step up enforcement and litigation and play a prominent role in antitrust over the next four years. So, buckle up, and have your antitrust counsel on speed dial while we navigate the antitrust road ahead.Shares of SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated ( NASDAQ:SBC – Get Free Report ) shot up 4.7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $5.62 and last traded at $5.62. 8,533 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average session volume of 46,697 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.37. SBC Medical Group Stock Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 2.76. The business has a 50-day moving average of $6.59. SBC Medical Group Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) SBC Medical Group Holdings Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides services to support the operation of clinics which deliver specialized medical services in the areas of cosmetic medicine, esthetic dentistry and Androgenetic Alopecia or AGA, primarily in Japan and centered on the SBC Shonan Beauty Clinic Brand. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for SBC Medical Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SBC Medical Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .