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NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Tuesday and marked its first back-to-back losses in three weeks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite also fell 0.3%. Oracle dragged on the market after reporting weaker growth than analysts expected. Treasury yields rose in the bond market ahead of Wednesday’s inflation report, which will be among the final big pieces of data before the Federal Reserve’s meeting on interest rates next week. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Tyler Seguin needs hip surgery, jeopardizing his season with the Dallas StarsPrabath Jayasuriya says control is key after reaching latest milestone
The Village of Valemount hosted consultants from Strategies North, the consultancy firm Council contracted to develop a business recovery plan, last Wednesday, November 27th. Over the next six months, the firm will gather information on the economic impacts of this summer’s highway closures, lobby the provincial and federal government for more financial support of local businesses, and to find other potential solutions to help struggling businesses survive. Attendees discussed the challenges they have faced as a result of the highway closures, as well as immediate and long-term solutions for struggling business owners in Valemount. The boom-and-bust cycle of a mostly tourism-dependent economy puts business owners in a precarious place, said Michele Dallaire, owner of Infinity Office and Health. “We need to focus on the long-term, on finding people with greater capacity to spend locally,” Dallaire said. “If there are no jobs here, if rent is outrageous, then families are just struggling to meet everyday needs. Spending extra is just not going to happen.” However, attendees agreed that immediate financial aid would be a boon to businesses in the short term. “Most of us, we’re looking for some kind of grant funding to help financially float our businesses through the tough times,” said Sherrie Houghton, owner of Emerald Earth Organic Spa. “But long-term, we’re looking for some kind of solution as to how we can have more people here in Valemount to keep the community running.” President of Strategies North Grant Barley said he wasn’t surprised to hear businesses are struggling. “When you start adding up COVID, the fluctuations in weather with snowpack, then the fire, the compound effects this particular town has been dealt is tough,” he told The Goat. “I’m sure other places in Canada have those kinds of challenges, but in a B.C. context, it’s pretty unique to be impacted greatly by a fire, but not in your community.” Still, Barley said he was happy to hear that business owners are determined to stay afloat. “The one reassuring piece is when you talk to a group of entrepreneurs and somehow see they’re doing what they can to survive and look at things in a positive way,” he said. “It always gives me a sense of optimism, that sense of mentality that it takes to open a business.” It has been difficult for the Village to access government grants, since the emergency that caused the economic downturn took place in a different province, as Mayor Owen Torgerson remarked during the November 12th Council meeting. Barley said this is a challenge, but believes there may be ways for Strategies North to work around it. “We’ve had success in the past in convincing government departments to look at the way they’re administering that grant money differently on a short-term or medium-term basis because of a specific set of events,” he said. “It’s all about making it politically advantageous for them to support Valemount. It’s pretty easy when you sit in a room with them and have these discussions. You can see how important it is.” Barley added that grants may not be the only option: a tax deferment could also provide relief to Valemount businesses, he said. In any case, the firm will get creative in its efforts to provide support. “It’s trying to find out what [businesses] need and then use a variety of mechanisms to get them through this next period so that they survive it and can get back to business in the summer,” he said.Path of Exile 2 's early access launch is upon us, and while the servers are still struggling to come online, the game's already breaking its predecessor's player count records. Path of Exile 2 immediately skyrocketed to 439,472 concurrent players on Steam, even without the servers being open for business. That doesn't even count the players hopping in on PlayStation and Xbox, but it's nearly double the original game's all-time Steam record. If that's how many people were firing up the game just to stare at a login screen, I think it's fair to say we've got a bonafide hit on our hands. You can check the stats for yourself over on SteamDB - now, anyway, since the third-party tracking site apparently crashed because of everybody trying to find out how the game was doing. As I write this, developer Grinding Gear Games is still working to get Path of Exile 2 online , saying that the launch is "relatively imminent" after "a last minute crash." You can follow the developer's social media for fast updates on the state of the game. If you're looking for a way to spend the time while waiting for the servers come up, you can check out our Path of Exile 2 review . While it's too early to give the game a score, Alessandro reckons it's "a stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure." Check out our guide to the best Path of Exile 2 classes for a head start when you can finally get into the action-RPG.FOSTER CITY, Calif., Dec. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apollomics Inc. (Nasdaq: APLM) (the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing medicines to address difficult-to-treat cancers, today announced that on December 10, 2024, it received a notification (the “Notice”) from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) stating that the Company has regained compliance with the requirement to maintain a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share, as set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Requirement”), and Nasdaq has determined to continue the listing of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares (“Class A Ordinary Shares”) on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “APLM.” On December 10, 2024, Nasdaq confirmed that for the ten consecutive business days from November 25, 2024 to December 9, 2024, the closing bid price of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares was at $1.00 per share or greater. Accordingly, the Company has regained compliance with the Nasdaq Bid Price Requirement and the matter is closed. About Apollomics Inc. Apollomics Inc. is an innovative clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of oncology therapies with the potential to be combined with other treatment options to harness the immune system and target specific molecular pathways to inhibit cancer. Apollomics’ lead program is vebreltinib (APL-101), a potent, selective c-Met inhibitor for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer and other advanced tumors with c-Met alterations, which is currently in a Phase 2 multicohort clinical trial in the United States and over 10 other countries. For more information, please visit www.apollomicsinc.com . Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding the Company’s strategy, prospects, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Apollomics cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with any of the other Nasdaq continued listing requirements, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Apollomics. In addition, Apollomics cautions you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including: (i) the impact of any current or new government regulations in the United States and China affecting Apollomics’ operations and the continued listing of Apollomics’ securities; (ii) the inability to achieve successful clinical results or to obtain licensing of third-party intellectual property rights for future discovery and development of Apollomics’ oncology projects; (iii) the failure to commercialize product candidates and achieve market acceptance of such product candidates; (iv) the failure to protect Apollomics’ intellectual property; (v) breaches in data security; (vi) the risk that Apollomics may not be able to develop and maintain effective internal controls; (vii) unfavorable changes to the regulatory environment; and (viii) those risks and uncertainties discussed in the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed by Apollomics Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the heading “Risk Factors” and the other documents filed, or to be filed, by the Company with the SEC. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact the operations and projections discussed herein can be found in the reports that Apollomics has filed and will file from time to time with the SEC. These SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov . Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made by the Company. Apollomics undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of its forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. Investor Contact: Eric Ribner LifeSci Advisors, LLC (646) 751-4363 eric@lifesciadvisors.com
Them or us? | EDITORIAL CARTOONAUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTC Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTCI), a leading provider of solar tracker systems, today announced that it has closed a previously announced private placement of senior secured promissory notes (the “Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) and warrants (the “Warrants”). The offering closed on December 4, 2024. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 11% per annum if payable in cash or, at the Company’s option, 13% per annum if paid-in-kind and will mature on December 4, 2029. The Warrants are exercisable for five (5) years to purchase an aggregate of 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.10, subject to adjustment under certain circumstances described in the Warrants. The Company is utilizing the proceeds of the offering for balance sheet support, growth acceleration and general corporate purposes. About FTC Solar Inc. Founded in 2017 by a group of renewable energy industry veterans, FTC Solar is a leading provider of solar tracker systems, technology, software, and engineering services. Solar trackers significantly increase energy production at solar power installations by dynamically optimizing solar panel orientation to the sun. FTC Solar’s innovative tracker designs provide compelling performance and reliability, with an industry-leading installation cost-per-watt advantage. FTC Solar Contact: Bill Michalek Vice President, Investor Relations FTC Solar T: (737) 241-8618 E: IR@FTCSolar.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on our current expectations and projections regarding our business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. In addition, this press release contains statements about third parties and their commercial activity. We have not independently verified or confirmed such statements and have instead relied on the veracity of information as provided to us by such third parties related to such statements. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities as predictions of future events, as actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities because of several factors, including those described in more detail above and in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained therein. FTC Solar undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements or statements related to third parties or their commercial activities contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.
Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in little more than a month, on the eve of Assad's fall called Syria "a mess" and stated in his plain-speaking style that the United States should not be involved. Joe Biden's administration, after putting Syria on the backburner in a turbulent region, has offered a tacit rebuttal by stating that clear US interests are at stake -- including preventing Syria from fragmenting and avoiding a resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group. Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump's and Biden's statements could be combined and "together they make a kind of decent policy." The United States needs to address real concerns about the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda but "as far as getting involved in arranging the politics of Syria, I think that no good can come from it," Cook said. Since the presidency of Barack Obama, the United States has walked a fine line on Syria that critics often derided as a non-policy. The United States questioned the legitimacy of Assad, demanding accountability for brutality in one of the 21st century's deadliest wars, but stopped short of prioritizing his departure due to suspicions about the main rebels. The Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has now led Assad's ouster, traces its roots to Syria's Al-Qaeda branch and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States. Since Obama's time, the United States instead has allied itself in Syria with a smaller fighting force of the Kurdish minority -- over strenuous objections of neighboring Turkey, which backs HTS -- with a narrow mission to counter the Islamic State group. Some 900 US troops remain in Syria. Assad fell in a lighting surprise offensive as his protector Russia is bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine and after Israel's military heavily degraded Assad's other key supporters -- Iran and Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Robert Ford, the last US ambassador to Syria, helped spearhead the terrorist designation of HTS in 2012 but said that the group since then has not attacked US or Western targets and has instead fought Al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces. Ford also pointed with hope to post-victory statements by rebel chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, including welcoming international monitoring of any chemical weapons that are discovered. "Can you imagine Osama bin Laden saying that?" said Ford, now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. "I'm not saying 'trust Jolani.' He's obviously authoritarian. He's obviously an Islamist who doesn't believe that Christians have an equal right to power as Muslims. But I sure as hell want to test him on some of these things," Ford said. He said that the United States should encourage HTS, as well as other Syrian actors, to reach out and reassure the country's diverse communities including Christians, Kurds and Alawites -- the sect of the secular-oriented Assad. Beyond that, Washington should take a back-seat and let Syrians sort out their future, he said. "We should learn from the experience in Iraq that trying to impose exiles on a population traumatized by a brutal dictatorship and war is not a recipe for success," Ford said. Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday offered US recognition to a future government that is "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian." Trump in his first term, at the urging of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, abruptly said he would pull troops out of Syria. He backtracked after intense criticism at home and appeals from French President Emmanuel Macron, who pointed to the risk of Islamic State filling the vacuum. Trump has not indicated how he would change Syria policy this time. But he has shown no reluctance in the past to negotiate with foreign adversaries on the US blacklist, from Afghanistan's Taliban to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said there was no legal restriction on US contact with designated terrorists, although he indicated there was no direct dialogue with HTS. Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Syria could face "devastating economic and humanitarian consequences" unless the United States reconsiders the terrorist designation of HTS, which impedes aid groups. "That said," she said, "if there isn't sort of an established framework for negotiations and good behavior now, before that designation is lifted, that could potentially also be a major mistake down the line for Syria's future." sct/smsScheffler goes on a run of birdies in the Bahamas and leads by 2Advocacy Software Global Market Report 2024: Rapid Growth At A Rate Of 12.8% Predicted In Coming Years
Activist Threatens Retaliation, Calls for 'Black Vigilantes' After Daniel Penny Acquitted: 'How About We Do the Same'President-elect Donald Trump is trying to get the Georgia election interference case against him dismissed, asserting that the state's courts will not have jurisdiction over him once he returns to the White House next month. The Georgia case against Trump and others is mostly on hold pending a pretrial appeal of an order allowing prosecutor Fani Willis to remain on the case despite what defense attorneys say is a conflict of interest. Trump's attorneys on Wednesday filed a notice with the Georgia Court of Appeals saying a sitting president is “completely immune from indictment or any criminal process, state or federal.” The filing asks the appeals court to consider before he becomes president next month whether it has jurisdiction to continue to hear the case. It says the court should conclude that it and the trial court lack jurisdiction “as the continued indictment and prosecution of President Trump by the State of Georgia are unconstitutional.” Trump's lawyers ask that the appeals court dismiss his appeal for lack of jurisdiction and instruct the trial court to immediately dismiss the indictment against him. RELATED STORY | American foreign policy is flowing through Mar-a-Lago as Trump prepares for White House return Also Wednesday, former Trump campaign lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in the case, asked the trial court judge to invalidate that plea. Chesebro was one of four people to plead guilty in the case in the months following the indictment. Representatives for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis declined to comment on Trump's and Chesebro's requests. The Georgia case, which originally included 19 defendants and dozens of charges, was the most sprawling of four criminal cases against the once-and-future president. U.S. Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith last week told judges he was withdrawing both federal cases against Trump, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that shields a president from indictment while in office. One of those cases charged him with hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate. The other accused him of scheming to overturn the 2020 presidential election he lost. Trump on Monday asked a Manhattan judge to throw out his conviction in his hush money case , saying that continuing to pursue it would present unconstitutional “disruptions to the institution of the Presidency.“ The New York case was the only one of Trump’s four criminal indictments to go to trial, resulting in a historic verdict that made him the first former president to be convicted of a crime. In the Georgia case, Trump and some of the other remaining defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, were already seeking to have Willis removed from the prosecution or to have the indictment dismissed. They cited a romantic relationship she had with Nathan Wade , a special prosecutor she appointed to lead the case. Willis and Wade have acknowledged that they had a relationship but have said it began after he was hired and ended before the indictment against Trump was filed. Trump and other defendants argued that the relationship created a conflict of interest that should disqualify Willis and her office from continuing with her prosecution of the case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis’ actions showed a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” but he did not find a conflict of interest that would disqualify Willis. He said she could continue her prosecution as long as Wade stepped aside, which he did. The appeal of that ruling remains pending but must be decided by March. Chesebro was charged in August 2023, alongside Trump and 17 others , in the sprawling indictment accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to overturn Trump's loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. He pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy count a few months later after reaching a deal with prosecutors just before he was to go to trial. His lawyer on Wednesday asked Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee to invalidate the plea after McAfee in September tossed out the charge to which he had pleaded guilty. “In Georgia, a defendant cannot plead guilty to a charge that does not constitute a crime,” defense attorney Manny Arora wrote, adding that a failure to invalidate his plea would violate Chesebro's constitutional right to due process. Prosecutors have said Chesebro was part of a plot to have a group of 16 Georgia Republicans sign a certificate falsely saying that Trump had won Georgia and declaring themselves the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors. He pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one felony charge of conspiracy to commit filing false documents related to the the filing of that document with the federal court in Atlanta. In a September ruling, McAfee wrote that punishing someone for filing certain documents with a federal court would “enable a state to constrict the scope of materials assessed by a federal court and impair the administration of justice in that tribunal to police its own proceedings.” He concluded that the count must be quashed “as beyond the jurisdiction of this State.”
Trump seeks to have Georgia election case dismissed, citing presidential immunity
After a long and winding journey, three-star quarterback Bekkem Kritza finally signed with Penn State. Kritza, the No. 37 quarterback in the country, committed to Penn State on Nov. 11, 2023, as one of the longest-tenured commitments in this 2025 class. As the only quarterback in Penn State’s class as of now, he visited campus 12 times over the years. The QB was Penn State’s 13th signee on signing day Wednesday. At 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Kritza hailed from Colorado when he made the commitment to Penn State, but he moved back home to Florida for his senior season and started the year at Miami Central. He lost the starting quarterback job at Miami Central and wound up transferring to Chaminade-Madonna Prep midseason, where he led an upset win over St. Thomas Aquinas in his early October debut. Despite the adversity-filled path to becoming a Lion, things have worked out for Kritza. He’ll be leading Chaminade-Madonna in the state semifinals this weekend against Trinity Christian Academy. He’s a talented thrower of the football who has struggled with accuracy at times, but coach James Franklin was excited to get Kritza officially on this recruiting class. “Once you get on campus, we’ll be there to support you every step of the way,” Franklin said Wednesday. “It’s not always going to be easy. It’ll be challenging. But you’re built for that, and it’s going to be awesome to watch you grow and thrive here under the Penn State umbrella.” All-time Penn State passing leader Sean Clifford, currently with the Green Bay Packers, welcomed Kritza to Happy Valley. “Welcome to the Penn State family,” Clifford said. “Can’t wait to see you become the next great Penn State quarterback.” Penn State signed 26 players Wednesday, including five from WPIAL schools — Imani Christian defensive lineman Dayshaun Burnett, Aliquippa running back Tikey Hayes, North Catholic offensive lineman Brady O’Hara, Latrobe linebacker Alex Tatsch and Central Catholic defensive back Xxavier Thomas. Burnett, a four-star and the No. 11 player in Pennsylvania, is expected to become an edge rusher. Franklin called Hayes, a three-star prospect and the No. 12 player in Pennsylvania, one of the more underappreciated running backs in the country. He is also the nephew of cornerbacks coach/associate head coach Terry Smith, who leads Penn State ’s recruiting efforts in the Pittsburgh area. Originally recruited as a tight end, O’Hara will enroll as an offensive lineman. He’s a three-star and the No. 15 player in Pennsylvania. Tatsch, a four-star recruit and No. 7 player in Pennsylvania, had an injury that limited him to five games this year but is expected to be a big part of the future linebacking corps. Thomas visited Penn State 17 times and never went anywhere else in the process, according to On3. He’s ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 14 player in Pennsylvania. Another notable signing was LaVar Arrington II, the son of “Linebacker U” legend LaVar Arrington. He is a four-star linebacker from Charter Oak High School (Calif.). Arrington is ranked as high as the No. 9 linebacker and the No. 127 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, according to 247 Sports. The elder Arrington was a two-time first-team All-American who racked up 173 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in his Penn State career. Arrington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Penn State signed 23 recruits who were rated four stars or higher by 247Sports, On3, ESPN or Rivals. The class has players from 10 different states. There are 13 offensive players and 13 defensive players.The Washington Commanders released 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, cutting ties with another high draft pick from the previous regime. All of previous coach Ron Rivera's first-rounders — including edge rusher Chase Young in 2020, linebacker Jamin Davis in ‘21 and wide receiver Jahan Dotson in '22 — are now gone. Forbes never showed progress to the new staff led by coach Dan Quinn and was a healthy scratch twice this season and did not play in two other games during which the 23-year-old was in uniform. It's unclear if Forbes' release means anything about the status of cornerback Marshon Lattimore , the Commanders' trade deadline pickup in early November who still has not played for them because of a hamstring injury. Lattimore was listed as doubtful for Washington's home game Sunday against Tennessee. The Commanders (7-5) also put running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve because of a concussion . They elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez and defensive tackle Carl Davis from the practice squad in preparation for facing the Titans (3-8). Washington has lost three in a row to fall from first place in the NFC East to the conference’s final wild-card spot. The most recent loss, last weekend against division rival Dallas, came when Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game, which would have tied it with 21 seconds left. Seibert went on IR earlier in the week with a groin injury that Quinn said the kicker reported Monday. While injuries have piled up as the Commanders await their late bye week, the choice of Forbes has been second-guessed since the moment Rivera's front office chose the 166-pound Mississippi State defensive back with the 16th pick over Christian Gonzalez and others. Gonzalez was selected next, by New England, and has started 16 games for the Patriots. Forbes was benched last season by Rivera, who was in charge when Washington selected Davis ahead of offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw in '21 and traded down to take Dotson the following year instead of safety Kyle Hamilton or receiver Chris Olave. Forbes has two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 20 games. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
The recent 25-year renewal of Meralco’s contract to serve the Filipino people as its electricity provider—despite its current agreement being valid until 2028—raises critical questions about the necessity and transparency of such a prolonged extension. These critiques are not an assessment of Meralco’s capabilities, but rather a pressing call for transparency in its compliance with legal policies and ethical standards—much-needed scrutiny of its operational performance throughout the years. As a monopoly, Meralco’s limited competition raises concerns about prioritizing profits over public needs, leading to high electricity rates, questionable billing practices, and insufficient accountability. The lack of transparent public hearings during its franchise renewal process further fuels distrust in its commitment to serve the public interest. The questions posed are not intended to hinder Meralco’s operations, nor are they focused solely on the extension of the franchise, as this process aligns with the guidelines set by the House committee on legislative franchises under Section 24, which specifies that the proper time to seek a franchise extension is five years prior to expiration. Stronger oversight is essential to ensure fair practices, accountability, and consumer protection. While concerns regarding Meralco’s monopolistic position and its potential for overpricing are valid, the company’s significant infrastructure investments suggest a commitment to improving service quality and contributing to national development. The company has enhanced its distribution network, integrated advanced technologies, and contributed to crucial government projects like the Metro Manila Subway. Moreover, eligible consumers are granted the opportunity to select purely renewable energy sources through the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), which is an integral component of the Renewable Energy Act (Republic Act No. 9513). This program enables consumers to exercise greater control over their energy expenses and usage, promoting a more sustainable and responsible approach to energy consumption. These efforts show that Meralco is focused not only on profit but also on fostering economic growth and long-term sustainability for the public. Despite the commendable GEOP, Meralco’s monopolistic status continues to limit competition, leading to high electricity prices, billing issues, and lack of transparency. Gabriela party list Rep. Arlene Brosas highlighted that 7.63 million Filipinos suffer from steep rates and unstable power supply, underscoring the need for a thorough performance review. Existing laws, like RA 9209, mandate providing electricity at the least cost and ensuring open, non-discriminatory access. However, noncompliance persists, with Congress empowered to revoke franchises for violations, highlighting the need for stronger accountability and adherence to legal mandates. While Meralco’s investments and initiatives, such as the GEOP, reflect a commitment to improving service and sustainability, its monopolistic position demands rigorous scrutiny and stronger accountability. The lack of competition and transparency and persistent issues like high rates and billing discrepancies call for urgent reform. We must advocate for greater oversight, transparency, and competition in the energy sector to safeguard the public interest, uphold legal standards, and ensure fair energy practices. Filipinos deserve a fair, accountable, and sustainable energy future—one where public welfare takes precedence over profit. KabaTanglaw, UST SHS 12ABM-07 Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in Avient Co. ( NYSE:AVNT – Free Report ) by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,243,128 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 9,893 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned 1.36% of Avient worth $62,554,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of AVNT. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in Avient by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,057,356 shares of the company’s stock valued at $204,166,000 after buying an additional 65,452 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Avient by 3.9% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,936,318 shares of the company’s stock valued at $171,818,000 after acquiring an additional 149,283 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in Avient by 1.1% during the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,696,565 shares of the company’s stock valued at $85,371,000 after acquiring an additional 17,976 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its holdings in Avient by 0.8% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 871,196 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,028,000 after acquiring an additional 6,881 shares during the period. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in Avient by 120.6% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 784,178 shares of the company’s stock worth $39,460,000 after purchasing an additional 428,624 shares during the last quarter. 95.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insider Activity at Avient In other news, SVP Joel R. Rathbun sold 5,762 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.45, for a total value of $296,454.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . 1.88% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth View Our Latest Stock Report on Avient Avient Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of AVNT stock opened at $51.25 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.63. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $49.72 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $46.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.68 billion, a PE ratio of 31.73, a PEG ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 1.48. Avient Co. has a 52-week low of $33.98 and a 52-week high of $54.68. Avient ( NYSE:AVNT – Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.02. Avient had a return on equity of 10.56% and a net margin of 4.66%. The company had revenue of $815.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $797.50 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.57 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Avient Co. will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year. Avient Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be paid a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.11%. This is a boost from Avient’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. Avient’s payout ratio is presently 63.58%. Avient Profile ( Free Report ) Avient Corporation operates as a formulator of material solutions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, and Asia. It operates in two segments, Color, Additives and Inks; and Specialty Engineered Materials. The Color, Additives and Inks segment offers custom color and additive concentrates in solid and liquid form for thermoplastics, dispersions for thermosets, and specialty inks; custom-formulated liquid system, such as polyester, vinyl, natural rubber and latex, polyurethane, and silicone; and proprietary inks. Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Avient What Does a Gap Up Mean in Stocks? How to Play the Gap The Latest 13F Filings Are In: See Where Big Money Is Flowing What is an Earnings Surprise? 3 Penny Stocks Ready to Break Out in 2025 Top Biotech Stocks: Exploring Innovation Opportunities FMC, Mosaic, Nutrien: Top Agricultural Stocks With Big Potential Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVNT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Avient Co. ( NYSE:AVNT – Free Report ). 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Staffordshire Police boss Chris Noble has dismissed claims two-tier policing as he defended his officers' actions during the Hanley riot. Chief constable Noble said it “does not make any sense for policing at all to show favouritism whenever we’re built on respect for the rule of the law”. His comments came after riots swept through Hanley and Tamworth, as well as other parts of the country in July and August, in the wake of the Southport stabbings. Answering questions from the Commons Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Chief Constable Noble added: “This is a very different set of circumstances from the very complex rights and balances we need to strike around protest policing. This is dealing with thugs and criminals who are trying to kill police officers, set fire to buildings and commit serious criminal offences. “So if two-tier policing is bringing people swiftly to justice, I’m not quite sure many people would argue with that." The allegations are “not nice to hear, but we’ve got relatively thick skin”, he said, but added: “We are very protective of the integrity of our officers”. Trouble erupted in Hanley on Saturday, August 3 as the city centre was swamped with protesters marching down the streets. Around 100 police with riot shields and dog units responded to the chaos. Planned protests kicked off at around 11.30am. Large groups of men were seen turning out around the mosques in opposition to the demonstrators. From around 1.30pm, the groups began to clash, primarily at first around the Darul Falah mosque in Town Road. Among both the protestors and those who had turned out at the mosques to oppose them, individuals were witnessed to be carrying weapons. Meanwhile, Mark Webster, the boss of Cleveland Police, told MPs “people don’t want to listen to the facts” when asked about the debate which erupted amid accusations that some criminals were getting special treatment from police because of their background. The chief constable said the “narrative” around whether there was two-tier policing in the UK was “really unhelpful sometimes”, adding: “And I go so far as to say sometimes it’s nonsense, and it does tend to undermine.” “Without fear or favour if you were involved in criminality, you were arrested, or you will be arrested,” he said as he insisted his force was “very fair” and stressed that people were arrested when there was “clear evidence” they were suspected of committing violent disorder or other crimes. People “don’t necessarily want to listen to the facts, and if it doesn’t conform with the view that you want to put across and you want to accuse police of two-tier policing, it does have a really negative effect on my officers”, he told the committee. “Factual debate doesn’t seem to be a way through countering some of this argument,” he added. Asked what was behind the riots, Mr Webster said there were “common factors” among many of the areas where unrest occurred, adding: “Many of them are challenged communities. The social fabric is quite difficult across many of them and I think that probably makes them fairly fertile to be either whipped up or for violence, maybe out of just wanting criminality, boredom, any number of different issues.” He cited examples of people being sentenced who had “been out, they’d had too much to drink, they’d walk past and thought, why not?” “That’s not a representative sample, but I think much of that desperation, this lack of hope, lack of state, nothing to lose, I think much of that certainly impacted on the riots and the disorder that took place in Cleveland,” he added. Judi Heaton, the chief constable of Humberside Police, also told the committee how vital the justice system functioning quickly was to “nip this (the riots) in the bud”, adding: “We couldn’t have a situation where, nationally, we were facing disorder like this, day in, day out, week in, week out. “So actually, swift justice happening and being seen to happen was really important.” Get all the latest news from court hereLUNGU BARRED FROM RE-ELECTION
LUANDA, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden's long-delayed trip to Africa had many of the hallmarks of a traditional state visit: There was a 12-shot cannon salute. A series of warm handshakes with Angolan President João Lourenço. Celebratory music. Photo opportunities. But another issue overshadowed the visit. When reporters tried to question the president about why he gave his son Hunter a far-reaching pardon after repeatedly saying he would not do so, Biden tried to brush aside the questions. He gestured toward Lourenço and laughed, declaring, “Welcome to America.” Biden saluted Lourenço for his efforts to bolster stronger U.S. relations, declared that Africa and its booming youth population would shape the world's future and even indulged his love of trains by championing a major railway project that his administration says could change the way the entire continent does business. Some takeaways from the president's visit: (Don't) meet the press Biden offered the joke about America before his meeting with Lourenço, and he answered a question on Tuesday about the political situation in South Korea, saying only that he'd not been briefed — something that was rectified moments later when advisers filled him in on what was happening as the motorcade sped away from a site where he'd given a speech. Other than that, Biden went the entire trip, which began Sunday night and included two brief stopovers in Cape Verde in addition to Angola, dodging reporters. He did similar during last month's six-day visit to South America . Biden's press secretary tried to explain the pardon decision Since Biden announced his pardon decision shortly before climbing aboard Air Force One bound for Africa, it fell to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to spend nearly half an hour offering long and awkward answers to uncomfortable questions aboard the aircraft hours later. Biden said in a statement explaining the pardon that, while he believed in the justice system, he also felt that politics had infected the cases against his son and “enough was enough.” Jean-Pierre maintained that he wasn't trying to have it both ways. “I don’t think it’s a contradiction,” she said. “Two things could be true. You can believe in the Department of Justice system, and you could also believe that the process was infected politically.” She also bristled when it was suggested that such complaints about the Department of Justice smacked of President-elect Donald Trump's promises to dismantle the “deep state” of federal bureaucrats that he's said for years are out to unfairly undermine him and fellow top Republicans. ‘All in on Africa’ — with time running out During his meeting with Lourenço at the presidential palace, Biden said, “The United States is all in on Africa,” and extolled how strong Angolan relations were with Washington. His administration has invested billions in Angola, with the centerpiece being promoting the Lobito Corridor, a vast project to revitalize supply chains by refurbishing 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of train lines in Angola, Zambia and Congo. Given where Angola was barely a generation ago, the alliance is in many ways remarkable. An oil-rich nation on Africa's southwest coast, Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975, but spent subsequent years embroiled in civil war, which often featured proxy fighting between U.S.-backed forces and those allied with the Soviet Union. Even today, the country's red and black flag features a yellow machete and half-cog, an insignia resembling the Soviet hammer and sickle. But Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, and Lourenço, like many leaders of African nations, has already begun suggesting that he's looking toward a Trump-dominated future. Biden administration officials say they're hopeful Trump and top Republicans will continue a business-friendly approach to investing in Africa that includes continuing to support the Lobito Corridor. Now the Africa policy will be up to Trump Biden lauded Lourenço for helping boost his country's relationship with the United States, and he said the youth of Africa would change the world. He also visited the country’s national slavery museum, stressing how Angola and the United States — which were once linked by the horrors of enslaved human beings, now could increasingly be linked by economic opportunity. But if Biden came to Angola hoping to cement his foreign policy legacy in this country and throughout Africa, it will actually fall to Trump — the man he beat in the 2020 election and spent much of 2024 running against before bowing out of the race in July — to see it through. ___ Will Weissert, The Associated Press
