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US President Joe Biden on Sunday said deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country. In the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden also warned that Washington will "remain vigilant" against the emergence of terrorist groups, announcing that US forces had just conducted fresh strikes against militants from the Islamic State organization. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said, speaking from the White House. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria." Asked by reporters what should happen to the deposed president, who reportedly has fled to Moscow, Biden said that "Assad should be held accountable." Biden -- set to step down in January and make way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power -- said Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding. "We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign" Syria "with a new constitution," he said. However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be under scrutiny. "Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses," Biden said. The United States had "taken note" of recent statements by rebels suggesting they had since moderated, he said, but cautioned: "We will assess not just their words, but their actions." Biden said Washington is "clear eyed" that the Islamic State extremist group, often known as ISIS, "will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish" itself in Syria. "We will not let that happen," he said, adding that on Sunday alone, US forces had conducted strikes against ISIS inside Syria. The US military said the strikes were conducted by warplanes against Islamic State operatives and camps. Strikes were carried out against "over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s," the US Central Command said on social media. Earlier, Biden met with his national security team at the White House to discuss the crisis. Assad's reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning rebel offensive that broke long-frozen frontlines in Syria's civil war. They announced Sunday they had taken the capital Damascus and that Assad had fled, prompting celebrations nationwide and a ransacking of Assad's luxurious home. A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies that the deposed leader was now in Moscow, along with his family. The US military has around 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of the international coalition established in 2014 to help combat the Islamic State jihadist group. It has regularly struck targets in the country including those linked to Iranian-backed militias. Tehran was a major backer of Assad's government. Biden also confirmed US authorities believe the American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, still lives. "We believe he's alive," Biden said, but the US has yet "to identify where he is." bur-sms/mlm( MENAFN - media OutReach Newswire) BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire – 23 December 2024 - At the ACES Awards 2024, Singaporean companies and leaders took center stage, honored for their groundbreaking contributions to sustainability, innovation, and transformative leadership. Against a backdrop of fierce competition-90 nominations out of 682 entries from 17 countries-Singapore's successes reflect its growing influence as a key driver of corporate excellence and progressive business practices across Asia. Recognising Leadership Excellence: 59 outstanding business leaders and enterprises were awarded for their exemplary leadership, on Day 2 of the ACES Awards 2024, setting new benchmarks in innovation, governance, and corporate responsibility. Central to these accolades are organizations that have seamlessly woven environmental responsibility and forward-thinking strategies into their core values. CGS International Securities Pte. Ltd. (CGS International) exemplifies this fusion of innovation and sustainability. With a presence across 15 countries, this financial services firm's comprehensive offerings-from equities trading to Shariah-compliant financing-have led to a remarkable 169% increase in net profits between 2018 and 2022. More than just numbers, CGS International's growth is propelled by its careful market expansion, tailored client solutions, and robust CSR initiatives that push the boundaries of Asia's financial sector toward a greener future. Honouring Excellence in Sustainability: 34 visionary companies and businesses were celebrated on day 1 of the ACES Awards 2024, for their remarkable commitment to championing sustainability, driving meaningful impact across Asia at the ACES Awards 2024. Another standout is dsm-firmenich , formed through the 2023 merger of Dutch DSM and Swiss Firmenich. Recognized with both "Asia's Most Inspiring Executives" and "Top Sustainability Advocates in Asia" awards, the global leader in health, nutrition, and beauty has placed sustainability at the heart of its mission. Committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, dsm-firmenich channels innovation into impactful solutions like Bovaer®, reducing methane emissions in cattle, and supports global nutrition initiatives with partners such as the UN World Food Programme. This holistic approach to sustainability-encompassing environmental stewardship and social well-being-sets a new benchmark for responsible industry leadership. Individual leadership prowess also shone brightly at the awards. Robert Le Busque , Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific at Verizon Business Group, earned recognition as one of Asia's Outstanding Leaders for guiding his 1,000-strong team across 11 countries. Under his stewardship, Verizon's business in the region has rapidly grown, especially in cybersecurity solutions, demonstrating that strategic vision and resilience can drive technological advancement, even amid challenging times. Aviation fuel provider China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation Ltd (CAO) stood out with the Green Innovative Award. By embedding sustainability into its core operations-advancing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), optimizing supply chains, and reducing emissions-CAO illustrates how an industry often associated with environmental challenges can pivot toward responsible, climate-focused solutions. Similarly, Gain City Best-Electric Pte Ltd , celebrated as one of Asia's Most Influential Companies, has carved out a niche that intertwines operational efficiency, digital innovation, and eco-conscious practices. Having integrated retail, wholesale, logistics, and fabrication, Gain City ensures a seamless customer experience while simultaneously championing e-waste recycling, renewable energy collaborations, and sustainable regional expansion. Technology-driven transformation took center stage with Certis , named one of the Innovative Tech Companies of the Year. Once a traditional security provider, Certis has reinvented itself through its Mozart platform, which orchestrates AI, machine learning, and IoT technologies. This modernization has yielded a 66% improvement in incident response times and a 20% reduction in manpower, setting new standards for operational excellence, safety, and service delivery. Visionary leadership in sustainability was further exemplified by Dr. Victor Tay , Group CEO of Global Catalyst Advisory. Honored as one of Asia's Most Inspiring Executives, Dr. Tay's "people-planet-profit" philosophy ensures that reducing carbon footprints becomes a catalyst for business growth. Under his direction, projects have cut emissions by up to 35% and influenced sustainability dialogues in forums as prestigious as COP28. Rounding out this constellation of achievers is China Life Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. , winner of Asia's Leading SMEs Award. By integrating cutting-edge digital tools such as the OneLife core system and Robotic Process Automation into its operations, and by cultivating meaningful partnerships and community initiatives, China Life Singapore exemplifies how innovation and social responsibility can coexist and strengthen one another. The 2024 ACES Awards shine a spotlight on a region-and a nation-evolving rapidly toward a sustainable, inclusive, and technologically advanced future. From robust financial services and cutting-edge corporate transformations to nutrition solutions that feed both people and the planet, Singapore's prominent showing among the 250 finalists reaffirms its role as a beacon of progress in Asia. As these honorees chart the path forward, they collectively underscore a simple truth: leadership in the 21st century demands not only profitability and growth, but also a steadfast commitment to bettering the world we all share. MENAFN22122024003551001712ID1109022264 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.The E-J Group Welcomes State Electric Corporation to the Organization
Nasdaq CFO Sarah Youngwood to Present at the Goldman Sachs U.S. Financial Services Conference
In own words, his second term will be “nasty a little bit at times, and maybe at the beginning in particular”. Unlike his surprise win in 2016, when the Republicans’ preparations for America’s highest office were chaotic and marred by infighting, the 78-year-old has a for what he will do once . His “day one” agenda involves rapid and aggressive action to target illegal immigration, a purge of the federal government and a grievance-filled agenda to pursue opponents. has pledged to dramatically in the US with the assistance of local law enforcement and state police. He has even signalled he has “no problem” deploying the military and national guard troops to aid the effort. There are potential constitutional issues with mobilising service members on domestic soil, but Trump has floated the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act to give him the power required to direct troops, describing the border crisis as an “invasion”. Central to his plan for cutting down the number of people living in the country illegally is his proposal to launch the “largest deportation programme in history”. It would aim to remove the estimated 11 million people residing in the US without legal status. Trump’s team has provided few details on how they would identify these individuals, or how they would fund the operation. The Republican has suggested using the Alien Enemies Act – a rarely applied legal power dating back to 1798 and last used for the Japanese-American internment camps – to detain immigrants without a hearing. The round-up and mass deportation flights operation would cost more $88 billion (£68.4 billion) for one million people, or a total of $968 billion for all 11 million, according to a report by research firm the American Immigration Council. Stephen Miller, Trump’s former immigration tsar and senior adviser, has outlined plans to construct detention facilities capable of holding 50,000 to 70,000 people as an interim solution. The cost of detaining migrants en masse would be higher still, not to mention the economic cost of lost labour for American businesses. Trump’s team has argued the expense “pales in comparison” to the burden on the state for processing, housing and providing social services to migrants who have recently entered the US. in Congress will look to fund a substantial , which would include completion of his signature wall. His immigration policy includes a vow to reinstate his so-called “Muslim travel ban” that barred people from several Muslim-majority countries. He said earlier this year: “We will seal our border and bring back the travel ban. “Remember the famous travel ban? We didn’t take people from certain areas of the world,” he said, adding that it would be extended to include refugees from Gaza. “We’re not taking them from infested countries.” Trump has also vowed to challenge the principle of birthright citizenship, which under the 14th Amendment, grants automatic citizenship to the children of immigrants. Trump’s plans to test the power of the presidency beyond any modern precedent extend to a of the government. He plans to use sweeping executive orders to replace thousands of career civil servants with political appointees who have been vetted to ensure they subscribe to his political ideology. This would be done by reviving a 2020 executive order, known as Schedule F, which would strip federal employees of their job protection. It could impact as many as 50,000 civil servants. Swathes of the department of justice (DoJ), including much of the FBI, would be done away with, while the department of education would be abolished. A top priority for a second Trump White House and his GOP allies in Congress is to extend his signature legislative achievement: . As things stand, the legislation – the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – is set to expire at the end of 2025. Trump has also proposed widespread changes to taxation, including extending the child tax credit, bringing back the deduction for state and local taxes (Salt) and cutting companies’ corporate tax rate for domestic production. He has also promoted exemptions to income tax, such as ending taxes on social security and tipped wages, and said he backed a total end to income tax, although he has given no firm commitment to doing so. Trump has summarised his energy policy with the catchphrase “drill, baby, drill”. It involves a widespread resumption in oil and gas licensing and halting offshore wind energy projects, which he claims “kill” whales and birds, “on day one” in the White House. Trump has also vowed to end green tax credits and subsidies. Trump plans to dramatically ramp up the protectionist trade policies of his first term, threatening a tariff of more than 10 per cent on all foreign imports. Tariffs on Chinese imports could be as high as 100 per cent. Mexico and Canada will face a 25 per cent tariff. He said he believed it would redress a trade imbalance and unfair practices by other countries who were “stealing” the US’s jobs and wealth. Trump said China was the leading culprit, but described India, Brazil, France and other European nations as “very difficult to deal with on trade”. He dismissed suggestions that the policies , framing it as “reciprocal” action that would return jobs to the US. The president-elect has pledged to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming in from Canada and Mexico. For Trump, one of the most alluring powers of the presidency is its oversight of the department of justice. Seizing control of the department, and stocking it full of his allies, will be vital to both his personal and political agenda. The four-times indicted president-elect will take office as a defendant in two federal criminal cases brought by the prosecutor Jack Smith. The independent special counsel has been pursuing Trump for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election and accusations he mishandled classified documents. Mr Smith has announced that he has dropped all federal charges against the president-elect. In the run-up to the presidential election, Trump told the radio host Hugh Hewitt that if he regained the White House, he would fire Mr Smith “within two seconds”. The DoJ’s tradition of political independence has been a hallmark of the post-Watergate era, but Trump predicted to Hewitt that he would not face any repercussions for intervening. “I don’t think they’ll impeach me if I fire Jack Smith,” he said. Trump has also pledged to exercise control over the DoJ by securing the pardon or release of convicted rioters serving sentences for their roles in the Jan 6 2021 attack on the Capitol. Trump has not ruled out instructing federal prosecutors to instigate legal proceedings against or fire . “It would depend on the situation,” he said. Asked whether he would go after Joe Biden and his family, the Republican said he would be “inclined not to do it”. But he later added: “Biden, I am sure, will be prosecuted for all of his crimes, because he’s committed many crimes,” without specifying exactly what these were. He would do away with “Title lX” protections for transgender students, protecting them from discrimination. “We’re going to end it on Day 1,” he said in May. “Don’t forget, that was done as an order from the president. That came down as an executive order. And we’re going to change it — on Day 1 it’s going to be changed.” He has also pledged to cut federal funding from any school “pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content onto the lives of our children”. The president-elect, via his press secretary, has said he would bring both sides together “on day one” to settle the conflict.
Maupay also had a dig at Everton when he departed on loan to Marseille in the summer and his latest taunt has further angered the Premier League club’s supporters. The 28-year-old said on X after Sean Dyche’s side had lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.” Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile 🙂 — Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) December 29, 2024 Former boxer Tony Bellew was among the Toffees’ supporters who responded to Maupay, with the ex-world cruiserweight champion replying on X with: “P****!” Maupay endured a miserable spell at Everton, scoring just one league goal in 29 appearances after being signed by the Merseysiders for an undisclosed fee in 2022. He departed on a season-long loan to his former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season and left Goodison for a second time in August when Marseille signed him on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent. After leaving Everton in the summer, Maupay outraged their fans by posting on social media a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, famous for depicting the main character’s long fight for freedom., /PRNewswire/ -- Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: WOOF), a complete partner in pet health and wellness, today announced its third quarter 2024 financial results. In the third quarter of 2024, Petco delivered net revenue of , up 1.2 percent versus prior year. On an as-reported basis, the company's consumables business was up 2.7 percent versus prior year, and services and other business was up 5.0 percent versus prior year. Growth in the company's consumables and services and other businesses was offset by the company's supplies and companion animal business, down 2.8 percent versus prior year. GAAP net loss in the third quarter of 2024 was , or per share, compared to GAAP net loss of , or per share in the prior year, which included a non-cash goodwill impairment charge associated with goodwill originally recorded in 2015. Adjusted Net Income was , or per share , compared to , or per share in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA was compared to in the prior year. "Our third quarter results demonstrate the meaningful progress we're making to strengthen our retail fundamentals to drive sustainable, profitable growth," said , Petco's Chief Executive Officer. "While there is more work to do, our improving results increase our conviction that we are on the right path to position Petco to win long-term. Our entire organization is focused on driving profitability and free cash flow, and I'm confident we're set up for a solid finish to 2024." The company is providing Q4 guidance for revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EPS, in addition to full year interest expense and capital expenditure expectations. For Fiscal Q4 2024, the company expects: For Fiscal 2024 (a 52-week year), the company expects the following: *Assumptions in the guidance include that economic conditions, currency rates and the tax and regulatory landscape remain generally consistent. For fiscal 2024, our guidance anticipates a 26 percent tax rate, and 273 million weighted average diluted share count. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP financial measures and have not been reconciled to the most comparable GAAP outlook because it is not possible to do so without unreasonable efforts due to the uncertainty and potential variability of reconciling items, which are dependent on future events and often outside of management's control and which could be significant. Because such items cannot be reasonably predicted with the level of precision required, we are unable to provide outlook for the comparable GAAP measures. Forward-looking estimates of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS are made in a manner consistent with the relevant definitions and assumptions noted herein and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Management will host an earnings conference call on at approximately to discuss the company's financial results. The conference call will be accessible through a live webcast. Interested investors and other individuals can access the webcast, earnings release, and earnings presentation via the company's investor relations page at . A replay of the webcast will be archived on the company's investor relations page through until approximately . Founded in 1965, Petco is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and our own Petco partners. We've consistently set new standards in pet care while delivering comprehensive pet wellness products, services and solutions, and creating communities that deepen the pet-pet parent bond. We operate more than 1,500 pet care centers across the U.S., and , which offer merchandise, companion animals, grooming, training and a growing network of on-site veterinary hospitals and mobile veterinary clinics. Our complete pet health and wellness ecosystem is accessible through our pet care centers and digitally at and on the . In tandem with , a life-changing independent nonprofit organization, we work with and support thousands of local animal welfare groups across the country and, through in-store adoption events, we've helped find homes for nearly 7 million animals. This earnings release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, concerning expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not statements of historical fact, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our Q4 and full year 2024 guidance, operational reset of our business, our competitive positioning, profitability, cost action plans and associated cost-savings. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believes," "expects," "may," "intends," "will," "shall," "should," "anticipates," "opportunity," "illustrative," or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Although Petco believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct or that any forward-looking results will occur or be realized. Nothing contained in this earnings release is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation or warranty as to any future matter, including any matter in respect of the operations or business or financial condition of Petco. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions about future events that may or may not be correct or necessarily take place and that are by their nature subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are outside the control of Petco. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the potential results or events discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those identified in this earnings release as well as the following: (i) increased competition (including from multi-channel retailers, mass and grocery retailers, and e-Commerce providers); (ii) reduced consumer demand for our products and/or services; (iii) our reliance on key vendors; (iv) our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; (v) risks arising from statutory, regulatory and/or legal developments; (vi) macroeconomic pressures in the markets in which we operate, including inflation, prevailing interest rates and the impact of tariffs; (vii) failure to effectively manage our costs; (viii) our reliance on our information technology systems; (ix) our ability to prevent or effectively respond to a data privacy or security breach; (x) our ability to effectively manage or integrate strategic ventures, alliances or acquisitions and realize the anticipated benefits of such transactions; (xi) economic or regulatory developments that might affect our ability to provide attractive promotional financing; (xii) business interruptions and other supply chain issues; (xiii) catastrophic events, political tensions, conflicts and wars (such as the ongoing conflicts in and the ), health crises, and pandemics; (xiv) our ability to maintain positive brand perception and recognition; (xv) product safety and quality concerns; (xvi) changes to labor or employment laws or regulations; (xvii) our ability to effectively manage our real estate portfolio; (xviii) constraints in the capital markets or our vendor credit terms; (xix) changes in our credit ratings; (xx) impairments of the carrying value of our goodwill and other intangible assets; (xxi) our ability to successfully implement our operational adjustments, achieve the expected benefits of our cost action plans and drive improved profitability; and (xxii) the other risks, uncertainties and other factors identified under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Petco's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The occurrence of any such factors could significantly alter the results set forth in these statements. Petco cautions that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not complete, and forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Petco undertakes no duty to update publicly any such forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority.
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Nordstrom, Inc. JWN shares are trading lower on Wednesday . For the third quarter, the company’s net sales increased 4.6% compared to the same period in fiscal 2023, total company comparable sales increased 4.0%, and gross merchandise value increased 5.3%. JP Morgan analyst Matthew R. Boss reiterated the Underweight rating on the stock, raising the price forecast to $21 from $20. The analyst notes that despite favorable conditions for Nordstorm’s core customer base, including high personal savings rates, low debt service ratios, and significant household wealth creation, as well as favorable pricing and promotional factors, the company’s absolute and relative performance remains disappointing, with 2023 revenue levels and EBIT margins falling below 2019 levels. JWN opened 12 Rack stores during the quarter, reflecting a 2.2% growth, and has a total of 23 Rack store openings year-to-date, in line with its 2024 guidance of 20-25 openings, with 15 expected in 2025, Boss added. Also Read: Black Friday Discounts Too Good To Be True? Survey Shows Only 42% Of Sales Are Authentic Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey reiterated Market Perform rating on Nordstrom, raising the price forecast to $26 from $24. The analyst notes that Nordstrom exceeded earnings expectations in the third quarter, driven by stronger sales, gross margins, and operating expense leverage. Full-line segment growth was positive for the third consecutive quarter, and momentum at Rack continued. However, despite this growth, management highlighted a slowdown in sales in late October and November. As a result, Nordstrom cautiously raised its FY24 revenue growth outlook by 100 basis points, while keeping EBIT margin and EPS guidance unchanged. The company also noted elevated inventory due to slower-moving cold weather categories. Given these factors, the analyst maintained a Market Perform rating. The analyst raised estimates to $2.00 in FY24, up from $1.95 previously. For FY25, the estimate goes to $2.06, up modestly from the prior estimate of $2.02. Price Action: JWN shares are trading lower by 9.34% to $22.32 at last check Wednesday. Read More: Starbucks' Employee Systems Down After Software Provider Suffers Ransomware Attack Photo via Shutterstock. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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