Biotechnology company Immutep (ASX:IMM) has received the grant of a new patent from the United States Patent Office for eftilagimod alpha in cancer. This new patent provides intellectual property protection for Immutep’s method of treating cancer by the administration of a chemotherapy agent. The granted patent claims support the application of efti in Immutep’s ongoing clinical trial in metastatic breast cancer. The patent will expire on 3 October 2028. Shares in Immutep (ASX:IMM) closed 6.25 per cent higher to 3.4 cents yesterday.

The poor, rural county of Luquan is 800 kilometers and a world away from the wealthy, urban city of Chengdu. But the students in high schools in both places are taking the same classes taught by the same teachers. Luquan No. 1 Middle School is one of about 400 rural schools in China using on-line learning to bridge a growing education gap between rural and urban areas.

The Gauteng education department says the incident happened five months ago at Lewisham Primary School in Krugersdorp. However, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi visited the school on Thursday after the video was circulated. In it, a Grade 7 pupil dressed in school uniform could be seen pulling a male teacher towards him, while a female teacher tried to reprimand the pupil. "Leave the teacher, leave the teacher" the woman screamed as she intervened. "Don't touch me man. You stink. Did you bath this morning?...... This rubbish," the pupil shouted as the male teacher walked away. The pupil then screamed at the woman, demanding that she let him go so he can leave. Lesufi has appointed an inter-departmental assessment team, comprising officials from the district, the Department of Social Development, the psycho-social unit, inclusion and special schools, and education support. The team is to conduct an assessment focusing on the pupil's well-being and his academic progress. It is to identify a relevant school for him. "The Grade 7 learner was at the time suspended and taken through a disciplinary process which recommended an expulsion. A process to interact with the child's parents has commenced. The appointed team must provide a report with appropriate recommendations to the MEC on December 11 for necessary action," departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona said. The department condemned the pupil's behaviour and said it had a zero-tolerance stance towards all forms of misconduct. "We urge learners to refrain from any acts of misdemeanour."

The Australian share market opened lower as expected following more negative leads from Wall Street and remained underwater, with the local bourse closing lower for the second day, with mostly all our sectors closing lower except Telcos. Costa Group Holdings (ASX:CGC) shares were the biggest drag on the market today, shedding 27 per cent (about two years of gains) after the horticultural company announced its results will be weaker than expected for the CY. On Wednesday the Dow Jones briefly fell over 400 points on the 10-year Treasury note yield hitting the lowest level seen since September 2017 before rebounding. At the closing bell the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 0.7 per cent lower or 48 points lower to finish at 6,392. Futures market: Dow futures are suggesting a rise of 53 points. S&P 500 futures are eyeing a rise of 8 points. The Nasdaq futures are eyeing a lift of 24 points. And the ASX200 futures are eyeing a 34-point fall tomorrow. Economic news: A major leading indicator for home building (council approvals to build new homes) fell by 4.7 per cent in April (seasonally adjusted terms), falling more than the 3 per cent dip expected. Albeit, it was not as steep as the prior March reading, which saw approvals fall 13.4 per cent. It comes as approvals fell 19.1 per cent in Tasmania, 16.1 per cent in Victoria, by 6.7 per cent in Western Australia and by 3.3 per cent in South Australia. Company news : Patry’s (ASX:PAB) lead drug PAT-DX1 has reduced breast brain metastases and also enhanced radiation therapy. It comes as it announced results from pre-clinical animal data. Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women, and about 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed each year across the global. Tumors that lack all three receptors are referred to as “triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)”, and this subtype makes up 15- 20% of all breast cancer cases and is the most aggressive and difficult to treat. And up to 50 per cent of patients who have “triple negati...

Six men, accused of beating dairy farmer Pehlu Khan to death, have been acquitted. The court said there was not enough evidence to convict them. Mr Khan, 55, was assaulted in Rajasthan by a mob of cow vigilantes. The attack was recorded on camera. He was transporting cattle that he had bought from a fair when he was attacked. He died two days later. Later, some accused admitted on camera to have beaten Mr Khan. Is this not an utter failure of our criminal justice system? We discuss.