It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country’s swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete’s system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. “The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more,” Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China’s conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can’t help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier’s conclusions. “There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie,” said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. “And all of it is complete fiction.” Something in the kitchen was contaminated In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China’s anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation , did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the “no-fault findings,” as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report , Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA’s chief scientist “saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities.” But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA’s “decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable.” But how did the drugs get into the kitchen? A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China’s agency, Li Zhiquan. Li’s presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug “then entered the market through illegal channels,” he said. The alcohol “was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles,” Li said. “The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. “The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice.” New information sent to WADA ... eventually This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li’s report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li’s request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier’s report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. “Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated,” he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. “It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away,” Koehler said. “Which clearly it has not.” Related ArticlesTrudeau told Trump Americans would also suffer if tariffs are imposed, a Canadian minister says
Jimmy Carter, Peanut Farmer Who Reached White House, Dies at 100Have your say on Canada’s greenwashing rulesThe late Liam Payne 's partner Kate Cassidy has shared a heartfelt post about experiencing grief at Christmas . It comes two months on from the news that Liam had died, aged 31. Last month, Kate was among the loved ones who gathered at a funeral for the One Direction member. She's now shared a post about grief ahead of Christmas Day . Kate, whom Liam had been dating since 2022, shared the post on her Instagram Story on Tuesday night. The post included a few lines about the holiday season, reminding her followers that it can involve "sadness and grief". The post read: "As the holidays are here, I realize it is a time for happiness and joy, but it is also a time of sadness and grief for so many. Be gentle with those around you this time of year, as the holidays can feel different for everyone." It continued: "Sending all my love to those carrying grief this holiday. I hope the seasons bring you comfort and peace." The post that was shared by Kate concluded: "Wishing everyone a love-filled and healthy holiday season this year." Just days ago, Kate appeared to unveil a tattoo tribute to Liam, which featured a pair of angel wings. She has made references to angels since his death, like mentioning the number 444 , which is described as the "angel number". Kate paid tribute to Liam just days after his death in October. She wrote at the time: "Thank you for all of the kind words and love that has been sent my way. I have been at a complete loss. Nothing about the past few days have felt real. I ask and pray that you'll give me the grace and space to navigate this in private. Liam, my angel. You are everything. I want you to know I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will continue to love you for the rest of my life. I love you Liam." She later told fans that Liam had planned to propose to her within the next year. As previously reported, she wrote in a post on social media: "Your energy was contagious, lighting up every room you walked into. [...] You had the kindest soul and the most fun-loving spirit. It feels like I've lost the best part of myself. I can't imagine a day without your laughter and love. You brought so much light into my life." Kate added: "A few weeks ago, we sat outside on a beautiful evening manifesting our lives together. I keep your note close, even though you told me not to look at it. It said 'Me and Kate to marry within a year/engaged & together forever 444.' Liam, I know we'll be together forever, but not in the way we had planned. You'll always be with me. I've gained a guardian angel." Follow Mirro r C elebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .60 per cent terrorists killed by security forces in Jammu-Kashmir in 2024 are Pakistanis: Army officials
Artificial intelligence (AI) has propelled stocks to monster gains over the last two years, starting with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT. By now, investors are well aware of breakout stories like Nvidia and Palantir Technologies that have been early to capitalize on the boom, but there are likely to be plenty of other winners from the new technology. Some CEOs think AI could be as big as the internet, and big tech companies are already spending billions on this evolving technology in order to take leadership of what is expected to be the next major computing platform. However, there are still other opportunities to capitalize on the growth in AI. Let's take a look at two of them. 1. TSMC Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( TSM -0.70% ) hasn't gotten as much attention as chip stocks like Nvidia, but TSMC, as the company is also known, could be the most important company in the AI revolution. TSMC is the company that Nvidia and other fabless chipmakers like Advanced Micro Devices , Broadcom , and Qualcomm as well as big tech companies like Apple , Amazon , and Alphabet turn to for their chip production needs. In other words, it's a linchpin in the supply chain for both the semiconductor industry and artificial intelligence as so many companies depend on it to manufacture their products. TSMC has already begun to capitalize on the AI-driven demand as revenue in its most recently reported quarter jumped 39% year over year to $23.5 billion, and TSMC also generates impressive margins with an operating margin of 47.6% in the third quarter, showing its wide economic moat in the industry. The company looks poised to capitalize on continuing demand for AI chips since it handles roughly 90% of third-party manufacturing of advanced chips and works closely with companies like Nvidia on production. TSMC itself touts its "leading-edge logic, memory, and packaging technologies," and its chips go into a wide range of devices, including servers in the data center and edge devices like smartphones and appliances. While there's still some uncertainty in the AI boom, demand is likely to grow over the next several years. TSMC seems better positioned to capitalize on it than other AI stocks on the market. The stock has nearly doubled in 2024 but has more room to run as it trades at a reasonable price-to-earnings ratio of just 33. 2. Upstart Upstart ( UPST -5.62% ) is still well below its peak during the pandemic, meaning the stock has largely been forgotten even as it's started to rally again this year. Upstart uses proprietary AI technology to determine creditworthiness to originate consumer loans, and it claims that its technology is significantly better than traditional FICO scores. The company has also seen a recovery in its business, which it attributes to improvements in its model. Management noted that Model 18, its latest update, drove large conversion improvements in the third quarter, meaning more applicants ended up receiving loans. Upstart's business model is also a reminder that there are opportunities in AI beyond just generative AI. Beyond its own competitive advantage in loan originations, Upstart has significant upside potential because interest rates should eventually come down, encouraging more borrowing, potentially lifting the business to its earlier peak as demand for loans surged during the pandemic. While the company is sensitive to the macroeconomic environment, AI remains the key to unlocking the potential of the business as disrupting the broader loan ecosystem and serving as the de facto creditworthiness measurement would generate huge returns for Upstart, which is valued at just $6.5 billion. The business has returned to growth with revenue up 20% to $162 million in the third quarter, though Upstart is not currently profitable. However, there's a lot of potential for margins to scale up as the business grows.Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolvedmbbirdy/E+ via Getty Images Despite Wall Street's benchmark S&P 500 index ( SP500 ) hovering less than a percent below its record intraday high, if investors were to dig into the market from a technical perspective, they will see that much of the gauge is in overbought
NEW YORK , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH) between April 25, 2023 and October 22, 2024 , both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important February 11, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. So what: If you purchased Enphase securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the Enphase class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25593 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 11, 2025 . A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about Enphase's business and operations. Specifically, defendants systematically overstated Enphase's ability to maintain its pricing levels and market share for microinverter products in Europe in the face of competition from low-cost, Chinese alternatives. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Enphase class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=25593 https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=28116 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/enph-investors-have-opportunity-to-lead-enphase-energy-inc-securities-fraud-lawsuit-302338939.html SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.As Starlink faces federal scrutiny, the internet company has become a lifeline in West Virginia — for those who can afford it
News: Optoelectronics 26 November 2024 POET expands capacity to meet AI infrastructure demand POET Technologies Inc of Toronto, Ontario, Canada — designer and developer of the POET Optical Interposer, photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and light sources for the data-center, telecom and artificial intelligence (AI) markets — is to expand its optical engine production capacity in Malaysia. The firm also announced that it has signed a binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Quanzhou Sanan Optical Communication Technology Co Ltd (SAIC) to transfer to POET its 24.8% stake in the China-based joint venture Super Photonics Xiamen (SPX), along with all the production equipment previously leased by SAIC to SPX. With control of SPX, POET now has the flexibility to implement its ‘China Plus One’ strategy to locate its wafer-scale assembly operations outside China. Concurrently, the firm has been negotiating with several contract manufacturers in Malaysia to become the focal point for POET’s wafer-scale assembly of optical engines and expects to sign an agreement in November and to start operations by the end of the year. "The addition of wafer-scale equipment to our assembly & test operations will significantly expand our production capacity to cover the projected needs of our customers for 800G optical engines being sold to AI networks through 2026,” notes POET’s chairman & CEO Dr Suresh Venkatesan. "We can now project an assembly & test capacity exceeding 1 million optical engines per year, all dedicated to the 800G-and-higher-speed transceivers required for AI clusters.” The 24.8% equity stake represents SAIC’s entire ownership position in the JV. With no other shareholders, SPX will become a wholly owned subsidiary of POET and will continue to assemble optical engines for sale in China, adopting the POET company name. The MOU is binding and is also subject to definitive agreements, which are expected to be signed by the end of November. Expansion of IR activities POET has entered into an agreement with 1123963 B.C Ltd DBA CAPITALIZ ON IT to conduct market awareness and marketing services, commencing on 15 November 2024 and terminating on 15 February 2025. The nature of the services to be provided by CAPITALIZ include, but are not limited to, advice, content development, media buying and distribution, and marketing services through social media channels. POET will pay CAPITALIZ a total of US$90,000 for its services, split over the term of the contract in accordance with the services rendered. See related items: POET and Mitsubishi Electric Collaborate to advance AI Networks POET streamlines global engineering organization in response to AI market demand Tags: POET Visit: www.poet-technologies.comCoote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. Coote had the right to appeal against the decision but PA understands the Nottinghamshire referee has decided not to. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c***”. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.
NoneNEW YORK — I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little pygmy hippo, too! Forgive us the shameless attempt to link the fantasy hit “Wicked” to the delightful Moo Deng . But, hear us out — there’s something the two have in common as the year draws to a close. Escapism. Whether we found it on the yellow brick road, or in videos from a Thailand zoo, or perhaps in unlikely Olympic heroes , we gravitated toward fantasy and feel-good pop culture moments this year. There were new trends, as always. “Brat summer” became a thing, as did “demure, mindful.” And for some inexplicable reason, we became obsessed with celebrity lookalike contests. There were breakups — Bennifer is, again, a thing of the past — and reunions: Oasis, please try to stay together for the tour. Yet some things stayed, remarkably, the same: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kept on breaking records and making history. So, after a year where much changed but some things held steady, here’s our annual, very selective trip down pop culture memory lane: Lily Gladstone poses in the press room Jan. 7 with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture, drama for "Killers of the Flower Moon" at the 81st Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. It starts as a cheery tweet from a beloved “Sesame Street” figure: “ ELMO is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” The answers hint at something deeper and more worrisome. “Not great, Elmo. Not great,” says one milder reply. Doing much better is the viral phenomenon called “BARBENHEIMER,” which makes its awards season debut at the GOLDEN GLOBES . But perhaps the most poignant moment comes from neither film: LILY GLADSTONE , first Indigenous winner of best actress in a drama for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” begins her remarks in the language of her tribe, Blackfeet Nation. Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift on Feb. 11 after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game in Las Vegas. Valentine’s Day — a perfect time to settle into a sweet love saga via TikTok. Only that’s not quite what we get with “Who TF Did I Marry?,” REESA TEESA ’s depressing, fascinating, 50-part account of her disastrous marriage with a man who lied about absolutely everything. Meanwhile, if you're looking for a single week that encapsulates peak SWIFT cultural dominance , try this: she begins with the Grammys in Los Angeles (becoming the first artist to win album of the year four times AND announcing a new album), then heads to Tokyo for four tour dates, then jets back just in time for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas — where she shares a passionate smooch with boyfriend TRAVIS KELCE on the field of victory. Ryan Gosling performs the song "I'm Just Ken" from the movie "Barbie" on March 10 during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. “What was I made for?” BILLIE EILISH sings at the OSCARS, channeling BARBIE . And what was KEN made for? Not entirely clear — but it's clear RYAN GOSLING was made to play him. His singalong version of “I’m Just Ken” is one of the most entertaining Oscar musical moments in years. Still, Christopher Nolan's “OPPENHEIMER” prevails, a rare case of the top prize going to a blockbuster studio film. Will it happen again in 2025? CYNTHIA ERIVO and ARIANA GRANDE sure hope so; as presenters, they make a sly reference to their upcoming juggernaut, “WICKED.” Speaking of marketing, people are obsessed with that bizarre “DUNE” popcorn bucket. Beyonce And BEYONCÉ carves her space in country music with “Act II: Cowboy Carter,” which will make her the first Black woman to top the Billboard country chart. Taylor Swift performs June 21 at Wembley Stadium in London as part of her Eras Tour. Tennis, anyone? The game’s been around for centuries, but it’s having a cultural moment right now, helped mightily by “CHALLENGERS,” the sweaty romance triangle starring ZENDAYA, MIKE FAIST and JOSH O'CONNOR (40-love? More like 40-sex.) Elsewhere, a new era dawns: At midnight, SWIFT drops “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT," then drops another 15 songs two hours later. The fascinating and disturbing “BABY REINDEER,” the story of a struggling comedian’s extended encounter with a stalker, debuts on Netflix. Ben Affleck, left, and Jennifer Lopez arrive Feb. 13 at the premiere of "This Is Me ... Now: A Love Story" at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. It’s MET GALA time — or as it's known in 2024, another early marketing moment for “WICKED.” ERIVO and GRANDE make fashion waves on the carpet and then musical ones at dinner, with a soulful performance of “When You Believe.” If the “Wicked” tour is in full force, another one stops in its tracks: JENNIFER LOPEZ cancels her summer tour amid reports of both poor ticket sales and trouble in her marriage to BEN AFFLECK . It’s been an eventful year for J.Lo, who's released an album and movie called “THIS IS ME ... NOW" — both reflections on her renewed love with Affleck. Welcome to BRAT SUMMER ! CHARLI XCX releases her hit “Brat” album , with its lime green cover, and launches a thousand memes. Collins Dictionary defines “brat,” its word of the year, as “characterized by a confident, independent, and hedonistic attitude.” At the celeb-heavy SWIFT shows in London, we see PRINCE WILLIAM shaking it off, which is either charming or cringe, you decide. Even better: KELCE dons a top hat and tux and performs for one night. At another stadium across the pond, METS infielder JOSE IGLESIAS delights the crowd with his cheery number “OMG.” Stephen Nedoroscik is introduced June 29 at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis. Bonjour, it’s OLYMPICS time! In Paris! An audacious opening ceremony along the Seine is punctuated by a fabulous CELINE DION , perched on the EIFFEL TOWER , singing her heart out — in the rain, too. Controversy swirls over a scene critics feel mocks Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” (organizers say it does not). Olympic stars are born — including French swimming superstar LEON MARCHAND , rugby player ILONA MAHER , and bespectacled “Pommel Horse Guy” gymnast STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK , who nets two bronze medals and comparisons to Clark Kent. Baby pigmy hippo Moo Deng plays with a zookeeper Sept. 19 in the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, Thailand. Also capturing hearts: yep, MOO DENG , born this month. Her name means “bouncy pork.” Australia's Rachael Gunn, known as B-Girl Raygun, competes Aug. 9 during the Round Robin Battle at the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. This is them ... now: BENNIFER is no more. After two decades, two engagements and two weddings, J.Lo files for divorce. One union dissolves, another returns: OASIS announces a reunion tour. Everyone seems to want to get in on TikToker JOOLS LEBRON 's “ DEMURE, MINDFUL ” act — even the WHITE HOUSE press team. Back at the Olympics, in the new sport of breaking, we meet Australia’s RAYGUN , arguably neither demure nor mindful with her “kangaroo” move. Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani brings his dog Decoy to the mound Aug. 28 before Decoy delivered the ceremonial first pitch prior to a baseball game between the Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles in Los Angeles. Cute animal alert: SHOHEI OHTANI ’s perky pooch DECOY does a great “first pitch” in his Major League Baseball debut. Chappell Roan performs "Good Luck, Babe" on Sept. 11 during the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y. One of the year’s biggest breakout artists, CHAPPELL ROAN , withdraws from a music festival after speaking out about frightening fan interactions. And more on the price of fame: In an excruciating moment, “Bachelorette” JENN TRAN , the franchise’s first Asian American lead, is forced to sit through a painful viewing of her proposal to her chosen suitor, after tearfully explaining how he’d later dumped her over the phone. Tran is keeping busy though — she’s announced as part of the new “Dancing with the Stars” lineup. Also on the list: rugby player Maher, and Pommel Horse Guy! Also, ANNA SOROKIN , dancing with an ankle monitor. Online fandom, meanwhile, is shaken when X is temporarily suspended in Brazil and celebrity stan accounts post tearful farewells, revealing to many across the globe that their favorite accounts are run by Brazilians. Miles Mitchell, 21, wins of the Timothee Chalamet lookalike contest Oct. 27 near Washington Square Park in New York. “Dune” Chalamets! “Wonka” Chalamets! Thousands gather in Manhattan for a TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET lookalike contest, and things really get interesting when Chalamet himself shows up. He doesn’t enter the contest, though, and with his mustache, he may not even have won. The trend continues with contests for JEREMY ALLEN WHITE, ZAYN MALIK and — in a very Washington version — Kennedy scion JACK SCHLOSSBERG , who's been gathering a following with some interesting social media posts. New York Liberty Kennedy Burke dances with the mascot, Ellie the Elephant, during an Oct. 24 ceremony after a parade in honor of the Liberty's WNBA basketball championship at City Hall in New York. Turning to basketball, who’s that dancing with USHER ? Why it’s ELLIE THE ELEPHANT , the now-viral NEW YORK LIBERTY mascot. Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, right, appears Nov. 2 with Maya Rudolph on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in New York. MAYA RUDOLPH does a pretty good KAMALA HARRIS laugh on “Saturday Night Live,” but you know who does it better? HARRIS herself. The Democratic candidate makes a surprise cameo three days before the U.S. presidential election, following in the footsteps of HILLARY CLINTON , SARAH PALIN and others. Elsewhere in television, Bravo announces that “VANDERPUMP RULES,” the Emmy-nominated reality show that has lived through countless scandals, is entirely recasting its 12th season — apart from namesake LISA VANDERPUMP . As for MOO DENG , she doesn't have her own TV series yet, but our favorite pygmy hippo is generating plenty of merch . And THAT brings us back to ... Ariana Grande, left, and Cynthia Erivo pose for photographers Nov. 11 prior to the premiere of "Wicked" at Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. “WICKED” ! Director JON M. CHU ’s emerald-hued fantasy remains very very popular, to quote one of its buzzy show tunes, dancing through life and defying gravity at the multiplex. Moviegoers also come for “GLADIATOR II” and, in a veritable tidal wave, Disney's “MOANA 2,” which beckons us back to the seas of Oceania. Once again, 2024 seems to be telling us: Give people some whimsy, a place to escape, maybe some catchy tunes — and no one knows how far they’ll go. The stories and images that defined 2024. Searching for something? From queries about U.S. politics to cricket in India, Wikipedia has become a source of information for millions of people across the globe. From the Paris Olympics to the Super Bowl. From Simone Biles to Shohei Ohtani. And, of course, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. These are the sp... AP photographers assembled a visual catalog of our civilization as life in 2024 hurtled directly at us at every speed and in every imaginable ... In 2024, photographers captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election, to hurricanes and fires that ravag... Associated Press photographers captured voters with raw emotions of joy, excitement, contemplation or sorrow. See entertainment's biggest moments in 2024, through the lens of Associated Press photographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. News anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with these words the most this year. Is it any surprise Merriam-Webster's word of the year is "polarization"? Here are the other words that rounded out the top 10 for 2024. 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Open Text Corp. stock falls Tuesday, underperforms marketSAN DIEGO, Dec. 24, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Franklin Access is pleased to announce a significant legal victory in its shareholder litigation, "In re Franklin Wireless Corp. Derivative Litigation", Case No. 21-cv-1837-BEN-MSB. On December 19th, 2024, following an 8-day jury trial, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California determined that the actions of the Franklin Wireless officers and directors during the relevant time period resulted in only nominal damage to the company. Plaintiffs sought in excess of $110 million in damages from the officers and directors of the company. After less than a single day of deliberation, the jury reached its verdict and awarded nominal damages of $0.99. Franklin's officers and directors were represented by lawyers Stephen M. Lobbin, of the law firm SML Avvocati P.C., and Philip Tencer, of TencerSherman LLP. Resolution of this case ends a long and difficult time for the Company's Officers and Directors, and provides certainty and clarity for the future. Management will now be free to focus on its mission to deliver innovative connectivity solutions without the distraction of litigation. For more information about Franklin Wireless, visit FranklinAccess.com. About Franklin Access Franklin Wireless (FKWL) specializes in integrated solutions, leveraging 4G LTE and 5G technologies. From mobile device management to network management solutions, the company designs innovative connectivity solutions for the digital age. Explore more at FranklinAccess.com. Safe Harbor Statement Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied due to various factors. For media inquiries, please contact: marketing@franklinaccess.com © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Youth shot to death outside bar in Cayo; police seek oneThe mounting direct costs of the ongoing war—reflected in an expanding budget deficit, rising debt-to-GDP ratio and the risk of a credit rating downgrade (w hich wouldn't be unprecedented )—are creating serious doubts about Israel’s ability or willingness to address the critical need to expand its high-tech workforce. This stark warning comes from the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Expanding Human Capital in High-Tech, chaired by David Perlmutter, in a follow-up report published on Monday. According to the committee, the war has created significant growth potential for Israel’s defense-tech industries, making it more urgent than ever for the government to solve the ongoing shortage of skilled workers in the high-tech sector. 1 View gallery ( Photo: Shutterstock ) “The 2025 budget must prioritize these initiatives as a national mission,” emphasizes Perlmutter, the committee’s chair. “Without urgent action, Israel risks losing its technological edge and the economic and security benefits it brings. The high-tech sector is essential to our economy, and the technologists of tomorrow are the ones who will develop Israel’s future security solutions. This war has proven beyond a doubt that technological education is our Iron Dome.” The committee, which submitted its final recommendations in November 2022, points out that while these recommendations were adopted by the government, their implementation has been slow. The committee is now issuing a “red flag” regarding the urgent need to accelerate these efforts, especially in light of growing national, economic and technological uncertainties, as well as the rapid pace of global technological advancements. The follow-up report paints a worrying picture of stagnation, with a troubling trend toward decline. At the end of 2023, 508,780 workers were employed in high-tech jobs, accounting for 14.9% of Israel’s workforce. By mid-2024, that number had dropped to 507,701, representing 14.7% of the workforce. The decline is particularly noticeable in growth-oriented professions. To meet its 2028 target of 736,000 high-tech workers, the committee says an annual growth rate of 3.5% is required. To meet the needs of Israel’s high-tech industry and economy, the number of high school graduates eligible for "tech matriculation" (the basic qualifications required for high-tech jobs) must grow from 13,850 in 2023 to 23,600 by 2028. Similarly, the number of university graduates with technology-related degrees must rise from 7,500 in 2023 to 9,000 by 2028. Without these significant increases, the committee warns, “we will fail to meet the needs of the economy in the coming years.” The Perlmutter Committee, established by a government decision in 2021, is an inter-ministerial body tasked with expanding human capital in high-tech. Led by the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the committee includes representatives from the government, business sector and nonprofit organizations. David Perlmutter Photo: Pini Hamo The report also notes that between 2014 and 2021, the percentage of high school students eligible for "tech matriculation" rose from 6.4% to 11%. However, in the absence of active policies, this upward trend has stalled. The committee’s target—to reach 17% by 2028—has now become much harder to achieve. Similarly, the number of students enrolling in technology-related academic degrees has plateaued after years of steady growth. New recommendations for focused efforts In light of the dramatic changes in Israel and the world since its last report, the committee has outlined new recommendations to modify existing plans and focus on additional areas. These include: Deepening collaboration between schools in neighboring municipalities. Expanding physics centers and establishing computer engineering centers. Increasing informal educational programs to encourage girls to pursue "tech matriculation." Rethinking recent changes to the structure of the mathematics matriculation exam. Integrating AI education into the curriculum from an early age. Institutionalizing a national technological-civil service program for populations that do not enlist in the military. Incentivizing academic institutions to increase the number of students pursuing double-major degrees that include technology. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv “The data is a clear warning sign for the economic resilience of the country and the future of the high-tech industry,” said Gila Gamliel, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology. “This situation demands a shift in mindset and new national priorities in the Ministry of Finance and the allocation of national budgets toward formal and informal education in tech-related fields. Without these changes, we risk losing our superiority in intelligence, security, space and energy to nations that have already made these necessary adjustments.” >
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