FACT FOCUS: Vermont ruling does not say schools can vaccinate children without parental consent
Zion Williamson revealed some new ink on Friday. The New Orleans Pelicans star unveiled a fresh tattoo that covers his entire back on social media, which included a video that detailed the process. Williamson has averaged 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and hitting 66.7 percent of his free throws in six appearances this season. After suiting up in a career-high 70 games during the 2023-24 regular season, the 24-year-old has been plagued by injuries once again to open his 2024-25 campaign. Williamson initially missed the Pelicans' season-opener due to an illness . He's also been ruled out of the team's past seven games after suffering a strained left hamstring against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 6 and his timetable for a return is unknown. The No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft discussed his experience with the injury when speaking to reporters on Friday. "When I left the arena, I felt fine," Williamson explained, via NBA.com's Jim Eichenhofer . "No problems, no nothing. Got up the next day and came in for treatments, and felt more sore than usual. Got it checked out. It wasn't what I wanted to hear. The initial part [of hearing the news of being sidelined] is always rough on your mental. After the first week, your spirits are back up. Being around the guys helps as well." New Orleans has dealt with injuries to several key players to begin the year, contributing to the team's 4-12 record. Offseason acquisition Dejounte Murray suffered a fractured hand in the first game of the regular season while veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum has missed 12 consecutive contests due to a right adductor strain . As Williamson recovers from his hamstring issue, he showcased his latest tattoo on social media.
NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Symbotic Announces Acquisition of OhmniLabsSAN DIEGO, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Xerox Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: XRX) securities between January 25, 2024 and October 28, 2024. Xerox and its subsidiaries offer workplace technology that integrates hardware, services, and software for enterprises in the Americas, and internationally. For more information, submit a form , email attorney Aaron Dumas, Jr., or give us a call at (800) 350-6003. The Allegations: Robbins LLP is Investigating Allegations that Xerox Holdings Corporation (XRX) Misled Investors Regarding its Business Prospects According to the complaint, during the class period, defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) after a large workforce reduction, the Company’s salesforce was reorganized with new territory assignments and account coverage; (2) as a result, the Company’s salesforce productivity was disrupted; (3) as a result, the Company had a lower rate of sell-through of older products; (4) the difficulties in flushing out older product would delay the launch of key products; and (5) therefore, Xerox was likely to experience lower sales and revenue. Plaintiff alleges that on October 29, 2024, Xerox revealed “lower-than-expected improvements in sales force productivity” and “delays in the global launch of two new products” had led to “sales underperformance.” The Company disclosed that for third quarter 2024, quarterly revenue was down 7.5% year-over-year to $1.53 billion, net loss fell to -$1.2 billion (down $1.3 billion year-over-year), and equipment sales declined 12.2% year over year to $339 million. In a corresponding earnings call, the Company’s COO revealed the product delay was in fact a “forecasting issue” where the Company “had higher expectations that we were going to flush through the older product” which it needed to “sell through” in order to “make those transitions.” On this news, the Company’s share price fell $1.79, or 17.41%, to close at $8.49 per share on October 29, 2024. What Now: You may be eligible to participate in the class action against Xerox Holdings Corporation. Shareholders who want to serve as lead plaintiff for the class must submit their application to the court by January 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. You do not have to participate in the case to be eligible for a recovery. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. For more information, click here . All representation is on a contingency fee basis. Shareholders pay no fees or expenses. About Robbins LLP: Some law firms issuing releases about this matter do not actually litigate securities class actions; Robbins LLP does. A recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation, the attorneys and staff of Robbins LLP have been dedicated to helping shareholders recover losses, improve corporate governance structures, and hold company executives accountable for their wrongdoing since 2002. Since our inception, we have obtained over $1 billion for shareholders. To be notified if a class action against Xerox Holdings Corporation settles or to receive free alerts when corporate executives engage in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/513fb6e4-a34e-4150-8fe5-2c133087d380
Several suitors have emerged to be the successor to Mayor Valérie Plante. Luc Rabouin, the mayor of the Plateau Mont-Royal borough and chair of the city's executive committee, said Thursday he wanted to be mayor and was going to run for the leadership of Projet Montréal, Plante's political party. That position is up for grabs after Plante announced that she will not seek another mandate as Montreal's mayor. Podcast Why is Valérie Plante not running again as mayor? Rabouin said that, as mayor, he would focus on the environment and housing, two areas Plante prioritized during her tenure as mayor. But Rabouin isn't the only person vying for the job. Luc Rabouin, head of the city's executive committee, left, speaks at Montreal City Hall with Mayor Valérie Plante. (Ivanoh Demers/Radio-Canada) The former president of Projet Montréal, Guedwig Bernier also said he would run for party leader. In an interview with CBC News on Thursday, Bernier said he wanted the city to continue on its current path, but to spend money more efficiently. Asked if he was the best person to guide the city along that path, he said he had a business background and knew how to mine the proper expertise. "Am I the best person? I'll tell you that I'm able to surround myself well," he said. "I'm not a showman. I won't say I'm the best, but I'm able to get the right people around me to get those things done." Guedwig Bernier joined Projet Montréal in 2018, attracted by its vision for a greener city. (Julien Acosta) Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, the mayor of the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, also said last week that she was weighing a run for Projet Montréal leadership. Hopefuls have until Jan. 31, 2025, to be official leadership candidates. To do so, they must secure signatures from 200 of the party's members from at least seven boroughs, with a minimum of 10 signatures from each of those boroughs. The leadership race will end on March 15, when the party will announce the results of its internal vote. So far, only Bernier has filed the necessary documents. Gracia Kasoki Katahwa has indicated she is considering running to be Projet Montréal's next leader. (CBC) The municipal election will take place on Nov. 2, 2025. Frédéric Bérard, a lawyer and political commentator, said that though the municipal race is in its early stage, the vote will likely come down to a referendum on Plante, and whether the city should continue on its current path: emphasizing spending on bike paths, pedestrianization and green space, for example. Ensemble Montréal, the Opposition at city hall, does not yet have a leader who will run for mayor in the November election. "People will have to decide if they want to keep going with Valerie Plante's agenda, in a way, because each and every candidate for Projet Montreal are from the team already," Bérard said. He added that he expects some big names to enter the race in the coming months.
Two Black-owned B.C. businesses will receive grants and legal services as part of a small business program. The fifth annual Black-owned small business grant program, organized by law firm Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, is aimed at supporting such enterprises across the country. Judith Kasiama of Vancouver-based Colour the Trails and Naa Sheka Riby-Williams of White Rock-based Naa Sheka Fashion were two of six recipients from across Canada, according to Tuesday’s (Nov. 26) announcement. More than $100,000 will be distributed to recipients, who will also receive legal services. More than $537,000 in grants have been distributed to Black-owned and operated businesses through the law firm’s program. Founded in 2017, Colour the Trails is a business that focuses on making outdoor activities more accessible to Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC). It does this by hosting outdoor events, creating media that features the stories of BIPOC and, where possible, providing financial support to those facing financial hurdles when it comes to participating. Naa Sheka Fashion is a clothing line that fuses Western and Ghanaian influences using traditional West African textiles. One of their highlights is a partnership with the Vancouver Canucks in February, where it designed a jersey for Black History Month. According to the announcement, the business provides fair wages to Ghanaians and its website states it donates part of its profits to help build libraries in that country. The Black-owned small business grant, which is also supported by Vancouver-based Wheaton Precious Metals (TSX:WPM), is committed to supporting businesses that represent diversity and inclusivity, Cassels Black Affinity Group co-chair Kori Williams said in the announcement. [email protected]The explosive finale of Squid Game Season 2, titled Friend or Foe, left fans grappling with more questions than answers. ET Year-end Special Reads Two sectors that rose on India's business horizon in 2024 2025 outlook: Is it time for cautious optimism or rekindling animal spirits? 2024: Govt moves ahead with simultaneous polls plan; India holds largest democratic exercise Protagonist Seong Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-jae) finds himself outmaneuvered yet again, falling victim to a disguised gamesmaker, Hwang In-ho (Lee Byung-hun), also known as the Front Man. The rebellion Gi-Hun orchestrated ends in devastation, with most of his allies lost. However, it’s the brief post-credits scene that has reignited curiosity among viewers, offering a chilling glimpse of what’s to come. This sequence not only suggests that the deadly games are far from over but also teases a sinister twist. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program What happens in the Post-Credits Scene? In a few seconds of suspense, the post-credits scene showcases three players — numbers 096, 100, and 353 — approaching Young-hee, the infamous robotic doll from the "Red Light, Green Light" game, as mentioned in a report by TV Insider. The doll, known for detecting movement and signaling executions, is not alone this time. Standing opposite Young-hee is a second, boy-like doll. As a streetlight flickers from red to green, the ominous scene cuts, leaving fans to speculate on the significance of this new addition to the games. What does the scene suggest? At first glance, the post-credits moment appears to confirm the continuation of the brutal games, but with a new twist — the introduction of dual dolls, adding complexity and danger to the already ruthless challenges. The presence of players 096 and 100, both of whom abstained from participating in Gi-Hun’s rebellion, could signify their survival into this next phase. The new storyline The new doll’s introduction might carry deeper symbolic meaning. Throughout Season 2, Gi-Hun struggled with moral dilemmas and strategic failures, losing both allies and the high ground in his fight against the system. Interestingly, Front Man, who shares a history as a former player, has shadowed Gi-Hun throughout his journey, influencing key decisions. This raises the question: Could Gi-Hun succumb to the manipulations of Front Man and be recruited into the games’ inner workings, just as Front Man himself once was? The presence of the boy-like doll could symbolize a shift in the power dynamics of the games, potentially reflecting Gi-Hun’s own transformation or signaling the dawn of a new era in the twisted saga. What awaits in Season 3? As fans await the return of Squid Game for its third season, the post-credits scene leaves much to be unraveled. Will Gi-Hun find redemption, or will he be pulled deeper into the games’ sinister grip? And what role will the new doll play in shaping the deadly challenges ahead? FAQs Is Squid Game season 3 confirmed? Netflix has yet to confirm an official release date for the third season of its dystopian thriller, but it has been announced that the new season will debut sometime in 2025. Is the Squid Game based on a true story? Hwang drew inspiration from the traditional Korean games of his childhood to highlight the irony of simple, playful activities once free of stakes transforming into a life-or-death competition. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
By Ja'han Jones The twilight of Mitch McConnell’s career is rife with contradictions. McConnell has arguably been among the biggest enablers of Donald Trump’s rise in the Republican Party and American politics. Before Trump was elected in 2016, the senator from Kentucky watered down a bipartisan statement from congressional leaders that condemned Russia’s pro-Trump interference in the 2016 campaign. When Trump was in office, McConnell voted against convicting Trump for withholding aid to Ukraine in an effort to conjure up dirt on Joe Biden’s family. McConnell went on to vote against convicting Trump after his second impeachment for sending an insurrectionist mob to the Capitol to overturn his 2020 election loss. And of course, McConnell endorsed Trump for president this year, even after Trump directed racist insults at McConnell’s wife (in 2023!). But in recent years, as McConnell has stepped back from Senate leadership, McConnell has occasionally criticized Trump and his supporters — granted, he’s done this either in private or without mentioning Trump’s name . That trend continued Tuesday, when McConnell acknowledged the toxic origins of the “America First” movement. During an interview with the Financial Times , McConnell warned about the dangers of isolationism, saying, “We’re in a very, very dangerous world right now, reminiscent of before World War II.” He added, “Even the slogan is the same. ‘America First’ — that was what they said in the ’30s.” Speaking of foreign conflicts, McConnell said: “To most American voters, I think the simple answer is, ‘Let’s stay out of it.’ That was the argument made in the ’30s and that just won’t work.” For the record, the “they” to which McConnell refers in that first quote is the original “America First” movement, which, as Rachel Maddow’s podcast “ Ultra ” explains, was filled with Nazi sympathizers who plotted to overthrow the U.S. government and to prevent the U.S. from getting involved in World War II or interfering with Hitler’s dictatorship in Germany. McConnell didn’t delve into that history, but that he openly made the comparison suggests he’s well aware of it. It’s worth considering why he chose to help Trump get elected anyway. McConnell doesn’t seem to want to grapple with that contradiction. His response when asked whether he regrets aiding Trump’s rise was this: Today, McConnell acknowledges for the first time that he voted for Trump last month, although he can’t bring himself to mention his name. ‘I supported the ticket,’ he says. Asked if he wishes he had done more to prevent Trump from becoming president again, McConnell says: ‘The election’s over and we’re moving on.’ That’s not so different from what he said after Trump’s first impeachment in February 2020, when he told reporters , “We’ve completed it, we’ve listened to the arguments, we voted, it’s in the rearview mirror.” My reading of McConnell’s mindset is that he’s glad he backed Trump, who presumably will work to usher in an era of conservative, laissez-faire economic policies. But McConnell sounds somewhat regretful about the havoc Trump is likely to wreak on the world. A profile in courage, he is not. Ja’han Jones is The ReidOut Blog writer. He’s a futurist and multimedia producer focused on culture and politics. His previous projects include “Black Hair Defined” and the “Black Obituary Project.”
BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") has declared a distribution in the amount of $0.1497 per share. The distribution is comprised entirely of ordinary income. The dividend will be payable on January 10, 2025 , to stockholders of record on December 30, 2024 , with an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2024 . The Fund has a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan") in which each stockholder automatically participates, unless the stockholder instructs Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the "Plan Agent"), in writing, to have all distributions, net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, paid in cash. If the Fund's shares are trading at a premium to the net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund on the distribution payment date, the Plan provides that stockholders will be issued Fund shares valued at NAV. If the Fund's shares are trading at a discount to the NAV per share, stockholders will be issued shares of the Fund valued at market price. Stockholders will not be charged a fee in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A stockholder may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. Stockholders who have questions regarding the distribution may contact EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255). The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. The Fund's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN." The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For more information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . For more information about the Plan or to terminate your participation in the Plan, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at c/o The China Fund, Inc. at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, by telephone at 1-800-426-5523 or via the Internet at www.computershare.com/investor . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-declares-distributions-302331625.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.
None
TORONTO, Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“ ” or the “ “) (TSXV: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), the designer and developer of the POET Optical InterposerTM, Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) and light sources for the data center, tele-communication and artificial intelligence markets, is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced registered direct offering with a single institutional investor that qualifies as an “accredited investor” under National Instrument 45-106 – of the Canadian Securities Administrators. The Corporation issued 5,555,556 common shares (the “ “) and a warrant exercisable to acquire up to 2,777,778 Common Shares (the “ “) to the investor for aggregate gross proceeds of US$25,000,002 (the “ ”). The combined price of one Common Share and accompanying Warrant in respect of one-half of one Common Share was US$4.50 (or approximately C$6.29). The exercise price of the Warrant is US$6.00 (or approximately C$8.39) per Common Share, and the Warrant is exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance. The Corporation intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for working capital related to its recently announced intention to expand assembly operations into Malaysia and for other corporate purposes. No commission or finder’s fee was paid by the Corporation, and no underwriter or sales agent was engaged by the Corporation in connection with the Offering. The Offering is being made pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated December 3, 2024 (the “ “) to the short form base shelf prospectus (the “ “) of the Corporation dated September 6, 2024 filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, as well as with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as part of the Corporation’s U.S. registration statement on Form F-10 (“ “) (Registration No. 333-280553) under the U.S.-Canada Multijurisdictional Disclosure System and General Instruction II.L, which included the Prospectus Supplement with such additions thereto and deletions therefrom as may be permitted or required by Form F-10. Copies of the Prospectus Supplement, including the Base Shelf Prospectus, are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. The Offering remains subject to the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ “). This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical engines, light source products and custom optical modules to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers. POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical InterposerTM, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer- based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems. POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges across a broad range of communication, computing and sensing applications. POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Allentown, PA, Shenzhen, China, and Singapore. More information about POET is available on our website at . This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include, without limitation, the Corporation’s expectations with respect to its products, the scalability of the POET Optical Interposer, the success of the Corporation’s products, and the Corporation’s use of proceeds for the Offering and the ability to obtain the final approval of the Exchange. Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, management’s expectations regarding the size of the market for its products, the capability of its joint venture to produce products on time and at the expected costs, the performance and availability of certain components, and the success of its customers in achieving market penetration for their products. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the attractiveness of the Corporation’s product offerings, performance of its technology, the performance of key components, and ability of its customers to sell their products into the market. For further information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to the Corporation’s filings on SEDAR+ at and on the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at . Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Corporation’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Corporation can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Corporation assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by applicable securities laws.None
Ignacio Baladán and ‘La Segura’ are moved to tears when they find out the sex of their babyNEW YORK — Stocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones industrial average notched another record high. The Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% and nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the run-up to elections in November, then surging after Donald Trump’s victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It’s now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, said in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts’ third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company’s Dish Network unit. Smaller-company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest factors in whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6-trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% after a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class-action investor lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny of consumer spending habits heading into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rate. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It’s still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers’ inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the Conference Board, a business group, releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed’s preferred measure of inflation, and this will be the last PCE reading before the central bank’s meeting in December. Troise and Veiga write for the Associated Press.
Millions of university graduates and students will soon wake up to an early Christmas present after the government wiped thousands of dollars off their debts. or signup to continue reading Laws to cap the indexation rate for the Higher Education Loan Program at either the rate of inflation or the wage price index - whichever is lowest - passed federal parliament late Tuesday night after Australians were stung with a 7.1 per cent increase to their student debts in 2023 because of surging inflation. The indexation changes will lead to $3 billion in debt being cleared over coming weeks. "University is a lot more expensive today than when I was at university," Education Minister Jason Clare told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "Wiping $3 billion in debt will fix that spike in inflation that happened last year and it'll make sure that never happens again." People with an average HELP debt level will get a $1200 reduction on their loans. Those with a debt of $45,000 will get a decrease of about $2000, while students with $60,000 owning will have debt lowered by $2700. The changes were recommended in the university accords, a review of the tertiary education sector handed down in February. The laws mean university students completing placement will receive payments to help with living costs from July 2025. Students in degrees including teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work will receive an allowance of $319 per week. The reforms were a big win for students and graduates at a time when many Australians were struggling with the high cost of living, Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said. Though universities have celebrated these measures, other government proposals for the sector have been widely spurned. Labor has attempted to implement a cap on the number of foreign student arrivals from 2025. The reform would be used in place of an immigration rule known as ministerial direction 107, that has throttled student visas. Swinburne University of Technology vice-chancellor Pascale Quester has urged the government to replace the ministerial direction and prioritise visa processing for enrolments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses - collectively known as STEM subjects. The number of domestic students taking these courses has dropped steadily, while international student interest has increased by 39 per cent since 2021. "Forget a brain drain, we are at risk of a brain drought," Professor Quester said. "There is so much STEM talent in the region, but we have slammed the door in their faces with hastily-crafted policy." The government is also expected to slash a further 20 per cent off Australians' student debt if it wins the federal election in 2025. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement