Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says that some 315 houses have so far been constructed under the Government’s National Social Housing Programme (NSHP). “Now, I have handed over more than 260 of these houses. In fact, right now, I think we have about 315 houses that are either handed over, under construction or completed and awaiting handing over,” he said. The Prime Minister was addressing the ceremony for the handing over of a three-bedroom unit to Simone Reid in John Reid, St. Ann on Thursday (Dec. 12). Miss Reid was one of three beneficiaries in the parish who received houses on the day. The NSHP was developed to improve the housing condition of the country’s poor and disadvantaged population by providing quality, affordable and sustainable housing. Miss Reid’s home was constructed a cost of close to $6.4 million, which the Prime Minister noted was “amazingly low.” However, he pointed out that the cost of each NSHP unit varies as it is dependent on the terrain on which it is built and the infrastructure that must be put in place. “So, the cost here, obviously, was moderate because the site is flat and easily accessible, and the infrastructure work that was required was limited, therefore, we came in at this very, very good price,” he said. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said that the Government will be providing more housing solutions for persons in the low income, lower middle income and minimum wage categories. He noted that the National Housing Trust (NHT) is developing over 40,000 solutions island-wide, the bulk of which will “be targeted at the persons who are lower income, lower middle income and middle income.” “So, the intention of the NHT, then, is to address the market failure in the private housing market so that we can provide housing now for the barber, the bartender, the hairdresser, the basic school teacher, the mechanic [and] the taxi driver,” he noted. “I would say that by next year, you’re going to start to see housing coming onto the market that will cater to those income levels. The truth is, it has really been unfair to many of the contributors that they are contributing but there is no housing solution in their price point,” the Prime Minister pointed out.
Mixed Day Wraps Up an Uneven WeekNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes reached more records after tech companies talked up how much artificial intelligence is boosting their results. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% Wednesday to add to what looks to be one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce pulled the market higher after highlighting its artificial-intelligence offering for customers. Marvell Technology jumped even more after saying it’s seeing strong demand from AI. Treasury yields eased, while bitcoin climbed after President-elect Donald Trump nominated a crypto advocate to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are rising toward more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they're getting from artificial intelligence . The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% to add to what looks to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s on track to set an all-time high for the 56th time this year after coming off 10 gains in the last 11 days . The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 252 points, or 0.6%, with an hour remaining in trading, while the Nasdaq composite was adding 1.2% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, rose 9.3%. Marvell Technology jumped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. They helped offset a 9.8% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of Thanksgiving week and other key selling periods. Retailers overall have offered mixed signals about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable because of high interest rates brought by the Federal Reserve to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released on Wednesday morning may have offered a preview of it. The report from ADP suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for higher tariffs and other policies could lead to higher economic growth and inflation , which could alter the Fed’s plans . Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank can afford to cut its benchmark rate cautiously because inflation has slowed significantly from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts have not pulled down mortgage rates as much as hoped yet. Plus “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s fell 6% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s Washington Commanders hired Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse as its team president. Campbell’s said Mick Beekhuizen, its president of meals and beverages, will become its 15th CEO following Clouse’s departure. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It said it’s also benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 2.8%. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. Yoon accused pro-North Korean forces of plotting to overthrow one of the world’s most vibrant democracies. The martial law declaration was revoked about six hours later. Samsung Electronics fell 0.9% in Seoul. The country’s financial regulator said it was prepared to deploy 10 trillion won ($7.07 billion) into a stock market stabilization fund at any time, the Yonhap news agency reported. In the crypto market , bitcoin climbed back above $97,000 after Trump said he would nominate Paul Atkins , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. ___ AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated Press
The explosive growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) market has minted a lot of millionaires. For example, a modest $3,000 investment in the AI chipmaker Nvidia just 10 years ago would be worth nearly $1.5 million today. But with a market cap of $3.6 trillion, it could be tough for Nvidia to replicate those millionaire-making gains over the next decade. Therefore, investors looking for those kinds of life-changing returns should seek out smaller companies that have more room to grow. I believe these three companies -- Symbotic ( SYM 6.93% ) , Serve Robotics ( SERV -1.54% ) , and Lemonade ( LMND -2.15% ) -- might just make the cut. 1. Symbotic Symbotic produces fully autonomous robots for processing pallets in warehouses. It claims a $50 million investment in just one of its modules (which includes its robots and software) can generate $250 million in lifetime savings over 25 years. Its top customer is Walmart , which tasked the company with automating all of its U.S. regional distribution centers over the next decade. That deal accounted for 88% of Symbotic's revenue in fiscal 2023 (which ended last September). Walmart is also one of Symbotic's leading investors. Symbotic is overwhelmingly dependent on Walmart, but it's been gaining additional major customers like Target , Albertsons , and C&S Wholesale. It's also providing more robots to GreenBox, a new warehouse-as-a-service joint venture it launched with its big backer SoftBank last year. Symbotic's revenue jumped 55% in fiscal 2024, and analysts expect its top line to keep growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32% over the next two years as it continues to fulfill its long-term deal with Walmart and lock in new customers. Analysts also expect it to turn profitable on a generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) basis in 2025. With an enterprise value of $3.1 billion, Symbotic's stock still looks cheap at 1.3 times this year's sales. It faces some near-term macro and competitive headwinds in the warehouse automation space, but it might just become a millionaire-maker stock over the next few years. 2. Serve Robotics Serve Robotics develops autonomous sidewalk delivery robots. It was originally created as a unit of Postmates, which was acquired by Uber Technologies in 2020. Uber spun off Serve in 2021, but it still uses its robots to fulfill some of Uber Eats' orders in Los Angeles. Serve still generates all of its revenue from Uber, and it only operated 59 active robots across the Los Angeles area in the third quarter of 2024. But in 2025, it plans to deploy up to 2,000 robots for Uber Eats across the L.A. and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas. For 2024, analysts expect Serve to generate less than $2 million in revenue as it racks up a net loss of $34 million. But in 2025, they expect its revenue to jump to $13 million as it narrows its net loss to $31 million. In 2026, they see its revenue more than quadrupling to nearly $60 million as it narrows its net loss to $25 million. We should take those estimates with a grain of salt, but Serve's business could start gaining momentum as more businesses use its robots to make short-range deliveries. That growth could help it attract more customers to reduce its dependence on Uber. With an enterprise value of $379 million, Serve doesn't seem terribly expensive at 6 times its 2026 sales. It remains a highly speculative stock, but it could still have plenty of upside potential and counts Nvidia as one of its top investors. 3. Lemonade Lemonade is an online insurance company that simplifies the onboarding and claims process with its AI-powered chatbots. That simple digital-first approach made it popular with younger and first-time insurance buyers, and more than 70% of its customers were under the age of 35 at the time of its initial public offering in 2020. It initially only offered renters and homeowners insurance, but it now offers term life, pet health, and auto insurance policies. It ended its latest quarter with 2.31 million customers, compared to just over 1 million customers at the end of 2020. For 2024, Lemonade expects its in-force premiums to rise 26%, its gross earned premiums to grow 22%-23%, and its total revenue to increase 21%-22%. It also sees its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ( EBITDA ) improving from negative $173 million in 2023 to negative $151 million-$155 million in 2024. Lemonade hasn't proven its business model is sustainable yet, but it's growing much faster than its larger competitors. With an enterprise value of $2.9 billion, it trades at just 4 times next year's sales -- so it might generate millionaire-maker gains if it scales up its business, narrows its losses, and widens its moat.
FPGA-Accelerated LLMs: The Future of AI Inferencing is HereCanadian minister says Trump was joking when he said Canada could become the 51st stateAs her students finished their online exam, Arlet Lara got up to make a cafe con leche. Her 16-year-old son found her on the kitchen floor. First, he called Dad in a panic. Then 911. "I had a stroke, and my life made a 180-degree turn," Lara said, recalling the medical scare she experienced in May 2020 in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The stroke affected my left side of the body." Lara, an avid runner and gym-goer couldn't even walk. "It was hard," said the 50-year-old mom from North Miami and former high school math teacher. After years of rehabilitation therapy and a foot surgery, Lara can walk again. But she still struggles with moving. This summer, she became the first patient in South Florida to get an implant of a new and only FDA-approved-nerve stimulation device designed to help ischemic stroke survivors regain movement in their arms and hands. Every year, thousands in the United States have a stroke, with one occurring every 40 seconds, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The majority of strokes are ischemic, often caused by blood clots that obstruct blood flow to the brain. For survivors, most of whom are left with some level of disability, the Vivistim Paired VNS System — the device implanted in Lara's chest — could be a game changer in recovery, said Dr. Robert Starke, a neurosurgeon and interventional neuroradiologist. He also serves as co-director of endovascular neurosurgery at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Lara underwent the procedure. How the device works The Vivistim Paired VNS System is a small pacemaker-like device implanted in the upper chest and neck area. Patients can go home the same day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the stroke rehabilitation system in 2021 to be used alongside post-ischemic stroke rehabilitation therapy to treat moderate to severe mobility issues in hands and arms. Lara's occupational therapist can activate the device during rehabilitation sessions to electrically stimulate the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain down to the abdomen and regulates various parts of the body's nervous system. The electrical stimulation rewires the brain to improve a stroke survivor's ability to move their arms and hands. Lara also has a magnet she can use to activate the device when she wants to practice at home. Her therapy consists of repetitive tasks, including coloring, pinching cubes and grabbing and releasing cylindrical shapes. After several weeks of rehabilitation therapy with the device, Lara has seen improvement. "Little by little, I'm noticing that my hand is getting stronger," Lara said in September. "I am already able to brush my teeth with the left hand." Since then, Lara has finished the initial six-week Vivistim therapy program and is continuing to use the device in her rehabilitation therapy. She continues to improve and can now eat better with her left hand and can brush her hair with less difficulty, according to her occupational therapist, Neil Batungbakal. Going beyond the 'plateau' Starke sees the device as an opportunity to help bring survivors one step closer to regaining full mobility. Strokes are a leading cause of disability worldwide. While most stroke survivors usually can recover some function through treatment and rehabilitation, they tend to hit a "major plateau" after the first six months of recovery, he said. Vivistim, when paired with rehabilitation therapy, could change that. Jackson Health said results of a clinical trial published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet in 2021 showed that the device, "when paired with high-repetition, task-specific occupational or physical therapy, helps generate two to three times more hand and arm function for stroke survivors than rehabilitation therapy alone." The device has even shown to benefit patients 20 years after their original stroke, according to Starke. "So now a lot of these patients that had strokes 10 to 15 years ago that thought that they would never be able to use their arm in any sort of real functional way are now able to have a real meaningful function, which is pretty tremendous," Starke said. More about the device Vivistim's vagus-nerve stimulation technology was developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas' Texas Biomedical Device Center and is being sold commercially by Austin-based MicroTransponder, a company started by university graduates. Similar devices are used to treat epilepsy and depression. For Lara, the device is a new tool to help her recovery journey. "Everything becomes a challenge, so we are working with small things every day because I want to get back as many functions as possible," Lara said. Patients interested in Vivistim should speak with their doctor to check their eligibility. The FDA said patients should make sure to discuss any prior medical history. "Adverse events included but were not limited to dysphonia (difficulty speaking), bruising, falling, general hoarseness, general pain, hoarseness after surgery, low mood, muscle pain, fracture, headache, rash, dizziness, throat irritation, urinary tract infection and fatigue," the FDA said. MicroTransponder says the device is "covered by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance with prior authorization on a case-by-case basis." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Samsung is working on a budget-friendly foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Flip FE. This device aims to make foldable technology more accessible to users. While details have been scarce, new reports reveal key information about the phone’s processor. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip FE: An Affordable Foldable with Powerful Features Industry insider has shared exciting details about the Galaxy Z Flip FE. The phone will use the chipset, the same processor found in the Galaxy S24 FE, which launched in September. The Exynos 2400e is built with a modern 4nm fabrication process. It offers a mix of power and efficiency with these cores: 1 ARM Cortex-X4 at 3.1 GHz for peak performance. 2 ARM Cortex-A720 cores at 2.9 GHz. 3 ARM Cortex-A720 cores at 2.6 GHz. 4 ARM Cortex-A520 cores at 1.95 GHz for efficiency. Graphics are handled by the Samsung Xclipse 940 GPU, ensuring smooth gaming and multimedia performance. Gizchina News of the week Using the Exynos 2400e helps Samsung keep the Galaxy Z Flip FE affordable. It offers solid performance but at a lower cost than the latest chips. Meanwhile, the high-end Galaxy Z Flip 7 is expected to feature the more advanced processor, offering even better performance for premium users. Interestingly, reports suggest the Galaxy Z Flip FE will use the same display as the Galaxy Z Flip 7. This means users of the budget model will still enjoy a high-quality screen. So far, details about other features of the Z Flip FE remain unknown. However, Samsung’s focus on affordability without major compromises could attract more users to the foldable phone market. With this new addition, is bringing foldable devices to a wider audience. The Galaxy Z Flip FE could be the perfect choice for those who want innovation at a lower price. What do you think about Samsung’s move? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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As the year draws to a close this holiday season and blessed Christmas time, it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on the immense contributions of those who work tirelessly to feed, clothe, and sustain us. As a farm journalist, I’m blessed to witness individuals’ dedication, resilience, and innovation across the agricultural industry. Each of you — farmers, suppliers, processors, government workers, and consumers — play a vital role in shaping our food systems and communities. For this, I am deeply thankful. To the farmers: Your commitment to the land and livestock is genuinely inspiring. Whether you’re tending crops or caring for animals, your work embodies the heart and soul of agriculture. Through early mornings, long days, and unpredictable weather, you persevere. Your resilience ensures that there is produce to stock the shelves, tables are full, and communities thrive. As journalism is for me, agriculture is not just a profession — it’s a calling. Your dedication does not go unnoticed. You face challenges head-on, whether it’s market fluctuations, environmental pressures, or labour shortages. Yet, you continue to adapt, innovate, and find solutions. From precision farming techniques to regenerative practices, your efforts pave the way for a more sustainable future. To the suppliers: You keep the wheels of agriculture turning. From seed and equipment providers to technology innovators, your work ensures farmers have the tools they need to succeed. In a world where efficiency and sustainability are paramount, your contributions enable farmers to meet today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. You are partners in every sense, supporting the backbone of agriculture. Your innovation drives progress, whether it’s developing climate-resistant seeds, advancing precision agriculture technologies, or ensuring the availability of critical inputs during challenging times. Your work supports farmers and empowers them to achieve greater success. To the processors: You transform raw products into the goods that nourish us all. Your precision, creativity, and commitment to quality add value to everything agriculture produces. It’s not just about feeding people; it’s about creating experiences, sustaining traditions, and supporting health and wellness. You bridge the gap between the farm and the table, and your work is a testament to the importance of every link in the supply chain. Amid supply chain disruptions and shifting consumer demands, you adapt to ensure high-quality products reach markets near and far. Your efforts drive economic growth and unite communities around shared meals and traditions. To the government workers: Behind the scenes, you support the policies and programs that make agriculture viable. Your efforts shape the agricultural sector’s framework from research and development to trade negotiations and food safety regulations. Your dedication ensures Canadian agriculture remains competitive and sustainable in a rapidly changing global market. Whether addressing climate challenges, supporting rural development, or fostering international trade, your work lays the groundwork for a thriving agricultural ecosystem. Your commitment to collaboration with industry stakeholders strengthens the foundation of our food systems. To the consumers: You are the reason agriculture exists. Your choices shape the direction of the industry, and your support fuels its growth. Whether buying locally sourced produce, supporting sustainable practices, or simply sharing appreciation for the farmers and workers who make it all possible, you play an essential role in this intricate system. Your connection to the food you consume strengthens the bond between farm and fork. As consumers increasingly seek transparency and sustainability, your voices guide the industry toward practices that align with these values. By choosing to support local farmers, organic options, or fair trade products, you make a tangible impact. As we celebrate Christmas and the New Year, take notice of the spirit of gratitude and community that binds us all. Agriculture is a collective effort, and each role is essential. In this season of giving, may we extend our appreciation to those who work tirelessly to ensure that we have enough — not just at the holidays but throughout the year. Let us also recognize the sacrifices made by those in agriculture who often work through the holidays to care for livestock, monitor crops, and ensure the continuity of our food supply. Looking ahead to 2025, let’s remain hopeful and committed to fostering a sustainable, innovative, and inclusive agricultural industry. May we support one another, embrace challenges with courage, and celebrate the big and small victories that make this journey worthwhile. Let us acknowledge the power of community and collaboration as we face future uncertainties. By working together, we can build an agricultural system that not only meets the needs of today but also secures a prosperous future for generations to come. I leave you with this thought from Galatians 6:9: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up.” This verse reminds us that perseverance and faith yield rewards, even when the road ahead seems challenging. May this verse encourage us to keep progressing with faith, hope, and perseverance. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to each of you. May your hearts be full, your tables abundant, and your year ahead filled with blessings. Thank you for all you do to make agriculture the vital, vibrant industry it is today. — Harry Siemens is a farm journalist, podcaster, speaker, writer and communicator Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca
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SINGAPORE and SAN DIEGO, Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helport AI Limited (NASDAQ: HPAI) (“Helport AI” or the “Company”), an AI technology company serving enterprise clients with intelligent software, services and solutions, today announced that Tao Ke, Chief Financial Officer, will present at the iAccess Alpha Virtual Best Ideas Winter Conference 2024 on December 10 and 11, 2024. iAccess Alpha Virtual Conference Details: Date: December 10-11, 2024 Presentation Day and Time: Tuesday, December 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/3074/51744 A webcast of the presentation will also be available under the Events & Presentations section of the Company’s investor relations website linked here . To schedule a one-on-one investor meeting with Helport AI management, please contact your iAccess Alpha representative or email MZ Group at HPAI@mzgroup.us . About Helport AI Helport AI (NASDAQ: HPAI) is a premier provider of AI-driven solutions, specializing in enhancing professional capabilities across industries. Focused on delivering measurable outcomes, The company serves enterprise-level customer contact services through intelligent products, solutions, and a digital platform, helping businesses optimize their sales and improve customer engagement. Our mission is to empower everyone to work as an expert. Learn more at www.helport.ai . Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, Helport AI's business plan and outlook. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on Helport AI’s current expectations and projections about future events that Helport AI believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “approximates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or other similar expressions. Helport AI undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Helport AI believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and Helport AI cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in Helport AI’s registration statement and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Helport AI Investor Relations: Meredith Fan ir@helport.ai https://ir.helport.ai/ External Investor Relations Contact: Chris Tyson Executive Vice President MZ North America Direct: 949-491-8235 HPAI@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.usBulgaria, Romania Step Closer To Schengen As Austria Drops Veto