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Liberal Candidate Paul Chiang Steps Down Amid Controversy

Paul Chiang, a Liberal candidate in the Markham-Unionville riding, has announced his resignation following backlash over comments he made regarding a Conservative opponent, Joe Tay. Chiang suggested that individuals could claim a bounty offered by Hong Kong authorities by turning Tay over to the Chinese consulate. This statement, made during a press conference in January, sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about foreign interference in Canadian politics. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has since launched an investigation into the matter, citing potential threats to Canada's democratic processes. Chiang issued an apology, calling his remarks a "deplorable lapse in judgment," but the controversy persisted. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre condemned the comments, stating that they endangered Tay's safety and sent a chilling message to the community. Chiang's resignation comes as Liberal leader Mark Carney faces mounting pressure to address ...

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Techs lead the way as US stock futures climb, setting the S&P 500 on track for a fresh record high


US stock futures climbed on Friday, setting the S&P 500 on track for a fresh record high as a tech-led rally gave a lift to a market weighed down by uncertainty over the odds of an early interest rate cut. The Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 0.7%, eyeing a return to gains notched Thursday as Apple and chipmakers outperformed. S&P 500 futures rose 0.4%, while Dow Jones Industrial Average futures put on 0.2%.

The market is still closely watching for cues to the timing of rate cuts, which could set the tone for corporates this year. The focus has turned to big tech to potentially kickstart a lagging stock market, now that the key drivers of the late 2023 rally have waned. Thursday’s tech-led surge in stocks put the S&P 500 within 0.3% of its all-time closing high of 4,796.56 and snapped a three-day losing streak for the Dow.

In individual stocks, iRobot shares tanked over 38% after a report that EU regulators plan to block Amazon’s $1.4 billion acquisition of the Roomba maker. Meanwhile, investors were assessing Macy’s announcement that it is cutting 2,350 jobs and closing five stores. Quarterly results from Travelers, Regions Financial, and other banks are on the earnings docket Friday. In economic updates, a December reading on existing home sales is due, as well as a look at consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan.


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