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Wall Street Futures Surge as Fed Hints at More Cuts, Nvidia’s $5B Intel Bet Lifts Tech

  U.S. stock futures climbed on Thursday, with the Nasdaq leading gains, after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.25 percentage points and signaled two more reductions could follow in 2025. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose 0.7%, S&P 500 futures gained 0.8%, and Nasdaq 100 futures jumped 1.2%, buoyed by a sharp rally in tech stocks. Intel shares surged nearly 30% in premarket trading after Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in the struggling chipmaker, though the deal stops short of a manufacturing partnership. The Fed’s move, aimed at supporting a slowing economy amid high inflation and a weakening labor market, initially sparked caution, but optimism returned as investors bet on a more accommodative policy path. If gains hold, the S&P 500 is set to open above 6,700 for the first time, extending September’s unexpected rally. Traders are now watching weekly jobless claims for further clues on the labor market, while corporate earnings — including ...

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Packed Classrooms, Stretched Resources: Alberta Schools Strain Under Population Boom

 


    




Alberta’s rapid population growth — now nearing five million — is pushing the province’s schools to breaking point, with overcrowded classrooms becoming the norm in major urban centres.

Parents in cities like Calgary and Edmonton report children learning in hallways, gyms, and converted libraries, while some schools have paused enrolment due to lack of space. Class sizes of nearly 30 students are common, with gym classes swelling to more than 50. The noise and cramped conditions are prompting some families to hire private tutors to help their children keep up.

School boards warn that capacity issues will worsen, with Edmonton Public Schools projecting it will be full by 2028. The crisis comes amid stalled contract talks between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the provincial government, with a potential provincewide strike looming on October 6.

Premier Danielle Smith’s government has pledged to hire 3,000 teachers over three years and invest $8.6 billion in new school construction, but says budget constraints mean trade-offs between higher wages and more staff. Teachers argue both are essential to address the strain on Alberta’s education system.


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