BEVERLY, Mass., Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Axcelis Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACLS), a leading supplier of enabling ion implantation solutions for the semiconductor industry, announced today its participation in SEMICON Japan 2025, taking place December 17–19 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo, Japan. Axcelis will exhibit in Hall 2, Booth #2655. 

Visitors will experience Axcelis’ next-generation ion implant technologies designed to boost device performance, enhance productivity, and reduce cost of ownership. Featured systems include:

• Purion Power Series+™ – Optimized for next-generation power devices, including emerging superjunction architectures. The new platform spans the full ion implant market with new extensions including Purion H200+ SiC for high current medium energy, Purion M+ SiC for medium current, and Purion XE+ SiC and Purion EXE+ SiC for high energy applications.
• Purion H™ Series – Delivers unmatched purity and precision with industry-leading productivity across the high current operating space. Features innovative scanned spot beam technology with precise implant angle and dose control to enhance device performance and yield.
• Purion XE™ Series – The industry leading high energy implant platform with the widest energy range, including the Purion XEmax model featuring our patented Boost Technology™ for the most advanced image sensor applications up to 15MeV.
• GSD Ovation™ ES – Provides best-in-class high current hydrogen and helium implant capability for engineered substrates, including wafer splitting. The new system is an evolution of the GSD Ovation Series platform, the industry benchmark for batch implanter productivity.

Special events on Thursday, Dec. 18th:

• Innovative Ion Implant Solutions for Next Generation Power Devices
  TechSPOT, Hall 5 | 15:30–15:50
  Introducing the Purion Power Series+, the next generation of ion implant solutions designed to meet evolving performance & production demands for power devices, including superjunction architectures. New solutions enable lower CoO, increase process flexibility and tighten process control.
• Axcelis Happy Hour Celebration
  Hall 2, Booth #2655 | 16:00–17:00
  Join us for beverages and appetizers and meet the Axcelis team!

President and CEO of Axcelis Technologies Dr Russell Low, said, “We’re excited to showcase our most advanced ion implant technology to Japan’s semiconductor manufacturers. Japan customers value Axcelis’ broad implant portfolio for power, image sensor, memory, and advanced logic applications. Our growing installed base and support infrastructure in Japan reflect our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that ensure customer success. We look forward to presenting our latest advancements at SEMICON Japan.”

About Axcelis:
Axcelis (Nasdaq: ACLS), headquartered in Beverly, Mass., has been providing innovative, high-productivity solutions for the semiconductor industry for over 45 years. Axcelis is dedicated to developing enabling process applications through the design, manufacture and complete life cycle support of ion implantation systems, one of the most critical and enabling steps in the IC manufacturing process. Learn more about Axcelis at www.axcelis.com.

AXCELIS CONTACTS:
Japan:
Russell Newman (Country Manager, Japan) +81 80 9052 5424

Global:
Maureen Hart (Editorial/Media) +1.978.787.4266
David Ryzhik (Investor Relations) +1.978.787.2352

Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/axcelis_1_logo.jpg

MIAMI, Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) successfully hosted its 2025 Annual Summit in Miami on 5 December 2025, at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs to accelerate solutions for a sustainable future.

Nobel Sustainability Trust Successfully Concludes 2025 Miami Summit

The summit opened with an elegant Gala Dinner moderated by renowned journalist Gloria Ordaz, featuring a welcome address by NST leadership and representatives of the Miami Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, followed by a special keynote remark by Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young and an honored VIP dignitary.

The official summit was moderated by global entrepreneur Jeff Hoffman, Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and co-founder of Priceline/Booking.com. Opening remarks were delivered by Peter Nobel, Chairman of the Nobel Sustainability Trust and remarks from Johan Rockström.

A highlight of the morning session was the Sustainability Award Ceremony, introduced by the NST Board of Directors. Ed Russo delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the President of the United States and received an official NST recognition. Additional keynote addresses were delivered by the 2025 Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability Medal awardees, H.E. Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya and H.E. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, reinforcing global governmental commitment to sustainability.

The Academic Awards segment featured the presentation of the 2025 Sustainability Award themes by the Technical University of Munich, followed by high-level recognition for Leadership in Implementation, Outstanding Research in Biodiversity, and Intelligent & Sustainable Urban Solutions. The 2025 awardees were Prof. Manfred Curbach, Prof. Paul Hebert, and The Global Observatory for Healthy & Sustainable Cities.

In addition, NST proudly announced its official academic partnership with the University of Cambridge and its Frontier Technology Lab, marking Cambridge as a selected strategic academic partner for NST from 2026. The announcement was delivered by Simran Chana on behalf of the University of Cambridge and its Frontier Technology Lab. This new partnership will focus on frontier technologies, AI governance, sustainability innovation, and future global solutions.

In the midday program, AECOM and NST announced their strategic partnership and presented the first Smart & Sustainable City Certificate which was awarded to Lusail City, Doha.

The summit sessions explored future-shaping themes including AI & Smart Sustainable City Solutions and Biodiversity as Global Infrastructure. A keynote address on behalf of the President of Panama was delivered by H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Panama, followed by keynote interventions from Youssef Nassef, Head of the UNFCCC Adaptation Division, and Professor Graciela Chichilnisky. The program continued with two high-impact fireside chats on Climate Finance and The Next Era of Artificial Intelligence, reinforcing NST’s mission to bridge policy, science, technology, and investment for real-world impact.

With planned future summits in Doha next year, the 2025 Miami Summit reaffirmed NST’s growing role as a global platform for sustainability leadership, innovation, and international collaboration.

Nobel Sustainability Trust Successfully Concludes 2025 Miami Summit

• Globally renowned team adds to Latham’s market-leading capabilities, bringing decades of advisory experience on cutting-edge transactions.

• Significant milestone in the growth of the firm’s top-ranked private equity and M&A practice, reinforcing the firm’s leadership in Germany, across Europe, and globally.

• Arrival of team of dealmakers strengthens client offering with unparalleled buyout and M&A reputation, deep market insight, and integrated global capabilities.

FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Latham & Watkins is pleased to announce that four prominent private equity and M&A partners–Markus Paul, Wessel Heukamp, Verena Nosch, and Carsten Haak–will join the firm in Germany. The partners join from Freshfields, bringing decades of advisory experience on cutting-edge transactions.

Widely recognized among Europe’s most experienced private equity lawyers, they bring extensive expertise advising a broad range of private equity and other financial sponsors, as well as corporates, including in the financial institutions sector, on a variety of transactions, with a particular focus on leveraged buyouts and complex domestic and cross-border M&A.

Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins, said: “Markus, Wessel, Verena, and Carsten are highly accomplished lawyers with outstanding reputations in the market. They bring deep relationships, top-notch skills and an exceptional track record in sophisticated transactions, further enhancing our ability to deliver the highest level of service to clients. Their arrival represents an important milestone in the continued growth of our private equity and M&A practices in Germany and Europe and further enhances our position as one of the elite M&A law firms globally.”

Strengthening Leadership in Germany and Europe

The addition of the team builds on Latham’s strong momentum in the private equity and M&A market. In the first three quarters of 2025, the firm achieved #1 global rankings for M&A by both deal value and deal count, as well as #1 for global private equity M&A by deal count (Bloomberg). In Europe, Latham also ranked #1 for M&A, private equity M&A, and mid-market private equity M&A by deal count. (Bloomberg)

Oliver Felsenstein, private equity partner in Germany, commented: “We have built one of the preeminent private equity and M&A practices in Germany, across Europe, and globally. The firm is already operating at the very top of the German market, and the addition of these exceptional lawyers raises the bar even higher. Their stellar market reputation and extensive industry networks are a perfect fit for our practice and further enhance our ability to deliver on our clients’ most consequential matters. As we approach our 25th anniversary in Germany in 2026, their arrival marks another major step in the continued growth and success of our practice in Europe and globally.” 

Global Platform, Local Expertise

Paul and Haak will join the Frankfurt office, while Heukamp and Nosch will join in Munich, strengthening Latham’s presence in Germany’s key financial and private equity centers. Working seamlessly with colleagues across the firm’s European and global platform, they will provide clients with integrated, cross-border advice across all major markets. Their arrival further strengthens Latham & Watkins’ ability to connect European clients to opportunities and expertise across the continent and beyond.

“We are thrilled to welcome Markus, Wessel, Verena, and Carsten to the firm,” added Burc Hesse, Managing Partner of Latham’s German Offices. “Their arrival is a testament to the exceptional growth we have achieved in recent years and our preeminent position in the market. The team not only strengthens our practice in Germany but also reinforces our commitment to delivering outstanding results for our clients, both in Europe and worldwide.”

Charles Ruck, Global Chair of Latham’s Corporate Department, added: “Private equity has long been a core pillar of our global strategy and the arrival of this fantastic team of dealmakers further strengthens our practice in every major market globally. As the only premier top-ranked firm globally across capital markets, private equity, M&A, banking, private credit, high yield, restructuring, and more, we have a unique offering for our client base and are well-positioned to meet their evolving needs, leveraging the breadth of our practice to move quickly and deliver excellence at scale.”

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins is a leading global law firm that brings together exceptional legal talent in financial centers around the world to advise on complex transactions, litigation, and regulatory matters. The firm’s deep market and product knowledge, industry experience, vast scale, and commitment to innovation and excellence help clients navigate their most critical challenges and achieve their goals.

Notes to Editors

Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW), the flagship event hosted by ADGM, continued for a second day with Asset Abu Dhabi, bringing together some of the world’s biggest capital allocators and asset managers to explore emerging investment opportunities and shape the future of asset allocation in an evolving financial landscape.

Opening the event, Emmanuel Givanakis, CEO of ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority, highlighted how Abu Dhabi continues to redefine the global asset management sector by combining robust regulation, strategic innovation, and its unique position as a nexus for global capital. His remarks set the tone for the day’s discussions around how financial centres can lead the transition towards sustainable and opportunity-driven growth.

Givanakis said: “Asset Abu Dhabi reflects the growing convergence of global capital and innovation, convening the world’s most sophisticated asset managers at a time of profound change in finance. It stands as a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a trusted hub in the reengineering of global capital networks and the future of asset management.”

Through various sessions, the event explored the future of asset management, hedge funds, and private markets, as well as the evolving dynamics of liquidity, leverage, and institutional allocation, and the growing interplay between innovation, technology, and sustainability in driving economic transformation.

Some of the world’s foremost investment minds discussed the forces shaping tomorrow’s financial landscape. Todd Boehly, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries; Robert Smith, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners; and Sir Christopher Hohn, Founder and Managing Director of TCI Fund Management Limited and DAMAC founder Hussain Sajwani discussed how shifting macroeconomic cycles, emerging technologies, and geopolitical realignments will define the next phase of opportunity and risk.

With a focus on the Evolving Art of Hedge Funds, Aron Landy, CEO of Brevan Howard; Shiv Srinivasan, CIO of Hedge Funds at the Abu Dhabi Investment Council; and Robyn Grew, CEO of Man Group, examined how data, AI, and precision analytics are transforming risk management and redefining performance in a world where volatility represents opportunities.

Meanwhile, a session covering The Physics of the Great Wealth Transfer brought together Stefan Bollinger, CEO of Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., and Chi Man Kwan, Group CEO and Co-Founder of Raffles Family Office, discussing how an estimated $84 trillion in intergenerational wealth will reshape economies and values worldwide.

Inaugural FCCI Report

In a separate session, Bruno Lanvin, President of the Descartes Institute for the Future and Robert Salomon, Dean of Stern at NYU Abu Dhabi, unveiled the inaugural NYU Global Financial Centre Competitiveness Index (FCCI), which evaluates international financial centres worldwide.

The index ranks New York, London, and Singapore as the top three, and highlights the GCC’s growing influence, placing Abu Dhabi No. 1 in MENA and 12^th globally, ahead of Dubai, Riyadh and Doha. Lanvin highlighted that Abu Dhabi’s position is the result of sustained institutional strength, regulatory innovation and deliberate economic strategy. The Index ranked Abu Dhabi 1st globally for Regulatory Innovation, 5th for Institutional Environment and 3rd for Business Support Incentives, noting that the emirate is demonstrating exceptional progress and an increasing role in global finance.

International Family Office Congress

Bringing together global family office leaders, this event discussed wealth preservation and the future of private capital while also exploring the shifting dynamics of global investment, the great wealth transfer, impact investing, and Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a leading hub for family offices and generational wealth creation.

The event featured Ray Dalio, Founder of Bridgewater Associates; Bhanu Baweja, Chief Strategist at UBS Investment Bank; Daniel Pinto, Co-Founder and CEO of Stanhope Capital Group; Arjun Raghavan, CEO of Partners Capital; Henry Lawson-Johnston, Managing Partner at Guggenheim Brothers Media; Benjamin Cavalli, Head of Strategic Clients at UBS Global Wealth Management; Adrian Cheng, CEO of New World Development and Founder of K11 Group; and Jim Mellon, Executive Chairman of Agronomics.

Newcomers and Major Collaborations

The second day of ADFW also saw announcements from a number of firms opening offices in ADGM. Circle Internet Group, Inc., one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, strengthened its strategic presence in the region by securing a Financial Services Permission (FSP) license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM to operate as a Money Services Provider. BBVA has received an In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the FSRA, which will help them expand their range of corporate and investment banking service activities and strengthen their position as a strategic partner for corporate and institutional clients in the region.

ADFW continues for two more days with key events taking place under the umbrella of Fintech Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF).

Communities and partners like the Norwegian Refugee Council are bringing schools back to life and students back to learning in Sudan through ECW-funded programme.

AL GENEINA, Sudan, Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fatima Idris stands at the front of the classroom in Al Geneina, Sudan, watching as her students eagerly take their seats. The sound of rustling papers fills the room as they prepare for their exams – an event that, just a few months ago, seemed almost impossible. 

Students read from their workbooks at an ECW-supported school in Al Geneina, Sudan. © Norwegian Refugee Council/Ahmed Ahmed

This classroom, once reduced to near rubble by the armed conflict, has transformed into a sanctuary for these children. 

“Education had almost disappeared,” said Teacher Fatima Idris. “Schools were burned, destroyed and left in ruins. But today, we are seeing something we never imagined – children returning to school, taking their exams and proving that they belong in a classroom.”

The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has devastated communities across the country. Residential neighborhoods turned into war zones. Thousands of civilians have been killed, and millions have been forced to flee their homes. When the fighting stopped in Al Geneina, returning to school seemed like a distant dream.

But against all odds, hope has begun to emerge. 

Thanks to the support of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), an initiative to rebuild and reopen schools in Al Geneina was launched. This initiative is part of ECW’s Multi-Year Resilience Programme in Sudan. In March, thousands of students in the country who had been forced out of education due to the armed conflict took their transitional exams – one step closer to rejoining formal schools and continuing to build the future they deserve.

Building Education in Al Geneina

When the fighting finally stopped in Al Geneina, the families and children left could barely recognize their town – let alone the destroyed schools around them. Since the conflict in Sudan began over two years ago, hundreds of school buildings have been damaged or destroyed, with many others being used as shelters.

But the community was determined to keep learning alive.

Teachers and parents banded together and began holding lessons in the damaged classrooms, and even under trees, using whatever tools and resources were at hand. 

Responding to the education crisis and the community’s strong desire to ensure Sudan’s children could resume their education, in 2024, NRC launched a structured non-formal education intervention across schools in Al Geneina. The ECW-funded programme, delivered by NRC – together with parents, teachers and local committees – supported the renovation of school buildings, repair of classrooms, construction of latrines and securement of gates. 

Accelerated education programmes were also established, allowing children who had fallen behind due to the armed conflict to catch up on the learning they’d missed.

After 10 months of the accelerated education classes, more than 2,000 children who were forced out of school due to the conflict were able to take their transitional exams in March. This marked a critical step to them rejoining the formal school system. 

Students and parents alike see these exams as a beacon of hope.

“Without education, children become homeless. We want them to be educated and cultured so they can benefit the country,” says Haja Abdulazim Adam, mother of a student. “After the war, many children were left on the streets, with no schools to go to. Today, they have a second chance.”

The students who passed the assessment advanced to the next academic level, and are able to transition to formal schools once they are officially reopened.

ECW and partners like NRC continue to support children and adolescents in the whole of Sudan to ensure that, even in the most challenging circumstances, girls and boys impacted by the crisis can continue their education.

ECW in Sudan

Two and a half years since the start of the armed conflict, more than half of the country’s population requires humanitarian assistance – including 16 million children who lack access to food, water, shelter, education and healthcare. Most schools across the country remain shuttered and are struggling to re-open, leaving 16.5 million children out of school.

ECW investments in the country, which began in 2021, total US$33.7 million and support the building and rehabilitation of classrooms, provision of learning and teaching materials, teacher training, improvement of access to drinking water, gender-sensitive water and sanitation facilities, and improvement of access to inclusive, quality education. ECW has also provided more than US$20 million in response to the regional refugee education needs, with grants announced in the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda. 

In times of crisis, education supports not only academic growth but also provides stability, normalcy and protection. Schools provide displaced girls and boys with a secure space to recover from the trauma of conflict. Additionally, they protect children from dangerous practices such as child marriage, child labor and forced recruitment into armed groups, offering them the opportunity to chase their dreams and build a better future.

For children in Sudan and around the world, education represents more than just learning; it’s a pathway to a brighter future. Despite the trauma they’ve experienced, these students are showing that conflict may have interrupted their education, but it hasn’t erased their immense potential. The transformation in Al Geneina is a testament to the resilience of both the community and its children.

For Teacher Fatima Daway, watching her students return to school, take their exams and believe in their futures once again is the greatest triumph of all.

“The war has caused immense destruction. We were psychologically broken,” she says. “We could not imagine that schools would return as they did. But they did. And today, hope has returned with them.”

DOHA, Qatar, Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As part of Years of Culture programming, Qatar Museums’ Tasweer Photography initiative, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, has launched an international open call for Under One Sky. This traveling photography exhibition celebrates the unity and shared spirit of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and will open in early 2026 across several Qatari embassies in Washington D.C., Ottawa, and Mexico City, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Under One Sky is a tribute to friendship, capturing the energy, emotional connections, and unforgettable memories of fans from around the globe. Through striking photography and personal stories, the exhibition highlights universal values of joy, kindness, hospitality, and goodwill that brought people together across borders during the historic tournament.

Dr. Aisha Abdulla Hamad Al Misnad, Deputy Director of Special Projects at Years of Culture and the driving force behind Under One Sky, said: “This project honours the spirit of fans who made the 2022 World Cup a moment of joy and unity. By sharing these memories, we celebrate Qatar’s legacy as a welcoming host nation and continue promoting cultural dialogue through football.”

OPEN CALL DETAILS

• Submission Period: through 11 January 2026 (closes 11:59 PM Doha time, UTC+03:00)
• Eligibility: Open to photographers worldwide, age 18+, at all experience levels.
• Submission Limit: One single image per participant.
• Format: JPEG or TIFF, minimum resolution 3000 pixels (longest side), 3–8 MB.
• Submission link:https://tinyurl.com/3ukuuj3a
• Fee: Free

CATEGORIES

Inside Qatar – For those who experienced the tournament in person:

1. The Journey – Travel and arrival experiences in Qatar.
2. The Game – Stadium excitement and anticipation.
3. After the Game – Celebrations and shared joy after matches.

Outside Qatar – Celebrations and fan traditions worldwide:

       4. The Love of Football – Global fan culture, from home gatherings to fan zones and street celebrations that celebrated FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

PRIZES & SELECTION
A total of 50 to 70 images will be selected for display across the three host countries. The top 5 winners from each category will each receive a prize of USD 500.

JUDGING & EXHIBITION
Entries will be reviewed by a panel of expert jurors, with winners contacted via email. The final exhibition will present a people-centered visual archive of global football fan culture, connecting memories from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ with the global celebration around the 2026 World Cup host countries.

Submissions can be made online: https://tinyurl.com/3ukuuj3a.

For more details on the criteria and submission guidelines: https://tasweer.org.qa/en/calendar/under-one-sky/.

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE market update for market insights as trading begins. 

Kristen Scholer delivers the market update on December 9^th

• Traders await the Federal Reserve’s final interest rate decision of the year. Markets are pricing in with near certainty a 0.25% rate cut, following the Fed’s two-day policy meeting that begins today, with the announcement expected Wednesday.
• NYSE-listed Target unveils a reimagined SoHo store led by incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke. The concept includes a beauty bar, selfie checkout, and curated home and fashion pieces. NYSE’s Ashley Mastronardi spoke with Target’s VP of Creative Curation—watch the interview on the NYSE TV app.
• Twenty One Capital goes public today on the NYSE under ticker XXI, becoming the exchange’s largest Bitcoin treasury company with $4 billion in Bitcoin. CEO Jack Mallers delivered remarks before ringing the Opening Bell.

Opening Bell
Twenty One Capital (NYSE: XXI) celebrates its IPO

Closing Bell
Atlantic Union Bankshares (NYSE: AUB) celebrates its investor day

Click here to download the NYSE TV App