Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”
Biggest tech trends to expect in 2025: AI, agents, and AR, oh my!Magic's Franz Wagner sidelined by torn oblique
Artificial intelligence (AI) is estimated to generate up to $680 billion for the telecommunications industry over the next 15 to 20 years, said John Hoffman, CEO of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Limited this week. Hoffman was citing a McKinsey report when making the remarks in a speech that he delivered at the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, which is being held in east China’s Zhejiang Province. He said AI is emerging as a powerful force with the potential to transform business and society on an unprecedented scale. About 81 percent of telecom operators around the world are testing generative AI solutions and “Chinese operators are one of the leaders in the space, with big investments, strong government support and a booming tech landscape,” Hoffman said. “China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom have already made huge strides in AI research and applications, with solutions that are transforming public services, supply chains and healthcare,” he said. For instance, an intelligent computing service platform has been launched in northwest China to assist local flood control efforts, while an AI database in the country’s southwest is committed to the protection and development of cultural diversity. Across the world, Hoffman said, over 150 million people could have their lives improved by mobile big data and AI solutions in the next five years. Noting that AI brings responsibilities alongside opportunities, Hoffman called for greater attention to the ethical and sustainable development of AI technology. The summit, themed “Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future: Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace,” will last until Friday.10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania Trump• Hedges high inflation, interest Outperforming the average returns at the Nigerian stock market and the entire financial services sector, the share value of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has delivered an impressive 375 per cent capital gains to investors in nearly five years. Data from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) at the weekend indicated that investors in UBA have continued to earn an average annual return of about 75 per cent over some five-year period, highlighting UBAs impressive records as a high-yielding, inflation-hedging stock. Nigeria’s benchmark interest rate- Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) stands at 27.25 per cent. The inflation rate stands at 33.88 per cent, according to the October 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Basically, analysis of trading reports for the period between December 31, 2019, and December 06, 2024, indicated that UBA recorded a cumulative capital gain of 374.83 per cent during the period, representing an average annual gain of 74.97 per cent. Putting this into perspective, this implies that an investor who had invested N500,000 in the shares of UBA at the year’s opening price for 2020, now has a real, immediate market value of more than N2.374 million, due to accumulated capital gains. This excludes accrued cash dividends over the five years. With an average year-to-date return of 35.26 per cent, UBA is ahead of the market by more than twice the average year-to-date return of 15.53 per cent for the banking sector. Also, UBA is ahead as the average year-to-date return for the benchmark index, the All-Share-Index (ASI) of equities on NGX which closed the weekend at 31.34 per cent. UBAs share price had opened 2020 at N7.15 per share, its closing price for December 31, 2019. It closed the weekend at N33.95 per share, 35.26 per cent above its 2024s opening price of N25.10 per share, its closing price for December 30, 2023. The three-digit capital gain highlights UBA as a major driver of the bullish trend in the Nigerian stock market, which has sustained five years of consecutive positive returns. As an investor-friendly stock in terms of consistent and above-average cash dividend payment, UBA is reputed to pay dividends twice a year, an interim dividend and a final dividend. It recently paid an interim dividend of N2 per share on its first half of 2024 results, the highest payout by any bank and one of the three highest yields in the entire stock market. Such an investor who had invested N500,000 at the 2020s opening price would have received a cash dividend of some N139,860 as an interim dividend for the 2024 business year, more than a quarter of his initial investment. UBA is currently offering existing shareholders exclusive opportunities to increase their shareholdings in the bank with its ongoing N239.4 billion rights issue. The pan-African banking group is offering 6.84 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N35 per share. The rights issue is pre-allotted on the basis of one new ordinary share of 50 kobo each to every five ordinary shares held as at November 05, 2024. The rights issue is scheduled to close on December 24, 2024. Shareholders have hailed the decision on a rights issue as a deliberate incentive. In a survey, minority retail shareholders, who constitute nearly three-quarters of UBAs nearly 280,000 shareholders, were excited about the rights issue, with most indicating the possibility of applying for more than their pre-allotted shares. Extant rules in the Nigerian market allow shareholders to apply for more shares and also for the company to consider such requests for additional shares. Shareholders can also trade their rights on the stock market. Shareholders said UBAs track records of solid financial performance, dividend policy and capital gain were competitive advantages for the pan-African banking group. Speaking, a longstanding UBAs shareholder and Founder of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, said “UBA has proven to be dependable and resilient, attributes that have endeared the stock to all cadres of investors. “The bank is doing well, so also are its subsidiaries. From whatever angle you look at it, UBA is a good buy. And I’m talking as a long-time shareholder. It is one bank that prioritises shareholders’ happiness. Go down the lane and check the bank’s dividend history and critical decisions when it comes to shareholders’ issues. “Its a bank one can rest on, so, I’m advising other shareholders to pick up their rights, it’s an opportunity. We are picking up ours and even asking for more.” Another major UBA shareholder and President, Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr Faruk Umar described UBA as a solid bank with a lot more to offer the shareholders in the future. “I strongly advise shareholders to pick up their rights as I am very hopeful the price will go up after the rights offer is concluded. All members of our Association are going to buy their rights as we strongly believe in the quality of the board, management, and staff of the bank,” Umar said. Market analysts are unanimous that share prices are illustrative of the fundamental values of quoted companies. For the nine-month ended September 30, 2024, UBA reported 83.2 per cent growth in gross earnings to N2.398 trillion, almost a double of N1.308 trillion recorded in the third quarter of 2023. Operating income rose from N1.02 trillion in the third quarter of 2023 to N1.54 trillion in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of about 51 per cent. Profit before tax increased to N603.48 billion compared with N502.09 billion recorded in the third quarter of 2023. After taxes, net profit also rose from N449.26 billion in the third quarter of 2023 to N525.31 billion in the third quarter of 2024. Earnings per share thus improved from N12.93 to N14.78. Group balance sheet size expanded by 54 per cent to N31.80 trillion by September 2024 as against N20.653 trillion recorded at the end of December 2023. The bank benefitted largely from its technology-led initiatives targeted at improving customer experience over the past few years, with total deposits rising to N26.50 trillion, representing a 52.7 per cent rise from N17.355 trillion at the end of December 2023. The deposit base was driven by increased brand appeal across the retail and corporate markets. Customer deposits had jumped from N14.8 trillion to N22.97 trillion while deposits from banks increased from N2.46 trillion to N3.53 trillion. Loans and advances to customers grew by 46.8 per cent from N5.23 trillion in December 2023 to N7.68 trillion in September 2024. While the paid-up share capital remained unchanged at N17.10 billion, total equity jumped by 76.8 per cent from N2.03 trillion in December 2023 to N3.59 trillion in September 2024. Managing Director, Arthur Steven Asset Management, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe, said share pricing at the stock market thrives on a concept of forward-pricing mechanism, where investors take into consideration the potential future return based on available track records and emerging developments. Managing Director, of HighCap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said share price is a reflection of the market value for a company, comprising both past performances and future expectations. ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE Get real-time news updates from Tribune Online! Follow us on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive stories and interviews, and much more. Join our WhatsApp Channel now
Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆 Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” HUMPHRIES GOES BACK-TO-BACK! 🏆 Luke Humphries retains his Players Championship Finals title! Cool Hand puts on an absolute clinic to defeat Luke Littler 11-7 in an epic final! 📺 https://t.co/AmuG0PMn18 #PCF2024 | Final pic.twitter.com/nZDWPUVjWE — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024 Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”Ruben Amorim is joining a Man Utd in chaos... the mess behind the scenes will make him wish he never left Sporting
10 notable books of 2024, from Sarah J. Maas to Melania Trumpfermate From when I first started writing about Lemonade ( NYSE: LMND ) on December 10, 2020, to my last article on the company on May 7, 2024, the question of whether the company would survive existed. However, after listening to the company's Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of LMND either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
John Healey said that the Government’s “interest” in Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is “that they live up to their promises to protect” rights, when he spoke to reporters after a Cobra meeting on Thursday. HTS is banned in the UK because of its past association with al Qaida, the terrorist organisation once led by Osama bin Laden. But its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, cut ties with al Qaida years ago and has sought to present his group as a more moderate and inclusive organisation, leading some to suggest the group should no longer be proscribed. When asked whether the Government was considering the status of the group, Mr Healey said: “Proscription is not a matter for now. “It doesn’t stop us talking to all the parties, and our interest in HTS is that they live up to their promises to protect the rights of all individuals and all groups, to respect international law and to prevent Syria becoming a base for a fresh terrorist threat.” Mr Healey said that Thursday’s meeting was “about making sure we have, as a Government, a laser focus on the role that we can play with allies to see a stable, peaceful transition. “So that the Syrians get the government they need for the future, and the region can see the stability in the future that it also needs.” Cobra meetings are called when ministers or officials need to respond to urgent matters. Following the toppling of the Bashar Assad regime over the weekend, the UK has paused decisions on asylum applications from Syria. Thousands of Syrians have been granted asylum in the UK but, earlier this week, the Home Office said decisions on applications would be paused while events unfold in Damascus. When asked how long the system would be paused for, and whether the move was fair, Mr Healey said on Thursday: “This is early days. “It’s a measure in response to rapidly changing developments, and the most important thing for us now is that the UK plays and will continue to play a full role with allies to see a stable, peaceful, orderly transition and that requires a political process. “It requires dialogue at the heart of it, and today’s ministerial meeting, the Cobra meeting, was about making sure that we do just that.” Earlier on Thursday, G7 leaders said that they “stand with the people of Syria” and “denounce terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms”. In a statement, Sir Keir Starmer and his counterparts said: “The G7 will work with and fully support a future Syrian government that abides by those standards and results from that process.” It went on: “After decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, we stand with the people of Syria. We denounce terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms. “We are hopeful that anyone seeking a role in governing Syria will demonstrate a commitment to the rights of all Syrians, prevent the collapse of state institutions, work on the recovery and rehabilitation of the country, and ensure the conditions for safe and dignified voluntary return to Syria of all those who were forced to flee the country.”Don't Miss These Incredible AiRROBO Black Friday Deals - Unbeatable Prices Await!
Manufacturing sector’s struggle for revival LAHORE: The decline in Pakistan’s manufacturing sector is a complex issue influenced by more than just faulty government policies. Inefficiencies within the business sector, poor governance practices and external economic pressures also play significant roles in this downward trajectory. While government policies undeniably shape the manufacturing landscape, their shortcomings often exacerbate existing challenges. For instance, complex and uneven taxation has placed undue burdens on manufacturers, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Inefficient tax collection further raises the cost of doing business, discouraging growth and innovation. Energy costs in Pakistan rank among the highest in the region, making local products uncompetitive compared to those from regional peers like India and Bangladesh. Frequent policy reversals, a lack of long-term planning and limited consultation with industry stakeholders create uncertainty and deter investment. Weak transportation networks and inadequate industrial zones disrupt supply chains and hinder production efficiency. The reliance on imports, coupled with insufficient export facilitation, further stifles the potential of local manufacturers. However, the inefficiency and governance issues within the manufacturing sector itself cannot be ignored. A lack of innovation has left many businesses unable to modernise their production processes, adopt new technologies or invest in research and development (R&D), thereby reducing global competitiveness. Many family-owned manufacturing businesses suffer from nepotism, poor transparency and inadequate succession planning. Cartels in key industries, such as cement and sugar, often prioritise short-term profits over long-term growth, distorting market dynamics and hindering fair competition. Moreover, insufficient investment in employee training and productivity improvements leads to subpar product quality and inefficiencies across the sector. A significant number of manufacturers cater exclusively to the domestic market, failing to meet international standards and thereby missing global opportunities. The state’s inability to enforce quality standards enables local producers to sell subpar products domestically, effectively barring them from entering international markets. External factors, including global recessions, supply chain disruptions and currency depreciation, further exacerbate the challenges faced by Pakistan’s manufacturing sector. Improving governance in Pakistan is a daunting challenge. The country’s governance system suffers from entrenched inefficiencies, corruption and bureaucratic inertia that cannot be dismantled overnight. Many government institutions lack the expertise, autonomy and resources necessary for effective policymaking and implementation. Frequent changes in government and policy direction erode trust, fostering a culture of short-termism among both decision-makers and businesses. Populist measures often take precedence over essential yet politically challenging reforms. Businesses, meanwhile, hesitate to voice concerns or innovate for fear of victimisation, selective taxation or unfair treatment. While challenges persist, there are promising signs of improvement. Initiatives such as digitising tax records and streamlining customs procedures have the potential to reduce corruption and inefficiency. Greater collaboration between the private sector and the government, especially in export-oriented industries, could act as a catalyst for reform. Agreements with international institutions like the IMF often push the government towards structural reforms, albeit slowly. Pakistan’s young population and rising entrepreneurial spirit hold the promise of a more efficient and innovative manufacturing environment. However, in the short term, transformative changes in governance are unlikely due to deeply rooted structural issues and political instability. With sustained efforts in digitalisation, public-private collaboration, and long-term planning, gradual improvements in governance and manufacturing competitiveness can be achieved over time.Magic's Franz Wagner sidelined by torn oblique
The share of women working in Bangladesh's garment industry decreased over the past decade, with female participation falling to 53 percent in 2023 from 56 percent in 2014, according to a recent study. It attributed the changes in the distribution of female workers across different segments of the country's main export earning sector to their increased presence in home textile and woven industries. However, there was a significant decline in the female participation rate in jacket-making industries, it added. Kazi Iqbal, research director of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), shared these findings at an annual development conference organised by BIDS at the Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka yesterday. The study, titled "Technology Upgradation of the RMG Industries in Bangladesh", noted that women made up more than 80 percent of the garment sector's workforce during its initial development. Although this trend prevailed for many years, female participation in garment industries started declining amid a growing reluctance to engage in laborious factory work. The study also found that second-generation workers are less interested in joining the garments sector. Besides, the overall number of garment workers decreased over time as professions such as machine operators and their helpers have become obsolete thanks to mechanisation. On the other hand, the number of factory supervisors and management personnel remained mostly unchanged. Furthermore, the study informed that an average of between 4.13 and 2.15 workers lost their jobs for each $1 million spent on purchasing new equipment. But although modern technology enabling automation is displacing labour, such innovations are creating new opportunities for employment, the study said. Additionally, the study pointed out that the growing capabilities of local firms propelled automation in recent years, reducing the need for labourers to operate machinery. There was also evidence that the reduction in female participation could have resulted from gender-biased technological transitions for occupations like machine operators. Moderated by Sajjad Zohir, executive director of the Economic Research Group, a total of four studies were shared at the session. Presenting a paper on "Supply Chain Dynamics for Sustainable RMG Growth in Bangladesh", BIDS Research Director Monzur Hossain said the European Union (EU) offers tariff protection for least developed countries (LDC) following their graduation to developing country status. This includes import subsidies of about 4 percent for fabrics, 8 percent for semi-finished garments and 12 percent for clothing sourced from "Most-Favoured Nations". In the post-LDC era, Bangladesh may face tariffs as high as 9.6 percent on exports to the EU, he added. The study also said Bangladesh may lose 10.8 percent of its garment exports by 2031 due to the elimination of export subsidies following LDC graduation. This potential loss of export earnings could range from 7 percent to 14 percent in major markets. For the 9.6 percent tariff in the EU, the production of textiles and apparel items for the trade bloc may decline by about 6.1 percent. So, it is possible that Bangladesh's negative trade balance with the EU could widen, thereby impacting its gross domestic product (GDP). As such, the country's real GDP could contract by about 0.38 percent if developed countries start imposing tariffs, it added. This loss of duty benefits could slash Bangladesh's total exports by about 6 percent while the apparel sector will likely witness a 14 percent decline. A study titled "Structural Changes in Industrial Sector of Bangladesh: 2012 to 2019", presented by BIDS Research Associate Jayed Bin Satter, said female participation has also dropped in the manufacturing sector. Similarly, the overall share of female business leaders fell, mostly driven by their exit from the garment sector, it added. Presenting a study on "The State of the Manufacturing Workers in Bangladesh", BIDS Research Associate Farhin Islam said significant intergenerational effects on workers' education were observed. While there is a tendency for real wages to remain flat, collective bargaining has a significant impact on raising wages, improving other benefits and enhancing working conditions. Trade unionisation significantly enhances women's family decision-making power through stronger collective bargaining and advocacy whereas factory-level unions lack sufficient influence on women empowerment. The poverty rate among garment workers is significantly lower than that of workers in non-garment sectors and other domestic industries with more stringent compliance requirements.‘Rahul Gandhi Not the Leader of INDIA Bloc’: Samajwadi Party Leader Ram Gopal Yadav on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s Desire To Lead Multi-Party AllianceGovernor vows to help promote education PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Saturday lauded the services of Wana Welfare Association for education and welfare of the people and said he would spare no effort to promote education in the remote areas of the province. Rahmatullah Wazir, President Wana Welfare Association, thanked the governor for organizing the ceremony at the Governor’s House. He recounted the services made by the association in Wana and other areas of Waziristan. The association started within limited resources some 20 years ago and later launched schools, orphanages, introduced scholarships and planted olive and other trees on hundreds of acres of land. The governor distributed scholarship awards among the best students on behalf of the association. “The services of Wana Welfare Association are commendable in the fields of education, social welfare and other fields, “ Kundi said. The governor said regional and provincial development can be ensured by making proper use of resources. “Our province has yet to get its share. If proper attention had been given to the provincial water resources, the lands would not have been barren anywhere including Wana,” said Kundi He said political leadership gathered under one roof for the resources and rights of the province including restoration of peace. He said he would play his role for the problems and demands presented regarding South Waziristan including Wana. He said that Angoor Adda border should be kept open for promotion of trade. “Unfortunately, the promises made to people of tribal districts after merger remained unfulfilled. No attention was paid to the development work in merged districts,” he added.