The surge in Chinese concept stocks caught many investors off guard, with most analysts predicting a downturn in the market due to various economic and geopolitical factors. However, this trader's uncanny foresight and willingness to take calculated risks set them apart from the crowd and allowed them to capitalize on the market's unpredictability.Nottingham's tram network is said to be in a "much stronger position" heading into the new year as it reports an increase in passenger journeys of over a million. The city's tram operator is still reporting a loss of £26 million, though the firm says this is "in line with expectations" and is a reduction of more than 50% from the loss reported last year. A continued crackdown on people avoiding fares is among the reasons being set out for the improved picture, which is being reported in the annual accounts for Tramlink Nottingham Limited. The accounts, published on December 20, cover the financial year that ended on March 31, 2024. Tim Hesketh, the chief exec of Tramlink, said: "We're always looking at ways we can improve the service we offer our customers and this year saw us double down on those efforts. We invested in new technology, made key updates to our ticket systems and strengthened our ties with the local police force, which all in turn ensures we can provide our customers with the very best service. Do you support plans to extend Nottingham's tram network? Let us know here "Though the country remains in a challenging economic climate, we have remained committed to ensuring value for money for the many tram users who use the network each day. As such, this year, we've worked hard to ensure that any cost increases incurred due to rising inflation and energy costs are kept to a minimum. That's a commitment that will remain into 2025 too". Nottingham's tram network, which first began operating in 2004, is run through a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract held by Tramlink. The PFI deal has seen private investors putting significant sums into the tram project, alongside investment from the Government and Nottingham City Council . Tramlink holds the contract for Nottingham's tram network until 2034 and Nottingham Trams Limited runs the network on behalf of Tramlink under the NET brand. Responsibility for trams after Tramlink's contract ends is likely to end up in the hands of the East Midlands Combined County Authority. A Nottingham City Council report from 2011 estimated its annual total costs in regards to the tram network would be around £70 million for the majority of the PFI contract. Nottingham City Council now says those figures are out of date, but says it cannot share the exact current payments due to confidentiality clauses in the tram contract. As well as the new figures on overall losses, Tramlink says the number of passenger journeys made throughout the last financial year was 15.5 million, an increase on the 14.4 million recorded the year before. The biggest reason for the significant reduction in losses recorded is the fact that Tramlink did not record an impairment charge last year. An impairment charge is recorded when the value of a company's assets is considered to have fallen. In Tramlink's case, that judgement was primarily made in the 2022/23 financial year because passenger numbers were still less than pre-pandemic levels. It meant an impairment charge of £26.7 million was recorded in the financial year before last. That impairment charge coincided with a deal being announced, which avoided Tramlink "running out of cash". The deal means Tramlink's loans will have to be repaid by 2033 rather than 2030 and that the cash reserves the company has to hold have been reduced from double-figure millions to single-figure millions. Mr Hesketh said: " We were confident that last year's financial restructuring project would give our network the security we needed to concentrate on making investments towards improvements to our service, and our most recent financial figures are an indicator of its success. "After a challenging few years, it's promising to see that we're now in a much stronger position, and we'd like to thank the city council and Department of Transport for all their support". Mr Hesketh has previously acknowledged that some of the original private investors in Nottingham's tram project, who invested with a promise of returns, will not be getting their money back. The tram boss says that the priority is to repay priority lenders like banks and Nottingham City Council. Yet for those junior lenders who might not end up getting their money back, Mr Hesketh claims they still value their contribution as it provides a boost to their portfolio of investments. On the latest results, the Tramlink chief exec added: "We would also like to thank our customers for their continued support over the last year, during which we delivered a 7.4% increase in passenger kilometres travelled, as well as increased tram reliability. We look forward to building on this in 2025".
On December 19th, the second trial of the infamous child trafficking case involving Yang Hua and Ying was held in court. This shocking case, which has gripped the nation for its cruelty and inhumanity, has once again come under the spotlight as the defendants face another round of legal proceedings.
The four departments - the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation, and the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission - jointly released the document, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and coordinated efforts to address challenges in the employment landscape. The document outlines specific measures to be taken to support job seekers and promote sustainable employment practices.
In Blake Lively ’s bombshell sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni , the fixers are now part of the problem. On top of the laundry list of accused misconduct on the set of the film “ It Ends with Us ,” Lively’s surprise weekend filing against her director and costar Baldoni lays bare a show business process that’s meant to operate in the shadows – the hiring of expensive crisis communications experts to sway opinion and uplift clients. Attorneys for Lively obtained numerous text messages between Baldoni’s personal rep Jennifer Abel and the crisis team he retained this summer, led by Melissa Nathan. Documents and texts said Baldoni did so to prepare for a scenario where Lively would come forward with accusations from the set, as well as narratives that key cast members were distancing themselves from Baldoni during the promotion of the Sony Pictures release. The exchanges reveal candid – or “cringeworthy,” as one competing crisis expert told Variety – efforts to counter Lively by enlisting friendly journalists and allegedly hiring a digital whiz to fabricate and amplify unflattering content about her. Baldoni’s attorney Bryan Freedman blasted the claims and supporting documents, like text messages and a multi-page strategy, as “cherry-picked” to build a narrative that forgoes crucial context and, in what would be important for Baldoni in this case, inaction in coming after Lively. While the complaint is under investigation by Freedman, the attorney said he is confident the full picture will reveal “nothing untoward happened” when it comes to Lively and Baldoni’s team — and that “reputation management,” as its commonly referred to in the digital lives of celebrities, is routine for countless public personalities. This weekend, Abel addressed the Lively complaint in a private Facebook group for PR and marketing professionals. The post, verified by Variety , said that texts and documents obtained did not intend to smear the actress. “No negative press was ever facilitated, no social combat plan, although we were prepared for it, as it’s our job to be ready for any scenario, but we didn’t have to implement anything, because the internet was doing the work for us,” Abel wrote. In a statement, Freedman added that Nathan “operated as any other crisis management firm would when hired by a client experiencing threats by two extremely powerful people with unlimited resources,” referring to Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds. “The standard scenario planning TAG PR drafted proved unnecessary as audiences found Lively’s own actions, interviews and marketing during the promotional tour distasteful, and responded organically to that which the media themselves picked up on.” Some power players were dismayed by the tough tactics being floated by Abel and Nathan to “smear” Lively. Nathan pitched a four-month battle plan with a $175,000 price tag to “start threads of theories” on platforms like Reddit and TikTok in Baldoni’s favor, and to create “social fan engagement to go back and forth with any negative accounts, helping to change [sic] narrative and stay on track,” Lively’s complaint said. There was also the contracting of Jed Wallace, operator of a firm called Street Relations. One source described him as a “Ray Donovan” type fixer employed by powerful people. Freedman, who knows Wallace well, said he would not describe him as a fixer but rather someone with deep resources for unusual circumstances (he knows how to get a chopper for medical evacuation in remote parts of Italy, for instance). Lively’s complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department said Wallace weaponized “a digital army around the country from New York to Los Angeles to create, seed, and promote content that appeared to be authentic.” While the suit does not specify which stories might have targeted Lively, numerous unflattering pieces about the actress were resurfaced during the press tour for “It Ends with Us.” They included problematic past comments about the trans community (using the phrase “trannies”), and an attempted lifestyle brand launch in which Lively promoted the “allure” of an Antebellum South aesthetic . Most importantly, Nathan stressed in early days, these efforts would be “untraceable.” Not anymore. “It’s quite common for crisis people to be reactive, to monitor and respond to situations,” said one veteran media broker who has hired crisis firms on behalf of clients. “But to stage this entire campaign? To put this in writing?” The source added that “fix-it shops usually employ some cyber warriors who come in to manage chatter, but it’s an unwritten code that you will not hire companies or social media agitators to go out and script a new narrative.” Crisis PR is common in many sectors for individuals, corporations and political parties. What has industry insiders aghast over this conflict is the nature of the correspondence. “You know we can bury anyone,” Nathan wrote to Abel in a February text cited in the complaint, ironically in an exchange about how she could not put such things in writing to Baldoni. The quote wound up in a New York Times headline. In an early Monday statement, Freedman said it was “ironic that the New York Times, through their effort to ‘uncover’ an insidious PR effort, played directly into the hands of Lively’s own dubious PR tactics by publishing leaked personal text exchanges that lack critical context – the very same tactics she’s accusing the firm of implementing.” Some PR pros were empathetic to Abel and Nathan, given the unusual disclosure of private texts and documents which were likely subject to nondisclosure agreements. “There are two smear campaigns going on here,” said one top studio executive. “One against Lively, and one against the PR people. It doesn’t mean that Jen Abel and Melissa Nathan didn’t do anything wrong, but who sold them out? There’s a code you don’t breach.” Another industry figure frequently involved in high profile conflicts said, “That’s crisis PR talk, right? Everybody talks like that. Everybody loves to talk a big game.” The severity of the proposed campaign against Lively has led to some questions about how actionable these kinds of services could be in court. “I think people might see what Baldoni did as at least unfair, if not harmful or possibly illegal in terms of further harassment or retaliation,” said Ryan Baker, co-founding partner of legal firm Waymaker LLP. “It puts this under a little more scrutiny, because all of these things clearly happened in a dynamic where Lively and Baldoni are going back and forth.” Yet another highly sought after PR guru, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the sensational nature of the complaint is distracting from an industry reality. “These days, all PR is crisis PR,” they said.Northwestern women blank Saint Joseph's 5-0 to win second national championship in field hockeyRicoh Group Awarded Five-Star Rating for Six Consecutive Years in the 2024 Nikkei Sustainable Development Comprehensive Survey
Southampton fans have mocked Jamie Carragher after he appeared to criticise their new boss, Ivan Juric , for 'choosing' not to manage the Saints against Fulham on Sunday. Juric, 49, has replaced Russell Martin at St Mary's, with the south-coast club rock bottom of the Premier League. The experienced Croatian watched from the stands at Craven Cottage as Southampton earned a hard-fought 0-0 draw. That was after Juric had been announced as the Saints' new manager on Saturday evening, signing an 18-month contract. Before kick-off, while punditry duty for Sky Sports , Liverpool legend Carragher said: "It's the one thing that always fascinates me when new managers are appointed and they don't get involved straight away. "I just think if it was my team - I understand he hasn't trained with them or maybe picked the team - but I just think if I was in that situation, I'd be picking the team and saying, 'Okay, I'm speaking to them before the game, what I'm looking for'. "Go in and give a message at half-time. What are you waiting for? The quicker this starts getting going and this guy, they believe, can give them a fighting chance of maybe staying in the league or make them more competitive, I'd be straight in there." After Carragher's comments were shared on Sky's social media channels, Southampton supporters were quick to tell the ex- England defender exactly why Juric was unable to officially start work. The former Roma manager was actually still waiting on his work permit which eventually came through on Monday. One fan posted in the replies section of Sky's post: "His work permit hasn't been approved, so bit of a silly thing for him to say." Another said: "Probably didn't want to break the law Jamie." A third added: "What's he waiting for? Probably the legal right to be able to work within the country." A fourth sympathised: "Come on Jamie I really like you but do your research. WORK PERMIT." Will Ivan Juric keep Southampton in the Premier League? Give us your prediction in the comments section . The same Southampton fan then joked: "Only a small minor detail, outrageous from Juric #JuricOut." Juric spoke to the media on Monday ahead of Southampton's Boxing Day clash with West Ham , and he insists that his new side can do 'something exceptional' by pulling off a great escape. "I am optimistic. I'm really optimistic," the former Croatia midfielder declared. "Even the other day, I saw their mentality, and it's the first step to doing better. I think we can do something exceptional. The guys have to be very motivated to do something that never, nobody did. They don't know me but I know them. I said that I believe in them, they have quality, they can do it. Be positive, work hard, and everything is possible." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Amazon's Prime Video is broadcasting the Premier League Boxing Day round of fixtures on December 26-27. Each match can be streamed free with an Amazon Prime subscription or by signing up for an Amazon Prime 30-day free trial .In conclusion, the recent events in South Korea and Syria have raised serious concerns for the US and its allies, highlighting the need for a more nuanced and adaptive approach to foreign policy. As key allies lose control and the Middle East undergoes dramatic changes, the US must be prepared to confront new challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving global environment.
In conclusion, Xiang Zuo and Zhao Xiaohua's post-haircut cooking session was a delightful reminder of the power of love, teamwork, and good food to bring joy and happiness to our lives. Their infectious energy and genuine affection for each other warmed the hearts of viewers, leaving a lasting impression of their enduring bond and shared passion for cooking. Here's to more cooking adventures and heartwarming moments from this beloved couple in the future!With this impressive victory, Shanxi's position in the league standings has been elevated to third place, a remarkable achievement for the team. Their relentless pursuit of excellence and unwavering dedication to success have not gone unnoticed, garnering respect and admiration from fans and pundits alike.
Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50
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UMM AL-FAHM, Israel (AP) — Israel’s yearlong crackdown against Palestinian citizens who speak out against the war in Gaza is prompting many to self-censor out of fear of being jailed and further marginalized in society, while some still find ways to dissent — carefully. Ahmed Khalefa’s life turned upside down after he was charged with inciting terrorism for chanting in solidarity with Gaza at an anti-war protest in October 2023. The lawyer and city counselor from central Israel says he spent three difficult months in jail followed by six months detained in an apartment. It’s unclear when he’ll get a final verdict on his guilt or innocence. Until then, he’s forbidden from leaving his home from dusk to dawn. Khalefa is one of more than 400 Palestinian citizens of Israel who, since the start of the war in Gaza, have been investigated by police for “incitement to terrorism” or “incitement to violence,” according to Adalah, a legal rights group for minorities. More than half of those investigated were also criminally charged or detained, Adalah said. “Israel made it clear they see us more as enemies than as citizens,” Khalefa said in an interview at a cafe in his hometown of Umm al-Fahm, Israel’s second-largest Palestinian city. Israel has roughly 2 million Palestinian citizens, whose families remained within the borders of what became Israel in 1948. Among them are Muslims and Christians, and they maintain family and cultural ties to Gaza and the West Bank, which Israel captured in 1967. Israel says its Palestinian citizens enjoy equal rights , including the right to vote, and they are well-represented in many professions. However, Palestinians are widely discriminated against in areas like housing and the job market. Israeli authorities have opened more incitement cases against Palestinian citizens during the war in Gaza than in the previous five years combined, Adalah’s records show. Israeli authorities have not said how many cases ended in convictions and imprisonment. The Justice Ministry said it did not have statistics on those convictions. Just being charged with incitement to terrorism or identifying with a terrorist group can land a suspect in detention until they’re sentenced, under the terms of a 2016 law. In addition to being charged as criminals, Palestinians citizens of Israel — who make up around 20% of the country’s population — have lost jobs, been suspended from schools and faced police interrogations posting online or demonstrating, activists and rights watchdogs say. It’s had a chilling effect. “Anyone who tries to speak out about the war will be imprisoned and harassed in his work and education,” said Oumaya Jabareen, whose son was jailed for eight months after an anti-war protest. “People here are all afraid, afraid to say no to this war.” Jabareen was among hundreds of Palestinians who filled the streets of Umm al-Fahm earlier this month carrying signs and chanting political slogans. It appeared to be the largest anti-war demonstration in Israel since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack . But turnout was low, and Palestinian flags and other national symbols were conspicuously absent. In the years before the war , some protests could draw tens of thousands of Palestinians in Israel. Authorities tolerated the recent protest march, keeping it under heavily armed supervision. Helicopters flew overhead as police with rifles and tear gas jogged alongside the crowd, which dispersed without incident after two hours. Khalefa said he chose not to attend. Shortly after the Oct. 7 attack, Israel’s far-right government moved quickly to invigorate a task force that has charged Palestinian citizens of Israel with “supporting terrorism” for posts online or protesting against the war. At around the same time, lawmakers amended a security bill to increase surveillance of online activity by Palestinians in Israel, said Nadim Nashif, director of the digital rights group 7amleh. These moves gave authorities more power to restrict freedom of expression and intensify their arrest campaigns, Nashif said. The task force is led by Itamar Ben-Gvir , a hard-line national security minister who oversees the police. His office said the task force has monitored thousands of posts allegedly expressing support for terror organizations and that police arrested “hundreds of terror supporters,” including public opinion leaders, social media influencers, religious figures, teachers and others. “Freedom of speech is not the freedom to incite ... which harms public safety and our security,” his office said in a statement. But activists and rights groups say the government has expanded its definition of incitement much too far, targeting legitimate opinions that are at the core of freedom of expression. Myssana Morany, a human rights attorney at Adalah, said Palestinian citizens have been charged for seemingly innocuous things like sending a meme of a captured Israeli tank in Gaza in a private WhatsApp group chat. Another person was charged for posting a collage of children’s photos, captioned in Arabic and English: “Where were the people calling for humanity when we were killed?” The feminist activist group Kayan said over 600 women called its hotline because of blowback in the workplace for speaking out against the war or just mentioning it unfavorably. Over the summer, around two dozen anti-war protesters in the port city of Haifa were only allowed to finish three chants before police forcefully scattered the gathering into the night. Yet Jewish Israelis demanding a hostage release deal protest regularly — and the largest drew hundreds of thousands to the streets of Tel Aviv. Khalefa, the city counselor, is not convinced the crackdown on speech will end, even if the war eventually does. He said Israeli prosecutors took issue with slogans that broadly praised resistance and urged Gaza to be strong, but which didn’t mention violence or any militant groups. For that, he said, the government is trying to disbar him, and he faces up to eight years in prison. “They wanted to show us the price of speaking out,” Khalefa said. ___ Associated Press writers Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ibrahim Hazboun in Jerusalem, Mahmoud Illean in Umm al-Fahm, and Drew Callister in New York, contributed to this report. Related From Our PartnerBurkitt Lymphoma Global Clinical Trials Review 2024: Clinical Trials by Region, Country, Trial Status, Trial Phase, Sponsor Type and End Point StatusVillagers Complain About Damaged Rural Roads, Tricky for Traveling
Additionally, injuries have taken their toll on the player's performance. Over the years, he has suffered several setbacks that have hampered his ability to consistently deliver top-level performances. This has led to a decline in form and a subsequent decrease in his market value.Bloomberry sells shares for patrons
The match that marked Udinese's return to form was a thrilling encounter that showcased the team's fighting spirit and tactical acumen. The players showed great character and determination on the pitch, executing their game plan to perfection and securing a crucial victory that breathed new life into their season.
In the latest update of the ITTF world rankings, there have been no changes in the top 30 for both men and women's singles players. However, one player who has made a notable climb in the rankings is Hong Kong's leading female player, Doo Hoi Kem, who has risen 2 places to reach a career-high ranking of 35 in the world.
NoneTitle: Mail: Manchester City, Chelsea Expected to Earn £60 Million from Club World CupDespite the favorable schedule and the team's current form, Guangsha cannot afford to take anything for granted. In sports, upsets are not uncommon, and complacency is often the downfall of even the strongest teams. Every match must be approached with the same level of focus, determination, and commitment if they are to emerge victorious.
MISTRAS Group Appoints Hani Hammad as Chief Operating Officer (COO)The incident at the Zhengzhou bathhouse highlights the importance of proper ventilation and maintenance in facilities where carbon-based fuels are used for heating or hot water systems. It also underscores the need for regular inspections and monitoring to ensure that indoor air quality meets safety standards and to prevent potential health hazards for employees and customers.However, the center's woes did not end there. As the game progressed, it became increasingly clear that he was no match for the opposing team's star player, Liu Chuanxing. Liu's superior skills and basketball IQ shone through as he effortlessly outmaneuvered and outscored the Beijing center, exposing his weaknesses and exploiting them to his advantage.