The Chinese barter trade service platform aims to facilitate the exchange of goods and services through a digital marketplace, providing a more flexible and efficient way for businesses to conduct transactions. By leveraging advanced technology and a user-friendly interface, this platform offers users the opportunity to trade in a secure and transparent environment.1. Tobacco Use:As Puig continued to dazzle fans with his skills on the field, speculation grew about a potential return to Europe. Would Barcelona exercise their buy-back option and bring Puig back to the club where he had once dreamed of playing? Or would Puig choose to continue his journey in the MLS, where he had found success and a sense of belonging?
Evolv Technologies Holdings, Inc. Sued for Securities Law Violations – Investors Should Contact The Gross Law Firm for More Information – EVLV
It’s been an interesting year for investors as interest rates and inflation started to ease. Income investors enjoyed a bonanza as several companies announced dividend increases. These increases will help to improve the flow of passive income and help you better prepare for retirement . So here they are – eight companies that increased their dividends this year. DBS is Singapore’s largest bank by market capitalisation. The lender reported a strong set of earnings for the first nine months of 2024 (9M 2024). Total income rose 11% year on year to S$16.8 billion, led by a 5% year-on-year increase in net interest income and a sharp 27% year-on-year jump in fee and commission income. Net profit for 9M 2024 came in at S$8.8 billion, 12% higher than the level last year. DBS paid out a total dividend per share of S$1.62 for 9M 2024, 28.6% higher than the S$1.26 paid out in the previous corresponding period. CEO Piyush Gupta expects growth in the bank’s non-interest income but net profit should be below 2024 levels because of a global minimum tax of 15% levied on the business. iFAST is a financial technology company that operates a platform for the buying and selling of unit trusts, equities, and bonds. Like DBS, the fintech also reported a stellar set of earnings for 9M 2024. Net revenue surged by 75.5% year on year to S$183.5 million while operating profit nearly tripled year on year to S$60.1 million. Net profit more than tripled year on year from S$15.1 million to S$47.4 million. The group’s dividend jumped by 26.5% year on year from S$0.034 to S$0.043. Its assets under administration also grew by 23.6% year on year to hit a new record of S$23.6 billion. Looking ahead, management expects the Hong Kong ePension division and the group’s digital bank to become important growth drivers in 2025 and beyond. OCBC is Singapore’s second-largest bank by market capitalisation. The lender also reported a strong set of earnings for 9M 2024, buoyed by higher interest rates and healthy fee income growth. Total income rose 8% year on year to S$11.1 billion while net profit improved by 9% year on year to S$5.9 billion. For the first half of 2024 (1H 2024), OCBC paid out an interim dividend of S$0.44, 10% higher than the S$0.40 paid out a year ago. CEO Helen Wong believes that the bank is well-positioned to deliver 2024’s targets of low single-digit loan growth and a return of equity above 14%. Singapore Post, or SingPost, is a postal and eCommerce logistics provider in the Asia Pacific region. The group saw its revenue for the first half of fiscal 2025 (1H FY2025) ending 30 September 2024 rise 20% year on year to S$992.4 million. The uplift came mainly from SingPost’s Australian business which saw a 44% year-on-year increase in revenue to S$574.9 million. The postal company’s underlying net profit for 1H FY2025 soared 88% year on year to S$25.2 million. An interim dividend of S$0.0034 was declared, 89% higher than the S$0.0018 paid out in 1H FY2024. Singtel is Singapore’s largest telecommunication company and offers mobile, Pay TV, and broadband services. For 1H FY2025, the group reported a mixed set of earnings with revenue dipping by 0.5% year on year to S$7 billion. Operating profit, however, climbed 27% year on year to S$738 million while underlying net profit improved by 6% year on year to S$1.2 billion. An interim dividend of S$0.07 was declared and paid, a 35% year-on-year jump from the S$0.052 paid out a year ago. The telco will continue to focus on its ST28 long-term plan and drive operating profit improvements through enterprise growth in Singapore and Australia. United Overseas Bank, or UOB, is the third of the trio of local banks. For 9M 2024, the lender saw total income rise 3% year on year to S$10.8 billion while operating profit inched up 2% year on year to S$6.3 billion. Net profit came in at S$4.5 billion, up 5% year on year. The bank had raised its interim dividend during its 1H 2024 results from S$0.85 to S$0.88. CEO Wee Ee Cheong provided a sanguine outlook for 2025 and expects high single-digit loan growth along with double-digit fee income growth. Singapore Exchange Limited, or SGX, is Singapore’s only stock exchange operator. The group reported a resilient set of earnings for its fiscal 2024 (FY2024) ending 30 June 2024. Revenue rose 3.1% year on year to S$1.2 billion while net profit (excluding exceptional items) increased by 4.5% year on year to S$525.9 million. In line with the good results, SGX upped its quarterly dividend from S$0.085 to S$0.09, taking the annualised dividend per share to S$0.36 for FY2025. Management aims to grow the group’s revenue by between 6% to 8% per annum in the medium term. NetLink NBN Trust designs, builds, owns, and operates the passive fibre infrastructure of Singapore’s nationwide broadband network (NBN). For 1H FY2025, NetLink reported a slight 0.2% year-on-year dip in revenue to S$204.8 million. Net profit fell by 8.3% year on year to S$48.5 million. Despite this drop, distribution per unit inched up 1.1% year on year from S$0.0265 to S$0.0268. Management’s focus for FY2025 is to complete the construction of its new central office to achieve operational readiness to serve the northern part of Singapore. It will also continue to support the digitalisation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by lowering the cost of connections. Our FREE report, ‘7 Singapore Blue-Chip Stocks That Can Pay You for Life,’ reveals stable, dividend-paying stocks with a history of strong returns—even in uncertain markets. Get insights on Singapore’s most dependable blue-chips and see how they can offer you steady income. Download it today to start building your portfolio with confidence. Follow us on Facebook and Telegram for the latest investing news and analyses! Disclosure: Royston Yang owns shares of DBS Group, iFAST, Singapore Exchange Limited and NetLink NBN Trust. The post Year-in-Review: 8 Companies That Raised Their Dividends in 2024 appeared first on The Smart Investor .In conclusion, Tyronn Lue's decision to decline the Lakers' offer due to a lack of respect highlights the importance of upholding principles of dignity and fairness in professional sports. As a highly respected coach in the league, Lue's stance serves as a reminder of the value of self-worth and integrity in the face of challenging circumstances. It is a call to action for organizations to prioritize respect and fairness in their dealings with employees, ultimately creating a stronger and more supportive environment for all involved.
In conclusion, Real Madrid's decision to put Raphael Varane up for sale is a bold one, but one that could ultimately benefit both the club and the player. With a price tag of 80 million euros, Varane is sure to attract plenty of interest, and his departure could pave the way for a new era at the Santiago Bernabeu. Only time will tell where Varane ends up, but one thing is for certain: his next destination will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.
Tencent Video Limits Number of Devices for Member Login, Aiyou Teng Also Cracks Down on Account SharingGross NPAs of PSU banks drop to 3.1% from 14.6% in '18 MUMBAI: The gross non-performing asset (GNPA) ratio of public sector banks dropped to a record low of 3.1% as of Sept 2024 - down from 14.6% in March 2018, according to a government statement. This improvement follows the implementation of the 4R's strategy introduced in 2015: Recognising NPAs transparently, resolution & recovery, recapitalisation, and reforms in the financial system. PSBs have also strengthened their capital adequacy, with the capital-to-risk-weighted assets ratio improving to 15.4% in Sept 2024 from 11.5% in March 2015. Their aggregate net profit for FY24 hit Rs 1.4 lakh crore, a rise from Rs 1.1 lakh crore in the year-ago period. Over three years, PSBs distributed Rs 61,964 crore in dividends, reflecting improved shareholder returns. Inclusivity efforts have expanded as well, with 1,00,686 of 1,60,501 bank branches located in rural and semi-urban areas. Flagship schemes like Mudra and PM-SVANidhi have increased access to credit, benefiting women and underserved groups. Advances to MSMEs grew at an annual rate of 15%, reaching Rs 28 lakh crore in March this year. To support employees, govt introduced transparent transfer policies, revised salaries under the 12th Bipartite Settlement, enhanced pensions, and increased staff welfare funds. These reforms have created a more robust and efficient workforce, ensuring PSBs remain competitive and financially sound, the statement said. RBI's asset quality review, stricter provisioning for stressed loans, and enhanced recovery efforts played key roles in addressing NPAs. Along with these, improved asset management practices and reduced fresh NPA generation have bolstered PSBs' financial health. Ready to Master Stock Valuation? ET’s Workshop is just around the corner!
In the end, perhaps being "the next Ronaldo" was never his destiny. Perhaps, Nani was always meant to be Nani – a player who carved out his own legacy, inspired a generation of footballers, and showed that true greatness lies not in emulating others, but in embracing one's own talents and abilities.When captured on film, Man Ying Shan's beauty truly shines. The grainy texture of retro film photography lends her image a timeless quality, evoking a sense of nostalgia and romance. The muted colors and soft focus only serve to enhance her delicate features, imbuing her portrait with a dreamlike quality that is both haunting and alluring. Each frame seems to capture a fleeting moment of beauty, freezing time in a way that digital photography simply cannot replicate.
Title: Opposition Displays Assad's Private Photo Album: Filled with Pictures of Him with Family, Holding Children
Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. People are also reading... Bill Haisten: ‘Why would you even say that?’ OSU fund-raising was damaged by Gundy comments Former senior administrator at Tulsa Public Schools sentenced to prison What's the latest with Michael Fasusi? An update on OU's top 2025 recruiting target Vote for the Bill Knight Automotive high school football player of the week for Week 12 State Department of Education bought 532 Trump Bibles, purchase order shows Pagan prayer before Tulsa City Council meeting riles up Gov. Stitt, Ryan Walters Berry Tramel: $100k in fines is worth the cost to restore optimism in Oklahoma football Where to eat on Thanksgiving Day Union sixth-graders could be relocated amid planned renovations, declining district enrollment Roster cuts are coming to Oklahoma State and Mike Gundy is dreading it Is GJ Kinne out of reach? What about Brennan Marion? A look at possible TU coaching candidates Bill Haisten: ‘Hungrier than ever’ Mike Gundy says, ‘I ain’t going out this way’ McAlester football coach Forrest Mazey faces criminal misdemeanor charges Video: Stephen Colbert counts Ryan Walters among 'far-right weirdos' Trump could hire Police, sheriff talk about what Trump's mass deportation plan could mean for Tulsa Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along.
In conclusion, China's economic landscape continues to be a significant force in the world economy, shaping global economic trends and influencing international relations. While China's economic rise has brought about numerous opportunities and benefits, it also poses challenges and risks that need to be carefully managed. By addressing these challenges and embracing reform and innovation, China can continue to play a leading role in the global economic arena and contribute to a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the potential risks associated with the use of virtual backgrounds in live streaming. In some cases, content creators have been accused of promoting false or misleading information by creating virtual environments that misrepresent reality. This not only erodes the trust between content creators and their audiences but also raises ethical concerns about the authenticity of content in the virtual live streaming industry.
As the player's behavior became increasingly erratic and reports of his misconduct grew more frequent, it was only a matter of time before the truth came to light. A damning investigation revealed a pattern of serious misconduct, including breaches of the club's code of conduct, disrespectful behavior towards teammates and staff, and even incidents of illegal substance abuse.Lost and Found: Missing Graduate Student Found and Hospitalized for Treatment, Investigation Deepens
Wild first season in expanded Big 12 comes down to final weekend
Three Takeaways as Pantoja Snoozes AsakuraBig Ten slate features Indiana-Ohio State showdown and Penn State-Minnesota matchup Things to watch this week in the Big Ten Conference: This marks the 98th matchup between these two teams, but it's only the fourth time both teams have been ranked. Although Indiana is unbeaten, its soft schedule means the Hoosiers aren't assured of making the 12-team field if they lose this game. The only team with a winning record that Indiana has beaten is Washington (6-5). Ohio State needs a win to have a realistic shot at a rematch with top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. Ohio State has beaten Indiana 28 straight times since the Hoosiers posted back-to-back victories in 1987-88. This is likely Penn State's biggest obstacle on its way to a potential playoff berth. The Nittany Lions' lone remaining regular-season game is a Nov. 30 home matchup with Maryland (4-6, 1-6). Minnesota has had an extra week to prepare this game since its 26-19 loss at Rutgers on Nov. 9, which snapped a four-game winning streak. Penn State and Minnesota have split their last four meetings, with the home team winning each time. Penn State DE Abdul Carter has multiple tackles for loss in each of his last three games. He ranks second among all Bowl Subdivision players in tackles for loss (17 1⁄2). Southern California RB Woody Marks rushed for a career-high 146 yards in a 28-20 win over Nebraska. Marks has six 100-yard rushing performances this season. Rutgers RB Kyle Monangai is the first Scarlet Knight to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Ray Rice did it three straight years from 2005-07. Monangai has run for 1,028 yards this season and rushed for 1,262 yards last year. Oregon OLB Matayo Uiagalelei recorded a sack and had a game-clinching interception as the top-ranked Ducks won 16-13 at Wisconsin last week. He has 8 1⁄2 sacks this season to rank second in the Big Ten. Four of the top seven Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks in passer rating are from the Big Ten. Indiana's Kurtis Rourke is second, Ohio State's Will Howard is third, Penn State's Drew Allar is fifth and Oregon's Dillon Gabriel is seventh. ... Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has thrown 18 touchdown passes with only three interceptions. The only Power Four quarterback with a better touchdown/interception ratio while throwing at least 10 touchdown passes is Clemson's Cade Klubnik, who has 26 touchdowns and four interceptions. ... Rutgers' three Big Ten wins matches its largest total since joining the league in 2014. Rutgers also had three conference wins in 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023. A victory Saturday over No. 24 Illinois would give Rutgers three straight Big Ten wins for the first time. ... Washington's 31-19 win over UCLA was its 20th straight home victory, representing its second-longest such streak in school history. The Huskies won 45 straight home games from 1908-17. ... Wisconsin heads to Nebraska this week having won its last 10 matchups with the Cornhuskers. Penn State justifiably is favored on the road against Minnesota, but Bet MGM's 12 1⁄2-point spread seems way too big. Expect this game to have a single-digit margin. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Çağlar Söyüncü: "Happy to See Former Leverkusen Teammate Tah in Inter, Hoping for Quick UCL Progress"Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
Year-in-Review: 8 Companies That Raised Their Dividends in 2024