super ace technique
Chamber of Commerce sees new US export crackdown on China, email says
None
NoneMikel Arteta admitted Arsenal’s 5-2 win at West Ham was “crazy”, but he believes his side have got their momentum back in the Premier League title race. The Gunners have proved reports of their demise have been exaggerated after three thumping wins in the space of a week. Advertisement Having gone five Premier League matches without a win until they beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend, Arsenal then thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. They then put in another five-star display in a breathless encounter – or first half at least – at the London Stadium. Advertisement Just as they had in Lisbon, Arsenal had five different scorers, with Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka finding the net. West Ham waited until they were 4-0 down before showing a modicum of fight, with goals from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri briefly making things interesting. But Saka rolled in a penalty to put Arsenal back in charge and ensure the second half was a non-event. The Gunners can now put their feet up and watch title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City try to take points off each other on Sunday. Advertisement It was a record-equalling score-line, only the fourth time seven goals have been scored in the first half of a Premier League match. Advertisement “That tells you how crazy it was,” said Arteta. “A spectacular 30 minutes, straight away showed how much the team wanted it, to score three great goals in different ways and then the fourth. “But then after that we had a period with the quality of them, at 4-2 and it’s game on, the energy changed. And what’s next? So it was great to score the fifth one and we could play a very different game in the second half. “We’ve got some momentum, some flow back, three consecutive wins is great. We’re going to enjoy tonight and watch a good game of football tomorrow. “We are in a great moment. But in football, be on your toes. It’s so competitive. We’ll analyse today and go again tomorrow.” Advertisement Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui felt Arsenal’s first goal, another inventive corner routine which saw Jurrien Timber barge Lucas Paqueta out of the way before Gabriel headed home, should not have counted. Lukasz Fabianski’s inadvertent punch on Gabriel earned Arsenal a penalty (Chris Radburn/PA). He had no complaints about Trossard’s tap-in from Saka’s cross, or the foul on Saka by a combination of Emerson and Paqueta which allowed Odegaard to add the third from the spot. Arsenal’s fourth came from a mistake from Max Kilman which allowed Havertz to race through. But Lopetegui also felt Lukasz Fabianski’s inadvertent punch on Gabriel, rather than the ball, was not sufficient to give the Gunners a second penalty. Sport Saturday Sport: Cuala crowned Leinster football ch... Read More “It was a very strange first half – we didn’t deserve two goals and they didn’t deserve five,” he said. “Some very strange things happened. The first goal was a set-piece that we prepared for and it’s a clear foul. We have to do better with the second and third goals. “We scored two goals with positive energy and then the fifth goal, the penalty, in my opinion is not a penalty. The fifth goal killed the match.”
Investing alongside you, fellow Foolish investors, here’s a selection of stocks that some of our contributors have been buying across the past month! abrdn What it does: abrdn is an investment company whose clients range from Sovereign wealth funds through to individuals. By . The latest trading update from ( ) back in October, highlighted that it continues to struggle to stem outflows from its funds. Year to date, capital withdrawn from its funds has been £2.3bn greater than deposits. Since 2022, net outflows have totalled over £25bn. The reasons for these outflows are varied. But one key factor has been the rise of passive investing strategies. As an active investment manager, its funds have simply been unable to match the stellar returns of the , which is where the vast majority of global capital is drawn to. So, is this a doomed business? I don’t believe it is. Passive investing strategies work well when markets are rising, but when they are falling, they can be disastrous. In such a market, active managers tend to stand out. Indeed, this has been the case in bond markets, where abrdn’s funds have outperformed. Its falling share price means it now sits on a meaty 10.5% dividend yield. The road ahead will undoubtedly be bumpy but I could not sit on the sidelines when shares in a quality business go on sale. Chord Energy What it Does: Chord Energy is an oil and gas company. It’s the largest independent operator in the Williston Basin. By . Warren Buffett et al have been continuing to build ’s stake in . In a similar spirit, I’ve been buying shares in ( ). Chord’s operations are in the Williston Basin. The downside to that is that extraction costs are higher than they are in the Permean – where Occidental has its operations. On top of this, depletion rates are relatively high, meaning new wells either have to be found or acquired more regularly. Despite this, I think the stock looks like a good opportunity. The company is set to return 75% of its free cash flows to investors. And if oil prices average $70 per barrel, that’s forecast to be around $525m in dividends. With a market cap of $7.8bn, that’s a 6.7% yield. And I’m expecting this to increase over the next decade, making for an attractive passive income opportunity. CrowdStrike What it does: CrowdStrike is a fast-growing cybersecurity company that has clients globally. By . I’ve had ( ) shares on my watchlist for ages now. And I finally pulled the trigger and bought a few for my portfolio. The main reason I’ve invested here is that the cybersecurity industry is set for huge growth over the next decade. And this is the fastest-growing large-cap company in the market. I also think the industry offers an element of defence. Given the disastrous damage that cyberattacks can cause, no company can afford to pull back on cybersecurity spending today. It’s worth noting that CrowdStrike was responsible for the major global IT outage a few months ago. This could result in slightly slower growth (and share price volatility) in the near term as customers renegotiate their contracts. So, I’ve started with a very small position here to reduce my risk. Taking a five to 10-year view, however, I’m fairly confident that this company will generate good returns for me. iShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector ETF What it does: iShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector ETF invests in industry giants like the ‘Magnificent Seven.’ By . As its name implies, the ( ) provides exposure to the US’ biggest technology stocks. Consequently, it has substantial growth potential and the capacity to deliver exceptional capital gains. In the past five years, it’s delivered an impressive average yearly return of 26.2%. The ETF’s three biggest holdings are , and , which collectively account for almost 60% of its entire weighting. So poor news coming out of these businesses can have a significant adverse effect on the fund. Still, I’m confident a tech-focused fund like this could deliver more great returns over the long term. Segments like robotics, AI, cybersecurity, cloud services, and spatial and quantum computing are all tipped for strong growth in the coming decade. And with capital spread across 69 different companies, this ETF means investors take on less risk than by investing in one or two particular shares. This is critical, in my opinion, given the industry’s rapid pace of change. ITV What it does: ITV is a broadcaster with a terrestrial and digital business, as well as operating production studios and facilities By . The market did not like a recent trading update from ( ). That reaction was understandable. Revenues in the first nine months of the year were 8% below the same period last year. Total revenue in the studios part of the business fell a fifth compared to the prior year period. There are risks that advertising demand may remain weak. Plans for further cost-cutting also involve risks, as I see it. Such cuts can hurt staff morale and also reduce the organisation’s nimbleness, at a time when advertising demand is hard to predict. Still, I think the current share price undervalues this consistently profitable business. The share price is within 1% of where it began the year, but has more than halved in five years. That means the dividend yield is now a juicy 7.9%. ITV still has a lucrative legacy business and has been building its digital footprint strongly. The studios arm provides additional revenue streams. . MercadoLibre What it does: MercadoLibre is a Latin American based e-commerce enterprise that simultaneously providing digital payment solutions. By . While dominates e-commerce across Europe and North America, ( ) reigns supreme in Latin America. The online marketplace took a bit of a tumble following its latest earnings. Despite revenue surging by 35% to a new high of $5.3bn for the quarter, the lacklustre 9.4% growth in profits due to shrinking margins caused concern. A drop from 18% operating margins to 10% is undoubtedly worrying. The drag on earnings stems from a jump in credit card loans that helped deliver higher revenue but at a lower margin. When paired with aggressive investment in new distribution facilities in Brazil, seeing earnings take a hit isn’t entirely surprising. Increased exposure to credit card debt comes at a higher level of risk. But, management seems to be acting prudently to avoid bad debt. At the same time, MercadoLibre just added another seven million new buyers to its online marketplace, bringing the total to 60.8 million!
None
While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Austria signalled it would soon deport refugees back to Syria. Far-right politicians elsewhere made similar demands, including in Germany -- home to Europe's largest Syrian community -- at a time when immigration has become a hot-button issue across the continent. Alice Weidel, of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, reacted with disdain to Sunday's mass rallies by jubilant Syrians celebrating Assad's downfall. "Anyone in Germany who celebrates 'free Syria' evidently no longer has any reason to flee," she wrote on X. "They should return to Syria immediately." World leaders and Syrians abroad watched in disbelief at the weekend as Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus, ending Assad's brutal rule while also sparking new uncertainty. A German foreign ministry spokesman pointed out that "the fact that the Assad regime has been ended is unfortunately no guarantee of peaceful developments" in the future. Germany has taken in almost one million Syrians, with most arriving in 2015-16 under ex-chancellor Angela Merkel. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said many Syrian refugees "now finally have hope of returning to their Syrian homeland" but cautioned that "the situation in Syria is currently very unclear". The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had imposed a freeze on decisions for ongoing asylum procedures "until the situation is clearer". She added that "concrete possibilities of return cannot yet be predicted and it would be unprofessional to speculate in such a volatile situation". Rights group Amnesty International slammed Germany's freeze on asylum decisions, stressing that for now "the human rights situation in the country is completely unclear". The head of the UN refugee agency also cautioned that "patience and vigilance" were needed on the issue of refugee returns. In Austria, where about 100,000 Syrians live, conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer instructed the interior ministry "to suspend all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and to review all asylum grants". Interior Minister Gerhard Karner added he had "instructed the ministry to prepare an orderly repatriation and deportation programme to Syria". "The political situation in Syria has changed fundamentally and, above all, rapidly in recent days," the ministry said, adding it is "currently monitoring and analysing the new situation". The French interior ministry said it too would put asylum requests from Syrians on hold, with authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway announcing similar moves. Britain's interior ministry said it was taking the same measure "whilst we assess the current situation". The Italian government said late Monday after a cabinet meeting that it too was suspending asylum request "in line with other European partners." The leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats, a coalition partner in the government, said residence permits for Syrian refugees should now be "reviewed". "Destructive Islamist forces are behind the change of power" in Syria, wrote their leader Jimmie Akesson on X. "I see that groups are happy about this development here in Sweden. You should see it as a good opportunity to go home." In Greece, a government spokesman voiced hope that Assad's fall will eventually allow "the safe return of Syrian refugees" to their country, but without announcing concrete measures. In Germany, the debate gained momentum as the country heads towards February elections. Achim Brotel, president of a grouping of German communes, called for border controls to stop fleeing Assad loyalists reaching Germany. The centre-right opposition CDU suggested that rejected Syrian asylum-seekers should now lose so-called subsidiary protection. "If the reason for protection no longer applies, then refugees will have to return to their home country," CDU legislator Thorsten Frei told Welt TV. CDU MP Jens Spahn suggested that Berlin charter flights to Syria and offer 1,000 euros ($1,057) to "anyone who wants to return". A member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats criticised the debate as "populist and irresponsible". Greens party deputy Anton Hofreiter also said "it is completely unclear what will happen next in Syria" and deportation talk was "completely out of place". Many Syrians in Germany have watched the events in their home country with great joy but prefer to wait and see before deciding whether to return. "We want to go back to Syria," said Mahmoud Zaml, 25, who works in an Arabic pastry shop in Berlin, adding that he hopes to help "rebuild" his country. "But we have to wait a bit now," he told AFP. "We have to see what happens and if it is really 100 percent safe, then we will go back to Syria." burs-fz/rlp/phz/gv/givWhich China Airlines Planes Is Taiwan's New President Using For His US Visit?President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the ChildAid 2024: The Dream Emporium performance at the Esplanade on Nov 30. SINGAPORE – They cut their teeth on performing on stage at previous ChildAid concerts. In 2024, pianist Jessie Meng, 17, R&B singer Riszuan Syah, 19, and guitarist Alex Hooi, 22, are back in the spotlight again, with 80 others, at the concert that marks ChildAid’s 20th year milestone. Joining the trio virtually is singer Ariadna Padron Yassin, 22, who is in Amsterdam pursuing her studies. Titled The Dream Emporium, the 2024 concert – held on Nov 29 and 30 – is set in an enchanting world where children’s dreams come alive through song, dance and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times (BT), ChildAid 2024 has raised about $2.1 million through ticket sales and donations from UOB; TTJ Design & Engineering, a structural steel specialist company; and Mr Mohamed Abdul Jaleel, founder and chief executive of MES Group, a property and logistics solutions firm. The money goes to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which sponsors the lunch and transport fees of children from low-income families, and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BAF), which supports artistically talented youth from less-privileged households. For the past two decades, ChildAid has been an inclusive platform for young performers, between ages six and 19 and of diverse backgrounds, to showcase their talent. Mr Wong Wei Kong, editor-in-chief of SPH Media’s English/Malay/Tamil Media Group and chairman of BT BAF, said: “It is heartening to bring these young talent together to put up the show... Since 2005, ChildAid has raised more than $30 million for our two charities... which aim to help children of disadvantaged backgrounds.” BT editor Chen Huifen said the 2024 event is “not only a look back at the legacy we’ve created, but also a look forward to the future we’re building together”. “For this reason, ChildAid 2024 has a futuristic storyline that incorporates elements of artificial intelligence into the making of the concert, so that our young talent can be exposed to various aspects of generative technology used in stagecraft,” she added. ST editor Jaime Ho said: “We are proud that a number of talent who made their name in previous ChildAid concerts have come back to be part of this year’s show.” Ms Amni Musfirah was 14 when she sang at her first ChildAid in 2008. Now 30, she helmed the 2024 show as a co-creative director alongside Mr Joshua Quek, assistant multimedia director at media entertainment company NoonTalk Media. The Dream Emporium, which is held at Esplanade Theatre, is scripted and directed by 29-year-old actor, writer and director Krish Natarajan. Known for his immersive productions that blend live-action role-play with theatre, his working with children opened up a new side of his creativity. Titled The Dream Emporium, the 2024 concert is set in an enchanting world where children’s dreams come alive through song, dance and AI technology. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH On Nov 29, he and the children filled the theatre with music, dance and drama and with AI interactivity, featuring songs such as Best Day Of My Life by rock band American Authors, Faded by deejay Alan Walker, Empire State Of Mind by rapper Jay-Z, and the nostalgic 1970s pop ballad How Deep Is Your Love by the Bee Gees. Cast members spent about a month rehearsing for the big day, and dealt with stage jitters in their own ways. Violinist Anastasha Suchin, 10, said: “I would always take a moment, drink some water and be by myself before the performance, so that I can cool down and prepare myself for what was going to happen on stage.” Singer Loic Lastennet, 15, who is performing for ChildAid for the fifth time, said he takes breaths to calm himself. “I would also go through my song a few times in my head to make sure that I had all the lyrics and if I had lines with friends, I would sit down with them five minutes before going on stage and run through my lines with them,” he added. ChildAid alumnus Jessie Meng, 17, on the piano with a young violinist. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE Guests, including President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and SPH Media CEO Chan Yeng Kit, were invited to participate through various interactions such as voting for the wildest dream through live participation by raising their hands, and switching their mobile phone torch to assist in the recovery of the AI machine. Donations are ongoing until end-December. Those who wish to do so can visit www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/childaid2024 or send an e-mail to emailus@spmf.org.sg Companies can send an e-mail to emailus@spmf.org.sg or make cheques payable to Child Aid, with the name of the firm, unique entity number, contact person and number and address, and send them to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, 1000 Toa Payoh North, News Centre, Singapore 318994. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now