Business briefs | Collector’s expo, celebrating rural health, new Humboldt Made leaderBy Chris Hayes This is an adapted excerpt from the Dec. 12 episode of “All In with Chris Hayes.” We are in something of a weird period these days. On one track, the daily news out of Washington is the normal process of American governance, specifically the transition from one presidency to another. It’s the kind of thing you might expect after any election when the White House changes parties. Some elected Democrats are out there acting like everything is normal. You may recall that President Joe Biden hosted President-elect Donald Trump for a friendly fireside chat in the Oval Office last month. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania now says he supports Elise Stefanik to be Trump’s United Nations ambassador because he supports her position on Israel. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado praised Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Trump’s choice to run the Department of Health and Human Services. And a whole bunch of Democrats are paying lip service to Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency to slash spending. I’ve seen this movie before: rich people currying favor with a powerful president. But this isn’t before, and Trump is different. Basically, the message from some national Democrats and other public figures is, “Well, the people have spoken and now we’re going to get about the business of governing under Trump.” There’s a similar vibe from the titans of industry. Tech billionaires are popping up all over the place trying to curry favor with the once and future president. We learned that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund after meeting with him at Mar-a-Lago. Not to be outdone, we learned that Jeff Bezos’ Amazon is also donating a million dollars to the inauguration. Bezos says he looks forward to working with the president-elect. “If we’re talking about Trump, I think it’s very interesting,” Bezos told Andrew Ross Sorkin at the DealBook Summit last week. “I’m actually very optimistic this time around. ... I’m very hopeful about his — he seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. My point of view, if I can help him do that, I’m gonna help him.” Again, I’ve seen this movie before: rich people currying favor with a powerful president. But this isn’t before, and Trump is different. What’s so disturbing, enraging and alienating about the capitulation to Trump is that it ignores the gaping wound in American democracy. It’s just sitting there — festering — while everyone just goes about business as usual. Just four years ago, one of the two major parties in this country largely withdrew from the consensus of democratic governance and rejected the peaceful transfer of power. But right now, it looks like that wound has healed because the party that has withdrawn, the Republicans, happened to win this last election and, because Democrats believe in preserving democracy, they accepted those results. But the wound has not been healed. The problem has not been solved. Trump is just as committed to the big lie and the insurrection as he ever was. In his interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” Trump refused to concede the 2020 election and once again pledged to pardon the Jan. 6 rioters. What’s more is that Trump is instituting loyalty tests to make sure that the folks working in his administration also support his election lies. A recent New York Times report details the interview process at the Trump transition offices: The interviewers asked which candidate the applicants had supported in the three most recent elections, what they thought about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and whether they believed the 2020 election was stolen. The sense they got was that there was only one right answer to each question. For at least one of Trump’s would-be employees, you don’t even need to ask those questions. Kari Lake, who Trump wants to lead Voice of America — the government’s state media network — is perhaps the politician most closely linked to the big lie outside of Trump himself. Lake not only insists that Trump won the 2020 election, but she also insists she won her own 2022 race to be governor of Arizona — which she lost to Democrat Katie Hobbs. It's not exactly clear if Trump can install Lake as the head of VOA, but he is certainly going to try. And Lake would most likely use every facet of her power to push election lies and create a domestic version of Russia’s infamous state media apparatus. Lake believes, perhaps more than anyone else, in the core tenet of the modern Republican Party: Elections only count when we win them. We’re actually seeing this play out right now in North Carolina. Last month, Trump won at the top of the ticket there but Democrats did pretty well down-ballot. Democrat Josh Stein won the gubernatorial race by 15 points, defeating Republican Mark Robinson. (The guy who reportedly frequented a porn forum called “Nude Africa,” where he allegedly referred to himself as a “black Nazi.” Robinson denies the allegations.) Democrat Jeff Jackson, a congressman who was gerrymandered out of his seat, also won the race to be the state’s next attorney general. That means Democrats won two of the top jobs in North Carolina politics, fair and square. But North Carolina Republicans aren’t happy about it. Lake believes, perhaps more than anyone else, in the core tenet of the modern Republican Party: Elections only count when we win them. Republicans lost their supermajority in the gerrymandered state legislature last month. They are in a lame-duck session right now, before that supermajority goes away. In these waning days, they just overrode a governor’s veto to force through a bill that strips power away from those newly elected Democrats and hands it to Republican officials instead. Republicans lost the election in North Carolina and then they gave themselves power anyway. Believe me, if they had lost the presidential race in November, Republicans would likely be trying to overturn the election at the national level, too. That’s the gaping wound. The rejection of democracy is still alive and well. Democrats bending the knee to Trump because they agree with him on Israel or cutting government spending is not going to address the problem. My strong belief is that everyone trying to will us toward normalcy by acting like everything is normal is in for a rude awakening. Allison Detzel contributed. Chris Hayes hosts “ All In with Chris Hayes” at 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday on MSNBC. He is the editor-at-large at The Nation. A former fellow at Harvard University’s Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics, Hayes was a Bernard Schwartz Fellow at the New America Foundation. His latest book is "A Colony in a Nation" (W. W. Norton).

1. "Cold is on its way when the oak is wearing a shawl."Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO share listing: After the substantial listing of five initial public offerings (IPOs), the Indian stock market is set to witness a share listing of three IPOs: Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO , Ventive Hospitality IPO, and Carraro India IPO. Of these three IPOs, the grey market is highly bullish on Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO. According to stock market observers, shares of Senores Pharmaceuticals Limited are available at a premium of ₹ 285 apiece in the grey market today. Stock market experts also expect Senores Pharmaceuticals' share listing to be substantially premium. Senores Pharmaceuticals' IPO listing price could range from ₹ 650 to ₹ 675 apiece. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO GMP today As mentioned, S enores Pharmaceuticals IPO GMP today is ₹ 285, which means the grey market expects that Senores Pharmaceuticals' IPO listing price will be around ₹ 676 ( ₹ 391 + ₹ 285). So, the grey market is signalling that Senores Pharmaceuticals' IPO listing gain will be around 73 per cent. Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing price prediction Expecting a strong debut for Senores Pharmaceuticals shares, Arun Kejriwal, Founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services, said, “The issue received strong response from the investors across categories as it was offered at attractive valuations. This is expected to continue post-listing, and hence, I believe that Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing price would be around 70 per cent higher than the upper price band of ₹ 391.” On why Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO may have a strong debut in the Indian stock market, Prathamesh Masdekar, Research Analyst at StoxBox, said, "Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has attracted significant investor interest, with its IPO oversubscribed 97.86 times, and is expected to debut on December 30, 2024, potentially commanding a 61% premium above the upper price band. The company is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company engaged in developing and manufacturing a wide range of pharmaceutical products predominantly for regulated markets across various therapeutic areas and dosage forms, with a presence in emerging markets. The company is an R&D-driven company with a differentiated product portfolio across dosage forms, which has enabled the company to reach a range of target markets with a presence in the US, Canada and emerging markets. Senores Pharmaceuticals partners with many CDMO customers early in the drug development, enabling them to expand relationships as molecules progress through the clinical phase and into commercial manufacturing." Asked about the range in which Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO may list, Arun Kejriwal of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services said, "Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO may list in ₹ 650 to ₹ 675 per share range." Senores Pharmaceuticals IPO listing date, time Senores Pharmaceuticals' IPO listing date has been fixed for 30 December 2024, which is today. Senores Pharmaceuticals shares will be listed on the BSE and the NSE in a special pre-open session during Monday dealings, and they will become available for trade at 10:00 AM on Monday. “Trading Members of the Exchange are hereby informed that effective from Monday, December 30, 2024, the equity shares of SENORES PHARMACEUTICALS LIMITED shall be listed and admitted to dealings on the Exchange in the list of 'B' Group of Securities,” the BSE notice says. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations above are those of individual analysts, experts and broking companies, not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decision.Title: Sora has arrived, and the Dreamland breathes easy

The China Fund, Inc. Announces Date of Annual Meeting of Stockholders

On December 9, the Central Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China held a meeting to discuss the current situation of the property market in China and formulate strategies to stabilize it. The property market has been a key pillar of China's economy, and its stability is crucial for sustainable economic development. The meeting focused on addressing the challenges and risks facing the property market and emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures to ensure its stability.

In conclusion, the forced execution of Wang Sicong's company shares highlights the multiple risk factors and challenges that he is currently facing in his business endeavors. As he navigates through these turbulent times, Wang Sicong will need to adopt a more cautious and strategic approach to mitigate risks, restore investor confidence, and steer his business empire towards stability and growth. Failure to address these risk factors could spell further troubles for Wang Sicong and his company in the future.

Against the backdrop of an accelerated transformation in the global energy landscape, the energy storage market, as a key link in promoting large-scale renewable energy applications and ensuring the stable operation of power systems, is expected to have immense growth potential in the future. Meanwhile, competition in the international energy storage market is becoming increasingly intense, making it a focal area for enterprises worldwide. Amid this fierce competition, Chinese companies have made a strong impression in overseas energy storage markets with their outstanding performance and robust capabilities, creating a powerful "Chinese wave." Battery Network has observed that recently, from the African continent to Europe and emerging economies in Southeast Asia, Chinese enterprises have been making significant strides, securing numerous project orders. Behind these achievements lies years of meticulous efforts in technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and international strategic planning. On December 16, Envision Energy announced that it had signed a supply contract with Électricité de France (EDF) to provide battery energy storage systems for three standalone energy storage projects in South Africa led by EDF. The total installed capacity of the projects is 257MW/1028MWh, marking South Africa's first GWh-level energy storage order. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, with Envision Energy supplying a full set of AC and DC energy storage equipment and providing 15 years of full life cycle operation and maintenance services, utilizing its independently developed energy storage-specific battery cells. On December 6, Sungrow signed a cooperation agreement with Citicore Renewable Energy Corporation (CREC), a listed company in the Philippines, to provide a 1.5GWh energy storage system and engineering support services. This represents the largest energy storage system order in Southeast Asia to date. On December 5, Huawei announced a 4.5GWh energy storage project agreement with SP New Energy Corporation (SPNEC) in the Philippines. The project, with a total investment of 200 billion pesos (approximately 25.12 billion yuan), includes 3.5GW of PV and 4.5GWh of energy storage, making it one of the largest PV ESS projects globally. On November 18, Sungrow also signed a 4.4GWh energy storage cooperation agreement with the UK-based Fidra Energy. The agreement covers two benchmark standalone energy storage stations in the UK: the 3.3GWh Thorpe Marsh and the 1.1GWh West Burton C. The project will deploy 880 sets of Sungrow's PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled energy storage systems, which, upon operation, can supply power to 1.1 million UK households, setting a new record for the largest energy storage station order in Europe. On November 13, Chunsun New Energy signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Italy's Cestari in Wuhan, Hubei. The two parties plan to establish a PV ESS pilot project in Italy in the short term, utilizing Chunsun's self-developed 20-foot 5MWh battery prefabricated cabin CORNEX M5. Over the next 3 to 5 years, they aim to achieve 20GWh-30GWh of energy storage project cooperation. On November 6, REPT signed a strategic cooperation agreement with JUNGWOO Group Co., Ltd. According to the agreement, during the effective period of the cooperation, the first party commits to purchasing no less than 5GWh of energy storage system products and 2GWh of energy storage battery cell products from the second party in 2025, with the option to increase orders. On October 23, Sunwoda signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Gryphon Energy Pty Ltd. The project, located in Queensland, Australia, has a capacity of 1.6GWh, making it one of the largest energy storage projects in Australia. It is scheduled for delivery and grid connection in 2026. ...... REPT's chairman visited the Waratah Super Battery Site in Australia, the largest energy storage project in the Southern Hemisphere, where REPT serves as the core battery supplier. Photo/REPT In recent years, leveraging a complete energy storage industry chain, large-scale production, and continuously optimized manufacturing processes, Chinese energy storage enterprises have not only met overseas clients' requirements for efficient and stable operation of energy storage systems but also offered price advantages over local products, frequently securing large energy storage orders. Integrated energy storage enterprises like Huawei and Sungrow have demonstrated even greater momentum in going global. Compared to battery manufacturers, these integrators can provide comprehensive one-stop solutions, optimizing system design, control strategies, and operation and maintenance management to deliver efficient and reliable energy storage systems, standing out in market competition. Of course, it is worth noting that competition in the overseas energy storage market has become increasingly fierce. The overseas market is by no means a "safe haven" without challenges; in fact, it is a new "battlefield" full of uncertainties and difficulties. From a positive perspective, the high-profit margins in overseas markets indeed offer domestic enterprises vast development opportunities. Companies can fully leverage their long-accumulated technological advantages and cost-control experience in the domestic market to achieve higher profits abroad. These funds can be continuously reinvested into critical areas such as R&D and product upgrades, helping enterprises secure a more advantageous position in the future global energy storage market. However, in the journey of expanding into overseas markets, domestic enterprises also face a series of complex challenges. These include stringent market entry barriers and varying standards and certification requirements set by different countries and regions based on their energy strategies, safety standards, and industrial development plans, especially in mature markets like Europe and the US. Moreover, while overseas markets are generally perceived to have higher gross margins, the actual costs of going global often exceed expectations. Overseas clients have extremely high demands for the quality and reliability of energy storage products. Enterprises must continuously improve product quality and reliability, strengthen quality control and testing, and ensure the long-term stable operation of energy storage systems. This requires significant investments in human, material, and time resources to provide operation and maintenance services, posing higher demands on enterprises' technical and service capabilities. As a result, industry insiders have called for caution, emphasizing that the overseas energy storage market is not suitable for price wars. Hidden costs and penalties cannot be ignored, and Chinese enterprises should unite and avoid excessive low-price competition. The large-scale shift of domestic energy storage enterprises' focus to overseas markets is also driven by the intense cut-throat competition in the domestic energy storage market. Public data shows that in the energy storage sector, the price of LFP energy storage battery cells has dropped from 0.9 yuan/Wh–1.0 yuan/Wh at the beginning of 2023 to the current 0.3 yuan/Wh–0.4 yuan/Wh. The average unit price of energy storage systems has fallen from around 1.5 yuan/Wh to 0.5 yuan/Wh–0.6 yuan/Wh, with some energy storage systems being awarded at prices below 0.5 yuan/Wh. Recently, China Resources Power (836) held a bidding process for energy storage equipment procurement for the Xinjiang Tianshan North Slope New Energy Base Project. The lowest bid for a 4-hour energy storage system was 0.398 yuan/Wh, marking a historic low as it fell below 0.4 yuan/Wh for the first time. "Rather than being caught in the cut-throat competition domestically, why not test the waters overseas?" This sentiment has become a true reflection of many energy storage enterprises. This year, the domestic energy storage industry has experienced mixed results. While installation volumes have reached record highs, the ongoing price war has led many energy storage enterprises to see revenue growth without profit growth. Battery Network has observed that since November, several state-owned enterprises have successively launched centralized procurement for energy storage systems (battery cell frameworks) for 2025. Judging from the scale of centralized procurement, the energy storage market in 2025 is expected to remain robust, with bidding enterprises introducing new requirements for bidding rules, such as reducing the weight of price evaluation and increasing the weight of technical evaluation. Currently, some bidding enterprises have explicitly stated that they will not accept inventory batteries or cascade utilization batteries. At the same time, they have introduced new standards for bidders' performance and technical requirements, including battery cell performance requirements, further curbing the potential for low-quality small producers to disrupt the market. From an industry perspective, the rising thresholds for energy storage bidding can effectively address the issue of malicious price wars, screen enterprises based on their technical capabilities, and ensure the reliability of energy storage system operations. On the other hand, it can also accelerate the market exit of weaker players, promoting the healthy and sustainable development of the energy storage industry.

With no food or water supplies, the woman resorted to eating wild plants to sustain herself during the grueling ordeal. Drawing on her limited knowledge of foraging, she carefully identified edible plants and berries, relying on her instincts to survive. Despite the constant fear and uncertainty, she remained determined to find her grandmother and return her safely home.With his ability to manipulate time and space, Koko brings a fresh dynamic to the game, providing players with new strategies and tactics to master. His flashy abilities and crowd-control skills make him a formidable force on the battlefield, capable of turning the tide of any battle in his favor. From teleporting behind enemy lines to creating temporal rifts that disrupt the flow of combat, Koko is a versatile hero that promises to keep players on their toes.

Donald Trump made an announcement about his upcoming administration, and his biggest fans are not happy about it. Trump said on Friday that he had chosen Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a physician and Fox News medical contributor, as his surgeon general. She also "serves as a medical director at CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey," according to Politico's reporting . “Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health,” Trump said on Friday in a statement on his Truth Social platform . “She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives.” ALSO READ: The America-attacking Trump is coming for our military — and then he's coming for us The pick did not go over well with Trump's base. @BlueArmy24, who frequently posts in favor of Trump on Truth Social, responded on the site with a letter from the "base." "Dear President Trump, many of us...MANY of us are very disheartened and upset about this pick -this doctor has been a major advocate for pushing Covid vaccines upon people which are being proven cause much harm," @BlueArmy24 wrote. "She also was a big advocate of masking and other terrible Covid policies please don’t let this happen! Sincerely -your base." A user with the ID "I STAND WITH TRUMP" also responded to the president-elect, saying, "Booo!! She advocates for the clot shot!!" "Bring the Surgeon General from Florida into this position!!" the user added. InkedKatLady , a self-identified conservative who comments favorably about Trump on Truth Social, characterized the pick as a "dealbreaker." "She’s pro-masking — dealbreaker for me," the user wrote in response to Trump's announcement for the choice for surgeon general. @SaltyPretzel, who shares pro-Trump content on Truth Social, also appeared outraged. "Are you out of your mind? We lost everything for refusing covid vax and you pic this pro vaxxer? What a slap in the face this is to maga," they wrote. Craig M. Wax, DO , a family physician who supports Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said Trump is "making a colossal mistake with Dr. Jeanette Neaheiwat has surgeon general." "She was a genetic vaccine zealot," he wrote Friday.One of the crucial factors pointing towards a stock market bottom is the stabilization of economic fundamentals. Despite the challenges posed by the current global economic climate, there are signs of recovery and resilience in various sectors. Companies are adapting to new ways of operating, governments are implementing stimulus packages, and consumers are gradually regaining confidence. These positive developments are laying the groundwork for a potential market rebound.For many private banks, the struggle for survival was real. Faced with increased competition from both traditional banks and fintech startups, smaller and less established private banks found themselves at a disadvantage. Many lacked the resources, technology, and scale to compete effectively in the market. As a result, some private banks were forced to consolidate, merge, or even shut down operations altogether.

In a heartwarming display of compassion and solidarity, a local community has come together to support two siblings, a 19-year-old brother and his younger sister, who found themselves in a challenging situation. The young man, faced with the responsibility of caring for his sister after their parents passed away, made the difficult decision to drop out of school and work to provide for their needs. Moved by their story, residents and organizations in the community banded together to ensure that the siblings could lead a worry-free life.

My dear 2024, Letter writing may be a lost art in this digital age, yet there are mo­ments when the weight of reflection demands the intimacy of a letter. So, dear 2024, consider this a heartfelt note from a Nigerian seeking to en­capsulate the whirlwind of emotions, events, and transformations that have unfolded over the past twelve months. As I pen down these words, I do so with the awareness that you are not an ordi­nary year. Your arrival brought hope, but as the days rolled, that hope was replaced with hardship, struggle, per­severance and lessons. In this letter, as tricky as it may be, I will attempt to recount the key events that shaped you – the milestones that defined not only my life but the collec­tive experience of a nation grappling with economic hardship, political un­certainty, and social upheaval. Nigeria stands at a crossroads, and you will be remembered as a year that tested our spirit and resolve. This is not just a recollection of facts but a narrative of survival in a land where, at times, the future seemed uncertain. You were, indeed harsh, but we, the Nigerian people, have shown re­markable resilience and perseverance. Despite the economic hardships you brought, with inflation, unemploy­ment, and rising living costs affecting all, we have stood strong. Your visita­tion of economic hardships worsened by 34-40% inflation rate and supply chain disruptions, an embarrassing unemployment rate of 40%, and rising living costs affected both the high and the low. Almost all households felt your pinch. Nigeria›s food inflation rate rose to close to 40% by mid-year, pushing millions into poverty. National Bureau of Statistics reports indicated that over 71 million Nigerians faced food insecurity by the third quarter. The exchange rate rose by over 60%. Yet, amid these challenges, the Nigerian people showed remarkable resilience and perseverance. To put it into context, essential com­modities such as rice, maize, and garri doubled in price within months. The petrol price fluctuated between ₦700 to ₦1200 per litre, severely impacting transportation and logistics. Even sachet water, popularly called ‹pure water›, became a luxury for many, re­flecting the depth of economic strain. You made our economic thinkers and planners look clueless. Thank God we, the people, showed understanding with them. You brought needless political con­tentions –the Rivers crisis, contentious elections in Edo and Ondo states, the Kano Emir drama, the Old-New-Old national anthem, and “Endbadgover­nance”demonstrations. An attempt to reform our tax system highlighted our stubborn ethnic fault lines. You were not short of drama, both relevant and irrelevant. The reinstatement of the old national anthem left citizens divid­ed, as critics viewed it as distracting from pressing governance issues. However, amid these contentions, the Nigerian people stood united, showing remarkable solidarity. Despite the divi­sive nature of some of these events, we have remained a united front. Poverty and hunger became our companions, resulting in three deadly stampedes during palliative distribu­tions in Oyo, Anambra, and the Feder­al Capital Territory (FCT), leaving no fewer than 60 people dead. Unemploy­ment among the youth reached over 45%, with many university graduates resorting to menial jobs or leaving the country in search of greener pastures, contributing to the ongoing ‹Japa› wave. At the global scene, you delivered historic elections and global unrest. People in more than 60 countries— representing almost 50 per cent of the world’s population—went to the polls during the year. Voters in Mexico and the United Kingdom picked new leaders, while a former U.S. president was invited by voters back to the White House. In Nigeria, voter turnout in lo­cal elections dipped to a record low of 28%, reflecting growing disillusion­ment with governance. This disin­terest was amplified by widespread insecurity, with over 1,500 reported cases of abduction and banditry dis­rupting daily life. Villages in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Borno faced relentless attacks, forcing thousands into inter­nally displaced persons (IDP) camps. “Lakurawa” gained a strong foothold in parts of North-West states. Some strange things happened that we did not foresee. Greece extended adoption rights to same-sex couples, and Thailand legalised same-sex marriage, becoming the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. You gave LGBTQ+ rights activists something to celebrate. This felt strange in this part of the world, where same-sex relations remain criminalised, and social acceptance lags far behind. In Nigeria, lawmakers intensified ef­forts to uphold conservative values, with proposed bills aimed at further restricting LGBTQ+ rights. The dis­parity in cultural values highlighted the widening gap between regions of the world, reflecting the complex lay­ers of societal evolution. You saw the world in turmoil, and the Russian vs Ukraine war continued unabated. This war brought about lots of military posturing, leading some to fear nuclear conflict between Rus­sia and NATO. The conflict between Israel, Hamas, and Iran ramped up to greater heights. The Middle East is in commotion, with the war extending to Lebanon and Israel vowing not to stop until it wipes Hamas and Hezbollah out. Iran has shown its willingness to confront Israel, framing itself as the watchdog of the Middle East against Israel’s aggression. You also witnessed the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, raising fears of extremist groups seizing power. Reports from the UN suggested that over 300,000 Syrian refugees fled to neighbouring countries by year-end, adding to the growing refugee crisis. But amid it all, you allowed some of my compatriots to think and look at things differently, to learn that hard work does not kill and bad governance is for a season. Despite the odds, small businesses grew by 7% in sectors like agriculture and technology, offering a glimmer of hope. Despite the increase in tariffs and persistent collapse of the national grid, there has been a mar­ginal improvement in power output in homes and factories. The healthcare sector witnessed significant transformation in the past few months of 2024 because of incisive, superlative reforms and pro­grammes. So far, 53,000 health work­ers have been re-trained—an impres­sive number—to deliver integrated, high-quality services. The Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative, which offers free caesarean sections to all eligible Nigerian women meeting the criteria, and the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnera­bility and Adaptation (V&A) Assess­ment Report were launched. These initiatives represent a step forward in our healthcare system, offering hope for the future. Your successor, 2025, is shaping up to be quite the mixed bag — it’s like the year is expecting a baby, but no one knows if it’ll be a bundle of joy or a handful of trouble. Nigeria is trying really hard to stop putting all its eggs in the oil basket. There’s a lot of noise about agriculture, tech, and manufac­turing stepping up. With this African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) getting more action, we might see Nigeria flexing as West Af­rica’s trade big brother. But let’s be honest — oil and gas aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Dangote Refinery finally kicking into gear might help us cut down on those expensive imported petroleum products. If it plays out right, that could mean fewer trade deficits and more jobs, which we desperately need. But you know how it is with oil — pric­es are like Lagos traffic, unpredictable and everywhere. Plus, the world’s mov­ing towards greener energy, so we’ve got to figure out how to keep the mon­ey flowing long-term. Now, on the money front, I won’t sugarcoat it. Inflation and the ex­change rate will probably keep danc­ing around, and not in a fun way. The Central Bank will try to keep things under control, but they’ll need se­rious foreign investment and more non-oil exports to make it work. The tech space is looking exciting, though. With all these young, sharp minds and everyone glued to their phones, Lagos and Abuja are becoming mini–Silicon Valley — fintech, e-commerce, aggro­tech, you name it. Politically, Nigerians are still out here demanding real change. Anti-cor­ruption will stay a hot topic — we’re all tired of the same old stories. There’s also this growing pressure for elector­al reforms and better public services. Civil society is getting louder, and I’m here for it. But security? Whew. That’s going to be a big one. Between insur­gency in the Northeast, banditry up North, and secessionist noise in the Southeast, the government has its hands full. It will take more than mili­tary action — they must dig into why these issues keep popping up. On top of that, some states are push­ing harder for more control over their resources and policies. The whole de­centralisation and restructuring de­bate might heat up. Meanwhile, you can bet politicians are already gearing up for 2027. Alliances will shift — it’s like watching chess, but with higher stakes. Look, Nigeria has its share of problems—inequality, environmen­tal issues, governance struggles. But the potential? It’s huge. We’ve got the people and the energy, and if we can channel it right, the sky’s the limit. Here’s hoping 2025 is more of a blessing than a headache. As I look ahead to 2025, I do so with cautious optimism. While the road ahead remains uncertain, I am reminded that even in the darkest of times, resilience shines through. So, to everything we have passed through, thank you, 2024, for setting us free. 2025, if you’re reading, please be more lib­eral to us as a nation and as a people. May our leaders listen more and ap­ply more wisdom. May 2025 usher in real hope, stability, and progress for Nigeria and the world. Wishing Nigerians a happy, peace­ful, and prosperous new year

Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians

As the saga of Neymar's potential transfer to Barcelona unfolds, one thing is clear: every fan, pundit, and analyst will be eagerly watching, waiting to see where the Brazilian superstar's next chapter takes him. Will it be a return to the Camp Nou, a new adventure in a different league, or a stay at PSG? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – Neymar's future is a story that every football fan will be following closely.Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges tax incentives and tariffs

Today, Buck finds himself at a crossroads, grappling with the consequences of his choices and wondering how he ended up in a place so far from where he had envisioned himself. The road ahead is uncertain, filled with challenges and obstacles that seem insurmountable. But perhaps in confronting his failures and acknowledging his shortcomings, Buck can begin the long journey towards redemption and reclaiming the potential that still lies within him.Trader demand for protection against big swings in the euro hit its highest since March 2023 on Tuesday, as political uncertainty flared in France, where Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s minority government could fall this week. Three-month implied options volatility for the euro, a measure of trader hedging demand EUR3MO= briefly rose to a high of 8.172%, the most since the banking crisis that claimed Swiss lender Credit Suisse nearly two years ago. Implied volatility was last at 8.11%. The euro itself EUR=EBS was last down 0.1% at $1.04867, having recorded its largest daily fall in around a month on Monday, with a slide of 0.74%, as French opposition parties said they would lodge a no-confidence motion to oust Barnier over his unpopular budget. There is also a high degree of uncertainty about how much the European Central Bank may cut rates when it meets later this month, which is also feeding into euro volatility, according to Pepperstone strategist Chris Weston. “Buying euro vol certainly made sense given the uncertainty of the ECB’s (and the Fed’s) next move and the French political risk premium,” he said. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Amanda Cooper; Editing by Louise Heavens)

As the game entered the fourth quarter, tensions ran high as the teams battled fiercely for every possession. Barnes, the Raptors' key player, suffered a significant injury in a collision under the basket, forcing him to leave the game and leaving the Raptors shorthanded in the crucial final minutes.BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors (the "Board") of The China Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") has declared a distribution in the amount of $0.1497 per share. The distribution is comprised entirely of ordinary income. The dividend will be payable on January 10, 2025 , to stockholders of record on December 30, 2024 , with an ex-dividend date of December 30, 2024 . The Fund has a Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan (the "Plan") in which each stockholder automatically participates, unless the stockholder instructs Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (the "Plan Agent"), in writing, to have all distributions, net of any applicable U.S. withholding tax, paid in cash. If the Fund's shares are trading at a premium to the net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund on the distribution payment date, the Plan provides that stockholders will be issued Fund shares valued at NAV. If the Fund's shares are trading at a discount to the NAV per share, stockholders will be issued shares of the Fund valued at market price. Stockholders will not be charged a fee in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or capital gains distributions. A stockholder may terminate his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Plan Agent in writing at the address below. Stockholders who have questions regarding the distribution may contact EQ Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255). The Fund is a closed-end management investment company with the objective of seeking long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in equity securities (i) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is in the People's Republic of China (" China "), or (ii) of companies for which the principal securities trading market is outside of China , or constituting direct equity investments in companies organized outside of China , that in both cases derive at least 50% of their revenues from goods and services sold or produced, or have at least 50% of their assets, in China . While the Fund is permitted to invest in direct equity investments of companies organized in China , it presently holds no such investments. The Fund's shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CHN." The Fund's investment manager is Matthews International Capital Management, LLC. For more information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call 1-888-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . For more information about the Plan or to terminate your participation in the Plan, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at c/o The China Fund, Inc. at P.O. Box 43078, Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078, by telephone at 1-800-426-5523 or via the Internet at www.computershare.com/investor . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-declares-distributions-302331625.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.