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Jimmy Carter: A brief bioNoneThe Commercial Bank of Ceylon won the Gold as Sri Lanka’s ‘Green Brand of the Year’ at the 2024 Brand Excellence Awards of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) in a fitting recognition of the Bank’s uncompromising commitment to sustainability. The award recognises the substantial investments and noteworthy progress the Bank has made in advancing the cause of sustainability beyond its own operations to encompass nationally-significant initiatives that engage with communities across the country. Prominent among these initiatives was the launch in 2023, and the completion in just 12 months, of the planting of 100,000 trees in ecologically important locations under the Bank’s ‘Trees for Tomorrow’ programme, and the Bank’s commitment to plant another 100,000. Sri Lanka’s first carbon neutral bank – an achievement of 2021 – Commercial Bank’s sustainability journey began 25 years ago and has steadily gained momentum over the last four years. It has generated several sustainability-linked firsts for the Bank as well as the country. In the year assessed for the SLIM Green Brand of the Year award, Commercial Bank reduced its CO2 emissions by a further 233,918 tonnes, reduced paper usage by 47.57%, recycled 286,240 kgs of paper, and increased the number of branches powered by solar energy to 82. Among other significant achievements of the year was the launch of Sri Lanka’s first Green Home Loans scheme and surpassing 1 million customers for its flagship ComBank Digital app, promoting sustainable banking practices. Notably, Commercial Bank commenced 2024 with the launch of its evolved logo featuring a green element to represent the Bank’s multifaceted commitment to sustainability, encompassing diversity, inclusivity, good governance, transparency, social equity, accountability and eco-friendly banking solutions.
Bell Capital Cup debuts sledge hockey division for children with disabilities
DALLAS — After a deep postseason that saw Luka Doncic effectively lead all offensive categories into his first NBA Finals run, followed by only a brief summer rest before competing for Slovenia at the Olympics, the wear and tear on the franchise star finally saw the “check engine” light turn on. Dallas received a blow to their 2025 chances on Christmas Day when Doncic left the Western Conference Finals rematch against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a left calf strain, logging just 16 minutes in the loss. Doncic, currently the West’s top scoring guard, will be away from action through January, effectively removing him from MVP consideration and leaving the Mavericks facing a tough test to start the new year. Please embed this tweet: Luka Dončić injury update: Luka sustained a left calf strain on Christmas Day. Dončić will be re-evaluated within one month. Wishing @luka7doncic a speedy recovery. We know you will come back stronger than ever. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/gTBWkfFZNX Luckily for Dallas, this was a scenario that they are better prepared for than at any point in Doncic’s career. The ability to weather a Luka absence remains promising after the front office spent the last couple of years trying to build competitive depth around their star point guard. Their gritty 98-89 win over the Phoenix Suns in their first game without Doncic showed that depth and their resolve. Five Mavs reached double digits and none scored more than 20 as spreading the looks proved fruitful. More importantly, with the tough road ahead, the team showed that they have each other’s backs when they scuffled with Suns’ enforcer Jusef Nurkic. That P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall came to Daniel Gafford’s aid during that tussle might have landed them suspensions , but it also was the type of rallying point that can take them through the upcoming gauntlet as they await their anchor. It won’t be easy, of course, not without Doncic who often acts as the engine that makes the offense go as one the league’s best players. To that point, even with the win over Phoenix, the team is 1-2 since losing Doncic. The good news is they’ve remained competitive, losing by no more than six points in either loss, but their vaunted depth is starting to get challenged. Dereck Lively II, Washington, and Marshall missed Friday night’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, leading to increased minutes for end-of-bench players Dwight Powell, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, and Maxi Kleber. Marshall will miss three additional games serving his suspension for punching Nurkic, with Kyrie Irving continuing his ascension to team leader by covering the fines. Irving will also be looked at to shoulder the load of go-to threat in Doncic’s absence, which will make watching his minutes crucial to avoid the wheels falling off come playoff time for the 32-year-old. Irving played 37 minutes against Minnesota and 40 in the Phoenix win before logging 26 shots in just under 40 minutes against the Blazers. His effort in Portland was the highest-scoring night of the season for Irving, attaining 46 points after dropping 39 on Christmas. The absurd career-high shooting percentages continued for Irving, with 62% from two, 41% from deep, and a perfect 100% on free throws. Irving has been superb this season, sandwiched between Doncic and De’Aaron Fox among the Western Conference leaders in scoring for guards. Dallas enters the final week of 2024 with a 20-12 record, fourth in the standings in the West, and two games out of second. They’ve done well to show that their run in the playoffs wasn’t a fluke. Now they’ll have to show that they’ve built a team that can still win games even without Doncic. Keeping their run going in Luka’s absence may not hand Irving his own MVP votes, but he will surely deserve a ninth All-Star appearance, which would be his first as a Maverick. Dallas has one more date with 2024 in a Monday night matchup versus the rudderless Kings. Sacramento is 12th in the West and has just dismissed the reigning NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown in an effort to keep superstar Fox in the fold. The Mavs will then welcome the new year with a contest against the surprising third-place Houston Rockets in a New Year’s Day duel that begins their January marathon, the first of 16 games in 31 days without Doncic. Do you think the Mavs can survive the upcoming onslaught without their All-NBA star? Share your thoughts with Irvin on Bluesky @irvin.bsky.social .WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company's jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system . The dollar represents roughly 58% of the world’s foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF and major commodities like oil are still primarily bought and sold using dollars. The dollar's dominance is threatened, however, with BRICS' growing share of GDP and the alliance's intent to trade in non-dollar currencies — a process known as de-dollarization. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is "no chance" BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen "should wave goodbye to America.” Research shows that the U.S. dollar's role as the primary global reserve currency is not threatened in the near future. An Atlantic Council model that assesses the dollar’s place as the primary global reserve currency states the dollar is “secure in the near and medium term” and continues to dominate other currencies. Trump's latest tariff threat comes after he threatened to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tax on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to do more to halt the flow of illegal immigration and drugs into the U.S. He has since held a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said Thursday she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after meeting Trump, without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on Canada.South Korean markets have had a dismal 2024, with the so called "Korea discount" in its stock markets widening compared to other global peers. Analysts that spoke to CNBC say that the efforts to oust Yoon might distract from and delay efforts for capital market reform, entrenching the "Korea discount" further. South Korean markets have had a dismal 2024, with the so-called "Korea discount" in its stock markets widening compared to other global peers. The recent political upheaval is expected to entrench this phenomenon. > 24/7 San Diego news stream: Watch NBC 7 free wherever you are The country's benchmark stock index, Kospi, has lost over 7% this year and the underperformance of the South Korean market signals its "Corporate Value-Up" program, announced in February this year , has failed to address the " Korea discount. " The "Korea discount" refers to South Korean securities trading at lower valuations relative to regional peers due to investors' concerns over issues such as corporate governance at large family-owned conglomerates that have an outsized influence over the country's economy. The political turmoil in the country has further worsened investors' sentiment, with the Kospi underperforming the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index by 2.3 percentage points since Dec. 3 when President Yoon Seok Yeol imposed and then revoked martial law within hours. The attempt at martial law has sent the risk premium for Korean assets higher, thereby dealing a setback to the "Value-Up Program," Vishnu Varathan, managing director and head of macro research for Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho Securities said in a Dec. 10 note. South Korea under Yoon had strived to boost the country's stock markets and combat the "Korea discount" via a Japan-style program that sought to improve corporate governance and increase investor engagement, among other things. Money Report European Central Bank set to deliver final rate cut of the year: Live updates European markets set for mixed open ahead of expected ECB rate cut According to data from the Korea Exchange , the Kospi has a price-to-book ratio of 0.86, while its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 13.65 as of Dec. 12. Both the metrics, which indicate how much the investors value the index, have declined from a year earlier . For comparison, Japan's Nikkei 225 stock benchmark has a price-to-book ratio of 1.44 while its price-to-earnings ratio stands at 15.90 as of Dec. 11. While Japan stocks surged as it implemented measures to lift its markets , South Korea has been struggling. For instance the "Korea-Value Up Index," launched in September, which consists of 100 listed "best practice" companies that comply with the "Value-Up" program, has price-to-book ratio of 0.99 and a price-to-earnings ratio of just 10.29. "The distractions of ousting Yoon amid fragile government and fragmented politics is likely to dilute and delay policy efforts to boost equity valuations," Varathan said, adding that power balance in South Korea could shift in favor of large and influential conglomerates, which could entrench the "Korea discount" even more. South Korea has several large family-owned global conglomerates, known as "chaebols," usually controlled by the founder's family. These may consist of a group of companies or several groups of companies. Notable chaebols include market heavyweights such as Samsung Electronics, LG, SK and Hyundai. While they are a huge contributor to the country's GDP, the complex shareholding structure of chaebols mean that investors hold little sway over the company's strategic direction. The four conglomerates mentioned above make up about 40% of South Korea's GDP, according to South Korean media. Market reforms could receive a setback due to the political turmoil, said Lorraine Tan, director of equity research for Asia at Morningstar, while adding that the reforms will not be "derailed." "I think the longer the leadership change takes, the more likely investors will be sidelined. President Yoon is unpopular and a peaceful transition away from his leadership would help," she pointed out. The embattled Yoon has survived an impeachment vote over the weekend after members of his ruling People's Power Party walked out of the country's parliament, but opposition parties have vowed to continue efforts to impeach him. Jeff Ng, Head of Asia Macro Strategy at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation said that the "Korea discount" is still likely to persist into 2025 due to weak economic conditions, slower exports, and a weak Korean won. "Investor confidence may return in the medium-term, but a swift resolution of the domestic uncertainty looks unlikely at this stage." 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A pair of reports out from Korean publications suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S25 series is going to see a price hike next year, at least in Korea. The reports spotted by tipster Jukanlosreve come from the publications Yonhap News and The JoongAng. Both reports (machine translated) suggest price hikes are coming but the amount is different between the two. Both articles blame current political turmoil in Korea for the potential price increases. The Yonhap report claims a slight increase mostly due to exchange rates for South Korea's won, which may increase prices on imported parts for Samsung's flagship handsets. In Korea the Galaxy 24 Ultra started at 1,698,400 won or about $1,180 USD. The exchange rate has increased to 1,450 won to $1 USD. YonHap did not speculate on how big the 'slight' increase might be outside of the exchange rate issues. The Exynos 2400 version of the S24 and S24 Plus were the same price as the as the S23 versions while the Snapdragon 8-powered S24 Ultra saw a price increase of 100,00 won ($70), which aligns with the $100 increase the Ultra saw in the United States. During a conference call in July, Daniel Araujo, head of planning at Samsung Electronic said, "there are concerns about decreased profitability due to the continued increase in the unit price of major components, but we are continuing to pursue an 'upselling' strategy to grow sales centered on premium products in order to minimize the burden." The JoongAng reports that Taiwan's TSMC, a foundry giant making chips for many companies including Qualcomm , Apple and Google , commented on the instability in Korea suggesting that it might hurt Samsung. The founder, Dr. Morris Chang, said, "(Korea's) recent political turmoil will not help the company's management at all." That report also cites the poor exchange rate of the won as potential problem for Samsung. Though, it does point out that Samsung is making investments in building semiconductor factories in the U.S. via a partnership with the Biden administration utilizing fixed contracts that may help them avoid some exchange rate fallout . Where the JoongAng differs is in suggesting that the domestic price of the Galaxy S25 will raise by 150,000 won (about $105 USD). "Since the overseas average selling price (ASP) of Samsung smartphones is lower than the domestic market, even if the exchange rate rises, the effect (of Samsung’s overseas sales on profitability) will be limited, so they will have no choice but to adjust the domestic price," an insider told JoongAng. What could this mean for Galaxy S25 prices in U.S.? It's already been suggested that the price of the Galaxy S25 Ultra will be higher next year for a number of reasons, beyond the current political issues in Korea. Inflation in general has lead to price increases across the board and there does not seem to be an end in sight. The bigger issue is the cost of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset which has been reported to be 25 to 30% more expensive than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 currently in the best Android phones. Samsung has reportedly struggled with its own Exynos chipset, which may have defrayed some of the costs, but the new Qualcomm chip is expected to power the entire S25 lineup. As suggested above, apparently, the Galaxy sells for lower prices in other countries, so it's not a guarantee that Samsung raises prices outside of Korea. However, as it currently stands, it's looking more and more likely that picking up next year's flagship Android phone will hit your wallet harder than previous years. More from Tom's Guide
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The joy is back – how ‘top fixer’ Joe Schmidt has transformed AustraliaThe Las Vegas Raiders made no mistake in drafting Brock Bowers last offseason. Did they need a quarterback? Yes. But, instead, they got a guy who is easily the best tight end in the league right now and a guy who looks like he could be for quite some time if all goes well. Bowers was a steal at pick No., 13, as the Raiders said. And, general manager Tom Telesco nailed it. Now, when the Raiders get their quarterback, they will be paired with Bowers, a tight end who just cannot stop showing the world what he is. And, he did that on Black Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brock Bowers continues to break, set, and tie records for rookies and tight ends. He did that during his stellar game on Friday. Here is everything the Raiders PR team tweeted out about Bowers' huge day vs. Kansas City. TE Brock Bowers ( @brockbowers17 ) now has two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards this season. He is just the second rookie tight end in #Raiders history with two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards, joining Raymond Chester in 1970 (also two). https://t.co/TmNp98ZaJx TE Brock Bowers has now surpassed 800 receiving yards, one of two tight ends in NFL history to reach 800+ receiving yards in the first 12 games of his rookie season - joining Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka (974). Bowers is also one of two players of any position in Raiders history to reach 800+ receiving yards in the first 12 games of his rookie season. TE Brock Bowers now has two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards this season. He is just the second rookie tight end in Raiders history with two receiving touchdowns of at least 30 yards, joining Raymond Chester in 1970 (also two). Bowers' four receiving touchdowns are tied for the third most in Raiders history by a tight end in their rookie season. TE Brock Bowers has now eclipsed 80 receptions this season. He is the only player of any position or experience level in Raiders history to reach 80 receptions through the first 12 games of a single season. The Raiders really struck gold. Bowers is on pace to break any and every rookie tight end and pass catcher record you can think of. And, imagine he was on a good team, in a good offense, with a good quarterback. He would be even better. The fact that this is probably his floor, and maybe the worst he will ever be during his NFL career, is crazy. And he's wearing silver and black. The Raiders will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons next. This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.