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Social media users are misrepresenting a report by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, falsely claiming that it’s proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. The examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report’s finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That’s false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau’s informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day’s events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterterrorism division told the inspector general’s office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report’s findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!” reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray’s resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement Wednesday that he at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. The FBI said in a letter responding to the report that it accepts the inspection general’s recommendation “regarding potential process improvements for future events.”CLEVELAND (AP) — Germain Ifedi became the fourth left tackle to start this season for the Cleveland Browns, lining up Thursday night against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. Ifedi moved up the depth chart and into the lineup after starter Dawand Jones broke his left leg last week at New Orleans and had surgery. He'll be responsible for blocking quarterback Jameis Winston's blindside. Jedrick Wills Jr., who had lost his starting job to Jones, figured to start against the Steelers (8-2), but was ruled out Wednesday with a knee injury that has bothered him for weeks. A first-round pick in 2020, Wills recently caused a stir by saying he made a “business decision” to sit out a game on Oct. 27 against Baltimore because of his knee. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Wills used a “poor choice of words.” James Hudson started Cleveland's first two games at left tackle while the Browns (2-8) waited for Wills to recover from knee surgery in December. The first-place Steelers were without outside linebacker/edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who missed his second straight game with an ankle injury. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflThe decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. In court papers, prosecutors said the Justice Department’s position “is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”. Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.South Korea's leader prompts dismay by briefly declaring martial law. Here's what to know
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina Sen. Kay Patterson, who rose from cleaning offices at the segregated Statehouse to serving as a state legislator for over 30 years died Friday. He was 93. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced Patterson's death saying he “left an indelible mark on our state. Senator Patterson commanded everyone’s attention with his wit and wisdom.” The statement did not list a cause of death. Patterson was born in 1931 in Darlington County and raised by his grandmothers. They recalled his hardheaded spirit early, recommending he not take jobs as a golf caddy or shoe shiner because he was likely to mouth off to white people in segregated 1940s South Carolina and get in trouble. Instead, Patterson served in the military and then got his teaching degree through the GI Bill at Allen University. While in college, he cleaned offices at the segregated capitol where he and other Black people couldn't be unless they were working. "When I was a janitor, Black people couldn’t go in the Statehouse," Patterson said in a with the University of South Carolina. “And then one day I came back down here as a member of the House and then in '84, I came back sitting in the Senate as a senator. Now that’s a hell of a long way to come.” Patterson spent 30 years in education and was elected to the South Carolina House in 1974 and the Senate 10 years later after urged him to run for the upper chamber seat. In a statement, Clyburn called Patterson “a trusted leader, a tireless champion for civil rights, and a treasured friend. He was a person of strength, determination, wisdom, and a long proponent of removing from the .” Patterson was also the first Black person to serve on the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees since Reconstruction. Patterson was a key member of both the House and Senate, He served on the budget committees in both chambers and was a major voice in support of civil rights, public education and helping poor people. He adamantly demanded the Confederate flag be removed from atop the Statehouse dome and inside the House and Senate chambers long before they were taken down in 2000. The lifelong Democrat said the final years of his political career were the toughest after Republicans took over state government. His seniority no longer mattered and he felt many newer Republicans were religious hypocrites who claimed to help others but only cared for people just like themselves. A few years before he retired from the Statehouse, Patterson said it was important to respect elders and supervisors, but not be afraid to speak up if bothered or something was on one's mind. “That’s just my hallmark ever since I was a little child. It will get you in trouble now, but you can sleep well at night. And learn to treat everybody as human beings with respect,” Patterson said in the interview with the university's Champions of Civil and Human Rights in South Carolina program. “You can sleep real good at night. Right now, I’m 73 years old and sleep like a log when I go to bed because I know I’ve done no wrong to my fellow man,” Patterson said.The China Fund, Inc. Declares Distributions
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Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss the criminal charges against President-elect Donald Trump that accused him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election and to abandon the classified documents case against him, citing longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. The decision by special counsel Jack Smith, who had fiercely sought to hold Mr Trump criminally accountable for his efforts to subvert the 2020 election, represented the end of the federal effort against the former president following his election victory this month despite the election-related cases and multiple other unrelated criminal charges against him. The move, announced in court papers, marks the end of the Justice Department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for what prosecutors called a criminal conspiracy to cling to power in the run-up to his supporters’ attack on the US Capitol on January 6 2021. In court papers, prosecutors said the Justice Department’s position “is that the Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”. Mr Smith’s team emphasised that the move to abandon the prosecutions, in federal courts in Washington and Florida, was not a reflection of their view on the merits of the cases but rather a reflection of their commitment to longstanding department policy. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in Monday’s court filing in the election interference case. The decision was expected after Mr Smith’s team began assessing how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. The Justice Department believes Trump can no longer be tried in accordance with longstanding policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted. Mr Trump has cast both cases as politically motivated and has vowed to fire Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January. The 2020 election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing the Republican as he vied to reclaim the White House. However, it quickly stalled amid legal fighting over Mr Trump’s sweeping claims of immunity from prosecution for acts he took while in the White House. The US Supreme Court in July ruled for the first time that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, and sent the case back to US District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine which allegations in the indictment, if any, could proceed to trial. The case was just beginning to pick up steam again in the trial court in the weeks leading up to this year’s election. Mr Smith’s team filed a lengthy brief in October laying out new evidence they planned to use against him at trial, accusing him of “resorting to crimes” in an increasingly desperate effort to overturn the will over voters after he lost to President Joe Biden.
All Times CST EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Florida 30 18 10 2 38 108 96 Toronto 29 18 9 2 38 85 74 Boston 31 15 13 3 33 77 100 Tampa Bay 27 15 10 2 32 107 81 Ottawa 28 13 13 2 28 87 87 Buffalo 29 11 14 4 26 87 95 Detroit 29 11 14 4 26 74 92 Montreal 29 11 15 3 25 80 109 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Washington 28 20 6 2 42 111 75 New Jersey 32 19 10 3 41 106 85 Carolina 28 18 9 1 37 104 83 Philadelphia 30 14 12 4 32 92 102 N.Y. Islanders 31 12 12 7 31 83 94 N.Y. Rangers 28 15 12 1 31 89 82 Pittsburgh 31 13 14 4 28 95 118 Columbus 29 12 14 3 27 97 103 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Winnipeg 31 21 9 1 43 113 79 Minnesota 29 19 6 4 42 92 76 Dallas 28 17 11 0 34 93 73 Colorado 31 17 14 0 34 103 109 Utah 29 13 11 5 31 87 85 St. Louis 30 14 14 2 30 80 94 Nashville 30 8 16 6 22 68 93 Chicago 29 9 18 2 20 72 92 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Vegas 29 19 7 3 41 102 84 Los Angeles 29 17 9 3 37 87 75 Edmonton 29 17 10 2 36 91 81 Vancouver 28 15 8 5 35 92 87 Calgary 30 14 11 5 33 81 95 Seattle 31 15 14 2 32 95 91 San Jose 32 11 16 5 27 88 114 Anaheim 28 10 14 4 24 67 87 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Top three teams in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to playoffs. --- Wednesday, Dec. 11 N.Y. Rangers 3, Buffalo 2 Ottawa 5, Anaheim 1 Thursday, Dec. 12 Toronto 3, Anaheim 2 Pittsburgh 9, Montreal 2 New Jersey 3, Los Angeles 1 Philadelphia 4, Detroit 1 Washington 2, Columbus 1 N.Y. Islanders 5, Chicago 4 San Jose 4, St. Louis 3 Nashville 4, Dallas 1 Vegas 3, Winnipeg 2, OT Edmonton 7, Minnesota 1 Utah 4, Colorado 1 Tampa Bay 8, Calgary 3 Vancouver 4, Florida 0 Seattle 5, Boston 1 Friday’s Games Ottawa at Carolina (n) Saturday Games Chicago at New Jersey, noon Los Angeles at N.Y. Rangers, noon Philadelphia at Minnesota, 1 p.m. Vegas at Edmonton, 3 p.m. Pittsburgh at Ottawa, 6 p.m. Toronto at Detroit, 6 p.m. Buffalo at Washington, 6 p.m. Anaheim at Columbus, 6 p.m. Montreal at Winnipeg, 6 p.m. St. Louis at Dallas, 7 p.m. Nashville at Colorado, 8 p.m. Florida at Calgary, 9 p.m. Boston at Vancouver, 9 p.m. Utah at San Jose, 9 p.m. Tampa Bay at Seattle, 9 p.m. Sunday's Games N.Y. Islanders at Chicago, 2 p.m. Buffalo at Toronto, 4 p.m. Columbus at Carolina, 4 p.m. N.Y. Rangers at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Vegas at Minnesota, 5 p.m.South Korea's leader prompts dismay by briefly declaring martial law. Here's what to knowFormer Tigers infielder on the move again as part of Kyle Tucker trade
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BY MELISSA GOLDIN Social media users are misrepresenting a report released Thursday by the Justice Department inspector general’s office, falsely claiming that it’s proof the FBI orchestrated the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Related Articles National News | OpenAI whistleblower found dead in San Francisco apartment National News | Judge rejects an attempt by Trump campaign lawyer to invalidate guilty plea in Georgia election case National News | Texas’ abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine National News | US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say National News | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds The watchdog report examined a number of areas, including whether major intelligence failures preceded the riot and whether the FBI in some way provoked the violence. Claims spreading online focus on the report’s finding that 26 FBI informants were in Washington for election-related protests on Jan. 6, including three who had been tasked with traveling to the city to report on others who were potentially planning to attend the events. Although 17 of those informants either entered the Capitol or a restricted area around the building during the riot, none of the 26 total informants were authorized to do so by the bureau, according to the report. Nor were they authorized to otherwise break the law or encourage others to do so. Here’s a closer look at the facts. CLAIM: A December 2024 report released by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General is proof that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was a setup by the FBI. THE FACTS: That’s false. The report found that no undercover FBI employees were at the riot on Jan. 6 and that none of the bureau’s informants were authorized to participate. Informants, also known as confidential human sources, work with the FBI to provide information, but are not on the bureau’s payroll. Undercover agents are employed by the FBI. According to the report, 26 informants were in Washington on Jan. 6 in connection with the day’s events. FBI field offices only informed the Washington Field Office or FBI headquarters of five informants that were to be in the field on Jan. 6. Of the total 26 informants, four entered the Capitol during the riot and an additional 13 entered a restricted area around the Capitol. But none were authorized to do so by the FBI, nor were they given permission to break other laws or encourage others to do the same. The remaining nine informants did not engage in any illegal activities. None of the 17 informants who entered the Capitol or surrounding restricted area have been prosecuted, the report says. A footnote states that after reviewing a draft of the report, the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington said that it “generally has not charged those individuals whose only crime on January 6, 2021 was to enter restricted grounds surrounding the Capitol, which has resulted in the Office declining to charge hundreds of individuals; and we have treated the CHSs consistent with this approach.” The assistant special agent in charge of the Washington Field Office’s counterterrorism division told the inspector general’s office that he “denied a request from an FBI office to have an undercover employee engage in investigative activity on January 6.” He, along with then-Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono, said that FBI policy prohibits undercover employees at First Amendment-protected events without investigative authority. Many social media users drew false conclusions from the report’s findings. “JANUARY 6th WAS A SETUP!” reads one X post that had received more than 11,400 likes and shares as of Friday. “New inspector general report shows that 26 FBI/DOJ confidential sources were in the crowd on January 6th, and some of them went into the Capitol and restricted areas. Is it a coincidence that Wray put in his resignation notice yesterday? TREASON!” The mention of Wray’s resignation refers to FBI Director Christopher Wray’s announcement Wednesday that he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January. Other users highlighted the fact that there were 26 FBI informants in Washington on Jan. 6, but omitted key information about the findings of the report. These claims echo a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters determined to overturn Republican Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden stormed the Capitol in a violent clash with police. The report knocks that theory down. Wray called such theories “ludicrous” at a congressional hearing last year. Asked for comment on the false claims spreading online, Stephanie Logan, a spokesperson for the inspector general’s office, pointed The Associated Press to a press release about the report. In addition to its findings about the the FBI’s involvement on Jan. 6, the report said that the FBI, in an action its now-deputy director described as a “basic step that was missed,” failed to canvass informants across all 56 of its field offices for any relevant intelligence ahead of time. That was a step, the report concluded, “that could have helped the FBI and its law enforcement partners with their preparations in advance of January 6.” However, it did credit the bureau for preparing for the possibility of violence and for trying to identify known “domestic terrorism subjects” who planned to come to Washington that day. 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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. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.FCT approves procurement of laptops to digitise public schoolsNone
FINAP Founder and CEO Dr. Kutila Pinto recently participated at the 40th ASOCIO Summit in Tokyo. At the summit, FINAP was awarded the prestigious ‘Outstanding Tech Organisation’ title—a recognition that marks the company’s transformation from a promising Sri Lankan start-up to a rising global leader in financial technology. In this interview Dr. Pinto shared insights about FINAP’s remarkable journey, the values driving the organisation, and its vision for the future. Below is an in-depth discussion on how FINAP is redefining financial technology and empowering communities both locally and internationally. A: This recognition is a monumental milestone for FINAP. It reflects the hard work of our team, the relevance of our solutions, and our commitment to empowering communities through innovative financial technology. Being acknowledged on such a global platform reaffirms that our mission and values resonate beyond Sri Lanka and inspire us to push further boundaries. A: FINAP’s early days were challenging but deeply formative. In Sri Lanka, the lack of innovation capital and limited fluidity in capital markets made securing funding particularly difficult. Despite external capital availability, I chose to inject my own capital and bootstrap the company to ensure its early survival. These constraints pushed us to innovate and operate efficiently. By refining our ideas and focusing on solving practical financial challenges for underserved communities, we built a resilient and adaptable foundation. Those early lessons continue to guide FINAP’s growth today. A: My career in banking and finance spans over two decades. I started as a banking assistant at Seylan Bank. I have worked in many markets; Asia, Middle East, Australasia and the Pacific. Towards the end of my career at banking, I served as general manager for Westpac Bank in the Solomon Islands and later as Director of Retail for Westpac Pacific, overseeing operations across the region. These roles gave me hands-on experience in understanding how financial systems work in diverse and often underserved markets. They highlighted the importance of tailoring solutions to meet local needs, which became a guiding principle for FINAP. A: Indeed, I was 36 years old when I established a fully-fledged commercial bank in the Solomon Islands. It was one of the most fulfilling achievements of my career. It was a challenging endeavour, involving regulatory complexities and building trust within the community. The experience taught me the importance of balancing innovation with responsibility and the power of financial systems to uplift communities. The political and the regulatory leadership of the country were very appreciative of my achievement. I am proud of my achievements and to do so as a Sri Lankan. It’s a mindset I carried forward into FINAP’s mission. A: Our journey involved constant adaptation and a relentless focus on innovation. One key breakthrough was the development of the Connected-Software-Solution-Application-Concept (CSSAC), a framework that underpins our flagship products like CIXOR, FirstMicro, ECORU, and MULA. By staying attuned to market feedback, we created solutions that are scalable and adaptable, meeting the needs of financial institutions and the communities they serve. A: CSSAC is a concept I developed during my DBA studies at UCAM, Spain. It stems from my thesis, “A Study of Infusion of Technology to Microfinance Operators to Achieve Sustainability and Technology-driven Value Chain Architecture for Efficiency and Outreach: The Case of Sri Lanka. “CSSAC provides a simplified yet powerful interface that connects borrowers and lenders, improving accessibility and efficiency. This framework forms the backbone of FINAP’s platforms, ensuring they remain intuitive, scalable, and impactful. A: Our platforms are designed to make financial services accessible to micro-entrepreneurs and small-scale producers, offering them tools to grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods. We work closely with microfinance institutions and nano-lenders to ensure they can provide credit and other financial services in a sustainable, user-friendly way. This approach empowers individuals while driving economic growth from the ground up. A: Solutions like FirstMicro and CIXOR enhance the operational capabilities of microfinance providers by offering real-time data access, mobile-first transaction systems, and scalability. These tools allow institutions to serve more clients efficiently while improving the borrower experience. Using FINAP’s solutions, micro and small borrowers gain access to lending opportunities that leverage their business cash flow as a foundation for creditworthiness. This empowers them to borrow with confidence and reinvest in their businesses, creating opportunities for growth and sustainability. Ultimately, our platforms help build a robust microfinance ecosystem models where small financial operators and borrowers can thrive, driving economic inclusion and community empowerment. A: The future of FINAP lies in deepening our dual focus on financial technology and software services, driving innovation and impact across both domains. On the financial technology front, we are laser-focused on scaling our flagship products, FirstMicro and CIXOR, to new markets. These platforms have already proven to be transformative in fostering financial inclusion and efficiency for microfinance institutions and nano-lenders. By expanding their reach, we aim to position FINAP as a global leader in fintech, empowering underserved communities worldwide. Importantly, we remain committed to championing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty, by enabling grassroots entrepreneurs and micro-producers to access fair and sustainable financial solutions. At the same time, we’re scaling up our software services operations. This channel enables FINAP to deliver custom software solutions across industries, enhancing efficiency and innovation for businesses globally. As part of our growth strategy, we’re planning a targeted expansion into selected European markets, including the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. These countries represent dynamic opportunities for us to showcase Sri Lankan expertise on a global stage while delivering value to international clients. Through these two operational channels, we aim to continue excelling as a Sri Lankan success story, a company that not only uplifts local and regional communities but also contributes to the prosperity of neighbouring countries in South Asia and beyond. Our mission is to ensure that FINAP’s technology solutions not only address immediate challenges but also lay the foundation for long-term economic empowerment and innovation. Looking ahead, we envision FINAP as a global brand synonymous with technology-driven empowerment and resilience, leading with purpose and delivering solutions that truly make a difference. This vision is rooted in our belief that technology can be a force for good, and with it, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future. A: I’m driven by the belief that technology has the power to transform lives. Seeing how our solutions help individuals and businesses overcome financial barriers inspires me daily. At FINAP, our goal is to make financial systems work for everyone, especially those at the grassroots level. This mission fuels my passion and guides our journey forward. FINAP’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and purpose. From its humble beginnings to earning global recognition, it stands as a testament to how technology and vision can create meaningful impact. A: Entrepreneurship is a journey that requires resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of purpose. My first piece of advice is to focus on solving real-world problems. If your solution creates genuine value, it will naturally attract customers and support. Be prepared for challenges—financial, operational, and even personal. Build a network of mentors and peers who can provide guidance and perspective. In the tech space, staying agile is crucial; listen to market feedback and be willing to pivot when necessary. I would also emphasise the importance of financial discipline. Many startups falter because they lack a clear understanding of how to manage resources effectively. Whether you’re bootstrapping or raising external capital, every dollar should work towards achieving your vision. Finally, embrace the long-term mindset. Success in entrepreneurship rarely happens overnight. Stay committed to your goals, and remember that the lessons learned from failures are often the foundation of future success. As Richard Branson once said, “Business opportunities are like buses; there’s always another one coming.” Keep moving forward, and don’t let setbacks define your journey.
NEW YORK — President- elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time . In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office. “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote. Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942. Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act , had proposed making daylight saving time permanent. The measure was sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department. “Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure. Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent. Some health groups , including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology. Most countries do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences. Arizona and Hawaii don't change their clocks at all.
South Carolina looks to steady ship against South Carolina Upstate