Published 4:58 pm Wednesday, November 27, 2024 By Data Skrive Three games on the Thursday college basketball schedule feature a ranked team, including the matchup between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Iowa State Cyclones. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Get the latest news sent to your inbox Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.

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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.

Ed Sheeran crashes Ruben Amorim interview in awkward exchangeYoung Australians are subject to powerful indoctrination and enticements to join the Israel Defence Forces. Yaakov Aharon investigates the links between youth group Hatzofim Australia and IDF recruiters. While the Scouts typically wear a uniform emblazoned with the flag of their own country, Hatzofim Australia’s khaki uniform only has the Israeli flag. It’s a not-for-profit Zionist youth group and a wing of the Israeli Scouts. Recently, MWM published an investigation into the Garin Tzabar Australia program, whose staff and services are closely intertwined with Hatzofim Australia. The Garin Tzabar program is the result of a joint venture partnership between the Israeli Scouts and IDF’s recruitment unit. Hatzofim Australia provides services to children aged 8-25 and is granted special access to children through public and private Jewish schools. Their services include teaching classes and school activities, hosting regular weekend meetings and camps during school holidays, and sending children on Israel study tours. Sometimes these Israel study tours are a one way trip. After all, Garin Tzabar translates to ‘seeds of Israeli identity’, and seeds are meant to be buried. Israeli immigrants who show they are willing to die for a foreign country are then enticed to stay for a lifetime. It is not a crime if an Australian chooses to join a foreign army. However, S119.7 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995 states that “a person commits an offence if the person recruits, in Australia, another person to serve in any capacity in or with an armed force in a foreign country.” It is a further offence to facilitate or promote recruitment for a foreign army and to advertise or publish recruitment materials. This includes information relating to how a person may serve, make applications to serve, or travel to a foreign country to serve with a foreign armed force. The maximum penalty for each offence is ten years. MWM is not alleging any parties mentioned in this article have broken the law. Hatzofim Australia is the local wing of the Israeli Scouts. Its mission statement says it intends to... “to operate and develop educational programs and values, in which children and young adults – members of the Jewish-Israeli community in North America, Australia and Western Europe – will engage in a variety of social and educational Zionist experiences, which will help them build knowledge of and love for the Land of Israel. Weekly activities are planned and executed by high school children leading kids grades 3-9. ... [Hatzofim Members] take a meaningful part in Israeli society through our different programs, such as Shnat Sherut [national service volunteer work] Gap Year program and Garin Tzabar IDF service.” Garin Tzabar is a program for Israel’s Lone Soldiers, or soldiers without parents living in Israel, who qualify for special benefits, including free accommodation, free plane tickets to Israel, better pay for their IDF service, and more time on leave. When they finish their service, they qualify for subsidised accommodation and university scholarships. The official IDF website states that Garin Tzabar was founded through a joint venture partnership with the Israeli Scouts, the IDF Metav Unit for recruitment, and the Ministries of Defence and Immigration. The Garin Tzabar website specifically advertises to Australian recruits . Prior to an MWM investigation into Garin Tzabar, the contact point was listed as Shoval Magal. Her LinkedIn listed her as ‘Executive Director Hatzofim Australia & Garin Tzabar Australia.’ MWM reached out to Magal on multiple occasions through multiple avenues, seeking clarification as to how Magal separates her two roles and at what age Hatzofim’s children are exposed to advertisements for Garin Tzabar’s services. Magal did not respond to requests for comment, however she did scrub references to Garin Tzabar from her LinkedIn and Hatzofim Australia’s website. Magal was preceded in her Executive Director roles by Michael Manhaim (2018-2023), who continues to live in Australia, where he works as the Growth and Marketing Lead for Tzofim Tzabar Olami (Israeli Scouts and Garin Tzabar International). Manhaim was also a leading organiser in the 2024 Better Council pro-Israel election campaign. During his army service, Manhaim served in Sayeret Matkal, Israel’s most elite Special Forces unit. In his former role as the ‘Shaliach [Emissary] and Executive Director of Hatzofim and Garin Tzabar Australia’, Manhaim wrote an article, ‘Becoming A Lone Soldier’, for an Australian Zionist youth group’s newsletter: “How can we be Zionists but choose to live in the diaspora? While some will continue to live with this dilemma, some choose to take action. The Israeli Defence Force is the melting pot of Israeli society. “The program starts with the unique preparation process in Australia. ...It only takes one step; you just need to choose which foot will lead the way. We will be there for the rest.” In November 2021, Manhaim posted an advertisement for a job at Hatzofim Australia. The responsibilities included “maintaining mailing lists” for Garin Tzabar and “liaising with Tzofim Garin Tzabar and partners.” When his 5-year contract as Emissary and Executive Director had finished in 2023, Manhaim wrote a lengthy farewell to those he worked with, reminiscing on how the Australian Zionist Youth Council coordinated with him to: “Assist dozens of community members who made Aliyah [immigrated] to Israel. Garin Tzabar [is] undoubtedly the most excellent Zionist enterprise of the 21st century. Young olim [immigrants] who choose to make Israel their home, influence Israeli society from within, and dedicate their best years to defending the land. I’m proud that a program fully supports these inspiring young people. ... To our partners in the Garin Tzabar: the Ministry of Aliyah [Immigration] and absorption, the Jewish Agency, the Israeli Consulate, the IDF Unit “Metav,” the Ministry of Defense. ... Thanks to everyone.” During her time in the army , Magal worked as an ‘education guide’ for soldiers, but she did not teach them target shooting, fitness, or battle tactics. A job listing on an IDF e-store site describes Magal’s role as teaching the soldiers about Israeli culture, history, and ideology. There is a concept in Zionism of ‘Hagshama’: that it is the responsibility of all Jews living outside of Israel to ‘actualise’ their ideology by making Aliyah (immigrating). Some organisations – like the Israeli scouts – take it a step further. An Israeli immigrant of fighting age must respond to the conscription mandate. Therefore, Israeli Scouts ‘rank’ their members according to age groups. Those aged 17 to 18 are addressed as ‘Magshimim’ (‘actualizers’), both in Israel , where their members are subject to the draft and also abroad . Prior to having scrubbed their website of references to Garin Tzabar, the first words on Hatzofim’s Hagshama page were an endorsement of the program. Every Hatzofim Australia newsletter provides a link, “DONATE NOW – 100% of your donations go to Israel.” The link goes to the Friends of Hatzofim page, a secondary Australian non-profit, where visitors are asked to ‘Give $10,000 – Support a lone soldier full scholarship throughout the entire program.’ The tax-deductible donations are then sent overseas to Tzofim-Garin Tzabar. The address of Hatzofim Australia and of Tzofim-Garin Tzabar in Australia is the building belonging to NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Zionist Council of NSW, the Jewish community’s peak roof bodies in the state. Michael Gencher is a director of Hatzofim Australia and also served as acting CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies from 2023-2024. Hatzofim Australia is overseen, alongside nine other Zionist youth groups, by the roof body Australian Zionist Youth Council (AZYC), which is in turn represented and overseen by the peak body Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA). MWM sought comment from AZYC and ZFA regarding their responsibilities for their constituent organisations, but we did not receive a reply. In August 2020, Michael Manhaim congratulated four Australians who had become IDF recruits through the Garin Tzabar program. He wrote: “There is nothing more powerful than fulfilling a Zionism dream! ...Those young adults are joining today to the Garin Tzabar program. ...‘For you are about to cross the Jordan to enter and possess the land that your God is assigning to you.’ Deuteronomy 11:31” In November 2023’s Hatzofim newsletter, Shoval Magal is smiling for a selfie. She is standing next to six Australians who look barely out of high school. “The participants are eager to have Aliya [immigrate] to Israel, start the program and join the army,” Magal said. These six recruits are the attendees of just one of several seminars that Magal has organised in Melbourne for the summer 2023 cycle, having also organised separate events across multiple cities in Australia. In Hatzofim Australia’s June 2024 newsletter, Magal said she was “in the advanced stages of the preparation phase in Australia for the August 2024 Garin.” In October 2024, she was “getting ready for Garin Tzabar’s 2024 December cycle.” The Israeli welcome ceremony for Garin Tzabar participants is on January 12, 2025. MWM sought comment from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Only the Department of Home Affairs spokesperson, Tarek Al Issawi, was willing to respond. He said: In July, Home Affairs stated it had identified only four Australians whom it suspects of having travelled to Israel since October 2023 with the intention of serving in the IDF. The Australian Border Force intervened with three of the four persons but did not necessarily prevent them from leaving.BOSTON , Dec. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The China Fund, Inc. (NYSE: CHN) (the "Fund") announced today that the Fund's annual stockholder meeting (the "Meeting") will be scheduled for Thursday, March 13, 2025 , via a virtual forum at 11:00 a.m. ET . Stockholders of record as of January 15, 2025 will be entitled to notice of, and to attend and vote at, the Meeting. The notice for the Meeting will be mailed to shareholders on or about February 10, 2025 . 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. Shares of the Fund 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 further information regarding the Fund and the Fund's holdings, please call (888)-CHN-CALL (246-2255) or visit the Fund's website at www.chinafundinc.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-china-fund-inc-announces-date-of-annual-meeting-of-stockholders-302331705.html SOURCE The China Fund, Inc.

NoneState Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing sent a video speech to the ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the University of Economics of the Ministry of Education on 13 December 2024. The full text of the translated message is as follows: – Everybody, Mingalaba! First of all, I would like to extend my best wishes for the health and well-being of all the distinguished guests and responsible individuals who attended today’s ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of Yangon University of Economics. This includes officials from the State and regional governments, scholars, rectors and faculty members from universities, students, and invited dignitaries. Yangon University of Economics, which was established in 1964, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2024. It is a source of pride and joy to be able to commemorate this 60th anniversary with such a grand and vibrant celebration. Economists play a crucial role in driving the continuous economic development of a country. The 60-year history of Yangon University of Economics, which has been nurturing such vital economists, is indeed a source of pride. Looking back at the history of Yangon University of Economics, it can be seen that it was established in the 1923-1924 academic year as the Faculty of Economics under Yangon University. Initially, only the subject of Economics was taught. Later, in the 1940-1941 academic year, the subject of Commerce was introduced, followed by accounting in 1953. By 2024, the Faculty of Economics reached its centennial milestone. On 7 September 2024, the centenary celebration of the Faculty of Economics was held. In 1955, the Department of Economics and the Department of Accounting were able to be organized as separate faculties. In addition to these three faculties, the Departments of Psychology, Political Science and History, and Sociology and Social Work were merged to form the Faculty of Social Sciences in 1958. According to the University Education Law of 1964, the Institute of Economics was established as a separate university on 1 October 1964. Teaching began on 2 November 1964. The Institute of Economics became the only university in Myanmar specializing in economic disciplines. In 1964, due to the integration of four supporting departments — Myanmar Language, English Language, Geography, and Mathematics — there were a total of seven teaching departments. In 1966, the Department of Research and Management Studies was established at the University of Economics (Hline Campus), which marked the beginning of national research initiatives. On 5 February 1988, under a new university organizational setup, the core departments were reorganized, with the Applied Economics Department and the former Research and Management Department being restructured as the Department of Management Studies. In 2021, the Department of Applied Statistics was expanded, bringing the total number of teaching departments to ten. With the aim of regional economic development, the Monywa University of Economics and the Meiktila University of Economics were established after 1998. As a result, with the addition of these three economics universities, the original University of Economics was renamed Yangon University of Economics. In the year 2000, the Yangon University of Economics (Ywathagyi Campus) was officially opened, and it has since been joined by two other campuses in Kamayut and Hline, making a total of three university campuses. At these campuses, various academic programmes are offered, including undergraduate, honours, Master’s, and PhD courses, as well as post-graduate diploma courses. Degree programmes such as Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Business Administration, Master’s in Economics, Master’s in Commerce, Master’s in Business Administration, and Diploma in Management and Administration (DMA) have been offered since before 1964. Additionally, PhD courses have been available since the 1998-99 academic year. In addition, to align with the market economic system being practised in the country, it was observed that in 2001, courses for accounting degrees, business management degrees, development studies degrees, public administration degrees, and demography degrees were introduced. Furthermore, in 2003, a Master’s degree in Statistics was launched, and in 2004, a Master’s degree in demography was also offered. In order to fulfil the economic goals of the nation and meet market demands, the Yangon University of Economics launched the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme in 1995, under the Human Resource Development Programme. Since then, it has successfully produced 2,920 MBA graduates. The Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) programme was launched in the year 2000, with a total of 1,631 graduates. The Master’s in Development Studies (MDevS) programme began in 2002, producing 924 graduates. The Master’s in Banking and Finance (MBF) programme, aimed at systematically developing Myanmar’s banking and financial sectors, was started in 2012 and has since graduated 637 MBF individuals. Since 2017, it has been observed that various master’s degree programmes, including Master of Applied Statistics, Master of Marketing Administration, Master of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Master of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Master’s degrees in Insurance Business and Insurance Science, have been expanded and made available. The Human Resource Development Programme, which began in 1998, has also been able to offer additional training courses, including the Diploma in Development Studies (Dip DS) for university graduates, the Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management (PGDMM), the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM), and the Postgraduate Diploma in Research Studies (PGDRS). After successfully completing the university entrance exam, programmes such as the Certificate in Business Studies (CBS) and Certificate in Advanced Business Studies (CABS) were introduced to enhance business knowledge and skills. These programmes are designed to help individuals improve their understanding of business concepts. Additionally, those who successfully completed these courses were also given the opportunity to pursue further studies with the Diploma in Business Studies (DBS). Since 2019, Yangon University of Economics has been offering remote degree programmes under the “One Campus, Two Systems” initiative, providing specialized courses in Economics and Business Management. In order for the country to develop and progress, it is necessary to widely distribute the economic knowledge needed. Therefore, as experts from Yangon University of Economics, we have observed the involvement in various programmes and training sessions at institutions such as former workers’ college, distance education universities, National Management Degree College, project department, the Auditor-General Office, Civil Services Academy (Lower Myanmar), educational management training schools, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Defence College. In addition to delivering lectures on relevant subjects, there is also active participation in supervising and inspecting theses. As a government, in line with the economic objectives we have adopted, we are working to enhance the nation’s economic driving force through MSME businesses to promote exports. To achieve this, skilled human resources are necessary. Therefore, during the 2022-2023 academic year, the Yangon University of Economics led the initiative to open BA (Economics) degree programmes at 39 universities of arts and science. In the future, graduates with a BA (Economics) degree will be able to use their economic knowledge and perspectives to contribute to the development of their regions and the progress of society. Since 1964, for 60 years, Yangon University of Economics has produced 110 graduates with doctoral degrees, 7,587 with master’s degrees, 61,850 with bachelor’s degrees, 1,217 with honours degrees, and 7,708 with diploma certificates. Currently, the university is continuing its educational programmes with 4,359 on-campus students and 4,618 distance-learning students enrolled. Graduates with an MBA from the Universities of Economics are now skilled entrepreneurs in various sectors of private businesses and are working as senior managers in the field of management. Graduates with an MDevS degree are successfully working in the government sector, private sector, and NGOs and INGOs. Those with an MBF degree can also be found in senior positions as experts and managers at the Central Bank of Myanmar, government and private banks, and financial organizations. I would like to express my gratitude and pride as I recognize that graduates of business schools are contributing to the nation’s development. They serve as skilled public servants, private sector employees, and business leaders, making significant contributions in various sectors for the economic and social progress of the country. Similarly, graduates of Yangon University of Economics are also found to be prominent figures in various fields such as politics, economics, and social affairs. Among the graduates of the university are individuals who hold senior positions in the government, including the President of the country, Union Ministers, Union Auditors-General, Central Bank Governors, advisors, Chief Ministers and Ministers of States and Regions, Deputy Ministers, and Directors-General. This is a source of pride and admiration. In recognition of the 60th anniversary of Yangon University of Economics, which plays a key role in the nation’s development, a series of events will be held, including an exhibition of historical photographs showcasing the growth of the university, research paper readings, and research poster presentations. Additionally, a ceremony will be held to honour the distinguished professors and faculty members who have taught over the years, and a grand commemoration event will take place to celebrate this milestone. Yangon University of Economics has completed its 60th anniversary and, as a prominent institution, has contributed significantly to the country’s economic and social development by nurturing exceptional individuals who excel in various fields. Moving forward, may it continue to produce knowledgeable and talented generations who value and take pride in their education. I wish for the university to remain permanently steadfast, thriving, and perpetual existence from the celebration of the 60th anniversary and beyond. Thank you all.