- A + A HONG KONG (May 18): Smarting from HSBC Holdings Plc’s move to scrap its dividend during the height of the pandemic, the bank’s largely silent mass of retail shareholders in Hong Kong is warming up to the idea of a breakup. Splitting up Europe’s biggest bank to separate out its Asian operations is being pushed by its largest investor, Ping An Insurance Group Co, based just across the border in Shenzhen. The call is winning support in Hong Kong’s retail base, which owns about a third of the bank, with some seeing it as a surefire way of preventing the steady stream of payouts from being cut off again. Their loyalty has been tested as numerous pivots in strategy fail to impress the market, leaving dividends at half of what they were in 2018 and the stock down more than 40%. The former British colony is the beating heart of the bank’s global operations, accounting for about 30% of the group’s 2021 adjusted profits. Yet decisions such as the halting of dividends … [Read more...] about HSBC’s mass of Hong Kong retail investors warms to breakup
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UKSB director admits giving cash to Ahmad Zahid every month for 4 years
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Photo by Zahid Izzani/The Edge filepix) - A + A SHAH ALAM (May 18): A former director of Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) on Wednesday (May 18) told the High Court here that his company was paying cash in Singapore dollars (SGD) on a monthly basis to former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from 2014 to 2018, in relation to the Foreign Visa System (VLN) contract. Harry Lee Vui Khun said the payment to Ahmad Zahid which started with SGD200,000 per month and began in late 2014 was increased to SGD520,000 per month some time in 2017. “If I can recall correctly, the payment of SGD200,000 per month began in late 2014 and continued until mid-2015. Around that time, we went to his (Ahmad Zahid) house in Country Heights, Kajang and in that meeting Datuk Seri Zahid (Ahmad Zahid) requested that the monthly contribution be increased. After discussing with Wan Quoris and David Tan, we agreed to a sum of SGD300,000 per month. … [Read more...] about UKSB director admits giving cash to Ahmad Zahid every month for 4 years
South Korean hip-hop artiste Jessi zooms back into action
One of the busiest TV personalities in the Korean entertainment scene right now, singer and rapper Jessi has finally returned as a musician with her new single Zoom . Recently, Jessi conducted an online media showcase in Seoul to give a peek into how the song came out. Returning after six months with a new song, Jessi said: “I feel like it’s been much longer, but in terms of promoting my songs, it’s been around a year since What Type Of X .” The Korean American rapper’s first release of 2022, Zoom is a trap hip-hop tune that draws on the reality of people obsessing over capturing every moment on camera. “The producing was done in no time. It took around two days to finish producing it,” she said, adding, “It’s a feel-good song, just as with all my other songs, and this one also comes with several parts that will make you hum along.” She took part in writing the lyrics of Zoom , collaborating with Psy – her label chief and the singer of the 2013 global megahit Gangnam … [Read more...] about South Korean hip-hop artiste Jessi zooms back into action
Record-breaking Puripol, 16, wins SEA Games sprint double
Thailand's Puripol Boonson celebrates winning gold in the men's 100m final at the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on May 18, 2022. (AFP photo) Thai teenager Puripol Boonson destroyed the opposition to win the men's 100m in 10.44secs at the SEA Games on Wednesday and grab a sprint double in Hanoi. Kayla Anise Richardson of the Philippines won the women's 100m to add to 200m bronze in the Vietnamese capital. But the night belonged to wonder kid Puripol, 16, who easily beat the rest of the field to silence the almost wholly local crowd at My Dinh stadium. "Before the competition I was under a lot of pressure... but I made it and I'm very glad," he told reporters. The teenager had already made headlines at the regional showpiece after twice breaking the Games record in the 200m, his best time of 20.37secs bringing gold. "My target for this year is that I will try to consistently improve my record and break my own record," Puripol … [Read more...] about Record-breaking Puripol, 16, wins SEA Games sprint double
Soccer Federation Reaches Historic Deals Guaranteeing Equal Pay For Men And Women Players
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The U.S. Soccer Federation has reached new historic collective bargaining agreements to ensure equal pay and prize money for its men’s and women’s national teams, it said Wednesday morning, following a years-long battle fought by the four-time World Cup-champion women’s national team to guarantee equal compensation. Key Facts The two collective bargaining agreements—which last through 2028—include identical pay for all international soccer competitions, including the FIFA World Cup. U.S. Soccer will become the first national governing body to ensure equal prize money from FIFA by pooling prize funds and splitting them equally among the men and women’s national teams beginning with the 2022 Men’s tournament and the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Men’s and women’s national team players will also earn identical game bonuses, the federation said. The deals come three months after U.S. Soccer settled … [Read more...] about Soccer Federation Reaches Historic Deals Guaranteeing Equal Pay For Men And Women Players