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(Infrastructure Maintenance with Tunde Obileye) The current economic situation has stretched the facility management industry and its practitioners to deliver strategic solutions with less in very difficult circumstances. As a result, the opportunities and challenges come in equal proportions. Focus, however, is on the opportunity to scale up the internal systems of the service provider (FM organization) to be more effective, efficient in productivity, which can increase customer satisfaction. In a highly competitive market, service-based businesses need to capitalize on any opportunity to set themselves apart from their competitors. While implementation and service management are important, perhaps the best way to demonstrate capacity for exceptional service delivery as an FM organization is to foster strong customer relationships based on the quality of its service. To achieve this, the following guidelines are provided to raise the service level in recommitting to customer satisfaction. Communication When it comes to clients, facilities managers cannot over-communicate. Clients feel more comfortable when they know what is going on. The level of communication must reflect timelines, context, and its ability to clearly identify the value addition to the client. In a world of constant connectivity, the ability of facility managers to cut through the flood of information with quality and timely answers can achieve much. Service Management Defining expectations is vital to service management. FM practitioners and organizations need to make sure that they are on the same page regarding what to expect (or not expect) from their service offerings. This includes what the services cover, potential limitations, costs, how to get assistance when required, and more. This level of definition should involve co-operation from both client and service provider. Technology As services become increasingly digitized where possible, facilities managers can drive the use of technology to improve problematic processes. For example, technology can be used to capture and store data. In general, service delivery automation is high return and low risk, and more FM organizations are finding ways to cut costs and provide a more satisfactory customer experience. Resource Utilization Every organization has limited resources and wish to utilize same wisely. It is therefore important for FM organizations to understand their current resource needs and anticipate future resource needs. They need to be able to track employee requirements and capacities. With this information, facilities managers can schedule in accordance with current projects, and ensure that no resource is over or underutilized. Strong Culture After establishing a feasible service concept, the next area of focus should be the culture which will be instrumental to achieving success. Employees should be aligned when it comes to a specific set of all-encompassing principles. It should be noted that whilst methodology is crucial to service delivery, this should feel more like a philosophy. FM organizations should never take for granted that their culture is strictly internal because it also shows up in the way service is delivered, Relationship and interaction with clients is a reflection of the corporate culture and clients know it. The better the service provider understands it’s value proposition and what the organization represents, the more it translates to the clients. More often than not, clients know when a service provider and its employees are on the same page.Independents, rebels, and friendly fights deliver a blow to MVA
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., details her resolution requiring staffers to use bathrooms corresponding with their biological sex on 'The Ingraham Angle.' New Hampshire Judge Steven McAuliffe presided over a case involving parents in the state who wore pro-girl armbands at a high school girls soccer game that included a transgender athlete . During the case, McAuliffe pushed back on the parents for repeatedly referring to the athlete as a boy. "You seem to go out of your way to suggest there’s no such thing as a trans girl ," McAuliffe said during the hearing. McAuliffe's federal judicial service dates back to 1992, when he was appointed by former President George H.W. Bush. On Thursday, McAuliffe heard arguments in a case in which plaintiffs Kyle Fellers and Anthony Foote sued the Bow School District after being banned from school grounds for wearing the wristbands at their daughters' soccer game in September. THE PRONOUN POLICE HAVE ARRIVED AND ARE COMING FOR YOU NEXT The wristbands said "XX" in reference to the natural female chromosomes. The "XX" logo has become an unspoken symbol of the ongoing legal and political battle against transgender inclusion in girls and women's sports across the country. Many consider it a women's rights phenomenon. The no-trespass orders have since expired, but McAuliffe is deciding whether the plaintiffs should be allowed to wear the wristbands and carry signs at upcoming school events, including basketball games, swim meets and a music concert, while the case proceeds. A protester outside the Kansas Statehouse holds a sign after a rally for transgender rights on the Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, 2023, in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna) They wore the wristbands because another federal judge in New Hampshire, Landya McCafferty, who was appointed to her seat by President Obama in 2013, ruled two transgender athletes would be allowed to play on high school girls soccer teams, overruling a state law in place to prevent that from happening. Fifteen-year-old Parker Tirrell, a transgender athlete, was allowed to compete for Plymouth Regional High School. In a lawsuit filed by Fellers and Foote, they alleged they were told by school officials to remove the armbands or they would have to leave the game. TRANS VOLLEYBALL PLAYER LEGAL HEARING OPENED WITH LONG AND HEATED DEBATE OVER WHAT PRONOUNS TO USE Both of the fathers say the intention of the armband was not to protest Tirrell, but to support their own daughters in a game that featured a biological male. McAuliffe questioned the notion that the wristbands were in support of their own daughters. "Sometimes the message you think you’re sending might not be the message that is being sent," he said. McAuliffe asked Foote whether it occurred to him that a transgender person might interpret the pink XX wristbands as an attempt to invalidate their existence. "If he’s a trans female, pink might be a color he likes," Foote responded. First lady Jill Biden, right, and Steven J. McAuliffe, widower of Christa McAuliffe, arrive at the Christa McAuliffe School in Concord, N.H., March 17, 2021. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Transgender inclusion in girls' and women's sports emerged as a mainstream political issue in the last few years. Instances of athletes discovered to be male and then legally protected to continue playing have emerged in rapid succession since the start of the Biden administration. This includes instances like those involving Tirrell in New Hampshire and others in Virginia and California. At the college level, a situation at San Jose State University involving a transgender volleyball player has prompted multiple lawsuits and a media firestorm. It became a talking point of Donald Trump's presidential campaign before his recent election win. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Trump and even his wife, Melania, who has admitted to disagreeing with Republicans on issues of LGBT rights, each announced they are opposed to letting biological males compete in girls and women's sports. Trump advocated for a blanket ban during a Fox News town hall event on the campaign trail. Multiple states filed lawsuits and enacted their own laws to address the issue after the Biden-Harris administration issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions," in April. The administration insisted the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that it would ultimately put more biological men in women's sports. The Supreme Court then voted 5-4 in August to reject an emergency request by the Biden administration to enforce portions of that new rule after more than two dozen Republican attorneys general sued to block the Title IX changes in their own states. During the most recent election cycle, multiple Democrats, including Texas Rep. Collin Allred backtracked on past support for transgender inclusion in women's sports. That trend continued after the election when Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton spoke out against his party's stance and actions in enabling transgender inclusion in multiple interviews, inciting fierce backlash and even a massive pro-transgender rally outside his office. Now, multiple judges like McAuliffe across the country are presiding over cases about the eligibility of transgender athletes in sports. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans' starting job last month. Moss made his announcement on social media Monday. Moss started the Trojans ' bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” Moss wrote. “Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.” Moss, who was born in Los Angeles and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed with the Trojans after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 64.4% of his passes this season for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After a spectacular 378-yard performance to beat LSU in the Trojans' season opener, Moss didn't play poorly as a starter, but he also wasn't a difference-maker while USC stumbled to a 4-5 record. Moss threw seven interceptions in his final five starts before losing the job to Maiava. The Trojans went 1-4 in that stretch under Moss, who plays as a more traditional pocket passer while Maiava has the mobility usually favored for quarterbacks in Riley's spread offense. “Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level,” Moss wrote. Moss has already graduated from USC, putting him in the portal as a graduate student. USC (6-6) is headed to a lower-tier bowl game again to finish this season, its third under Riley. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Tony Osburn scores 23 points to lead Omaha past Lamar 65-59 in Akron Basketball Classic
A key figure in a trucker protest that jammed Canada's capital and sparked a global movement against Covid mandates was found guilty Friday for his role in the blockade. The self-styled "Freedom Convoy" of big rig drivers and protesters rolled into Ottawa in early 2022 from across Canada to express anger at government protocols imposed to contain Covid-19. After three weeks of turmoil, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked rarely used emergency powers to dislodge the protesters. Pat King was among hundreds of people arrested, and the first of the protest leaders to be convicted. Two other organizers, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber faced a separate criminal trial but those verdicts are not expected until 2025. King faces up to 10 years in prison after being convicted on five charges, including mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and disobeying a court order. Acquitted of more serious charges, he smiled at a packed courtroom of supporters as the judge read the verdict. "Mr King was not merely engaging in political speech," Justice Charles Hackland said. "Rather, he was inciting the protesters to continue their ongoing blockade of downtown Ottawa." King led hundreds of big rigs and thousands of protestors to Ottawa, bringing the capital to a standstill for more than three weeks. More from this section Residents and business owners complained of incessant honking and harassment. As the demonstrators' demands expanded to a broader anti-establishment agenda, solidarity rallies popped up at Canada-US trade corridors and various places abroad. Most of the evidence at trial consisted of videos King posted on social media in which he urged his nearly 300,000 followers to rail against government overreach. "Hold the line," he said in video posts, appearing also to delight in the gridlock and misery of locals: "Pretty hilarious that people haven't been able to sleep for 10 days." Trudeau faced strong criticisms from civil liberties groups and the opposition Conservatives for invoking the Emergencies Act to dislodge the protestors. But a commission of inquiry ruled it had been "appropriate," calling it "a drastic move, but... not a dictatorial one." amc/bs/bfmAI has been a boon for marketing, but the dark side of using algorithms to sell products and brands is little studiedTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb McCullough was there for the dark times at Arizona State, when the losses piled up and the cloud of an NCAA investigation was hovering over the program. The senior linebacker opted to stick around, believing in coach Kenny Dillingham's vision for a better future. It came sooner than anyone outside the program expected. "I’m doing whatever I can to win,” McCullough said. “I’m not really a stat player. This is my last year of college and my main goal is just to win.” The Sun Devils are doing just that, becoming one of college football's biggest surprises along the way. Picked to finish last in its first Big 12 season, Arizona State (8-2, 5-2 Big 12) now controls its destiny for a spot in the conference title game. The 21st-ranked Sun Devils have already clinched their first bowl berth since 2021, the year they were last ranked in the AP Top 25 before this week. Arizona State has taken down two ranked teams this season, 27-19 over then-No. 16 Utah on Oct. 11 and 24-14 at then-No. 20 Kansas State last weekend. The Sun Devils will play their biggest home game in recent memory against No. 14 BYU on Saturday , the first home game between ranked teams in Tempe since 2014. Beat the Cougars and Arizona State can clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship on Dec. 7 in Arlington, Texas, with a win over rival Arizona in the regular-season finale. “It means a lot to these guys to come in here with that chip on their shoulder and do something that really nobody thought we could do,” Dillingham said. Arizona State faced adversity on and off the field when Dillingham arrived in 2023. After winning eight games in 2021, the Sun Devils went 3-9 the following year while under investigation by the NCAA, a combination that led to the firing of Herm Edwards during his fifth season here. Dillingham had success as Oregon's offensive coordinator and brought the requisite enthusiasm of being a young — he was 32 at the time — first-time head coach returning to his alma mater. Despite rallying the community around the program, Dillingham fell into hard luck his first season in the desert. The Sun Devils were decimated by injuries, particularly at quarterback, and never recovered, finishing 3-9 for the second straight season. But Dillingham had the pieces in place. He proved to be adept at finding the right players through the transfer portal, landing former Sacramento State running back Cam Skattebo two years ago and former Michigan State quarterback Sam Leavitt prior to this season. The hard-running Skattebo has been one of the nation's best running backs and Leavitt has been a perfect fit for Arizona State's offense, making good decisions while extending plays with his legs. The portal success extends across Arizona State's roster and Dillingham has sprinkled in solid recruiting classes while convincing key players to remain, a combination that's meshed into a team that could crash the College Football Playoff if the pieces fall just right. “We were a three-win team twice,” Dillingham said. “We were under NCAA sanctions. Most head coaches, to be brutally honest, get fired if you take a job under sanctions. You don’t survive. You’re hired to be fired. That’s the nature of the beast and right now we’re sitting here at 8-2, and I couldn’t be prouder." Dillingham's vision for a better future, one the rest of the country didn't see coming, is here and now. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
As PTI convoys from across the country were en route to Islamabad on Sunday for the party’s much-touted power show — despite a court order and government warnings against it — the party claimed its workers were being arrested and dispersed using teargas. On Nov 13, Imran Khan issued a “ final call ” for nationwide protests on Nov 24 (today), denouncing what he described as the stolen mandate, the unjust arrests of people and the passage of the 26th amendment, which he said has strengthened a “dictatorial regime”. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that PTI’s planned protest is unlawful and directed the federal government to take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in Islamabad without disrupting public life, particularly as the Belarusian president is scheduled to arrive over the weekend with a high-profile delegation. As PTI supporters, who had set off on their journey earlier in the day, began reaching Islamabad despite government warnings of arrests, the party claimed the police was detaining its workers and using teargas to disperse them. In a post on X at 7:10pm, the PTI shared what it said were “visuals of the extreme shelling by fascist regime against own citizens at Islamabad Express”. Earlier, a Dawn.com correspondent in Islamabad said mobile internet services were down across the city, while major roads, including motorways, were blocked with containers. Pictures shared by the correspondent showed mostly deserted roads and people on motorbikes making their way from a narrow corner of a road blocked by trucks. Trucks block a road in Islamabad. — photo by Umar Bacha “These constant protests are destroying the economy and creating instability ... we want the political leadership to sit together and resolve these matters,” Muhammad Asif, 35, a resident of Islamabad told Reuters in front of a closed market. Separately, in a notification seen by Dawn.com , the office of the district magistrate in Islamabad ordered the closure of all public and private educational institutions in the capital territory tomorrow. The PTI, in a post on X , claimed that the convoy of National Assembly opposition leader Omar Ayub was targeted near Taxila and shells were fired at it. PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat shared a video of his brother Khalid Latif Khan saying his convoy was stopped at Daud Khel and was fired at with “strict teargas shelling”. However, he asserted, “We will reach D Chowk in any circumstance.” In another video , Khalid said that police had been shelling the convoy for over an hour and a half. “We had to face heavy shelling for an hour-and-a-half to two hours,” he said. “Thankfully now, the path has been cleared and we should leave (for D Chowk) within an hour-and-a-half to two hours.” Earlier today, the PTI claimed a “family that had reached D Chowk last night” had been arrested, sharing a video of a woman speaking from inside a prisoner van while another was taken inside too. The woman asked for the reason for being detained, saying, “Okay, we can say sorry that we should not have come to this area.” In another post, the PTI shared a video without specifying the location, saying: “The fascist regime has started, as expected, tear gas shelling against peaceful Pakistanis.” A Dawn.com correspondent present at D-Chowk reported that protesters have still not entered the capital. The PTI posted an update on social media stating that all convoys from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have entered Punjab through different motorways. Senior PTI member and former KP minister Shaukat Yousafzai told Dawn.com that his convoy had managed to reach Taxila via GT Road, but the police blocked the motorway at Burhan. He said that his convoy will turn around to join Gandapur’s. “Opposition leader Umar Ayub, Ali Asghar and others from Kohistan, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Abbottabad and Haripur are in their convoys but they have to join the Gandapur rally to ... reach D Chowk in [a] peaceful manner,” he said. Yousafzai added that the Punjab Police are ready to clash but maintained that the PTI “have one agenda — to hold our peaceful rally”. He also warned that if anything happened, the Punjab Police would be responsible. Meanwhile, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza posted on X that his convoy had reached Sargodha. “Proceed towards Islamabad. Overcome all hurdles from management,” he wrote. Speaking at D-Chowk, the final destination of PTI’s main convoy, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said, “One option is that we let them come and [...] paralyse Islamabad. The other option is to protect Islamabad. View this post on Instagram “The area where they (the PTI) have called the protest is a protected area of Islamabad, monitored by the IG and DIG,” Naqvi said, referring to the Red Zone. “Any protesters who enter that area will be arrested,” he warned. View this post on Instagram Despite the security apparatus in place, Naqvi maintained that the blockades were “not as bad as last time” and that the government was trying to give as much relief as possible to those inconvenienced. Referring to the arrival of a Belarusian delegation in the capital, Naqvi said PTI supporters were coming on to the route through which the delegation was supposed to pass. He criticised the PTI for organising protests today instead of attending the funerals being held in Kurram, referring to violent clashes there in the past few days. Addressing the PTI demonstrators, he said: “If you wish to protest, that is your right, but you know exactly who is coming and you have been blocking off roads and causing trouble.” Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said a “comprehensive security plan” had been formed to prevent mischief. Police personnel align before being deployed near a Red Zone area blocked with shipping containers to hinder a rally by members of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI demanding his release, in Islamabad on Nov 24, 2024. — AFP “If a road is closed, a lane has been kept open along it,” the IG said while speaking to the media, stressing that the purpose of the security plan was to secure the people’s lives and property. “There are obstacles, but the movement of people has not been stopped,” he claimed, adding that action would be taken against people carrying weapons or prohibited items. In a post on X earlier today, the Islamabad police said Rawat T Cross was closed for traffic on both sides and only one lane was open at Chungi No.26 for traffic heading both ways. “However, internal roads are partially open for traffic in Islamabad which can be used in case of extreme need,” the police said, urging citizens to avoid unnecessary travel. In a separate post , the police shared pictures of its personnel stationed at various points to “ensure the imposition of Section 144”, which prohibits gatherings. State broadcaster PTV News shared a post on X pointing out how there were “neither any people nor any flags” on Lahore’s Liberty Chowk, compared to previous instances “when the PTI used to hold its musical shows every other night”. Punjab, especially Lahore, came to a grinding halt on Saturday after the entire intercity bus operation — particularly routes leading to Islamabad and Rawalpindi — were suspended. The security at the Lahore railway station was also beefed up after a huge number of passengers thronged it in a bid to reach their destinations. Internet tracking monitor Netblocks said WhatsApp backends have been restricted in Pakistan, according to a post on X at 1:07am. “Live metrics show WhatsApp backends have been restricted in Pakistan corroborating reports of media sharing issues; the measure comes as authorities tighten security ahead of protests planned by opposition party PTI calling for the release of former PM Imran Khan,” Netblocks said. View this post on Instagram Addressing the media later today, interior minister Naqvi said: “Mobile services are working. The internet has been shut down.” A day ago, the interior ministry said that WiFi and mobile internet services would be suspended only in areas with “security concerns” and remain operational as normal in the rest of the country. In a televised statement, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar termed the PTI responsible for Islamabad’s closure and for “causing damage to businesspeople and the economy”. He asserted that while some routes in the city were closed, others were still open. “The main highway is closed, but despite that people are out and about,” Tarar said. The minister added, “When a party tries to spread division, they do so through violence and property damage. We saw it during the 2014 sit-in, PTV was set on fire and the gates of Parliament were broken down.” Separately, while speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said “PTI’s act will be exposed today”. “I am sure their act will be exposed today [...] why are they spreading anarchy? “Barrister Gohar said [the protest was to] release Imran Khan but he hasn’t been arrested by a deputy commissioner, [through] detention orders or any administrative orders [...] the cases are in the courts and he will have to get himself cleared in those cases.” “If he thinks he is innocent that doesn’t mean you start causing destruction, it means you face your cases in court and tell your lawyers to get the cases disposed quickly,” he said, referring to Imran’s legal challenges. Rallies from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI is in power, left for Islamabad early in the morning, according to the Dawn.com correspondent. MPAs and MNAs of their respective constituencies were leading their convoys and would join the rallies at Burhan near Hazara interchange, the correspondent said, citing PTI leader Shaukat Yousafzai. View this post on Instagram However, a heavy police contingent was present on GT Road and motorway at Attock’s Hassanabdal to stop the procession from reaching Islamabad. Several convoys are en route to the capital, PTI shared in multiple posts on X. According to a post on X , a main convoy led by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur departed from CM House in Peshawar. CM Gandapur, expected to lead the largest convoy into Islamabad, earlier called on people to gather near the entrance of the city’s red zone, known as “D Chowk”. And aerial view of the PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on November 24. — Photo by Umar Bacha Another video posted by the PTI showed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s convoy approaching Colonel Sher Khan Interchange outside of Mardan. The video showed a top-down view of the convoy which stretched over some distance. Islamabad’s red zone houses the country’s parliament building, important government installations, as well as embassies and foreign institutions’ offices. “[Imran] Khan has called on us to remain there till all our demands are met,” he said in a video message yesterday. A post on PTI MNA Asad Qaiser’s X account said his convoy will reach Swabi’s Ambar Interchange, where it will join CM Gandapur. Supporters led by Omar Ayub also set off on their journey from Haripur, the PTI said. Rehana Dar , mother of former PTI leader Usman Dar and who contested the Feb 8 general elections against PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, also set off with her convoy from Sialkot. Other convoys include those of PTI’s Peshawar president Irfan Saleem , KP health minister Pakhtunyar Khan’s convoy from Bannu, KP minister Dr Amjad Ali and law minister Advocate Aftab Alam . In a post on X , former KP minister Taimur Khan Jhagra said: “To assume that unjust laws should just be followed, that try to protect state capture and make the judiciary subservient, is wrong.” However, he appealed to all protesters: “Stay peaceful. At all costs. Do not let anyone sabotage your protest.” Another post showed a convoy led by PTI South Punjab president Senator Aoun Abbas and MNA Zartaj Gul had departed for Islamabad. A video shared by the party showed Gul standing atop a vehicle, waving a white flag and chanting “Imran Khan Zindabad. Release, release Imran Khan”. A convoy led by the president of PTI’s Balochistan chapter was also on its way to Islamabad. View this post on Instagram A convoy led by PTI leaders Usama Mela and Ansar Iqbal Haral also departed from Sargodha’s Kot Momin. A post by the PTI on X called for protesters to carry signs and placards in English “in order to amplify our message globally.” “Let our voices echo loud and clear as we stand united for justice, democracy, and a constitutional Pakistan!” PTI leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, the Punjab Assembly opposition leader, had earlier said protesters would not leave Islamabad until their demands were accepted. Since Imran’s arrest in August 2023 on several counts, his party has been holding protests across the country for his release and against the alleged rigging of the Feb 8 elections. The last protest in Islamabad by the PTI in early October turned violent with one policeman killed, dozens of security personnel injured and protesters arrested. Both sides accused the other of instigating the clashes. Also on Saturday, the National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) issued an alert for possible terrorist attacks during the PTI’s march towards Islamabad, reliable sources told Dawn . According to sources, the alert was issued after “technical and human” intelligence gathered by the apex counter-terrorism body revealed that terrorists were planning “major activities” in big cities of Pakistan. Multiple sources confirmed “necessary preparations” by the terrorists in Afghanistan, who “entered into Pakistan” on the night between Nov 19 and 20. They were expected to station themselves in big cities, the sources added. The terrorists, whom the government and the military refer to as Fitna-al-Khawarij , will possibly target the PTI’s protest “for their vested interest”, as per the sources. Nacta has suggested authorities ensure extreme vigilance and heighten security measures to prevent the attack. The government has vowed to suppress the power show with full force, deploying massive security forces, enforcing a sweeping ban on gatherings, blocking highways and motorways and launching a crackdown on leaders and workers of the opposition party. Paramilitary soldiers stand guard at the Red Zone area blocked with shipping containers ahead of a protest rally by PTI in Islamabad on November 24. — AFP The capital police have prepared a list of over 1,500 PTI leaders and workers in Islamabad and constituted 27 teams to arrest them so they could not participate in the protest. The police also arrested 350 other workers of the party, including leader Nafisa Khattak as well as a nephew and brother-in-law of the party’s Islamabad chapter president Amir Mughal. An overnight crackdown was also launched in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where some elected councillors were among those held. Besides Muzaffarabad police arresting 26 people , the houses of various leaders were also raided, including of AJK Assembly’s opposition leader Khawaja Farooq Ahmed. The government has also put all public sector hospitals in Islamabad on high alert in order to meet any emergency situation. Among methods to curtail the protest is the closure of various motorways and key arteries of Punjab, severing paths to Islamabad at multiple points. The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) announced that six key motorways would be closed for all types of traffic “due to maintenance” from Friday night, advising travellers to avoid unnecessary travel during this period. The motorways closed to traffic are: M1 from Peshawar to Islamabad, M2 from Lahore to Islamabad, M3 from Lahore to Abdul Hakeem, M4 from Pindi Bhattian to Multan, M11 from Sialkot to Lahore, and M14 from Yarik to Hakla. Meanwhile, local authorities blocked bridges over the Chenab and Jhelum rivers in Gujrat district to restrict PTI protesters’ movement towards Islamabad. The closure caused significant inconvenience to commuters who found themselves stuck in long queues of trucks and other vehicles on both sides of the rivers. Heavy containers and trolleys were parked on both sides of the bridges. More to follow Additional input from Reuters
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ten yards into a scramble, Patrick Mahomes could have easily slid for a first down or simply ducked out of bounds and moved on to the next play. Instead, the three-time Super Bowl MVP cut back inside and raced another 23 yards up the field, helping to set up Spencer Schrader's 31-yard field goal as time expired as the Chiefs held on to beat the Carolina Panthers 30-27 on Sunday. “At that point, yards are more important than getting out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “With three timeouts, I just tried to just cut through and Justin Watson had a great block and was able to get down the field and get out of bounds.” The game-winning drive was the 21st of Mahomes' career, and the Chiefs won a game decided in the final seconds for the fifth time this season. Eight of the Chiefs' wins have come by one-score margins. “You always want to have some blowouts and be a little calmer in the fourth quarter, but I've always said it could be a good thing when you get to the playoffs later in the season knowing that you have been in those moments before, and knowing how to attack it play by play not making it too big of a moment,” Mahomes said. Then he smiled and said: “But I would say this more than anybody, I would love to win a game not by the very last play.” Mahomes completed 27 of 37 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in his first game at Bank of America Stadium and ran for 60 yards — including 33 on that last-minute play — as the Chiefs (10-1) scored on six of their eight possessions. Noah Gray caught four passes for 66 yards and scored two touchdowns for the second straight week, and DeAndre Hopkins also found the end zone for the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. Kareem Hunt ran for 68 yards on 16 carries and caught three passes for 19 yards. Bryce Young played well for Carolina (3-8), finishing 21 of 35 for 262 yards and a touchdown while leading the Panthers back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie the game on Chuba Hubbard's 1-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion with 1:46 remaining. Panthers coach Dave Canales, who benched Young earlier this season for veteran Andy Dalton, said last year's No. 1 overall draft pick “absolutely” will remain the team's starting QB next week. That's a break from Canales' recent pattern of waiting a few days to name a starter. “Bryce is certainly making the most of his opportunities,” Canales said. “And he is making a statement to all of us. Showing us he can make plays in critical areas. He did a great job extending today.” Said Young: “For me, I just want to focus on what I can control. Regardless, I always have the same mindset and preparation, wanting to be better throughout the week. I am definitely grateful for confidence.” Still, there is room for improvement. The Panthers moved the ball well but struggled in the red zone, resulting in field goals of 30, 32, 29 and 33 yards for Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in NFL history. The Chiefs wasted no time setting the tone as Samaje Perine returned the opening kickoff 56 yards and Mahomes found Gray for a 35-yard touchdown strike on the third play of scrimmage for a 7-0 lead. Gray went nine games without a TD catch before hauling in two last week against Buffalo. His 11-yard score late in the second quarter gave him two more against the Panthers . Chiefs coach Andy Reid praised Mahomes' poise but said he was concerned about his team's nine penalties for 90 yards. Kansas City's Travis Kelce had six catches for 62 yards and moved into third place in career yards receiving by a tight end. He ranks behind only Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. However, Kelce failed to find the end zone for the ninth time in 11 games this season. Running back Jonathan Brooks made his NFL debut for Carolina, but the second-round pick was limited to 7 yards on two carries. Panthers: Rookie TE Ja'Tavion Sanders was taken to a hospital, where he was evaluated for a neck injury and released . He landed awkwardly on his head after making a catch near the end of the second quarter. Chiefs: Host Las Vegas on Friday. Panthers: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLWASHINGTON − After spending a night in the lap of luxury in a 5-star hotel frequented by presidents, two Minnesota-born turkeys named Peach and Blossom trotted their stuff at the White House for President Joe Biden on the Monday of Thanksgiving Week. Their snow-white plumage matched the backdrop: The South Portico, the semi-circular columned structure that is part of the executive residence overlooking the South Lawn. The duo was the latest in a long line of lucky birds to be pardoned by the commander-in-chief of the United States in an annual Thanksgiving tradition dating back to 1989. “Peach is making a last-minute plea here,” Biden joked, marking his last pardon of fowl as president. He went on to observe that the two turkeys were named after the Delaware State Flower, the peach blossom. Delaware has a long history of growing peaches, with peach pie being the state’s official dessert, the president, a former longtime senator from The First State said. The “peach blossom flower also symbolizes resilience, which is quite frankly fitting for today,” he said to laughter from the assembled guests including the members of his Cabinet, the White House staff and their families. The almost 17-week-old turkeys were raised on a farm by John Zimmerman, chairman of the National Turkey Federation. The farmer was joined by his 9-year-old son Grant at the ceremony. It is a tradition for the chair of the NTF to provide the turkeys. While the tradition of the official turkey presentation from the poultry industry began in 1947 when President Harry Truman was president, they were frequently gobbled up. Truman himself is believed to have said the turkey would “come in handy" for Christmas dinner. While others, including President John F. Kennedy , are known to have spared the gifted turkeys from ending up on the Thanksgiving table, the first official “pardon” was issued by President George H. W. Bush, spurring the celebrated annual tradition. After introducing the two feathered guests, Biden proceeded to reveal their hobbies and offered a glimpse into their outlook on life. Peach, who weighs about 42 pounds, loves to eat tater tot-topped hotdish (Minnesotan casserole), cross-country skiing and lives by the motto: keep calm and gobble on. Meanwhile, Blossom’s favorite snack is cheese curds, he loves to watch boxing and dreams of visiting all 10,000 Minnesota lakes. His mantra? “No fowl play, just Minnesota nice!” Biden congratulated the birds on taking on the “arduous” 1,100 mile trip to the White House over 16.5 hours — 1,100 miles listening to their favorite music. “Which apparently includes a song, ‘Livin’ on Prayer’,” he said referring to the Bon Jovi hit and drawing laughter. “Well fellas, your prayer is gonna be answered today based on your temperament and commitment to being productive members of society. I hereby pardon Peach and Blossom.” The birds, who spent Sunday night at the famed Willard InterContinental, will have quit their recently acquired luxury-living habit cold turkey. They will soon be returning to live a modest life at Farmamerica, an agricultural interpretive center in Waseca, Minnesota. They just might cry fowl. Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House Correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal
Thank you for your feedback on our plan for a front page refresh. I was cheered (and a little surprised) by the largely positive reception. I’ll try to capture the range of views here in a balanced way, though, from “love it” to “mess”. Quick recap: We have plans to update our masthead to 1) reflect what people actually call us ( The i / The i Paper ), 2) build recognition among existing readers and a new generation discovering our journalism, 3) include a strapline with our commitment to “impartial news and intelligent debate”, 4) update our logo, to make us easier to recognise out of context. (Away from our print front page, “ The i Paper ” is clearer than an isolated letter “ i ” on its own.) We know you are open-minded and highly engaged with this newspaper you care about so much. I’ll start with a few positive reactions then move on to critical views. “Clever, effective and succinct,” writes Diana Hunt. “Modern and appealing,” adds Rose McCray, who asks about the typeface, which reminds her of The New York Times . (I’ll take that.) The font is a serif, Larken, noted for its “natural softness and expressiveness”, and will feature in our iweekend edition. More about that on Saturday. “For what my opinion is worth,” adds Shirley Johnson from Linton Colliery, Northumberland, “I really like the newly-styled ‘ i ’. Lower-case and somehow look like a person! And I love that you refer to yourselves as The i Paper , which is what I call you.” She adds: “I hope you don’t abandon the bullet points below the main headline.” Fear not, Shirley: the rest of our front page design remains the same. A prominent red masthead still features in the top left corner for easy recognition, alongside our familiar layout. Bristol’s Karen Sadler isn’t a fan. “Muddled and inelegant” is her verdict – she prefers the existing. Chelmsford’s Peter Adkins is open to change but calls the mocked-up layout “appalling”. He adds: “Other than that, keep up the good work.” Read Next The best new books to read in September, from Zadie Smith’s The Fraud to the new Richard Osman Gill Roche dislikes the use of “ paper ”, asking with consternation: “What else could it be – Richard Osman’s latest book?” Gill, I confess that was also my starting point. I was won over by its versatility in different settings – crucial so that people recognise our (trusted) journalism in a rather noisy environment, whether they come into contact with it in print , online, on other media like TV, or word of mouth. Plymouth’s Richard Haighton says “ The i ”, but adds: “Always great to move on” – which sort of sums up the mindset of our readers over the past 14 years. Dave Beck likes the “modern” look. He wonders whether we might find a way to abbreviate it within articles, perhaps with an updated glyph (icon). I’ll speak to the Production team, Dave. Good to hear from so many regulars, as well as new readers. Subscriber Mike Newman, who writes to me periodically from Shefford, Beds, to keep me vigilant about the political balance of our columnists, sends encouragement: “Congratulations on the revamp. Love the ‘ i ’ logo.” We publish a selection of letters (critical and positive) on page 24 today, and we welcome reader feedback. You can reach me on i@inews.co.uk or @olyduf f on social media.WANTED IN THE HAGUE Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant attend a military ceremony in October before the defense chief was fired early this month over his differences with Netanyahu in the handling of the conflict in Gaza and Lebanon. —REUTERS PARIS — World leaders were divided over the arrest warrants that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ousted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, with some saying they disagreed with the issuance of the warrants even as they noted that they were bound to enforce the orders. The ICC also issued a warrant on Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif—in response to accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza, set off by the militant Palestinian group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The court urged member states to enforce “a policy of severing contact and meetings” with Netanyahu and Gallant. Netanyahu in a statement said: “The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court is comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial—and it will end in the same way.” He was referring to the 19th-century Alfred Dreyfus affair in which a Jewish army captain was wrongly convicted of treason in France before being exonerated. READ: Netanyahu says ICC warrant won’t stop Israel defending itself Israel “rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and accusations made against it,” Netanyahu said, again saying that the judges were “driven by anti-Semitic hatred of Israel.” The United States said it “fundamentally rejects” the ICC’s decision. “We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” said a National Security Council spokesperson. “The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter.” US President Joe Biden himself, in a statement on Thursday, called the warrants on the top Israeli leaders “outrageous.” “Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence—none—between Israel and Hamas,” Biden said. “We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.” Posting on X, Argentine President Javier Milei said the warrant “ignores Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense against the constant attacks by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.” But Josep Borrell, foreign policy chief of the European Union, said the warrant “is not a political decision.” “It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented,” he said. But there has been some contradiction among EU’s member states, with Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto saying his country would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they visited, no matter that he thinks the ICC is “wrong” to put Netanyahu on the same level as Hamas. Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary said on Friday he would invite Netanyahu to visit and assure him that the ICC’s warrants would “not be observed.” Germany said it will carefully examine the warrants, but will not take further steps until a visit by Netanyahu is planned. Cyprus, which has close ties with Israel, said it still considers arrest warrants issued by the ICC as binding in principle. The Palestinian Authority, a rival of Hamas, said “the ICC’s decision represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions.” Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim said of the warrants against the Israeli leaders: “[It’s] an important step toward justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general, but it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world.” Yael Vias Gvirsman, who represents 300 Israeli victims of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, said the “arrest warrant against Mr Deif is massively significant.” “It means these victims’ voices are being heard,” she added, speaking from outside the court in The Hague on Thursday. In March last year, the ICC issued arrest warrants on Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his commissioner on children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, in connection with the “unlawful deportation” of Ukrainian children to the Russian Federation. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . READ: Netanyahu: Hamas shot hostages in ‘back of the head’
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024-- Crescent Energy Company (NYSE: CRGY) (“we” or “our”) announced today that its indirect subsidiary Crescent Energy Finance LLC (the “Issuer”) has priced its previously announced private placement pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), to eligible purchasers of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “Additional Notes” and, together with the Existing Notes (as defined below), the “Notes”). The size of this offering was increased from the previously announced $300 million to $400 million. The Notes mature on April 1, 2032 and pay interest at the rate of 7.625% per year, payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, with interest payments on the Additional Notes commencing on April 1, 2025. The Additional Notes were priced at 100.250% of par, plus accrued and unpaid interest from October 1, 2024. The Issuer intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with the net proceeds of the previously announced underwritten public offering of our Class A Common Stock (the “Equity Offering”), to fund the cash portion of the consideration for the previously announced acquisition of Ridgemar (Eagle Ford) LLC (the “Ridgemar Acquisition”). Pending the use of proceeds described in the previous sentence, the proceeds from each of this offering and the Equity Offering will be used to temporarily reduce the borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility and any remaining for general corporate purposes. If the Ridgemar Acquisition is not completed, the proceeds of this offering will be used to reduce the borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit facility or for general corporate purposes. This offering is not contingent on the completion of the Ridgemar Acquisition or the Equity Offering, and neither the Ridgemar Acquisition nor the Equity Offering is conditioned on the completion of this offering. This offering is expected to close on December 11, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. The Additional Notes are being offered as additional notes under the indenture dated as of March 26, 2024, as supplemented (the “Indenture”), pursuant to which the Issuer has previously issued $700 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2032 (the “Existing Notes”). The Additional Notes will have substantially identical terms, other than the issue date, the first interest payment date and the initial offering price, as the Existing Notes, and the Additional Notes and the Existing Notes will be treated as a single series of securities under the Indenture and will vote together as a single class. The Notes and the related guarantees have not been registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, unless so registered, the Notes and the guarantees may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Issuer plans to offer and sell the Additional Notes only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Crescent Energy Company Crescent Energy Company is a U.S. energy company with a portfolio of assets concentrated in Texas and the Rockies. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on current expectations. The words and phrases “should”, “could”, “may”, “will”, “believe”, “think”, “plan”, “intend”, “expect”, “potential”, “possible”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “forecast”, “view”, “efforts”, “target”, “goal” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements and express our expectations about future events. This communication includes statements regarding this private placement and the Equity Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, respectively, and the Ridgemar Acquisition and the transactions related thereto that may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions; however, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to be correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations, anticipated results or other forward-looking information expressed in this communication, including weather, political, economic and market conditions, including a decline in the price and market demand for natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil, uncertainties inherent in estimating natural gas and oil reserves and in projecting future rates of production, our hedging strategy and results, federal and state regulations and laws, recent elections and associated political volatility, the severity and duration of public health crises, actions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (“OPEC”) and non-OPEC oil-producing countries, the impact of the armed conflict in Ukraine, continued hostilities in the Middle East, including the Israel-Hamas conflict and heightened tensions in Iran, Lebanon and Yemen, the impact of disruptions in the capital markets, the timing and success of business development efforts, including acquisition and disposition opportunities, our ability to integrate operations or realize any anticipated operational or corporate synergies and other benefits from the Ridgemar Acquisition and the acquisition of SilverBow Resources, Inc., our reliance on our external manager, sustained cost inflation, elevated interest rates and central bank policy changes associated therewith and other uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this communication that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Consequently, actual future results could differ materially from our expectations due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, those items identified as such in the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K and the risk factors described thereunder, filed by Crescent Energy Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of such risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond our ability to control or predict. Because of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We do not give any assurance (1) that we will achieve our expectations or (2) concerning any result or the timing thereof. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning this offering and the Equity Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, respectively, and the Ridgemar Acquisition and the transaction related thereto, Crescent Energy Company and the Issuer or other matters and attributable thereto or to any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. We assume no duty to update or revise these forward-looking statements based on new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204640013/en/ IR@crescentenergyco.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA TEXAS INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OIL/GAS ENERGY SOURCE: Crescent Energy Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/04/2024 05:15 PM/DISC: 12/04/2024 05:17 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204640013/enBETHESDA, Md. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the "Company") DRH announced today it is the recipient of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts' ("Nareit") 2024 Leader in the Light Award for the lodging and resorts sector. The award recognizes member companies that demonstrate leadership in implementing sustainable and socially responsible investment and operating practices, good governance, and transparency. The 2024 Leader in the Light Awards are based on the results of the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Annual Survey, as well as scored responses to supplemental questions by a panel of judges. The Company participated in the 2024 GRESB Real Estate Assessment for the ninth consecutive year and achieved Sector Leader Status and a #1 ranking among hotel peers for the fifth consecutive year. "We are extremely honored to receive Nareit's Leader in the Light award and also to be recognized by GRESB as a sector leader again. These acknowledgements highlight the Company's dedication to sustainable practices, social responsibility, and transparent governance," said Jeffery Donnelly , Chief Executive Officer of DiamondRock Hospitality Company. "We believe that integrating these principles into our investment and operating practices not only benefits our stakeholders but also contributes to a healthier planet and stronger communities. We remain committed to driving meaningful progress and setting the standard for sustainable leadership in the hospitality industry." GRESB Real Estate Assessment (2024) Awarded Sector Leader status across multiple public and private sectors: Global Listed Sector Leader/Hotel Regional Listed Sector Leader/Americas/Hotel Regional Sector Leader Americas/Hotel Awarded 4 Green Stars and achieved Green Star status for 7 th consecutive year GRESB Public Disclosure (2024) Ranked 1 st within the U.S. Hotels with a score of "A" compared to the Peer Group Average of "B" and the GRESB Global Average of "B" The GRESB Real Estate Assessment is the investor-driven global ESG benchmark and reporting framework for listed property companies, private property funds, developers and investors that invest directly in real estate. The Assessment is shaped by what investors and the industry consider to be material issues in the sustainability performance of real estate investments. The methodology is consistent across different regions, investment vehicles and property types and aligns with international reporting frameworks. About the Company DiamondRock Hospitality Company is a self-advised real estate investment trust (REIT) that is an owner of a leading portfolio of geographically diversified hotels concentrated in leisure destinations and top gateway markets. The Company currently owns 37 premium quality hotels and resorts with over 10,000 rooms. The Company has strategically positioned its portfolio to be operated both under leading global brand families as well as independent boutique hotels in the lifestyle segment. For further information on the Company and its portfolio, please visit DiamondRock Hospitality Company's website at www.drhc.com . About GRESB GRESB is a mission-driven and investor-led organization that provides actionable and transparent Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data to financial markets. For more information, visit www.gresb.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/diamondrock-hospitality-receives-nareits-2024-leader-in-the-light-award-and-is-recognized-as-a-sector-leader-by-gresb-for-the-fifth-consecutive-year-302320125.html SOURCE DiamondRock Hospitality Company © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
PTI claims arrests, teargas shelling enroute Islamabad as govt vows to stop protesters no matter whatTAMPA, Fla. — Bulgarian microsatellite specialist EnduroSat has ordered 100 electric propulsion systems from Austria’s Enpulsion as demand for larger spacecraft continues to rise. EnduroSat builds satellites starting from a one-unit (1U) standard cubesat structure measuring 10 centimeters a side, “but we do not have much demand for those lately,” company spokesperson Pavel Lozanov said Nov. 25. As falling launch prices help push the industry toward larger and more capable spacecraft, the company plans to include the thrusters as a default for satellite platforms 6U and larger. “We are experiencing a lot of demands for bigger satellites that will use thrusters as a baseline,” Lozanov said via email, “and we want to be prepared and able to continue delivering space infrastructure with short lead times.” Onboard propulsion extends a satellite’s operational life and enables operators to maneuver it in space and safely de-orbit once the mission ends. Balkan-2, part of the Balkan extension of Europe’s Copernicus Earth observation constellation, is set to be one of the first EnduroSat satellites to use Enpulsion’s Field Emission Electric Propulsion technology. Lozanov declined to provide financial details about the contract with Enpulsion but said the delivery timeline is flexible, based on customer demand and the propulsion maker’s manufacturing capacity. The first 30 propulsion systems are scheduled for delivery within the next 12 months, including an initial batch due before the end of this year. According to Enpulsion, more than 200 of its propulsion systems are currently in space. The eight-year-old Hungarian company also said it had tripled the size of its facilities this year to 4,000 square meters, following increasing demand for space mobility and faster production times. EnduroSat deployed its first satellite in 2018 and says it has delivered more than 60 spacecraft to date.
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The was full of and often . Case in point: , the US Army’s subterranean nuclear apocalypse bunker built inside Greenland’s near-surface ice sheet. Construction on the sprawling underground facility began in 1959 under the auspices of a polar research site, but while experts did collect the there, its larger purpose was far more in keeping with the times. In all, project leaders planned for 52,000 square miles of tunnels capable of housing both personnel and nuclear weaponry not far from Russian borders. As described in its : The Danish government’s “cooperation” proved to be a bit of a stretch, since the country never entirely signed off on the project. Not only that, but the US Army ultimately scrapped plans to complete the “fantastic city” in 1967, abandoning it to the harsh arctic elements. Nearly six decades later, however, experts can still catch glimpses of Camp Century—provided they have the proper underground radar equipment. And NASA Earth Observatory’s November 25, 2024, highlights just such an occasion. As first flagged by on Monday, the most recent look at Camp Century came during an April 2024 flyby from NASA researchers. The team wasn’t actually looking for evidence of the facility, however. The Gulfstream III flight was instead testing a piece of equipment known as the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). “Our goal was to calibrate, validate, and understand the capabilities and limitations of UAVSAR for mapping the ice sheet’s internal layers and the ice-bed interface,” cryospheric scientist Chad Greene said in an on Monday. While flying roughly 150 miles east of northern Greenland’s , the NASA researchers also snapped photos of the polar landscape from the plane’s windows showing a barren, icy expanse. It wasn’t until analyzing the radar images, however, that the team realized what they had flown over without even realizing it. “We didn’t know what it was at first,” added Alex Gardner, another cryospheric scientist team member. After pinpointing the radar anomaly’s location, researchers realized they accidentally mapped the facility and its current conditions. “In the new data, individual structures in the secret city are visible in a way that they’ve never been seen before,” said Greene. But as NASA explains, that data can also distort images to the casual viewer: It appears that time has not been kind to Camp Century. Since its abandonment, at least another 70 feet of snow and ice has piled atop the base (and its nuclear reactor’s ). Meanwhile, ice sheet plasticity has almost undoubtedly warped facility walls and hallways—a main factor in the US Army’s decision to ultimately shutter the project in 1967. Ironically, that nuclear waste—and the reasons for NASA testing UAVSAR—may one day bring Camp Century back into the public eye. “Without detailed knowledge of ice thickness, it is impossible to know how the ice sheets will respond to rapidly warming oceans and atmosphere, greatly limiting our ability to project rates of sea level rise,” said Gardner. As notes, continued due to climate change may eventually bring Camp Century—and its nuclear waste—closer to the surface than experts would like.
Innofactor Plc Stock Exchange Release, on November 25, 2024, at 20:05 Finnish time Innofactor postpones the Annual General Meeting of 2025 to be held on June 25, 2025. Contrary to the previously announced preliminary date, the Annual General Meeting will not be held on April 23, 2025. On November 25, 2024, Onni Bidco Oy announced that it has decided to exercise its redemption right pursuant to the Finnish Companies Act and to redeem all the shares held by all other remaining shareholders in Innofactor. Espoo, November 25, 2024 INNOFACTOR PLC Eija Theis, General Counsel Additional information: Eija Theis, General Counsel Innofactor Plc Tel. +358 44 343 4278 eija.theis@innofactor.com Distribution: NASDAQ Helsinki Main media www.innofactor.com Innofactor Innofactor is the leading driver of the modern digital organization in the Nordic Countries for its about 1,000 customers in commercial and public sector. Innofactor has the widest solution offering and leading know-how in the Microsoft ecosystem in the Nordics. Innofactor has about 600 enthusiastic and motivated top specialists in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The Innofactor Plc share is listed in the technology section of the main list of NASDAQ Helsinki Oy. www.innofactor.com #ModernDigitalOrganization #PeopleFirst #CreatingSmiles #BeTheRealYou
Does the approach to treating opioid addiction need a radical overhaul?
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 12:19 p.m. ESTPay rise should precede pension contribution increase – labour unions
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way , enabling them to that not long ago seemed like the realm of science fiction. Marketers use AI-powered algorithms to scour vast amounts of data that reveals individual preferences with unrivaled accuracy. This allows companies to precisely target content—ads, emails, —that feels tailor-made and helps cultivate companies' relationships with consumers. As a , I joined several colleagues in conducting new that shows AI marketing overwhelmingly . Our peer-reviewed study reviewed 290 articles that had been published over the past 10 years from 15 high-ranking marketing journals. We found that only 33 of them addressed the potential "dark side" of AI marketing. This matters because the imbalance creates a critical gap in understanding the full impact of AI. AI marketing can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, such as producing , for example. AI can also infringe on the . And it can spread misinformation through and "hallucinations," which occur when AI presents as if it were true, such as . It can also . The prevalence of AI-powered beauty filters on social media, for instance, can and . These concerns loom large, prompting anxiety about the potential misuse of this powerful technology. Many people experience these worries, . As AI apps gain acceptance, beauty standards are moving further from reality. Our research finds there is an urgent need to address AI's ethical considerations and potential negative consequences. Our intent is not to discredit AI. It's to make sure that AI marketing benefits everyone, not just a handful of powerful companies. I believe researchers should consider exploring the ethical problems with AI more thoroughly, and how to use it safely and responsibly. This is important because AI is suddenly being used everywhere—from to self-driving cars to . Understanding its potential negative effects empowers the public to be informed consumers and call for responsible AI use. This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .Israel launches new airstrikes on Lebanon as leaders draw closer to ceasefire with Hezbollah
