ajili link
2025-01-13 2025 European Cup ajili link
News
China's Xi to lead Macau handover anniversary celebrations
58jili
。
I've been estranged from my mum for six years. She finally wanted to meet her granddaughter this Christmas - but would she let me down again? By KATE WILLS Published: 01:30 GMT, 30 December 2024 | Updated: 01:36 GMT, 30 December 2024 e-mail View comments Tell people you don't enjoy Christmas and they look at you like you've been kicking puppies. Over the years, I've come up with many reasons why I dislike this time of year, from the endless over-consumption to the cheesy music. I would always try to shrug off my inner Scrooge with a jokey comment. Most years I would skip the whole thing by jetting out of the country. But behind my smug Instagram posts from a beach in Mexico was a very different story. A big part of the reason I've always hated Christmas so much is that I was estranged from my mother. This time of year is particularly difficult for the millions of adults who have an estranged family member. In Britain, research by the charity Stand Alone suggests around one in five families are affected by estrangement – which is defined as a relationship in which communication has stopped. In the US, a study from Ohio State University found 6 per cent of respondents were estranged from a mother and a staggering 26 per cent from a father. Although lots of us feel under some sort of obligation to see someone we'd rather not spend time with over the holidays – from a tricky uncle to a monstrous mother-in-law – being utterly cut off from a parent is a completely different emotion. In December I would often feel like an alien , as friends talked warmly of looking forward to spending time with their parents and what they'd buy for them. I felt completely cold. For as long as I can remember, I've had a turbulent relationship with my mother. We were never close – whether it was because of her long hours at work or because we had very different personalities. Although I was close to my older sister and got along well with my dad, my childhood was punctuated by my father's drinking and a lot of dysfunction. Kate Wills says a big part of the reason she has always hated Christmas so much is because she was estranged from her mother As a child, I always dreaded Christmas because it seemed to highlight the gap between what I saw on TV and my own set up. My only memories of Christmas are the traditions we had at school – a play of The Nutcracker, making cards and giving them to teachers. My parents divorced when I was 11 and I initially lived with my mother in the home I'd grown up in – but we led largely separate lives. When I was 14 she met a new partner who I didn't get on with and I saw even less of her. A year later I came home from school to find a 'For Sale' sign outside our house, and when I asked my mother about it, she said she was moving to a new city to live with her partner. She told me I could join them, but I didn't want to leave my friends and school to be uprooted to a place where I knew no one. So I went to live with my dad and although I still saw my mother, our meetings were often strained and sad. I felt abandoned and angry. Even when I could see she was trying to make an effort, I struggled to reconcile that with the uninterested mother I had known growing up. I remember one Christmas Day it was just me and my father in his cramped flat with a ready meal. As I grew older, I tended to spend Christmas with my boyfriends' families. I learned to bat off questions about what my own family were doing for Christmas, and give vague responses about why I wasn't seeing them. Over the years, my lack of a traditional family Christmas has led to some unusual December 25ths. I have eaten dim sum with Jewish friends, spent it volunteering at a homeless shelter, and once completely forgot it was Christmas Day entirely as I was hiking in the Himalayas. But wherever I was in the world, as soon as I saw the first decorations in the shops, or heard the first Christmas songs on the radio, I would feel a looming sense of unease. It's a season where family togetherness is rammed down your throat in every advert or movie. Some years, I would try to make the effort to see my mum around the holidays and we would exchange presents, but it always seemed like we were going through the motions. When I met my now-ex-husband in 2005, his huge family were big fans of Christmas and I was happy to be enveloped in their long-standing traditions – walks in the countryside, old movies on the projector. He was overjoyed that the tricky dynamics with my mother meant that we got to spend it with his family every year, rather than alternating like most couples. But occasionally I would look up at the smiles and affection around the table and feel a pang of sadness that I had never known this kind of Christmas growing up. Kate says that for as long as she can remember, she has had a turbulent relationship with her mother. They were never close - whether it was because of her mother's long hours at work or because they had very different personalities Ultimately the stark difference in our backgrounds and childhoods was one of the reasons my ex and I proved incompatible. When we got divorced in 2018, I made some big changes. After many years of therapy, I realised I was never going to get the emotional support I needed from my mother. Following one particularly stressful meeting, I decided it would be our last. I cut off all contact with her – deleting her number, ignoring her emails, blocking her on social media. I wasn't sure how long it would be for, but as the weeks turned to months, I felt much lighter without the obligation to see her. Around this time, I met my current partner and we quickly moved in together. He struggled to understand how I could have no relationship with my mother at all and was saddened by it. But I quickly got used to this reaction from friends and colleagues. Having an estranged parent – particularly your mother – can feel very lonely. An absent father most people can understand, but having no relationship with the woman who gave birth to you is incomprehensible to many. I found some comfort in a Facebook group for people with estranged family members, where thousands of us would share our experiences and offer advice. Sometimes it felt like these strangers understood me more than my closest friends or even my partner. In 2020, our daughter was born. Our first Christmas was spent at home with just the three of us. Because of the pandemic, this wasn't unusual. I revelled in the fact that, for once, I wasn't an outlier on Christmas Day, I was just like everyone else. Although when friends wept with sadness that they couldn't see their parents, I tried hard to empathise. Of course, having my own child has brought up lots of complicated feelings about my mother. But the most surprising one was that falling in love with motherhood made me feel pity for her. I don't think she took much pleasure in us, and I felt sorry if she missed out on this joy. The thought of my own daughter one day cutting off contact with me made me feel physically sick. I would sometimes get messages or letters from my mother, especially around Christmas. She would apologise for what had happened. I felt really sad when I read her words, but I knew that nothing had really changed. I chose not to respond and to focus on my own family. But that didn't mean I didn't wish things were different. New friends and colleagues would ask if I was seeing my parents at Christmas, and when told them I was estranged from my mother they were shocked. 'But she's your mother? And it's Christmas?!' they'd say. As if the mere fact of it being December 25 could undo so many years of hurt and toxic behaviour. There's a perception in our culture that we should put family first, especially at Christmas. But for some families that's just not possible, and protecting yourself from more hurt is the only sensible course of action. I remember once arguing with a friend who had lost both her parents, as she urged me to make amends with my mother while there was still time. Although I understood that it came from a good and well-meaning place, some families can't just kiss and make up. I tried to enjoy Christmas on my own terms, and make new rituals and traditions for my own little family. After decades of not understanding why you could cut down something lovely in nature and plonk it in your living room, in 2021, I got my first Christmas tree. Seeing my daughter's face as the lights went on and she put the star on top made me see Christmas in a new way. After a lifetime of 'Bah humbug' I had caught the Christmas spirit. But I'd still find myself thinking about my mother – despite not having spent a Christmas with her in decades. I would wonder where she was and what was happening in her life. I'd feel sad that she wasn't there to watch my daughter unwrap her gifts or to send her pictures of the school nativity. In 2019, my father was diagnosed with dementia and as his illness progressed he would often ask how my mother was, forgetting I was no longer in touch with her. My dad's worsening condition made me confront the fact that my mother also wouldn't be around for ever. I would occasionally wonder if enough time and space had passed and we could have a relationship again. But I wasn't sure how to open the channels of communication after so long. It had been six years, I couldn't just text her and say 'Fancy a coffee?' Despite our difficult childhood, my sister had always managed to maintain some kind of relationship with my mum. Although they also had periods of not speaking, she would occasionally tell me about meeting my mother at Christmas and I would feel conflicted. Relief that I didn't have to go through that, but also envy that she was able to have a mother in her life, that her children had a grandmother. When my father died earlier this year, I knew I would see my mother at his funeral. I felt more anxious about this than I did about giving the eulogy or seeing my father's coffin. We said brief hellos, and she told me that my dad would've been really proud of my eulogy. She met my partner for the first time and it was a hugely emotional day. Although my mother and I didn't get much time to talk, I felt like a pathway had been opened for us to have a relationship again. My father's death had made me see him in a new light – as a complex person in his own right. I realised that I was able to start to see my mother like this, too. I realised that life is complicated, and she did the best she could. As I approach 40 and with my own experience of motherhood, I can finally appreciate that she had her own reasons for the choices she made – something I always found difficult to comprehend when I was younger. A few tentative emails later, initiated by her, and we met for lunch a month ago. I was very nervous about seeing her again, but it instantly felt like no time had passed at all. We made polite chit-chat about where we were living now, but when she said, 'I hear you've had a daughter' I broke down in tears. It felt like so much had happened in my life and I didn't even know where to begin. I felt overwhelmed with sadness for everything we'd both missed out on. Read More BRYONY GORDON: I discovered the true meaning of Christmas by going to Dubai with my grieving friend That day felt both incredibly mundane and hugely significant. I came away feeling that I'd like to see her again, and that I'd like for her to properly meet my partner and my daughter. Since our meeting she has been respectful of my boundaries – allowing me to set the pace. I'll always be grateful that she has been able to give me the time and space I needed, and that she still wants to try to have a relationship. We arranged to see each other a few days before Christmas, to meet her granddaughter for the first time. But the day before, she sent me a text cancelling, saying she was ill. Although I was disappointed, I wasn't surprised. I have had a lifetime of being let down by my mother. I was hurt that she had cancelled, but I was happy that I hadn't said too much to my daughter about meeting her grandmother. Perhaps a part of me knew she would probably end up not coming – even though it seems unfathomable to me. If I was meeting my grandchild for the first time, it's hard to think of much that would prevent me from showing up. She suggested we find another day to meet up, but I'm not holding out too much hope. Every time I do that with my mother I set myself up for sadness. I would love to give her the benefit of the doubt – it is flu season after all or perhaps she feels nervous about meeting up and it has manifested as an illness. In a way, I feel vindicated that my partner has now seen her baffling and confusing behaviour first- hand, because I sometimes found it hard to explain why we were estranged. Occasionally, I have even doubted my own recollection of the past, almost gas-lighting myself into wondering if she was really that bad. But it seems she hasn't changed all that much. I tried to enjoy the day with my own family. I felt grateful that although it would be another Christmas without my mum – and my first without my dad – I have a lovely family of my own now, and I am much less affected by her being unreliable. I have many memories of being the last person to be collected from school, countless missed parents' evenings and having to stay at friends' houses because she didn't pick me up at all. Christmas is just another day – it wasn't going to magically heal all wounds. There was no exchanging gifts with mum and no heartwarming ending to this story, but by creating my own traditions with my family, this time of year does feel special to me. Even before the arrival of a man called Jesus, people rejoiced in a celebration of light, rebirth and renewal. The worst of winter is hopefully behind us, and it feels like there's a lot to look forward to. Share or comment on this article: I've been estranged from my mum for six years. She finally wanted to meet her granddaughter this Christmas - but would she let me down again? e-mail Add commentEgypt and China issued a joint statement at the conclusion of the fourth round of their strategic dialogue. The round was held in Beijing on Friday 13/12/2024, headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. The two sides exchanged views in a profound and comprehensive manner on Chinese-Egyptian ties and a host of regional and international issues of mutual interest. They also reviewed the development achievements made by the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties between them, most particularly since the elevation of their relations to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership 10 years ago. The two sides stressed in their joint statement the dire need to implement the important consensuses reached by the presidents of the two countries during their talks in May 2024. They called for strengthening bilateral relations to realize an ultimate goal of establishing the Chinese-Egyptian community for a not-too-distant future towards the new era, by seizing the opportunity of the 2024 Egypt-China year of partnership as a new starting point. The two sides lauded the organization of many joint diplomatic, economic, trade, investment, cultural and tourism activities during the current year, with the aim of fostering bilateral cooperation in all domains. They affirmed the continuation of exchanging support on issues related to the broad interests of each of them. The Chinese side pledged to continue support for Egypt’s legitimate right to preserve its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and reject external interference in its domestic affairs, under any pretext. It also expressed support for Egypt’s legitimate right to maintain its security and stability in the face of real challenges besetting the country and protect its water and food security and development interests. For its part, the Egyptian side asserted its continued commitment to the one-China principle and reaffirmed that it considers Taiwan as an integral part of China. Also, it confirmed its support to the Chinese side’s stances on issues related to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to the complete reunification of China, and expressed rejection of external interference in China’s internal affairs. According to the statement, the two sides will continue to activate the cooperation mechanisms in the fields of diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, productive use of energy, and others with the view to speeding up the implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Egypt’s Vision 2030. The Egyptian side also expressed its appreciation for the Chinese side’s keenness on continuing to contribute to the economic development and national construction of Egypt, particularly in the fields of manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, science and technology, aviation and space. The two sides agreed on boosting coordination and cooperation to implement the outcomes of the first BRICS summit after expanding its membership, preserve the common interests of developing countries and enhance solidarity and cooperation of the “Global South”. The two sides agreed that the just settlement of the Palestinian issue is the main pillar of restoring stability in the Middle East region. In this regard, the two sides called for an end to the Israeli occupation and the establishment of the Palestinian state based on the border lines of June 4, 1967, with Al Quds (occupied East Jerusalem) as its capital. They stressed the necessity of reaching an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from it, calling for ensuring the safe, immediate and sustained access of humanitarian aid to all parts of the Strip. The two sides condemned acts of violence and the targeting of civilians and infrastructure, which constitute blatant violations of international law and international humanitarian law. They agreed on supporting the return of the Palestinian National Authority in the Gaza Strip, which will enable it to undertake the responsibility for any future arrangements in the enclave after the war ends within the framework of inter-Palestinian consensus. They reiterated that implementing the “two-state solution” is the only way to settle the Palestinian issue, expressing their categorical rejection of attempts to displace Palestinians from their land and stressed their firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including obtaining full membership in the United Nations as soon as possible. The two sides pledged to enhance communication and coordination on this score. The Chinese side also expressed appreciation for Egypt’s mediation efforts between the two parties since the outbreak of the crisis, and its humanitarian efforts, highlighting Egypt’s holding of the Cairo Ministerial Conference to enhance humanitarian response to Gaza on December 2, 2024. The Egyptian side expressed appreciation for China’s genuine efforts to push the Palestinian political factions to engage in a Beijing-hosted dialogue on national reconciliation and sign the Beijing Declaration on ending the division and strengthening the Palestinian national unity. The two sides said they are closely following the developments in Syria, asserting their support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and the importance of preserving the capabilities of the state and its national institutions. They also underlined the need for coordination to provide a helping hand to the Syrian people to put an end to their suffering and achieve stability in the country. The two sides welcomed the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, stressing the necessity of implementing UN Security Council Resolution No. 1701 (2006) with all its elements and without selectivity. The two sides also stressed the key importance of respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty, not interfering in its internal affairs, and supporting the national institutions of the Lebanese state, in a way that contributes to exercising its sovereignty over its entire national territory.CINCINNATI — Saturday’s wild overtime win over the Denver Broncos was the most important in what has been a mostly disappointing season for the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only did the Bengals (8-8) win their fourth straight for the first time this season and keep their slim playoff hopes alive, but they also finally made enough plays late to win a close game. Seven of their previous eight losses were by one score. And Cincinnati also got a win over one of the league’s better teams. Its seven previous victories came against sub-.500 teams. Joe Burrow, in the midst of the best season of his career, threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins with 1 minute, 7 seconds left in overtime to win it 30-24. The final drive followed two critical stops by the Cincinnati defense. “We’ve known we had a good football team all along,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “And those (close) games are disappointing that we came up short, but they didn’t change our process. They didn’t change what our guys believed in. We didn’t have to change everything we did. We still believed in what we were doing. And now we’ve won four in a row, and we have to make it five in a row.” The playoffs are still a long shot. To get there, the Bengals will have to go into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers next weekend in the regular-season finale and also count on other bubble teams losing. What’s working The Bengals are playing their best football of the season. Burrow, battered by the Denver pass rush, completed nearly 80% of his passes in piling up 412 yards and three touchdowns. It marked his eighth straight game with at least 250 yards and three touchdown passes, extending his NFL record. ... Receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who had nine catches for 102 yards against the Broncos, could finish the season with the receiving triple crown — most catches, yards and touchdowns. What needs help The offensive line continues to struggle, even with the return of starting left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Burrow rarely had a clean pocket, was constantly on the run and was sacked seven times and hit 15 times. Stock up The Cincinnati defense, much maligned this season, forced two Denver punts in overtime. The second one led to the Bengals’ winning drive. Linebacker Germaine Pratt intercepted Bo Nix to end a Denver drive in the fourth quarter. “For them to rise up and get those two stops and allow the offense a shot to go win it (is) big-time stuff,” Taylor said. Higgins caught 11 passes for 131 yards and was the recipient of all three of Burrow’s touchdown passes. “Everybody can see what kind of player he is,” Burrow said of Higgins, who is playing this season with the franchise tag. “He elevates us to a different level when he’s playing like that.” Stock down Kicker Cade York, who was signed in early December to fill in for the injured Evan McPherson, had a chance to win the game with 2:49 left in overtime, but his 33-yard field-goal attempt bounced off the left upright. Injuries RB Chase Brown sprained his ankle in an awkward slide as the Bengals tried to run out the clock in regulation. ... OT Amarius Mims suffered an injury to his right hand. Key number 499 — total yards by the Bengals against Denver.
In this month’s edition of our comparison series, we take a look at two upstream powerhouse producers. The first, Occidental Petroleum (NYSE:OXY), is in the process of digesting a large acquisition and carries a lot of debt as a result. Is the share price fully discounting this factor? We will see. The second is EOG Resources, (NYSE:EOG) a company that in recent years has chosen to grow organically, eschewing the M&A craze that has brought a lot of consolidation into the sector. There is a reasonable comparison between the two even though EOG is priced at about 2.5X OXY. Both have big acreage positions in the Delaware basin that are the cornerstone of their income. Both have international exposure with operations in Middle East-OXY, and in Trinidad-Tobago-EOG. Both have catalysts for growth in the coming year. And, like many comparisons, there isn’t necessarily a bad choice. So let’s dive in. Are we near a bottom in upstream oil and gas stocks? I think we are. It should be understood that oil production is a cyclic business -production rises until prices stabilize - and then it begins to decline as activity tapers off. We've had a step change from technology-driven cost and efficiency improvements that have extended the period of production semi-levitation at current levels that must come to an end. Sometime. Without going through a lot of verbiage and reference citations, it just makes sense that we are nearing a peak in the last reservoir to show significant growth - the Permian. If you think about it, since 2010 we have stuck a straw in the Permian, and production has risen from about 1 mm BOEPD to over 6.2 mm BOEPD. Today we are extracting 2.23 bn BOE annually from the Permian, and that just can't go on forever. Estimates are that we are well past the midpoint of production from the key reservoirs that deliver this oil and gas to us. put out a newsletter in conjunction with Novi Labs recently that discussed some aspects in detail that largely agrees with this thesis. Concerns about demand-which has actually stayed fairly robust recently, have offset the plateauing of output in traders' minds, and led to a weakening of prices. Does that reflect reality? My core macro for upstream oil and gas investing is that North American producers are undervalued due to a lack of understanding about the fragility of current shale production levels. Shale is also called 'short-cycle'-meaning that output is related to activity and can be controlled thereby. Obviously less so now due to technology, but the principle remains valid up to a point. The point is growth may be constrained by lower-tier development not being as productive and other logistics impacts-water injection may put a damper on output. The incoming administration's plan to increase production by 3 mm BOPD may also be putting a ceiling on crude and upstream E&P's. I view this as a near impossibility in liquids, and highly doubtful in gas-which is increasing all by itself as the reservoirs being drilled are gassier. There simply aren't enough rigs to generate this kind of growth, and no sign the industry is willing to build them up to that level. When the disconnect between what the incoming administration wants to do and what is possible becomes evident, the drag on prices will evaporate. I think there will be extreme winners, and extreme losers when the real impact of declines in the Permian are noticed by the market. In that scenario, I think we are near a bottom for stocks in the upstream sector, particularly ones with the critical mass that OXY and EOG possess. Occidental Petroleum, (NYSE:OXY) was one of the big wins for investors coming out of the pandemic. Many recognized the value Anadarko brought and loaded up in the teens. It’s been a rough ride since late 2022. The fact those who bought at the 2020 bottom are still in the black after a 35% capital implosion since April of this year, doesn't ease the pain of seeing all that money shifted over into the loss column. Now with the post-election jitters of "Drill Baby, Drill" roiling the market, if anything the slope has gotten worse. Notably absent from the market since midyear, has been Uncle Warren, who over the last couple years has been busy, amassing, a 29% stake at prices well above $50 in some June-24 buys, above $60. Until the other day we were wondering what was it about OXY that Warren liked in $50s that he didn't in the $40s? That curiosity was resolved last week with news of his in OXY shares. and holds; warrants that would let him add another 90 mm shares bringing his position to about 40% of the float. If you have any faith in domestic energy at all, it would seem that this is the time to be adding to upstream positions. Buffett may have put a floor on OXY shares with his vote of confidence last week, as the company navigates softer commodity prices. Energy comprises only a tiny fraction of the SP-500 index now, thanks to multiple compressions over the last couple of years. Does that make sense? I don't think so, but things are what they are, and the decline in the sector weighting certainly has a rationale to it as commodities have underperformed. OXY has struggled in comparison to a loose peer group over the past year, only slightly outperforming, bottom-hugging Devon. Only a couple, EOG and Diamondback Energy, (NYSE:FANG) have managed to deliver any growth, while other Delaware basin-focused producers, OXY, Devon Energy, (NYSE:DVN), and ConocoPhillips, (NYSE:COP) are down. FANG and EOG top the list with Operating Margins (OMs) of 42% and 35% respectively. DVN comes in right behind EOG at 32%. This article isn't about DVN, but I must say it makes the negative sentiment toward the company all the more odd. The company is an oil and gas producing juggernaut with total output currently at 1.42 mm BOEPD and guiding to 1.47 mm BOEPD in Q-4. OXY’s cornerstone is in the Permian’s Delaware basin, but through the CrownRock deal has a significant foothold in the Midland basin. It also has production from the U.S. GoM, and internationally in the Middle East. The company also has a chemicals-caustic soda business that operates in the black and actually is symbiotic to their nascent Direct Air Capture-DAC business - in that caustic drives a reaction to liberate the carbon for capture. The company is successfully integrating the CrownRock purchase into their operations which is receiving an increasing share of D&C capex this year - the goal being to increase the overall oil percentage of total production. It was also noted that legacy CrownRock water infrastructure is contributing about $10 mm in savings this year. OXY is successfully managing LEO costs down through production increases, leveraging infrastructure around new pads, and actively engaging with service providers to minimize the white space-slack time, between TD'ing a well and rigging up to frac. The Delaware continues to perform with the company increasingly drilling secondary benches and seeing better than anticipated performance. Speaking for OXY, s as they wring superior performance out of low-tier benches-Wolfcamp B & C as an example. “These secondary benches that we have second and third and fourth benches that we can develop in the Permian in the Delaware and the Midland Basin, and we're still continuing to get more out of those reservoirs. I expect though in the near-term with weaker prices that what we used to think as a peak in say in three years, moves further out because with weaker prices I think there's going to be less growth in the Permian.” I don't think this is true for all companies (if my prognostication that the Permian peaking in the nearer term is way out of whack), as OXY has some of the best Delaware dirt around, thanks to the Anadarko deal. All in all, OXY is generating $3.1 in AFFO and netted $1.5 bn in free cash for the quarter. Pretty much every nickel they take in is going toward debt reduction, which is as it should be. OXY's cashflow priorities are shown in the slide below. Once LT debt is less than $15 bn, then the focus shifts to buying back shares and redeeming Warren's 10% yielding Preferred stock. This puts holders of the common stock at the end of a multiyear list for any significant boost to the dividend. This could be problematic for the stock affecting any chance of a price recovery. I also think that this mindset on the part of management may be contributing the weakness in OXY shares, as investors look for steady cash. A noted that in turbulent times, investors shift from growth stocks to dividend payers. “Investors typically flock to the dividend payers in down markets or when the economic outlook turns cloudy. Indeed, many companies with big payouts, including utilities and consumer staples, produce stable earnings in any weather.” Ok now let’s review EOG. The company has a reputation as being one of the best-run shale drillers and has consistently returned capital to shareholders through the cycle. This shows in the value creation claimed by the company in the slide below. If WTI sees the gain projected over the next couple of years the free cash available for distribution could be enormous. Analysts rate EOG as , but I doubt that rating takes into account the swoon since early November. The Q-4 EPS forecast for the company is $2.57 per share. This is down from the $2.78 per share forecast for Q-3, which they crushed at $2.89. If they beat on Q-4, it will be consistent with their performance over the entire year. Share price forecasts range from $146-$170, with a median of $144, making an entry point sub-$120 a very reasonable short-term prospect. Particularly when the shareholder-friendly plans for capital returns are factored in. The company has just made a triple-bottom sub-$120, and with a Q-4 beat is unlikely to get much cheaper. I think there will be extreme winners, and extreme losers when the real impact of declines in the Permian are noticed by the market. In that scenario, I think we are near a bottom for stocks in the upstream sector. The company is banging on the door of the million barrel-a-day equivalent producer club. One of the things that sets it apart from other shale players is its well-distributed legacy positions in key shale plays that date from early shale E&P activity in the 2010's. The company has first class assets which are shown in the company graphic below. Recently it’s made a big push into the long-neglected Utica shale. EOG has mostly legacy acreage positions that date back to the Enron days pre-shale revolution when dirt was cheap, and thus have avoided the need for big capital outlays to snag competitors at $50-100K per acre. The last , which they comparatively ‘stole’ for $5,400 an acre. Deal execution like this shows on the balance sheet with a paltry $3.6 bn of long-term debt presently. On DE basis none of its peer group even comes close. EOG has some of the best dirt in the Delaware, thanks to the Yates deal. Perhaps you’ve seen the Wolfcamp white paper put out by the EIA. If not . It shows that some of the best Wolfcamp A, and Bone Spring benches are in southern Eddy and Lea County New Mexico, and in Loving County, Texas. A recent discussed the intensity of drilling in these areas. We're a fan of good dirt around here as it drives cost impacts from logistics and technology. This enables EOG to be pretty selective in the projects they sanction, putting a 30% after-tax rate of return at $40 per barrel. That's a pretty steep hill to climb, but it insulates the company from all but the wildest swings in commodity prices. It also enables price realizations that top the peer group at $77 for Q-3, 2024. I think most of us get the idea behind stock buybacks and their intrinsically increasing the value of remaining shares. That has to be balanced though with the fact that much of this is fraught with peril at squandering capital. This is done by buying back stock in one quarter and seeing the price continue to decline. That is certainly the scenario extant these days. I am surprised equity analysts don't pursue this in conference calls more. EOG has been bitten by the share buyback bug-noting that it will be done ‘opportunistically’, but shows a much more shareholder-friendly attitude with its robust $3.90 per share annual dividend, than many companies that have totally scrapped special dividends in favor of buybacks. The Yield on Cost (YOC) is actually pretty decent at 3.28%. Bottom-line management at EOG knows shareholders need to eat while waiting for the stock float shrinkage to drive share prices higher. EOG's entry into the with relatively little fanfare. Things seem to be going pretty well from the comments in the slide below. EOG has a huge acreage position, and the Utica is far less developed than the Marcellus. The northeast is gas hungry from the explosive growth in AI data centers and the demand coming from the Cove Point LNG terminal on the Chesapeake Bay. On the horizon, new East Coast plants are creating a potential uplift in demand. It is fair to say that EOG isn't cheap here. But against a cohort of near-million barrel producers, it's reasonably priced. Things can always get cheaper, so this multiple might shrink. I am betting there is less elasticity in EOG than in others. I don't think there is any doubt that OXY is a buy for long-term capital appreciation at current levels. As I have noted, I feel strongly that American oil and gas companies are undervalued in terms of their true impact on society, here at home and globally, and lack only a catalyst to rerate higher. This would totally change the dynamic for owners of these assets, but there is no date certain as to when this will occur. The question is, can we wait that out while receiving peanuts for our capital? That leaves us looking for income while we wait for growth, and the money coming quarterly from OXY will not buy Porterhouse steak at Kroger. It may not even buy chicken breasts without a coupon. Chicken leg quarters are the immediate future of OXY holders as we wait on capital appreciation in the commodity rerating I expect. The problem I see is management's dogged determination not to pay a respectable dividend to reward shareholders now. Let's review. First, they had the debt from Anadarko. Ok, that transformed the company...while almost killing it. They got through that and then rising oil prices worked their magic and we had a 5-bagger in appreciation, with the stock price peaking at $75 in late 2022. Holders of OXY stock will listen to any song management sings with that kind of growth in their portfolio. Then came the CrownRock debt and dilution. As I have noted, the company is rightly knocking down the debt, but their single-minded focus on buying back stock at multiples where no one else, except Warren Buffett, is buying does investors no service. The YOC is under 2% and there are no special dividends planned to spread a little cash among shareholders. Since reinstituting the regular dividend in 2022 it's been raised twice and I expect it will be raised again when Q-4 earnings are announced. By another 4-5 cents. To continue our chicken metaphor, this is chicken feed. OXY trades at 5.5-6X EV/EBITDA and $48K per flowing barrel. Not terribly cheap on either metric, so it's probably a toss-up,-pay interest on debt or capitalize on a 30% downdraft in stock prices...since April of this year. Now let’s look at EOG. EOG is trading at a flowing barrel price of $69 per barrel. Again not give away prices. You can buy shale cheaper. EOG has a reputation of being one of the best-run companies in this sector and most of the metrics I've seen substantiate that notion. I've always been willing to pay up for quality, and that's the recommendation here. Buy EOG. EOG has 4.43 bn bbl of 2P reserves as of the end of 2023. During the year they replaced 202% of production with new discoveries. Both are solid metrics and justify the current prices for the stock. At $40 per bbl, EOG has a net present value (NPV) of $179.00 per share, which comes for the share price. This doesn't take into account future revenue from the Utica play, so I regard it as conservative. Also, investors entering EOG before 1-17-25 will receive the previously announced and just raised regular dividend of $0.98 per share on Jan-31st. I regard the timing as auspicious. The yield is admittedly not spectacular-3.08% but I am expecting a special dividend at some point in the coming year that will improve the overall yield on cost. I think EOG is an outstanding bargain for future growth and immediate shareholder returns. Every serious investor in upstream E&P companies should have a position in the company. Accordingly, I rate EOG as the winner of this month’s comparison.Washington, Dec 30 (AP) Some quotations from Jimmy Carter. Also Read | Mikheil Kavelashvili, Former Georgian Footballer, Sworn In As Georgia's President (Watch Video). We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. I have come to realize that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment. Political and religious leaders must attempt to provide a society within which these human attributes can be nurtured and enhanced. — from 1975 book “Why Not the Best?” ___ Also Read | China: Lottery Winner Defrauded of INR 11.5 Crore, yet To Receive Winnings Despite Court Victory. Our government can express the highest common ideals of human beings — if we demand of government true standards of excellence. At this Bicentennial time of introspection and concern, we must demand such standards. — “Why Not the Best?” ___ I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan's songs and Dylan Thomas's poetry. — “Why Not the Best?” ___ Christ said, “I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.” I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognises I will do — and I have done it — and God forgives me for it. But that doesn't mean that I condemn someone who not only looks on a woman with lust but who leaves his wife and shacks up with somebody out of wedlock. — Interview, November 1976 Playboy. ___ This inauguration ceremony marks a new beginning, a new dedication within our Government, and a new spirit among us all. A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a people can provide it. — Inaugural address, January 1977. ___ It's clear that the true problems of our nation are much deeper — deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation and recession... All the legislation in the world can't fix what's wrong with America... It is a crisis of confidence. — So-called “malaise” speech, July 1979. ___ But we know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges. For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival; liberty is human rights; the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants. — Farewell Address, January 1981. ___ We appreciate the past. We are grateful for the present and we're looking forward to the future with great anticipation and commitment. — October 1986, at the dedication of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. ___ War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live together in peace by killing each other's children. — December 2002, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. ___ Fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree... The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation's historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship. — From 2005 book “Our Endangered Values.” ___ I think that this breakthrough by Barack Obama has been remarkable. When he made his speech (on race) a few months ago in Philadelphia, I wept. I sat in front of the television and cried, because I saw that as the most enlightening and transforming analysis of racism and a potential end of it that I ever saw in my life. — August 2008, commenting on then-Senator Barack Obama's candidacy. ___ I think it's based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president... No matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect. — September 2009, reacting to Rep. Joe Wilson's shout of “You lie!” during a speech to Congress by President Barack Obama. ___ I'm still determined to outlive the last guinea worm. — 2010, on The Carter Centre's work to eradicate guinea worm disease. ___ You know how much I raised to run against Gerald Ford? Zero. You know how much I raised to run against Ronald Reagan? Zero. You know how much will be raised this year by all presidential, Senate and House campaigns? $6 billion. That's 6,000 millions. — September 2012, reacting to the 2010 “Citizens United” US Supreme Court decision permitting unlimited third-party political spending. ___ I have become convinced that the most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare, unfortunately following the example set during my lifetime by the United States. — From 2014 book “A Call to Action.” ___ I don't think there's any doubt now that the NSA or other agencies monitor or record almost every telephone call made in the United States, including cellphones, and I presume email as well. We've gone a long way down the road of violating Americans' basic civil rights, as far as privacy is concerned. — March 2014, commenting on US intelligence monitoring after the Sept 11, 2001, terror attacks ___ We accept self-congratulations about the wonderful 50th anniversary - which is wonderful - but we feel like Lyndon Johnson did it and we don't have to do anything anymore. — April 2014, commenting on racial inequality during a celebration of the Civil Rights Act's 40th anniversary. ___ I had a very challenging question at Emory (University) the other night: “How would you describe the United States of America today in one word?” And I didn't know what to say for a few moments, but I finally said, “Searching.” I think the country in which we live is still searching for what it ought to be, and what it can be, and I'm not sure we're making much progress right at this moment. — October 2014 during a celebration of his 90th birthday. ___ The life we have now is the best of all. We have an expanding and harmonious family, a rich life in our church and the Plains community, and a diversity of projects at The Carter Center that is adventurous and exciting. Rosalynn and I have visited more than 145 countries, and both of us are as active as we have ever been. We are blessed with good health and look to the future with eagerness and confidence, but are prepared for inevitable adversity when it comes. — From 2015 book, “A Full Life.” (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Veteran Wall Street investor Ed Yardeni is doubling down on one of the Street's most optimistic forecasts, projecting the S&P 500 to hit 7,000 by the end of 2025. In a Friday newsletter, Yardeni reinforced his bullish outlook, positioning himself at the forefront of high-stakes predictions for the index's 2025 gains. “We’ve been bullish on the stock market since October 2022. We remain bullish, targeting 7000 on the S&P 500 by the end of next year. That puts us near the head of the pack,” he said. Oppenheimer sets its sights on an even loftier 7,100, while major investment bank firms, including Goldman Sachs , JPMorgan, and Morgan Stanley , hover around 6,500. But will the market's stars align or are we looking at overly rosy predictions? Top 10 Wall Street’s 2025 Year-End S&P 500 Predictions Oppenheimer 7,100 Wells Fargo 7,007 Yardeni Research 7,000 Deutsche Bank 7,000 Societe Generale 6,750 BMO 6,700 HSBC 6,700 Bank of America 6,666 Scotiabank 6,650 Barclays 6,660 Yardeni's Roaring 2020s Scenario Yardeni's optimism stems from a “Roaring 2020s” scenario fueled by productivity gains, GDP growth of 3.0%-3.5%, and inflation cooling near 2.5%. Earlier in November, he issued a bold prediction: the S&P 500 – as tracked by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust SPY – could climb to 10,000 by the end of the decade , buoyed by Donald Trump ‘s return to the presidency. "We believe Trump 2.0 represents a major regime change that’s bullish for the economy and stocks," Yardeni said. Hr also anticipated a significant boost to corporate profit margins, driven by the proposed reduction in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, coupled with tax breaks on individual income from tips, overtime and Social Security. While much of the recent earnings growth has been dominated by the tech sector's "Magnificent 7," Yardeni foresees a broader rally on the horizon. "We expect to see a broadening of the companies and industries for which analysts raise their sights in 2025," he said. Earnings: The Backbone Of The Rally Yardeni forecasts operating earnings per share (EPS) for the S&P 500 to hit $285 in 2025 – an 18.8% year-over-year jump, far above the Street’s consensus of $270. “We're leading the pack on EPS outlook," Yardeni stated, attributing the growth to a record profit margin of 13.9% and rising revenues per share, which are projected to climb 5.1% to $2,050. Wall Street analysts expect robust earnings growth of 14.3% for 2025, up from the estimated 10% for 2024. Sector Winners And Losers: Tech Takes Retains The Crown Tech continues to dominate, with the Information Technology sector predicted to post EPS growth of 21.7% in 2025, up from 20.4% in 2024, according to consensus estimates. Analysts also expect a rebound in Health Care, with EPS growth accelerating from 5.0% this year to 20.1% in 2025. Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology are key drivers, with EPS expected to soar 33.1% and 30.9%, respectively. The Materials sector is gearing up for a strong rebound, expected to shift from an 8.2% EPS decline in 2024 to an impressive 18.3% growth in 2025. Similarly, Industrials are set to thrive, fueled by Boeing's return to profitability and surging growth in key industries such as Copper, projected to rise by 37.6%, Commodity Chemicals by 33.1% and Construction Materials by 24.8%. Read now: 5 Semiconductor Stocks Wall Street Analysts Predict Could Soar In 2025 Image generated using AI Via Midjourney © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.It’s that odd time of year between Christmas and New Year’s where it is easy to lose track of what day it is, what year it is, if you have to work tomorrow and other basics that are so cut and dried the other 51 weeks of the year. Maybe that explains the Minnesota Wild seemingly losing track of where they were and what they were doing for some critical minutes on Sunday, as things slipped away in a 3-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators. ADVERTISEMENT The Wild grabbed an early lead but could not add to it, as Josh Norris netted the game-winner for the Senators on a third-period power play, snapping a two-game Ottawa losing streak. Claude Giroux hit an empty-net goal in the final minute for the visitors. Freddie Gaudreau supplied the only offense for the Wild with a first-period goal. They got 33 saves from goalie Filip Gustavsson, but saw their two-game winning streak and all of the good feelings they had collected with last Friday’s come-from-behind win in Dallas disappear. The Wild’s struggling penalty kill had gone 3 for 3 versus the Stars, and killed a penalty midway through the third, only to see team captain Jared Spurgeon head to the box just seconds later. On their second consecutive man advantage, Norris popped a quick shot over Gustavsson’s left shoulder to give the visitors their first lead with 7:18 remaining in regulation. The Wild were being outshot and outplayed late in the first when Declan Chisholm caught a pass from Marcus Foligno and ripped a long-range shot that Gaudreau deflected into the upper right corner. It was just the seventh goal of the season for Gaudreau and his first since he had the only bright spot in a 7-1 home loss to Edmonton on Dec. 12. It was also the 50th goal of Gaudreau’s career. The Senators began the middle period with a strong push and forged a tie when Ridly Greig grabbed a puck that came hard off the end boards and slipped it past Gustavsson with less than two minutes gone in the second. Ottawa outshot the Wild 11-0 in the opening five minutes of the period. Ottawa goalie Leevi Merilainen, making just his third start of the season, finished with 30 saves in the game and got some assistance from the goalposts, as Matt Boldy’s deflected shot in the first period and power-play shots by Mats Zuccarello and Spurgeon all struck the iron. In the final seconds of the middle frame, another Boldy shot hit the crossbar. The Wild at least kept the home crowd engaged, moving the puck well on the power play, and via fisticuffs when fourth-liner Ben Jones and Senators winger Noah Gregor exchanged blows late in the second. ADVERTISEMENT Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizov missed his second consecutive game and third of the season with a lower-body injury. Team officials have listed him as day-to-day and are hopeful for his return soon. The Wild close out 2024 with a New Year’s Eve home game at 7 p.m. versus Nashville. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .Hope and fear as world powers absorb Assad's end
Vertiv Holdings Co's Anand Sanghi sells $4.37 million in stockWriter heaps praise on president Biden
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Juan Sebastian Gorosito scored 21 points as Ball State beat Bellarmine 86-82 on Saturday. Gorosito added three steals for the Cardinals (4-6). Mickey Pearson Jr. added 18 points while going 3 of 6 and 12 of 12 from the free-throw line and he also had three steals. Jermahri Hill shot 6 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 1 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points. The Knights (3-8) were led in scoring by Billy Smith, who finished with 33 points. Bellarmine also got 18 points, six rebounds and two steals from Dylan Branson. Gorosito scored 12 points in the first half for Ball State, who led 47-42 at the break. Hill's jump shot with 16:02 remaining in the second half gave Ball State the lead for good at 52-50. Story continues below video NEXT UP Up next for Ball State is a Saturday matchup with Evansville at home, and Bellarmine visits Wyoming on Thursday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
NAFDAC Destroys Over N120bn Worth of Fake Products in 6 MonthsAU Teacher Prize winner, Adeeko, creates tech tutorials in Yoruba
Things we learned in Miami Dolphins’ 32-26 OT win over the N.Y. JetsNEW YORK (AP) — An early rebound for U.S. stocks petered out by the end of the day, leaving indexes close to flat. The S&P 500 edged down by 0.1% Thursday, coming off one of its worst days of the year after the Federal Reserve said it may deliver fewer cuts to interest rates in 2025 than earlier thought. The Dow Jones Industrial Average inched up by less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.1%. Treasury yields were mixed in the bond market following reports showing the U.S. economy may be stronger than expected, but manufacturing may be contracting again. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are stabilizing Thursday following one of their worst days of the year . The S&P 500 rose 0.2% in late trading, a day after tumbling 2.9% when the Federal Reserve said it may deliver fewer cuts to interest rates next year than earlier thought. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 136 points, or 0.3%, with less than an hour remaining in trading, following Wednesday’s drop of more than 1,100 points. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Wednesday’s drop took some of the enthusiasm out of the market, which critics had already been warning was overly buoyant and would need everything to go correctly for it to justify its high prices. But indexes remain near their records , and the S&P 500 is still on track for one of its best years of the millennium . Traders are now expecting the Federal Reserve to deliver just one or maybe two cuts to interest rates next year, according to data from CME Group. Some are even betting on none. A month ago, the majority saw at least two cuts in 2025 as a safe bet. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they give the economy a boost and goose prices for investments, but they can also provide fuel for inflation. Darden Restaurants, the company behind Olive Garden and other chains, helped lift the market after leaping 15.1%. It delivered profit for the latest quarter that edged past analysts’ expectations. The operator of LongHorn Steakhouses also gave a forecast for revenue for this fiscal year that topped analysts’. Accenture rose 6.7% after the professional services company likewise topped expectations for profit in the latest quarter. CEO Julie Sweet said it saw growth around the world, and the company raised its forecast for revenue this fiscal year. Amazon shares added 1.8%, even as workers at seven of its facilities went on strike Thursday in the middle of the online retail giant’s busiest time of the year. Amazon says it doesn’t expect an impact on its operations during what the workers’ union calls the largest strike against the company in U.S. history. They helped offset a tumble for Micron Technology, which fell 16.7% despite reporting stronger profit than expected. The computer memory company’s revenue fell short of Wall Street’s forecasts, and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said it expects demand from consumers to remain weaker in the near term. It gave a forecast for revenue in the current quarter that fell well short of what analysts were thinking. Lamb Weston, which makes French fries and other potato products, dropped 22.6% after falling short of analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue in the latest quarter. It also cut its financial targets for the fiscal year, saying demand for frozen potatoes is continuing to soften, particularly outside North America. The company replaced its chief executive. In the bond market, yields were mixed a day after shooting higher on expectations that the Fed would deliver fewer cuts to rates in 2025. Reports on the U.S. economy came in mixed. One showed the overall economy grew at a 3.1% annualized rate during the summer, faster than earlier thought. The economy has remained remarkably resilient even though the Fed held its main interest rate at a two-decade high for a while before beginning to cut them in September. A separate report showed fewer U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, an indication that the job market also remains solid. But a third report said manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic region is unexpectedly contracting again despite economists’ expectations for growth. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.57% from 4.52% late Wednesday and from less than 4.20% earlier this month. But the two-year yield, which more closely tracks expectations for action by the Fed in the near term, eased back to 4.31% from 4.35%. The rise in longer-term yields has put pressure on the housing market by keeping mortgage rates higher. Homebuilder Lennar fell 4.8% after it reported weaker profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Stuart Miller said that “the housing market that appeared to be improving as the Fed cut short-term interest rates, proved to be far more challenging as mortgage rates rose” through the quarter. “Even while demand remained strong, and the chronic supply shortage continued to drive the market, our results were driven by affordability limitations from higher interest rates,” he said. A report on Thursday may have offered some encouragement for the housing industry. It showed a pickup in sales of previously occupied homes. In stock markets abroad, London’s FTSE 100 fell 1.1% after the Bank of England paused its cuts to rates and kept its main interest rate unchanged on Thursday. The move comes as inflation there moved further above the central bank’s 2% target rate, while the British economy is flatlining at best. The Bank of Japan also kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, and Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.7%. Indexes likewise sank across much of the rest of Asia and Europe. ___ AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Stan Choe, The Associated PressService Canada holding back 85K passports amid Canada Post mail strike
Jim Souhan: Quarterback Sam Darnold lifts the Vikings again; his teammates return the favorRosen Law Firm Encourages Zeta Global Holdings Corp. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - ZETAHochul, a Democrat, signed the bill last week after it was passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. The law requires state agencies to perform assessments of any software that uses algorithms, computational models or AI techniques, and then submit those reviews to the governor and top legislative leaders along with posting them online. It also bars the use of AI in certain situations, such as an automated decision on whether someone receives unemployment benefits or child care assistance, unless the system is being consistently monitored by a human. State workers would also be shielded from having their hours or job duties limited because of AI under the law. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, called the law an important step in setting up some guardrails in how the emerging technology is used in state government.None
Jaipur: Holani Venture Capital Fund, a fund promoted by the Holani Group, has reported a remarkable 50% growth in its Net Asset Value (NAV) since its inception. The NAV stood at Rs. 157.62 per unit as of November 2024, significantly higher than benchmark market indices, underscoring its robust investment strategy and commitment to value creation. Holani Venture Capital Fund commenced operations of its Category 1 Alternate Investment Fund (AIF) in July 2024. Between then and December 6, the Nifty 50, which represents the biggest 50 Indian companies, registered gains of 2.22%. The Nifty Midcap 100 and the Nifty Smallcap 100, which represent the biggest midcap companies and smallcap companies respectively, delivered 4.28% and 4.83% in the same period. Asserting the exceptional performance, Ashok Holani, Director of Holani Group, said, “The strong NAV performance is a stepping stone towards our continued journey of growth, innovation and exceptional value delivery. We are confident that our proven strategy and experienced team will keep Holani Venture Capital Fund at the forefront of the industry, navigating challenges and seizing opportunities for the benefit of our investors.” The robust performance of Holani Venture Capital Fund, which raised Rs. 400 crore through the fund offering, is attributed to its strategic focus on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The fund has diversified its portfolio through anchor investments, early-stage investments in unlisted companies, and significant participation in IPOs, allowing it to build a balanced portfolio for the evolving Indian market. The fund has positioned itself as a leader in delivering value to investors by targeting the thriving SME Initial Public Offering (IPO) segment to tap the growth potential and investment opportunities these companies present. Strategic Asset Allocation has been a key factor in the Fund’s success. Its portfolio strategy included a 52% allocation to the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) sector, which is experiencing rapid growth due to urbanisation and demand for energy-efficient solutions. Renewable energy, technology, manufacturing and logistics are the other key components of its portfolio, propelling it to push sustainable development and innovation. The fund’s market positioning, meticulous analysis and agile decision-making allowing it to capitalise on market fluctuations and maximise returns on investments, have been other factors in its success. Transparent communication and investor-centric policies have reinforced stakeholder confidence in the fund’s long-term vision. Looking ahead, Holani Venture Capital Fund plans to expand into high-growth markets, integrate sustainability and ESG principles, and leverage advanced technology to enhance the performance of its investments and stay ahead of changing market trends. The fund is confident of its adaptability and strategy and is well-poised to outperform in the evolving world of investments.She set up her brand after her dad's devastating diagnosis - seeing someone succeed was all he wantedGemcor provides flexible automated solutions for precision-based drilling and fastening applications, blending proven reliability with next-generation technology MACOMB, Mich. , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1937, Gemcor Production Solutions (Gemcor) has installed over 2,000 automated fastening systems worldwide, integral to the manufacturing process of aerostructures throughout modern history. Acquired by Ascent Aerospace in 2016, its advantage is its heritage–a patented, roller-screw technology that provides manufacturing flexibility with many benefits, including shorter cycle times, extended life, and cost savings. "Gemcor products truly set the standard in the industry. With over 80 years of innovation and 100 installations alone in the last ten years, nothing is as reliable or adaptable as a quality-tested factory solution for airframers," shared Dan Friz, Vice President of Business Development and Sales at Ascent Aerospace. Automation and integration were central to Gemcor's evolution under Ascent. "Working directly with legacy Gemcor customers, we were able to pinpoint steps in the production process where opportunities existed to innovate," said Michael Hinckley , Director of Strategic Programs at Ascent Aerospace. "To provide a turn-key solution, we incorporated an automated fastener loading system and integrated a maintenance platform and equipment into the overall production system." For Ascent's customers, quality and cycle-time reductions were key factors in Gemcor's innovation. "The enhanced visual quality inspection with machine learning capabilities, built-in cycle time optimization, and the ability to enable future 'lights-out' operations are just a few of the added benefits of Gemcor's offerings," added Hinckley. "Each of these improvements allows our customers to ramp up production and save on costs, with zero compromise on quality. Our customers trust the legacy capabilities of the Gemcor product line, and the integration into Ascent Aerospace has not only solidified the brand, it has enhanced the overall capabilities." Gemcor's latest technology boasts a fully integrated wing panel assembly production system and six large C-Frame Gemcor machines that provide fastener feed, drill, countersink, sealant application, swage, shave, and multiple inspection capabilities. In addition, two product lines with Gemcor accessibility from both sides of the product, as well as eight automated positioning systems for positioning and holding wing panels. A traffic controller that provides coordinated movement between positioning systems, Gemcor machines, and material handling has been developed to provide personnel safety. In addition, a remote control operation station enables a single operator to safely monitor and run multiple machines simultaneously. "We worked directly with Siemens to develop a new motion control solution within Gemcor that supports the SINUMERIK software platform," shared Friz. "The ability to execute closed-loop force feedback with drilling and riveting operations with Siemens' state-of-the-art controller has reduced cycle times while providing a familiar solution for our customers. We pride ourselves at Ascent on our ability to be flexible throughout our design and engineering process, where we work closely with each customer to provide systems that meet specific facility needs and exceed quality expectations." Gemcor products offer fastening applications to provide efficient fastening rates and high productivity for airframers. Gemcor's latest in a range of technological enhancements includes incorporating continuous improvement processes into its SCADA system to provide critical data for customer-defined KPIs and clear, customizable reports. "This will allow manufacturers to access a user-friendly dashboard that shows how the system is performing," shared Nick Battle , General Manager - MI at Ascent Aerospace. "Using machine learning, this feature will also provide predictive maintenance and process action suggestions, OEE, and Statistical Process Control (SPC)." The integration of machine learning is just one important development of many when it comes to Gemcor's capabilities. Additional features using the latest technologies to enhance Gemcor's systems for customers include various software integrations and the use of AI deep learning to optimize performance and reduce cycle times. "Our goal at Ascent with Gemcor product development has been to increase accuracy, repeatability, and reliability while saving our customers time and resources throughout their manufacturing life-cycle. We have achieved this with the help of industry partners and the dedication and hard work of our talented employees," added Battle. Ascent is continuously adapting Gemcor to meet customers' changing needs as technology advances. "From process engineering to build and installation, our process is to work closely with customers to develop their projects and see them through to ensure we are providing an efficient and cost-effective solution." Additional Gemcor Production Solutions features: Quality inspection capabilities through SCADA machine-level and factory-level integration Modernized solutions using smart manufacturing that save on cost Vision-based solutions for quality inspection with integrated machine-learning capabilities for increased efficiency Process control enhancements to include fastener verification, sealant optimization, edge and feature detection for resync, and debris and chip detection for smoother production Reduce cycle times with all-electric head configurations and Gemcor's high-speed linear head Active Panel Protection (APP) with pressure foot force feedback, deflection, monitoring, and compensation for quality control Ascent Offline Programming (in-house solution), Vericut Drilling and Fastening Simulation System (VDAF), and other software integrations available by request With offerings for a range of applications – from fuselages, wings, to engine nacelles and ducts, to its complete range of system regulations to include stand-alone riveters, semi-automatic systems, full multi-access CNC systems, and robot-based systems – Gemcor is a proven leader in automated drilling and fastening systems and is the factory solution to meet current demand across aerospace markets. Ascent Aerospace is a world-renowned, factory solutions provider of production and automated assembly systems for space, defense, and commercial aerospace industries. In addition to Gemcor Production Solutions, Ascent produces a full suite of both mold and assembly tooling required for the aerospace manufacturing market, including the largest Invar molds ever made— making Ascent the largest tooling group in the industry. As a true factory solutions partner, Ascent has the technology to support customers' builds throughout the lifecycle of their program. For inquiries regarding Gemcor Production Solutions, contact Al Bolen at [email protected] . Learn more at: https://ascentaerospace.com/ Contact: Dan Friz [email protected] SOURCE Ascent Aerospace
Malvern, Pennsylvania (USA), Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rajant Corporation , the pioneer of Kinetic Mesh® wireless networks, and Hader Security and Communication Systems (HSCS), a Kinetic Mesh Partner (KMP) together with Tabbara Electronics, a Kinetic Mesh Distributor (KMD), have secured a key robotic connectivity project using Rajant ES1 BreadCrumb® nodes for a strategic government-owned client in UAE. The UAE client was battling to provide a rapidly deployable, resilient, and secure wireless network to its quadruped Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot for remote inspection, monitoring, and critical maintenance tasks in sensitive industrial environments while complying with local regulations. Other traditional and non-traditional networks were considered and failed. Rajant had the solution with continuous connectivity anywhere Spot was required to go. According to Mr. Mohamad Tabbara - CEO at HSCS, “One of the key characteristics of the project was to build a special mounting arrangement on the Spot robot to ensure full maneuverability of its robotic arm. Movement must be robust and offer an unobstructed view of the infrared camera. Rajant, together with HSC, worked to customize a tailor-made solution fulfilling the client requirements from the technical & operational aspects.” Ms. Sana Kanaan – VP at Tabbara Electronics adds, “Safe and secure tele-remote operation of Spot is crucial in sensitive and hard-to-reach environments to keep people out of harm’s way and improve productivity and safety. Wireless and simple-to-use Rajant BreadCrumb radio nodes are designed from the ground up for such tasks. Moreover, whether it is the ES1 or any of Rajant’s BreadCrumbs, these nodes can grow with the capacity needs of the UAE client for future applications and deliver cost-saving efficiencies to the client’s operation.” “As AI & robotics are evolving industrial operations, Rajant and its local UAE partners continue to support this transformation by providing true M2M AI-powered Kinetic Mesh networks for achieving better operational & business efficiency”, shares Waqas Ansar, Rajant Director of Sales ME. Rajant will be represented at Intersec 2025 in Tabarra Electronics’ booth SA, A29. Stop by and meet us there, or book an appointment beforehand. ### About Hader Security and Communication Systems (HSCS) Hader Security and Communication Systems (HSCS) is a leading provider of integrated security and communication solutions in the UAE. With a focus on delivering state-of-the-art technologies, HSCS specializes in tailored systems for critical infrastructure, government, and industrial operations. By combining innovation with expertise, HSCS empowers clients to achieve operational excellence and enhance safety across dynamic environments. About Tabbara Electronics Tabbara Electronics is a premier distributor of advanced communication and security solutions, serving the EMEA region. With decades of experience, Tabbara Electronics offers a robust portfolio of products, including mission-critical wireless communication systems, surveillance solutions, and AI-powered analytics. Partnering with global technology leaders, Tabbara Electronics ensures reliable, scalable, and innovative solutions that drive efficiency, safety, and connectivity for their clients. For media, contact Ms. Loubna Tabbara, loubna@tabbara-electronics.com . Rajant Corporation Rajant Corporation is the broadband communications technology company that invented Kinetic Mesh® networking, BreadCrumb® wireless nodes, and InstaMesh® networking software. With Rajant and its family of products, customers can rapidly deploy a highly adaptable and scalable network that leverages the power of real-time data to deliver on-demand, mission-critical business intelligence. A low-latency, high-throughput, and secure solution for a variety of data, voice, video, and autonomous applications, Rajant’s Kinetic Mesh networks provide industrial customers with full mobility, allowing them to take their private network applications and data anywhere. With successful deployments in more than 80 countries for customers in military, mining, ports, rail, energy, manufacturing and logistics, municipalities, agriculture, and more, Rajant is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with additional facilities and offices in Arizona and Kentucky. For more information, visit Rajant.com or follow Rajant on LinkedIn and YouTube. Attachment Alice DiSanto Rajant Corporation 914-582-8464 adisanto@rajant.comJimmy Carter, a peanut farmer and little-known Georgia governor who became the 39th president of the United States, promising “honest and decent” government to Watergate-weary Americans, and later returned to the world stage as an influential human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has died. He was 100. When his turbulent presidency ended after a stinging reelection loss in 1980, Carter retreated to Plains, his political career over. Over the four decades that followed, though, he forged a legacy of public service, building homes for the needy, monitoring elections around the globe and emerging as a fearless and sometimes controversial critic of governments that mistreated their citizens. He lived longer than any U.S. president in history and was still regularly teaching Bible classes at his hometown Maranatha Baptist Church well into his 90s. During his post-presidency, he also wrote more than 30 books, including fiction, poetry, deeply personal reflections on his faith, and commentaries on Middle East strife. Though slowed by battles with brain and liver cancer and a series of falls and hip replacement in recent years, he returned again and again to his charity work and continued to offer occasional political commentary, including in support of mail-in voting ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Carter was in his first term as Georgia governor when he launched his campaign to unseat President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election. At the time, the nation was still shaken by President Richard Nixon’s resignation in the Watergate scandal and by the messy end of the Vietnam War. As a moderate Southern Democrat, a standard-bearer of what was then regarded as a more racially tolerant “new South,” Carter promised a government “as good and honest and decent and competent and compassionate and as filled with love as are the American people.” But some of the traits that had helped get Carter elected — his willingness to take on the Washington establishment and his preference for practicality over ideology — didn’t serve him as well in the White House. He showed a deep understanding of policy, and a refreshing modesty and disregard for the ceremonial trappings of the office, but he was unable to make the legislative deals expected of a president. Even though his Democratic Party had a majority in Congress throughout his presidency, he was impatient with the legislative give-and-take and struggled to mobilize party leaders behind his policy initiatives. His presidency also was buffeted by domestic crises — rampant inflation and high unemployment, as well as interminable lines at gas stations triggered by a decline in the global oil supply exacerbated by Iran’s Islamic Revolution. “Looking back, I am struck by how many unpopular objectives we pursued,” Carter acknowledged in his 2010 book, “White House Diary.” “I was sometimes accused of ‘micromanaging’ the affairs of government and being excessively autocratic,” he continued, “and I must admit that my critics probably had a valid point.” Carter’s signature achievements as president were primarily on the international front, and included personally brokering the Camp David peace accords between Egypt and Israel, which have endured for more than 40 years. But it was another international crisis — the storming of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran by Iranian revolutionaries and the government’s inability to win the release of 52 Americans taken hostage — that would cast a long shadow on his presidency and his bid for reelection. Carter authorized a secret military mission to rescue the hostages in April 1980, but it was aborted at the desert staging area; during the withdrawal, eight servicemen were killed when a helicopter crashed into a transport aircraft. The hostages were held for 444 days, a period that spanned Carter’s final 15 months in the White House. They were finally freed the day his successor, Ronald Reagan, took the oath of office. Near the end of Carter’s presidency, one poll put his job approval rating at 21% — lower than Nixon’s when he resigned in disgrace and among the lowest of any White House occupant since World War II. In a rarity for an incumbent president, Carter faced a formidable primary challenge in 1980 from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a favorite of the Democratic Party’s liberal wing. Although Carter prevailed, his nomination was in doubt until the party’s August convention. The enmity between Carter and Kennedy, two of the most important Democratic political figures of their generation, continued throughout their lives. In Kennedy’s memoir, published shortly after his death in 2009, he called Carter petty and guilty of “a failure to listen.” While promoting the publication of “White House Diary,” Carter said Kennedy had “deliberately” blocked Carter’s comprehensive healthcare proposals in the late 1970s in hopes of defeating the president in the primary. In the 1980 general election, Carter faced Reagan, then 69, who campaigned on a promise to increase military spending and rescue the economy by cutting taxes and decreasing regulation. Carter lost in a 51% to 41% thumping — he won just six states and the District of Columbia — that devastated the man known for his toothy smile and sent him back to his hometown, an ex-president at 56. A year later, he and Rosalynn founded the Carter Center, which pressed for peaceful solutions to world conflicts, promoted human rights and worked to eradicate disease in the poorest nations. The center, based in Atlanta, launched a new phase of Carter’s public life, one that would move the same historians who called Carter a weak president to label him one of America’s greatest former leaders. His post-presidential years were both “historic and polarizing,” as Princeton University historian Julian E. Zelizer put it in a 2010 biography of Carter. Zelizer said Carter “refused to be constrained politically when pursuing his international agenda” as an ex-president, and became “an enormously powerful figure on the international stage.” When Carter appeared on “The Colbert Report” in 2014, host Stephen Colbert asked him, “You invented the idea of the post-presidency. What inspired you to do that?” “I didn’t have anything else to do,” Carter replied. He traveled widely to mediate conflicts and monitor elections around the world, joined Habitat for Humanity to promote “sweat equity” for low-income homeownership, and became a blunt critic of human rights abuses. He angered conservatives and some liberals by advocating negotiations with autocrats — and his criticism of Israeli leaders and support for Palestinian self-determination angered many Jews. A prolific author, Carter covered a range of topics, including the Middle East crisis and the virtues of aging and religion. He penned a memoir on growing up in the rural South as well as a book of poems, and he was the first president to write a novel — “The Hornet’s Nest,” about the South during the Revolutionary War. He won three Grammy Awards as well for best spoken-word album, most recently in 2019 for “Faith: A Journey For All.” As with many former presidents, Carter’s popularity rose in the years after he left office. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts” and to advance democracy and human rights. By then, two-thirds of Americans said they approved of his presidency. “Jimmy Carter may never be rated a great president,” wrote Charles O. Jones, a University of Wisconsin political scientist, in his chronicle of the Carter presidency. “Yet it will be difficult in the long run to sustain censure of a president motivated to do what is right.” :::: The journey for James Earl Carter Jr. began on Oct. 1, 1924, in the tiny Sumter County, Georgia, town of Plains, home to fewer than 600 people in 2020. He was the first president born in a hospital, but he lived in a house without electricity or indoor plumbing until he was a teenager. His ancestors had been in Georgia for more than two centuries, and he was the fifth generation to own and farm the same land. His father, James Earl Carter Sr., known as Mr. Earl, was a strict disciplinarian and a conservative businessman of some means. His mother, known as Miss Lillian, had more liberal views — she was known for her charity work and for taking in transients and treating Black residents with kindness. (At the age of 70, she joined the Peace Corps, working in India.) Inspired by an uncle who was in the Navy, Carter decided as a first-grader that he wanted to go to the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He became the first member of his family to finish high school, then attended Georgia Tech before heading for the academy, where he studied engineering and graduated in 1946, 59th in a class of 820. Before his last year in Annapolis, while home for the summer, he met Eleanor Rosalynn Smith, a friend of his sister Ruth’s. He and a friend invited the two young women to the movies, and when he returned home that night, he told his mother he had met “the girl I want to marry.” He proposed that Christmas, but Rosalynn declined because she felt she was too young (she was 18 and a sophomore in college). Several weeks later, while she was visiting Carter at the academy, he asked again. This time she said yes. Carter applied to America’s new nuclear-powered submarine program under the command of the icy and demanding Capt. (later Adm.) Hyman Rickover. During Carter’s interview, Rickover asked whether he had done his best at Annapolis. “I started to say, ‘Yes, sir,’ but ... I recalled several of the many times at the Academy when I could have learned more about our allies, our enemies, weapons, strategy and so forth,” Carter wrote in his autobiography. “... I finally gulped and said, ‘No, sir, I didn’t always do my best.’” To which Rickover replied: “Why not?” Carter got the job, and would later make “Why not the best?” his campaign slogan. The Carters had three sons, who all go by nicknames — John William “Jack,” James Earl “Chip” and Donnel Jeffrey “Jeff.” Carter and Rosalynn had wanted to have more children, but an obstetrician said that surgery Rosalynn had to remove a tumor on her uterus would make that impossible. Fifteen years after Jeffrey was born, the Carters had a daughter, Amy, who “made us young again,” Carter would later write. While in the Navy, Carter took graduate courses in nuclear physics and served as a submariner on the USS Pomfret. But his military career was cut short when his father died, and he moved back to Georgia in 1953 to help run the family business, which was in disarray. In his first year back on the farm, Carter turned a profit of less than $200, the equivalent of about $2,200 today. But with Rosalynn’s help, he expanded the business. In addition to farming 3,100 acres, the family soon operated a seed and fertilizer business, warehouses, a peanut-shelling plant and a cotton gin. By the time he began his campaign for the White House 20 years later, Carter had a net worth of about $800,000, and the revenue from his enterprises was more than $2 million a year. Carter entered electoral politics in 1962, and asked voters to call him “Jimmy.” He ran for a seat in the Georgia Senate against an incumbent backed by a local political boss who stuffed the ballot box. Trailing by 139 votes after the primary, Carter waged a furious legal battle, which he described years later in his book “Turning Point.” Carter got a recount, the primary result was reversed, and he went on to win the general election. The victory was a defining moment for Carter, the outsider committed to fairness and honesty who had successfully battled establishment politicians corrupted by their ties to special interests. In two terms in the Georgia Senate, Carter established a legislative record that was socially progressive and fiscally conservative. He first ran for governor in 1966, but finished third in the primary. Over the next four years, he made 1,800 speeches and shook hands with an estimated 600,000 people — a style of campaigning that paid off in the 1970 gubernatorial election and later in his bid for the White House. In his inaugural address as governor in 1971, Carter made national news by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” He had a portrait of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. hung in a hall at the Capitol in Atlanta. But when Carter launched his official campaign for the White House in December 1974, he was still so little-known outside Georgia that a celebrity panel on the TV show “What’s My Line?” couldn’t identify him. In the beginning, many scoffed at the temerity of a peanut farmer and one-term governor running for the highest office in the land. After Carter met with House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill Jr., the speaker was asked whom he had been talking to. “Some fellow named Jimmy Carter from Georgia. Says he’s running for president,” O’Neill replied. In a meeting with editors of the Los Angeles Times in 1975, Carter said he planned to gain the presidency by building a network of supporters and by giving his candidacy an early boost by winning the Iowa caucuses. Until then, Iowa had been a bit player in the nominating process, mostly ignored by strategists. But Carter’s victory there vaulted him to front-runner status — and Iowa into a major role in presidential nominations. His emergence from the pack of Democratic hopefuls was helped by the release of his well-reviewed autobiography “Why Not the Best?” in which he described his upbringing on the farm and his traditional moral values. On the campaign trail, Carter came across as refreshingly candid and even innocent — an antidote to the atmosphere of scandal that had eroded confidence in public officials since the events leading to Nixon’s resignation on Aug. 9, 1974. A Baptist Sunday school teacher, Carter was among the first presidential candidates to embrace the label of born-again Christian. That was underscored when, in an interview with Playboy magazine, he made headlines by admitting, “I’ve looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. God knows I will do this and forgives me.” Carter had emerged from the Democratic National Convention in July with a wide lead over Ford, Nixon’s vice president and successor, but by the time of the Playboy interview in September, his numbers were tumbling. By election day, the contest was a dead heat. Carter, running on a ticket with Walter F. Mondale for his vice president, eked out a victory with one of the narrower margins in U.S. presidential history, winning 50.1% to 48% of the popular vote and 297 electoral votes, 27 more than needed. Many of Carter’s supporters hoped he would usher in a new era of liberal policies. But he saw his role as more of a problem-solver than a politician, and as an outsider who promised to shake things up in Washington, he often acted unilaterally. A few weeks into his term, Carter announced that he was cutting off federal funding to 18 water projects around the country to save money and protect the environment. Lawmakers, surprised by the assault on their pet projects, were livid. He ultimately backed down on some of the cuts. But his relationship with Congress never fully healed. Members often complained that they couldn’t get in to see him, and that when they did he was in a rush to show them the door. His relationship with the media, as he acknowledged later in life, was similarly fraught. Carter’s image as a reformer also took a hit early in his presidency after he appointed Bert Lance, a longtime confidant, to head the Office of Management and Budget. Within months of the appointment, questions were raised about Lance’s personal financial affairs as a Georgia banker. Adamant that Lance had done nothing wrong, Carter dug in his heels and publicly told his friend, “Bert, I’m proud of you.” Still, Lance resigned under pressure, and although he was later acquitted of criminal charges, the damage to Carter had been done. As Mondale later put it: “It made people realize that we were no different than anybody else.” When Carter did score legislative victories, the cost was high. In 1978, he pushed the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties to eventually hand control of the canal over to Panama. But conservatives criticized the move as a diminution of U.S. strength, and even the Democratic National Committee declined to endorse it. Carter’s most significant foreign policy accomplishment was the 1978 Camp David agreement, a peace pact between Israel and Egypt. But he followed that with several unpopular moves, including his decree that the United States would not participate in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, as a protest against the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. It was the only time in Olympic history that the United States had boycotted an Olympics; the Soviets responded by boycotting the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Carter had taken a series of largely symbolic steps to dispel the imperial image of the presidency. After he took the oath of office on a wintry day, he and the new first lady emerged from their motorcade and walked part of the way from the Capitol to the White House. He ended chauffeur-driven cars for top staff members, sold the presidential yacht, went to the White House mess hall for lunch with the staff and conducted town meetings around the country. He suspended the playing of “Hail to the Chief” whenever he arrived at an event, though he later allowed the practice to resume. On the domestic front, he was saddled with a country in crisis. Inflation galloped at rates up to 14%, and global gasoline shortages closed service stations and created high prices and long lines. Interest rates for home mortgages soared above 14%. In his first televised fireside chat, he wore a cardigan sweater and encouraged Americans to conserve energy during the winter by keeping their thermostats at 65 degrees in the daytime and 55 degrees at night. He also proposed a string of legislative initiatives to deal with the crisis, but many were blocked by Congress. In what would become a seminal moment in his presidency, Carter addressed the nation — and a television audience of more than 60 million — on a Sunday evening in 1979, saying the country had been seized by a “crisis of confidence ... that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will.” He outlined a series of proposals to develop new sources of energy. The address, widely known as the “malaise speech” even though Carter never used that word, was generally well-received at the time, though some bristled at the implication that Americans were to blame for the country’s problems. Any positive glow disappeared two days later, when Carter fired five of his top officials, including the Energy, Treasury and Transportation secretaries and his attorney general. The value of the dollar sank and the stock market tumbled. Sensing that Carter was politically vulnerable, Kennedy moved to present himself as an alternative for the 1980 Democratic nomination, publicly criticizing the president’s agenda. But Kennedy damaged his own candidacy in a prime-time interview with CBS’ Roger Mudd: Asked why he was running for president, Kennedy fumbled his answer, and critics cited it as evidence that the senator didn’t want the job so much as he felt obligated to seek it. A few months after the malaise speech, in late 1979, revolutionaries loyal to Iran’s spiritual leader, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. Weeks stretched into months, with Iran refusing all efforts to negotiate a hostage release. In April 1980, Carter approved Operation Eagle Claw, a secret Delta Force rescue mission. But it ended in disaster — mechanical trouble sidelined three helicopters and, after the mission was aborted, one of the remaining helicopters collided with a transport plane on the ground, killing eight soldiers. Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance resigned before the mission, believing the plan too risky. Negotiations to free the hostages resumed, and Carter desperately tried to win their release before the November election. But the Iranians prolonged the talks and the hostages weren’t released until Jan. 20, 1981, moments after Carter watched Reagan being sworn in. The journey home for Carter was painful. Of those who voted for Reagan in 1980, nearly 1 in 4 said they were primarily motivated by their dissatisfaction with Carter. :::: Carter faced “an altogether new, unwanted and potentially empty life,” as he later put it. He sold the family farm-supply business, which had been placed in a blind trust during his presidency and was by then deeply in debt. Then, as Rosalynn later recalled, Carter awoke one night with an idea to build not just a presidential library but a place to resolve global conflicts. Together, they founded the nonprofit, nonpartisan Carter Center. His skill as a mediator made Carter a ready choice for future presidents seeking envoys to navigate crises. Republican President George H.W. Bush sent him on peace missions to Ethiopia and Sudan, and President Bill Clinton, a fellow Democrat, dispatched him to North Korea, Haiti and what then was Yugoslavia. Carter described his relationship with President Barack Obama as chilly, however, in part because he had openly criticized the administration’s policies toward Israel. He felt Obama did not strongly enough support a separate Palestinian state. “Every president has been a very powerful factor here in advocating this two-state solution,” Carter told the New York Times in 2012. “That is now not apparent.” As an election observer, he called them as he saw them. After monitoring presidential voting in Panama in 1989, he declared that Manuel Noriega had rigged the election. He also began building houses worldwide for Habitat for Humanity, and he wrote prodigiously. The Nobel committee awarded Carter the Peace Prize in 2002, more than two decades after he left the White House, praising him for standing by “the principles that conflicts must as far as possible be resolved through mediation and international cooperation.” During his 70s, 80s and even into his 90s, the former president showed an energy that never failed to impress those around him. In his 1998 book “The Virtues of Aging,” he urged retirees to remain active and engaged, and he followed his own advice, continuing to jog, play tennis and go fly-fishing well into his 80s. When his “White House Diary” was published in 2010, he embarked on a nationwide book tour at 85, as he did in 2015 with the publication of “A Full Life: Reflections at 90.” When he told America he had cancer that had spread to his liver and brain, it was vintage Carter. Wearing a coat and tie and a pair of blue jeans, he stared into the television cameras and was unflinchingly blunt about his prognosis. “Hope for the best; accept what comes,” he said. “I think I have been as blessed as any human being in the world.” Former Times staff writers Jack Nelson, Robert Shogan and Johanna Neuman contributed to this report. ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.None
CMBT stock touches 52-week low at $11.73 amid market shifts
5jili
SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rackspace Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: RXT), a leading end-to-end, hybrid, multicloud, and AI solutions company, today announced that Amar Maletira, Rackspace Chief Executive Officer, and Mark Marino Rackspace Chief Financial Officer will participate in fireside chat with speaking on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 10:55 AM - 11:25 AM MT. To listen to the live webcast or access the replay following the webcast, please visit our IR website at the following link: https://ir.rackspace.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations . About Rackspace Technology Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end, hybrid, multicloud, and AI solutions company. We can design, build, and operate our customers’ cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products, and adopt innovative technologies. IR Contact Sagar Hebbar Rackspace Technology Investor Relations ir@rackspace.com PR Contact Natalie Silva Rackspace Technology Corporate Communications publicrelations@rackspace.comVancouver Island First Nation whose ex-chief met Capt. Cook files claim against B.C.
90.jili
jili apps
h a i l
MDq5 , 乃'aKu] '/,qqChfcNDRNސ Vz/5Ҫ3@j* }d/P*MG Gd k$@U W/j:ADã
!%9|Lzi_^ ,8qh/Bz;L^} ~ \kqI u __(ze&a]b!>BxOS``///+D"еokl6@tE B mU&U x@#Ȱ@0OC3Xꊺ2Vui U!:uЅ#R s8`(Ck)99\7ŞRu'c(6F21?K MMDbu% .xK}J*5|4^.;\KJBf9)!$Pt>'qqj6Qs Ox^"y
Yetf7*UPqV a[e% ^!
O {">
jiliph
