BARCELONA (XINHUA) – Spain’s solar power is on track to overtake wind power as the leading source in the country’s expanding renewable energy sector, which now accounts for more than half of the total energy mix, industry insiders told Xinhua . Renewable energy sources have supplied 57.5 per cent of Spain’s electricity production this year, according to the association of renewable energy companies. Wind power remains the largest contributor with 22.4 per cent, followed by photovoltaic solar energy at 18.3 per cent. Red Electrica de Espana (REE), the national grid operator, reported that large photovoltaic plants will soon surpass wind farms as the energy source with the highest installed capacity in Spain. Ground-based photovoltaic installations, excluding self-consumption systems on rooftops of homes and businesses, now have a combined capacity of over 29,600 megawatts – nearly double the 15,300 megawatts recorded in 2021, according to REE. Renewable energy expert at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) Alvaro Luna a described Spain’s solar power capacity as “healthy”, citing the country’s strong resource availability and growing production. “Spain is among the European Union countries doing their homework in terms of renewable energy penetration and the energy mix,” Luna said in an interview with Xinhua . However, Luna emphasised the need to address gaps in energy sharing, noting that not all households and businesses have access to rooftops for solar panel installations. He also called for greater innovation in solar technology, describing it as a “European problem”. “Photovoltaic energy has immense potential as the alternative energy source Europe needs, but we’re not fully utilising the technology,” he said.Trump says extension of the debt ceiling will 'go down as one of the dumbest political decisions made in years'The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Kobe Sanders scored 27 points, including five of six from the free throw line in the closing minutes, and Nevada pulled away late to beat Oklahoma State 90-78 for a fifth-place finish at the Charleston Classic on Sunday. Nevada’s lone loss in its first six games came in the tournament’s opening round when the Wolf Pack fell to Vanderbilt 73-71. The Cowboys never led in the contest and Nevada grabbed the lead for good on Justin McBride’s tip-in with under 13 minutes left to take a 14-12 lead. Tre Coleman hit two free throws and Chuck Bailey II hit a late jumper to put Nevada up 40-33 at intermission. Abou Ousmane’s tip-in at the 5:21 mark got the Cowboys within five, 75-70 but Brandon Love answered with a three-point play seconds later and the Wolf Pack pulled away. Tyler Rolison’s 3 with 1:38 left pushed the lead to 84-73. Sanders hit 7 of 10 shots from the field, including 3 of 5 from distance, and was 10 of 13 from the line with three assists and a steal to lead Nevada. Nick Davidson had 23 points on 9 of 16 shooting and Love was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and contributed 11 points. The Wolf Pack shot 33 of 56 from the field (58.9%), including 7 of 18 from beyond the arc. RELATED COVERAGE Tonje scores 33, No. 19 Wisconsin beats Pittsburgh 81-75 for Greenbrier Tip-Off title Kennesaw State beats No. 24 Rutgers 79-77 in program’s 1st home game against ranked team Mitchell leads No. 18 Cincinnati in rout of Georgia Tech 81-58 Marchelus Avery and Arturo Dean both came off the Oklahoma State bench to score 15 and 13 points, respectively. Robert Jennings II and Ousmane each scored 11 points. Both teams completed the November portion of their schedule. Nevada plays host to Washington State on Dec. 2. Oklahoma State plays at Tulsa on Dec. 4. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Sununu brushes off Musk’s potential conflicts of interest, warns a ‘car crash of financial crises coming’How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Wednesday, November 27 Published 4:39 pm Tuesday, November 26, 2024 By Data Skrive There are six games featuring a ranked team on the Wednesday college basketball schedule, including the Ole Miss Rebels versus the UConn Huskies. Watch women’s college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up for a free trial. Today’s Top 25 Games Catch tons of live women’s college basketball , plus original programming, with ESPN+ or the Disney Bundle.
Oura Ring Is ‘Like An Apple Product’ And Could Take Key Health Metric Mainstream
Federal prosecutors seek records from company that deployed AI weapons scanner on NYC subwayTrump’s lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding hush money conviction
Fresh plea in SC seeks probe into US indictment of Gautam AdaniARTHUR Gourounlian has told fans how he and husband Brian Dowling found a famous "new nanny" for their daughters. The Dancing With The Stars judge and his Six O'Clock Show host Brian share two kids together, Blake and Blu. Arthur often shares insights into his day-to-day life at home with his kids on social media. Today, he took to Instagram to share an adorable video of his eldest daughter Blake dancing with his friend. Arthur had just home from a lunch with one of his Dancing With The Stars co-workers, Karen Byrne . Karen, who is one of the pro-dancers on the show, couldn't resist the opportunity to begin dancing with Blake. The pair began to enthusiastically bounce their way around the couple's kitchen to All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey . Blake could barely contain her excitement as she giggled the whole way through the routine, while Karen encouraged the little one by holding her hand as they jumped around. Arthur told fans: "Blake just found a new friend." He then asked his eldest: "Blake are you dancing?" Arthur captioned the hilarious video: "Finally we got our new nanny, who offers a massive bonus because she can choreograph routines for Blake. "Perfect girls, see you in seven hours." Karen re-shared the moment and added: "Got my morning cardio done. The most adorable little girl, I can't cope. Besties now." Earlier today, Arthur and Brian blew their fans away with their outdoor Christmas decorations . The happy family are going all out for the festive season this year in their new Dublin home, which they moved into earlier this year. Arthur decided to decorate his home with a "candy-cane world" theme. The dad-of-two joked that some may describe it as "tacky" but he calls it "vintage". The 44-year-old invited Beyond No.6 business owner Lorraine Cox, who is a "home stylist and front door enthusiast", to his house to help him decorate. Lorraine and her team mate transformed Arthur and Brian's home into a winter wonderland as they placed huge tinsel candy canes on the front gate and hung a Christmas wreath with different ornaments and a big red bow around the door arch.The humblest president in history: How Jimmy and Rosalynn returned to their Plains home after the White House
Calls for further reforms to create a universal childcare system are mounting, after major government announcements to improve access for families. or signup to continue reading Anthony Albanese has promised a re-elected Labor government would abolish the childcare activity test and offer three days of subsidised care to families earning up to $530,000 a year. The proposal would scrap the activity test, which determines the level of childcare subsidies parents get based on the number of hours they work, opening up childcare to an estimated 150,000 children. Removing the activity test was "the first plank towards a truly universal system", Impact Economics and Policy lead economist Angela Jackson said. "We can see very clearly that the current market just isn't working," Dr Jackson said. Over the past year, childcare fees have increased by 10.6 per cent, eroding the benefits of the $5 billion Cheaper Child Care Reforms introduced in July 2023. "I think the next step is to really have a look at the way in which support for people using early childhood education and care has often failed to deliver in terms of access, quality and the cost, and whether or not we need some really fundamental reform," Dr Jackson said. A $1 billion fund to build or expand more than 160 early childhood education and care services has also been announced, following parliament's approval of a 15 per cent wage rise over two years for early childhood educators. "I can't tell you how important this week was for these kids who were missing out from disadvantaged backgrounds," Dr Jackson said. The fund, which will prioritise not-for-profit and government centres, will give providers more security through direct funding and had genuine potential to eradicate the nation's childcare desert, The Parenthood's Maddy Butler said. A childcare desert is an area where three or more children compete for one childcare place, and they predominantly exist in outer-suburban, regional, rural and remote communities. "The current early education market has failed country towns," Ms Butler said. "Providers don't have the financial incentive to set up or stay open there and the early educator workforce means existing services often can't run at full capacity." Jay Weatherill, from Minderoo Foundation's Thrive by Five campaign, said the fund was "what rural and outer-suburban communities have been crying out for". "Not having access to childcare and early learning affects everyone, because parents can't get back to work when they want to, and local businesses and services suffer," the former South Australian premier said. "The next step should be a commitment to free early learning for low income families and a $10-a-day cap on out-of-pocket fees for everyone else." Labor is believed to be considering the cap as a federal election promise as it pursues its long-term goal of universal childcare. Parents pay about $50 per child per day, and childcare was recently identified as the third fastest-growing cost in the Consumer Price Index. Each time governments increased subsidies, the value of the gains was eroded by increases in the cost of care, Dr Jackson said. "The current market settings encourage providers to charge higher fees, rather than drive more cost-effective and higher quality care," she said. A supply-side system, where providers were funded based on service delivery costs and parents paid $10 to $20 per day, was "wholly achievable", she said. "There are debates about whether ... higher-income earners should contribute more, and I think you can have those debates within this context," she said. Australian Childcare Alliance president Paul Mondo said rushing change increased the chance of getting it wrong and causing long-term damage to the sector that would be difficult to reverse. A report commissioned by the alliance found that if the costs of delivering high-quality services weren't considered in supply-side funding, centres might be forced to take a minimalist approach to staffing. "Universal application of a supply-side funding model would be complex and costly to get right, taking years to implement which is too late for many families struggling under the cost-of-living crisis that is happening now," Mr Mondo said. Dr Jackson said there was no need to rush into a supply-side system and it could be delivered sensibly. "We need to outline just how a universal system could work, and how it can be delivered in a way that we know the benefits of the additional government investment aren't going to be eroded," she said. The government's proposals were a "game-changer" that would mean thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children could access early education and care, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children chief executive Catherine Liddle said. "The activity test effectively denied many children the opportunity to access crucial early learning services," she said. "Our families are five times more likely to access only one day of care as a result of the activity test, and many families disengage completely because of the small amount of subsidised care available." Dr Jackson said it was important to recognise that childcare was "a critical market for the Australian economy". "It's the key mechanism by which we invest in the next generation of workers, but it is also a huge enabler in terms of participation of women," she said. "So if we can get the market working in terms of the quality and the cost and access, then we can also help unlock a lot of economic potential." 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Kobe Sanders scores 27 points, Nevada never trails in 90-78 win over Oklahoma StateAfter a long election campaign that has polarized American and international public opinion, Donald Trump is confirmed as the 47th president of the United States. His victory generates curiosity and debates in every part of the world, spreading a certain sense of expectation and apprehension about the future of the global order. All world leaders, regardless of their political color, have greeted the president-elect by sending messages of congratulations. Among these, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stands out. Traditionally, Meloni had intense and deep relations with the conservative establishment, while recently, she has marked a U-turn toward democratic positions with the Biden administration. As a matter of fact, since her rise to power in 2022, Meloni has cooled many of her more traditionally ideological demands to better represent her institutional role within a European Union characterized by the liberal left and to honor the historic Italian-American friendship. The scenario could change today without compromising the close interests binding Italy and the U.S. Meloni certainly wasted no time in congratulating Trump on his electoral victory: During the phone call, she expressed her willingness to work in close coordination on all the main international dossiers, starting with the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East, sharing the goal "of promoting stability and security, also in the context of relations with the EU." The government note also reports that "the intention to continue the path of strengthening the already excellent bilateral relations, based on shared values and principles, agreeing on the opportunity to remain in close contact" was affirmed and that "the solid alliance, the strategic partnership and the deep and historic friendship that have always tied Rome and Washington" was confirmed. At the same time, as reported on X, Meloni called her friend Elon Musk, CEO of X and Tesla and an ally of Trump in his race toward the White House. "I am convinced that his commitment and vision will be an important resource for the U.S. and Italy, in a spirit of collaboration aimed at facing future challenges," wrote Meloni. Indeed, her relationship with Musk is quite deep and well-tested. Musk was welcomed several times by the leader of Fratelli d’Italia, the last one at the end of 2023 in Rome along a right-wing manifestation. Moreover, in September 2024, Musk himself presented Meloni with the Atlantic Council's “Global Citizen Award” in New York, marking a move that could be interpreted as an intention to reapproach the Republican front. As a matter of fact, today, there is room to think that Musk could act as a point of contact between Trump and Meloni, elevating the latter to main European interlocutor alongside Orban, who has always sided with the Republican candidate. More recently, some statements by Elon Musk are to be read as an endorsement of Meloni, although they have inflamed the Italian political climate, further exacerbating social polarization. Referring to the decision of the Italian judges to block the sending of some migrants from Italy to the reception camp set up by the Italian government in Albania, Elon Musk posted on X: "These judges must go." The externalization of irregular migration is indeed an ambitious project in which the Meloni government invested, but it immediately faced the issue of illegitimacy as established by the Italian judiciary. "Do the Italian people live in a democracy or is it an unelected autocracy that makes decisions?" Musk doubled down by sparking discontent in some sectors of Italian politics and society. "Italy knows how to take care of itself in compliance with its Constitution ... Anyone, especially if, as announced, is about to assume an important government role in a friendly and allied country, must respect its sovereignty and cannot take on the task of issuing prescriptions," the words of the president of Italy's Republic, Sergio Mattarella addressing Musk, who in turn replied that he "respected the Italian president and expressed his opinions as a free citizen." However, the Ceo of Tesla and X, also in his next institutional capacity as leader of the U.S. government efficiency, risked enlarging further some political fracture in Italy, either in terms of relations between the government and the opposition, either within the governing group and within Meloni's party, Fratelli di Italia. Meloni concluded: "We always listen with great respect to the words of the president." In a historical moment when the nomination of Raffaele Fitto as European Commissioner has been questioned again at a European level and many dossiers are on the government's desk, the priority of the Italian Prime Minister is focusing on a climate of substantial social unity. In this regard, along with growing concerns, Meloni would warn her friend Musk to tone down and not " put her in difficulty." As it is evident, between the two, there is great political harmony, also hinging on important complementarities in business, both about the Italian acquisition of Tesla and the Starlink satellite network. This was supplied during the flood hitting Italy's northern region of Emilia Romagna in 2023 by ensuring precise localization and communication to cope with the emergency. There are rumors about agreements regarding satellite coverage projects at institutional, defense and security levels. To some extent, this marks a new page for the Italian PM, for her party Fratelli di Italia and for the Italian government, which in the past four years had flattened itself on the democratic positions of the outgoing President Joe Biden, distorting in a certain sense its own political identity in the name of the values of the transatlantic alliance. Undoubtedly, Meloni and her party embed the right-wing instances genetically close to conservative programmatic contents of the Republicans, on which politically there is a substantial convergence on internal issues pivoting mainly on migration and border defense. When in the past, she was still in the opposition circles, Meloni celebrated Trump, then president of the U.S., pronouncing words of criticism towards Europe and characterized by a strong sovereignism. However, once she became head of the Italian government, the tone changed as she was totally embedded in the European structure; even the rhetoric regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war recorded a u-turn, aligning itself with Biden's positions. It is therefore clear that, as Italian Prime Minister, Meloni has been in the position of keeping a complicated balance regarding American politics: the Italian imperative is indeed to demonstrate that it is a reliable ally of the U.S., given the enormous economic and diplomatic influence and the historical legacy binding them. In this light, in her government tenure, Meloni has assumed controversial positions, thus she was criticized especially by her traditional electorate. Her transition from opposition leader to head of government, coinciding with the Biden administration, has therefore marked a sort of transformation from more Trumpian instances to those more aligned with democratic values. Eventually, with Trump's reconfirmation at the White House, these contradictions may disappear without implications to the structural limits imposed by Italy's ties with the EU and by Italian interests in some regional chess boards. To date, in several sectors, the great question mark is over the future of Italy's positioning in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Besides, the fear of the return of economic duties and of constraints of the allies on the NATO budget is looming. Nevertheless, within the Italian political spectrum, different feelings about Trump are carved out. While the opposition has always been against the conservatives' actions and perceives Trump as “the worst that could happen” in terms of the defense of rights, the Italian center-right was quite divided, except Matteo Salvini, leader of the Lega, who has always openly supported Trump. "Tax cuts, the fight against illegal immigration, the return to peace as a priority ... President Trump will act in the interests of U.S. citizens, as it is right. If, in pursuing these interests, we could create a new international balance, with the closure of the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Palestine, the entire world would gain from it," Salvini claims. On top of everything, the great unknown is related to the future of the EU and its relations with the U.S. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Trump with “an excellent phone call,” stating: “Looking forward to strengthening EU-U.S. ties and working jointly to address geopolitical challenges,” X reports. However, there is room to believe that dark prospects await the EU, which – now more than ever – must make an immediate leap in quality and broadening its vision. In an increasingly fractured European framework characterized by strong growth of right-wing movements, a progressive loss of French influence, and the German crisis, Giorgia Meloni is undoubtedly the leader who enjoys stable support and a certain international projection. All these elements eventually suggest the rise of Meloni as a privileged interlocutor of Trump's America, together with Orban, who recently hosted the European Political Union Summit in Budapest, where a new wind of change was felt. It is, therefore, not surprising if, in the medium term, within the EU, we would observe new alignments in favor of Italy, which is proving to be increasingly central in the management of some dossiers. On the other hand, Meloni is in the delicate position to find the right balance between the inner original spirit of Fratelli d'Italia, which was aligned with Trump's approach, and the national and European political constraints. In this case, by echoing Meloni, it would not be wrong to say that “with this American vote, Italy will be stronger in Europe.”Jay Battacharya: another Covid-19 critic goes to Washington
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump’s return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North's nuclear program. Many experts however say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea's support for Russia's war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.” Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into “a nuclear military bloc for aggression." “This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how,” Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim's speech “clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively” by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn't elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defense technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim “fell in love.” But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military cooperation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow's war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia's Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more U.N. sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington’s “unchangeable” hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats.
DALLAS , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc. (NYSE: AHT) ("Ashford Trust" or the "Company") announced today the conversion of its 226-room Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana to a Tribute Portfolio property. Marriott's Tribute Portfolio is a growing global family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and their drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals alike. The property recently completed a $19 million renovation which included extensive exterior work, upgrading the restaurant, guestrooms, guest bathrooms, corridors as well as a reimagined hotel lobby bar. The new lobby bar, Bar 1803 , draws inspiration from the rich history of Le Pavillon and New Orleans , honoring the year Emperor Napoleon signed the Louisiana Purchase. Legend has it Napoleon conceived the idea while soaking in a marble bathtub filled with rose water – one of which (perhaps the very one) resides in one of our suites. The bar's design showcases this heritage with a striking image of Napoleon and a lenticular art piece capturing two sides of the French icon: a 'serious' Napoleon and a 'spirited' one. This playful nod reflects New Orleans' French roots and vibrant culture. Inspired by the amber hues of iconic NOLA cocktails, Bar 1803 blends history, elegance, and the unmistakable spirit of New Orleans into an unforgettable experience, paying tribute to the city's enduring legacy and the hotel's storied past. Located in the heart of downtown New Orleans on historic Poydras Street, the 226-room Le Pavillon Hotel is known as the "Belle of New Orleans ." It sits adjacent to the historic French Quarter, is located only four blocks from the celebrated music clubs of Bourbon Street and is close to the famous restaurants and antique shops of Royal Street. Originally the site of one of the area's first great plantation homes, the Le Pavillon Hotel was built in 1907 and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. "We are thrilled to announce the successful conversion of this iconic property to Marriott's Tribute Portfolio ," said Stephen Zsigray , President and Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Trust. "With its prime location near key demand drivers in downtown New Orleans , this transformation positions the hotel to stand out as a premier destination in the vibrant New Orleans market. We expect that completing this conversion ahead of Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras will position the property for an exceptional start to 2025. This milestone reflects our commitment to maximizing asset value, and we are confident it will drive enhanced financial performance for this property." Tribute Portfolio hotels participate in Marriott BonvoyTM, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com . Ashford Hospitality Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing predominantly in upper upscale, full-service hotels. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon "forward-looking" information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "potential," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "approximately," "believe," "could," "project," "predict," or other similar words or expressions. Additionally, statements regarding the following subjects are forward-looking by their nature: our business and investment strategy; anticipated or expected purchases, sales or dispositions of assets; our projected operating results; completion of any pending transactions; our plan to pay off strategic financing; our ability to restructure existing property-level indebtedness; our ability to secure additional financing to enable us to operate our business; our understanding of our competition; projected capital expenditures; and the impact of technology on our operations and business. Such forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance taking into account all information currently known to us. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations can change as a result of many potential events or factors, not all of which are known to us. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and other objectives may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider this risk when you make an investment decision concerning our securities. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. Investors should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We will not publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise except to the extent required by law. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ashford-hospitality-trust-announces-conversion-of-le-pavillon-new-orleans-to-marriotts-tribute-portfolio-302313626.html SOURCE Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc.Man City crisis intensifies after Feyenoord produce epic Champions League comeback
Manchester City star Rodri presented his glittering Ballon d'Or Award to the club's fanbase before their game against Tottenham Rodri's historic triumph at the Theatre du Chatelet last month made him the first player to win the prize from Man City Meanwhile, the 28-year-old believes he could make a comeback from his anterior cruciate ligament injury sooner than later Don't miss out! Join Legit.ng's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now! Rodri took a moment to share his Ballon d'Or triumph with Manchester City fans ahead of their Premier League encounter with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening. The 28-year-old’s victory over Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior last month secured him football’s most prestigious individual accolade. Rodri's historic Ballon d'Or triumph His win in Paris marked a historic milestone: Rodri became the first midfielder since Luka Modric in 2018 to claim the award and the first Premier League player to do so since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008. Read also Rodri shares valuable advice with Vinicius after beating him to Ballon d'Or prize PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! More significantly, he made history as the first player to win the Ballon d'Or while representing Manchester City. During a heartfelt presentation at the Etihad Stadium, Rodri gleefully soaked in the cheers of the crowd. In a video circulating on social media, the midfielder, dressed in a sleek black trenchcoat, celebrated the moment by dancing and kissing the Ballon d'Or, sharing the joyous occasion with the fans. Ahead of the presentation, Rodri expressed his gratitude to the supporters in an interview with the club's media team , acknowledging the love and support he’s received since joining City. Despite facing a setback with an ACL and meniscus injury in his right knee, which had initially ruled him out for the season, Rodri remains determined to return sooner than expected. While early assessments predicted a 10-month recovery, potentially sidelining him for the rest of the season, Rodri views this challenge as both a physical and mental battle, Goal reports. Read also Neymar Hits Back at Rodri Over Vinícius Junior Comments His resolve to expedite his rehabilitation could see him back on the pitch earlier than anticipated, ready to contribute to City’s continued success. Rodri offers Ballon d'Or advice to Vinicius Legit.ng also reported that Rodri has offered valuable advice to Vinicius Junior after narrowly beating the Brazilian to the 2024 Ballon d'Or Award. The City midfielder suggested that Vinicius needs to improve a specific aspect of his game to increase his chances of winning the prestigious accolade in the future. However, Rodri’s comments didn’t sit well with Neymar , who responded by criticising the Spaniard. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: YEN.com.ghPTI reschedules civil disobedience movement
TUCKED away in the middle of Yemen lies an ancient desert city with a unique style of architecture that dates back to the 16th century. Dubbed the "Manhattan of the Dessert", the sprawling towers in this city are rather made up of a unique material - mud bricks. Almost all the buildings of Shibam are built with mud bricks using a technique that is said to have been invented centuries ago. This architectural style was used to protect residents from Bedouin attacks. A mixture of soil, hay, and water was turned into bricks and left to bake in the sun for days before being used to make these buildings. Some 500 of these are tower blocks, which rise five to 11 stories high The windowless, ground floors were used for livestock and grain storage, while the uppermost levels typically served as communal floors for socializing. The walls for these stunning mud towers are a whopping six feet thick at the bottom, with some of the top floors having much thinner walls. While the tradition of brick buildings dates back to the 8th or 9th century, it’s difficult to know when they were first built because of how often they’re touched up. That is because the exterior facade which is often eroded by wind and rain, so they have to be periodically covered with mud. Each floor traditionally has one or two rooms, and each building ranges between two to eleven storeys high. Despite being centuries old, these are still used by locals to live and socialise. But during the last few years, Shibam has been threatened by natural disasters as well as by the war and the terrorism suffered by Yemen. In 2008, a flood caused severe damage to the buildings. Afterwards, a restoration program was started. Furthermore, the city has been declared a world heritage in danger by UNESCO because of the war in Yemen. Meanwhile, tucked away in a corner of Turkey lies an abandoned village whose residents were forced to leave after ghost sightings . The town of Kayaköy was once a lively and integrated community of Greek–Turkish people but was left to rot by locals some 100 years ago. It has now become a true ghost town that sits empty except for tour groups visiting the historical place that failed to stand the test of time. Most of the houses in the city have now lost their roofs and their collapsed walls sprout with vegetation. The ruins of houses, churches and other buildings can be found in the city, which was once home to thousands of people before they left the town. The eerie streets have been left behind, with people able to wander from building to building and have a glimpse at the lives of those who used to live there. Meanwhile, haunting pictures inside an abandoned ghost town show a once-booming area frozen in time. Nestled in the hills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Bodie was established in 1859 as a modest camp after gold was discovered in the region - but the old town now hides a dark curse . The town in California rose to prominence in 1876 after gold ore attracted settlers, and by 1879 the town had a booming population between 5,000 and 7,000. In its heyday, the town boasted some 70 saloons, a bowling alley, dance halls, gambling halls, and numerous stores, hotels, and churches. This time period was characterised by rowdiness, gambling, opium use, and regular, often deadly, bar fights. But by the 1880s promising booms in Arizona, Montana, and Utah had lured miners away, and the town began to decline. A small mining community survived, but by the early 20th century most of its mines had closed, and the population had fallen to a few hundred people. The area was designated a state park in 1962 and welcomes around 200,000 visitors a year. Legend has it that the Bodie Curse will haunt anyone who removes any of the old artefacts from the town. Park rangers have even received letters and packages from past visitors hoping to lift the curse by returning what they’ve stolen.Brazil 's former President Jair Bolsonaro has been a target for investigations since his early days in office, and the swarm of cases since his failed reelection bid in 2022 has left him in ever-deeper legal jeopardy. In the latest indictment Thursday, he was accused of attempting a coup to keep himself in the presidency. In another case, the electoral court ruled the far-right leader ineligible to run for office until 2030. There are dozens of other probes that could produce criminal charges at low-level courts, where he could appeal any eventual conviction. But the country's Supreme Court will have the final say regarding more than five in-depth investigations, including into the alleged coup attempt, which could land the former president behind bars or under house arrest. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing in all of the cases, and his allies have alleged they are political persecution, while recognizing the severity of the legal risks on multiple fronts. Here's a look at the biggest threats and where they stand: Coup Attempt Federal police on Thursday indicted Bolsonaro and 36 others for allegedly attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. The indictment is sealed, but among other things authorities had been investigating whether he incited the Jan. 8, 2022 riot in which his followers ransacked the Supreme Court and presidential palace in the capital of Brasilia. STATUS: Police sent their findings to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which must decide whether to refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Electoral Misdeeds Brazil’s highest electoral court in June ruled that Bolsonaro used government communication channels in a meeting with diplomats to promote his reelection bid and sow distrust about the vote. The case focused on a meeting the prior year, during which Bolsonaro used government staffers, the state television channel and the presidential palace in Brasilia to tell foreign ambassadors that the country’s electronic voting system was rigged. The ruling rendered him ineligible for office until 2030, although he has insisted that he will run in the 2026 race. The court also found that Bolsonaro abused his power during Brazil’s Independence Day festivities, a month before the election. The ruling didn’t add years to Bolsonaro’s ineligibility, but made any appeal less likely to succeed. A third case is also pending at the court. STATUS: Bolsonaro’s appeal of the initial ruling was denied. Vaccination Fraud Bolsonaro has been indicted for directing an official to tamper with a public health database to make it appear as though he and his 12-year-old daughter had received the COVID-19 vaccine in order to bypass U.S. entry requirements. During the pandemic, he railed against the vaccine, characterized the choice to receive a shot as a matter of personal freedom and has repeatedly said he never did so. The Federal Police accused Bolsonaro of criminal association and inserting false data into public records, which carry maximum penalties of 4 and 12 years in prison, respectively. It was his first indictment since leaving office. STATUS: Brazil's Supreme Court sent the indictment to the prosecutor-general, who is weighing whether to use it to press charges. Local media reported that he was seeking to consult American authorities about whether Bolsonaro used the forged document to enter the country, and that having done so could result in U.S. legal action. Saudi Jewels Federal Police have probed whether Bolsonaro directed officials to smuggle luxury jewelry worth millions into Brazil from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, then acted to prevent them from being incorporated into the presidential collection and instead retain ownership for himself. Investigators summoned Bolsonaro for questioning in April and August of 2023. He has returned the jewelry in question. STATUS: The Federal Police indicted Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations. A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Pandemic Sabotage Brazil’s Federal Police is investigating Bolsonaro for inciting crimes against public health during the COVID-19 pandemic, which include encouraging people not to wear masks and causing alarm about non-existent danger of vaccines accelerating development of AIDS. A Senate inquiry commission also spent months investigating his pandemic-era actions and decisions, and recommended nine criminal charges. Brazil’s former prosecutor-general Augusto Aras, widely seen as a Bolsonaro ally, decided not to file any charges based on the lawmakers' findings. They have urged his Aras' successor to reopen the case. STATUS: The investigation is ongoing. Fake News, Digital Militia Brazil's Supreme Court in 2020 ordered an investigation into a network allegedly spreading defamatory fake news and threats against Supreme Court justices. The probe has yielded the imprisonment of lawmakers from the former president's circle and raids of his supporters' homes. In 2021, Bolsonaro was included as a target. As an offshoot of that probe, the Federal Police is also investigating whether a group operating inside Bolsonaro’s presidential palace produced social media content aimed at undermining the rule of law. The group, allegedly comprised of aides and Bolsonaro’s politician son, has been widely referred to as a digital militia and “the hate cabinet.” STATUS: Both investigations are ongoing. ___ Biller reported from Rio de Janeiro