According to Athena Advisers , 1 in every 18 real estate consultancy clients is an investor in commercial properties, “a proportion that acquires more significant weight if we take into account that Athena Advisers is mainly recognised for its operations in the residential market, although in recent years it has reinforced commercial activity” explains David Moura-George, director of Athena Advisers Portugal. Even though the end of programs to encourage foreign investment via the acquisition of properties in the national market or even the changes registered in the Local Accommodation rules may have led many investors in residential properties to take refuge in another asset class, according to David Moura-George, “these limitations do not in themselves explain this turnaround, especially because the trend is global”, he maintains. “These clients can be either individual investors who invest 2 million euros in the purchase of plots of land for the construction of schools in Greater Lisbon or consortiums that invest 100 million euros in hotels in the French Alps”. In Athena Advisers' opinion, investors or regular owners of residential properties are gaining confidence in the commercial market as they become more familiar with its specificities and complexity. “For a commercial real estate investor, residential is just one part of their portfolio. But for the common investor in residential properties, the world of commercial properties is often placed in another dimension where people speak a different language”, notes the general director of the consultancy. “However, once these investors get to know the local market and the players in the commercial sector in depth, they very quickly move from investing in assets of 2-3 million euros to assets of 6-8 million euros, or more. This is what we call going from “resi-normal” to “commercial-climber”, he explains. For this new type of investor in commercial real estate, there are also new asset classes that are more accessible to their investment and/or debt capacity. The more traditional segments of large office buildings or shopping centers may not be within the reach of these investors, but there is a diverse set of properties that are better suited to their portfolio and are seeing increasing demand. This is the case of street stores and supermarkets, warehouses, technology parks, small hotels and tourist residences with services, schools and student housing, as well as investments in real estate development, often using crowdsourcing. Higher returns and security in investments - as long as the stability of tenants, good rents and long-term contracts are ensured - and the lack of concern with the day-to-day management that residential properties normally require, are among the main motivations for this turnaround. According to David Moura-George “residential properties often attract those looking for a more emotional connection with their investments, typically seeking to obtain returns that can vary between 3% and 4%. In commercial assets, the focus is 100% financial with returns that can vary from 5% to 10% in the domestic market, in addition to leases of 10 to 20 years reducing management headaches.” In recent years, the Portuguese commercial property market has registered record levels of investment, with annual volumes ranging between 2 billion euros and 3.4 billion euros (2018-2022), and despite the challenges of the current national and international situation have negatively impacted these values in 2023, with good prospects for recovery already this year, the truth is that Portugal continues to be seen as a stable market and one of the most interesting in terms of the risk/return relationship in the European panorama”, assures the managing director of Athena Advisers. In addition to the acquisition of income assets, real estate development is also attracting many investors who usually looked to the residential sector and crowdsourcing is emerging with a financing model that allows these entrepreneurs to make investments at values that would otherwise be practically unattainable. “Crowdsourcing is a great example of how these investors can join forces and have the opportunity to co-invest in a real estate project as shareholders,” explains Moura-George. Currently, Athena Advisers is involved in several projects in the Portuguese market whose development results from crowdsourcing, “among them a hotel in Costa da Caparica, to be announced soon, and a residential tourism project in the municipality of Aljezur”, he concludes.NEW YORK — There's no place like home for the holidays. And that may not necessarily be a good thing. In the wake of the very contentious and divisive 2024 presidential election, the upcoming celebration of Thanksgiving and the ramp-up of the winter holiday season could be a boon for some — a respite from the events of the larger world in the gathering of family and loved ones. Hours and even days spent with people who have played the largest roles in our lives. Another chapter in a lifetime of memories. That's one scenario. For others, that same period — particularly because of the polarizing presidential campaign — is something to dread. There is the likelihood of disagreements, harsh words, hurt feelings and raised voices looming large. Those who make a study of people and their relationships to each other in an increasingly complex 21st-century say there are choices that those with potentially fraught personal situations can make — things to do and things to avoid — that could help them and their families get through this time with a minimum of open conflict and a chance at getting to the point of the holidays in the first place. For those who feel strongly about the election's outcome, and know that the people they would be spending the holiday feel just as strongly in the other direction, take the time to honestly assess if you're ready to spend time together in THIS moment, barely a few weeks after Election Day — and a time when feelings are still running high. The answer might be that you're not, and it might be better to take a temporary break, says Justin Jones-Fosu, author of “I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in a Divided World.” “You have to assess your own readiness,” he says, “Each person is going be very different in this.” He emphasizes that it's not about taking a permanent step back. “Right now is that moment that we’re talking about because it’s still so fresh. Christmas may be different.” Keep focused on why why you decided to go in the first place, Jones-Fosu says. Maybe it’s because there’s a relative there you don’t get to see often, or a loved one is getting up in age, or your kids want to see their cousins. Keeping that reason in mind could help you get through the time. If you decide getting together is the way to go, but you know politics is still a dicey subject, set a goal of making the holiday a politics-free zone and stick with it, says Karl Pillemer, a professor at Cornell University whose work includes research on family estrangement. “Will a political conversation change anyone’s mind?" he says. “If there is no possibility of changing anyone’s mind, then create a demilitarized zone and don’t talk about it.” Let’s be honest. Sometimes, despite best efforts and intentions to keep the holiday gathering politics- and drama-free, there’s someone who’s got something to say and is going to say it. In that case, avoid getting drawn into it, says Tracy Hutchinson, a professor in the graduate clinical mental health counseling program at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. “Not to take the hook is one of the most important things, and it is challenging,” she says. After all, you don’t have to go to every argument you’re invited to. If you risk getting caught up in the moment, consider engaging in what Pillemer calls “forward mapping.” This involves thinking medium and long term rather than just about right now — strategy rather than tactics. Maybe imagine yourself six months from now looking back on the dinner and thinking about the memories you'd want to have. “Think about how you would like to remember this holiday,” he says. “Do you want to remember it with your brother and sister-in-law storming out and going home because you’ve had a two-hour argument?” Things getting intense? Defuse the situation. Walk away. And it doesn't have to be in a huff. Sometimes a calm and collected time out is just what you — and the family — might need. Says Hutchinson: “If they do start to do something like that, you could say, `I’ve got to make this phone call. I’ve got to go to the bathroom. I’m going to take a walk around the block.'"None
Redshirt juniors Carson Schwesinger and J.Michael Sturdivant take part part in the annual ceremony, which could portend whether they stay or try for the NFLhas appointed Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, to be the US ambassador to France. The president-elect, 78, pardoned Mr Kushner, who in 2006 served a prison sentence for tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations, at the end of his first administration. Chris Christie, a former New Jersey governor, described Mr Kushner’s case as “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he ever prosecuted as a US attorney. Announcing the appointment, Mr Trump said the property developer, 70, was a “tremendous business leader, philanthropist and dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our country and its interests”. He referenced , his former White House adviser, but did not mention that he is married to his daughter Ivanka. “Congratulations to Charlie, his wonderful wife Seryl, their four children, and 14 grandchildren”, he wrote on Truth Social. He added: “His son, Jared, worked closely with me in the White House, in particular on Operation Warp Speed, Criminal Justice Reform and the Abraham Accords. “Together, we will strengthen America’s partnership with France, our oldest ally, and one of our greatest!” The appointment underscores Mr Trump’s commitment to filling his administration with loyalists and close allies. pardoned Mr Kushner as part of an 11th-hour clemency spree during the final days of his first presidency, with the White House citing Mr Kushner’s charitable work since he completed his 2006 prison sentence. Mr Kushner pleaded guilty to 16 counts of tax evasion, one count of retaliating against a federal witness and another count of lying to the Federal Election Commission in 2005. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Part of the case involved the real estate developer hiring a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law William Schulder, who was cooperating with a federal investigation against him. He filmed the encounter and sent the footage to his wife, Esther. The Schulders took the videotape to the prosecutors who tracked down the woman. In 2019, Mr Christie, a former presidential candidate, called it “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he had ever prosecuted. Jared, 43, previously described the deep impact his father’s imprisonment had on him. He was in his early 20s and a law and business school student in the mid-2000s when his father was sentenced and suddenly found himself having to run the family’s businesses while shuttling back and forth on weekends to see his father in Alabama. “When you’re on the other side of the system, you feel so helpless,” Mr Kushner said in 2018. “I felt like I was on this side of the system, so how can I try to do whatever I can do to try to be helpful to the people who are going through it and deserve a second chance.”Bike lane bill amended to protect Ontario government from cyclist lawsuits, NDP MPPs say
House passes bill limiting energy efficiency mandates on home laundry machinesNEW YORK, United States — Time Magazine on Thursday named US President-elect Donald Trump its “person of the year,” marking the second time he has won the accolade, in acknowledgement of the mogul’s stunning political comeback. Trump, who defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, adorns the magazine’s title cover sporting his distinctive red tie and striking a commanding pose. “For marshaling a comeback of historic proportions, for driving a once-in-a-generation political realignment, for reshaping the American presidency and altering America’s role in the world, Donald Trump is Time’s 2024 – Person of the Year,” the magazine said. READ MORE: Trump vows to end birthright citizenship: What is it, can he do it? Trump going berserk, targets birthright, naturalized citizens Biden says Trump economic plan will be ‘disaster’ This year saw Trump convicted on charges of business fraud and nearly assassinated twice — and will end with him preparing to return to the White House with Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress. “We are witnessing a resurgence of populism, a widening mistrust in the institutions that defined the last century, and an eroding faith that liberal values will lead to better lives for most people. Trump is both agent and beneficiary of it all,” the magazine added. Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to applause from traders on Thursday, flanked by his wife Melania Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, with his Time Magazine cover displayed prominently behind him. In remarks before the markets opened, Trump sounded a note of caution about the promises he made on the campaign trail to bring down stubbornly high US grocery prices. “It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up,” Trump says. “You know, it’s very hard.” The magazine’s award, given out annually, is an acknowledgement of the year’s most influential figure. Past winners include Taylor Swift and Volodymyr Zelensky — and Trump himself, in 2016, after his shock defeat of Hillary Clinton. Mock versions of Time Magazine covers featuring Trump were displayed prominently in several of the president-elect’s members clubs ahead of his first “person of the year” title in 2016. Having dominated the news events of 2024, Trump’s influence is set to continue when he assumes the presidency in January. This time around, Trump is promising mass expulsions of undocumented immigrants and major tariffs that threaten to shake up not just the US economy, but those of key trade partners. He’s cast doubt on continued support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion, and has already become something of a shadow president, feting foreign leaders at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. His comeback was unthinkable a few years ago. After his supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss, it seemed like Republicans might be ready to wash their hands of the brash outsider who had taken over the party. Criminal cases were launched over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and he was found liable in civil court for sexual abuse. He remains a polarizing figure in US and world politics. Yet none of that prevented him from rising back up to the top of the Republican ticket, and then going on to win in the general election against Harris. Harris was among those shortlisted for the award, alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian economist Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
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To mark her 100 days in office, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack focused on driving the transformation of Nigeria's civil service, introducing modern technology and strategic policies The newly launched Service-Wise GPT and GOVMail platforms are key components in Mrs. Walson-Jack’s efforts to integrate technology into the civil service for enhanced decision-making and communication To further achieve her aim in the HoS, Walson-Jack, at a dinner for newly promoted directors, emphasized that their promotion marked the beginning of a challenging and fulfilling journey to shape the future of the civil service PAY ATTENTION: Got a Minute? Complete Our Quick Survey About Legit.ng Today! Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements. FCT, Abuja - Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), has clocked 100 days in office following her appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2024. Speaking on Friday, November 22, in Abuja at a Recognition Dinner in honour of newly promoted directors, the HCSF reiterated its critical role in driving the needed Civil Service reforms, especially as it concerns the actualization of President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda. Read also CSO raises alarm over increasing GBV cases in Nigeria, sends urgent message to Tinubu's govt Walson-Jack charged the 332 directors that their promotion heralds “the beginning of a more challenging and fulfilling part where your influence and impact will shape the future of our civil service.” PAY ATTENTION : Standing out in social media world? Easy! "Mastering Storytelling for Social Media" workshop by Legit.ng. Join Us Live! In a statement made available to Legit.ng on Monday, November 25, she urged them to rededicate themselves to the principles of good governance, transparency, efficiency and accountability. “As newly promoted directors, you have reached the pinnacle that reflects not just your achievements, but trust and expectation placed upon you by the Federal Civil Service and the nation.” Mrs. Walson-Jack further charged the new directors to let their leadership inspire confidence among their subordinates and stakeholders, imbibing the highest standards of Public Service. “I urge you therefore to embrace this opportunity for growth and development. I will like to inspire you to reach new heights in your career.” The HCSF urged the directors to foster an environment of collaboration, inclusivity and continuous learning, assuring them of her firm support. Read also Nigeria, Brazil sign MoU to boost agribusiness across all 774 local governments Walson-Jack lists her achievements as Head of Service Interestingly, on Thursday, November 21, Walson-Jack unveiled three groundbreaking initiatives aimed at transforming Nigeria’s civil service as part of the activities of her first 100 days in office under the theme “Marching to Greatness: Celebrating 100 Days”. The initiatives which include Service-Wise GPT, an AI-driven assistant designed to enhance decision-making and efficiency among civil servants, GOVMail, a secure email platform for official communication, and the Nigeria Federal Civil Service Online Academy, which offers online courses for skill development. Walson-Jack emphasized that these tools are essential for modernizing the civil service, ensuring that it meets the needs of citizens effectively, and guarantee that the much needed reforms in the civil service are technologically driven. Mrs. Walson-Jack also launched new policies and guidelines aimed at repositioning the civil service. Walson-Jack launches innovative tools for Civil Service Transformation She listed the four transformative policies and guidelines to include: Rewards and Recognition Policy and Guidelines; Incentives and Consequence Management Policy and Guidelines; Mentoring Framework, and the Protocol on the Use of Federal Government Secretariat. Read also Tinubu’s govt, Brazil sign MoU to boost agribusiness in Nigeria Walson-Jack explained that these policies are integral to the Public Service Rules 2021 and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025 (FCSSIP-25), with each strategically aligned with the reform pillars outlined in these frameworks to ensure coherence, sustainability, and measurable impact. Legit.ng reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Didi Esther Walson-Jack in July 2024. She took over from the incumbent head of the civil service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, who retired on August 13, 2024. "19 of 38 directors fail permanent secretary qualifying exam" - HoS Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the federal government's selection process for new permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service has seen 19 of 38 candidates fail . A memo signed by Dr Emmanuel Meribole on behalf of the examination committee, and published by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) on Tuesday, November 12, said the exams were written on Monday, November 11, 2024. Read also Togo, Benin certificates: Tinubu's govt reacts as Shehu Sani speaks on alleged massive civil servants sack 19 others, according to a statement from the Office of the HCSF, scaled through this first stage of the assessment, which is a written examination, and will be participating in the second stage. PAY ATTENTION : Legit.ng Needs Your Opinion! That's your chance to change your favourite news media. Fill in a short questionnaire Source: Legit.ngCounting is underway in Ireland's election as 3 parties battle for top placeZelensky insists on a 'just peace' at Trump Paris meeting
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