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Rob Gronkowski increases his net worth as NFL millionaire discovers huge investmentSome quotations from Jimmy Carter: 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?” 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 recognizes 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-Sen. 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 Center’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” U.S. 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 U.S. 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.”
US automotive giant General Motors will finally join the Formula One World Championship in 2026, with luxury brand flying the flag. or signup to continue reading Overnight, Formula One announced it had reached an agreement in principle with General Motors and its partner TWG Global (an investment and consulting firm) to allow Cadillac to compete from 2026. It marks the first arrival of a new team in Formula One since 2016 – when fellow US-headquartered squad Haas joined the championship – and will see the grid expanded to 11 teams. It also ends a drawn-out period of General Motors attempting to gain entry to the championship, having first formally expressed interest in February 2023 under the Andretti Global Racing and Cadillac banners, only to be rejected by Formula One administrators in January this year. . Cadillac's debut will align with the sport's move to a new regulation set in 2026, which will see an all-new power unit design that sees a greater percentage of electric power compared to the internal-combustion engine, the latter of which will run on wholly sustainable fuels. From 2026, Cadillac will build its own cars and power units, making it a works team. It'll be the sixth confirmed engine-maker on the grid, alongside Mercedes (Alpine, McLaren, Mercedes-AMG, Williams), Honda (Aston Martin), Ferrari (Ferrari, Haas), Audi (Audi) and Red Bull Ford (Red Bull Racing, Racing Bulls/RB). While the V6 engine will be bespoke to its Formula One racers (and in no way related to the engines powering the CT4-V Blackwing, CT5, XT5 and XT6), Cadillac says its learnings in the championship will be used in road-going products. "Innovations created for F1 will contribute to GM's push to drive the future of transportation, leveraging advanced electrification, powertrain, software, and internal combustion engine technology for consumers around the globe," the carmaker said in a media statement. "Launching an F1 team will also highlight the Cadillac brand to a diverse international audience, showcasing GM's technology and design capabilities." General Motors president Mark Reuss added: "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." It's not yet clear whether the team's manufacturing operations will be based in the US – where General Motors and Andretti have bases in Indiana, North Carolina and Michigan – or the UK, where Andretti recently opened a facility in Silverstone, near the home of the British Grand Prix. What is known is Mario Andretti – the 1978 Formula One champion and four-time IndyCar title winner – will serve as the director of the team's board. This is despite his son Michael Andretti being the initial leader of Cadillac's Formula One bid, having relinquished his role as Andretti Global CEO to Dan Towriss amid tension between the former F1 driver and the sport's administrators. The announcement of Cadillac joining Formula One was welcomed by the sport, which is on a long-standing quest to break into the US market where three Grands Prix are hosted every year. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," said Greg Maffei, outgoing president and CEO of Formula One's owners, Liberty Media. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1. We are excited to move forward with the application process for the GM/Cadillac team to enter the Championship in 2026." Cadillac has recently been the flagship of General Motors' global motorsport operations, having joined the World Endurance Championship in 2023 as the sport moved to a new regulation set. It aims to be just the second US team to win a Formula One race, a feat not achieved since Team Penske did so at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix. The team is also yet to finalise its driver lineup for the 2026 season. Prior to Andretti Global's failed initial bid to join the Formula One grid, US driver Colton Herta – who has taken eight of his nine IndyCar victories with Andretti – was strongly linked to the seat. Mario Andretti remains the most recent US driver to win a Formula Once race, having taken victory in the 1978 Dutch Grand Prix en route to his championship. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement
Some quotations from Jimmy Carter: 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?” 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 recognizes 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-Sen. 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 Center’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” U.S. 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 U.S. 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.”
Art Basel Miami Beach 2024: Biggest parties and eventsZerodha CEO Nithin Kamath on Saturday, December 7, cited two recent orders by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to remind investors about an ‘old saying’ regarding how taking shortcuts to earn quick bucks in the stock markets is "the surest way to lose money". Share Market View All Nifty Gainers View All Company Value Change %Change Kamath took to X to share details about ‘two different scams’ with his more than 6.82 lakh followers on the social media platform. " SEBI recently passed two orders related to two different scams. In the first scam, an SME company raised ₹44 crores through an SME-IPO to buy software, among other things. But, the company that it was buying software from was a shell company complete with fake financials and a fake list of clients,” Kamath wrote. "The second order was against a popular finfluencer who collected ₹17 crores by selling courses, seminars, etc. This just proves that old saying: if something is too good to be true, it almost always is. Taking shortcuts to make a quick buck is the surest way to lose money in the markets," he added. Kamath seems to be referring to the SEBI action against the newly listed Trafiksol ITS Technologies. The market regulator on Tuesday, December 3, ordered Trafiksol ITS Technologies to refund the money paid by investors towards subscribing to its IPO. Further, the company was directed to return the interest amount accrued on the money to those investors, who were allotted its shares in the IPO. The BSE SME IPO was launched on September 10 to raise ₹44.87 crore. The issue was oversubscribed 345 times. After the closure of the IPO, the market regulator received a complaint alleging that objects of the issue included the purchase of software, valued at nearly ₹18 crore, from a vendor which, inter alia, had questionable financials. It had even failed to file its annual financial statements with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. In view of this, the BSE in consultation with SEBI deferred the listing of Trafiksol's shares. Later on, the SEBI passed an interim ex-parte order and directed an investigation to be undertaken. The IPO listing was scheduled for September 17. The second case cited by Kamath seems to be linked to SEBI’s recent crackdown on a popular social media finfluencer. The market regulator ordered operators of the ‘Baap of Chart’ platform to refund more than ₹17 crore to the investors for their unregistered investment advisory services. Also Read: SEBI slams ‘Baap of Chart’ with refunds and penalties, citing risk to investors A three-month deadline has been set by the market regulator for these refunds, while clear instructions have been given for the repayments to be made via bank transfers that maintain an audit trail. The refund obligations were distributed among the involved parties, wherein Nasiruddin Ansari and his associates bear the largest share. "In my view, unregistered investment advisors like Nasir can put investors at great risk by misleading them. Without holding any registered IA certificate, Nasir aided and abetted by the remaining noticees, provided investment advisory services and promised unrealistic returns to investors with the objective of raising money through course fees," said Amarjeet Singh, a full-time member at SEBI in the order.WOLF INVESTOR DEADLINE: Wolfspeed, Inc. Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Class Action Lawsuit
While chatbots may appear to be helpful and reliable assistants, experts caution against becoming too reliant on them, particularly for sensitive information like health advice. Recent surveys highlight a growing trend of people turning to AI for such guidance. According to a report in NewYork Post, data from the Cleveland Clinic reveals that one in five Americans have sought health advice from AI, while a Tebra survey from the previous year indicated that roughly 25% of Americans would prefer using a chatbot over traditional therapy. Despite this increasing reliance, experts strongly advise against oversharing personal or medical details with ChatGPT and other AI chatbots . Here are 7 Things you should never-ever tell or ask from ChatGPT and other AI Chatbots: Personal information Never share your personal information with AI Chatbots, such as your name, address, phone number, or email address. This information could be used to identify you and track your activity. Financial information Never share your financial information with AI Chatbots, such as your bank account numbers, credit card numbers, or social security number. This information could be used to steal your money or your identity. Passwords Never share your passwords with AI Chatbots. This information could be used to access your accounts and steal your data. Your Secrets Never share your secrets with AI Chatbots. ChatGPT is not a person and cannot be trusted to keep your secrets safe. Medical or health advice AI is not your doctor, so never ask AI for health advice. Also, never share your health details including Insurance Number and more. Explicit content Most chatbots filter any explicit stuff shared with them, so anything inappropriate may get you banned. Not just this, also remember, the internet never forgets anything. So, you never know where these may surface. Anything that you don't want the world to know Remember that anything you tell AI Chatbots can be stored and potentially shared with others. As such, you should never tell AI Chatbots anything that you don't want the world to know.None
Clara Strack, Georgia Amoore help No. 16 Kentucky rout Western KentuckyThe PWHL has received more than 25 proposals for expansion, as the league looks at the possibility of adding two teams as early as next season. The six-team league is in the process of issuing requests for proposals, both for markets the league has targeted and others where groups have approached the PWHL to express interest in having a team, according to the PWHL's senior vice president of business operations, Amy Scheer. The level of interest since the league opened to expansion proposals less than a month ago has kept Scheer busy booking meetings with interested groups. "We need to do a lot of learning about the markets and how we would be supported there, and what does the model look like," she said in an interview with CBC Sports. "Our fact-finding mission is fun, and we'll continue until we feel we've got all the information we need." The PWHL will launch its second season on Saturday with the Toronto Sceptres hosting the Boston Fleet at 2 p.m. ET at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The game will be streamed on CBCSports.ca, CBC Gem, and CBC Sports App. Media, youth hockey systems, geography and economic opportunity are among some of the factors the PWHL is considering when evaluating potential expansion markets. (PWHL) It will be the first of 90 games this season, including 17 Saturday games that will be broadcast by CBC Sports . In addition to Toronto and Boston, the league also has teams in Ottawa, Montreal, Minnesota and the New York area, all of which are owned by the Walter Group, led by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner, Mark Walter. Vancouver, Quebec City among PWHL stops on North American tour But the possibility of buying into the league has come up often in the conversations Scheer has been having. "They've all asked, will you get to that point where we can buy the team or we can invest in the league?" Scheer said. "That's for the Walter Group to decide. For now, our marching orders are to go and explore what expansion could look like. I don't know what the future holds." Talent pool deep enough for more teams The first season saw the league break attendance records in both Canada and the U.S., en route to handing out the first Walter Cup championship trophy to the Minnesota Frost in May. At the same time, interest in women's sport across the globe has soared, as have valuations of professional women's sport franchises in North America. That, combined with a belief that there is enough talent on the ice to support an extra two teams, convinced the league to look at the possibility of expansion. When rosters are finalized later this week, there will be lots of talented players without a spot. They'll have limited options in North America, since the PWHL doesn't have a development league. Edmonton to host PWHL neutral site game between Toronto, Ottawa on Feb. 16 While expansion seems certain at some point, next season isn't set in stone at this point. "We just don't know until we have the conversation and really learn more about the markets that are interested," Jayna Hefford, the league's senior vice president of hockey operations, told CBC Sports. WATCH | A storyline for each of the 6 Canadian PWHL teams, ahead of the regular season: 1 storyline for each Canadian PWHL team heading into the season 7 days ago Duration 7:30 Host Anastasia Bucsis is joined by women's hockey insider Karissa Donkin to preview the 2nd season of the Professional Women's Hockey League. The league will play nine games in neutral sites across North America this season, all of which could be test runs for the viability and interest in women's hockey in those cities. In Canada, stops on the "PWHL Takeover Tour" include Vancouver, Edmonton and Quebec City. Six American NHL markets will also host games, including Buffalo, Seattle, Raleigh, N.C., Denver, St. Louis and Detroit, which also hosted a PWHL game last season. The league has built a weighted evaluation model for expansion with a checklist of seven to 10 items, ranging from economic opportunity to youth hockey, demographics, geography and media size, to consider when evaluating each potential expansion city's proposal. From linemates to lifemates, PWHL stars Poulin and Stacey navigate marriage and career There are NHL markets vying for a team, but Scheer said the league isn't limiting itself to cities that already have an NHL team. "We don't want to put any guardrails on where we may or may not go," she said. "I think it's important to listen to the merits of each market and how they might meet some of the criteria that we have. Who knows? You could be pleasantly surprised, so why put a wall up?" Demand for merchandise 'underestimated' Since she started in her job almost exactly a year ago, Scheer feels like she hasn't stopped sprinting. One of the first things she did was press pause on adopting team names and logos. Scheer felt they weren't ready to settle on branding yet. The league ultimately hired a New York-based company to help develop brands for each of the six teams, and unveiled the new team names and logos in September. "You can't just come out and say here's the name of the team with none of those supporting materials," Scheer said. "You just need to do things the right way." The PWHL unveiled new jerseys from Bauer earlier this month. (Bauer/PWHL) When the league launched team merchandise branded simply with city names last year, Scheer admitted they had no idea what to expect. Jerseys were sold out for some teams online throughout the season, and lines to get merchandise in arenas could be long. "We 100 per cent underestimated the demand," Scheer said. When they launched the new names and logos in September, merchandise sales broke records from the last season. Those records were broken again when the league launched new Bauer jerseys earlier this month. An attempt to jump-start scoring: A deeper look at the PWHL's new 'no escape' rule Now, Scheer's job is to make sure the league doesn't encounter the same hiccups with availability as last season. "There's the potential, if the pace continues, that we could sell out of our jerseys by March," Scheer said. "That's something that we're looking at now: how do we start planning to not be sold out by March? Can we get them in from overseas?" U.K. firm hired to shop international broadcast rights The league is also looking at the possibility of an outdoor game in the future, and staging games in Europe, where the league feels its popularity is growing. According to Scheer, people from 88 different countries outside Canada and the United States watched PWHL games on YouTube last season. One of the goals of the league was to attract the best talent from across the world, and the PWHL will have more European players this season than last. With that in mind, the league hired a U.K.-based agency to shop its international broadcast rights. "We think there's absolutely the ability to play games abroad and to grow abroad," Scheer said. After preseason action last week in Toronto and Montreal, all six teams in the PWHL are in the process of finalizing their rosters. Waivers open on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET, and teams must have their rosters set on Wednesday by 5 p.m. ET, ahead of Saturday's regular-season opener.‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Services of America Corporation (the "Company" or "Energy Services") (Nasdaq: ESOA ) has completed the previously announced purchase of Tribute Contracting & Consultants, LLC ("Tribute"), an underground utility contractor that employs approximately 90 construction workers and primarily specializes in water and wastewater system installations in Ohio , Kentucky , and West Virginia. As previously noted, Energy Services purchased substantially all of the assets of Tribute for $22 million in cash, less any assumed debt and working capital adjustments, and $2.0 million of Energy Services' common stock. Todd Harrah and Tommy Enyart will continue their employment with Energy Services' new subsidiary and commented on the announcement, "We are excited to join forces with Energy Services and look forward to contributing to the company's continued success." Douglas Reynolds , President, commented on the announcement. "We are excited to add Tribute to the Energy Services team. This acquisition is consistent with our strategy of buying companies that are familiar to us and further enhances our presence in the water distribution and wastewater categories." About Energy Services Energy Services of America Corporation (NASDAQ: ESOA ), headquartered in Huntington, WV , is a contractor and service company that operates primarily in the mid-Atlantic and Central regions of the United States and provides services to customers in the natural gas, petroleum, water distribution, automotive, chemical, and power industries. Energy Services employs 1,200+ employees on a regular basis. The Company's core values are safety, quality, and production. Certain statements contained in the release including, without limitation, the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects" or words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, general economic and business conditions, changes in business strategy or development plans, the integration of acquired business and other factors referenced in this release. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments. SOURCE Energy Services of America Corporation
On December 12 when the world will celebrate the2024 World Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day Nigeria is expected to reaffirm its commitment to achieving that feat. The UHC, according to World Health Organisation, means that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them. This is without financial hardship. It covers the full continuum of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care across the life course. It is the key to addressing the healthcare challenges faced by millions of Nigerians particularly among women and children. The celebration of UHC Day serves as a reminder that health is a fundamental human right, and no one should be left behind in accessing essential healthcare services. With about two billion people facing financial hardship including one billion experiencing catastrophic out-of-pocket health spending, globally, or 344 million people going into extreme poverty due to health costs, achieving UCH becomes imperative. At the 65th National Council on Health in Maiduguri, Borno State, the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), urged collective action across all sectors to drive sustainable healthcare improvements. This call aligns with the global UHC Day theme, explaining the importance of collaboration in achieving health equity and ensuring that everyone has access to the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. The Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, underscored the need for collaboration across all levels of government, healthcare providers, and the civil society to overcome healthcare delivery barriers, particularly maternal health challenges. Local Governments, according to ALGON, are playing a pivotal role in this effort through their Primary Healthcare Revitalisation and Operationalisation Programmes (APH-ROP). These initiatives are crucial to ensuring that no one is left behind in Nigeria’s journey toward achieving UHC by 2030. In remote Burra community in Ningi Local Government of Bauchi State, Mrs Safiya Abdullahi, a housewife recalled the time when fever could mean a life-threatening journey to the nearest town. “Today, thanks to investments in revitalised primary healthcare systems led by our local government management, we can access essential health services a short walk from her home,” Abdullahi recalled. Her story reflects a broader transformation driven by Nigeria’s local governments in their quest to bridge healthcare gaps. With renewed commitment from ALGON and collaboration with state and federal stakeholders, local councils are becoming critical players in Nigeria’s journey toward UHC. Hon. Aminu Juaro Hassan, ALGON Chairman, Taraba State and ALGON Welfare Officer, said that ALGON, representing all 774 Local Government Councils (LGCs) in Nigeria, has launched the Primary Healthcare Revitalisation and Operationalisation Program (APH-ROP) to strengthen PHCs service delivery nationwide. Hassan said that the programme aligned with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and aimed to achieve UHC and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. He said the key objective of APH-ROP was to: “Empower Local Government Councils to lead and manage primary healthcare services autonomously. “It also seeks to establish mechanisms for prioritising health expenditures to drive economic development and shared prosperity an Foster collaborations with federal and state governments, the private sector, development partners, and community leaders. “It aims to create a centralised data-driven health information system linked to National DHIS2 to monitor health trends and outcomes and build a high-performing and motivated health workforce through systematic training, monitoring and evaluation,” he said. Mr Bello Lawal, National President, of ALGON, said the implementation would be a multi-sectoral initiative to improve health outcomes and achieve the SDGs. “It involves the use grassroots advocacy, community sensitisation, and resource mobilization to strengthen demand for healthcare services,” he said. Speaking on a multisectoral and inclusive approach, he said that these underscored: “gender, equity and social inclusion“. He said that the policy roadmap would be, to reorient LGCs for improved health leadership and stakeholder engagement, and build resilient health systems to meet UHC and health security standards. Amongst others, he said would enhance accountability in health resource management, ensure integrated, data-driven decision-making and invest in continuous capacity building for health workers. Speaking on how to overcome geographical barriers to the project using drones, Dr Seiyefa Brisibe, Commissioner for Health, Bayelsa said the state already used them in logistics distribution including vaccines. He said they were used to deliver the vaccines to remote, waterlogged communities which were not accessible by road. Brisible said the state also integrated community leaders into Primary Health Care Task Force meetings to review progress. In Ogun, Dr Tomi Coker said the state leveraged baseline data revealing only 40 per cent of women delivered with skilled birth attendance. Coker said Ogun implemented targeted interventions such as training Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to improve referrals and outcomes. “This was a major concern, particularly when facility deliveries were concentrated in urban areas. “With this data, the state designed a comprehensive intervention aimed at addressing both demand‐side and supply‐side factors that affect maternal health. “The state worked closely with TBAs, providing them with training and assurances that they would not be blamed if complications arose. “The state encouraged TBAs to refer women with high‐risk pregnancies to health facilities, and women were reassured that they could register with both TBAs and health facilities,” she said. She said that this could be replicated nationwide as part of the vehicles towards the attainment of UHC. Dr Bolanle Olusola-Faleye, Chief Party, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Local Health System Sustainability Project (LHSS), expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential. Olusola-Faleye said the programmes would help reduce maternal and child mortality and strengthen healthcare service delivery nationwide. However, she stressed the importance of monitoring, sustainability and a focus on equity to ensure that no community is left behind. “The implementation phase is expected to begin next year, with ALGON and other partners working collaboratively to establish governance frameworks, enhance human resource capacity, and drive community-based advocacy. “This landmark commitment sets a new standard for local government’s involvement in healthcare transformation in Nigeria,” she said. For Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, Head, WHO Nigeria, the importance of global partnerships in advancing health and education at the local government levels could not be overemphasised. Mulombo praised the ongoing technical support efforts to strengthen health systems across the country and expressed optimism about the future impact of the initiatives. Dr Pamela Ajayi, President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria, stressed the role of the private sector in healthcare delivery at the local government levels, underscoring two key initiatives – the GDP and the New World Initiative – which use telecommunications and mobile health technology to improve primary healthcare in underserved areas. Dr Garfa Alawode, Co-convener of the UHC2023 Forum, also called for a united effort to reduce preventable deaths, improve healthcare infrastructure, and support healthcare workers. “Addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges requires collective will and action,” Alawode said. ALGON’s APH-ROP initiative and its alignment with NHSRII and SWAp reflect the critical role of local governments in driving UHC in Nigeria. Through innovative programmes, collaborative leadership and strategic partnerships, ALGON is positioning Nigeria’s local governments as leaders in primary healthcare delivery. This comprehensive approach ensures that individuals like Abdullai and countless others have access to life-changing healthcare services, bridging the gap toward a healthier and more equitable Nigeria. NANA range of independent TDs are contemplating the prospect of entering Ireland’s next coalition government as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael consider ways to secure a solid majority. Three long days of counting in the General Election finished late on Monday night when the final two seats were declared in the constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. Fianna Fail was the clear winner of the election, securing 48 of the Dail parliament’s 174 seats. Sinn Fein took 39 and Fine Gael 38. Labour and the Social Democrats both won 11 seats; People Before Profit-Solidarity took three; Aontu secured two; and the Green Party retained only one of its 12 seats. Independents and others accounted for 21 seats. The return of a Fianna Fail/Fine Gael-led coalition is now highly likely. However, their combined seat total of 86 leaves them just short of the 88 needed for a majority in the Dail. While the two centrist parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century could look to strike a deal with one of the Dail’s smaller centre-left parties, such as the Social Democrats or Labour, a more straightforward route to a majority could be achieved by securing the support of several independent TDs. For Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and current taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, wooing like-minded independents would be likely to involve fewer policy concessions, and financial commitments, than would be required to convince another party to join the government benches. Longford-Westmeath independent TD Kevin “Boxer” Moran, who served in a Fine Gael-led minority government between 2017 and 2020, expressed his willingness to listen to offers to join the new coalition in Dublin. “Look, my door’s open,” he told RTE. “Someone knocks, I’m always there to open it.” Marian Harkin, an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim, expressed her desire to participate in government as she noted that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were within “shouting distance” of an overall majority. “That means they will be looking for support, and I certainly will be one of those people who will be speaking to them and talking to them and negotiating with them, and I’m looking forward to doing that, because that was the reason that I ran in the first place,” she said. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats and Irish Labour Party both appear cautious about the prospect of an alliance with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. They will no doubt be mindful of the experience of the Green Party, the junior partner in the last mandate. The Greens experienced near wipeout in the election, retaining only one of their 12 seats. Sinn Fein appears to currently have no realistic route to government, given Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s ongoing refusal to share power with the party. Despite the odds being stacked against her party, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald contacted the leaders of the Social Democrats and Labour on Monday to discuss options. Earlier, Fianna Fail deputy leader and outgoing Finance Minister Jack Chambers predicted that a new coalition government would not be in place before Christmas. Mr Chambers said planned talks about forming an administration required “time and space” to ensure that any new government will be “coherent and stable”. After an inconclusive outcome to the 2020 election, it took five months for Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens to strike the last coalition deal. Mr Chambers said he did not believe it would take that long this time, as he noted the Covid-19 pandemic was a factor in 2020, but he also made clear it would not be a swift process. He said he agreed with analysis that there was no prospect of a deal before Christmas. “I don’t expect a government to be formed in mid-December, when the Dail is due to meet on December 18, probably a Ceann Comhairle (speaker) can be elected, and there’ll have to be time and space taken to make sure we can form a coherent, stable government,” he told RTE. “I don’t think it should take five months like it did the last time – Covid obviously complicated that. But I think all political parties need to take the time to see what’s possible and try and form a stable government for the Irish people.” Fine Gael minister of state Peter Burke said members of his parliamentary party would have to meet to consider their options before giving Mr Harris a mandate to negotiate a new programme for government with Fianna Fail. “It’s important that we have a strong, stable, viable government, whatever form that may be, to ensure that we can meet the challenges of our society, meet the challenges in terms of the economic changes that are potentially going to happen,” he told RTE. Despite being set to emerge with the most seats, it has not been all good news for Fianna Fail. The party’s outgoing Health Minister Stephen Donnelly became one of the biggest casualties of the election when he lost his seat in Wicklow in the early hours of Monday morning. Mr Donnelly was always predicted to face a fight in the constituency after boundary changes saw it reduced from five to four seats. If it is to be a reprise of the Fianna Fail/Fine Gael governing partnership of the last mandate, one of the major questions is around the position of taoiseach and whether the parties will once again take turns to hold the Irish premiership during the lifetime of the new government. The outcome in 2020 saw the parties enter a coalition on the basis that the holder of the premier position would be exchanged midway through the term. Fianna Fail leader Mr Martin took the role for the first half of the mandate, with Leo Varadkar taking over in December 2022. Current Fine Gael leader Mr Harris succeeded Mr Varadkar as taoiseach when he resigned from the role earlier this year. However, this time Fianna Fail has significantly increased its seat lead over Fine Gael, compared with the last election when there were only three seats between the parties. The size of the disparity in party numbers is likely to draw focus on the rotating taoiseach arrangement, raising questions as to whether it will be re-run in the next coalition and, if it is, on what terms. On Sunday, Simon Coveney, a former deputy leader of Fine Gael, said a coalition that did not repeat the rotating taoiseach arrangement in some fashion would be a “difficult proposition” for his party. Meanwhile, Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe said he would be making the case for Mr Harris to have another opportunity to serve as taoiseach. On Monday, Mr Chambers said while his party would expect to lead the government it would approach the issue of rotating the taoiseach’s role on the basis of “mutual respect” with Fine Gael. “I think the context of discussions and negotiations will be driven by mutual respect, and that’s the glue that will drive a programme for government and that’s the context in which we’ll engage,” he said. On Monday, Labour leader Ivana Bacik reiterated her party’s determination to forge an alliance with fellow centre-left parties with the intention of having a unified approach to the prospect of entering government. Asked if Labour was prepared to go into government with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael on its own, she told RTE: “No, not at this stage. We are absolutely not willing to do that. “We want to ensure there’s the largest number of TDs who share our vision and our values who want to deliver change on the same basis that we do.” The Social Democrats have been non-committal about any potential arrangement with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and have restated a series of red lines they would need to achieve before considering taking a place in government. Leader Holly Cairns, who gave birth to a daughter on polling day on Friday, said in a statement: “The party is in a very strong position to play an important role in the next Dail. In what position, government or opposition, remains to be seen.” Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in Friday’s proportional representation election, taking 21.9% to Fine Gael’s 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%. While Sinn Fein’s vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in June’s local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election. The final breakdown of first preferences also flipped the result of Friday night’s exit poll, which suggested Sinn Fein was in front on 21.1%, with Fine Gael on 21% and Fianna Fail on 19.5%.
Ruud van Nistelrooy ‘disappointed’ and ‘hurt’ after cutting ties with Man UtdEarlier this week, Drake decided to take legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) over Kendrick Lamar 's hit diss track, "Not Like Us." In a pre-action filing, he accuses the label and Spotify of manipulating streams through botting and influencers. He also alleges that UMG could have prevented the release of the song, on which Kendrick accuses him of being a sexual predator. Unsurprisingly, this has earned big reactions from social media users and fans. While many are clowning Drake, and accusing him of being jealous of Kendrick, others believe he's totally in the right. Some even think that Drake could end up looking like a hero for exposing alleged corruption in the music industry. This includes Funkmaster Flex , who took to X recently to share his take on the situation. Read More: Drake Reportedly Unfollows Timbaland After Producer Addresses UMG & Spotify Petition Dec 1, 2021; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Rapper, singer and actor Drake watches the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Houston Rockets during the second half of an Oklahoma City Thunder game at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "DRAKE IS 100% RIGHT!" he wrote in part. "NATIONAL PLAY! (PER SONG) DRAKE DONT $ FOR PLAY! POP / CHR RADIO: $350k URBAN RADIO: $250K MIXSHOW: $100K LOCAL MIXSHOW DIRECTOR: $40k LOCAL DJ: $3K-5K PER SONG! (DJS ON THE RADIO 5 DAYS A WEEK) THIS IS WHY INDEPENDENT ARTIST DONT RISE TO THE TOP! ALL YOU ARTIST KNOW I AINT NEVER TAKE A DIME FROM YOU, YOUR MANAGER OR YOUR LABELS!" Now, DJ Akademiks has weighed in on all of this on stream, arguing that Drake seems somewhat out of touch with marketing. "On every big song money is spent," he alleged. "It is what it is. So me, I kind of see a nuanced perspective. Like, did Kendrick bot? Of course, in my opinion, of course it was some botting. Is that the only reason the song was hot? F*ck no, people really like it." Read More: J Cole Claims That Jay-Z Once Told Drake To Give Cole A Hit SingleThe first anniversary of Hamas’ attack against Israel passed last month, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 250 Israelis as hostages. What has continued to unfold following the Oct. 7 attack presents the most appalling scene in recent decades. As anticipated, Israeli forces launched an unprecedented military assault in Gaza, evolving the ongoing war into the deadliest conflict in the century-old Israel-Palestine tension. Today the Jewish state is employing all weapons in its arsenal except the nuclear bomb but ironically the outcome of the military strikes has surpassed the scale of the damage that a nuclear bomb could have inflicted. Gaza has been turned into a mound of debris and another warzone is already unfolding in Lebanon. Soon after the launch of the Gaza bombing, millions across the world poured to the streets against the killing of innocent children and women. All major cities began to resonate with the cry “Stop the war!” Amid the global outcry against the war, the utter silence on Arab streets was not so difficult to fathom but it was of course terrifying to see over-state d states and their growing control over people’s hearts and emotions. There is no point saying that sympathy or antipathy toward the obliteration of Gazans or voices for or against Palestinian rights is a litmus test for political correctness and humanism and the same holds true for the Indian Muslims. Indian Muslims have an old association with the cause of Palestine not only because it houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque but also because of their emotional attachment to the Palestinians. The issue of forceful expulsion of Palestinians from their ancestral land and the growing Jewish settlement there in the early 20th century dominated the first generation of Muslim freedom fighters in undivided India. Mohammad Iqbal, the great philosopher-poet of undivided India attended the World Islamic Congress on Palestine and visited Al-Aqsa Mosque while coming back after attending the Second Round Table Conference in 1931. Similarly, Mohammad Ali Jauhar, a Cambridge graduate is buried in the premises of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. When Ali Jauhar died in January 1931 during the Second Round Table Conference in Britain, Haj Amin al-Hussaini, given the former’s love for Palestine, requested Ali Jauhar’s elder brother, Shaukat Ali to bury him in Jerusalem. With such a cherished memory of affection for Palestine, it is not uncommon for today’s Muslims in India to be in grief over the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians in Gaza. Owing to the emergence of a new diplomatic template and the evolution of a new political landscape in India over the years, the scale of protests witnessed during the heydays of protest in other countries was almost invisible in India. However, several Muslim religious organizations and the members of the Muslim intelligentsia condemned the innocent killing in Gaza in their own ways. For example, the deputy chief of India’s oldest Islam-based organization, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Malik Muhtasim Khan says that the core issue for the Palestinians is the establishment of an independent state of Palestine. He also pointed out that it is the state of Israel along with its Western cohort that has continued to deprive the Palestinians of their natural rights and there can be no peace without the state for Palestinians. On the role of Arab leadership, Malik accuses them of betraying the Palestinian cause and failing to fulfill their historical and religious duties. Gaza mayhem, according to him, has further exposed the Western hypocrisy and the myth of Israeli invincibility. The intellectuals in India never shy away from expressing their opinions on global Muslim issues and have always decried the unilateral and hegemonic policy of Israel vis-a-vis Palestine. Akhtarul Wasey, professor emeritus in the Centre of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia University (New Delhi), was more critical of the U.S. instead of Israel. He says that the world should ask the U.S. as a principal arbitrator, not Israel, why it failed to implement the Oslo Accord of 1993, which envisaged an independent state of Palestine. On Gaza, Wasey does not buy the Western narrative and claims that Oct. 7 did not occur in a vacuum but was an outcome of the decades-old Israeli brutalities. According to him, today, unlike Israel, Hamas has nothing to lose and he sees the victory for Palestinians as inevitable. India is home to a significant number of Shiite populations that equally associate themselves with the cause of Palestine. When Hassan Nasrullah of Hezbollah was killed, several Shiites considered it the second biggest loss for Iran after Qasim Suleimani and numerous rallies were organized in Shiite-dominated cities. One prominent Shiite clergy is Maulana Noori, who says that genocide is going on in Gaza before the eyes of a global community and with every passing moment, all hope for the state of Palestine is diminishing. Noori believes if the war does not stop soon, the state will be buried in the debris of Gaza before it can see the light of the day. He called it a sad state of affairs where there is no rule of law and "might is right" seems to have replaced the political wisdom of the past. The legal luminaries have their own way of expanding or looking at the horror of Gaza. Fuzail Ahmed Ayyubi, a prominent lawyer of the Supreme Court, looks at the situation in Gaza through the prism of international law. For him, Gaza represents a total collapse of the international legal system. What is more obnoxious for him is the silence of the world’s so-called civilized nations that have allowed the Israeli death machine for so long, which could inspire other powerful nations to do the same against weak nations. He is equally critical of bodies like the U.N. that have failed in their duty to establish peace or deter the mounting tolls. The Palestinian issue has always received significant attention among Muslim political commentators who have never remained oblivious to what is going on in the larger Arab world. Zafrul Islam Khan, who for three decades published a weekly political magazine (Milli Gazette), says that one should distinguish between the views of the Arab states and Arab streets while evaluating the Arab’s diplomacy on Gaza or Palestine. He is quite outspoken in his assessment and says that the Arab masses are with Hamas. However, he believes the regimes are scared of the resistance group and support the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which is no longer relevant. He says that Arab regimes support the state for the Palestinians but want no role for Hamas in the political sphere of Palestine because they fear Hamas’ resistance ideology could instigate Arab youth against the monarchs. He sees the elimination of the Hamas, as coveted by Israel, as an unachievable goal. Likewise, another prominent journalist and the writer of a masterpiece, published recently, “Being Muslim in Hindu India,” Ziya Us Salam, speaking on the absence of street protests by the Indian Muslims in Gaza, says it is because of growing fear of the government of the day, with Muslims not pouring into the streets and no physical protests, contrary to what was witnessed in other countries. For him, the silence of so-called liberals in the country was equally disturbing as they failed to speak against the atrocities which was not the case earlier. Even the national media in India failed to cover an issue that sought the attention of all the global media from right to left. The student politics in India cannot be seen in isolation from the larger national politics as they have always played a key role in shaping the course of politics. The protest of millions of Muslim students and youth across India in 2019-20 against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is still remembered as a watershed moment in the history of student politics. In the capital city of Delhi, one of the most visible faces of the anti-CAA movement was Eeman Usmani, who, on Gaza, says that ongoing Israeli military action in Palestine is highly arbitrary and one cannot be branded as a terrorist merely for taking up arms and particularly when it is against the forces of occupation. Unlike many, she does not blame Hamas for Oct. 7 because one should understand, according to her, that Hamas has a strong political base both in Gaza and the West Bank and no resistance movement such as Hamas can sustain for long without the mass support. She further claims that what Israel is doing today is a replica of what other colonial powers did in the past. Many voices trace the lineage of today’s catastrophe to the Cold War politics when the larger Arab world was in the camp of the erstwhile USSR. Saiful Islam, a retired senior government official and a keen watcher of Muslim politics holds a similar view. He says that the Palestinian cause has been an old victim of global politics and internal division among the Muslim countries has equally damaged the future prospects of Palestine. He sees success in the pursuit of the path of resistance alone. There are voices for the cause of Palestine but they are not visible in the streets owing to innumerable factors, both internal and external. The Muslims in India from across the spectrum have their well-informed opinions and for them, the Palestinians are the victims of the Israeli atrocities, Western explicit bias and the Arab’s silence.Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Acquires 7,015 Shares of Smith Douglas Homes Corp. (NYSE:SDHC)