Days after a controversial wildlife control contract made headlines , the Quintana Roo state government has announced its intentions to guarantee the free and safe movement of wildlife along the length of the Cancún-Tulum highway and the Maya Train railroad tracks by building 21 wildlife crossings across the state. The state government said it would begin building the wildlife crossings – along Federal Highway 307 and the path of the Maya Train tracks — before the end of 2024. The plan — with an initial budget of 17 million pesos (US $850,000) — calls for 15 elevated crossings, two aerial bridges and four underground passages. On Monday, Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama announced the creation of a trust to support the project. In a social media post , Lezama said her administration aims to conserve and protect the state’s biodiversity through the construction of these wildlife crossings to protect the state’s “emblematic species, including the jaguar, ocelots and spider monkeys.” All three species are native to Quintana Roo. Quintana Roo’s Ecology and Environment Ministry (SEMA) and its Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas will oversee the project, the newspaper Riviera Maya News reported. Wildlands Network , a U.S. NGO whose primary mission is to prevent biodiversity loss and promote climate change resilience, says wildlife crossings are critical to protecting species living in ecosystems fragmented by roads and other development. A November 2023 amendment to the Federal Highways, Bridges and Motor Transport Law now makes wildlife crossings mandatory in Mexico’s road infrastructure. In addition, a June 2024 regulation states that transportation infrastructure projects must include provisions for wildlife crossings. The Wildlands Network points out, however, that neither the law nor the regulation features enforcement language and that there are no specifics about the characteristics, maintenance or budget requirements for these crossings. Although the Maya Train was promoted as an environmentally friendly project with promises of 500 wildlife crossings, activists claim such is not the case. The newspaper El Financiero reported in June that fences were installed in some areas and that some drainages and tunnels are described as wildlife crossings, though they were not built with that intention. “Animals such as spider monkeys are not going to come out of the trees to cross through a tunnel,” environmental activist José Urbina, known in Mexico as a defender of the Yucatán Peninsula’s cenotes and an opponent to the Maya Train project in the state, told El Financiero. Such passages are not useful for wildlife, says Wildlands Network, and only a few of the drainages have the minimum characteristics to protect animals’ free passage. As a result, roadkill incidents are on the rise near the Maya Train, according to Wildlands Network. The controversy comes on the heels of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s detailed plans to build 3,000 kilometers of railroad tracks during her administration. In a positive development, a federal lawmaker on Tuesday introduced a bill mandating the inclusion of wildlife corridors during the design and modernization of railway infrastructure. With reports from La Jornada , Riviera Maya News , El Financiero and Wildlands NetworkNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end. There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 1⁄2-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift's expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. “Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.” Bohne, who has earned the title among the Swiftie community as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar. Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.” “Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.” Swift herself appeared to struggle that the end was near while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool. “This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour's impending end. Swift kicked off the Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona, the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada. By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever gross over $1 billion and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar. Throughout the tour, Swift was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year . Apple Music named her its artist of the year and Spotify revealed she was 2023’s most streamed artist globally . She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when she began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book. And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now ” and 2014's record “1989,” as well as released her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” “I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless." Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”? “I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular Swift-focused Instagram account @headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.” Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later died of heat exhaustion. In July, British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London. And in August, all three of Swift's concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city. Tens of thousands of Swifties from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows. “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.” Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift's connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations, many fans flocked to the streets to sing Swift's songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree. Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new. “I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”
The Detroit Lions have equaled the franchise record for most consecutive victories and stand alone atop the NFC standings. They still have plenty of obstacles to clear to remain at that perch. Even the NFC North remains up for grabs and they'll try to create a little more separation when they host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The Lions (11-1), who have won 10 straight, haven't been able to shake free from Minnesota (10-2) or Green Bay (9-3). Detroit will host Minnesota, which has won five straight, in the regular-season finale next month. The Packers have remained in contention by winning seven of their last eight, with the only loss coming at the hands of the Lions. Detroit opened up a 21-point lead early in the third quarter and held on for a 24-14 victory. Lions coach Dan Campbell says the fun really begins now. "The best part of all of this -- we're in playoff football right now, that's where we're at," he said. "We're in December, and our schedule says that. Man, we play tough opponent after tough opponent -- we've got plenty coming up. So, man, this is the type of stuff that you live for and it's also the type of stuff that gets you ready for the tournament. "So, yeah, we're a resilient bunch and nothing's going to change that. We've just got to worry about the one in front of us." Detroit is coming off a 23-20 win over Chicago on Thanksgiving Day in which it nearly blew a 16-point lead. The Bears' poor clock management cost them an opportunity to send the game into overtime and led to coach Matt Eberflus' firing. The Lions have been hit with a wave of injuries, particularly on the defensive side. They signed four players over the past week to fortify their depth. "I know the elephant in the room is all the injuries that have happened with us on the defensive side," defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said. "Our personnel staff does a really good job of acquiring players that fit exactly who we are. I would say this, it's not the playbook that's the most important thing for these guys to come in and learn. It's the style of play that we have and that's easy to learn." Jared Goff has thrown for six touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past three games after tossing five picks against the Houston Texans on Nov. 10. The Packers also played on Thanksgiving, defeating Miami 30-17. Green Bay opened up a 24-3 halftime lead as Jordan Love threw two touchdown passes to Jayden Reed. Now the Packers face a Detroit team that has defeated them in five of the last six meetings. "With most good teams, they play the game the right way," Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. "Certainly, Detroit's been doing that for a couple years now. That's who they are and that's who we are as well. It should be a great game on Thursday night." The Packers might have to win via a shootout, considering the Lions are averaging a league-best 31.9 points per game (Green Bay ranks eighth at 26.5). Stopping the running game will be key, according to LaFleur. "They're two very dynamic backs. (David) Montgomery, he's going to beat you up physically and the other guy (Jahmyr Gibbs), you've got to try to corral because he can take it the distance," he said. "Jared (Goff) is playing at an MVP level, so they've got a really potent offense." Lions offensive tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and three defensive linemen -- DJ Reader (shoulder), Josh Paschal (knee) and Levi Onwezurike (hamstring) -- didn't practice on Tuesday. Offensive guard Elgton Jenkins (knee), Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee) missed the Packers' practice. --Field Level MediaAclaris Therapeutics Announces Inducement Grants Under NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)CORK, Ireland , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls International plc (NYSE: JCI) (the "Company" or "Johnson Controls"), a global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, today announced the pricing of its offering of $250 million senior notes due 2032 (the "Additional Notes"). The Additional Notes will be a further issuance of, and form a single series with, the existing $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.900% senior notes due 2032 that were originally issued on September 14, 2022 by the Company and Tyco Fire & Security Finance, S.C.A., a subsidiary of the Company, as co-issuer. The net proceeds of the Additional Notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including the repayment, redemption or refinancing of outstanding commercial paper and other near-term indebtedness. General corporate purposes may also include acquisitions, additions to working capital, repurchase of ordinary shares, dividends, capital expenditures and investments in the Company's subsidiaries. The closing for the transaction is expected to occur on December 10, 2024 , subject to certain customary closing conditions. BofA Securities and US Bancorp are serving as joint lead book-running managers to facilitate the transaction. Barclays, BBVA and UniCredit Capital Markets are also serving as book-running managers of the offering. The offering of the Additional Notes is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, prospectus and related prospectus supplement. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the base prospectus may be obtained by contacting BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at 1-800-294-1322; or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. toll-free at 1-877-558-2607. Investors may also obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Johnson Controls: At Johnson Controls, we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As a global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, with a global team of experts, Johnson Controls offers the world's largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. Johnson Controls International plc Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Johnson Controls International plc has made statements in this communication that are forward-looking and therefore are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "forecast," "project" or "plan" and terms of similar meaning are also generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Johnson Controls cautions that these statements are subject to numerous important risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Johnson Controls' control, that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, among others, risks related to: Johnson Controls' ability to develop or acquire new products and technologies that achieve market acceptance and meet applicable quality and regulatory requirements; the ability of Johnson Controls to execute on its operating model and drive organizational improvement; Johnson Controls' ability to successfully execute and complete portfolio simplification, including the completion of the divestiture of the Residential and Light Commercial business, as well as the possibility that the expected benefits of such actions will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time frame; the ability to hire and retain senior management and other key personnel, including successfully executing Johnson Controls' Chief Executive Officer succession plan; the ability to innovate and adapt to emerging technologies, ideas and trends in the marketplace, including the incorporation of technologies such as artificial intelligence; the ability to manage general economic, business and capital market conditions, including the impact of recessions, economic downturns and global price inflation; fluctuations in the cost and availability of public and private financing for Johnson Controls' customers; the ability to manage macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility, including supply chain shortages and the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas; managing the risks and impacts of potential and actual security breaches, cyberattacks, privacy breaches or data breaches, maintaining and improving the capacity, reliability and security of Johnson Controls' enterprise information technology infrastructure; the ability to manage the lifecycle cybersecurity risk in the development, deployment and operation of Johnson Controls' digital platforms and services; changes to laws or policies governing foreign trade, including economic sanctions, tariffs, foreign exchange and capital controls, import/export controls or other trade restrictions; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; changes or uncertainty in laws, regulations, rates, policies, or interpretations that impact Johnson Controls' business operations or tax status; the ability to adapt to global climate change, climate change regulation and successfully meet Johnson Controls' public sustainability commitments; risks and uncertainties related to the settlement with a nationwide class of public water systems concerning the use of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam; the outcome of litigation and governmental proceedings; the risk of infringement or expiration of intellectual property rights; Johnson Controls' ability to manage disruptions caused by catastrophic or geopolitical events, such as natural disasters, armed conflict, political change, climate change, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments; any delay or inability of Johnson Controls to realize the expected benefits and synergies of recent portfolio transactions; the tax treatment of recent portfolio transactions; significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities associated with such transactions; labor shortages, work stoppages, union negotiations, labor disputes and other matters associated with the labor force; and the cancellation of or changes to commercial arrangements. Investors are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. For further discussion of certain of these factors, see Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 , filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on November 19, 2024 and in our subsequent and future filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov . Investors should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider this list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date of this communication, unless otherwise specified, and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this communication. INVESTOR CONTACTS: MEDIA CONTACT: Jim Lucas Danielle Canzanella Direct: 414.340.1752 Direct: 203.499.8297 Email: jim.lucas@jci.com Email: danielle.canzanella@jci.com Michael Gates Direct: 414.524.5785 Email: michael.j.gates@jci.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnson-controls-prices-senior-notes-offering-302324369.html SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc
( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Blood gas and Electrolyte Analyzers Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 20, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- Grab your chance in The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! Market size growth for blood gas and electrolyte analyzers has been quite remarkable in recent years, withestimated expansion from $3.26 billion in 2023 to $3.52 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 8.0%. This surge can be linked to rapid urbanization, the growing number of patients in emergency units of hospitals, improved infrastructure in diagnostic centers, rising earnings and standard of living, increased healthcare expenditure, an increase in the elderly population, and the rise in obesity. What Does the Future Hold for the Blood Gas and Electrolyte Analyzers Market? Future growth in the blood gas and electrolyte analyzers market looks promising and is prognosticated to reach $4.86 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 8.4%. This anticipated growth can be pinned on increasing government initiatives, a rising number of patients in critical care units and intensive care units ICU, escalations in medical tourism, and a surge in chronic diseases. Other major trends to look forward to include technological advancements, product innovations, digital blood gas analyzers, automated blood gas analyzers, the use of venous blood gas values, and complete blood count CBC diagnostics technology. To delve into more comprehensive insights about this burgeoning market, feel free to download a sample report here: What's Driving this Growth? A primary accelerator of this market's growth is the increased number of patients which led to an uptick in blood sample testing. Blood tests are utilized for various purposes, including measuring cholesterol and blood glucose levels. These tests aid in monitoring the risk of heart disease, vascular disease, and diabetes, as well as evaluating how effective treatments are. For example, in 2021 of the 118.5 million blood donations received globally, 40% were garnered in high-income countries. Intriguingly, children under five years old receive almost 54% of blood transfusions in low-income nations, whereas in high-income countries, patients over 60 years old receive up to 75% of all transfusions. It becomes clear, then, how the increase in patient numbers fuels the growth of the blood gas and electrolyte analyzers market. To uncover extensive insights and strategies, you can consider checking the full report here: Who Are the Movers and Shakers in the Industry? The key players in this market include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Danaher Corporation, Siemens Healthineers AG, Werfen, Abbott Laboratories, Medica Corporation, EDAN Instruments Inc, Radiometer Medical, Nova Biomedical, OPTI Medical systems Inc, I Sens Inc, JOKOH CO. LTD, Prolong Medical Equipment Co. Ltd, Sensa Core Medical Instrumentation Pvt. Ltd, Hunan Rainbow Technology Co. Ltd, ERBA Mannheim, EKF Diagnostics, Roche Diagnostics, Grifols, Vygon SAS, Biofidus, KwertyMed, Instrumentation Laboratory Company, Becton Dickinson and Co, and Microbiology E.A Ltd. What Are the Eminent Trends in the Industry? Major companies are more inclined towards technological advancements to solidify their market presence. A noteworthy example is Sensa Core's launch of the ST-200 CC Blood Gas Analyzer-Ultra Smart in India. This highly advanced blood gas model is completely automated, microprocessor-controlled, and uses an ION selective electrode ISE, Impedance Hct, and Amperometry pO2 technology to perform arterial blood gas and electrolyte analysis. How Is This Market Segmented? The market is segmented by product into Blood Gas Analyzers, Electrolyte Analyzers, Combined Analyzers, and Consumables. By modality, it is categorized into Portable, Laboratory, and Benchtop and by end user, it is divided into Central Laboratories, Point Of Care, Diagnostic Centres, Hospitals, and Other End Users. What Are the Regional Highlights? North America emerged as the largest region in the blood gas and electrolyte analyzers market in 2023. This region is also anticipated to witness the fastest growth moving ahead. Other regions covered in the report include Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Blood Transfusion Diagnostics Global Market Report 2024 Blood Glucose Meters Global Market Report 2024 Gastric Cancer Drugs Global Market Report 2024 Learn More About The Business Research Company As a global market research firm, The Business Research Company has published over 15000+ reports across 27 industries, spanning over 60+ geographies. The reports draw on 1,500,000 datasets, thorough secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. Contact us at: The Business Research Company: ]( Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email us at ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: ]( YouTube: ]( Global Market Model: global-market-model](global-market-model Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN19122024003118003196ID1109014319 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.READER POLL: Do you think Maryland’s budget shortfall could be reduced by cutting government waste and fraud?NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end. There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 1⁄2-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift's expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. “Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.” Bohne, who has earned the title among the Swiftie community as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar. Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.” “Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.” Swift herself appeared to struggle that the end was near while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool. “This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour's impending end. Swift kicked off the Eras tour in Glendale, Arizona, the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada. By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever gross over $1 billion and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar. Throughout the tour, Swift was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year . Apple Music named her its artist of the year and Spotify revealed she was 2023’s most streamed artist globally . She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when she began dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book. And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now ” and 2014's record “1989,” as well as released her 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” “I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless." Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”? “I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular Swift-focused Instagram account @headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.” Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later died of heat exhaustion. In July, British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London. And in August, all three of Swift's concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city. Tens of thousands of Swifties from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows. “Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.” Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift's connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations, many fans flocked to the streets to sing Swift's songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree. Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new. “I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”
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Avendra International Acquires Spanish-Based QuantumScientists at the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) have achieved a major breakthrough in the production of clean hydrogen energy. The team research team has successfully developed and certified a groundbreaking “Zero-Gap” technology for bio-electrochemical cells (BECs). It has the potential to pave the way for large-scale, cost-effective hydrogen production from organic waste. This breakthrough addresses two critical challenges: the growing need for clean energy sources and the effective management of organic waste. “This technological development not only addresses the environmental and economic challenges of processing organic waste in Korea but also represents a significant breakthrough in the high-efficiency production of clean hydrogen energy,” said Dr Jwa Eunjin, the lead researcher. BEC technology harnesses the power of microorganisms to convert organic waste into valuable hydrogen fuel. The microorganisms consume the organic matter in the waste, and this process releases electrons and hydrogen ions, which then combine to produce hydrogen gas. BEC suffers from limitations This approach offers a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods, which often rely on fossil fuels and generate significant carbon emissions. “By operating at low temperatures and emitting significantly less carbon dioxide, BEC technology aligns with global decarbonization goals,” said the scientists in a press release. However, as BEC systems increase in size, the longer pathways for electrochemical reactions lead to higher internal resistance and reduced efficiency . “This limitation poses a significant barrier to large-scale commercialization, highlighting the need for further technological advancements to improve system efficiency and scalability,” added the press release . The research team has introduced a groundbreaking “Zero-Gap” technology to overcome this limitation. This innovative design minimizes the distance between the cell’s electrodes and separator, optimizing reaction efficiency and electron transfer. “This advancement resolves longstanding power loss challenges in conventional processes, offering a transformative pathway toward large-scale, cost-effective hydrogen production,” read the press release. Confirmed effectiveness and pilot-scale success What sets KIER’s Zero-Gap technology apart is its unique design, which ensures consistent performance even in large-scale systems. Conventional zero-gap structures often struggle with pressure imbalances as systems grow larger. This can create gaps between components and lead to drops in efficiency. KIER’s design avoids this problem, maintaining optimal performance regardless of system size. Rigorous testing conducted by the Korea Testing Laboratory (KTL) has confirmed the effectiveness of this new technology. “The process utilizing the newly developed cell achieved 1.2 times higher hydrogen productivity and more than 1.8 times higher electron production compared to existing bio-electrochemical hydrogen production processes,” explained the team. “The same performance was maintained in pilot-scale experiments, a critical step toward large-scale implementation.” The model can benefit countries seeking sustainable waste management and clean energy solutions. “The commercialization of the high-performance bio-electrochemical cell we developed is expected to make a substantial contribution to achieving carbon neutrality and transitioning to a hydrogen-based society,” Dr Eunjin concluded.
Ange Postecoglou vowed to keep fighting to revive Tottenham’s fortunes after receiving “some direct feedback” from disgruntled fans following a limp 1-0 Premier League loss to Bournemouth. Spurs boss Postecoglou was booed and heckled by a frustrated away end at the Vitality Stadium, having seen his toothless side condemned to defeat by Dean Huijsen’s 17th-minute header. The Australian refused to go into detail about the heated exchange but said he understood the supporters’ emotional reaction. Just a couple of chill guys getting three points ? pic.twitter.com/dzZRg2x0Xn — AFC Bournemouth ? (@afcbournemouth) December 5, 2024 “I didn’t like what was being said because I’m a human being but you’ve got to cop it,” said Postecoglou, whose team have won only one of their last six games in all competitions. “I’ve been around long enough to know that when things don’t go well you’ve got to understand the frustration and the disappointment. “They’re rightly disappointed tonight because we’ve let a game of football get away from us. I’m OK with all that. “They’re disappointed and rightly so. They gave me some direct feedback, which I guess is taken onboard. “All I can say is, I’m really disappointed with tonight and I’m determined to get it right and I will keep fighting until we do.” Asked what was said by the travelling support, Postecoglou replied: “Probably not for here, mate.” Postecoglou spoke with fans at the final whistle (Adam Davy/PA) Bournemouth midfielder Ryan Christie struck a post and the impressive hosts failed to capitalise on a host of other chances to put the result beyond doubt. Spurs dropped below the Cherries, into 10th position, ahead of Sunday’s London derby at home to high-flying Chelsea following the latest setback in a patchy season so far. To compound a miserable evening for the injury-hit north London club, defender Ben Davies limped out of his 300th Premier League appearance and faces a spell on the sidelines. “It looks like he’s done his hamstring,” said Postecoglou. “He’ll obviously be out for a period of time now, we’ll just have to wait and see how long it is. “It’s kind of the consequence of us having the squad we have at the moment.” Match-winner Huijsen became Bournemouth’s youngest Premier League goalscorer by nodding in Marcus Tavernier’s corner. The Spain Under-21 defender, who is aged 19 years and 235 days, was making only his third top-flight start since a summer switch from Juventus, in place of the injured Marcos Senesi. Cherries boss Andoni Iraola said: “Dean has shown from the beginning that he is someone with confidence in himself. With the injury of Marcos, for sure he will have to play more. Dean Huijsen celebrates scoring the only goal of the game (Adam Davy/PA) “Now we will not regret it because we finished winning but when we started missing the chances in the second half it was a dangerous moment. Luckily for us, we could finish the job.” Speaking about Senesi, who sustained a quad injury in Saturday’s 4-2 win at Wolves, Iraola said: “It’s quite significant so probably he will be out for some time but we still have to do more assessment.”LION ELECTRIC REACHES DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT IN RESPECT OF THE SALE OF INNOVATION CENTER LOCATED IN MIRABEL, QUÉBEC