Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah start a ceasefire after nearly 14 months of fightingShares of Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. (FET) rose nearly 10% on Monday after the company announced a share repurchase program and the completion of sale-leaseback transactions. Forum Energy services the oil, natural gas, industrial, and renewable energy industries, providing value-added solutions that increase the safety and efficiency of energy exploration and production. The company said its board of directors has authorized a program to repurchase up to $75 million worth outstanding shares of its common stock. The firm said that under the terms of the company’s outstanding senior secured bonds, share repurchases are subject to a leverage ratio of 1.5x. “Until such time as FET’s Leverage Ratio is less than 1.5x, the company will not repurchase its common stock,” it clarified. Meanwhile, the firm also said that in the fourth quarter, it completed selling two manufacturing facilities in Texas. Net proceeds from the sale totaled approximately $20 million, it added. Forum Energy said the properties remain an integral part of its operations, and long-term lease agreements were executed in connection with the transaction. CEO Neal Lux noted that the firm is committed to maintaining conservative net leverage by using a meaningful portion of its free cash flow to reduce debt further. "In addition, FET is focused on returning cash to its shareholders. The size of our share repurchase program reflects our confidence to generate consistent free cash flow in 2025 and beyond,” he said. Retail chatter on Stocktwits indicated optimism on the stock. Despite the rally on Monday, Forum Energy shares have lost over 30% since the beginning of the year. For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.<
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Iconic Central Theatre to give way for commercial complexFormer Labour minister, Lord Peter Mandelson, has sparked controversy by suggesting the use of Reform UK’s leader to strengthen ties between the nations. Tony Blair’s former lead advisor is considered to be the top choice for the role of UK ambassador to the US. However, Lord Mandelson has directly contradicted official government policy to not engage Nigel Farage in international relations by saying the UK should use the Clacton MP as a “bridgehead”. The suggestion by the former business secretary, which could spark a wider civil war within the Labour party if there's a huge divide in opinion on the matter, also explains the connection to Elon Musk , saying the UK should “swallow [its] pride” to engage with the entrepreneur. Speaking to Times Radio podcast, Mandelson says: “If I were the government here, I’d be asking the embassy in Washington DC to find out who [Musk’s] other British friends are . . . [and use them as a] bridge.” President-elect Trump has appointed Musk to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency. Mandelson continued to explain how it would be “unwise . . . for Britain to ignore him”, labelling the department as a “technological, industrial, commercial phenomenon”. The Tesla founder has been vocally critical of Sir Keir Starmer and his Government, supporting the growing petition for a general election which has surpassed two million signatures. On his platform X, he posted: “The people of Britain have had enough of a tyrannical police state” having also accused him of going “full Stalin” in regards to the inheritance tax raid on farmers. Mandelson expressed the importance of using Farage as a bridge to the US and the people within Trump’s newly elected office. “You can’t ignore him, he’s an elected member of parliament. He’s a public figure. He’s a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others . . . National interest is served in all sorts of weird and wonderful ways,” he says. Speaking to the Financial Times in response to the former business secretary’s comments, Farage said he “might disagree with Mandelson on his politics, but he’s a very intelligent man”. The Reform UK leader added that Mandelson is “trying very hard” when asked if he would endorse him for the new ambassador role, but queried his willingness to break his “commitment to the European Union ”.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This New Year's Eve, elevate your celebrations with the world's most luxurious cookie cake: The Dank Decadence Cookie Cake , by Laced Bakes , the innovative infusion bakery redefining indulgence. Designed for the adventurous palate, this decadent treat pairs rich chocolate flavors with customizable terpenes, offering a curated experience to elevate your mood, focus, or relaxation. Available in 250mg ($145) , 500mg ($275) , and 1000mg ($550) doses, the Dank Decadence Cookie Cake is crafted for enthusiasts who demand both flavor and function. Unlike overpriced and underwhelming competitors, this cookie cake doesn't just sit pretty—it delivers tangible effects tailored to you. Customize Your Experience: "Why settle for empty luxury when you can have indulgence that actually does something?" says Crystal Grant , founder of Laced Bakes. "We wanted to create a cookie that doesn't just taste amazing but elevates your entire experience—whether it's a party or a quiet night in." Pre-Order Now: Pick up your Dank Decadence Cookie Cake on December 30th and 31st to kickstart your New Year's celebration on the perfect high note. Quantities are limited—don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind treat. Coming Soon: Stay tuned for the grand opening of Laced Bakes' members-only lounge in Brooklyn , offering exclusive events, infused menu items, and a community space for food and cannabis enthusiasts alike. For more details, visit www.lacedbakes.com or follow us on social media: Instagram: @laced.bakes | TikTok: @lacedbakes | Facebook: Laced Bakes | X: @lacedbakes | Discord: @lacedbakes Elevate your indulgence with Laced Bakes. Contact: Crystal Grant , Founder of Laced Bakes, press@lacedbakes.com Location : 1096 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11221 Website : www.LacedBakes.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/laced-bakes-launches-the-dank-decadence-cookie-cake-the-ultimate-luxury-treat-that-delivers-302339021.html SOURCE Laced BakesWhy Miami’s Pop-Tarts Bowl appearance is important even after missing College Football PlayoffSupreme Court denies bid to reverse Sulu’s exclusion from BARMM
Mohideen Aslam Nett Winner of December Monthly MedalHyderabad: Hitech Hyderabad notched the highest growth in Grade A office space absorption among the top six markets in the country at 56%, with 12.5 million square feet (msft) of space being leased in 2024 as against 8 msft in 2023. The city accounted for 19% of the total 66.4 msft Grade A space leased in the country during the year, as per realty consulting firm Colliers. However, Bengaluru clocked the highest space absorption in 2024 with 21.7 msft being leased as compared to 15.6 msft in 2023, marking a 39% increase. "Grade A office space demand in India broke all past records in 2024, with three out of the six major cities witnessing more than 10 million square feet of annual leasing. New supply also remained above the 50 million square feet mark and kept vacancy levels rangebound. Demand in 2025 can potentially stabilise at elevated levels, and annual space uptake exceeding 60 msft is likely to be the new norm over the next few years," said Arpit Mehrotra, Managing Director, Office Services, India, Colliers. According to Colliers, Hyderabad saw double-digit annual leasing for the first time in 2024, with technology and healthcare sectors together accounting for nearly half the Grade A leasing. While technology accounted for 33% (4.1 million square feet) of the total Grade A office space leased in the city during the year, healthcare and pharma accounted for 16% (2 million square feet), and flex players took up 14% (1.8 million square feet) of the space in Hyderabad. According to Joseph Thilak, national director for occupier strategy & solutions (Hyderabad & Chennai), Knight Frank India, Hyderabad's commercial market is expected to conclude 2024 with one of the highest absorption levels since the pandemic. "GCCs have remained active, leasing large office spaces throughout the year. Healthcare & Pharma, followed by BFSI, have been the dominant end-use occupiers for GCC-oriented transacted office spaces in Hyderabad, which remains favorable for other segments such as India-facing businesses, flex space operators, and third-party IT services with large office spaces of 1 lakh sq ft and above contributing to over 60% of overall leasing volumes," Thilak said. In fact, during Q4 2024, technology and consulting drove nearly 57% of the total Grade A office demand in Hyderabad, as office demand rose 41% to 4.1 million square feet compared to 2.9 msft in Q3 of 2024. Colliers said the surge in demand saw vacancy levels of Grade A office space dip by 90 basis points (BPS) on a sequential basis in the city while all-India vacancy levels also slid by 80 BPS in 2024. Hyderabad (13.7 msft) along with Bengaluru (15.2 msft) cumulatively accounted for 54% of the new supply of 53.3 msft in the top six markets during 2024. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .
AP News Summary at 3:08 p.m. EST
This time a year ago, it would have been hard to imagine my personal experiences in motorsports over the next 12 months. At that time, I’d made a decision to take an offer for a severance package from the Johnson City Press and Kingsport Times News and figured it was the end of my career as a sports writer. Contemplating my future, I got an unexpected phone call. Sixteen-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force was on the other end and he was looking for a new public relations representative. The next couple of days were a whirlwind with Force flying me to his Brownsburg, Indiana shop for an interview with him and three-time champion Robert Hight. The interview seemed to go well as Force had his business manager and social media manager take me on a shop tour. Obviously I didn’t get the job, but was grateful to be considered for the position. Force had a major accident in June, just one week after the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals in Bristol. His future in the race car is still up in the air, as it is for Hight, who announced weeks later he was stepping aside as a driver for health reasons. That was just January. I was working at my part-time job from home in February, but also started doing public relations for Kingsport Speedway. It was a good experience in getting media attention for the drivers and track, but frustrating with how I was striking out with potential sponsors. Being away from the newspapers, I was able to take part in Daytona 500 media day and attend races at Speedweeks. It’s something I’ve not been able to do the last three decades as the races fall the same time as the high school basketball playoffs. Thankfully, I was offered a return to the newspapers full-time in March and the Food City 500 ranked as the most interesting race I’ve ever covered. Tires coming apart made it a great race in my opinion, although a certain segment of the fans complained. It forced the teams and drivers to adjust throughout the race. Denny Hamlin emerged the winner after a record 54 lead changes. The end of March also marked the season opener at Kingsport Speedway. The big news at Kingsport in April was the Late Model racers would be competing in twin features the rest of the season. It gave the racers more chances to win and the fans more action. Volunteer Speedway had its season opener in May. Travis Fultz from Harrogate held off Johnson City driver Tim Maupin in the Sportsman Late Model feature to highlight the night’s action. The SuperGrip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals again delivered great racing at Bristol Dragway in June. Eight-time Top Fuel world champion Tony Schumacher won the Top Fuel class, while Austin Prock represented the Force team in winning Funny Car. A week later, the Force crash happened at Richmond, bringing forth a wide range of emotions. Matthew Burkeen from North Carolina and Kyle Bitterman from South Carolina captured the main events at the Tennessee State Championships held at Muddy Creek Raceway in July. Dale McDowell won the Southern Nationals at Volunteer Speedway that Sunday night, while Scott Bloomquist was running a strong third before mechanical problems. That turned out to be the final major race for Bloomquist, who was killed in a plane crash at his Hawkins County farm on August 16. Tributes from throughout the racing world poured in for Bloomquist, considered by many as the greatest dirt late model driver of all-time. As entertaining as the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway was, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race in September was just as boring with little tire wear. Kyle Larson dominated the race, leading 462 laps, a number not seen since the 1970s when races were often won by multiple laps. My part-time job takes precedence for a weekend in October with the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals in Mississippi. It’s always special seeing the Sportsman champions across North America come to the event and how much the event means to them. Bobby Allison, my favorite race car driver and sports hero growing up, died in November. It brought back a flood of memories, most of them great ones. I particularly remember the day when Bobby and his wife Judy were at Kingsport Speedway to see their grandson, Robbie, win his first race. December has brought more unknowns with the news that IHRA has been sold to Ohio businessman Darryl Cuttell. That’s a story worth following with more big announcements coming soon. Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be another busy year on the local front. There are the major events at Bristol as well as the DER Bracket Series. Great weekly short track action is at Kingsport and a busier schedule at Volunteer Speedway. And if you haven’t visited the renovated Newport Speedway, it’s a trip well worth it.