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z1b STAG Industrial ( NYSE: STAG ) is a unique pick operating within the industrial properties sector as a triple net lease player. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had 578 properties featuring 114.5 sq. ft. across 40 states. Its properties serve mostly Air Freight & Logistics, Containers & Packaging, and Automobile Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of PLD, STAG, FR either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. The information, opinions, and thoughts included in this article do not constitute an investment recommendation or any form of investment advice. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Tech billionaire Elon Musk faced accusations of censorship Friday from fellow conservatives after several prominent right-wing accounts who had criticized Musk’s views on immigration said that they subsequently lost access to premium features on Musk’s social media app, X. At least 14 conservative accounts said late Thursday or Friday that X had revoked their blue verification badge, cutting them off from a variety of premium features, including the ability to monetize their accounts through subscriptions and advertising revenue-sharing, according to a review conducted by NBC News . Some accounts said the number of those affected was far higher. The accounts were all still active Friday, but without access to monetization features; some of them said they worried about their ability to keep posting. Some conservatives said they considered X’s actions to be a betrayal by Musk, who purchased the service then known as Twitter in 2022 in part because he said it had unfairly limited conservative speech . Musk has since called himself a free-expression advocate, even as he calls for jailing some of his critics . Musk and X did not respond to requests for comment on Friday. But on Thursday night, about an hour before some conservatives started complaining about losing access to X’s premium features, Musk posted what he called “a reminder” on X. He wrote that the site’s algorithm automatically reduces the reach of a user if they’re frequently blocked or muted by other, credible users. “If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly,” Musk posted . But rather than satisfying people complaining about censorship, the post elicited even more accusations that Musk was shadowbanning his conservative critics, or reducing engagement on their posts without officially disclosing such actions to affected accounts. The actions by X came in the middle of a heated online debate on the subject of future immigration policy under President-elect Donald Trump, with anti-immigration MAGA loyalists denouncing the influence of pro-immigration tech executives and investors such as Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Many of the affected accounts said they were affiliated with one media brand in particular, ConservativeOG. Preston Parra, a 23-year-old influencer and head of ConservativeOG, said he considered the actions by X to be a “political takedown” in retaliation for publicly disagreeing with Musk’s pro-immigration views. He said he plans to keep fighting Musk, not only to get his premium features restored but also to ensure that Trump pursues restrictionist immigration policies. “If anyone thinks for one minute the REAL backbone of the right wing and MAGA is gonna stand idly by while these big tech gillionaire Silicon Valley dweebs who didn’t get bullied enough in high school, steal our country, they’re mistaken,” Parra said in a text message. He said he believes Musk to be a “Trojan horse” in the Trump camp. Trump announced that Musk and Ramaswamy would lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” to much fanfare, shortly after the Nov. 5 election. But in recent days, after venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan was announced as a White House adviser on AI policy, Trump’s tech-world allies — including Musk and Ramaswamy — have come under deeper scrutiny and criticism from the far-right for their previous statements about or involvement with legal immigration. Musk is an immigrant, having been born and raised in South Africa. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. More from NBC News:
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Driving Sri Lanka’s future: How Ministry of Digital Economy can transform nation1 2 Hyderabad: As the city wraps up another year in its rapid urban evolution, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), established in July 2024, has emerged as a key player in the city's future. In the past five months, HYDRAA reclaimed nearly 200 acres of land (lakes/govt land/parks) and resolved over 5,000 complaints, in the process helping protect the city's water bodies. So far, out of an estimated 9,000 lakes during the Nizam's rule, only 185 lakes have been notified, and 20 of them have already dried up. Commissioner AV Ranganath, who is leading the initiative across the region extending to the Outer Ring Road (ORR), said, "Our vision ahead is clear — we're not just managing disasters; we're preventing them." Real estate market reigned in? An immediate outcome of HYDRAA was seen in Hyderabad's real estate market, with consumer concerns about their purchases reaching an all-time-high. Earlier relegated to just checking if it was a govt-approved layout, prospective home buyers are now seen asking questions such as "Is the project in the FTL area?" or "Has the buffer zone been marked in the property's surroundings?" or at times bordering on paranoia with questions such as "Our houses won't be demolished in the future, right?" Ravi Kumar, a real estate broker in Miyapur, says, "Buyers are not just asking if the property is legal; they want proof. They ask for FTL maps, approval documents, and even municipal clearances before considering a site visit. Recently, I received a request for the FTL and buffer zone maps from HYDRAA to give buyers the assurance." Real estate developers are also tweaking their marketing strategies to address concerns. Many now prominently highlight the precise distance of their projects from restricted zones. But between June and November, the city also witnessed improvements in residential and commercial real estate activity. Just in the month of June, Hyderabad recorded ₹4,288 crore in residential property sales, and the city saw 2.5 million square feet of office leasing activity, an 11% quarterly hike compared to 2023. Buffer Zone Demolitions After facing backlash following several demolitions, HYDRAA stated that it will not demolish any structures for which permission was granted before July 2024. No demolition will be conducted on residential houses constructed without permission if they were completed and occupied by the stipulated date, the agency said. Ranganath said, "We will verify these details through Google Earth and on-site inspections. However, commercial and business buildings constructed without permits, such as N Convention, will be demolished, regardless of the construction date, if they fall within the full tank level (FTL)." On the other hand, scientist and environmentalist Sai Bhaskar Reddy Nakka claimed that the idea of buffer zones as per HYDRAA and the govt was unscientific. "The arbitrary definitions of buffers are illogical; somewhere it is 30 metres, others it is 50 metres. They are not engaging scientists and are unable to differentiate between a natural lake and a manmade tank. Most water bodies in Hyderabad are artificial ponds created for local use." Lake Rejuvenation One of HYDRAA's most notable achievements was its aggressive approach to lake protection and restoration. The saga, which began with the demolition of Tollywood actor Nagarjuna's N Convention, continues with a proposal to revive 12 lakes in phases. "If the govt wants, we can also use corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to help fund and maintain these lakes," the commissioner said. Madhulika Choudhary, an environmentalist who worked on Neknampur Lake for the past 8 years, suggested immediate measures for a real shot at saving lakes. "The govt should take ownership of all lakes, even those on private patta lands, set a defined area of 10 acres for what constitutes a lake, work on a nala protection plan, and also decide the responsibility of the maintenance of protected lakes," she said. Technology and Innovation "We aim to use remote sensing for mapping full tank levels and buffer zones and use drones to see how many structures are encroaching in lakes," added Ranganath. "We will also create a system to clear out encroachments from footpaths and roads to make way for smooth traffic movement." The same was echoed by Padmanabha Reddy Mutyala, president of Forum for Good Governance. "HYDRAA can usher in a positive impact if it can clear footpaths, remove encroachments, and ease traffic. The future of Hyderabad is dependent on the smooth movement of people." Mutyala said, "One missing aspect is that there is still no tribunal to settle disputes. Even the smallest encroachment can get a stay from the high court, and HYDRAA also faces the same fate. The municipalities have a provision to have municipal administrative tribunals, which can be invoked for the greater good." The Way Ahead Looking ahead to 2025, the agency is now planning to delve into the preservation of ancient heritage rocks in the city. However, challenges remain. Coordination between multiple departments and the pace of urbanisation are expected to test HYDRAA's capabilities as it enters the new year. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
Mexico plans to create a single new economic competition authority, absorbing the functions of COFECE and IFT, as part of a constitutional amendment to simplify government agencies. The new authority will have legal personhood, its own assets, and technical/operational independence. Congress must pass new secondary laws on competition, free market access, telecommunications, and broadcasting before the constitutional changes take effect. Challenges to the new authority’s decisions would be made through indirect amparo proceedings and would not be subject to suspension. Specialized judges elected by popular vote would hear the cases. The International Chamber of Commerce Mexico recommends the new authority maintain independence, transparency, organizational flexibility, and the ability to recruit top talent. This GT Alert discusses potential economic competition implications of the Decree that reforms, adds and abrogates several provisions of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States regarding organic simplification (Decree). We also summarize some recommendations for establishing and operating the new economic competition authority in Mexico prepared by the International Chamber of Commerce México (ICC México). The Decree proposes eliminating seven constitutionally autonomous bodies 1 , with the general objective of reducing current budgetary expenditure. The saved economic resources would be allocated to a newly created Pension Fund for Welfare. This GT Alert focuses on the changes related to eliminating the Federal Economic Competition Commission (COFECE or Commission) and the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT) as Mexico’s economic competition regulatory authorities. 2
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News digest: SNS switches from 'foreign-funded' label for NGOs to lobbying regulationKYIV, Ukraine — Donald Trump on Sunday pushed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to act to reach an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine, describing it as part of his active efforts as president-elect to end the war despite being weeks from taking office. “Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness," Trump wrote on social media, referring to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a television interview that aired Sunday, Trump also said he would be open to reducing military aid to Ukraine and pulling the United States out of NATO . Those are two threats that have alarmed Ukraine, NATO allies and many in the U.S. national security community. Asked on NBC's “Meet the Press” if he were actively working to end the nearly 3-year-old Ukraine war, Trump said, “I am.” He refused to say if he had spoken to Putin since winning the election in November. “I don’t want to say anything about that, because I don’t want to do anything that could impede the negotiation,” Trump said. Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire went beyond the public policy stands taken by both the Biden administration and Ukraine and drew a cautious response from Zelenskyy. It also marks Trump's wading unusually deeply into efforts before his inauguration on Jan. 20 to resolve one of the major global crises facing the lame-duck Biden administration. Trump made his proposal after a weekend meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders in Paris, where many world leaders gathered to celebrate the restoration of Notre Dame cathedral after a devastating fire. None of the advisers traveling with him appeared to have expertise on Ukraine. Kyiv would like to close a deal, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.” “I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!” Trump added. He was referring to mediation efforts by China that many in the West have seen as favoring Russia. Zelenskyy described his discussions Saturday with Trump, brought together by French President Emmanuel Macron, as “constructive" but has given no further details. In a post Sunday on the Telegram messaging app, Zelenskyy cautioned that Ukraine needs a “just and robust peace, that Russians will not destroy within a few years.” “When we talk about an effective peace with Russia, we must talk first of all about effective peace guarantees. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought war to our land,” Zelenskyy said. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump's post by repeating Moscow’s longstanding message that it is open to talks with Ukraine. Peskov referenced a decree by Zelenskyy from October 2022 that formally declared the prospect of any talks “impossible” as long as Putin was Russia's leader. That decree came after Putin proclaimed four occupied regions of Ukraine to be part of Russia, in what Kyiv and the West said was a clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty. Trump’s former national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, warned there was no such thing as a quick fix to ending Russia’s war with Ukraine. “What I’m worried about is this kind of flawed idea that Putin can be placated, right, that Putin will come to some kind of a deal,” McMaster told “Fox News Sunday." “I think it’s really important for President Trump to adhere to his instinct in this connection ... peace through strength,” McMaster said, adding, “How about give them what they need to defend themselves, and then saying to Putin, ‘You’re going to lose this war?”’ While Trump has said before that he would like to see a quick ceasefire in Ukraine, his proposal Sunday was framed as a direct appeal to Russia. The quick responses from Ukraine and Russia demonstrated the seriousness with which they regarded the idea from the incoming American president. Both Trump and Biden administration officials have pointed to Russia’s disengagement in Syria , where the Russian military largely moved out of the way in recent days as Syrian rebels overthrew the country’s Russian-allied president , as evidence of the extent to which the Ukraine war has sapped Russia’s resources. The Biden administration and other supporters of Ukraine have made a point of not being seen to press Ukraine for an immediate truce. Ukraine's allies fear a quick deal would be largely on the terms of its more powerful neighbor, potentially forcing damaging concessions on Ukraine and allowing Russia to resume the war again once it has built back up its military strength. For most of the war, Kyiv’s official position has been to call for a full withdrawal of Russian troops from internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, as a condition for peace talks. Moscow, too, has demanded heavy concessions from Ukraine as a condition for even beginning talks. Trump portrays himself as up to making fast deals to resolve conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East that have frustrated many of the Biden administration's own mediation efforts. There is no prohibition on incoming officials or nominees meeting with foreign officials, and it is common and fine for them to do so — unless those meetings are designed to subvert or otherwise affect current U.S. policy. The Logan Act bars private citizens from trying to intervene in “disputes or controversies” between the United States and foreign powers without government approval. But the 1799 statute has produced just two criminal cases, none since the 1850s and neither resulting in a criminal conviction. In the NBC interview that was taped Friday, Trump renewed his warning to NATO allies that he did not see continued U.S. participation in the Western military alliance as a given during his second term. Trump has long complained that European and the Canadian governments in the mutual-defense bloc are freeloading on military spending by the U.S., by far the most powerful partner in NATO. NATO and its member governments say a majority of countries in the bloc are now hitting voluntary targets for military spending, due in part to pressure from Trump in his first term. Asked whether he would consider the possibility of pulling out of NATO, Trump indicated that was an open question. “If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely I’d stay with NATO,” he said. But if not, he was asked if he would consider pulling the U.S. out of the alliance. Trump responded, “Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely.” Trump expressed the same openness when asked if Ukraine should brace for possible cuts in U.S. aid. “Possibly,” he said. U.S. arms and other military support are vital to Ukraine's efforts to fend off invading Russian forces, and Democratic President Joe Biden has been surging assistance to Ukraine ahead of leaving office. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday announced nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support to Ukraine. Austin spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, on Sunday about the status of the war and U.S. military backing, the Pentagon said.