Denver Shines Brightly this New Year's Eve
The revolution in Syria has achieved its goal, but everything is just beginning. The primary goal of the revolution was to topple the Assad regime. For 13 years, it came very close to toppling the regime from time to time, but what could not be achieved in 13 years was realized in 12 days, and the 61-year-old Baathist regime collapsed. The one responsible for 13 years of tears and bloodshed had to flee the country and seek refuge in Russia. Much will be written about the revolution; many stories will be told. But the most important thing is how the future of Syria will be built from now on. Many dynamics will shape Syria’s future. In terms of internal dynamics, the rapid collapse of the regime constitutes an important starting point. Given that the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) played a leading role in the overthrow of the regime, the transitional administration will also be dominated by the HTS. The peaceful transfer of power to the opposition by Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali, who remained the only symbolic representative of the regime in Damascus, ensured a relatively smooth start to the transition period. However, the top priority in Syria is to ensure security after the fall of the regime. To achieve full security, the military conflicts in the current controlled areas must be completely ended, and daily life must be made safe. Given that the opposition controls more territory than it did during the revolution, ensuring security in Syria’s most populous cities, such as Damascus, Aleppo, Hama and Homs, is critical for the transition. However, in critical cities such as Daraa, Suveyda, Latakia and Tartous, the primary issue for building a smooth transition is establishing a sustainable security environment. Consensus on the formation of a civilian government and the continued functioning of state institutions is also critical to the stability of the transition. However, Israel’s growing appetite for the Golan Heights, the ambiguous behavior of the U.S.-backed opposition, and the YPG/PKK’s opportunistic approach raise the possibility of a resumption of military conflicts. Even though Iranian-backed militias have left Syria, the possibility that they have left behind asymmetric elements also points to the fragile nature of the security environment. Another important point to be considered alongside security is that the transitional government should develop and implement an inclusive governance model for Syria’s political reconstruction process. It is clear that the HTS has transformed itself. However, there are still divergent views on many issues within the new administration. At this point, coordination and coexistence between different groups are crucial. The consensus between the Syrian interim government, the HTS, and other groups in the transition process will be the most critical issue in the reconstruction process. It does not seem possible for the PKK/YPG to continue with a territorial claim in this transition process. At a time when the support of the U.S. is vital, the PKK/YPG’s continued position on maximalist demands will cause the transition process in Syria to be painful in the northeast of Syria. Building inclusiveness to keep ethnic and sectarian diversity together should be an indispensable criterion for the new era in Syria. Political arrangements, which have many topics, can only be discussed during the transition period on a stable ground. These include the structure of the state, new security sector arrangements, power sharing, building a political system and free elections. Syria can only enter a democratic and conflict-free period in which the territorial integrity of Syria will be ensured if arrangements are made for governance and state structure that is not tied to territorial zones. The reconstruction of the security sector is among the most critical issues. Military groups must dissolve themselves and restructure under an interim defense ministry to be established in the coming period to eliminate potential conflicts. For regional actors, Türkiye’s role has become even more important. It is not possible to understand Türkiye’s role by focusing only on the last 12 days. Türkiye’s role can be more clearly understood by looking at the past 13 years. Ankara’s unwavering hosting of Syrian refugees, creating the military and diplomatic conditions to protect Idlib against the regime’s operations, and limiting and weakening the YPG, especially in the fight against terrorism, made a strong ground for the opposition’s 12-day success. Türkiye has a much more critical role to play in the new process. Türkiye is likely to lead efforts to stabilize northern Syria, secure its borders, and facilitate the return of refugees. Ankara’s ability to mediate and rebuild trust between the incoming government and the different factions will also help shape the political character of Syria’s future. If Türkiye succeeds in preventing YPG/PKK separatism, it could emerge as a dominant stabilizing force in the region. Another priority for Türkiye is to implement a multilateral method to shape regional and global diplomacy and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity. Ankara will continue to coordinate with Moscow and Tehran, even though Russia and Iran are much weakened in Syria. One of the most critical regional actors in Syria is Israel. However, it is doubtful how much Israel wants to remain loyal to Syria’s territorial integrity. The reasons for this are obvious. Israel is keeping a Damascus-centered geopolitical narrative alive and is considering expansion into Syria. The creation of a new military situation in the Golan Heights is the most obvious evidence of this. The new government, which Netanyahu securitizes with the so-called radicals argument, also provides Israel with new legitimacy. The U.S.’ open support for Israel’s possible engagement in Syria also strengthens the possibility of Israel becoming a destabilizing actor in Syria. The only option to balance Israel is to keep the regional diplomacy dynamic against a possible fait accompli. Iran’s position in the new Syria is highly questionable. Iran is aware that it is weakening and losing its depth in Lebanon and Syria. The collapse of the Syrian front, the most important pillar of the proxy doctrine based on territorial expansion and territorial control, may lead Iran to turn to asymmetric elements in Syria. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's framing of the opposition’s success as part of the U.S. and Israeli support is the most important sign of this. It is clear that there is confusion in the Arab countries. It is understood that they will accept the new status quo even if they are not happy with the overthrow of the regime. The critical issue is to develop a new relationship model with Damascus to support the transition process and be part of the process to build a sustainable order in Syria. The way to do this is to work together with Türkiye to put maximum effort into building a stable Syria. At this point, the creation of a new diplomatic platform could be the first step toward coordination. In the new era, the U.S. priorities in Syria include Israel’s security, the continued existence of the PKK/YPG and the fight against Daesh. The weakening influence of Russia and Iran may make it easier for the U.S. to accept the new status quo and cooperate with it. The current balance on the ground may also facilitate U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from Syria. Considering that the pre-Nov. 27 plans and possible scenarios no longer have any meaning for the Washington administration, we can say that the new Syria will not be seen as a priority for the U.S. in the Middle East. Still, it is worth being cautious. There are many opportunities for Türkiye and the U.S. to build a new Syria without the PKK/YPG. It is almost impossible for a strategy built on the PKK/YPG to work in the new Syria. It is also clear that Russia is in the midst of a reassessment in Syria. Moscow has had to revise its priorities while analyzing the causes of the new situation. Russia will not have the same position in the new Syria as before, and the smartest approach is to focus on the political process and establish relations with the new administration. It is very likely to use U.N. Resolution 2254 and the Astana format to increase its diplomatic depth. The new Syria is one of the biggest geopolitical ruptures of the Arab Spring. The revolution has achieved its primary objective but establishing a new order in Syria is fraught with challenges. The lessons of Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Tunisia are fraught with political and social tragedy. Tunisia and Egypt chose to continue by building new authoritarianism on institutionalized systems. Yemen and Libya were not able to exit the process of political and military conflict over non-institutionalized structures, nor were they able to establish an order. Syria is an exception. It was a regime with a long civil war and a very different practice of institutionalization. If those who succeeded in the revolution build a sustainable model and establish a new order in Syria, the new Syria has the opportunity to produce new results in the geopolitics of the Middle East. The only way to do this is to build a just, democratic and sustainable order. There is no model for this yet. And it will not be easy to build it.Way-too-early AFL Draft Power Rankings: The top 10 in 2025
, a name synonymous with dominance, has taken an unexpected career turn, signing a to become the head coach at , as reported by . Known for his with the , Belichick steps into a college football landscape vastly different from the , where is as important as play-calling. The move raises one pivotal question: , head coach at the and widely regarded for his out-of-the-box strategies, might offer to emulate. Sanders' unorthodox approach has drawn criticism but delivered , saving Colorado in recruitment expenses while attracting , including . His strategy? Skip traditional in-home visits and focus on selling the program's culture and campus experience. For , this model could be At 72, the prospect of meeting recruits in their homes might not appeal to him-or to recruits accustomed to a more dynamic pitch. highlighted the potential fit in a recent post, suggesting that could avoid age-related stigmas by adopting Sanders' method. Adapting to a new game: Belichick's NFL pedigree vs. College recruiting challenges , however, is no stranger to adaptation. While his reputation as might seem at odds with the energy needed to win over 18-year-old prospects, his wealth of could serve as a selling point. during his introductory press conference. For recruits dreaming of professional careers, that pitch might be just . Still, skepticism abounds. Former players and publicly doubted . humorously impersonated his former coach, mocking his gruff demeanor as . Yet, if Belichick channels Sanders' focus on rather than his personality, he could circumvent these concerns. is betting big on and pedigree. If he can adapt Sanders' recruitment playbook while leveraging his mystique, the may yet redefine his legacy-not just in the NFL, but in the storied halls of college football.LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ: EVGO) (“EVgo” or the “Company”) today announced the closing of its $1.25 billion guaranteed loan facility from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) Loan Programs Office (“LPO”) under its Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program to support EVgo’s forthcoming efforts to build convenient, reliable public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) with the construction of 7,500 new fast charging stalls nationwide. This buildout will bring EVgo’s total owned and operated network to at least 10,000 fast charging stalls, allowing the Company to more than triple its network footprint by 2029. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212262441/en/ EVgo fast charging network to further expand across the United States. (Photo: Business Wire) “As one of the nation’s leading public fast charging providers, we are well-positioned to deploy the infrastructure needed to support both current and future domestic investments in transportation electrification,” said EVgo CEO, Badar Khan. “This public-private partnership will help us continue to scale our operations to serve the influx of vehicle options that will be available to American consumers in the coming years.” Building high-power public charging at scale bolsters range confidence for Americans as they consider the choice to drive an EV. Expanding fast charging infrastructure not only contributes to job creation and local economic benefits, but it is also critical to protecting the investments made by the automotive industry, which is expected to release over 30 new affordable EV models by the end of 2025, 1 in addition to the more than 70 vehicle models already available to American consumers today. 2 EVs now account for roughly 9% of new vehicle sales 3 and increasing consumer confidence in the availability of public charging is key to the success of these investments. EVgo estimates this project buildout will create more than 1,000 jobs in the U.S., over 700 of which will be contracted resources engaged by the Company encompassing roles in construction, engineering, development, and operations and maintenance. Terms of the $1.25 Billion Guaranteed Loan Facility The closing of this DOE guaranteed loan facility follows receipt of a conditional commitment on October 3, 2024, and marks the conclusion of a thorough 18-month process. Innovative Charging Solutions Through the EVgo Innovation Lab, the Company is fostering American innovation to advance the broader transportation electrification ecosystem, including its extensive interoperability testing and ongoing technical collaboration with leading automakers and technology partners to support a superior customer experience for drivers. This technical innovation extends to the joint development of next-generation charging architecture , for which EVgo will soon secure domestic intellectual property rights. This architecture will leverage EVgo’s learnings from serving over a million customers nationwide to provide EVgo with more control over the full customer experience, streamlining the charging process while driving energy efficiency and cost savings. The Company plans to deploy this new architecture beginning in the second half of 2026. For more information about the EVgo network, visit www.evgo.com . Conference Call Information A live audio webcast and conference call for EVgo’s DOE Loan Facility will be held today at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. The webcast will be available at investors.evgo.com , and the dial-in information for those wishing to access via phone is: Toll Free : (800) 715-9871 (for U.S. callers) Toll/International : (646) 307-1963 (for callers outside the U.S.) Conference ID : 9312273 This press release, along with other investor materials that will be used or referred to during the webcast and conference call, including a slide presentation will also be available on that site. Transaction Advisors Goldman Sachs acted as the financial advisor to EVgo. About EVgo EVgo (Nasdaq: EVGO) is one of the nation’s leading public fast charging providers. With more than 1,000 fast charging stations across 40 states, EVgo strategically deploys localized and accessible charging infrastructure by partnering with leading businesses across the U.S., including retailers, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers, gas stations, rideshare operators, and autonomous vehicle companies. At its dedicated Innovation Lab, EVgo performs extensive interoperability testing and has ongoing technical collaborations with leading automakers and industry partners to advance the EV charging industry and deliver a seamless charging experience. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company’s future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “going to,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern the Company’s expectations, strategy, priorities, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the terms of the DOE loan facility; the anticipated benefits and growth from the DOE loan facility, including project build out plan, use of proceeds, issuance, timing and availability of advances, satisfaction of covenants and the absence of events of default; growth in the demand for EV vehicles and charging infrastructure; the anticipated release of new affordable EV models; anticipated job creation in the US from the project buildout; the Company’s ability to scale; the joint development and deployment of the Company’s next-generation charging infrastructure, and the anticipated IP rights, efficiencies, cost savings and launch plans. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of EVgo’s management, and are not predictions of actual performance. The Company’s expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made in this press release, including changes or developments in the broader general market; EVgo’s dependence on the widespread adoption of EVs and growth of the EV and EV charging markets; EVgo's reliance on the DOE loan facility, its ability to fully draw on the DOE loan facility and its ability to comply with the covenants and other terms of the DOE loan facility; competition from existing and new competitors; EVgo’s ability to expand into new service markets, grow its customer base and manage its operations; the risks associated with cyclical demand for EVgo’s services and vulnerability to industry downturns and regional or national downturns; fluctuations in EVgo’s revenue and operating results; EVgo’s ability to satisfy the required conditions, enter into definitive agreements and receive loan funding in connection with, and to realize any anticipated benefits and growth from, the DOE loan facility; unfavorable conditions or disruptions in the capital and credit markets and EVgo’s ability to obtain additional financing on commercially reasonable terms; EVgo’s ability to generate cash, service indebtedness and incur additional indebtedness; any current, pending or future legislation, regulations or policies that could impact EVgo’s business, results of operations and financial condition, including regulations impacting the EV charging market and government programs designed to drive broader adoption of EVs and any reduction, modification or elimination of such programs due to the results of the 2024 Presidential and Congressional elections; EVgo’s ability to adapt its assets and infrastructure to changes in industry and regulatory standards and market demands related to EV charging; impediments to EVgo’s expansion plans, including permitting and utility-related delays; EVgo’s ability to integrate any businesses it acquires; EVgo’s ability to recruit and retain experienced personnel; risks related to legal proceedings or claims, including liability claims; EVgo’s dependence on third parties, including hardware and software vendors and service providers, utilities and permit-granting entities; supply chain disruptions, inflation and other increases in expenses; safety and environmental requirements or regulations that may subject EVgo to unanticipated liabilities or costs; EVgo’s ability to enter into and maintain valuable partnerships with commercial or public-entity property owners, landlords and/or tenants (collectively “Site Hosts”), original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), fleet operators and suppliers; EVgo’s ability to maintain, protect and enhance EVgo’s intellectual property; and general economic or political conditions, including the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and the broader Middle East region, and elevated rates of inflation and associated changes in monetary policy. The forward-looking statements contained in this report are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described herein and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 and current reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements in this report are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. 1 Source: JD Power’s Future Vehicle Calendar (April 2024) 2 Source: EV Volumes, 2024 US EV sales 3 https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q3-2024-ev-sales/ View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212262441/en/ CONTACT: EVgo Contacts For Investors: investors@evgo.comFor Media: press@evgo.com KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: EV/ELECTRIC VEHICLES AUTOMOTIVE ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES/FUELS SOURCE: EVgo Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 04:05 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 04:04 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212262441/enAn exchange-traded fund tracking Argentine stocks saw record inflows as Wall Street embraces President Javier Milei’s efforts to quell inflation and reverse years of endemic budget deficits. The Global X MSCI Argentina ETF, known by its ticker ARGT, absorbed US$144 million of inflows for the week that ended on November 22, with US$88 million coming in on Friday alone, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The fund, which is a vehicle for traders to pile into equity bets on a country where access to local markets is complicated by capital controls, saw assets jump roughly seven-fold from US$104 million when Milei took office to some US$750 million on Monday. “Milei hasn’t just talked the talk, but is actually walking the walk,” Malcolm Dorson, senior portfolio manager at Global X Management, the firm that manages ARGT. “He has trade balances, he has built a fiscal surplus, inflation is ticking down, and economic activity is picking up.” The inflows come against encouraging signs for South America’s second-largest economy, with month-over-month inflation shrinking to 2.7 percent in October, gains in real wages and some US$20 billion rushing into the country thanks to a tax amnesty programme. For the rally to continue, investors argue, the libertarian needs to deliver on nixing a spate of capital controls without stoking jumps in consumer prices and a peso sell-off. “The news from Argentina continues to impress with inflation down sharply. The next big hurdle will be removing capital controls,” said Greg Lesko, managing director at Deltec Asset Management LLC in New York. “If they are able to remove capital control and you don’t see big outflows, that would be a sign of confidence in the programme.” On Friday, Economy Minister Luis Caputo said the government will eliminate currency and capital controls, known locally as the “ ,” in 2025. While Caputo didn’t offer more details on the timeline for the plans, he said that the country will slow the monthly pace at which officials let the peso slide should inflation stay at current levels or show signs of further cooling. Keeping the currency rules as-is, the argument goes, may prolong the country’s economic slump, stall talks for an IMF programme with fresh cash, hamper efforts to lure more dollars into the country and thwart the government’s plans to re-enter capital markets by 2025. It also remains to be seen whether Milei’s incipient recovery isn’t another one of Argentina’s many false dawns. Money rushed to the country during an earlier turn to market-friendly policies, only to leave when pro-business president Mauricio Macri lost to the statist Peronist party in a 2019 vote. To be sure, the fund’s inflows are not wholly explained by country-specific bullishness. Argentina-founded MercadoLibre Inc., which makes up 17 percent of the ARGT’s holdings, makes a majority of its revenue outside the country today while Milei’s peso devaluation in December hit sales in Argentina for the first half of the year. In terms of a broader equity market outlook, Morgan Stanley recently reinforced its overweight rating for Argentina’s stock market, noting that policymakers have made delivered on a fiscal adjustment and deregulation campaign that’s beat expectations. “Argentina could potentially represent the canary in the coal mine, and will be watched closely across the Andean region,” Morgan Stanley strategists including Nikolaj Lippmann wrote in a November 17 note. “Argentina policymakers have made extraordinary progress in 2024, with a fiscal adjustment and de-regulation efforts that have surpassed expectations.” by Kevin Simauchi & Leda Alvim, Bloomberg Ads Space Ads Space