646-ph

646-ph Recalling the chaos of a crisis

It took a half Sunday afternoon at the Farris Center, but the University of Central Arkansas Bears eventually put away the Southwestern Christian Eagles 87-69 in their final non-conference tuneup before conference play begins. UCA (4-9) outscored SCU 49-29 in the second half, led by senior Elias Cato, who scored 20 of his team-high 22 points in the final 20 minutes. Cato led five Bears in double figures, with freshman Layne Taylor adding 15 points, sophomore Brayden Fagbemi 13, redshirt freshman Ben Fox 11 and sophomore Michael Evbagharu 10. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

The Duke of York has said he “ceased all contact” with the businessman accused of being a Chinese spy when concerns were first raised about him. Andrew met the individual through “official channels” with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”, a statement from his office said. The businessman – known only as H6 – lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the UK on national security grounds. H6 was described as a “close confidante” of The Duke. Judges were told that in a briefing for the home secretary in July 2023, officials claimed H6 had been in a position to generate relationships between prominent UK figures and senior Chinese officials “that could be leveraged for political interference purposes”. They also said that H6 had downplayed his relationship with the Chinese state, which combined with his relationship with Andrew, 64, represented a threat to national security. A statement from Andrew’s office said: “The Duke of York followed advice from His Majesty’s Government and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. “He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” At a hearing in July, the specialist tribunal heard that the businessman was told by an adviser to Andrew that he could act on the duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, and that H6 had been invited to Andrew’s birthday party in 2020. A letter referencing the birthday party from the adviser, Dominic Hampshire, was discovered on H6’s devices when he was stopped at a port in November 2021. In a ruling on Thursday, Mr Justice Bourne, Judge Stephen Smith and Sir Stewart Eldon, dismissed the challenge.Thunder rout short-handed Grizzlies 130-106 for their 11th straight victory

The camera I recommend to most new photographers is $180 off for Black FridaySANTA CLARA — The 49ers suffered a tough 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on "Thursday Night Football," but no one on the team was more frustrated than Deebo Samuel. After the wide receiver made a flurry of social media posts about wanting to get the ball more, coach Kyle Shanahan delivered a game plan that heavily involved Samuel. But one play in particular, a drop that could have been a touchdown or at least moved the team into the red zone, passed through Samuel’s hands. > Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7 “Real, very frustrating,” Samuel said. “At the end of the day, catch that ball, there’s nothing there but end zone. I got to catch that rock.” The drop led to a 49ers field goal, which were the last points San Francisco would score. Three consecutive field goals by the Rams would lead to a six-point lead and a win. “Just like seeing the moment, came across the middle and saw nothing but the end zone," Samuel continued. "At the end of the day, got to load the ball and go score.” Samuel shared that the weather at Levi's Stadium did not impact the game enough to cause issues with the offense. Expecting the rain, the plan was to lean heavily on the run game. The All-Pro shouldered the loss on account of his own mistakes. Before speaking to the media, tight end George Kittle sat with Samuel at his locker and offered his teammate words of encouragement after the loss. “George is George,” Samuel said. “He said, ‘I’ve seen you make that play a million times. Don’t let it eat you up.’ But I feel like [if] I make that play, we win the game.” The 49ers have an extended 10-day break before they travel to Miami to play the Dolphins in Week 16, but even a win in Florida won't do much to help their very slim playoff chances. Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

Earlier this month, the Houthis conducted their first ship strike in 18 days, resulting in three explosions reported near a bulk carrier navigating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Additionally, a new, unreleased study by a panel of Yemen experts for the United Nations Security Council has documented that Houthis carried out over 130 attacks on merchant vessels between November 2023 and July 2024. In response to the ongoing conflict in the area, shipping services from Europe and the top of Africa are navigating around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope instead of passing through the Suez Canal, adding time and cost to shipments destined for Australia and other Oceania countries. On a more positive note, there are signs of space for RoRo and breakbulk cargoes from Australia to the Middle Eastern gateway of Jebel Ali. Freightplus is taking bookings now. To stay up-to-date with the latest updates and other industry news head to the Freightplus Newsroom or contact the Freightplus team.An Uxbridge manufacturing company, UCEL Inc., has been awarded almost $1.4 million by the Ontario government to help it expand its operations. The award was announced last week by Pickering-Uxbridge MPP and finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy. An announcement by Bethlenfalvy’s office said the government award is in support of UCEL’s $10.8 million investment to boost local manufacturing and create 25 new jobs in Uxbridge. The funding is provided through the Regional Development Program’s Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Competitiveness(AMIC) Stream. “UCEL Inc.’s investment will boost the local manufacturing sector and create more good-paying jobs for workers and families in Uxbridge,” Bethlenfalvy said. UCEL, which manufactures construction hoists and industrial elevators, plans to expand its operations and adopt new technologies that will offer new elevator system supporting solutions. The investment will also see UCEL bring additional manufacturing capabilities in-house, including work that is currently outsourced overseas.Nadra DG sacked over 'fake degree'

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:11 p.m. EST

South_agency/E+ via Getty Images Investment Overview In my last note covering ImmunityBio ( NASDAQ: IBRX ) in August, I provided a fairly detailed overview of the company, its entrepreneurial founder Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong – who, with his affiliates, holds ~76% of Immunity's common stock – its recently approved, vaccine-style cancer drug, Anktiva, and If you like what you have just read and want to receive at least 4 exclusive stock tips every week focused on Pharma, Biotech and Healthcare, then join me at my marketplace channel, Haggerston BioHealth . Invest alongside the model portfolio or simply access the investment bank-grade financial models and research. I hope to see you there. Edmund Ingham is a biotech consultant. He has been covering biotech, healthcare, and pharma for over 5 years, and has put together detailed reports of over 1,000 companies. He leads the investing group Haggerston BioHealth . Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, but may initiate a beneficial Long position through a purchase of the stock, or the purchase of call options or similar derivatives in IBRX over the next 72 hours. 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. 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.

ATLANTA , Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Properties Incorporated (the "Company" or "Cousins") (NYSE:CUZ) announced today that its operating partnership, Cousins Properties LP (the "Operating Partnership"), has priced an offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior unsecured notes due 2032 at 99.463% of the principal amount. The offering is expected to close on December 17, 2024 , subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Cousins intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price of 601 West 2nd Street, also known as Sail Tower, an 804,000 square foot trophy lifestyle office property in Austin (the "Sail Tower Acquisition"), and the remainder to repay borrowings under its credit facility and for general corporate purposes. In the event the Sail Tower Acquisition is not completed, Cousins will use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition and development of office properties, other opportunistic investments and the repayment of debt. The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company. J.P. Morgan, Truist Securities, US Bancorp, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley, PNC Capital Markets LLC, TD Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers. A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York , 10179, Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk, 3rd Floor, telephone collect at 1-212-834-4533; Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 303 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30308, telephone: 800-685-4786, or e-mail: TruistSecurities.prospectus@Truist.com ; or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., Attention: High Grade Syndicate, 214 North Tryon Street, 26th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202, or by telephone at: (877) 558-2607. Electronic copies of these documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov . This press release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the notes, nor shall it constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Cousins Properties Cousins Properties is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust ("REIT"). The Company, based in Atlanta, GA and acting through the Operating Partnership, primarily invests in Class A office buildings located in high growth Sun Belt markets. Founded in 1958, Cousins creates shareholder value through its extensive expertise in the development, acquisition, leasing, and management of high-quality real estate assets. The Company has a comprehensive strategy in place based on a simple platform, trophy assets, and opportunistic investments. Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws and are subject to uncertainties and risks, as itemized in Item 1A included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024 . These forward-looking statements include information about the Company's possible or assumed future results of the business and the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, and objectives. They also include, among other things, statements regarding subjects that are forward-looking by their nature, such as: guidance and underlying assumptions; business and financial strategy; future debt financings; future acquisitions and dispositions of operating assets or joint venture interests; future acquisitions and dispositions of land, including ground leases; future acquisitions of investments in real estate debt; future development and redevelopment opportunities; future issuances and repurchases of common stock, limited partnership units, or preferred stock; future distributions; projected capital expenditures; market and industry trends; future occupancy or volume and velocity of leasing activity; entry into new markets, changes in existing market concentrations, or exits from existing markets; future changes in interest rates and liquidity of capital markets; and all statements that address operating performance, events, investments, or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to creating value for stockholders. Any forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions, and expectations of our future performance, taking into account information that is currently available. These beliefs, assumptions, and expectations may change as a result of possible events or factors, not all of which are known. If a change occurs, our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements due to, but not limited to, the following: the availability and terms of capital and our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements on terms favorable to us or at all; the ability to refinance or repay indebtedness as it matures; any changes to our credit rating; the failure of purchase, sale, or other contracts to ultimately close; the failure to achieve anticipated benefits from acquisitions, developments, investments, or dispositions; the effect of common stock or operating partnership unit issuances, including those undertaken on a forward basis, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock; the availability of buyers and pricing with respect to the disposition of assets; changes in national and local economic conditions, the real estate industry, and the commercial real estate markets in which we operate (including supply and demand changes), particularly in Atlanta , Austin , Tampa , Charlotte , Phoenix , Dallas , and Nashville , including the impact of high unemployment, volatility in the public equity and debt markets, and international economic and other conditions; threatened terrorist attacks or sociopolitical unrest such as political instability, civil unrest, armed hostilities, or political activism, which may result in a disruption of day-to-day building operations; changes to our strategy in regard to our real estate assets may require impairment to be recognized; leasing risks, including the ability to obtain new tenants or renew expiring tenants, the ability to lease newly-developed and/or recently acquired space, the failure of a tenant to commence or complete tenant improvements on schedule or to occupy leased space, and the risk of declining leasing rates; changes in the preferences of our tenants brought about by the desire for co-working arrangements, trends toward utilizing less office space per employee, and the effect of employees working remotely; any adverse change in the financial condition or liquidity of one or more of our tenants or borrowers under our real estate debt investments; volatility in interest rates (including the impact upon the effectiveness of forward interest rate contract arrangements) and insurance rates; inflation; competition from other developers or investors; the risks associated with real estate developments (such as zoning approval, receipt of required permits, construction delays, cost overruns, and leasing risk); supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and increased construction costs; risks associated with security breaches through cyberattacks, cyber intrusions or otherwise, as well as other significant disruptions of our information technology networks and related systems, which support our operations and our buildings; changes in senior management, changes in the Company's board of directors, and the loss of key personnel; the potential liability for uninsured losses, condemnation, or environmental issues; the potential liability for a failure to meet regulatory requirements, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and similar laws or the impact of any investigation regarding the same; the financial condition and liquidity of, or disputes with, joint venture partners; any failure to comply with debt covenants under debt instruments and credit agreements; any failure to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust or meet regulatory requirements; potential changes to state, local, or federal regulations applicable to our business; material changes in dividend rates on common shares or other securities or the ability to pay those dividends; potential changes to the tax laws impacting real estate investment trusts and real estate in general; risks associated with climate change and severe weather events, as well as the regulatory efforts intended to reduce the effects of climate changes and investor and public perception of our efforts to respond to the same; the impact of newly adopted accounting principles on our accounting policies and on period-to-period comparisons of financial results; risks associated with possible federal, state, local, or property tax audits; and those additional risks and environmental or other factors discussed in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company cannot guarantee the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained in this press release, and the Company does not intend to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts Roni Imbeaux Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations 404-407-1104 rimbeaux@cousins.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cousins-properties-announces-pricing-of-senior-notes-offering-302330787.html SOURCE Cousins PropertiesSCOTTISH ministers were accused today of “wreaking havoc” with public services as Labour cited delays to key infrastructure projects totalling over 29 years. The party’s criticism followed a progress update on major capital projects across Scotland, highlighting delays caused by construction issues, labour shortages and inflation. The report identified 19 delayed projects, including the two CalMac ferries being built at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow. While the Glen Sannox is expected to start service on January 13, the Glen Rosa is now scheduled for delivery by September 2025, seven years later than planned. Other delays include the NHS Forth Valley Treatment Centre, originally set to open in December 2022 but held back due to pipework and fire compliance issues, and HMP Highland, now expected by summer 2026 instead of July 2024. Rail upgrades have also been affected, with plans to replace diesel trains on the Fife railway with battery-electric stock postponed indefinitely. Ministers blamed the delays on post-Covid recovery, Brexit and the Ukraine war. They said inflation and an 8.7 per cent real-terms cut to the capital budget from 2023 to 2028 have further strained resources, limiting the government’s ability to progress planned projects at the intended pace. Labour finance spokesman Michael Marra said the report shows how “once again the SNP’s chaos and incompetence is wreaking havoc with Scottish public services.” “From our hospitals to our public transport to our prisons, the SNP is letting the very fabric of our country crumble,” he said.” “These devastating delays have meant longer NHS waiting lists, less reliable transport links, and the early release of hundreds of prisoners.” A Scottish government spokesperson said it faces “significant pressures on our capital budget” and “prioritises funding to deliver on the First Minister’s priorities, which include growing the economy.”OpenAI announces a ChatGPT organizing system called Projects

Ellington Financial Inc. (EFC) To Go Ex-Dividend on December 31stFourteen months after Hamas’s October 7 pogrom in southern Israel, many Quebecers share with many other Canadians a weariness — if not stronger emotions — over anti-Israel protesters blocking streets, bellowing through megaphones, and harassing Jewish businesses and neighbourhoods. Some of us, for various reasons, are particularly put-off by the sight of the protesters kneeling in prayer in the streets en masse . The Quebec government and its counterparts in the Rest of Canada do not, thank goodness, share a proposed solution: Premier François Legault says he wants to ban all forms of public worship . Because people won’t get off the bloody road. “I think we have to make the difference between public places and praying in a church or a mosque,” Legault said. “You should pray in a place that’s for praying, but in public parks or public streets ... we’ll look at what we can do, but that’s not what we want.” This, he said, would “send a clear message to Islamists,” namely, that “we will fight for the fundamental values we have in Quebec, like the equality of men and women. We will never accept that people don’t respect these values.” The triggering event here wasn’t actually the anti-Israel protests, but rather further revelations — this time in La Presse — that certain Montreal schools have essentially been taken over by Arab Muslims. Sources told the newspaper that students pray during class time, including with teachers; that teachers speak Arabic to each other; that kids aren’t punished for being late after attending Friday prayers. A presentation about sexually transmitted infections and sexual consent allegedly went off the rails with students “throwing firecrackers, shouting (and) setting off alarms.” Homophobia is allegedly rampant and freely expressed. No other provincial premier would ever propose banning public prayer. It would be flamboyantly unconstitutional without use of the Charter’s notwithstanding clause, which Legault has said he’s willing to use yet again in this regard. But in a way it’s a very Canadian solution. When certain laws aren’t enforced, our politicians have this quite irritating habit of making new, more specific laws that aren’t intrinsically any more likely to be enforced than the ones on the books. Right now, the rules of engagement in most Canadian cities call for de-escalation above all else. We’re well past that point, I think The classic example might have been during the 2019 CN rail blockade near Kingston, Ont. Blocking a rail line is already illegal. A judge issued an injunction demanding the blockade be cleared. Police ignored it . The federal Conservatives proposed a new law that would ban blocking critical infrastructure, even without a court injunction. There was no reason at all to think the police would have enforced the new law, either. That law, at least, would have targeted the actual villains. Legault’s secularism-related proposals rarely do. Quebec banned all forms of prayer in public schools last year — even individually, in a dedicated space, out of sight of others. Clearly it’s not being universally respected — and nor are existing laws against blocking streets and impeding access to public buildings being enforced. So now ... people can’t pray in parks? Ridiculous. None of this has anything whatsoever to do with one or two people (of any faith) praying unobtrusively in a public place, or a chaplain’s prayer at a Remembrance Day commemoration, or a menorah-lighting ceremony. And mass prayer that blocks streets for the Palestinian cause (or any other) has nothing to do with five students praying out of sight in a classroom at lunchtime. Generally speaking, with some notable exceptions , the Rest of Canada isn’t so jittery about private prayer in public schools. But a lot of us are well sick of those same anti-Israel protests, appalled that Canadian Jews feel threatened in their own country, all because of a conflict that no one in this country has any power to affect in any meaningful way. If we want to get serious about it, let’s actually get serious about it — not with new laws but with the ones we have. We have laws against blocking streets. We have laws against excessive noise. We have laws against impeding our fellow citizens’ lawful daily business. Right now, the rules of engagement in most Canadian cities call for de-escalation above all else, and that’s defensible up to a point. We’re well past that point, I think, and the police do, after all, work for us. No one’s fundamental freedoms need be sacrificed when we finally say enough is enough — not freedom of speech, not freedom of assembly, and certainly not freedom of religion. National Post cselley@postmedia.com Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here .