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Emmerdale fans outraged as Tom King's 'creepy' behaviour escalates on ITV showThe AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Chris Austin’s 20 points off of the bench helped lead Portland to a 74-64 victory over Lafayette on Saturday night. Austin shot 6 of 11 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line for the Pilots (5-8). Austin Rapp scored 15 points while shooting 4 for 6 (2 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line and added eight rebounds. Kelson Gebbers shot 2 for 4 (2 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 10 points. Justin Vander Baan led the Leopards (5-7) in scoring, finishing with 17 points and two steals. Lafayette also got 11 points and four assists from Mark Butler. Alex Chaikin also had 11 points. Portland entered halftime up 31-22. Austin paced the team in scoring in the first half with 12 points. Portland used a 14-3 second-half run to come back from a one-point deficit and take the lead at 55-45 with 8:56 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Rapp scored nine second-half points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Source Energy Services Ltd. ("Source” or the "Company”) ( TSX: SHLE ) is pleased to announce that it has completed a comprehensive refinancing of its credit facilities by entering into a new five year $135 million (USD) term loan (the "Term Loan”) with Silver Point Finance, LLC ("Silver Point”) and a new $40 million (CND) revolving asset-backed loan ("CIBC ABL”) facility with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ("CIBC”). Proceeds from the Term Loan will be used to redeem the outstanding 10.5% Senior Secured Notes due March 15, 2025 (the "Notes”) and repay the outstanding amounts drawn on the Company's current asset backed loan facility. The refinancing package provides Source with: The Term Loan agreement with Silver Point matures on December 20, 2029 and bears interest at Term SOFR plus an applicable margin. The Term Loan agreement contains covenants and principal amortization typical for this type of facility. The CIBC ABL facility remains undrawn at close, matures on December 20, 2027, and may be drawn in Canadian or U.S. dollars. Interest rates are determined, using Prime, Base rate, CORRA or SOFR plus an applicable margin, based on average monthly amounts drawn on the facility. The borrowing base formula is applied to accounts receivable and inventory, and the facility contains covenants that are typical for this type of facility. Source has delivered a notice of redemption (the "Redemption Notice”), effective December 19, 2024, for all of its outstanding Notes, representing an aggregate principal value of $140.5 million. As set forth in the Redemption Notice, the redemption date will be January 20, 2024 (the "Redemption Date”) and the redemption price is 100% of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest up to but excluding the Redemption Date, in accordance with the provisions of the indenture governing the Notes (the "Redemption”). This press release does not constitute a notice of redemption of the Notes. Information concerning the terms and conditions of the Redemption is described in the Redemption Notice distributed to holders of the Notes by Computershare Trust Company, as trustee, with respect to the Notes. Beneficial holders of the Notes with any questions about the Redemption should contact their respective brokerage firm or financial institution. A redacted copy of the Silver Point Term Loan agreement and the CIBC ABL agreement will be available on Source's SEDAR Plus Profile at www.sedarplus.ca in accordance with National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations as adopted by the Canadian Securities regulatory authorities. ABOUT SOURCE ENERGY SERVICES Source is a company that focuses on the integrated production and distribution of frac sand, as well as the distribution of other bulk completion materials not produced by Source. Source provides its customers with an end-to-end solution for frac sand supported by its Wisconsin and Peace River mines and processing facilities, its Western Canadian terminal network and its "last mile” logistics capabilities, including its trucking operations, and Sahara, a proprietary well site mobile sand storage and handling system. Source's full-service approach allows customers to rely on its logistics platform to increase reliability of supply and to ensure the timely delivery of frac sand and other bulk completion materials at the well site. ABOUT SILVER POINT Silver Point is a leading global credit investing firm founded in 2002. With a dedicated team of more than 320 employees, Silver Point oversees $37 billion in investable assets across a comprehensive credit platform that includes public and private investment strategies. Silver Point's Direct Lending business has delivered customized financing solutions to middle-market companies across a broad range of industries. It works in close partnership with borrowers, developing a thorough understanding of their businesses and addressing a wide variety of capital needs with speed and certainty. Silver Point's flexible mandate allows clients to execute on M&A activity, refinancings and growth capital, among a range of transaction types. Along with its affiliates, Silver Point's Direct Lending business manages over $15 billion in investable capital. For more information, please visit www.silverpointcapital.com . ABOUT CIBC CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 14 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at https://www.cibc.com/en/about-cibc/media-centre.html . FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements relating to, without limitation, expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs, including information as to the future events, results of operations and Source's future performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expects”, "believes”, "continues”, "focus”, "trend”, or variations of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may” or "will” be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements reflect Source's beliefs, estimates and opinions regarding its future growth, results of operations, future performance (both operational and financial), and business prospects and opportunities at the time such statements are made, and Source undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or circumstances should change unless required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions made by Source that are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining, but not limited to: the Company's ability to use the proceeds of the Term Loan to redeem the Notes and repay the outstanding amounts drawn on the current asset backed loan facility; the Company's ability to execute on its long-term growth strategies; the Company's ability to de-lever its business over time; and expectations relating to the Redemption, including the terms and conditions of such Redemption and the anticipated timing thereof. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous current assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Source to differ materially from those anticipated by Source and described in the forward-looking statements. With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this press release assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: future oil, natural gas and liquefied natural gas prices; future global economic and financial conditions; future commodity prices, demand for oil and gas and the product mix of such demand; levels of activity in the oil and gas industry in the areas in which Source operates; future capital expenditures to be made by Source; future sources of funding for Source's capital program; Source's future debt levels; the impact of competition on Source; and Source's ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms. A number of factors, risks and uncertainties could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated and described herein including, among others: the effects of competition and pricing pressures; risks inherent in key customer dependence; effects of fluctuations in the price of proppants; risks related to indebtedness and liquidity, including Source's leverage, restrictive covenants in Source's debt instruments and Source's capital requirements; risks related to interest rate fluctuations and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; changes in general economic, financial, market and business conditions in the markets in which Source operates; changes in the technologies used to drill for and produce oil and natural gas; Source's ability to obtain, maintain and renew required permits, licenses and approvals from regulatory authorities; the stringent requirements of and potential changes to applicable legislation, regulations and standards; the ability of Source to comply with unexpected costs of government regulations; liabilities resulting from Source's operations; the results of litigation or regulatory proceedings that may be brought by or against Source; the ability of Source to successfully bid on new contracts and the loss of significant contracts; uninsured and underinsured losses; risks related to the transportation of Source's products, including potential rail line interruptions or a reduction in rail car availability; the geographic and customer concentration of Source; the impact of extreme weather patterns and natural disasters; the impact of climate change risk; the ability of Source to retain and attract qualified management and staff in the markets in which Source operates; labour disputes and work stoppages and risks related to employee health and safety; general risks associated with the oil and natural gas industry, loss of markets, consumer and business spending and borrowing trends; limited, unfavorable, or a lack of access to capital markets; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of mineral resources; sand processing problems; implementation of recently issued accounting standards; the use and suitability of Source's accounting estimates and judgments; the impact of information systems and cyber security breaches; the impact of inflation on capital expenditures; and risks and uncertainties related to pandemics such as COVID-19, including changes in energy demand. Although Source has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will materialize or prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as may be required by law, Source expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements or information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any financial outlook and future-oriented financial information contained in this press release regarding prospective financial performance, financial position or cash flows is based on assumptions about future events, including economic conditions and proposed courses of action based on management's assessment of the relevant information that is currently available. Projected operational information contains forward-looking information and is based on a number of material assumptions and factors, as are set out above. These projections may also be considered to contain future oriented financial information or a financial outlook. The actual results of Source's operations for any period will likely vary from the amounts set forth in these projections and such variations may be material. Actual results will vary from projected results. Readers are cautioned that any such financial outlook and future-oriented financial information contained herein should not be used for purposes other than those for which it is disclosed herein. The forward-looking information and statements contained in this document speak only as of the date hereof and have been approved by the Company's management as at the date hereof. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required pursuant to applicable laws. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Scott Melbourn Chief Executive Officer (403) 262-1312 [email protected] Derren Newell Chief Financial Officer (403) 262-1312 [email protected]Authorities in Los Angeles confirmed Tuesday that the cause of death for Ryan Kobayashi, the grief-stricken father who flew from Hawaii to search for his missing daughter , was suicide. A medical examiner’s report said he suffered “multiple blunt force traumatic injuries.” Police said previously he was found around 4 a.m. Sunday in a parking lot at Los Angeles International Airport. Kobayashi, 58, had been in the city for 13 days in search of his 31-year-old daughter, Hannah, who mysteriously disappeared after missing a layover at LAX earlier this month. Hannah’s aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told the Daily Beast on Monday that Kobayashi had gone as far as searching for his child in the city’s seediest areas, like Skid Row. After many sleepless nights while contending with the agony of the situation, however, Pidgeon told the Beast that Ryan “couldn’t take it” anymore and died of a “broken heart.” Pidgeon was emphatic that Ryan’s death didn’t involve foul play and police have since confirmed that to be true. The LAPD have yet to release a significant update on Hannah’s case, but Pidgeon said detectives told her Monday they believe Hannah is still in LA. Donald Trump was caught on camera offering to buy a young girl’s hair in a cringe-worthy encounter at his golf course in Palm Beach, Florida. The president-elect was driving his golf cart when he spotted the girl. “Oh I love that hair! I want her hair! Can I buy your hair? I’ll pay you millions for it,” he said. Trump then invited her to sit next to him and take a photo. The girl smiled while Trump did his signature thumbs up for the picture. “That’s amazing,” an onlooker said. “You can say you were with the president, and you played golf with him.” As Trump patted the girl goodbye and she hopped off the cart, the same onlooker said, “say, ‘Thank you, Mr. President.’” The same golf course was the site of an attempted assassination on the president-elect in September. Trump is shown surrounded by security in the video. "Can I buy your hair?" President-elect Donald Trump complimented a kid's hair while golfing at his club in West Palm Beach. pic.twitter.com/nlH215l6wd Sexual supplements are nothing new, but Popstar Labs is revolutionizing the industry by focusing on an area that has thus far been overlooked: semen health. Crafted by leading men’s sexual health experts, Popstar Volume & Taste is a first-of-its-kind daily supplement that is formulated to enhance semen volume, improve taste, and support semen health. Popstar Labs was founded by two board-certified urologists with decades of experience, Dr. Joshua Gonzalez and Dr. Brian Steixner, to support a shared mission of developing real solutions for men to improve their sexual wellness and experience. The brand’s proprietary formula features all-natural, high-quality ingredients that have been third-party tested to ensure purity, quality, and efficacy. The result? A daily supplement that makes your sperm healthier and all-but-guarantees a more satisfying and explosive sexual experience for both you and your partner. Ready to (literally) see the difference for yourself? Take advantage of Popstar’s Black Friday Sale and grab a 3-monthly supply of supplements for only $99, complete with free shipping anywhere in the U.S. If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. Rep. Lauren Boebert took down her Cameo page on Monday amid questions about whether it could violate House Ethics Committee rules. Boebert became the first sitting representative of Congress to join the video message platform earlier that day, following the footsteps of disgraced former Reps. Matt Gaetz and George Santos, who both charge hundreds of dollars on Cameo for personalized videos. While House Ethics rules allow for members to make $31,815 outside of their role in Congress, they aren’t allowed to receive “a payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article.’” While it’s untested how this rule applies to Cameo, Boebert likely doesn’t want to be the one to find out. The embattled Republican rep has been at the center of several controversies since joining Congress in 2020. Her more notable incidents include vaping and being disruptive during a performance of Beetlejuice , and live-tweeting Nancy Pelosi’s movements during Jan. 6. She’s also been fined by the Ethics Committee for refusing to wear a mask on the House floor. YouTuber MrBeast said allegations that contestants were mistreated on his Amazon Prime game show were “blown out of proportion.” The influencer, real name Jimmy Donaldson, and Amazon were hit with a class action lawsuit earlier this year that alleged Beast Games contestants were subjected to “unreasonable, unsafe, and unlawful employment conditions.” The suit contains allegations that some contestants were hospitalized and others endured sexual harassment on set. “We have tons of behind the scenes [footage] dropping when the show does to show how blown out of proportion these claims were,” MrBeast tweeted Monday. “Just can’t release it now because it would spoil the games.” He released a trailer for the show, which features 1,000 people in a series of challenges for a $5 million prize. Earlier this month, the online influencer’s company disclosed it had fired 10 employees after an third-party investigation into workplace culture substantiated some harassment and misconduct allegations. The probe found no evidence to support sexual misconduct. We have tons of behind the scenes dropping when the show does to show how blown out of proportion these claims were. Just can’t release it now because it would spoil the games. Tech gifts can be tricky—not everyone is looking for a sophisticated smartwatch or a flashy mechanical keyboard. Tile —a powerful and compact bluetooth tracker—is a practical and affordable tech gift anyone will love—especially those prone to misplacing things. You can attach a Tile tracker to almost anything like wallets, keys, luggage, cars, and even pets. Once paired, you can use the Tile app to play a chime (if your item is within range) or view its last location. As an added bonus, you can use Tile trackers to find your phone. Just click the button on the tracker to ping your phone—even if it’s silenced. Unlike some competitors, Tile trackers don’t alert thieves when tracking, work seamlessly with both iOS and Android, require no extra accessories, and have a three-year battery life. Tile also has built-in Life360 support. Pressing the button on a Tile three times discreetly sends an SOS alert to everyone in a person’s Life360 Circle. This is an excellent all-around tracker for personal items like keys, backpacks, and purses. Free Shipping Tile’s most-powerful tracker has the loudest ring and the longest range. It’s great for high-value items like cars, cameras, and laptops. Free Shipping Need something slim to slide into a wallet or suitcase? Try the Tile Slim. Free Shipping If you buy something from this post, we may earn a small commission. During a segment Monday night celebrating a judge’s dismissal of special prosecutor Jack Smith ’s election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump , Fox News host Laura Ingraham turned to the election racketeering charges brought against Trump in Georgia. As she discussed Fani Willis , the prosecutor in the Georgia case, a photo of New York state Attorney General Letitia James appeared on the screen. Both women are Black. Minutes later, The Ingraham Angle host sought to “explain” the mixup. “Earlier we accidentally showed a graphic that had a photo of another vicious anti-Trump figure, Letitia James, when we were talking about Fani Willis,” Ingraham said. “That was our mistake. They both hate Trump.” James brought a civil suit against Trump and the Trump Organization that resulted in a $450 million judgment, which Trump’s lawyers have appealed. Social media users were quick to argue the fraud case probably wasn’t the source of Ingraham’s confusion. Earlier this year, she mixed up attorneys Nathan Wade and Terrence Bradley, both Black men connected to Willis. “We made a mistake, and we are sorry for that,” Ingraham said at the time. Ingraham: Earlier we accidentally showed a graphic that had a photo of another vicious anti-Trump figure, Letitia James when we were talking about Fani Willis. That was our mistake. They both hate Trump pic.twitter.com/CT1cHGO388 Wendy Williams was labeled as “permanently incapacitated” in new court documents by her guardian, less than a year after revealing her dementia and aphasia diagnosis to the public. Her guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, and her legal team, wrote in court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun that Williams “has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.” The revelation came amid an ongoing legal battle over the Lifetime series Where is Wendy Williams? , a documentary that showed the former TV host dealing with alcohol addiction, alongside health and financial issues. Past court documents claimed that the series exploited Williams, and said that she did not have the ability to consent to the series due to her health ailments. The new filing asked for information of her “health, familial relationships, and finances” to be redacted in an effort of privacy, according to the outlet. Williams was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and primary progressive aphasia in 2023, revealing her health conditions publicly earlier this year. Bird flu has been found in raw milk in California, state regulators said Sunday, prompting a recall. Raw milk with a “best by” date of Nov. 27 from Raw Farm, which is in Fresno County, is being pulled from shelves, and consumers who already bought some are being told by the California Department of Public Health not to drink it. “Public health experts have long warned consumers against consuming raw milk or raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illness,” the state health agency said . “Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness. In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection.” Pasteurized milk kills bacteria and viruses like E. coli, listeria, and H5N1, otherwise known as bird flu. And yet an emerging trend is seeing rising demands for raw milk. Among its proponents is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , whom Donald Trump named to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. A vaccine skeptic, Kennedy also wants to remove fluoride from public water, even though it has been shown to prevent tooth decay. President-elect Donald Trump has come out swinging at Mexico and Canada before he’s even taken his seat back in the Oval Office—but the country’s neighbors to the south aren’t taking his threats lying down. Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum responded harshly after Trump announced Monday that goods that enter the U.S. from her country and Canada would be subject to 25 percent tariffs. Warning that Mexico could retaliate with its own tariffs, she said, “One tariff would be followed by another in response, and so on until we put at risk common businesses.” Trump has claimed the tariffs are necessary to encourage both countries to stop the influx of drugs and migrants at the border. But Sheinbaum shot back at his reasoning, saying the flow of drugs “is a problem of public health and consumption in your country’s society.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Black Friday sales kicked off early this year, folks! As an avid J.Crew fan , I can honestly say that the brand’s discount-laden factory store (the brand’s online outlet) is a great way to get high-quality wardrobe staples without the big price tag. J.Crew Factory always offers discounts up to 40 percent off J.Crew, but for a limited time, you can unlock even more savings from already discounted items. Right now, J.Crew Factory is offering 50-70 percent off sitewide (seriously, everything!). Now’s the time to invest in evergreen staples like jeans and office-friendly blazers while they’re half off, or grab a few outwear essentials to round out your cold-weather lineup. The sale also includes tons of denim for just $50, pure cotton crewneck T-shirts for $20, and even new arrivals like holiday party-ready frocks and giftable cashmere items. And the sale is not just for women; the gents’ and kids’ sections are equally full of additional savings. A Trump-endorsed guitar company was given a cease and desist order from Gibson, who accused it of infringing on its trademarks, “particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape.” Gibson confirmed the order to 16 Creative in a statement Monday to Guitar World . The website for Trump Guitars lists for sale an “American Eagle Series” with the campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” on the neck of the guitar. The instruments are “custom designed and developed by a veteran-owned company with the help of a master luthier,” according to the company, which also says that the guitars are manufactured by “multiple providers” that are “both domestic and international.” A guitar that has been signed by the president-elect costs at least $10,000; a non-signed guitar goes for $1,250. Some of Trump’s other recent money-making endeavors include watches, sneakers, and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). Coming Soon! The Limited Edition “45” Guitar. Only 1,300 of each Acoustic and Electric Guitars MADE — Some personally signed! https://t.co/DY4LkF4feh pic.twitter.com/0ghYmjLxKo A baby gorilla was accidentally killed at a zoo in Canada when it was struck in the head by a door, officials said Thursday. The 2-year-old female gorilla, Eyare, was roaming from room to room when a zookeeper activated the wrong hydraulic door to separate her, according to the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo . The accident left the ape with “traumatic head injuries” and veterinary staff administered CPR. The zookeeper “was immediately removed from the workplace following the incident,” the zoo said. The zoo said it launched an investigation into the incident and “doesn’t take these findings lightly.” All zookeepers will undergo retraining to prevent further accidents. “This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” said Colleen Baird, director of Animal Care, Health and Welfare, in a statement. “Eyare’s short but impactful life brought so much joy to our community, and she will be deeply missed by all. We will do everything we can to prevent future incidents.”
Realty Income ( O 0.10% ) and Agree Realty ( ADC -0.87% ) are two of the largest real estate investment trusts (REITs) focused on freestanding retail properties secured by net leases. Those leases require tenants to cover all operating expenses (including routine building maintenance, real estate taxes, and property insurance). That enables the REITs to collect very stable rental income, which allows them to pay monthly dividends. Given their similar strategies, most investors will likely only want to own one of these REITs . Here's a look at which of these monthly dividend stocks is the better buy for passive income right now . A look at the numbers It's essential to take a closer look at the key financial metrics of these REITs to see how they compare. Here's a snapshot of those numbers: Monthly Dividend Stock Dividend Yield Dividend Payout Ratio Leverage Ratio 2024 AFFO Growth Rate (midpoint) Price to AFFO Agree Realty 3.9% 73% 3.6x 4.6% 18.7x Realty Income 5.5% 75.1% 5.4x 4.8% 13.7x Data source: Realty Income and Agree Realty. From these numbers, we can see that Realty Income has a much higher dividend yield , which is due solely to its much lower valuation since they both have similar dividend payout ratios . At first glance, the only explanation for the valuation difference is that Agree Realty has a much lower leverage ratio , considering that the REITs are growing their adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) at around the same rate this year. That would seem to imply that Agree Realty is a financially stronger company. However, a closer look at their balance sheets suggests things are much tighter than they appear at first glance. Agree Realty's leverage ratio is 4.9x after excluding unsettled forward equity (stock it agreed to sell to fund future investments). Meanwhile, the REIT's credit rating is BBB+/Baa1, which is a notch below Realty Income's A-/A3 credit rating (it's one of eight REITs in the S&P 500 index with credit ratings that high or better). So, clearly, Realty Income is a very financially strong REIT. A look at their portfolios Realty Income and Agree Realty have similar real estate portfolios since they focus on owning freestanding net lease retail properties. However, there are some key differences between their portfolios. Realty Income owns 15,457 properties around the U.S. and Europe leased to 1,552 clients in 90 industries. It's the seventh-largest REIT in the world, with $58 billion of real estate. Retail properties comprise 79.4% of its portfolio. Realty Income also owns industrial real estate (14.6%), gaming properties (3.2%), and other real estate (including data centers). About 32% of its rent comes from investment-grade tenants. Agree Realty has a much smaller portfolio. The REIT owns 2,271 retail properties around the U.S. While net leases make up the bulk of its portfolio, the REIT also has 223 ground leases that supply about 10.9% of its annual base rent. Ground leases are even more stable than net leases and provide bond-like income. The company gets 67.5% of its rent from investment-grade tenants. From this information, we can glean that Realty Income offers investors a much more diversified portfolio (geographically and by property type). However, Agree Realty has a lower-risk portfolio, given its focus on investment-grade tenants and its ground leases. The better REIT to buy right now While both REITs are great options for those seeking a monthly stream of passive dividend income , Realty Income is the better buy right now. It trades at a much lower valuation (and higher dividend yield) even though it's growing as fast as Agree Realty and has a similarly strong financial profile. While Agree Realty has some lower-risk characteristics, Realty Income also has a low-risk profile and offers investors greater diversification and scale. Realty Income gives investors higher total return potential from its higher yield and lower relative valuation, making it the better buy right now .
JERUSALEM — The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants began early Wednesday as a region on edge wondered whether it will hold. The ceasefire announced Tuesday is a major step toward ending nearly 14 months of fighting sparked by the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Israel said it will attack if Hezbollah breaks the ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire calls for an initial two-month halt to fighting and requires Hezbollah to end its armed presence in southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops are to return to their side of the border. An international panel led by the United States will monitor compliance. The ceasefire began at 4 a.m. Wednesday, a day after Israel carried out its most intense wave of airstrikes in Beirut since the start of the conflict that in recent weeks turned into all-out war. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. The ceasefire does not address the devastating war in Gaza , where Hamas is still holding dozens of hostages and the conflict is more intractable. There appeared to be lingering disagreement over whether Israel would have the right to strike Hezbollah if it believed the militants had violated the agreement, something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted was part of the deal but which Lebanese and Hezbollah officials have rejected. Israel's security Cabinet approved the U.S.-France-brokered ceasefire agreement after Netanyahu presented it, his office said. U.S. President Joe Biden, speaking in Washington, called the agreement “good news” and said his administration would make a renewed push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration spent much of this year trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza but the talks repeatedly sputtered to a halt . President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to bring peace to the Middle East without saying how. Still, any halt to the fighting in Lebanon is expected to reduce the likelihood of war between Israel and Iran, which backs both Hezbollah and Hamas and exchanged direct fire with Israel on two occasions earlier this year. In this screen grab image from video provide by the Israeli Government Press Office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a televised statement Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Jerusalem, Israel. Netanyahu presented the ceasefire proposal to Cabinet ministers after a televised address in which he listed accomplishments against Israel’s enemies across the region. He said a ceasefire with Hezbollah would further isolate Hamas in Gaza and allow Israel to focus on its main enemy, Iran. “If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and tries to rearm, we will attack,” he said. “For every violation, we will attack with might.” The ceasefire deal calls for a two-month initial halt in fighting and would require Hezbollah to end its armed presence in a broad swath of southern Lebanon, while Israeli troops would return to their side of the border. Thousands of additional Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers would deploy in the south, and an international panel headed by the United States would monitor compliance. Biden said Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah breaks the terms of the truce, but that the deal "was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities.” A police bomb squad officer inspects the site where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024. Netanyahu’s office said Israel appreciated the U.S. efforts in securing the deal but “reserves the right to act against every threat to its security.” Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the ceasefire and described it as a crucial step toward stability and the return of displaced people. Hezbollah has said it accepts the proposal, but a senior official with the group said Tuesday it had not seen the agreement in its final form. “After reviewing the agreement signed by the enemy government, we will see if there is a match between what we stated and what was agreed upon by the Lebanese officials,” Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council, told the Al Jazeera news network. “We want an end to the aggression, of course, but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state," he said, referring to Israel's demand for freedom of action. “Any violation of sovereignty is refused.” Rescuers and residents search for victims Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a building in Beirut, Lebanon. Even as ceasefire efforts gained momentum in recent days, Israel continued to strike what it called Hezbollah targets across Lebanon while the militants fired rockets, missiles and drones across the border. An Israeli strike on Tuesday leveled a residential building in central Beirut — the second time in recent days warplanes have hit the crowded area near downtown. At least seven people were killed and 37 wounded, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel also struck a building in Beirut's bustling commercial district of Hamra for the first time, hitting a site around 400 meters (yards) from Lebanon’s Central Bank. There were no reports of casualties. The Israeli military said it struck targets linked to Hezbollah's financial arm. The evacuation warnings covered many areas, including parts of Beirut that previously were not targeted. Residents fled. Traffic was gridlocked, with mattresses tied to some cars. Dozens of people, some wearing pajamas, gathered in a central square, huddling under blankets or standing around fires as Israeli drones buzzed overhead. Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued evacuation warnings for 20 buildings in Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah has a major presence, as well as a warning for the southern town of Naqoura where the U.N. peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL, is headquartered. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said peacekeepers will not evacuate. Israeli soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. The Israeli military also said its ground troops clashed with Hezbollah forces and destroyed rocket launchers in the Slouqi area on the eastern end of the Litani River, a few kilometers (miles) from the Israeli border. Under the ceasefire deal, Hezbollah is required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the border. Hezbollah began firing into northern Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, saying it was showing support for the Palestinians, a day after Hamas carried out its attack on southern Israel, triggering the Gaza war. Israel returned fire on Hezbollah, and the two sides have exchanged barrages ever since. Israel escalated its bombardment in mid-September and later sent troops into Lebanon, vowing to put an end to Hezbollah fire so tens of thousands of evacuated Israelis could return to their homes. Israeli security officers and army soldiers inspect the site Tuesday Nov. 26, 2024, where a rocket fired from Lebanon landed in a backyard in Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel. More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon the past 13 months, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The bombardment has driven 1.2 million people from their homes. Israel says it has killed more than 2,000 Hezbollah members. Hezbollah fire has forced some 50,000 Israelis to evacuate in the country’s north, and its rockets have reached as far south in Israel as Tel Aviv. At least 75 people have been killed, more than half of them civilians. More than 50 Israeli soldiers have died in the ground offensive in Lebanon. Chehayeb and Mroue reported from Beirut and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press reporters Lujain Jo and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.VIT Chennai signs pact with electronics firm to develop advanced motor technology