The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged triumphant in the Maharashtra state elections, capturing five of the six assembly seats in the Chandrapur district. This signifies a robust show of strength from the BJP, with Congress managing to retain just one seat through Vijay Wadettiwar in Brahmapuri. Notably, Sudhir Mungantiwar, a senior BJP figure and former minister, marked his continued dominance by securing his fourth consecutive term in the Ballarpur constituency. Additionally, BJP candidates Deorao Bhonge, Kirtikumar alias Bunty Bhangdiya, Kishore Jorgewar, and Karan Deotale further fortified the party's stronghold by winning in Rajura, Chimur, Chandrapur, and Warora respectively. Overall, the BJP is leading in 132 out of 288 state assembly seats, as per the latest from the Election Commission. The Mahayuti coalition partners Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are on track to claim 57 and 41 seats. In contrast, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance is seeing only moderate success, with expectations of just 16 seats won. (With inputs from agencies.)

Amber Heard has claimed social media spreads lies more quickly than it does the truth, in the wake of Blake Lively’s complaint against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. US actress Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, hostile work environment and embarking on a “multi-tiered plan” to damage her reputation with claims of a targeted social media campaign. The legal complaint states that Baldoni, 40, hired crisis communications specialist Melissa Nathan, the same publicist who actor Johnny Depp is said to have hired during his high-profile defamation trial against Heard in 2022. In a statement given to NBC News, Aquaman star Heard said: “Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying, a lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on. “I saw this first-hand and up close. “It’s as horrifying as it is destructive.” Depp successfully sued ex-wife Heard over a 2018 article she wrote for The Washington Post about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser. At the time, Heard said the jury’s verdict “sets back the clock to a time when a woman who spoke up and spoke out could be publicly shamed and humiliated”. Bryan Freedman, a lawyer representing Baldoni and the other named defendants, said Lively’s claims were “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious”, adding that the studio “made the decision to proactively hire a crisis manager prior to the marketing campaign of the film”. It Ends With Us, based on Colleen Hoover’s novel of the same name, is about a woman’s pursuit of a loving and healthy relationship, with Lively playing lead character Lily Bloom and Baldoni as her love interest Ryle Kincaid amid a backdrop of domestic violence. After the legal action was filed, Hoover appeared to voice support for 37-year-old Lively, writing on her Instagram stories: “@blakelively you have been nothing but honest, kind, supportive and patient since the day we met. “Thank you for being exactly the human that you are. “Never change. Never wilt.” Hoover posted a link to a New York Times article titled We Can Bury Anyone: Inside A Hollywood Smear Machine. Lively’s former cast members from the 2005 film The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel, also released a joint social media statement to defend their long-time friend. “As Blake’s friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,” the statement said. “Throughout the filming of It Ends With Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice.” They added: “We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment,” the statement continues. “We are inspired by our sister’s courage to stand up for herself and others.”Brown 83, Canisius 76Uruguay's voters choose their next president in a close runoff with low stakes but much suspense

Former Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene is transferring to Michigan with one year of eligibility remaining. Confirming earlier reports, Keene posted an image of himself in a Wolverines uniform on social media on Monday. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Peggy Slappey Properties and Eastwood Homes are excited to present the incredible model home at Sunrise Cove in Great Sky, now for sale! Experience easy, main-level living, relax in a beautifully finished basement, and enjoy mountain views and resort-style amenities. This home in Canton, GA ... Click for more. Stunning Model Home Now Listed at Great Sky in Canton

10'000 Hours Extrapolation is a dangerous tendency in the stock market, and Four Corners ( NYSE: FCPT ) seems to be priced with extrapolation in mind. The restaurant REIT has put together a strong track record of steady, medium-paced growth and with a 16X forward multiple, it seems the market is extrapolating its history. S&P Global Market Intelligence While we believe FCPT is a reasonably well-managed company, it has been operating in an easy-mode environment for most of its history. An inflection point is coming to the restaurant landscape, which could slow growth and potentially upset FCPT’s nearly flawless historical rent collection. This article will discuss the following: FCPT leases, tenants and cashflows Restaurant industry tailwinds becoming headwinds Valuation relative to peers Investment alternatives better positioned than FCPT FCPT niche focus on restaurants Many triple net REITs have some restaurants in their portfolio, but Four Corners intentionally concentrated its portfolio in restaurants, which is a concept I actually like quite a bit. When companies focus their portfolios on specific niches, it allows investors to obtain pinpoint exposure. While at a company level, there is a lack of diversification, investors can create their own diversification. So while FCPT is mostly restaurant, if an investor owns it in a portfolio otherwise not exposed to restaurants, they can still be diversified. As such, I don’t see any problem with FCPT being so concentrated in restaurants and getting roughly half of its revenue from a single tenant (Darden). In fact, the targeted restaurant exposure has been a boon for the company due to the extreme strength of restaurants in the last 5 years, which has contributed to its AFFO/share growth outperformance over peers. FCPT scores well on traditional triple net statistics. Occupancy is full at 99.6% and tenants are consistently paying rent on time. FCPT Long lease terms along with moderate rent escalators provide decent organic growth. One of the sticking points of triple net REITs can be what happens on lease renewal. Some leases are signed above market rates as part of an initial sale-leaseback transaction which can cause poor rent recapture rates on renewal. Thus, we like to check current lease rates against market rates to ensure leases are at or below market. FCPT’s leases are at just over $22 rent per foot which is on the low end and tenant EBITDAR coverage of rent is healthy at just over 5X. Each of these metrics suggests current leases are toward the conservative end which bodes well for maintaining or growing lease income upon renewal. FCPT’s tenant roster is robust. FCPT Note that Darden ( DRI ) owns more brands than just Olive Garden, so FCPT’s exposure to them is even larger than the 35% of rent that comes from Olive Garden locations. This is an unusually concentrated tenant roster compared to other REITs, but both Darden and Longhorn are among the largest and most profitable in the sit-down dining space. The main weakness on the tenant roster is the 1.6% of ABR coming from Red Lobster, which is in the bankruptcy process. All 18 of FCPT’s leases with Red Lobster have been affirmed in hearings which indicates 2 things: Four wall EBITDA coverage is well over 1.0X at these particular locations 18 out of 18 affirmed suggests FCPT’s acquisition underwriting is perspicacious. These particular locations are clearly among the more profitable of Red Lobster’s broader operations. On the liabilities side of the balance sheet, FCPT operates at 5.6X debt to EBITDA, which is right in line with the institutionally “recommended” level for REITs. Some combination of luck and skill allowed FCPT to not have to roll much of its debt during the higher interest rate environment, which has kept its weighted average cost of borrowing at 3.94%. FCPT This has been excellent for cashflows over the past few years, but does risk interest expense increasing going forward. With a 10-year Treasury yield at 4.4% today, debt that rolls will likely have to be refinanced at rates significantly more expensive than the current 3.94%. Below is FCPT’s debt maturity ladder: FCPT Given a generally strong balance sheet and ample cashflows, I don’t see material solvency risk or difficulty in refinancing, but interest expense will likely increase for the next few years as cheap debt rolls to more expensive debt. This will be a slight drag on AFFO/share. Overall, I think FCPT is a solid company with a good track record and above-average property quality. That said, there are 2 main reasons we are bearish on the name. Restaurant tailwinds becoming headwinds Valuation relative to peers Restaurants operating above sustainable levels According to the National Restaurant Association “Restaurant Industry Sales Forecast to Set $1.1 Trillion Record in 2024” The pandemic created a shift in consumer behavior, with a notable inflection point in restaurant sales. FRED Note the clear pre-pandemic trendline and then the upward inflection in slope starting in 2021. This is fueled by an increasing portion of consumers' food dollars being spent out of home. USDA Food away from home shot up after the pandemic. We don’t think this level of restaurant consumption is sustainable. So far, it was fueled by pandemic stimulus checks and dipping into savings. FRED With stimulus checks running out and personal savings rate already near all-time lows, consumers are going to have to tighten somewhere. Restaurant spending tends to be the flex slot of consumption. It is the first to ramp up when consumers are feeling better about their finances, but also the easiest valve to shut off. One can simply eat out less frequently to save money while still largely maintaining one’s lifestyle. Inflation is straining a large portion of Americans, and inflation is particularly potent for restaurants. Food inflation is well above overall CPI. USDA Labor, which is another key input to restaurant costs, is also running hot on inflation. FRED The result is that restaurants have raised prices materially to maintain margins. Consumers have not yet adjusted their behavior in response to the higher prices, and food spending has passed 30% of household income for lower income households. USDA This is not sustainable. Behavior will change. Cracks are already starting to show. Retail REITs are generally very strong right now, but a plethora of retail REITs are reporting weakness, specifically in restaurants. Here is an exchange from the Agree Realty ( ADC ) 3Q24 conference call: Linda Tsai : “There's a headline this morning that Denny's is closing 150 stores. Can you opine on what's happening with the restaurant chain?” Joel N. Agree “I continue to eat at them, not specifically Denny's. But Linda, we've been pretty clear that restaurants are not in our sandbox. Our restaurant exposure is on ground leases. We'll take the building back for free. But specifically, the furnitures, the fixtures, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing, the build-outs all amortized into the rental rates in 1 of the 2 probably most difficult retail business -- retail sectors to operate in the restaurant business is not our forte. Again, we're focused on fungible rectangles here. And generally, those rents are elevated and they're tenant specific. And so our focus has not been in the restaurant space. We didn't acquire one in Q3. I don't anticipate us acquiring one in Q4. We'll continue to enjoy the food and stay away from the real estate.” Linda Tsai “But any general thoughts on why they might be struggling now?” Joel N. Agree “Certainly. I mean, if you look at the elevated labor cost to constrained consumer at the low end, I mean, there's different value propositions here, but elevated labor costs led by the state of California, elevated consumers, also just the elevated consumer preference, frankly, excuse me, for eating at home, utilizing things such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. Those numbers have not come down to pre-COVID levels. And it's a difficult business, undeniably. But I would tell you, it's just not restaurants. What we're seeing today is a shakeout in that post-COVID free money world of retailers that probably had no value proposition in the first place, but had access to cheap capital that elongated their life cycle and we'll see continued elevated bankruptcies now while they have to refinance their ongoing obligations and their sales continue to erode. And so we're going to see that in the pet space, in the office supply space, in the sporting goods space, in the restaurant space. These are things that were inevitably delayed by free capital or nearly free capital that was out there. And now we're seeing the shakeout. And so it's back to capitalism, which I think is healthy.” Joey Agree seems to be quite bearish on restaurants along with a couple other asset types that were propped up by “free money”. CTO Realty ( CTO ) had excellent growth in 3Q24 yet still experienced weakness in restaurants. John James Massocca “Okay. And then maybe bigger picture, have you seen any change just given some of the macroeconomic uncertainty around retailer demand for either their existing space or to kind of take over move-outs or reposition space, et cetera?” John P. Albright (CTO’s CEO) “Not really. I mean, really, the only -- the softness that we're seeing is some of the restaurants, sales are down. And we're definitely monitoring that. But as a commentary on the economy, I would say, on the restaurants, that's where you're seeing more of the challenges and the softness.” Overall, it seems restaurant sales have been at an unsustainably high level and there is some pain ahead in the return to a more normal trend line. Due to FPCT’s greater than 5X tenant EBITDAR coverage of rent, the likely declines in tenant profits are unlikely to directly hurt FCPT’s contractual revenues. However, I see it impacting the REIT in 2 ways: Lower long-term growth Lower EBITDAR coverage ratios Both are quality factors which should filter into valuation. Valuation The average triple net REIT trades at 13.38X 2025 estimated AFFO. FCPT trades at 15.64X. Portfolio Income Solutions Source: Portfolio Income Solutions This greater than 2 turn premium made sense when the restaurant niche was relatively stronger than the average triple net property. Today, however, restaurants are one of the more at-risk triple net assets, with profitability of the sector peaking and consumer spending tightening back up. Given the subsector level challenges ahead, I don’t think FCPT should still trade at a premium to peers. Below we plotted the P/AFFO of each triple net on the Y axis and Debt to EBITDA on the X axis to obtain a sort of leverage neutral valuation. Portfolio Income Solutions Those above the line are relatively overvalued, while those below the line are cheap compared to peers on a leverage neutral basis. Valuation in the above graph is quality/growth agnostic, so those factors would also need to be considered in overall valuation. Within the sector, there are 5 companies that we believe provide a significantly better forward total return potential. Getty Realty ( GTY ) VICI Properties ( VICI ) W. P. Carey ( WPC ) Broadstone Net Lease ( BNL ) Gladstone Commercial ( GOOD ) We have written extensively on each of these, so feel free to check out the full articles in my archives . The REIT market has gotten egregiously underpriced making it a great time to get in to the right REITs. To help people get the most updated REIT data and analysis I am offering 40% off Portfolio Income Solutions, but you can only get it through this link. https://seekingalpha.com/affiliate_link/40Percent I hope you enjoy the plethora of data tables, sector analysis and deep dives into opportunistic REITs. Dane Bowler is the Chief Investment Officer and a registered investment adviser at the 2nd Market Capital Advisory Corporation. He has over a decade of experience running a proprietary portfolio with a specialization in REITs. On-site property tours and critical analysis of REIT management help inform his selection process. Dane leads the investing group Portfolio Income Solutions along with Simon and Ross Bowler. Features of the service include: a diversified high-yield REIT portfolio, data tables on every REIT, tax guidance, macro analysis, fair value estimates, and quick updates via chat on breaking news. Learn More . Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOD, BNL, WPC, GTY, VICI either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. All articles are published and provided as an information source for investors capable of making their own investment decisions. None of the information offered should be construed to be advice or a recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person.The information offered is impersonal and not tailored to the investment needs of any specific person. Readers should verify all claims and do their own due diligence before investing in any securities, including those mentioned in the article. NEVER make an investment decision based solely on the information provided in our articles.It should not be assumed that any of the securities transactions or holdings discussed were profitable or will prove to be profitable. Past Performance does not guarantee future results. Investing in publicly held securities is speculative and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Historical returns should not be used as the primary basis for investment decisions.Commentary may contain forward looking statements which are by definition uncertain. Actual results may differ materially from our forecasts or estimations, and 2MC and its affiliates cannot be held liable for the use of and reliance upon the opinions, estimates, forecasts, and findings in this article.S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. Contains copyrighted material distributed under license from S&P2nd Market Capital Advisory Corporation (2MCAC) is a Wisconsin registered investment advisor. Dane Bowler is an investment advisor representative of 2nd Market Capital Advisory Corporation. 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.

From porn star to pixelated pleasure. Chloe Amour, a 33-year-old adult film star, has revealed that she sold her likeness to an AI company to reduce the pressures of her demanding career. The Las Vegas-based performer has spent years working with major studios in the adult film industry and being a real-life “Pretty Woman” , but as her workload continued to bulge, she decided to use a virtual alter ego to interact with her fans when she’s unavailable. This move is not only a way to ease her workload, but also part of a growing trend in the adult entertainment industry where performers are utilizing AI to maintain their presence online. Amour explained that while she enjoys connecting with her fans, there are moments when she can’t fulfill all their desires. “When I chat with my fans directly, sometimes there’s things that they want to talk about with me, or there’s things that they want from me that I might not be able to give them,” she told the Daily Mail . “But through AI, they have the same likeness of me, and it’s like I can be everything that they want me to be in a sense.” No one’s being fooled though. “It’s very transparent because they’re aware that this is AI, it’s not me physically behind the device communicating with you — you know that you’re paying for,” Amour said. Her decision came after an AI company approached her with an offer to create her virtual counterpart. In exchange for a fee, she provided the company with photos, videos, and personal details to make the AI version as lifelike as possible. Amour acknowledges that AI still feels “scary and weird” to her at times, but she appreciates the ability to lighten her workload. “When you’re booked for [porn] shoots, you’re at the beck and call of that company,” she explained. “You’re gonna be on set for anywhere between, four, six, eight, ten, twelve hours, who knows?” Using a virtual persona to engage with fans allows her to take a break while maintaining her online presence. However, she does have one regret. “I should’ve signed up with them sooner because I would’ve gotten a bigger bonus!” she laughed. Amour’s AI persona is just one of many AI-generated women used to keep men company. The growing trend of AI avatars in the adult entertainment world is a sign of how technology is changing the landscape. In fact, some fans are now able to create their own custom virtual partners, from their appearance to their personality traits, hobbies and sexual preferences. Platforms like CamSoda have taken this even further by allowing users to build personalized AI “girlfriends” that become permanent features on the site. These virtual companions are available 24/7, responding instantly to users’ requests, and offering a level of privacy that traditional live-streamed cam shows cannot. A top tech executive has predicted that “AI girlfriends” will create $1B in business . Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout, wrote a blog post on X in which he shared that he met a man in Miami who “admitted to me that he spends $10,000/month” on “AI girlfriends.” “I thought he was kidding,” Isenberg wrote. “But, he’s a 24-year-old single guy who loves it.” Isenberg said he was left “speechless” by the encounter and predicted that “someone will build the AI-version of Match Group and make $1B+.” Match Group is the parent company of dating apps such as Tinder, Match.com, Hinge, OkCupid and Plenty of Fish. While users and some sex workers are embracing the technology, others aren’t too turned on to the idea . Facebook and Instagram reportedly host thousands of explicit ads for AI-generated companions and “girlfriend” apps – and sex workers are accusing Meta of double standards when it comes to policing smut. Some human sex workers raised concerns over Meta favoring AI-powered sex services and letting them multiply while barring human sex work on Facebook and Instagram as “adult content.”Sixth-year player Dane Olson continues to make the most of his opportunities for CSU RamsBy Conor Ryan The Red Sox have signaled all offseason that they’re willing to spend heavily. Beyond team president Sam Kennedy confirming Boston’s interest in Juan Soto and the team’s readiness to exceed MLB’s competitive balance tax (CBT) to bring in top talent, multiple reports have tied the Red Sox to some of the top names in both free agency and on the trade market. But if Boston wants to win the high-stakes sweepstakes for stars like Soto, Corbin Burnes, and Max Fried, the Red Sox might have to significantly outbid some other deep-pocketed teams like the Yankees. Why? According to longtime ESPN baseball writer Buster Olney, the Red Sox’ status as a top destination for players has waned in recent years — especially after the team dealt Mookie Betts to the Dodgers in February 2020. “One market factor that shifts cyclically is how some teams become a preferred destination for players, while other teams lose ground in the perception game,” Olney posted on X. “Boston is aggressive with dollars now, but the Red Sox will have to pay extra to overcome a negative player perception that really started growing when the team wouldn’t pay Mookie Betts.” One market factor that shifts cyclically is how some teams become a preferred destination for players, while other teams lose ground in the perception game. Boston is aggressive with dollars now, but the Red Sox will have to pay extra to overcome a negative player perception that... The Red Sox’ decision to move on from Betts has been nothing short of a disaster for Boston. Connor Wong the only remaining player still on Boston’s roster from that deal with the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Betts has gone on to win two World Series titles, four Silver Sluggers, and two Gold Gloves over the last five seasons in Los Angeles. Beyond Betts’ exit, the Red Sox have let other homegrown stars like Xander Bogaerts walk in free agency — with Boston prioritizing internal development over active offseasons. The result has granted Boston one of the top farm systems in baseball, but little to show for it at the big-league level so far. Boston has only punched its ticket to the postseason once over the last six seasons. Add in the Red Sox’ quiet offseason in 2023 after promises of a “full throttle” approach , and Boston might have some work to do when it comes to re-establishing itself as a major player in free agency. The Red Sox have already lost out on two potential pitching targets in Blake Snell and Yusei Kikuchi — who signed with the Dodgers and Angels, respectively, this week. Conor Ryan Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023. Sign up for Red Sox updates⚾ Get breaking news and analysis delivered to your inbox during baseball season. Be civil. Be kind.

Stock market today: Wall Street rises with Nvidia as bitcoin bursts above $99,000Malema warns against factionalism, disunity ahead of EFF conferenceNFL fines Lions WR Jameson Williams for Marshawn Lynch tribute, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes for 'violent gesture'

Ottawa police arrest 3 during pro-Palestinian demonstrations this weekend

Nairametrics to hold webinar on Nigeria’s Economic Outlook 2025Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti isn't afraid to make his opinions known. Just look at his introductory news conference where dropped his famous "Google me" line. That confidence from the first-year Hoosiers coach continued Saturday inside the media room at Ohio Stadium, even after his team suffered its first setback of the season in the form of a 38-15 defeat vs. the second-ranked Buckeyes . Following No. 5 Indiana's loss , Cignetti was asked whether his Hoosiers should still make the College Football Playoff after dropping its biggest game of the season. REQUIRED READING: Get used to it: Indiana will be in the College Football Playoff despite Ohio State loss "Is that a serious question?" Cignetti said with a slight laugh. "I'm not even going to answer that, the answer is so obvious." Following a quick moment of silence, the first-year Hoosiers coach winked and nodded "yes" to the reporter who asked the question. Cignetti and the Hoosiers entered Saturday's contest against the Buckeyes with a No. 5 ranking in the most recent CFP top 25 and a projected No. 7 seed in the 12-team CFP bracket, plus a 96.1% chance of making the playoff, according to ESPN's College Football Power Index . Indiana is set to close out the regular season against Purdue at home in Week 14. ESPN Analytics has the Hoosiers with a 97.7% chance of beating the Boilermakers, which would give Indiana its 11th win of the season — the most in program history. The Hoosiers will now await to learn their projected CFP ranking and seeding on Tuesday when the fourth set of CFP rankings is released at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.