On September 10, IBEX Limited (NASDAQ:IBEX) held its fourth-quarter and full fiscal year 2026 earnings call, and the numbers backed up a message management has been building toward for months. The company posted record full-year revenue, adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow, all while pitching itself as a business that has flipped the AI narrative in its favor rather than becoming its next casualty. For a sector that has spent the last two years bracing for automation to gut it, that is a notable claim to back with actual client wins.
Full-year revenue hit $644.1 million, up 15.4% organically, and fourth-quarter revenue reached $164.3 million, up 11.6% from a year earlier. That marked the sixth straight quarter of double-digit growth, a streak that suggests the momentum is not a one-off. HealthTech led the charge, climbing 38.5% to $114 million for the year and blowing past the $100 million target management had set for the segment, driven largely by demand from large insurance payers. Technology grew 27.4% in the quarter, while travel and logistics added 17.8%, helped by a new AI agent partnership with Philippine Airlines.
That Philippine Airlines deal is the clearest evidence that IBEX's Sierra AI partnership, formalized in January and announced publicly in May, is more than a slide in an investor deck. During the proof of concept, the AI agent handled interactions in English, Tagalog, and Taglish, hit resolution rates above 20%, and scored a 4.7 out of 5.0 on customer satisfaction, on par with human agents. A separate deployment for BJ's Wholesale pushed resolution rates above 40% and matched that same satisfaction score, beating the marks the client's prior BPO vendor had put up with human agents alone. The company added 17 new trophy logo clients across the year, and its top five clients now make up 33% of revenue, down from 36%, a sign the business is not leaning on a shrinking handful of accounts to carry it.
Not every line moved in the right direction. Fourth quarter GAAP net income slipped to $8.7 million from $9.6 million a year earlier, and diluted EPS fell to $0.59 from $0.66. Management pointed to training costs tied to all those new client wins, a temporary hit from shifting work out of nearshore centers into offshore ones, and higher fuel prices hitting utility and transportation costs, particularly offshore. Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter slipped to 12.3% from 13.9%, the same set of pressures showing up in the profitability line rather than just net income.

#revenue #fourth

Erin Napier shared that a childhood experience on a school bus influenced her decision to homeschool her daughters
She responded to criticism of homeschooling, emphasizing her kids' diverse social interactions and family involvement
Erin recalled being exposed to inappropriate content on a school bus in fifth grade, which shaped her parenting choices
Erin Napier is sharing one of the reasons why she decided to homeschool her daughters — and revealed that she was inspired after a shocking incident in her own childhood.
The HGTV star, 41, shared a recent post on her https://www.instagram.com/... of her husband Ben Napier, 42, homeschooling their two kids, Helen, 8, and Mae, 5, and explaining a history book to them. In the pictures, Ben and one of the couple's kids could be seen looking through a history book on the Renaissance, lying down together on the ground.

#napier #history

Just weeks after Hayden Panettiere's sudden death, several law enforcement sources believe she died from a fentanyl overdose.
On Monday, September 14, insiders told TMZ that Panettiere had a "long time drug dealer" in Los Angeles. They providing the Heroes actress with many "black-market prescription drugs," including oxcodone. The outlet learned that Panettiere allegedly took numerous pills during her flight from LA to South Carolina, and on the morning of her death, she reportedly took an oxcodone, which authorities believe was laced with fentanyl.
More from StyleCaster
Hayden Panettiere's Boyfriend Accused of Secret Interactions with Another Woman Months Before Her Death as Leaks Reveal Their Intimate Texts
Hayden Panettiere's Mom Reportedly Trying to 'Control Her Estate' as No Will Is Found After She Was Accused of 'Cruelty' While Her Daughter Was Alive

#panettiere

Navan Inc. (NASDAQ:NAVN), a global AI-enabled business travel and expense management solutions provider, announced its second quarter results on September 9. The company registered a 45% growth in its gross booking volume (GBV), which reached more than $3 billion. Such growth was fueled by cohort expansion, customer additions and increase in its existing install base. Total revenue for the quarter was $233 million, representing a 35% year-over-year jump. The company's adjusted operating income more than doubled compared to Q2 FY26, and the quarter also saw positive cash flow generation.
Copyright: kentoh / 123RF Stock Photo
Navan delivered robust performance during the recently concluded quarter, driven by a 35% increase in usage revenue which clocked in at $211 million. Subscription revenue was also up 39%, reaching $21 million. Apart from the 45% GBV expansion, a 34% growth was witnessed in Q2 Payment Volume which stood at $1.3 billion. One of the highlights of this quarter was a turnaround in adjusted net income, which jumped from an $8 million loss in Q2 FY26 to a $14 million profit for the reported period.
Enterprise market momentum remained persistent during the period, as the company established partnerships with leading names such as Evotec, Enbridge, ****** mins, and Ingersoll Rand. Significant progress was made around the Navan's proprietary AI agent, Ava, which managed roughly 60% of the total customer interactions. More than 50% of AI calls are now being managed through the company's in-house AI models, compared to 30% for the previous quarter.
Additionally, the company finalized its acquisition of a leading travel management business, Smartrips. This will enable Navan to expand its presence within the swiftly expanding Latin American market. Navan also acquired an AI-led meetings and events management platform, BoomPop.

#volume

N.O.R.E., the rapper and host of the popular podcast Drink Champs, has responded to a ****** ual ****** ault lawsuit brought against him by Carmen Bryan, describing her claims as "invented interactions" that are "entirely false."
The denial comes two days after Bryan filed a 20-page civil complaint against N.O.R.E., real name Victor Santiago, alleging the rapper was intoxicated when he forced himself on her in the middle of a packed Manhattan nightclub in 1999. According to the lawsuit, Santiago "physically overpowered" Bryan and "committed an act of non-consensual digital penetration," all while ignoring her pleas for him to stop. The alleged ****** ault only ended when other clubgoers reportedly pulled Santiago off Bryan.
More from Rolling Stone
Jay-Z Loses Appeal to Revive Extortion and Defamation Lawsuit Against Lawyer Who Filed Rape Claim
N.O.R.E. Sued for ****** ual ****** ault by Carmen Bryan

#assault #filed #rapper #Drink

At this point more than two months before the midterm elections, Democrats retaking control of Congress and its subpoena power is far from certain. But President Donald Trump is already laying down legal markers for how he'll fight any attempt by lawmakers to investigate him.
In a Justice Department memo and legal filings, the Trump administration is arguing that the president can keep secret not just the conversations he has with his advisers within the White House, but that his dealings with individuals outside the government can be shielded as well. The White House is also saying in court that even disclosing the identities of the people who worked on significant policy efforts would infringe upon the presidential confidentiality to which Trump is entitled. And the administration has taken the stance that it can ignore a Watergate-era law prohibiting the destruction of White House documents.
The posturing comes as Trump, in his second term, has been notably reliant on a constellation of business moguls, non-government attorneys and old friends to help shape his agenda.
"There has been an unprecedented amount of interaction between the Executive Branch — particularly the White House — and the private sector that Congress has made clear is going to be the subject of oversight," said Jamie Bair, a partner and head of congressional investigations at the law firm Crowell & Moring.
Congressional Democrats are already probing the administration's interactions with FIFA, how Trump's ties to the crypto-industry are affecting federal policy, and other examples of Trump family business maneuverings that Democrats say can be tied to government policies.

#congressional

Bayern Munich board member for Max Eberl has been a busy beaver the past few days, but his work is not done (in truth, it never is).
On good note, though, Eberl is having very positive interactions with the camp for star striker Harry Kane. As it stands, things seem to be progressing swimmingly with negotiations over a new contract.
"The contract negotiations, I have to be completely honest, have been incredibly harmonious, with both sides working together extremely well. We have a player who very much wants to stay and a club that very much wants to extend his contract. Of course, there are still details that need to be worked out. We have a very professional, yet pleasant, way of communicating with each other," Eberl told Sky Germany's Kerry Hau.
Kane, whose current contract ends after this season is expected to get at least a two-year extension, maybe three. Surely, that is one of the most important details being debated at the moment between the two side.
This is ridiculous:

#eberl #bayern #munich

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: In his first press conference of the tour, Shubman Gill termed qualifying for the World Test Championship as the "ultimate goal," a sentiment he maintained while preparing to leave the country. In between his two media interactions, the Indian captain saw his team register a comprehensive win in Galle and then settle for a draw in a fixture they were well positioned to win in Colombo. Although the series was won, the trophy secured, and his undefeated run as captain checked off crucial boxes, India left behind crucial WTC points needed to boost their win percentage.

As captain, he had his most challenging few days under the sun in Colombo when Sonal Dinusha and the Sri Lanka's tail frustrated the visitors and prevented them from getting the result they desperately wanted. There were moments he would helplessly stand and observe from the short-cover position, have an intense chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir when nothing worked and then even egg his teammates on when their shoulders started dropping.

"It gets very frustrating," he said regarding the challenges, explaining the questions that follow. "Was follow-on the best decision, was it not? But then you have to go back in the moment and see, what can I do? Did I make the best decision in that moment? Yes, I did. Then you can't do anything about it. You have to keep trying your best, and I think we did that," added the Indian captain.

While they struggled to remove the Sri Lankan tail in both innings, Gill was not ready to pin the blame on any of his teammates and lauded their effort.

"We tried all that we could, and at the end of the day, even from the players, you can expect them giving their 100%, their top efforts, and I don't think there was any lacking in intensity or the efforts that we put in," said Gill.
Highlighting the volume of overs the spinners bowled on a surface which became easier to bat as the game progressed, Gill gave them 10/10 for effort and intent, and continued to focus on the ultimate goal - the World Test Championship.

"The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days. Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions with the heat. In terms of effort, I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. A lot of learning, so many things won't always go as you plan, but as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship," added Gill.

India operated with in-out field positions for most of the match, offering significant protection against the sweep, especially when Sonal Dinusha was at the crease. While it did open up easy singles, Gill felt there couldn't have been a better plan as the slow turn off the surface meant bowled and LBW were the dismissals out of the equation.

"The ball was spinning but the wickets were not in play. As a batsman, if you know that your bowlers do not have 2 modes of dismissal in play, then it becomes easier to bat. Unless you are play

Lewis Hamilton may be more emotionally invested in his rumored relationship with Kim Kardashian than she is, according to a body language expert. The Formula 1 champion and reality star have continued to fuel romance rumors through their recent public appearances and vacation photos. However, neither Hamilton nor Kardashian has publicly confirmed the romance. An ******* ysis of their recent interactions suggests that Hamilton's feelings may be growing stronger, while Kardashian appears more guarded.
Body language expert Inbaal Honigman ******* yzed the couple's recent interactions. According to RadarOnline, she observed that Hamilton's body language has grown noticeably warmer. She noted that his open gestures suggest a deepening connection.
The expert claimed Hamilton's expressions and body language indicate that he is becoming more emotionally invested. "In a couple of their recent vacation photos, Lewis's eyes begin to soften when he looks at Kim, and his hands around her have become gentler," Honigman reportedly observed.
She also pointed to the racing star's posture, saying his poses appear "closer" and "more devoted," suggesting that his emotions may be deepening. However, Honigman argued that Kardashian appears to be approaching the relationship differently.
According to the expert, the SKIMS founder remains primarily focused on her career, family, and public image. Therefore, her priorities create an emotional distance between the two. She continues to keep her personal brand at the forefront.

#recent #according #however

Hayden Panettiere's estranged mother Lesley Vogel sat down with "Good Morning America" for an interview following her daughter's death on Monday, and promptly called out her "haters."
During the conversation, Vogel recalled her final interactions with her daughter, and noted that she was "numb" when she got the call about Panettiere's death at 36. When asked how she's doing now, Vogel noted that "it's a process," before calling out those criticizing her.
"I think it will probably hit me later on," she explained. "I would say to the haters out there, you don't have a right to tell me how I mourn the loss of my second child. That's my domain."
Indeed, Vogel lost her son Jansen Panettiere back in 2023, at just 28 years old. He died from heart complications. When asked how Vogel moves forward after losing two children, she touted her "inner strength."
"I think you just have to find that inner strength," she said. "I have been knocked down throughout my life, and I am not complaining, because I have the strength to get back up. And that really is — it's not if we fall, it's how we get back up that defines who we are."

#strength #death

A Disneyland frequent theme park visitor and fan, known across the internet as "Peter Pan Girl," has now responded to the viral memes surrounding her interactions with the Peter Pan character in the park. Her recent TikToks interacting with the character in the park went viral, resulting in memes and speculation about her relationship with the character performer.
The discussion spread so far online that it even resulted in one of the Peter Pan character performers addressing the controversy, and it's called into question a debate about when character interactions might cross boundaries. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a new menu at a sit-down restaurant for passholders and the expansion of an airport perk.
READ MORE – 5 Best Easy-to-Book Disney World Restaurants That Actually Have Good Food
Christina Toni Kulusich, who has been meeting the Peter Pan character performers for over a decade at Disneyland, recently had a video go viral with more than 29 million views. This video, which you can watch at the end of the article, shows her gifting Peter Pan a handmade crochet keychain and sparked hundreds of comments questioning the ethics of her interactions with the character performers at Disneyland.
Kulusich spoke to USA TODAY about her thoughts on all the attention after this viral moment, sharing that "it's been a little rough" and that she never thought these moments would "blow up this much – of like, the entire internet to know I exist." Some commenters poked fun at the video, with one comment saying, "I know he went on a cigarette break after this," receiving 1.5 million likes. Another comment read, "Forced to stay in character but you can tell he's so uncomfortable." The video resulted in many viral memes and satirical videos, with some editing the interaction in black and white and adding horror movie scores to the audio.

#peter #park #interactions #disney

Actress Lucy Davis has told fans she is "grateful" for their support as she made an appearance at a London sci-fi convention, following the recent revelation she has incurable breast cancer.
The 53-year-old star was appearing at the For The Love of Fantasy & Sci-Fi convention at Excel London on Saturday, less than two weeks after announcing her diagnosis in a post on Instagram.
Davis, who was on a panel to talk about her role in the 2004 zombie-comedy Shaun of the Dead, told an audience of hundreds of people about the interactions she had enjoyed with the film's fans during the event.
"It's like this whole second family you never knew you had, everyone is like a community, friendly, supportive of not only us but you guys and each other," she said. "We need a bit more niceness in the world, so I'm grateful."
Lucy Davis urges women to check their **** for cancer - here's how

#told #convention

For weeks, fans have been trying to figure out whether Huda Mustafa and streamer PlaqueBoyMax are simply close friends or something more, and now Huda has offered her clearest explanation yet.
The Love Island USA star has been spending considerable time with PlaqueBoyMax, whose real name is Max, appearing alongside him in livestreams, workouts, music-related content, and social media posts. Their increasingly frequent appearances have prompted viewers to scrutinize their interactions, with some fans convinced that the friendship could be turning romantic. Neither has publicly confirmed that they are dating.
Huda's own description of the relationship, however, is much less dramatic. She has called Max one of her closest friends since moving to Los Angeles and praised him for being supportive as she adjusted to a new city and a new chapter of her life.
No single photograph or confession sparked the dating speculation; a steady stream of moments showing the two together got people talking.
Huda began appearing more frequently in Max's content. Their conversations often seemed relaxed, playful, and they appeared increasingly comfortable around each other.

#love

On Friday, we got confirmation that San Francisco would be the host city for Major League Baseball's 2028 All-Star Game. It's very cool news and it gives us all something to look forward to as we wait for the Giants' next competitive window to open in 2030. And, of course, it's more than just the game itself. There's the Home Run Derby, the Futures Game, celebrity interactions, the draft, and an All-Star village. So, I figured this would be a good place to gather everything we know about the event so far. I promise I'm not riffing through the entire article, but it's a lot of riffing.
No exact date yet, but it's almost certainly the week of July 12th, which is when the Baseball portion of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will kickoff. That tournament runs July 13-19 at Dodger Stadium.
Last month, Bruce Meyer, who's leading the negotiations on behalf of the MLB Players ***** ociation, indicated that he knew San Francisco had already been chosen as the site of the 2028 All-Star Game to which Rob Manfred responded, "With all due respect, Bruce does not pick the All-Star Games. He's not necessarily correct."
It would be funny if the situation wasn't so dire. Commissioner Manfred has been a terrible ambassador of the sport, a true antagonist to players and fans, a bad businessman, and now he's going to carry water for the owners who want to try to bleed the sport for more profit.
The reason why Oracle Park was chosen as the 2028 site had less to do with the city or the stadium or even that it had been a long time since the game had been hosted there and more to do with proximity to the Olympics. Being an hour away by plane really takes some of the pressure off for making sure as many great players can participate. The sticking point is that the league is trying to negotiate a new CBA along with the details of Olympics participation. If the negotiations drag on, it's not wild to imagine the owners blaming the players for there being no MLB representation in the summer games or whatever.

#players #francisco #manfred

The most recent direct lending data shows a boost in the deal count and estimated volume in the European market, including the first direct-lending takeout of a broadly syndicated loan since the third quarter of 2025, as well as renewed support for lending to the software sector.
The data is also beginning to indicate some spread widening and a migration of borrowers to the broadly syndicated loan market, with BSL refinancing activity jumping to the second-highest quarterly reading since LCD began tracking this data, according to the latest European Private Credit Monitor.
The direct lending deal count rose to 35 in the last three months to the end of July, while the estimated volume increased to €9.8 billion — from 32 and €8.5 billion in the second quarter, respectively. Meanwhile, PE-backed estimated direct lending volume grew to the highest level since the end of 2025 on the three-month measure.
However, the estimated volume and count for direct lending deals in the year to end-July still lag the rate tracked in 2025, with these measures trailing by 29% and 19%, respectively. The trend is the same for sponsor-backed deals, which are running 24% lower for estimated volume and 19% lower by number of transactions.
Along with the general recent uptick in activity, interactions between the BSL and DL markets have seen a boost over the past three months, with the direct lending market demonstrating support for software companies despite general market nervousness over this sector.

#european

At least three fans were asked by WNBA security personnel to cover shirts that had messages about transgender women participating in women's sports during Sunday's game at Atlanta between the Dream and the Indiana Fever.
The league said in a statement Monday that the fans should have been free to wear the shirts.
"The WNBA is aware of interactions at (Sunday) night's game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts," the statement said. "This should not have happened."
Two people wore shirts with a message that women's and girls' sports should be restricted to those **** igned female at birth, while one person was wearing a shirt in support of transgender people.
The WNBA has been the subject of recent debates on whether transgender women — people **** igned male at birth who transition to align with their gender identity — should be allowed to participate in the league. There has never been such a player in the WNBA. Although the league's collective bargaining agreement says the WNBA is restricted to women, it contains no more specific language about gender identity or **** **** igned at birth.

#atlanta

Two fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts, which bore messages regarding transgender athlete participation in women's sports, during Sunday's game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream. A statement from a WNBA spokesperson said the individuals should not have been asked to do so.
Per the statement, "The WNBA is aware of interactions at last night's game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts. This should not have happened."
One individual was wearing a shirt in support of transgender people, while the other was wearing a shirt with the XX-XY message. During a segment called "Jam Cam" between the first and second quarters on Sunday, the State Farm Arena video board briefly showed a woman wearing a "Protect Trans Kids" T-shirt. Another individual wearing a T-shirt saying "Trans kids belong in sports" was shown on the broadcast during the end of the regulation and in overtime.
The security officials have been informed by the league that they acted incorrectly by asking the messages to be covered.
The Dream released a statement Monday, saying, "The Atlanta Dream believes in creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Unfortunately, at last night's game, WNBA security took actions that fell short of that standard. At no point was Dream personnel involved in the decisions made by WNBA security."

#dream #asked

XX-XY Athletics—a two-year-old apparel brand founded by former elite gymnast Jennifer Sey with a mission to "protect women's sports"—is at the center of another WNBA controversy.
Two fans attending Sunday night's Atlanta Dream–Indiana Fever game were reportedly told they would need to cover their XX-XY shirts with Atlanta Dream shirts or they would be escorted from the arena.
A WNBA spokesperson confirmed the incident in a statement to Front Office Sports, saying, "The WNBA is aware of interactions at last night's game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts. This should not have happened."
When reached for comment, the Dream first pointed to the league's statement, later adding: "The Atlanta Dream believes in creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Unfortunately, at last night's game, WNBA security took actions that fell short of that standard. At no point were Dream personnel involved in the decisions made by WNBA security."
Another source familiar with the situation said there were multiple interactions between security personnel and fans regarding apparel at the Gateway Center on Sunday, including with fans wearing messages representing different viewpoints on trans women competing in women's sports.

#security #sports #game #shirts

A mother and daughter from Georgia attending the Indiana Fever's victory over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, Aug. 17, in Atlanta say they were "made to cover up" their T-shirts by league security staff at the arena.
Video captured inside State Farm Arena and posted on social media shows Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie covering up their XX-XY shirts with shirts provided by the Dream.
XX-XY Athletics, which bills itself as a brand "here to protect women's sports and ***** es," was founded by former gymnast and former Levi Strauss chief marketing officer Jennifer Sey. XX-XY has also organized rallies around WNBA games this season in "Support of Sophie Cunningham" after the Fever star made comments about transgender athletes participating in women's sports.
In a statement provided to USA TODAY Sports, the WNBA said the fans shouldn't have been made to cover their clothing.
"The WNBA is aware of interactions at last night's game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts," a league spokesperson said. "This should not have happened."

#shirts #cover #league #daughter

Katelyn Mulcahy - FIFA / Getty Images
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
Related: "17 People Who've Worked With Celebs Reveal Their Worst Interactions"
Jon Kopaloff / Getty Images
Fred Duval / Getty Images

#katelyn #fifa #related #people

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has suggested that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should keep Babar Azam away from the English media during the team's upcoming three-Test tour of England.

Latif believes Babar could come under scrutiny from the English media and has suggested that former Pakistan captain Shan Masood should handle more of the team's media interactions during the series.

"An England tour is a difficult ***** ignment, and the English media often tries to unnecessarily involve visiting teams in news stories," Rashid said while speaking to Geo News.

"Babar Azam is an experienced player, so it would be better for the PCB management to keep him away from the English media and send former captain Shan Masood to speak to them more often," he added.

"Shan has played in England and has better experience of dealing with the English media," Rashid said.

Latif's comments came after Babar made an important contribution during Pakistan's recent two-Test series against the West Indies.

Babar remained unbeaten on 58 in Pakistan's 90-run defeat in the first Test at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. Pakistan were bowled out for 120 while chasing 211, with Babar left unbeaten as the rest of the batting order collapsed.

Babar then scored 88 off 147 ***** in Pakistan's first innings of the second Test at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain. His innings helped Pakistan reach 387 after the West Indies had scored 344.

He followed it with an unbeaten 24 off 30 ***** in the second innings as Pakistan chased down 75 to win by eight wickets and level the series 1-1.

The victory ended Pakistan's eight-match losing streak in away Tests and gave Babar his first overseas Test win since returning as captain.

Pakistan will now prepare for their England tour, with the first Test scheduled to begin at Headingley in Leeds on August 19. The second Test will be played at Lord's from August 27, while the series will conclude at Edgbaston from September 9.

#Media

DUBAI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei around the start of the president's third ‌year in office in late July, state media said on ‌Sunday, and a paramilitary leader promised footage of Khamenei in the future.
Pezeshkian has given differing accounts in recent weeks about his access to Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since he succeeded his father in the role in March.
On July 21, the president said interactions with the supreme ‌leader were "increasing day by ⁠day", but in early August he said communicating with Khamenei was "very difficult".
The late July meeting covered military affairs ⁠and the economy, including securing resources, managing foreign exchange and energy use, as well as economic ties with foreign partners, according to state media.
In May, state media also reported that Pezeshkian had met Khamenei for several hours, ‌in what was then the first publicly reported meeting between the two since Khamenei became supreme leader.

#since

Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images
Ricky Vigil M / Justin E Palmer / Getty Images
Related: "13 Times Celebs Spilled The Tea On Their Own Backstage Demands"
natalieportman / Via instagram.com
Related: "17 People Who've Worked With Celebs Reveal Their Worst Interactions"

#images #related

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Argentina flyhalf Tomás Albornoz has been suspended for four matches after admitting to misconduct for "intimidatory" interactions with match officials following the Pumas' Nations Championshiprugby loss against England last month.
England won 31-24, holding on despite twice being reduced to 13 men. The referee issued seven yellow cards during the July 18 match and both teams were reduced to 13 at stages in the second half at Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
The committee on Wednesday said that contact with referee Angus Gardner, "although limited in nature, occurred while disputing a match official's decision and formed part of that overall course of intimidatory conduct."
It also found that Albornoz approached the referee on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by teammates.
Although the offense could carry a six-match suspension, the committee took into account Albornoz's early acceptance of the charge, private written apologies and his previously clear disciplinary record to reduce the ban to four games.

#referee

When I walk into a restaurant or store, I don't want a canned greeting. Having workers yell "welcome to Moe's," or watching Texas Roadhouse waiters have to stop waiting on people to do a line dance makes me want to leave.
I like Jordan, the drive-through guy at my Starbucks, who does funny voices, but also actually has a real human interaction with me. I don't, however, need him to write a message on my cup because it's a corporate rule.
These forced sayings, routines, and interactions aim to boost brand consistency and create a distinctive and memorable experience, but that's not always a positive.
"When they create scripts they're essentially trying to mandate behavior — but it backfires more often than it doesn't," Experience Investigators CEO Jeannie Walters told Restaurant Dive. "It's pretty obvious when somebody is not talking like a human would talk."
It's easy to understand why chains want friendly workers and shareable moments, but there's a better way to make them happen, and Trader Joe's may have found a better way.

#want #don 't #human

Mike Macdonald's success as Seattle Seahawks head coach is usually attributed to the sweeping overhauls he's made to their defensive scheme and the top-end talent they've acquired. The way he emphasizes the seemingly smaller details among the lesser-known players is the most revealing piece about their culture.
Check out this tidbit Hawk Blogger shared on X from Saturday's public training camp practice.
Macdonald knows these players have everything to gain and nothing to lose by signing autographs. Some fan favorites become such through their off-field interactions just as much as their on-field contributions. More importantly, though, he instills his beliefs in his team through his actions. Players enjoy the clear and consistent communication. They grade it well in the NFLPA Report Card yearly. They'd rather be actively coached in the small details than given more leeway.
This action from Macdonald embodies one saying you'll hear at any football team's practice. The "weakest link" idiom, which is commonly attributed to Scottish philosopher Thomas Reid's 1769 work Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man, is used in football to say "a team is only as strong as its weakest link." Macdonald takes that to heart when referring to the roster as "The 70" to include the practice squad. He calls the lineup "12 as one" to emphasize the sport as the ultimate team game.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald elaborates on team culture

#Seattle #culture

Joe Root has hailed incoming England Test coach Stephen Fleming as a major reason behind his enthusiasm for leading the side again, saying the former New Zealand captain's vision has left him excited about the team's future.

England confirmed Fleming as their new Test coach earlier this week after parting ways with Brendon McCullum last month. The 53-year-old will officially begin his tenure later this year.

Root returned as England captain during the second Test against New Zealand in June after Ben Stokes was removed from the role following a nightclub brawl incident after the series opener. Although Stokes was later cleared and returned to play his final Test, Root retained the captaincy, marking his second stint as England's Test skipper.

Speaking about his first interactions with Fleming, Root said the conversations immediately convinced him that the pair shared a similar outlook.

"I've admired him from afar, first as a player and recently as a coach. To get the chance to work together is going to be great fun. Once I'd spoken to Stephen about it and saw his energy and excitement for it, and saw we're very aligned on it, I got excited very quickly. Hopefully, we can work and build on a lot of the good things that have happened over the last four years," Root told BBC Sport.

Root also paid tribute to McCullum and Stokes, crediting the former leadership duo for transforming England's Test setup and changing his own perspective on the game.

"I think Brendon and Ben did a brilliant job, in many ways, of turning things around and getting us in a position where hopefully now we can carry that forward in a slightly different way. Hopefully, we can work and build on a lot of the good things that have happened over the last four years.

"The last four years have been the most fun I've had in professional cricket, and a big part of that was down to the way they [McCullum and Stokes] got me to see the game.

"Clearly, the last little while is probably what's fresh in everyone's mind, but you're looking at a four-year period where we did a lot of amazing things. I've taken a lot from that, and I feel it will be a big part of how I want to approach things moving forward as a leader of this team," he added.

England's next Test ***** ignment is a three-match home series against Pakistan, beginning on August 19 at Headingley. Fleming, however, will not take charge for that series. ***** istant coach Marcus Trescothick will oversee the team before Fleming officially starts his tenure during England's series against South Africa in December.

#fleming

Former NFL quarterback Tony Romo has been put on leave by CBS Sports after he was arrested and cited last week for drunk driving in Wisconsin.
Shortly after news broke of his July 23 arrest in Milwaukee, police released body cam footage showing Romo's interactions with cops.
During the traffic stop, Romo claimed he hadn't been drinking at all and was even willing to take a field sobriety test.
Throughout the exchange, Romo repeatedly said he wanted to get in contact with his lawyer.
Moments later, an officer could heard saying she smelled alcohol in the vehicle and observed multiple unopened bottles inside.

#tony #milwaukee #throughout

Jared Leto has denied allegations of ***** ual misconduct after a BBC documentary featured claims from multiple women who described alleged encounters with the actor and musician dating back more than a decade.
The Oscar winner called the accusations "absolutely and categorically false" following allegations that some incidents involved teenage girls.
The documentary also included accounts from former crew members of Jared Leto's band, "Thirty Seconds to Mars," who alleged staff were uncomfortable with some of his interactions with young female fans.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Jared Leto has strongly denied allegations of ***** ual misconduct after a series of accusations were made against him in a recent documentary investigation.

#documentary #misconduct #accusations

Tom Brady has reportedly been in talks with WWE following a couple of viral confrontations with wrestler/influencer Logan Paul. The interactions have come with mixed receptions, with some finding it entertaining and others seeing it as cringe-worthy.
It's safe to ***** ume that NFL legend Patrick Peterson would probably fall into the latter group.
When speaking with TMZ Sports, Peterson shot down the idea of Brady partaking in the world of professional wrestling.
"Tom don't wanna go to WWE," Peterson said. "He's a quarterback -- and I know Tom is a tough guy. I had the opportunity to be around Tom a bunch of times. He is a hard-nosed Michigan man. Those Michigan men, they definitely wear their heart on their sleeve, but the WWE, Tom? Just let it be. Just let it be, man."
Nothing has been confirmed between Brady and WWE, but the over-the-top run-ins involving Paul appear to indicate that the two sides are angling for something. Perhaps they are merely dipping their toe in the water and seeing how the general public reacts to the feud.

#michigan