Rugby-Unimpressive All Blacks labour to 29-11 win over ItalyIf you’re a young man in Australia, who is your male political role model? We’re thin on the federal ground, no doubt. There’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese either sitting on the policy fence or marinating in A-list perks. Or Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who has the opportunity to inspire our 20-something tradies and uni students but instead is partial to personal attacks on the PM. “He’s a child in a man’s body,” Dutton declared of Albo at the Liberal Party’s federal council in June but meanwhile doesn’t use his platform to drum up support for our under siege young male voters. So is it any wonder the current Donald Trump-Elon Musk bromance is so attractive to young Aussie males and yet we know explicitly these individuals are not perfect by any stretch. Tuesday was International Men’s Day, did you know? It was crickets and unless you went looking for ways to acknowledge that not all men are evil, it may not have even registered. It’s also nearly 10 years since the one size fits all “toxic masculinity” label became pervasive in our discussions of men and gender. The #MeToo movement had to happen for women but an unintended consequence here was the uniform penalty and eye watering criticism young men copped for the crime of being born male while bereft of any practical guidance on what type of person they actually should be. It was unforgivable and made many youths and men cynical of social discourse. I saw firsthand among my son’s cohort that it sank to the level of being scared to make eye contact or ask a girl on a date, lest they be instantly labelled sexually aggressive or ignorant of consent guardrails. Nothing in my view has changed here. We are not suddenly more sympathetic to the stereotyped cruelty that was unleashed on these men and boys while modern feminism ran amok. These men and boys are still grappling with their purpose, their ambition and their identity. I agree the vile Andrew Tate manufactures violence and vitriol rather than considered advice. Trump and Musk are however better placed to motivate MAMGA or Make Aussie Men Great Again rather than those striding the halls of Canberra. We need innovators not career politicians and men who are decisive and bold, rejecting compromise and timidity of purpose. When our boys are travelling through childhood, we encourage them to think big, love big and to persevere. “Do not give up at the first hurdle,” we counsel while plastering knee wounds and blotting tears of confusion. As parents, we are paralysed with fear that when age 18 ticks over, the muscle of resilience that should power their life is in fact dormant and shrunken. The toxic masculinity tourniquet has shamed young male ambition. Yes, as men you can and must be decent and kind but you can also have conviction for getting ahead in life. And yes Trump disgraced himself with p****-grabbing comments among other things but if you authentically pull apart his personality, Trump is self-made and a masterclass in resilience - whether you agree with his policies or not. People all over the world are queuing up to tear him down yet a larger share of young men voted for Trump in last month’s election compared with four years ago – 56 per cent compared with 41% in the 2020 election. Musk, who played an outsized role in that comeback, is synonymous with innovation and is not afraid to think big, fail and try again. As an industry disruptor in electric vehicles, space travel and communication, his name is the byword for bold. Albo in particular represents a different story. Sure, there is something to be said for his rise through the ranks but his leadership style is not audacious or authentic. Young men here need a political leader with vision more than someone who represents the status quo. Before last month’s US election, Trump and Musk were accused by a US journalist of “taking advantage of an emergent crisis of masculinity in American society in order to gain greater power”. The crisis, I would argue, is failing here on genuine male leadership. A learned friend of mine, an expert on US politics, also suggested that Musk engages young Aussie men because it’s the first time they’ve seen science used for “something cool rather than scolding them or locking them up”. You’ll remember last year that a Federal $3.5 million three year plan was announced to prevent an emerging generation of toxic males. It has been derided as too broad and as simply throwing cash at the Tate issue. So where is the plan at now? It’s insulting to assume our young men are slaves to YouTubers and podcasters and only want to dominate or lose all accountability with women and their lives in general. They need support and to feel like they are understood. A good place to start would be support and understanding from The Lodge.
Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women's basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and Tuesday she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court. After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark’s exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women’s sports leagues along the way. A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its members voted on the award. Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second with 25 and boxer Imane Khelif was third, getting four votes. Clark is only the fourth women’s basketball player to be honored as the female athlete of the year since it was first presented in 1931, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995) and Candace Parker (2008, 2021). “I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me and to be honored in this way, is super special and I’m thankful,” Clark said in a phone interview. “It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.” Shohei Ohtani won the AP Male Athlete of the Year on Monday for the third time. Clark broke the NCAA Division I career scoring record for both men and women finishing her career with 3,951 points while guiding Iowa to its second consecutive national championship game. After her Hawkeyes lost t South Carolina for the title, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley took the mic during her team’s celebration and said, “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport.” For all the success Clark has had and the attention she has brought to women’s basketball, she is often the centerpiece of debates and online toxicity towards her and other players in the league. For her part, Clark has disavowed the toxic discourse. Lobo also has been impressed with the way the 22-year-old Clark has handled the pressure and attention that has come her way. “I would say she’s navigated it almost flawlessly. she hasn’t had an big missteps or misspeaks at a time you’re under constant scrutiny,” Lobo said. “She’s seemed to say and do all the right things. That’s just incredible at a time when it’s constant attention and scrutiny. She has not done anything to tarnish this sort of mild persona she has.” As Clark handled the praise — and the backlash — during the heat of competition, it was hard for her to appreciate just what she was able accomplish over the past year. But after having time to reflect on the whirlwind tour, she appreciates those who were there alongside her for the ride. “I'm thankful for the people I got to do it with,” Clark said. “A year ago I was still in the early part of my senior year in college. ... How fast things change, and now I can see how great a college season it was.” Iowa sold out all of its games at home and on the road with Clark as the main attraction. That momentum continued into the pros. Her No. 22 jersey was prevalent wherever she played during her rookie season and will be retired at Iowa. “You’d be remiss not to acknowledge how crazy her fan base is and the eyes she gets with everything she does,” said Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was often spotted courtside at Clark's Indiana Fever games. “It’s a different type of popularity, she’s one of the most popular athletes in the world. It’s not just women’s sports anymore. "It’s really cool to see and she just handles it with such grace.” Clark said she enjoys spending time with fans at games, usually taking a few minutes before and after games to sign autographs. “For me it's still really fun,” she said. “Whether it's 15 seconds or 10 seconds or 5 seconds can be very impactful in a young girl and young boys life. Seeing the fans going crazy an hour before tipoff, I never take that for granted. That's super cool and I never want that to go away.” After a slow start to her WNBA career, Clark eventually found her stride there too. She set the single-game assist record with 19 and also had 337 assists on the season to break that mark as well. Clark, known for her logo-distance 3-pointers, was the fastest player to reach 100 3’s when she did it in 34 games which helped Indiana reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Lobo, who won the AP female athlete of the year award after lifting UConn to its first national championship, was on the court for launch of the WNBA two years later. The ESPN analyst sees Clark's ascension as something different. “She’s brought unprecedented attention both in the building, but also viewership to the sport that was worthy of it but didn’t have it yet," Lobo said. "There’s never been anything like this. "That timeframe from 1995-97 was a baby step in the progression of it all. This is a giant leap forward. I’ve never seen anything like this. There's more attention then the sports ever had." The numbers have been record breaking when Clark is part of a broadcast: — TV viewership in the WNBA was up 300% thanks in large part to Clark with ABC, CBS, ION, ESPN, and ESPN2 all having record viewers when Fever games were on. — The NCAA women’s championship game outdrew the men on TV for the first time in the sport’s 42-year history with 18.9 million viewers tuning it to watch the event. It was the second most watched women’s sporting event outside of the Olympics in the history of U.S. television. — The 2024 WNBA draft was the most-watched in league history with 2.4 million viewers. Clark credits the community of women athletes for the popularity increase of women's sports, saying “we” did this or “we” did that when asked about it. “It's fascinating, you don’t always appreciate how many people 18 million is,” Clark said. “You see that number against a college football game or the Masters or whatever it is as far as the biggest sporting events in our country and it puts it in perspective. We outdrew the men’s Final Four.”Students at the Government Institute for the Blind at Braille Bhawan will receive an innovative electronic device — Annie — next week that would make Braille learning easy, said deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal on Tuesday. The device is designed to revolutionise early Braille learning through interactive audio lessons and gamified activities, officials said. The district administration has initially procured one ‘Annie’ device, with plans to expand its availability in the coming months. The device is expected to make Braille learning more engaging and accessible for visually impaired students, paving the way for a more inclusive educational environment. “Annie will address the challenges of learning Braille, which often requires the constant supervision of a specialised tutor,” said Jorwal. He described the device as compact, roughly the size of a telephone, equipped with a Braille keyboard, Braille display and built-in speakers. It features a human voice guiding system, which provides continuous feedback and corrective suggestions, ensuring that students can learn effectively and independently. The device supports both online and offline learning modes, enabling students to acquire Braille skills and even learn new languages. Its advanced technology aims to simplify the teaching process for educators while empowering students to learn with minimal supervision. During his visit, Jorwal also emphasised the administration’s commitment to improving support for visually impaired students. He announced plans to increase the number of teachers, staff and facilities at the institute, including introducing dedicated pick-and-drop transportation services for students. Additionally, Jorwal unveiled a first-of-its-kind Braille calendar, prepared by the Government Braille Press located on the institute’s premises. This initiative reflects the administration’s focus on inclusivity and innovation in resources for the visually impaired. After his visit to the institute, Jorwal inspected the juvenile home on Gill Road, engaging with officials to understand their challenges. He reviewed the facilities and stressed the importance of introducing soft skill development programs to aid the rehabilitation and future success of the juveniles.
New Memoir Offers a Candid Look at Leadership, Resilience, and Reform in Law Enforcement
The 39th president of the United States has died at 100. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirmed the news with a post on X, stating the son of the former president said his father had died around 3:40 p.m. ET in his Plains home. People across the country and the world are reflecting on former President Jimmy Carter and his life, which was full of achievements. He died at the age of 100 at his longtime home in Plains, Georgia . While the 39th president will be remembered for setting a national energy policy and working on peace accords, it was his establishment of an agency aimed at responding to disasters that continues to impact many communities today. Since the country’s formation in the 1700s, local governments have faced disasters in which the needed response has been considered too great to handle. The federal government started providing aid and assistance in the early 1800s, but it wasn’t until Carter’s signing of Executive Order 12127 that an agency was solely tasked with responding to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters. Before Carter was sworn in on Jan. 20, 1977, the country was reeling from natural disasters, with poor governmental responses that only made the catastrophes worse. In 1962, an extratropical cyclone slammed into the mid-Atlantic and became one of the most destructive storms ever to impact the states. The year 1964 brought the most powerful earthquake to ever strike North America, with a 9.2-magnitude quake shaking the ground underneath Alaska. Over the next five years, communities along the Gulf Coast would face double disasters from major hurricanes Betsy and Camille. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks as he tours homes being built by Habitat for Humanity in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in May 2008 during rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina. (Photo by James Edward Bates/Biloxi Sun Herald/Tribune News Ser All these disasters caused extensive devastation and were responsible for killing hundreds of people, but a common theme emerged – poorly coordinated responses . According to the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum , the president had universal support from governors and interest groups to form an agency to combat the problem. With the political will in hand, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was born on April 1, 1979. The agency was tasked with emergency management response and merged the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency, Federal Preparedness Agency, Federal Disaster Assistance Administration, Federal Insurance Administration, U.S. Fire Administration and half-a-dozen other programs. Gordon Vickery , a highly respected firefighter, who rose through the ranks to become the fire chief in Seattle, was selected as interim head of the then-2,400-person-strong agency. In the hours before the agency’s ramp-up, an accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania overshadowed the initial days of the agency and drew attention to inadequate preparedness surrounding highly volatile energy plants. Dangerous and now deadly severe weather is sweeping through the South Saturday evening, just hours after multiple tornadoes left damage in the southeastern part of Texas. Bill Bunting, Deputy Director of the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center join LiveNOW's Austin Westfall to give the latest weather update. The event would trigger one of many expansions of powers for the newly-formed agency. Carter signed Executive Order 12148 , which directed FEMA to develop a plan to respond to nuclear emergencies. Now, the agency, once solely tasked with emergency management responses, also gained civil defense responsibilities. These changes were far from the last for the agency with a then-$600 million budget. The position of leading FEMA appeared to become a preverbal carousel with three leaders in just two months. Stability among government ranks took a further hit when Carter lost his reelection campaign to former California Gov. Ronald Reagan. The changing of the guard at the White House did little to stop the trend of temporary appointments, as 1981 brought three additional heads to the agency. In addition to the change at the top, a political landslide gave the Regan administration the political power to change course on many aspects of government operations and that included FEMA. According to an agency history , developments in Cold War diplomacy contributed to more wartime hazard planning. The leader at the time, retired Army officer Louis Giuffrida, made it to be the longest-serving head of FEMA, but questionable actions and congressional investigation ultimately led to his resignation in 1985. The agency once again fell into the pattern where it was anyone’s gig, but a disaster known as Hurricane Hugo in 1989 served as a reminder of the importance of a functioning FEMA. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper called the ongoing disaster "catastrophic," as the state manages its worst flooding in a century. Search and rescue teams from 19 states, as well as the federal government, are on the ground trying to help residents. Cell phone service is down, and the governor's office reports more than 200 people have been rescued from flood waters so far. FEMA's Acting Director of Response and Recovery, Keith Turi, joins LiveNOW from FOX with the latest operation details. Hugo was the strongest storm to strike the U.S. coastline in two decades and came ashore in the Carolinas as a Category 4 hurricane with estimated winds of at least 135 mph. The storm produced $11 billion in damage, and FEMA was in charge of the response. A government history of the time period stated: "FEMA, the agency in charge of the response process, received most of the blame; FEMA, not Hurricane Hugo, was referred to as the real disaster." Again, the agency was the subject of congressional ridicule, with U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings calling FEMA "the sorriest bunch of bureaucratic jackasses I’ve ever known." The administration of President George H.W. Bush pledged to set the course right on FEMA and searched high and low for its next head. The administration put their faith in Wallace Stickney from New England. No one could foresee that the agency would be tasked with its largest disaster in more than two years – Hurricane Andrew . The major hurricane made landfall on Aug. 24, 1992, as a Category 4 hurricane in South Florida. A NOAA reanalysis in 2004 upgraded the costliest hurricane ever to a Category 5. Similar to Hurricane Hugo, the response to the catastrophe was considered inadequate and had local, state and even some federal officials asking if the agency’s response made the disaster even worse. A federal investigation into the agency’s response found that plans for disasters were not adequate, local governments were overwhelmed and the movement of materials and personnel into the impact zone was too slow. The administration of President Bill Clinton brought a slew of new faces into the federal government, including James Lee Witt. The Arkansan knew a thing or two about emergency services and was appointed as the sixth permanent administrator of FEMA. Similar to other leaders of the agency, Mother Nature did not provide a grace period for Witt, as hurricanes, massive floods and West Coast earthquakes left few areas of the country unaffected. One of the largest disasters was the Great Flood of 1993, which impacted nearly a dozen states and caused damages of more than $15 billion across the Midwest. During the recovery, officials lauded FEMA’s response and confidence grew in Witt being the right person to lead the agency. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter remains in home hospice after a series of hospital stays. Thomas Whalen, an associate professor of Social Sciences at Boston University joined LiveNOW from FOX's Josh Breslow to discuss Carter's legacy. A series of disasters, including the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, proved the agency was at the beckoning of any municipality. Not long after the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, Clinton raised the FEMA position to cabinet-level status, underscoring the growing importance and reliability of the agency. During a 1998 interview , Witt was asked what adjustments were made that enabled outsiders to view FEMA in a more positive light versus the ridicule and scorn that had plagued it. "We worked hard at creating a more customer-focused agency," Witt said. "A major initiative was to provide customer service training to all FEMA employees, including senior management. This was a huge undertaking." After Witt’s reign, the agency would go on to have many ups and downs, including what news organizations reported was a botched response to Hurricane Katrina , which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. The major storm resulted in more than 1,300 fatalities and a damage figure that topped a 2023-cost-adjusted price tag of $191 billion. REPORT: 90% OF COUNTIES IN US EXPERIENCED AT LEAST 1 DISASTER IN PAST DECADE On significant anniversaries, FEMA leaders usually take to social media to reflect on the agency’s beginning, but on a daily basis, trainees are exposed to a message that reflects upon Carter’s role in its establishment. Located within FEMA training documents is a pledge that the commitment bestowed on the agency by Carter will never change. The passage reads: "On April 1, 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the Executive Order that created the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). From day one, FEMA has remained committed to protecting and serving the American people. That commitment to the people we serve and the belief in our survivor-centric mission will never change." In many ways, the agency continues to follow one of the first lines ever uttered by the 39th president. During his inaugural address on that cold, 28-degree day in January, Carter boldly told the crowd of thousands: "To be true to ourselves, we must be true to others." The line was part of a 1,228-word speech that the White House Historical Association said was focused on rejecting mediocrity and restoring trust in the federal government. Read more of this story from FOX Weather.
For many of the women attending My Sister’s Place (MSP) in London, Ont. the holidays are a difficult time. “I'm here alone in London. I have no family here,” says Serena Millward, whose family is in B.C. “It's a bit of a hard time because it’s a time to be with family, so it can be a little emotional.” Most of these women living on the street, or in shelters don’t receive anything for Christmas. That’s where the Shoebox Project comes in. For the past 15 years, they’ve supported women with a personally crafted gift, essentials and/or everyday items wrapped in a shoebox. Emily Brewer, left, of the Shoebox Project watches Serena Millward open a gift at My Sister’s Place in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “We’ve already reached our target right in time for Christmas,” says Emily Brewer, the London chapter coordinator of the Shoebox Project. “We have made about 1,200 shoe boxes, supporting around 25 agencies in London and surrounding area.” Brewer was at MSP to hand deliver the boxes to women, after the organization held it’s Christmas dinner. “Being able to be here and see them open this gift, it's really a full circle moment,” says Brewer. “It just shows us that all of the work that the community put in is going to a great cause, and it's making a huge impact.” That impact is felt by women like Terry O’Loughlin. “I can use the shampoo, I can use a hand cream and I can use nail polish,” says O’Loughlin who is currently living in a shelter. “You can tell the girls like it because you're not expecting it. They don't tell you when it's coming, and you're not expecting it at all.” The boxes the women opened contained items like bodywash, a hairbrush, soaps, games, as well as winter items like hats, gloves and scarves. The contents of a shoebox gift from the Shoebox Project in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “These women have a lot of struggles, and we just want to make their holiday season,” says Brewer. “It can be very isolating, but we want to make a small part of it better for them, and just let them know that there's people out there that that care about them and are thinking of them during this time.” Going through a difficult time after losing her ex this year, O’Loughlin was appreciative of the gift for her, and her “sisters.” “it's just like a surprise for us all,” says O’Loughlin. This year’s Shoebox drive has come to an end, but the need continues to grow each year. These are some of the agencies the project supported in 2024. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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'Can I taste it?': Rare $55,000 bottle of spirits on sale in Moncton A rare bottle of Scottish whisky is for sale in downtown Moncton, with a price tag reading $55,000. Winnipeg Manitoba to receive more equalization money, but the increase is smaller than in 2024 The Manitoba government is set to receive $337 million more in equalization payments from the federal government in the next fiscal year. ‘Choosing your own adventure’: Winnipeg’s Select Start readies Exchange District for brand new ‘barcade’ experience A new ‘barcade’ in the heart of the Exchange District is hoping to be a successful launch title for a new generation of players. 'Stop postponing our bucket list': Churchill continuing to grow as Manitoba's hotspot The province of Manitoba prides itself on being the heart of Canada, and as the heart, it has many arteries just waiting to be explored. Calgary Glenmore Trail closed for several hours due to serious crash involving crane truck Calgary police shut down Glenmore Trail Monday night and into Tuesday morning for a crash between a car and a crane truck. Fundraiser aims to help family of Calgary's latest homicide victim A fundraising effort has been established to help the family of Jalisa Maschki, a woman who was found on a Calgary pathway and later died in hospital. Skier seriously injured in avalanche near Revelstoke, B.C. A skier was seriously injured after an avalanche near Revelstoke, B.C., over the weekend. Edmonton 'Serious safety issues': Edmonton building where security guard was killed evacuated An apartment building where a security guard was killed earlier this month has been evacuated. A look back at the most-read stories for Edmonton and northern Alberta in 2024 From the wildfire in Jasper to Danielle Smith and the United Conservative government and its policies to alleged and confirmed professional misconduct of police officers, teachers and doctors, these are the top 10 news stories for 2024. WEATHER | Josh Classen's forecast: Warm and melty again, but cloudy and breezy We should get back to some sunshine in the Edmonton area and across much of central and eastern Alberta for Christmas day. Regina 'A nice way to connect': Christmas card exchange between Sask. friends spans 60 years What started out as a little holiday fun between two Regina friends has turned into a tradition that now spans six decades. Dog lost in Saskatchewan during cross-country trip reunited with family A family moving from Ontario to Alberta in November had a scare when their family dog got loose during a stop in Dafoe, Sask. and ran away. More drivers opt for personalized plates in Sask. — and behind every one there's a story You may have noticed a few more vanity plates on Saskatchewan roads in recent years, and every one of them comes with a personal story. Saskatoon More drivers opt for personalized plates in Sask. — and behind every one there's a story You may have noticed a few more vanity plates on Saskatchewan roads in recent years, and every one of them comes with a personal story. 'People prop the doors open': Saskatoon resident concerned as people shelter in her stairwell With the number of homeless people in Saskatoon at an unprecedented high, it’s no surprise people are looking for places to warm up. Saskatoon-born comedian Brendan Flaherty returns for to ask, 'what'd I miss?' As a Saskatoon-born comedian pursuing a career in the Six, Brendan Flaherty says he often hears the same question from friends back home. Vancouver B.C. friends nab ‘unbelievable’ $1M lotto win just before Christmas Two friends from B.C’s lower mainland are feeling particularly merry this December, after a single lottery ticket purchased from a small kiosk landed them instant millionaire status. Storms to continue rolling through B.C.’s South Coast over Christmas Day The tempestuous weather that descended on southern B.C. Monday afternoon will linger for the next few days, with a storm forecast for Christmas Day. Year-end interview: B.C. Premier David Eby reflects on nail-biting 2024 election It was a year that saw David Eby elected B.C. premier for the first time, and lead his party to government for a third consecutive term. Vancouver Island B.C. woman sentenced for impaired driving crash that killed retired Mountie A Vancouver Island woman who was high on drugs when she crashed a car into a pickup truck, killing a retired Mountie and injuring his two passengers, "did not realize what was happening and took no steps to avoid the accident" a B.C. Supreme Court judge found. 5 rescued after avalanche triggered north of Whistler, B.C. RCMP say Emergency crews and heli-skiing staff helped rescue five people who were caught up in a backcountry avalanche north of Whistler, B.C., on Monday morning. Cleanup underway after rockslide derails train in B.C. No injuries were reported after a rockslide derailed a freight train, sending railcars into British Columbia's Fraser River, on Sunday night. Stay Connected"The market has seen an up move down 12-13% from the top and to that extent I think it indicates to me that we could have made the bottom for 2024 and from here on incrementally markets could do better," says Sandip Sabharwal , asksandipsabharwal.com . Quickly, your reaction to it, because what Nikunj was also talking about was that there could be a sentimental impact of what numbers we have got today. And clearly, this indicates that continuity of policies and reforms in a state which is a key contributor in many fronts now. Can there be a possibility that we can look at from this aspect that this could be a confidence booster and there could be some stop to FIIs relentless selling now? Sandip Sabharwal: There are two parts to the question, what FIIs will do and what the markets will do. So, from the market perspective and from where the markets are positioned, my view was that Thursday when the entire Adani controversy broke out, we could get a panicked bottom formation there as long as the Maharashtra election results did not go against the ruling combined. And the election results indicate that not only the majority has been retained but with a much wider mandate, which indicates that the people in general are happy with the economic policies and there will be continuity in policy. And Maharashtra being the second largest state in the country, a mandate like this from here also reinforces the entire growth story of the country. So, I would think that it would be taken positively and it has come at a time when markets are not at all-time high. The market has seen an up move down 12-13% from the top and to that extent I think it indicates to me that we could have made the bottom for 2024 and from here on incrementally markets could do better. Stock Trading Markets 102: Mastering Sentiment Indicators for Swing and Positional Trading By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Technical Analysis for Everyone - Technical Analysis Course By - Abhijit Paul, Technical Research Head, Fund Manager- ICICI Securities View Program Stock Trading Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Commodity Markets Made Easy: Commodity Trading Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Options Trading Made Easy: Options Trading Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Stock Trading Mastering Options Selling: Advanced Strategies for Success By - CA Manish Singh, Chartered Accountant, Professional Equity and Derivative Trader View Program Stock Trading Cryptocurrency Made Easy: Cryptocurrency Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Stock Markets Made Easy By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading RSI Trading Techniques: Mastering the RSI Indicator By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program What FIIs will do, I do not know because I do not focus too much on I think funds flow and market movements. The market has its own path to follow. Assembly Election Results Live Updates Maharashtra Poll Results Highlights 2024 Jharkhand Poll Results Highlights 2024 (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )
Man killed in late-night Center Point shootingNoneSubscribe to our newsletter Privacy Policy Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in. Please visit My Account to verify and manage your account. An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link. Support Hyperallergic We’re funded by readers like you! If you value our reviews and news reporting, we need your support more than ever. Please join us as a member today. Already a member? Sign in here. Support Hyperallergic’s independent arts journalism for as little as $8 per month. Become a Member The Berlin Senate has unveiled a controversial multi-billion-euro savings plan for 2025 that would slash the city’s arts and culture budget by 13%. The proposed cut of over €130 million (~$136.3 million) has sent shockwaves through hundreds of the city’s cultural institutions and centers, many of which are heavily if not completely reliant on state funding to operate. Berlin’s arts and culture budget reportedly only accounts for just over 2% of the city’s overall annual spending. Joe Chialo, Berlin’s culture senator, called the budget slash “ very drastic and brutal ” and claimed that he will fight to renegotiate the projected figure in order to ease the burden on affected spaces and organizations. The proposed budget cuts were publicized on Tuesday, November 19, yielding myriad complaints from theaters, museums, and other art-aligned venues and festivals about recalibrating their finances for the new year with such little notice. Dozens of Berlin’s cultural spaces mobilized their members and communities in marches and protests. With over 90 institutions, exhibition halls, and memorials as members, the Berlin Museums Association (BMA) expressed immediate concerns regarding museums’ abilities to facilitate their programming and exhibitions as planned, coupled with job insecurity and its implications in the conservation, preservation, and education sectors. Get the latest art news, reviews and opinions from Hyperallergic. Daily Weekly Opportunities “Museums and memorials are important anchors for social cohesion and a functioning democracy,” the BMA said in a statement , noting that schools rely on the city’s varying institutions for supplementary education on accessibility, sustainability, and sociopolitical history. “This is indispensable, especially in times when right-wing extremism and historical revisionism are on the rise and challenging democracy,” the organization continued. “The negative consequences will be clearly noticeable in both the short and long term.” The Berlin International Film Festival, better known as Berlinale, has been stripped of €2 million (~$2.1 million) in financial support from the Senate for its 2025 iteration this coming February. However, a spokesperson for the festival told ScreenDaily that despite the tight financial situation, Berlinale has secured balanced funding through the end of March 2025. Other organizations and institutions have come forward with the projected impacts of the cuts as well. The Berlin Studio Program, which allocates subsidized or rent-stabilized individual workspaces and studio flats to local artists across the city, reported that its budget has not only been halved from €24 million to €12 million (~$25.2 to $12.6 million), but that the company managing some 2,500 rental contracts for the workspace program, Kultur Räume Berlin, is slated for complete dissolution in 2025. Berlin Mondiale , an artistic network rooted in creative and cultural advocacy for migrant, asylum-seeking, and exiled minority populations along the outskirts of the city, announced that the Senate has pulled all funding for the organization for 2025. Additionally, the Foundation for Continuing Cultural Education and Cultural Consulting and its subsidiary, Diversity Arts Culture, issued a direct statement indicating their probable dissolution without state-allocated funding in light of the Senate’s decision. “The media report that we are to be wound up therefore came as a complete surprise and unexpected,” said Florian Stiehler, board member of the Foundation, in a press statement concerning the funding cuts. “Almost 100 highly qualified employees are to lose their jobs — and Berlin will lose important infrastructure, expertise and experience in the key issues for the future viability of the cultural sector: participation, cultural education and diversity.” Free Museum Sundays, a critical cultural resource for accessibility with over 80 participating institutions, was also gutted after funding was pulled for the collaborating organizer Kulturprojekte Berlin. The administrators from the free admission initiative for the first Sunday of each month announced that Sunday, December 1, was the last date to celebrate the program in light of the budget cuts. Several of Berlin’s iconic and historic performing arts theaters, including the Deutsches Theater, Schaubühne, the Komische Oper opera house, and Berlin’s Opera Foundation are buckling from unforeseen problems such as looming bankruptcy and suspended renovations . Mobilizing under the movement #BerlinIstKultur (Berlin is Culture), thousands of visual and performing artists, writers, creative workers, and allies have taken to the streets to protest the Senate’s decision on several occasions over the last two months, including a day of cultural shutdown in mid-October and a “funeral march for the arts” on Friday, November 29. “We firmly reject these cuts and demand that they be reversed in the parliamentary deliberations,” organizers from the movement expressed in a statement, underscoring that the annual cultural budget is disproportionately impacted for how little it takes from the city’s overall budget. “The cuts will permanently destroy the cultural infrastructure and will lead to drastic program cuts, layoffs and closures. Diversity, excellence, resilience and social cohesion are at stake,” they continued. BerlinIstKultur is also promoting a petition to save the city’s arts and culture budget with over 110,000 signatories imploring the Senate to revise its decision and protect Berlin’s creative identity and cultural economy. We hope you enjoyed this article! Before you keep reading, please consider supporting Hyperallergic ’s journalism during a time when independent, critical reporting is increasingly scarce. Unlike many in the art world, we are not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Our journalism is funded by readers like you , ensuring integrity and independence in our coverage. We strive to offer trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. We spotlight artist-led social movements, uncover overlooked stories, and challenge established norms to make art more inclusive and accessible. With your support, we can continue to provide global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. If you can, please join us as a member today . Millions rely on Hyperallergic for free, reliable information. By becoming a member, you help keep our journalism free, independent, and accessible to all. Thank you for reading. Share Copied to clipboard Mail Bluesky Threads LinkedIn Facebook
Biden’s sweeping pardon terms for Hunter caught DOJ by surprise: report
DETROIT (AP) — For a second time, a Delaware judge has nullified a pay package that Tesla had awarded its CEO, Elon Musk, that once was valued at $56 billion. On Monday, Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick turned aside a request from Musk's lawyers to reverse a ruling she announced in January that had thrown out the compensation plan. The judge ruled then that Musk effectively controlled Tesla's board and had engineered the outsize pay package during sham negotiations . Lawyers for a Tesla shareholder who sued to block the pay package contended that shareholders who had voted for the 10-year plan in 2018 had been given misleading and incomplete information. In their defense, Tesla's board members asserted that the shareholders who ratified the pay plan a second time in June had done so after receiving full disclosures, thereby curing all the problems the judge had cited in her January ruling. As a result, they argued, Musk deserved the pay package for having raised Tesla's market value by billions of dollars. McCormick rejected that argument. In her 103-page opinion, she ruled that under Delaware law, Tesla's lawyers had no grounds to reverse her January ruling “based on evidence they created after trial.” On Monday night, Tesla posted on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, that the company will appeal. The appeal would be filed with the Delaware Supreme Court, the only state appellate court Tesla can pursue. Experts say a ruling would likely come in less than a year. “The ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs' lawyers run Delaware companies rather than their rightful owners — the shareholders,” Tesla argued. Later, on X, Musk unleashed a blistering attack on the judge, asserting that McCormick is “a radical far left activist cosplaying as a judge.” Legal authorities generally suggest that McCormick’s ruling was sound and followed the law. Charles Elson, founding director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said that in his view, McCormick was right to rule that after Tesla lost its case in the original trial, it created improper new evidence by asking shareholders to ratify the pay package a second time. Had she allowed such a claim, he said, it would cause a major shift in Delaware’s laws against conflicts of interest given the unusually close relationship between Musk and Tesla’s board. “Delaware protects investors — that’s what she did,” said Elson, who has followed the court for more than three decades. “Just because you’re a ‘superstar CEO’ doesn’t put you in a separate category.” Elson said he thinks investors would be reluctant to put money into Delaware companies if there were exceptions to the law for “special people.” Elson said that in his opinion, the court is likely to uphold McCormick's ruling. Experts say no. Rulings on state laws are normally left to state courts. Brian Dunn, program director for the Institute of Compensation Studies at Cornell University, said it's been his experience that Tesla has no choice but to stay in the Delaware courts for this compensation package. The company could try to reconstitute the pay package and seek approval in Texas, where it may expect more friendlier judges. But Dunn, who has spent 40 years as an executive compensation consultant, said it's likely that some other shareholder would challenge the award in Texas because it's excessive compared with other CEOs' pay plans. “If they just want to turn around and deliver him $56 billion, I can't believe somebody wouldn't want to litigate it,” Dunn said. “It's an unconscionable amount of money.” Almost certainly. Tesla stock is trading at 15 times the exercise price of stock options in the current package in Delaware, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a note to investors. Tesla's share price has doubled in the past six months, Jonas wrote. At Monday’s closing stock price, the Musk package is now worth $101.4 billion, according to Equilar, an executive data firm. And Musk has asked for a subsequent pay package that would give him 25% of Tesla's voting shares. Musk has said he is uncomfortable moving further into artificial intelligence with the company if he doesn't have 25% control. He currently holds about 13% of Tesla's outstanding shares.Tandem Group (LON:TND) Shares Down 4% – Here’s Why
Elon Musk’s preschool is the next step in his anti-woke education dreamsAhead of their Saturday night home game against Utah Hockey Club, the Pittsburgh Penguins activated forward Kevin Hayes from injured reserve. Hayes has missed the past eight games with an unspecified injury and last suited up Nov. 5 against the New York Islanders. In 14 games, the 32-year-old has three goals and one assist. Per coach Mike Sullivan, Hayes is a game-time decision vs. Utah. Hayes, acquired in the offseason from the St. Louis Blues, is in the penultimate year of a seven-year, $50-million deal signed in 2019 when he was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. In 2023, Philadelphia retained half of Hayes’ $7,142,857 salary upon trading him to the Blues. Traded from St. Louis to the Penguins this past summer, general manager Kyle Dubas took on a salary cap hit of $3,571,429 to bring him aboard. In a corresponding transaction, 22-year-old forward Vasily Ponomarev was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. Ponomarev, one of the key return pieces from the Carolina Hurricanes last March in the Jake Guentzel trade, made his Penguins debut Nov. 16 and has appeared in three NHL games, averaging 9 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time per contest. Ponomarev recorded no points. The Moscow, Russia, native is in the final year of an entry-level contract worth $795,000 annually. He likely was an attractive candidate in management’s eyes to clear roster space for Hayes’ return due to being exempt from waivers.
Relentless floods. Searing Heat. Vanishing coastlines. Thailand's cities are under siege from climate risks. Without urgent intervention, the worst is yet to come. The evidence is clear: Cities in Thailand are grappling with triple climate challenges -- rising temperatures, destructive floods, and coastal erosion. These threats do not endanger lives and ecosystems. They also cause significant economic loss since cities are the backbone of the economy. Globally, cities generate 80% of GDP while hosting over 56% of the population. Repeated extreme weather events can lead to economic disaster. Thailand is no exception. Heatwaves Over half of Thailand's population now lives in cities, and this number is growing along with the risks of heatwaves, flooding, and coastal erosion. In Bangkok, urban heat islands have caused city temperatures to rise by 5.26C over the past 25 years, according to a study by the Asian Institute of Technology and Khon Kaen University in 2020. Chiang Mai, known for its cool climate, now experiences temperatures over 36C in many areas. Another study from Burapha University in 2019 also mentioned that rapid urbanisation and shrinking green spaces have made the eastern region 2.56C hotter over the last decade. As a result, deaths from heat waves have surged. Vulnerable groups, such as outdoor workers, the elderly, and slum dwellers, are hit the hardest, exacerbating Thailand's already distressing inequality. Flooding Flooding is a major issue in Bangkok, with 737 flood hotspots, according to the data from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, worsened by more rainstorms. Floods disrupt daily life, cause traffic gridlock, and damage infrastructure, causing significant economic loss. During rush hours, heavy rain can cause up to 2,000 hours of travel delays daily alone. This number might seem to be small, but the calculation is based on the traffic situation at only 16 major intersections in Bangkok. As Bangkok sinks, rising seas will worsen the problem, while flash floods become more common. Chiang Mai, the largest city in the North, suffered unprecedented flooding this year, highlighting the need for better preparedness and action. Despite the devastation year after year, current flood prevention measures like barriers and drainage systems are short-term fixes. Sustainable solutions require comprehensive river basin management, better water-retention areas, and long-term city planning, including active community involvement. Coastal erosion Rising sea levels and stronger storms have eroded 26% of Thailand's 3,151-kilometre coastline. Over the past 30 years, the country has lost around 100,000 rai of coastal land, with Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian losing 2,735 rai. This erosion threatens cities, communities, ecosystems, and the economy, displacing villages and destroying vital ecosystems like mangroves. Urgent action is needed to protect the coastline. Piecemeal solutions Current efforts to address heatwaves, flooding, and coastal erosion are sadly fragmented and inadequate. As cities grow hotter, the government has done little -- if anything -- to expand green spaces, promote eco-friendly buildings, or invest in long-term solutions. Some measures, like taxing water retention areas as unproductive lands, have made things worse by reducing flood absorption areas. Concrete sea walls, built without comprehensive environmental studies or local input, have also worsened coastal erosion nearby, showing the flaws of relying solely on hard engineering solutions from a top-down policy. Long-term flood prevention is also lacking. Flood walls and drainage upgrades, for example, address the symptoms, not the root causes. Sustainable approaches require ecological planning, sufficient water retention, inclusive city planning and community involvement. Additionally, environmental and social assessments need to be fair, transparent, and participatory, which they are not at present. Global examples Piecemeal solutions do not work. The impacts of climate change are not just environmental -- they are also economic and social crises. What Thailand needs is a cohesive, long-term strategy to make cities climate resilient, and there is much to learn from other countries. After deadly heatwaves in 2022 that claimed 425 lives in Phoenix, US, mainly among the homeless and the elderly -- the city set up a data system to track vulnerable groups and give them easy access to shelters and water stations. It has saved lives and improved emergency responses. Meanwhile, London uses green, environmen- tally friendly buildings through collaboration between local government, the private sector, building owners, and climate experts to tackle rising temperatures. Copenhagen, Denmark, after dealing with repeated heavy rain and flooding, has created dual-purpose parks that act as floodwater reservoirs during storms. The city has also built giant underground tunnels to separate rainwater from sewage, helping improve climate resilience and urban liveability. In China, "sponge cities" are being developed to fight severe flooding. These cities use parks to absorb rainwater, temporary water-retention areas, and roads designed to soak up water and slow runoff. After the 1953 North Sea flood that killed 1,800 people and flooded 9% of the Netherlands, the government used modern sea wall technology to prevent future floods. They also listened to local fishermen's input to adjust the project and improve its effectiveness. Closer to home, Singapore is fighting city heat with better urban planning. This includes improving cooling systems, reducing car use, building eco-friendly structures, and adding more green, open spaces across the city. In Indonesia, Jakarta's flooding problem is being tackled by planting mangroves, clearing garbage to improve water flow, and relocating people from flood-prone areas with community input. These areas are being turned into water-retention zones. Indonesia is also moving its capital from Jakarta to the island of Borneo. International examples offer practical and effective strategies for making cities resilient to climate risks -- valuable lessons for Thailand. To fight heatwaves, cities can add more green spaces, reduce car use, and improve air conditioning systems. Green buildings, like those with rooftop gardens, can also help cool urban areas. For flooding, adding green spaces, improving drainage, and building "sponge cities" that soak up water can reduce damage from heavy rains. To protect coastlines, planting mangroves, restoring natural ecosystems, using innovative engineering, and relocating buildings from high-risk areas are essential steps. These solutions combine nature, smart engineering, and community support to address climate challenges effectively. They can be grouped into four colour-coded strategies. Grey focuses on traditional engineering, green on eco-friendly, natural solutions, blue on water absorption, and white on relocation. Importantly, all these strategies prioritise local knowledge and input, using a participatory process to help residents adapt their habits and behaviours. The solution is simple: reduce car use and improve air conditioning to cut emissions, make buildings eco-friendly, and expand green spaces, water-retention areas, and mangroves. Focus on new ideas and involve local communities. If needed, relocate people from high-risk areas. Adapting cities to climate change begins with understanding the risks, identifying vulnerable groups and dangerous areas, and checking if the city is ready to respond. This means reviewing city infrastructure, working together with all stakeholders, and creating long-term plans for sustainable growth. Cities need strong plans, careful assessments, and smart investments in solutions that tackle multiple climate risks. For Thailand, this means adding more green spaces, turning unused urban land into parks or wetlands with tax incentives, updating old buildings to be eco-friendly, and relocating risky developments with fair compensation and community input. These actions can help our cities prepare for climate change. For sure, adaptation will not be cheap, but the price of doing nothing will be far greater. The time to act is now. Sumet Ongkittikul, PhD, is vice president for internal systems and research director of transportation and logistic policy, and Nuntachart Ratanaburi is a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). This article is the author's adaptation from his presentation 'Making Cities Resilient to Climate Change' at the 2024 TDRI Annual Public Conference on Oct 30, 2024.Got $10,000? This Unique Nasdaq ETF Could Turn It Into About $1,000 of Income Each Year.William Blair Reaffirms Outperform Rating for Larimar Therapeutics (NASDAQ:LRMR)
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