NEW YORK , Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation - The global sports technology market size is estimated to grow by USD 37.85 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 23.96% during the forecast period. Rising number of sports technology events is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing incorporation of smart stadiums and venue technologies. However, increasing number of fatalities in hard adventure sports activities poses a challenge. Key market players include Active Network LLC, Agile Sports Technologies Inc., Athlete Intelligence, CAM Solutions Ltd., Catapult Group International Ltd., Chetu Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., Epicor Software Corp., Garmin Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Jonas Club Software, Kinexon GmbH, Orreco, PlaySight Interactive Ltd., Salesforce Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., SAP SE, SPay Inc., Sportradar Group AG, Upper Hand Inc.,Stats Perform group of companies, Apple, Inc.; ChyronHego Corp.; HCL Technologies Ltd.; Infosys Ltd.; Modern Times Group MTG; Oracle; Panasonic Corporation.; Sony Corporation; Stats LLC; Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson; Amazon Web Services Inc.; DELTATRE; Ernst & Young Global Limited; Genius Sports Group; Microsoft Corporation; SAS Institute Inc.; Sportradar AG; Synergy Sports; CBS Sports Digital; Draft Kings, Inc; Dream 11 (Sporta Technologies Pvt. Ltd.); Dream Sports Group; FanDuel Group. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Market Driver The sports technology market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the integration of advanced technologies into sports arenas. Fans now demand and interactive experiences, leading to the adoption of innovations like smart lighting, connected seating, and digital signage. Key technologies include on-field and off-field analytics, Opta Vision, AI, ML, and data analysis, enhancing athletic performance and team analysis. Additionally, VR, Unreal Engine, wearable tech, and high-density Wi-Fi are transforming outdoor sports like football, rugby, and tennis, as well as indoor activities such as badminton, chess, swimming, and esports. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges The sports technology market encompasses various advanced technologies, including stadiums equipped with high-density Wi-Fi, digital signage, and location-based services. Esports technology, Virtual Reality (VR), Unreal Engine, and hardware-software integrations are transforming fan engagement and virtual entertainment. Wearable technology, sports analytics, player and team performance analysis, health assessment, and data interpretation are crucial for athlete optimization. Artificial intelligence, Opta services, and data analytics platforms facilitate smart stadium management, football clubs, and cricket operations. Integrated security systems ensure audience safety and entertainment activities. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This sports technology market report extensively covers market segmentation by 1.1 Sports association 1.2 Clubs 1.3 leagues 2.1 Artificial intelligence/machine learning 2.2 Internet of Things (IoT) 2.3 Augmented reality/virtual reality 3.1 Europe 3.2 North America 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Sports association- The global sports technology market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the adoption of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in various sports domains. Sports associations are leveraging AI and ML for data analysis in soccer, cricket, rugby, tennis, golf, badminton, chess, swimming, and other indoor and outdoor sports activities. AI-powered on-field and off-field analytics from Opta Vision and similar solutions enable coaches to make informed decisions and improve athletic performance. Wearable devices, including smartwatches and fitness trackers, are transforming the way fans monitor their favorite players' statistics in real-time. Esports and virtual entertainment are attracting massive audiences, with streaming platforms and digital fan-engagement platforms providing experiences. Ticket management, Wi-Fi networks, food ordering, smart lighting, and integrated security systems are essential components of modern sports infrastructure. The English Football League and other sports clubs are investing in these technologies to enhance fan experiences and boost revenue. The integration of AI, ML, data analysis, and smart cameras in sports technology is revolutionizing the industry and setting new standards for innovation. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The Sports Technology Market is experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in Esports technology, High-density Wi-Fi, Location-based services, Digital signage, and Wearable technology. These innovations enhance the fan experience at Stadiums and Arenas/stadiums, transforming Sports events into immersive, interactive experiences. Unreal Engine and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies bring Esports and Indoor sports activities to life, providing Athletic performance analysis through Data analytics and Opta services. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Wearable devices are revolutionizing the way we monitor and improve Athletic performance in sports such as Badminton, Chess, Swimming, Tennis, Golf, and more. The integration of these technologies is fueling the Digital transformation of the Sports industry, offering new opportunities for Entertainment activities and Games. Market Research Overview The Sports Technology Market encompasses various innovative technologies designed to enhance athletic performance and fan experience. Esports (sports) and tech (technology) convergence is driving significant growth in this sector. Technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming the way sports are played and consumed. Wearable technology, including smartwatches and fitness trackers, are popular tools for athletes to monitor their performance and health metrics. Digital signage and analytics are used by teams and leagues to engage fans and optimize stadium operations. Sports technology companies are also leveraging data and analytics to provide personalized training programs and fan experiences. The market is expected to continue growing as technology continues to revolutionize the sports industry. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation End-user Sports Association Clubs Leagues Technology Artificial Intelligence/machine Learning Internet Of Things (IoT) Augmented Reality/virtual Reality Geography Europe North America APAC South America Middle East And Africa Type Sports 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE TechnavioFor more than a decade, the United States has sought to keep out of Syria's political debacle, seeing no viable partner. Islamist rebels' toppling of strongman Bashar al-Assad has forced a change of tune -- and a debate over just what US interests are. Donald Trump, who returns to the White House in little more than a month, on the eve of Assad's fall called Syria "a mess" and stated in his plain-speaking style that the United States should not be involved. Joe Biden's administration, after putting Syria on the backburner in a turbulent region, has offered a tacit rebuttal by stating that clear US interests are at stake -- including preventing Syria from fragmenting and avoiding a resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group. Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Trump's and Biden's statements could be combined and "together they make a kind of decent policy." The United States needs to address real concerns about the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda but "as far as getting involved in arranging the politics of Syria, I think that no good can come from it," Cook said. Since the presidency of Barack Obama, the United States has walked a fine line on Syria that critics often derided as a non-policy. The United States questioned the legitimacy of Assad, demanding accountability for brutality in one of the 21st century's deadliest wars, but stopped short of prioritizing his departure due to suspicions about the main rebels. The Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has now led Assad's ouster, traces its roots to Syria's Al-Qaeda branch and is considered a terrorist organization by the United States. Since Obama's time, the United States instead has allied itself in Syria with a smaller fighting force of the Kurdish minority -- over strenuous objections of neighboring Turkey, which backs HTS -- with a narrow mission to counter the Islamic State group. Some 900 US troops remain in Syria. Assad fell in a lighting surprise offensive as his protector Russia is bogged down in its invasion of Ukraine and after Israel's military heavily degraded Assad's other key supporters -- Iran and Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Robert Ford, the last US ambassador to Syria, helped spearhead the terrorist designation of HTS in 2012 but said that the group since then has not attacked US or Western targets and has instead fought Al-Qaeda and Islamic State forces. Ford also pointed with hope to post-victory statements by rebel chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, including welcoming international monitoring of any chemical weapons that are discovered. "Can you imagine Osama bin Laden saying that?" said Ford, now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. "I'm not saying 'trust Jolani.' He's obviously authoritarian. He's obviously an Islamist who doesn't believe that Christians have an equal right to power as Muslims. But I sure as hell want to test him on some of these things," Ford said. He said that the United States should encourage HTS, as well as other Syrian actors, to reach out and reassure the country's diverse communities including Christians, Kurds and Alawites -- the sect of the secular-oriented Assad. Beyond that, Washington should take a back-seat and let Syrians sort out their future, he said. "We should learn from the experience in Iraq that trying to impose exiles on a population traumatized by a brutal dictatorship and war is not a recipe for success," Ford said. Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday offered US recognition to a future government that is "credible, inclusive and non-sectarian." Trump in his first term, at the urging of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, abruptly said he would pull troops out of Syria. He backtracked after intense criticism at home and appeals from French President Emmanuel Macron, who pointed to the risk of Islamic State filling the vacuum. Trump has not indicated how he would change Syria policy this time. But he has shown no reluctance in the past to negotiate with foreign adversaries on the US blacklist, from Afghanistan's Taliban to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said there was no legal restriction on US contact with designated terrorists, although he indicated there was no direct dialogue with HTS. Natasha Hall, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Syria could face "devastating economic and humanitarian consequences" unless the United States reconsiders the terrorist designation of HTS, which impedes aid groups. "That said," she said, "if there isn't sort of an established framework for negotiations and good behavior now, before that designation is lifted, that could potentially also be a major mistake down the line for Syria's future." sct/sms
PHILADELPHIA — Victoria Perrone wasn’t a spokesperson for Sen. John Fetterman’s 2022 Senate campaign. As his treasurer, she worked with numbers and spreadsheets. But when the campaign asked her to speak about her sister who relied in part on Medicaid at her Delaware County elementary school, she agreed. “My sister passed away from Ovarian Cancer in June and Dr. Oz became the Republican nominee,” she said on stage at Nether Providence Elementary School, sporting a ‘Made in Delco’ hoodie. “When I found out Dr. Oz lied to millions of TV viewers that one of his ‘miracle cures’ would decrease ovarian cancer by 75%, I got really mad, like Delco Mad.” So when Fetterman said this week that he would vote for Oz if the celebrity doctor agrees to protect Medicaid and Medicare, Perrone got “Delco mad” again. “Our politics are obviously different, and we do have a history, but I don’t have any bitterness,” Fetterman told CNN reporter Manu Raju this week of Oz. “I don’t hold anything against him. As long as he’s willing to protect and preserve Medicaid and Medicare, I’m voting for the dude.” But on the campaign trail in 2022, Fetterman often attacked the celebrity doctor known for spreading misinformation as a liar and a fraud, and frequently said Oz would be a threat to Medicare and Social Security funding. So the senator’s remarks this week garnered a reaction from several former campaign staffers, and some of his former senate staffers also expressed outrage at Oz’s nomination. Annie Wu Henry, who was on Fetterman’s campaign’s digital team and was coined his TikTok whisperer , posted screenshots of posts from Fetterman’s X account that argued Oz would threaten Medicare and Social Security. Harrison Morgan, who also worked on Fetterman’s campaign, reposted Henry’s compilation as well as other posts against Oz. Morgan also shared a 2022 post from Fetterman’s account that called Oz a fraud. Sophie Ota, the digital director for Fetterman’s 2022 campaign , also pointed out the irony of Fetterman’s statement about appointing Oz. “Oh my god hahahahahahahahahahahahah,” she posted alongside Fetterman’s statement. Former Fetterman communications staffers Emma Mustion , Joe Calvello , and Nick Gavio , who all left within the same time period in the spring, all shared posts on X against Oz’s appointment. During his 2022 run, Oz said he supported expanding Medicare Advantage plans, which use private insurers, and he argued in a 2020 op-ed that every American who isn’t on Medicaid should be on one of the private plans. A 2014 study found that less than half of claims made on Oz’s show were accurate, The 19th reported. Oz also said in 2014 that Americans without insurance do not have a right to health and should instead receive 15-minute screenings in a “festival-like setting,” the report said. A ‘huge personal betrayal’ For Perrone, Fetterman’s statement was a “huge personal betrayal.” She said her sister cast a vote for Fetterman on the last ballot she lived to cast. “Knowing all of these things that we researched about Mehmet Oz and the lies that he told on his show, and then seeing and knowing where he stands on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, it made zero sense to me that John would even say that he would consider voting for him, because, in my opinion, it is pretty clear cut that he is not qualified,” Perrone said in an interview. She said she doesn’t know why Fetterman, who is “blatantly and obnoxiously authentic,” would be open to believing Oz, who “made a career out of lying to people.” If Fetterman was trying to extend an olive branch to work with Republicans, “this was a very failed attempt of doing that,” she said. “I don’t know if he’s caving to the Republican Party; I don’t know if he’s just being gullible,” she said. Fetterman – who also said this week of Oz that he would “get a beer with the dude,” as NOTUS reported – dismissed the reaction to his recent remarks on Friday. “Freakouts are rarely illuminating,” he posted on X . “I never committed to a yes, just an open dialogue lol.” He also pointed to the Republican majority in the Senate to support his view. But while Democrats don’t have the power to block Trump’s nominees, they can play a role in directing the conversation about them. Fetterman’s office did not respond to a request for comment. Fetterman has already alienated some of his supporters on the left who expressed frustration and disillusionment over his hard-line support for Israel in its war against Hamas. He’s also extended his snark – which he previously was known for extending to Republicans like Oz — to progressives who previously supported him. “There’s been a pattern of people feeling duped by him, and where he actually stands on issues,” Perrone said. Meanwhile, Fetterman has made a better impression with Republicans over his staunch support for Israel. He has welcomed pro-Israel Trump appointments with open arms, including Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanick . He was, however, dismissive of former Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz’s now-withdrawn appointment as attorney general, sarcastically saying he didn’t see it coming that Gaetz wouldn’t be confirmed. ©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Knowing The Pain Points Locked In Profit On GE Vernova
These Analog Horror Games Remind Me That Nightmares Still Exist in a Digital AgeThe Midwest is in for a cold, costly winter if President-elect Donald Trump succeeds in imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. The U.S. buys nearly all the crude oil that Canada produces, but no region depends on those imports more heavily than the Midwest, which gets more than 60% of its oil from Canada. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, the site of two major transnational pipelines, that figure is closer to 80%. At roughly 2.3 million barrels a day, the Midwest uses more Canadian crude than the rest of the U.S. combined. So it’s going to come as a shock when Republicans across the region – where victories in Wisconsin and Michigan helped propel Trump back to the White House – discover that one of his first official acts will have been to start a trade war that could send energy prices soaring. Trump said he will impose the tariffs on Inauguration Day unless the two countries curtail drug trafficking and illegal immigration at U.S. borders. As bad as that would be for the former “blue wall” states, it would be even worse for Canada. The U.S. is Canada’s most important trade partner, accounting for two-thirds of all Canadian trade. The U.S. is also Canada’s largest investor. The two nations’ economies are so intricately linked that in 2023, $3.6 billion of goods and services flowed across their borders daily. So after a series of urgent phone calls, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sprinted south for a visit to Mar-a-Lago to try to reach common ground. For his trouble, Trudeau found himself the object of ridicule. After warning the incoming president that the tariffs could wreck both countries’ economies, Trump reportedly joked that if Canada could not survive without “ripping off” the U.S., perhaps it should become the 51st state, with Trudeau as its governor. Trudeau was said to have laughed, nervously. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who accompanied Trudeau, later told reporters in Ottawa that “the president was teasing us. It was ... in no way a serious comment.” Trudeau later said he and Trump had a productive meeting and even thanked Trump for the dinner. Trump undoubtedly was joking – at Trudeau’s expense – but he was also sending a serious message: He does not consider this a partnership of equals. He was serving notice that he is back, with all the brash aggression and seat-of-the-pants governing that marked his first term. Trudeau now is left to wonder whether he can even salvage the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that has guided mostly duty-free trade among the three countries since it was signed in 2020. Trump’s pledge to start tariffs on the first day of his presidency would appear to violate the terms of the agreement and could be a precursor to Trump attempting to renegotiate the deal. Trump’s stock-in-trade is creating chaos. It is his go-to move for gaining the upper hand in any situation: Do the unexpected. Be unpredictable. Go big. So why not threaten our closest trading partners with punitive tariffs that would wound their economies – and ours? Whatever concessions he wrings out of our partners will be declared “huge” victories. And it’s not just about the cost of oil. The tariffs would also increase the price of fruit and vegetables; the cost of natural gas; and hurt the U.S. auto sector. Michigan depends heavily on USMCA for its automotive industry. Most vehicles pass several times through the three countries, even if the final assembly is done in the U.S. Trump knows the stakes. Whether he lets on or not, he understands the concept of tariffs and their limitations. The Tax Foundation found that Trump’s first-term tariffs – many of which continued under President Joe Biden – “raised prices and reduced output and employment, producing a negative impact on the U.S. economy.” So what is Trump’s end game? On the campaign trail, Trump portrayed tariffs as a powerful cure-all that could generate enough revenue to cut taxes, bring down the deficit, pay for other programs, drive manufacturing back to the U.S., and wring concessions from foreign leaders – all at little to no cost for American consumers. Since being elected, he talks less of the huge revenues – which could only result from permanent tariffs – and seems to have settled on tariffs as a way to force foreign countries to bend to his will. His threat to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico puts the onus on those countries to reduce drug trafficking and illegal immigration at U.S. borders. It also makes them handy scapegoats should they fail to do so. The terms of success have been left undefined – another Trump tactic to keep everyone guessing. In the meantime, Midwesterners could start the Trump years by paying more to fill their gas tanks, heat their homes and fill their refrigerators. That can hardly be the outcome they expected when so many of them threw their lot in with Trump. Patricia Lopez is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. She is a former member of the editorial board at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she also worked as a senior political editor and reporter.
Greenfield Touch Football League continues on after 50-plus years of competition
Standout running back Sunday that he’ll return to Cal for his senior season. Ott, after rushing for more than 1,300 yards in 2023, posted on X that he’s coming back to Berkeley. Ott’s return is welcome news for the Bears, who lost starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the transfer portal, where he eventually landed at Indiana University. Ott ran for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, while also catching 25 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Ott suffered an ankle injury in the season opener and never could seem to get it completely healed as he rush for just 385 yards on 116 carries with four touchdowns. A resurgence by Ott would give Cal a strong backfield as Jaivian Thomas is also back for a Bears squad that went 6-7 and 2-6 in their first year in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. Thomas was Cal’s leading rusher with 626 yards on 100 carries, and he scored seven touchdowns.
Picture palace brought back to original splendour thanks to restoration projectWhat a year it was for the stock market in 2024. The S&P 500 ripped higher by more than 27% as the bull market continued for a second year. A large share of those gains came from the "Magnificent Seven" stocks, some of the world's largest tech and artificial intelligence companies. These mega-cap companies have market caps ranging from $1.5 trillion to $3.8 trillion, so a positive move for any of these stocks can have an outsized impact on the broader S&P 500 index. Almost all of the Magnificent Seven enjoyed big gains in 2024. With the Magnificent Seven morphing into the Fateful Eight, can these stocks carry the market again in 2025? The Magnificent Seven plus one Bank of America analyst Michael Hartnett coined the term Magnificent Seven in 2023, grouping several stocks that demonstrated dominance from the financial, market, and technological innovation perspectives. Here's how the Magnificent Seven stocks performed this year through Dec. 25: GOOG data by YCharts. Every stock in the Magnificent Seven outperformed the broader market except Microsoft ( MSFT -1.73% ) , and the average performance of the Magnificent Seven was close to 69%. This is a big deal because the Magnificent Seven accounts for roughly a third of the value of the market-cap weighted S&P 500 and more than 50% of the value of the Nasdaq Composite . Recently, the On The Tape podcast, hosted by Wall Street veterans Dan Nathan, Guy Adami, Danny Moses, and Liz Young Thomas, coined a new name for a group of key tech giants: Their "Fateful Eight" starts with the Magnificent Seven, but adds chipmaking and software giant Broadcom ( AVGO -1.47% ) . Broadcom's market cap recently surpassed $1 trillion, and the stock is up by more than 45% in the past month. What can we expect from the Fateful Eight in 2025? After an epic year, here are forward earnings ratios for the Fateful Eight companies: GOOG PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts. These are pretty lofty valuations, with Tesla ( TSLA -4.95% ) breaking away from the pack and Alphabet ( GOOGL -1.45% ) ( GOOG -1.55% ) and Meta Platforms ( META -0.59% ) looking more reasonable. In light of that, many market watchers question whether the major indexes will perform well next year, given that these eight companies make up so much of their value. Still, most Wall Street analysts expect the market to continue to perform well in 2025, though not as well as it did over the last two years. With the market up by about 57% over the last two years, it seems improbable that it could replicate such a strong performance for a third consecutive year. However, leading up to the dot-com crash, the market soared for five straight years in the late 1990s, and the tailwinds from AI seem powerful given how big the potential markets are and how impactful AI is expected to be in our daily lives. I think inflation and Treasury yields will play large roles in the performance of these stocks next year. With the 10-year Treasury yield close to 4.6% (as of Dec. 26), investors are certainly concerned about the prospect of inflation reigniting in 2025. The Federal Reserve is projecting only two interest rate cuts in 2025, down from four cuts it previously anticipated. In addition, some worry about the impact that President-elect Donald Trump's policies will have on the economy. That said, better data from the labor market or the Consumer Price Index, which would put more interest rate cuts in play without the prospect of a recession, could lift stocks, particularly those in the tech sector that trade better in a "risk-on" environment. Other market strategists think the Fateful Eight will become defensive plays due to the uncertainty ahead. I expect the market to experience turbulence in 2025. However, I don't expect Broadcom's inclusion in the Fateful Eight will have a significant impact on the group, and I don't expect the Fateful Eight to outperform the Magnificent Seven in 2025 considering the stocks have elevated valuations, tougher earnings comps, and economic challenges from renewed inflation or a potential recession. These stocks may still end 2025 at higher levels than they trade at now, but I wouldn't expect them to deliver booming results like those they put up in 2024.
Violence against women and children isn't a women's health or safety issue, as Women Illawarra's Michelle Glasgow says, but a men's behaviour problem. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading Now a new initiative from Healthier Illawarra Men (HIM) and Women Illawarra encourages men to play their part in driving down rates of gendered violence . Three prominent Illawarra men have stepped up to become ambassadors for the It Starts With Me. Today. campaign: motivational speaker and shark attack survivor Brett Connellan , physiotherapist Mick Baines , and surgeon Dr Bruce Ashford . The campaign will also include education and training about healthy relationships for young men aged 14 to 18, which the organisation Tomorrow Man will deliver through schools and community groups. HIM deputy chair Toby Dawson said the two-tier initiative - launched on Human Rights Day, the final day of a 16-day worldwide campaign against gendered violence - was designed to reach all men in the region. "For too long we've heard the line that most perpetrators are men, but not all men perpetrate," Mr Dawson said. "But that excuse just isn't working anymore, so we took a stand and built this campaign to support men to be upstanders, not bystanders, and to take an active role in reducing the rates of domestic violence in the Illawarra." Ms Glasgow, the general manager at Women Illawarra, said her organisation had supported women and children experiencing violence and advocated for change for 45 years, with little impact on rates of domestic violence. "We at our organisation are doing the best that we can, but 50 per cent of our community need to participate in reducing rates of violence against women and children, and that's where men come in," Ms Glasgow said. She believed having prominent men in the community speak out against violence would be critical in effecting long-term change, and education was vital because it was important to change attitudes early in life. Mr Connellan has done work in the mental health space and he believes the progress in reducing the stigma there provides lessons for the issue of gendered violence. "A lot of it has been due to being open to talk about it, making it a part of conversation, creating accountability as well," he said. "I think as men we all have a responsibility to speak out and to at least create a platform where we can normalise safety ... you don't have to be someone who's been directly affected by it." Mr Baines said urged men to learn more about the issue because it was important that men be educated and be willing to listen. "Too many times you'll hear a reference to rape culture or a reference to coercive control [or] misogyny and men will flat out deny it exists," he said. Mr Baines said most men had a woman in their lives, and asking them what they wanted men to understand was a good starting point. Dr Ashford said domestic violence, from a health perspective, was "not an insignificant problem". "Truthfully, there's a lot of physical and mental violence that occurs in our communities and the cost of managing that, not just acutely, but continuing care and recovery for those victims, is profound," Dr Ashford said. The Tomorrow Man program is funded with $40,000 from the Shellharbour Club through ClubsNSW. Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs and education. Our Watch award winner. If you've got a story, let me know. Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs and education. Our Watch award winner. If you've got a story, let me know. More from Latest News Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. 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Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!Making a $1B investment in the US? Trump pledges expedited permits — but there are hurdles WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is promising expedited federal permits for energy projects and other construction worth more than $1 billion. But like other Trump plans, the idea is likely to run into regulatory and legislative hurdles, including a landmark law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impact before deciding on major projects. Environmental groups called the plan a clear violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. The chief policy advocacy officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council says Trump should be careful what he wishes for. She said, "What if someone wants to build a waste incinerator next to Mar-a-Lago or a coal mine next to Bedminster golf course?” Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has named Andrew Ferguson to be the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission. Ferguson is already one of the FTC's five commissioners. He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday evening that Ferguson has “a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country.” The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. Proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons is halted by federal, state judges The proposed $24.6 billion merger between supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons floundered on Tuesday after judges overseeing two separate cases both halted the merger. A federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked the proposed merger until an in-house administrative judge at the Federal Trade Commission considers it. Shortly afterward, a judge in Washington state issued a permanent injunction barring the merger in that state, saying it lessens competition. Kroger and Albertsons in 2022 proposed what would be the largest grocery store merger in U.S. history. But the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Washington sued earlier this year. Kroger and Albertsons said Tuesday they are disappointed in the decisions and are reviewing their options. Biden says he was 'stupid' not to put his name on pandemic relief checks like Trump did WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he was “stupid” not to put his own name on pandemic relief checks in 2021, like Donald Trump had done in 2020. He noted Tuesday in a speech at the Brookings Institution that Trump likely got credit for helping people out through this simple, effective act of branding. Biden did the second-guessing as he defended his economic record and challenged Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month. Trump’s decision to add his name to the checks sent by the U.S. Treasury to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus marked the first time a president’s name appeared on any IRS payments. Former chairman of state-owned bank China Everbright Group jailed for 12 years for corruption BEIJING (AP) — Chinese official broadcaster CCTV says a former chairman of the state-owned bank China Everbright Group has been jailed 12 years for embezzlement and bribery. Tang Shuangning, who had also held senior posts at the People’s Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission, was arrested in January, part of a wider wave of prosecutions of senior officials accused of financial crimes. A court in the city of Tangshan, about 100 miles east of Beijing, found him guilty of taking advantage of his position at the state-owned bank in “seeking convenience for others” in jobs and loans, in exchange for illegal payments. The court said he had accepted illegal property with a total value of more than $1.5 million. Trustee over Infowars auction asks court to approve The Onion's winning bid A trustee who oversaw the bankruptcy auction of Alex Jones’ Infowars is asking a judge to approve The Onion’s winning bid for the conspiracy-filled platform. Trustee Christopher Murray took the stand Tuesday in the second day of testimony at a hearing where a judge is scrutinizing the satirical news outlet’s winning offer. He told U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston that he was there asking a court to approve the sale of Infowars’ parent company to The Onion’s parent company. It is not clear how quickly Lopez will rule. The Onion wants to turn Infowars’ website and social media accounts into parodies. GM to retreat from robotaxis and stop funding its Cruise autonomous vehicle unit DETROIT (AP) — General Motors says it will retreat from the robotaxi business and stop funding its money-losing Cruise autonomous vehicle unit. Instead the Detroit automaker will focus on development of partially automated driver-assist systems like its Super Cruise, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel. In a statement Tuesday, GM said it would get out of robotaxis due to what it described as the considerable time and resources that would be needed to scale the business, along with an increasingly competitive robotaxi market. What did you Google in 2024? From the elections to Copa América, here's what search trends show NEW YORK (AP) — Remember what you searched for in 2024? Google does. Google has released its annual “Year in Search," rounding up 2024's top trending searches. It shows terms that saw the highest spike in traffic compared to last year. Sports — particularly soccer and cricket — dominated overall search trends, led by queries for Copa América, the UEFA European Championship and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, the U.S. election led news-specific searches worldwide. Queries about excessive heat and this year’s Olympic Games followed. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump topped searches in Google’s people category this year — followed by Catherine, Princess of Wales, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif. US defense secretary in Japan to support alliance as Osprey aircraft safety causes concern TOKYO (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has met with officials in Japan to reaffirm the importance of their alliance and Washington's commitment to regional security as threats rise from China and North Korea. Austin’s visit on Tuesday also came amid growing concerns over the safety of Ospreys. The military aircraft have been grounded in the United States following a near crash at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico last month. The incident was caused by weakened metal components. It was similar to a fatal crash off southwestern Japan last year. The U.S. measure prompted the suspension of Ospreys operated by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force. Small businesses plan events, start marketing earlier to deal with shorter holiday shopping season The holiday shopping season is underway, and this year small businesses have less time to capitalize on the busy shopping period. Only 27 days separate Thanksgiving and Christmas — five fewer than last year. But there are still ways to make the most of a shorter season. One key strategy is for owners to promote deals to customers wherever they can, from social media to physical ads. The National Retail Federation predicts that retail sales will rise between 2.5% and 3.5% compared with same period a year ago. Online shopping is expected to grow too. Adobe Digital Insights predicts an 8.4% increase online for the full season.