Increasing revenue shortfall risking IMF packageTexas spotlights unaccompanied migrant children ahead of Trump deportation push( MENAFN - Daily News Egypt) MIDAR for investment and Urban Development, the founding and master developer of Mostakbal City and MADA in East Cairo, is reinforcing its leadership in Egypt's Real estate development sector with ambitious expansion plans. These initiatives are part of a broader vision to align with Egypt's Vision 2030 for sustainable development, focusing on infrastructure enhancement and quality of life improvement. Ayman Elkousey, Managing Director and CEO of MIDAR, outlined the company's bold ambitions for the future. He emphasized MIDAR's commitment to transforming urban development through large-scale projects based on sustainable smart city standards. The company currently owns 46 million square meters of land, divided between Mostakbal City and MADA, both designed to meet the needs of future generations by incorporating the latest technological innovations. Elkousey highlighted that Mostakbal City, a flagship fourth-generation city, has proven to be a successful model for smart urban living. With more than 20 developers and investors involved, the city is home to approximately 500,000 residents. The total investment in Mostakbal City has exceeded $7 billion, solidifying its status as one of Egypt's most prominent smart cities. Building on this success, MIDAR plans to launch MADA in 2024. This new project spans 25 million square meters and is expected to accommodate 500,000 residents. With an estimated investment of $145 billion, MADA will be one of Egypt's first fifth-generation cities, incorporating artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance its smart city capabilities. Elkousey also shared that MIDAR was the first Egyptian company to obtain an IoT license from the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, underscoring its commitment to advanced technology for improving the quality of life in its communities. The company relies on smart infrastructure to manage transport, energy, and utilities, ensuring sustainable, eco-friendly solutions. To further strengthen its sustainability goals and provide integrated services, MIDAR has established several specialized service companies, including Circuit (responsible for electricity distribution and power station maintenance), WAYZ (focused on sustainable transportation solutions), and CTRL (for city facility management). The strategic location of MIDAR's land in East Cairo gives the company a significant competitive edge. Situated between New Cairo and the New Administrative Capital, this area benefits from proximity to a modern transportation network, including the monorail, light rail transit (LRT), high-speed trains, and new roads and axes. This connectivity boosts the value of MIDAR's cities as investment hubs, offering a balanced mix of residential and commercial spaces, supporting the company's vision of creating integrated, sustainable urban environments. Elkousey also noted that MIDAR enjoys strong financial backing from major banks, including Banque Misr, the National Bank of Egypt, and the National Investment Bank. These partnerships provide the company with financial flexibility, ensuring the efficient and high-quality execution of its projects, while also bolstering investor confidence in MIDAR's ability to achieve its ambitious goals. Looking beyond the local market, MIDAR has ambitious plans for regional expansion. The company is in discussions with prominent regional developers to form strategic partnerships aimed at launching major residential and commercial projects in the region. These projects will focus on sustainability and integration, addressing the growing demand in the regional market and offering an innovative model for urban development. MENAFN22122024000153011029ID1109021708 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Global reaction to Assad's sudden ouster from Syria ranges from jubilation to alarm
How Syria rebels’ stars aligned for Assad’s ousterPlayers must be assigned female at birth or have transitioned to female before going through male puberty to compete in LPGA tournaments or the eight USGA championships for females under new gender policies published Wednesday. The policies, which begin in 2025, follow more than a year of study involving medicine, science, sport physiology and gender policy law. The updated policies would rule out eligibility for Hailey Davidson, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open this year by one shot and came up short in LPGA Q-school. Davidson, who turned 32 on Tuesday, began hormone treatments when she was in her early 20s in 2015 and in 2021 underwent gender-affirming surgery, which was required under the LPGA's previous gender policy. She had won this year on a Florida mini-tour called NXXT Golf until the circuit announced in March that players had to be assigned female at birth. “Can't say I didn't see this coming,” Davidson wrote Wednesday on an Instagram story. “Banned from the Epson and the LPGA. All the silence and people wanting to stay ‘neutral’ thanks for absolutely nothing. This happened because of all your silence.” LPGA commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who is resigning in January, said the new gender policy "is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach." By making it to the second stage of Q-school, Davidson would have had very limited status on the Epson Tour, the pathway to the LPGA. The LPGA and USGA say their policies were geared toward being inclusive of gender identities and expression while striving for equity in competition. The LPGA said its working group of experts advised that the effects of male puberty allowed for competitive advantages in golf compared with players who had not gone through puberty. “Our policy is reflective of an extensive, science-based and inclusive approach,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who announced Monday that she is resigning in January. "The policy represents our continued commitment to ensuring that all feel welcome within our organization, while preserving the fairness and competitive equity of our elite competitions.” Mike Whan, the former LPGA commissioner and now CEO of the USGA, said it developed the updated policy independently and later discovered it was similar to those used by swimming, track and field, and other sports. United States Golf Association CEO Mike Whan said the new policy will prevent anyone from having "a competitive advantage based on their gender." “It starts with competitive fairness as the North star,” Whan said in a telephone interview. “We tried not to get into politics, or state by state or any of that stuff. We just simply said, ‘Where would somebody — at least medically today — where do we believe somebody would have a competitive advantage in the field?’ And we needed to draw a line. “We needed to be able to walk into any women's event and say with confidence that nobody here has a competitive advantage based on their gender. And this policy delivers that.” The “Competitive Fairness Gender Policy” for the USGA takes effect for the 2025 championship season that starts with the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on May 10-14. Qualifying began late this year, though there were no transgender players who took part. “Will that change in the years to come as medicine changes? Probably,” Whan said. “But I think today this stacks up.” The LPGA “Gender Policy for Competition Eligibility” would apply to the LPGA Tour, Epson Tour, Ladies European Tour and qualifying for the tours. Players assigned male at birth must prove they have not experienced any part of puberty beyond the first stage or after age 12, whichever comes first, and then meet limitation standards for testosterone levels. The LPGA begins its 75th season on Jan. 30 with the Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Florida. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Brazil's Botafogo soccer fans react during the Copa Libertadores title match against Atletico Mineiro in Argentina, during a watch party at Nilton Santos Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland competes in the women's Freeski Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) tries to leap over Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Joshua Williams (2) during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Gold medalists Team Netherlands competes in the Team Sprint Women race of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Beijing 2024 held at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!
Apple’s next big smart home move could bring Face ID to your doorbell
HUMBOLDT, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man was convicted Thursday of killing two men and wounding a third in a shooting at a high school basketball game three years ago. Jadon Hardiman, 21, was found guilty in Gibson County of charges including second-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, district attorney Frederick Agee said in a statement. He faces up to 76 years in prison at sentencing in April. Hardiman, of Jackson, attended a basketball game between Humboldt and North Side high schools on Nov. 30, 2021. Then 18, Hardiman entered the Humboldt gymnasium's crowded concession area and pulled a semi-automatic .40 caliber handgun, prosecutors said. He fired three shots at Justin Pankey, a 21-year-old former Humboldt basketball player. Pankey was hit one time and died within seconds, Agee said. A second bullet hit Xavier Clifton, a former North Side student and basketball player, who was standing in the concession line. Clifton was shot in the neck and paralyzed. He died in March 2022. A third shot struck another man in the back of the head. He survived. “Many people were placed in fear of imminent bodily injury by Hardiman’s shooting, as shown by video footage of their fleeing into the gym, into bathrooms, and other areas of the school,” Agee said. Hardiman ran away and drove to Jackson, disposing of the murder weapon along the way, the district attorney said. The U.S. Marshals Service contacted his family, and he was arrested the next day. Agee said the shooting "frightened every adult, student, and child present, who were only there to support their team and enjoy a good game.” Hardiman's lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment.NoneAP Business SummaryBrief at 4:49 p.m. EST
Turnover at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) hit a four-month low yesterday as skittish investors cautiously traded select shares amidst ongoing political and economic uncertainties. The turnover, which is the total value of the shares traded on the market, amounted to Tk 293 crore. The last time the turnover reached this low was on August 4 this year, when it was Tk 207 crore. Yesterday's turnover was also 12.47 percent lower than that recorded on the previous trading day. The DSEX, the broad index of the country's premier bourse, edged down by 14.99 points, or 0.29 percent from that on the day prior, to close at 5,181, marking a fall for a second consecutive trading day. The DSES index for the Shariah-based companies receded by 7.19 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,156. The DS30 index, which represents the blue-chip stocks, fell by 3.29 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,908. Of the issues that changed hands at the DSE, 87 witnessed a rise in prices, 248 closed lower and the remaining 60 did not see any price fluctuation. Among the sectors, banking dominated the turnover chart, accounting for 15.09 percent of the total. Block trades, which refers to high-volume transactions in securities that are privately negotiated and executed outside the open market, contributed another 4.7 percent. Bangladesh Shipping Corporation emerged as the most-traded share, with a turnover of Tk 8.9 crore. Sector-wise, textile, fuel and power, and pharmaceuticals were the top three to close in the positive, according to the daily market update by UCB Stock Brokerage. Jute, mutual fund, and ceramics became the top three to close in the negative. The sectors that account for large amounts in market capitalisation, which is the total value of their shares at present, posted a mixed performance, as per the day's market update by BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage. Fuel and power experienced the largest gain of 0.23 percent, followed by pharmaceuticals (0.08 percent), and telecommunication (0.01 percent). The loss incurring sectors are engineering (0.41 percent), food and allied (0.74 percent), banking (0.89 percent), and non-bank financial institutions (1.02 percent). Turnover at Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) hit a four-month low yesterday as skittish investors cautiously traded select shares amidst ongoing political and economic uncertainties. The turnover, which is the total value of the shares traded on the market, amounted to Tk 293 crore. The last time the turnover reached this low was on August 4 this year, when it was Tk 207 crore. Yesterday's turnover was also 12.47 percent lower than that recorded on the previous trading day. The DSEX, the broad index of the country's premier bourse, edged down by 14.99 points, or 0.29 percent from that on the day prior, to close at 5,181, marking a fall for a second consecutive trading day. The DSES index for the Shariah-based companies receded by 7.19 points, or 0.62 percent, to 1,156. The DS30 index, which represents the blue-chip stocks, fell by 3.29 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,908. Of the issues that changed hands at the DSE, 87 witnessed a rise in prices, 248 closed lower and the remaining 60 did not see any price fluctuation. Among the sectors, banking dominated the turnover chart, accounting for 15.09 percent of the total. Block trades, which refers to high-volume transactions in securities that are privately negotiated and executed outside the open market, contributed another 4.7 percent. Bangladesh Shipping Corporation emerged as the most-traded share, with a turnover of Tk 8.9 crore. Sector-wise, textile, fuel and power, and pharmaceuticals were the top three to close in the positive, according to the daily market update by UCB Stock Brokerage. Jute, mutual fund, and ceramics became the top three to close in the negative. The sectors that account for large amounts in market capitalisation, which is the total value of their shares at present, posted a mixed performance, as per the day's market update by BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage. Fuel and power experienced the largest gain of 0.23 percent, followed by pharmaceuticals (0.08 percent), and telecommunication (0.01 percent). The loss incurring sectors are engineering (0.41 percent), food and allied (0.74 percent), banking (0.89 percent), and non-bank financial institutions (1.02 percent).Tennis Australia is reinvesting in its long-term brand platform, Hits Different, by building on the momentum and deepening its impact with the launch of its second iteration for the 2025 Australian Open. The new iteration, launched with creative agency BMF , introduces a fresh take on AO memorabilia, evolving it from typical merchandise into a line fans can wear with pride throughout the year, on and off the court. Throughout 2025, Hits Different is set to create more immersive experiences, bringing fans of all kinds closer to tennis and each other. Spanning TV, OLV, OOH, social, digital display, radio, EDM, POS, merchandise, and on-site channels, AO25 invites Australians into an expanded AO experience. From kids’ days and family-friendly activities to live music and Melbourne’s best food offerings, Hits Different brings together a community where tennis is just one part of the summer celebration. “AO25 comes with a clear mandate: grow the game by inviting new audiences and making the Australian Open an event that resonates with everyone from avid fans to those attending for the first time,” Britt Wickes , Tennis Australia’s head of event marketing. “Hits Different will once again anchor the approach, reminding Australians why tennis in this country is unique and enhancing AO25’s reputation as a leader in world-class sporting experiences.” Casey Schweikert , creative director, BMF, added: “Hits Different’ has always been about more than the tennis. It captures that buzzy energy and summer culture that the AO does so well. “This year, we’re not only introducing new players, but expanding the world off the court – celebrating the music, characters, and vibes that make tennis in Australia so unique. And nothing says the AO like a few cheeky seagulls wanting to get in on the action.” CREDITS Client: Tennis Australia Creative Agency: BMF Photographer: Jo Duck Production Company: Artboxblack Production Company/Animation: BUCK Music & Sound Production: Otis Post Production: Bantam Productions Media Agency: PHD Media PR Agency: Tennis Australia Keep on top of the most important media, marketing, and agency news each day with the Mediaweek Morning Report – delivered for free every morning to your inbox.
A video posted to social media by a Texas lieutenant in the Department of Public Safety shows a young girl at the U.S.-Mexico border standing alone. She has traveled from El Salvador, and holds just a Post-It note with a phone number on it. "How old are you?" a trooper asks. The girl holds up two fingers. A second video posted by the same lieutenant shows 60 migrant children who journeyed by themselves to the U.S. arriving in Eagle Pass, Texas. Another image shows an accused smuggler running across the border with a 5-year-old in his arms, reportedly paid to bring the girl to her mother already in the states. The Texas Department of Public Safety, under Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, openly supports President-elect Donald Trump's push to dramatically tighten immigration. Lt. Chris Olivarez began posting photos and videos of child migrants around the time Tom Homan, Trump's point-person on the border, visited Eagle Pass. "I guarantee some are in forced labor, some are in sex trades," Homan said. "We're going to save those children." RELATED STORY | Trump announces former acting ICE Director Tom Homan as new 'border czar' The arrival of unaccompanied minors is not a new phenomenon. Thousands have journeyed across the Mexican border each year, including during the first Trump term, according to a Scripps News review of data from the Department of Health and Human Services. The flow of unaccompanied minors, however, reached record highs during the first years of the Biden administration, as undocumented immigration soared. The numbers have fallen since 2022 but remain elevated today. The federal government tries to quickly place child migrants with a sponsor already in the country, usually a parent or other close family member. The sponsor pledges to care for the minor while ensuring they go through immigration proceedings. However, it is an approach that does not always work. RELATED STORY | Trump's mass deportation plan targets specific groups of immigrants A 2023 joint investigation by Scripps News and the Center for Public Integrity found many children end up disappearing from their sponsor homes. Thousands of unaccompanied minors run away, some winding up in dangerous illegal child labor jobs, or worse. "They've simply vanished into a dark underworld of sex and drug trafficking, forced labor, gang activity and crime," said Rep. Tom McClintock, R-California, during a November congressional hearing. McClintock and other Republicans say the Department of Health and Human Services is to blame for failing to properly vet sponsors. A 2023 report by a Florida grand jury obtained by Scripps News found some sponsor addresses were in fact empty lots or a strip club. One address listed 44 kids assigned to it. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra says they are doing the best they can with a limited budget. "What we don't do is short-change the vetting process," Becerra said at a November hearing on Capitol Hill. "We make sure that we follow best practices in the child welfare field. "We do background checks on every individual," he added. RELATED STORY | The struggle to locate migrant children missing from US homes Just how many migrant children have disappeared from their sponsors is in dispute. Becerra says a frequently cited estimate of 85,000 missing kids is too high and doesn't account for many children who are safe but just not reachable by HHS officials who make three attempts to contact them. "They may be at school, they may be at a doctor's appointment, they may not have a phone working anymore," Becerra said. Homan and the rest of the Trump administration have not yet laid out what their policy will be for those children who make the perilous journey to the U.S. alone.WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system . The dollar represents roughly 58% of the world’s foreign exchange reserves, according to the IMF and major commodities like oil are still primarily bought and sold using dollars. The dollar's dominance is threatened, however, with BRICS' growing share of GDP and the alliance's intent to trade in non-dollar currencies — a process known as de-dollarization. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy." At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is "no chance" BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen "should wave goodbye to America.” Research shows that the U.S. dollar's role as the primary global reserve currency is not threatened in the near future. An Atlantic Council model that assesses the dollar’s place as the primary global reserve currency states the dollar is “secure in the near and medium term” and continues to dominate other currencies. Trump's latest tariff threat comes after he threatened to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10% tax on goods from China, as a way to force the countries to do more to halt the flow of illegal immigration and drugs into the U.S. He has since held a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said Thursday she is confident that a tariff war with the United States can be averted. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after meeting Trump, without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on Canada.
In a significant political escalation, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal has submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, spotlighting a contentious incident involving the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. Gandhi, accompanied by a parliamentary delegation, was abruptly halted by authorities while heading to violence-stricken Sambhal to meet bereaved families. Venugopal sharply criticized the move, labeling it a 'grave assault' on democratic principles and parliamentary privileges. He emphasized the act of denying permission to the opposition leader and fellow MPs as a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of movement, demanding immediate dialogue in the House to safeguard democratic norms. The situation further escalated with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also filing an adjournment motion regarding the government's interference. Gogoi underscored the alarming impact of this obstruction, arguing it stifles opposition efforts to assess ground realities and maintain governmental accountability amidst regional tensions, following violent clashes prompted by an ASI survey. (With inputs from agencies.)For many men, there is a cognitive dissonance that comes with turning on mainstream TV. After days at a time of watching online or streaming content calibrated by preference and algorithm to our tastes, it is jarring to switch on terrestrial television and assess the portrayal of masculinity in advertising. In ad after ad, the men are teeming with dopey enthusiasm, emotionally incontinent, strutting and prancing about with harebrained schemes, no self-awareness, in a passive relation to the sophisticated people around them, and so unrelatable to mainstream men as to scarcely register as men at all. Chorus’ ‘New Zealand Runs On Fibre’ ad showcases a stream of benignly befuddled blokes interacting with tentative conviviality, the kind of men wider swathes of mainstream men go out of their way to avoid. In an Audible ad, a manchild cavorts around a neighbourhood, making a succession of fantastical pronouncements, cutting to him in bed, saying, “I’m riding an emotional rollercoaster”, to which his fondly exasperated wife, presumably needing a decent amount of sleep to win the bread on behalf of them both, gives him ‘the look’: a levelling gaze and chastising wrinkle of the brow, before saying, “Can you ride more quietly?” There is a commercial for Haier washing machines that features a benign and chubby husband who gazes at the camera in a rapture of niceness, while music in the cheerful mode of a preschool-show tootles in the background. While the ladies exude equanimity, poise and good judgement, the blokes are docile larrikins, who prompt a kind of droll affection from their abiding better halves. For every redoubtable male stroking his freshly shaven jaw in a razor commercial, there are half-a-dozen goofballs - sexless prattling beta-males staring dim-wittedly as they receive some reproach or comeuppance. According to the annual MFA (Media Federation of Australia) Industry Census, released earlier this year, 62 per cent of employees are female. The average age is just 32. Culturally, 52 per cent identify as Australian, and 9.4 per cent of industry employees belong to the LGBTQ+ community. By an astounding coincidence, the contemporary visual tropes, cues and caricatures of masculinity in advertising happen to manifest the mindset, self-inserts and disposition of metropolitan, Sapphic-sympathetic women in their late twenties and early thirties. Meanwhile, Aussies have been turning more to online sources for their viewing, a 2023 Australian Communication and Media Authority report found. It also said fewer were watching terrestrial broadcast free-to-air TV. For their television viewing they are increasingly finding content through video-on-demand services, whether provided by free-to-air and subscription broadcasting or subscription streaming platforms. The report said the advertising market for free-to-air TV has decreased eight per cent in 2022–23. Meanwhile, online subscription has grown from 59 per cent to 66 per cent. Free to air viewing declined from 56 per cent to 52 per cent. Because of the male preference for STEM subjects, (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and the prevailing attitude that if something doesn’t feature proportionate representation it must therefore suffer from a lack of representation, it is rare for men in advertising to be depicted solely as ideal archetypes in these fields. Instead, there is usually an accompanying generic white-lab-coat-lady, in her late twenties or early thirties, wearing glasses the model almost certainly doesn’t require in real life, and who exists in a medium of diffuse lighting, slow-motion nods and handshakes in consulting rooms and airy glass atriums. I’m about to make a contentious assertion. Advertising requires a solid all round skillset encompassing instincts, awareness of trends, relatability, creativity and levity. My assertion - and I’m about to run for cover like the last waiter who has just fed Mr Creosote in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life - progressive women in their late twenties who’ve grown up posturing in the vacuous realm of social media and did a marketing degree aren’t naturally good at levity and relatable humour. Their efforts in commercials, leaning recurrently on grating gender interplay, almost always at the man’s disadvantage, are anti-comedy. They are cringeworthy, and actually, quite dated. A second contentious notion: these advertisers proceed from the assumption that men have egos, and it is quite savvy to puncture such bumptiousness, to take them down a peg if there’s some dopey chauvinism in evidence. The irony here, though, is that men, in the main, are actually quite able to shrug off stuff and be wryly self-deprecating – up to a point. Does anyone think the young professional women working in funky open-plan offices making these ads can, in a comparable way, laugh at themselves, or see themselves lampooned much in ads? Who would you suppose has the thinner skin? Some late millennials and gen Z types, coming up in a social milieu steeped in identity politics, have brought with them social constructivist ideas about gender – downplaying traits we’ve traditionally associated with men. And also the traits that male audiences like and respond to, because they’re men: masculine composure, ironical distance, drolly scathing humor, deep loyalties and perhaps most of all, the unwillingness to take any nonsense – to not wilt self-deprecatingly, or be put in their place. And to give off the attitude and vibe of not being someone to contend with in the first place. Men can be compelling because they comport themselves in an undemonstrative way. They draw attention and even speculation to themselves through presence, subdued confidence that makes them the social center of gravity. In male psychology especially between potential rivals or protagonists and antagonists, dominance and assertion has a lot to do with who is controlling the pace and rhythm of an exchange. The more one man becomes overly expressive, the pace increases, the more he appeals, the more he can find himself in a passive position wilting under the quiet ironical assessment of the other. This is a world away from the fussy, prissy, hectored and theatrical men that are so annoying – and unrepresentative – in advertising. Not a world away, perhaps, but certainly a generation. Nicholas Sheppard is an accomplished journalist whose work has been featured in The Spectator, The NZ Herald and Politico. He is also a published literary author and public relations consultant
Six Things That Stood Out for the Titans in Sunday's Loss to the Jaguars - Tennessee Titans
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are rushing to introduce legislation that reaffirms the state's role as a reproductive rights "haven" as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House and abortion-rights advocates warn of an uncertain future. Abortion remains legal in California, home to the strongest reproductive rights in the nation — unlike in some states, there is no required waiting period or counseling before the procedure, and minors can get abortions without parental involvement. In 2022 , voters solidified abortion access in the state constitution after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right, limiting healthcare for millions of women. But as Trump prepares to take the White House again, California's Democratic leaders are adamant that not enough has been done to secure reproductive access in case of further federal rollbacks. "The truth is, this is an urgent and dangerous situation," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a news conference in Sacramento on Monday, pointing to renewed legal challenges to the distribution of abortion pills. "The right-wing extremists continue to wage attack after attack on our bodily autonomy at the expense of the health or life of pregnant persons." Bonta, a Democrat, said new legislative proposals will make reproductive rights in California "ironclad." Gov. Gavin Newsom's earlier focus on abortion rights after Trump's first term — including ad campaigns in red states — have drawn criticism from California Republicans skeptical of his national political motives and praise from advocates who say it is better to be safe than sorry. While he has signed dozens of bills firming up abortion access in recent years, some of his plans have proved to be more flash than substance. A temporary law allowing doctors licensed in Arizona to provide abortions in California, for example, expired without any doctors using it. "He makes the big pronouncements, but he's not a very good executor of those policies," said Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher of Yuba City. "It's kind of become his M.O. to make a big splash, and then nothing really ever comes of it." Democrats, however, see the need to shore up abortion access given the uncertainty of Trump's plans. A bill introduced this week aims to ensure availability of mifepristone and misoprostol — the commonly used two-step medication abortion process — even if the Trump administration attempts to interfere. At issue is how anti-abortion government officials could revive and interpret the Comstock Act , a federal law that once banned the mailing of "obscene" materials related to abortions. While Trump has said he has no plans to ban abortion nationwide, he has repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue and taken credit for appointing conservative Supreme Court justices who reversed the federal right to abortion with their decision in the landmark Dobbs case. Reproductive health advocates are worried that under his second term, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could limit access to abortion medication. To lead the FDA, Trump has tapped Dr. Marty Makary , who has echoed antiabortion messages on Fox News about fetal pain — something disputed by major medical organizations. The California bill by former Planned Parenthood attorney and legislative newcomer Assemblymember Maggy Krell , D-Sacramento, aims to ensure that Californians continue to have access to medication abortion for the foreseeable future and protects "manufacturers, distributors, authorized healthcare providers and individuals" from any legal action for distributing or administering the pills. "There are emerging threats to the availability of mifepristone and misoprostol, and California may not be able to guarantee a continued supply," the bill states. "Previously, Governor Newsom implemented a plan to stockpile doses of misoprostol. While this effort was successful, the Legislature finds that the state needs to renew its stockpile to ensure that Californians can continue to exercise their constitutional rights." Last year, Newsom rushed to stockpile hundreds of thousands of abortion pills after a Texas judge ruled against the authorization of the medication. "We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California," Newsom said then. But, facing expiration dates, the state released the stockpile to the public before the U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected the Texas court's ruling. In Washington, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee chose to hold onto a similar stockpile in case Trump was reelected. A spokesperson for Newsom said California "remains ready" to procure more pills if needed. In another precautionary move last year, Newsom signed a law that allowed abortion providers in Arizona to temporarily practice in California. The action came after the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated an 1800s law that essentially banned all abortions. No Arizona providers ended up using the program, which expired Dec. 1, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Concerns settled in Arizona after Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that repealed the court decision, and voters last month passed a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion . The California legislation "was designed to serve as a swift stop gap measure to preserve continued access to abortion care, if necessary, during this very precarious moment," California Department of Consumer Affairs spokesperson Monica Vargas said in an email when The Times asked for data about the program's use. Newsom also signed a law last year that allowed medical residents from states with "hostile" laws to get abortion training in California. The state does not require the California Medical Board to track whether that program is being used as intended, a spokesperson said. For Republican critics like Gallagher, those programs are instances of "political theater" meant more to draw attention to an issue than provide substantive policy. Newsom this week called a special legislative session in Sacramento to prepare for legal combat with Trump on issues such as abortion and immigration — a move heralded by liberals as smart preparation for an unpredictable president and criticized by conservatives as unnecessary panic. "In California, abortion is constitutionally protected, and you have a president-elect who has said very clearly he will not support any national abortion ban," Gallagher said. "This perceived threat that they're trying to make into a political volley ... it's just Newsom drawing attention to himself." Some abortion advocates said that they'd rather have a nimble governor like Newsom and be cautious even if the emergency plans don't always pan out. "Now more than ever is the time for innovative policy solutions," said Shannon Olivieri Hovis, a spokesperson for Essential Health Access. "And inevitably, it is going to be the case that not all solutions we put forth will be equally effective." Other bills introduced this week seeking to fill California's reproductive health access gaps include a proposal to financially penalize cities and counties that block the building of abortion clinics, as has happened in Beverly Hills and Fontana. Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, introduced a package of bills that ensure hospitals enforce laws that require emergency rooms to provide abortion care; make it easier for Medi-Cal recipients to get birth control; and prevent birthing centers from closing. About 40% of California counties don't have abortion clinics, including rural areas where transportation can be a hurdle. In September, the state sued a Humboldt County Catholic hospital after a patient said she was denied an emergency abortion even as she feared for her life because of miscarriage risks. "We have to be absolutely clear-eyed about the political and social moment we're in right now... when we have a proven misogynist as a president," said Mia Bonta, who is married to the attorney general, referring to Trump's sexual abuse allegations and "your body, my choice" refrains that surged after his election. "I think while California has done an amazing job, we still have a lot of work to do to shore up the infrastructure of support for people who are seeking health care and abortion access and protection of our reproductive and sexual freedoms." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.