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For a man who plays as hard as he does, Pieter-Steph du Toit’s second World Player of the Year award, following his 2019 gong, is a testament to his fitness and mentality. Du Toit was honoured with the award in Monaco on Sunday, beating out fellow Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe, and Ireland No 8 Caelan Doris. Such was the quality of the quartet, and particularly the Bok trio on the nominations list, that anyone of them could have won and it wouldn’t have felt like an injustice. Du Toit produced another colossal body of work in 2024, playing just about every minute of every match in which he represented the Boks this year. This award was deserved and also a nod to his remarkable consistency, playing in one of the most demanding positions in all of sport. And he has been doing it for 12 years, with almost three years lost to various injuries. He’s won the SA Player of the Year award three times as well, but the 2024 World Rugby accolade might be his greatest yet for the ultimate team man. Read more: Pieter-Steph du Toit makes rugby comeback 398 days later He won it in a year where so many great players operated at a stratospheric level. Etzebeth must surely be wondering if he can play any better, while contributing to perhaps the greatest Bok team of all time. He was sensational in 2024, picking up from the form he displayed in 2023 where he was unlucky to lose out to Ardie Savea for the award. Kolbe too, continues to defy age and workload and Doris was superb all season, capping a fine year with a world-class display as he led Ireland to victory over the Boks in Durban. Eben Etzebeth (second from left) was nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award, along with Pieter-Steph du Toit (far right) and Cheslin Kolbe (not pictured). (Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini / Gallo Images) Du Toit cemented his place in history by becoming the first South African to be named the World Men’s 15s Player of the Year for a second time. All Black greats Dan Carter and Richie McCaw won it three times and, until Du Toit, Beauden Barrett was the only other player to win it more than once since the award’s inception in 2001. Read more: Pieter-Steph du Toit narrowly escapes leg amputation The 32-year-old Du Toit was one of seven Springbok Rugby World Cup winners named in the 2024 Dream Team. The trio of Du Toit, Etzebeth and Kolbe were joined in the side by Ox Nche (prop), Malcolm Marx (hooker), and the centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel – which capped off a rewarding evening for the top ranked side in the world. New Zealand’s Wallace Sititi pipped talented young Springbok flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for the Men’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year award, while Jérôme Daret, who led the French men’s sevens team to the Olympic gold medal in Paris, was named Coach of the Year. Pieter-Steph du Toit of South Africa during the Autumn Nations Series 2024 match against England at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham). (Photo: Visionhaus / Getty Images) The glittering event also highlighted other South African contributions to global rugby. Selvyn Davids, captain of the Blitzboks, earned a spot in the Men’s Sevens Dream Team, while SA Rugby won the Rugby for All Award, which celebrates impactful initiatives that uphold rugby’s core values. SA Rugby’s “The Bag That Builds” project was particularly commended for promoting sustainability by repurposing tournament waste into building materials for community housing projects. SA Rugby President Mr Mark Alexander lauded all the players for being honoured in such a remarkable year for the Boks, in which they registered an 85% win record after claiming the Rugby Championship title as well as the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate, Freedom Cup and Prince William Cup (against Wales), and said this was a just reward for their fine efforts on the field this season. “On behalf of SA Rugby, I’d like to extend our since congratulations to Pieter-Steph and all the players named in the Dream Team for receiving this recognition for all the hard work they’ve been putting in on and off the field this year, as well as Selvyn for his consistently great performances during a challenging season for the Blitzboks,” said Alexander. “For Pieter-Steph to become the first South African to win the World Rugby Player of the Year award twice is a notable achievement, and to have seven Boks in total feature in the Dream Team is simply remarkable. “Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has built something special with the Bok team, and the way the players give their all week in and week out is an inspiration to us all and shows that hard pays off. “We are very proud of them and the entire Springbok coaching and management team for their tireless efforts to ensure that our players continue to shine on the international stage.” The recognition for their colossal performances in the green and gold this season, which contributed immensely to the team’s 11 victories in 13 matches, followed on nominations for Etzebeth in 2013 and last year, and Kolbe and Du Toit in 2019, respectively. Other South Africans who received nominations for the Men’s 15s Player of the Year Award in the last decade are Willie le Roux and Duane Vermeulen (both in 2014), Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx (both in 2018), and Lukhanyo Am (2022). Apart from Du Toit, only two other South Africans have walked away with top honours – Schalk Burger in 2004 and Bryan Habana in 2007. Erasmus was also full of praise for the players and entire Springbok team and said: “To have so many of our players feature in the awards is a testament to their hard work, and dedication to the team and the Springbok brand, and that’s what makes this such a special group. “What makes this achievement even significant is that we used 50 players in total this season and rotated our squad regularly, which shows the calibre of players they are. But rugby is a team sport, and it takes each one of the squad members to do their bit to place one another in positions to shine. “With the vast player depth in our squad, I’m sure a few more players were close to being nominated, but each one of these players certainly deserves this recognition and we are very proud of them.” Erasmus also thanked the entire Bok squad for their efforts this season: “It takes each person in a squad to perform their role proficiently to ensure that the players can deliver on the field, so thank you to the winners and Dream team players, as well as every other player who has been part of the squad this year.” DM
Josh Gottheimer trades in Microsoft options, buys and sells various stocksA man who suffered with erectile dysfunction for 30 years can now have sex again without using prescription drugs. And it's all thanks to a home-use medical device which resembles a "games controller" - although he's not told his wife about it. The 80-year-old began suffering with the condition which is estimated to affect around half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 when he was around 50. Jack Peters, not his real name, who is retired, said his performance deteriorated so much he started using Spedra – an inhibitor drug similar to Viagra which uses a drug called Avanafil. Men are recommended to take one Spedra tablet half an hour before sex, but its positive effects can last four hours or longer. But while the drug did work, Jack said it would leave him with "terrible headaches" and fatigue afterwards. Earlier this year, he read an article about Vertica – a new V-shaped device – which is totally drug-free and uses radiofrequency technology. It works by stimulating the production of collagen, elastin and new skin cells by "warming" the penis in the same way that it is widely used for facial and body tightening and other aesthetic treatments. Jack ordered the £1,020 device from the Vertica website and said it using the started working after two just treatments, but he still has not had the heart to tell his wife, who is 10 years younger than him, that he is using it. Jack said: “I started having trouble in the bedroom when I hit 50 and I just accepted the fact it was part of getting older even though I don’t drink, and I’m reasonably fit for my age. “But the situation got worse, so I started using Spedra. It worked well enough for years but I suffered from terrible headaches and the thing with drugs for erectile dysfunction is it doesn’t make things very spontaneous. I also experienced quite bad fatigue so it wasn’t always enjoyable because you knew you would feel awful afterwards. “I read an article about Vertica, and I thought it looked a bit weird but with the clinical trial results, I thought it was worth giving it a go and even though it was quite a lot of money, it would be better than putting drugs in my body, which I was never really keen on doing anyway. Vertica took some getting used to, but it wasn’t fiddly or anything and once I got into the routine of running the treatment it was fine. “After two or three times of using Vertica, I noticed a remarkable improvement. I kept using the Spedra with Vertica to start with but am now able to use it without the drugs at all. Now we can be spontaneous and there are no side effects. I just wish Vertica was around 30 years ago! The only thing is my wife is a bit funny about these things, so I haven’t told her about Vertica!” Vertica has a success rate of 85% according to a clinical study published in the International Journal of Impotence, with some men experiencing results after just four weeks, which continued even up to six months. Professor David Ralph, Consultant Urologist at University College London and Medical Director at St Peter's Andrology Centre, said: "The clinical study indicates that Vertica could significantly improve the lives of men facing erectile dysfunction. While I look forward to further research, the technology and initial results from Vertica have been impressive. Although ED remains a sensitive topic in the UK, it doesn't need to be an embarrassing one, as many men experience it, often in silence. Come and join The Daily Star on , the social media site set up by ex-Twitter boss Jack Dorsey. It's now the new go-to place for content after a mass exodus of the Elon Musk-owned Twitter/X. Fear not, we're not leaving , but we are jumping on the bandwagon. So come find our new account on , and see us social better than the rest. You can also learn more about The Daily Star team in what Bluesky calls a . So what are you waiting for?! Let's "Prescription medications always come with a risk of side effects, but Vertica avoids this as it is entirely drug-free, and no prescription is required. It may not be effective for everyone, but the trial data so far suggests a strong likelihood that it will benefit more men with ED than not." Manufacturer Ohh-Med Medical recommends men use Vertica at home with three 30-minutes treatments per week recommended for the first month and twice weekly for another 30 days, with many men experiencing results after just four to six weeks. Vertica is registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK and has received CE certification under the Medical Device Regulation (MDR), allowing it to be marketed throughout Europe.This week sees a five-hour debate in Parliament that could lead to one of the most consequential laws this century when MPs hold a free vote on a Private Members’ bill to allow medically assisted suicide in Britain. The reform has previously been backed by Sir Keir Starmer, enjoys popular support and is often claimed to be progressive. It has been promoted by the admirable Dame Esther Rantzen, suffering terminal cancer, with her usual campaigning zeal. There are strong arguments on both sides of this moral minefield that merit respectful examination. Yet there should be no delusions over the impact of unleashing state-sanctioned killing in our healthcare system. I would have preferred to write on almost any other issue this week, returning to work after the anguish of my own daughter’s death. But I have investigated assisted dying in Europe and North America , as well as campaigned on patient safety and for the rights of citizens with learning disabilities, inspired by her. So it felt wrong to duck such a seismic proposed change to society. However the legislation is framed, however limited the intention, this reform would tip Britain over a slippery slope. Already some campaigners argue that the bill’s proposal to allow terminally ill adults with six months or fewer to obtain medical help to end their lives is too limited. Read Next The assisted dying bill answers few questions - but raises bigger, scarier ones Experts expect challenges under human rights laws from patients whose terminal conditions leave them unable to take their own lives, rightly arguing this is discriminatory. There will be emotive cases of parents pleading that suffering children cannot access similar “treatment”. We have seen elsewhere how the number of assisted deaths keeps rising after legalisation. And how rules can get widened over time – to include children, couples wishing to die together, old folks with dementia and young people suffering mental illness – despite initial promises to the contrary. As one prominent ethicist said in the Netherlands, which pioneered reform in 2002, their desire to help patients suffering the most agonising of deaths led them to launch “something that we have now discovered has more consequences than we ever imagined”. Legalised euthanasia frees a genie from the bottle, while fundamentally altering the nature of doctoring with its oath of first do no harm. It sends a message that killing is an acceptable form of treatment. Yet we know doctors find it difficult to predict the timing of death with terminal illnesses – and that they, along with judges, are fallible humans who can make mistakes, be swayed by pressure or fail to detect coercion amid daily clinical stresses. Some will become zealots for the cause – such as a former maternity specialist in Canada that I interviewed earlier this year who has assisted more than 400 deaths since they introduced euthanasia eight years ago. Canada exposes the danger – and political irresponsibility – of inserting such procedures into a struggling health system such as our own with its long waiting times, poor treatment outcomes and inadequate care support. I have spoken to patients pushed by doctors to accept medically assisted death when life-saving treatment was available – and to an analyst who warned British MPs euthanasia is used to cut healthcare costs. Almost two-thirds of their assisted deaths involve cancer – yet they have shorter waiting times and better outcomes for this disease than Britain. The Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, bravely opposes this bill on the grounds that it might harm existing services, while pointing out how the state of end-of-life care means the NHS cannot always deliver “a real choice on assisted dying”. I have seen the incredible support offered in times of distress and pain by palliative care medics. Yet one in four patients fail to get such help – and as the palliative care doctor Rachel Clarke argues, it is “unconscionable” to offer citizens a choice to die if we fail to offer them also the care that can make life worth living. Studies show places that permit assisted death increase provision of palliative care significantly less than other states. If Westminster really wants to demonstrate it is progressive, how much better to boost this brilliant branch of medicine pioneered in Britain – along with the shamefully underfunded hospice movement – to ensure decent end-of-life care for everyone. And perhaps our politicians might finally like to fix the overwhelmed social care system instead of continually sweeping it aside? Then there is the issue of trust – and whether we can really have faith in politicians and regulators to protect sick, elderly or disabled people who might face pressure to end their lives after so many disturbing scandals revealing abuse of the weakest in society. Bert Keizer, a Dutch practitioner of assisted dying, has said that British experts were right to be sceptical when Holland pioneered reform since their predictions came true. “Those who embark on euthanasia venture down a slippery slope along which you irrevocably slide down to the random killing of defenceless sick people” he wrote in a medical journal. Bear in mind we live in a nation where several of the worst negligence scandals involved mass killing of elderly patients and the care system has been allowed to rot. A land that still locks up autistic people and citizens with learning disabilities in psychiatric hellholes with the connivance of doctors. Meanwhile, there are confirmed cases abroad of people euthanised as a consequence of their autism or learning disabilities. And significant evidence – even from places such as Oregon praised for stringent protections – suggesting people choosing to die often feel a burden on families. As an atheist and a liberal, my concerns over euthanasia are practical rather than ethical. But having seen the stark realities of assisted death abroad and reported on health scandals at home, I have deep fears over the consequences of introducing it here with our inept legislators, creaking public services and societal contempt for groups that might find themselves in the crosshairs. Fix the NHS, fund palliative medicine properly, sort out social care – and then we can debate this issue with less fear.
FILE PHOTO: Jul 30, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (7) smiles at Carolina Panthers Practice Fields. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo One day after it seemed he was likely to play, the Carolina Panthers ruled out pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a knee injury. Clowney, 31, has 3.5 sacks in 10 games during his first season with the Panthers, collecting 2.5 of those in the past two games, both losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had 9.5 sacks in 17 games (15 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens last season. Clowney was listed as questionable Friday, with all signs pointing to him being on the field against the Eagles. "I expect him to play right now," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said Friday. The Panthers also downgraded safety Nick Scott (hamstring/personal) to out on Sunday after he did not practice Friday. He is in the middle of a three-week window to be activated from injured reserve. Wide receiver Dan Chisena and linebacker Jacoby Windmon were elevated from the practice squad. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now
Scottish Mortgage ‘£315m out of pocket’ after Northvolt collapseSecond Cup dumps Jewish General Hospital franchisee over video with 'hateful remarks'Maryland’s Mir McLean, right, fights for a rebound against Saint Frances’ Marina Artero, left, in the first quarter at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Mir McLean, right, passes to a teammate as she is defended by Saint Frances’ Giselle Eke, left, in the second quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Bri McDaniel, left, drives to the basket against Saint Frances’ Ineivi Plata, right, in the first quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Ava McKennie, left, fights for the ball against Saint Frances’ Yanessa Boyd in the first quarter at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Ava McKennie, right, fights for a loose ball against Saint Frances’ Marina Artero, left, in the first quarter at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Kaylene Smikle laughs it up during a lopsided win over Saint Frances. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Allie Kubek takes aim to shoot a three against Saint Frances in the third quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Saylor Poffenbarger, left, battles Saint Frances’ Airah Lavy for the ball in the third quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Sarah Te-Biasu, from left, and Ava McKennie fight for the loose ball against Saint Frances’ Julianna Gibson in the third quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Sarah Te-Biasu, from left, and Ava McKennie fight for the loose ball against Saint Frances’ Julianna Gibson in the third quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Shyanne Sellers, right, celebrates after scoring against Saint Frances in the third quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Frances 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Nov 19, 2024: Maryland’s Derik Queen reacts after a slam dunk against Canisius in the second half. Maryland defeated Canisius 108-37 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Kaylene Smikle, front, is fouled by Saint Frances’ Airah Lavy in the second quarter at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland’s Kaylene Smikle, left, is fouled by Saint Frances’ Giselle Eke, right, in the first quarter at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland head coach Brenda Frese, right, talks with Mir McLean during the second quarter against Saint Francis at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Maryland head coach Brenda Frese directs her playters against Saint Francis in the first quarter at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff) Saint Francis head coach Keila Whittington directs her players against Maryland in the first quarter. Maryland defeated Saint Francis 107-35 at Xfinity Center. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Notre Dame reopens in Paris, five years after fire
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria falloutAhead of Market: 10 things that will decide stock market action on Monday - The Economic Times
With America's presidential transition, Syria's conflict presents a unique geopolitical challengeCampaigners have hit out at a “woefully inadequate” financial package for developing nations agreed at Cop29 – with one charity condemning it as a “death sentence for millions”. A 300 billion dollar (£239.5 billion) deal to help combat the impact of global warming was announced at the international conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. The money falls far short of the $1.3 trillion that developing countries were asking for, but is three times the $100bn a year deal from 2009 that is expiring. UN climate chief Simon Steill hailed it as an “insurance policy” for humanity, while Energy secretary Ed Miliband described it as a "critical 11th-hour deal at the 11th hour for the climate". But Christian Aid said people who needed a life raft had been given a plank of wood instead. And the charity Water Aid said it was a "death sentence for millions" and a "mere fraction" of what was needed. Lesley Pories, lead policy analyst for WaterAid, said: "While experts touted needs around one trillion dollars annually for the new collective quantified goal (NCQG), an agreement for 300 billion dollars was reached - a mere fraction of the finance we all know is desperately needed.” They said that from hurricanes and flash flooding to wildfires and worsening drought, the global water crisis was a “growing tragedy” and that it was “deeply shameful that... governments could not set aside their differences for the sake of the most vulnerable." Jasper Inventor, head of the Cop29 Greenpeace delegation, said: "The agreed finance goal is woefully inadequate and overshadowed by the level of despair and scale of action needed.” But US President Joe Biden said that while "substantial work" remained to be done, the conference had set an "ambitious international climate finance goal". "While some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that’s under way in America and around the world, nobody can reverse it - nobody," he said. Friends of Earth head of policy Mike Childs credited the UK delegation for playing a productive role in the talks, but warned that they “failed to solve the question of climate finance". "Instead they have again kicked the can down the road. Developing countries are being hammered by climate extremes now, predominantly fuelled by the current and historic polluting activities of rich nations, like the UK." The Cop29 climate conference in the Azerbaijan capital had been due to finish on Friday but ran on as negotiators from nearly 200 countries struggled to reach a consensus on a climate funding plan for the next decade.United States women’s head coach Emma Hayes admitted she initially grappled with how best to behave during ‘God Save The King’ ahead of her side’s goalless draw with England in their Wembley friendly. The billing of London-born former Chelsea boss Hayes against England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman – arguably the best two bosses in the women’s game – had generated more buzz in the build-up than the players on the pitch, despite it being a rare encounter between the two top-ranked sides in the world. Hayes enjoyed her return to familiar shores but felt the US lacked the “killer piece” after they looked the likelier side to make the breakthrough. Elite meeting of the minds 🌟 — U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) Asked what was going through her mind during the national anthem, Hayes said: “I was definitely mouthing (it), and Naomi (Girma) and Lynn (Williams) could see that I was struggling with where to be and all that. “I got to the end of the anthems and I thought, ‘that’s so ridiculous. I’m proud to be English and I’m proud of our national anthem, and I’m also really proud to coach America’. “Two things are possible all at once. I don’t want to fuel a nationalist debate around it. The realities are both countries are really dear to me for lots of reasons, and I’m really proud to represent both of them.” The Lionesses did not register a shot on target in the first half but grew into the game in the second. US captain Lindsey Horan had the ball in the net after the break but the flag was up, while Hayes’ side had a penalty award for a handball reversed after a VAR check determined substitute Yazmeen Ryan’s shot hit Alex Greenwood’s chest. Hayes, who left Chelsea after 12 trophy-packed years this summer, said: “I’ve been privileged to coach a lot of top-level games, including here, so there’s a familiarity to being here for me. “It’s not new to me, and because of that there was a whole sense of I’m coming back to a place I know. I have a really healthy perspective, and I want to have a really healthy perspective on my profession. “I give everything I possibly can for a team that I really, really enjoy coaching, and I thrive, not just under pressure, but I like these opportunities, I like being in these situations. They bring out the best in me. “You’ve got two top teams now, Sarina is an amazing coach, I thought it was a good tactical match-up, and I just enjoy coaching a high-level football match, to be honest with you. I don’t think too much about it.” Hayes had travelled to London without her entire Olympic gold medal-winning ‘Triple Espresso’ forward line of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, all nursing niggling injuries. Before the match, the 48-year-old was spotted chatting with Wiegman and her US men’s counterpart, fellow ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was also in attendance. England were also missing a number of key attackers for the friendly including Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, all ruled out with injury. "This shows where we are at and we need to keep improving. It is November now. This is good but we want to be better again. We have to be better again." 👊 Reaction from the boss ⬇️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) Wiegman brushed aside suggestions from some pundits that her side were content to settle for a draw. She said: “I think we were really defending as a team, very strong. We got momentum in the second half, we did better, and of course both teams went for the win. “So many things happened in this game, also in front of the goal, so I don’t think it was boring. “We wanted to go for the win, but it was such a high-intensity game, you have to deal with a very good opponent, so you can’t just say, ‘Now we’re going to go and score that goal’. “We tried, of course, to do that. We didn’t slow down to keep it 0-0. I think that was just how the game went.”
MONTREAL — Second Cup Canada is cutting ties with a franchisee operating at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital who was allegedly filmed making hateful and antisemitic comments during a protest in the city last week. Second Cup Canada announced Saturday it was cutting ties with a franchisee for “making hateful remarks and gestures,” and adding in a statement the actions breach the franchise agreement as well as inclusion and community values held by the chain. Peter Mammas, CEO of Montreal-based Foodtastic, which owns Second Cup Canada, said in an interview on Sunday that he was at the movies when his phone started pinging non-stop. He saw the videos and the company’s operations staff spoke to employees that knew the woman, and they confirmed it was indeed the franchisee. Video shot during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of Concordia University’s downtown Montreal campus Thursday shows a woman walking around, masked, saying the “final solution is coming your way” — wording used to describe a Nazi plan to eliminate Jews in Europe during the Second World War. Another video also shows what appears to be the same woman, unmasked, making a Nazi salute while walking away. “We’re all for free speech and respectful conversations, but this wasn’t that,” Mammas said. “This was hate speech, and it was something that we thought could incite violence and we’re completely against that, so we sat down with our team and decided to revoke the franchise agreement.” Attempts to reach the franchisee were unsuccessful on Sunday. “Second Cup has zero tolerance for hate speech,” the coffee chain said in a statement on X. “In co-ordination with the hospital, we’ve shut down the franchisee’s café and are terminating their franchise agreement.” Mammas said lawyers for the franchisee and Second Cup were expected to meet on Monday. The regional health agency serving West-Central Montreal, which includes the Jewish General Hospital, said it was made aware of the video “containing antisemitic and hateful messaging.” The video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the (Jewish General), Carl Thériault, a spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday. “We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee’s cafés and terminating their lease agreement.” The hospital has two locations operated by the same franchisee and both were shuttered on Saturday by the owners of the chain. The health agency “is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech,” Thériault said. “We have franchisees who are Muslim, we have franchisees who are Jewish, we have franchisees that are Greek, French, we have employees from all different nations,” Mammas said. “So we definitely have no issue with that and we don’t take any political side, but ... hate speech ... you know we can’t accept that.”Larry Wilson: On climate change, Trump is no King Canute
The billing of London-born former Chelsea boss Hayes against England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman – arguably the best two bosses in the women’s game – had generated more buzz in the build-up than the players on the pitch, despite it being a rare encounter between the two top-ranked sides in the world. Hayes enjoyed her return to familiar shores but felt the US lacked the “killer piece” after they looked the likelier side to make the breakthrough. Elite meeting of the minds 🌟 pic.twitter.com/R4d8EArqTp — U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 30, 2024 Asked what was going through her mind during the national anthem, Hayes said: “I was definitely mouthing (it), and Naomi (Girma) and Lynn (Williams) could see that I was struggling with where to be and all that. “I got to the end of the anthems and I thought, ‘that’s so ridiculous. I’m proud to be English and I’m proud of our national anthem, and I’m also really proud to coach America’. “Two things are possible all at once. I don’t want to fuel a nationalist debate around it. The realities are both countries are really dear to me for lots of reasons, and I’m really proud to represent both of them.” The Lionesses did not register a shot on target in the first half but grew into the game in the second. US captain Lindsey Horan had the ball in the net after the break but the flag was up, while Hayes’ side had a penalty award for a handball reversed after a VAR check determined substitute Yazmeen Ryan’s shot hit Alex Greenwood’s chest. Hayes, who left Chelsea after 12 trophy-packed years this summer, said: “I’ve been privileged to coach a lot of top-level games, including here, so there’s a familiarity to being here for me. “It’s not new to me, and because of that there was a whole sense of I’m coming back to a place I know. I have a really healthy perspective, and I want to have a really healthy perspective on my profession. “I give everything I possibly can for a team that I really, really enjoy coaching, and I thrive, not just under pressure, but I like these opportunities, I like being in these situations. They bring out the best in me. “You’ve got two top teams now, Sarina is an amazing coach, I thought it was a good tactical match-up, and I just enjoy coaching a high-level football match, to be honest with you. I don’t think too much about it.” Hayes had travelled to London without her entire Olympic gold medal-winning ‘Triple Espresso’ forward line of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, all nursing niggling injuries. Before the match, the 48-year-old was spotted chatting with Wiegman and her US men’s counterpart, fellow ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was also in attendance. England were also missing a number of key attackers for the friendly including Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, all ruled out with injury. "This shows where we are at and we need to keep improving. It is November now. This is good but we want to be better again. We have to be better again." 👊 Reaction from the boss ⬇️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 30, 2024 Wiegman brushed aside suggestions from some pundits that her side were content to settle for a draw. She said: “I think we were really defending as a team, very strong. We got momentum in the second half, we did better, and of course both teams went for the win. “So many things happened in this game, also in front of the goal, so I don’t think it was boring. “We wanted to go for the win, but it was such a high-intensity game, you have to deal with a very good opponent, so you can’t just say, ‘Now we’re going to go and score that goal’. “We tried, of course, to do that. We didn’t slow down to keep it 0-0. I think that was just how the game went.”Pinstripes ( NYSE:PNST – Free Report ) had its price objective lowered by Oppenheimer from $5.00 to $2.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Separately, BTIG Research decreased their price objective on Pinstripes from $4.00 to $3.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Get Our Latest Analysis on Pinstripes Pinstripes Trading Up 1.5 % Pinstripes ( NYSE:PNST – Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, September 4th. The company reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.11) by ($0.12). The company had revenue of $30.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.45 million. As a group, analysts anticipate that Pinstripes will post -0.65 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pinstripes during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,714,000. Rothschild Investment LLC bought a new stake in Pinstripes during the second quarter worth about $36,000. Greenwood Gearhart Inc. acquired a new position in Pinstripes during the second quarter valued at approximately $70,000. Lakewood Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Pinstripes in the second quarter valued at approximately $246,000. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Pinstripes during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $240,000. Institutional investors own 56.79% of the company’s stock. About Pinstripes ( Get Free Report ) Pinstripes Holdings Inc operates a dining and entertainment concept restaurants. The company provides Italian-American food and beverage menu with bowling, bocce, and event space. It also offers private event options and catering services. The company is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Pinstripes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinstripes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The Falcons have an interesting dynamic at quarterback, and it could be Kirk Cousins’ last opportunity to cement himself as the starter this weekend in Minnesota. The veteran returns to face his former team, with a tall task ahead of him. Brian Flores and this Vikings defense is one of the best in the league, known for their excessive blitzing, which presents a challenging wrinkle for a signal caller who has struggled against pressure. Raheem Morris has a difficult decision looming if Cousins turns in another stinker. I don’t even think it’ll be a question if the Falcons lose because of Cousins. In fact, a rival general manager told Jason La Canfora that Morris wouldn’t have a choice. “It’s a big deal when you make that change,” said the GM. “You’re doing more than just changing the quarterback; you are sending a signal to your locker room. Especially after what they just paid to get him there. It doesn’t sound like they’re there yet. But if he plays another game like he did last week, they’re not going to have a choice. They’re going to have to try something else.” Against the Broncos, the entire offense was pathetic. Against the Saints, the offense moved the ball but stalled in the red zone, with Younghoe Koo uncharacteristically missing three field goals. However, against the Chargers, a lot can be blamed on Kirk Cousins. He had three of the worst interceptions I’ve ever seen, one in the flats and one in the endzone, in particular. Those are throws you’d expect from a Day 2 rookie, not a 13-year starter. The Falcons need more out of Cousins, but some think he doesn’t have anymore to give. “He still doesn’t look right,” said one scout to La Canfora. “There’s no juice on his throws. Everything is coming from his arm. He’s not pushing off normally.” NFL analyst Brian Baldinger said: “The arm isn’t the same arm anymore. The ball is dying on him.” That’s some pretty damning analysis from respected people. Of course, Kirk Cousins still has a chance to seize this opportunity to cement the Falcons atop the division and his place as the starter. There’s a lot on the line for the Falcons this Sunday. — This article first appeared on SportsTalkATL and was syndicated with permission.
Playing the Devil’s Hand
Hyderabad: Agriculture minister Thummala Nageswara Rao has said that there was no need for the farmers in Telangana to beg for Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bhima and for their farm loans to be waived-off. Speaking at an event in Kodad on Saturday, December 7, he said that despite financial difficulties, the state government has waived off farm loans amounting to more than Rs 21,000 crore for the farmers, and has disbursed Rs 7,625 crore of Rythu Bandhu (now Rythu Bharosa) amount for Kharif 2023, which was not released by the previous government. He also said that Rs 3,000 crore was also deposited for Rythu Bhima crop insurance and other schemes for the benefit of the farmers. It needs to be mentioned here, that chief minister A Revanth Reddy has already announced that the Rythu Bharosa crop input financial assistance will be disbursed to the farmers’ accounts after Sankranthi festival (January 14 and 15). Addressing the public meeting held in Nalgonda as part of “Praja Palana Vijayotsavalu,” the chief minister has once again reiterated the same. He said that once the funds start getting deposited, it would certainly increase the heart-rate of BRS leaders who have been misleading the farmers on Rythu Bharosa.None
These holiday gifts change the game when building fires, printing photos, watching birds and moreDevelopers from across India are seizing opportunities to redevelop Mumbai’s old, dilapidated buildings, housing societies and slums to expand their footprint in the land-starved financial capital. In May 2022, Bengaluru-based Prestige Group launched Daffodils, an uber luxury redevelopment project in Pali Hill, Bandra West with a carpet area of 1.2 lakh square feet. The project has sold close to 70% residences since launch. Puravankara Ltd also secured redevelopment rights for two housing societies in Mumbai last year, with a gross development value (GDV) of 1,500 crore. In September, the group acquired rights for another project—Miami Apartments at Breach Candy, entering the uber-luxury south-Mumbai market. Also read | In 2023, Delhi-based DLF Ltd forayed into Mumbai to jointly develop a slum rehabilitation project with a subsidiary of Trident Buildtech Pvt. Ltd in Mumbai’s Andheri West. A year earlier, Ahmedabad-based Adani Properties Pvt. Ltd had won the mandate to execute the redevelopment of Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums that sprawls across 600 acres. "With limited opportunities of greenfield land parcels in Mumbai, a massive opportunity exists in the redevelopment and SRA space," said Tariq Ahmed, CEO, West India at Prestige Group. "So, I think that's where there is a lot of focus for developers considering the significant ongoing redevelopments of regular societies or Mhada societies and with multiple opportunities still out there." Mhada is the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority. The redevelopment scene Mumbai’s redevelopment scene includes development agreements with housing societies, slum rehabilitation model as well as redeveloping cessed buildings, which have been constructed before 1960 in Maharashtra and the government collects cess from the residents of these buildings. Over 25,000 buildings in Mumbai’s metropolitan region (MMR) alone have outlived their useful life and are eligible for redevelopment, Dhaval Ajmera, secretary of Credai-MCHI, had said at a press conference. “Mumbai is a redevelopment market," said Abhishek Kapoor, group chief executive and executive director at Puravankara. “We are actively pursuing opportunities on the redevelopment side in Mumbai. We've already signed three redevelopment projects, and we are working on a few more. So, the pipeline is quite robust." Also read | Redevelopment is an attractive space to be in for developers due to FSI benefits, potentially higher profit margins and for expansion opportunities amid a paucity of clean developable land in Mumbai. The developers can get access to prime land parcels in Mumbai, where there is less opportunity for acquiring land. “Whether it is SRA or non-SRA buildings, such projects have the potential for higher FSI and higher returns, which is attracting all these developers to the segment," said Pankaj Kapoor, founder and managing director, at Liases Foras. “Around 60% of today's supply of launches comes from redevelopment—whether society or slum redevelopment." Highly competitive While the market poses an attractive opportunity, it is becoming highly competitive. The boom in real estate has encouraged a lot of players to take up redevelopment projects. Developers such as Hiranandani group, Keystone Realtors Ltd, Raymond Realty, etc. have a pipeline of such redevelopment projects. “There is a mad rush among the developers to make newer commitments. So, they are offering very, very lucrative deals to the existing tenants to acquire the proposals," Kapoor said. “But a lot of this new supply that has come in is in the 2 crore-plus bracket of flats. In redevelopment, you are housing existing tenants and bringing in new tenants—so there is heterogeneity of demographics. Because of this, there may be less preference for people to pay because the exclusivity may not be there." For buyers, competition means bigger homes, better amenities, parks, and an upgradation of living conditions. Also read | A lot has gone wrong for developers in the past whether in redevelopment projects or slum rehabilitation projects. “In the past many housing societies in Mumbai entrusted the redevelopment of their projects to builders but were left in the lurch," said Anuj Puri, chairman of Anarock Group. “In many cases, they were cheated by builders in a variety of aspects. In others, the builder ran out of capital and left the whole undertaking in indefinite limbo." “Meanwhile, the original owners incur huge rental expenses in alternate accommodations and are generally at the mercy of an outside party whose only objective is a massive profit margin," he said. Fall of marquee players Slum rehabilitation projects, especially, have led to the fall of some marquee players in Mumbai, according to Gulam Zia, senior executive director at Knight Frank. Such projects led to the downfall and financial drain of players including Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), Mint reported earlier. Orbit Group had also gone insolvent after a few of its redevelopment projects faced long delays. Also read | “What happens is when you're doing SRA, you have to take care of many things politically or with money," Zia said. “Every SRA project is a political landmine...so, cleaning slums is the dirtiest aspect that you could ever think of doing in the city of Mumbai." Such projects are doable only when the slum’s problems are sorted and the demarcated, boundaried land is offered to a developer, Zia said. “If it's a good, listed player or a brand name, then they will definitely not touch any SRA development which is still plagued with the troubles of the past." Eyeing the market All kinds of players are eying the market In a first of its kind exhibition called ‘Redeveloping Mumbai: Ease of Doing Redevelopment’ (EODR), organised by Credai-MCHI earlier this year, over 40 developers such as Rustomjee, Kolte Patil, Puravankara, Raymond Realty, etc. participated to connect with housing societies. “Today if you take a trip to any locality, you see names of developers you’ve never heard of working on redevelopment, these players will be a challenge," Kapoor said. “Listed players or renowned names, on the other hand, are smart players, they have the skills and the financial muscles to really get the projects and keep in mind its liabilities and the future projections." Also read | Distressed assets are another opportunity. Prestige Group is also actively looking for stressed assets and stuck projects as a part of their strategy to expand in Mumbai. "Stressed assets or stuck projects are always ones that you would look at. Obviously, you know, the land parcel has to make sense, where it's located, whether the product makes sense, all of that has to match," Ahmed said. “We've been successful doing it right now. We've done it, when we acquired the Prestige City Mulund out of bankruptcy. We acquired it at a very attractive valuation."