Eagles seek 7th straight win while Rams try to keep pace in crowded NFC West raceAs the first AI agent Hub on ZKsync, A(i)gentFi aims to bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, supporting a new wave of decentralized applications and user-focused solutions. What is A(i)gentFi? A(i)gentFi is a one-stop shop on ZKsync dedicated to the creation and development of AI agents —autonomous AI entities capable of performing complex tasks such as trading, market analysis, and content creation. These agents operate without human intervention, making them powerful tools for innovation in decentralized finance and beyond. Represented by the iconic green apple, A(i)gentFi positions themselves as the "agent of all AI agents," prioritizing real-world applications such as DeFi automation, yield farming, and tokenized AI ownership. By focusing on these areas, A(i)gentFi offers both developers and users practical and impactful solutions to drive AI and blockchain adoption. What Sets A(i)gentFi Apart? A(i)gentFi distinguished themselves from platforms like Virtuals.io by adopting a DeFi-first approach. While Virtuals.io focuses on gaming and entertainment, A(i)gentFi emphasizes utility, scalability, and efficiency in areas such as: DeFi Automation : Streamlining complex DeFi processes for enhanced user experience. : Streamlining complex DeFi processes for enhanced user experience. Revenue Sharing : Implementing mechanisms that reward participants and foster sustainable ecosystem growth. : Implementing mechanisms that reward participants and foster sustainable ecosystem growth. Tokenized AI Ownership: Allowing users to co-own AI agents, fostering innovation and collaboration. In addition, A(i)gentFi incorporates an innovative fee-sharing mechanism, enabling HOLD token stakers to benefit from platform activities. This approach fosters sustainable growth while incentivizing participation across the ecosystem. The $2M Grant Program With the support of ZKsync and Holdstation, A(i)gentFi launched a $2M grant program to... Isabella
Rosenblatt analyst Steve Frankel maintained a Buy rating on Meta Platforms Inc META with a price target of $811 . The stock is currently featured among the best ideas for the first half of 2025, reflecting key themes across Rosenblatt’s research universe. Meta is in the midst of an impressive and durable artificial intelligence-driven growth renaissance, he says. Revenues rose 22% in the first nine months of 2024 after growing 16% in 2023 and dipping 1% in 2022. Also Read: Instagram’s Ad Revenue Could Hit $32 Billion by 2025, Driving Meta’s Growth: Report The growth is principally advertising, which accounts for 98% of sales, and AI-driven. AI is driving up daily usage on Facebook and Instagram, bolstering reel traction and improving ad efficiency. Meta uses AI to adjust ad loads better, improve action sequences tied to targeting and executing ads, and help advertisers create and manage campaigns, Rosenblatt explained. Ad revenue rose 19% in the third quarter of 2024, only 300 bps slower than the 22% growth of the second quarter of 2024, despite an 11.5 percentage point stiffer comparison. From here, comparisons are steadier, suggesting recent traction can continue. Frankel estimates 19% revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2024, within the 12% to 20% guidance. We sustain that growth estimate into 2025. With this revenue growth, Meta has room to absorb more investment. The analyst assumes capex would increase 20% in 2025 to $46.6 billion, nearly flat as a percentage of sales. Hea also expects expense growth of 14% in 2025, accelerating from an 11% rise in 2024, and has adjusted EBITDA margins rising 110 bps to 62.6%. Meta has nearly 3.3 billion people using its family of services daily. Its revenue growth affords more AI investment growth than others, a backdrop allowing AI-driven marketing services to improve more than others. With its business primarily performance marketing, a better marketing mousetrap supports share gains, the analyst says. One risk is global trade volatility. Out-of-region revenue (mainly China and Asia marketers buying ads in the US) was 7% of Meta ad revenue in 2023 and dropped to 5% in the third quarter of 2024. One could imagine a trade war generating disruption once President-elect Trump officially takes office. However, it is not clear that Trump wants that. He may be threatening tariffs to seek concessions. In a trade war, Chinese and Asian marketers like Temu and Shein could also react by sourcing more locally, supporting continued marketing. Meta And TikTok TikTok could be a hedge. If the Supreme Court allows the law requiring a TikTok sale or ban to stand, then TikTok’s fate would rest in Trump’s hands, and he would have the ability to interpret and enforce legislation or push for new legislation. His recent statements of support for TikTok suggest that he believes trade concessions from China could be won in return for keeping the app. Alternatively, a whole-out trade war could result in Trump allowing a TikTok ban to come into effect. Price Action: META stock is up 2.55% at $600.15 at last check Monday. Also Read: Consumer Finance Watchdog Cracks Down on Credit Card Sneaky Fees and False Promises Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.None
MOSCA, Colorado — A handmade sign at the start of a long dirt road in the rural San Luis Valley indicates to visitors that they’ve arrived at the future site of Kosmos Stargazing Resort & Spa . The peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains barely make a dent in the big blue skies above the 40 acres purchased by founder and CEO Gamal Jadue Zalaquett. He aims to transform the land into a resort featuring 20 villas, a spa, a restaurant and a planetarium. “It’s a place of alignment. Kosmos is a place of connection,” Jadue Zalaquett said. “Kosmos, in a way, is a place to heal, and the San Luis Valley has a lot to do with healing.” He bought the property for $11,000 in December 2020. But with glass domes for stargazing and expensive price tags to stay the night, Jadue Zalaquett’s ambitious brainchild falls snugly into the category of “luxury ecotourism.” His site is an ideal spot for admiring constellations and distant galaxies. According to the National Park Service, the nearby Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is considered an International Dark Sky Park. Jadue Zalaquett said the area is a class two location on the Bortle dark-sky scale, which translates to “ truly dark ” skies. The resort’s planetarium will include a 1-meter telescope. In terms of getting visitors to Kosmos, “that’s gonna be the biggest attractor,” Jadue Zalaquett said. Development is still in the early stages, but it’s already garnering attention from the public: More than 12,000 Instagram users follow the resort’s page where project renderings and updates are shared. Kosmos plans to open its first villa early next year, said marketing operations manager Jennifer Geerlings. Although it’s still under construction, the resort has already booked more than 2,000 reservations, she added. “A lot of it, for some people, is the excitement of being the first to be able to stay in an experience like this,” Geerlings said in a phone interview. “There’s really no other resort that’s doing this.” While Jadue Zalaquett put about $500,000 toward getting the project off the ground, a crowdfunding campaign raised $1.9 million, Geerlings said. Donors paid a one-time fee to receive 50% discounts off their reservations for early 2025. So instead of paying the usual $700 nightly rate, they booked at $350 per night, Geerlings said. And after the campaign’s end, people continued to contribute directly via Stripe, which put total revenue from crowdfunding at more than $2 million, Jadue Zalaquett added. So why is it worth it to stay at Kosmos? For Geerlings, the answer is a combination of the villas — with their jacuzzis nestled in glass domes under the stars — and amenities like the planetarium. “You’re able to experience some of the best stargazing. The Milky Way is visible to the naked eye,” Geerlings said. “A planetarium is something that’s never been at a resort before.” In November, director of field operations Auston Duncan stepped over sagebrush and loose hardware to outline the state of construction on the project. An unfinished villa offered a hint of what’s to come. The rectangular building with exposed wooden rafters and newly-installed glass sliding doors will soon house a bedroom and a bathroom. Jeremy Stephen, the founder of Steamboat Springs-based Evolve Construction , built the villa out of hempcrete , which is made of hemp, water and lime. It works as an eco-friendly insulator, helping to mitigate heating and cooling costs and lending itself to the vision of Kosmos as a resort with sustainability in mind. On one side of the villa, a hot tub will be installed. On the other, a dome made out of glass and wood from Ekodome will cover the kitchen and loft area. The development will occur in phases. Next year, 16 stargazing villas (which hold up to four guests) and 4 galaxy villas (which hold up to eight guests) will be constructed, Geerlings said. Every stay includes an hour of a guided stargazing experience and telescope training. In 2026, the amenities will be built out. Those include the Mediterranean-style restaurant and the wellness center with spa features like hyperbaric chambers, a sauna and a cold plunge. In 2027, the planetarium will be added to the resort. To ensure dark skies, guests will park their cars and use electric golf carts to navigate the resort, Jadue Zalaquett said. He mentioned that discussions with consultants on the stargazing center included a NASA representative, who was interested in hosting a mission workshop at Kosmos next year. Both the planetarium and the spa will be open to the public, Geerlings added. All in all, it’s a bold plan. And Kosmos is looking to hire to make it happen. Right now, the business is in search of employees to lead their stargazing experiences. So far, it’s recruited a former Great Sand Dunes ranger, Geerlings said. The team is considering college students from Adams State University in Alamosa as interns. Kosmos will also need to staff resort operations, including housekeeping, security and front desk workers. “We’re gonna try and hire pretty much everyone locally,” Geerlings said. For Jadue Zalaquett, taking on an endeavor like this runs in his blood. He currently lives between Alamosa and Boulder, but Jadue Zalaquett was born in Chile and grew up in Miami. When his family migrated to Chile, they ran hotels. Several paternal relatives work as architects. However, Jadue Zalaquett didn’t initially follow the family business. Instead, he worked in technology startups for almost a decade. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he visited the San Luis Valley. He realized that, although the Great Sand Dunes were located less than a half hour away, tourists could only choose from a few lodging options. So came the idea for Kosmos. And “here I am, back at my roots,” Jadue Zalaquett said.Titans keep losing as coach Brian Callahan tries to show some progress
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was on the verge of backing a 16-week federal abortion ban earlier this year when aides staged an intervention. According to Time magazine's cover story on his selection as its 2024 Person of the Year, Trump's aides first raised concerns in mid-March that the abortion cutoff being pushed by some allies would be stricter than existing law in numerous states. It was seen as a potential political liability amid ongoing fallout over the overturning of Roe v. Wade by a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that includes three justices nominated by Trump in his first term. Trump political director James Blair went to work assembling a slide deck — eventually titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election" — that argued a 16-week ban would hurt the Republican candidate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the magazine reported. “After flipping through Blair’s presentation" on a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump dropped the idea, according to the report. "So we leave it to the states, right?" Trump was quoted as saying. He soon released a video articulating that position. At the time, Trump’s campaign denied that he was considering supporting the 16-week ban, calling it “fake news” and saying Trump planned to “negotiate a deal” on abortion if elected to the White House. Here are other highlights from the story and the president-elect's 65-minute interview with the magazine: Jan. 6 pardons could start in the ‘first nine minutes’ Trump reaffirmed his plans to pardon most of those convicted for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.” Trump said he would look at individuals on a “case-by-case" basis, but that “a vast majority of them should not be in jail.” More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory . More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump is open to holding detained migrants in camps Trump insisted he has the authority to use the military to assist with his promised mass deportations , even though, as his interviewers noted, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country," he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows. And I think in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement is going to need help." Trump did not deny that camps would be needed to hold detained migrants as they are processed for deportation. “Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care," he said. “I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out and I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years.” Trump told Time he does not plan to restore the policy of separating children from their families to deter border crossings, but he did not rule it out. The practice led to thousands of children being separated from their parents and was condemned around the globe as inhumane. “I don’t believe we’ll have to because we will send the whole family back,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.” Musk prioritizes the country over his business interests, Trump insists Trump dismissed the idea that Elon Musk will face conflicts of interest as he takes the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency , an advisory group that Trump has selected him to lead. The panel is supposed to find waste and cut regulations, including many that could affect Musk's wide-ranging interests , which include electric cars, rockets and telecommunications. “I don’t think so," Trump said. “I think that Elon puts the country long before his company. ... He considers this to be his most important project." Trump acknowledges the difficulty of lowering grocery prices Trump lowered expectations about his ability to drive down grocery prices. “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will,” he said. Trump plans ‘virtual closure’ of the Education Department Trump said he is planning “a virtual closure" of the "Department of Education in Washington.” “You’re going to need some people just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools," he said. “But we want to move education back to the states.” Yet Trump has proposed exerting enormous influence over schools. He has threatened to cut funding for schools with vaccine mandates while forcing them to “teach students to love their country" and promote “the nuclear family,” including “the roles of mothers and fathers” and the “things that make men and women different and unique.” Trump offers conflicting answers on future of abortion pills Asked to clarify whether he was committed to preventing the Food and Drug Administration from stripping access to abortion pills , Trump replied, “It’s always been my commitment.” But Trump has offered numerous conflicting stances on the issue, including to Time. Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he would promise that his FDA would not do anything to limit access to medication abortion or abortion pills. "We’re going to take a look at all of that,” he said, before calling the prospect “very unlikely.” “Look, I’ve stated it very clearly and I just stated it again very clearly. I think it would be highly unlikely. I can’t imagine, but with, you know, we’re looking at everything, but highly unlikely. I guess I could say probably as close to ruling it out as possible, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything now.” Trump says US support for Ukraine will be leverage for a deal with Russia Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Russia's invasion , Trump said he would use U.S. support for Kyiv as leverage against Moscow in negotiating an end to the war. “I want to reach an agreement,” he said, “and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.” Does he trust Netanyahu? ‘I don’t trust anybody' Trump would not commit to supporting a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he had previously. “I support whatever solution we can do to get peace," he said. "There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace. It can’t go on where every five years you end up in tragedy. There are other alternatives.” Asked whether he trusted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.” War with Iran? ‘Anything can happen,’ he says Trump would not rule out the possibility of war with Iran during his second term. “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation," he said. Trump mum on conversations with Putin Asked if he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Nov. 5 election, Trump continued to play coy: "I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.” Trump insists he had the votes to confirm Gaetz as attorney general Trump insisted that his bid to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general ”wasn’t blocked. I had the votes (in the Senate) if I needed them, but I had to work very hard.” When the scope of resistance to the former Republican congressman from Florida became clear, Trump said, “I talked to him, and I said, ‘You know, Matt, I don’t think this is worth the fight.'" Gaetz pulled out amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, and Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Cabinet post. Trump is open to changes for childhood vaccines Trump, who has named anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, did not rule out the possibility of eliminating some childhood vaccinations even though they have been proved safe in extensive studies and real world use in hundreds of millions of people over decades and are considered among the most effective public health measures in modern history. Pressed on whether “getting rid of some vaccinations” — neither Trump nor the interviewers specified which ones — might be part of the plan to improve the health of the country, Trump responded: “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.” Trump weighs in on family political dynasty “I think there could be, yeah," Trump said of the prospect of others in his family continuing in his footsteps. He pointed to daughter-in-law Lara Trump , who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and is now being talked about as a potential replacement for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump has chosen for secretary of state. Melania Trump will return to the White House, he says Trump said the former and soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump will be joining him at the White House during second term and will "be active, when she needs to be.” “Oh yes,” he said. “She’s very beloved by the people, Melania. And they like the fact that she’s not out there in your face all the time for many reasons.”Airborne observations identify major source of US landfill methane emissions
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was on the verge of backing a 16-week federal abortion ban earlier this year when aides staged an intervention. According to Time magazine's cover story on his selection as its 2024 Person of the Year, Trump's aides first raised concerns in mid-March that the abortion cutoff being pushed by some allies would be stricter than existing law in numerous states. It was seen as a potential political liability amid ongoing fallout over the overturning of Roe v. Wade by a conservative majority on the Supreme Court that includes three justices nominated by Trump in his first term. Trump political director James Blair went to work assembling a slide deck — eventually titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election" — that argued a 16-week ban would hurt the Republican candidate in the battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the magazine reported. “After flipping through Blair’s presentation" on a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump dropped the idea, according to the report. "So we leave it to the states, right?" Trump was quoted as saying. He soon released a video articulating that position. At the time, Trump’s campaign denied that he was considering supporting the 16-week ban, calling it “fake news” and saying Trump planned to “negotiate a deal” on abortion if elected to the White House. Here are other highlights from the story and the president-elect's 65-minute interview with the magazine: Trump reaffirmed his plans to pardon most of those convicted for their actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. “It’s going to start in the first hour,” he said of the pardons. “Maybe the first nine minutes.” Trump said he would look at individuals on a “case-by-case" basis, but that “a vast majority of them should not be in jail.” More than 1,500 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the riot that left more than 100 police officers injured and sent lawmakers running into hiding as they met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory . More than 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted at trial of charges, including misdemeanor trespassing offenses, assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy. Trump insisted he has the authority to use the military to assist with his promised mass deportations , even though, as his interviewers noted, the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country, and I consider it an invasion of our country," he said. “I’ll only do what the law allows, but I will go up to the maximum level of what the law allows. And I think in many cases, the sheriffs and law enforcement is going to need help." Trump did not deny that camps would be needed to hold detained migrants as they are processed for deportation. “Whatever it takes to get them out. I don’t care," he said. “I hope we’re not going to need too many because I want to get them out and I don’t want them sitting in camp for the next 20 years.” Trump told Time he does not plan to restore the policy of separating children from their families to deter border crossings, but he did not rule it out. The practice led to thousands of children being separated from their parents and was condemned around the globe as inhumane. “I don’t believe we’ll have to because we will send the whole family back,” he said. “I would much rather deport them together, yes, than separate.” Trump dismissed the idea that Elon Musk will face conflicts of interest as he takes the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency , an advisory group that Trump has selected him to lead. The panel is supposed to find waste and cut regulations, including many that could affect Musk's wide-ranging interests , which include electric cars, rockets and telecommunications. “I don’t think so," Trump said. “I think that Elon puts the country long before his company. ... He considers this to be his most important project." Trump lowered expectations about his ability to drive down grocery prices. “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard. But I think that they will,” he said. Trump said he is planning “a virtual closure" of the "Department of Education in Washington.” “You’re going to need some people just to make sure they’re teaching English in the schools," he said. “But we want to move education back to the states.” Yet Trump has proposed exerting enormous influence over schools. He has threatened to cut funding for schools with vaccine mandates while forcing them to “teach students to love their country" and promote “the nuclear family,” including “the roles of mothers and fathers” and the “things that make men and women different and unique.” Asked to clarify whether he was committed to preventing the Food and Drug Administration from stripping access to abortion pills , Trump replied, “It’s always been my commitment.” But Trump has offered numerous conflicting stances on the issue, including to Time. Earlier in the interview, he was asked whether he would promise that his FDA would not do anything to limit access to medication abortion or abortion pills. "We’re going to take a look at all of that,” he said, before calling the prospect “very unlikely.” “Look, I’ve stated it very clearly and I just stated it again very clearly. I think it would be highly unlikely. I can’t imagine, but with, you know, we’re looking at everything, but highly unlikely. I guess I could say probably as close to ruling it out as possible, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to do anything now.” Pressed on whether he would abandon Ukraine in its efforts to stave off Russia's invasion , Trump said he would use U.S. support for Kyiv as leverage against Moscow in negotiating an end to the war. “I want to reach an agreement,” he said, “and the only way you’re going to reach an agreement is not to abandon.” Trump would not commit to supporting a two-state solution, with a Palestinian state alongside Israel, as he had previously. “I support whatever solution we can do to get peace," he said. "There are other ideas other than two state, but I support whatever, whatever is necessary to get not just peace, a lasting peace. It can’t go on where every five years you end up in tragedy. There are other alternatives.” Asked whether he trusted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , he told Time: “I don’t trust anybody.” Trump would not rule out the possibility of war with Iran during his second term. “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation," he said. Asked if he has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Nov. 5 election, Trump continued to play coy: "I can’t tell you. It’s just inappropriate.” Trump insisted that his bid to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general ”wasn’t blocked. I had the votes (in the Senate) if I needed them, but I had to work very hard.” When the scope of resistance to the former Republican congressman from Florida became clear, Trump said, “I talked to him, and I said, ‘You know, Matt, I don’t think this is worth the fight.'" Gaetz pulled out amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations, and Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the Cabinet post. Trump, who has named anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, did not rule out the possibility of eliminating some childhood vaccinations even though they have been proved safe in extensive studies and real world use in hundreds of millions of people over decades and are considered among the most effective public health measures in modern history. Pressed on whether “getting rid of some vaccinations” — neither Trump nor the interviewers specified which ones — might be part of the plan to improve the health of the country, Trump responded: “It could if I think it’s dangerous, if I think they are not beneficial, but I don’t think it’s going to be very controversial in the end.” “I think there could be, yeah," Trump said of the prospect of others in his family continuing in his footsteps. He pointed to daughter-in-law Lara Trump , who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and is now being talked about as a potential replacement for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, whom Trump has chosen for secretary of state. Trump said the former and soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump will be joining him at the White House during second term and will "be active, when she needs to be.” “Oh yes,” he said. “She’s very beloved by the people, Melania. And they like the fact that she’s not out there in your face all the time for many reasons.”Championing Aviation Safety: Riadel Manzano Advocates for Better Support for Aircraft Mechanics
It’s been a rocky year for relations between the Jewish community and Toronto’s municipal government following the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel—which led to an ongoing regional war in the Middle East and repeated anti-Israel demonstrations and attacks on Jewish institutions in Canada. Local and nationwide organizations have urged their elected representatives to demonstrate stronger leadership in condemning antisemitism in Toronto. But the responses they report receiving remain largely lukewarm. Mayor Olivia Chow’s absence at the Oct. 7, 2024, memorial event organized by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto—attended by Ontario premier Doug Ford, federal members of Parliament, provincial lawmakers and some city councillors—amplified the perception that the mayor’s support is lacking. It’s a thread of criticism that started over a year ago when the mayor’s office posted remarks attributed to Chow a few hours after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, which were publicly posted and quickly deleted twice on social media before a final version was settled upon. My earlier tweets on this have been deleted because of the harm and confusion they caused. — Mayor Olivia Chow (@MayorOliviaChow) October 8, 2023 Chow’s handling of her no-show at the memorial did nothing to improve the Jewish community’s confidence in her support, already seen as inconsistent. The office of the mayor offered three separate reasons for her absence, including not having received the invitation. Then came a TV news interview where Chow said “it doesn’t matter” why she missed the commemoration, but she ultimately apologized to the Jewish community. A petition urging Chow to resign for neglecting the Jewish community gathered more than 12,000 signatures during that period. 'I should have been there': Toronto mayor says she regrets not being at Oct. 7 vigil https://t.co/u2xeRK3zvS — CP24 (@CP24) October 13, 2024 The imbroglio over the memorial exemplifies the disappointment many Jewish Torontonians associate with Chow. The sense of insult and political calculus linked to Chow has permeated, despite her apology. Jewish advocacy groups say the community wants to see more leadership from Chow on condemning antisemitism when it shows up in displays of Hamas headbands, or a Hezbollah flag. Toronto police arrested two people on public incitement of hatred charges following a protest in late September where they continued to display the flag of Hezbollah despite officers’ warnings. Chow also skipped the Walk with Israel in early June, which drew an estimated 50,000 people. That same weekend, Chow enthusiastically attended the annual Grilled Cheese Festival in Etobicoke—an appearance publicized a few days later with a few puns. Toronto the gouda! 🧀 I had a feta-stic time at the Grilled Cheese Festival this weekend with @CllrAmberMorley in Etobicoke. Always grate to brie with so many out enjoying their neighbourhoods. It makes our city a cheddar place to live. I mean, better—better place to live. pic.twitter.com/9dX1I0Yjod — Mayor Olivia Chow (@MayorOliviaChow) June 12, 2024 Later in June, Chow marched in the annual Pride parade (she attends regularly), but did not comment when a demonstration over sponsors’ Israeli investments led the parade procession to be halted prematurely—with some of participants and crowds still lining Yonge Street. Some fences mended with mayor The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), which called out Chow’s no-show at the Oct. 7 memorial, met with the mayor, her chief of staff Michal Hay, and a UJA executive, at Chow’s office in October. Michelle Stock, CIJA’s vice-president for Ontario, says she told Chow she wants her to take a tougher, more vocal posture in denouncing antisemitism. The mayor needs to show up more consistently for the Jewish community, says Stock—regardless of perceived political support for Israel. Chow has appeared at a number of major events, including UJA’s emergency rally on Oct. 9, 2023, and a gathering of support following the first of two early Saturday morning gunfire incidents—which took place in May and October outside the empty Bais Chaya Mushka Elementary School in North York. Politicians, including Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Solicitior-General Michael Kerzner, Education Minister Stephen Lecce and Toronto city councillor James Pasternak speak at a rally, May 27, 2024 after a Chabad girls’ school was shot the previous Shabbat. Stock maintains that “[Chow] needs to be clear... the Jewish community in Toronto are her constituents. We are taxpayers... we have a right to have law and order, to have safety in our streets, and feel that we can be openly Jewish and not feel like you have to hide that.” Stock says she’d like to see Chow speak up unequivocally and that the mayor “needs to continue to show presence in the community” and “acknowledge the experience of the Jewish [community] in Toronto,” including demonstrations taking to Jewish neighbourhoods. CIJA’s vice-president for Ontario adds that by not standing with the Jewish community, Chow, who campaigned on diversity and inclusion in her mayoral campaign, is creating the opposite effect. “Hateful chants in [the] streets... terrorist flags at these protests, people dressing up like Hamas... those are unacceptable behaviours, and by her not going out and publicly denouncing these things and being very clear that she doesn’t want to see these things in her street—and taking that leadership position—she’s countering what her brand is about: diversity and inclusion. “She’s emboldening... more division in her city rather than bringing people together to find the common ground... the shared values we all have as Torontonians.” It was an honour to join @thethmuseum this evening for the start of Holocaust Education Week. In the present, we must continue to fight against antisemitism and the fear and terror that feed fascism. Check out events all week: https://t.co/YMRA2zjk1M pic.twitter.com/OcLkb3K7dw — Mayor Olivia Chow (@MayorOliviaChow) November 5, 2024 Despite the Oct. 7 memorial letdown, Stock gives Chow credit for attending the Toronto Holocaust Museum one month later for a tour and discussion on contemporary antisemitism. Social media postings claimed the mayor made a hasty exit partway through the program—a falsehood amplified by independent downtown MP Kevin Vuong without a subsequent correction or apology—but Stock confirms that Chow participated in the entire event as scheduled. “People had an opportunity to voice their concerns with her about what was going on in Toronto, and she gave people a lot of airtime.” Bubble bylaw idea defeated at council It’s not simply that Chow has not appeared consistently at Jewish community events, but that raucous anti-Israel protests have gone on throughout the city, which make some Jews feel protesters have gotten a free pass. ‘Bubble zone’ legislation which would have prevented protests near religious institutions was introduced to city council in October 2023—but councillors narrowly voted down the bylaw the following May, instead asking the city manager to devise an action plan and refer it to the police. (Similar legislation has been passed in municipalities near Toronto, including Vaughan and Brampton.) ‘Keeping Toronto Safe from Hate’ came to the police board as a draft proposal in September. Following a unanimous Oct. 12 vote on a motion by Chow—one year after council adopted an initial motion of the same name around anti-hate measures—the city’s website launched a resource page for the initiative. Toronto’s greatest strength is its diversity. If you call Toronto home, you are welcome here. There is space for you. There is no place for Islamophobia, antisemitism or hate. Learn more about what the City is doing to stop hate and build peace at https://t.co/JlIRhk2YqD pic.twitter.com/9OaURrUBLe — City of Toronto (@cityoftoronto) February 27, 2024 The plan covers six categories: infrastructure, legislation, community safety and funding, public education and awareness, incident management and response, and increased collaboration between the City of Toronto and Toronto Police Service. The plan does not propose new municipal departments or entities, and instead draws on the city’s existing diversity, equity, inclusion, and community safety efforts, and policies “promoting respectful conduct, inclusion and an environment free from hate.” In a statement from Chow’s office to The CJN, the mayor noted her support for the Jewish community included affirming a council motion in June from uptown York Centre city councillor James Pasternak—one of four of Toronto’s elected municipal politicians who is Jewish, along with Josh Matlow, Dianne Saxe and newcomer Rachel Chernos Lin—which was called “Fostering Belonging, Community and Inclusion, and Combating Hate in Toronto.” The city committed to relaunch its anti-hate public education campaigns displayed on city-owned bus shelters and benches, maximize safety on city streets through urban design, explore additional city funding for gathering spaces, and direct city staff to review the graffiti management plan to ensure there is a rapid response to hate graffiti. Stickers affixed to the backs of City of Toronto street signs near Ossington Avenue in Toronto’s west end, earlier in 2024. (Credit: Jonathan Rothman) Chow also signed a declaration from multifaith coalition Rally for Humanity, which Pasternak introduced at the most recent monthly meeting of city council. Chow told The CJN in a statement she is committed to the safety and well being of Toronto’s Jewish community. “There is no place for antisemitism in our city—full stop.” This month, the police board passed a long-term hiring plan designed to boost the number of officers. “This plan is responsive to the needs of Torontonians, including members of the Jewish community who have felt unsafe in our city over the last year,” wrote Chow, saying she’ll work with other levels of government to fund the plan. Budget chief Shelley Carroll, a councillor and member of the police board, confirmed in a written response that the Jewish community was among those helping to “shape [the city’s] priorities” during pre-budget consultations that ended Oct. 31. Speaking to The CJN last month, Pasternak—whose riding has a significant Jewish population—called bubble legislation an important step. But leadership and law enforcement are the key issues, he says. “Our big problem is we are not getting universal condemnation and the strong law enforcement aspect that we need to stop... these hateful mobs. One of the most severe consequences [of those] since Oct. 7 is that they have left the city very vulnerable when it comes to law and order. “From the Jewish community point of view, we want to see [TPS] get the resources they need to keep our city safe, to keep our community safe.” Pasternak thanked community leaders when he introduced the declaration at council on Nov. 13, saying “government alone cannot do all the things necessary to keep the city liveable, safe and free from hate, and one of high purpose, through social cohesion.” He told The CJN that protest bubble zones are a “crucial part of keeping our faith-based institutions safe” by creating spaces protesters cannot access. But his colleague Josh Matlow of the midtown St. Paul’s riding–where the Jewish population is also significant— says that “community safety zones,” or bubble zones, and similar measures do not resolve the challenges the city’s Jewish community is facing, which Matlow says are too important for “symbolic gestures... that don’t mean, or achieve, anything.” The initial bylaw was too broadly worded to be enforceable, he said. “It didn’t focus in on the real problem, which is when members of the Jewish community are being harassed and intimidated by protesters. “In many cases before Oct. 7, and certainly since, there’s been a heightened level of insecurity in Toronto’s Jewish community when it comes to their safety. Jewish Torontonians want to feel “that the city and the police are doing everything they can to keep them safe,” said Matlow, including protecting Jewish spaces like schools, synagogues, and community centres, and enforcing existing laws. “It’s really important that whenever any one of our communities is subject to hate and harassment and intimidation, whether that be Black, LGBTQ2S+, Asian, Muslim, or Jewish community, that leaders take a stand and make it very clear we don’t accept that... we stand with the community that’s being victimized. “And what I hear from the Jewish community is that far too often they feel that they’re not treated that way.” The new action plan is taking important steps, he says, with improved coordination between police and the city. “The police have come a long way, and I think they’ve adapted their approach, working with the city. There’s still a lot of work to do, but I think that things have come a long way.” the “yes” vote prevented (and was against) the request for bubble zones. It supported a do nothing approach to the mayhem in our city. https://t.co/wVvKBTF6gD pic.twitter.com/78SC398DvA — James Pasternak (@PasternakTO) May 24, 2024 Josh Matlow, meanwhile, continues to caution that the focus on places of worship—including several prominent Jewish institutions in his own ward—won’t entirely address the issue. “The evidence has shown us that the vast majority of incidents where Jews in our city have been harassed, have been intimidated, have actually not been at synagogues,” he said. “It’s, sadly, almost everywhere else: it’s been in parks... it’s been at Jewish-owned businesses. “The reality is there’s no such thing as a safety [zone] in real life. What we need to do is actually address the surge in antisemitic incidents throughout our city... and that’s not as simple as suggesting that we’re going to create some magic safety bubble.” The view from downtown streets For some Jewish residents, there’s a sense that their local councillors have been ineffective in denouncing antisemitism, especially when it shows up as violent and anti-Israel images and graffiti. Joanna Salit, who lives in the west-end riding of Davenport, where Alejandra Bravo is the city councillor, started a WhatsApp group for concerned residents, saying the graffiti on the streets that is violently anti-Israel makes her and others unsafe. Salit initially met with Bravo in August, followed by another meeting in late September where she was joined by about 20 other concerned members of the Davenport group. Posters and graffiti the community has found threatening and offensive include one recent flyer seen near Oakwood Collegiate, featuring “resistance” language alongside caricatures of women bearing assault rifles. Salit says she’s tried to get Bravo to make public statements addressing harmful messages littering the area. Toronto Police Service launched a web form for reporting hate-motivated graffiti in November last yearin the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks—and, in March 2024, TPS statistics showed 342 hate-related graffiti occurrences. In a statement to The CJN, Bravo wrote that her office directs residents who report graffiti and posters to refer to the city’s process for removal under existing bylaws, and that TPS investigates reports of hate propaganda and hate-related incidents. “Individual city councillors and their offices do not have the authority to direct bylaw enforcement or police enforcement activities,” she wrote. “While views within Davenport and Toronto may diverge on global events, one thing is clear to me: Antisemitism is a scourge, and it is unacceptable. Hate speech and intimidation of any kind are unacceptable. I unequivocally condemn the recent occurrences of bomb threats, gunshots, and vandalism at Jewish institutions including synagogues and schools.” Bravo also commented after an online video showed an antisemitic rant outside a mechanic’s garage on Geary Avenue. She recently denounced the attack on a mother outside a Chabad of Midtown pre-school, which police are investigating. “Antisemitic hatred and violence is abhorrent and unacceptable in our communities,” Bravo posted online after the attack in November. Salit has emailed Bravo and Chow photos of the posters that call for “resistance” with assault rifles, and says she wants to see a strong stance against those, too. A poster in Davenport, in the west end of Toronto, seen near a high school in the district. (submitted) “She [Bravo] really needs to be standing up for all constituents,” said Salit. “And say that Jew hatred in Davenport is not OK.” Sarah Margles is a Davenport resident who attended the meeting at City Hall with Bravo, and says the failure in leadership she sees shows the need to establish and uphold common values in the city. She says her city councillor’s office sent a warm reply to her offer to further discuss subjects like antisemitism on the left wing of the political spectrum, though Bravo’s office has not yet taken her up on the offer. Margles’ sense is that what’s playing out in Davenport is part of a wider dynamic. “The environment is so polarized, and not just on this issue,” she said. “Jews here are feeling scared... feeling attacked because of what’s happening over there. That’s not cool. It’s also true about the experience of Muslims and Arabs and Palestinians who are feeling attacked here by Jews and the pro-Israel movement, and they’re also feeling attacked here because of what’s happening there. And that’s also not cool.” City of Toronto officials, she says, are “also just dealing with rats and power outages... the real city things.” Responses to posters, stickers, and graffiti in Toronto’s west end, including in Davenport, in 2023 and 2024 (Jonathan Rothman photos) When elected officials see signs around that say “resistance at all costs” with images “with a bunch of women holding guns,” they see that with different eyes than the Jewish community does, she said. “The city needs a comprehensive way to look at ‘How do we deal with international clashes that blow up in our city even though the actual things are happening elsewhere, but the sentiment and the emotions and the fear and the anger are exploding here?’” Margles says there’s a lack of leadership in taking that on. “I don’t see them being clear about ‘Here’s what needs to happen in Toronto. We need to figure out how to not take our frustrations out on each other [if we are] upset about what’s happening around the world.” On some of the posters and graffiti on Toronto , exchanges of duelling counter-narratives between ideological opponents lead to erasing the previous message and replacing it with a response, be it to posters, stickers, handbills, or graffiti, including in Davenport, in the year-plus since the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and ensuing war. (Jonathan Rothman photos) Along with standing against antisemitism, and Islamophobia, she says, there’s often disagreement on the line between political advocacy and discrimination. “We’re going to have to figure out how to carve those lines around ‘When is political advocacy tipping into discrimination or harassment of any group?’ And those policies need to be developed robustly and they need to be applied equitably to everyone.”All of the strikes at European airports this winter – find out if you are affected
TPG in talks to acquire solar firm Altus Power, sources say
Hyderabad: To encourage people to connect with nature and make them aware of the importance of forests, the Telangana Forest Development Corporation Ltd (TGFDC) is organising “Rock Bay Nature Camp” at the Forestrek Park of Manchirevula in Chilkur Reserve Forest under the brand name “Deccan Woods & Trails.” The Friday night overnight camping experience is provided at a fully established campsite for nature lovers, school and college students in an eco-friendly way. School children hailing from Radiant High School of Naspur in Mancherial district enjoyed the first overnight-stay nature camp which was launched on Friday, December 13. It was supervised by TGFDC FRO eco-tourism S Srinivas, projects manager of eco-tourism K Suman and head naturalist Akhil among other staff. The campers assembled at the park’s entrance where they were briefed about the scheduled events, timings, and the do’s and don’ts. The camp started with a nature walk along with an explanation of the uses of various forest trees. The participants were taken to adventurous activities like rock climbing, rappelling, commando-net and sky-walk. The school children were given a demo on how to pitch a tent and remove it. The participants pitched their tents at the campsite where a bonfire was organised, along with a few events that the participants enjoyed. On Saturday morning the children were taken for a bird-walk and trekking. The campers were provided bird-walk brochures and binoculars to identify the birds they could see through the various hillocks in the park. Team building activities like the roller-coaster, number stamping, balloon train, and transporting the water were held. “Our aim is to make the participants connect with nature and know the importance of forests, as many were lacking it. TGFDC will organise only alcohol-prohibited camps, where every family can participate and take immense pleasure in the company of nature,” executive director of eco-tourism Ranjeet Nayak told Siasat.comRepublican U.S. Senator Rand Paul publicly criticized the notion of utilizing the military to conduct mass deportations of illegal immigrants in response to President-elect Donald Trump's recent signals. Speaking on CBS's 'Face the Nation,' Paul firmly stated, 'You don't do it with the Army because it's illegal.' The senator pointed to a 19th century law that restricts federal troops from engaging in domestic law enforcement unless Congress authorizes it. While Paul supports deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records, he insists that civilian law enforcement is more appropriate and constitutionally obliged to conduct such actions with respect to the Fourth Amendment. Paul further emphasized this stance would influence his Senate vote regarding Trump's Department of Homeland Security nominee. As Trump prepares policy plans for large-scale deportations, Paul, alongside some other Republicans, questions military involvement, advocating for federal agencies to undertake these duties instead. (With inputs from agencies.)An incident in which fish heads were allegedly poured over a bus driver on an evening public service is now the subject of a police investigation. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue ACT Policing confirmed it had received a report about the Thursday, November 14, incident this week and was now investigating the circumstances. The incident was cited by the Transport Workers Union as part of the reason behind its decision to call a snap unprotected strike on Friday, November 15, which took all public bus services off the road for a day. Drivers have also been told they will have pay deducted for the strike, with transport officials saying the government was bound by workplace laws. Transport Workers Union ACT sub-branch secretary Klaus Pinkas last week said one driver had a "bag of fish heads poured on them" on Thursday. Transport Canberra buses. Picture by Karleen Minney "Basically the bus drivers have had enough. We are screaming for help from Transport Canberra for assaults on our drivers. There has been no reaction from people in Transport Canberra," he said on the morning of the strike. Transport Canberra later tacitly confirmed it was aware of the incident involving fish heads and that it had taken place on a regular route service rather than a school bus. The Transport Workers Union had claimed drivers were experiencing "more than 40 assaults ... each month". But while nearly 70 incidents on Canberra's public bus network were reported a month on average in the past year, official figures showed , fewer than four incidents a month involved physical violence. The government's most recent figures showed the vast majority of reported incidents involved verbal abuse of drivers and staff, and other unruly behaviour onboard services. The figures for September and October have not been published because authorities are yet to consult with the union about them, Transport Canberra said. Those figures are expected to be available in December. New safety screens will be trialled on Transport Canberra's bus fleet with samples to be presented to drivers for feedback in the next fortnight, transport officials have said. De-escalation training for all staff will be made available from February and Transport Canberra will seek budget funding for transit officers in the new year. The Transport Workers Union this week welcomed Transport Canberra's commitments to improve driver safety following the strike. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Jasper Lindell Assembly Reporter Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter. Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter. More from ACT Politics Police will investigate alleged bus driver fish head assault 15m ago No comment s Health authorities explore how meet 'extraordinary' demand surge with static staffing 15m ago No comment s 'A bad system will beat a good person': massive restructure for ACT health system No comment s 'Troubling': Audit finds transparency problems with how levy is spent No comment s This judge said nothing wrong about rape trials. So why is everyone so outraged? No comment s Geocon's full plans for Phillip pool revealed - 286 units are just the start No comment s Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... WEEKDAYS The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Loading... DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading... 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