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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 23 (ANI): Veteran director and screenwriter Shyam Benegal has passed away at the age of 90. He breathed his last today at 6:38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central, where he was undergoing treatment for chronic kidney disease. From Chiranjeevi to Akshay Kumar, actors expressed their grief over the passing away of the legendary filmmaker. Taking to X, actor Chiranjeevi wrote, "Deeply saddened at the departure of Shri Shyam Benegal,one of the finest film makers and great intellectuals of our country. He discovered & nurtured some of the brightest film talents of India. His films, biographies and documentaries form part of India's greatest cultural treasure!! A fellow Hyderabadi & former Rajya Sabha member, Benegal Sab's masterful works will always be held in great esteem in Indian Cinema! Rest In Peace Sir!!" Also Read | Shyam Benegal Dies at 90: Tributes Pour In for Veteran Filmmaker; 'Master Storyteller Who Redefined Cinema, Inspired Generations'. https://x.com/KChiruTweets/status/1871212658189541526 Bollywood star Akshay Kumar also mourned the demise of the veteran filmmaker and wrote, "Pained to know of Shyam Benegal ji's demise. One of the finest filmmakers in our country, truly a legend. Om Shanti" Also Read | 'Aaj Tak Samajh Mein Nahi Aaya, Bhai Ne Block Kyun Kiya': Rahul Vaidya Still Clueless Why Virat Kohli Blocked Him on Instagram (Watch Video). https://x.com/akshaykumar/status/1871211401798426843 "He created 'the new wave' cinema. #shyambenegal will always be remembered as the man that changed the direction of Indian Cinema with films like Ankur, Manthan and countless others. He created stars out great actors like Shabama Azmi and Smita Patil. Farewell my friend and guide," filmmaker Shekhar Kapur wrote on X. https://x.com/shekharkapur/status/1871202534871965704 Veteran actor Anupam Kher said he was deeply saddened to know about the sad demise of the legendary filmmaker. "He was the messiah for actors, writers and technicians of alternative cinema in #India. He told stories differently. When I went to meet him to ask for a role during the making of #Mandi, he looked at me and said, "I don't have anything substantial for you in this film. And I don't think you should do a smaller role! Why don't you wait. May be something substantial will come your way!" And when #Saaransh happened he was extremely happy for me!! Goodbye #ShyamBabu. Thanks for your brilliance and generosity. Will miss you and your infectious smile." https://www.instagram.com/p/DD7arlMCS3L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link For Manoj Bajpayee, it is a "heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema." "Shyam Benegal wasn't just a legend, he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations. Working with him in Zubeidaa was a transformative experience for me, exposing me to his unique style of storytelling & nuanced understanding of performances. I'll forever be grateful for the lessons I learned under his direction. It was an absolute honor to have had the opportunity to work with him. His legacy will live on in the stories he told and the lives he touched. Rest in peace Shyam Babu, Om Shanti" https://x.com/BajpayeeManoj/status/1871216343724265863 Filmmaker Subhash Ghai remembered the late filmmaker and called him an inspiration for young generation. "The Pioneer master of indian parallel cinema shri # SHAM BENEGAL is no more with us but his teachings inspirations n definitions of cinema with social issues will always remain with us n younger generations of film makers - he has been our mentor n founder architect of all the courses in film making at #WHISTLINGWOODS since 2006 - specially to me in my growth as mainstream film maker.Sir you will always live with us as a master n guide both in the growth of indian cinema. Your contribution in indian cinema is invaluable for good.RIP. WE LOVE YOU ALWAYS. WITH GRATITUDE" https://www.instagram.com/p/DD7a9qeI1qJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Director Karan Johar wrote on his Instagram stories, "RIP Sir, Thank you for your Cinema... for stories that shaped incredible talent and for pushing boundaries and creating pride in Indian Cinema." Kajol expressed grief over the demise of the filmmaker and wrote, "Deeply saddened by the loss of legendary Shyam Benegal. His contribution to Indian cinema are immeasurable and his legacy will live on through his incredible body of work". "Much will be written about Shyam Benegal but for me not many talk about the fact that there was a lament in his films and a sadness about the fact we were not living in the best of all possible Worlds," wrote filmmaker Sudhir Mishra. https://x.com/IAmSudhirMishra/status/1871210831024935020 Benegal's films, including Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, and Bhumika, established him as a pioneer of the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s. Benegal was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times and received the V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. Born on December 14, 1934, in a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family in Hyderabad, Benegal collaborated extensively with actors from FTII and NSD, including Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Amrish Puri.His films left an indelible impact on audiences, addressing relevant socio-political themes with remarkable depth. His most recent project, Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), was an India-Bangladesh co-production depicting the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. Shot extensively in both countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, the biographical film added another feather to his illustrious cap. In addition to feature films, Benegal contributed significantly to documentaries and television. His iconic series Bharat Ek Khoj and Samvidhaan remain benchmarks in Indian television. He also served as the Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 1980 to 1986 and was a member of prestigious juries, including the 14th Moscow International Film Festival (1985) and the 35th National Film Awards (1988). (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six Premier League games by a frustrating goalless draw against away-day strugglers Brentford. Albion dominated for large periods on a foggy evening at the Amex Stadium and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken also made a string of important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Thomas Frank’s visitors a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Brighton have plummeted from second place to mid-table amid a poor run of form which has increased scrutiny on head coach Fabian Hurzeler. Seagulls chief executive Paul Barber called for perspective from fans in his programme notes after revealing he revealed emails “full of doom and gloom” following the recent 3-1 home defeat to rivals Crystal Palace. Enciso, one of two players recalled by Hurzeler following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, almost gave Albion a dream start. A poor pass from Bees goalkeeper Flekken was intercepted by Carlos Baleba and, following a neat layoff from Joao Pedro, Paraguay forward Enciso curled against the right post. Brentford arrived in Sussex with the worst away record in the division, having previously taken a solitary point from 24 available this term. Flekken saved well from Baleba and then collected a tame header from the unmarked Enciso before the away side thought they had snatched a 13th-minute lead. After being slipped in by Mads Roerslev at the end of a swift counter-attack, Wissa thumped high into the net beyond Seagulls keeper Bart Verbruggen only to be ruled marginally offside. Flekken made further saves from Brajan Gruda and Matt O’Riley before hurting himself keeping out a deflected Kaoru Mitoma cross and being replaced by 23-year-old Iceland international Valdimarsson. Brentford remained on the back foot and, aside from Wissa’s disallowed effort, offered little going forward in a one-sided opening period which somehow ended level. Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke produced a crucial block to deny Wissa as the west London club began the second half brightly before Christian Norgaard’s ambitious effort deflected wide amid groans from increasingly restless home fans. Hurzeler responded with a triple change, introducing Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh in place of O’Riley, Gruda and Mitoma. Albion forward Pedro then escaped punishment in the 76th minute after swinging an arm at Bees substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact before defender Ben Mee became the second visiting player to depart injured. The introduction of Solly March in the 88th minute for his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in October last year briefly lifted the mood on the terraces. But, following a frantic five minutes of added time, some Seagulls supporters vented their displeasure at full-time as their club’s wait for victory goes on.
Miriam Gluyas has been up since 4am in the Melbourne morning to make it here for our lunch, which will not trouble this masthead’s budget. She is warm and bright in a tomato-red cardigan, fitting apparel for the Commissioner of the Salvation Army. Not for us, a flash restaurant in Sydney’s down-town. Gluyas, who is “65 but feels 35”, has invited me to dine as the organisation’s clients do – modestly and communally. We are at William Booth House, a Salvos-run rehabilitation facility in Surry Hills. It is poised on a hip patch of Sydney real estate, amid minimalist clothing boutiques and cafes where the baristas are extremely serious about coffee. It would be worth a fortune, but like nearby Foster House, a facility for the homeless, it is badly in need of refurbishment. “We want to give people who use our services some dignity,” Gluyas tells me. “For that we need to upgrade. So we are going to donors and the government to seek support.” The lunchroom is a cheerful, stainless-steel kitchen, cafeteria-style affair, staffed by residents and scattered with rehab attendees, one of whom sits next to Miriam and chats easily to her. We serve ourselves. On the menu is a Greek-style grilled chicken wrap with yoghurt sauce and salad. We drink tap water from mugs. It’s simple and delicious. Gluyas is the Salvos’ Big Cheese – the head of an organisation with 8000 employees, about $735 million in property assets and a net income of $22.9 million, according to the December 2023 Annual Report. But she does not have Big Cheese-energy. She also does not get paid Big Cheese-bucks – her pay packet is about $500 a week. Sure, she gets the use of a house and a vehicle thrown in, but I cannot think of any other boss who draws a salary of $26,000 a year. It’s radically counter-cultural. “I don’t like a command-and-control leadership,” Gluyas says. “I like a leadership that says, ‘Let’s come together, let’s wrestle and get to the best outcome’.” A structural flaw of the lunch interview is the fact that the interviewee has to do almost all the talking, and doesn’t get a chance to eat. But that’s not my problem. I begin with asking Miriam about her own background, which she says was as obliviously happy as they come – so much so, that she says she “probably didn’t even realise that people went through difficult stuff”. “I would call myself very blessed to have grown up in a family where you could be anything, do anything.” She was raised in Ballarat, with loving parents and grandparents, the eldest of three siblings, in a strongly Salvation-Army household, going back generations to her Scottish forebears. She barracked for the Geelong Cats and attended Clarendon Presbyterian Ladies College. “It didn’t work,” she quips, meaning the “Ladies” part. Her mother May was a ten-pound Scottish migrant who ran her own small businesses, including a babywear shop and a ladies’ apparel store. Her father, Les, was a builder. “I think my parents were ahead of their time, but I didn’t realise it,” Gluyas says. “They both worked. They always said to me, ‘Be whatever you want. Do whatever you want’.” The family was close-knit but full of robust kitchen table debate, especially about politics. Her father Les was always Gluyas’ chief sparring partner. Now aged 88, he still is. I ask what the fault lines of their discussions are. “He would come from the very white ... there’s only one side of politics for him,” Gluyas says carefully. “So we would debate about that, especially when I was working at Auburn with asylum seekers and refugees. We would probably debate about most things.” Gluyas wanted to be a professional golfer or a sports teacher but ended up training as a Salvation Army officer, graduating aged 24 in 1983. She has worked “all over NSW and Queensland”, but her career highlights were “planting” (starting up) a new church in Newcastle in the mid-1990s, running a church in Auburn in Sydney’s western suburbs in the 2000s, and a three-year mission in Papua New Guinea in the early 2010s. The Auburn church attracted congregants from 26 different nations, many of them refugees and asylum seekers. There was also a cohort of methadone users. Gluyas learnt that years of drug abuse can ruin teeth, which in turn can result in self-esteem issues and social rejection. So the Salvos offered dental care. “Beautifully, one of the dentists out there said, ‘Everything would change if they could get their teeth back’,” Gluyas recounts. “So he would redo their teeth and to see them come back and say ‘Finally, I am game enough to smile and get a job!’” One of Gluyas’ most memorable clients at the Auburn centre was a young girl from Sierra Leone. “She had been in two refugee camps where she was not sure if she would survive,” Miriam says. “When she arrived in Australia, she was placed in Year 10, but she was years behind in her schooling.” With support and tuition from the Salvation Army, she finished the HSC, went on to university and is now a registered nurse. “I remember sitting at a table with someone once and people were saying, ‘Those people should have to learn English before they come here’, and I remember reacting and saying, ‘How dare you say that? You don’t know their stories’,” Gluyas says. “But then I had to stop and think, ‘I didn’t know their stories before either’. If you don’t know, you don’t know.” Gluyas has managed a few nibbles of her lunch before I hit her with a big question – I ask her what the voice of God sounds like to her. She answers by telling me about her mother. When Gluyas was working in Papua New Guinea, her mother, who suffered from dementia towards the end of her life, used to phone and beg her daughter to come home. Gluyas was in knots about what to do, until one night as she was jogging around the Salvos’ compound, God spoke to her. “He said, ‘I never want you to worry about a title or a position any more. Go home and look after your mum’.” Gluyas did what she was told, and got another seven years with her mother, but when her mum died in 2021 during lockdown, it was “incredibly sad” and Gluyas had “a little argument with God”. “I said, ‘You could have waited because I would really have liked to be there with my dad at her funeral’,” she says. “But then I thought, ‘It is what it is, and many other people have been through the same thing’.” Gluyas is too nice, too clever and too unassuming to bite on any questions about politics. But she says the impact of the cost of living crisis is “huge”, and is forcing people to make impossible choices between paying power bills and buying food. “It’s just becoming overwhelming, like a blanket over people, they think, ‘How will I do this?’” Last week, the Salvation Army put out a press release saying it expected this Christmas to be the hardest in its 140-year history in terms of the volume and widespread nature of need across the country. Gluyas says the Salvos are seeing “people who have never come before and are actually embarrassed to come”. Having seen the effects of gambling addiction, she supports cashless gambling cards and banning gambling advertisements. “It’s all right to say at the end of the Footy Tab ad, ‘You are likely to lose’ or whatever, but I think, ‘Why bother?’” While some faith groups want to retain exemptions to anti-discrimination laws, the Salvation Army has a formal “Commitment to Inclusion” which encompasses “people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status”. “I think there is a massive degree of loneliness,” Gluyas says of the Salvos’ mission. “A lot of people come into our centres because they’re lonely, and they’re after real community.” By now I have polished off my chicken wrap and Gluyas has barely touched hers, and I do start to feel bad about it. Gluyas is so thoroughly equable and kind that it is starting to rub off on me. I tell her I worry she will be hungry later. “That’s fine!” she says. “It’s totally fine.” She takes a few more bites before we make her work again, this time to pose for the photographer. Ghoulishly desperate to discover Gluyas’ dark side, I ask her if she ever feels despondent. “Look, I am a pretty positive, upbeat person,” she says. She pauses for a moment to reflect, and then says that the only thing she gets despondent about is “attitudes”. Characteristically, she refrains from mentioning the people whose attitudes sadden her. “You have to hear the story behind the person, and then you’ll start to think differently,” she says. “Why is someone lying in the doorway? What is their story? How did they end up getting there? You will usually find a pretty powerful story there.”
US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people Federal officials say the United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said that federally required tallies taken across the country in January found that more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless. That increase comes on top of a 12% increase in 2023, which HUD blamed on soaring rents and the end of pandemic assistance. Among the most concerning trends was a nearly 40% rise in family homelessness. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Israeli troops burn northern Gaza hospital after forcibly removing staff and patients, officials say DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza's Health Ministry says Israeli troops have stormed one of the last hospitals operating in the territory's north on Friday and forced many of the staff and patients outside. Then they had to remove their clothes in winter weather. It was the latest assault on Kamal Adwan Hospital. Parts of it were set on fire. Staff say it has been hit multiple times in the past three months by Israeli troops waging an offensive against Hamas fighters in surrounding neighborhoods. Israel's military says Hamas uses the hospital as a base. It did not provide evidence, and hospital officials have denied it. Azerbaijani and U.S. officials suggest plane that crashed may have been hit by weapons fire U.S. and Azerbaijani officials have said weapons fire may have brought down an Azerbaijani airliner that crashed on Wednesday, killing 38 people. The statements from Rashad Nabiyev and White House national security spokesman John Kirby on Friday raised pressure on Russia. Officials in Moscow have said a drone attack was underway in the region that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was destined for but have not addressed statements from aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian attack. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to Chechnya on Wednesday when it crashed, killing 38 people and leaving all 29 survivors injured. Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has ruled that the Georgia state Senate can subpoena Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. It's part of a inquiry into whether Willis has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram is giving Willis the chance to contest whether lawmakers’ demands are overly broad before Willis responds. A Republican-led committee was formed earlier this year and sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify during its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. Willis argued that the committee didn’t have the power to subpoena her. In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has a nearly total abortion ban and a porous safety net for mothers and young children. GOP state leaders in Tennessee and other states that banned abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 argue that they are bolstering services for families. Recent research and an analysis by The Associated Press has found that from the time a Tennessee woman gets pregnant, she faces greater obstacles to a healthy pregnancy, a healthy child and a financially stable family life than the average American mom. Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic 'forever chemicals' Maryland is suing the company that produces the waterproof material Gore-Tex. State officials say the company's leaders kept using so-called “forever chemicals” long after learning about serious health risks. The federal complaint alleges Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates polluted the air and water around 13 facilities in northeastern Maryland with chemicals that have been linked to certain cancers, reproductive issues and high cholesterol. They’re nearly indestructible and can build up in various environments, including the human body. The company stopped using the harmful chemicals in 2014 and says it’s working with state regulators on testing and cleanup efforts. Man indicted in burning death of woman inside a New York City subway train, prosecutors say NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on state charges. A prosecutor announced Sebastian Zapeta’s indictment at a court hearing Friday. The development comes days after Zapeta’s arrest and subsequent police questioning in which they say he identified himself in photos and surveillance video showing the fire being lit. The indictment will be under seal until Jan. 7. He remains jailed. Federal immigration officials say the 33-year-old Zapeta is from Guatemala and entered the U.S. illegally. Authorities are continuing to work to identify the victim. Alex Ovechkin is on track to break Wayne Gretzky's NHL career goals record Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is chasing the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Ovechkin entered the season 42 goals short of breaking a record that long seemed unapproachable. He is set to play again Saturday at the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing more than a month with a broken left fibula. Ovechkin was on pace to get to 895 sometime in February before getting injured. At 868, he his 27 goals away from passing Gretzky.
Loneliness has become so prevalent that the U.S. Surgeon General referred to loneliness and isolation as an epidemic affecting productivity and engagement in schools, workplaces, and civic organizations. According to the 2023 Work in America Survey by the American Psychological Association, 26% of employees — both working in offices and remotely — reported feeling lonely and isolated at work. With 167 million people in the United States’ labor force as of May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are clearly many lonely people sitting behind computer screens and along factory lines. Jennice Chewlin, owner of Chewlin Group, a NH-based consultancy focused on improving workplace well-being through training, coaching, and strategy development, says many of those people may be hiding their feelings of loneliness. Creating a workplace culture of belonging is crucial, she says. “If you want to improve workplace wellbeing and reduce loneliness start with belonging,” she says, citing a recent American Psychological Association report. “Twenty percent of respondents to an APA survey said they did not feel like they belonged at work when asked.” From a financial perspective, loneliness often results in disengaged employees, lower productivity and decreased performance, costing businesses an estimated $154 billion annually in stress-related absenteeism alone in 2019, according to the Cigna Group’s Loneliness Index. Stuart Lustig, the national medical executive for behavioral health strategy and product design at Evernorth, a division of the Cigna Group, says when people are feeling lonely and disconnected, whether they work for a small or a large company, those employees are more likely to quit. “This happens when people feel disconnected from others and with their work,” he says. “We’re social beings by nature and want to feel connected and be with others at least some of the time.” Tackling loneliness post-COVID Loneliness became a huge problem during the COVID-19 pandemic, when offices across the country closed, sending people home to bedrooms, dining rooms and whatever spaces they could find. Chewlin says COVID exposed problems with workplace wellbeing that had been simmering for years. “There was a need to identify and prevent burn out,” she says. Chewlin, whose background is in public health, started Chewlin Group in 2022. “COVID taught workplaces they can’t keep doing business as usual and for those companies that made employee wellbeing a priority, they’re seeing the most benefit today.” And even as companies and workers adjusted to the “new normal” following the pandemic, loneliness in the workplace remains as prevalent as ever. Maggie Pritchard, CEO of Lakes Region Mental Health Center in Laconia and president of the NH Community Behavioral Health Association, says, “Feelings of loneliness at work are on the rise post-pandemic, both for our mental health workforce and the patients we see, [and] we likely won’t know the full extent of the crisis for years.” Remote work since the pandemic created more flexibility for employees and allowed businesses to reduce travel and office expenses, but it also affects peoples’ ability to stay connected, says Pritchard. “Remote work significantly changed workplace culture. People experienced unprecedented isolation,” she says. Sue Drolet, chief human resource officer for Lakes Region Mental Health, says workforce flexibility that provides more autonomy can also lead to isolation for some people. “If someone is feeling lonely at work, especially if they work remotely, they should reach out to a co-worker, schedule a meeting, phone call, or lunch,” she says. “There is a balance that can be achieved.” Understanding and combating workplace loneliness Being proactive is one way to combat workforce loneliness. At Mainstay Technologies in Manchester, talking about loneliness and wellbeing is built into the company’s monthly checkins with its 100 employees. President Jason Golden says Mainstay creates opportunities for connection and belonging. “We are very intentional about creating systems of communication,” Golden says. “You can’t force connections, but you can force opportunities.” Mainstay holds lunch and learn sessions allowing employees to connect with each other and offers quarterly outings, including to Funtown Splashtown USA in Maine. Golden and his team are aware of the potential for burnout, particularly for service companies like Mainstay. “We watch overtime, including billable client hours, to make sure there’s a good work-life balance,” he says. “And we’ve been very intentional in the past year about training our leadership in the idea of radical respect,” which involves honoring individuality, rather than demanding conformity and creating opportunities for collaboration, not coercion. “We’re super intentional about creating as many opportunities as we can to eliminate loneliness and increase connection,” Golden says. Pritchard says companies are increasing such efforts. “People, including legislators, are recognizing that mental health is a major priority,” she says. “The younger workforce, ‘Gen Z’ for example, is more comfortable asking for help or mental health days at work. This is helping to normalize it and reduce stigma.” Companies are also reaching out to experts for assistance. Chewlin Group facilitates conversations with companies by helping them make informed decisions about increasing potential opportunities for employee engagement and wellbeing.“[People] often confuse feeling lonely with being alone,” Chewlin says, citing the Surgeon General’s definition of loneliness, which is rooted in feelings of disconnection and a lack of belonging. “There’s often a deficit of connection.” Loneliness is a normal human experience, as much as happiness, joy, or hunger, Chewlin says, adding that it is often hidden. “There’s stigma attached to this feeling,” she says. “People feel others will perceive them as having something wrong with them and because of this we put on a mask and pretend everything is ok.” More from this section Nicole Sublette, owner of Therapists of Color New England in Manchester, says the topic of workplace disconnection and loneliness came up recently at a Stay Work Play event she attended. “People were talking about this, and my own business really struggles because people tend to work in silos,” she says. One thing Sublette has done to combat loneliness at her company is to plan group gatherings. Recently, Therapists of Color’s also created a “clinician support coordinator” to do check-ins and meetings with staff. “Workplaces today are becoming more progressive around mental health and wellness. I had a client whose organization offered wellness incentives including yoga, gym memberships and coaching.” Sublette says 50% of Therapists of Color’s work is telehealth and that staff work two days in office. “This allows people to grab lunch with each other and they have two hours off during the day,” she says. “I try to make everyone’s lunch hours the same.” Money, race and age matters When it comes to loneliness in the workplace, certain trends stand out. One is age. The 2024 Work in America Survey by the American Psychological Association found that 45% of workers ages 18 to 25 felt lonely, compared to 33% of workers ages 26 to 33, 22% of workers ages 44 to 57 and about 15% of workers over age 58. “It seems counterintuitive. You would think younger people would have more connections than older people, but it doesn’t pan out that way,” says Lustig, a child psychiatrist by training. “Younger people are supposed to be forming their identities and making lasting connections, graduating college, having their first jobs, and much of that was hindered by the pandemic.” The U.S. Surgeon General laid out a framework of five requirements for workplace mental health and wellbeing. They are: protection from harm, opportunity for growth, connection and community, mattering at work and work-life harmony. Forlower paid workers, these are harder to find. Lustig says that while money can’t buy a person happiness, it can buy friends. “All joking aside, having connections with friends is an indicator of well-being,” he says, explaining that having financial resources provides the ability to better engage in social activities. And working more hours to make ends meet is time away from family and friends, he adds. “People with better financial resources can engage in important activities and stay more connected.” According to a 2021 Cigna report, men and women have roughly the same likelihood of loneliness (57% of men and 59% of women) while people from underrepresented racial groups are more likely to be lonely. Seventy five percent of Hispanic adults and 68% of Black/African American adults are classified as lonely — at least 10 points higher than what is seen among the total adult population (58%). Sublette says people of color — who can experience powerlessness and invisibility — and those with neurodivergence have needs that employers may not understand. “It’s important for employers to gauge their employees’ needs individually. When it comes to group gatherings they can simply ask, ‘what do you want to do, what does fun look like to you,’ these questions are important,” she says. Creating the potential for connection Creating a workplace of belonging begins with trust, says Chewlin. This includes executive leaders, managers and employees working together to build that trust. “This requires more than a one-and-done approach, she says. “But when building trust is made a priority, workplaces can help create a momentum for change where everyone thrives.” Golden of Mainstay says he asks employees what is meaningful in their lives and how they can get closer to that. He emphasizes to his staff the importance of fostering positive relationships with people who are trusted sources of wisdom. “You need to know your squad,” he says. “When you’re feeling lonely, who is it you turn to?” As the leader of a tech company, Golden says he’s aware of the dangers of isolation. “I’m an introvert who also enjoys people,” he says, adding he’d typically rather be reading a book than attending networking events. “There’s a seduction for introverts, especially in the tech world where much of the work is online ... they sometimes think they can solve everything in their own mind. That’s dangerous.” ••• These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visit collaborativenh.org .
Minutes after she and her boyfriend were kicked out of an Albury nightclub, young mother Lauren Gale turned violent towards him. or signup to continue reading The pair were removed from Space nightclub in Dean Street on November 29 about 10pm after both had a few drinks. While walking home, Albury Local Court has heard, they got into an argument, then found a seat in the ground level car park of Myer Centrepoint. He sat down but she stood over him, yelled and put her hands around his neck before shoving him back into a wall. While she stopped pushing, Gale, 20, continued to yell at her partner of one month. It's what she was doing when police arrived soon after. Neither would say what had just happened, but police saw the incident play out on CCTV security footage. Gale pleaded guilty before magistrate Sally McLaughlin to a domestic violence-related charge of common assault for attacking the 25-year-old. Defence lawyer Jaimee Simonsen told Ms McLaughlin that Gale's behaviour was out of character. "Obviously, alcohol was a factor in this," Ms Simonsen said. She asked the court to impose a conditional release order without conviction. Ms Simonsen said her client, who was unemployed, was "of limited means" as a single mother. Gale didn't work as she couldn't afford childcare for her two-year-old daughter. Ms McLaughlin told Gale it was "a serious offence, and this is a more significant example of the offence". "But I note it is a push rather than other types of battery that come before the courts," she said. Ms McLaughlin imposed a nine-month conditional release order, without conviction. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement Advertisement
Free bus rides for Valley Transit customers might no longer be the norm after 2025. Since 2022, Valley Transit has had a free-ride policy for almost all riders. That policy's three-year test run is set to end before 2026. With a deadline looming, Valley Transit’s board of directors plans to review its budget and discuss whether the transit service will continue to provide free rides. Angie Peters, Valley Transit’s general manager, said the board’s decision to provide free rides for almost everyone has more than doubled the transit provider’s revenue. Peters said the grants from the Climate Commitment Act and the Washington Legislature’s Move Ahead Washington transportation package provides more funding to Valley Transit than what it would collect in ridership fees. Peters also said if the board doesn’t keep its current policy and loses the grant, the board could look for alternative funding through other grants. “If we were in a position where we needed to fund it, I'm sure that the board would encourage seeking some alternate funding source because we don't want the resolution to be that, yes, we've gone zero fare, but we are taking a hit to the budget in order to accommodate that,” Peters said. The board must report to the state about whether the organization will continue to provide free rides by the end of June 2025, or before the next two-year budget period begins, in order to continue receiving the grant. Continuing the grant and keeping the policy is important to the transit provider. Peters said an estimated 75% of its riders report not having access to a vehicle. “That means that they're transit dependent and would imply that they are middle- to low-income ... (and) when you're living on fixed income, every penny counts,” she said. Before the free-ride policy, transit fares had cost 50¢ a ride or $1 for a round trip, and various bus passes were available for more frequent riders. Paratransit services were set at 75¢ a ride or $1.50 for a round trip. Peters also said the transit service provides access to health care and social occasions for those who are unable to drive or would otherwise be isolated without transportation options. “If we're able to make sure that our budget stays whole without them (the riders) having to pay to make those frankly lifesaving trips, I think it helps everyone in the community,” she said. To qualify for state funding, a transit service must provide free rides to passengers under 18 years old and cannot lower the current sales tax authority. Instead of only providing zero-fare rides to minors, Valley Transit decided to use the state funds for almost all passengers regardless of age. Some exceptions to the policy include riders who are over the age of 18 and use the transit’s Job Access or Vanpool services, but all other services have remained free.CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Environmental groups are asking the U.S. government to do more to protect Rocky Mountain grizzly bears before the next Trump administration decides the big bruins' future. The groups petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday to take steps to connect the bears' separate populations. They want federal wildlife officials to encourage grizzlies to roam from the Yellowstone ecosystem in Wyoming across parts of Idaho and Montana to the area in and around Glacier National Park. "Overwhelming scientific consensus agrees that a naturally connected metapopulation of grizzly bears will lead to improved genetic diversity and greater demographic resiliency of the species," says the petition submitted by Earthjustice lawyers on behalf of 14 groups including the Sierra Club and Humane Society of the United States. Expanding the habitat of grizzlies doesn't sit well with many ranchers whose cattle and sheep can be their prey. Ranchers plan to press President Donald Trump's incoming administration to remove protections for bears — not encourage their spread. Not every place where grizzlies might roam is suitable for them, said Jim Magagna, executive vice president of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. "As the population gets out of hand — which we believe it's doing at this point — yes, they start to expand into other areas but they're not natural areas for grizzly bears," Magagna said Wednesday. "They therefore present more of a problem." Fish and Wildlife faces a court-imposed deadline of Jan. 20 — the same day Trump will retake office — to decide whether to continue to protect grizzlies as a federally designated threatened species. U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson in Cheyenne set the date on Friday, almost a year after the service missed its own deadline to decide the matter. Fish and Wildlife officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday's petition. The previous Trump administration briefly removed federal protections for grizzly bears but was blocked by courts. Wyoming, Montana and Idaho all still seek to have grizzlies' federal protection removed in favor of state management. That would likely lead to new plans for grizzly hunting, similar to how the three states now allow the hunting of wolves that were reintroduced to the region. Grizzlies are North America's biggest bears, after polar bears. And while Alaska hosts the biggest grizzlies, those in the Lower 48 states can still top 600 pounds (270 kilograms). Since their listing as federally protected threatened species in 1975, the Rocky Mountain grizzly population has doubled to around 2,000 animals. But they still face a range of threats, and the 73 grizzly deaths attributed to or possibly caused by people in the Yellowstone region this year are the most on record, according to Earthjustice. Wildlife managers do often kill bears that habitually raid trash and other sources of human food and become a safety risk. Others are struck on roads and shot accidentally or in self-defense by hunters, the groups point out in their petition. In October, the death of arguably the world's most famous grizzly bear — No. 399, a 28-year-old female that birthed at least 18 cubs over the years — highlighted the risks of vehicle traffic. No. 399 often drew crowds by spending a lot of her time with her cubs near roads in nearby Grand Teton National Park before she was killed by a Subaru on a road south of Jackson, Wyoming. Encouraging the population to connect beyond the areas grizzlies currently inhabit full-time would improve their genetic diversity and make them more resilient to threats including habitat loss and climate change, according to the petition. The document draws on a plan by Chris Servheen, who was Fish and Wildlife's grizzly bear recovery coordinator from 1981 until his retirement in 2016. Servheen updated the 1993 recovery plan he developed for the service. He links the fate of grizzlies to that of wolves in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. The bears, whose territory overlaps with wolf habitat, need more protection from neck snares intended for wolves, he pointed out in a call with reporters. His new plan applies only if grizzlies remain federally protected, however. "If they delisted all of the grizzly bears, the game is over for grizzly bears and it wouldn't be a recovery plan," Servheen said.
THG share price: shareholders vote to spin off ecommerce platform
TORONTO, Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blockmate Ventures Inc. (TSX.V: MATE) (OTCQB: MATEF) (FSE: 8MH1) (“ Blockmate ” or the “ Company ”) is pleased to announce that it has closed its strategic investment (the “ Offering ”) involving a group of strategic investors led by Antanas Guoga (Tony G) for gross proceeds of $1,400,000. This strategic funding supports Blockmate’s pursuit of industry leadership in blockchain innovation and underscores our commitment to sustainable and transformative technology. In connection with completion of the Offering, the Company has issued 14,000,000 units (each, a “ Unit ”) at a price of $0.10 per Unit. Each Unit consists of one common share, and one common share purchase warrant exercisable to acquire a further common share at a price of $0.50 until December 23, 2027. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to statutory restrictions on resale until April 24, 2025, in accordance with applicable securities laws. In addition, Tony G has voluntarily agreed to restrict resale of the 10,000,000 Units he acquired in the Offering until December 23, 2025. No finders’ fees or commissions were paid by the Company in connection with completion of the Offering. Incentive Grant The Company also announces that it has granted 5,275,000 incentive stock options (the “ Options ”), 1,200,000 restricted share units (the “ RSUs ”) and 5,000,000 deferred share units (the “ DSUs ”) in accordance with its omnibus incentive plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”) adopted by shareholders at the annual general and special meeting held on November 23, 2023. 625,000 of the Options vest immediately and are exercisable at a price of $0.21 for a period of thirty-six months. The remaining 5,000,000 Options vest quarterly over a twenty-four month period, and are exercisable at a price of $0.21 for a period of forty-eight months. The RSUs vest and will be settled in common shares of the Company after twelve months. The DSUs vest after twelve months but will only be settled in common shares of the Company upon the departure of the holder from the Company. 2,725,000 of the Options and all of the DSUs exceed the available room under the Incentive Plan. The Company intends to seek approval of shareholders to increase the size of the Incentive Plan at the next annual general meeting and will at that time seek ratification from shareholders for the additional Options and the DSUs. Until such time as shareholder ratification has been received, the additional Options and DSUs will not vest and will not be eligible for exercise or settlement. In the event shareholders elect not to ratify the grant, and room within the Incentive Plan is not available at the time, the additional Options and DSUs will be cancelled. Early Warning Disclosure In connection with the incentive grant, Domenic Carosa, a director of the Company, has been issued 5,000,000 Options and 5,000,000 DSUs. Prior to the grant, Mr. Carosa controlled 17,252,400 common shares, 1,500,000 incentive stock options, and 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants, of the Company, all of which are held by Carosa Corporation B.V., a holding company controlled by Domenic Carosa. The common shares controlled by Mr. Carosa prior to the grant represent approximately 15.1% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Following the grant, Mr. Carosa has control and direction over 17,252,400 common shares, 6,500,000 Options, 3,000,000 common share purchase warrants and 5,000,000 DSUs of the Company. Assuming the exercise and conversion of all of the Options, share purchase warrants and DSUs controlled by Mr. Carosa, he would have control and direction over 31,752,400 common shares of the Company representing approximately 19.8% of the then outstanding common shares of the Company. Mr. Carosa has acquired the securities for investment purposes and in connection with his compensation as a director of the Company and, as disclosed in the accompanying Early Warning Report, may in the future acquire or dispose of securities of the Company, through the market, privately or otherwise, as circumstances or market conditions warrant. A copy of the Early Warning Report filed with the applicable securities regulators regarding the above acquisition will be available under the profile for the Company on SEDAR+ ( www.sedarplus.ca ). About Blockmate Ventures Inc. Blockmate is a venture creator focussing on building fast-growing technology businesses relating to cutting edge sectors such as blockchain and renewable energy. Working with prospective founders, projects in incubation can benefit from the Blockmate ecosystem that offers tech, services, integrations and advice to accelerate the incubation of projects towards monetization. Recent projects include Hivello (download our free passive income app at www.hivello.com ) and Sunified, digitising solar energy. The leadership team at Blockmate have successfully founded successful tech companies from the Dotcom era through to the social media era. Learn more about being a Blockmate at: www.blockmate.com/ . Blockmate welcomes investors to join the Company’s mailing list for the latest updates and industry research by subscribing at https://www.blockmate.com/subscribe . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Justin Rosenberg, Chief Executive Officer Blockmate Ventures Inc. justin@blockmate.com (+1-580-262-6130) Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release Forward-Looking Information This news release contains “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on the assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Raindrop disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.