X owner Elon Musk has delivered a brutal takedown of an Australian newspaper, predicting they will lose their readership over “relentless lying”. The hit targeted Nine Entertainment’s Sydney Morning Herald after it published an opinion piece on Sunday featuring a prediction that irked the billionaire. The outlet published an article by technology editor David Swan in which he shared his predictions for the industry in 2025. One prediction was that Mr Musk would leave electric car manufacturer Tesla to focus on Government work with US President-elect Donald Trump. Mr Swan suggested that the world’s richest man would have too much on his plate. “To be juggling leadership roles at X (formerly Twitter), Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, the Boring Company and Neuralink was already unsustainable,” the SMH article read. “Musk now has wormed his way into Trump’s inner circle, and will jointly lead the president-elect’s DOGE – Department of Government Efficiency – in a bid to slash billions in government expenditure. “After constant controversies and distractions, it will all come to a head in 2025, and Musk will be forced to hand over the reins at Tesla, a company many mistakenly think he founded.” The prediction over Mr Musk’s resignation was not appreciated by the world’s richest man. Replying to a screenshot of the opinion piece, Mr Musk delivered his own prediction for 2025, aimed directly at the publisher of the article. “I predict that the Sydney Morning Herald will continue to lose readership in 2025 for relentlessly lying to their audience and boring them to death Mr Musk’s smackdown was shared with his 209 million followers on the X social media platform. “Easy prediction to make, any legacy media continuing to lie to their readers will face significant decline,” one user added to Mr Musk’s prediction. “Australia, Ireland and the UK are stuck in the woke nightmare, and I feel for them,” said another. “They are becoming more and more irrelevant,” a third added. One user shared a screenshot of Nine Entertainment’s share price, which has been in decline since 2022. Back on the Sydney Morning Herald website, Mr Swan appeared to strike a chord with some readers. “I’d love to see Musk on a one-way trip to Mars and stop teaching me how to live my life,” one person commented. “Musk quits Tesla and becomes de facto President of the USA!” wrote another. Mr Musk agreed with one user commenting on his post who said that “legacy media is in a doom spiral”. Mr Swan appeared to brush off the attack on his own X profile, writing, “Damn, roasted” in a post accompanied by a retweet of Mr Musk’s clap back. However, the reaction to Mr Swan’s was split on his profile. “You need to frame this,” one wrote. “How about so-called journalists try and get their dignity back by not reporting lies and gearing the audience towards clickbait,” said another. The controversy ended a week that the Sydney Morning Herald may want to put behind them. On Friday, the newspaper issued an apology after incorrectly identifying Adelaide barrister Ian Roberts as the South Australian fatality in the Sydney to Hobart race. Mr Roberts was not killed in the tragic accident, instead, South Australian Nick Smith lost his life when he was struck by a boom during dangerous weather. “The Sydney Morning Herald incorrectly named Adelaide barrister Ian Roberts as one of the victims in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race,” the Sydney Morning Herald wrote. “This was incorrect. We apologise to Mr Roberts and his family.”WASHINGTON — FBI Director Christopher Wray told the bureau workforce Wednesday he plans to resign at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, an announcement that came a week and a half after President-elect Donald Trump said he would nominate loyalist Kash Patel for the job. Wray said at a town hall meeting that he would step down “after weeks of careful thought,” three years short of the completion of a 10-year term marked by high-profile and politically charged investigations, including that those led to two separate indictments of Trump last year. Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Trump settled on Patel to be director and repeatedly aired his ire at Wray. By stepping down rather than waiting to be fired, Wray is trying to avert a collision with the new Trump administration that he said would have further entangled the FBI “deeper into the fray.” Wray was put in the job by Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Eaton names Pete Denk president and chief operating officer, Industrial Sector, and Antonio Galvao, president, MobilityWallabies player ratings: How the men in gold fared against IrelandThe Buffalo Bills have been one of the most injured teams in the NFL this season. It hasn't deterred them from reigning supreme in the AFC East, though. As the Bills prepare for the next step of their scheduling gauntlet, they are gearing up for a top contest against the San Francisco 49ers, they are getting some good news on the injury front. Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Linebacker Matt Milano, and pass catchers Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid are all on the positive track to return to the team with the potential of coming back in Week 13. “There’s this pool of players that they’re kind of tiered as to when we expect to get each one of them back,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. “Again this week being kind of a rehab week for the players that are banged up, the message I’m getting from our training room is ‘hey we’ll let you know kind of how this week goes and then what that looks like for next week’ so you know the challenge is not really knowing as we start to game plan a little bit towards the end of this week who’s available..." Related: 'No Surprise' Who Bills Midseason MVP Is Milano had been on injured reserve for most of the season with a torn biceps injury that he suffered during training camp. While Buffalo's defense hasn't missed a beat without him for the most part, the Bills would still welcome the return of an All-Pro player. In regard to Coleman and Kincaid, Buffalo lost their young pass catchers to wrist and knee injuries respectively. Their returns will help the Bills' offense in key moments with quarterback Josh Allen leading the way. There's no guarantee that Milano, Coleman, and Kincaid will return for Sunday's contest against the 49ers, but the fact the team is nearing the return of all three could be massive for their championship hopes. Related: Who Should Bills Fans Root for in Week 12?
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . GEORGE TOWN, George Town (AP) — Kalen Garry scored 20 points as South Dakota State beat Duquesne 71-60 on Sunday at the Cayman Islands Classic. Garry also had five rebounds for the Jackrabbits (5-1). Oscar Cluff scored 17 points while shooting 6 of 10 from the field and 5 for 6 from the free-throw line and added 11 rebounds and five assists. Matthew Mors had 15 points and shot 4 of 7 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 8 from the foul line. The Dukes (0-5) were led by Tre Dinkins, who recorded 19 points and two steals. Maximus Edwards added 11 points for Duquesne. Jake DiMichele finished with 10 points. South Dakota State was tied with Duquesne at the half, 33-33, with Garry (12 points) its high scorer before the break. Joe Sayler’s 3-pointer with 8:54 remaining in the second half gave South Dakota State the lead for good at 52-51. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
In Gaza's crowded tent camps, women wrestle with a life stripped of privacyCanada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump’s tariff threat
Kemi Badenoch opens the door to working more closely with Reform UK
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — For Gaza’s women, the hardships of life in the territory’s sprawling tent camps are compounded by the daily humiliation of never having privacy. Women struggle to dress modestly while crowded into tents with extended family members, including men, and with strangers only steps away in neighboring tents. Access to menstrual products is limited, so they cut up sheets or old clothes to use as pads. Makeshift toilets usually consist of only a hole in the sand surrounded by sheets dangling from a line, and these must be shared with dozens of other people. Alaa Hamami has dealt with the modesty issue by constantly wearing her prayer shawl, a black cloth that covers her head and upper body. “Our whole lives have become prayer clothes, even to the market we wear it,” said the young mother of three. “Dignity is gone.” Normally, she would wear the shawl only when performing her daily Muslim prayers. But with so many men around, she keeps it on all the time, even when sleeping — just in case an Israeli strike hits nearby in the night and she has to flee quickly, she said. Israel’s 14-month-old campaign in Gaza has driven more than 90% of its 2.3 million Palestinians from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of them are now living in squalid camps of tents packed close together over large areas. Sewage runs into the streets , and food and water are hard to obtain. Winter is setting in. Families often wear the same clothes for weeks because they left clothing and many other belongings behind as they fled. Everyone in the camps searches daily for food, clean water and firewood. Women feel constantly exposed. Gaza has always been a conservative society. Most women wear the hijab, or head scarf, in the presence of men who are not immediate family. Matters of women’s health — pregnancy, menstruation and contraception — tend not to be discussed publicly. “Before we had a roof. Here it does not exist,” said Hamami, whose prayer shawl is torn and smudged with ash from cooking fires. “Here our entire lives have become exposed to the public. There is no privacy for women.” Wafaa Nasrallah, a displaced mother of two, says life in the camps makes even the simplest needs difficult, like getting period pads, which she cannot afford. She tried using pieces of cloth and even diapers, which have also increased in price. For a bathroom, she has a hole in the ground, surrounded by blankets propped up by sticks. The U.N. says more than 690,000 women and girls in Gaza require menstrual hygiene products, as well as clean water and toilets. Aid workers have been unable to meet demand, with supplies piling up at crossings from Israel. Stocks of hygiene kits have run out, and prices are exorbitant. Many women have to choose between buying pads and buying food and water. Doaa Hellis, a mother of three living in a camp, said she has torn up her old clothes to use for menstrual pads. “Wherever we find fabric, we tear it up and use it.” A packet of pads costs 45 shekels ($12), “and there is not even five shekels in the whole tent,” she said. Anera, a rights group active in Gaza, says some women use birth control pills to halt their periods. Others have experienced disruptions in their cycles because of the stress and trauma of repeated displacement. The terrible conditions pose real risks to women’s health, said Amal Seyam, the director of the Women’s Affairs Center in Gaza, which provides supplies for women and surveys them about their experiences. She said some women have not changed clothes for 40 days. That and improvised cloth pads “will certainly create” skin diseases, diseases related to reproductive health and psychological conditions, she said. “Imagine what a woman in Gaza feels like, if she’s unable to control conditions related to hygiene and menstrual cycles,” Seyam said. Hellis remembered a time not so long ago, when being a woman felt more like a joy and less like a burden. “Women are now deprived of everything, no clothes, no bathroom. Their psychology is completely destroyed,” she said. Seyam said the center has tracked cases where girls have been married younger, before the age of 18, to escape the suffocating environment of their family’s tents. The war will “continue to cause a humanitarian disaster in every sense of the word. And women always pay the biggest price,” she said. Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians, over half of them women and children, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Its count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel launched its assault in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on southern Israel, in which militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted around 250 others. With large swaths of Gaza’s cities and towns leveled, women wrestle with reduced lives in their tents. Hamami can walk the length of her small tent in a few strides. She shares it with 13 other people from her extended family. During the war, she gave birth to a son, Ahmed, who is now 8 months old. Between caring for him and her two other children, washing her family’s laundry, cooking and waiting in line for water, she says there’s no time to care for herself. She has a few objects that remind her of what her life once was, including a powder compact she brought with her when she fled her home in the Shati camp of Gaza City. The makeup is now caked and crumbling. She managed to keep hold of a small mirror through four different displacements over the past year. It’s broken into two shards that she holds together every so often to catch a glimpse of her reflection. “Previously, I had a wardrobe that contained everything I could wish for,” she said. “We used to go out for a walk every day, go to wedding parties, go to parks, to malls, to buy everything we wanted." Women “lost their being and everything in this war," she said. "Women used to take care of themselves before the war. Now everything is destroyed.” Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.
The Aloha State’s culinary scene is more enticing than ever, seasoned with a new sense of pride at the great bounty of produce and talent available. Chefs are experimenting in dynamic kitchens in Honolulu’s Chinatown and Ward Village neighbourhoods, while some of the best food and cocktails is enjoyed at hotels along Waikiki Beach’s golden miles. In 1991, a group of 12 chefs collaborated to start a food revolution in the islands. The Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement was born from deliciously diverse multicultural influences (the best of Polynesia, the US, Asia and beyond) and a passion for fresh, local ingredients, flavours and traditions. Many of those chefs, including Roy Yamaguchi and Peter Merriman, continue to change the game and impress palates to this day. Say cheers with a sunset cocktail at these world-class restaurants where a warm aloha welcome awaits. Eating House 1849 Waikiki Delicious food at International Market Place by a celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi’s lifelong passion for Hawaiian fusion cuisine began when the Tokyo-born chef was a kid, visiting his grandparents’ tavern in Maui. It must have made a big impression on little Roy, because today his popular restaurants - many named Roy’s - are found in prime Hawaiian locations and further afield. Eating House 1849 Waikiki, located on the third floor of International Market Place, offers a relaxed ambience, warm service and mouthwatering local flavours. The ‘Aloha Hour’ menu, served from 4pm, is one of the best deals in town. Order a couple of the US$10 specials, including BBQ baby back ribs, poutine fries and chicken skewers, and you probably won’t need dinner. International Market Place, 2330 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 924 1849. See royyamaguchi.com Fête Seasonal new American neighbourhood restaurant Fête’s founding chef and co-owner Robynne Maii brought honour to the Aloha State in 2022 when she was named the best chef in the US Northwest and Pacific region by the highly respected James Beard Foundation. It was the first time in nearly 20 years that a James Beard award had gone to Hawaii, and the first time ever that a woman of Hawaiian ancestry had won. Open since 2016 in Honolulu’s Chinatown, Fête is beloved by locals and food-obsessed tourists. The seasonal new American menu changes often, driven by local produce whenever possible. Order one of the specials, or go with a classic, such as the Korean fried chicken sandwich with kochujang sauce and Asian pear slaw. 2 North Hotel Street, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 369 1390. See fetehawaii.com Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck Credit: iStock Tasty takeaway on Oahu’s North Shore What started as a humble food truck more than 30 years ago has become one of the most popular spots on Oahu’s North Shore. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck serves simple, satisfying plates of prawns at reasonable prices, a foolproof business plan if ever there was one. The signature dish, a dozen garlicky shrimp scampi served on two scoops of rice, will set you back $US15 ($23). There’s a hot and spicy version, and a mild lemon butter option, but the purists insist on the scampi, drizzled with caramelised chunks of garlic. Beloved by locals and visitors alike, Giovanni’s now has three permanent locations and many more imitators. 66-472 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa. Phone: +1 808 293 1839. See giovannisshrimptruck.com Marugame Udon Credit: iStock Ever-popular spot for udon noodles and tempura First-time visitors to Hawaii might be surprised by the volume and variety of outstanding Asian food available in Waikiki. Thanks to a large population of people originally from Japan, Korea, the Philippines and other parts of Asia, it’s easy to find delicious sushi, Korean barbecue and adobo. For the best udon noodles and tempura, join the line at Marugame Udon. Made to order to ensure freshness, the noodles are served in umami-rich broth and can be topped with pork, beef, tofu or curry. The menu also includes crowd favourites like tempura prawns, teriyaki bowls and chicken katsu. One hundred per cent worth the wait for a table. 2310 Kuhio Avenue, Suite 124, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 931 6000. See marugameudon.com House Without A Key Credit: Sunset Mai Tais, hula dancers and ukulele melodies Enjoy sunset from a ringside seat at House Without A Key, a beloved beachfront venue at the ritzy Halekulani hotel. Reserve an outdoor table from 6pm, when former Miss Hawaii winners elegantly perform traditional dances to the sweet sounds of Hawaiian music as the sun goes down. Feast your eyes on knockout views of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach, as satisfying as the delicious fresh seafood, brick-oven flatbreads and cocktails on the menu. Continue the fun at Lewers Lounge, Halekulani’s intimate speakeasy bar. There’s live jazz music Tuesday through Saturday, and signature cocktails named for jazz standards by the greats, including Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald. 2199 Kalia Road, Honolulu. Phone: +1 800 367 2343. See halekulani.com Steak Shack Credit: Inexpensive takeaway steak and chicken plates on the beach Dining in Hawaii can be a wallet-buster, as cheap eats – other than McDonald’s and convenience store sandwiches – are hard to come by. No surprise then to see a constant long line of hungry locals and tourists at the beachfront Steak Shack kiosk, located on Waikiki Beach, just to the west of Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort. Grilled steak and chicken plates come with two scoops of rice and organic greens, from US$11.85 ($18). You won’t find a better deal in Waikiki. 104/ 2161 Kalia Road, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 861 9966. See steakshackhawaii.com The Pig and the Lady Credit: Excellent pho and other Vietnamese dishes in Chinatown It’s worth taking an Uber from Waikiki to Chinatown for what many say is the most exciting restaurant in Honolulu. Owned and operated by a Vietnamese-American family, The Pig and the Lady’s menu zings with fresh Asian flavours. At lunchtime, it’s all about the specialty pho and hearty banh mi baguettes stuffed with slow-roasted beef brisket, roast pork belly, braised sardines or marinated tofu. In the evening, things are taken up a notch with seasonal specialties including scallop ceviche, snails in buttery puff pastry and lemongrass pork chop. The phenomenal twice-fried chicken wings, served with makrut leaves, pickled red onion, peanuts and ‘money sauce’, are a mainstay. A Brussels sprouts version keeps vegetarians coming back. 83 North King Street, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 585 8255. See thepigandthelady.com Paia Fish Market Credit: Just-caught seafood in a fun and informal setting You won’t get the side-eye if you arrive in thongs and a wet cozzie at Paia Fish Market. They’re used to surfers and swimmers coming in straight from the beach, hungry and dripping. Simply line up to take your pick of the day’s local catch, listed on a chalkboard (once it’s gone, it’s gone, crossed out in white chalk). Depending on what the fishermen have hauled in, the list might include mahi mahi, ono, snapper, salmon and ahi. Enjoy the fresh fish charbroiled on a burger, sautéed in garlic butter, on a soft taco or in creamy seafood pasta. First opened in Maui in 1989, there are now four locations, including one under the Laylow Hotel in Waikiki. 2299 Kuhio Avenue, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 200 0200. See paiafishmarket.com Morimoto Asia Waikiki Credit: Iron Chef Morimoto's flagship Hawaii restaurant Yes, chef! The place to go for delicious pan-Asian favourites including garlic prawns, pork gyoza, pad Thai and spicy tuna crispy rice. As you might expect from an Iron Chef, there are also surprises – an excellent duck Caesar salad, tuna pizza, kung pao cauliflower – to keep things interesting. The cocktail list also offers some unexpected twists, like duck fat-washed whisky, plus an impressive list of shochu, sake and Japanese beer. Located inside the luxe Alohilani Resort, chef Morimoto’s footprint includes Momosan, a more casual spot on the ground floor serving tasty ramen, bao buns and sushi rolls. 2490 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 922 0022. See morimotoasiawaikiki.com Duke's Waikiki Credit: Classic beachside bar/ restaurant for all-day dining and sunset drinks So you've just landed in Honolulu, you don't have a dinner reservation and you want to dive straight into the lei-wearing, aloha-greeting good times. Where to go? Duke's at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort is always a solid choice, but especially so on Sunday afternoons when musicians jam at the Barefoot Bar and locals gather for a sunset sesh. Comfort food classics like pulled pork sandwiches, panko-crusted calamari and fish tacos pair well with ice-cold tap beers and tropical cocktails. The fairly priced breakfast and lunch buffet is a good option to satisfy big appetites, or to soothe morning-after woes. 2335 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 922 2268. See dukeswaikiki.com Roy's Hawaii Kai Credit: Neighbourhood family restaurant by Hawaii's most famous chef Roy Yamaguchi’s lifelong passion for Hawaiian fusion cuisine began when the Tokyo-born chef was a kid, visiting his grandparents’ tavern in Maui. It must have made a big impression on little Roy, because today his popular restaurants – many named Roy’s – are found in prime Hawaiian locations and further afield. At the always-busy original in Hawaii Kai (about a 30-minute drive from Waikiki Beach), guests have enjoyed views of Maunalua Bay for more than 25 years. Happy hour is a good time to visit for generous drink specials and pupus (small plates) like baby back pork ribs, fried brussels sprouts with balsamic, and pork belly with sambal. 6600 Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 396 7697. See royyamaguchi.com Merriman's Credit: Modern Hawaiian gastropub by acclaimed local chef Award-winning chef Peter Merriman knows how to satisfy the hungry masses. At Merriman’s, his Hawaiian gastropub at Ward Village (one block from Ala Moana Centre), family-friendly dishes include Kalua Pig quesadilla, fresh fish tacos and chicken pot pie. Nightly specials range from fresh lobster and oysters du jour to roasted rack of lamb and prime rib. Equally good for groups, solo diners or couples, there are also Merriman’s locations in Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. Happy hour is the time to taste your way around the menu; plates typically range from $US6-10 ($9-15), while enjoying cocktails and wine specials for $US9 ($14). The famous mai tais with passionfruit foam are not to be missed. 1108 Auahi Street, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 215 0022. See merrimanshawaii.com Mariposa Hidden gem at Ala Moana Centre for high tea and New American eats This ain’t your grandma’s department store restaurant. Located inside Neiman Marcus at Ala Moana Centre, Mariposa is much more than a pitstop for refuelling between sales; it’s a popular dining destination for New American nosh, where advance reservations are recommended. On the back wall, an enormous mural of hula dancers on the beach sets the decor tone, while slow-twirling ceiling fans create a soft breeze and relaxed ambience. A new Sunset Lounge menu – lobster rolls, arancini, specialty cocktails – is the perfect way to wind down after retail therapy. Inside Neiman Marcus Honolulu, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu. Phone: +1 808 951 3420. See www.neimanmarcushawaii.com Alaia Credit: North Shore standout worth a daytrip for farm-fresh dishes Recently unveiled after major renovations, Turtle Bay Resort has a new glow and a new direction at flagship restaurant Alaia. Executive chef Lyle Kaku is championing the local food movement, sourcing much of the produce from on-property Kuilima Farm. That includes fresh-harvested corn, the hero of a creamy corn pudding served with roasted chicken, and a light and bright trio of beets in zingy citrus dressing. If you’re staying at the resort on Oahu’s North Shore, we recommend eating your way through the entire menu over several days. If you’ve headed up from Waikiki on a daytrip, you have some tough choices to make. Turtle Bay Resort, 57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku. Phone: +1 808 293 6020. See turtlebayresort.com Mama's Fish House Credit: Wildly popular seafood-focused Maui restaurant with Polynesian vibes Hot tip: book this restaurant before you book flights to Maui. Reservations are snapped up three-to-six months in advance, so popular is Mama’s fresh seafood. The menu changes daily, featuring the best of what has been caught that morning, each piece of fish arriving with a little note to tell you which fisherman caught it and where. Recurring star attractions include mahi-mahi curry with mango chutney and macadamia nuts, and Hawaiian Kanpachi stuffed with crab and lobster. This is elevated dining, Hawaii-style, with the price tag to match. If you decide to try your luck as a walk-in, be in line before they open at 11am. 799 Poho Place, Paia, Maui. Phone: +1 808 579 8488. See mamasfishhouse.com Beach House Restaurant Credit: Epic ocean views and fine dining in Kauai Planning a spectacular Hawaii destination wedding or milestone birthday celebration? We know just the venue. On the green island of Kauai (cheekily known as the holiday spot of choice for newlyweds and nearly-deads), Beach House has won dozens of awards. The scene is set with palm trees, ocean breezes, island paradise vibes and outstanding service. Produce for the Pacific Rim menu is sourced from local farms and fishermen where possible, landing on diners’ plates in fresh lobster fettuccine, seared ahi tuna steak and more. The cocktails are excellent, with an emphasis on tropical flavours like guava, mango and lilikoi. Try the Monkeypod Mai Tai, made with organic rum, fresh lime juice, mac-nut orgeat, orange curacao and honey-lilikoi foam. 5022 Lawai Road, Koloa, Kauai. Phone: +1 808 742 1424. See the-beach-house.com For great holiday deals for Hawaii, visit MyHawaii.com.auWelcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. Markets decline in early trade amid unabated foreign fund outflows, weak global trends Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty declined in early trade on Monday amid unabated foreign fund outflows and weak trends in the global markets. The 30-share BSE benchmark Sensex declined 142.26 points to 78,556.81 in early trade. The NSE Nifty dipped 48.35 points to 23,765.05. Dust storm in West Asia is making Mumbai air quality worse While Mumbai is already grappling with the effects of localised pollution and winter moisture, both of which are deteriorating air quality, dust travelling from West Asia appears to be adding to Mumbaikars’ woes. A dust storm originating in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan is exacerbating the city’s already poor air quality, resulting in haze and low visibility. Experts note that a similar phenomenon occurred thrice in 2022, each time worsening the city’s air quality. Check that medicine again: Probe reveals how fake companies are flooding market with ineffective tablets with no active pharmaceutical ingredient Investigations into the multi-crore spurious drug racket—where fake medicines worth R185 crore were seized in Thane over last few months—have revealed a shocking fact: medicines supplied to government hospitals in Nagpur lacked Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), the key component that makes medicines effective. Without API, these drugs cannot cure patients. However, Food and Drug Authority (FDA) labs only screen for API and do not analyse other ingredients, FDA officials citied workload constraints as the reason behind it. India let it slip! Having fought their way back into the fourth Test in spectacular style, India made a clutch of schoolboy errors to allow Australia to grab the initiative at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Mohanlal: I never stop feeding the excited kid in me What inspires one of the country’s biggest superstars to direct a children’s movie? That is where we begin our conversation with Mohanlal, as his new drama, Barroz, hits theatres across the country. “Children are increasingly drawn to screens, be it to participate in games, watch videos, or scroll through social media content. [This consumption] comes at the cost of the outdoor activities that were once a staple part of people’s childhood. Children would climb trees, play in the fields, tell stories, and explore their creativity in ways that shaped their understanding of the world. Today, those moments of wonder and connection are becoming rare. So, I thought we should do something for children,” he says of his directorial debut that is being widely dubbed as a visual spectacle.
Australian Senate begins debate on world-first social media ban for children under 16
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
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RICHMOND — With speeding and sideshows occupying intersections still a persistent issue in Richmond, councilmembers are set to consider directing staff to urgently identify measures to bring safety to city streets. An item on Tuesday night’s Richmond City Council agenda calls for staff to identify traffic calming measures that would abate speeding and donuts in at least six areas throughout the city in an effort to address a serious public safety risk that’s resulted in property damage, injuries and death in the last year alone. “I’d venture to say that no city street is safe,” said Richmond Police Capt. Matt Stonebraker during a monthly crime prevention meeting focused on sideshows held on Oct. 23. The staff report for the item, brought forward by Councilmember Cesar Zepeda, did not specify which six locations should be studied but Canal Boulevard was called out as a specific area of concern. In mid-October, a 16-year-old was killed and her 11-year-old sister injured in a speeding accident on the 600 block of Canal Boulevard. Richmond officers arrested nine people and impounded four cars just weeks ago in response to a sideshow with more than 50 vehicles and 200 participants on the same street. Sideshows have also occurred near Hilltop Mall. Participants of a large sideshow in late September damaged multiple cars at nearby auto dealerships and a Richmond Police Department vehicle, the department shared on its social media platforms. The “well organized” unauthorized events, which have grown in size, are occurring nearly every weekend and pull in crowds from outside the region, Stonebraker said. “It’s dangerous not only for the participants, not only for the spectators, but for the community at large and everyone around them or anybody that’s there,” Stonebraker said. “It’s dangerous. We want them to stop and we’re doing everything we can at this point to curb that.” Mayor Eduardo Martinez made his stance on the issue clear in an Oct. 1 Facebook post. Martinez, who has advocated for creating a space where sideshows can occur legally, said he is not in support of and has never encouraged breaking the law. The mayor noted in his post that sideshows — a term he’s wary of using because it does not fully encompass all types of reckless driving and can be used to demonize different parts of the community — are a regional issue. Similarly, Stonebraker said it’s typical for sideshows to travel from San Jose, through the East Bay and San Francisco, up to Sacramento. About 15 sideshows occurred in September alone, an average of about three a week, said Sgt. Enrik Melgoza during the October crime prevention meeting. To address the problem locally, Martinez said the city is working on hiring additional personnel, collaborating with neighboring agencies and deploying Flock cameras that collect vehicle information used to track down suspects. “I am fully committed to ensuring that our city remains safe for all residents, businesses, and visitors,” Martinez said. “These lawless actions do not represent the values of our Richmond residents, and we will do everything in our power to protect our community.” Police spokesperson Lynelle Sanchez said the department is also routinely monitoring for speeding in key corridors like Macdonald Avenue and 23rd Street. Officers issued 17 citations to drivers who failed to yield to pedestrians or were speeding near crosswalks during a recent traffic operation, she said. If the council back’s Zepeda’s request, staff would be directed to return before the end of January 2025 with identified traffic calming measures. Tawfic Halaby, deputy Public Works director of operations and maintenance, said during last month’s crime prevention meeting that the department is reaching out to neighboring jurisdictions to determine what types of measures have been successful. In the meantime, Sanchez encouraged the public to do their part in preventing traffic accidents by driving safely. “We really need the community to come together to make sure everyone stays safe,” Sanchez said. “Everybody’s in a rush trying to get home and feed their kids, but as residents we can do our part to help each other, especially around gatherings of people before and after school.” Zepeda did not immediately respond to requests for comment.