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Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will observe ‘Deeksha Diwas’ on November 29 to honour the day when K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) began his fast-unto-death for Telangana statehood in 2009. Party leaders and activists will participate in the event across Telangana, with all 33 district offices holding commemorations led by senior leaders, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) announced on Sunday, November 24. Preparatory meetings for the event will be held on November 26. KTR noted that Telangana now faces challenges similar to 2009 and stressed the importance of uniting and protecting the state from the incumbent Congress government. Recalling KCR’s fast at NIMS hospital in 2009 which had led to widespread support, he said the BRS supremo’s decision forced the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Union government to announce a separate statehood for Telangana on December 9, 2009. Although KCR will not take part in the current event, the party will hold a meeting on December 9 at Medchal, unveiling a statue of Telangana Thalli to mark the end of the Deeksha Diwas celebrations.

Where do Democrats go from here?To subscribe, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To pitch a ‘My Turn’ guest column, email jdalessio@news-gazette.com . Want to purchase today’s print edition? Here’s a map of single-copy locations. Sign up for our daily newsletter here It’s what’s not in any of the nearly 300 pieces of legislation about to become law in the Land of Lincoln that irks Mahomet Republican state Sen. Chapin Rose to no end. “What should have become law is (Champaign Democratic) Senator ( Paul ) Faraci 's and my bill to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration,” Rose said Friday for the umpteenth time since a plan to ban the practice fell flat in Springfield last month, putting the sole source of drinking water for hundreds of thousands of central Illinoisans at risk. Plenty of other bills, on topics ranging from corporal punishment to catalytic converters, cleared both the House and Senate and will soon take effect statewide. Here’s an overview, winners and losers, style from Editor JEFF D'ALESSIO . The ‘Fight for $15’ is over — starting Wednesday, legislation signed six years ago by Gov. J.B. Pritzker will take full effect, with Illinois’ minimum wage increasing by $1 an hour. WINNER: Minimum-wage workers Come Wednesday, only Washington state ($16.66), California ($16.50), Connecticut ($16.35) and New York ($15.50 to $16.50) will guarantee workers a higher hourly rate than Illinois’ $15. It’s the seventh (and final scheduled) raise in six years in Illinois, part of a staggered scale put in motion in 2019 by then-new Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who raised the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $9.25 in 2020, by 75 cents six months later and by a buck on every New Year’s Day since. To help small businesses with 50 or fewer employees get by, the state provides a tax credit through 2027 for wages paid to minimum-paid workers. For too long, insurance companies asked Illinoisans to fail first — denying or delaying necessary treatment for profit. No longer is that the case. Today, I'm proud to sign into law the Healthcare Protection Act that puts power back into the hands of patients and their doctors. pic.twitter.com/cx9Njcvwtu LOSER: Health-insurance providers No industry received as many mentions on the laundry list of new laws in the Land of Lincoln than health insurers. Among the new must-covers for insurance companies doing business in Illinois: medically prescribed hearing aids for all (not just those under 18); medically necessary prosthetics or custom orthotic devices; at-home pregnancy tests; genetic cancer screenings for high-risk patients; annual prostate-cancer screenings, cervical smears and Pap smears; and mental-health care for first responders. The state also put limits on the total price of medically necessary epinephrine injectors ($60 or less for a two-pack) and life-saving inhalers ($25 for a 30-day supply). WINNER: Stressed-out students Senate Bill 2872 gives schools the option of dedicating 20 minutes a week to activities aimed at reducing students’ anxiety and prioritizing their mental and physical health. Like yoga, for one. Stretching. Meditation. Quiet time. There’s just one catch, area superintendents say. “One of the main issues will be where to find the time in the day for an extra 20 minutes,” Villa Grove’s Carol Munson says. Carol Munson “We know that brain breaks, or what this law calls relaxation time, is important,” acknowledges Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley’s Jeremy Darnell , adding that his district already carves out time daily for P.E. and recess for all K-8 students. “The amount of time and structure of activity is variable according to development needs by age, but we do believe that play and relaxation are important. Jeremy Darnell "To many people, carving out 20 minutes of time seems simple but spanning 14 years of age difference with anything mandated is actually quite difficult. Legislation like this is well-intended, along with the countless other mandates that come out of the General Assembly, but the school day is still only seven hours and every mandate carves time away from something else.” Cute little bottles of shampoo and other toiletries are being phased out by hotels across the country, including Illinois. LOSER: Travelers who don’t pack toiletries Here’s one less thing the staff at Urbana's Hotel Royer will have to deal with when it opens on who-knows-what-date: SB 2960 prohibits establishments from providing those mini bottles of shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and other personal-care products often found in guests’ bathrooms. The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association backed the bill, which is designed to cut down on waste from single-use plastic products. It takes effect on July 1, 2025 for hotels with 50 or more rooms and on Jan. 1, 2026 for hotels with less than 50. WINNER: Those who chose “lose 25 pounds” for a New Year’s resolution, only to lose steam by February The good news: That one-year gym membership you signed up for will be easier to get out of at this time next year, thanks to House Bill 4911. It mandates that all gyms and fitness centers must allow customers to cancel their memberships by email or online. Another consumer-friendly change that kicks in on New Year’s: Businesses that lure in customers via free trials or promotional periods must notify them at least three days before their subscription is automatically renewed at the paid rate. A pile of stolen catalytic converters. LOSER: Catalytic converter thieves Best of luck finding a recycler to buy your stolen loot after Tuesday. In an effort to curb a trend that was already on the decline, sellers will be required to provide a vehicle title that proves ownership and dealers must keep records of every vehicle title and identification number from which the part was taken. This 80-foot majestic green ash at 604 W. Pennsylvania Ave. is among the trees that earned "legacy" status in Urbana. WINNER: Trees Taking a cue from Urbana — a proud Tree City USA designee every year since the mid-‘70s — the state signed off on its own Legacy Tree Program, which includes a task force that “shall establish recommendations to promote the identification, awareness, commemoration and preservation of significant trees within the state.” LOSER: Paddle-wielding private school principals Believe it or not, corporal punishment is still permissible in private schools in all but a handful of states. The exceptions: Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and now Illinois, courtesy an edit to HB 4175. It amends Illinois School Code to expressly prohibit employees at nonpublic schools from engaging in "slapping or paddling a student, the prolonged maintenance of a student in a physically painful position or the intentional infliction of bodily harm on a student." WINNER: Child actors No more 12-hour shoots for 12-year-olds with two lines in a network pilot. Illinois' Child Labor Law of 2024 puts limits on how many hours in a 24-hour day a child is permitted to work and be on set of a TV, movie or related entertainment production. The on-set limits, broken down by age: two hours for babies between 15 days and six months; four hours for seven months to 2 years; five hours for ages 3-5; seven hours for ages 6-8 if it’s a school day (eight hours if not); and nine hours for ages 9-15. Kam Cox LOSER: Fans who long for the old days of college athletics For an explanation of HB 307 — the latest twist in name, images and likeness and a win for student-athletes — we turned to the area’s foremost authority on the topic: Kam Cox , assistant athletic director for strategic initiatives at the University of Illinois. The bill’s main purpose, he says, “was to realign Illinois law with the most immediate and important changes to the NCAA's NIL rules. Since our state law amendments in summer 2022, there have been several key areas where injunctions, lawsuits or otherwise have encouraged the NCAA to adjust its NIL policies, but our state law remained stable during that time.” In response, the state legislature made three key adjustments, which Cox took time to outline for us on Friday: 1. “Prohibitions against third-party use of NIL opportunities as a recruiting inducement were removed from the state law. Following the injunction against enforcing this NCAA rule in a case involving the collective supporting the University of Tennessee, the NCAA announced that it would not enforce the third-party recruiting inducement prohibitions nationwide. The new state law removes the old provisions to mirror the new NCAA policy and also to anticipate similar changes that will come next year after the settlement of a major lawsuit, as explained below. 2. “Additional language was provided to allow Illinois student-athletes to earn NIL compensation directly from their institutions. In anticipation of next year's final certification of the House class-action settlement, the legislature wanted to make sure that Illinois law was not an inadvertent barrier to institutions that choose to provide increased benefits for student-athletes. 3. “Old law was amended to make clear that Illinois institutions may help facilitate student-athlete NIL activities. NCAA legislation regarding the permitted level of institutional support in NIL activities has repeatedly changed, but a new NCAA bylaw allows greater institutional support under certain conditions. The new law merely aligns with this approach.” Said Cox: “At DIA, we are looking forward to seeing the law become effective in January.” 🚨🚨 BIG NEWS! Legislation enabling Illinois residents to start using mobile driver’s licenses and state IDs was signed into law today by @GovPritzker . New technology will ensure privacy and safety for Illinois residents. #HB4592 pic.twitter.com/jECizGqhuT WINNER: Illinois motorists It could be a year or two before SB 0275 is put into action but no later than on July 1, 2027, you’ll have the option of purchasing a driver’s license that’s good for eight years — twice as long as is currently allowed — at a one-time cost of $60. LOSER: Word watchers Those who believe law enforcement lingo is fine as is won’t like an amendment to the Illinois Crime Reduction Act. It outlaws the term “offender” and replaces it with “justice-impacted individual” when describing those in the Adult Redeploy Illinois program, which is aimed at keeping non-violent offenders from going to prison. Posters like this one, from DCFS, will soon be required at a variety of establishments statewide. WINNER: Child abuse victim advocates Per the terms of the Child Abuse Notice Act, all hotels, motels, bus stations, hospital emergency rooms, tattoo and body piercing establishments and indoor entertainment or sporting facilities with a capacity of at least 5,000 will be required to post — “in a conspicuous place” — a DCFS notice with information on what constitutes physical and sexual abuse and how to report such abuse. It must be at least 8.5 inches by 11 inches in size and written in a 16-point font. Heads up #Illinois landlords: New law kicks in Jan 1. LL can't take 'retaliatory action' vs tenant-- can't evict, increase rent, decrease service, or even file lawsuit in many situations. Read attached law--it's not long. #CRE #RRE #RealEstate @vjeannek https://t.co/A3ocKwy6VL pic.twitter.com/aJ8gqivlN3 LOSER: Retaliatory landlords Effective Wednesday, landlords will be strictly prohibited from "knowingly terminating a tenancy, increasing rent, decreasing services, (or) bringing or threatening to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possessing or refusing to renew a lease or tenancy" if the tenant has “filed a government complaint about code violations, complained of specific code violations to media or local organizations or complained or asked for repairs related to health ordinances, building code, the renter’s lease or other regulations.” WINNER: Journalism Coming as soon as the 2025-26 school year: Illinois Student Assistance Commission-awarded scholarships for students who commit to working for a local news organization in the state for a period of no less than two years. LOSER: Employers that advertise salary as being “commensurate with experience” From here on out, businesses with 15 or more employees must include a pay scale and benefits information in every job posting. WINNER: Crime victims With the exception of some coroner or medical examiner investigations, DNA collected from victims of crimes to aid in investigations cannot be entered into any DNA database. E-cigarettes are now by far the most commonly used tobacco product among middle- and high-school students. The electronic devices, which can appear harmless, are not a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. LOSER: Deceptive vaping businesses Now against the law in Illinois, per a change to the Preventing Youth Vaping Act: advertising, marketing or promoting electronic cigarettes “in a manner that is likely to cause a (young) person to mistake the electronic cigarette for a product that is not a tobacco product.” WINNER: Those who conduct training for a living They’ll do big business in Illinois, with new laws requiring law enforcement and correctional officers to be trained on the best procedures and techniques when engaging with individuals with autism, and teachers, administrators and other school personnel to be schooled on emergency procedures, including the Heimlich maneuver, hands-only CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator. The Teamsters took to social media to try to convince Gov. J.B. Pritzker to sign the Worker Freedom of Speech Act. LOSER: Bosses who cross the First Amendment line Under the Illinois AFL-CIO-backed Worker Freedom of Speech Act, no employee can be made to attend work meetings where politics or religion are the topics of discussion if neither is part of their job. Nor can a boss discipline them for opting out or reporting a violation of the act. Exempted: non-profit and advocacy organizations where politics or religion may be in the job description. WINNER: Electric scooter riders On any road, sidewalk or trail where bicycles are allowed, low-speed electric scooters can now be, too — provided a municipality or park district approves of it. NEWS: IL is the 5th state to require climate change education in public schools!🤓 Thanks to @GovPritzker & bill champs Rep @jyangrohr , @StateRepKim & @SenALJohnson , students will learn about the environmental impacts of climate change as well as the solutions that mitigate it. pic.twitter.com/3Ex7QISKuw LOSER: Climate change deniers This ought to go over well in some of the redder sections of Illinois: A law that kicks in during the 2026-27 school year will require public schools to provide “learning opportunities on the impacts of climate change and solutions for addressing the crisis.” According to the Illinois Environmental Council, ours is the fifth state to embrace climate change education, joining California, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.Taylor Swift wipes away tears at latest Eras Tour concert after receiving standing ovation Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By ALESIA STANFORD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 19:00 GMT, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 19:09 GMT, 24 November 2024 e-mail 9 shares View comments Taylor Swift grew emotional on stage during her concert in Toronto on Saturday night. The multi-hyphenate, who recently enjoyed a girls night with Faith Hill and Este Haim , was performing at the Rogers Centre when she became a little teary while talking to the sold-out audience. In a video posted on social media, the 34-year-old hitmaker was moved after receiving a standing ovation following her performance of Champagne Problems from her Evermore album. 'Toronto, we're at the very end of this tour so you doing that, you have no idea how much it means to me and to my ...' she began before having to stop to compose herself. The All Too Well singer was wearing a fiery red gown with slowing sleeves and leaf-inspired cutouts. 'This tour ... I don't even know what I’m saying anymore,' she explained as the audience continued to cheer, adding, 'That was ... uh, I'm just having a bit of a moment so...' Taylor Swift grew emotional during her sixth and final concert in Toronto on Saturday night after receiving a standing ovation for her performance of Champagne Dreams. 'Toronto, we're at the very end of this tour so you doing that, you have no idea how much it means to me..' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift Updates (@taylorswift.updates13) Read More Influencer flies to Toronto to see Taylor Swift without tickets and goes into absolute meltdown 'It's not even the last show!,' Swift said composing her self, and continuing, 'My band, my crew, all of my fellow performers, we have put so much of our lives into this,' she said referring to the tour that began March 17, 2023. She then told the crowd, 'And you've put so much of your lives into being with us tonight and to giving us that moment that we will never forget.' Saturday's show was the last of six performed in the city. During her time there the giant friendship bracelet that had adorned the Superdome in New Orleans and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, had been passed on to the Rogers Centre. 'We've loved our time in Toronto, it's been so amazing,' said while wiping her eyes. 'I love you guys. Thanks so much for that.' After stumbling over her words a tearful Swift told her fans, ' I’m just having a bit of a moment so...' adding that she and her crew had put 'so much of our lives into this,' referring to the tour that began March 17, 2023 The Anti-Hero artist's fans were feeling all the feels as well. 'It's really hitting me that the end is near,' commented one follower. 'Who knows when she'll be touring making millions of fans happy to dance and sing a long again. I never got to go but hopefully next time, she’ll come back even better and I’ll get to enjoy with other Swifties.' 'I'm so happy i got to witness this historical tour in Singapore,' wrote another. She concluded saying 'We’ve loved our time in Toronto, it's been so amazing,' said while wiping her eyes. 'I love you guys. Thanks so much for that' 'I was crying with her,' noted an empathetic fan. After that bonding moment, Swift later performed two surprise acoustic mashups. She then sang Sparks Fly and Message in a Bottle, on guitar, followed by You're Losing Me and How Did It End on piano. Video shared online revealed boyfriend Travis Kelce's dad Ed was in the VIP section trading friendship bracelets with fans, along with Swift's mom Andrea. Swift will take a break over the US Thanksgiving holiday before her final shows. The Eras tour will come to an end with shows in Vancouver, BC December 6, 7, and 8 (Pictured in Toronto November 14) Swift will take a break over the US Thanksgiving holiday before her final shows. The Eras tour will come to an end with shows in Vancouver, BC December 6, 7, and 8. Swift has completed more than 140 shows across five continents. She recently sparked speculation she will be teaming up with Faith Hill for a re-recording of her debut album after she was seen enjoying a night out with her and Este Haim last week. Taylor Swift Share or comment on this article: Taylor Swift wipes away tears at latest Eras Tour concert after receiving standing ovation e-mail 9 shares Add comment

EDMONTON - The latest checkup on famed Edmonton elephant Lucy finds her in good shape ahead of her 50th birthday — but not healthy enough to be relocated to join a herd. Gary Dewar, director of the Edmonton Valley Zoo, says experts have determined the elephant’s respiratory issues won’t allow her to travel. “She has trouble breathing and, if we were to try to transport her, there would be much stress associated with that travel. And there is the very likely potential that she would die en route,” Dewar told a news conference Tuesday. “That is not something we are wanting to take the chance on.” He said the gentle giant’s health is good considering she turns 50 next year and she continues to go on walks around the zoo to stay in shape. Her workouts move indoors during the winter. Dewar said experts have indicated she has about 10 to 15 more years to live. “She’s alert, she’s calm and she’s responsive,” he said. A large tumour discovered two years ago remains under control with the help of vaccine shots, the zoo said. “We know that it’s smaller, just because of the behaviour that we’re seeing,” said Marie-Josee Limoges, a zoo veterinarian. “Her uterus is not falling down into her abdominal cavity the way it was two years ago.” The Asian elephant arrived at the zoo when she was two, and she has been alone since her herd mate, an African elephant, was moved to another facility about 16 years ago for breeding. Lucy has made international headlines in recent years, as protesters have called for her to be moved so she can spend the final years of her life with other elephants. Among the advocates for her freedom was U.S. television game show host Bob Barker. Before he died in 2023, he said elephants were not meant to brave Canada’s harsh winter climate. Dewar and Limoges said the zoo is aware of the criticism. “We can all agree we all share a love for her and want what’s best for her,” Dewar said. “So Lucy will be the last elephant that calls the Edmonton Valley Zoo home. There won’t be any more that will be brought here.” Limoges said Lucy arrived at the zoo in the 1970s, when “every zoo had to have an elephant.” “It’s 50 years down the road. Not every zoo has to have an elephant. She’s staying here mostly because we don’t think it’s in her best interest to move,” she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024.Gaza Cola makes headlines as it wins over London

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It wasn’t so long ago — just last year in fact — that social media was awash with would-be : super-straight shiny hair, bee-stung lips covering blinding white teeth, doe eyes streaked with mascara and a wasp waist dividing an ample butt and prominent breasts. But — in tandem with the rise of Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications — that image is fading fast. Even the Kardashians themselves are deflating, with butts apparently reduced and fillers seemingly dissolved. But as always in , it’s all about the details, and those vary from industry to industry. asked surgeons on both coasts to reveal what their clients are asking for these days. “Lifts and even breast reductions are on the rise, along with tummy tucks to make the midsection look more fit,” says New York plastic surgeon Darren Smith. He also reports a 25 percent uptick in mini arm lifts, which give the area a more streamlined and toned appearance, without the unsightly scars of a true brachioplasty. “I see a 20 percent increase in women coming in for lifts this year over last,” notes Lyle Leipziger, chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at both North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center. “And those that want implants only want to go up one bra size.” Some things don’t change: L.A. still wants bigger boobs — an average of 200 ccs more per implant than on the East Coast, says plastic surgeon Troy Pittman. Pittman reports that women nationwide are clamoring for Motiva, the new implants approved in September by the FDA that are more biocompatible, meaning there’s less risk of rupture or capsular contraction that results in hardening. “They’ve put to bed a lot of safety issues and are a game-changer,” he says. ” The country is in the grip of filler fear. Dr. Annie Chiu, who has a practice in Redondo Beach, feels it’s largely the result of social media. “We are facing an injectable backlash, and the filler market has been down in ’24,” she observes. “At first, everyone was encouraged to get that very contoured, overfilled Instagram face, but now there is a real fear of looking weird. My colleagues think that L.A. is more overdone, but there is bad work everywhere, especially Miami and Dallas, and the Housewives of New York don’t exactly have that subtle look.” Chiu points out the counteraction was felt by Kristin Davis when she appeared in . “She is a consummate New Yorker and was attacked online for being overfilled, but she had it corrected and now looks better.” Howard Sobel, a New York dermatologist, reported that his patients from Los Angeles still want a fuller, more rounded face than his New Yorkers request. “They want an exaggerated feminine look because that gets you noticed, but that look has never been New York. They bring in pictures of celebrities they want to look like, but they don’t even have similar facial structures.” Ironically, facelifts are now seen as less drastic and altering than injectables, and even fat that was routinely added during a lift is being avoided. “I continue to see an increasing number of patients trading years of fillers for a facelift, and many of them are adamant about not looking overfilled with fat grafting,” says Sean Alemi, a New York facial plastic surgeon. “In fact, I would say that I’m performing almost 80 percent of my facelifts without fat these days. It’s a new era.” The typical customers for body work long have been women from their 20s to their 40s. But doctors notice a trend of people coming for such procedures later than ever before. “I now have women in their 60s, 70s and even 80s coming in to get their breasts and tummies done,” says Leipziger. People may be getting work done later, but they are also starting earlier and doing less drastic surgeries, some even without going under. “It’s the tweakment movement,” says Alemi. “People in their 40s don’t want to wait until aging affects their entire face, so they are getting lower eyelid skin pinches and upper lid lifts to get rid of hooding, using just local anesthesia. It freshens without changing the shape of the face.” Leipziger also has witnessed a marked increase in requests for mini facelifts from women in their 40s. Dermatologist Soren White says his colleagues in L.A. are seeing patients come in even earlier for anti-aging. “In L.A., it’s not unusual for an 18- or 20-year-old to come in for filler — it’s a rite of passage,” he says. When it comes to smiles, “L.A. has more of a brighter, bigger, wow effect, and it doesn’t have to look natural,” says Larry Rosenthal, a New York dentist whose patients have included Donald and Ivanka Trump and Sumner Redstone. “In New York, people want a wider smile.” Dr. Marc Lowenberg, whose office has treated the teeth of Martha Stewart, Julianna Margulies, Heidi Klum and Cindy Crawford, says New York patients specifically ask to not have the West Coast style. “I have a guy in my chair right now who said he doesn’t want his teeth to walk in the room before he does. People say, ‘I don’t want Hollywood white.’ Things have been toned down, but in general, in L.A. they call more attention to your smile than we do here.” Cosmetic dentist Lana Rozenberg, who tends to the mouths of Justin Theroux, Clive Owen and Helena Christensen, said patients have become more participative in the artistic end of smile improvement, thanks to AI: “With new software, such as Overjet and SmileFy, patients can envision their future smiles before going through the process of placing crowns or veneers on their teeth. This makes it more accurate, and more interactive.’’ Lowenberg feels that D.C. is still even more under the radar. “The veneers have always been more conservative, with the exception of Joe Biden’s, which were so white that people commented on them.” Noses also have become more natural as surgeons say goodbye to the upturned and button varieties. “Noses have changed; we try to leave more structure behind now,” says Linda Li, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who was in the original cast of . “You want a nose that fits. If you have a broad face, a tiny-ass nose looks ridiculous.” Buccal fat removal, once a hugely popular procedure in L.A. that sharpened facial contours, is on a sharp decline. “I am getting fewer requests for it now because it can accelerate the aging process and make people look gaunt,” observes Carl Truesdale, a Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon. Truesdale says there is a greater emphasis on the neck now, including removing some salivary glands. “Men see that Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise are looking younger, and they are opting for a sharper jawline, which can be achieved with submandibular gland removal and muscle tightening.” (Not all docs are fans of this controversial procedure, as it is aggressive and can affect the production of saliva). Truesdale also is seeing less lateral brow lift, a swing Matt Gaetz seemed to have missed. Notes Truesdale, “Last year, people asked to look like Bella Hadid, but this year the fox eye is downtrending.” Dr. Robert Schwarcz, double board certified NY Oculoplastic Surgeon, says the classic severe brow lift — which altered the hairline — has made way for a more subtle forehead adjustment. “Brow lifts are trending on social media due to the popularity of the temporal lift, a shortened version which addresses the tail of the brow,’’ he explains. “This gives a lift to the upper eyelids without a surprised look.” . THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day More from The Hollywood ReporterCramer's week ahead: Earnings from Dell, CrowdStrike and several big retailersA recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. EleniyaChe // Shutterstock The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. LookerStudio // Shutterstock Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. InkheartX // Shutterstock COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . sirtravelalot // Shutterstock As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Watchara Chuenchomnoi // Shutterstock

FIFA and Mythical Games Partner to Launch Mobile Football Game 'FIFA Rivals'Intersection of Religions and Education in India

NoneAlberta minister wants to see $100B in data centre infrastructure in next five yearsCLEVELAND (AP) — Shortly after doing a face-down snow angel, firing a few celebratory snowballs and singing “Jingle Bells” on his way to the media room, Jameis Winston ended his postgame news conference with a simple question. “Am I a Brown yet?” he asked. He is now. And who knows? Maybe for a lot longer than expected. Winston entered Cleveland football folklore on Thursday night by leading the Browns to a 24-19 win over the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers, who had their five-game winning streak stopped. Winston's performance at Huntington Bank Field, which transformed into the world's largest snow globe, not only made him an instantaneous hero in the eyes of Browns fans but added another wrinkle to the team's ever-changing, never-ending quarterback conundrum. In his fourth start since Deshaun Watson's season-ending Achilles tendon injury, Winston made enough big plays to help the Browns (3-8) get a victory that should quiet conjecture about coach Kevin Stefanski's job. Some wins mean more than others. In Cleveland, beating the Steelers is as big as it gets. But beyond any instant gratification, Winston has given the Browns more to consider as they move forward. Watson's future with Cleveland is highly uncertain since it will still be months before the team has a grip on whether he's even an option in 2025, his fourth year since signing a $230 million, fully guaranteed contract that has proven calamitous. It's also possible the Browns will cut ties with Watson. They signed Winston to a one-year contract to be Watson's backup. But the unexpected events of 2024 have changed plans and led to the possibility that the 30-year-old Winston could become Cleveland's full-time QB or a bridge to their next young one. So much is unclear. What's not is that Winston, who leaped into the end zone on fourth-and-2 for a TD to put the Browns ahead 18-6 in the fourth quarter, is a difference maker. With his larger-than-life personality and the joy he shows whether practicing or throwing three touchdown passes, he has lifted the Browns. A man of faith, he's made his teammates believe. Winston has done what Watson couldn't: made the Browns better. “A very, very authentic person,” Stefanski said Friday on a Zoom call. “He’s the same guy every single day. He's the same guy at 5 a.m. as he at 5 p.m. He brings great energy to everything he does, and I think his teammates appreciate that about him.” Winston, who is 2-2 as a starter with wins over the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, has a knack for inspiring through fiery, preacher-like pregame speeches. But what has impressed the Browns is his ability to stay calm in the storm. “He doesn’t get rattled,” said Myles Garrett, who had three sacks against the Steelers . “He’s just tuned in and focused as anyone I’ve seen at that position. Turn the page. There was a turnover, came back to the sideline, ‘Love you. I’m sorry. We’re going to get it back.’ He was already on to the next one, ‘How can we complete the mission?’ “I have a lot of respect for him. First was from afar and now seeing it on the field in front of me, it’s a blessing to have someone who plays a game with such a passion and want-to. You can’t ask for a better teammate when they take those things to heart and they want to play for you like we’re actually brothers and that’s what we have to attain. That brotherhood.” Winston has done something else Watson couldn't: move the offense. The Browns scored more than 20 points for just the second time this season, and like Joe Flacco a year ago, Winston has shown that Stefanski's system works with a quarterback patient enough to let plays develop and unafraid to take shots downfield. The conditions certainly were a factor, but the Browns were a miserable 1 of 10 on third down, a season-long trend. However, Cleveland converted all four fourth-down tries, including a fourth-and-3 pass from Winston to Jerry Jeudy with 2:36 left that helped set up Nick Chubb's go-ahead TD run. RT Jack Conklin. Garrett outplayed Steelers star T.J. Watt in their rivalry within the rivalry partly because Conklin did a nice job containing Pittsburgh's edge rusher, who was held without a sack and had one tackle for loss. Conklin has made a remarkable comeback since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery last year. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. Their desire to build a dome is well intended, but an indoor game could never come close to matching the surreal setting of Thursday night, when snow swirled throughout the stadium and covered nearly all the yard lines and hash marks. “It was beautiful,” Winston said. WR Cedric Tillman is in the concussion protocol. He had two catches before taking a big hit on the final play of the third quarter. 9 — Consecutive home wins for the Browns in Thursday night games. Three of those have come against Pittsburgh. An extended break before visiting the Denver Broncos on Dec. 2. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

How to protect your communications through encryption

Education is a well-established means of intellectual growth, social understanding, and empowerment. As vibrant as Indian culture is, with tradition and religion being an integral part of society, there has been considerable debate on the influence of religion in educational institutions. Moral and ethical regulations can well be achieved through the teaching of religions, but when religion becomes too close to formal education, then at times, it hampers the inclusivity, scientific focus, and critical thinking that students face in order to cope with today’s scenario. It is a distinct example of diversity in culture, languages, and traditions that distinguish India in the modern world. Apart from this cultural prosperity, India has also built a skilled workforce and many innovative minds. However, progress in both these areas has been somewhat retarded because of the religious indoctrination introduced in schools. While religious teachings can indeed teach us about moral values and right conduct in our lives, the education sector, above all, should focus on science, wisdom, and knowledge that will inspire technology and innovation better than what is usually practiced in Europe, the West, and the Far East. Religious teachings are a foundation for the development of compassion and dedication to humankind, not hatred, discrimination, or extremism. A specific time for religious teaching in schools is appropriate if balanced with science, laboratories, and innovation towards educating students about healthy competition and growth. Unfortunately, religion is now an instrument for the miscegenation of people and antagonism that threatens the sovereignty of our country. All children should be protected from religious intolerance and instead taught tolerance, sensitivity, and respect for one another. Each soul in this land must be able to feel equally treated and be equal so that our motherland becomes invincible-the country united by value and strength. Many educational institutes of India are closely associated with religious considerations in which biases creep in the case of methodologies and curricula delivered. That being said, when institutions focus more on certain religions more than others, it predisposes children to a divided society, thus truncating the freedom of learning and becoming prejudiced. Some religiously affiliated institutions compel students to participate in activities that range from forced prayers, special dress codes, and conducting ceremonies based on faith. These activities may have significant applications within particular faith communities but make education not appealing to heterogenic students. Instead of spreading warmth and inclusivity, these forced activities tend to create divisions and isolate other students outside the same belief. A morning assembly or religious practices belonging to one religion, such as Hindu prayers or Muslim recitations, alienates students belonging to religious minority communities because a Hindu prayer in a majority of Muslim students’ school or a Muslim prayer in a Hindu-majority school may make students belonging to other religions feel excluded or discomforted. This might create divisions rather than giving an impression of unity and equity, which may further impact the emotional well-being and sense of belonging of the students. It resonates with the vision of Dr. D.S. Kothari, who presided over the Kothari Commission (1964-66). He realized that social, cultural, and religious factors bore a greater weight on the education system in India and, in numerous instances, confined the opportunities for just distribution. Overall, the differences in terms of the quality and inclusivity had been immense. In such cases, the Kothari Commission brought out recommendations from a secular education system, aiming to integrate this vast country and prevent religion-based influences that otherwise hamper educational development. It was also on the strength of science temperament and the machinery of thinking critically that it wanted rational thinking to dominate against dogmatic religious or cultural thinking; at school-going levels, Kothari’s secularism, therefore, fostered shared national identity since it transcends the religious differences, which would result in intellectual and social growth. This vision of education looked at balancing respect for culture and the focus on universal knowledge and skills, so that every child in India could be educated to prepare them for modern roles in society. Similarly, the Romantic poet John Keats, known for his deep feeling for nature and skepticism towards organised religious dogma, did not clearly state that religion militated against education. Yet, however, his writings indicate that he followed a conservative attitude toward conventional religious dogma. Keats, in his letters, is an advocate of “negative capability,” that is, the ability to embrace doubt and uncertainty without seeking absolute religious answers. He thought that strict religious dogmas could limit intellectual as well as poetic exploration. For Keats, true education and development of the soul must embrace that complex rather than a determinate or transcendent religious view. A British-American author and critic of religion, Hitchens proclaimed that religious indoctrination, together with education, should not be mixed together. In his book God Is Not Great, he declared that religious teachings often clash with science and ethics, which led to an education of scientific thought and view. Quite vocally regarding postulates about the relationships of religion and education did the German philosopher and economist, Karl Marx. His most influential essay, A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right (1843), includes the statement that religion is “the opium of people.” This simply means that, although very popular, religion often acts as a source of pacification, controlling the masses and not letting them ask questions about the realities around them in society and political life. Marx would believe in the propagation of inequalities through religious teachings. He would see the dangers of such teachings away from the social change the people needed. Marx advocated for a secular system of materialist education, one that would satisfy man’s desire to understand the world in line with scientific analysis and critical thinking. It was through education of people for Marx that a person was to be liberated from religious illusions and was to become aware of the material conditions of life, which could in this manner transform into social and political activities. It is an undeniable fact that religion is the greatest inspirer of values and also the highest moral guide. When religion comes into formal education in a slightly excessive manner, it would asphyxiate students’ development. Education for India must go forward as a secular, inclusive, and intellectually powerful society only if this serves to strengthen the secular element that combines scientific inquiry and critical thinking with religion and religious teachings kept strictly in the personal or cultural context. Education that values and supports diversity but gives objective, evidence-based facts can actually give students the sensibilities to be well-grounded open-minded citizens in today’s world.Weave Communications, Inc. ( NYSE:WEAV – Get Free Report ) Director Blake G. Modersitzki sold 84,764 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.49, for a total transaction of $1,397,758.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 201,975 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,330,567.75. The trade was a 29.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Weave Communications Stock Performance Shares of NYSE WEAV opened at $16.12 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.59 and a current ratio of 1.59. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $14.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.17 billion, a PE ratio of -40.30 and a beta of 2.00. Weave Communications, Inc. has a 52 week low of $8.10 and a 52 week high of $16.56. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Weave Communications Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. AXA S.A. acquired a new position in Weave Communications during the second quarter worth $11,590,000. Wasatch Advisors LP grew its holdings in Weave Communications by 40.9% during the third quarter. Wasatch Advisors LP now owns 3,760,837 shares of the company’s stock worth $48,139,000 after purchasing an additional 1,091,028 shares during the period. Pathway Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Weave Communications during the third quarter worth approximately $7,308,000. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC boosted its stake in shares of Weave Communications by 37.7% during the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 873,411 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,180,000 after acquiring an additional 239,202 shares during the period. Finally, State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Weave Communications by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 950,683 shares of the company’s stock worth $12,169,000 after acquiring an additional 155,054 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.83% of the company’s stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Get Our Latest Analysis on Weave Communications About Weave Communications ( Get Free Report ) Weave Communications, Inc provides a customer experience and payments software platform in the United States and Canada. Its platform enables small and medium-sized healthcare businesses to maximize the value of their patient interactions and minimize the time and effort spent on manual or mundane tasks. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Weave Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Weave Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Black plastic kitchen utensil risks were overstated. But you should still toss them, group says

I am driving my tween to school, and we are listening to his music. “Yeah, you try to come wrong ’bout this shit, we poppin’ ya tires, hol’ up... fein’- fein’-fein’-fein ...” I am trying so hard not to sound like a Boomer right now. (I was born in 1971, so I’m classic Gen X, but you get my drift.) I hold my tongue. But I cannot help but compare this to what I was listening to at his age. What was I listening to? Music that protested against poverty and injustice. Music that demanded change, demanded that we part with our cash because people were starving in Africa. Forty years ago today: The assembled artists of Band Aid who collaborated on Do They Know It’s Christmas? Today, November 25, marks the 40th anniversary of the moment that the biggest names in British and Irish pop music joined forces as Band Aid to record Do They Know It’s Christmas? The song went straight to No.1 in 14 countries, raising millions in aid in the first year of sales. I recently reflected on the impact of this historic event on my 13-year-old self when I had the very great fortune to be part of a small audience with Band Aid’s instigator, Bob Geldof. Seated comfortably in a venue overlooking the Harbour Bridge, I listened as the world-renowned activist and rocking global changemaker told us how he had rallied the stars of the music industry to raise awareness and funds for victims of an Ethiopian famine that had occurred between 1983 and 1985. I sat on the edge of my seat, fangirling with tears in my eyes as he told us how the pop stars I loved as a teenager eagerly gave up their time for the cause; how his young mate, Bono, needed some persuasion as he didn’t feel like he was a star of the calibre of Elton John and Duran Duran. He told us how Wham’s now iconic Last Christmas single was due for release on the same day as Band Aid’s charity single, so George Michael not only agreed to delay the release, but also donated all the proceeds from his song to the Band Aid cause. The day the song was released – December 7, 1984 – I took my paper-run money to Brashs record store and bought my first seven-inch vinyl single. At home, it spun on repeat on the turntable. It was a formative moment for me. All my idols were involved in this project. All the artists and musicians I admired joined in an act of selflessness that was the outward display of their social conscience. Idols, role models, are important to young people. Their behaviour shapes the thinking of a young mind and helps construct a worldview. At the risk of sounding like the Boomer I am not, I sometimes wonder whether Gen Z misses out here. I wonder why the same social conscience is no longer evident in popular music. Perhaps it’s because those British and Irish pop icons who sang for Africa – now described as Boomers – were only one generation away from those who witnessed the horror of World War II. The despair and disgrace of the Vietnam War was in their living memory. At the same time, the Cold War gave us all fear of annihilation. Globalisation and mass media gave us knowledge of the deprivation of the Third World while the West enjoyed wealthy lives. So of course, Sting was singing about disarmament of the two superpowers and U2 about violence, conflict and Ireland’s Troubles. And Midnight Oil sang about politics, consumerism, Indigenous disadvantage and the threat of nuclear war. I listened to music made by these bands and artists, and they knew how to “feed the world”, to shake things up. Pretty sure when Taylor Swift suggests you Shake It Off , she’s not inviting you to disrupt. And Sabrina Carpenter isn’t demanding an end to child labour in coffee production in Espresso . I’m not claiming that the desire for social upheaval isn’t expressed in indie rock, pop and rap. It’s just that the mainstream music doesn’t fly that flag any more. Relationships, sexuality and the industry itself provide plenty of material, but songs about overthrowing the system do not get many plays on the streaming services. So, my Gen Z child’s playlist is on rotation as we drive, and Kendrick Lamar is dissing Drake again: “I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress.” Ouch. I can’t see those two making a charity record together any time soon. I guess if Gen Z are looking for warriors of social justice to model themselves on, they will have to look elsewhere. Maree Badgery-Parker is a writer and a schoolteacher.Byrna Technologies (NASDAQ:BYRN) Trading 3.7% Higher – What’s Next?