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ININ Games announced last week that it has officially gained the publishing rights to Shenmue III , the long-awaited third entry in the cult Dreamcast series. Of course, here at Nintendo Life, that got us thinking about the future of the series — particularly given than none of the games have appeared on Switch. And now, ININ Games has shared a survey on social media , asking fans to answer "a couple questions on Shenmue III". While the survey, which you can access right here , asks questions like "What's your favourite moment in the whole Shenmue series?" and "What graphics and performance improvements would you like to see for Shenmue III?", there's one big one that caught our eye: "On which platform would you like to see Shenmue III?". And Switch is an answer, alongside Xbox Series, PS5, and Mac. The game is only available on PS4 and Windows, currently, but you know what to do, folks. "Please consider filling it out if you're a fan of Ryo's antics or just familiar with the game." ININ Games posted on X, "Your feedback will be invaluable to us, as always!" The survey is just a survey, obviously, but it's clear that ININ Games is looking to do something with Shenmue. The publisher sadly doesn't have the rights to the first two games (those are owned by Sega), and we'd love to see the whole series on the Switch (or successor), so we'll see. Shenmue III continues the story of Ryo Hazuki directly from the end of Shenmue II , despite the near-20 years release gap between the games. Ryo is still out to seek revenge on his father's killer while uncovering the secrets of the Phoenix Mirror. The third game got pretty mixed reviews back when it launched, but it is unabashedly faithful to the original duo. Do you want Shenmue III on Switch? Would you rather wait for the Switch 2? Let us know in the comments .
Britain, Germany, France, Italy and several other European countries said Monday they would freeze all pending asylum requests from Syrians, a day after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad. While Berlin and other governments said they were watching the fast-moving developments in the war-ravaged nation, Austria signalled it would soon deport refugees back to Syria. Far-right politicians elsewhere made similar demands, including in Germany -- home to Europe's largest Syrian community -- at a time when immigration has become a hot-button issue across the continent. Alice Weidel, of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany, reacted with disdain to Sunday's mass rallies by jubilant Syrians celebrating Assad's downfall. "Anyone in Germany who celebrates 'free Syria' evidently no longer has any reason to flee," she wrote on X. "They should return to Syria immediately." World leaders and Syrians abroad watched in disbelief at the weekend as Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus, ending Assad's brutal rule while also sparking new uncertainty. A German foreign ministry spokesman pointed out that "the fact that the Assad regime has been ended is unfortunately no guarantee of peaceful developments" in the future. Germany has taken in almost one million Syrians, with most arriving in 2015-16 under ex-chancellor Angela Merkel. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said many Syrian refugees "now finally have hope of returning to their Syrian homeland" but cautioned that "the situation in Syria is currently very unclear". The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees had imposed a freeze on decisions for ongoing asylum procedures "until the situation is clearer". She added that "concrete possibilities of return cannot yet be predicted and it would be unprofessional to speculate in such a volatile situation". Rights group Amnesty International slammed Germany's freeze on asylum decisions, stressing that for now "the human rights situation in the country is completely unclear". The head of the UN refugee agency also cautioned that "patience and vigilance" were needed on the issue of refugee returns. - 'Repatriation and deportation' - In Austria, where about 100,000 Syrians live, conservative Chancellor Karl Nehammer instructed the interior ministry "to suspend all ongoing Syrian asylum applications and to review all asylum grants". Interior Minister Gerhard Karner added he had "instructed the ministry to prepare an orderly repatriation and deportation programme to Syria". "The political situation in Syria has changed fundamentally and, above all, rapidly in recent days," the ministry said, adding it is "currently monitoring and analysing the new situation". The French interior ministry said it too would put asylum requests from Syrians on hold, with authorities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway announcing similar moves. Britain's interior ministry said it was taking the same measure "whilst we assess the current situation". The Italian government said late Monday after a cabinet meeting that it too was suspending asylum request "in line with other European partners." The leader of the far-right Sweden Democrats, a coalition partner in the government, said residence permits for Syrian refugees should now be "reviewed". "Destructive Islamist forces are behind the change of power" in Syria, wrote their leader Jimmie Akesson on X. "I see that groups are happy about this development here in Sweden. You should see it as a good opportunity to go home." In Greece, a government spokesman voiced hope that Assad's fall will eventually allow "the safe return of Syrian refugees" to their country, but without announcing concrete measures. - 'Populist and irresponsible' - In Germany, the debate gained momentum as the country heads towards February elections. Achim Brotel, president of a grouping of German communes, called for border controls to stop fleeing Assad loyalists reaching Germany. The centre-right opposition CDU suggested that rejected Syrian asylum-seekers should now lose so-called subsidiary protection. "If the reason for protection no longer applies, then refugees will have to return to their home country," CDU legislator Thorsten Frei told Welt TV. CDU MP Jens Spahn suggested that Berlin charter flights to Syria and offer 1,000 euros ($1,057) to "anyone who wants to return". A member of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats criticised the debate as "populist and irresponsible". Greens party deputy Anton Hofreiter also said "it is completely unclear what will happen next in Syria" and deportation talk was "completely out of place". Many Syrians in Germany have watched the events in their home country with great joy but prefer to wait and see before deciding whether to return. "We want to go back to Syria," said Mahmoud Zaml, 25, who works in an Arabic pastry shop in Berlin, adding that he hopes to help "rebuild" his country. "But we have to wait a bit now," he told AFP. "We have to see what happens and if it is really 100 percent safe, then we will go back to Syria." burs-fz/rlp/phz/gv/giv(Source: Nasdaq) Wall Street’s main indexes were mixed in volatile trading on Thursday, with Alphabet’s losses weighing on the benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, while the blue-chip Dow touched a one-week high, boosted by shares of cloud company Salesforce. Alphabet (GOOGL.O), slid 6.2% to touch a more than three-week low after the Justice Department argued to a judge that Google must sell its Chrome browser and take other measures to end its monopoly on online search. The stock’s losses weighed on the communication services sector (.SPLRCL), which fell 2.6%, while nine of the 11 S&P 500 sectors traded higher. Megacaps also took a hit, with Meta (META.O), down 1.2% and Apple (AAPL.O), flat. Amazon.com (AMZN.O), lost 3% after a report said it will likely face an EU investigation next year into whether it favors its own brand products on its online marketplace. Shares of Wall Street’s biggest company, Nvidia , were choppy and were last down 0.5%. The chip company surpassed expectations for quarterly results, and projected fourth-quarter revenue above estimates. However, some investors were unimpressed that the forecast was its slowest in seven quarters. “It has a lot to do with some disappointments in terms of Nvidia’s guidance on the margins, the story on Google doesn’t help (either) and that’s bringing down the entire technology complex,” said Dan Eye, chief investment officer at Fort Pitt Capital Group. The broader Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index (.SOX), was up 1%. At 11:42 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), rose 372.11 points, or 0.86%, to 43,780.58, the S&P 500 (.SPX), gained 18.99 points, or 0.32%, to 5,936.10 and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), lost 48.96 points, or 0.26%, to 18,917.19. Nvidia has led much of the U.S. market rally since mid-2023 on expectations that AI integration could boost corporate profits. The stock has risen more than nine-fold in the past two years and the company boasts a market value of $3.5 trillion. Gains on the blue-chip Dow were aided by Salesforce’s (CRM.N), 4.5% advance after three brokerages lifted their price targets on the stock. On the data front, a weekly report on jobless claims showed they fell unexpectedly last week, suggesting a rebound in job growth in November. Money market bets tiled in favor of a 25 basis points interest rate cut by the Fed at its December meeting, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch. Meanwhile, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said the United States is more vulnerable to inflationary shocks than in the past, according to a media report. Comments from Federal Reserve officials Austan Goolsbee and Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr are on tap. Traders also monitored geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia, that sent crude prices higher and aided a 1.4% gain in the energy sector (.SPNY), opens new tab. Deere (DE.N), opens new tab shares gained 7.8% after reporting an upbeat fourth-quarter profit, while Snowflake (SNOW.N), jumped 32% after rais ing its annual product revenue forecast. Crypto stocks were mixed as bitcoin prices came off session highs. MARA Holdings (MARA.O), jumped 7.6%, while Coinbase Global (COIN.O), opens new tab dropped 4.4%. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 3.44-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.88-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted 52 new 52-week highs and four new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 102 new highs and 108 new lows. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Purvi Agarwal and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Maju Samuel)
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Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's riseThe entertainment industry has always had a love-hate relationship with politics with various actors getting different treatments from the parties in power. In 2015, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath compared his remark on "intolerance" in India by comparing him with terrorist Hafiz Sayeed. In 2017, the BJP boycotted an award ceremony to honour actor Prakash Raj. Earlier this year, the saffron party sought a ban on all films and ads of actor Shivakumar, whose wife was contesting the polls. Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-9167143-2"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); pic.twitter.com/QSkYKu8XUd — Gems of Bollywood Fan (@FilmyKhichdii) December 14, 2022 When the controversy 'Annapoorani' controversy broke out in January this year, BJP leader T Raja Singh lashed out at Nayanthara and sought a ban on the movie's makers. Eventually, the starlet had to apologise with a "Jai Shree Ram" note. Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1253031-3"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); When Congress Banned Actors And Singers However, it is not that such confrontations between entertainers and the ruling party have come up after the change of government in 2014. Such battles played out even during the Congress governments of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi as well. During the Winter Session of Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pointed out that lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri and actor Balraj Sahni were jailed in 1949 for speaking up against the Jawaharlal Nehru government. Majrooh Sultanpuri and Balraj Sahni were both jailed in 1949. During one of the meetings organised for the mill workers in 1949, Majrooh Sultanpuri recited a poem that was written against Jawaharlal Nehru and therefore he had to go to jail. He refused to tender an apology for the... pic.twitter.com/xRYHnHZIP7 — Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) December 16, 2024 Apart from these two stalwarts of their time, the Congress government of Indira Gandhi censored India's legendary singer and actor Kishore Kumar at one time for rebuffing the Congress's requests for endorsements. Actor-director Manoj Kumar, too, paid the price of turning down a "request" to direct a pro-Emergency film as his film 'Dus Numbri' was released on Doordarshan way before its planned release in theatres. As a result, it bombed at the Box Office. He eventually went to court and won the case against the government. The fight between the BJP and the Congress has again turned towards the entertainment industry. Allu Arjun's arrest and subsequent release on bail have prompted the BJP to target the Revanth Reddy government in Telangana. The BJP has now again raked up the instance of Indira Gandhi censoring Kishore Kumar. On Tuesday, the BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said: "Revanth Reddy is orchestrating state-sponsored violence and attack on Allu Arjun. He is completely rattled because a neutral star, who believes in free speech, is loved by the people of Telangana and has not toed the line of the Congress Party; he is not working as per the whims and the fancies of the Congress Party." #WATCH | Delhi: On vandalisation at the residence of actor Allu Arjun in Jubilee Hills, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari says "Revanth Reddy is orchestrating a state-sponsored violence and state-sponsored attack on Allu Arjun. He is completely rattled because a neutral star who... pic.twitter.com/yUXSq1njV0 — ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2024 "This is the Emergency mindset of the Congress, which is common in Jawaharlal Nehru who banned and jailed Madru Sultanpuri. Indira Gandhi stopped the songs of Kishore Kumar and now Revanth Reddy is ensuring that his goons attack Allu Arjun. Congress Party does not believe in free speech," he had. What Happened Between Kishore Kumar And Indira Gandhi? Kishore Kumar was not renowned only for his melodious voice but also for his compelling stories. One such tale of courage dates back to when he refused to sing for the Youth Congress and turned down a "request" to promote Sanjay Gandhi's advertisment for the Indira Gandhi government's economic policy. When Kishore Said 'No' To Indira Gandhi During the Emergency in 1975, Indira Gandhi launched a 20-point programme to promote her policies. Vidya Charan Shukla was the Information and Broadcasting Minister back then. Shukla, who had good relations with many in the film industry, understood the power of cinema and music. He wanted to use songs to glorify Indira Gandhi and her 20-point economic agenda. To this end, ministry officials were sent to Mumbai to convince Kishore Kumar to sing for the campaign. When the officials approached Kishore Kumar and explained the kind of song they wanted him to perform, he flatly refused and reportedly used strong language to dismiss them. This was not the first time Kishore had declined to work for the Congress party. Earlier, he had refused to perform at a Youth Congress event in Bombay (now Mumbai). Kishore Kumar’s Songs Banned Kishore Kumar’s defiance angered officials at the Information and Broadcasting Ministry back in Delhi. In retaliation, the ministry issued a diktat banning all of Kishore Kumar’s songs from being broadcast on All India Radio and Doordarshan. The impact of the ban was felt on the most popular radio programme at that time — Binaca Geetmala. Kishore Kumar was the most-played singer in the programme in 1974, the year before the Emergency (1975-1977), as well as in 1959 and 1971. His ' Mera jeewan kora kaagaz ' was the biggest hit that year. However, in 1975 Kishor Kumar's voice was silenced on radio. In addition to this, the sale of gramophone records featuring his songs was prohibited. Officials believed this ban would intimidate the film industry and silence dissent. To some extent, they succeeded, as many artistes of the time reportedly toed out of fear. However, a few individuals like Kishore Kumar stood firm in their opposition to the government. Other stalwarts of the film industry, such as Dev Anand, Vijay Anand, Raj Kumar, V Shantaram, Uttam Kumar, and Satyajit Ray, also refused to bow. Satyajit Ray, for instance, declined a proposal to direct a film on Jawaharlal Nehru. This was an era devoid of social media, with limited means for artistes (and the government) to reach out to the public. Despite these challenges, a handful of artistes, led by Kishore Kumar, refused to compromise with their principles.
NoneSyria’s prime minister said that most cabinet ministers were back at work on Monday after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad. However, some state workers failed to return to their jobs and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt”. Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighbouring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Mr Assad’s brutal rule. President Bashar Assad fled to Russia after rebels overthrew his regime (Hussein Malla/AP) The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant, who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the UN official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government. It comes as the prime minister said that Cabinet ministers were back at work (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) Mr Jalali stayed in Syria when Mr Assad fled and has sought to project normalcy since. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Mr Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a UN official said some government services had been paralysed as worried state employees stayed at home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” said Adam Abdelmoula, UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator for Syria, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. Ahmad al-Sharaa’s rebel faction has promised representative government and religious tolerance, including announcing that they will not tell women how to dress (Omar Albam/AP) “I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” In a video shared on a rebel messaging channel, Mr al-Sharaa said: “You will see there are skills” among the rebels. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr Putin did not plan to meet with him. In public squares, many people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport (Hussein Malla/PA) In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets.
I DON’T know about you, but these days it feels as though the very things that define our once great country are now continually under attack. Our history , identity, culture, values, and way of life. And now, as a string of shocking discoveries reflect, our free speech. If you want to see how our free speech is under attack, then look no further than the astonishing treatment of Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson . On Remembrance Sunday, a day reserved to pay respect to our fallen ancestors who gave their lives so we can have these freedoms, she suddenly found the police at her door. They arrived, Gestapo-style, telling her that an anonymous accuser — sorry, a “victim” — had reported a (now-deleted) year-old tweet of hers, claiming it was “offensive”. READ MORE IN OPINION The police refused to tell her which of her tweets had been reported nor who had made the accusation against her. While the police later dropped the case after a national outcry, in the days since, similarly shocking cases of ordinary people being investigated for things they have said or posted online have come to light. Utterly insane As The Sun has revealed, this is just the tip of the iceberg. The recording of a hate crime after somebody blamed their “rough” haircut on a discussion with the barber about the war in Ukraine . The German woman who was likened to a “rottweiler” and had the case written up as “racial abuse”. Most read in The Sun The man who was investigated for “racial hatred” after whistling the Bob The Builder tune at his neighbour. The swimming teacher investigated after a mother said her son had been allowed to bang his head against the side of the pool because of “his ethnicity”. Not to mention the nine-year-old child investigated after calling a classmate a “retard”, or the two schoolgirls who were investigated after suggesting that a fellow student smells “like fish”. What on earth is going on? The answer lies in something called “non-crime hate incidents”. Yes, you read that right. Non-crime hate incidents. Created in 2014, a non-crime hate incident is any incident perceived by the supposed victim to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a “protected characteristic” such as somebody’s race , religion , gender, sexual orientation, and so on. The key word here is perceived. Our police are too busy monitoring words to tackle actual crime Under these Soviet-style tactics, the “victim” does not have to justify or provide evidence of the perceived offence, while police are told not to challenge this perception. Nor, remarkably, is any evidence required. Yes, you read that one right, too. No evidence is required. What we’re talking about, in other words, is somebody taking subjective offence to something that’s entirely lawful and has been said or posted online by somebody else, and which the police are told to report irrespective of whether there is evidence (because asking for evidence could mean “secondary victimisation”). I know. It’s completely and utterly insane. And despite it being a “non-crime”, these investigations still show up on somebody’s permanent record, which could quite plausibly prevent them from getting a job if the role requires a background check. This is why these non-crime hate incidents are so sinister. They are fuelling a creeping and oppressive climate in which everybody is encouraged to spy on everybody else, and be suspicious of our neighbours , friends and family. While our hapless Labour government would have you believe that non-crime hate incidents create a more “inclusive” and “diverse” community, in reality they undermine free speech by imposing “chilling effects” on society, encouraging people to hunker down, self-censor and watch what they say. They fear what might happen if, like Allison Pearson, they catch the attention of the Thought Police. And the number of these cases is truly mind-boggling, reflecting a legal and political system that’s spinning completely out of control. Between 2014 and 2019, astonishingly, some 34 police forces recorded nearly 120,000 non-crime hate incidents in England and Wales . And between 2019 and 2024, the Free Speech Union estimates this number more than doubled to more than 250,000. No wonder more than 200,000 burglaries in England and Wales went unsolved last year. And no wonder everything from shoplifting and mobile phone theft appear de facto legal in modern Britain. Our police are too busy monitoring words to tackle actual crime. This is a classic example of what happens when you put the Luxury Belief Class in charge — they prioritise clamping down on vague and abstract notions of “hate” while simultaneously failing to deliver core public services that actually keep people safe. And if you think these non-crime hate incidents are the only things threatening our free speech and free expression, then think again. While paedophiles walked free, many people were sent to prison for voicing their candid views about issues such as Islam in Britain Why? Because Keir Starmer’s government is now cracking down on our freedom in a number of areas, spreading this new culture of censorship, groupthink, and fear. We saw this, of course, in the aftermath of the immigration protests in the summer , when many people were rounded up and locked up after sharing their views on social media , often in the privacy of their own homes . While paedophiles walked free, many people were sent to prison for voicing their candid views about issues such as Islam in Britain, like the ex-soldier with PTSD who this week was sent to jail for two years for saying things like, “They want us to be Islamic; that’s why they’re here.” Public trust What all this shows is how Labour politicians and leftists will always sacrifice free speech and individual freedom on the altar of what they call “social justice”, including protecting minorities from perceived “hate”, even if there is no evidence for this. If we’re not careful, this won’t just accelerate the already collapsing levels of public trust in the police, but completely undermine our country’s long commitment to free speech and expression. Which is why, in my view at least, we should abolish these non-crime hate incidents completely and remember who we are — a people, a country, that is committed to freedom. While incitement to violence is already, rightly, covered by law , the British people must be free to say whatever is on their mind, however disagreeable you or I might find it. READ MORE SUN STORIES Because this is, ultimately, the lifeblood of democracy. Otherwise, amid the creeping intolerance that we can all feel around us, amid these relentless attacks on our identity, culture, history, and heritage, we will continue to descend into an Orwellian police state that shows remarkably little, if any, interest in protecting the very thing that defines who we are on these islands — our freedom.
How to fix kinked and broken cables in no timeHeat G Dru Smith (Achilles tendon) out for seasonBrandel Chamblee and Todd Lewis discuss Scottie Scheffler's impressive showing during Round 2 of the Hero World Challenge, breaking down what has worked for the world No. 1 in The Bahamas. Brandel Chamblee and Todd Lewis discuss Tiger Woods' historic year in 2000, explaining how a run like that has yet to be replicated 24 years later. Grass League co-founder Jake Hoselton breaks down how the league works, including the notable pro players involved, how the league was created and what to look forward to with the Troon Access Grass League Championship. The Golf Central crew breaks down Max Homa's struggles during Round 2 of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, where the 34-year-old couldn't find his way at Gary Player Country Club. Brandel Chamblee and Todd Lewis break down Justin Thomas' Round 1 showing at the Hero World Challenge, discussing what the 15-time PGA Tour winner did well to start things off in The Bahamas. Todd Lewis and Brandel Chamblee analyze Scottie Scheffler's first-round 67 at the Hero World Challenge, and hear from the defending champion regarding his new putting grip and starting the new year strong. U.S. Ryder Cup pay has become a "hot-button topic" around the PGA Tour, and Brandel Chamblee calls out how this idea could "corrupt" the nature of Ryder Cup participation in an event that is all about "patriotism." Watch highlights from Round 1 of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, taking place at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa. Justin Thomas speaks with Rex Hoggard about the birth of daughter Molly Grace and his renewed hopes for the new season after a rough 2024. Scottie Scheffler's the favorite at the Hero World Challenge as the top player in the world, defending champion, and runner-up from two years prior. Todd Lewis provides an update on his plan to play plenty of early golf. Golf Central takes a look back on the 2024 LPGA season, highlighting the top players, performances and moments -- and what it could all mean for the game moving forward.
PSX to take concrete steps for high-value listings
Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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