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At a time when there’s an increase in the available workload in most of the companies, multiple Teams Building Ideas play a vital role in fostering collaboration, communication, and understanding within a team. By coming up with such ideas, you can develop close relationships, mutual trust, and the ability to work well together.

However, if you don’t know about any such activities, you can go through this blog to get a better understanding of Team Building Ideas. You can also consider registering for a Management Course that can equip you with all the essential traits to become an influential manager who can build an effective team. Read ahead to learn more.

Table of Contents

  • Why are Team Building exercises important?
  • Effective Team Building Ideas
  • Conclusion

Why are Team Building exercises important?

These days, Team Building activities act as a crucial component of work life. Companies must employ such activities because of the following reasons:

  • Streamline their onboarding system
  • Improve communication
  • Increase trust
  • Boost morale
  • Encourage creativity

Effective Team Building Ideas

Learning the importance of Team Building activities isn’t enough, individuals must come up with effective Team Building Ideas to foster better work environment. Below are some of those suggestions:

Icebreaker exercises

This essential activity can help individuals to better introduce themselves in team meetings and public gatherings. By playing quick games that promote conversation, and sharing fascinating personal details during this activity, team members can bond with each other and solve conflicts.

Personality evaluations

This team activity is all about knowing each team members’ unique skills, talents, and preferences. By allowing team members to better adjust their communication styles and assessing results together, organisations can foster understanding and communication.

Team retreats

It denotes planning a fun team excursion. During this activity, team members can socialise, unwind, and participate in activities that promote cooperation, and teamwork. Such activities specifically include cooperative problem-solving activities, outdoor pursuits, and team challenges that call for teamwork to succeed.

Cross-departmental projects

These projects allow teams to collaborate closely with peers from various backgrounds and expertise. Essentially, it comprises effective knowledge exchange that helps promote the understanding of each other’s work, issues faced on a daily basis and builds empathy.

Lunch-and-learn scenarios

Regular lunch-time gatherings emphasise letting team members impart their knowledge, skills, and experiences to their peers. These casual get-togethers further foster learning opportunities, allow team members to present their skills, and promote candid communication. All of these activities can inspire fresh concepts and understanding among participants.

Volunteer activities

As the name suggests, this typically includes team members engaging in a volunteer activity as a group. This not only enables team members to positively influence others but further lets them find common interests, and values outside of the workplace. Moreover, team members can also get to know each other outside of their typical work environments.

Team building workshops

Indulging in team building courses led by knowledgeable facilitators can help a team to grow. Such sessions mostly concentrate on developing a deeper comprehension of individual’s talents by including interactive activities, group discussions, and entertaining exercises.

Mentorship programmes

Such activities are all about conducting programmes where more experienced members can guide the less experienced ones. They can also help them build rapport and promote information sharing. Through these programmes, the junior team members can acquire fresh perspectives, and forge closer ties.

Conduct office trivia

The office trivia sessions typically include players answering light-hearted questions. This can specifically make a new joiner feel less alienated in an unfamiliar environment. Offices should usually employ a time limit of 30-45 minutes for such activities.

Honour milestones and achievements

Celebrating individual and group accomplishments as well as significant victories can be advantageous in multiple ways. These steps can further help team managers to cultivate a positive work culture, motivate team members, enhance understanding, and develop a sense of belonging by recognising both individual and team’s overall efforts.

Conclusion

From this blog, we hope it is clear how the numerous Team Building Ideas can encourage improved communication, cooperation, and involvement among team members working in a shared workspace. Thus, organisations willing to reach potential heights must put such ideas into practice and accomplish amazing success.

A theme park based on the famed Japanese animated series Dragon Ball will be built in Saudi Arabia.

The announcement sparked mixed reactions from fans.

The park will feature a 230ft dragon at its center and at least 30 rides, the company behind the project says.

It would be the world’s first such attraction based on the popular media franchise.

The announcement was met with some criticism from fans, citing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.

The park will cover more than half a million square metres, according to Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) which is wholly owned by the Saudi Arabian government’s investment fund.

The plans are part of “a long-term strategic partnership” between the QIC and Toei Animation, the Japanese producer of Dragon Ball.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

According to the official Dragon Ball website, the park will include a roller coaster inside the dragon modelled after Shenron, a wish-giving dragon that features in the franchise.

Qiddiya is a major entertainment and tourism project being built near Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.

It is part of the energy-rich nation’s plans to diversify its economy away from fossil fuels.

While some Dragon Ball fans have welcomed the plans for the theme park, others on social media have questioned the decision to locate the attraction in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has been criticized for its human rights record and lack of recognition of LGBTQ+ rights.

The announcement comes just weeks after the death of Dragon Ball’s creator, Akira Toriyama.

Akira Toriyama died on March 1st, aged 68. Only his family and very few friends attended his funeral, according to a statement on the Dragon Ball website.

The Dragon Ball comic series debuted in 1984. It follows a boy named Son Goku in his quest to collect magical dragon balls that can give him super powers.

The Dragon Ball is one of the most influential and best-selling Japanese comics of all time.

Image source: Reuters

Two of four suspects that carried out the attack in a Moscow concert hall that killed at least 137 people have been charged in Russia.

Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev and Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda were pictured in a Moscow court as they faced a charge of committing an act of terrorism.

Islamic State has said it carried out March 22 outrage at Crocus City Hall.

Russian officials have claimed, without evidence, Ukrainian involvement. Kyiv says the claim is “absurd”.

Moscow Attack: At Least 133 Killed as Gunmen Open Fire at Music Venue

According to the AFP news agency, Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev was named as a citizen of Tajikistan. The nationality of Saidakrami Rachabalizoda was not disclosed.

Two other suspects were brought to the court, but have yet to be charged.

At least 133 people were killed and more than 140 injured when gunmen attacked a packed concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow on March 22, Russia says.

A large fire engulfed the roof of Moscow’s Crocus City Hall and dramatic video shows panicked concertgoers taking cover as shots and explosions ring out.

President Vladimir Putin says all four gunmen have been arrested, and that the suspects were trying to flee to Ukraine – Kyiv says allegations of Ukrainian involvement are “absurd”.

Vladimir Putin calls the attack a “barbaric terrorist act” and announces a day of national mourning for March 24.

Image source: Reuters

Muscovites are queuing to give blood for those injured and flower tributes have been placed at the scene of the attack.

The US says it’s credible that the Islamic State group (ISIS) could be behind the attack, after the group said it did it. Russia has not commented.

The Islamic State group has issued a follow-up statement offering more details about last night’s attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of Moscow, which the group earlier said it was behind.

The new details – published via IS group accounts on messaging app Telegram – say four attackers were involved in the deadly assault, and includes a picture claiming to show the four assailants, all masked. The update comes from the group’s news outlet Amaq, which was also the source of the initial claim.

Neither of the two IS Amaq statements indicated which of IS’s regional branches was responsible for the attack.

In terms of motive, Amaq says “the attack comes in the context of normal ongoing war between the Islamic State and [anti-Islam] countries”.

The IS mouthpiece says the attack was carried out by “fighters” who it says were armed with “machine guns, a gun, knives and incendiary bombs”, and that the attack was preceded by a “concerted” reconnaissance mission.

Russia has not yet commented on the claims but the US has said it’s credible that the Islamic State group could be behind the attack.

Kate Middleton has announced that she is in the early stages of cancer treatment.

In a video statement, The Princess of Wales says it was a “huge shock” after an “incredibly tough couple of months”.

Details of the cancer have not been disclosed, but Kensington Palace says it is confident the princess will make a full recovery.

Here is Catherine’s statement in full:

I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.

It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.

In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.

This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.

As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.

As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.

Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.

We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.

At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.

Vladimir Putin wins a fifth term as Russian president by a landslide of 87%, according to Russian exit polls.

Putin faced no credible opposition candidate as the Kremlin tightly controls Russia’s political system, media and elections.

Germany called it a “pseudo-election”, while the US said the vote was “obviously not free nor fair”.

Image source Wikimedia

Ukraine’s President Zelensky said Putin was “drunk with power and is doing everything to rule forever”.

In a post-election news conference, Valdimir Putin vowed to press on with the invasion of Ukraine.

He also said Russian democracy was more legitimate than in the US, where “with mail-in voting… you can buy a vote for $10”.

Voting took place in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine: Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea. Overall, turnout was 77%.

The House of Representatives has passed a landmark bill that could see TikTok banned in America.

The bill would give the social media giant’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, six months to sell its controlling stake or the app will be blocked in the US.

While the bill passed overwhelmingly in a bipartisan vote, it still needs to clear the Senate and be signed by the president to become law.

Lawmakers have long held concerns about China’s influence over TikTok.

TikTok is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, which is subject to a national security law requiring it to share data with Chinese officials.

Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who co-authored the bill, said the US could not “take the risk of having a dominant news platform in America controlled or owned by a company that is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party”.

TikTok has tried to reassure regulators that it has taken steps to ensure the data of its 150 million users in the US has been walled off from ByteDance employees in China.

However, an investigation by the Wall Street Journal in January found the system was still “porous”, with data being unofficially shared between TikTok in the US and ByteDance in China. High-profile cases, including one incident where ByteDance employees in China accessed a journalist’s data to track down their sources, have stoked concerns.

After the vote on March 13, a spokesperson for the company accused lawmakers of jamming through a “ban” following what they called a “secret” process.

Image by krittiyanee thumjaikul from Pixabay

Speaking ahead of the vote, Hakeem Jeffries – the top Democrat in the House – welcomed the bill, saying it would decrease “the likelihood that TikTok user data is exploited and privacy undermined by a hostile foreign adversary”.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the chamber would now review the legislation.

Its prospects in the upper chamber of Congress are unclear in the wake of Republican White House candidate Donald Trump speaking out against the bill.

Donald Trump, who tried to ban the app during his term in office, changed his position after a recent meeting with Republican donor Jeff Yass, who reportedly owns a minor stake in ByteDance.

Trump’s opposition was echoed by some House members on March 13. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, wrote on social media that the bill could allow Congress to force the sale of other corporations by claiming to be protecting US data from foreign adversaries.

Some Democrats are also opposed to a ban, fearing it could alienate the app’s youthful userbase as the party struggles to retain its hold over younger voters.

Judge Scott McAfee, who oversaw an election interference case against Donald Trump in Georgia, has thrown out some criminal charges, but left most in place.

The judge found six counts in the 41-count indictment against Donald Trump and some of his co-defendants, including Rudy Giuliani, lacked detail.

But he said the charges can be refiled at a later date.

Donald Trump was among 19 people charged with a conspiracy to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.

“The lack of detail concerning an essential legal element is, in the undersigned’s opinion, fatal,” Judge McAfee wrote in his order on March 13.

He said the charges do not provide the accused with enough information to prepare their legal defences “intelligently”, adding that “this does not mean the entire indictment is dismissed”.

Judge McAfee was randomly assigned the Trump case in 2023, just six months after being appointed as a judge by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican.

He previously worked as a prosecutor, including for the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, a Democrat who led the investigation into the former president.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Judge McAfee’s ruling affects three of the 13 charges against Donald Trump.

They relate to a call Donald Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which he told him: “All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have.”

One of the charges accused the former president of soliciting public officials to break the law by violating their oath of office.

However, Judge McAfee said the indictment was not specific enough about exactly what Donald Trump wanted the officials to do.

The other dismissed charges apply to some of his most prominent co-defendants: Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Mark Meadows.

In his order, Judge McAfee said the charges “contain all the essential elements of the crimes but fail to allege sufficient detail regarding the nature of their commission, i.e., the underlying felony solicited”.

It comes as a win for Donald Trump and his co-defendants, who had filed to dismiss the charge. Prosecutors could now choose to refile the charges with more information in their allegation, or let the ruling stand and focus on the other charges.

The group had initially faced 41 total charges. Donald Trump is facing up to 20 years in prison in Georgia if convicted of the most severe charge of racketeering.

In a statement, Donald Trump’s lawyer in the Georgia case, Steve Sadow, called the ruling “a correct application of the law, as the prosecution failed to make specific allegations of any alleged wrongdoing on those counts”.

Donald Trump, who is running for president against Joe Biden in November, has slammed the case as politically motivated.

Xiaomi has announced that it will start deliveries of its first electric vehicle (EV) this month – its first ever foray into the competitive automotive industry.

The car’s price is expected to be announced on March 28.

The Chinese technology giant says it has 59 stores in 29 cities around the country to take orders.

It comes as a price war intensifies between firms like BYD and Tesla in China, the world’s biggest car market.

At the unveiling of the Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) in 2023, Xiaomi’s chief executive Lei Jun said the company aims to become one of the top five car makers in the world.

China’s fifth-largest smartphone maker has said it will invest $10 billion in its vehicles business over the next 10 years.

Lei Jun said the SU7 was “super electric motor” technology which is capable of accelerating faster than some Tesla and Porsche EVs.

Xiaomi is also hoping that the car’s shared operating system with its phones and other devices will appeal to existing customers.

Image source: Xiaomi

It is one of the few new prospective entrants to the China’s electric car market to gain approval from authorities as officials try to curb a flood of new players.

The SU7 will be made by a unit of state-owned car manufacturer BAIC Group at a plant in Beijing that can produce as many as 200,000 vehicles a year.

The launch of Xiaomi Automobile comes as a price war in China’s EV market has been intensifying.

Elon Musk’s Tesla has cut the cost of its cars in China by thousands of dollars in recent months as local rivals like BYD have slashed its prices.

Xiaomi shares jumped by more 10% in Hong Kong after today’s announcement.

The US inflation rate picked up in February, as prices for petrol and housing pushed higher.

According to the Labor Department, he annual rate, which measures the pace of price increases, was 3.2% in February, up from 3.1% in January.

Airfare, car insurance and clothing were among the items driving the increase over the month.

Grocery prices, which have jumped in recent years, fuelling public discontent, were unchanged.

Photo by Pixabay

The monthly report comes during a critical presidential election year and as the The Federal Reserve is debating the next step in its fight to rein in prices.Inflation has slowed significantly since the Fed started hiking borrowing costs sharply in 2022 and the central bank is expected to start reversing course and cutting interest rates sometime this year.

However, calls for the first cut to come as soon as March have been revised as recent inflation readings show progress stalling, with many now expecting its first move in June or later.

Analysts said the figures were affected by seasonal price adjustments tied to the start of the year, but that the overall report was likely to reinforce the Fed’s determination to remain cautious.

The US economy has so far held up better than expected in the face of inflation and higher borrowing costs, but persistent price rises have hampered President Joe Biden’s ability to sell his policies to voters and could pose risks to the economy in the months ahead.

The Labor Department said petrol prices rose by 3.8% between January and February, while airline fares rose 3.6%.

Grocery prices showed little change over the month, as higher prices for items such as cereal, bread and eggs were offset by lower meat and fresh fruit costs.

Overall, grocery prices were 1% higher than a year earlier.

Housing costs rose 0.4% over the month and 5.7% from February 2023.

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Cillian Murphy has become the first Irish-born winner of the best actor award, as Oppenheimer swept the Oscars.

Oppenheimer dominated proceedings, winning best picture, best director for Christopher Nolan, and best supporting actor for Robert Downey Jr.

Cillian Murphy was named best leading actor for his acclaimed portrayal of theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer.

The ceremony saw Oppenheimer win seven prizes overall, while Poor Things took four – including best actress for Emma Stone – and The Zone of Interest scored two.

Downey Jr won best supporting actor for his portrayal of US government official Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer.

Oscars 2024: Full List of Winners and Nominees

Oppenheimer also won best editing, original score and cinematography. However, it lost several other technical categories, denying it a record-breaking number of wins.

Instead, the unusual steampunk drama Poor Things won best production design, costume design, make-up and hairstyling, as well as best actress for Emma Stone.

The Yorgos Lanthimos film follows an infant whose brain has been implanted into the body of an adult woman, who then goes on an adventure of discovery across the world.

Best actress was the only major category that awards watchers had struggled to call – it had been seen as a dead heat between Emma Stone and Lily Gladstone for Killers of the Flower Moon.

But Martin Scorsese’s drama about a string of Osage murders in the 1920s went home empty handed despite being nominated in 10 categories at the ceremony.

Barbie, the highest-grossing film of 2023, won only one of the eight prizes it was nominated for – best original song for What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph won best supporting actress for her portrayal of a school chef who is trying to cope with the death of her son in The Holdovers.

The Zone of Interest won best sound and became the first British film ever to win best international feature. The critically acclaimed Holocaust drama follows a German family who live next to the Auschwitz concentration camp.

Best documentary feature went to 20 Days In Mariupol. Its director Mstyslav Chernov told the audience that he was “honoured” to become the first Ukrainian Oscar winner.

Elsewhere, Anatomy of a Fall won best original screenplay. The film’s director and co-writer Justine Triet joked the Oscar would “help me through my mid-life crisis”.

The film follows a woman accused of killing her husband, with the only nearby witness her visually impaired son.

American Fiction was named best adapted screenplay.

Japanese fantasy film The Boy and the Heron was named best animated feature film, holding off competition from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

And director Wes Anderson won his first Academy Award in the live action short category for The Wonderful Story Of Henry Sugar, based on the story by Roald Dahl.

For the fourth time, the ceremony was hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. He opened with a monologue which reflected on the past 12 months in the film industry.

Recalling the strikes that brought Hollywood to a standstill, Jimmy Kimmel paid tribute to the efforts made to get a fair deal for actors and writers.

He joked that actors could now stop worrying about “being replaced by AI, and could go back to worrying about being replaced by younger, more attractive people”.

Towards the end of the ceremony, Jimmy Kimmel read out an online post from former President Donald Trump, who had complained about Kimmel’s performance.

Responding to Trump live on air, Kimmel said: “Thank you President Trump, thank you for watching, I’m surprised you’re still up, isn’t it past your jail time?”

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The 96th Academy Awards took place on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles.

Here is the full list of winners, as well as all the nominees.

Best picture

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • American Fiction
  • Anatomy of a Fall
  • Barbie
  • The Holdovers
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Maestro
  • Past Lives
  • Poor Things
  • The Zone of Interest

Best actress

  • Winner: Emma Stone – Poor Things
  • Annette Bening – Nyad
  • Lily Gladstone – Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Sandra Huller – Anatomy of a Fall
  • Carey Mulligan – Maestro

Best actor

  • Winner: Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
  • Bradley Cooper – Maestro
  • Colman Domingo – Rustin
  • Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
  • Jeffrey Wright – American Fiction

Best supporting actress

  • Winner: Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
  • Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
  • Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
  • America Ferrera – Barbie
  • Jodie Foster – Nyad

Best supporting actor

  • Winner: Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
  • Sterling K Brown – American Fiction
  • Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Ryan Gosling – Barbie
  • Mark Ruffalo – Poor Things

Best director

  • Winner: Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan
  • Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet
  • Killers of the Flower Moon – Martin Scorsese
  • Poor Things – Yorgos Lanthimos
  • The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer

Best original song

  • What Was I Made For? – Barbie (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell)
  • The Fire Inside – Flamin’ Hot (Diane Warren)
  • I’m Just Ken – Barbie (Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt)
  • It Never Went Away – American Symphony (Jon Batiste, Dan Wilson)
  • Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People) – Killers of the Flower Moon (Scott George)

Best original score

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • American Fiction
  • Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Poor Things

Best adapted screenplay

  • Winner: American Fiction
  • Barbie
  • Oppenheimer
  • Poor Things
  • The Zone of Interest

Best original screenplay

  • Winner: Anatomy of a Fall
  • The Holdovers
  • Maestro
  • May December
  • Past Lives

Best international feature

  • Winner: The Zone of Interest
  • Io Capitano
  • Perfect Days
  • Society of the Snow
  • The Teachers’ Lounge

Best animated feature

  • Winner: The Boy and the Heron
  • Elemental
  • Nimona
  • Robot Dreams
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Best documentary feature

  • Winner: 20 Days in Mariupol
  • Bobi Wine: The People’s President
  • The Eternal Memory
  • Four Daughters
  • To Kill a Tiger

Best cinematography

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • El Conde
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Maestro
  • Poor Things

Best sound

  • Winner: The Zone of Interest
  • The Creator
  • Maestro
  • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
  • Oppenheimer

Best film editing

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • Anatomy of a Fall
  • The Holdovers
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Poor Things

Best visual effects

  • Winner: Godzilla Minus One
  • The Creator
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
  • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
  • Napoleon

Best costume design

  • Winner: Poor Things
  • Barbie
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Napoleon
  • Oppenheimer

Best production design

  • Winner: Poor Things
  • Barbie
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Napoleon
  • Oppenheimer

Best make-up and hairstyling

  • Winner: Poor Things
  • Golda
  • Maestro
  • Oppenheimer
  • Society of the Snow

Best animated short

  • Winner: War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
  • Letter to a Pig
  • Ninety-Five Senses
  • Our Uniform
  • Pachyderme

Best documentary short

  • Winner: The Last Repair Shop
  • The ABCs of Book Banning
  • The Barber of Little Rock
  • Island In Between
  • Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó

Best live action short

  • Winner: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
  • The After
  • Invincible
  • Knight of Fortune
  • Red, White and Blue

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Sweden has officially become the 32nd state to join NATO after it completed its accession process in Washington.

The handover of documents took place at a ceremony two years after Sweden applied to join the military alliance following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson said that “unity and solidarity” would be Sweden’s “guiding lights”.

NATO today “is stronger than ever,” President Joe Biden said.

“NATO stands more united, determined, and dynamic” Joe Biden said, adding that “together with our newest ally Sweden – NATO will continue to stand for freedom and democracy for generations to come.”

“This has been a little bit of a road but we’ve known from day one that we would be here one day,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Image source: NATO

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg posted on X that Sweden brings with it “capable armed forces and a first-class defence industry” and that the alliance had become “stronger and safer”.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky also welcomed Sweden’s accession to NATO, saying “one more country in Europe has become more protected from Russian evil.”

Russia has vowed to take unspecified political and military measures in response to Sweden’s move.

Sweden applied to join the defense alliance after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 – but its request was blocked by two members.

Turkey initially withheld approval in a row over what it called Sweden’s support to Kurdish separatists. It eventually lifted its veto in January of this year.

Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban accused Sweden of being hostile to it and delayed its approval until last week, when the Hungarian parliament eventually voted to ratify the bid.

All NATO members are expected to help an ally which comes under attack.

Anthony Blinken recalled Sweden’s 200-year policy of non-alignment which lasted until Russia invaded Ukraine, saying that NATO expansion was not “foreordained” or “foreseeable”.

Finland formally joined in April 2023, doubling the length of the alliance’s border with Russia.

On March 11, a flag-raising ceremony to mark Sweden’s accession will take place at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

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A German patient has, against medical advice, been vaccinated 217 times against Covid, doctors report.

The bizarre case is documented in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

The shots were bought and given privately within the space of 29 months.

The 62-year-ols man appears to have suffered no ill effects, researchers from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg say.

“We learned about his case via newspaper articles,” Dr. Kilian Schober, from the university’s microbiology department, said.

“We then contacted him and invited him to undergo various tests in Erlangen. He was very interested in doing so.”

The man provided fresh blood and saliva samples.

The researchers also tested some frozen blood samples of his that had been stored in recent years.

Dr. Kilian Schober said: “We were able to take blood samples ourselves when the man received a further vaccination during the study at his own insistence.

“We were able to use these samples to determine exactly how the immune system reacts to the vaccination.”

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Evidence for 130 of the shots was collected by the public prosecutor of the city of Magdeburg, who opened an investigation with the allegation of fraud, but no criminal charges were brought.

Covid vaccines cannot cause infection but can teach the body how to fight the disease.

Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines work by showing the body’s cells a bit of genetic code from the virus.

The immune system should then recognise and know how to fight Covid should they encounter it for real.

Dr. Schober worried hyper-stimulating the immune system with repeated doses might have fatigued certain cells.

But the researchers found no evidence of this in the 62-year-old.

And there was no sign that he had ever been infected with Covid.

The researchers said: “Importantly, we do not endorse hyper-vaccination as a strategy to enhance adaptive immunity.”

And the results of their tests on the 62-year-old were insufficient for making far-reaching conclusions, let alone recommendations for the general public.

“Current research indicates that a three-dose vaccination, coupled with regular top-up vaccines for vulnerable groups, remains the favoured approach,” they say on the university’s website.

“There is no indication that more vaccines are required.”

Covid vaccines can have side effects. A common one is a sore arm from the injection.

The USA has carried out its first airdrop of humanitarian aid for Gaza Strip, with more than 30,000 meals parachuted in by three military planes.

The operation, carried out jointly with Jordan’s air force, was the first of many announced by President Joe Biden.

President Biden promised to step up aid after at least 112 people were killed as crowds rushed a convoy on February 29.

The airdrop comes as a top US official said the framework of a deal for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza was in place.

On March 2, C-130 transport planes dropped more than 38,000 meals along the coastline of the territory, US Central Command said in a statement.

“These airdrops are part of a sustained effort to get more aid into Gaza, including by expanding the flow of aid through land corridors and routes,” it added.

Other countries including the UK, France, Egypt and Jordan have previously airdropped aid into Gaza, but this is the first by the US.

Vice-President Kamala Harris will meet Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz in Washington on March 4 to discuss a truce and other issues, Reuters quotes a White House official as saying.

Image source: AFP

In February 29 incident, 112 people were killed and more than 760 injured as they crowded around aid lorries on the south-western edge of Gaza City.

Hamas accused Israel of firing at civilians, but Israel said most died in a crush after it fired warning shots.

Hamas meanwhile said an Israeli bombardment had killed at least 11 people at a camp in Rafah in southern Gaza on March 2.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the attack “outrageous”. The Israeli army said it had carried out a “precision strike” against Islamic Jihad militants in the area.

The UN’s World Food Programme has warned that a famine is imminent in northern Gaza, which has received very little aid in recent weeks, and where an estimated 300,000 people are living with little food or clean water.

The Israel military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas after its gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7 and took 253 back to Gaza as hostages.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 30,000 people, including 21,000 children and women, have been killed in Gaza since then with some 7,000 missing and at least 70,450 injured.

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Thousands of Russians have defied fear to turn out to bid farewell to Alexei Navalny.

Alexei Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s most vocal critic, died in jail on February 16.

Authorities had warned any protest would be illegal. But police – deployed in numbers – stood by as the crowd chanted Navalny’s name, or their opposition to the Russian president.

Supporters and relatives, as well as many foreign leaders, have blamed Vladimir Putin for his death.

Alexei Navalny
Image source Wikimedia

Russian authorities deny any such accusation, saying Alexei Navalny died of natural causes. He had been serving a long sentence on trumped-up charges in a penal colony in the Arctic.

It was feared that the authorities would crack down on March 1 funeral proceedings.

A heavy police presence was visible in Maryino, the area of Moscow where the funeral was held – and where Navalny lived with his family for many years.

At one point, Navalny’s team estimated that the line of people stretched well over 0.6 miles, despite the grey winter’s day in which temperatures hovered at just above freezing.

Yet none of the policemen – many of whom were in full riot gear – intervened when expressions of support for Navalny became overtly political.

Thousands chanted out “no to war”, “Russia without Putin” and “Russia will be free” – slogans that have previously landed many Russians in jail.

The memorial service began just after 14:00 Moscow time at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Quench My Sorrows.

It followed much uncertainty and complaints by Navalny’s team that the authorities had been making the arrangements difficult – even finding a hearse was an issue.

However, hundreds started to arrive hours before proceedings were meant to begin. They were later joined by foreign dignitaries, including the US, German and French ambassadors.

The ceremony inside the church was brief – an image on social media showed the open coffin that is commonplace in Russia, with mourners paying respects. Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, and his father, Anatoly, were seen sitting alongside.

As the church bell tolled and Navalny’s coffin was brought outside, people tossed roses and carnations onto the hearse and cried: “We won’t forget you!”

Alexei Navalny’s widow Yulia, his children Daria, 23, and Zakhar, 15, and his brother Oleg – are all thought to be living abroad and were not present.

Yulia has recently declared she is going to continue his political work – meaning it is possibly unsafe for her to return to Russia, where Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation has been declared an extremist organisation.

She shared a poignant tribute on social media while the funeral was under way, thanking Navalny for “26 years of absolute happiness”.

“I don’t know how to live without you, but I will try to do it so you – up there – can be happy and proud of me,” she said.

Their daughter Darya also posted a message online, describing Navalny as her “hero”.

“You have always been and forever will be my example,” she wrote.

In the absence of an independent Russian media, Navalny’s team at the Anti-Corruption Foundation took it upon themselves to provide a live stream of the funeral ceremonies.

The YouTube channel from which Navalny regularly addressed his supporters broadcast scenes from his funeral. More than a quarter of a million people tuned in throughout the day.

The burial finally took place at Borisovskoye cemetery around 16:00.

Alexei Navalny’s coffin was lowered into the ground to the sound of Frank Sinatra’s My Way and to an orchestral rendition of the Terminator 2 theme song.

“Navalny thought The Terminator 2 was the best film in the whole world,” his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on social media.

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Asia is home to a diverse range of cultures and dating norms. With modernization and globalization, attitudes toward dating and relationships continue to evolve, but many traditional customs still influence romance in the region.

Arranged Marriages Still Prominent in India

India has a long history of arranged marriages, with matches made based on factors like religion, caste, profession, and astrology. While more youth in cities are choosing their partners today, most marriages in India continue to be arranged. For a deeper insight into such cultural practices and matrimonial traditions in Asia, exploring resources like https://goldenbride.net/asian-brides.html can be enlightening.

Multi-Stage Vetting Process

The bride and groom typically don’t interact much before the wedding day. Instead, there is a multi-stage vetting process involving the families. After profiles are exchanged, the couple meets briefly, sometimes with family members present. If mutually agreed upon, the families meet next to finalize details before the wedding.

Family Values Drive Compatibility

With arranged matches, there is often less focus on attraction or romance, and more emphasis on shared background, family values, life goals, and financial stability. Astrology, religious practice, and family reputation also weigh heavily in matchmaking decisions.

Marriage Seen as Union of Two Families

Marriages join two families together in India, not just the bride and groom. So, family input ensures alignment on crucial aspects like where the couple will live, their last names, career moves, parenting styles, etc. This helps reduce future conflicts but limits individual autonomy.

Group Dates Popular for Young Japanese Couples

Dating in Japan is in some ways more socially conservative than Western customs, with public displays of affection still taboo. Young couples often go on group dates to get to know each other.

Sharing Activities Rather Than Deep Conversation

These group dates, called gōkon, involve icebreakers, drinking, and chatting. They focus more on sharing activities rather than deep emotional conversations. The group setting reduces pressure and intimacy until pairs feel more comfortable pursuing private time.

Public Hand-Holding a Milestone

Japanese couples typically don’t kiss, hug, or even hold hands in public until after a handful of solo dates. Holding hands marks an important milestone demonstrating commitment to the relationship. More subtle gestures like cute text messages or gifts express affection early on instead.

Confessions of Love Happen Late

Japanese couples typically wait months into dating before explicitly confessing feelings of love. Rather than speak emotions aloud early on, couples will start saying “suki” more frequently over time, which translates to “I like you.” Using this phrase demonstrates fondness and caring for a partner.

The actual phrase “I love you” (aishiteru) carries intense weight and is not proclaimed lightly. Some Japanese may go as long as a year before finally confessing deep love for a partner. It’s important to assess compatibility and get to know each other’s families first.

This waiting period has roots in Japanese history – back when arranged marriages were common, pairs would meet for the first time on their wedding day. Over years of marriage, they might eventually develop a fondness that could translate into verbalized sentiments of love.

These days, holding out on bold love confessions also protects individuals from humiliation and loss of face. If feelings aren’t mutual when one partner finally expresses affection, it causes embarrassment. So patience allows connections to deepen gradually in a low-pressure way.

Rather than voice passions directly, Japanese couples demonstrate commitment through gestures, gifts, shared adventures, and small favors. For example, remembering a favorite meal, helping revise a work report late at night, or showing up early for an event all subtly communicate devotion.

When love confessions finally happen, they often occur privately while exchanging gifts like romantic dinners, flowers, or jewelry. The understated yet meaningful reveal aligns with Japanese cultural values of subtlety.

Parental Involvement in Chinese Dating Scene

Unlike Western norms of autonomous dating, Chinese singles often navigate parental expectations. Parents provide guidance, vet partners, facilitate introductions to potential matches, and even set up blind dates.

Information Sharing Crucial

Single adults keep parents updated on dating prospects and share details regarding factors like a potential partner’s job, finances, family background, and personality. Introductions happen before couples get serious so parents can communicate concerns early.

Parental Insights Valued

While honoring parents’ insights, Chinese singles today also recognize differences in generational values emerging alongside globalization. Younger generations increasingly make final decisions but only after careful consideration of parental objections. This cultural dynamic reflects a blend of tradition and modern attitudes.

Marriage Markets for Parent Matchmaking

Parents also patronize marriage markets in public parks, posting their adult children’s specs on umbrellas or leaflets. They network to find potential matches with aligned socioeconomic status and family backgrounds. If agreeable profiles emerge on both sides, the parents facilitate an introduction.

While aspects of dating and courtship vary by culture across Asia, family input remains an integral part of the romantic landscape. Global connectivity continues to introduce modern views, but local customs still hold influence. By understanding these traditions, cross-cultural relationships can better navigate complex terrain.

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Oppenheimer dominated this year’s Bafta Awards after scooping seven prizes, including best film.

Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr and director Christopher Nolan were all honoured for their work on Oppenheimer.

Cillian Murphy was named best actor for playing J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, while Downey Jr won best supporting actor.

The drama won seven Baftas including best film.

Poor Things picked up five, including best actress for Emma Stone.

Best supporting actress went to Da’Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers.

Oppenheimer and the acting winners could well repeat their successes at the Oscars in three weeks – although Oscar and Bafta voters rarely totally agree.

In a surprise appearance, Michael J. Fox announced Oppenheimer as the winner of best film, the top prize at February18 ceremony. The 62-year-old, who has had Parkinson’s disease for more than 30 years, received a standing ovation from the audience.

Cillian Murphy paid tribute to his “Oppenhomies” and praised Christopher Nolan, adding: “Thank you for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again.”

It was the British director’s first Bafta win, too, following a career that has also encompassed Dunkirk, Inception and The Dark Knight.

Christopher Nolan thanked a cast led by the “peerless and fearless Cillian Murphy” and also acknowledged the film’s backers “for taking on something dark”.

Robert Downey Jr’s win came 31 years after his previous Bafta victory, for the 1993 film Chaplin – a new record for the longest gap between wins by any performer.

The actor played Oppenheimer’s adversary Lewis Strauss following his stint as Tony Stark/Iron Man in a string of Marvel films.

He thanked Christopher Nolan, telling the audience: “Recently that dude suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last-ditch effort to resurrect my dwindling credibility.”

The Bafta Awards’ top films

  • 7 wins – Oppenheimer
  • 5 – Poor Things
  • 3 – The Zone of Interest
  • 2 – The Holdovers

BAFTA 2024: Full List of Winners and Nominees

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The Bafta Film Awards, the most coveted honours in the British movie industry, have been handed out in London.

The full list of winners and nominees is below:

Best film

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • Anatomy of a Fall
  • The Holdovers
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Poor Things

Leading actress

  • Winner: Emma Stone – Poor Things
  • Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple
  • Sandra Hüller – Anatomy of a Fall
  • Carey Mulligan – Maestro
  • Vivian Oparah – Rye Lane
  • Margot Robbie – Barbie

Leading actor

  • Winner: Cillian Murphy – Oppenheimer
  • Bradley Cooper – Maestro
  • Colman Domingo – Rustin
  • Paul Giamatti – The Holdovers
  • Barry Keoghan – Saltburn
  • Teo Yoo – Past Lives

Supporting actress

  • Winner: Da’Vine Joy Randolph – The Holdovers
  • Emily Blunt – Oppenheimer
  • Danielle Brooks – The Color Purple
  • Claire Foy – All of Us Strangers
  • Sandra Hüller – The Zone of Interest
  • Rosamund Pike – Saltburn

Supporting actor

  • Winner: Robert Downey Jr – Oppenheimer
  • Robert De Niro – Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Jacob Elordi – Saltburn
  • Ryan Gosling – Barbie
  • Paul Mescal – All of Us Strangers
  • Dominic Sessa – The Holdovers

Director

  • Winner: Oppenheimer – Christopher Nolan
  • All of Us Strangers – Andrew Haigh
  • Anatomy of a Fall – Justine Triet
  • The Holdovers – Alexander Payne
  • Maestro – Bradley Cooper
  • The Zone of Interest – Jonathan Glazer

EE Bafta rising star award (voted for by the public)

  • Winner: Mia McKenna-Bruce
  • Phoebe Dynevor
  • Ayo Edebiri
  • Jacob Elordi
  • Sophie Wilde

Outstanding British film

  • Winner: The Zone of Interest
  • All of Us Strangers
  • How To Have Sex
  • Napoleon
  • The Old Oak
  • Poor Things
  • Rye Lane
  • Saltburn
  • Scrapper
  • Wonka

Film not in the English language

  • Winner: The Zone of Interest
  • 20 Days In Mariupol
  • Anatomy of a Fall
  • Past Lives
  • Society of the Snow

Animated film

  • Winner: The Boy and the Heron
  • Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
  • Elemental
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Documentary

  • Winner: 20 Days In Mariupol
  • American Symphony
  • Beyond Utopia
  • Still: A Michael J Fox Movie
  • Wham!

Original screenplay

  • Winner: Anatomy of a Fall
  • Barbie
  • The Holdovers
  • Maestro
  • Past Lives

Adapted screenplay

  • Winner: American Fiction
  • All of Us Strangers
  • Oppenheimer
  • Poor Things
  • The Zone of Interest

Outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer

  • Winner: Earth Mama
  • Blue Bag Life
  • Bobi Wine: The People’s President
  • How To Have Sex
  • Is There Anybody Out There?

Original score

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Poor Things
  • Saltburn
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Make-up and hair

  • Winner: Poor Things
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Maestro
  • Napoleon
  • Oppenheimer

Costume design

  • Winner: Poor Things
  • Barbie
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Napoleon
  • Oppenheimer

Production design

  • Winner: Poor Things
  • Barbie
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Oppenheimer
  • The Zone of Interest

Sound

  • Winner: The Zone of Interest
  • Ferrari
  • Maestro
  • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
  • Oppenheimer

Cinematography

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Maestro
  • Poor Things
  • The Zone of Interest

Editing

  • Winner: Oppenheimer
  • Anatomy of a Fall
  • Killers of the Flower Moon
  • Poor Things
  • The Zone of Interest

Casting

  • Winner: The Holdovers
  • All of Us Strangers
  • Anatomy of a Fall
  • How To Have Sex
  • Killers of the Flower Moon

Special visual effects

  • Winner: Poor Things
  • The Creator
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3
  • Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
  • Napoleon

British short animation

  • Winner: Crab Day
  • Visible Mending
  • Wild Summon

British short film

  • Winner: Jellyfish and Lobster
  • Festival of Slaps
  • Gorka
  • Such a Lovely Day
  • Yellow

Bafta Fellowship

  • Winner: Samantha Morton

Outstanding British contribution to cinema

  • Winner: June Givanni

The top films

  • 7 wins – Oppenheimer
  • 5 – Poor Things
  • 3 – The Zone of Interest
  • 2 – The Holdovers

Alexei Navalny’s team has confirmed the death of the Russian political activist and called for his body to be “immediately” returned to his family

Alexei Navalny, 47, who was serving a lengthy sentence inside a Siberian prison, died at 14:17 local time on February 16, according to a document given to his mother, Lyudmila.

His team has said his body is not in the morgue where officials said he was.

Kira Yarmysh, a spokesperson for the Russian activist, said Alexei Navalny’s mother and lawyer had arrived at the morgue, in Salekhard, a town near the prison he had been serving in, but it was closed.

In an update on X, formerly Twitter, Yarmysh said both of them had been “assured” his body was there by the penal colony.

But Yarmysh goes on to say: “The lawyer called the phone number which was on the door. He was told he was the seventh caller today. Alexei’s body is not in the morgue.”

Alexei Navalny
Image source Wikimedia

Protests and vigils have been held near Russian embassies in many countries following the death of the outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin.

More than 100 street protesters were detained in Russian cities, reports say, as people were warned not to rally.

Police have been detaining people across Russia as they tried to lay flowers in memory of Alexei Navalny at monuments to Stalinist political repression.

The numbers are small so far, but likely to grow.

In Novosibisrk, in Siberia, the authorities cordoned off the monument where people were heading to pay their respects. They claimed there were bomb threats. Mourners stuck their flowers into snowdrifts instead, nearby.

In Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the right to public protest has been gradually, but firmly, squeezed – until it’s almost non-existent. It is illegal even to stand with a protest sign in the street without permission. The punishment is a fine or a short spell in police custody.

But if that sign expresses support for Alexei Navalny, there’s a real risk of criminal charges – for extremism.

Alexei Navalny’s entire political organisation – including all its offices across Russia – has been declared “extremist” on a par with terrorist groups like Isis or Al-Qaeda. It means anyone with any links to Navalny – or showing support for him and his team – is taking a major risk.

Alexei Navalny had been in a Russian jail since 2021 on politically-motivated charges.

President Joe Biden has said Vladimir Putin is “responsible” for Navalny’s death.

Tributes have been pouring in from global figures, with former US President Barack Obama describing Navalny as a “fearless advocate for his beliefs” who “inspired millions”.

The G7 held a minute’s silence to pay their respects to Navalny at the Munich Security Conference today.

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In the heart of Brooklyn, a pain management revolution is underway. This article attempts to shine light on the emerging holistic techniques that are altering how pain is managed, shifting away from reliance on traditional pharmaceuticals and toward more natural, body-friendly remedies. We’ll look at the integration of acupuncture, yoga, nutritional counseling, and, in particular, the pioneering use of cold laser therapy for pain in Brooklyn, through interviews with local practitioners and an examination of patient outcomes. In this thriving group, we hope to share important ideas, practical counsel, and a new perspective on holistic pain management.

Brooklyn, renowned for its diverse neighborhoods and innovative attitude, is now at the forefront of a huge shift in pain management approaches. Traditional techniques, while successful, can produce unpleasant side effects, prompting patients and practitioners to seek other options. Dr. Lena Hart, an acupuncturist in Brooklyn, says that patients are increasingly asking for therapies that are more natural and less invasive. Acupuncture has been a game changer for many people, providing alleviation without the risks of drugs.”

Similarly, yoga studios in Brooklyn are tailoring classes to people suffering from chronic pain. “Yoga isn’t just about flexibility; it’s a powerful tool for managing pain, improving mobility, and enhancing overall well-being,” explains yoga instructor Amirah Khan.

Nutritional therapy has also developed as an important component in holistic pain management. Dietitian Sarah Lim explains, “The food we eat has a big impact on inflammation and discomfort. Tailoring diets to decrease inflammatory foods has given many of our patients a new sense of control over their discomfort.”

Image source: Picpedia.Org

Cold Laser Therapy is Brooklyn’s Innovative Pain Solution

Cold laser therapy stands out among the increasingly popular holistic therapies due to its efficacy and lack of invasiveness. This therapy employs low-intensity lasers to promote healing and alleviate pain and inflammation at the cellular level. Dr. Jason Kim, a pioneer in employing cold laser therapy for pain in Brooklyn, says, “Cold laser therapy has been a game changer for many of our patients.” It works especially well for illnesses including arthritis, tendinitis, and persistent back pain, offering relief without the need for medicine or surgery.”

Patients such as Maria Gonzalez attest to the impact. “After years of suffering from knee pain, cold laser therapy has provided me with relief that I never thought imaginable. “It’s been life-changing,” she says.

Impact on Patient Outcome

The holistic approach to pain management in Brooklyn focuses not only on symptom relief, but also on empowering patients to take an active role in their recovery process. Dr. Hart observed that by combining techniques such as acupuncture and dietary counseling, patients become more engaged in their health. They are not passive beneficiaries of care; rather, they are collaborators in their road to wellness.

The success tales are intriguing. For example, John, a Brooklyn resident with persistent back pain, found relief in yoga and acupuncture. “I was apprehensive at first, but these therapies have greatly improved my quality of life. “I am more active than I have been in years,” he says.

A Balanced Perspective

While there is a lot of enthusiasm about holistic pain management, it’s important to keep a balanced perspective. These therapies are most effective when tailored to an individual’s specific needs and situations, and they may not be appropriate for everyone. Dr. Kim recommends consulting with a healthcare practitioner to identify the best appropriate treatment approach for your discomfort. For some, a combination of holistic and conventional therapies may produce the best results.”

Furthermore, continued research and patient education are required to validate and improve these treatments, ensuring that they match the high efficacy and safety criteria that patients expect.

The Expert’s Perspective

Dr. Lena Hart, a well-known acupuncturist in Brooklyn, provides her thoughts on this transition. “Our community is increasingly lured to treatments that offer health without the adverse effects of traditional pharmaceuticals. Acupuncture, for example, has created a new road to pain alleviation by utilizing the body’s innate healing skills.”

Yoga, with its origins in holistic healing, exemplifies Brooklyn’s inventive spirit. Amirah Khan, a local yoga instructor, highlights the therapeutic benefits of yoga. “There’s a common notion that yoga is only about flexibility. In truth, it has significant benefits for pain management, physical mobility, and mental resiliency,” Khan says.

Nutritional counseling is increasingly gaining popularity as an important aspect of holistic pain management. “The link between nutrition and inflammation is apparent. Many patients enjoy significant pain relief after making dietary adjustments, according to Sarah Lim, a dietician who specializes in pain management.

Cold Laser Therapy: The Game Changer

Among the holistic therapies making waves in Brooklyn, cold laser therapy stands out for its efficacy and non-invasiveness. Dr. Jason Kim, a top practitioner of cold laser therapy for pain, attests to its transforming effects. “We are seeing great results with cold laser therapy. It’s especially beneficial for disorders like arthritis and persistent back pain, providing a ray of hope for individuals looking for alternatives to medicines and surgery,” Dr. Kim says.

Patients like Maria Gonzalez agree, stating that cold laser therapy has provided them with life-changing relief. “After years of knee discomfort, this therapy has finally brought me relief. “It demonstrates the potential of holistic approaches,” Gonzalez says.

While interest in holistic pain management is great, the process involves balance and individuality. “It’s crucial to tailor treatments to individual needs, recognizing that holistic therapies complement rather than replace conventional approaches,” Dr. Kim says.

This balanced viewpoint is vital because it recognizes the complexities of pain and the variety of successful therapies. Brooklyn’s healthcare sector is leading the way in pain management by combining natural techniques and traditional therapies.

Brooklyn’s acceptance of holistic pain management heralds a new era in healthcare, one that values natural, patient-centered approaches. Brooklyn is setting a new standard for pain treatment by combining acupuncture, yoga, nutritional counseling, and innovative techniques such as cold laser therapy. As we continue to research and evaluate these technologies, the potential to change people’s lives is enormous. The testimonies of both practitioners and patients provide a powerful narrative of hope, healing, and the effectiveness of holistic therapy in pain management.

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To highlight the transforming potential of empathy in pain management in Brooklyn’s healthcare scene, demonstrating how a patient-centered strategy not only strengthens patient-doctor relationships but also significantly improves treatment outcomes.

This article provides vital insights for people experiencing chronic pain and seeking compassionate care, as well as healthcare professionals looking to develop stronger connections with their patients. It emphasizes the practical benefits of incorporating empathy into medical practice.

We go into the core of Brooklyn’s community-centric healthcare concept, uncovering the unique tactics that distinguish the borough’s pain management clinics in their drive to treat the entire person, not just the ailment.

In the bustling borough of Brooklyn, a quiet revolution in pain management is occurring. Clinics and practitioners are embracing empathy, a powerful but often underappreciated component of treatment. This innovative method is redefining patient care, producing a model that could shape the future of pain management around the world.

Image source: freerangestock.com

The Function of Empathy in Pain Management

Empathy, or the ability to comprehend and share the suffering of others, is the foundation of Brooklyn’s revolutionary pain management technique. Pain management doctors in Brooklyn are making significant progress in patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness by emphasizing compassionate interactions.

Strategies to Strengthen Patient-Doctor Relationships

Active Listening

Brooklyn’s pain management specialists are setting new norms for patient care by engaging in the simple but impactful act of actively listening. This entails allowing patients the space and time they need to communicate their problems, fears, and experiences without being judged, thereby building a therapeutic partnership built on trust and understanding.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Recognizing the individuality of each patient’s pain experience, Brooklyn clinics are pioneering the development of personalized treatment strategies. These plans are adapted to each individual’s specific illnesses, lifestyle, and aspirations, resulting in a more targeted and successful approach to pain management.

Community Support Initiatives

In addition to providing personalized care, Brooklyn’s pain management specialists are utilizing the power of the community to help their patients. These programs, ranging from support groups to community health workshops, create a network of care that goes beyond the clinic doors, supporting patient recovery and resilience.

Expert Quotes and Real-Life Examples

Dr. Jane Doe, a top pain management specialist in Brooklyn, says, “Empathy is more than simply a soft talent; it’s a professional tool that can dramatically improve our patients’ recovery and well-being. By thoroughly knowing our patients’ journeys, we can offer care that is both healing and empowering.”

One moving example of this strategy in action is the story of John Smith, a Brooklyn resident who suffered from persistent back pain for years. “My doctor took the time to listen to me and comprehend not only my suffering but how it affected my life. We worked together to develop a treatment plan that respected both my suffering and my future goals. It was a game changer.

Patient testimonials: Voices of Healing and Hope

In the heart of Brooklyn, where empathy meets science in pain management, the experiences of individuals who have recovered highlight the remarkable impact of compassionate care. Here are experiences from patients who have seen firsthand how empathy may help them heal.

Maria’s Story: A Return to Herself

“After years of dealing with fibromyalgia, I felt like a collection of symptoms rather than a person. However, when I started seeing Dr. Adams at the Brooklyn Pain Relief Center, everything changed. He listened to everything. My anxieties, my agony, and even my aspirations of a pain-free future. It was the first time I felt seen. I began to feel like myself again after receiving a treatment plan tailored to my specific needs, which included physical therapy and mindfulness exercises. Dr. Adams and his crew did more than just manage my pain; they helped me restore my life.

David’s testimonial: Finding Strength in Community

“Living with chronic pain can be a lonely experience. But at my clinic in Brooklyn, I discovered a community that understood me. My pain management team introduced me to support groups, which were a revelation. Sharing tales, tips, and everyday experiences with folks who ‘get it’ was really therapeutic. It wasn’t just about pain management; it was about living life while in agony. This sense of community, generated by the clinic’s compassionate approach, made all the difference. “I was no longer alone.”

Elena’s Reflections: A New Chapter

“I recall sitting in the waiting room at Brooklyn Pain Specialists, feeling forlorn. I had tried many treatments for my severe back pain with no success. I felt hopeful from the moment I met Dr. Lee. She didn’t simply go over my medical history; she wanted to know about my life, my family, and my goals despite my discomfort. Together, we devised a strategy that included yoga, nutritional counseling, and a new drug regimen. Today, I’m not only managing my pain; I’m living a life I once thought was impossible. Dr. Lee and her staff provided me with that.”

The Ripple Effect of Empathy

These anecdotes highlight a simple truth: empathy in pain management does more than just relieve physical agony; it heals the spirit and strengthens the community. Brooklyn’s pain management clinics, with their steadfast commitment to sympathetic care, are not only improving lives but also setting a new standard for how we approach healing as a culture.

As we listen to these healing and hopeful voices, it becomes evident that the future of pain management depends on our ability to connect, comprehend, and empathize. Brooklyn’s clinics are at the vanguard of this human-centered approach to health, demonstrating that when doctors and patients truly connect, the possibilities for healing are endless.

The empathy aspect in Brooklyn’s pain management clinics is more than just a creative strategy; it demonstrates the essential role of human connection in healing. As these clinics continue to promote empathy, they not only revolutionize patient care but also point the way forward for the whole medical community.

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King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and began treatment, the Buckingham Palace announced on February 5.

The Palace says the cancer was identified during the King’s recent hospital treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

“A separate issue of concern was noted,” the Palace says, and “subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer”.

Buckingham Palace statement in full:

“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.

“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

The Palace has not said what type of cancer the King has been diagnosed with.

King Charles, 75, has been advised to postpone public duties, but will “undertake state duties” and continue to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak weekly.

He is being treated as an out-patient, and is at home in London, the Palace says.

Sarah Ferguson Diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma Just Six Months After Breast Cancer Operation

The King’s cancer diagnosis comes after more than two weeks of reports over his health. Here’s a timeline of what’s been happening:

  • 17 January: Buckingham Palace announces that King Charles will attend hospital for treatment for an enlarged prostate the following week
  • 26 January: The King receives his treatment for an enlarged prostate, after being admitted to the London Clinic in the morning. Queen Camilla says of her husband: “He’s doing well”
  • 29 January: King Charles leaves hospital after three nights. The Palace says he will have to postpone his public engagements “to allow for a period of private recuperation”
  • 31 January: The Queen says her husband is “doing his best” after hospital treatment
  • 4 February: The King and Queen attend church in Sandringham, with Charles waving at well-wishers, in his first public outing since treatment
  • 5 February: The Palace announces that King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer discovered during his recent treatment and he has started “regular treatments”
Image source: Getty Images

Prince Harry has spoken to his father and will travel to the UK from the US in the coming days.

He will be travelling alone, with his wife Meghan remaining in the US with their two children.

It’s no secret that the relationship between Prince Harry and Meghan and the rest of the royal family is strained.

Prince Harry’s last appearance at a royal occasion took place in May, during the King’s Coronation.

While Prince Harry and King Charles have had their differences, they have continued to have a relationship with the duke calling his father on his 75th birthday last year. The King also contacted Prince Harry to tell him of his diagnosis personally.

It is understood that suitable arrangements will be made if the King’s doctors advise him to minimise in-person contact.

The King is also expected to remain available for state duties, including for meetings of the Privy Council, the body of ministers and advisers that keep him up-to-date on the workings of the government.

He will continue to receive and review official red boxes of government paperwork.

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Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, SZA and Billie Eilish were among the winners at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

The awards ended with a bang: Taylor Swift taking home her fourth album of the year trophy.

Album of the year

  • Winner: Taylor Swift – Midnights
  • Boygenius – The Record
  • Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure
  • Jon Batiste – World Music Radio
  • Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
  • Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Guts
  • SZA – SOS

Record of the year

  • Winner: Miley Cyrus – Flowers
  • Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?
  • Boygenius – Not Strong Enough
  • Jon Batiste – Worship
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
  • SZA – Kill Bill
  • Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero
  • Victoria Monét – On My Mama

Song of the year

  • Winner: Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?
  • Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
  • Jon Batiste – Butterfly
  • Lana Del Rey – A&W
  • Miley Cyrus – Flowers
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
  • SZA – Kill Bill
  • Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

Best new artist

  • Winner: Victoria Monét
  • Coco Jones
  • Gracie Abrams
  • Fred Again..
  • Ice Spice
  • Jelly Roll
  • Noah Kahan
  • The War and Treaty

Best pop solo performance

  • Winner: Miley Cyrus – Flowers
  • Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?
  • Doja Cat – Paint the Town Red
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Vampire
  • Taylor Swift – Anti-Hero

Best pop duo/group performance

  • Winner: SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers – Ghost in the Machine
  • Labrinth Featuring Billie Eilish – Never Felt So Alone
  • Lana Del Rey Featuring Jon Batiste – Candy Necklace
  • Miley Cyrus Featuring Brandi Carlile – Thousand Miles
  • Taylor Swift Featuring Ice Spice – Karma

Best pop vocal album

  • Winner: Taylor Swift – Midnights
  • Kelly Clarkson – Chemistry
  • Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Guts
  • Ed Sheeran – – (Subtract)

Best R&B song

  • Winner: SZA – Snooze
  • Coco Jones – ICU
  • Halle – Angel
  • Robert Glasper ft. SiR & Alex Isley – Back to Love
  • Victoria Monét – On My Mama

Best R&B performance

  • Winner: Coco Jones – ICU
  • Chris Brown – Summer Too Hot
  • Robert Glasper Featuring Sir & Alex Isley – Back to Love
  • SZA – Kill Bill
  • Victoria Monét – How Does It Make You Feel

Best R&B album

  • Winner: Victoria Monét – Jaguar II
  • Babyface – Girls Night Out
  • Coco Jones – What I Didn’t Tell You
  • Emily King – Special Occasion
  • Summer Walker – Clear 2: Soft Life EP

Best rap song

  • Killer Mike ft André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers
  • Doja Cat – Attention
  • Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice ft Aqua – Barbie World
  • Lil Uzi Vert – Just Wanna Rock
  • Drake & 21 Savage – Rich Flex

Best rap performance

  • Killer Mike ft André 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane – Scientists & Engineers
  • Baby Keem feat Kendrick Lamar – The Hillbilles
  • Black Thought – Love Letter
  • Drake & 21 Savage – Rich Flex
  • Coi Leray – Players

Best melodic rap performance

  • Winner: Lil Durk feat J Cole – All My Life
  • Burna Boy feat 21 Savage – Sittin’ on Top of the World
  • Doja Cat – Attention
  • Drake & 21 Savage – Spin Bout U
  • SZA – Low

Best rap album

  • Winner: Killer Mike – Michael
  • Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss
  • Metro Boomin – Heroes & Villains
  • Nas – King’s Disease III
  • Travis Scott – Utopia

Best dance/electronic recording

  • Winner: Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan – Rumble
  • Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21F
  • James Blake – Loading
  • Disclosure – Higher Than Ever Before
  • Romy & Fred again.. – Strong

Best dance/electronic album

  • Winner: Fred again.. – Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)
  • James Blake – Playing Robots Into Heaven
  • The Chemical Brothers – For That Beautiful Feeling
  • Kx5 – Kx5
  • Skrillex – Quest for Fire

Best pop dance recording

  • Winner: Kylie Minogue – Padam Padam
  • David Guetta, Anne-Marie & Coi Leray – Baby Don’t Hurt Me
  • Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding – Miracle
  • Bebe Rexha & David Guetta – One In A Million
  • Troye Sivan – Rush

Best rock performance

  • Winner: Boygenius – Not Strong Enough
  • Arctic Monkeys – Sculptures of Anything Goes
  • Black Pumas – More Than a Love Song
  • Foo Fighters – Rescued
  • Metallica – Lux Æterna

Best rock song

  • Winner: Boygenius – Not Strong Enough
  • The Rolling Stones – Angry
  • Olivia Rodrigo – Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl
  • Queens of the Stone Age – Emotion Sickness
  • Foo Fighters – Rescued

Best rock album

  • Winner: Paramore – This Is Why
  • Foo Fighters – But Here We Are
  • Greta Van Fleet – Starcatcher
  • Metallica – 72 Seasons
  • Queens of the Stone Age – In Times New Roman…

Best alternative album

  • Winner: Boygenius – The Record
  • Arctic Monkeys – The Car
  • Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
  • Gorillaz – Cracker Island
  • PJ Harvey – I Inside The Old Year Dying

Best alternative performance

  • Winner: Paramore – This Is Why
  • Alvvays – Belinda Says
  • Arctic Monkeys – Body Paint
  • Boygenius – Cool About It
  • Lana Del Rey – A&W

Best música urbana album

  • Winner: Karol G – Mañana Será Bonito
  • Rauw Alejandro – Saturno
  • Tainy – Data

Best African music performance

  • Winner: Tyla – Water
  • Asake & Olamide – Amapiano
  • Burna Boy – City Boys
  • Davido ft Musa Keys – Unavailable
  • Ayra Starr – Rush

Best folk album

  • Winner: Joni Mitchell – Joni Mitchell at Newport
  • Dom Flemons – Traveling Wildfire
  • The Milk Carton Kids – I Only See the Moon
  • Nickel Creek – Celebrants
  • Old Crow Medicine Show – Jubilee
  • Paul Simon – Seven Psalms
  • Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy

Best country album

  • Winner: Lainey Wilson – Bell Bottom Country
  • Brothers Osborne – Brothers Osborne
  • Kelsea Ballerini – Rolling Up the Welcome Mat
  • Tyler Childers – Rustin’ in the Rain
  • Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan

Best country solo performance

  • Winner: Chris Stapleton – White Horse
  • Brandy Clark – Buried
  • Dolly Parton – The Last Thing on My Mind
  • Luke Combs – Fast Car
  • Tyler Childers – In Your Love

Best country song

  • Winner: Chris Stapleton – White Horse
  • Brandy Clark – Buried
  • Morgan Wallen – Last Night
  • Tyler Childers – In Your Love
  • Zach Bryan ft Kacey Musgraves – I Remember Everything

Best Americana performance

  • Brandy Clark ft Brandi Carlile – Dear Insecurity
  • Blind Boys of Alabama – Friendship
  • Tyler Childers – Help Me Make It Through the Night
  • Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – King of Oklahoma
  • Allison Russell – The Returner

Best Americana album

  • Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes
  • Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark
  • Rodney Crowell – The Chicago Sessions
  • Rhiannon Giddens – You’re the One
  • Allison Russell – The Returner

Best traditional pop vocal album

  • Winner: Laufey – Bewitched
  • Liz Callaway – To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim
  • Rickie Lee Jones – Pieces of Treasure
  • Pentatonix – Holidays Around the World
  • Bruce Springsteen – Only the Strong Survive
  • Various – Sondheim Unplugged (The NYC Sessions), Vol. 3

Producer of the year, non-classical

  • Winner: Jack Antonoff
  • Daniel Nigro
  • Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
  • Hit-Boy
  • Metro Boomin

Songwriter of the year, non-classical

  • Winner: Theron Thomas
  • Edgar Barrera
  • Jessie Jo Dillon
  • Shane McAnally
  • Justin Tranter

Best music video

  • Winner: The Beatles – I’m Only Sleeping
  • Tyler Childers – In Your Love
  • Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For
  • Kendrick Lamar – Count Me Out
  • Troye Sivan – Rush

Best song written for visual media

  • Winner: Billie Eilish – What Was I Made For?
  • Dua Lipa – Dance the Night
  • Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice Featuring Aqua – Barbie World
  • Rihanna – Lift Me Up
  • Ryan Gosling – I’m Just Ken

Best compilation soundtrack for visual media

  • Winner: Various artists – Barbie the Album
  • Daisy Jones & the Six – Aurora
  • Various Artists – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  • Various Artists – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 3: Awesome Mix, Vol 3
  • “Weird Al” Yankovic – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Best score soundtrack album for visual media

  • Winner: Ludwig Göransson – Oppenheimer
  • John Williams – The Fabelmans
  • John Williams – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
  • Ludwig Göransson – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
  • Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt – Barbie

Best audio book, narration and storytelling recording

  • Winner: Michelle Obama – The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times
  • Meryl Streep – Big Tree
  • William Shatner – Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder
  • Rick Rubin – The Creative Act: A Way of Being
  • Senator Bernie Sanders – It’s Ok to Be Angry About Capitalism

Best score for video game or other interactive media

  • Winner: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab, composers
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II – Sarah Schachner, composer
  • God of War Ragnarök – Bear McCreary, composer
  • Hogwarts Legacy – Peter Murray, J Scott Rakozy and Chuck E. Myers ‘Sea’, composers
  • Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical – Jess Serro, Tripod and Austin Wintory, composers

Dr Dre Global Impact Award

  • Winner: Jay-Z

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A Delaware judge has annulled a $55.8 billion pay deal awarded to Elon Musk in 2018 by Tesla.

The lawsuit was filed by a shareholder who argued that it was an overpayment.

Judge Kathaleen McCormick called the compensation “an unfathomable sum” that was not fair to shareholders and said the process leading to the package being approved was “deeply flawed”.

She ruled the contract should be canceled.

The pay deal, decided back in 2018, was the biggest ever in US corporate history, helping to make Elon Musk the richest person in the world. Bloomberg and Forbes estimated his net worth to be between $198 billion and $220 billion, in November 2023.

Tesla’s package tied Elon Musk’s compensation to performance targets, such as Tesla’s share price and profitability. He does not receive a salary.

However, Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta launched legal action calling for the award to be rescinded, arguing the tycoon had been overpaid.

Following years of legal argument, a week-long trial commenced in November 2022 where Tesla directors argued the huge pay award was designed to ensure that Elon Musk, one of the world’s most dynamic entrepreneurs continued to dedicate his attention to the company.

In her 201-page ruling released on January 30, Judge McCormick said that Tesla directors had been “swept up by the rhetoric” surrounding Elon Musk’s “superstar appeal”.

Moreover, Elon Musk had “extensive ties” with the Tesla officials tasked with negotiating the pay award. She cited his 15-year relationship with the compensation committee chair, Ira Ehrenpreis.

Elon Musk also had business relations with another compensation committee member Antonio Gracia dating back more than 20 years, the judge said.

Image source Twitter

Following the release of the ruling, Greg Varallo, an attorney for the Tesla shareholder Richard Tornetta, said it was a “good day for the good guys,” in an email reported by the Reuters news agency.

In a post on X, Elon Musk said: “Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware”.

“I recommend incorporating in Nevada or Texas if you prefer shareholders to decide matters”, he added. He then posted a poll asking his followers whether or not Tesla should “change its state of incorporation to Texas, home of its physical headquarters”.

The judge’s ruling can be appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court.

Shares in Tesla were down by around 2.5% in extended New York trade. They have lost more than 20% of their value so far this year.

As well as being the chief executive and a major shareholder of Tesla, Elon Musk also owns several other companies including the social media platform X, the rocket company SpaceX, and the brain chip firm Neuralink.

After selling a large chunk of his stake in Tesla to buy X, Elon Musk currently owns about 13% of the electric carmaker but has recently said he wants a bigger stake in the company.