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Stocks closed higher on Wall Street at the start of a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Monday. Several big technology companies helped support the gains, including chip companies Nvidia and Broadcom. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1%. Honda’s U.S.-listed shares rose sharply after the company said it was in talks about a combination with Nissan in a deal that could also include Mitsubishi Motors. Eli Lilly rose after announcing that regulators approved Zepbound as the first prescription medicine for adults with sleep apnea. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) VIENNA, Va., Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM) (the“Company” or“Castellum”), a cybersecurity, electronic warfare, and software services company focused on the federal government, announces that it intends to offer and sell shares of its common stock in a public offering. Castellum is offering all of the shares of common stock. The Company initially intends to use the net proceeds of the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. Consummation of the offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed or the actual size or terms of the offering. Maxim Group LLC is acting as the sole placement agent for the offering on a reasonable best-efforts basis. A shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-275840) relating to the securities being offered was previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the“SEC”). It became effective on December 12, 2023. The shares may be offered only by means of a prospectus. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the public offering are being filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC's website at . When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the public offering may also be obtained by contacting Maxim Group LLC , at 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Prospectus Department, or by telephone at (212) 895-3745 or by email at ... . Before you invest, you should read the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference therein, for more complete information about the Company and the proposed offering. The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Castellum, Inc. : Castellum, Inc. (NYSE-American: CTM) is a defense-oriented technology company that is executing strategic acquisitions in the cybersecurity, MBSE (Model-Based Systems Engineering), and information warfare areas - . Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. Words such as“will,”“would,”“believe,” and“expects,” and similar language or phrasing are indicative of forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control, that could cause actual results to differ (sometimes materially) from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the Company's ability to close the described debt financing; its ability to effectively integrate and grow its acquired companies; its ability to identify additional acquisition targets and close additional acquisitions; the impact on the Company's revenue due to a delay in the U.S. Congress approving a federal budget; and the Company's ability to maintain the listing of its common stock on the NYSE American LLC. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in Item 1A.“Risk Factors” section of the Company's recently filed Form 10-Q, Item 1A. "Risk Factors” in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which can be viewed at . These risks and uncertainties, or not closing the described potential debt financing in this press release, could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, a change in events, conditions, circumstances or assumptions underlying such statements, or otherwise. Contact: Glen Ives President & Chief Executive Officer Phone: (703) 752-6157 ... A photo accompanying this announcement is available at MENAFN26122024004107003653ID1109033669 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes a mix of commentary online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• While “interruptive advertising in someone’s social-media stream” may move product, “the process of brand building and brand loyalty and love for a brand” can “only come from the kind of advertising that is reflected in the British Arrows Awards winners,” said Simon Cooper , the Arrows board chair, before embarking to Minneapolis for the Walker Art Center’s annual Arrows Awards screening . The event (sponsored in part by the Star Tribune), runs through Jan. 4 and features 42 films (as they’re sometimes called across the pond) of varying length. What doesn’t vary is that amid today’s cultural and commercial cacophony, they’re all moving images. Literally and figuratively, in that most evoke emotion, some startlingly so. Like an ad for Apple that tells a story of a besieged office worker who in her off-hours creates a stop-action animation story on an iPhone. The antagonist in her tale meets ever-more-undignified fates, with viewers soon learning that the animated man is her unanimated, antagonistic boss. But after she gets glimpses into his inner life, in which he’s outside of any social circle, she flips the script — in her animated tale and, more profoundly, in her real-life collegial relationship. The spot, which puts the cold digital device in a warm light, is titled (and creates) “Fuzzy Feelings,” and most will agree with Cooper that it’s “terribly moving” and “beautifully crafted.” Overall, he added, it reflects “emotional stories” that are “back in vogue.” And not a moment too soon, when “everyone’s talking about the demise of traditional advertising and it’s harder and harder to get people to engage.” The best method to do that, he said, remains “making good, engaging work, not by bombarding them with stuff they are trying to get past the whole time.” Throughout the years the sharpest Arrows have been “very funny, always very peculiar” and usually “rely on performance of one kind or another,” said Cooper. More recently, however, the performance has been less acting and more action “from surprising camera moves and surprising visuals.” The temptation to accelerate this trend through transformative artificial intelligence will only grow, given the potential efficiencies. But value is intrinsic and not just transactional — and consumers notice. Just ask Coca-Cola — “The Real Thing.” Until it isn’t, at least in a widely derided holiday ad created by “Real Magic AI” (as the commercial says in small print). Reeling from responses ranging from disappointment to disgust (after all, Coke Christmas ads advanced the modern image of a red-clad Santa Claus), the company issued a statement that the commercial was a “collaboration of human storytellers and the power of generative AI.” There is in fact “a huge spectrum in terms of how this technology is being used,” said Paul Shambroom , an associate professor in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Art. “AI can be a valuable creative tool,” he said, adding that many of his undergraduate students “are so hungry to get their hands wet” with analog photography “and actually make something that has a physical presence.” There “has always been a power to handmade things.” Cooper concurred: “If the aim is engagement, then AI-generated work isn’t the way.” Humans, he added, “are hardwired to recognize when something has taken effort and craft and when it hasn’t.” Like advertising. Or more importantly to most, the TV shows it supports. Shows like “Game of Thrones,” or, in a clever commercial for French TV channel Canal+, a fictional facsimile called “The Secret of Wakany” that becomes a commercial megahit and cultural obsession for fans, who respond demonstrably when the secret (no spoilers here) is revealed. “It’s a one-line kind of idea drawn out in the most extraordinary craft and development to make it a really engaging story,” said Cooper. Storytelling isn’t what often comes to mind amid the mindless commercialism most encounter. And even well-told stories can get well worn, reducing viewers’ receptivity. So sometimes it’s effective to reframe the message, as three PSAs (public-service announcements) on the Arrows reel do. One is from PETA and another from Reckitt about the role clothes can play in autistic kids’ lives. The third is a searing, even stress-inducing spot called “Don’t Stop” from Greenpeace. It takes its title from a Fleetwood Mac song being played by a group of young musicians at a function attended by middle-aged and older people whose behavior spirals into oblivious, obnoxious excess. The band’s voices are drowned out by the out-of-control crowd, just as many youths aren’t heard regarding the climate crisis. Amid the over-the-top indulgence, pots boil over, floors flood and a kitchen fire burns, symbolizing the effects of unchecked climate change as the lyrics “don’t stop thinking about tomorrow” take on a more haunting, urgent meaning. So do these stark on-screen words at the commercial’s climax: “The world is suffering some of its deadliest ever heatwaves, wildfires, floods and typhoons. Meanwhile, oil companies are enjoying record profits. It’s not too late to stop the fossil fuel party. For a better tomorrow, take action today.” The PSA’s “ambition is extraordinary for a message that people have increasingly deaf ears for,” said Cooper. “To find a new way of representing the catastrophe we’re all living, we’re all kind of frog-marching towards — I think it did an exceptional job.” Reframing a message, Cooper said, “makes people sit up and take notice.” You “have to surprise people; it really is that simple. You can’t keep making the same films, creating the same message and expecting the response to be different.” Well, unless you’re making Christmas commercials for British retailer John Lewis, whose holiday spots are an anticipated feature of the season and the Arrows reel. Because within advertising and Britain itself, Cooper said, “there’s an enormous expectation” for their annual ads. “It has come to define our industry and the Christmas period, and I think it’s terribly helpful for our industry that we’ve managed to hang onto something that still maintains sort of the water-cooler aspect to it.” This year is no different, with a sweet story about a boy who buys a flea-market “Fast-Growing Christmas Tree” box whose seed doesn’t grow a Fraser fir but a Venus flytrap. As veteran viewers of the Arrows know, John Lewis commercials — especially the endings — endure, with the ad’s admonition to “Let Your Traditions Grow” applying not just to consumers but the retailer’s reputation itself. And, by extension, the Walker’s, which has grown the Arrows Awards into a holiday tradition in its own right. Indeed, with this event and others throughout the year, the arts institution seems to be heeding the ethos espoused at the end of the Canal+ ad: “Don’t Trust Your Imagination to Just Anybody.”

The (ASX: XJO) is likely to experience higher , including a 15% correction, in 2025 but will ultimately finish the year higher at about 8,800 points. That's the prediction from Dr Shane Oliver, Chief Economist and Head of Investment Strategy and Economics at ( ). Let's dig into the details. More growth ahead for ASX 200 shares in 2025 The closed at 8,420.9 points on Friday, down 0.64% for the day. Based on this closing value, Dr Oliver's prediction amounts to 4.5% growth (excluding dividend returns). The benchmark index has had an impressive run this year. It has risen 10.9% in the year to date (YTD) (excluding dividend returns) and has hit new all-time highs on several occasions. The most recent record high was set at 8,514.5 points last Tuesday. In a new , Dr Oliver said ASX shares had done well in 2024 "in anticipation of stronger profits and rate cuts ahead". But they underperformed other equity markets, including , due to concerns about China and no cuts. By comparison, the (SP: INX) . Looking ahead, Dr Oliver expects positive returns for the ASX 200 in 2025 but says a 15% correction during the year is "highly likely". Dr Oliver writes: Stretched valuations after two strong years, the ongoing risk of recession, the likelihood of a global trade war and ongoing geopolitical issues will likely make for a volatile ride in 2025 ... Dr Oliver said ASX 200 shares are "not cheap", trading on a forward of 20x. This is less than US shares, though, which are trading on a forward P/E of 26x. What about interest rates? Dr Oliver said there is a risk of recession in 2025, especially "if the RBA leaves rates too high for too long". The economy is certainly anaemic. rose by just 0.3% in the September quarter and 0.8% over 12 months, according to released by the Bureau of Statistics last week. Dr Oliver expects the Reserve Bank (RBA) to cut by 75 basis points over the year to 3.6%. In terms of the property market, Dr Oliver expects home values to in the first half of 2025 before rate cuts provide a boost in the second half. A warning on ASX 200 mining shares Darren Thompson, Head of Asset Management at Equity Trustees Asset Management, has concerns about ASX 200 shares in 2025. . He commented: These companies remain highly profitable, cash generative business. It is simply that iron ore prices have continued to retrace from previous cyclical highs, largely due to lower demand from China ... . Thompson notes the miners play a big role in the ASX 200's typical 4% to 4.5% annual . He says the 12-month forward dividend yield is tracking much lower at about 3.4% for 2025. He also points out that the ASX 200 is trading at high valuation multiples compared to long-term averages, particularly given the likelihood of relatively low near-term earnings growth. "In our view, this leaves little buffer to absorb adverse developments," he said. Thompson added: Overall, much of the good news anticipated for CY25 appears priced into market expectations and investors should expect much more muted capital returns and flat or lower income in the year ahead.NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that comments coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial. Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea. The Manhattan district attorney charged him last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism , in a state case that will run alongside his federal prosecution . His initial appearance in New York’s state trial court was preempted by federal prosecutors bringing their own charges over the shooting. The federal charges could carry the possibility of the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks , with the state charges expected to go to trial first. One of Mangione’s attorneys told a judge that government officials, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, have turned Mangione into a political pawn, robbing him of his rights as a defendant and tainting the jury pool. “I am very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo. The city’s mayor and top police official stood among a throng of heavily armed officers last Thursday when Mangione was flown to a Manhattan heliport and escorted up a pier after being extradited from Pennsylvania. “I wanted to look him in the eye and say you carried out this terroristic act in my city — the city that the people of New York love,” the mayor told a local TV station. Friedman Agnifilo said police turned Mangione’s return to New York into a choreographed spectacle. “He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest stage perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career. It was absolutely unnecessary,” she said. His attorney also accused federal and state prosecutors of advancing conflicting legal theories, calling their approach confusing and highly unusual. “He is being treated like a human pingpong ball between warring jurisdictions here,” she said Monday. State trial court Judge Gregory Carro said he has little control over what happens outside the courtroom, but can guarantee Mangione will receive a fair trial. Authorities say Mangione gunned down Brian Thompson as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan on the morning of Dec 4. Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s after a five-day search, carrying a gun that matched the one used in the shooting and a fake ID, police said. He also was carrying a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and especially wealthy executives, according to federal prosecutors. At a news conference last week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the application of the terrorism law reflected the severity of a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.” “In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror,” he added. Mangione is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail alongside several other high-profile defendants, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. During his court appearance Monday, he smiled at times when talking with his attorneys and stretched his right hand after an officer removed his cuffs. Outside the courthouse, a few dozen supporters chanted, “Free Luigi,” over the blare of a trumpet. Natalie Monarrez, a 55-year-old Staten Island resident, said she joined the demonstration because she lost both her mother and her life savings as a result of denied insurance claims. “As extreme as it was, it jolted the conversation that we need to deal with this issue,” she said of the shooting. “Enough is enough, people are fed up.” An Ivy-league graduate from a prominent Maryland family, Mangione appeared to have cut himself off from family and friends in recent months. He posted frequently in online forums about his struggles with back pain. He was never a UnitedHealthcare client , according to the insurer. Thompson, a married father of two high-schoolers, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021. The killing has prompted some to voice their resentment at U.S. health insurers, with Mangione serving as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills. It also has sent shockwaves through the corporate world , rattling executives who say they have received a spike in threats.NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that comments coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial. Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea. The Manhattan district attorney charged him last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism . Mangione's initial appearance in New York’s state trial court was preempted by federal prosecutors bringing their own charges over the shooting. The federal charges could carry the possibility of the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks , with the state charges expected to go to trial first. One of Mangione’s attorneys told a judge that the “warring jurisdictions" had turned Mangione into a “human ping-pong ball” and that New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other government officials had made him a political pawn, robbing him of his rights as a defendant and tainting the jury pool. “I am very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial,” lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said. Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stood among a throng of heavily armed officers last Thursday when Mangione was flown to a Manhattan heliport and escorted up a pier after being extradited from Pennsylvania. Friedman Agnifilo said police turned Mangione’s return to New York into a choreographed spectacle. She called out Adams' comment to a local TV station that he wanted to be there to look “him in the eye and say, ‘you carried out this terroristic act in my city.’” “He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest stage perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career. It was absolutely unnecessary,” she said. She also accused federal and state prosecutors of advancing conflicting legal theories, calling their approach confusing and highly unusual. In a statement, Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus wrote: “Critics can say all they want, but showing up to support our law enforcement and sending the message to New Yorkers that violence and vitriol have no place in our city is who Mayor Eric Adams is to his core.” “The cold-blooded assassination of Brian Thompson — a father of two — and the terror it infused on the streets of New York City for days has since been sickeningly glorified, shining a spotlight on the darkest corners of the internet,” Mamelak Altus said. State trial court Judge Gregory Carro said he has little control over what happens outside the courtroom, but can guarantee Mangione will receive a fair trial. Authorities say Mangione gunned down Thompson as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan on the morning of Dec 4. Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s after a five-day search, carrying a gun that matched the one used in the shooting and a fake ID, police said. He also was carrying a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and especially wealthy executives, according to federal prosecutors. At a news conference last week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the application of the terrorism law reflected the severity of a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.” “In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror,” he added. Mangione is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail alongside several other high-profile defendants, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. During his court appearance Monday, he smiled at times when talking with his attorneys and stretched his right hand after an officer removed his cuffs. Outside the courthouse, a few dozen supporters chanted, “Free Luigi,” over the blare of a trumpet. Natalie Monarrez, a 55-year-old Staten Island resident, said she joined the demonstration because she lost both her mother and her life savings as a result of denied insurance claims. “As extreme as it was, it jolted the conversation that we need to deal with this issue,” she said of the shooting. “Enough is enough, people are fed up.” An Ivy-league graduate from a prominent Maryland family, Mangione appeared to have cut himself off from family and friends in recent months. He posted frequently in online forums about his struggles with back pain. He was never a UnitedHealthcare client , according to the insurer. Thompson, a married father of two high-schoolers, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021. The killing has prompted some to voice their resentment at U.S. health insurers, with Mangione serving as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills. It also has sent shockwaves through the corporate world , rattling executives who say they have received a spike in threats.DALLAS — The Dallas City Council conducted virtual interviews Monday with three finalists for the city manager position, marking a significant step in a 10-month search process that will continue into 2025. The candidates under consideration are Fort Worth Assistant City Manager William Johnson, Sacramento Assistant City Manager Mario Lara and Dallas Interim City Manager Kim Tolbert. The next city manager will oversee Dallas' $5 billion budget, hire permanent police and fire chiefs, and manage departments responsible for road repairs and park maintenance. The position became vacant after former City Manager T.C. Broadnax left to become Austin's city manager earlier this year. "I think we have a great three candidates and I'll look forward to introducing them to our community," said City Councilmember Jesse Moreno. The selection process has faced criticism for its length, but Mayor Pro Tem Tennell Atkins defended the timeline. "I feel like the process was transparent, very open," Atkins said. "We always said that we were going to have the selection of the city manager the latter part of December, first part of January so we're still on that timeline." An initial timeline projected finishing the process by the end of 2024, but a revised timeline calls for the new city manager to take the reins in February. Among the candidates, Tolbert has emerged as a frontrunner, securing endorsements from multiple organizations including the Dallas Fire Fighters Association, the Black Fire Fighters Association of Dallas, the Dallas Hispanic Firefighters Association and the Dallas NAACP. "Not only is she qualified, she's had on the job training," said Sharon Middlebrooks of the Dallas branch of the NAACP. "Why would we want to bring someone in new when we already have a person on the job that has trained?" The finalist pool narrowed from four to three after Mark Washington, an assistant city manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan, withdrew from consideration. Zachary Williams, a county manager in Georgia, was also previously in contention but is no longer among the candidates. The search has been complicated by recent developments in Dallas governance. Art Davis, a director with Baker Tilly, the firm conducting the search, reported that some candidates expressed concerns about recently passed city charter amendments. These include requirements to hire 900 more police officers and allocate half of the city's new revenue to improving police and fire pensions. Following these amendments, Moody's downgraded Dallas' economic outlook from stable to negative. The council plans to allow public input before making a final decision. "The community, those we represent, have an opportunity to give us their feedback on our final selection," Moreno said. Councilmember Cara Mendelsohn expressed optimism about the remaining candidates: "I am very excited about our three qualified candidates and I can't wait for the community to meet them." The successful candidate will also need to hire a new police chief to replace Eddie Garcia, who recently left to take an administration role in Austin.

Mohammed bin Rashid approves appointment of Director for Federal Youth Authority

Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death

Atria Investments Inc Purchases New Holdings in Lantheus Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:LNTH)Almost every week there is a new toxic culture story in the media, and Australia is no exception. Allegations of toxic management have been reported at WiseTech , Country Road Group, Bureau of Meteorology and Sony Australia to name a few. The culture in some parts of Nine (the owner of this masthead) was alleged to be so toxic that employees dubbed it “Punishment Island ”. According to research , almost half the world’s population dreads going to work. That feeling, in the pit of the stomach, of having to work in an environment of uncertainty, fear, poor communication, micromanagement, bullying or daily toxic behaviours can be difficult to bear. No human being should ever suffer at the hands of a bad boss and in situations where you cannot quit. Credit: Andrew Quilty Yet, what the research doesn’t make clear, is that regardless of this feeling of dread, people will show up anyway because, well, they have to. Groceries need to be bought, mortgages or rent need to be paid, children need to be educated or loved ones cared for. Far too often the advice – if you dread going to work – is simply to quit. But for many this is impossible, as the uncertainties are too great or the risks of loss of income too high. So how do you deal with a toxic boss when quitting isn’t an option? In my experience of having worked with individuals in this position there are eight steps I always advise before thinking about taking on the uncertainty of quitting. They are: 1. Look after yourself first. In toxic work situations, your wellbeing needs to be the top priority. Regular exercise, proper nutrition and adequate rest form the foundation of mental resilience. Your physical health directly influences how well you handle workplace challenges. Many toxic bosses have received payouts in the millions for bringing untold misery to the people that report to them. 2. Excellence as protection. Maintaining impeccable work quality to defend against unfair criticism. Model professional behaviour to ensure there can be no blame laid at your door. 3. Document your experiences. Dedicate brief daily moments to record your workplace experiences and feelings. Simple starters such as “My feelings today...“, “What impacted me...” or “Observable actions included...” are a good place to start. This has a two-fold advantage of creating an “audit trail” of how you (and others) are treated and can also help to process your emotions. 4. Open communication channels. If it feels safe enough to do so, engage your manager in professional, focused discussions about specific concerns and potential remedies. Express how their actions or behaviours make you feel. 5. Involve HR. If direct communication with your manager isn’t viable, bring your concerns to your human resources department. Present objective observations (as documented in point number 3) of what you’ve experienced. 6. Consider internal moves. If these approaches prove unsuccessful, explore transfers or temporary assignments within the company to both escape the toxic environment and broaden your experience. 7. Foster relationships. Develop a reliable network of friends, colleagues or mentors who can offer support and perspective when needed. This safety net is essential for navigating difficult times. 8. Define your boundaries. Establish and maintain clear professional limits regarding your time, duties and workplace relationships. If more drastic action is required, then seek professional advice, or if you have witnessed something unlawful, then alert the authorities immediately. I always advise against sharing your experiences on social media. Not only can this bring unwanted attention to you from the media and others, it can also lead to litigation that could destroy your reputation for future work. That said, people often feel they have no other option than to go public to bring their toxic boss to “justice”. However, be aware that how the company chooses to deal with the allegations may not be to your satisfaction. Many toxic bosses have received payouts in the millions for bringing untold misery to people who report to them. No human being should ever suffer at the hands of a bad boss and in situations where you cannot quit (which will always be the best option). Employing the strategies that I have outlined here will not only ensure you manage your mental and physical health but also provide you with an opportunity to deal with your toxic boss. Colin D. Ellis is a five-time best-selling author and culture consultant. His latest book Detox Your Culture will be published in Australia on December 3. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning .

The Sunday Interview: Outgoing Nedlands MP Katrina Stratton on loss, life and new opportunitiesCrypto: Opportunities and Risks in the Era of Donald Trump“Relentless demand, inadequate supply, surging rents, and growing concerns around affordability make this the most challenging rental environment in Peterborough’s history.” That is just one finding of a housing report released in early December by the United Way Peterborough & District that explores the challenges with securing a place to call home in Peterborough and area. Year-over-year Peterborough’s rental market continues to be tighter and more expensive, notes author Paul Armstrong in the 19th edition of the “Housing is Fundamental” report. The report provides an analysis of Peterborough’s worsening rental market and “underscores the ongoing challenges posed by housing affordability and accessibility,” stated a press release about the document. “Affordability” is defined as spending no more than 30 per cent of total before-tax income on housing. But with the average market rent in the Peterborough area now $1,325, that means a household has to make $53,000 for a rental unit to be “affordable.” The report states this means there’s little, if any, affordable housing for people who have low incomes. A significant portion of renter households are in “core housing need,” with some spending well in excess of 50 per cent of their household incomes on rent, the report found. “Meagre” additions to the Peterborough CMA rental stock in 2023 mean hundreds of units are still required, with the demand for rental units far exceeding supply. Meanwhile, Trent University and Fleming College place a substantial demand on the city’s rental market, the report notes. New immigrants and foreign students to the area require housing. Housing suitable to transition people out of homelessness is also needed. According to the report, the housing and homelessness crisis has been mainly caused by governments withdrawing from providing public housing, leaving it to the for-profit market to provide housing. “Governments will need to return to direct provision of social housing and render additional support for non-profit housing,” the report states. “We need to build more, much more. We need to make it more affordable. And greater density will likely result. All of this calls upon governments to assert a leading role.” The document also points out that the maximum benefit for people receiving Ontario Works is $733 per month, but the average rent in Peterborough in 2023 for the smallest unit — a bachelor — was $877 per month. A single bedroom unit went for $1,173 while a two-bedroom apartment was $1,411, and a three-bedroom unit cost, on average, $1,640. On a broader scale, the Canada-wide vacancy rate was 1.5 per cent as of October 2023, which was a new low, with Peterborough’s vacancy rate standing at one per cent. Recent renter households (43.2 per cent) were also more likely to live in unaffordable housing than existing renter households (30.5 per cent), with unaffordable housing meaning more than 30 per cent of pre-tax household income is spent on shelter costs. “When inadequate supply of rental units produces a one per cent vacancy rate in Peterborough, something has to change,” Amstrong notes. “When housing costs are now the primary driver of inflation and 20 per cent of Canadian rental stock is owned by large capital enterprises, something’s inequitable. When homelessness grows, but social housing builds don’t materialize, something’s unjust. The housing crisis deepens with little indication of relief.” On the other end of the scale, high ownership prices have prevented renter households from making the move to jp,eownership. And, finally, 2023 saw an unprecedented period of multiple converging crises, which included homelessness, housing precarity, food insecurity, income precarity, mental health challenges, and addictions. “Flawed government policy has resulted in profound crises in an otherwise prosperous country,” Armstrong states. “Clearly, the government’s chosen, market-driven model for housing provision and personal security has failed.” To read the report and learn more about the call to action, visit .