Latest from Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Innovation
Green steel could boost Australia's export earnings, reduce emissions and hedge against declining coal exports in a cleaner world economy. If a lot of things go right.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why Elon Musk may have reached the end of the road at Tesla
'In real life he would be sacked from Tesla and somebody would actually run the company,' says Ross Gerber, an early investor who has called for Musk to go. 'If he's going to do politics, then he shouldn't be the chief executive. There's a lot of work that needs to be done at Tesla.' Political distractions Most investors have said they want Musk to stay in charge of the company, but they want him to commit to the job full time. Despite his frequent controversies, he is recognised as a uniquely talented executive who has repeatedly defied his doubters. Sales may be in decline, but the company is pressing ahead with the launch of driverless taxi rides in the US, a business that Musk has said is Tesla's future. In May, a group of shareholders wrote to Tesla's board asking that Musk commit to working 40 hours a week at the company. 'The current crisis at Tesla puts into sharp focus the long-term problems at the company stemming from the CEO's absence, which is amplified by a board that appears largely uninterested and unwilling to act,' it said. At the time, Musk acknowledged the concerns, promising to pare back his work at the White House's department of government efficiency and return '24/7″ to his businesses, which also include rocket company SpaceX and social network X. But his spat with Trump and promises to end America's two-party system indicated that he had once again become distracted. Loading On Monday, Tesla's shares fell 8 per cent as Musk's launch of the America Party reignited questions about his commitment to Tesla. James Fishback, a Trump-supporting investment manager, has written to Tesla's board asking it to force Musk to clarify his political ambitions. 'This [running a party] is a full-time job, and the question is whether this full-time job is compatible with his full-time job as Tesla chief executive,' he says. 'When Elon deviates from its core competency and does things that are self-destructive, the share price rightfully responds.' Individual shareholders, however disgruntled, have little influence over Musk. The company's board, which would be formally responsible for firing him if it came to it, contains several Musk allies. In May, Robyn Denholm, the company's chairman, swiftly denied a Wall Street Journal report that the company had started looking for a successor. And the majority of shareholders last year backed a $US56 billion pay package for its chief executive. Who could replace Musk? There would also be the tricky task of replacing Musk, who, as the company's largest shareholder, would continue to be actively involved. Last week X's chief executive Linda Yaccarino resigned after two years in which she had regularly been undermined by Musk's behaviour. The most likely candidate would be an insider such as JB Straubel, the company's former technology chief, or Tesla's chief designer Franz von Holzhausen. Musk would bristle at any attempt to replace him. He has said he wants to run Tesla for another five years, predicting that it will be the most valuable company in the world. When Wall Street analyst Dan Ives last week called on the board to rein him in, Musk tweeted back: 'Shut up, Dan'.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rome's forgotten river is actually home to some of its greatest sights
4 Peek through the keyhole at Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta Atop the Aventine Hill, one of Rome's magnificent seven mounts and the site of the gorgeous Giardino degli Aranci (Orange Garden) overlooking the Tiber, is this Roman novelty. You'll probably have to queue for a glimpse, but it's worth it for the perfectly framed, almost-too-good-to-be-true view of St Peter's Basilica, flanked by poplar-like trees, that can all be enjoyed through the bronze keyhole in the huge priory door. 5 Relive the classic scene from Roman Holiday Resist, if you can, the urge to queue before Bocca della Verita, or the 'Mouth of Truth' for an obligatory photo (and definitely don't place your hand in the mouth). But do pause to admire this slightly scary-looking medieval carving as you enter the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin, distinguished by its elegant Romanesque bell tower. Film buffs will recall that Bocca della Verita features in Roman Holiday, the delightful 1953 Hollywood romantic comedy. In it Gregory Peck plays a hilarious practical joke – relating to the legend that claims that if you place your hand in the carving's mouth and tell a lie its jaws will snap shut – on his co-star, Audrey Hepburn. 6 Stroll along the quiet banks of the Tiber A great way to escape the Rome ruckus is to take a walk along the Tiber's serene banks, something few Romans do. The river's 13-metre embankments – built in the 19th century to contain the river and prevent flooding – were scrubbed of graffiti in time for this year's Papal Jubilee though doubtless it's returned. While the embankments do spare Rome from periodic flooding they also deny the city a relationship with the river akin to that of Paris and its Seine. 7 Capture the classic Tiber River scene at dusk One of the eternal images of the Eternal City is the photo opportunity that presents at dusk from Roman Emperor Hadrian's 134 AD Ponte Sant'Angelo. In the right conditions, as night begins to wrap itself around Rome like a papal cloak, feathery pink clouds can form around the orb-like dome of St Peter's Basilica, with even the capital's much maligned, all aglow, waterway picture-perfect in the rapidly fading light.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Other places would be delighted to host Paddington's puppet show. No strings attached
Until now, Muppet Show balcony critics Statler and Waldorf had the puppetry quips market cornered. 'Well, they say all good things must come to an end,' Waldorf once remarked as Kermit wrapped up another zany episode. 'What's that got to do with this show?' Statler replied. Cue self-congratulatory laughter. It seems puppet angst lives on – at least it appears so in parts of downtown Paddington. Some residents of the leafy inner Sydney suburb have raised written concerns with the City of Sydney Council over a planned puppet performance at Paddington Reservoir Gardens. The performance, which includes a four-metre puppet called Fauna, explores 'themes of climate change and deforestation' and promotes conservation. The production firm has a record of educational programs and installations in museums and galleries across Australia and New Zealand. According to a selection of the reported grievances, the proposed Paddington puppet show might cause: 'health and sleep disturbances, potential noise impacts, rowdy crowd behaviour, light spill into homes and crime'. Not since the infamous US television show Crank Yankers, featuring impudent prank-calling puppets, has the world of marionettes promised so much while angering and confounding so many. It's enough to raise even the staunchest eyebrows, a la Parker from the Thunderbirds. 'Yes, m'lady.' Loading From the balconies of the comparatively culture-starved reaches of regional NSW, Paddington's problem looks like a solution. The puppet show is part of the City of Sydney's Art and About festival. 'Expect art in any corner of our city, at any time' the blurb reads. The promise of the unexpected, for some in Paddington at least, looks as welcome as the Spanish Inquisition. Here's an idea. How about cities on the edge, literally and figuratively, formally partner with Sydney in something wonderfully original? Imagine an Art and About festival that was truly mobile. Think Uncle Max bringing a puppet theatre to the children von Trapp in the wilds of prewar Austria. Even the Nazis, Marta's sluggish set changes, or men drinking beer with the foam afloat, couldn't stop The Lonely Goatherd: 'Layee odl, layee odl layee-oo'! Imagine taking puppets, unwanted in Paddington, to areas comparatively starved of arts investment. Areas like the Central Coast, the Illawarra or the NSW Central West contend with government arts investment levels, per capita, well below those enjoyed in the eastern suburbs, which has received 23.5 per cent of total federal government arts funding over the past decade.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Superquiz Tuesday, July 15
Try our new Mini Crossword Ten clues. Twenty-five squares. How quickly can you solve this bite-sized puzzle? Track your win streaks and challenge family and friends by sharing your results.
