Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is committed to taking the lead in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), as he met entrepreneur and former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka.
“It was an insightful interaction indeed. India is committed to taking the lead in AI, with a focus on innovation and creating opportunities for the youth,” Modi said on X.
The prime minister was replying to Sikka’s post, highlighting his detailed and wide-ranging discussion with Modi on AI, its impact on India, and several imperatives for the time ahead.
“I left the meeting both inspired and humbled by his extraordinary grasp of technology’s impact on all of us, and how its use with democratic values can uplift everyone,” Sikka said.
Ghana’s outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo Friday announced visa-free travel for all African passport holders from the start of this year, marking a step towards continental economic integration.
Ghana opens the gateway to Africa: Visa-free travel begins now!(File Photo)
The announcement came during his final state of the nation address as he prepares to step down on January 6 after two terms in office.
“I am proud to have approved visa-free travel to Ghana for all African passport holders, with effect from the beginning of this year,” Akufo-Addo said in his speech to parliament.
“This is the logical next step to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the workings of the largest trading bloc in the world,” he said.
“All these are essential elements to the realisation of the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisages an integrated and connected Africa by 2063,” he added, referring to the African Union’s development blueprint for a 50-year period.
Ghana joins Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Benin in offering visa-free entry to African travellers.
Ghana had previously allowed visa-free access to citizens of 26 African nations and visas on arrival for travellers from 25 others, while only two African countries — Eritrea and Morocco — required a visa before entry.
The visa-free policy builds on Ghana’s efforts to strengthen its international reputation, particularly through initiatives like the 2019 Year of Return, which celebrated the African diaspora and commemorated 400 years since the transatlantic slave trade.
The campaign attracted thousands of visitors, including celebrities, to Ghana and led to some receiving citizenship, bolstering the country’s global profile as a cultural and tourism hub.
Akufo-Addo also used his last address to trumpet economic progress under his leadership, citing an increase in Ghana’s gross international reserves to $8 billion, from $6.2 billion in 2017, and significant GDP growth in 2024.
“Economic growth has returned to the pre-Covid trajectory,” he said, projecting a 6.3-percent growth rate for 2025.
“I leave behind a Ghana that is thriving, one that has navigated significant global challenges with remarkable tenacity, whose economy is steadily rebounding, and whose institutions are operating effectively,” he said.
The oil-and-gold-rich West African nation is one of the most stable democracies in Africa.
Since 2022, it has been battling one of its worst economic crises in decades and is currently under a $3-billion International Monetary Fund relief programme.
The outgoing president hands over power to John Mahama, who won the December elections.
One of Elvis Presley’s most famous movies has to be 1957’s Jailhouse Rock, which is on BBC Two tonight.
The film saw The King play Vince Everett, who was sentenced to prison for manslaughter before rising to fame as a musician.
His co-star was Judy Tyler, who played Peggy Van Alden, a music promoter who eventually becomes his lover.
Tragically, she died on July 3, 1957, several months before the movie premiered.
Shortly after wrapping on Jailhouse Rock, the 24-year-old and her second husband, Gregory Lafayette, drove home to New York from Hollywood.
However, while driving through Wyoming, the young couple was involved in a fatal car crash on US Route 287 near Rock River. Judy was killed instantly, while her husband, who was the same age as her, died the next day. Judy only starred in one other movie called Bop Girl Goes Calypso, which was released in 1957 too.
Elvis was so devastated by the news of her death that he initially refused to watch Jailhouse Rock at the time. The King told a reporter: “Nothing has hurt me as bad in my life. I remember the last night I saw them. They were leaving on a trip. Even remember what she was wearing. All of us boys really loved that girl. She meant a lot to all of us. I don’t believe I can stand to see the movie we made together now, just don’t believe I can.”
Memphis Mafia member Lamar Fike remembered how Judy’s death “really upset him.”
The King’s friend said: “He broke down and cried … Elvis couldn’t get over it. He gave an interview to the Commercial-Appeal saying he didn’t think he could stand to ever watch the movie. And he meant it at the time.” However, the Memphis Mafia member claimed things totally changed within 36 hours.
Fike claimed that within a day and a half Elvis was “over it” and then did watch Jailhouse Rock.
The King was invited to Judy’s funeral but wrote a letter of condolence to her family instead, as he didn’t want his presence at the service to “create a disturbance.” Jailhouse Rock premiered in Memphis on October 17, 1957, but Elvis did not attend.
With all the noise around electric vans, you may have missed the news that Renault has reintroduced the petrol version of its small Kangoo delivery van.
Having launched the electric Kangoo E-Tech earlier in 2024, the ICE version is now available in a couple of different variants with lower pricing, as well as a host of optional extras to customise the van to your needs.
That’s a big win for small businesses, which often need specific configurations in a compact commercial van like this to suit their fleet fitouts.
But if you want a few nice features and driver-friendly flourishes they come at a big cost, so when it comes to sorting out the right spec of Kangoo, you really need to pay attention to the option costs and figure out if they make sense for your budget.
This review covers off the need-to-knows, and also the stuff that’ll help you decide whether the Kangoo is going to be right for you.
How does the Renault Kangoo compare?
View a detailed breakdown of the Renault Kangoo against similarly sized vehicles.
Renault
Kangoo
How much does the Renault Kangoo cost?
The current-generation petrol-powered Kangoo was late to Australia, having initially been slated to arrive in 2022, then 2023, before eventually touching down here in 2024.
Model
Price before on-road costs
Renault Kangoo SWB manual
$38,990
Renault Kangoo SWB auto
$41,990
Renault Kangoo LWB auto
$43,990
And during that time, there’ve been some unprecedented pressures in the market, so pricing has increased substantially compared to the previous-gen combustion-powered version, which was priced from as low as $32,990 drive-away for the long-wheelbase diesel auto!
With a starting price of $38,990 plus on-road costs, the new petrol model is significantly more expensive than the diesel it replaces, but still a lot cheaper than the battery-electric version (priced from $61,990 before on-roads).
There are several petrol-powered variants in the new Kangoo petrol range, including short- and long-wheelbase versions, and even a manual gearbox!
You may find better deals than that if you’re bulk-buying for fleets, and ABN discounts may apply in some instances.
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What is the Renault Kangoo like on the inside?
What a great cabin design the Kangoo has.
Don’t go thinking that you’ll be in the lap of luxury here, but you will have an abundance of loose-item storage, which is arguably even more important for a little van like this.
The smarts include overhead folder holders, a dash-top storage area large enough for a clipboard, and a covered bin above the instrument binnacle that includes USB and 12-volt charging, which will be ideal to run a dash-cam from, without a mess of cables everywhere.
There are also bottle holders and storage ports in the doors, not to mention a centre storage tray below the shifter. In the tested vehicle, there was also a centre console with armrest and storage, and a wireless phone charger – both of which aren’t standard.
The seats are comfortable and offer a decent amount of adjustment, and after hours behind the wheel I still felt fresh – plus the trim feels pretty hard-wearing, so durability should be good.
That’s part of the functional theme inside – the cabin doesn’t have any soft-plasticky bits, as it’s all designed to be hardy and easy to wipe down, and thankfully the controls are mostly simple to get your head around. Mostly, I say, because there’s a quirky stalk off the steering column to adjust the volume and some other media controls.
But thankfully there are dials and buttons for the climate system (dual-zone as part of the option pack fitted here), and the media screen is mostly a cinch to get to grips with.
There’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, and FM, AM and DAB digital radio, too, but one odd thing kept happening when I’d get back into the Kangoo – the volume reset itself to a far lower level than when I’d got out. I might have missed something in the settings menu, but it was a bit annoying.
Now, the cargo area.
You’ve gotta love that it has dual sliding side doors, barn rear doors, and a bulkhead all as standard. That’s terrific – but just be mindful of how far back that bulkhead sits compared to the floor length, as taller, longer items mightn’t fit in the SWB model.
There are multiple tie-down points for securing a load in place, too, and the cargo zone dimensions and the standard door configuration allow you to forklift in a load if need be.
Just make sure it’s not too heavy, as the payload is on the low side – unless you option the increased payload…
There’s no included cargo mat or flooring – you’ll have to pay more for that – and the sides of the cargo area are exposed metal, too.
At least you get lighting in the back, and the low ride height means low load-in height, too, making it a bit more manageable at the shop, depot or warehouse.
Furthermore, and unlike the EV model, there’s a full-size spare wheel under the body of the vehicle, too.
Dimensions
Renault Kangoo SWB auto
Length
4488mm
Width
1859mm
Height
1830mm
Wheelbase
2716mm
Cargo capacity
3.3m3
Cargo bay length
1806mm
Cargo bay width
1570mm (1248mm between wheel arches)
Cargo bay height
1115mm
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
All models in the ICE Kangoo line-up have turbo-petrol engines, but as shown above you can get the short-wheelbase with a six-speed manual if you want it, while the LWB variant comes with a dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard.
Specifications
Renault Kangoo SWB auto
Engine
1.3L 4cyl turbo-petrol
Power
96kW @ 5000rpm
Torque
240Nm @ 1600rpm
Transmission
7-speed dual-clutch auto
Drive type
FWD
Fuel economy (claimed)
6.2L/100km
CO2 emissions (claimed)
141g/km
Fuel tank
54L
Fuel requirement
95 octane premium unleaded
Weight (kerb)
1453kg
Payload
757kg
Braked towing capacity
1500kg
Gross vehicle mass (GVM)
2210kg
On test, with a mix of laden and unladen driving, I saw real-world consumption of 7.9L/100km, with urban, highway, freeway and stop-start driving all included. So you could bank on similar, or maybe a smidge higher if you’re running at maximum payload in all instances.
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Renault Kangoo drive?
There are good and bad things about the way the Kangoo drives.
European-spec Kangoo E-Tech shown
First, the negatives.
The dual-clutch automatic transmission isn’t as good as some of its rivals in the segment. It can be slurry at low speeds, and will – unless you drive the van very deliberately – roll forwards when in reverse, and backwards when in drive.
By very deliberately, I mean making sure that you come to a complete halt, often by keeping one foot on the brake, because it doesn’t have an auto-hold function to do the thinking for you.
That is the biggest quibble, because combined with the engine’s idle stop/start tech and notable turbo lag, you can find that it takes a bit longer than you’d hope to get things moving.
Once above 10km/h it gets along well, though, and there’s certainly enough pulling power in the mid-range. In fact, it hustles once you’re on the move, and at pace the dual-clutch auto is reasonably snappy and well considered in its shifts.
Like most other little vans, it’s pretty fun to drive. The steering is direct and responsive for faster-speed moves, and at lower pace there’s a pleasing predictability for parking.
Likewise, the ride is really comfy, despite being set up for a load. It handles small and large bumps well, and it never feels too clunky or sharp. You can feel a bit more of the road surface through the body of the vehicle, including the nobbles of coarse-chip roads.
In those instances, there is some noticeable road noise intrusion, especially at freeway pace.
Another concern is the visibility, which is compromised by the bulkhead and barn-doors, which weirdly are mismatched – the bulkhead is split behind the passenger seat, and the tailgate is the opposite, meaning seeing out behind your vehicle is really difficult. There’s an optional digital rear-view mirror, which would certainly help.
The side mirrors are decent, and there is an outer section of the glass that is slightly more convex to give you a better outer-angle view. There’s blind-spot monitoring, but it’s optional – and it shouldn’t be, because the vision is more compromised in this vehicle than in others.
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
The Kangoo’s standard equipment list looks pretty generous until you see the options list.
Renault Kangoo highlights:
Automatic halogen headlights
Rain-sensing wipers
16-inch steel wheels
Full-sized spare wheel
Dual sliding doors (unglazed)
Rear 180-degree opening barn doors (glazed)
Solid bulkhead (glazed)
Cargo tie-down anchors
Cargo area light
Rear windscreen wiper
Cruise control
Remote keyless entry
8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
4.2-inch instrument cluster screen
6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
4-way manually adjustable passenger seat
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment
Cloth upholstery
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Optional Equipment
As mentioned, you might need to consider these additional cost option packages when deciding on your Kangoo.
Business Pack ($3200) adds:
LED headlights
Front fog lights
Body-coloured door handles
Tyre pressure monitoring
Proximity entry with push-button start
Climate control
Adaptive cruise control
Centre console with armrest and storage
Wireless phone charger
Extra tinted rear barn door glass
Trade Pack ($1200) adds:
Timber floor lining
Full height wall lining
Yard kit underbody protection
Cargo area LED lighting
Peace of Mind Pack ($1500) adds:
Blind-spot monitoring
Front, rear and side parking sensors
Driver attention alert
Automatic high-beam
Satellite navigation
Traffic sign recognition
The vehicle tested here is the short-wheelbase auto with the Business Pack and Peace of Mind Pack, bringing its as-tested total to $46,690 before on-roads – a lot of cash for a little petrol van.
Further standalone options include:
Additional 200kg payload (SWB only; $600)
Digital rear-view mirror ($800)
Glazed side sliding doors ($400)
You can also remove the driver’s side sliding door for no extra cost.
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Renault Kangoo safe?
ANCAP continues to state that the current Renault Kangoo is ‘Unrated’, but the commercial van model achieved a Gold Rating in Euro NCAP van testing, which is the second-best available score behind Platinum.
The passenger-ready people-mover variant sold in Europe scored four stars in 2021, according to Euro NCAP testing.
Standard safety equipment includes:
Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
Pedestrian detection
Cyclist detection
Junction assist
Lane-keep assist
Reversing camera
Rear parking sensors
Front and front-side airbags
However, as noted above, you must pay more to get useable and desirable things like adaptive cruise control, driver attention alert and traffic sign recognition.
What’s ruder is that you need to also pay more for blind-spot monitoring, as well as front and side parking sensors – which should be standard in a vision-compromised urban-focused van like this.
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Renault Kangoo cost to run?
The Renault Kangoo is backed by a five-year, 200,000km warranty, which should set the minds of business owners at ease.
There’s also a five-year servicing plan, with 12-month/15,000km intervals between visits to the workshop.
For the petrol Kangoo, the average cost per service is $473 over the five-year/75,000km maintenance plan, and it also includes most consumables included like filters, fluids and spark plugs.
You get five years of roadside assistance too.
To see how the Renault Kangoo lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Renault Kangoo
In some ways the Renault Kangoo is a winner. It’s a well designed thing, with practical cabin useability and a mostly easy to drive nature.
But the dual-clutch auto can be annoying, and the ambitious asking price and array of optional extras make it less appealing than it could otherwise be.
If you can get a good fleet deal, it could be worth a look.
Interested in buying a Renault Kangoo? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
Unlisted shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd are currently trading at Rs 308 per share in the grey market, which is Rs 93 or 43.26 per cent higher than the IPO issue price of Rs 215. It indicates a strong listing on January 7.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO Listing Date.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO Allotment Status: Even as the Indo Farm Equipment IPO allotment has been finalised on Saturday, all eyes are now on its listing on the BSE and NSE on Tuesday, January 7. The latest GMP currently stands at 43.26 per cent. Though it is slightly lower than the 46.05 per cent premium recorded a day ago on Friday, the latest GMP still signals a robust listing gain for investors.
The allotment of the Indo Farm Equipment IPO has been finalised. Investors can now check the IPO allotment status on the websites of the BSE and NSE, as well as on registrar Mas Services Ltd’s portal.
The initial public offering of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd, which was opened on between December 31 and January 2, received a whopping 227.67 times subscription. The retail category received a 101.79 times subscription in total, the NII (non-institutional investors) portion got 501.75 times subscription. Its QIB (qualified institutional buyer) category has been subscribed by 242.4 times.
The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 204 to Rs 215 apiece.
The shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd are scheduled to be listed on both BSE and NSE on January 7, Tuesday.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO: How To Check Allotment Status Online?
The IPO allotment status can be checked online by following these steps:
3) Under ‘Issue Name’, select ‘Indo Farm Equipment Ltd’ in the dropbox.
4) Enter your application number, or the Permanent Account Number (PAN).
5) Then, click on the ‘I am not a robot’ to verify yourself and hit ‘Search’ option.
Your share application status will appear on your screen.
You can also visit Mas Services Ltd’s portal directly — https://www.masserv.com/opt.asp and check the Indo Farm Equipment IPO allotment status.
For those who could not get the IPO allotment, their money will be released soon.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd are currently trading at Rs 308 per share in the grey market, which is Rs 93 or 43.26 per cent higher than the IPO issue price of Rs 215. It indicates a strong listing on January 7.
The GMP is lower than the 46.05 per cent premium recorded on Friday.
The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO: More Details
The Rs 260-crore initial public offering (IPO) has a fresh issue of 86 lakh equity shares and an Offer-for-Sale (OFS) of 35 lakh equity shares by promoter Ranbir Singh Khadwalia.
Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to set up a new dedicated unit for expansion of the company’s pick & carry cranes manufacturing capacity, payment of debt, investment in the company’s NBFC subsidiary Barota Finance for financing the augmentation of its capital base to meet its future capital requirements.
Indo Farm Equipment manufactures tractors, pick & carry cranes and other farm equipment.
At the upper end of the price band, the IPO size has been pegged at Rs 260 crore, placing the company’s market capitalisation at over Rs 1,000 crore.
Aryaman Financial Services is the sole book-running lead manager for the issue.
The equity shares will be listed on the BSE and NSE.
News business » ipo Indo Farm Equipment IPO Listing On Tuesday: Latest GMP Signals Over 43% Listing Gain For Investors
Today, January 4, 2024, SUI, the layer-1 blockchain, has gained significant attention from crypto investors and traders following its impressive upside momentum. In the past 24 hours, while the majority of assets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP, have struggled to gain momentum, SUI has topped the market with a 20% upside move.
SUI Tops the Crypto Market
With this notable price surge, SUI is trading near $5.27 and has witnessed significant participation from traders and investors, resulting in record jumps in trading volume. Data from CoinMarketCap revealed that the altcoin’s trading volume has surged by 150%. This notable participation from traders and investors is also one of the major reasons behind the rally.
Long-Term Holders Move Assets
With this notable upside momentum, long-term holders, investors, and retailers have been found dumping SUI tokens, indicating potential profit booking, as revealed by the on-chain analytics firm Coinglass. Data from the spot inflow/outflow reveals that exchanges have witnessed an inflow of $15.60 million worth of SUI tokens.
In the cryptocurrency industry, the inflow of assets from long-term holders’ wallets to exchanges indicates a potential sell-off, which could create selling pressure and lead to a price decline. Despite all this offloading, the SUI price remains strong above $5.
What’s Driving the SUI Rally?
However, another potential reason for the SUI upside rally is the controlled release or unlock of 82 million SUI tokens, which is equivalent to 0.82%, along with the collaboration with ANT Digital Technologies for global adoption, recent recognition from Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, and the breakout of a crucial resistance level.
SUI Technical Analysis and Key Levels
According to expert technical analysis, SUI has recently broken out from a crucial resistance level of $4.90, which it has tried to breach multiple times historically. In addition to the breakout, the altcoin has successfully closed a daily candle above the $5 mark, with strong interest from traders and long-term holders.
Source: Trading View
Based on the recent price action, a correction is possible, as the price seems to be overextended. However, SUI could soar by 10% to reach the $5.75 mark in the future.
Will the SUI Rally Continue?
The current market sentiment, with price recovery, rising investor interest, recent collaborations, recognition from the founder of a major blockchain, and the recent breakout, suggests that this rally could sustain, and the price may continue to soar in the future.
When you want to get a point across, simple text isn’t always enough. In person you’d wave your arms or point, but until recently texting someone would be like standing still — just plain words without any emphasis. The Messages app in iOS 18.2 now gives you all sorts of embellishment, from bold and italic to making words explode.
And that’s just the start of what’s new.
Animated effects and text formatting make chatting more fun, and RCS support means your friends with Android phones can finally send high-resolution images. If your brain is active late at night, you can schedule texts to be sent at a more reasonable hour without waking anyone up.
And don’t forget the abilities to bounce texts from a satellite and create your own emoji with Genmoji — an Apple Intelligence feature on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 and select iPad models.
Here are eight new features in the Messages app you should know about.
Read more: iOS 18 Review: Get Ready to Customize Your iPhone
Also, if you’re just getting started with the new system, be sure to check out the settings you need to change right now. And don’t miss these 10 hidden iOS 18 features.
Thanks to RCS messaging, you can better communicate with Android users
The addition of Rich Communication Services protocol to Messages should reduce friction when texting with friends who own Android phones. It enables read receipts and gives you higher-quality image transfers and end-to-end encryption (but keeps Android message bubbles green).
If your carrier supports RCS, it’s likely you don’t need to do anything to use it. Go to Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging and make sure the RCS Messaging is turned on.
RCS Messaging should be enabled by default.
Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET
You can also send text messages via satellite
The Emergency SOS via Satellite feature that was introduced with the iPhone 14 has been a literal lifesaver. When you have no cellular signal, you can connect to a satellite and exchange short text messages with emergency responders.
With that infrastructure in place, Apple is opening Messages up to nonemergency texts too. If you’re out of range of cellular or Wi-Fi networks and own an iPhone 14 or later, Messages will prompt you to connect to a satellite. While connected, the Dynamic Island expands to help you stay pointed at the satellites overhead.
You can then text people like you normally would, and features like emoji and Tapbacks should still work. If you want to check out a demo of the feature, go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Messages via Satellite > Satellite Connection Demo. Or just go out into the middle of nowhere and try it out yourself.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
You can now format text in Messages
I don’t want to come across as “that typography guy,” but it has long bothered me that one of the only ways to emphasize text in Messages has been to put it in all caps. We as a society haven’t developed typography over hundreds of years and invented the most sophisticated computing devices just to shout at each other over text.
So yeah, I guess I am that guy. I feel better now that I can express myself using bold, italic, underlined and strikethrough text in conversations with my friends who are also running iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and MacOS Sequoia.
You can apply formatting to an entire phrase, individual words and letters, or combinations of those, like so:
Type your message.
To apply formatting to the entire message, tap the Formatting button in the suggestion bar; all of your text is highlighted. Or, to add emphasis to only a word, double-tap to select the text and then press the Formatting button. You can also choose Text Effects from the options that appear above the selection.
Tap one of the options at the top of the formatting panel that replaces the keyboard: bold, italic, underline or strikethrough.
Apply text formatting to selected text or an entire message.
Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET
If you format a message that is sent to someone running an older system, they’ll see only plain text, which could be confusing if you’ve used strikethrough to indicate removed words.
You can animate your text messages
Here’s where I toss aside any pretense of being a typographical purist. A message or selected words or letters can be animated in one of eight styles. Need to deliver some big news with more emphasis than bold text? With iOS 18, there are several new animation options you can add to your text. The Big animation expands the size of your letters. Or perhaps just mentioning that it’s freezing outside doesn’t convey the teeth-chattering cold — apply the Jitter animation to make the letters shake.
Adding animation is just as easy as formatting text:
Type your message.
Tap the Formatting button in the suggestion bar to select the entire text. Or, select individual words or letters and then press that button.
Tap one of the animation styles to apply it: Big, Small, Shake, Nod, Explode, Ripple, Bloom or Jitter.
Apply animated effects to messages.
Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET
You can mix animations within a message by making selections and applying different styles to them. However, you can’t apply more than one animation to a selection; a word cannot shake and then explode, for example. As with text formatting, a message shows up as plain text for anyone not running iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or MacOS Sequoia.
Even with these new features, I want more: text formatting and text animation. Currently you can use one or the other. But if Apple’s engineers can make something as complex as eye-tracking for the Vision Pro, they can make this happen in a subsequent update.
You can turn off auto-playing animations, if that’s not your thing
Let’s say your friend just installed iOS 18 and wants to try out all the animation effects in a series of messages, creating a screen full of pulsing, resizing, jittering and exploding texts. You think, with all that animation tempting a migraine, what has Apple unleashed?
Don’t stress, because you can set the animations to not automatically repeat. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Motion and turn off Auto-Play Message Effects. Your friend can still send animated text that will play once when you receive it, but you won’t be subjected to the animation repeating.
You can add any emoji or sticker as a tapback in Messages
Sometimes words are unnecessary. You could reply to someone’s message using a Tapback icon to express love, agreement, disagreement, laughter, alarm or curiosity. They’re quick to apply and get your reply across easily.
They’ve also been limited to just six icons, and in monochrome no less.
With iOS 18, Messages adds color (and some cartoony shading) to those icons, but also the ability to reply with any emoji or sticker. Here’s how to do it:
Touch and hold a message until you see the Tapback bubble appear.
Tap the emoji button just below the other icons. Or, you can swipe left on the bubble to view recent emojis, stickers and a gray emoji button that leads to the emoji library.
In the emoji picker, choose a sticker (left side) or any of the hundreds of emoji.
Add any emoji as a Tapback reply.
Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET
You can create your own unique emoji using Genmoji
One Messages-related feature of Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models is the ability to summarize incoming texts in their notifications. iOS 18.2 brings another option to the Messages app: Genmoji, a way to create your own emoji on the spot by describing what you want. (It also works on iPads with M-series processors and the latest iPad mini.)
Before you start though, you’ll need to sign up for the waitlist in the Image Playground app. Once you’re accepted, you can do the following:
In a conversation with someone, tap the emoji button to view the emoji options.
Tap the Genmoji button to the right of the Describe an Emoji field.
Type (or use dictation to speak) a description of what the Genmoji should look like. You can type something like “blue bird” or “crying emoji surfing” and the app will start creating variations of your descriptions. (Learn more about creating better Genmoji.)
Flip through the icons it creates until you find one you like. You can also edit the description to change the parameters of the generated image.
When you have a Genmoji you like, tap Add.
Create custom emoji using Apple Intelligence.
Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET
The new emoji appears inline in your text and is added to your Recents collection of emojis. It also shows up as a sticker that you can add.
You can schedule text messages using Send Later
I know which friends are likely up at midnight to reply to a text, and which I’d probably wake up. Because I want the second category to continue to be my friends, the ability to schedule texts in the Messages app is great for when I want to share a thought but don’t need an immediate reply.
To send a message at a specified time, do this:
Type your message.
Tap the More (+) button.
Tap Send Later; you may need to swipe up to find it in the list of apps and features.
In the time picker that appears, set a day and time to send the message.
Tap the Send Message button (the up arrow) to schedule it.
Up too early or too late? Schedule a message for later so you don’t wake up the recipient.
Screenshots by Jeff Carlson/CNET
Scheduled messages show up with a faint dashed border.
If you need to change the timing later, tap Edit above the message and then choose Edit Time from the menu. Also, if you find yourself scheduling messages often, I recommend moving the Send Later option higher in the More list so it’s easier to access.
For more, see how Apple redesigned the Photos app in iOS 18 and learn everything about the new Passwords app that syncs across devices and platforms.
11 Essential Accessories Your iPhone Wants for the Holidays
Made a New Year’s resolution to get fit and healthy again?
One gym owner says good luck with that — because there’s no place for new joiners in the month of January at his venue.
Gym owner Clayton Leah, 31, has been turning away potential new members at his gym, Ascendancy Fitness, even though this is the busiest time of year, he told Fox News Digital in a phone interview on Saturday, Jan. 4. “We stopped sign-ups on New Year’s Eve,” he said.
FRIENDS, FAMILY MAY PROTECT AGAINST HEART ATTACK, STROKE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES, STUDY SUGGESTS
He has a specific reason for his unusual stance, he said.
The purpose is to protect existing gym members and long-time fitness practitioners from an influx of new joiners, he told Fox News Digital.
Newcomers to gyms in January often wind up dropping away in short order as their intentions to maintain New Year’s resolutions wear off, one gym owner said.(iStock)
Often, he said, the eager January newcomers wind up dropping away as their intentions to maintain a New Year’s resolution wear off.
Leah said in part that he did not want “to annoy all of our existing members who have been with us for so long.”
He added of his gym’s news, “I would hate to focus more on the negative than the positive. The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he told Fox News Digital on Saturday.
DEPRESSION COULD BE PREVENTED WITH SPECIFIC DAILY STEP COUNT, STUDY FINDS
“The majority of people appreciate the fact that we’ve done this and see why we’ve done it,” he also said. “We’ve always prioritized our membership experience — it’s so important to us.”
For those who are criticizing his gym for a “not smart” business move, it’s actually “been the opposite,” he said.
The Ascendancy Fitness leadership team, with Clayton Leah at right and business partner Jack Bramhall at left. “We’ve always prioritized our membership experience,” Leah told Fox News Digital. (Ascendancy Fitness)
“The first priority is our members, and they are highly appreciative of what we’re doing,” he said.
“Naturally, we have some inquiries about joining. And I’ve said this before, but as soon as you take something away from people, then people want it more. But that’s not why we’ve done this.”
“The only negative response people have is a case of, ‘I was going to join, but now I can’t.'”
“We wanted to try and break the mold,” he also told news agency SWNS.
He said he’s trying to “take an unconventional approach and protect our existing members – that is the most important thing for us.”
DANCE EASES DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS IN PARKINSON’S PATIENTS, NEW STUDY SUGGESTS
The gym is located in Warrington, Cheshire, in England, roughly halfway between Liverpool and Manchester.
His gym has about 650 current members. It also gives one-time day passes for those who want to work out there.
The Ascendancy Fitness gym is shown above. Owner Leah said the fitness industry “is an amazing industry” and “we’re trying to help people with whatever fitness and health goals they have.”(Ascendancy Fitness)
Leah said he hopes his gym’s decision would encourage people to join the gym throughout the year — rather than just in January, when people are drawn to the venue because of ambitious New Year’s resolutions.
He said the fitness industry “is an amazing industry” and “we’re trying to help people with whatever fitness and health goals they have.”
The gym owner said the only negative reaction to the blocked memberships had been from those hoping to join.
A gym owner said that “we’re trying to help people with whatever fitness and health goals they have.”(iStock)
He said, “The only negative response people have is a case of ‘I was going to join, but now I can’t.'”
He added, “For those people, I say, ‘Well, you should have joined sooner,'” he told SWNS.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
This is not the first case of gyms or fitness clubs banning new members in January.
Equinox, a luxury fitness club, banned new members on Jan. 1, 2023, as Fox News Digital previously reported.
A gym owner did not want “to annoy all of our existing members who have been with us for so long,” he said. (iStock)
It was part of a “We Don’t Speak January” campaign to discourage short-term New Year’s resolutions and encourage long-term commitment.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
Certified personal trainer and strength coach Melissa Kendter of Pennsylvania said every trainer’s “main passion” should be guiding others toward leading a healthier lifestyle and building long-term success with sustainable habits, as Fox News Digital also previously reported.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Leah of Ascendancy Fitness said his gym is likely to reopen to new memberships in February, although the gym doesn’t have a specific date confirmed as yet.
“Obviously our plan was to avoid the January influx,” he told Fox News Digital.
Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle at Fox News Digital.
Food is a universal symbol of love and togetherness. From swapping lunchboxes with school friends to sharing plates at social events, meals bring people together. Sometimes, they can even lead to lifelong friendships with strangers. Don’t believe us? This video will change your mind. A woman named Erin Rose Jackson shared a touching video on Instagram about meeting her long-distance friend, Sue. Erin met Sue in 2023 at a random restaurant in Brooklyn. They were sitting next to each other, started talking and instantly clicked. They decided to meet again exactly one year later, on the same date and at the same time.
But wait there’s a catch! Erin and Sue decided not to share any contact information. It was simply a “promise to a stranger”.
Summarising the story, Erin captioned, “A year ago we met this woman, Sue, at a restaurant and we felt like soulmates. We agreed to meet up again one year later for dinner at the same place, but we never exchanged phone numbers or personal information to contact each other. I didn’t even know her last name. So today, we flew back to NYC for dinner with Sue because we promised we would, desperately hoping that she would show up, too.”
Also Read:Adorable Girl’s Plea For Cake From Dad Wins Hearts Online
Guess what? Sue actually showed up to meet her dear friend at the same restaurant. Erin and Sue’s unforgettable reunion was filled with warm hugs and joyful smiles. Erin couldn’t contain her excitement after seeing her friend again. The two friends, along with their families, enjoyed what looked like delicious spring rolls served with condiments. Red wine glasses were also on the table. The video ended on a heartwarming note, with Sue and Erin making plans to meet again on June 27. So far, the video has garnered over 3 million views.
After watching the video, people shared their reactions in the comments section.
“This is the most special thing I’ve ever seen,” reacted a user. “This is the heartwarming story I️ needed today,” said another.
“Crying tears of joy for strangers on the internet,” wrote an individual. A person called it the “cutest thing.”
“This is very ‘Before Sunrise’ of you guys,” read a comment, hinting at the popular film franchise.
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently sent a message to Mikheil Kavelashvili to congratulate him on his inauguration as president of Georgia.
Xi pointed out that the current China-Georgia strategic partnership has maintained a positive momentum of development.
Political mutual trust between the two sides has been continuously consolidated, cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has yielded fruitful results, and international coordination has been fruitful, Xi said.
Xi also said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Georgia relations and would like to work with Kavelashvili to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and push for greater development of China-Georgia relations to better benefit the two peoples.
Kavelashvili was sworn in as Georgia’s sixth president in a ceremony held at the country’s parliament building in late December 2024.
Under terms of the deal, Johnson & Johnson will gain an exclusive license to the STAT6 program, with Kaken maintaining commercialization rights in Japan.
MGM Healthcare Private Limited, a large healthcare and educational group, continues to expand its presence in South India by acquiring a 3.9-acre land parcel from Shriram Properties Limited (SPL) in Chennai, sources said. The deal value is ₹93 crore. Both companies declined to comment.
Shriram Properties, through its wholly-owned subsidiary SPL Shelters Private Limited, owned the 3.9-acre piece of land, which was approved to develop a retail space. The land parcel is located on GST Road. It is adjacent to a 4 million sq ft (MSF) office complex that is already fully operational and a 2 MSF residential complex (called Shriram Park 63), offering the potential for retail/other commercial development, according to a recent company release.
Fortis Malar Hospital
In November 2024, MGM Healthcare bought the Fortis Malar Hospital in Chennai for ₹128 crore. In July 2024, it acquired the 300-bed SevenHills Hospital in Visakhapatnam for ₹171 crore. This was done as part of the corporate insolvency resolution process of SevenHills Hospital.
MGM Healthcare currently operates four hospitals with a combined bed capacity of 1,000 beds. It is one of the largest operators of medical colleges in Pondicherry and the Tamil Nadu region. It operates two medical colleges, four allied health and nursing colleges and six schools with 10,000-plus students.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
Sadržaj nastao u suradnji s: Kaufland
NAKON visokih troškova koje mnoge zadese u doba blagdana, nema ništa bolje od dobrih popusta u siječnju. Trgovački lanac Kaufland snizio je cijene brojnih namirnica, pića i proizvoda za održavanje doma. Cijene više od 200 proizvoda spuštene su na samo 1 euro.
Ponuda vrijedi do utorka, 7. siječnja, a mi smo izdvojili proizvode kojima se zaista vrijedi opskrbiti dok traje ova prilika.
Dobar obiteljski ručak započinje dobrom juhom, a u Kauflandu smo pronašli odabrane Podravkine krem juhe. Ove su vrećice namijenjene za tri tanjura. Standardni dio mnogih ručkova su riba i suhomesnati proizvodi. Smrznuti panirani riblji štapići ili štapići raka u pakiranju od 250 grama uz KauflandCard su dostupni za 1 euro.
Ne zaboravite ni na umak uz prilog. Posebnu nam je pozornost privukao klasični umak od rajčice koji se može koristiti uz mnoga jela, a mnogi ga najviše vole uz tjesteninu.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Od suhomesnatih proizvoda za 1 euro možete se opskrbiti narezanom slaninom (100 g), purećim prsima, pilećim prsima ili mortadelom (100 ili 120 g).
Uštedjeti se dobro može i na mliječnim proizvodima. Babybel polutvrdi sir (3×20 g) upravo je dostupan po 40% sniženoj cijeni. Dobro je vrijeme i da se opskrbite K free trajnim mlijekom bez laktoze. Pakiranje od 1 l uz KauflandCard ćete platiti samo 1 euro umjesto uobičajenih 1.39 eura.
Bilo za juhu, glavno jelo ili pak za kolače, u svakoj je kuhinji dobrodošao gustin. Dr. Oetker gustin od 250 g sad možete kupiti po 47% nižoj cijeni. Umjesto uobičajenih 1.89 eura sad je dostupan za 1 euro.
Želite nešto slatko za međuobrok? Što kažete na kroasan punjen pistacijom? Upravo smo njih pronašli u Kaufland pekari. Osim toga, na sniženju smo pronašli i Kiki bombone različitih okusa.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
A ako ste pak raspoloženi za nešto slano, Saltas punjeni štapići su odličan izbor. Dostupni su u pakiranju 4×40 g, a možete birati između onih punjenih kikirikijem ili kikirikijem i okusom čilija. Svidjele su nam se i slane hrskave grickalice koje su dostupne uz KauflandCard.
Izotonička pića sve su popularnija, a pogotovo među sportašima jer brzo nadoknađuju elektrolite pomažući tijelu da se oporavi nakon fizičke aktivnosti. Izotonička pića Hidra trenutačno su vam dostupna po cijeni od 1 eura. Osvježiti se možete i putnim Cedevitinim napitcima različitih okusa.
Za 1 euro nisu dostupni samo prehrambeni proizvodi. Pronašli smo i brojne proizvode za čišćenje i održavanje doma. Dobar deterdžent za ručno pranje posuđa potreban je svakom kućanstvu, a nama je privukla pozornost ponuda Likvi deterdženata s različitim mirisima u pakiranju od 450 ml.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Super Jon sredstva za čišćenje stakla također su dostupna na akciji. Cijena pakiranja od 650 ml je snižena za 40%, odnosno umjesto 1.69 eura sad koštaju 1 euro. Možete birati između antistatic, alkohol i ocat ili aloe vera i eukaliptus varijante.
Detaljniju ponudu možete pogledati u aktualnom katalogu ovdje.
Sponzorirani sadržaj donose Index i Kaufland Hrvatska u skladu s najvišim profesionalnim standardima.
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LeBron James stepped into a three-point shot on the far side of the court, the ball perfectly rotating through the Friday night air, before it swished through the net. As he ran down the court, he shook his head and gritted his teeth.
Then, James got to the right block, the Atlanta defender on his back, before he spun and swished a midrange jumper. After a stop, he took a step closer to the Atlanta bench, got back to almost that same spot, spun and swished another fadeaway, running past the Hawks as their coach, Quin Snyder, frustratingly called a timeout to try to put a stop to it.
A day after James scored 38 points to lead the Lakers to a shorthanded win against Portland, he was at it again, this time against a dangerous Atlanta team. Looking ageless against a parade of young, athletic, long wings helplessly trying to stop him, James led the Lakers to a 119-102 win — their 20th of the season.
James’ 30 points — the final two of which forced Snyder into that late timeout — gave him his 563rd 30-point game, one more than Michael Jordan for the most in NBA history.
“It’s someone I idolized in my childhood, and I wear 23 because of him,” James said of Jordan. “So, to know that I can sit here and be in the room or in the conversation or whatever it is, when you mention MJ, it’s just super-duper dope for me, being a kid from where I’m from.”
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket against Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels in the first half Friday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
James, who starred without Anthony Davis against Portland, got Davis back on Friday. Davis scored 18 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, anchoring a terrific defensive performance.
Austin Reaves scored 20 to go with seven rebounds and six assists, and Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht each added 13. Dorian Finney-Smith also hit a pair of corner threes on his way to eight points off the bench.
The win, the Lakers’ seventh in their last nine games, was one of the team’s better all-around performances outside of 19 turnovers against Atlanta’s aggressive perimeter defense.
While Trae Young scored 33 points for Atlanta (18-17), Max Christie harassed him for most of the game. The Lakers (20-14) held Atlanta to just six-of-34 shooting from three while outrebounding Atlanta by 17.
After the game, coach JJ Redick didn’t start his media availability by praising the Lakers for their overall effort but by pointing out his frustrations with the defense, particularly Finney-Smith’s performance, in the first half.
On a night when James added another accomplishment to a career defined by greatness, Redick saw a chance to try and pull greatness from his roster.
“(Finney-Smith) had an awful first half. It was bad,” Redick said. “He was great in the second half. I told him that at halftime, he was awful. I don’t know where that came from — I played with him, watched him. Our game-plan discipline in the first half was so bad. It was so bad.”
Redick was aggravated with the Lakers’ transition defense and their coverages of Bogdan Bogdanovic in the halfcourt.
Lakers star Anthony Davis battles for a rebound against Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels in the second half Friday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“I’m encouraged by our team in general. I think the message that I relayed to them at halftime is the reason why that stuff matters, the reason why executing a personnel-based scouting report that we talked about, is because I don’t want to coach a good team. I don’t want to be a part of a good team,” Redick said. “I want to be a part of a great team and I believe this team can be a great team. So it is about the small details.”
The Lakers will head to Texas for a pair of tough games. First, against Houston on Sunday and then against Dallas on Tuesday before returning back to L.A. for their next eight games (seven at home and their first at the Intuit Dome).
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 has been given a huge new update by Treyarch.
The January 3 update introduces the Squid Game crossover to Call of Duty on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.
As you can see from the patch notes below, this includes three new multiplayer modes, including Red Light, Green Light, where you’ll need to watch your step.
That’s on top of a new High Roller MP Wildcard, which allows users to equip four Scorestreaks in multiplayer.
Controversially, however, the new update also adds a Squid Game event pass, which fans will have to pay extra money for.
If you do purchase the event pass, you can unlock Operator Skins, weapon blueprints and lots more.
GLOBAL
Movement
• Increased all mantle speeds.
• Doors can now be opened and closed while sprinting.
Weapons
• New Cleaver Melee weapon now available via Event rewards.
• Addressed an issue where the player’s view could become obstructed with specific weapons when using the Dark Practitioner Tracer Pack Bundle without an optic.
• Addressed an issue where Gun Screens would not be visible on the Saug Mecha-Drake Mastercraft Blueprint.
• Hawker Hybrid optic now correctly works with the Ginger Dread Blueprint.
UI
• Improved AAR flow.
• Added a Dismiss button to exit at any point and a timer.
• Added a Summary at the end.
• Improved readability when searching for a match.
• Addressed an issue where Gun Screens could not be previewed.
MULTIPLAYER
Modes
Red Light, Green Light (NEW)
Young-hee is watching, so don’t misstep at the wrong time.
Pentathlon (NEW)
Prove that you have what it takes in the long run by competing in a series of Multiplayer modes to find out who reigns supreme!
Squid Game Moshpit (NEW)
Fire up the Squid Game Moshpit including Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Hardpoint with a twist as players gain access to three important Squid Game-themed features.
Red Light, Green Light Scorestreak: Is the fight getting too hectic for you? Stop the enemy in their tracks with this Scorestreak that calls “Red Light,” commanding all enemy players to stop moving or risk elimination.
Piggy Bank: Eliminated players have a chance of dropping a Piggy Bank that awards a small score boost when picked up. For a bigger payday, watch for the Mega Piggy Bank. Every elimination adds additional score to the Mega Piggy Bank, so once it drops, fight for it to acquire all the deposited score within.
Roulette Handgun: The epitome of high risk, high reward. The Roulette Handgun spawns in the center of the map; grab it to activate a permanent UAV effect while wielding it and land one-shot eliminations against enemies, earning more than double the normal score to help you obtain Scorestreaks more quickly. The catch? Your location will be marked for everyone to see, and every shot has a chance to blow up the weapon, taking you down with it.
Prop Hunt
• Improved spatial audio on Prop whistles.
• Addressed an issue where Prop UI could remain present when switching rounds to the Hunter team.
• Addressed an issue where Props could block doors from opening when locked in place.
Wildcards
• High Roller (NEW)
– Allows players to equip up to four Scorestreaks.
Scorestreaks
RC-XD
• Slightly reduced the RC-XD’s max damage.
Archangel Launcher
• Addressed a rare issue where the next bullet fired from a weapon after using the Archangel Launcher could be an Archangel rocket.
Care Package
• Care Packages will now contain the Scout Pulse Scorestreak less frequently.
LDBR
• Decreased the damage the LDBR does to its owner.
• Reduced score requirement from 950 to 800.
Sentry Turret
• Increased Sentry Turret fire rate.
• Increased Sentry Turret HP.
• Reduced score requirement from 1000 to 950.
Hellstorm
• Reduced score requirement from 1050 to 1000.
Watchdog Helo
• Slightly increased the Watchdog Helo’s damage.
• Increased Watchdog Helo accuracy when it acquires a new target.
• Reduced score requirement from 1100 to 1050.
Strategic Bomber
• Reduced score requirement from 1300 to 1100.
A.G.R. MK 1
• Top speed increased.
• Acceleration increased.
• Addressed an issue where the A.G.R. MK 1 was deploying with less HP than intended.
Dreadnought
• Slightly increased Dreadnought HP
• Reduced score requirement from 1800 to 1700.
UI
• Addressed an issue where the wrong Finisher would sometimes be previewed.
• Addressed various issues with overlapping text.
• Correct Calling Cards now display during the Winner’s Circle in Free-For-All.
In the automotive world many manufacturers end up habitually copying each other or daring to be extremely different – both scenarios can result in annoying trends that irk consumers and journalists alike.
Here are some of the trends the CarExpert team would like to leave in 2024…
William Stopford: Not getting the price right from the beginning
Look, it’s a free market. Companies have every right to reduce prices, and it’s good business sense to lower pricing if demand doesn’t meet expectations.
However, we’ve now seen so many brands – particularly with electric vehicles – slash pricing significantly after launching a new vehicle or, even worse, announce multiple price cuts.
The end result of this is your early adopters, who may well be loyal to the brand, are left feeling like schmucks as subsequent buyers get a tasty discount while resale value takes a hit.
Get the pricing right to begin with, carmakers. If, for example, you plan to bring a new EV and price it higher than a Tesla Model Y, stop and strongly consider whether buyers will think it’s worth the premium before you announce pricing (and subsequently announce price cuts).
Jordan Mulach: Provisional drivers with stupidly loud exhausts
This is a tough one. I wouldn’t call annoying vehicle safety systems a trend, but some brands have gone overboard trying to meet various overseas standards, making for a frustrating driving experience.
However, if I had to pick one trend I wanted to see die, I’d say P-platers putting obnoxiously loud exhausts on cars with no performance credentials to back it up.
I get it – you can’t buy a V8 or anything exciting, but that doesn’t mean we all have to suffer while you drive past in your straight-piped Commodore. Just stop it.
See also: pop-crackle tunes on four-cylinder cars.
Marton Pettendy: Over-exuberant driver aids
These are supposed to improve safety, but many of them do the exact opposite.
Some of the lane keeping and centring functions in some Chinese models in particular are so badly calibrated they make driving a chore for experienced drivers, and downright frightening for unconfident ones.
I understand the requirements and benefits of such systems in new cars, and when done right I know how much safer and more convenient they can make driving. And I understand if they’re fitted in a car, the need to default to on as standard.
I also appreciate the fact some carmakers like GWM are actually investing significant resources to rectify badly calibrated systems in real-world Australian conditions.
But we have to draw the line on poorly calibrated lane assist systems that make driving more dangerous, and call out the increasing number of carmakers that treat Aussies as beta prototype-testing guinea pigs before exporting their wares to more profitable markets.
And don’t even start me on the infuriating attention monitoring systems that bing and bong incessantly every time you look sideways in a mirror, leading to the type of distraction they’re supposed to minimise.
Jack Quick: Full-width light bars
I can’t tell you how sick I am of seeing new car after new car that’s fitted with the same full-width LED light bar front and rear. It was such a cool-looking feature a few years ago, but now it looks downright derivative.
Sure there are some models that add some drama in the way of unlocking and locking animations, but ultimately there’s only so much you can do.
I’d love to see carmakers, especially upcoming Chinese ones, venture out and explore new creative designs in the lighting realm, because copying each other doesn’t move the game forward.
Josh Nevett: Unsafe safety systems
I’m probably asking for too much here, but the evolution of safety systems in modern cars is heading into dangerous territory – quite literally.
Road safety has always been one of the most important issues facing the automotive industry. After all, it’s a matter of life and death, and you only have to look at Australia’s ever-rising road toll to see that there’s more work to be done now than ever.
But encouraging the rollout of half-baked advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) isn’t the answer. Assessment bodies have done just that, and it’s new car buyers who are suffering as a result.
Countless cars I’ve reviewed this year have been equipped with driver monitoring systems that do little more than distract you, while traffic sign recognition remains a familiarly flawed technology.
When executed well, these systems have the potential to make our roads safer. But assessors shouldn’t treat ADAS as a series of boxes to check or cross – it’s more nuanced than that.
Just because a car features the full suite of safety assists, it doesn’t mean they’re effective. Motorists have had enough of unwelcome beeps and bongs, and my hope is that manufacturers and safety bodies alike endeavour to address the issue in 2025.
Max Davies: Touchscreen and haptic-only interiors
This has to be one of the most common gripes in new cars, and to dust off a cliche I’ll say they should really make things the way they used to.
The only reason I say that is because I have never heard anyone say: “Wow, I really love the way all my basic functions can only be accessed by pressing three vague touchscreen shortcuts first!” Of course it’s done to save manufacturers money, but come on.
Not all brands are guilty of this, so it’d be unfair to generalise. The ones that are guilty are known offenders, and in pretty much every case it just makes things unnecessarily cumbersome – not to mention potentially dangerous.
We’re always – rightfully – told to not use our phones when driving, but in many new cars the time it takes to find the touchscreen button that opens the climate control menu is surprisingly similar to unlocking your phone and looking for a specific app that isn’t on your home screen.
In both cases it’s time spent with your eyes away from the road ahead. Physical buttons are good because they’re things you can touch and feel, which means their location becomes muscle memory much quicker.
Then there are haptic controls, which are simply annoying. Sure, they have dedicated places and are often embellished with indents and bumps for easy locating, but they’re deeply unsatisfying to use and can often be inconsistent.
Not to mention their placement on gloss black plastic or glass means they get covered in fingerprints and smudges, which just looks gross. Less minimalism, less cost-saving, and more usability… please.
Paul Maric: Piano black
I say this every year… every month it almost feels. But piano black is done.
I don’t know if any car designers have ever owned a car with piano black inside for longer than 10 minutes.
If they had, they’d realise it marks and scratches almost without fail. It’s so bizarre that they insist on using it in this day and age.
Please, make it end.
James Wong: Aversion to change
Carmakers and consumers need to stop resisting progress and advancement – I don’t care if people are scared of AdBlue, don’t see the value in mild-hybrids, or think electric is the only way.
Climate change and the drying up of fossil fuel resources is a problem facing everyone, and we need a measured and progressive approach to emissions reduction for all Australians, not the privileged few able to afford it.
With the Federal Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) coming into effect from January 1, 2025, and punitive measures going live on July 1, 2025, Australia’s lawmakers have finally come to the table with a form of framework that will hopefully see us moving in the same direction as other developed markets across the globe.
Still, we could move faster. Cleaner fuel, more timely implementation of Euro 6 emissions standards (we’re still on Euro 5 from over a decade ago), and better consumer education around new powertrain technologies will all have a part to play with getting Australia up to speed with the rest of the world.
The approval is valid for a year from January 3, 2025, after which it will lapse if the acquisition is not finalised.
HDFC Bank also announced that it has received the RBI’s nod to acquire up to a 9.5% stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank and Capital Small Finance Bank.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted HDFC Bank, India’s largest private lender, permission to acquire up to a 9.5% stake in AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB). The approval is valid for a year from January 3, 2025, after which it will lapse if the acquisition is not finalised.
In a regulatory filing, AU SFB disclosed that the RBI’s approval extends to HDFC Bank and its group companies, including HDFC Mutual Fund, HDFC Life Insurance, HDFC Pension Management, HDFC ERGO General Insurance, and HDFC Securities. Together, these entities are permitted to collectively hold up to 9.5% of AU SFB’s paid-up share capital or voting rights.
HDFC Bank also announced that it has received the RBI’s nod to acquire up to a 9.5% stake in Kotak Mahindra Bank and Capital Small Finance Bank. This approval remains valid until January 2, 2026.
However, the RBI has mandated that the total ownership by HDFC Bank and its group entities across these institutions must not exceed the 9.5% threshold. According to the RBI Directions 2023, “aggregate holding” includes shares owned by the bank, its subsidiaries, mutual funds, trustees, and promoter group entities.
Although HDFC Bank does not plan to directly invest in these banks, its group companies’ collective shareholding could surpass the 5% cap, necessitating regulatory clearance. To accommodate this, HDFC Bank sought approval to increase its investment limit.
On January 3, HDFC Bank’s shares declined 2.5% to close at Rs 1,749, amid a broad-based market selloff. Trading volumes surged as approximately 1 crore shares were exchanged, exceeding the one-month and one-week averages of 94 lakh shares, according to Moneycontrol.
In a time when technological advancements are changing the way we deal with money, SpacePay stands out as a pioneer, transforming payment systems by facilitating easy and convenient cryptocurrency transactions.
SpacePay, a London-based company supported by international strategic investors, provides a revolutionary platform that enables payment companies and merchants to adopt the upcoming payment technology.
Why SpacePay Stands Out
SpacePay isn’t just another fintech startup; it’s a vision for the future of commerce. Moreover, SpacePay’s steadfast dedication to security, community-driven innovation, and decentralization is fostering a financial environment where accessibility and trust thrive.
Strong security measures are in place to protect every transaction from start to finish, giving customers and merchants peace of mind. But SpacePay doesn’t stop there. At the heart of its mission lies the belief in community-led progress.
SpacePay makes sure that its platform represents the requirements and goals of its customers by actively incorporating its active user base in decision-making, from choosing supported coins to organizing international expansions. This platform, when combined with a dedication to decentralization, is intended to promote confidence and lessen dependency on conventional financial institutions.
Transforming Android POS Terminals
For merchants, SpacePay offers a game-changing solution: compatibility with all Android POS terminals. This simple yet powerful feature enhances POS operations, enabling businesses to accept crypto payments effortlessly while receiving funds in their local currency.
Imagine how simple a transaction would be if crypto enthusiasts could use digital assets to pay while retailers were protected from market swings thanks to a simple, user-friendly payment APK.
Using crypto is as simple with SpacePay as using a credit or debit card. In addition to providing consumers with more options for purchases, this innovative approach enables merchants to attract tech-savvy consumers.
With compatibility for more than 325 widely used wallets, SpacePay helps close the gap between cryptocurrencies and regular transactions. Users can easily make payments at the terminal by just scanning a QR code. This makes using crypto as convenient as using cash, if not more so, by removing the complexity that is frequently connected with it.
With over $773,000 already raised, the crypto community’s excitement is palpable. This presale phase offers SPY tokens at an incredibly favorable price of just $0.002356, presenting a unique opportunity for early investors to become part of this groundbreaking project.
Why is now the perfect time to act? The presale not only offers tokens at a low entry price but also paves the way for holders to enjoy benefits within the SpacePay ecosystem.
Don’t miss out on the chance to secure your position in a platform poised to redefine the future of payments.
Getting started with SPY tokens is as easy as 1-2-3:
Connect Your Wallet: Use MetaMask or another compatible wallet to connect to the SpacePay platform.
Fund Your Purchase: Deposit cryptocurrencies like ETH, BNB, MATIC, or others into your wallet, or opt for a convenient card payment.
Swap for SPY: Head to the buy widget, select the desired amount of SPY tokens, and complete the transaction. Don’t forget to keep some funds handy for transaction fees.
The Perks of Holding SPY Tokens
Holding SPY tokens opens the door to a range of exclusive benefits.
Holders who actively participate in the SpacePay ecosystem are eligible to receive monthly loyalty airdrops. The relationship between the platform and its community is strengthened and ongoing engagement is encouraged by this reward system.
Revenue Sharing: SpacePay is committed to aligning its users’ success with its own, as seen by its revenue-sharing strategy. A passive income stream that is closely linked to the platform’s profitability is provided by SPY token holders, who get a portion of the platform’s earnings.
Early Access to Features: Be ahead of the curve with early access to SpacePay’s latest features and innovations. This exclusive benefit allows token holders to experience and leverage new functionalities before they are made publicly available.
Opportunities for Community Engagement: The core of SpacePay’s community is its SPY token holders. Transparency and a sense of shared ownership among users are fostered via the leadership team’s quarterly webinars, which offer insights into future developments.
All in all, SpacePay encourages you to participate in the payments of the future. There has never been a better moment to enter the next phase of business, with the SPY token presale currently underway and a platform built to streamline and improve cryptocurrency transactions.
Go to the SpacePay website right now, link your wallet, and begin your financial journey toward decentralization.
The U.S. surgeon general has released a new advisory warning of alcohol-related cancer risk.
Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the guidance on Friday following research that has linked alcohol to at least seven types of cancer.
In particular, the advisory notes that alcohol can increase the risk of throat, liver, esophageal, mouth, larynx (voice box), colon and rectal cancers.
DRINKING ALCOHOL IS LINKED TO CANCER, EXPERTS SAY
Alcohol consumption has been named as the “third leading preventable cause of cancer” in the country, the advisory noted, with tobacco and obesity taking the top two spots.
The U.S. surgeon general has released a new advisory warning of alcohol-related cancer risk.(iStock)
“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States — greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. — yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” said Murthy in the advisory.
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“This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”
4 ways alcohol increases cancer risk
The advisory breaks down four different ways in which cancer can increase cancer risk.
In one mechanism, the alcohol breaks down into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA and increases cancer risk.
Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the guidance on Friday following research that has linked alcohol to at least seven types of cancer.(Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Alcohol also induces “oxidative stress,” the advisory warns, which damages protein, DNA and cells, and also causes inflammation.
‘ALCOHOL GENE’ COULD PREDICT HOW COCKTAILS MAY AFFECT YOU — AND THERE’S A TEST FOR IT
In a third mechanism, alcohol changes hormone levels, namely estrogen, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. More than 16% of all breast cancer cases have been linked to alcohol, the advisory states.
Finally, cancer creates conditions in which alcohol is more easily absorbed into the body.
“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States — greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. — yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” according to an advisory from the U.S. surgeon general.(iStock)
Individual risk for alcohol-related cancers will also depend on “a complex interaction of biological, environmental, social and economic factors,” the same source stated.
Recommendations for reducing risk
In the new advisory, Murthy calls for a warning label to be placed on alcoholic beverages stating that they may increase cancer risk.
“Too many Americans are living with an outdated assumption that some amount of alcohol is not only harmless, but also good for you.”
The advisory also calls for a “reassessment of the guideline limits” for alcohol consumption and encourages people to be cognizant of the risk when deciding how much to consume.
The surgeon general also calls for doctors, health professionals and community groups to emphasize the link between alcohol and cancer to help raise awareness of the risk.
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Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, applauded Murthy’s advisory.
“Too many Americans are living with an outdated assumption that some amount of alcohol is not only harmless, but also good for you,” he told Fox News Digital. “Increasing evidence shows that isn’t true.”
More than 16% of all breast cancer cases have been linked to alcohol, the advisory states.(iStock)
Though wine and other alcoholic beverages may relieve stress and dilate arteries in the short term, the doctor warned that alcohol is a “proven toxin” with direct links to liver, heart and brain disease.
“Even though traditional advice has been up to one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men, in fact, no amount of alcohol is healthy,” Siegel said.
Multiple studies have shown that 25% of people increased their alcohol use during the pandemic, according to Siegel.
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“This was in part because of stress and also because of social isolation — and the numbers have persisted since the pandemic ended,” he said.
“The timing of this advisory is right on the mark.”
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-03/What-happens-next-after-S-Korean-investigators-fail-to-arrest-Yoon–1zRBa055q1O/img/ed45dfa88e544c8a8b6a6dd1d1547df1/ed45dfa88e544c8a8b6a6dd1d1547df1.jpeg' alt='South Korean investigators with the anti-corruption investigative unit leave the presidential residence after failing to arrest the impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul, South Korea, January 3, 2025. /CFP'
South Korean investigators with the anti-corruption investigative unit left the presidential residence after failing to arrest the impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said the continued confrontation virtually made it impossible to execute the arrest warrant, which was issued by a Seoul court on Tuesday.
It marked the first time in the country’s modern history that an arrest warrant was issued against a sitting president.
Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on insurrection charges, declared martial law on the night of December 3. It was, however, revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
An impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on December 14 and delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power is suspended.
Tense standoff
The CIO noted that it stopped the execution at about 1:30 p.m. local time (0430 GMT) over concerns about the safety of investigators at the scene, expressing deep regret over the attitude of Yoon, who refused to comply with legal procedures.
The investigative unit added that it will decide on future measures after relevant reviews. The warrant was scheduled to be valid for a week until next Monday.
The CIO investigators and police officers attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence in central Seoul, but after confronting the presidential security service agents for about five and a half hours, they had to stop proceeding with the arrest warrant.
The investigators arrived at the residence at about 7:21 a.m. local time and passed the first cordon of policemen to reach the residence’s main gate some 40 minutes later.
They faced the third and last cordon of the security service inside the residence after breaking through the second cordon of soldiers.
During the process, some investigators tussled with soldiers and security agents. No injury had yet to be confirmed.
The CIO warned earlier that if the security service blocked the arrest, it would be a crime of obstruction of justice.
About 2,700 riot policemen were allegedly deployed around the residence to help proceed with the arrest warrant.
The CIO formed a joint investigation unit with the National Office of Investigation and the Defense Ministry’s investigation headquarters to probe Yoon’s martial law imposition.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-03/What-happens-next-after-S-Korean-investigators-fail-to-arrest-Yoon–1zRBa055q1O/img/d6d25b8196e7438eba9f748bd7716114/d6d25b8196e7438eba9f748bd7716114.jpeg' alt='A rally against the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol is held near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, January 1, 2025. /CFP'
The joint investigation unit on Friday summoned the chief of the presidential security service over the obstruction of Yoon’s arrest.
An official with the investigation unit told reporters that the unit subpoenaed the chief and vice chief of the presidential security service to appear for questioning on Saturday.
The official noted that the security chief and vice chief were booked on charges of obstructing the execution of a warrant to arrest Yoon, which was issued by a Seoul court on Tuesday.
The CIO said on Friday the execution of an arrest warrant against impeached Yoon was impossible because the presidential security service refused to cooperate.
Considering the current circumstances, the CIO was calling on acting President Choi Sang-mok to order the presidential security service to cooperate with the execution of the arrest warrant, the agency said.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-03/What-happens-next-after-S-Korean-investigators-fail-to-arrest-Yoon–1zRBa055q1O/img/507effaed2544f71929bc3d2f9255ee2/507effaed2544f71929bc3d2f9255ee2.png' alt='A group of South Korean prosecutors and investigators of the anti-corruption investigative unit enter the presidential residence in an attempt to arrest the impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul, South Korea, January 3, 2025. /CFP'
What happens next?
South Korea’s constitutional court said Friday that it will hold hearings for Yoon’s impeachment trial on January 14 and January 16.
A constitutional court justice said in the second preparatory hearing earlier in the day that the pretrial hearing had concluded, with the second one to hold a formal hearing on January 14 for the launch of formal proceedings.
The justice noted that the second formal hearing was set on January 16 in preparation for the absence of the defendant, referring to the impeached president.
Legal representatives for Yoon demanded further discussions in additional preparatory hearings, but it was dismissed by the justice.
Legal representatives for the National Assembly denounced Yoon’s defense counsel for intending to delay the court proceedings.
Jennifer Hawks Bland, CEO of NewYorkBIO, shares her journey from litigation to biotech leadership, discusses fostering innovation in New York’s thriving bioscience ecosystem, and outlines her vision for the state as a global biotech hub.
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn more »
Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
I have to stop making excuses. Calling him squishy and cuddly does not change the fact that Cyril is overweight, and it’s up to me to do something about it. One could easily accuse me of being a pot calling the kettle fat, and they’d have a fair point, but this isn’t about me. It’s about Cyril and his love affair with food.
Cyril eying off my mother’s lunch
Cyril ❤️ Food
I get the impression that someone once told Cyril that being fat is what happens when you eat too much food and lounge around not exercising. So, from a very young age, he had a goal. He would become fat. No food could be left unattended, no cakes left out to cool, and our meals were eaten in a state of constant vigilance. It is because of Cyril’s voracious appetite that we came up with the idea of scatter feeding. If food was set out in bowls, Cyril would start on his, then steal mouthfuls from everyone else’s before returning to his own. Annoyingly, he had won the hearts of all the other cats and they just let him do it! Getting rid of the individual bowls and spreading their food over a larger surface stopped Cyril from being able to steal mouthfuls of food and kept all the cats at a similar eating speed.
This approach has been successful in maintaining the status quo, and Cyril hasn’t put on any more weight, but he certainly hasn’t lost any, either. At 6.6kg (14 1⁄2 lbs), and a Body Condition Score (BCS) hovering around 7-8, it is time for Cyril to shed some pounds – 4, to be exact. Being a larger-framed feline, he should ideally weigh between 4.5kg and 5kg (10-11 lbs). So now that we have a goal, we need to make a plan.
Cyril’s Weight Loss Plan
Showing Cyril the Hard Truth
Losing weight is all about being in a calorie deficit – burning more energy than you put in. Simple, right? The trouble is, just like with humans, what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for all. Take our ginger cat, Alex, for example. Alex is two years younger than Cyril, is of a similar body height and length, has very similar exercise habits, and shares Cyril’s love of food. However, Alex’s BCS is around 5-6. Genetics and individual variation in metabolic rate can have a significant impact on how the body uses, loses, and stores energy, so it’s not necessarily as simple as just feeding Cyril less; I have to feed him differently.
The majority of my cats’ diet is dry kibble, which I confess, is largely because it makes feeding five cats much easier and more affordable. One downside to scatter feeding is that I can’t be certain how much each cat is consuming. However, the amount put down is less than the overall daily recommended amount, so I know that Cyril can’t be consuming significantly more food than the others, and I’m not convinced that simply separating him and feeding him less food is the right approach. He already looks for extra food between meals, and this will only get worse if I reduce his portions.
It was time to switch things up a bit.
Cyril’s current food consists mostly of a veterinary brand food for gastrointestinal health and hairball reduction, and it contains more carbohydrates than he really needs. In theory, carnivores like cats don’t need to consume any carbs, but dry cat foods include it to:
improve stool quality and prevent constipation
reduce costs
For Cyril’s new and improved diet, I am switching him to wet and dry formulations of Wellness Core, which are lower in fat and carbohydrates and contain more ‘whole meat’ ingredients, with fewer fillers and by-products. And unsurprisingly, all the cats LOVE it!
To start with, I will be feeding Cyril the recommended portions for a 5kg cat, then reducing after 2 weeks to a 4kg cat. The plan will be to stick to that amount until we reach his goal weight, then maintain him on a 4.5kg portion long term, making adjustments if needed.
*Figures are based on ‘as fed’ values, not dry matter measurements
Zelda, Clutch, Cyril and Alex enjoy a meal, whilst Ned and Fred look on sadly
Exercise
As you probably already know, it’s really hard to make a cat exercise, particularly indoor cats. It’s easy to take your dog for a run or a swim but not as straightforward with cats. Even those cats that walk well on a harness are usually the ones setting the pace, not their humans. Although I try not to rely on laser toys, in Cyril’s case, I decided to make an exception. He enjoys chasing the little dot but doesn’t become obsessed. I had to lock Alex away as I didn’t want him falling off the wagon.
Cyril and I committed to a 5-minute session twice daily, which was just enough to get him really moving without running out of puff. After all, I didn’t want him to overdo it and injure himself!
Exercising, appropriately, in the exercise room
No Excuses
Now that we’ve told the world about Cyril’s weight loss plan, we are committed! And I am optimistic about our success. Check back in six weeks for an update on our progress.
This article is a part of Dr. Karyn’s series with her five hilarious cats.
Bengaluru-based Brigade Group has signed a definitive agreement for a land parcel located on Whitefield-Hoskote road. The residential project planned on this land is expected to have a gross development value (GDV) of nearly ₹2,700 crore.
The 20-acre land parcel has been acquired through Brigade’s subsidiary, Ananthay Properties Private Ltd., at a total cost of approximately ₹630 crore. The project will offer a total saleable area of about 2.5 million sq feet.
Pavitra Shankar, Managing Director of Brigade Enterprises Ltd., said, “We remain focused on acquiring prime land in key markets to strengthen our land holdings. This project plays a significant role in supporting our long-term residential expansion strategy. We are committed to developing a property that upholds the highest standards of quality and sustainability, while meeting the evolving needs and preferences of our future residents.”
Upcoming projects
In addition to this acquisition, the company has a healthy pipeline of upcoming residential projects, with approximately 12.61 million sq feet of new developments across Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
Also read: Sensex, Nifty slide as IT, banking stocks face selling pressure
Founded in 1986, Brigade Enterprises Ltd. has a presence in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mysuru, Kochi, Gift City-Gujarat, Thiruvananthapuram, Mangaluru, and Chikkamagaluru with developments across residential, office, retail, and hotels.
The company reported a consolidated profit after tax (PAT) up by 2 percent year-on-year (YoY) at ₹115 crore for Q2FY25 from ₹112.5 crore in the previous year period. Its revenue decreased by 19 per cent at ₹1,138.1 crore, from ₹1,407.9 crore in Q2FY24.
The company closed its shares at ₹1,293.30, up by 1.28 per cent on the BSE.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
POVRATAK traperica niskog struka dio je šireg Y2K oživljavanja. Sve više ljudi okreće se nostalgičnim trendovima, uključujući trapezice, kratke topove, velike tenisice jarkih boja i drugo. Bilo je samo pitanje vremena kad će se vratiti traperice niskog struka, a vratila im se i Jennifer Lopez.
Traperice niskog struka danas su malo drugačije nego što su bile prije. Iako nizak, struk je nešto viši, a naglasak je na udobnosti više nego na izgledu. Jennifer Lopez nedavno je viđena u takvim True Religion trapericama tijekom božićne kupovine i pokazala je kako ovakve traperice uopće ne moraju izgledati neukusno.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Pronašli smo slične komade
Iako nisu svi oduševljeni povratkom traperica niskog struka, moda danas dopušta veću fleksibilnost. Svatko može birati trendove koje voli i ignorirati one koje ne prihvaća. Ako ste u potrazi za dobrim parom traperica s niskim strukom poput ovih koje nosi Jennifer Lopez, pronašli smo slične komade.
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A luxury real estate page on Instagram has revealed a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most extravagant homes in France — an Indian palace in Normandy’s lavish Château du Champ de Bataille. French architect and interior designer Jacques Garcia owns the beautifully restored Indian palace, which is available to rent, according to Barnes Luxury Rentals. Also read | Indian palace becomes best hotel in the world, ahead of Marriott, Ritz-Carlton
The Indian palace is located in Château du Champ de Bataille in France. (Pictures courtesy: Ericsander.com)
Indoor and outdoor pools, regal Indian interiors
Jacques Garcia bought the château in 1992 and spent the past 30 years restoring it to its former glory and filling it with priceless art, as per a 2023 Daily Mail article. Reportedly, the Indian palace was designed by Jacques using 600 containers of historical antiques brought in from India. The ornately decorated property really does look like you walked into Indian palace.
The Indian palace in Normandy offers an immersion into traditional India. In a recent video posted by Drone Hub on Instagram, a man toured the palace’s different rooms — there are a total of 10 bedrooms on the property. Deconstructed in India and then rebuilt identically in Normandy, it offers luxurious suites, each unique, complemented by richly decorated lounges in jewel tones like red and blue.
The ornately decorated property also has a library built into the hallway, a hookah lounge, a tiger skin rug, a prayer and meditation room, and indoor and outdoor pools. In fact, the stunning indoor pool in the larger-than-life bathroom can be used all year round, while the outdoor pool is 100 metres long.
Here’s a virtual tour:
‘This not a replica, it is all original’
In the video shared by Drone Hub, the narrator said, “This is the most epic home that you can rent. We are in Normandy, France, and you can actually rent this entire Indian palace accessible by boat. The owner, Jacques Garcia, brought in some 500 shipping containers worth of antiques and goods to create this Indian palace. So this not a replica, it is all original and as you can see, the scale and detail is next level.”
He added, “But I am going to show you something really cool. Let’s head down this long, narrow hallway to an ancient bath, prayer, and meditation room. Those fountains that you see cost £20,000 (approximately ₹21.2 lakh) just to turn on. So what I want to know is: if money was not an option, would you rent this Indian palace?”
Back in July, Sir Brian May spent his 77th birthday in Tuscany performing a set with Andrea Bocelli, at the third and final of his consecutive 30th anniversary concerts.
In addition to being surprised with a birthday cake and the Italian maestro singing Happy Birthday to him live on stage, the pair performed a duet together.
The Queen guitarist posted a clip from the concert film on Instagram and captioned it: “One of my most unforgettable moments of 2024 – with the magnificence of Andrea Bocelli in beautiful Tuscany.
“HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS !!! May all your surprises be good ones ! Bri.”
Fans can see Andrea and Sir Brian performing the 1986 Queen power ballad Who Wants to Live Forever in the footage.
Penned by the guitar legend for the soundtrack of the Hollywood movie Highlander, it features on Queen’s A Kind of Magic album before being included on their second compilation album, Greatest Hits II.
Seal also famously performed the track at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert five months after the singer’s untimely death.
When I last drove a Hyundai Palisade late in 2022, I was thoroughly enamoured with this boldly styled, smartly packaged SUV.
Two years later, it’s still worth recommending, but its lustre has dulled somewhat.
That’s not because Hyundai has made any negative changes to its flagship SUV, but rather because it has compelling in-house competition in the (boxy) shape of the new Santa Fe.
The Palisade offers something the Santa Fe doesn’t, however, and that’s a diesel engine. And if that’s not enough to get you to spend more for Hyundai’s largest SUV, there’s a new generation waiting in the wings.
Let’s see how the current one stacks up first, however.
We’ve put the base Elite to the test with the optional turbo-diesel engine, the only way to get all-wheel drive; if you stick with the petrol V6, in Australia at least you’re forced to accept front-wheel drive.
The Elite has quite a different look to the flagship Highlander, so it doesn’t look cheaper – just different. There’s a darker grille instead of the flashy chrome one of the top-spec model, as well as different wheels. You may actually prefer the look of this over the Highlander.
Combined with the lovely Moonlight Blue paint finish, this is still a handsome SUV even at the end of its life cycle.
How does the Hyundai Palisade compare?
View a detailed breakdown of the Hyundai Palisade against similarly sized vehicles.
Hyundai
Palisade
How much does the Hyundai Palisade cost?
Model
Price before on-roads
2025 Hyundai Palisade Elite FWD V6
$66,800
2025 Hyundai Palisade Elite AWD diesel
$70,800
2025 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy FWD V6
$75,900
2025 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Black Ink FWD V6
$78,400
2025 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy AWD diesel
$79,219
2025 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Black Ink AWD diesel
$81,719
To see how the Hyundai Palisade lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
The Palisade costs the same whether you opt for the seven- or eight-seat configurations.
Rival diesel-powered crossovers include the smaller Sorento from sister brand Kia, as well as Mazda’s CX-80 and CX-90.
There’s also a raft of (typically ute-based) body-on-frame off-roaders, ranging from the LDV D90 to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.
What is the Hyundai Palisade like on the inside?
Hyundai doesn’t make you feel like a cheapskate for buying the base-model Palisade.
In addition to the unique exterior trim, the Palisade Elite’s interior is largely the same as the Highlander’s but with a handful of differences that don’t exactly scream ‘base model’.
Take the headliner and pillar trim, for example. No, it’s not suede like on the Highlander, but it’s a lovely knit material. No mouse fur here!
You still get a sunroof, too, though it’s only over the front row.
You miss out on the option of a Dark Khaki interior colourway, but the standard black of the Elite still has plenty of lighter trim for contrast. The metal-look trim on the centre console is attractive and has an interesting texture, though the stripey, metallic inlays on the dashboard and doors are a bit odd.
Material quality is just as good as in the Highlander, with soft-touch trim on the sides of the centre console and the tops of the dashboard and doors.
The cabin is user-friendly with one exception – why is there a grab handle on the driver’s side up front, but not on the passenger’s side?
Otherwise, there’s oodles of storage space and a logically laid out dashboard.
Below the infotainment touchscreen are the air vents, and below that is a row of hard shortcut buttons to take you to different functions.
Easy-to-reach physical climate controls sit below these, as does a rotary dial for drive mode selection, and controls for the heated seats, heated steering wheel, hill descent control, camera, parking sensors, and auto hold function.
There are also buttons for operating the transmission, though we’d rather the Palisade use a conventional shifter. Better yet, move to a column-mounted one like other Hyundais to help break up the buttons. While you won’t find a transmission shifter near the steering wheel, there are shift paddles.
Storage is ample. There’s a cavernous centre console bin with USB-C and 12V outlets; a large pit ahead of this which can be concealed beneath a lid, and which contains deployable cupholders; bottle holders in the doors that can fit 1L bottles; and a large shelf under the centre console with another pair of USB-C and 12V outlets.
You’ll need a cable to use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is plugged into a USB-A outlet on the centre console.
The infotainment touchscreen measures 12.3 inches, and an update for model year 2023 brought the ability to use a voice assistant to control functions outside of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
This came as part of the Bluelink suite of connected services, which also includes an SOS emergency call button, live weather and traffic information for the embedded satellite navigation, and the ability to remotely control functions like the locks and climate control using a smartphone app.
The infotainment system itself remains easy to navigate and quick to respond.
The digital instrument cluster is standard Hyundai fare, with different themes depending on drive mode but no map functionality like you’ll find in Volkswagen Group product.
Step into the spacious second row and you’ll find air vents in the roof, a USB-C outlet in the back of each front seat, and climate controls and a 12V outlet in the back of the centre console.
There’s also a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, plus cupholders in the doors. Each seat has top-tether child seat anchor points, while the outboard seats have ISOFIX child seat anchor points.
Access to the third row is easy, thanks to a one-touch walk-in function for the second-row seats and a fairly wide opening. It’s even easier with the optional captain’s chairs, as there’s a handy centre aisle.
In the third row, there are air vents in the roof, plus more cupholders and a USB-C outlet on each side of the cabin.
There’s seating for three back here, plus two top-tether points and one ISOFIX anchor point for child seats.
The third row is easily among the most comfortable in this segment, and at 180cm tall I can sit back here without having my knees up against the second-row seatbacks and my head against the roof.
Do you know what else I can do that in, though? The new Santa Fe.
The Palisade has 798mm of third-row legroom, as well as 1402mm of shoulder room and 1111mm of hip room. In contrast, the Santa Fe has 761mm, 1360mm and 1084mm, respectively.
In the boot, there’s a 12V outlet and buttons to drop the second-row seats, which fold almost completely flat.
To fold the third-row seats flat into the floor, simply pull the straps on the back of them.
Under the boot floor is a full-sized alloy spare, a refreshing inclusion in this age of space-savers and tyre repair kits.
Dimensions
Hyundai Palisade
Length
4995mm
Width
1975mm
Height
1750mm
Wheelbase
2900mm
Cargo capacity
311L (all rows up) 704L (third row folded)
To see how the Hyundai Palisade lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
Specifications
Hyundai Palisade Elite AWD
Engine
2.2L turbo-diesel 4cyl
Power
147kW @ 3800rpm
Torque
440Nm @ 1750-2750rpm
Transmission
8-speed auto
Driven wheels
All-wheel drive
Weight
1980kg
Fuel economy (claimed)
7.3L/100km
Fuel economy (as tested)
11L/100km (over the course of a week) 7.9L/100km (inner-city, suburban and highway loop)
Fuel tank capacity
71L
Fuel requirement
Diesel
CO2 emissions
193g/km
Emissions standard
Euro 5
Braked tow capacity
2200kg
Maximum tow ball weight
100kg (180kg with optional Load Assist Kit)
While we saw fairly high fuel consumption over the course of a week, with a figure of 11L/100km, this was with a heavy urban skew. In a Highlander diesel previously, we averaged 8.8L/100km.
To see how the Hyundai Palisade lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
How does the Hyundai Palisade drive?
I remember having enjoyed driving this big crossover, so I was keen to get back behind the wheel.
I happened to have a headache when I first stepped in, and it only got worse when I fired up that diesel engine. Gee, I don’t remember this sounding so rough on idle.
There’s an omnipresent clatter from the turbo-diesel engine, including while you’re stopped at traffic lights as there’s no idle stop/start. It seems scarcely quieter than more capable diesel-powered, body-on-frame off-roaders.
Turbo-diesel fours are never especially pleasant to listen to, and the Palisade is no exception. They are typically known for their low-end grunt though, and the Palisade definitely has this. The engine is aided by a smooth-shifting transmission.
It might sound like a diesel off-roader, but this unibody crossover can’t match the likes of the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X in terms of braked towing capacity. The Palisade has 2200kg against their 3500kg figures.
The sound the Palisade makes mightn’t give you a migraine, but the overspeed alert is sure to raise your blood pressure. It bings every time you enter a new speed limit zone (why?) and then bings again if you exceed the speed limit.
Constant nagging and scolding doesn’t make for a healthy relationship, and we can’t imagine it makes for a pleasant car ownership either. You can turn this off but it’ll frustratingly default to on each time, while turning off the overspeed alerts turns off the traffic sign recognition system altogether.
We’ve been in Hyundai products where you can program the star shortcut button on the steering wheel to take you directly to the driver assist menu on the touchscreen, saving you a button press in the frustrating journey to turn this system off, but this didn’t seem to work in the Palisade.
The good news is the rest of the driving experience is much better.
The ride isn’t quite as cushy as you might expect and some impacts are felt in the cabin, but overall it’s still acceptable for the class. Body control is quite good too, with not too much float on undulating roads.
The steering is well-judged for this class of vehicle. There’s not a massive amount of feel through the wheel, but the weighting is spot-on – the wheel is easy to twirl at low speeds, making parking this big bus a breeze, while it never feels too light or vague out on the open road.
If you want some more weight to the steering, you can turn on Sport mode but this also sees the Palisade hold gears for longer.
The Palisade feels nimbler than its dimensions would suggest, and definitely feels more car-like to drive than similarly priced SUVs with traditional ladder-frame underpinnings.
Where the front-wheel drive V6 lights up the front tyres with too heavy a right foot or too slick a surface, there’s no such unseemly wheelspin from the all-wheel drive diesel.
The security of all-wheel drive plus the superior fuel economy combine to make the diesel a more appealing option than the V6, even if it doesn’t sound as good. But we can’t wait for the inevitable hybrid version of the next generation…
Get on the highway and the Palisade proves a comfortable cruiser. The adaptive cruise control and Lane Following Assist help you take on long distances with ease, while road and wind noise are well-suppressed.
The standard lane-keep assist is more assertive than some rival systems, but it intervenes smoothly and skilfully and even handles curvy roads well.
What do you get?
While the Palisade was previously available in an unnamed base trim, it’s now available only in Elite, Calligraphy and Calligraphy Black Ink variants.
Hyundai Palisade Elite equipment highlights:
LED headlights
Automatic high-beam
20-inch alloy wheels
Rear privacy glass
Dark metallic chrome grille
Single-pane sunroof
Hands-free power tailgate
Power-folding exterior mirrors
Proximity entry with push-button start
Electronic parking brake
Auto hold
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
DAB+ digital radio
Satellite navigation with live traffic
12-speaker Infinity sound system
Passenger Talk function (driver’s voice sent to rear speakers)
Quiet Mode (mutes audio volume in the rear)
Voice memo function
Wireless phone charger
Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Leather upholstery
Leather-appointed dash centre, console side, armrest
10-way power driver’s seat with 2-way lumbar support
8-way power passenger seat
Heated front seats
Tri-zone climate control
The Calligraphy adds:
Rear sunroof
Rain-sensing wipers
Satin chrome/gloss black grille
Satin chrome skid plate, door handles
Body-colour cladding
Rear door window sunshades
Remote Smart Parking Assist
10-inch head-up display
Nappa leather upholstery
12-way power driver’s seat with two-way lumbar, 2-way cushion extension
Memory for driver’s seat, exterior mirrors and head-up display
Driver’s seat Easy Access function
Suede headliner
The Calligraphy Black Ink adds:
Dark metallic chrome grille, lower air intake grille, skid plate
Dark metallic roof rails
Dark-tinted tail-light garnish
Suede upholstery
Ventilated front seats
Heated and ventilated outboard second-row seats
All models feature Bluelink connected services, which include:
Automatic collision notification
SOS emergency call function
Valet Mode
Voice assistant
Calendar integration
Remote control of locks, windows, climate control
Remote start
Remote surround-view camera access (Calligraphy and Calligraphy Black Link)
Is the Hyundai Palisade safe?
The Hyundai Palisade wears a five-year ANCAP safety rating. It was re-tested by ANCAP following a mid-life update in 2022.
Category
Hyundai Palisade
Adult occupant protection
32.21 out of 38 (84 per cent)
Child occupant protection
43.24 out of 49 (88 per cent)
Vulnerable road user protection
33.75 out of 54 (62 per cent)
Safety assist
13.41 out of 16 (83 per cent)
Standard safety equipment includes:
Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
Autonomous emergency braking
Pedestrian detection
Cyclist detection
Junction assist
Blind-spot assist
Driver attention warning
Intelligent speed limit assist
Lane-keep assist
Lane Following Assist (lane centring)
Multi-collision braking
Rear cross-traffic assist
Rear occupant alert
Reversing camera
Front and rear parking sensors
Safe exit warning
Tyre pressure monitoring
Front, front-side and front-centre airbags
Curtain airbags for all three rows
The Calligraphy and Calligraphy Black Ink also feature:
Blind-Spot View Monitor
Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist – Rear
Surround-view camera
How much does the Hyundai Palisade cost to run?
Servicing and Warranty
Hyundai Palisade
Warranty
5 years, unlimited kilometres
Roadside assistance
Lifetime (service activated)
Service intervals
12 months or 15,000km
Capped-price servicing
Lifetime
Total capped-price service cost
12 months/15,000km: $489 24 months/30,000km: $489 36 months/45,000km: $489 48 months/60,000km: $589 60 months/75,000km: $489 Total over five years: $2545
To see how the Hyundai Palisade lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
CarExpert’s Take on the Hyundai Palisade
We’re excited for the next-generation Hyundai Palisade, but that’s not to say the current model is an also-ran.
It still has a slight edge over the Santa Fe in interior dimensions, though the gulf has narrowed.
It does, however, still offer a diesel engine which the new Santa Fe doesn’t. It’s not the most refined unit, but there’s plenty of torque and it’s significantly more efficient than the base petrol V6.
It might sound like a diesel off-roader inside, but the likes of the MU-X and Everest wish they had an interior this nice. Not only is it spacious, but it’s user-friendly and classy.
The Elite may be the entry-level Palisade once again, but Hyundai doesn’t make you feel like a cheapskate for choosing it over a Highlander.
Unless you simply must have a diesel, though, or you can’t get past the Santa Fe’s looks – and we know there’s plenty of you – we’d recommend also checking out the newer, smaller crossover from Hyundai.
Unlisted shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd are currently trading at Rs 314 per share in the grey market, which is Rs 99 or 46.05 per cent higher than the IPO issue price of Rs 215. It indicates a strong listing on January 7.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO Allotment Status.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO Allotment Status: The allotment of the Indo Farm Equipment IPO is set to be announced soon. Investors can check the IPO allotment status on the websites of the BSE and NSE, as well as on registrar Mas Services Ltd’s portal. The latest GMP currently stands at 46.05 per cent, signalling a strong listing gain for investors. The Indo Farm Equipment IPO listing will take place on Tuesday, January 7.
The initial public offering of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd, which was opened on between December 31 and January 2, received a whopping 227.67 times subscription. The retail category received a 101.79 times subscription in total, the NII (non-institutional investors) portion got 501.75 times subscription. Its QIB (qualified institutional buyer) category has been subscribed by 242.4 times.
The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 204 to Rs 215 apiece.
The shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd are scheduled to be listed on both BSE and NSE on January 7, Tuesday.
The IPO allotment will be finalised shortly. If allotted, investors will receive a bank debit message. Investors can also check the IPO allotment status on the websites of BSE and NSE, as well as on registrar Mas Services Limited’s portal.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO: How To Check Allotment Status Online?
The IPO allotment status can be checked online by following these steps:
3) Under ‘Issue Name’, select ‘Indo Farm Equipment Ltd’ in the dropbox.
4) Enter your application number, or the Permanent Account Number (PAN).
5) Then, click on the ‘I am not a robot’ to verify yourself and hit ‘Search’ option.
Your share application status will appear on your screen.
You can also visit direct Mas Services Ltd’s portal — https://www.masserv.com/opt.asp and check the Indo Farm Equipment IPO allotment status.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd are currently trading at Rs 314 per share in the grey market, which is Rs 99 or 46.05 per cent higher than the IPO issue price of Rs 215. It indicates a strong listing on January 7.
The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. ‘Grey market premium’ indicates investors’ readiness to pay more than the issue price.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO: More Details
The Rs 260-crore initial public offering (IPO) has a fresh issue of 86 lakh equity shares and an Offer-for-Sale (OFS) of 35 lakh equity shares by promoter Ranbir Singh Khadwalia.
Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to set up a new dedicated unit for expansion of the company’s pick & carry cranes manufacturing capacity, payment of debt, investment in the company’s NBFC subsidiary Barota Finance for financing the augmentation of its capital base to meet its future capital requirements.
Indo Farm Equipment manufactures tractors, pick & carry cranes and other farm equipment.
At the upper end of the price band, the IPO size has been pegged at Rs 260 crore, placing the company’s market capitalisation at over Rs 1,000 crore.
Aryaman Financial Services is the sole book-running lead manager for the issue.
The equity shares will be listed on the BSE and NSE.
News business » ipo Indo Farm Equipment IPO Allotment Finalised: A Step-By-Step Guide To Check Allotment Status Online, Check GMP
Solana (SOL), the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, is poised to continue its upside momentum after breaching one of its strong resistance levels. This upward movement follows a notable price decline of 33% in the last month of 2024.
Solana (SOL) Price Analysis and Upcoming Levels
Today, January 3, 2024, SOL has experienced a price surge of over 6.25% in the past 24 hours and is currently trading at $217.60.
This recent price surge has caused a breakout of the trendline that SOL formed during its price decline last month. Following this breakout, sentiment for the altcoin appears to be shifting, gaining attention from both investors and traders, which has led to a 15% increase in trading volume.
Source: Trading View
According to expert technical analysis, if SOL maintains itself above the $210 level, there is a strong possibility it could soar by 22% to reach its all-time high in the future.
Are Long-Term Holders Selling-Off?
Besides SOL’s bullish outlook, one thing that traders and investors need to know is the continuous dumping by long-term holders, despite the price witnessing upside momentum, as reported by the on-chain analytics firm Coinglass.
Data shows that SOL has witnessed a price surge of over 15% in the past three days. During the same period, spot inflow/outflow metrics reveal that exchanges have experienced an outflow of a significant $201.69 million worth of SOL, indicating a potential dump by long-term holders.
Source: Coinglass
According to experts and analysts, massive outflows have the potential to create selling pressure and a price decline. However, the market has not reacted to these activities, as it seems to be experiencing upside momentum.
The potential reason for this dump is the continuous discussion regarding the new health crisis in China, which has recently been compared to Covid-19.
CNET’s Joshua Goldman says that if you want one backpack that you can use for a variety of things, from your daily commute to your airplane carry-on, look no further than the Nomatic Travel Backpack. “I continue to be amazed at how well-designed this bag is every time I use it, and it truly feels like the company thought of everything,” he adds. A few of the benefits include the efficient internal design to hold all your tech (and other) gear and belongings, a retractable clip-on key leash and the handles on the top and sides so you have the option of carrying it as well.
This bag is unique in that, when you expand it, you’ll find yet another zipper that opens the backpack like a clamshell for easy packing. Although it’s a monetary investment, due to its versatility, it’s worth every penny.
New research is emphasizing that socializing with friends and family may help protect people against heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other conditions and illnesses.
The study suggests that social interactions may keep people healthy because these interactions boost the immune system and reduce the risk of disease.
Cambridge University researchers, along with colleagues in China, came to these conclusions after studying protein in blood samples taken from over 42,000 adults recruited to the U.K. Biobank, news agency SWNS reported.
‘I’M A PSYCHOLOGIST – HERE’S HOW TO FINALLY BREAK YOUR BAD HABITS’
The study team said social relationships play a key role in well-being.
Professor Barbara Sahakian of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge said, “These findings drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well. More and more people of all ages are reporting feeling lonely,” as SWNS noted.
Socializing with friends and family may help protect people against heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and other conditions and illnesses, a new study suggests. (iStock courtesy of user skynesher)
“That’s why the World Health Organization has described social isolation and loneliness as a global public health concern … We need to find ways to tackle this growing problem and keep people connected to help them stay healthy.”
Evidence increasingly shows that both social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health and an early death, the same source reported. But the underlying mechanisms through which social relationships impact health apparently have remained elusive until now, the news agency also said.
“We need to find ways to keep people connected to help them stay healthy.”
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy previously warned against the health risks of loneliness, as Fox News Digital reported earlier.
“Loneliness is a common feeling that many people experience,” he said when issuing an advisory nearly two years ago on the topic, per The Associated Press. “It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s a feeling the body sends us when something we need for survival is missing.”
CALIFORNIA COUNTY VOTES TO MAKE LONELINESS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, BLAMING PANDEMIC
“Millions of people in America are struggling in the shadows, and that’s not right,” he also said at the time. “That’s why I issued this advisory to pull back the curtain on a struggle that too many people are experiencing.”
The researchers connected to the new study said that one way to explore biological mechanisms is to look at proteins circulating in the blood, SWNS noted. Proteins, which are molecules produced by genes, are essential for helping the human body function properly.
They can also serve as useful drug targets, allowing scientists to develop new treatments to tackle diseases.
“Social relationships play an important part in keeping us healthy,” said one of the scientists connected to a new study. (iStock)
The Cambridge team and scientists at Fudan University, China, examined the “proteomes,” or the suite of proteins, in blood samples donated by more than 42,000 British adults aged 40 to 69.
That allowed them to see which proteins were present at higher levels among people who were socially isolated or lonely — and how these proteins were connected to poorer health, SWNS said.
ALCOHOL LINKED TO CANCER RISK IN US SURGEON GENERAL’S NEW ADVISORY
The team calculated social isolation and loneliness scores for individuals in the study, which was published in Nature Human Behaviour, a monthly peer-reviewed journal.
Social isolation is an objective measure based on, for example, whether people live alone, how frequently they have contact with others and whether they take part in social activities, the team said.
“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why.”
Loneliness, by contrast, is a subjective measure based on whether an individual feels lonely.
When the researchers analyzed the proteomes and adjusted for factors including age, sex and socio-economic background, they found 175 proteins associated with social isolation and 26 proteins associated with loneliness.
6 TIPS TO ‘DETOX’ AFTER EXCESSIVE HOLIDAY EATING AND DRINKING
Many of the proteins are produced in response to inflammation, viral infection and as part of immune responses, the team said — and they also showed links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and early death.
The findings, said a researcher, “drive home the importance of social contact in keeping us well.”(iStock)
The researchers then used a statistical technique to explore the causal relationship between social isolation and loneliness, on the one hand, and proteins on the other.
With that approach, they identified five proteins that were found in abundance during periods of loneliness.
“We know that social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer health, but we’ve never understood why,” said Dr. Chun Shen of the department of clinical neurosciences at the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University.
‘YO-YO’ WEIGHT LOSS OCCURS BECAUSE OF THIS SURPRISING REASON
“Our work has highlighted a number of proteins that appear to play a key role in this relationship, with levels of some proteins in particular increasing as a direct consequence of loneliness,” he said, as SWNS reported.
Professor Jianfeng Feng of the University of Warwick said, “There are more than 100,000 proteins and many of their variants in the human body … AI and high-throughput proteomics can help us pinpoint some key proteins in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for many human diseases and revolutionize the traditional view of human health.”
“AI and high-throughput proteomics can help us pinpoint some key proteins in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in many human diseases.”(iStock)
He also said, “The proteins we’ve identified give us clues to the biology underpinning poor health among people who are socially isolated or lonely, highlighting why social relationships play such an important part in keeping us healthy.”
One of the proteins produced at higher levels as a result of loneliness was ADM.
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Previous studies have shown that ADM plays a role in responding to stress and in regulating stress hormones and social hormones, such as oxytocin — known as the “love hormone” — which can reduce stress and improve mood.
The team found a “strong” association between ADM and the volume of the insula, a brain hub for interoception, the ability to sense what’s happening inside the body.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
The greater the ADM levels, the smaller the volume of the region.
Higher ADM levels were also linked to lower volume of the left caudate — a region involved in emotional, reward and social processes. Higher levels of ADM were also linked to an increased risk of dying young.
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The researchers said another of the proteins, ASGR1, is associated with higher cholesterol and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease — while other identified proteins play roles in the development of insulin resistance, “furring” of the arteries and cancer progression.
Melissa Rudy of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle at Fox News Digital.
South Indian food never lets us down, right? From the light and fluffy upma for breakfast to the delicious, comforting curries for lunch and dinner, South Indian cuisine has something for everyone. The region offers a range of veg and non-veg dishes, each with its own unique twist. When it comes to non-vegetarian curries, every part of South India has its own version of chicken curry-like Andhra-style, Chettinad, and so many more. The list of options is endless! Today, we’re adding one more to your list: a mouthwatering, healthy South Indian Coconut Chicken Curry recipe. So, if you want to bring those authentic South Indian flavours into your kitchen, this one’s for you!
But before you get cooking, here are some essential tips you need to know to make it just right. Let’s dive in!
1. Marinate Chicken Properly
For any chicken curry to shine, marinating the chicken is key. Without it, the curry just won’t hit the same. For the South Indian Coconut Chicken Curry, start by placing the chicken in a bowl and washing it thoroughly. Then, marinate it with curd, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, and salt for at least 30 minutes. You can adjust the time based on your schedule, but make sure you don’t skip this step! A solid 30-minute marinate is what makes the chicken tender and juicy.
2. Use Curry Leaves and Mustard Seeds
This South Indian curry gets its iconic flavour from mustard seeds and curry leaves. To get the best flavour, cook them in coconut oil. The temperature of the oil matters, so be sure to heat it right. Add the mustard seeds and wait for them to crackle. Once they do, throw in the curry leaves and roast them for a few seconds to let that awesome aroma fill the oil.
3. Add Tamarind In The Right Quantity
The flavour of the curry really depends on how you balance the ingredients. And tamarind pulp? It’s a tricky one. Too much, and your curry will be too sour, so you have to get the balance just right. For 1 kg of chicken, use 2 teaspoons of tamarind pulp. If you’re cooking with half a kg of chicken, one tablespoon is perfect.
4. Cook It On Low Flame
Low and slow is the way to go when cooking this curry. Simmering on a low flame allows the spices to blend together beautifully, which enhances the flavour of the gravy. Plus, it keeps the spices from burning. Cooking on a low flame also makes the chicken super tender. If you cook it on high heat, the meat might turn tough and dry. Let the chicken cook in its own juices for the best taste!
5. Right Time To Add Coconut Milk
Coconut milk is what makes this curry creamy and dreamy. Homemade coconut milk is your best bet for the richest flavour, but if you’re using packaged coconut milk, make sure it’s free of artificial flavours or preservatives. Always add coconut milk to the curry on low heat, and cook it gently. This keeps the milk from curdling and ensures your curry stays smooth and velvety.
Click here for the full recipe of South Indian Coconut Curry. Keep these tips in mind next time you make this chicken curry, and you’ll be all set to impress!
China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced on Thursday that 10 U.S. companies have been added to the unreliable entities list for selling arms to the Taiwan region.
The companies include Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Lockheed Martin Missile System Integration Lab, according to the MOC announcement.
These companies will be prohibited from engaging in China-related import or export activities and barred from making new investments in China, the MOC added.
Senior executives of the companies will be banned from entering China, their work permits and visitor or residency status revoked, and any related applications they submit will not be approved, according to the announcement.
The MOC stated that these companies have engaged in arms sales to the Taiwan region and conducted so-called cooperation on military technologies in recent years, despite China’s strong opposition.
Their actions severely undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, severely violated the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, and severely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, the ministry said, adding that the companies will be legally held accountable.
Noting that China’s unreliable entity provisions only target a few foreign entities that undermine China’s national security, the ministry said the Chinese government will always welcome foreign companies to invest and expand their businesses in China, and is committed to providing a stable, fair and predictable business environment for law-abiding companies operating in China.
(Cover: Office building of China’s Ministry of Commerce, Beijing, China. /CFP)
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
ROLEX SA, najveći švicarski luksuzni brend satova, povisio je cijene nekih od svojih najpopularnijih modela nakon što su cijene zlata porasle prošle godine.
Tvrtka sa sjedištem u Ženevi, kojom upravlja švicarska zaklada nazvana po njezinom suosnivaču Hansu Wilsdorfu, započela je godinu povišenjem cijena od čak 8% za pojedine modele od plemenitih metala, izvještava Bloomberg.
Rolex obično jednom godišnje diže cijene svojih satova
Day-Date od žutog zlata s crnim brojčanikom od 40 milimetara sada košta 44.200 € u odnosu na prethodnih 41.000 €, dok zlatni GMT-Master II sada košta 44.600 € umjesto 41.300 €, prema podacima s Rolexove web stranice u Francuskoj.
Rolex obično jednom godišnje, 1. siječnja, diže cijene. Povišenje može biti posljedica većeg interesa za luksuzne proizvode, porasta troškova materijala i rada te inflacije. Zlato je 2024. zabilježilo najveći godišnji porast cijena u posljednjih 14 godina, skočivši za 27%.
Glasnogovornik Rolexa u Ženevi odbio je komentirati promjene cijena.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Povišenja su veća nego prošle godine
Ova povišenja cijena veća su nego prošle godine. Na početku 2024. Rolex je povisio cijene nekih modela od plemenitih metala za oko 4% u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu.
Cijene satova specifične za pojedinu zemlju također mogu biti pokazatelj ekonomske snage nacije. Najveći luksuzni brend satova na svijetu proizvodi više od milijun satova godišnje, a prodaja premašuje 10 milijardi švicarskih franaka (10.6 milijardi €), prema procjenama analitičara.
Povećanje cijena u 2025. godini za čelične modele je manje agresivno. Čelični Cosmograph Daytona sada košta 16.000 € u odnosu na 15.500 € u 2024. Cijena Submariner ronilačkog sata bez datuma porasla je za oko 1.6%, na 9500 €.
Iako najnovija povišenja cijena mogu biti povezana s rastom cijena zlata, fluktuacije valuta bile su pokretači u prošlosti. Rolex je 2022. godine dvaput povisio cijene u Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu i Europi jer je švicarski franak ojačao prema britanskoj funti i euru.
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The big picture demanded that the Lakers be smart; the small picture demanded the Lakers play a little tougher Thursday night.
Anthony Davis, who missed most of the Lakers’ game on Christmas, needed the night off because of lingering soreness in his sprained left ankle. Gabe Vincent needed more time to recover from an oblique strain.
Removing key pieces, especially one as critical as Davis, highlighted something JJ Redick’s one-time coach Doc Rivers used to say: winning any game in the NBA is hard.
The Lakers were going to need a big night from someone they rely on and a career night from someone they’re truly starting to.
LeBron James and Max Christie combined to score 66 points, Christie finishing with a career-best 28, in the Lakers’ 114-106 win over the Trail Blazers.
“Tonight was a career night for me,” Christie said, “so this is something that I want to hang on to and try to replicate as much as possible.”
James made a season-high seven three-pointers, needing only 10 attempts, on his way to 38 points as the Lakers (19-14) fought through a rocky fourth quarter. And Christie, cementing his place as the team’s shooting guard, hit five threes and aggressively cut off the ball with the Portland defense focused on James and Austin Reaves.
“He’s putting in the work and it’s paying off for him and [we] got coaches who believe in him,” James said of Christie. “We believe in him, and he was spectacular tonight on both ends of the floor.”
James turned 40 this week. Christie won’t turn 22 until February. On a night like Thursday with Davis resting, the Lakers needed James to have a big game.
“AD’s our No.1, No. 2 option,” James said. “And so when he’s out, we all have to step up our game, including myself.”
James’ 38-point game tied him with Michael Jordan for most 30-point games in NBA history. It was also the third-most points ever scored by a player after turning 40 (behind two Jordan games). James was also the second-oldest player ever to make seven threes in a game (Vince Carter did that when he was 42).
“We want him aggressive, shot-ready for three just as much as we want him aggressive to get downhill and put pressure on the rim,” Redick said of James. “He’s just fantastic. … A couple of possessions that seemed like they were dead possessions and he just bailed us out. Just another 38-point game for LeBron.”
Lakers star LeBron James and coach JJ Redick react to a goaltending call against the Lakers late in the fourth quarter Thursday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers were less ho-hum about Christie’s career night. Redick said Christie’s defensive demeanor was off early on, and a couple of missed mid-range jumpers had him ready to “wring his neck.”
But, in what has been common since the Lakers put him in the starting lineup Dec. 8, Christie overcame the adversity and learned from it. He made five threes, a career high, but it was a shift on defense that really helped him find a rhythm, Redick said.
“You have to learn how to be a pro. And by that I mean you have to learn how to do the same things every night to the point where you’re reliable and the coach can’t take you off the court,” Redick said. “And that’s where the growth I’ve seen from Max over the last six to eight weeks [has been].”
For much of the night, if it wasn’t James or Christie scoring, no one was.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, center, loses control of the ball in front of Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson (00) and forward Kris Murray (24) on Thursday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The pair shot the Lakers into a 15-point lead against one of the West’s worst teams, the Lakers’ defense finding its footing in the second and third quarters.
But the Trail Blazers’ younger, more athletic legs and their longer, stronger arms put the Lakers in tough spots.
Reaves, for the first time since the Lakers fully gave him the keys, got pressured into shooting just five for 15 from the field. He still managed to finish with 11 assists, eight rebounds and 15 points.
The Lakers host Atlanta on Friday night before playing key road games against Houston and Dallas, two teams currently ahead of them in the Western Conference.
TasteAtlas recently revealed its list of the ‘100 Most Iconic Restaurants in the World’ in an Instagram post. Seven Indian eatery joints are part of the list, with two making it to the Top 10. Apart from India, restaurants from Vienna, Naples, Munich, Mexico City, New York City, Guadalajara, and Málaga are also part of the Top 10.
Amrik Sukhdev in Murthal and Karim’s in Delhi are part of the 100 most iconic restaurants in the world list.
Also Read | Which famous Delhi restaurants are actually worth the hype, according to Reddit
100 Most Iconic Restaurants in the World
The seven Indian restaurants on the TasteAtlas list are from Kozhikode, Kolkata, Murthal, New Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai. On number 5 is Paragon Restaurant in Kozhikode, which started in 1939 and is famous for its Biryani. Then, on number 7 is Peter Cat from Kolkata, started in 1975 and is famous for its Chelow Kebab. Other restaurants on the list are —
13) Amrik Sukhdev, Murthal: 1956, Aloo Parantha
Amrik Sukhdev is situated in Murthal.
Started in 1956 with the idea to cater food to truck drivers passing by Murthal, Amrik Sukhdev is now known for serving a wide range of guests who can enjoy North Indian delicacies and other cuisines. Their paranthas, especially Aloo Parantha, served with a dollop of butter, are quite infamous.
59) Karim’s, New Delhi: 1913, Korma
Karim’s, in Old Delhi, serves a variety of delectable dishes.
The iconic restaurant in Jama Masjid, New Delhi, opened in 1913. It earned its fame by serving two Royal dishes – Alu Gosht and Daal, to the common people. Their Korma is quite famous.
69) Central Tiffin Room, Bangalore: 1952, Masala Dosa
Central Tiffin Room is situated in Bengaluru.
Central Tiffin Room, founded in the 1920s, is a heritage restaurant in northwest Bengaluru. Their Masala Dosas are quite popular and are even frequented by celebrities.
77) Gulati, New Delhi: 1959, Murgh Makahani
Gulati’s Murgh Makahani is quite famous.
Gulati Restaurant was established in 1959 on Pandara Road in New Delhi. People frequent the establishment to enjoy their finger-licking Mughlai cuisine, particularly its acclaimed butter chicken and dal makhani.
78) Ram Ashraya, Mumbai: 1939, Upma
Ram Ashraya in Mumbai was established in 1939.
Hotel Ram Ashraya is one of the best places for authentic South Indian cuisine, especially for dosas, in Mumbai. It was established in 1939.
Here are the top 10 restaurants on the list:
1) Figlmüller, Vienna: 1905, Schnitzel Wiener Art
2) Pizzeria da Michele, Naples: 1870, Pizza Margherita
4) Gino e Toto Sorbillo, Naples: 1935, Pizza pesto Genovese
5) Paragon Restaurant, Kozhikode: 1939, Biryani
6) Café de Tacuba, Mexico City: 1912, Enchiladas
7) Peter Cat, Kolkata: 1975, Chelow Kebab
8) Katz’s Delicatessen, NYC: 1888, Pastrami on rye
9) Karne Garibaldi, Guadalajara: 1970, Carne en su Jugo
10) El Pimpi, Málaga: 1971, Pringá
TasteAtlas chose the 100 restaurants from a database of 23,952 traditional eateries. “Renowned for their longevity, reliability, and iconic dishes, they (restaurants) are more than just dining spots—they embody the spirit of their cities. The ranking reflects their history, public ratings, and TasteAtlas scores for their signature dishes,” TasteAtlas said in a statement.
Ring out the old, ring in a cascade of eagerly anticipated album releases from some of pop’s biggest names.
This month alone we have new full-length outings from The Weeknd, Manic Street Preachers, Franz Ferdinand, David Gray and Ringo Starr who becomes the latest legend to turn his hand to country music next week in collaboration with T. Bone Burnett.
Will Lana Del Ray climb into the saddle too? Early reports suggest she aims to move closer to country on her tenth album, The Right One Will Stay – due out in May.
Lana, who has already released a cover of Take Me Home, Country Roads and performed Stand By Your Man live, has confirmed it will be “a classic country, American, southern Gothic production”.
She also says the new songs won’t be “a radical departure” from 2023’s critically acclaimed chart-topper Did You Know There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. The first taste, the title track, is a haunting and achingly tender collaboration with Post Malone.
Ed Sheeran has just released +-=÷× (TOUR COLLECTION), with 25 of his biggest-selling songs recorded live, plus “exclusive memos” from the singer on the CD and vinyl versions.
But Ed has also finished a new studio album which will see him return to “big pop” after the relatively glum Autumn Variations and – (subtract).
We can expect new releases from Sam Fender in February – he’s already teased us with the superb People Watching – and The Darkness in March.
And perhaps surprisingly The Cure are threatening to release a companion to last year’s Songs Of A Lost World this summer.
Chris Martin says Coldplay will bow out with one last record, and Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Blondie, Morrissey, The Distillers and Stereophonics are also promising albums. And Madonna is said to be working on new music with Stuart Price, the head producer on her 2005 album Confessions On A Dance Floor Let’s hope there’s room for fresh talent to get noticed too.
X-Ray Spex. Live At The Roundhouse.
The iconic punk band’s final gig – recorded in 2008, three years before Poly Styrene’s death at 53 – is loud, proud, and bursting with energy. They play their greats – the gloriously defiant Oh Bondage Up Yours! and the slower, strangely bewitching Germ Free Adolescents. Vigorous belters Identity, The Day The World Turned Dayglo and I Am A Poseur still pack a punch.
The Skabratts. Koolest Kat.
Peter Azzopardi’s London-based five-piece specialise in breezy Ska and upbeat pop reggae. It’s impossible to listen to original numbers like Soon You’ll Be Gone and The Vultures Are Coming without smiling. Their music sound doffs its pork pie hat to the 2-Tone years, and is close in feel to the cheery apolitical bounce of Madness and Bad Manners. Ten tracks of sunshine.
Jeff Christie. Here & Now.
Best known for his 1970 hits, the chart-topping global smash Yellow River and the follow-up San Bernardino, the former Christie star now specialises in melodic Americana. ‘On the road to Graceland, dust beneath my wheels,’ he sings on Driving Down To Memphis. Soul-infused Building Bridges is a heart-felt plea for global peace in an ever-grimmer world. Better By Now, about long-term relationships, boasts an instant chorus.
Tesla couldn’t recover in the final month of 2024 to reverse a year-long sales decline, ending the year with less than 40,000 deliveries to Australian customers.
According to data published by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), Tesla delivered 3593 vehicles to Australian customers in December, representing a 63.9 per cent increase on the same month a year prior.
It was a rare win for the electric vehicle (EV) specialist, which recorded a decline in deliveries across nine of the year’s 12 months.
By the end of the year, Tesla delivered 38,347 vehicles in Australia, a 16.9 per cent drop on its 2023 figure, where the brand experienced huge growth in the local market.
Month
Tesla deliveries
YoY difference
January
1107
-66.6%
February
5665
+61.1%
March
6017
+68.2%
April
2077
-43.5%
May
3567
-20.3%
June
4683
-33.3%
July
2592
-12.9%
August
2393
-30.5%
September
2649
-48.8%
October
1464
-26.4%
November
2540
-35.5%
December
3593
+63.9%
Total
38,347
-16.9%
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The decline was largely driven by the Tesla Model Y, traditionally the brand’s volume seller. After experiencing high demand in 2023 – which led to it being Australia’s most popular vehicle among private buyers – deliveries of the Model Y fell by 26.1 per cent in 2024 to 21,253 examples.
Meanwhile, the Model 3 sedan’s sales dropped by just 1.5 per cent to 17,094 examples, however it received a comprehensive update at the end of 2023.
Earlier this year, Tesla heavily discounted both the Model Y and Model 3 in Australia by thousands of dollars, however it appears this did not spur on sales of the two vehicles to reach previous heights.
An update to the Model Y – codenamed Juniper – is expected in 2025, though it remains to be seen whether it’ll bring a sales increase or merely soften the blow.
The decrease in deliveries isn’t exclusive to Australia, with Tesla reporting earlier this morning that it had sold 1.1 per cent fewer vehicles globally in 2024 compared to 2023.
In total, it delivered 1,789,226 EVs worldwide last year, down on the record figure of 1,808,581 12 months prior, and representing the first time in the brand’s history its annual figure has declined.
It also narrowly avoided being overtaken in the EV sales race by BYD, which delivered 1,764,992 battery-only vehicles globally.
While Australia’s full 2024 sales are to be announced on January 6, Tesla is expected to remain on top in the EV market.
MORE: Tesla narrowly beats BYD to global EV sales title despite first-ever annual decline
As of September 30, 2024, SMICC’s Asset Under Management (AUM) stood at Rs 49,800 crore, showcasing a year-on-year growth of 25.1 per cent.
With this latest capital infusion of Rs 3,000 crore, SMICC has received the highest-ever fund infusion of Rs 4,300 crore for any financial year since inception.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) of Japan has said it has made a capital infusion of Rs 3,000 crore in SMFG India Credit (SMICC) through a rights issue to expand business. This investment also includes ₹300 crore directed towards its wholly-owned subsidiary, SMFG India Home Finance Co. Ltd (SMFG Grihashakti).
SMFG in April 2024 had infused Rs 1,300 crore in SMICC (formerly Fullerton India Credit Co Ltd) via rights issue and with this latest capital infusion of Rs 3,000 crore, SMICC has received the highest-ever fund infusion of Rs 4,300 crore for any financial year since inception, the company said in a statement.
This strategic investment reflects SMFG’s unwavering focus on supporting SMICC’s growth trajectory and enhancing financial inclusion across the nation, it said.
As of September 30, 2024, SMICC’s Asset Under Management (AUM) stood at Rs 49,800 crore, showcasing a year-on-year growth of 25.1 per cent.
Post this infusion, SMICC’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is expected to strengthen further, reinforcing the company’s robust financial foundation, it said.
News business » markets Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Infuses Rs 3,000 Crore Into SMFG India Credit Via Rights Issue
A new year begins, ushering in more positive sentiment and confidence as the bull market shifts gears. Aiming to make the most of this bull run, Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Cardano (ADA) whales have been stacking up DTX Exchange (DTX), a new DeFi coin with huge upside potential.
It costs only $0.14 in the seventh round of the ICO, approaching its launch scheduled for Q1. The rising whale activity pushed it above $11.2 million in early funding, highlighting its rapidly growing community and trust in its potential.
DTX Exchange (DTX): The Next Billion-Dollar Crypto Project?
DTX Exchange (DTX), hailed as the next big thing, is a new DeFi project not to miss. The Ethereum-based cryptocurrency has become a subject of much interest, from its unique offering to its massive growth prospects.
Its value proposition revolves around a hybrid trading platform—a blend of the best elements of centralized and decentralized exchanges. It also aims to narrow the gap between the crypto world and traditional financial systems. Its novel unified blockchain, VulcanX, already live, will integrate conventional financial instruments with Web3 products, hailed by experts as groundbreaking.
Given the above, it is set to reshape the $3.2 billion global trading market, making the DTX token a must-have. Aside from being used to trade tokenized financial instruments and cryptocurrencies, it also has governance functions.
Equally important, token holders are in for massive ROIs after Tier-1 exchange listings, considering the projected 100x upswing. This drives interest among Cardano (ADA) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) whales, positioning it as arguably the best new crypto to invest in.
Shiba Inu (SHIB): Little Room for Growth
Shiba Inu (SHIB), the second-largest memecoin and the biggest within the Ethereum blockchain, is among the best altcoins. Following a quick bounce, the Shiba Inu price hovers around $0.000022, reclaiming lost price levels.
Key technical indicators like the 9-HMA and 10-SMA point to further upswings, making it one of the altcoins to watch. At the same time, experts’ bullish forecasts highlight its potential, even though it has little room for growth considering previous rallies.
CW8900, one of the leading crypto experts on X, targets $0.000035 once Shiba Inu (SHIB) breaks out above $0.000022. Digitalknol, another crypto trader and analyst, predicts SHIB will hit $0.00015 in 2025—probably too ambitious. However, as one of the leading cryptocurrencies, it has limited upside potential compared to DTX Exchange (DTX), making the latter more appealing.
Cardano (ADA) Targets Further Upswings
Cardano (ADA), one of the top ten cryptocurrencies, swung high. Selling pressure eased as the bulls regained control, pushing the Cardano price above $0.9—a 10% upswing on the daily chart.
Considering current momentum, Darren, a top analyst, predicts Cardano (ADA) will reach $1.80 before the end of January. Solana_king, also bullish on the Layer-1 crypto, suggests it could trade around $3.50 this year.
Backed by key technical indicators like the 9-HMA and 20-VWMA, Cardano is a top crypto to invest in. However, it has limited upside potential as a large-cap token, sparking a shift to DTX Exchange, a new DeFi coin with 100x growth prospects.
DTX Exchange (DTX): The Next Cardano (ADA) and Shiba Inu (SHIB)
The growing whale interest in DTX Exchange (DTX) can be linked to its massive growth prospects—a projected 100x rally post-launch. In addition, its unique hybrid trading platform makes it fundamentally solid, further driving demand. Hailed as the next big thing, it might be a more promising alternative than Cardano (ADA) and Shiba Inu (SHIB).
Find out more information about DTX Exchange (DTX) by visiting the links below:
Our sleep experts have been testing mattresses, bedding and accessories for years (a few have been testing for up to eight years). At this point, we’ve tested over 300 mattresses from dozens of brands, from bigwigs like Purple and Tempur-Pedic to more niche companies like Sonu and Airweave.
Our team is comprised of bed testers with varying body weights and types, heights, genders and sleep preferences, which helps us provide an overarching assessment of each mattress from a multitude of viewpoints. Many mattresses are tested for long periods, ranging from a month or two up to five years.
We test king-size mattresses just like we would any other bed. When a new mattress arrives at our testing facility, it undergoes rigorous, hands-on testing by each of our experts. We analyze specific characteristics, including firmness, feel, temperature, motion isolation, edge support and other special features the mattress may have.
Firmness
Firmness is rated numerically on a scale of 1 (the softest) to 10 (the firmest), and we use industry terms such as soft or medium-firm to describe it. Our entire team takes turns assessing and ranking the firmness of each mattress, which allows us to make suggestions about which sleeping position and body type it best suits. After subjectively analyzing the firmness, we let our one-of-a-kind Mattress Smasher 9000 do its thing and give us an objective firmness score.
A close-up of the Mattress Smasher 9000 in action.
Aly Lopez/CNET
Feel
Another subjective element we review is the feel of a mattress, separate from its firmness. Does it feel springy and responsive when lying on it? Is it easy to switch positions? Or does the dense memory foam conform around our bodies and hold our shape for a while? Does the mattress have a soft, plush pillow top feel, or is it more neutral? Can we feel any coils or zoned support? We do our best to describe exactly what it feels like to lie on each bed to help you determine if it’s right for you without having to test them all yourself.
Read more: Why the Foam in Your Mattress Matters
Temperature
Temperature can be tricky to review when considering each sleeper’s personal preferences and the fact that many mattress brands exaggerate their beds’ cooling capabilities. When testing and reviewing mattresses, we detail how hot or cool the mattress sleeps. Many external factors come into play here (such as climate and environment, bedding, pajamas, etc.), so we test the beds in temperature-controlled rooms without sheets or bedding. Using our extensive knowledge and experience, we analyze its construction and materials and explain how they affect the temperature.
Motion isolation
Testing the motion isolation of the WinkBed mattress with a glass of water.
Dillon Lopez/CNET
Motion isolation is a term we use to describe how well the mattress deadens movement across its surface. It’s an especially important feature for light sleepers or those sharing the bed with a partner or pets. We test its motion isolation capabilities by having one expert lie on the bed while another flops around and switches positions. The second method is by setting a glass of water on the edge, rolling toward and away from it to see if the glass tips or falls over.
Edge support
Edge support is typically not as important for king-size mattresses as it is for smaller sizes such as queen or twin. Regardless, testing the edge support allows us to assess how well it holds its structure and support around the perimeter. We sit and lie on the edge to see how the bed responds. Does it cave in and give the sensation that we’ll roll off, or is it sturdy and supportive? We also push down on the edges with our fists to observe how much the edge compresses under pressure.
Special features
Some brands include special features in their mattresses, such as cooling covers for hot sleepers or zoned support for those with back pain. We test and review these additional characteristics and determine which type of sleeper would benefit the most.
Between dinner parties, cookie exchanges and festive cocktails, most people report eating and drinking more than usual during the holidays, gaining on average 1 to 2 pounds of body weight.
Now that a new year has arrived — bringing with it a return to regular routines and the typical flurry of resolutions — many may be eager to look and feel healthier.
“If you are feeling bloated and sluggish after the holidays, it is most likely water retention from eating higher-sodium and higher-sugar foods, along with alcohol and less overall activity,” New Jersey-based registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade told Fox News Digital.
‘I’M A PSYCHOLOGIST — HERE’S HOW TO FINALLY BREAK YOUR BAD HABITS’
While it can be tempting to jump on a “detox” plan, the dietitian noted that the body naturally detoxifies itself through organs like the liver and kidneys.
Most people report eating and drinking more than usual during the holidays, gaining on average 1 to 2 pounds of body weight. (iStock)
“You do not need to follow a detox plan or take a special supplement to detox — however, you can adopt healthier habits post-holidays to support your body’s detox abilities while helping to flush out the water retention that makes you feel bloated and fatigued,” she said.
Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina, who practices as The Lupus Dietitian, agrees that the body does a good job of detoxing what it doesn’t need without any extra products — but acknowledges that holiday excess can take a toll.
‘YO-YO’ WEIGHT LOSS OCCURS BECAUSE OF THIS SURPRISING REASON
“Many people feel bloated from extra eating and more salt, sugar and alcohol,” she said to Fox News Digital. “If you feel that you are in need of a detox, I recommend a simplified diet instead of a detox diet.” (More on that below.)
6 tips for a reset
The experts shared with Fox News Digital some simple steps for getting back to a healthier state after a season of overindulgence.
1. Stay hydrated
Registered dietitian and food blogger Lauren Harris-Pincus, based in New York, recommends aiming for at least 64 to 96 ounces of water per day.
“This will help keep things moving, support your own detoxification processes, nourish your skin, help with fatigue and combat the dryness we experience from indoor forced heat in the winter,” she told Fox News Digital.
“You can adopt healthier habits post-holidays to support your body’s detox abilities.”
All unsweetened beverages count toward hydration — water, coffee, tea and sparkling water, as well as milk and yogurt, according to Harris-Pincus.
“Most fruits and veggies are hydrating as well,” she added.
2. Follow a ‘simplified diet’
Freirich recommends continuing to eat consistently throughout the day, focusing primarily on unprocessed foods, home-cooked meals, and “particularly nourishing” foods like vegetables, soups, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds and fruits.
Experts recommend focusing on unprocessed foods, home-cooked meals, and “particularly nourishing” foods like vegetables, soups, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds and fruits.(iStock)
She also recommends slowly increasing fiber to 25 to 35 grams per day. Examples of fiber-rich foods include unprocessed vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils and chickpeas.
Harris-Pincus also recommends balancing meals with protein, fiber-rich carbohydrates and heart-healthy fats.
3. Prioritize sleep
Most experts recommend that healthy adults get at least seven hours of sleep nightly.
“Lack of quality sleep not only zaps your energy, but can also impact hunger and satiety, leading to poor food choices that will keep you feeling bloated and sluggish,” Palinski-Wade said.
Most experts recommend that healthy adults get at least seven hours of sleep nightly.(iStock)
She recommends going to bed at the same time each night, eliminating distractions such as TVs and cell phones, and aiming to have a quiet, dark sleep environment.
4. Increase probiotic-containing foods
Probiotics are microorganisms that help balance the “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut microbiome, which promotes healthy digestion, according to experts.
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“Probiotics can be found in yogurt, kombucha, kefir, miso soup, kimchi, sauerkraut and other fermented foods,” Freirich said.
5. Cut out or limit alcohol
Recent research has confirmed the negative health effects of alcohol, including a higher risk of many types of cancer.
“Reducing or skipping alcohol can do wonders for your overall health, energy and well-being in the new year,” Freirich said.
Recent research has confirmed the negative health effects of alcohol, including a higher risk of many types of cancer.(iStock)
Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services at the Lindner Center of HOPE in Mason, Ohio, also recommends abstaining.
“Give your liver a break by cutting back on alcohol and reducing caffeine intake,” he advised. “Replace with herbal teas or decaffeinated options.”
6. Boost physical activity
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
“Engage in light exercise, such as walking, yoga or stretching to improve circulation and metabolism,” Tuell suggested. “Gradually re-introduce more intense workouts as your energy returns.”
IS EATING ONCE A DAY A GOOD IDEA? EXPERTS SHARE VARYING OPINIONS ON THE ‘OMAD DIET’
Simply adding more steps to your day or incorporating stretching into your routine will help to fight bloat and boost energy, according to Palinski-Wade.
Harris-Pincus agreed that the activity doesn’t have to be extreme — “even walking around the house brings mental and physical health benefits,” she noted.
Dangerous behaviors to avoid
Palinski-Wade warns about products that claim to offer a “quick fix,” such as losing a rapid amount of weight in a short period of time or promoting detox claims that are not backed by scientific evidence.
“Reducing or skipping alcohol can do wonders for your overall health, energy and well-being.”
“Some of these products could contain potentially harmful ingredients or laxatives, or may interact with other supplements and medications,” she cautioned.
It’s always best to discuss a supplement with your physician or dietitian to make sure it is from a reputable brand and is safe for your individual health needs, the dietitian added.
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“In order to feel your best and maintain that feeling, you need to incorporate realistic lifestyle habits you can stick with day after day,” Palinski-Wade said. “Consistency is key when it comes to achieving true health change.”
Probiotics are microorganisms that help balance the “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut microbiome, which promotes healthy digestion, according to experts.(iStock)
Freirich agreed, warning against any extreme fasting, cleanses or detox products.
“Many of these cause extreme bowel movements, which can lead to a dramatic loss of electrolytes and fluids that can be extremely dangerous for the body,” she cautioned. “Fasting and cleanses can also cause dangerous changes to blood sugar.”
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Instead, focusing on the six steps outlined above will help your digestive system move regularly, Freirich said, while also reducing any water retention and puffiness.
Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
Placing online food orders is a trend that continues to grow. Whether you want some pizza while travelling on a train or need a cake to surprise your friend on their birthday, more and more people are choosing online food delivery. Zomato has unveiled some interesting trends and analysis from orders on the food delivery app in 2024. The “Zomanews 2024 ordering bulletin”, presented like a news bulletin, featured data and insights for different cities, different foods and some unusual non-food searches.
When it came to placing a large number of orders, Bangalore placed 30 lakh more orders than Mumbai. However, in generosity, Mumbai stole the spotlight by tipping Rs 3 crore more than Bangalore.
Bangalore is not the only city with massive orders. In 2024, Delhi-NCR placed 12.4 crore which was still more than combining total orders from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana (10.5 crore).
Also Read:India Ordered Over 2 Lakh Cakes, Pizzas, Chips, Aloo Bhujia Packets And More On New Year’s Eve
Many people order hot and freshly packed food from restaurants during a train journey. Which railway station witnessed the maximum Zomato orders? Kanpur Central with 86,753 orders.
Apart from insights for locations, Zomato also revealed that September 22, 2024, was a special day with most cake orders on a non-festive day. Perhaps a day with a lot of birthdays?
Lastly, some unusual searches on the app were also identified. 4940 people searched for ‘girlfriend’ and 40 people searched for ‘dulhan‘ on the Zomato app.
Here is how viewers reacted to the 2024 roundup:
“Zomato notifications made me feel single for 186 times this year,” an Instagram user joked.
“22 September is my birthday,” one wrote, while another shared, “22nd September was Daughters’ Day, hence the cake orders!”
A user remarked, “Finding this data and discussing this in a meeting must be so fun.” Another cheered, “Kanpur Central making the wild card entry!”
One quipped, “Two minutes silence for those who searched for Girlfriend and Dulhan.”
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-02/Wang-Yi-hails-building-community-with-shared-future-for-mankind-vision-1zQ3VdFdj5S/img/afd9fdc8db2d4a6fba4096cc9ef10f98/afd9fdc8db2d4a6fba4096cc9ef10f98.png' alt='Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, delivers a speech at the inaugural ceremony of the Research Center on Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind in Beijing, China, January 2, 2024. /Chinese Foreign Ministry'
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Thursday said he is pleased to see that the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind has developed from an initiative to a consensus, from a vision to practice, and is driving positive changes in today’s world.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks during an inaugural ceremony of the Research Center on Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind in Beijing.
Building a community with a shared future for mankind is China’s answer to the question of “what kind of world to build and how to build it” and has considerable theoretical value, great significance for the times and far-reaching global influence, Wang said.
The vision of a community with a shared future for mankind demonstrates the founding mission of the CPC, carries forward the fine traditions of Chinese culture, demonstrates the power of scientific theories and expounds on China’s stance in the face of changes unseen in a century, he noted.
“At present, dozens of countries and regions have been working with China to build a community of shared future in various forms,” Wang said, adding that the building of a community with a shared future for mankind has been written into many UN General Assembly resolutions and multilateral documents.
With colorful knitwear, she and her husband, Ottavio, built one of the world’s most recognizable brands, helping to make Milan a capital of “alta moda.”
Approval of Tevimbra was supported by the RATIONALE-305 Phase III trial, which demonstrated a significant overall survival benefit in patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
The post Catster Photo Contest: Cats of the Week Winners (Jan 2, 2025) by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.
My cat is the most grumpy, the most lovable, but the most demanding cat in the world.
Silliest
Name:
Oswald
Breed:
Medium Domestic Hair
Fun Fact:
“Partially blind!
Can let himself in from outside
Handsome!”
Cutest
Name:
Kimba
Breed:
Maine Coon
Fun Fact:
“Looking very majestic while bird watching.
Kimba had entropion as a kitten and had surgery at 8 weeks old, fully recovered now and you’d never know anything was wrong!”
Leo helps with printing projects and loves a good printer
Sleepiest
Name:
Roy
Breed:
Sphynx
Fun Fact:
Roy is a heat seeker. You’ll often find Roy basking in the sun, cozying up near a heater, or snuggled in his ramen bowl.
Enter Your Cat
Submit your kitty for a chance to be featured! Click here
This article is a part of our Weekly Photo Contest
View our previous week’s winners here: December 26, 2024
Click here to view our full list of past winners
The post Catster Photo Contest: Cats of the Week Winners (Jan 2, 2025) by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
NAKON što su kravlji i leopard uzorci vladali modnim scenama, sada je na red došao Bambi print. Ovaj zimski trend brzo je preplavio TikTok i Pinterest, gdje su outfiti s uzorkom jelena postali pravi hit. Kaputi s Bambi printom spajaju otkačeni prirodni motiv sa ženstvenim dodirom, savršeni za sve koji žele unijeti razigranost u svoj stil.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Nježna alternativa tradicionalnim uzorcima
Za razliku od tradicionalnih uzoraka leoparda i zebre, koji su često snažni i dominantni, Bambi print donosi mekšu vibru koja odiše ženstvenošću i sofisticiranošću. TikTok je preplavljen modnim kombinacijama koje uključuju ovaj šarmantni uzorak jer je savršen za stvaranje nježnog, ali i modernog izgleda.
Bambi print donosi osvježavajući zaokret u svijet životinjskih uzoraka i savršeno se uklapa u zimske kombinacije.
Znate li nešto više o temi ili želite prijaviti grešku u tekstu? Kliknite ovdje.
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Milestones are routine for LeBron James these days. He turned 40 on Dec. 30 and the next day became the first player in NBA history to appear in a game in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s.
Earlier in December, he set an NBA record for career minutes played. He’s already the NBA all-time scoring leader and has four NBA championships and three Olympic gold medals. James also made history by playing in the same game as his oldest son, Bronny, in the Lakers’ season-opening win Oct. 23.
Anything left to accomplish? Well, playing alongside not just one, but two of his sons comes to mind after Bryce James committed to Arizona. Bryce, a 6-foot-5 senior shooting guard at Sierra Canyon High in Chatsworth, is rated a three-star prospect by 247 Sports.
Like Bronny, Bryce’s high school stats are modest. He’s averaged 6.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in four games as a reserve after returning from an undisclosed injury. During the summer, he averaged 6.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 14 games playing for LeBron’s AAU program, Strive for Greatness.
Adam Finkelstein, 247 Sports’ director of scouting, assesses Bryce thusly:
“He may not be the dynamic athlete or playmaker some expect at first, but he is a fundamentally sound player with solid perimeter size and a good early skill-set. He possesses clear shooting potential with naturally soft touch, compact release, and the ability to make both threes and pull-ups.”
Bronny James, 20, played one season at USC before turning pro, overcoming a frightening episode of cardiac arrest during a practice in July 2023. He was taken by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA draft and has begun to blossom in the G league after playing a handful of minutes in seven Lakers games.
Evaluators doubt that Bryce would be ready for the NBA after only one season at Arizona, meaning that LeBron would need to play beyond his current Lakers contract, which expires after the 2025-26 season, to take the court with both of his sons.
Two years ago, LeBron admitted that he has thought about being a teammate of both sons, telling Sports Illustrated, “If my mind can stay sharp and fresh and motivated, then the sky’s not even the limit for me. I can go beyond that. But we shall see.”
Savannah James, LeBron’s wife and the mother of their children, referred to the possibility in an October 2023 social media post. At the 1:31-mark of a two-minute video promoting Beats by Dre, Savannah is delivering a pep talk to LeBron and says, “Tell them you aren’t done until you play with your son, then do that, again.” The camera fixes on Bronny, then on Bryce.
Could it happen? Could LeBron join hockey great Gordie Howe and his sons Mark and Marty as the only father to play with two sons on a professional team?
LeBron makes no secret of his love of horror movies, and him taking the court too old to compete with two sons who aren’t NBA caliber would elicit shrieks. A lot will depend on Bryce’s development in Tucson. If it takes him, say, three years to become NBA-ready, his father will be pushing 44. Also, Bronny must continue to improve.
Maybe LeBron doing his part is the least of the worries. He certainly doesn’t doubt himself.
“To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level probably for about another — it’s weird that I might say this — but probably about another five to seven years, if I wanted to,” James told reporters last week. “But I’m not going to do that.”
Forcing the father-sons event as a going-away gesture probably wouldn’t be wise. But it doesn’t seem like a notion the James family is willing to let go.
And for now, it’s all just more fuel for LeBron, who it merits mentioning is averaging 23.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.9 assists while playing 35 minutes a game in his 22nd season.
New Year 2025 is here, and as if there wasn’t enough on your travel bucket list already, we are about to convince you why you should add another destination to that ever-growing list: Vietnam. Whether you’re a first-time traveller or a seasoned vacationer, Delhi-based content creator Aanchal (Instagram handle Aanchal Around The World) is here to show you why you should be going to Vietnam soon – she recently shared a post on how to travel on a budget to Vietnam. Also read | First time-traveller to Vietnam? 5 Things you must do here
Things to know if you want to travel on a budget to Vietnam. (Representative picture: Peek.com)
“I still can’t believe I was able to do an international trip on a budget of only ₹30,000 for a WHOLE week excluding flights, but they’re also very affordable,” she wrote in the caption of her travel video.
Travelling on a budget doesn’t always mean giving up comfort or delicious meals. Aanchal has tried to show that with strategic planning and patience, you can plan an unforgettable vacation that caters to your needs without straining your finances. From visiting some of the prettiest travel spots in the Southeast Asian country and wandering the lantern-filled streets to eating delicious traditional Vietnamese food, there is so much to do. Read on to see what are her top things to do in Vietnam.
Accomodation
“I stayed at a mix of cute hostels and boutique hotels that were such good value for money that they never once felt like a compromise on style or comfort. These are the places I stayed at and highly recommend – Meander in Ho Chi Minh City, Ivy Hotel in Hoi An and Sofiana My Khe in Da Nang,” she said.
Food
Aanchal also said, ‘The most beautiful, trendy and aesthetic restaurants in Vietnam are SO CHEAP! For example, a big portion of an avocado toast with eggs and a fresh coconut was only ₹480 at Nourish Eatery in Hoi An. And if you opt for local food, it’ll be even cheaper.”
Travel
“It’s very convenient and affordable to get a taxi from Grab. For example, my cab from the airport to my hostel in Ho Chi Minh was only ₹300 and to get to most tourist spots within the city I only ever spent about ₹100 each time,” Aanchal added.
Her perfect itinerary for your trip to Vietnam
⦿ Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and visit Nguyen Hue Street and The Cafe Apartment.
⦿ Day 2: Today in Ho Chi Minh, visit Saigon Central Post Office, Tan Dinh Pink Church and Book Street.
⦿ Day 3: Take a flight to Da Nang and then a taxi to reach Hoi An. Explore the ancient town, get custom clothes at one of the many tailor shops here, try coconut coffee at Moments Hoi An and go on a sunset lantern boat.
⦿ Day 4: Take a taxi back to Da Nang and stay in the My Khe beach area. The only tourist attractions in Da Nang are Lady Buddha and Dragon Bridge but you can also take a day trip to Ba Na Hills from here. There’s also great restaurants like Maia, I Vegan and Roots that you must visit.
⦿ Day 5: Reach Hanoi via a flight and visit train street.
⦿ Day 6: From Hanoi, take a bus to Sapa and explore Cat Cat Village, go on the Fansipan Cable Car and enjoy the nature.
⦿ Day 7: Go to Halong Bay for a cruise (I didn’t) or back to Hanoi to travel back home.
With games like Baldur’s Gate 3, Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Bros. Wonder topping the charts, it’s fair to say that 2023 was always going to be a tough act to follow.
However, despite one or two high-profile flops along the way (Suicide Squad and Star Wars Outlaws, for example), 2024 wasn’t actually too far behind.
As you can see from the top 10 list below (based on Metacritic scores), fans were treated to a nice mixture of triple-A blockbusters and indie hits in 2024.
This includes a brand new IP from the makers of Persona, a PS5 platformer on par with Mario, and a Poker game so addictive it should come with a warning.
It wasn’t a banner year for Nintendo fans, mind you, as no Nintendo Switch exclusives made it into the top 10 for 2024.
10. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
Launching early in 2024, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is the definitive version of a Naughty Dog classic.
Upgraded for the PS5, it adds 4K support in Fidelity mode, improved loading times, DualSense functionality and a host of other graphical and audio improvements.
More interesting, however, is the addition of playable deleted scenes, as well as developer commentary, Guitar free-play and the excellent roguelike survival mode.
(Image: SONY)
9. Balatro
Having racked up more than 50 hours of Balatro within just a couple of weeks, I’m surprised to see the Poker roguelike appear so low on the list.
The game sees players attempt to beat a target score by playing classic poker hands like flushes, full houses etc. The twist, however, is that you can pick up booster cards and modifiers that can multiply your score and money earned.
This includes Joker cards with special properties. One Joker may give you an extra card at the start of the round, while another will let you discard additional cards when building your hand.
(Image: BALATRO)
7. Animal Well
Animal Well is a Metroidvania with a difference. While most Metroidvania games see players shoot or slash their way through hordes of enemies, Animal Well is far more understated.
You’ll still need to discover items and upgrades to open new areas, only instead of powerful rockets and supernatural transformations, you’ll find flying discs to distract dogs and firecrackers to scare away ghosts.
Despite its simple art style, Animal Well is a hauntingly beautiful game with bags of atmosphere.
The rugged little Jimny might steal the headlines, but the Suzuki Swift is another iconic model from the Japanese small-car specialist that’s also a bit of a legend in its own right.
Since its modern rebirth, the Swift has earned plenty of fans with its solid build quality, sharp sticker price, and enjoyable driving dynamics.
Late in its life, the third generation moved away from one of those key pillars. The last Swift crept up consistently in price throughout its time on sale in Australia, to the point it became quite hard to recommend.
The fourth-generation model you see here rights that wrong. With a starting price below $25,000 drive-away, it’s among the nation’s cheapest new cars, and even the mid-range variant on test here costs less than $29,000 drive-away.
It’s a far cry from the days of sub-$20,000 drive-away, no more to pay deals, but in the context of its main rivals it’s pretty sharp.
Throw in the promise of new interior technology, more space, and a more efficient mild-hybrid powertrain, and the new Swift looks like a return to form on paper.
So let’s see how the Hybrid Plus stacks up in the real world.
How does the Suzuki Swift compare?
View a detailed breakdown of the Suzuki Swift against similarly sized vehicles.
Suzuki
Swift
How much does the Suzuki Swift cost?
The new-generation Swift Hybrid range starts from $24,490 drive-away.
Model
Drive-Away Pricing
2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid 5MT
$24,490
2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid CVT
$26,990
2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus CVT
$28,490
2024 Suzuki Swift Hybrid GLX CVT
$29,990
To see how the Swift lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What is the Suzuki Swift like on the inside?
Simplicity is the name of the game here. There’s not a heap of expensive soft-touch plastics, but it’s a comfortable space with a much improved technology suite.
The driver and passenger sit in cloth-trimmed seats with squidgy bases and reasonably pronounced bolsters. You get plenty of support on longer drives, and long-legged drivers will be able to get comfortable behind the wheel without too much fuss.
Suzuki’s leather-wrapped steering wheel feels like a quality item, and most of what you touch is solid enough. With that said, the doors take a solid pull to get closed – anything less and they don’t swing shut because they’re so light, which isn’t something you’d ever say about a Volkswagen Polo or Toyota Yaris.
The new 9.0-inch touchscreen is a massive improvement on the laggy system in the last Swift.
It starts up fast, and wireless smartphone mirroring connects reliably. Although it lacks the polish of a Toyota system, the graphics are slick enough and the menu structure is easy to break down on the move.
As for the instruments? You still get analogue dials here, but Suzuki has finally fitted a digital speedometer in the colour trip computer. It makes a huge difference, and negates some of the need for a proper digital instrument binnacle.
There are three USB ports: a USB-A outlet for wired smartphone mirroring, and two USB-C ports for fast charging.
There’s a slot at the base of the dashboard that’s perfect for a phone and wallet, and the cupholders will hold small coffee cups or bigger water bottles without too much stress. The flimsy door pockets also have space for a bottle.
Storage space on the transmission tunnel is impacted by the old-school manual handbrake, and there’s no covered central armrest in this Hybrid Plus.
Rear seat space is solid for the class. The rear doors are relatively large for such a small car, so it’s easier to fold adults in there, and once in there’s enough space for normal-height adults to sit behind normal-height adults on shorter trips.
This isn’t set up to be a family car, but it’s passable by class standards. ISOFIX child seat anchor points feature on the outboard rear seats, and there’s a trio of top-tethers. You don’t get air vents or USB ports though, which is in line with its rivals.
To see how the Swift lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
All versions of the Swift in Australia get a 1.2-litre petrol engine with a 12V mild-hybrid system.
Technical Specifications
Suzuki Swift Hybrid
Engine
1.2L 3cyl petrol with 12V MHEV
Power
60kW @ 5700rpm
Torque
110Nm @ 4500rpm
ISG e-assist
2.3kW 60Nm
Transmission
CVT
Driven wheels
Front
Fuel consumption – claimed
4.0L/100km
Fuel consumption – as tested
5.0L/100km
CO2 emissions – claimed
90g/km
Emissions standard
Euro 6
Fuel tank capacity
37 litres
Fuel octane rating
95 RON premium unleaded
To see how the Swift lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Suzuki Swift drive?
On the road, this is immediately identifiable as a Suzuki Swift.
European model shown
From the light steering to the way it rides, even to the surprisingly effervescent three-cylinder hybrid powertrain, this is a city car that punches above its weight.
Although Suzuki calls the Swift a hybrid, it’s a very ‘mild’ example of the breed. The engine turns off quickly and smoothly as you coast to a stop, and the 12V mild-hybrid system is able to offer a small performance boost when you put your foot down, but it’s not quite on the same level as a Toyota hybrid when it comes to electric-ness.
Put your foot down and the three-cylinder engine thrums away determinedly, offering a gentle shove in the back. This isn’t a hot hatch, but it has enough punch to squirt quickly away from the traffic lights.
Although there’s a manual option (a proper five-speed throwback), most owners will opt for the CVT auto here. It occasionally feels elastic, but most drivers won’t ever really think about it – on light inputs it just hums along, before flaring revs only when you’re in a hurry.
The light steering is perfect for life in the city. The Swift darts down tight laneways with minimal effort, and can be reversed parked with a pinky. It’s a shame the reversing camera is so poor; it’s the only real knock on what’s otherwise an easy car to deal with in tight spaces.
If you’re in a hurry, there’s some real fun to be had here. Some cars fall apart when you fling them into a corner, but the Swift genuinely enjoys it.
Very few cars – sports cars, city cars, whatever – weigh less than a tonne in 2024, but even with its new mild-hybrid system and CVT transmission the Hybrid Plus scrapes in below that mark. It makes for a hatch that’s very light on its feet, and offers something for owners who enjoy driving.
Ride quality is solid over pimply city streets, and at higher speeds the Swift feels settled enough given its size.
You’ll notice how light it is in crosswinds, or when there’s big trucks around though. We had the Swift during Melbourne’s mini hurricane, which only exacerbated the feeling.
Also noticeable is the hybrid system’s limited power output at 100km/h.
This isn’t designed to be a family car for long stints on the open road, so it’s not exactly a death sentence. And it’s clear work has gone into improving stability and refinement, with less wind and road noise on the move than before.
Despite being slapped with a one-star ANCAP safety rating (see below), the Suzuki’s active driver assists are impressive. The adaptive cruise control smartly maintains a gap to the car in front, and the lane centring system means you can relax more easily on long drives as it actively positions the vehicle in its lane.
The autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system is far less prone to false positives than before, so it no longer slams on the brakes when it sees parked cars nearby.
What do you get?
On test here is the mid-range Swift Hybrid Plus, which only comes with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
Swift Hybrid standard equipment:
Five-speed manual or CVT automatic transmission
9.0-inch touchscreen navigation system
Apple CarPlay – wireless
Android Auto – wired
DAB+ digital radio
Keyless entry and start
LED headlights – projector type
Automatic headlight on, off
Automatic high-beam
Rear fog light
Heated side mirrors
Traffic sign recognition
Security alarm
Digital speedometer
Idle stop/start
Swift Hybrid Plus adds:
CVT as standard
16-inch alloy wheels
Rear privacy glass
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Heated front seats
Premium fabric upholstery
Type-A, Type-C USB ports
Driver’s seat height adjustment
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
To see how the Swift lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Suzuki Swift safe?
The new Suzuki Swift attracted a three-star Euro NCAP crash test rating, and more recently a surprising one-star rating from its local affiliate ANCAP, due to differences in safety specifications.
ANCAP gave the new Swift the following category scores, and said the Australian-spec Swifts performed differently to European versions in local crash testing.
Category
Rating
Adult occupant protection
47 per cent
Child occupant protection
59 per cent
Vulnerable road user protection
76 per cent
Safety assist
54 per cent
Standard safety features include:
Dual Camera Brake Support System (AEB)
Lane departure warning
Lane departure prevention – lane keep
Weaving Alert
Rear parking sensors
Reversing camera
Security alarm
Traffic sign recognition
Swift Hybrid Plus adds:
Blind-spot monitoring
Rear cross-traffic alert
To see how the Swift lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Suzuki Swift cost to run?
Suzuki covers its range in Australia with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Servicing and Warranty
Suzuki Swift Hybrid
Warranty
5 years, unlimited kilometres
Roadside assistance
5 years
Capped price servicing
5 years or 100,000 kilometres
Service intervals
12 months or 15,000 kilometres
Total capped price service cost
$1955
To see how the Swift lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Suzuki Swift
This is affordable, efficient motoring done right.
Rather than getting distracted and trying to turn the Swift into something it’s never been, Suzuki has improved on the formula with a new powertrain, more modern interior, and bigger body.
You don’t need to stretch to the top of the range, either. The mid-range Swift Plus comes with plenty of equipment, offers the sort of efficiency we’ve come to expect from more expensive hybrid vehicles, and is genuinely fun to drive.
This is a return to form for the Swift name, and rights the wrongs that undermined the previous model late in its life.
The base model isn’t exactly short on equipment, but the extra safety kit in the Plus is worth having. That’s relevant for everyone, but especially for the first- and last-car buyers who’ve flocked to the Swift since its modern rebirth.
Interested in buying a Suzuki Swift? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
The order passed by Sebi’s adjudicating officer said the contents of the earlier Show Cause Notice (SCN) issued to them will also be incorporated “in the SCN to be issued in the instant matter”.
ZEEL and its top management are under Sebi scrutiny for alleged violations of disclosure norms and initially a show cause notice was issued to them in July 2022.
Markets watchdog Sebi on Thursday said it will slap a fresh show cause notice on ZEEL founder chairman Subhash Chandra, and his son Punit Goenka as it vowed to continue the investigation into alleged violation of listing norms against the media baron and his company.
The order passed by Sebi’s adjudicating officer said the contents of the earlier Show Cause Notice (SCN) issued to them will also be incorporated “in the SCN to be issued in the instant matter”.
The ZEEL and its top management are under Sebi scrutiny for alleged violations of disclosure norms and initially a show cause notice was issued to them in July 2022.
Following the July 2022 show cause notice, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) and Punit Goenka filed settlement applications with the Sebi.
However, the application to settle the adjudication proceedings was rejected by a panel of whole-time members of Sebi and the matter was referred to the markets watchdog for further investigation.
“In this regard, it has been observed that subsequent to completion of investigation in the instant matter, it has been decided by the competent authority to proceed against the noticees under Section 11B of SEBI Act 1992,” the order said.
Section 11B pertains to Sebi’s powers to issue notices and impose penalties.
The order further said, “the content of the SCN dated July 6, 2022 issued by the Adjudicating Officer (AO) including the examination report and all the relied upon documents will be treated as integral part of the further investigation report by Sebi in the matter of ZEEL”.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
News business » markets Sebi to Continue Proceedings Against ZEEL, Issue Fresh Show Cause Notice
In the latest development, Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon appeared before a United States magistrate on Jan. 2, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the first legal hearing in Manhattan since his extradition to the US.
Kwon faces several counts of securities fraud, wire fraud, money laundering charges, and commodities fraud for his role in the collapse of the Terra ecosystem in 2022.
Previously, Montenegro had approved Do Kwon’s extradition to the US over TerraUSD and Luna crypto collapse, rejecting South Korea’s request. Earlier, the Supreme Court of Montenegro had ruled that the legal conditions for extraditing Do Kwon were met, following extradition requests from both South Korea and the United States.
The specific height of your standing desk largely depends on your own height. If you’re a shorter individual, you’ll want to make sure it can adjust to a low standing height, and for taller people, you’ll want it to be able to go higher. One of the biggest things we learned when switching to a standing desk is that ideally, the desk will sit where your elbows can rest comfortably at a 90-degree angle and your monitor is directly in front of your face so you’re not straining your neck. This will have the least amount of wear and tear on your body while standing.
What are different types of standing desks?
Our best list focuses on two main types of standing desks, electric and manual sit-stand desks, there are also standing desk converters and fixed-standing desks. The desks on our list are either lifted via electric or manual means and can change height to fit either a seated or standing position, a standing desk converter is a stand you put on top of a seated desk to bring your monitors or laptop up higher, adding height to your mouse and screen without actually moving your desk. The fixed-standing desks don’t have the option to lower them to a seated height.
Are standing desks worth it?
If you’re looking to lose weight, a standing desk alone may not help. Where the benefits do come in is by decreasing the amount of time your body is sedentary and improving your productivity. It’s especially helpful for those who feel like sitting at their desk all day gives them neck and/or back pain. When struggling with these issues, you may find that a standing desk is very worth the cost.
Something to keep in mind with a standing desk is that standing for long periods can wear on the feet and legs as you get used to it. You’ll want to be sure you’re switching to sitting every once in a while to prevent this fatigue and be mindful of the shoes you choose to wear for the day.
How long will a standing desk last?
The length of time you can expect to get out of a desk depends on a few things — quality, warranty and usage. A desk that’s made of higher quality material will last much longer. When you have a desk with a longer warranty, you know you’ll be able to get more years out of the desk. As with anything, the more the desk is moved up and down, the more wear the desk will have which may lessen the amount of time you get out of it. On average, you typically see a good-standing desk last around five to ten years.
What are the benefits of using a standing desk?
A 2021 study has shown that people who worked at a standing desk were found to be more productive, healthier and less sedentary. This included a decrease in neck, shoulder and back pain as well as improved mood.
Do I have to have my standing desk near a plug socket?
The proximity needed to a plug socket for your standing desk depends on your electronic setup as well as whether or not your desk is electric or has technical components like wireless chargers. If you have an electric lift desk, you will want it to be close enough to plug in so you can switch it from sitting to standing as the motors won’t work without power. Those with a desktop computer will also want to be close to a plug so you can power your computer without cords trailing across the office.
If you have a well-charged laptop or don’t plan to use a computer at your desk and you choose a manual standing desk with no electronics on top, then you wouldn’t necessarily have to have your desk near a plug socket.
Are standing desks adjustable?
CNET
There are fixed standing desks that are a certain height and don’t move up or down, but the standing desks we recommend are all adjustable. The electric ones lower and raise at the push of a button, some even having memory settings for several different heights, while the manual ones have a crank or other mechanism you move to raise or lower the desktop. You’ll want to check the minimum and maximum height on each desk, as they will all be different, to ensure it will be comfortable for your sitting and standing height.
Are standing desks easy to assemble?
CNET
As with any desk, some are easier to assemble than others. Those with storage tend to have a few more pieces and would be easier to assemble with multiple people. Some are a more simple and light design, easy to put together on your own. Our top pick, the Branch Standing Desk, only took about 30 minutes to put together alone.
What is the maximum weight capacity of a standing desk?
The weight capacity of a standing desk will increase with heavier-duty materials for both the desktop and the frame, as well as the motors for electric desks. Typically, dual motor vs single motor desks will have a higher weight capacity, as will desks made of steel as opposed to aluminum. The Uplift Standing Desk V2 on our list carries the most at 355 lbs with its steel frame and dual motors, one for each leg of the frame.
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More than a third of Americans report making New Year’s resolutions, statistics show, many of which are focused on kicking bad habits.
Whether it’s smoking, overeating, drinking excessive alcohol or “doom-scrolling” on social media instead of sleeping, 72% of U.S. adults report having at least one unhealthy behavior, according to data from the United Health Foundation.
Dr. Adi Jaffe, a California-based psychologist, knows firsthand the dangers of unhealthy habits, as he once struggled with drug addiction himself.
CDC WARNS OF DEADLY DRUG 100 TIMES MORE POTENT THAN FENTANYL, OVERDOSES SPIKE IN PAST YEAR
“I got trapped in the world of drugs and alcohol, from the middle of high school until a few years after college,” he shared with Fox News Digital during an on-camera interview.
Dr. Adi Jaffe, a California-based psychologist, struggled with drug addiction in his youth and now helps others overcome unhealthy habits.(Adi Jaffe, PhD)
“Addiction doesn’t separate by gender or age or race or income — people from all walks of life are impacted.”
Jaffe ultimately spent time in jail before getting clean and returning to school, earning two master’s degrees and a PhD in psychology.
“I wanted to understand what happened to me — and then what I’ve done over the last 15 years, hopefully, is bring those lessons to others who are struggling.”
“Addiction doesn’t separate by gender or age or race or income — people of all walks of life are impacted.”
Today, Jaffe focuses on helping people beat addiction and improve their mental health. In his upcoming book — “Unhooked: Free Yourself from Addiction Forever” — he shares a step-by-step program to help people free themselves from harmful habits.
Jaffe shared with Fox News Digital some of his tips and insights.
Recognizing the behavior
While many people think of addiction as involving drugs or alcohol, Jaffe noted that it can take many forms.
Many people assume that the behavior itself is the problem, the psychologist said — but there is almost always an underlying reason for those unhealthy or harmful choices.(iStock)
“If you engage in a behavior of any sort over long periods of time that robs you of your ability to be fully present in your life — and it bothers you, but you can’t find yourself stopping it, even though you’ve tried over and over — to me, that qualifies,” he said.
In addiction to substance abuse, addictive behaviors might include “doom-scrolling” on your phone for hours a day, binge-eating, gambling or indulging in other unhealthy activities.
SEVERE HEALTH RISKS OF VAPING AND E-CIGARETTES, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH, SAY EXPERTS
People can be addicted to work and success, too, Jaffe noted.
“When things get hard and get tough, they want to go to work,” he said. “They believe success or performance will make them feel better, but it can cause damage just like other addictions.”
“Doom-scrolling” on social media is a potentially addictive behavior, the psychologist noted.(iStock)
Social media is another form of addiction, the expert said.
“When your phone buzzes or pings, you don’t know what’s there, so it’s a novelty that’s interesting, and it releases dopamine,” he said. “You almost literally cannot help yourself.”
Identifying the ‘hooks’
Many people assume that the behavior itself is the problem, Jaffe said — but there is almost always an underlying reason for those unhealthy or harmful choices.
“The behavior was actually a medicine of sorts for a problematic undercurrent.”
“The reason you do it is that at some point earlier in your life, there was pain or struggle or emotional discomfort,” he said.
“And you discovered that when you engaged in the behavior, that discomfort went away. So the behavior was actually a medicine of sorts for a problematic undercurrent.”
More than a third of Americans report making New Year’s resolutions, statistics show, many of which are focused on kicking bad habits.(iStock)
For Jaffe, when he was 14 or 15 years old, his “hook” was social anxiety.
“And when somebody handed me a bottle of vodka at some sleepaway camp, I drank it because I didn’t want to look awkward,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“Once I started drinking, I had no anxiety and felt like I belonged. I felt like I could talk to people. And so I realized that alcohol had ‘solved’ this problem.”
“Once I started drinking, I had no anxiety and felt like I belonged. I felt like I could talk to people. And so I realized that alcohol had ‘solved’ this problem.”(iStock)
Everyone has different hooks, Jaffe said, but there are similarities and patterns.
“We start living our lives trying to escape the discomfort of the hooks.”
Replacing the habit
Once people have identified an unhealthy behavior, one of the biggest mistakes they make is just trying to stop it without a plan, according to Jaffe.
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“We try to stop ourselves from doing what we don’t like,” he noted. “Especially around New Year’s, people might say, ‘I’m going to stop eating bad foods or I’m going to stop being lazy,’” he said.
Research has shown, however, that the most important aspect of kicking a bad habit is to replace the negative behavior with a positive one, the psychologist noted.
The most important aspect of kicking a bad habit is to replace the negative behavior with a positive one.(iStock)
“We have to stop trying to just eliminate bad habits — it doesn’t work,” Jaffe said. “We have to replace them with something else.”
For example, if someone wants to quit smoking, they might keep gum or sunflower seeds in their pocket, he said.
“You just have to keep going.”
Or, if someone is too focused on work, that might mean letting go of some tasks and delegating them to other people.
Jaffe also emphasized that the process of kicking a bad habit isn’t always perfect or seamless, and that slipping up from time to time doesn’t equate to failure.
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“It’s okay to fall flat on your face a number of times while you’re working on changing this,” he said.
“You just have to keep going.”
Jaffe’s book, “Unhooked: Free Yourself from Addiction Forever,” will be available on Jan. 7.
Varun Dhawan’s New Year celebration was a whole mood. The actor jetted off on a beach vacation with his family — wife Natasha Dalal and their daughter Lara. On the first day of 2025, he posted a snap from his tropical escapade on his Instagram Stories. It appeared that before taking a “dip in the ocean”, Varun treated himself to an exotic fruit platter. Arranged on the plate were melon slices, triangular-shaped watermelon slices and papaya chunks topped with blueberries. The words “Happy New Year” were written on the plate with chocolate sauce. The picture shows Varun’s healthy start for 2025. Even on a holiday, he keeps a strong check on his diet. Take a look:
Last month, Varun Dhawan made a pitstop at Ahmedabad. He was promoting his film Baby John which hit the silver screens on Christmas Day. The actor was accompanied by his co-star Wamiqa Gabbi. Taking some time out from his hectic schedule, Varun embarked on a culinary trail. He relished a wholesome Gujarati thali. The actor was seen sitting at the table with his Baby John team. On the table, we spotted chapatti, palak ki sabji, khatti mithi dry dal and methi ka thepla. Curd and a glass of chaas completed Varun’s gastronomical expedition. “Gujarati thali to Atal bridge majja aavi gayi!! (Gujrati thali ti Atal bridge was a lot of fun). 6 days left see you on Christmas Baby John,” said his caption. Read the full story here.
Also Read:After Having Mithai For His Cheat Meal, Varun Dhawan Balanced It With This Homecooked Meal
We are excited to find out Varun’s next culinary adventure.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-01/China-unveils-interim-measures-for-flexible-retirement-system-1zO97WOPTVe/img/11a01f21413e43bc8fc0f8c1c71d0020/11a01f21413e43bc8fc0f8c1c71d0020.jpeg' alt='An image displays the words "raising the statutory retirement age" in Chinese. /CFP'
China on Wednesday announced interim measures for the implementation of a flexible retirement system to enforce the previously adopted policy of incrementally raising the statutory retirement age.
The measures stipulate the procedures for applying for flexible retirement and the requirements for receiving basic pensions, among other details.
According to the measures, the statutory retirement age for men will be gradually raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting from January 1, 2025. Meanwhile, the retirement age for female cadres will be raised from 55 to 58, and that of female blue-collar workers will move from 50 to 55.
He built a huge audience with ridiculous (and catchy) songs on social media. Despite negotiating a record deal and landing a European tour, he has no plans to change.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
PREMA brojnim glasinama, Apple napokon planira lansirati novi iPhone SE ove godine. Posljednji model SE izašao je 2022., što znači da je ovo dugo očekivana nadogradnja. Međutim nova glasina sugerira da Apple neće zadržati naziv iPhone SE za ovaj uređaj, već će ga nazvati iPhone 16E.
Ovaj potez bi mogao označiti promjenu u Appleovoj strategiji, jer bi SE linija prvi put bila uključena u glavnu iPhone seriju. Do sada je SE uvijek bio odvojen, a neki su smatrali da Apple nije dovoljno ulagao u ovaj segment.
Što znamo o iPhoneu 16E?
Prema dostupnim informacijama, iPhone 16E će izgledati slično iPhoneu 14 i dolazit će u samo dvije klasične boje. Prvi put će imati OLED zaslon i podršku za Face ID, što je velika promjena za SE modele.
Ostale značajke uključuju 8 GB RAM-a, A18 čipset i 48 MP glavnu kameru preuzetu iz modela iPhone 16.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Osim toga, procurila je i fotografija okvira. Kreator sadržaja Majin Bu je na X-u (Twitteru) objavio sliku navodnog dizajna nadolazećeg mobitela. Prema njemu boje koje će navodno biti dostupne su bijela i crna.
Prema glasinama, početna cijena će biti 499 američkih dolara (oko 481 eura), što je nešto skuplje od prethodnog modela. Ipak, s obzirom na poboljšanja u dizajnu i performansama, to je i dalje povoljna opcija za one koji žele iPhone, ali ne mogu ili ne žele uložiti u skuplje modele.
Službeno predstavljanje očekuje se u prvoj polovici 2025.
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In an instant, Oregon’s dream of a perfect season vanished.
Throughout the lead-up to the Rose Bowl, Oregon coach Dan Lanning emphasized preparation at every opportunity. Yet, in the heavyweight rematch, his team took the punch to the mouth and never recovered, suffering a lopsided 41-21 loss.
“They clicked tonight, and we didn’t,” Lanning said. “I didn’t get our team prepared.”
“Clicking” on offense may be an understatement. The Buckeyes looked unstoppable.
Ohio State’s high-powered offense scored quickly and often, racking up 34 points by halftime. Oregon, on the other hand, struggled to sustain drives, scoring only once before the half and failing to get much going against Ohio State’s stifling defense.
It was a showcase of the Buckeyes’ talent. The Ducks’ talent helped them earn the No. 1 seed as the only undefeated team in the country, including an October victory over Ohio State. But in the biggest game of their season, “We didn’t have the ability to stop them,” Lanning said.
The Ducks’ difficulty performing at the level they had all season was frustrating for Lanning and his team.
Could it have been the nearly monthlong break between the Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl? Lanning dismissed that as an excuse, saying, “I thought our guys prepared well going in. Obviously, they had a better plan than us.”
Highlights from Ohio State’s 41-21 win over Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.
Did Ohio State’s Ryan Day outcoach Lanning, who was hailed as a master strategist after his team edged the Buckeyes 32-31 in October?
“Coach Day and his staff have done an unbelievable job,” Lanning said. “We have to find ways to prepare ourselves for these moments better as a coaching staff.”
Or perhaps Ohio State was simply that much better and proved it.
“When you play a great team like Ohio State, you can’t not be clicking on all cylinders,” Lanning said.
Lanning said his team never gave up as it tried to mount a comeback.
“There wasn’t a second we stepped on the field where I felt our guys were disheartened,” he said.
This was especially true of quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Despite the seemingly insurmountable deficit and eight sacks, he popped right back up and searched for answers.
Just before halftime, Gabriel led the Ducks on a 75-yard scoring drive, capping it with a touchdown pass. He opened the second half with another 75-yard scoring drive.
Ultimately, he was outdueled by Will Howard, who ended Gabriel’s best chance at winning a national championship.
“Dillon did an unbelievable job there at the end of the half creating a spark for our team,” Lanning said. “It was this guy busting his tail.”
The clock ran out on the senior quarterback’s college career — an unceremonious end to a journey that took him across the nation to Central Florida and Oklahoma before he became a Heisman Trophy finalist after steering Oregon to a Big Ten title in its first season in the conference.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith points to Oregon safety Kobe Savage after scoring a touchdown during the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The Ducks came up short of winning their first football championship, fumbling their best chance to overcome that hurdle since 2015, a season that also ended with a loss to Ohio State in the title game.
Will this loss serve as the fuel needed to drive them forward, building on the program’s success to win that elusive title? For now, the wounds are too fresh for Lanning and his crew.
“We’re probably not there yet,” Lanning said. “There’s disappointment. … Adversity happens in life. And we’re going to get an opportunity in life to continue to attack and move forward.”
2025 is here. New Year means new possibilities and new plans to travel around the globe. The public holiday calendar for this year is filled with endless opportunities for going on long weekends, as several key holidays fall on a weekend – about 13 long weekends, to be precise. So, in case your resolution for this year is to tick off places from your bucket list, this is the time to organize your offs for the year ahead. Here’s the list we curated with all the dates to help you plan better.
Here’s the list of long weekends in 2025. (Canva)
Also Read | ‘Little potato’ travel trend boosts tourism in China’s cold northeast region
The Complete Long Weekends List of 2025
1) January 11, Saturday
January 12, Sunday
January 13, Monday: Lohri (Restricted Holiday)
January 14, Tuesday: Pongal, Makar Sankranti (Restricted Holiday)
Long weekends in February
There are no holidays or festivals in February. However, Valentine’s Day (February 14) falls on a Friday. So, this is how you can make it into a long weekend –
February 14, Friday: Take a day off
February 15, Saturday
February 16, Sunday
1) March 13, Thursday: Holika Dahana (Restricted Holiday)
March 14, Friday: Holi
March 15, Saturday
March 16, Sunday
2) March 29, Saturday
March 30, Sunday
March 31, Monday: Eid-Ul-Fitr (Tentative Date)
Optional – Friday, March 28: Take a leave
1) April 10, Thursday: Mahavir Jayanti (Restricted Holiday)
April 11, Friday: Take the day off
April 12, Saturday
April 13, Sunday: Vaisakhi (Restricted Holiday)
April 14, Monday: Dr Ambedkar Jayanti (Restricted Holiday)
2) April 18, Friday: Good Friday
April 19, Saturday
April 20, Sunday: Easter
Optional – Monday, April 21: Take a day off
1) Saturday, May 10
Sunday, May 11
Monday, May 12: Buddha Purnima (Restricted Holiday)
Optional – Monday, May 13: Take a day off
1) August 15, Friday: Independence Day
August 16, Saturday: Janmashtami (Restricted Holiday)
August 17, Sunday
Optional – Monday, August 18: Take a day off
2) August 27, Wednesday – Ganesh Chaturthi (Restricted Holiday)
August 28, Thursday – Take a day off
Friday, August 29 – Take a day off
Saturday, August 30
Sunday, August 31
Long weekends in September
1) September 5, Friday: Id-e-Milad, Onam
September 6, Saturday
September 7, Sunday
Optional – September 8, Monday: Take the day off
1) October 1, Wednesday: Maha Navami (restricted)
October 2, Thursday: Dussehra, Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
This week marks the 79th anniversary of the release of 1945’s They Were Expendable, a film set during the Battle of the Philippines which took place just a couple of years prior.
The film’s cinematic debut was pushed back to late December 1945 since the Japanese had surrendered earlier that year.
Yet despite good reviews, there was a low turnout at the box office with John Wayne later noting: “People had seen eight million war stories by the time the picture came out, and they were tired of them.”
It’s well known that Duke didn’t manage to serve in World War 2 and so was constantly insulted by director John Ford on set.
The filmmaker had commanded a naval photographic unit as a Captain and considered his star a coward for staying home.
Yet despite good reviews, there was a low turnout at the box office with John Wayne later noting: “People had seen eight million war stories by the time the picture came out, and they were tired of them.” It’s well known that Duke didn’t manage to serve in World War II and so was constantly insulted by director John Ford on set. The filmmaker had commanded a naval photographic unit as a Captain and considered his star a coward for staying home.
Months went by with Ford vocally abusing Wayne, who put up with it because the director had made him a star in 1939’s Stagecoach. Yet this all stopped when Duke’s co-star Robert Montgomery got involved and approached the filmmaker. The actor, who had also served as a naval officer in the war, told Ford that if he was insulting Wayne for his benefit then he must cease immediately. The notoriously hard director was reduced to tears by this and stopped berating Duke from then on.
In an Instagram post marking They Were Expendable’s 79th anniversary, Wayne’s estate defended his lack of World War 2 service.
The post read: “Though many had questioned John Wayne’s getting an exemption from military service during World War II, it was not entirely his fault. Duke was exempted from service due to his age (34 at the time of Pearl Harbor) and family status, classified as 3-A (family deferment). He repeatedly wrote to John Ford, asking to be placed in Ford’s military unit, but Ford consistently postponed it until after he had finished one more film.
“John Wayne did not attempt to prevent his reclassification as 1-A (draft eligible), but Republic Pictures was emphatically resistant to losing him; Herbert J. Yates, President of Republic, threatened Duke with a lawsuit if he walked away from his contract and Republic intervened in the Selective Service process, requesting his further deferment.”
The New South Wales road toll increased by two-thirds this Christmas and New Year holiday period compared to 12 months prior, while police had a busy time issuing double demerit penalties.
From 12:01am Friday, December 20, 2024 until 11:59pm Wednesday, January 1, 2025, New South Wales Police ran Operation Christmas/New Year 2024, which enforced double demerits for speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt, and motorcycle helmet offences.
Across the 13-day period, 10 road users died in the state, four more than the six deaths recorded in the final weeks of 2023. A total of 1009 major crashes were also attended across the 13 days.
While the double demerit period ran for a shorter amount of time to close 2023 and start 2024 (December 22 to January 1), deaths per day increased from an average of 0.55 to 0.77 year-on-year.
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NSW Police said Operation Christmas/New Year 2024 wrapped up with officers issuing a total of 9719 speed infringements, returning 1725 positive roadside drug detections, and 720 drink-driving charges off the back of 438,328 breath tests.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracey Chapman, Commander of Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, condemned those who were caught doing the wrong thing during the operation.
“We have seen an increase in dangerous drivers, with some of the highest numbers of speeding and drink driving offences being detected during this festive period,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Chapman in a media statement.
“Many of these drivers will accuse police of ruining their fun during the Christmas and New Year period, but these drivers have chosen to disobey the road rules, they have chosen to put other motorists at risk.”
“Police aren’t going to stop going after these drivers, so it is up to them to change their actions or get caught. Over 1700 drivers were detected driving with the presence of drugs in their system, close to 10,000 were speeding. These aren’t the numbers we want to see.
“I continue to urge all drivers and passengers that if you see dangerous driving to contact police and keep our roads safe.
The staggering number of positive roadside drug detections comes after a major policy change in September 2024, when a new law was introduced to grant NSW Police officers more power to arrest alleged drug drivers on the spot.
Motorists who return a positive roadside oral test for drugs can be placed under arrest, instead of needing to be taken to a police station or nearby testing bus.
The first test is sent to a lab for analysis while a second on-the-spot test is conducted and, if this returns a positive result as well, the motorist is banned from driving for the next 24 hours.
It’s worth noting the presence of alcohol in a motorist’s system isn’t itself an offence, unless it reaches a prescribed legal limit, however it’s an offence for a motorist to have any amount of illegal drugs like cocaine in their system – which likely attributed to the far higher number of drug-driving charges over drink-driving.
Regardless of the change in policy, the 10 deaths on the state’s roads to close out the year came after the New South Wales road toll between December 2023 to November 2024 had already increased by 4.5 per cent compared to the 12 months prior.
Australia’s overall road toll across the same 12-month period was up by 6.1 per cent, with 1318 deaths recorded. Full-year figures for 2024 are expected in the coming days.
KPI Green Energy Ltd. had earlier carried out a bonus issue in 2024 and 2023.
Opening higher at Rs 839.90 apiece on the NSE on Thursday, shares of KPI Green Energy Ltd. rose over 2.5% to touch an intraday high of Rs 849.9.
Shares of KPI Green Energy Ltd. are expected to remain in focus on Thursday with a record date for the company’s bonus issue set on Friday. The key player in India’s renewable energy sector had earlier announced the issuance of bonus equity shares in a 1:2 ratio, offering 1 equity share at Rs 5 apiece for every existing 2 shares. The record date for this bonus issue was set for January 3.
The record date determines the eligibility of shareholders for the bonus issue. Those who own shares by this date receive the bonus shares.
The company’s board initially recommended the bonus issue on November 14, with the shares expected to be dispatched within two months from that date, by no later than January 14, 2025.
The bonus shares were proposed to be issued from the company’s securities premium account as of March 31, 2024.
KPI Green Energy Ltd. had earlier carried out a bonus issue in 2024 and 2023.
In 2024, the company issued bonus shares at a ratio of 1:2, meaning shareholders received one bonus share for every two shares they already owned. This followed a similar bonus share issuance in 2023, where the company had distributed shares at a 1:1 ratio, granting shareholders one bonus share for each share held.
KPI Green Energy Limited is a solar power generation company engaged in the development, ownership, operation, and maintenance of solar power plants.
Opening higher at Rs 839.90 apiece on the NSE on Thursday, shares of KPI Green Energy Ltd. rose over 2.5% to touch an intraday high of Rs 849.9.
Shares of KPI Green Energy have delivered stellar returns to its investors since making their debut on the National Stock Exchange in April 2022. The stock has jumped over 850% since it started trading on the NSE. In the short run, the stock has moved up by 80% in the past year and nearly 9% in one month. Over a six-month period, shares of KPI Green Energy, however, have slipped over 4%.
Apart from KPI Green Energy, shares of Redtape, Inertia Steel, Ceenik Exports (India), and Garware Technical Fibres will also trade ex-date on January 3.
News business » markets KPI Green Energy Jumps Nearly 3% Ahead Of Stock Turning Ex-Bonus On January 3
Yuxing Technology, a publicly listed company in Hong Kong, has made significant moves in the cryptocurrency market. Between July 25 and December 31, 2024, the company purchased 78.2 Bitcoin at an average price of $80,960 per unit, totaling $6.3 million. In order to fund this purchase, Yuxing has to sell 6.3 million USDT at an average price of $1 per unit.
The USDT proceeds were directly converted into Bitcoin, which shows how confident the firm is in crypto assets. Bitcoin is slightly out of focus from its last $100K mark and currently trading around $95K, though the market is bullish that it will get an upward boost this year with industry support.
Proposal to Add Bitcoin to Hong Kong’s Reserves
In a related development, Wu Jiexhuang, a member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council and chairman of the Web3 Virtual Asset Development Subcommittee, suggested that Bitcoin should be included in the region’s financial reserves. According to him it is a strategic move to bring financial stability to the country and will reduce dependency on traditional assets.
Jiexhuang highlighted the importance of leveraging Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” framework to explore innovative financial strategies. He claimed that if major economies in the world start adding Bitcoin to their reserves, its value will stabilize, encouraging other countries to follow suit. Hence as an outcome, it will actually drop the value of traditional assets, impacting government reserves tied to those assets.
Institutions are betting big on Bitcoin as it soars! Read Bitcoin price prediction to see how the bullish market could push it to new heights!
Efforts to Enhance Crypto Infrastructure
To stay ahead in the crypto game, The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) launched a Virtual Asset Index Series earlier this year. This index will provide a reliable price benchmark that will be set for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) pricing in Asia, to address the global price fluctuations.
Moreover, Hong Kong regulators are also about to finalize licensing for several crypto exchanges, including Crypto.com which shows the region’s commitment to become the fintech crypto hub in the world. Crypto is slow at the moment in Hong Kong due to regulations and licensing issues with crypto exchanges yet investors are confident that Bitcoin will give maximum returns than traditional assets.
Also Read :
Crypto Adoption Index 2024: US Ownership Hits 40%, Market Cap Soars
,
Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve plan has created a global impact and countries are debating whether to add Bitcoin to their mainstream financing model. Growing investor confidence shows that big bulls are ready to go all out for Bitcoin.
Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!
Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.
Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.
Connections: Sports Edition delivered an all-graphic game grid yesterday to start off 2025. Today, there are just two images, both of athletes. If you know who they are, you’re a step ahead, but if their smiling faces don’t ring a bell, today’s puzzle could be a struggle. Shake it off (that’s a hint to one of the photos) and read on for hints and answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle.
For now, the game is in beta, which means the Times is testing it out to see if it’s popular, before adding it to the site’s Games app. You can play it daily for now for free — and then we’ll have to see if it sticks around.
Read more: NYT Has a Connections Game for Sports Fans. I Tried It
Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest, yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.
Yellow group hint: Speedy.
Green group hint: Singular soccer teams.
Blue group hint: Triumphant TEs.
Purple group hint: Big Apple jocks.
Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups
Yellow group: Fast.
Green group: MLS teams, in singular form.
Blue group: NFL career yards leaders among tight ends.
Purple group: New York athletes.
Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words
What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?
Two athlete photos showed up in the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 2, 2025. Can you identify the players?
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
The completed NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for Jan. 2, 2025.
NYT/Screenshot by CNET
The yellow words in today’s Connections
The theme is fast. The four answers are brisk, rapid, swift and zippy.
The green words in today’s Connections
The theme is MLS teams, in singular form. The four answers are Earthquake, Sounder, Timber and Whitecap.
The blue words in today’s Connections
The theme is NFL career yards leaders among tight ends. The four answers are Gates, Gonzalez, Kelce (photo) and Witten.
The purple words in today’s Connections
The theme is New York athletes. The four answers are Ionescu, Judge (photo), Rodgers and Shesterkin.
For long-term brain health, older adults might want to carefully consider how they spend their downtime, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of South Australia assessed the 24-hour activity patterns of nearly 400 people over age 60.
When it comes to brain health, the study found that the context or type of activity individuals engage in matters, news agency SWNS reported.
DEMENTIA REPORT REVEALS ‘SHOCKING’ SIGNS AT AGE 60 THAT YOU’LL DEVELOP THE DISEASE BY AGE 80
Some sedentary behaviors are better for cognitive function than others, according to the findings, which were published in The Journal of Gerontology Series A.
Mentally stimulating behaviors, such as reading, listening to music, praying, crafting and playing a musical instrument — as well as social behaviors like chatting with others — are beneficial for memory and thinking abilities, the study noted.
Mentally stimulating behaviors such as reading, listening to music, praying, crafting and playing a musical instrument are beneficial for memory and thinking abilities, a new study noted.(iStock)
The research team referred to the “valuable insights” that could help reduce instances of cognitive impairment. More passive activities, like playing video games or watching TV, do not offer the same benefits as reading, praying and other activities, they noted.
More than 55 million people around the globe have dementia, according to estimates from the World Health Organization. Another 10 million new cases are diagnosed each year.
SLEEPY DURING THE DAY? IT COULD BE AN EARLY WARNING SIGN OF DEMENTIA, STUDY SUGGESTS
Dr. Maddison Mellow, researcher at the University of South Australia, said that not all sedentary behaviors are equal when it comes to memory and cognitive health.
“The context of an activity alters how it relates to cognitive function, with different activities providing varying levels of cognitive stimulation and social engagement.”(iStock)
“In this research,” she said, “we found that the context of an activity alters how it relates to cognitive function, with different activities providing varying levels of cognitive stimulation and social engagement.”
DEMENTIA RISK COULD BE LINKED TO WALKING SPEED, STUDY SUGGESTS
She said that scientists “already know that physical activity is a strong protector against dementia risk, and this should be prioritized if you’re trying to improve your brain health,” as SWNS reported.
“Even small, 5-minute time swaps can help.”
“But until now, we hadn’t directly explored whether we can benefit our brain health by swapping one sedentary activity for another.”
ALZHEIMER’S PATIENT, 90, SAYS SKIING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES KEEP HIM MENTALLY SHARP
She went on, “And while the ‘move more, sit less’ message certainly holds true for cardiometabolic and brain health, our research shows that a more nuanced approach is needed when it comes to thinking about the link between sedentary behaviors and cognitive function.”
It’s wise to “prioritize movement that’s enjoyable and gets the heart rate up,” she also said.
And “even small, 5-minute time swaps can help.”
“A more nuanced approach is needed when it comes to thinking about the link between sedentary behaviors and cognitive function.”(iStock)
A recent study published by the RAND Corporation in California also identified several major predictors occurring around age 60 that could likely lead to cognitive impairment and dementia in individuals by age 80, as Fox News Digital previously reported.
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Researchers evaluated 181 potential risk factors, including demographics, socioeconomic status, lifestyle and health behaviors, health history, psycho-social factors and more.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
The list of predictors, according to RAND, included “never exercising” and “low engagement in hobbies.”
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The study results suggested that “maintaining good physical and mental health is beneficial not just to staying in shape, but also to staying sharp and delaying cognitive decline,” study co-author Peter Hudomiet, a RAND economist in California, told Fox News Digital.
Melissa Rudy of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.
Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle at Fox News Digital.
Water, as we all know, is essential for our survival. It keeps us hydrated, supports our bodily functions, and helps maintain our overall well-being. While we are constantly asked to drink enough water throughout the day, the importance of hydration becomes even more pronounced when it comes to a high-protein diet. In a recent Instagram video, nutritionist Amita Gadre explained why staying hydrated is even more important when you’re eating more protein. Her take? “If you’re increasing your protein intake, do you need to drink more water? Absolutely, yes!” Curious to know why? Watch the video to find out! Also Read: 11 Ways To Get Enough Protein In Your Diet
She explained that a high-protein diet can put extra pressure on the kidneys, as the body produces more waste, like urea, which needs to be flushed out. This makes it even more important to hydrate adequately to ensure the kidneys function efficiently. Consuming protein in higher amounts can also challenge your digestive system. Amita Gadre pointed out that if you’re eating more than 25 grams of protein in a single meal, your body may struggle to digest it all at once. By gradually increasing your protein intake, you give your digestive system time to adjust and process the protein load more effectively. Naturally, this requires increasing your water intake as well. Also Read: High-Protein Recipes: 5 Veg Dishes Loaded With Proteins And Ideal For Desi Lunch Another critical reason to drink more water with a high-protein diet is to support muscle maintenance. Whether you are increasing protein to promote muscle growth or speed up recovery, staying hydrated is essential. Dehydration can lead to muscle cramps, fatigue, and even hinder muscle protein synthesis, slowing down your progress. In the video, Amita Gadre said, “When you are increasing protein to support muscle growth or recovery, you need to make sure your muscles are well-hydrated.” She concluded, “So the next time you load up on that protein, remember: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.”
Did you drink enough water today? Let us know in the comments below!
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-01-01/ROK-interim-leader-refuses-to-accept-presidential-aides-resignations-1zOletJhIkg/img/df6600b26e0c4510b2742c67766b9c9b/df6600b26e0c4510b2742c67766b9c9b.jpeg' alt='Choi Sang-mok (C), South Korea's acting president and minister of economy and finance, in Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, South Korea, December 31, 2024. /CFP'
Choi Sang-mok, South Korea’s acting president and minister of economy and finance, has no plans to accept the resignation offers from senior presidential secretaries, Choi’s office said Wednesday.
Choi, who doubles as deputy prime minister for economic affairs, has no plan to accept the resignations, as now is the time to concentrate on stabilizing people’s livelihoods and state affairs, his office said in a short notice.
Among the senior aides of the impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol who offered resignations were the presidential chief of staff, top national security adviser, chief of staff for policy, special adviser for foreign and security affairs, and other senior secretaries.
The resignation offers came a day after the acting president appointed two constitutional court justices to fill two of the three vacancies in the nine-member bench for Yoon’s impeachment trial.
The appointed justices began duties earlier in the day, raising a possibility for Yoon’s impeachment being upheld.
To remove Yoon from office, at least six justices of the constitutional court are required to uphold the impeachment.
The impeachment motion against Yoon was passed in the National Assembly on December 14 and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate for up to 180 days, during which Yoon’s presidential power is suspended.
Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspect on an insurrection charge, declared an emergency martial law on the night of December 3, which was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.
Feeling slighted after a former flame paired up with an old friend she met through him, a middle-aged reader cut off contact with both. So why does he feel so bad?
In this Pharmaceutical Executive video interview, Dr. Lawrence B. Werlin, MD, FACOG of HRC Fertility (@md.lawrence.werlin on TikTok), speaks about exciting developments in fertility treatment that he anticipates in the next few years.
Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every month, we ask our cat-loving Catsters to weigh in on a new topic. This week, we asked them about nicknames: What do you call your cat, other than their real name? Here’s what they had to say:
Crystal & Ivy
Giving your pet a nickname is serious business – nothing is off the table, and they need at least 3. Hey – I don’t make the rules!
Ivy is a kitty that goes by many names. Her original, full name is actually ‘Ivara’ – my fiance got to name her. However, she’s only called this when she’s been very naughty! Much like your parents only calling you by your full name when you’ve REALLY stuffed up!
Over the years, she’s accumulated quite a collection of nicknames!
Here are some personal favorites:
Kitty: Good for everyday use, always gets her attention.
Kissie: Derived from ‘Kitty.’ Used when she’s being especially cutesy.
Skarmunkel: Loosely translates to ‘scoundrel’ – used when she’s being cheeky, or slinking slyly around the house.
Klein Baba Ivy: Loosely translates to ‘Little Baby Ivy’ – because she is, in fact, just a little baby.
Skunky: She looks a bit like a skunk scurrying around at times.
Biskitty: Her beloved biscuits. It’s only fitting that she has a nickname honoring them.
Cookie: Used every day, ALWAYS gets her attention!
These are but a few of the nicknames we’ve made for her, and she reacts to all of them impressively!
Giving your kitty 50+ nicknames isn’t easy, but someone’s gotta do it! Does your cat have any especially unique nicknames?
Isabel & Milly
I very seldomly call Milly ‘Milly’. Only when referring to her in conversation. It’s ironic, isn’t it? We give our pets names only to name them everything but their chosen title. I think it happens because they are just too darn cute to have only one, socially acceptable name.
They need more. They deserve more. And it needs to be either humorously fitting or completely outrageous.
Pet nicknaming is an art form. One doesn’t actively try to think of a nickname for a pet. It just comes. It’s a beautiful process, really. Pet nicknames usually play on their characteristics or what makes them unique. They can also be completely random and 100% unrelated to them but still feel very fitting.
Allow me to take you through Milly’s nickname timeline.
Her first nickname as a kitten was “Milandrie,” a rather common female Afrikaans name. It just came to us while she was causing havoc in our student residence apartment. It felt very fitting because you feel like a mother scolding a child when saying it in Afrikaans – “Milandrie, klim nou van die balkonreling af! (Milandrie, get off the balcony railing now!)”
Since then, it has evolved into many different things:
“Mielie,” which is Afrikaans for corn. Totally unrelated. It just rolls off the tongue.
“Mielie-muis,” which isn’t an official word. In English, it would be “Corn-Mouse.” Again, completely unrelated – she just is, in fact, sometimes a “Mielie-Muis.”
Then it morphed into Mini-Muis (Mini-Mouse) because she sometimes looks like a small mouse. See photo above for reference. This is the most frequent one.
Then some more outrageous ones are used for special occasions like:
Pof-mielie (“pof” is like puffy or fluffy in English)
Pof-duif or Pofduifie (fluffy dove or small fluffy dove)
Hoender-nekkie (little chicken neck)
And the list goes on. Check in next month for more about Milly! And let us know in the comments below what you call your cat.
Cheers vir eers!
(Cheers for now)
Wes & Raphael
I’ve always thought pet nicknames are a humorous thing because, supposedly, we already chose the perfect name for them. Nevertheless, we can’t RESIST finding something that is shorter (or sometimes longer) and fits even better (or sometimes worse). Needless to say, I’ve also fallen victim to the curse of the nickname when it comes to Raphael. I thought I’d take you through just a few from the collection:
“Raphy” – an absolute classic. For when Raphael is going to take far too long to get out of the mouth.
“Beautiful boy” – not only the truth but very important that he knows it.
“Stinky boots” – probably the most heavily used in our place. Does he wear boots? Never. Does he smell? Often. Either he smells incredible or terrible; there is never an alternative.
“Rapha-smell” – a fantastic pun; see above for any further clarification required.
“Little scooch” – even if he could understand what this means, he wouldn’t get it because, frankly, I don’t either.
Based on the pictures you’ve seen of my beautiful boy, can you let me know your recommendations for a new nickname? I’m always open to suggestions!
This article features all of our Wednesday Cats of Catster.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
HAILEY Bieber je poznata po tome što uvijek postavlja modne trendove i s lakoćom ih mijenja. Čak i kad paparazzi snimaju njezine svakodnevne aktivnosti, poput odlaska na trening, njezin modni utjecaj je očit. Njezini post-fitness lookovi često privlače veliku pažnju, osobito kada je riječ o obući koja često predviđa nadolazeće trendove.
Hailey nas je već navikla na impresivan izbor tenisica, od klasičnih do najnovijih modela. Nedavni primjer su Field Trip Recordings x ASICS Gel-Kayano 14, rijedak model tenisica koji je nosila nakon treninga.
Ovaj model rezultat je suradnje američkog DJ-a Zacka Bie, osnivača izdavačke kuće Field Trip Recordings, i japanskog brenda ASICS. Model Gel-Kayano je prvi put predstavljen 1993. godine, a dizajnirao ga je Toshikazu Kayano, koji je želio stvoriti čvršću i stabilniju tenisicu za trčanje.
Kombinacija udobnosti, funkcionalnosti i retro stila koji je osvojio modni svijet
Gel-Kayano 14 rezultat je reinterpretacije dizajnera Hidenorija Yamashite iz 2008. godine. Ovaj model brzo je postao popularan među trkačima zbog udobnosti i performansi. No, model nije samo bio funkcionalan, već je postao i pravi modni hit, zahvaljujući suradnji s londonskim dizajnerom Kikom Kostadinovim i povratku “ružnih cipela” u modu, s tenisicama maksimalističkog dizajna iz 90-ih i ranih 2000-ih.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Trend stila Y2K nastavlja se širiti
Model Field Trip Recordings x ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 koji nosi Hailey Bieber rezultat je suradnje koja je započela 2022. godine, kako bi se proslavilo osnivanje Zackove izdavačke kuće Field Trip Recordings 2018. godine.
Kako se trend stila Y2K nastavlja širiti, možemo očekivati da će ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 postati jedan od najpoželjnijih modela u 2025. godini jer spaja udobnost, funkcionalnost i retro izgled koji se ponovo vraća u modu.
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It’s time to peer into my crystal ball to see what 2025 has in store for the Southland’s high school athletes (and a few former ones), coaches and fans.
Dominic Cadiz of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame will hit so many home runs that he’ll get a name, image and likeness deal with Wheaties.
Freshman Julius Truitt of Birmingham delivers two-run pinch-hit triple in second inning. Then scores when hidden ball trick goes awry. Birmingham 3, Carson 0. pic.twitter.com/CZRzsGC6Ag
Sophomore Julius Truitt of Birmingham will become the second-most famous person named JuJu in Los Angeles when he hits above .400, steals double-digit bases and breaks a school record for triples in his first season as a varsity starter.
Corona will win the Southern Section Division 1 baseball championship, with Seth Hernandez earning praise as the Shohei Ohtani of high school baseball.
This weekend, Win Gurney of Mira Costa, an Oregon State commit, hit the longest home run in the history of El Camino Real. Over left field fence over the street and into the houses. Mike Moustakas never did that during his Chatsworth days. pic.twitter.com/cevt0HhUpw
Win Gurney of Mira Costa, an Oregon State commit, will hit a home run so far that the ball will go missing until a Golden Retriever is brought in to find it.
Quarterback Brady Smigiel of Newbury Park will promise his dad all A’s on his report card and to never dump Gatorade on him when it’s cold if he gets a new truck.
A group of El Segundo Little Leaguers from the championship team of 2023 will enroll at Loyola, and white smoke will be seen rising from historic Ruppert Hall.
Kaleena Smith of Ontario Christian will score 50 points in a girls’ basketball game, then get a shoe by Adidas in her honor.
The NFL draft on April 24 will feature two former Servite players, Mason Graham and Tetairoa McMillan, selected in the first round, causing their former coach, Troy Thomas, to sing the school fight song.
Quarterback Koa Malau’ulu of St. John Bosco will treat his group of talented receivers with so much love that he’ll buy them whatever they want from In-N-Out as long as the bill doesn’t exceed $150.
Brothers Jared (left) and Trent Grindlinger of Huntington Beach. Jared is a freshman pitcher. Trent is a junior catcher.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
The Grindlinger brothers, Trent and Jared, will hit back-to-back home runs for Huntington Beach, causing mom and dad to scream so loudly that the umpire will stop the game for a moment of calm.
Gary Morse, a 6-foot-8 junior pitcher for Orange Lutheran, will be compared to Tyler Glasnow.
Pitcher Addison Moorman of Granada Hills.
(Craig Weston)
Addison Moorman of Granada Hills will strike out 18 in a softball game.
Eighth-grader Ezrah Brown, the brother of Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown, and seventh-grader Ryu Sanchez, the brother of Columbia quarterback Caleb Sanchez, will continue their rise as youth quarterbacks as they move closer to the day of taking over the offenses at Mater Dei and St. John Bosco, respectively.
Former Sierra Canyon defensive back Kamari Ramsey will be an All-American for USC, then become a first-round draft pick in 2026.
Bell celebrates after defeating Birmingham in the City Section Open Division championship at Dodger Stadium.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
Bell will become the first school outside the San Fernando Valley since Fremont in 1947 to win consecutive City Section upper division baseball championships.
Defensive lineman Khary Wilder of Gardena Serra will be so successful sacking quarterbacks that he will change his uniform number to 99.
Teagan O’Dell of Santa Margarita will end up with so many swimming medals around her neck that there will be a contest to guess how many.
Bishop Alemany freshman Demare Dezeurn displays his medal after winning the boys’ 100 meters in 10.47 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 20, 2024.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)
Demare Dezeurn of Bishop Alemany will be the fastest 100-meter runner in the Southern Section at age 16 as he blossoms under coach Terrell Stanley.
Nikolas Khamenia of Harvard-Westlake will set a record for triple-doubles in a season.
Lino Mark of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
(Nick Koza)
Lino Mark of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame will receive an NIL deal for his hair.
Dylan Moreno of San Pedro will kick so many field goals that coach Corey Walsh will offer to serve as his holder at practice.
Birmingham and El Camino Real will meet again to determine the City Section boys’ soccer title and instead of the match ending in a fight, players will agree to shake hands as long as they get invited to the next World Cup.
Jaden Soong competes during the U.S. Open qualifier at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles on June 5, 2023.
(Brody Hannon)
Freshman golf phenom Jaden Soong of St. Francis will agree to a skins game against Charlie Woods sponsored by the SGA.
Cathedral sophomore quarterback Jaden Jefferson.
(Michael Blackshire/Los Angeles Times)
Quarterback Jaden Jefferson of Cathedral will throw for six touchdowns in a game, then do the Heisman pose.
Huntington Beach baseball coach Benji Medure will promise to try surfing if his team beats Corona.
Mater Dei left-hander Jackson Campbell will be a surprise pitching star because of his ability to throw strikes.
Softball standout Taelyn Holley of Murrieta Mesa, a Tennessee commit, will hit so many home runs that Erewhon will name a smoothie after her.
USC’s surprise freshman standout in baseball will be Augie Lopez from Loyola High.
Receiver will be the strongest position in Southern California football, led by the St. John Bosco group of Madden Williams, Carson Clark,Daniel Odom, Christian Davis and Darren Tubbs.
Corona Centennial football coach Matt Logan.
(Jeremiah Soifer )
Matt Logan of Corona Centennial will win his 300th career football game, then be presented with a new jersey, No. 300.
Apple’s first-generation Vision Pro headset has reportedly ceased production, according to MacRumors, an American website, that reports Apple-related news. The device, which debuted earlier this year as Apple’s most ambitious mixed-reality venture, has faced production cuts and dwindling demand, leading to speculation that its manufacturing has ended.
Reports obtained by MacRumors indicate that Apple began scaling back production in early summer, with its assembler Luxshare producing only 1,000 units daily by October, a 50 per cent reduction from peak production levels.
By November, Apple reportedly instructed Luxshare to wind down production altogether.
The company is believed to have accumulated enough inventory, estimated between 500,000 to 600,000 units to meet the expected demand through 2025.
Reports obtained by MacRumors suggest warehouses are stocked with tens of thousands of undelivered components, reflecting a strategic move by Apple to halt further manufacturing while avoiding surplus.
The Vision Pro has struggled to gain traction due to its steep USD 3,499 price tag and limited content ecosystem.
Described by Apple CEO Tim Cook as an “early-adopter product,” the device was aimed at tech enthusiasts rather than the broader market.
However, even within this niche, demand has been tepid, prompting Apple to reevaluate its strategy for the mixed-reality space.
In light of the Vision Pro’s challenges, Apple is reportedly shifting focus to developing a more affordable mixed-reality headset.
Suppliers have been asked to prepare for the production of up to four million units of this lower-cost device throughout its lifecycle, half the original Vision Pro’s target.
Development on the second-generation Vision Pro has reportedly been paused for at least a year. However, according to MacRumors, there are indications that Apple could release an incremental update to the first-generation model with limited design changes, including an upgraded M5 chip and enhanced intelligence features.
As per MacRumors, a potential launch for this updated device can take place between late 2025 and early 2026.
Animal ears and pom-poms on fuzzy hats adorn tourists’ heads on the streets of the frigid northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, which is enjoying a surge in visitors driven by social media. Photos and videos taken around the city’s landmarks flood platforms such as TikTok counterpart Douyin and Instagram-esque Xiaohongshu — many featuring tourists from the warmer south.
Harbin sees a surge in southern tourists, driven by social media.(AFP)
They’re affectionately known as “southern little potatoes”, a reference to their alleged smaller stature and cutesy winter gear that contrast with the area’s stereotypically coarse character. A search for “southern little potatoes visit the north” racked up more than 428,000 notes on Xiaohongshu. That’s where Chen Xiting, who works in e-commerce in the southern province of Guangdong, said she was inspired to visit.
“It’s the quickest way young people get trip recommendations,” said Chen. She said she had noticed a sizeable number of fellow southerners. “I heard quite a bit of Cantonese, which we’re very familiar with, today at tourist sites and on the street,” said the 29-year-old, wearing a hat with dog ears and with only her face exposed to the air.
Liu Rong, a student from Sichuan, said the city’s push for more southern tourists was clear from the surge in videos about Harbin he often watched with his wife. “These years, especially this year, Harbin’s cultural tourism has placed a lot of importance on paying attention to us southerners,” Liu said.
‘Little potatoes’ go north
Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang, one of three provinces that make up the “Dongbei” (northeast) region, where temperatures can reach -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) during winter. Bordered by Russia and North Korea, it is one of China’s poorest provinces, outperforming only neighbouring Jilin, Gansu, Hainan island and sparsely populated Tibet, Qinghai and Ningxia.
But the first five months of 2024 saw the operating income of Heilongjiang’s cultural, sports and entertainment industries rise nearly 60 percent year-on-year, according to official data. Tourists spent 154 billion yuan ($21 billion) in the first half of 2024, up 171 percent from the first half of 2023. Popular novels and dramas set in the northeast have also helped spark a travel boom to the region.
“A lot of southerners, which we call ‘little potatoes’, came over here for travel and made our Harbin very trendy,” Emily Liu, a local tour guide, told AFP. The online fame has been good for the travel business, said 30-year-old Jiang Zhonglong, energetically gesticulating in front of his tripod just metres away from Liu.
He started working for a Harbin-based travel agency three years ago, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and said business was now much better. “So many little friends, southern potatoes, tourists have all come here,” he said. One night this month, the city’s commercial district of Central Street saw a steady stream of people walking on the cobblestone path under bright yellow lights.
Ling, a 38-year-old from the coastal eastern province of Zhejiang, was there with his wife to “daka”, a phrase that means “punching in” but now describes visiting popular spots to share photos on social media. “We often scroll through (video sharing platform) Douyin and such. We often see videos promoting Harbin,” said Ling, who asked to be identified only by his surname.
‘My hometown is popular’
Ling told AFP he’d believed negative stereotypes about Dongbei in the past. “But we came here and found that things are pretty decent,” he said. “I’ve been yearning for a different cultural experience compared to where I come from — the weather and style are completely different.” Nearby, a steady stream of people ducked inside a shop selling goods from Russia — just a stone’s throw away.
Foot traffic to the shopping street has tripled since 2022, said store manager Zhangzhang, who has worked in the area for more than 10 years and asked to be identified by her nickname. “My hometown has suddenly become popular,” she said, adding she was “extremely proud”. She said the store last year started selling more hats and scarves for travellers who “didn’t pack enough layers” — including those printed with the region’s classic red florals. “I think that this can help lift the economy of our Dongbei.”
If you’ve been biding your time to bag a bargain in the Steam Winter Sale, the now is the time to pull the trigger.
The Steam Winter Sale has been running for almost two weeks, which means it’s finally about to come to an end.
Indeed, if you want to pick up a game at a massively discounted price, the Steam Winter Sale ends at 6pm GMT UK time on the afternoon of January 2.
That’s on top of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which despite containing three fantastic releases, is down to less than £4.
Other discounts include Elden Ring for £29.99, Helldivers 2 for £27.99, Spider-Man Remastered for £24.99, and Hades for £8.39.
Elsewhere, you’ve got Alien Isolation for £8.74, Lords of the Fallen for £19.99, Signalis for £11.19, Cyberpunk for £22.49, EA FC 25 for £23.99 and Balatro for £11.51.
Steam Deck users should think about picking up Stardew Valley for £6.59, Baldur’s Gate 3 for £39.99, Binding of Isaac for £3.62.
The Steam Winter Sale even includes discounts on relatively new releases such as Metal Slug Tactics.
That’s on top of discounts for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, CarX Street and sandbox survival game Core Keeper.
It’s definitely worth buying now, because the next major sale isn’t until the Steam Spring Sale on March 13.
There are, however, some smaller sales in the coming weeks and months, including the Real-time Strategy Fest in January, and the Couch Co-op Fest in February.
Does every new car need to have a purpose? Ask the Range Rover Velar, and the answer is no.
On paper, the British luxury SUV sits in a strange corner of the car world.
Smaller than a Range Rover Sport but almost as expensive; bigger than an Evoque but not quite a mid-sized SUV… it’s for people who want a car that looks good, and makes them feel good.
With loads of leather and suede inside, a beautifully finished exterior, and a powerful petrol engine under the bonnet, the Autobiography on test here ticks all those boxes.
Then again, it’d want to. With a sticker price north of $165,000 before on-road costs, this is a very expensive luxury item.
How does the Range Rover Velar compare?
View a detailed breakdown of the Range Rover Velar against similarly sized vehicles.
Land Rover
Range Rover Velar
How much does the Range Rover Velar cost?
The Velar range undercuts the Range Rover Sport by around $20,000 at the bottom end of the range.
Model
Price before on-roads
Range Rover Velar D300 Dynamic SE
$121,937
Range Rover Velar P400 Dynamic SE
$130,113
Range Rover Velar P400e Dynamic SE
$131,536
Range Rover Velar P400 Dynamic HSE
$139,418
Range Rover Velar P400e Dynamic HSE
$142,891
Range Rover Velar P400 Autobiography
$155,318
Our tester was optioned to $165,810 before on-road costs, thanks to the addition of the Cold Climate Pack ($1820), the Black Exterior Pack ($1680), a tow hitch receiver ($1000), Configurable Dynamics ($940), black roof rails ($940), privacy glass ($890), Deep Garnet/Ebony perforated Windsor leather seats with Deep Garnet/Ebony interior ($700), illuminated metal front tread plates with R-Dynamic ($640), space saver spare wheel ($530), and remote rear seat releases ($300).
To see how the Range Rover Velar shapes up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What is the Range Rover Velar like on the inside?
Range Rover has a clear focus on minimalism. The Velar has featured a pared-back interior since launch, but a recent update has taken things further.
The transmission tunnel is home to two cupholders, a stubby gear selector, and a piece of lovely open-pore wood; the climate controls and off-road modes have migrated to the touchscreen sitting proud of the leather-trimmed dash.
It’s a beautiful cabin, especially in two-tone burgundy and black like our tester. Short of a Rolls-Royce, nothing makes you exhale and sink into your seat like a Range Rover.
The fundamentals are good here. The driving position is excellent, with enough adjustment for taller drivers to get comfortable, and a commanding view of the road ahead.
Everything you touch feels expensive, from the cold metal paddles on the back of the steering wheel to the supple leather on the dashboard, and the suede-effect headliner under the roof.
Cheaper versions of the Velar have an unsatisfying vegan seat trim alternative that’s not really up to scratch in a Range Rover, but there’s none of that nonsense in the Autobiography.
The central touchscreen is running a version of the Pivi Pro software that features in everything from the Land Rover Defender to the full-size Range Rover, adapted for life after physical climate controls.
It’s pretty to look at and responds in a way that will feel quick to iPad devotees, with a menu structure that doesn’t require too much diving to reach key functions.
The colours and icons are all similar; it can be hard to make out some of the more obscure functions in the main menu, but the shortcuts to access your heated seats, temperature controls, fan speed, and drive modes are actually quite easy to find on the move.
No, they’re not as good as physical controls, but they’re about as good as touch controls get.
The digital dials are clear and easy to read, with sharp-looking maps, but they aren’t quite as easy to navigate as Audi or Mercedes-Benz options. Realistically it’s a non-issue, given most owners will set and forget.
Storage up front is limited by the very pretty, but mostly covered central tunnel. The phone slot under the dash is quite awkwardly shaped if you want to charge your device using a cable, and the cupholders are in a spot that means tall drink bottles get in your way if you’re using the armrest.
It’s down to the fact this is an older car that’s been adapted to accommodate new technology and a new layout; that doesn’t make it less annoying.
The pinched glasshouse might look incredible on the outside, but it doesn’t make for particularly welcoming second row space. Headroom is quite limited, legroom behind taller drivers is cramped, and outward visibility is poor if you’re prone to carsickness.
The slim rear door opening also makes it harder to load kids into car seats, or for adults to squeeze themselves back there. At least the backrests recline with a powered switch (which looks suspiciously like the lock button from the first Ford Escape mum drove), and there’s a trio of top-tether child seat anchor points.
Pop the powered tailgate and you’re presented with a long and flat cargo space. The air suspension kneels down when you get out, making it easier to slide heavy items.
Beware though, the claimed boot space is measured to the roof rather than the seat backs.
Although this is a very usable space, the 735L claimed here isn’t a match for bigger cars with smaller boot space claims measured using different standards.
Dimensions
Range Rover Velar P400 Autobiography
Length
4797mm
Width
2041mm
Height
1678mm
Wheelbase
2874mm
Cargo capacity
735 litres (5-seat) 1798 litres (2-seat)
To see how the Range Rover Velar shapes up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.
What’s under the bonnet?
Earlier examples of the Range Rover Velar had supercharged petrol power, but the current P400 has a turbocharged inline-six engine boosted by a 48V mild-hybrid system, or what JLR calls an “e-supercharger”.
In essence, the car’s clever electrical system can artificially spool up the turbo at low speed to cut down on lag, and deliver a more linear torque curve.
Specifications
Range Rover Velar P400 Autobiography
Engine
3.0L inline-six MHEV
Engine outputs
294kW / 550Nm
Transmission
8-speed auto
Driven wheels
AWD
Weight
2085kg
Fuel economy (claimed)
9.1L/100km
Fuel economy (as tested)
9.7L/100km
Fuel tank capacity
83L
Fuel requirement
95 RON
CO2 emissions
206g/km
Emissions standard
Euro 6
Braked tow capacity
2500kg
To see how the Range Rover Velar shapes up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Range Rover Velar drive?
There’s a reassuring amount of weight to all the controls, and enough insulation to make you forget the outside world exists. The Velar is just a lovely place to spend long periods of time in.
Velar P400e Dynamic HSE shown
Prod the start button and the inline six fires with a growl, before settling into a smooth and quiet idle. Although an overall sense of quiet is a key pillar for Range Rover, the satisfying engine note is always welcome.
In town, the combination of a torquey engine and exemplary refinement make the Velar feel right at home.
There’s a hint of awkwardness from the eight-speed automatic and idle start/stop system off the line, but once you’re rolling there’s plenty of punch.
It slurs smoothly from gear-to-gear on light throttle inputs, rarely drifting above 2500rpm, and there’s a satisfying shove in the back if you lean harder on the accelerator away from the lights.
Although you don’t get the same ultra-light steering here that’s becoming common on some rivals, the Velar is still an easy car to place in town. Unlike in a full-sized Range Rover you don’t feel the need to breathe in while driving down narrow cobblestone lanes, and the excellent surround-view camera leaves no excuse for scraping those very pretty wheels.
Ride quality on the air suspension is mostly excellent. It does a great job over bigger obstacles like speed bumps, and the fiddly little broken surfaces that can undermine the refinement in air-sprung cars don’t undermine the comfort in the cabin.
There’s no escaping the size of the wheels on this Autobiography when you smack into some of Melbourne’s sharper potholes though.
While we’re whinging about the Velar in the city, it’s a thirsty beast around town. Gone is the old supercharger, but the turbocharged P400 setup in the Autobiography isn’t what you’d call miserly in traffic.
It’s most at home on the open road, where it just hums along effortlessly. Put your foot down and the inline-six reels in the horizon in a hurry, backed by an angry bark, but at a cruise it drops into eighth and disappears into the background.
The sound deadening is exceptional; there’s hardly any wind or road noise in the cabin, allowing you to enjoy the excellent stereo or chat with your passengers without raising your voice.
Driver assists in JLR vehicles aren’t overbearing like they are in some rivals. The lane-keeping assist doesn’t try to wrestle the wheel from your hands, and this Velar didn’t incessantly beep or bong at us for doing 2km/h over the speed limit.
The adaptive cruise control confidently maintains a gap to the car in front, but it’s not the smoothest setup in the world; occasionally it grabs at the brakes in way that feels more airport taxi, and less royal chauffeur.
Ride comfort is excellent at highway speeds. In the default Comfort drive mode it feels rock-solid, with the sort of long-legged feel you get in bigger and more expensive members of the Range Rover family.
It’s just a shame the petrol engine in this tester likes a drink; with a more efficient diesel under the bonnet the Velar has all the makings of a stunning long-haul cruiser.
To see how the Range Rover Velar shapes up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
The Range Rover Velar Autobiography is the flagship variant in the lineup.
Range Rover Velar Autobiography highlights:
22-inch alloy wheels
Adaptive air suspension
Keyless entry and start
Automatic windscreen wipers
Automatic pixel LED headlights with signature DRL
11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
DAB+ digital radio
Bluetooth phone connectivity
3D surround camera
Digital driver display
Head-up display
Wireless phone charger
Four-zone climate control
Configurable cabin lighting
Power-adjustable steering column
Auto-dimming interior mirror
Meridian 3D Surround Sound System
Heated, cooled, massaging front seats
Extended Windsor leather seat trim
To see how the Range Rover Velar shapes up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Range Rover Velar safe?
The Range Rover Velar had a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing carried out in 2017, however, it’s not applicable to vehicles built from January 1 this year. Therefore the vehicle is unrated.
Category (expired)
Range Rover Velar (expired)
Adult occupant protection
93 per cent
Child occupant protection
85 per cent
Vulnerable road user protection
74 per cent
Safety assist
72 per cent
Standard safety equipment includes:
Six airbags
Autonomous emergency braking
Rear collision warning
Rear cross-traffic alert
Blind-spot assist
Lane-keeping assist
Parking sensors
To see how the Range Rover Velar shapes up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Range Rover Velar cost to run?
The Range Rover Velar is backed by the same warranty as the broader JLR family, and has longer-than-average service intervals of 20,400km or every year (whichever comes first).
Running costs
Range Rover Velar P400 Autobiography
Warranty
5 years, unlimited kilometres
Roadside assistance
5 years
Service intervals
12 months or 20,400 kilometres
Capped price servicing
5 years
Total capped price service cost
$2450
To see how the Range Rover Velar shapes up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Range Rover Velar
The latest Velar is still a stunning SUV searching for a purpose.
As a purely emotional purchase, it presses all the right buttons. From the expensive materials to the pretty, minimalist design, the cabin is just a nice place to spend time, and it drives like a slightly shrunken Range Rover, just as you’d expect.
JLR is much better at keeping its cabin technology fresh than most carmakers, so the Velar doesn’t feel old when you start using the screen despite its advancing age.
But… there’s no getting around the fact our tester was priced at $166,000 before on-road costs. That’s right in the heart of the Range Rover Sport lineup, and there’s no getting around the fact the Sport is a bigger, more modern, and more premium take on the same formula as the Velar.
Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz will also sell you well-equipped versions of their much bigger family SUVs for the same money.
It’s not a particularly rational purchase, the Velar. But if you can afford to shop with your heart instead of your head, it’s a very nice purchase.
Interested in buying a Range Rover Velar? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
Unlisted shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd continue to trade at Rs 310 apiece in the grey market, which is a 44.19 per cent premium over the upper IPO price of Rs 215. It indicates a robust listing gain for investors on January 7.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO: The initial public offer (IPO) of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd was opened for public subscription on Tuesday. Till 5:00 pm on the second day of bidding on Wednesday, the Rs 260.15-crore IPO got a 54.74 times subscription receiving bids for 46,36,86,555 shares against 84,70,000 shares on offer.
So far, the non-institutional investors (NII) category has received an 132.03 times subscription, while the quota for retail investors got subscribed by 46.07 times. The QIB category got a 11.96 times subscription.
The IPO will be closed on Thursday, January 2.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO GMP Today
According to market observers, unlisted shares of Indo Farm Equipment Ltd continue to trade at Rs 310 apiece in the grey market, which is a 44.19 per cent premium over the upper IPO price of Rs 215. It indicates a robust listing gain for investors on January 7.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO Size
The IPO comprises a fresh issue of 86 lakh equity shares and an offer for sale (OFS) of 35 lakh shares by promoter Ranbir Singh Khadwalia.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO Price
Indo Farm Equipment has fixed the price band for its IPO at Rs 204 to Rs 215 per share.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO Date
The Rs 260-crore IPO will open for public subscription on December 31, 2024, and close on January 2, 2025.
Indo Farm Equipment IPO: More Details
The Rs 260-crore initial public offering (IPO) has a fresh issue of 86 lakh equity shares and an Offer-for-Sale (OFS) of 35 lakh equity shares by promoter Ranbir Singh Khadwalia.
Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to set up a new dedicated unit for expansion of the company’s pick & carry cranes manufacturing capacity, payment of debt, investment in the company’s NBFC subsidiary Barota Finance for financing the augmentation of its capital base to meet its future capital requirements.
Indo Farm Equipment manufactures tractors, pick & carry cranes and other farm equipment.
At the upper end of the price band, the IPO size has been pegged at Rs 260 crore, placing the company’s market capitalisation at over Rs 1,000 crore.
Aryaman Financial Services is the sole book-running lead manager for the issue.
The equity shares will be listed on the BSE and NSE.
News business » ipo Indo Farm Equipment IPO Day 2: Check Subscription Status, GMP Today
Despite ongoing market uncertainty, XLM, Stellar Lumen’s native token, is making its own mark by defying the overall crypto market, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). As of today, January 1, 2025, XLM has led the market with an 11% gain in the past 24 hours.
Why is the XLM Price Increasing?
With this impressive upward momentum, XLM is currently trading near $0.375. However, this notable rise began just ahead of the Asian trading session. Meanwhile, this momentum has further attracted traders and investors, leading to a 95% jump in trading volume during the same period.
The potential reason for this rally is XLM’s bullish price action and the liquidation of millions of dollars worth of short positions, as reported by the on-chain analytics firm Coinglass.
Liquidation of Short Positions
Data revealed that traders trading XLM have liquidated $531,570 worth of short positions out of a total of $711,230 in liquidations over the past four hours. This suggests that bulls are now dominating the asset and have the potential for further short liquidations in the coming hours.
Source: Trading View
As of now, the major liquidation areas are $0.356 on the lower side and $0.383 on the upper side, with traders over-leveraged at these levels, according to the XLM exchange liquidation map.
Source: Coinglass
Based on the data, if the sentiment remains unchanged and the price rises to the $0.383 level, nearly $3.48 million worth of short positions will be liquidated. Conversely, if the sentiment changes and the price declines to the $0.356 mark, approximately $8.62 million worth of long positions will be liquidated.
This data shows that bulls are strongly betting on the long side, as they believe XLM’s price won’t fall below the $0.356 mark.
XLM Technical Analysis and Price Prediction
According to expert technical analysis, XLM appears bullish as it has broken out from a bullish flag and pole price action pattern on the daily time frame. However, the breakout itself does not confirm whether it is successful or a fakeout.
Based on the recent price action and historical price momentum, if XLM breaches the pattern and closes a daily candle above the $0.38 mark, there is a strong possibility that the asset could soar by 60% to reach the $0.60 mark in the future.
Besides this bullish outlook, if XLM fails to hold its 24-hour gain and closes a daily candle below the $0.33 mark, it could drop by 30% to reach the $0.218 mark.
We test electric lawnmowers by running each through a battery of tests (no pun intended, since we do run actual battery tests) and yes, we also mow stuff. There are certain product categories where we collect, at the time, tons of data, but despite our best efforts, data alone cannot give us the entire picture about which product performs the best. Taking these to the yard is the best way to help filter through and decipher the data we have.
Battery tests
Let’s begin with those battery tests. This one isn’t too complicated, but it can get a bit tricky to physically set up. To measure the voltage and amps the mower pulls during operation, we have to insert our measurement devices between the battery and mower. The physical process varies a bit from mower to mower, but once set up, we get a measure of the DC voltage and amps moving between the battery and mower, which gives us an idea of the mower’s motor power (in watts).
We take these measurements at zero load, meaning we aren’t cutting grass at the time or otherwise providing any resistance against the blades, which would change the numbers, making them higher to calculate the higher limits of the motor’s power. Our next round of testing updates will include those upper power limits as well.
RPM tests
Yes, we absolutely measure blade RPMs in electric mowers. The eagle-eyed lab staff at CNET has developed the ability to count dozens of revolutions per second in a super accurate fashion. I’m kidding, although we do have a meter for that. In reality, we take a bit of reflective tape and position that onto the mower blade, then aim the measurement tool so that the laser light overlaps that tape and we get a precise reading on blade RPM.
You can see our test meter in blue in the center beneath the safety glass.
Bryan Adams/CNET
Now, if we combine those numbers with others such as blade lengths and weights and throw in some of our motor power calculations, we can estimate things like the amount of force, in Newtons, the blade is exerting on grass. Those numbers aren’t exceedingly helpful. Most people won’t have much of an idea what 5 Newtons of force is comparable to. We prefer to take the route of comparing the power outputs to something people are more familiar with; in this case, horsepower.
Gas-powered push mowers vary in horsepower, but the majority of them land in the 3 to 5-hp range. We will have upper limit numbers added for our next update, but you can see that the lower limit in horsepower for the electric mowers we tested ranged from about 0.1 to 0.6hp. That is, not much. Generally, you should expect to see electric mowers triple that number toward their upper limits, so we’re looking in the 1.75hp ballpark. You’ll be hard-pressed to find retail gas-powered push mowers operating below 2hp.
Noise level
We talk about sound level often, especially with outdoor-type tools. Historically these outdoor gas-powered tools have been quite loud. (Try to sleep in when all your neighbors are mowing early on the weekends.) With the advent of electric power tool platforms, that’s all changing. Your neighbor can obsess over lawn care while you snooze the day away.
We tested the decibel level for the mowers from the point of view of a person operating it. We stationary-mount a decibel meter and take the measurement. The results weren’t too surprising, with our quietest mower being the smallest, the 13-inch Litheli at 68.6dB, and the loudest was also the most powerful mower, the Ego, at 86.7dB.
Speed tests
You might normally think of mowers moving at a certain rate, specifically, at whatever rate you happen to be pushing it. An increasing number of mowers are now coming with self-propelled options. Many of these electric-powered mowers allow you to use that function even when the blades aren’t running.
We measure how fast mowers move in miles per hour. You won’t be visiting any on-ramps with these, but if you plan to use this mode, this may help you decide which one to pick up or pass on. The Ryobi had the widest range of speeds to choose from but fell slightly short of being the fastest mower. Ryobi topped out at 3.03mph and the Greenworks Pro at 3.33mph.
Enlarge Image
Some mowers, like this Kobalt model, can get bogged down by grass clippings.
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Babies born in the year 2025 will begin the newest generation – Generation Beta.
Following Generation Alpha (2010 to 2024), Gen Beta will comprise a new group of kids born between 2025 and 2039.
The Australian research firm McCrindle predicted that Gen Beta will make up 16% of the world’s population by 2035, and many will live to see the 22nd century.
AMERICANS ARE HAVING FEWER BABIES AS BIRTH RATE HITS HISTORIC LOW, CDC REVEALS
The research and analysis group, led by demographer and futurist Mark McCrindle, wrote in an article that Gen Beta “represents a pivotal chapter in our evolving world.”
Gen Beta will make up 16% of the world’s population by 2035, Australian research firm McCrindle projected.(iStock)
“We named them Alpha and Beta to signify not just new generations, but the first generations that will be shaped by an entirely different world,” McCrindle stated.
Gen Beta will face a variety of fast-changing global factors, like evolving technology, societal challenges, sustainability and climate, experts say.
“The DNA of children doesn’t change, but the culture does – and it has a dramatic impact on how kids turn out.”
As Gen Beta will mostly be the children of younger millennials and older Gen Zers, their parents will prioritize “adaptability, equality and eco-consciousness in their parenting,” McCrindle predicted.
“This will result in Generation Beta being more globally minded, community-focused and collaborative than ever before,” the article reads. “Their upbringing will emphasize the importance of innovation not just for convenience, but for solving the pressing challenges of their time.”
Gen Beta will be the children of younger millennials and older Gen Zers.(iStock)
High-tech kids
As artificial intelligence grows in prevalence and access to technology continues to increase, Gen Beta’s digital and physical worlds will be “seamless,” according to analysts.
“Generation Beta will live in an era where AI and automation are fully embedded in everyday life — from education and workplaces to health care and entertainment,” McCrindle wrote.
LIMIT OF 3 HOURS OF WEEKLY SCREEN TIME FOR KIDS HAS ‘POSITIVE EFFECT’ ON BEHAVIOR, MENTAL HEALTH: STUDY
The research group predicted that Gen Beta will likely be the first generation to experience autonomous transportation “at scale,” as well as wearable health technologies and immersive virtual environments as “standard aspects of daily life.”
“Generation Beta will live in an era where AI and automation are fully embedded in everyday life,” McCrindle predicted.(iStock)
“Their formative years will be marked by a greater emphasis on personalization — AI algorithms will tailor their learning, shopping and social interactions in ways we can only begin to imagine today.”
As Gen Beta kids enter a world of “always-on technology,” digital interactions will be key to social connections, education and careers, the analysts noted.
U.S. SURGEON GENERAL ADVISORY NAMES PARENT STRESS AN ‘URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE’
“We predict Generation Beta will embody the balance between hyper-connectivity and personal expression,” McCrindle said. “They’ll redefine what it means to belong, blending in-person relationships with global digital communities.”
Generational parenting
The fate of Gen Beta kids will largely hinge on their millennial and Gen Z parents, who welcome technology as a learning tool but are also wary of the risks of overexposure, according to experts.
“You can’t change the world, but you can change how you’re parenting.”
Educational psychologist and parenting expert Dr. Michele Borba noted that parents will need to pay attention to what Gen Beta needs to thrive.
PSYCHOLOGISTS REVEAL 7 WAYS PARENTS CAN DRIVE HAPPINESS BY HELPING KIDS FIND THEIR PURPOSE
“The DNA of children doesn’t change, but the culture does – and it has a dramatic impact on how kids turn out,” California-based Borba said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“That said, you can’t change the world, but you can change how you’re parenting.”
Paying attention to what drives your child is crucial to their development and happiness, according to one psychologist.(iStock)
“The first step [for parents] is to recognize the changes that are happening … so they can make sure they’re raising a strong generation of kids who can handle a new world,” she added.
Gen Beta will be a “generation of digital natives,” born into a world where their chores, shopping and even homework can be done for them, according to the psychologist.
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“Critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication – those will all be impacted by AI,” Borba predicted.
The psychologist encouraged parents to remain calm during uncertain times, since children will mirror their response.(iStock)
She suggested that parents teach their Gen Beta kids to be adaptable, as things like technology and job markets will see major changes in their lifetime.
Borba also encouraged parents to remain calm during uncertain times, as children will mirror that response.
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The psychologist also stressed the importance of children getting enough social interaction, especially if they don’t have siblings.
“What’s crucial to the well-being of our children is strong social relationships,” she said.
Social regression has already impacted the youngest generations, Borba warned, resulting in shorter attention spans and a fear of taking risks.
Parents should teach their kids social skills to balance a reliance on growing technology, a psychologist advised.(iStock)
For parents raising kids of an entirely new generation, she went on, it’s essential to pinpoint and nurture their strengths.
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“Figure out who your kid is,” she advised. “From a very early age, figure out what drives them, not what you want them to become.”
Fox News Digital reached out to McCrindle requesting comment.
Cooking is more than just a necessity – it’s a blend of science, creativity, and love. However, what’s often overlooked is that maintaining a clean, organised, and safe kitchen is equally an art. A clutter-free kitchen not only inspires effortless cooking but also ensures a healthier environment for you and your family. From keeping utensils in their place to adopting smart storage solutions, every little effort contributes to a kitchen that feels like a sanctuary. Yes, it takes effort – thoughtful planning, small yet impactful routines, and a bit of trial and error. But once you get it right, cooking in a kitchen that works with you becomes a joy. After all, a well-maintained kitchen is the secret ingredient to any great recipe. If you’re constantly on the lookout for tips to enhance your kitchen experience, meet Keisha Franklin, a US-based influencer who’s gaining attention with her innovative ideas. Known for sharing delicious recipes, home hacks, and her journey through motherhood, Keisha also provides brilliant kitchen hacks that can transform your daily cooking routine. On Instagram, Keisha shared a clip featuring some important cooking and food storage tips. “My mom taught me these kitchen hacks: how to properly store food in the kitchen,” read her caption. One of her most useful hacks involves peeling a potato with minimal effort. Simply make a shallow cut all around the potato, then place it in boiling water for a few minutes. After that, remove it and dunk it in ice water for a few seconds. You’ll be amazed at how easily the skin just slides off-no knife or peeler required. Take a look: Also Read:9 Food Hacks That Took Over The Internet In 2024 – And You Need to Try Them
For those struggling with stubborn stains on transparent containers, her next trick is a lifesaver. Combine Kool-Aid and white vinegar in your dishwasher instead of detergent. This unusual yet effective mixture works wonders to remove even the most stubborn stains, leaving your containers looking as good as new. Keisha then suggests a clever way to turn your salt canister into a sprinkler. Simply use a toothpick to mold the lid into smaller holes, and you’ll have a makeshift salt shaker in seconds. Have leftover doughnut bread? Use the ends of the packaging to stuff it into the round opening at the center-this trick keeps the bread fresh for much longer. For a practical and satisfying hack, try her tip for storing half-cut watermelons. Wrap the entire leftover piece along with a few garlic cloves. This keeps the watermelon fresh and prevents it from absorbing any unwanted odors in the fridge. Also Read: 7 Mind-Blowing Food Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner These hacks aren’t just cool – they’re practical solutions that can make your time in the kitchen much easier. Which one of these genius ideas will you try first?
On New Year’s eve, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2025 New Year address through China Media Group and the Internet. The following is the full text of the address:
Greetings to everybody! Time flies fast, and the new year will be with us shortly. I extend my best wishes to you all from Beijing.
In 2024, we have together journeyed through the four seasons. Together, we have experienced winds and rains and seen rainbows. Those touching and unforgettable moments have been like still frames showing how extraordinary a year we have had.
We have proactively responded to the impacts of the changing environment at home and abroad. We have adopted a full range of policies to make solid gains in pursuing high-quality development. China’s economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with its GDP for the year expected to pass the 130 trillion yuan mark. Grain output has surpassed 700 million tons, and China’s bowls are now filled with more Chinese grain. Coordinated development across regions has gained stronger momentum, and mutually reinforcing advances have been made in both new urbanization and rural revitalization. Green and low-carbon development has been further enhanced. Indeed, a more beautiful China is unfolding before us.
We have fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions. New business sectors, forms and models have kept emerging. For the first time, China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year. Breakthroughs have been made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields. Also for the first time, the Chang’e-6 lunar probe collected samples from the far side of the moon. The Mengxiang drilling vessel explored the mystery of the deep ocean. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link now connects the two cities across the sea. The Antarctic Qinling Station is now in operation on the frozen continent. All this epitomizes the lofty spirit and dreams of the Chinese people to explore stars and oceans.
This year, I have visited many places across the country and seen how our people enjoy their enriching lives. I saw the big, red Huaniu apples in Tianshui, Gansu and the fishing boats in Aojiao Village, Fujian loaded with their catches. I watched the millenium-old “Eastern Smile” in the Maiji Mountain Grottoes, and I learned more about good-neighborliness passed from generation to generation in Liuchixiang Alley. I enjoyed the hustle and bustle in Tianjin’s Ancient Culture Street, and I saw how the people in Yinchuan’s mixed-ethnic residential communities live together as one family. The concerns of the people about jobs and incomes, elderly and child care, education and medical services are always on my mind. This year, basic pension has been raised, and mortgage rates have dropped. Cross-province direct settlement of medical bills has been expanded, making it easier for people to seek medical treatment across the country. And consumer goods trade-in programs have improved people’s lives… All these are real benefits to our people.
In the Paris Olympics, Chinese athletes raced to the top and achieved their best performance in Olympic Games held overseas, fully demonstrating the vigor and confidence of young Chinese. The PLA Navy and Air Force celebrated their 75th birthdays, and our servicemen and women are full of drive. When floods, typhoons and other natural disasters struck, members of the Communist Party of China and officials stepped forward to lead disaster relief efforts, and our people were of one mind and reached out to each other. People in all fields – workers, builders and entrepreneurs, among others – are working hard to fulfill their dreams. I presented awards to recipients of national medals and honorary titles. The honor belongs to them; it also belongs to every hard-working person who has lived up to their responsibilities.
In a world of both transformation and turbulence, China, as a responsible major country, is actively promoting global governance reform and deepening solidarity and cooperation among the Global South. We are making deeper and more substantive advances in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was a full success. We put forward China’s vision at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, APEC, G20 and other bilateral and multilateral forums. We have contributed greatly to the maintenance of world peace and stability.
We celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China. With deep affection, we looked back at the sea change that has taken place across China since the birth of the People’s Republic. Nurtured by our 5,000-plus years of continuous civilization, our country, China, is engraved not only on the bottom of the ancient bronze ritual wine vessel of He Zun, but also in the heart of every Chinese. At its Third Plenary Session, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sounded a clarion call for further deepening all-round reform. We will march forward in great strides to advance reform and opening up as the trend of our times. We will surely embrace even broader prospects in pursuing Chinese modernization in the course of reform and opening up.
In 2025, we will fully complete the 14th Five-Year Plan. We will implement more proactive and effective policies, pursue high-quality development as a top priority, promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and maintain sound momentum in economic and social development. The Chinese economy now faces some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones. But we can prevail with our hard work. As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times. We must be confident.
Of all the jobs in front of us, the most important is to ensure a happy life for our people. Every family hopes that their children can have a good education, their seniors can enjoy good elderly services, and their youngsters can have more and better opportunities. These simple wishes are our people’s aspirations for a better life. We should work together to steadily improve social undertakings and governance, build a harmonious and inclusive atmosphere, and settle real issues, big or small, for our people. We must bring more smiles to our people and greater warmth to their hearts.
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, I visited the city again, and I was gratified to see the new progress and changes there. We will unswervingly implement the policy of “One Country, Two Systems” to maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao. We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one and the same family. No one can ever sever the bond of kinship between us, and no one can ever stop China’s reunification, a trend of the times.
As changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, it is important to rise above estrangement and conflict with a broad vision, and care for the future of humanity with great passion. China will work with all countries to promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. We must jointly create a better future for the world.
Dreams and wishes may be far, but they can be fulfilled with dedicated pursuit. On the new journey of Chinese modernization, everyone is a key actor, every effort counts, and every ray of light shines.
Splendor adorns our motherland, and starlight graces every home. Let us greet the new year with hope. May our great country enjoy harmony and prosperity! May all your dreams come true! May you all have a new year of happiness and peace!
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
SINSAY je nedavno predstavio ovlaživač zraka koji je postao pravi hit među korisnicima – i to s dobrim razlogom. Ovaj minimalistički dizajniran difuzor oduševljava svojim izgledom, ali i funkcionalnošću, što ga čini neodoljivim dodatkom svakom prostoru.
Gornji dio difuzora u obliku oblaka, iz kojeg “kapaju kišne kapi”, stvara umirujući vizualni efekt koji će unijeti dašak elegancije u bilo koju prostoriju.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Pristupačan i umirujući dodatak svakom prostoru
Osim što je estetski privlačan, Sinsayev ovlaživač zraka dolazi s nježnom LED rasvjetom koja dodatno doprinosi njegovoj umirujućoj atmosferi. Ovaj uređaj savršeno se uklapa u spavaću sobu, dnevni boravak, pa čak i radni prostor, pružajući svjež zrak i opuštajuće svjetlosne efekte.
S cijenom od samo 20 eura, Sinsayev difuzor brzo je postao bestseller, a recenzije korisnika govore same za sebe. Mnogi ističu kako je ovo “vrlo lijep ovlaživač zraka” i kako su ga njihova djeca odmah zavoljela. “Djetetu se odmah svidjelo”, komentiraju zadovoljni kupci, dok drugi hvale njegovu “super izradu” i “odlična svjetla”.
Zbog velike potražnje, Sinsayev ovlaživač zraka je trenutno rasprodan, ali se nadamo da će uskoro ponovo biti dostupan.
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The Lakers were again buried under an avalanche of Cleveland Cavaliers three-pointers, the spacing and the gaps on the court pulling the Lakers’ defense to all corners before it eventually snapped under tension.
The result was the same, but the process and team the Cavaliers beat Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena in the final game of 2024 was fundamentally different from the one they blew out on Oct. 30 in Cleveland.
The version of the Lakers that got smoked in Cleveland was the one trying to get the most out of a formula that had shown it has a ceiling, losing to the Denver Nuggets during the previous two postseasons. It was one that hoped a core of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell paired with a new coach could find another gear, another level.
This week the Lakers decided that vision wouldn’t end well. This week the Lakers, at the very least, fundamentally changed.
Laker Austin Reaves drives to the basket against the Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
While the team with the NBA’s best record swatted every Lakers push away, usually with some combination of backbreaking threes from Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley or reserve Max Strus, the Lakers showed glimpses of the ways they’ll be different. For better or worse? That remains to be seen.
Reaves, again seeing his volume of shots spike with Russell now playing for the Brooklyn Nets, led the Lakers with 35 points and 10 assists, bouncing back from a bad first shift. Davis had 28 points and 13 rebounds. And James, playing for the first time since turning 40, scored 23.
But Cleveland took 11 more threes than the Lakers and made nine more. They scored 24 points off offensive rebounds to the Lakers’ 12. And, despite playing Monday in San Francisco, they set the tempo and physicality early as the Lakers quickly trailed by double digits.
Dorian Finney-Smith played 21 minutes in his Lakers debut, scoring on a putback dunk but coming up empty on his other three shots. Shake Milton, playing because guard Gabe Vincent missed Tuesday’s game because of an oblique injury, hit a pair of threes in 10 minutes, but the Lakers’ second unit without Russell was badly outscored 32-12.
Cleveland (29-4), looking very much like a fully-formed team as the calendar flips over to 2025, managed to have five players with at least 15 points led by 27 by Jarrett Allen.
“We certainly had our chances. And I really believe this against teams as good as Cleveland: You have to play close to perfect basketball,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “They’re not gonna let you beat them. They’re not gonna beat themselves.”
The way forward for the Lakers seems like it’s going to have a lot to do with Reaves, the backcourt leader and primary ballhandler in Redick’s offense. That shift, which looked fully realized for the first time in a Christmas win against the Golden State Warriors, got cemented with a 26-point, 16-assist game against the Sacramento Kings that helped the Lakers decide it was OK to trade Russell for Finney-Smith and Milton.
Tuesday, the Lakers got off to a pretty rough start, with Reaves turning the ball over three times in the first six minutes on offense and committing a pair of bad fouls on defense, the Cavaliers going up by as many as 15 in the first quarter.
Laker Rui Hachimura has the ball stripped away by Cavalier Max Struss, right, as Sam Merrill tries to grab the ball at Crypto.com Arena Tuesday.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
“Are you saying I was bad in the first five minutes?” Reaves said in response to a question about his start. “[Because] yeah, I was. Great question. You make good plays, you make bad plays. Unfortunately, I came out and made some really bad plays.
“And I knew that, if we wanted to claw our way back into it and give ourselves an opportunity, then I had to be better.”
He was — he had only one more turnover, tied his career high for points and finished one rebound shy of a triple-double.
“He’s gonna get a lot of opportunities to play on and off ball with actions on it in both ways,” Redick said. “There’s a nature to his game that you have to be willing to live with some of his stuff because of the way he attacks and the change of pace and the quick decisions and the quick bursts, like there’s gonna be some of that and you have to live with that. It’s sort of the unforced stuff [where he] will grow.”
His teammates say they’re on board.
“What’d he have, 36 tonight? 35? … looked good to me,” Davis said. “He’s a hooper. I mean obviously he has a little bit more on his plate with ballhandling responsibilities when Gabe is out and when LeBron is out of the game, but he’s used to it. He’s been in the league long enough now where he knows how to run the point guard position. So it’s going to be more reps. He’s ready for it, and we got the utmost confidence in him to run the point.”
The Lakers, an organization not built on moral victories, left their locker room knowing that a couple of open threes that that rattled in and out might’ve made a difference. There were other issues — namely on defense, where the Lakers were too often out of position and too late to challenge at the three-point line and at the rim. And they were not good enough there to make up for the disadvantage their three-point volume and disparity created.
“Well, we just got to defend. I mean, obviously, we could shoot more threes, but our key to winning will be the defense. And [if] we’re not going to shoot more threes, than we have to defend, which we’ve been doing as of late,” Davis said. “I don’t think we need to jack more threes just to compete with other teams. If our defense is there, we’re running teams off the line, holding them into one shot. We did our job and now we go down and try to score.”
The Lakers think they have the blueprint to start winning games like this, to put themselves in the right positions by the end of the season. Of course, they’ve thought it before too — and they just decided that version of the roster isn’t good enough.
These Lakers (18-14) weren’t good enough either Tuesday. But, as with Reaves, there’s time and room to grow.
“We’re trending in the right direction. Tonight was a good night for us. We just missed a ton of shots. Wide-open looks that we missed. We make half of those, it’s a different game. So, I like where our ballclub is,” Davis said. “… I think we could definitely be better on both ends of the floor, but I’m not disappointed where we are right now.”
The resort town of Gulmarg, located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, continues to attract large numbers of tourists for the New Year season.
Baramulla: Icicles hang from a hotel roof at Gulmarg Ski Resort after fresh snowfall, in Baramulla district.(PTI Photo)
Known for its snow-capped peaks and scenic landscapes, Gulmarg remains a popular destination for winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing.
While the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department has decided not to organise any official events to mark the New Year due to the seven-day national mourning following the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the resort still sees many visitors enjoying the natural beauty and outdoor activities.
One of the tourists, Kamani Singla, who came to Gulmarg from Punjab for the first time, said that she saw snow for the first time in her life and that the region feels like a paradise.
“It is a paradise. We have come for the first time, and our experience is very good. Best experience. We had seen snow for the first time and also saw this heavy snowfall for the first time here,” she said.
Another tourist, Sonu said that Kashmir is really a paradise, and it was a lot of fun visiting Gulmarg and enjoying the new year.
“Kashmir is really a paradise. Coming to Gulmarg and enjoying the new year is a lot of fun,” he said.
The place also has the Gulmarg Gondola, one of the highest cable cars in the world, which provides views of the surrounding mountains, adding to the appeal of the destination.
Bilal Ahmed, who operates slides and sledges in the region, said, “Many tourists came on the occasion of New Year and on the occasion of Christmas, and we are very happy with that because the public’s employment here is going well. We are also very happy that local tourism will get a lot of benefits here.”
The local accommodations, including hotels, resorts, and guesthouses, are now getting filled with visitors. The region’s local cuisine and hospitality further contribute to the experience.
The new year will bring brand new releases to theatres worldwide and there are plenty of movies to choose from in 2025.
Express Online have collated a round up of the biggest film releases set to take audiences by storm and certainly keep you entertained.
Whether you’re looking for musicals, to superheroes, or animation we have got you covered with the must sees of the year.
While by no means exhaustive, here is a collection of some of the biggest movies to look out for in 2025.
Michael
The Michael Jackson biopic will hit theatres in the new year, with the King of Pop’s nephew Jaafar Jackson portraying the late superstar. The 26 year old, son of Jermaine Jackson, said on Twitter that he was “humbled and honored” to bring his uncle’s story to life.
The movie, titled “Michael,” is being made with the cooperation of Jackson’s family and estate, offering “audiences an in-depth portrayal of the man and our brother who became the King of Pop,” said a Jackson family statement in February last year.
It is scheduled for release in UK cinemas on October 3, 2025.
(Image: Getty)
Wicked: For Good
Fans who loved last year’s biggest musical will be pleased to know they have not gone long to wait for part two.
The second installment of the cinematic adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, which in turn was adapted from the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel, has been subtitled “For Good”.
The sequel will catch up with now-estranged friends Elphaba (played by Cynthia Evrio) and Glinda (played by Ariana Grande) as they struggle to find their place in the big and wicked world of Oz.
It is set to be released in cinemas on November 21, 2025.
(Image: Getty)
The Fantastic Four
It is the first Fantastic Four film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following Disney’s acquisition of Fox Studios in 2019.
Disney’s The Fantastic Four stars Pedro Pascal as Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing.
The highly-anticipated movie will be released in cinemas on July 25.
Australia is set to receive an influx of new and updated models in 2025, and we can’t wait for many of them.
Cupra Tavascan
Audi Q5
Nissan Ariya
Kia Tasman
Off-roaders, pickups, sports cars, luxury cars and electric cars are among the many new model types making their way here next year, and we’re excited about some in particular.
For that reason we asked the CarExpert team to nominate which new models coming in 2025 they’re most excited about, and we left the door wide open to anything that has been confirmed for Australian release next year.
Indeed, we’ve referred to our New Car Calendar to put this article together, and we encourage you to do the same – and let us know your picks in the comments below.
Marton Pettendy: Ford Everest Tremor
I can’t wait to drive the new Ford Everest Tremor when it arrives in early 2025.
While it may have been overshadowed by the new Toyota Prado in the media and sales charts this year, the new-generation Everest is an outstanding Australian-developed full-size off-roader and became the country’s top-selling large SUV last year.
And the hard-core Tremor will add all of the off-road goodies that adventurous Aussies want: an extra inch of ride height courtesy of new springs, Bilstein dampers, and General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tyres hugged by wider wheel-arches.
Also making it overland-ready is a new rock crawl mode for the full-time 4×4 system, a steel bash plate, and heavy-duty side steps, plus a blacked-out honeycomb grille with auxiliary LED lamps, exclusive grey exterior paint and of course the de rigueur badging and interior cosmetics.
Unlike the Ranger Tremor, power comes from the beefy V6 turbo-diesel and I’d also add option the Rough Terrain Pack with ARB Stealth bar, ARB bash plate and auxiliary switch bank, but not the Touring (tow) pack or electric seat pack.
That brings the price to about $80k (about the same as the new Prado GXL) but, sadly, the Everest Tremor will probably be even more limited than the Ranger Tremor.
Interested in buying a Ford Everest? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Ford Everest
Paul Maric: Ram 1500 Ramcharger
I think this is an exciting concept in terms of a plug-in hybrid and presents with little compromise when it comes to towing – there’s still a decent sized internal combustion engine available to run the package if the battery runs dry.
I’m looking forward to having a drive and seeing whether it’s as good in person as it is on paper.
Interested in buying a Ram 1500? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Ram 1500
James Wong: Hyundai Inster
IT’S SO CUTE I COULD DIE!
Honestly, I’m dumbfounded as to why I’m so obsessed with the Inster. It’s a bloody ecobox with a battery and e-motor shoved under it. Perhaps that’s the appeal.
I’ve become so hardened to the onslaught of same-same EVs in Australia, largely represented by mid-sized ‘SUVs’ all trying to beat the Tesla Model Y at its own game. Boring.
The Hyundai Inster makes you feel something from the moment you look at it, and I’m a lover of silly, tiny city-cars that make me feel like a balance-conscious European.
I’m super excited to see one properly in the metal, and then drive one. Who knows, maybe I could trade in the Golf for this adorable Korean electric runabout…
Interested in buying a Hyundai? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Hyundai
Jack Quick: Lexus LBX Morizo RR
In a move I wasn’t expecting this year, the Lexus LBX Morizo RR is a vehicle that I can see myself owning in the future.
I’m already a HUGE fan of the Toyota GR Yaris and GR Corolla, and I’m interested to see how the automatic transmission changes the formula.
Although the standard LBX polarises, it appears to blend sporty looks with luxurious touches nicely together in a pint-sized package.
If Akio Toyoda has one of these as his personal car, I can’t wait to get behind the wheel when it arrives Down Under next year.
Interested in buying a Lexus LBX? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Lexus LBX
William Stopford: Hyundai Palisade and GMC Yukon
These two may be big, brash-looking SUVs, but they couldn’t be any more different. And yet, I’m excited for them both.
Let’s start with the Palisade. The current model has one of the nicest interiors in its segment, with genuine space for adults across all three rows. It’s a pleasant drive, but you have to choose between a somewhat noisy diesel or a thirsty V6.
The new car is set to get hybrid power, while its styling both inside and out is even more attractive than before.
I was impressed by the new generation of Santa Fe, which replaced a still particularly competitive SUV and brought with it excellent packaging and a bold new look.
I’ve got high hopes, then, for the Palisade. It also has a more attractive posterior than its smaller sibling…
Then there’s the GMC Yukon. I never thought I’d care much for large pickup trucks, but every time I get behind the wheel of a Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150 or Ram 1500, I feel strangely comfortable.
However, I don’t see myself ever needing a big tub at the back, which is why I’ve never owned a ute.
Based on the same platform as the Silverado and using the same 6.2-litre V8 but offering a more luxurious interior and three rows of seating, the Yukon is rather decadent but I suspect it could be a guilty pleasure for me.
It’s not cheap, though…
Interested in buying either of these cars? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers about a Hyundai Palisade here, and for the GMC Yukon you can go here
MORE: Everything Hyundai Palisade • GMC Yukon
Jordan Mulach: Skoda Superb
I’ve taken a three-car garage approach to this question, so bear with me.
GR Yaris
911 GT3
Firstly, the updated GR Yaris looks to build on its existing and very successful formula to be even more potent and driver-friendly.
Also on the performance side, it’s hard to go past the new 911 GT3. I love Porsche’s racer for the road, and the 992.2 looks to be the best of the breed yet. It’s a shame I’ll never have the money to own one, and only a slim chance of driving one.
But it’s the Skoda Superb which I’m finding myself most excited by and interested in driving.
Superb
I currently have two Skodas in the garage, and can’t think of any other brand that offers vehicles with as few compromises.
Australia is only getting the Superb Sportline (fine by me) and even though it’s got slightly less power than the outgoing model, it’ll have more torque and an extra gear ratio, something its predecessor desperately needed.
At a time when large sedans and wagons are dying, this could be one of the last hurrahs for what used to be Australia’s most popular vehicle segments.
Interested in buying a Skoda Superb? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Skoda Superb
Josh Nevett: Cupra Leon Sportstourer
Something tells me that I won’t be alone on this one.
There are few things that mature car enthusiasts love more than a fast wagon, but unfortunately they’re a dying breed. Especially the affordable ones.
Excluding six-figure options, Australian new car buyers are limited to the Subaru WRX and Skoda Octavia RS – that’s hardly spoilt for choice.
Thankfully a third player will enter the dwindling segment next year – the Cupra Leon Sportstourer.
Filling the void left by the long-gone Volkswagen Golf R wagon, the Sportstourer brings both style and substance to the wagon world.
The all-wheel drive flagship packs 245kW and 420Nm from its turbocharged four-cylinder, while we could also be offered a plug-in hybrid option with 200kW of power and 100km of electric range.
Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but my fingers are well and truly crossed that the Sportstourer becomes the thinking driver’s family hauler.
Interested in buying a Cupra Leon? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Cupra Leon
Max Davies: Cupra Leon Sportstourer
My goodness, what a crowd Cupra’s newest model range is shaping up to be.
I’ve admired the Spanish marque for some time, as its cars have always appeared to be incredibly stylish units with the backing of highly experienced and – usually – high-quality Volkswagen Group construction.
I enjoyed the brief time I had in the Born, Leon, Formentor, and Ateca during this year, and the latter of that lot gave me a first taste of what genuine performance-oriented Cupra models can be. It was of course the Ateca VZx (a review of which is coming soon), and despite its SUV form I was pleasantly surprised by all of its driving characteristics.
So to learn the Leon would be getting a facelift was one thing, but hearing that a hot Leon Sportstourer wagon would be joining the lineup next year was genuinely exciting.
Yes you’ll likely have to live with that front-end for a while before you come round to it, but to me the whole car already looks quite sharp. What’s not to love about a sleek, hotted-up wagon?
I love the fact it’s been geared towards enthusiasts, which makes its positioning as a spiritual successor for the Golf R wagon all the more legitimate. It’s hard to argue with a turbo 2.0-litre four that produces 245kW and 420Nm either, and a 4.9-second 0-100km/h time is nothing to sneeze at.
While there will be a plug-in hybrid option available, the full-fat Sportstourer is the one that’s firmly on my radar. It’ll be expensive for sure, and time will tell if it lives up to both its price tag and expectations.
I can already see myself being annoyed with the touchscreen climate controls seen in the overseas imagery, but I’m willing to forgive that if its driving dynamics and outright performance are all they’re cracked up to be.
The Leon Sportstourer is supposed to arrive on Australian shores in the middle of 2025, so I’ll have my hand up to get behind the wheel as soon as I can.
Interested in buying a Cupra Leon? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
Easy Trip Planners has appointed Rikant Pittie to head the company with effect from January 1, 2025.
Easy Trip Planners co-founder & CEO Nishant Pitti.
Easy Trip Planners co-founder & CEO Nishant Pitti has resigned citing personal reasons. The company has appointed Rikant Pittie to head the company with effect from January 1, 2025. The development comes after Nishant Pitti divested a 1.4 per cent stake in the company.
“I, Nishant Piiti, Chairman and CEO of Easy Trip Planners Limited, hereby tender my resignation from the position of CEO due to personal reasons with effect from January 01, 2025. Kindly accept this resignation and relieve me from being the CEO of the company and acknowledge the receipt of this resignation,” said Pitti in his resignation letter attached by company in stock exchange filing.
Shares of Easy Trip were trading lower by 0.82 per cent at Rs 15.74 apiece on the BSE, as of 1125 IST.
News business Easy Trip CEO Nishant Pitti Resigns, Cites Personal Reasons
Attorney and XRP supporter John Deaton recently shared that it’s hard to truly measure the damage the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple and XRP has caused to Ripple’s business. Back in 2012, when Ripple’s founders created XRP, stablecoins didn’t exist, and the global payments market was wide open for innovation.
At the time, Ripple was deciding whether to focus on smart contracts or payments. In the end, Ripple chose to focus on cross-border payments, which he thinks made sense given the size of the market and the lack of stablecoins back then.
In 2019, Coinbase listed XRP and promoted it as a way to send money internationally fast and cheaply. Later that year, MoneyGram started using XRP for transfers. But just 18 months later, the SEC filed a lawsuit, claiming that all XRP—regardless of how it was purchased—was an unregistered security.
I do not believe one can properly estimate the damage to Ripple’s business caused by the sweeping nature of the SEC’s complaint against Ripple and XRP.
After the lawsuit, Coinbase delisted XRP, and MoneyGram switched to using XLM instead. But Deaton asks, is there really a legal difference between using XRP or XLM for payments? However, XLM’s creator, Jed McCaleb, is also a co-founder of Ripple. Deaton argues that the SEC’s lawsuit is way too broad. He also points out that many of the people who pushed for the case against Ripple later worked for Ripple’s competitors.
“But when you look at the circumstances surrounding how this case was filed, including the massive conflicts of interests, and the fact that people behind the lawsuit went on to help or work for competitors of Ripple/XRP, you don’t have to be a fan to call it out,” he concluded.
Ripple Vs SEC Saga Continues:
The legal fight between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has greatly impacted XRP since the lawsuit began in December 2020. A key moment came on July 13, 2023, when Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP is not a security, which was an important regulatory decision. However, the SEC appealed on October 17, challenging parts of the ruling. The SEC is required to submit its opening brief by January 15, 2025, keeping the case in the public eye.
We test open wireless earbuds based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria are design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.
Design
We assess not only how comfortable the earbuds fit (ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. We also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.
Sound quality
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the open earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
Features
Some great-sounding open earbuds aren’t loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from noise-canceling and transparency modes (ambient sound mode) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears.
Voice-calling performance
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice.
Value
We determine value after evaluating the strength of the earbuds against all these criteria and what the buds are able to deliver compared to other models in their price class.
Our reviewer David Carnoy testing voice-calling performance on the noisy streets of New York.
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2024 was packed with health care innovations, from a new blood test detecting Alzheimer’s disease to deep brain stimulation reversing paralysis.
Heading into the New Year, medical experts are predicting even more medical advances for 2025.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham, a health care system in Boston, Massachusetts, shared with Fox News Digital some of the scientific developments and breakthroughs they expect to see, which are also published on the hospital’s website.
7 OF GOOGLE’S MOST-SEARCHED HEALTH QUESTIONS IN 2024, WITH EXPERT RESPONSES
5 cancer predictions
1. “I anticipate we are going to see continued breakthroughs and growth in immunotherapy for cancer, particularly with FDA approvals and commercialization of cell therapies for solid tumors. The field is also poised to make great strides in using these technologies for other conditions, like autoimmune diseases.”
Bryan Choi, MD, PhD Investigator, Department of Neurosurgery Massachusetts General Hospital
Heading into the New Year, medical experts from Mass General Brigham are predicting many new medical advances for 2025.(iStock)
2. “I predict novel discoveries and innovative strategies for early cancer detection and prevention will dramatically impact patient care in the coming year. With the proven success of immunotherapy for cancer treatment, there is an emerging interest in utilizing the patient’s own immune system for cancer prevention, especially in high-risk populations. This area of research is expanding rapidly and will likely generate actionable targets for investigations in patients.”
Shawn Demehri, MD, PhD Investigator, Mass General Cancer Center Massachusetts General Hospital
3. “The current standard for treating patients with clinical stage 2 or 3 triple-negative breast cancer is to administer chemotherapy in addition to immunotherapy prior to surgery. This combination therapy leads to a better response than chemotherapy alone. However, immunotherapy comes with added toxicities that can lead to lifelong complications.”
Researchers expect that 2025 will include an “important step in further personalizing breast cancer care and reducing long-term side effects.”(iStock)
“In 2025, I anticipate significant progress will be made in identifying biomarkers in a patient’s peripheral immune system that will help determine which patients require the addition of immunotherapy and those who will do well with chemotherapy alone. This would be an important step in further personalizing breast cancer care and reducing long-term side effects.”
Elizabeth Mittendorf, MD, PhD, MHCM Investigator, Department of Surgery Brigham and Women’s Hospital
4. “In basic research, single-cell technologies have been advancing at an accelerated pace. In 2025, I believe we will likely see major breakthroughs in spatial transcriptomics and sub-cellular high-resolution imaging, particularly in the context of embryo development and understanding of cancer progression and resistance.”
Raul Mostoslavsky, PhD Investigator, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research Massachusetts General Hospital
“I predict novel discoveries and innovative strategies for early cancer detection and cancer prevention will dramatically impact patient care.”
5. “I believe we will see a greater focus on the long-term impact of multiple environmental factors on disease states, such as cancer development processes. There is a misconception that many non-hereditary diseases, such as non-hereditary cancer, are the result of short-term risk factor exposure. I think that research in the coming year will shift focus on the long-term impacts of multiple disease-causing factors.”
Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD, MS Chief of Molecular Pathological Epidemiology Program, Department of Pathology Brigham and Women’s Hospital
6 neurology predictions
1. “I anticipate we’ll see an uptick in usage of artificial intelligence (AI) to support physicians while they care for patients, streamline workflows, and improve diagnostics and treatments in 2025. We’re also likely to see expanded use of robotics and AI in complex surgeries, particularly for brain and spine procedures.”
E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, FAANS Executive Director, Center for Tumors of the Nervous System Mass General Brigham
1. “I anticipate we’ll see an uptick in usage of artificial intelligence to support physicians while they care for patients, streamline workflows, and improve diagnostics and treatments in 2025,” one neurologist said.(iStock)
2. “I predict that advances in non-invasive brain stimulation will change how we care for patients with brain disease, including accelerated protocols that improve symptoms in days rather than weeks, personalized protocols that target the most bothersome symptom in each patient, and at-home devices that make brain stimulation accessible to more patients.”
Michael Fox, MD, PhD Director, Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics Brigham and Women’s Hospital
THE YEAR IN CANCER: ADVANCES MADE IN 2024, PREDICTIONS FOR 2025
3. “Advances in focused ultrasound technology offer the potential for non-invasive, targeted, and temporary opening of the blood-brain barrier. This could allow therapies that were previously ineffective — due to their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier to reach their target in the central nervous system — to directly target tissues. I think we will see a breakthrough in this area of research in the next year, enabling treatments for a wide range of brain disorders, including neurological, psychiatric and neurosurgical conditions.”
Alexandra Golby, MD Investigator, Neurosciences Center Brigham and Women’s Hospital
4. “Starting in 2025, it will become possible to administer transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat depression over the course of just days instead of weeks, which, aided by pharmacological co-agents, will still lead to a very high remission rate in treatment-resistant patients.”
Andreas Horn, MD, PhD Director, Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics Brigham and Women’s Hospital
“I predict that advances in non-invasive brain stimulation will change how we care for patients with brain disease,” one doctor said.(BrainsWay)
5. “I predict that the prevention of dementia, stroke and depression will become a cornerstone of patient-directed primary care. In 2024, we saw the publication of several high-impact validation studies of the Brain Care Score (BCS), a tool designed to help people everywhere use the most robust science to guide their daily lifestyle choices and reduce their risk of dementia, stroke and depression by up to 50%. In parallel, we have laid the groundwork to empower people everywhere to use the BCS routinely, and to bring it with them to their next primary care visit with a health care provider.”
Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSc JP Kistler Endowed Chair in Neurology Co-Founder, McCance Center for Brain Health Massachusetts General Hospital
“I envision that in 2025, the discovery of molecular biomarkers will shift the care paradigm to a more proactive approach. “
6. “I foresee advances on several fronts of dementia care as a major theme for health care in 2025. This includes AI-assisted approaches to improve early diagnosis, novel ways of delivering personalized treatments, and advances in care delivery as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-developed GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) Model of Care is implemented nationwide. I also predict that caregiving for persons with dementia will gain further recognition as a major element of health care, requiring more resources and attention.”
Ipsit V. Vahia, MD Investigator, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry McLean Hospital
5 cardiology predictions
1. “I believe in 2025 we can expect to see the completion of the first large outcomes-focused clinical trial from a group of new medications that target lipoprotein(a), a unique type of ‘bad cholesterol’ that increases a patient’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Up to this point, the treatment paradigm for patients with elevated lipoprotein(a) has been to aggressively modify other risk factors, but we may soon have more targeted treatment options.”
Michael Honigberg, MD, MPP Investigator, Cardiology Division Massachusetts General Hospital
STEM CELL THERAPY TO CORRECT HEART FAILURE IN CHILDREN COULD ‘TRANSFORM LIVES’
2. “Cardiac critical care has transformed into its own discipline, but remains largely reactive to treating patients as they become sicker. I envision that in 2025, the discovery of molecular biomarkers will shift the care paradigm to a more proactive approach. Molecular biomarkers may help us identify patients most at risk of disease and start interventions earlier, maybe even preventively.”
Edy Kim, MD, PhD Investigator, Pulmonary Division Brigham and Women’s Hospital
3. “I predict that in 2025, we will see significant advancements in women’s health research. In particular, I hope to see major breakthroughs that improve quality of life and cardiovascular health in mid-life/menopausal women, a group that has been historically underappreciated.”
Emily S. Lau, MD, MPH Investigator, Cardiometabolic Health and Hormones Clinic Massachusetts General Hospital
“In 2025, I anticipate significant progress will be made in identifying biomarkers in a patient’s peripheral immune system that will help determine which patients require the addition of immunotherapy and those who will do well with chemotherapy alone,” one doctor said.(iStock)
4. “In 2025, I anticipate we will see the introduction of two intertwined advances. First, the integration of artificial intelligence-facilitated algorithms for the early detection of cardiovascular illness, which will move us closer toward early prevention. We also envision a focus on using genetically informed treatments to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic heart disease, valvular heart disease and heart failure. Together, these important advances will usher in an era of personalized health care in cardiovascular disease.”
Mandeep R. Mehra, MBBS, MSc Executive Director, Center for Advanced Heart Disease Brigham and Women’s Hospital
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5. “In the coming year, I anticipate a marked increase in focus on cardio-kidney-metabolic health, necessitating new patient-centered models of interdisciplinary care.”
Pradeep Natarajan, MD, MMSc Director, Preventive Cardiology Massachusetts General Hospital
6 general scientific predictions
1. “In 2025, I believe we will uncover the answers to remaining questions about nutrient metabolism and why a calorie is not a calorie, thereby improving our understanding of why some people gain weight.”
Caroline Apovian, MD Co-Director, Center for Weight Management and Wellness Brigham and Women’s Hospital
“In 2025, I believe we will uncover the answers to remaining questions about nutrient metabolism and why a calorie is not a calorie, thereby improving our understanding of why some people gain weight,” a doctor predicted.(iStock)
2. “In the coming year, I see artificial intelligence being integrated more into health care as a supplement to physician knowledge and intuition. With the amount of biomedical data we are generating, I predict AI tools will improve our ability to interpret and apply the most salient information to individual patients, resulting in a personalized approach to patient care. I also predict that AI will continue to greatly reduce the administrative burden on providers and enable them to spend more time with their patients.”
William Hwang, MD, PhD Investigator, Center for Systems Biology, Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research, Department of Radiation Oncology Massachusetts General Hospital
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3. “I think in 2025, we will see the implementation of generative artificial intelligence language models (i.e., chatbots) for some aspects of routine clinical care, such as the preparation of patient communications, generation of preliminary diagnostic test reports, or summarization of patient medical records.”
Shaan Khurshid, MD, MPH Investigator, Telemachus and Irene Demoulas Family Foundation Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias Massachusetts General Hospital
Artificial intelligence is expected to play a big role in the 2025 health landscape.(iStock)
4. “In 2025, I think we will recognize the power of drones and begin to use them to transform the way we deliver health care by making the home the center of care. Drone-facilitated care will impact primary care, urgent and emergency care, and even enable public health leaps by bringing care directly to patients in ways we never thought possible (or maybe thought were possible only for the Jetsons).”
David Levine, MD, MPH, MA Clinical Director of Research and Development Mass General Brigham
“I believe in 2025, we will see many more patients benefiting from genetic therapies.”
5. “Increased access to emerging technologies and personalized data, combined with information specifically tailored for the individual, will drive self-care in health and wellness in more patients, initially in preventative medicine, in the next year. This phenomenon will begin to impact chronic disease management and progressively more complex conditions and will accelerate devolution of care and responsibility for many conditions to the patient — who is often best placed to understand their own health.”
Calum A. MacRae, MD, PhD Vice Chair for Scientific Innovation Brigham and Women’s Hospital
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6. “Treatments for rare genetic diseases are rapidly being translated to clinics. With close to 40 gene and cell therapies approved and hundreds expected to come down the pipeline, I believe that in 2025, we will see many more patients benefiting from genetic therapies.”
Susan A. Slaugenhaupt, PhD Scientific Director, Mass General Research Institute Massachusetts General Hospital
As we age, maintaining balance becomes increasingly important to reduce the risk of falls, which can result in broken bones, and even more serious conditions like traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. Thankfully, balance training can be a key part of a pilates reformer workouts. The movement of Pilates exercises targets the entire body, including the smaller muscles that are essential to balanced movements. This is why the exercise is so popular with athletes.
In addition, Pilates teaches proper alignment, which is also a key to better balance. The exercises on a reformer help strengthen the muscles in your shoulders, neck and back to support your posture. Pilates helps to retrain the body’s default movements, which often lead to misalignment that can put strain on your joints.
Pilates is also an excellent way to improve the efficiency of your movement, says certified clinical naturopath and accredited Pilates instructor Bianca Melas of Alo Moves. “Unlike many other strength-driven gym classes, Pilates provides a full-body, core-focused workout that teaches the body how to move more efficiently, rather than forcing the body into an inefficient pattern,” she explains.
This is achieved by moving against the resistance of the springs, pulleys and platform of the reformer. The platform, which is known as the carriage, moves on a track along the frame of the machine and can be controlled by the springs to create different levels of tension. The carriage can also have shoulder blocks and shorter straps that are used for specific exercises.
Are Pilates reformer workouts effective for improving balance?
Reformer exercises also focus on eccentric movements, which equate to your muscle fibers shortening as you lower into a stretch. These movements are more challenging than the elongating, or concentric, movements of other gym workouts. This is why a reformer can offer a more comprehensive, and effective, workout.
The good news is that reformer workouts are low-impact and can be modified for any fitness level, so you can reap the benefits of the exercises no matter your age or physical limitations. However, if you have health or mobility issues that prevent you from safely performing certain reformer exercises, it is a good idea to seek the advice of a qualified Pilates instructor.
Pilates can also boost your athletic performance, according to a 2018 study that found participants who did two Pilates sessions per week for 12 weeks had faster run times and a decreased metabolic cost when compared to those who did not do the exercises. The researchers attribute this to increased core stability and proprioception. These are both vital for sports performance, as well as improved balance and mobility.
To increase your chances of seeing these improvements, ensure that you are working with a qualified instructor and make sure the reformer is set up for your abilities. The trainer can assess your needs and provide appropriate adjustments to the exercises. They can also help you build a consistent routine that will see the best results. This may mean doing a combination of mat and reformer exercises, or adding props like poles and plank bars to challenge yourself further.
Oreo is now creating new recipes and getting them on shelves at an incredibly fast speed – all thanks to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Oreo is manufactured by snack giant Mondelez International. Previously, new recipes were largely created through trial and error methods. Now, a new tool developed by Mondelez is speeding up the creation of snack recipes to fit certain taste profiles, The Wall Street Journal. Mondelez’s food scientists tell the tool to create recipes “by specifying desired characteristics, including flavour, aroma, and appearance.”
Each recipe is still taste-tested by humans, but products “are getting to pilot or production trials four to five times faster,” the company claims. Mondelez’s AI tool uses machine learning rather than generative AI seen in ChatGPT.
“The point is we get there faster,” Kevin Wallenstein, who works in biscuit research and development, told The Wall Street Journal. “The consumer wants the product to taste like X. We’re not stopping iterating until it tastes like X … we’re doing things more efficiently.”
The use of AI reduces lab work, leads to faster production and minimises the need for repeated taste tests. So far, the AI tool has been used in the creation of 70 different products manufactured by Mondelez, which also owns Toblerone, Cadbury and Clif, including the Gluten Free Golden Oreo.
The tool also helps in upgrading or refreshing recipes for existing products, which are “assessed every few years for potential tweaks, like whether to move over to a new chocolate-chip or vanilla-extract supplier.”
Several food companies are using AI to boost their business, both in terms of quality and speed of production. Click here to learn more.
About Jigyasa KakwaniJigyasa finds her solace through writing, a medium she is exploring to make the world more informed and curious with every story published. She is always up for exploring new cuisines, but her heart comes back to the comforting ghar-ka-khana.
<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-12-31/President-Xi-hails-China-s-new-quality-productive-forces-1zMHy1CsSME/img/0d221cdc730241f68a6839d73ba54c8b/0d221cdc730241f68a6839d73ba54c8b.png' alt='A Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-6 spacecraft, blasts off from its launchpad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 3, 2024. /CFP'
President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China has fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions in 2024, and new business sectors, forms and models have continued to emerge.
China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year for the first time and made breakthroughs in multiple fields, including scientific research with the operation of the Antarctic Qinling Station and the Chang’e-6 lunar probe collecting samples from the far side of the moon, Xi said in his 2025 New Year Address.
In this part of his Pharmaceutical Executive video interview, Dr. Lawrence B. Werlin, MD, FACOG of HRC Fertility (@md.lawrence.werlin on TikTok), talks about advancements in technology and data analysis that could lead to more personalized fertility treatments.
Firstly, thank you for reading and being along for the journey in 2024. We can’t wait to share more feline adventures, news, care tips, and adorable photos with you in 2025.
As cat parents, you’ll know that any changes from the regular routine can throw your kitty out of balance. Parties at home, or even them watching you get dolled up to leave home, can be unnerving.
But one of the most common stressors during New Year’s celebrations is the beloved and dreaded fireworks displays. Cats can become anxious and overwhelmed by the noises that come with fireworks, so if you’re like us here at Catster, you’ll want to protect your kitty as best as you can during the celebrations tonight.
Each year, there are more calls to end fireworks displays in different communities and cities around the world. But we’re far from a complete ban on them, so there are things you can do to ensure your kitty is safe inside your home and that you both can enjoy ringing in the new year safely.
Image Credit: CC0 Public Domain, pxhere
The 5 Tips for Keeping Cats Safe During New Year’s Eve Fireworks
1. Keep Them Indoors
This is key! If your cat is usually roaming, we say: not on New Year’s Eve! Keep your cat indoors well before the fireworks start, and close all windows, doors, and curtains to block out the sights and sounds of the fireworks, preventing them from becoming startled or running away.
2. Ensure Their Identification is Up to Date
Ensure your cat’s collar and ID tags are secure and up to date, and that their microchip information is accurate. Even though you’ll be keeping them indoors, cats are Houdinis, so we recommend taking this extra precaution.
3. Create a Calm, Quiet Space
Set up a safe, quiet space where your cat can hide if they feel overwhelmed. This could be a cozy bed in a back room, a closet, or under furniture where they can feel secure and out of sight from the noise and lights.
4. Drown Out the Noise
Playing calming music or white noise can help mask the sound of fireworks. Keeping the TV or radio on a low volume with soft, soothing sounds can also help distract your cat and reduce anxiety.
5. Offer Comfort and Familiarity
Spend time with your cat to help calm them, offering cuddles, pets, or simply sitting near them in their safe space. A familiar blanket or piece of clothing with your scent can provide extra comfort during stressful moments.
You can read more ways to keep your cat safe during fireworks in our complete, vet-approved guide here.
There are many other hazards to keep an eye out for during holiday celebrations, like decorations, food, and unfamiliar people. If you think from your cat’s perspective tonight, though, you can better ensure a smooth transition into the new year for both of you.
What are your thoughts on banning fireworks to keep pets safe? Let us know in the comments below.
And of course, Happy New Year! See you in 2025! Thank you for reading.
Pri kreiranju rubrike Index Shopping nastojimo izdvajati odlične proizvode koji se i nama sviđaju te odlične akcije i popuste. Ne objavljujemo proizvode koje i sami ne bismo kupili ili smatramo da njihova promocija nije u skladu s profesionalnim standardima. Neki proizvodi u rubrici Index Shopping mogu biti sponzorirani.
VJEROJATNO jedini model tenisica u 2024. koji je mogao parirati popularnosti adidasovih Samba tenisica bile su suradničke tenisice Miu Miu i New Balance. Ovaj traženi model bilo je gotovo nemoguće nabaviti jer je stalno bio rasprodan, a popularnost je brzo privukla pažnju high-street brendova koji su požurili ponuditi vlastite verzije.
Prvi su put predstavljene u sklopu kolekcije jesen/zima 2024.
Miu Miu NB 530 prvi su put predstavljene kao dio luksuzne kolekcije za jesen/zimu 2024. godine. Isticale su se ravnim potplatom, trostrukim vezicama i gornjim kožnim dijelom, piše Highsnobiety.
Početne boje ovog modela uključivale su elegantne svijetle nijanse, tamne tonove te omiljene bež i smeđe varijante. Tijekom 2024. godine, Miu Miu je postupno unapređivao svoj popularni New Balance model, uvodeći nove verzije različitih stilova – od blještavo metalik srebrne do neobičnih natikača.
Tekst se nastavlja ispod oglasa
Sve ove tenisice, ručno izrađene u Italiji, cijenom su bile usklađene s luksuznim kolekcijama Miu Miu, često dosežući niže četveroznamenkaste iznose. No, unatoč visokoj cijeni, brzo bi nestajale s polica.
Obilježile su 2024. godinu
U 2024. godini rijetko koje suradničke dizajnerske tenisice mogle su se mjeriti s popularnošću Miu Miu i New Balance modela, osim možda Wales Bonnerovih adidas Samba tenisica. Ipak, dok su Sambe samo nastavile biti popularne iz 2023., Miu Balance tenisice postale su simbol 2024. godine. Ukratko, suradnja Miu Miu i New Balancea postala je prava senzacija koja je obilježila ovu godinu.
Brend je nedavno, gotovo neprimjetno, predstavio novu verziju ovog modela – crne lakirane New Balance x Miu Miu 530 tenisice. Iako su prošle ispod radara većine, vjerni kupci nisu ih propustili. Kao i prethodni modeli iz ove suradnje, i ova verzija gotovo je u potpunosti rasprodana.
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Adelanto 56, Escondido Charter 40 AGBU 46, Norwalk 39 Aliso Niguel 60, Grand Terrace 57 Arcadia 61, Valencia 45 Arlington 77, Lynwood 46 Arroyo Valley 53, Pacific 38 Auburn 80, St. Paul 60 Bakersfield Christian 67, St. Bonaventure 51 Beaumont 37, Canyon Springs 36 Bellflower 71, Chino 51 Big Bear 75, Apple Valley 72 Bishop’s 79, Norte Vista 66 Bloomington 43, Jurupa Valley 42 Bonita 60, Riverside Prep 39 Bolsa Grande 61, Santa Ana 49 Boulder City (NV) 82, Orange 29 Brawley 63, Coachella Valley 52 Brea Olinda 62, Western Christian 21 Brentwood 70, Chaminade 50 Burbank 88, California 58 Cajon 46, Shadow Hills 42 Calabasas 76, Crescenta Valley 61 California School for the Deaf Riverside 72, Southlands Christian 47 Camarillo 60, Servite 48 Campbell Hall 77, Ironwood (AZ) 68 Cantwell-Sacred Heart 69, Orange Glen 25 Canyon Country Canyon 94, Los Altos 80 Canyon View (AZ) 83, Great Oak 66 Capistrano Valley 57, Thousand Oaks 52 Cathedral d. Crenshaw, forfeit Carter 70, Barstow 40 Chaffey 52, Fontana 50 Chaparral 83, South East 47 Chino Hills 62, Corona Santiago 60 Cleveland 59, Lakewood 57 Corona 75, Santa Rosa Academy 37 Corona del Mar 66, Mater Academy East (NV) 57 Crean Lutheran 70, Northeast (FL) 63 Crespi 78, Anaheim Canyon 64 Crossroads 79, Murrieta Valley 56 Culver City 64, Vista Murrieta 61 Damien 61, Desert Christian Academy 53 Diamond Bar 75, Redlands East Valley 63 Dougherty Valley 57, Oxnard 49 Downey 49, Summit 48 Duarte 81, Mountain View 49 Dublin 63, Rolling Hills Prep 51 Eastvale Roosevelt 56, St. John Bosco 55 (OT) East Valley 54, Panorama 48 Edgewood 61, El Monte 28 Edison 64, Newport Harbor 53 El Dorado 63, Ramona 58 El Rancho 48, Segerstrom 43 Elsinore 78, Costa Mesa 66 Elk Grove Franklin 59, Palm Springs 43 Esperanza 69, Alta Loma 59 Etiwanda 61, Chatsworth 57 Flintridge Prep 52, Bakersfield Liberty 47 Folsom 87, Mater Dei 46 Foothill (NV) 42, Paloma Valley 38 Fountain Valley 79, Granada Hills 68 Francis Parker 81, Cypress 56 Fullerton 57, Placentia Valencia 54 Glendale 53, Eagle Rock 51 Glendale Adventist 54, Mesa Grande Academy 39 Glendora 70, Skyridge (UT) 62 Godinez 75, Magnolia 30 Grant’s Pass (OR) 53, Mission Viejo 51 Hawthorne 72, Alhambra 59 Heritage Christian 71, Clovis North 61 Hillcrest 66, Arrowhead Christian 53 Hillcrest Christian 85, Sierra Pacific 48 Hoover 46, Temple City 43 Huntington Beach 59, Bosco Tech 51 Indian Springs 72, Eisenhower 59 Inglewood 90, Village Christian 66 Irvine 60, El Toro 50 JSerra 52, Archbishop Riordan 47 Kamehameha (HI) 61, Ayala 57 Katella 71, Loara 53 King’s Academy 60, Shalhevet 55 LA University 67, Monroe 36 Laguna Beach 59, San Jacinto 43 Laguna Hills 72, Live Oak 48 La Habra 64, Fairmont Prep 49 La Mirada 64, Layton Christian Academy (UT) 49 La Palma Kennedy 67, Oxford Academy 47 La Quinta 71, Indio 38 La Salle 68, Hart 53 Lawndale 66, Chadwick 39 Legacy 44, Harbor Teacher 40 Legacy Christian 65, Price 51 Leuzinger 60, Gahr 53 Lincoln 54, Vaughn 38 Loma Linda Academy 51, Paradise Adventist Academy 44 Long Beach Cabrillo 64, Woodbridge 53 Long Beach Jordan 80, Granada Hills Kennedy 47 Long Beach Poly 72, Agoura 45 Long Beach Wilson 61, Eastside 37 Mark Keppel 55, Garden Grove Santiago 53 Mary Star of the Sea 76, Chowchilla 35 Mercer Island (WA) 58, Verbum Dei Jesuit 53 Mira Costa 87, Oak Hills 72 Mission College Prep 69, Dos Pueblos 54 Montgomery 74, Windward 73 Moorpark 81, Fillmore 32 Moreno Valley 36, Stevenson 27 Muir 54, Gardena Serra 44 Murrieta Mesa 69, West Valley 52 Newbury Park 51, Hueneme 44 Newbury Park Adventist 33, Rim of the World 32 Nogales 52, Paramount 51 Norco 63, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 53 North Torrance 68, Manual Arts 42 Northview 55, Citrus Valley 42 Oakwood 50, Sage Hill 45 Ontario Christian 55, Cerritos Valley Christian 54 Orange County Pacifica Christian 78, San Juan Hills 59 Orange Vista 72, Northwood 69 Oxnard Pacifica 79, Righetti 67 Palisades 58, Grant 47 Palos Verdes 62, South Torrance 47 Panorama 60, Sun Valley Magnet 59 Paradise Adventist Academy 60, Lucerne Valley 50 Pasadena 57, San Gabriel Academy 54 Pilibos 62, Westlake 54 Puyallup (WA) 71, Desert Christian Academy 33 Ramona 67, Citrus Hill 65 Rancho Cucamonga 66, Liberty (AZ) 60 Rancho Verde 54, Jesuit 43 Redlands 63, Banning 50 Redondo Union 72, O’Connor (AZ) 61 Riverside King 57, Marquez 51 Riverside Poly 63, St. Mary’s (AZ) 56 Royal 63, Indio 44 Salesian 45, Riverside North 38 San Clemente 58, Villa Park 53 San Diego 63, Wiseburn Da Vinci 55 San Diego Cathedral 88, Temecula Valley 75 San Dimas 66, Rialto 59 San Gabriel 62, Monrovia 50 San Gorgonio 57, Vista del Lago 54 San Luis Obispo 60, Rio Mesa 52 San Pedro 57, Peninsula 47 San Ramon California 64, St. Anthony 61 Santa Barbara 75, Sierra Canyon 74 Santa Fe 72, Buena Park 64 Santa Margarita 78, Corona Centennial 75 Saugus 44, Santa Monica 39 Schurr 58, Simi Valley 56 Serrano 64, Kaiser 55 Servite 60, Camarillo 48 South Pasadena 81, Alemany 72 South Torrance 61, Beckman 53 St. Bernard 62, Notre Dame Prep (AZ) 47 St. Francis 67, Oaks Christian 47 St. Genevieve 75, Claremont 68 St. Louis (HI) 64, Loyola 54 St. Margaret’s 57, Rowland 45 St. Mary’s 78, Millikan 59 St. Monica 63, Northgate 54 Sultana 48, Tahquitz 44 Sun Valley Poly 58, LACES 44 Temecula Prep 60, Mountain View 36 Temescal Canyon 47, San Bernardino 35 Tesoro 50, Tustin 38 Torrance 59, Calexico 49 Valley Torah 91, Trinity Classical Academy 57 Venice 52, Gardena 43 Victor Valley 49, Valley View 41 View Park 56, Compton Centennial 32 Viewpoint 74, Saguaro (AZ) 65 Washington 58, Branson 54 Westchester 62, Southern School of Energy (NC) 56 West Covina 86, Charter Oak 38 Westminster La Quinta 67, Saddleback 47 West Ranch 64, Aquinas 51 Ygnacio Valley 65, Santa Ana Foothill 60 Yucaipa 61, Palm Desert 60 Yucca Valley 54, Valley Center 46
GIRLS
Aliso Niguel 46, Tustin 34 Anaheim 52, Whittier 39 Annie Wright (WA) 48, Culver City 39 Arroyo 38, Mary Star of the Sea 17 Ayala 47, Costa Mesa 17 Bellevue (WA) 53, Harvard-Westlake 52 Bethel Christian 32, Glendale Adventist 24 Bishop Amat 44, La Serna 33 Bishop Montgomery 65, McClatchy 49 Burbank 59, Sacred Heart of Jesus 32 Calabasas 61, Sun Valley Poly 52 Cantwell-Sacred Heart 49, Murrieta Mesa 25 Cerritos Valley Christian 57, Norco 24 Chavez 50, Sun Valley Magnet 17 Chino 43, Diamond Ranch 41 Cleveland 48, LA University 7 Coachella Valley 65, Banning 20 Corona 49, Peninsula 39 Corona Centennial 66, Grand Terrace 23 Corona Santiago 64, Los Osos 45 Crean Lutheran 61, San Clemente 56 Crescenta Valley 61, Granada Hills 44 Desert Hot Springs 43, Yucca Valley 40 Downey 75, Brawley 37 El Modena 46, Westminster 28 Escondido Adventist Academy 40, San Gabriel Academy 26 Etiwanda 69, Sidwell Friends (DC) 56 Fallbrook 45, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 28 Flintridge Prep 55, Sierra Pacific 47 Fountain Valley 44, Yorba Linda 41 Fresno Roosevelt 64, Esperanza 53 Fullerton 45, Capistrano Valley 14 Gahr 55, Patriot 32 Garden Grove Pacifica 38, Mission Viejo 25 Garfield 51, UMS-Wright Prep (AL) 39 Glendora 53, Ridgecrest Burroughs 29 Golden Valley 67, United Pathways Medical Magnet 20 Golden Valley 72, Panorama 29 Grant 42, Hoover 29 Hemet 69, Eisenhower 38 Hesperia 69, Orange Vista 41 Huntington Beach 63, United Christian Academy 49 Immaculate Heart 52, Simi Valley 38 JSerra 68, Corner Canyon (UT) 48 King/Drew 44, Los Altos 34 LA Marshall 41, Point Loma 39 Laguna Hills 55, Orange 30 La Jolla Country Day 66, Anaheim Canyon 20 Lakeside 39, Desert Chapel 12 Lakewood St. Joseph 59, Mountain View 37 La Mirada 49, Ocean View 31 La Quinta 51, Calipatria 22 Loma Linda Academy 37, Lucerne Valley 24 Lucerne Valley 57, Glendale Adventist 25 Magnolia 33, Bolsa Grande 27 Marlborough 72, Schurr 29 Mater Dei 65, Windward 59 Mission Hills 38, Beckman 27 Mountainside (OR) 55, Godinez 33 Newbury Park 43, Glendale 38 Northview 52, Bell Gardens 44 Notre Dame Academy 58, Flintridge Sacred Heart 31 Oak Hills 59, Arcadia 32 Ontario 46, Segerstrom 32 Ontario Christian 77, Claremont 29 Orange County Pacifica Christian 57, Marina 42 Oxford Academy 52, Santa Ana 49 Palm Desert d. Liberty, forfeit Palos Verdes 60, Heritage 55 Pilibos 68, Fillmore 38 Pioneer 69, Rowland 41 Rancho Cucamonga 69, Valley View 43 Rancho Verde 54, Elsinore 44 Redlands East Valley 55, Palm Springs 24 Rio Hondo Prep 47, Rosemead 31 Riverside King 62, Chino Hills 35 Riverside North 30, Jurupa Valley 25 Riverside Poly 45, Apple Valley 44 Sacramento Adventist 49, San Gabriel Academy 22 San Dimas 64, Brawley 34 San Francisco University 47, El Toro 45 San Jacinto 53, Ramona 40 Santa Fe 39, Ramona Convent 30 Scripps Ranch 57, Murrieta Valley 36 Serrano 37, Monrovia 22 Shadow Hills 66, St. Margaret’s 49 Shalhevet 50, Heritage Christian 48 Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 71, Rolling Hills Prep 47 Sierra Canyon 67, La Salle 34 South Torrance 55, Chula Vista Mater Dei 50 St. Mary’s Academy 76, Glencoe (OR) 29 Stevenson 49, Laguna Beach 44 Summit 39, Mark Keppel 36 Tahquitz 44, Canyon Springs 40 Temecula Valley 55, Aquinas 29 Temescal Canyon 54, Carson 52 Tesoro 59, Warren 36 Troy 51, Elk Grove Franklin 33 Upland 50, La Habra 48 Valencia 73, Verdugo Hills 47 Ventura 64, Burbank Burroughs 39 Village Christian 40, Saugus 26 Vista Murrieta 53, Fontana 40 West Jordan (UT) 63, Dana Hills 40 Westlake 68, Mira Costa 57 West Ranch 37, Royal 18 Whittier Christian 71, El Monte 13 YULA 45, Temple City 24
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has lifted the limit from onboarding UPI users for the third-party app provider WhatsApp Pay with immediate effect.
With this development, WhatsApp Pay can now extend UPI services to its entire user base in India, NPCI said in a statement.
Previously, NPCI had permitted WhatsApp Pay to expand its UPI user base in a phased manner, it added.
There was a cap of 100 million users which has been lifted by NPCI.
With this notification, it said, NPCI is removing the limit restrictions on user onboarding on WhatsApp Pay.
WhatsApp Pay will continue to comply with all existing UPI guidelines and circulars applicable to existing Third-Party Application Providers (TPAPs), it said.
NPCI, an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association, is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India (IBA).
NPCI governs the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) framework in India.
Animal ears and pom-poms on fuzzy hats adorn tourists’ heads on the streets of the frigid northeastern Chinese city of Harbin, which is enjoying a surge in visitors driven by social media.
People taking a picture with a snowman sculpture in Harbin, China’s Northeastern Heilongjiang province.(Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)
Photos and videos taken around the city’s landmarks flood platforms such as TikTok counterpart Douyin and Instagram-esque Xiaohongshu — many featuring tourists from the warmer south.
They’re affectionately known as “southern little potatoes”, a reference to their alleged smaller stature and cutesy winter gear that contrast with the area’s stereotypically coarse character.
A search for “southern little potatoes visit the north” racked up more than 428,000 notes on Xiaohongshu.
That’s where Chen Xiting, who works in e-commerce in the southern province of Guangdong, said she was inspired to visit.
“It’s the quickest way young people get trip recommendations,” said Chen.
She said she had noticed a sizeable number of fellow southerners.
“I heard quite a bit of Cantonese, which we’re very familiar with, today at tourist sites and on the street,” said the 29-year-old, wearing a hat with dog ears and with only her face exposed to the air.
Liu Rong, a student from Sichuan, said the city’s push for more southern tourists was clear from the surge in videos about Harbin he often watched with his wife.
“These years, especially this year, Harbin’s cultural tourism has placed a lot of importance on paying attention to us southerners,” Liu said.
– ‘Little potatoes’ go North –
Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang, one of three provinces that make up the “Dongbei” (northeast) region, where temperatures can reach -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) during winter.
Bordered by Russia and North Korea, it is one of China’s poorest provinces, outperforming only neighbouring Jilin, Gansu, Hainan island and sparsely populated Tibet, Qinghai and Ningxia.
But the first five months of 2024 saw the operating income of Heilongjiang’s cultural, sports and entertainment industries rise nearly 60 percent year-on-year, according to official data.
Tourists spent 154 billion yuan ($21 billion) in the first half of 2024, up 171 percent from the first half of 2023.
Popular novels and dramas set in the northeast have also helped spark a travel boom to the region.
“A lot of southerners, which we call ‘little potatoes’, came over here for travel and made our Harbin very trendy,” Emily Liu, a local tour guide, told AFP.
The online fame has been good for the travel business, said 30-year-old Jiang Zhonglong, energetically gesticulating in front of his tripod just metres away from Liu.
He started working for a Harbin-based travel agency three years ago, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and said business was now much better.
“So many little friends, southern potatoes, tourists have all come here,” he said.
One night this month, the city’s commercial district of Central Street saw a steady stream of people walking on the cobblestone path under bright yellow lights.
Ling, a 38-year-old from the coastal eastern province of Zhejiang, was there with his wife to “daka”, a phrase that means “punching in” but now describes visiting popular spots to share photos on social media.
“We often scroll through (video sharing platform) Douyin and such. We often see videos promoting Harbin,” said Ling, who asked to be identified only by his surname.
– ‘My hometown is popular’ –
Ling told AFP he’d believed negative stereotypes about Dongbei in the past.
“But we came here and found that things are pretty decent,” he said.
“I’ve been yearning for a different cultural experience compared to where I come from — the weather and style are completely different.”
Nearby, a steady stream of people ducked inside a shop selling goods from Russia — just a stone’s throw away.
Foot traffic to the shopping street has tripled since 2022, said store manager Zhangzhang, who has worked in the area for more than 10 years and asked to be identified by her nickname.
“My hometown has suddenly become popular,” she said, adding she was “extremely proud”.
She said the store last year started selling more hats and scarves for travellers who “didn’t pack enough layers” — including those printed with the region’s classic red florals.
“I think that this can help lift the economy of our Dongbei.”
PlayStation Plus subscribers are counting down to the reveal of the free PS4 and PS5 games for January 2025.
A little later than usual, the PS Plus Essentials will be unveiled by Sony at 4.30pm GMT UK time on the afternoon of January 1.
Subscribers will have to wait even longer to play the games, which will be available to redeem from the morning of January 7.
Daily Express will update this article when the games are officially revealed by Sony, or if the games leak ahead of schedule.
Unfortunately, without any leaks to go on, subscribers will have to settle for predictions instead.
Indeed, in the regular predictions thread over on Reddit, many fans believe Resident Evil Village will finally join the PS Plus Essentials line-up, or possibly Resident Evil 4 Remake.
The rumours of a PS Plus release largely stem from the expectation that Capcom will release a new Resident Evil game in 2025.
Other games featured in the predictions thread include Avatar Frontiers of Pandora, SnowRunner, Atomic Heart, Star Wars Jedi Survivor and Atomic Heart.
Atomic Heart has appeared frequently in recent months, especially since the game left Xbox Game Pass earlier this year.
South Park Snow Day is another game with lots of predictions, alongside Prince of Persia The Lost Crown, Jusant, Terminator Resistance and first-person shooter Robocop Rogue City.
It’s probably wishful thinking, but there are even some picks for games like God of War Ragnarok, Lies of P, Lords of the Fallen and Hogwarts Legacy.
While fans will have to wait around a week to play the new PS Plus games, the good news is that the current batch are still available to redeem.
This includes superb co-op adventure game It Takes Two, which sees players team up to solve puzzles and break a curse.
Subscribers can also download and play surprisingly entertaining strategy game Aliens: Dark Descent, where you’ll command a squad charged with defeating Xenomorphs and Weyland-Yutani operatives.
The Essentials line-up also includes Pokemon-inspired adventure game TemTem.
Daily Express will be back with the full line-up on January 1, so keep checking back for the latest information.
More videos of the camouflaged Tesla Model Y ‘Juniper’ update have surfaced online, previewing the upcoming changes to the world’s best-selling electric vehicle (EV).
However, it may not simply be a cut-and-paste redesign from the recently facelifted Model 3 sedan like many first thought.
The latest vision was uploaded to X (formerly Twitter) by Suppakit Phonorthong, and shows the Model Y driving with camouflage covering its front and rear ends, similar to previously spotted examples.
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It appears the lower fog lights will continue to feature on the updated Model Y, despite the Model 3 ditching these units as a part of its Highland facelift.
At the rear, there’s an even clearer indication that the Model Y will get a light bar connecting its rear clusters, which would signal a departure from the previous and existing styling of Tesla’s two most popular EVs.
Only one interior photo has been leaked so far, showing what appears to be perforated leather or leatherette upholstery on the seats, suede-look trim on the door, and a thin strip of ambient lighting.
It’s expected the Model Y will follow the Model 3 by ditching its traditional steering column stalks and adopting controversial steering wheel buttons.
In the Model 3, additional changes included its gear selector being relocated to its touchscreen, its front seats gaining ventilation, and the addition of a rear climate control screen.
Tesla’s updated Model 3 also received revised suspension upgrades including new springs, dampers, and subframe mounting points designed to deliver a more comfortable ride.
In October, reports emerged from China that Shanghai production of the updated Model Y had been pulled forward to start this month, if initially only in low volumes.
Two months have passed and none of these vehicles have surfaced.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously said the Juniper facelift won’t debut until 2025, despite earlier reports claiming it would debut before the end of this year.
Highland Model 3 update
Current Model Y
The updated Model Y could bring an increase in sales for the electric SUV, which in 2023 was the best-selling vehicle for private buyers in Australia.
While the Model Y remains Australia’s best-selling EV, Tesla is experiencing a sales drop in 2024, with deliveries declining in nine of the 11 months so far this year.
To the end of November, Tesla had delivered 19,932 Model Ys, down almost 30 per cent year-to-date on 2023.
Model 3 deliveries have also fallen by about seven per cent, despite Tesla heavily discounting both EVs by thousands of dollars earlier this year.
MORE: Everything Tesla Model Y MORE: 2025 Tesla Model Y: ‘Juniper’ facelift spotted again as unveiling nears MORE: Tesla Model Y ‘Juniper’ facelift spy shots reveal different look to Model 3
The government notifies the interest rates on small savings schemes, majorly operated by post offices and banks, every quarter.
The interest rates for popular Public Provident Fund (PPF) and post office savings deposit schemes too have been retained at 7.1 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively.
The government on Tuesday left the interest rates unchanged on various small savings schemes, including PPF and NSC, for the fourth straight quarter beginning January 1, 2025.
“The rates of interest on various small savings schemes for the fourth quarter of FY 2024-25, starting from January 1, 2025, and ending on March 31, 2025, shall remain unchanged from those notified for the third quarter (October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024) of FY 2024-25,” said a finance ministry notification.
As per the notification, deposits under the Sukanya Samriddhi scheme will attract an interest rate of 8.2 per cent, while the rate on a three-year term deposit remains at 7.1 per cent prevailing in the current quarter.
The interest rates for popular Public Provident Fund (PPF) and post office savings deposit schemes too have been retained at 7.1 per cent and 4 per cent, respectively.
The interest rate on the Kisan Vikas Patra will be 7.5 per cent, and the investments will mature in 115 months.
The interest rate on the National Savings Certificate (NSC) will remain at 7.7 per cent for the January-March 2025 period.
Like the current quarter, the Monthly Income Scheme will earn 7.4 per cent for investors.
The interest rates have been left unchanged for the last four quarters now. The government had last made changes in some schemes for the fourth quarter of the last fiscal.
The government notifies the interest rates on small savings schemes, majorly operated by post offices and banks, every quarter.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
News business Centre Leaves Interest Rates On Small Saving Schemes Unchanged For Q4 FY 2024-25
As the markets are heading towards the end of the yearly trade, the Bitcoin price gains momentum & makes an entry above $95,000. With a notable rise in the buying pressure, the star token is believed to revamp a strong rise ahead of the yearly close. Besides, there has been a significant growth in the institutional demand and as a result, the exchange reserve has been facing a massive drain.
The BTC exchange reserves have been depleting since the start of the year and the current has reached levels not seen since 2016. This could be a major bullish signal but with nearly a million BTC being held with the institutions, they may play a major role in the next price action. Meanwhile, the price is attempting to rise above the ongoing consolidation and a bullish close above a certain range may revamp a strong bull run towards the highs of the ongoing bull run.
The historical price pattern, which remains consolidated within a rising parallel channel, suggests the price is in between a bull run. The RSI pattern suggests there is still more room for the token to swell as the levels are yet to rise above 90. During each bull run in 2014, 2018 or 2021, the monthly RSI marked the highs close to 94. While the current levels have been restricted at 76 or 77, that indicates the peak of the ongoing bull run is yet to be reached.
Meanwhile, the levels remain within the overbought zone, which keeps up the bullish perspective for the token. The BTC price has reclaimed $95,000 ahead of the yearly close with a rise of over 3% while the weekly trade remains within the bearish range. However, there has been a massive rise in the stablecoin reserve that reaches $45 billion. Therefore, the upcoming price action in January 2025 is expected to be explosive, with an expectation of achieving $120K.
