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As the countdown to the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards begins, all eyes are on the nominees and the anticipation builds for what promises to be a star-studded and unforgettable event. With a mix of established stars and emerging talent vying for the top honors, the competition is fierce and the stakes are high. Fans of the nominees are gearing up to show their support and tune in to see who will emerge victorious on the big night.To combat greed, it is essential to implement strict regulations and oversight mechanisms to prevent corruption and promote transparency in both the public and private sectors. Additionally, fostering a culture of ethical leadership and responsible stewardship can help mitigate the destructive influence of greed on society.
ABORIGINAL children continue to be disproportionately represented in deaths of children known to the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). Login or signup to continue reading In 2023, 42 of the 96 children who died and who were known to authorities were Aboriginal, the Child Death 2023 Annual Report says. The colonisation of Aboriginal land has had a devastating and long-lasting impact on Aboriginal people, the report says. "Past policy and legislation leading to the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families and Country has resulted in profound, intergenerational trauma. "Ongoing, systemic disadvantage is reflected in the continuous over-representation of Aboriginal children in contact with child protection and out-of-home care system." It was imperative that DCJ look for ways to understand and address the disproportionate number of Aboriginal children in the system and engage in culturally reflective and responsive practice, the report says. In May 2024, the Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington approved a DCJ plan to make interim changes to risk assessment to respond to concerns about a cultural bias within the previous 'structured decision making' risk assessment process. Since September, the department has started using the new 'family based assessment' process, the report says. "DCJ is redesigning the family preservation service system in NSW to improve outcomes, experience, suitability and accessibility for families who want to access and would benefit from working with a family preservation service," the report says. As part of ongoing reform, DCJ jas committed to growing the Aboriginal community controlled sector to ensure the child protection system has the capability and capacity to meet the needs of Aboriginal communities and families. Community health & welfare, social justice, investigations, general news.Gabriel.Fowler@newcastleherald.com.au Community health & welfare, social justice, investigations, general news.Gabriel.Fowler@newcastleherald.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!The search of Milan's offices and financial records was conducted under the supervision of financial regulators and law enforcement agencies. Documents, emails, and communication records were scrutinized for any signs of wrongdoing or breach of financial regulations. The goal was to determine the veracity of the allegations and ascertain whether there was any truth to the claims of impropriety in the club's dealings with the Elliott Fund.Lexus is this year celebrating its 35th anniversary of, as it says, "being a disruptor in the luxury vehicle segment", and there's plenty to celebrate from that time. or signup to continue reading Its history might be short relative to some of its European contemporaries, but there have been a plethora of influential vehicles that have brought the Japanese brand firmly into the luxury segments. There have even been some top-shelf performance vehicles that have elevated the brand's reputation, while displaying what it and its Toyota parent company could be capable of. Lexus was launched by Toyota at a similar time as other Japanese luxury spinoffs like Acura (Honda) and Infiniti (Nissan), but while those brands have enjoyed success in specific markets like the United States, Lexus has been able to cement itself in a wider range of markets globally. Locally, Lexus Australia celebrated the occasion by hosting a media-only showcase in Melbourne. On display were a handful of its most significant cars, as well as a design concept that hints at what the brand could be producing in the near future. With that in mind, we've put together a guide to Lexus that focuses on its movements in Australia. Luckily, it launched in Australia just one year after its first model debuted, which means there aren't too many differences between Lexus' history overseas and locally. As it celebrates its 35th birthday, here's everything you need to know about Lexus. Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the , and is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan. Though it officially got its start in 1989 with the launch of the sedan, the story of Lexus actually began as early as 1983. Then-Toyota Motor Corporation president Eiji Toyoda commissioned the Circle F project in 1983, establishing an intention to build "a car that is better than the best in the world". What resulted was the assembling of a team of 60 designers, 1400 engineers and 2300 technicians. Titled the Flagship 1, Lexus put 450 prototype vehicles and 973 prototype 4.0-litre quad-cam V8 engines to the test over more than 4.4 million kilometres before the final product was ready to be revealed. Flagship 1 came to life in January 1989, when the brand showed off the LS400 for the first time at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). At the same time, the Lexus name was established. The LS400 launched in North America in the same year, and was quickly followed by the executive sedan a few months later. Lexus' Australian adventure started in May 1990, when the LS400 arrived Down Under. More than 250 customers took delivery off the bat, and in the same year it took out Car of the Year award. It also heralded the beginning of a busy decade for the brand. The same V8 powertrain used in the LS400 was repurposed in the SC400 coupe, which launched in the USA in 1991. Another variant instead fitted with an inline-six engine – the SC300 – was introduced soon after. Australia would have to wait until 1992 before receiving a second Lexus model though, when the -derived ES300 arrived. 580 examples were delivered in its first year on the market Down Under, and Lexus delivered its 1000th Australian vehicle in the same year. At a similar time the LS400 received a major update, which brought out Lexus' now-longstanding Takumi craftsmanship philosophy. Takumi is the Japanese name given to master craftspeople who have dedicated their life to their craft. In 1993 the sports sedan was rolled out, followed by the all-new second-generation LS400 in 1994. Lexus took from Toyota's successful to reveal the in 1995, intended to bring "luxury to the rugged SUV segment" when it entered production in 1996. In 1997 Australia received the GS300 for the first time, which arrived in its second-generation guise with a 3.0-litre inline-six engine. For the first time, Lexus also sold more than 1000 vehicles in Australia in a single year. Lexus introduced its first luxury SUV designed and built from the ground up in 1998 – the . In terms of Australia though, it wouldn't arrive until its second generation was launched a few years later, which meant the new-generation LX470 of that year was Lexus' first SUV sold locally. The last brand-new Lexus to arrive in Australia before the end of the century was the compact sedan, which went on sale in 1999. It featured a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine with a rear-wheel drive setup, and contributed to Lexus hitting the 10,000 local sales milestone. The third-generation LS went on sale in Australia in November of 2000. Called the LS430, nearly 300 patent applications were filed during its development that eventually brought new suspension, steering, brakes, and a larger 4.3-litre V8 engine. Also launched was the second-generation SC430, offered in both coupe and convertible body styles. It arrived in Australia in 2001, marking the sixth model in Lexus showrooms. The large SUV appeared in the USA in 2002, but in 2003 Lexus gave its first look at potential future hybrid power in the form of the LF-S at the Tokyo Motor Show. Under the bonnet was a hybrid V8, which previewed a future production powertrain. In that same year the RX330 went on sale in Australia, and Lexus delivered its 20,000th local vehicle. A prototype of the RX400h hybrid SUV was shown at the 2004 NAIAS, which was based on the RX330. In 2005 though, the first LF-A concept headlined at the NAIAS. Intentions were to leverage Toyota's Formula 1 technology, which would provide a naturally aspirated V10 engine with more than 370kW of power, but a displacement of less than 5.0 litres. The world would have to wait for more on that vehicle, but in the same year the IS250 superseded the IS200 in Australia. In 2006 Lexus brought the LF-S concept into its production form with the LS600hL, powered by a 327kW 5.0-litre hybrid V8 with all-wheel drive – the brand's most powerful hybrid engine to date. In the same year, Lexus brought its first hybrids to Australia in the form of the GS450h and RX400h. The 'F' name for Lexus' performance cars appeared the year after; the name and logo inspired by Japan's Fuji Speedway where its cars were tested and developed. Lexus' first car wearing the badge was the IS F sedan, which boasted a 5.0-litre V8 with 311kW and 505Nm and a spate of handling and suspension enhancements over the standard model. Later in 2007, Lexus delivered its 1000th hybrid vehicle in Australia, followed by its 50,000th vehicle overall in 2008. The third-generation RX – including the RX450h hybrid – arrived the year after, at a similar time to Lexus confirming production of the LFA supercar. Its 412kW/480Nm 4.8-litre V10 engine was co-developed with Yamaha, and while production was limited to 500 units globally, only eight were allocated to Australia. In 2010 Lexus celebrated 20 years in Australia, and the hybrid compact hatch was shown off overseas for the first time. It arrived in Australia the following year as the most affordable Lexus ever, while the brand showed off its new spindle grille design with a concept of the fourth-generation GS sedan at the NAIAS. In 2011 Lexus was impacted by the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which disrupted Japanese production and hindered short-term sales targets. Organisational changes by then-Toyota chairman Akio Toyoda also meant Lexus executives began reporting directly to their parent company's chairman for the first time ever. Lexus' new design language would appear again in 2012 with the LF-LC concept, which previewed the . The LF-CC concept shown later in the year at the Paris Motor Show also pointed to the rear-wheel drive sports coupes, and Lexus hit the 75,000 sales milestone in Australia. In 2013 the next-generation IS arrived with a hybrid powertrain in local showrooms, while the ES returned for the first time in seven years with its own ES300h hybrid variant. In that year, Lexus Australia reached 10,000 hybrid vehicle deliveries. The RC F coupe became Lexus' new halo performance car in 2014, and the debuted in Australia the same year. The brand's first hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle appeared in concept form in 2015, dubbed the LF-FC concept. Lexus began exploring other tech like a conceptual "Hoverboard of the Future" at the same time, and also achieved the 100,000 deliveries milestone in Australia. The LC500 entered production in 2016, featuring Lexus' first 10-speed auto and followed by the LC500h hybrid two months later. More non-car related endeavours began in 2017 when Lexus revealed its Sport Yacht concept (previewing the 2019 LY650), while in Australia the brand's 20,000th hybrid vehicle was delivered – its most popular hybrid models locally were the RX (7000 units) and the CT200h (6500 units). In 2019 the arrived in Australia, and in 2020 Lexus' local arm celebrated its 30th anniversary. At the same time, the brand achieved 30,000 local hybrid sales. Lexus' first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) – the UX300e – arrived in 2021, coinciding with the expansion of the brand's that first appeared in 1990. In that year, one-third of all Lexus deliveries in Australia were hybrid vehicles for the first time. In that year, it was also reported Lexus would . That followed previous 2009 reports that it planned to become hybrid-only in Europe. The brand's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) arrived in the form of the NX450h+ in 2022, alongside the debut of the fifth-generation RX. An RX500h F Sport Performance joined the lineup, featuring Lexus' first turbo-hybrid powertrain. 46.3 per cent of Lexus' sales in Australia were recorded as either hybrid, PHEV, or BEV for the first time in that year. 2023 saw the arrival of the SUV, which while being the second Lexus EV was the first on the dedicated e-TNGA electric platform later used on the and . The also appeared in 2023, as well as the at the Tokyo Motor Show – intended to show Lexus' vision of future EVs. In Australia, Lexus also managed to deliver more than 10,000 vehicles (15,192) in a single year for the first time ever. 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the Lexus brand, and the all-new arrived in Australia for the first time. It featured a handful of Lexus-first equipment like a 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid engine, with its small SUV stature intended to appeal to a younger demographic. It was followed by the latest GX SUV – which arrived in local showrooms before Toyota's related 250 Series-generation – built in right-hand drive for the first time, headlined by the rugged Overtrail grade. Lexus also delivered its 50,000th electrified vehicle in Australia this year, with such powertrains accounting for more than 70 per cent of the brand's Australian sales so far this year. The brand says it's still committed to its target of selling only electrified vehicles in Australia by 2030. Lexus currently sells 11 distinct models in Australia, with its lineup dominated by SUVs. Given the breadth of Lexus' range in Australia, the below information is intended to give a top-line overview of what each model is about. For further information, we'll link to each model's name to its dedicated price and specs article. Lexus' only two sedans still sold in Australia are the ES and LS, with the LS being the larger of the two. The Camry-based uses a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine – with hybrid models adding an electric motor – and is front-wheel drive only. The meanwhile utilises a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6, with hybrids using a naturally aspirated version mated with an electric motor. They're rear-wheel drive only and considerably more expensive than the ES. The third and final passenger vehicle in Lexus' Australian lineup is the , which is powered by either a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 or a 3.5-litre V6 petrol-hybrid engine. Drive is sent to the rear-wheels only through either a 10-speed auto or hybrid transmission respectively. Lexus' most expensive vehicle is currently the , which is hybrid-only but with a selection of two different powertrains depending on the variant. It started life as a rebadged Toyota Alphard/Vellfire, but has since become more disconnected. The remainder of Lexus' model range is entirely SUVs. The smallest of the lot are the LBX and UX, though the two are fairly different. Smaller of the pair is the , which is based on the and powered exclusively by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid – though a hotted-up version (similar to the ) is coming next year. The , meanwhile, is similar to the and comes in petrol-only, hybrid, or guises depending on variant – the latter of which only appeared in Australian showrooms last year. There are also a greater number of variants compared to the LBX. Moving up in size brings the -related , which again offers petrol-only, hybrid, and PHEV drivetrains. The NX450h+ PHEV has been hit with supply issues that have meant it as the brand gets through order backlog. Then there's the , which is either petrol-only or hybrid. It shares a platform with the NX and ES, as well as , RAV4, and Camry. In contrast, the is electric-only and built on a dedicated EV platform shared with the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, as noted earlier. Finally are Lexus' two largest SUVs. The first is the , which shares a platform with the Toyota Prado. Unlike the Prado, there's no electrification (even mild) for the GX in Australia, which is instead powered solely by a 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine across the range. The LX is instead based on the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series. It commands an expectedly hefty price tag, and is available with either a 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo diesel or a 3.4-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol. Being a luxury brand, Lexus primarily competes with European brands like , , and in Australia. Not all are direct comparisons, but closest against Mercedes-Benz's sedan is the Lexus ES, and against the more luxurious is the LS. In terms of SUVs, the most comparable models are the Mercedes-Benz and Lexus UX, as well as and Lexus NX. Both have high-end sports cars too, which means Lexus' LC can be compared to Mercedes' . There are a fair few comparisons against BMW too. The ES competes with the on price but the on size, while the flagship Lexus LS sedan goes up against the . You can compare the smaller Lexus UX to the , the NX to the , the RX to the , and the GX to the . There are EV SUVs to compare too, namely the Lexus RZ against the . The final German manufacturer to compare against is Audi, and its upcoming rivals the Lexus ES. The most direct competitor to Lexus' LBX small SUV is the , while the rest of the two brands' comparable SUVs can be broken down as UX vs , NX vs , and RX vs . In similar sense to BMW, Lexus' RZ EV competes with the . There are some less mainstream brands Lexus has as competitors too, namely , which rivals the LS with its , the NX with its , and the RX with its . There's also a comparison to be made between some models. The off-road leaning Lexus GX rivals the , while the LX large SUV can be compared against the . To the end of November 2024, Lexus Australia has delivered 12,369 vehicles this year. It's a decent figure, but it's 12 per cent down on its sales from this time last year. Compared to the rivals listed above, Lexus is behind Mercedes-Benz (18,303, down 17.8 per cent), BMW (23,876, down 1.3 per cent), and Audi (13,782, down 21.6 per cent). It remains ahead of Genesis on 1287 so far this year, a figure that's 28.6 per cent lower than the same time last year. Lexus is also outselling Land Rover, which currently sits on 7352 sales for 2024 – though even that is down 5.5 per cent. The Japanese brand's best-selling model continues to be the NX, of which 5619 units have been sold to the end of November this year. Next highest is the RX on 1871, followed by the LBX on 1355. Its lowest-selling car is currently the expensive LS sedan with 11 units. The RZ EV is next-lowest on 200, with the LM and LX next up at 265 and 504 respectively. All of Lexus' models have experienced a decline in sales over the course of 2024 compared to 2023, with the UX experiencing the harshest decline of 65.3 per cent. The LX, LS, and ES are all also down by more than 40 per cent on this time last year. In contrast, annual Toyota sales are currently up 13.6 per cent on this time last year, though as Lexus' broader-reaching parent company it does field a larger number of more approachable mass-market vehicles. Lexus doesn't have a large number of vehicles planned for Australia in the coming years, as the brand focuses on its more long-term goals that reach into the 2030s. Coming in the first half of 2025 is the hotted-up , which is set to gain the high-performance 1.6-litre three-cylinder turbo powertrain from Toyota's GR Yaris. With a rally-inspired all-wheel drive setup it'll be a drastic departure from the standard LBX currently on sale, with a 0-100km/h time of just over 5.0 seconds. An eight-speed automatic transmission will be standard when it arrives in local showrooms. While it'll also be available with a six-speed manual in Japan, you won't be able to buy one in Australia. Beyond that, Lexus has outlined a series of goals for the coming years, and potential new models that could possibly make their way to Australia have been seen overseas. The first of which is the facelifted ES sedan, which was . There has been no word on when or if the updated model will come to Australia at the time of publishing, though Lexus did secure a handful of earlier this year. There have also been rumours surrounding a , which will reportedly wear the LFR name and be a spiritual successor to the LFA. Already , the LFR is expected to be called the GR GT3. If it's real, it's possible the LFR could be revealed sometime next year ahead of a 2026 market debut. Lexus has also been giving though to its electrified future too, previewed by a that broke cover in Japan last year. It has previously been announced that , with Lexus intending to sell only hybrid, PHEV, and EVs in Australia by 2030. A spate of in relation to potential future electric models, the first of which were expected to be revealed in 2026 but have been . Previous reports have also outlined ambitious goals for Lexus, which suggest it wants to become an . Interestingly, that would mean it'd make the jump before Toyota. That being said, Lexus hasn't outlined a clear timeline for exactly of cars that have hybrid alternatives, but it does still intend to do so before the end of the decade. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementCLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in a Major League Baseball game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler's staff in 2020, becoming the majors' first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt — the AL Manager of the Year. With Cleveland, the 34-year-old Nakken will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Her exact duties are still being determined. "We thank Alyssa Nakken for her incredible contributions to the San Francisco Giants and for trailblazing a path for women in sports,” the Giants said in a statement on Friday. "Her leadership, dedication, and passion for the game have inspired countless individuals, and her impact has been truly transformative for the Giants organization and the baseball community. “As she embarks on this exciting new chapter in her career, we have no doubt that she’ll continue to inspire and achieve great things. We wish her and her family nothing but the best.” Nakken is the second on-field female coach hired by the Guardians. In 2023, the club brought in Amanda Kamekona as their hitting development coach for their year-round training academy in Goodyear, Arizona. Last season, she was an assistant hitting coach at Double-A Akron. Kamekona was twice a third-team All-American at UCLA after transferring from Cal State Fullerton. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Thomas Wynne: Righteousness exalts a nationIsrael, Palestinians explore Gaza truce with US envoy on Mideast shuttle mission
Israel, Palestinians explore Gaza truce with US envoy on Mideast shuttle missionIn the realm of manufacturing, new productivity is revolutionizing the way products are designed, produced, and distributed. Rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and smart factories are enabling manufacturers to achieve greater efficiency, reduce lead times, and customize products to meet individual customer needs. This flexibility and agility are essential in a fast-paced, consumer-driven market where personalization and speed-to-market are paramount.The aftermath of the controversy has left Donkey Madness reeling and raised important questions about the responsibilities of artists and the limits of artistic freedom. While art should undoubtedly be allowed to push boundaries and challenge conventions, it must also be mindful of the impact it has on its audience and the wider society.
Stock indexes drifted to a mixed finish on Wall Street as some heavyweight technology and communications sector stocks offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 slipped less than 0.1% Thursday, its first loss after three straight gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Gains by retailers and health care stocks helped temper the losses. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. The Labor Department reported that U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks wavered on Wall Street in afternoon trading Thursday, as gains in tech companies and retailers helped temper losses elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 was up less than 0.1% after drifting between small gains and losses. The benchmark index is coming off a three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 10 points, or less than 0.1%, as of 3:20 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq composite was up 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as U.S. markets reopened after the Christmas holiday. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.5%, Micron Technology was up 1.3% and Adobe gained 0.8%. While tech stocks overall were in the green, some heavyweights were a drag on the market. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.1%. Meta Platforms fell 0.5%, Amazon was down 0.4%, and Netflix gave up 0.7%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, down 1.4%. Health care stocks helped lift the market. CVS Health rose 1.4% and Walgreens Boots Alliance rose 3.9% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3.1%, Ross Stores added 1.8%, Best Buy was up 2.5% and Dollar Tree gained 3.6%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. U.S.-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.2% and 15.9%, respectively. The Japanese automakers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. Traders got a labor market update. U.S. applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week , though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labor Department reported. Treasury yields turned mostly lower in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.58% from 4.59% late Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar. Still, U.S. markets have historically gotten a boost at year’s end despite lower trading volumes. The last five trading days of each year, plus the first two in the new year, have brought an average gain of 1.3% since 1950. So far this month, the U.S. stock market has lost some of its gains since President-elect Donald Trump’s win on Election Day, which raised hopes for faster economic growth and more lax regulations that would boost corporate profits. Worries have risen that Trump’s preference for tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , a bigger U.S. government debt and difficulties for global trade. Even so, the U.S. market remains on pace to deliver strong returns for 2024. The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 26% so far this year and remains near its most recent all-time high it set earlier this month — its latest of 57 record highs this year. Wall Street has several economic reports to look forward to next week, including updates on pending home sales and home prices, a report on U.S. construction spending and snapshots of manufacturing activity. AP Business Writers Elaine Kurtenbach and Matt Ott contributed.The unusual sight of two off-road vehicles being used to transport a frozen pig's head raised eyebrows and curiosity among the onlookers. The decision to use such unconventional means to transport a pig's head was met with a mixture of confusion and amusement. However, for the individuals involved, it was a matter of necessity rather than choice.
The volunteer who took on the task of assisting the student was kind enough to share some of the details of the search for family members. Despite the limited time frame, the volunteer managed to gather essential information about the student's family background, including her parents' names, her siblings' names and ages, and the town they were originally from. Armed with this information, the student felt hopeful that she may finally be able to reunite with her loved ones after so many years of separation.The film's title, "窗前明月，咣！" (Window Moon, Bang!), reflects its quirky and offbeat sensibilities, hinting at the unexpected twists and turns that await audiences. The combination of moonlit romance and comedic chaos promises a unique and unforgettable viewing experience that will have audiences laughing, gasping, and cheering in equal measure.A new year is on the horizon, so what better time to look at making some new additions to your portfolio. To help you on your way, let's see which ASX 200 shares analysts at Bell Potter have named as best buys for 2025. Two shares that make the list this time around are listed below. Here's what the broker is saying about them: ( ) The first ASX 200 share that Bell Potter is tipping as a best buy in 2025 is company CSL. The broker believes that the company is destined to deliver strong earnings growth in the coming years thanks to the key CSL Behring business. It said: We expect CSL will achieve guidance of "annual double-digit earnings growth" over the mid-term driven largely by the legacy plasma business, Behring, particularly its immunoglobulin sales. While CSL's Seqirus and Vifor business units do face near-term headwinds (reduced flu market demand and generic iron competition), these two units combined only contribute less than a third of total earnings. In light of this strong earnings growth outlook, its analysts think that CSL's shares are undervalued right now. Bell Potter adds: CSL continues to be a high quality, global operator with a multi-year gross margin recovery well underway to drive earnings expansion. The stock is currently trading at a 12m forward PE 27% and 19% below 5- and 10-year averages, respectively. The broker has a buy rating and $345.00 price target on the company's shares. ( ) Bell Potter thinks that this location technology company could be a best buy in 2025. It highlights that Life360 has a huge growth opportunity as it coverts its massive user base into paid subscribers. It explains: Life360 develops and operates a mobile app for families – called Life360 – that provides a range of safety features including communications, driving safety and location sharing. The app is used globally by over 75 million people and, of these, there are around 7 million paying subscribers. The penetration rate, therefore, is around 10% and the company has a stated long term target of 30% so there is the potential for the paying subscriber base to triple from here. It also notes that the company has additional growth areas and looks likely to join the illustrious ASX 100 index next year. It said: Life360 is also adding new verticals – like advertising, pet and elderly tracking – which provide additional areas of growth. The next potential catalysts are when Life360 releases its Q4/2024 result in February – we expect a strong result towards the upper end of the guidance ranges – and the S&P/ASX index rebalance in March where we see a good chance Life360 will be added to the Top 100. Bell Potter has a buy rating and $26.75 price target on its shares.Moreover, the complexity of managing multiple insurance policies can also pose challenges, especially for an elderly individual who may struggle to keep track of all the terms, conditions, and deadlines associated with each policy. This can potentially lead to missed payments, lapses in coverage, and other financial risks that could have serious consequences for the individual and their beneficiaries.
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