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BRITS can earn £100s every month by simply renting out their driveway - in one of the easiest money-making side hustles around. According to data from Just Park, home owners living across many different locations up and down the UK can make extra cash with their unused parking spaces - with some areas highly sought after. 4 Drivers can earn £100s by renting out their drivewa or parking space Credit: Getty 4 In some locations, drivers can earn up to £5,000 from the simple side hustle Credit: Getty Homeowners could earn £330 every month - and in some very rare cases the figure rises up to £5,000 a month - by renting out their driveways, according to research by LKQ Euro Car Parts. The motoring experts have crunched the numbers and revealed that Brighton is the most lucrative location. Residents living in the coastal city are able to earn an average of £636 a month by renting out their unused driveway or parking space. This number is somewhat inflated by the fact that in some parts, the most expensive parking space to rent in Brighton is advertised at more than £5,000 a month. Read more Motors News DRIVE TIME I turned cheap van into roaming DJ BOOTH - it's got a bed for overnight raves NEEDING A PUSH Drivers must 'get tax breaks to buy EVs if manufacturers are to hit targets' London also features high on the list, with the average monthly income from renting out a parking space there standing at £480. The most expensive parking space listed in the capital is a corking £1,057 a month. Glasgow and Edinburgh are also significant earners, with people living in these Scottish cities receiving over £400 a month for renting out their unused parking spaces. Mark Newman, from Sheffield, is just one home owner who’s turned his parking space in a great little earner, largely thanks to match-going fans heading to a nearby football stadium. Most read in Motors END OF THE ROAD? Iconic car brand 'on brink of collapse' with 'just 12 months to survive' NO WAY Smart motorways to switch off TODAY as part of crucial update - check your route 'NO U-TURNS' Ministers dig in on controversial plans to ban petrol and diesel cars by 2030 VERY N-ICE Essential £1.99 item to keep in your car this winter to stop ice from building He said: “I first started to rent my parking space after a gentleman knocked on my door enquiring about it. “I live only a stones-throw away from Hillsborough, the Sheffield Wednesday football stadium, and he spotted an opportunity to grab himself a reserved spot in a fantastic location. I grew up poor & started hustling as a teen when my dad died - now I make £60k a year doing a job that's brilliant on a sunny day “I agreed to let him rent my space for every home-game, £10 per match, which adds up to over £250 across the football season. “He’s been renting this space for a season and a half now and drops a white envelope through my door every time he parks, handwritten with a ‘thanks’ and the £10 enclosed. “If I had any advice to people looking to rent their parking space, I'd say make sure you look at the available options online and compare with your location to see what might be available to you. “You never know, you could make a nice little side hustle out of it.” 10 most lucrative UK cities for renting out driveway or parking space Brighton, £636 London, £480 Glasgow, £457 Edinburgh, £429 Durham, £239 Birmingham, £225 Leeds, £225 Southampton, £207 Plymouth, £205 Manchester, £200 LKQ Euro Car Parts weighed in, adding: “Parking rentals are a great way to earn extra cash and make use of your unused space, but they also provide an affordable option for your vehicle when visiting other cities. “If you’re parking somewhere other than a secure car park, it’s important to ensure that your vehicle is protected from potential theft. “Never leave valuables in your car, especially in plain sight, and keep your key in a protective case that prevents fob hacking technology.” Read more on the Scottish Sun SIP SIP HOORAY Exact time Coca-Cola truck arrives in Scotland tomorrow for Xmas tour FESTIVE CHEER Scots Xmas market tops London's Winter Wonderland as 'most stunning' in UK This comes as a man recently shared how he makes £1,000 a month from renting his EV charger that he has installed outside his home. Joseph Gorham, 53, paid £350 for his charger which he rents out to fellow electric car owners. 4 Sheffield resident Matt is able to make around £250 a year by renting out his driveway to a football fan on matchdays Credit: Euro Car Parts 4 Top locations for renting out driveways include Brighton, London and Glasgow Credit: Getty
PHILADELPHIA — Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points and made two crucial plays in the final minute, and the Philadelphia 76ers rallied after Joel Embiid was ejected to beat Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs 111-106 on Monday night. Embiid was thrown out by referee Jenna Schroeder with 2:59 left in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star received the first technical for arguing with Schroeder, and received another technical — and ejection — from Schroeder before any more game time elapsed. Embiid was close to Schroeder, but it wasn’t clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. Wembanyama had 26 points, nine rebounds and eight blocks. Maxey added 10 rebounds and eight assists, and Paul George contributed 19 points for Philadelphia. San Antonio went ahead 103-102 on Chris Paul’s baseline jumper with 1:20 to play. Maxey took over from there, first stealing the ball, scoring on a left-handed dunk and finishing the three-point play after being fouled by Julian Champagnie to put Philadelphia in front 104-103 with 59 seconds left. Then, he drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 29 seconds remaining. Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, argues with referee Jenna Schroeder during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum Takeaways 76ers: Nurse was excited before the game to see what the 76ers could be with the Big Three in the lineup. Alas, he’ll have to wait another day. Spurs: Wembanyama did not disappoint the fans who came out to see the matchup against Embiid and shot 9 of 19, including 6 of 13 on 3-pointers. Key moment With 8:13 left in the period, Schroeder ejected Philadelphia’s Andre Drummond for an apparent foul on Wembanyama. After video review, however, the officials rescinded the ejection. Key stat Embiid, George and Maxey have started five games together. The 76ers are 3-2. San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, center, tries to get a shot past Philadelphia 76ers' KJ Martin, left, and Kyle Lowry during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. Credit: AP/Matt Slocum Up next Both teams will be playing on Christmas. The Spurs are at the Knicks and the 76ers visit Boston.
Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's deathSteve Bannon has eventually called for the removal of House Speaker Mike Johnson following the decision of Mike Johnson to collaborate with the Democrats to eventually prevent a government shutdown, reported The Wrap. ET Year-end Special Reads Gold outshines D-St with 20% returns, but 2025 may be different The year of the pause: How RBI maneuvered its policy in 2024 2024, the year India defeated China's salami-slicing strategy According to The Wrap, during his recent appearance on the ‘The Megyn Kelly Show’ and at Turning Point's AmericaFest, Steve Bannon severely criticized Mike Johnson for not consulting key figures like US President- elect Donald Trump , Vivek Ramaswamy or Elon Musk regarding his bipartisan plan which he starkly labeled as a ‘sellout’. Steve Bannon actually emphasized on the need for ‘hyper-partisanship’ instead of traditional partisanship while arguing that the current political climate actually demands more aggressive tactics. Steve Bannon who has pretty recently completed a prison sentence for defying a subpoena related to the January 6 investigation eventually expressed his concerns about the federal spending while stating that it is driving inflation and threatening the future of the US nation, noted The Wrap. He also urged US President- elect Donald Trump to focus on ending wars, securing the border and then deporting millions of immigrants who are undocumented. Steve Bannon also placed a suggestion that upon regaining power, US President- elect Donald Trump should obviously seek ‘retribution’ against several media outlets while hinting at the potential incarceration for some media figures, asserted The Wrap. His comments actually reflect a growing rift within the Republican Party as it grapples with internal divisions and strategies moving forward. FAQs: What has Steve Bannon recently called for? Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Executives By - CA Raja, Chartered Accountant | Financial Management Educator | Former AVP - Credit, SBI View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Web Development Django & PostgreSQL Mastery: Build Professional Web Applications By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Data Analysis Animated Visualizations with Flourish Studio: Beginner to Pro By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Science MySQL for Beginners: Learn Data Science and Analytics Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Soft Skills Cross-Cultural Communication Mastery: Connect with Confidence By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Finance Crypto & NFT Mastery: From Basics to Advanced By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Web Development Advanced C++ Mastery: OOPs and Template Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Web Development Advanced Java Mastery: Object-Oriented Programming Techniques By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Data Analysis Learn Power BI with Microsoft Fabric: Complete Course By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Web Development Maximizing Developer Productivity: The Pomodoro Technique in Practice By - Prince Patni, Software Developer (BI, Data Science) View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Java 21 Essentials for Beginners: Build Strong Programming Foundations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Steve Bannon has eventually called for the removal of House Speaker Mike Johnson following the decision of Mike Johnson to collaborate with the Democrats to eventually prevent a government shutdown. What did Steve Bannon put an emphasis on during his recent appearances? Steve Bannon actually emphasized on the need for ‘hyper-partisanship’ instead of traditional partisanship while arguing that the current political climate actually demands more aggressive tactics. ET Year-end Special Reads An Indian's guide to moving abroad as the world looks for 'better' immigrants The year of the HNIs: How India's rich splurged in 2024 (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Rahul Gandhi does not have faith in Constitution: Gourav Vallabh slams Cong over remarks against ECI
A big shopping deadline is drawing near for some people, and it has nothing to do with the holidays. Millions of people use flexible spending accounts to help pay for health care, and some may lose money left in those accounts if they don’t spend it by year’s end. There are many ways to spend that use-it-or-use it balance __ think raiding the local drugstore __ but it’s important to understand FSA rules before going on a shopping spree. Here are some things to consider. What are flexible spending accounts? FSAs let you set aside money from your paycheck before taxes to cover a wide range of medical expenses like copays, deductibles, eyeglasses and other supplies. They are set up through your employer, and individuals can set aside up to $3,300 in these accounts. Figuring out the right amount to set aside can be tricky because it involves forecasting how much care you might need. And you have to use the money by a certain point or you lose it. More from Be Well How to avoid financial stress during the holiday season Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace Stay sober and have a jolly holiday season with these expert tips What are the deadlines? They can vary by employer or plan administrator. In some cases, you may have to spend the money by Dec. 31 or you will lose it. But many plans offer a grace period in the new year to let people use their remaining funds or they allow participants to carry over some of the leftover balance. “Make sure you understand the clock and the rules,” said David Feinberg of Justworks, a technology company that helps small businesses with benefits. There are limits. The IRS, for instance, limits the balance carried over to $660 for 2025. Any amounts over that could be lost if they are still in your account by the plan deadline. How can I spend my FSA balance? Think of medical expenses not covered by insurance. The IRS keeps a huge list of eligible expenses for both FSAs and health savings accounts. But companies can limit the expenses they’ll reimburse, so employees should check with their employers. Eligible expenses can include travel costs to the doctor’s office, eyeglasses, bandages, sunscreen, condoms and tampons. FSA dollars may even be used to cover things like gym memberships or electric massagers if you have a doctor’s note stating that they are medically necessary. But they don’t cover things like health insurance premiums or certain cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening. Do you have any receipts from health care you could submit, like the copayment for a doctor’s office visit? That would qualify. Some plan administrators watch for stockpiling. Don’t buy a crate of aspirin to use up your balance. Limit purchases to about a year’s supply. Items can be bought in stores or online. What is an HSA and how does it differ? Health savings accounts, or HSAs, also allow you to set aside money before taxes. The difference is that you won’t lose the balance, you can keep the account if you leave your job, and some plans let you invest the money. HSAs can only be paired with high-deductible insurance plans. Account holders can contribute several thousand dollars each year, depending on the type of coverage they have. FSAs work with more types of coverage. And the help they offer can be more immediate. The money you decide to set aside over the course of the year is available right away. That can help people facing a big medical expense like a surgery at the start of a year, said Nicky Brown of Health Equity, which manages about 3 million FSAs. ____ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.PITTSBURGH — Michael Bunting and Kris Letang each scored a power-play goal and added two assists, as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Calgary Flames 6-2 on Saturday night. Philip Tomasino also scored on the power play as Pittsburgh has goals with the man advantage in six of its last eight games. Rickard Rakell equaled a season-long three-game goal streak with his 10th of the season, while Anthony Beauvillier and Blake Lizotte also scored. Sidney Crosby extended a four-game point streak with an assist. Alex Nedeljkovic made 30 saves for his first win since Nov. 16 against San Jose. Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri added a goal and assist each in the third period for Calgary, which has allowed multiple power-play goals in an NHL-high six games this season. The Flames have won just three of 13 road games this season. Dan Vladar stopped 37 shots for Calgary. Takeaways Flames: Calgary equaled a season-long four-game losing streak. The Flames won four straight and five of six prior to their current skid. Penguins: Pittsburgh won three straight games for the first time this season. It’s the Penguins’ first three-game win streak since a four-game run in April. Pittsburgh lost eight of 10 prior to its current streak. Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (39) reaches to make a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Pittsburgh. Credit: AP/Matt Freed Key moment Calgary’s Martin Pospisil hit a post in the first five minutes of the game, but Nedeljkovic allowed Pittsburgh to pull away from there. He made a highlight-reel glove save on Rasmus Andersson later in the period and on the same penalty kill in the second period, denied a net-mouth scramble and made a sharp pad save without his stick. Key stat The Penguins are 33-2-1 in their last 36 games with three or more power-play goals. They scored three power-play goals for the first time since Jan. 24, 2023, against Florida. Up next The Penguins host Florida, while the Flames hosts Columbus on Tuesday.
By ALI SWENSON and BARARA ORTUTAY Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, which they view as increasingly leaning too far to the right given its owner’s support of President-elect Donald Trump, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. Related Articles Supreme Court will hear arguments over the law that could ban TikTok in the US if it’s not sold What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump? Tech consultant found guilty of second-degree murder in stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee Tech review: Earbuds and phones for those on your holiday list Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter, championed by its former CEO Jack Dorsey. Its decentralized approach to social networking was eventually intended to replace Twitter’s core mechanic . That’s unlikely now that the two companies have parted ways. But Bluesky’s growth trajectory — with a user base that has more than doubled since October — could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. But with growth comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who’ve been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. The skyrocketing user base — now surpassing 25 million — is the biggest test yet for a relatively young platform that has branded itself as a social media alternative free of the problems plaguing its competitors. According to research firm Similarweb, Bluesky added 7.6 million monthly active app users on iOS and Android in November, an increase of 295.4% since October. It also saw 56.2 million desktop and mobile web visits, in the same period, up 189% from October. Besides the U.S. elections, Bluesky also got a boost when X was briefly banned in Brazil . “They got this spike in attention, they’ve crossed the threshold where it is now worth it for people to flood the platform with spam,” said Laura Edelson, an assistant professor of computer science at Northeastern University and a member of Issue One’s Council for Responsible Social Media. “But they don’t have the cash flow, they don’t have the established team that a larger platform would, so they have to do it all very, very quickly.” To manage growth for its tiny staff, Bluesky started as an invitation-only space until it opened to the public in February. That period gave the site time to build out moderation tools and other distinctive features to attract new users , such as “starter packs” that provide lists of topically curated feeds. Meta recently announced that it is testing a similar feature. Compared to the bigger players like Meta’s platforms or X, Bluesky has a “quite different” value system, said Claire Wardle, a professor at Cornell University and an expert in misinformation. This includes giving users more control over their experience. “The first generation of social media platforms connected the world, but ended up consolidating power in the hands of a few corporations and their leaders,” Bluesky said on its blog in March. “Our online experience doesn’t have to depend on billionaires unilaterally making decisions over what we see. On an open social network like Bluesky, you can shape your experience for yourself.” Because of this mindset, Bluesky has achieved a scrappy underdog status that has attracted users who’ve grown tired of the big players. “People had this idea that it was going to be a different type of social network,” Wardle said. “But the truth is, when you get lots of people in a place and there are eyeballs, it means that it’s in other people’s interests to use bots to create, you know, information that aligns with their perspective.” Little data has emerged to help quantify the rise in impersonator accounts, artificial intelligence-fueled networks and other potentially harmful content on Bluesky. But in recent weeks, users have begun reporting large numbers of apparent AI bots following them, posting plagiarized articles or making seemingly automated divisive comments in replies. Lion Cassens, a Bluesky user and doctoral candidate in the Netherlands, found one such network by accident — a group of German-language accounts with similar bios and AI-generated profile pictures posting in replies to three German newspapers. “I noticed some weird replies under a news post by the German newspaper ‘Die Ziet,’” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I have a lot of trust in the moderation mechanism on Bluesky, especially compared to Twitter since the layoffs and due to Musk’s more radical stance on freedom of speech. But AI bots are a big challenge, as they will only improve. I hope social media can keep up with that.” Cassens said the bots’ messages have been relatively innocuous so far, but he was concerned about how they could be repurposed in the future to mislead. There are also signs that foreign disinformation narratives have made their way to Bluesky. The disinformation research group Alethea pointed to one low-traction post sharing a false claim about ABC News that had circulated on Russian Telegram channels. Copycat accounts are another challenge. In late November, Alexios Mantzarlis, director of the Security, Trust and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, found that of the top 100 most followed named individuals on Bluesky, 44% had at least one duplicate account posing as them. Two weeks later, Mantzarlis said Bluesky had removed around two-thirds of the duplicate accounts he’d initially detected — a sign the site was aware of the issue and attempting to address it. Bluesky posted earlier this month that it had quadrupled its moderation team to keep up with its growing user base. The company also announced it had introduced a new system to detect impersonation and was working to improve its Community Guidelines to provide more detail on what’s allowed. Because of the way the site is built, users also have the option to subscribe to third-party “Labelers” that outsource content moderation by tagging accounts with warnings and context. The company didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment for this story. Even as its challenges aren’t yet at the scale other platforms face, Bluesky is at a “crossroads,” said Edward Perez, a board member at the nonpartisan nonprofit OSET Institute, who previously led Twitter’s civic integrity team. “Whether BlueSky likes it or not, it is being pulled into the real world,” Perez said, noting that it needs to quickly prioritize threats and work to mitigate them if it hopes to continue to grow. That said, disinformation and bots won’t be Bluesky’s only challenges in the months and years to come. As a text-based social network, its entire premise is falling out of favor with younger generations. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 17% of American teenagers used X, for instance, down from 23% in 2022. For teens and young adults, TikTok, Instagram and other visual-focused platforms are the places to be. Political polarization is also going against Bluesky ever reaching the size of TikTok, Instagram or even X. “Bluesky is not trying to be all things to all people,” Wardle said, adding that, likely, the days of a Facebook or Instagram emerging where they’re “trying to keep everybody happy” are over. Social platforms are increasingly splintered along political lines and when they aren’t — see Meta’s platforms — the companies behind them are actively working to de-emphasize political content and news. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about AP’s democracy initiative here . The AP is solely responsible for all content.Just how little can you spend and still get a new car with a three-pointed star, spinning propeller or four rings on the grille? At just over $36,000 before on-road costs, the most affordable Audi – the A1 30 TFSI – is around $20,000 cheaper than the least expensive BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Volvo. That makes it the most affordable vehicle from the 12 luxury brands operating in Australia. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today For this exercise, we’re drawing a distinction between luxury brands like Audi and ultra-luxury or exotic brands like Aston Martin, where the most affordable models are deep in six-digit territory. Of the 12 vehicles here, all bar two have a base price under $100,000 before on-road costs. Click on a car’s name above to jump directly to its information on this page, or continue scrolling for the full list. Alfa Romeo Tonale Ti The Alfa Romeo Tonale range opens at $50,900 before on-road costs. That makes it $4910 more expensive than the most affordable version of the Jeep Compass , which the Tonale is related to. Standard equipment includes matrix LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The front seats are manually adjustable as standard, though there’s power lumbar for the driver’s seat. Upholstery is a mix of cloth and leatherette. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and traffic sign recognition; features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are optional on the Ti and standard on the Veloce. The Tonale Ti and Veloce use a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system. The engine produces 118kW and 240Nm, while the electric motor produces 15kW and 55Nm; claimed fuel economy is 5.6L/100km. It’s front-wheel drive and uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, though Alfa Romeo offers a flagship Veloce PHEV Q4 that features a 1.3-litre four-cylinder plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with 208kW of power and all-wheel drive. The Tonale can run on pure electric power at low speeds, much like a conventional hybrid. Those seeking pure electric power to last their commute, however, will need to step up to the PHEV which offers 60.5km of WLTP range. Launched in 2023, the Tonale has quickly become Alfa Romeo’s best seller in Australia – though not by a huge margin. To the end of October, Alfa Romeo has sold 224 Tonales this year, making it marginally more popular than the Giulia (176 sales). It won’t be Alfa Romeo’s smallest model for long, with the Junior arriving in 2025 as a new entry-level SUV for the Italian brand. It may also become Alfa Romeo’s most affordable model here. Interested in buying an Alfa Romeo Tonale? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Alfa Romeo Tonale Audi A1 30 TFSI The Audi A1 is an upscale cousin to the Volkswagen Polo , and has no direct competition from BMW or Mercedes-Benz. Its days are numbered, with Audi having previously confirmed it won’t be replaced. The entry-level 30 TFSI, priced at $36,200 before on-road costs, features a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine producing 85kW of power and 200Nm of torque, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic – the same powertrain found in the Polo. Claimed fuel economy is 5.4L/100km on the combined cycle. More expensive A1s offer 110kW/250Nm and 147kW/320Nm turbocharged four-cylinder engines. The base 30 TFSI isn’t flashy, riding on 16-inch alloy wheels and featuring halogen headlights. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Inside, there are manually adjustable front seats with cloth upholstery. There’s manual air-conditioning and a basic 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, though you can upgrade your base A1 with packages that bring Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, LED headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels. Though it’s the most affordable Audi in Australia, it’s far from being the most popular. To the end of October, Audi has sold more than 10 times as many A3s as it has A1s, with just 174 examples of the light hatch being delivered. Interested in buying an Audi A1? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Audi A1 BMW 118 BMW has just launched its new-generation 1 Series hatchback, which in base 118 guise is priced at $56,500 before on-roads. This model uses a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine producing 115kW and 230Nm, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Claimed fuel economy is 6.4L/100km, though you’ll need to fill the 118 up with 98-octane premium unleaded fuel. Even this most affordable 1 Series gets adaptive suspension, as well as a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and leatherette-upholstered seats that are heated up front. Standard safety equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert. If you want more power, you can step up to the all-wheel drive M135 xDrive with its 233kW/400Nm turbo 2.0-litre four. It’s a big jump, however, with the M135 xDrive priced at $82,500 before on-roads. Interested in buying a BMW 1 Series? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything BMW 1 Series Cadillac Lyriq Luxury Cadillac is in the process of returning to Australia. It has opened its first retail location and is planning first customer deliveries in the first quarter of 2025. Thus far, it has confirmed only the Lyriq electric SUV for our market, which opens at $117,000 before on-road costs – certainly more expensive than an entry-level BMW 1 Series, but undercutting the more comparable BMW iX . Cadillac offers more affordable vehicles overseas like the slightly smaller Optiq electric SUV, which could make its way here, as well as combustion-powered vehicles like the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe -rivalling CT4 and Audi Q3 -rivalling XT4, both of which have been ruled out for Australia. All Lyriqs for now feature a 388kW/610Nm dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain, with a 102kWh nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) battery affording 530km of electric range. Standard equipment includes a panoramic sunroof, hands-free power tailgate, heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard second-row seats, and semi-automatic parking assist. There’s also a 33-inch display incorporating the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen, while standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist and a surround-view camera. Interested in buying a Cadillac Lyriq? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Cadillac Lyriq Genesis GV70 2.5T Advanced The GV70 isn’t Genesis’ smallest SUV – that’s the electric GV60 . It also isn’t the Hyundai premium brand’s smallest vehicle overall, as there’s still the G70 sedan and Shooting Brake . However, the GV60 carries a premium as electric vehicles often do, while the G70’s model lineup was recently pared-back. Given the GV70 is by far Genesis’ best-seller in Australia, the Korean luxury brand has maintained a wide range of variants with its recent update, though you can no longer buy a diesel. The former entry-level rear-wheel drive model was axed with the update, but there’s still a range of five variants opening with the Advanced 2.5T, priced at $78,500 before on-roads. For that money you get a 224kW/422Nm turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine mated with an eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is a claimed 10.3L/100km. Even this entry-level GV70 offers a 27-inch display incorporating the digital instrument cluster and an infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a hands-free power tailgate, and a panoramic sunroof. The list of standard safety equipment is similarly exhaustive, with blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic assist, lane centring, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and the company’s Blind-Spot View Monitor that shows camera footage from the car’s blind-spot. The GV70 doesn’t sell anywhere near as well as rivals like the Lexus NX and BMW X3 , but Genesis has sold 707 to the end of October. That’s more than the rest of the Genesis lineup combined, and more than rivals like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Maserati Grecale. Interested in buying a Genesis GV70? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Genesis GV70 Jaguar E-Pace P250 R-Dynamic SE The E-Pace is still on Jaguar’s price lists, but its days are numbered. Jaguar is ditching its entire current model range ahead of a switch to a more exclusive, electric-only lineup, with only the F-Pace reported to be continuing beyond next year. The Austrian-built small SUV, related to the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque , opens at $76,773 before on-roads for the P250 R-Dynamic SE. All E-Pace models in Australia are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 184kW and 365Nm, mated with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. Claimed fuel economy is 8.0L/100km. LED headlights and a power tailgate are standard, while inside there’s a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 10-way power adjustment for the passenger seat – both heated and finished in DuoLeather upholstery – as well as an 11.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a wireless phone charger. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Jaguar has sold just 141 E-Paces this year, but that’s more than three times as many as it shifted in Australia last year. Unfortunately for the baby cat, it’s the second lowest-volume vehicle in its segment, ahead of only the Genesis GV60. Interested in buying a Jaguar E-Pace? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Jaguar E-Pace Land Rover Discovery Sport P200 S The Discovery Sport is a more conservative and practical alternative to the related Range Rover Evoque, and has a base price that undercuts its sleeker sibling. The range opens at $73,504 before on-roads for the P200 S, which comes standard with a LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a power tailgate. Inside, there’s a digital instrument cluster, an 11.4-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DuoLeather upholstery and a wireless phone charger. Standard safety kit includes blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147kW of power and 320Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel economy of 8.4L/100km. It’s mated with a nine-speed auto and all-wheel drive. Though you can get the Discovery Sport with a third row of seating, its sleeker Range Rover Evoque sibling outsells it. A total of 287 have been sold to the end of October compared to 498 Evoques, making it the worst-selling vehicle among JLR’s Discovery, Defender and Range Rover SUVs. Interested in buying a Land Rover Discovery Sport? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Land Rover Discovery Sport Lexus LBX Luxury Lexus introduced the LBX this year as its smallest SUV yet, slotting in under the UX . The range opens at $47,550 before on-roads for the base front-wheel drive Luxury, which features a 100kW 1.5-litre three-cylinder hybrid powertrain with an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). Claimed fuel economy is 3.8L/100km. The LBX features LED headlights with adaptive high-beam, plus a power tailgate and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 9.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a wireless phone charger. The seats are upholstered in NuLux leatherette, with those up front being heated and the driver’s seat featuring 10-wya power adjustment and memory. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic assist, and a surround-view camera. There’s a posher Sports Luxury above the Luxury, available with either front- or all-wheel drive, while a hot turbocharged Morizo RR is coming in 2025. The LBX is only new to the Lexus lineup but it has already become the brand’s third best-selling model, with 1227 deliveries this year putting it behind only the NX and RX crossovers. Interested in buying a Lexus LBX? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Lexus LBX Maserati Grecale GT With the Grecale , a more upscale cousin to the Alfa Romeo Stelvio , owning a Maserati has become more attainable. At $122,500 before on-road costs, the base Grecale GT is more than $20,000 cheaper than the outgoing Levante and Ghibli that used to be the most affordable models from the trident brand. For that outlay, you get a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system, with total system outputs of 220kW and 450Nm. The GT features an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, and claimed fuel consumption figures of 8.7L-9.2L/100km under European testing. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels and features LED headlights and a hands-free power tailgate. Inside, there are 10-way power-adjustable front seats with driver’s memory, plus a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. While the Grecale has brought the cost of entry to the Maserati lineup down, its sales are down 39.9 per cent year-to-date to 253 units. That’s more than twice as many units as the related (and more affordable) Alfa Romeo Stelvio, but well below the likes of the Porsche Macan (2614 sales). Interested in buying a Maserati Grecale? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Maserati Grecale Mercedes-Benz A200 The A-Class is another vehicle on this list not set to be replaced, with Mercedes-Benz paring back its range of ‘Entry Luxury’ models. For now, though, it’s the most affordable Mercedes-Benz, with the base A200 hatchback now priced at $56,900 before on-roads following a recent $6000 price cut. It’s powered by a 120kW/270Nm turbocharged 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine, mated with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. Fuel use is a claimed 6.6L/100km. There are standard 18-inch alloy wheels and LED headlights, while inside there’s a standard 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and power-adjustable and heated front seats. Standard safety equipment includes blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and a surround-view camera. To the end of October, Mercedes-Benz has sold 1749 A-Class hatchbacks and sedans this year, putting it behind the rival Audi A3 (2298 sales). Nevertheless, it’s among the three-pointed star brand’s best-selling vehicles, behind only the C-Class , GLA and GLC . Interested in buying a Mercedes-Benz A-Class? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz A-Class Porsche Macan While there’s a new electric Macan on the scene, the outgoing petrol-powered model is still on Porsche’s price lists. That’s good news for buyers wanting a more affordable Porsche, as at $95,100 before on-roads it’s $33,300 cheaper than the cheapest Macan Electric. The base Macan is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 195kW and 400Nm, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto and all-wheel drive. Fuel consumption is a claimed 9.3L/100km. It rides on 19-inch alloy wheels and features LED headlights with dynamic cornering lights, where the main headlights swivel based on the steering angle and speed. A power tailgate is also standard. Inside, there’s a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, as well as a 4.8-inch instrument cluster screen and 14-way power-adjustable and heated front seats with memory. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera. The Macan is easily Porsche’s best-selling vehicle, with 2614 sales to the end of October. Interested in buying a Porsche Macan? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Porsche Macan Volvo XC40 Plus B4 Volvo’s smallest vehicle, the electric EX30 , isn’t its cheapest. That title goes to the entry-level version of the combustion-powered XC40 range, the mild-hybrid Plus B4, which is priced at $54,990 before on-roads. The front-wheel drive Plus B4 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 145kW and 300Nm, mated with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It uses a claimed 6.9L/100km. It features LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a power tailgate. Inside, there’s ‘textile’ upholstery, though the front seats still feature power adjustment (including memory for the driver), while there’s a 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google built-in and Apple CarPlay. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and traffic sign recognition. A surround-view camera is optional, along with luxury items like a panoramic roof and Harman Kardon sound system. The XC40 is by far Volvo’s best-selling vehicle, with 2726 sold to the end of October. However, sales are down by 44.3 per cent as the EX30 makes a dent in XC40 volumes, so much so that the larger SUV this year lost its title as Australia’s best-selling small premium SUV. Interested in buying a Volvo XC40? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here . MORE: Everything Volvo XC40
As the country inches closer to 2025, with just two years remaining before the 2027 elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Young Progressives Party, and the Coalition for United Political Parties have called for legislation to prohibit political defection. They also reassured the public that the opposition parties would unite to form a formidable front capable of effectively challenging the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to ensure Nigerians received the best possible leadership and governance. This was as the ruling APC chided the opposition parties over the call for a bill to halt the random defection of politicians from their parties to other political platforms. The APC argued that the constitution had granted politicians the privilege to switch allegiance. Political defection has become a common trend in Nigeria, with politicians switching parties at will. On December 5, four lawmakers from the LP and one from the PDP defected to the ruling APC. The LP lawmakers who switched parties are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West Federal Constituency), Mathew Donatus (Kaura Federal Constituency, Kaduna), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Cross River), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo Federal Constituency, Edo). A few days later, on December 12, Ajang Iliya, the House of Representatives member representing the Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency in Plateau State, also defected from the LP to the APC. Over a year ago, 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, left the PDP for the APC. This mass defection caused political instability in Rivers State, triggering multiple legal battles. The growing trend of defection has raised concerns about the stability and integrity of party politics in Nigeria. Before these recent defections, a significant number of politicians, mainly from opposition parties, had already switched allegiance to the ruling party. This trend has been seen as a reflection of the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of Nigeria’s political landscape. Just recently, several lawmakers left their previous parties—such as the PDP, NNPP, and LP—and joined the ruling APC, offering various political justifications for their decisions. The pattern of defection has raised concerns about the stability and integrity of party politics in the country. In response, the PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, stated that political defections posed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Osadolor, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH , lamented that many Nigerian politicians lacked principles and had defected primarily for economic survival rather than for the benefit of the people. He said, “This government is very adept, very skillful in regime security. In doing all this, they have weaponised not only hunger but also destabilised institutions that should have been able to enforce checks and balances. “The man has so firmly placed iron fists on all the institutions in this country that you don’t even have an institution or an opposition. “So, when you see these defections in the National Assembly or state Assemblies, you will just know it is all about economic survival. Most of those you see jumping from one party to another lack principles. “This is a threat to democracy. To curb this reckless defection, I think there is an urgent need to review some of our laws to nip this in the bud.” Osadolor expressed optimism that as long as President Bola Tinubu did not have control over the air Nigerians breathe, there would be strong opposition in 2025 and beyond to challenge the APC government. He stated, “As long as the air we breathe does not come from President Tinubu, the opposition parties will remain united and more formidable in challenging the APC. Therefore, Nigerians still have hope and will wait patiently to cast their votes.” Also speaking, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, expressed concern that the defections signalled the erosion of democracy in Nigeria. Speaking with our correspondent, he called for a thorough review of Nigerian laws to address political defections. He stated, “What it shows is that democracy is eroding. It is now becoming, ‘Well, if I can settle myself, then things are fine.’ A lot of the politicians are no longer representing the people; they are no longer representing their constituents; they are representing themselves. “So, we need to look at our laws to checkmate this and do a lot to uphold our democracy to make sure they give a voice to the voiceless and try to maintain democratic structures to bring about good governance for the benefit of the people of the country.” Similarly, the YPP National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Martins, cautioned that defections could result in a one-party state, which in turn could lead to dictatorship. In an interview with Sunday PUNCH , Martins emphasised that the ongoing electoral reform must take a strong stance against defections and ensure that there must be no ambiguities. He stated, “We can tell that things have been going from bad to worse. Democracy should not benefit only a few; it should be for the benefit of everyone. You can see the unrest in neighbouring countries that led to military takeovers because the people do not see any benefit from democracy. “I think the political class should not allow democracy to deteriorate in this manner. There should be a law to prevent political defections, and politics and political associations should be based on principles.” Related News 2027: Political movements spread as bigwigs plot Tinubu’s ouster APC chieftain urges Bago to pull out of AEDC Stop daydreaming, face reality, APC blasts Kwankwaso “In fact, the government should make it a matter of policy. They must deliberate on this to sustain a strong opposition. We should not allow people to move from one party to another, as it could lead to a one-party state, which in the long run, would not bode well for the nation.” “A one-party state is essentially a dictatorship. Therefore, there is a need to review our laws. There should be a deliberate effort to ensure that laws are in place to discourage the movement from one party to another, particularly to the ruling party.” The YPP Publicity Secretary stated that a one-party state was harmful to Nigeria and emphasised that the political class must act to prevent disillusionment, ensuring Nigerians continued to value democracy. He added, “This is not even healthy for the ruling party. That is why, based on some of the proposals we have submitted as a party, we believe that the ongoing electoral reform should make it difficult for individuals to cross from the party on whose platform they won elections to another party. The legislation should be unambiguous. “Once you leave your party and join another, you should automatically lose your seat. There should be no exceptions, such as in cases where there is a crisis in the party. No! “Look at the PDP as an opposition party; it is struggling, and that should have been the face of a strong opposition in Nigeria. But it is not, because the laws are too weak to address the political class manipulations. “We believe the ruling government should ensure that these laws are enforced. The political class needs to play its role to prevent the point where Nigerians become disillusioned and feel they no longer need democracy.” The CUPP spokesperson, Mark Adebayo, explained that many defectors did so out of fear of persecution. Speaking with Sunday PUNCH , he stated that most of the defectors would regret their actions in 2027 when the APC would be defeated. Adebayo stated, “On the defection by lawmakers, it just shows you the policies of stomach infrastructure that Nigerian democracy is all about. All these are politicians who believe in stomach infrastructure. “They are defecting because they cannot ensure a robust opposition political party. They believe that joining the APC may protect them from future prosecution by anti-graft agencies, especially the EFCC and ICPC. “They are also under the mistaken impression that the power of incumbency will help them win elections. But I can assure you that the APC has performed so poorly that in 2027, the opposition will give them a run for their money.” APC kicks Meanwhile, the National Publicity Director of the APC, Bala Ibrahim, said it was obvious the campaign was being fuelled by the frustration of losing their bigwigs to the ruling party. He said, “I think that legislation is ill-proposed because the legislation permits freedom of movement. There should be freedom to make up and change one’s mind at will without interference from anybody. “The opposition is making this proposal out of frustration because they were not able to manage their affairs. As a result, there is an exodus to the ruling party. However, that is not to say they can’t take their motion to the National Assembly, which will deliberate in the interest of the country if it deems it fit. “But I can tell you with certainty that it is going to be dead on arrival. You cannot deny politicians the right to jump ships. They can move from one party to the other. It is like marriage and divorce. One is at liberty to marry provided the two agree and is also a liberty to divorce once they disagree. “So, if you are in a party and not getting what you want or feel the party cannot meet your aspiration, the constitution has given you the provision and permission to cross over to where you will achieve your aim. That is my personal opinion.” CSOs speak Lending his voice to the matter, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, attributed the defection of politicians to the ruling party to lack of transparency and accountability in governance. He lamented that Nigerian politics was driven by selfish interests, describing it as a pursuit of “stomach infrastructure.” Rafsanjani emphasised that while politicians had the right to defect to any political party, there was the need for political party reforms to ensure that parties were not used merely as tools for power grabbing and personal agendas but as platforms to foster internal democracy and active participation. “There are legitimate reasons for leaving a party. If one no longer subscribes to the party’s principles, they cannot be compelled to remain. However, we must reform political parties so they will cease to be platforms for personal gains and power plays.” Also, the Chancellor of the International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, Jackson Omenazu, described the current political situation as a breach of public trust, tarnishing Nigeria’s image globally. He warned that unchecked defections could lead to a one-party system, eroding democracy. Omenazu noted that politicians were bound by the manifestos of the parties under which they were elected, arguing that if they aligned with another manifesto, they should resign and seek re-election under the new platform. He added that defection without returning to the electorate violated public trust and undermined democracy. “The right thing to do is to go back with a new-found manifesto to the people and present it to them. The defector as a lawmaker should resign from his or her position, go back to his people and present a new manifesto. If the people elect you based on the new manifesto, you go back to the National Assembly. “If they don’t elect you, you remain at home. But it’s a complete breach of public trust for you to take another manifesto and get into the National Assembly, find favour in another manifesto, and without recourse to the people, defect. “Systematically, we are heading towards a one-party state, and it is not good for democracy. A good opposition is the strength of democracy and where there is no opposition, there is no democracy.”Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots
It was another busy year in the world of business. Test your knowledge on the stories of 2024 from Boeing, to bots, rebrands and the Budget. 2 Test your knowledge on the biggest financial stories of 2024 1. It took an ITV drama series on The Post Office to create enough public anger about a long-running miscarriage of justice. What was the name of the actor who played Alan Bates? a) Toby Jones b) Timothy Spall c) Tom Hiddleston 2. What happened three miles high on a Boeing 737 Max plane? a) A couple locked the toilet door for a long time b) A door peg blew off midflight c) A teenager was left topless 3. Jeremy Hunt delivered his last Budget in March. How many Chancellors were there in the last 14 years of Tory government? Bonus point for naming them all in correct order. a) Five b) Seven c) Six 4. Royal Mail’s biggest investor and West Ham FC shareholder Daniel Kretinsky struck a £3.6billion takeover of the 500-year old postal service. What’s his nickname? a) Kret the Krusher b) Czech Mate c) Czech Sphinx READ MORE ON BUSINESS SPY ROW Prince Andrew’s murky dealings must be investigated after ‘spy’ scandal, say expert CASH IN I flogged skirts at a fair at 22, now I make £40 million & Princess Kate's a fan 5. Which Hollywood star slammed the owner of artificial intelligence firm ChatGPT for using a very similar voice for its chatbot? a) Kate Winslet b) Scarlett Johansson c) Jennifer Lawrence 6. Which company overtook Apple twice this year as the world’s most valuable business in the world, having nearly doubled in value in 2024? a) Nvidia b) Microsoft c) Amazon 7. Which security firm caused the world’s biggest outage with IT problems grounding planes, disrupting railways and taking TV stations off air? a) Cisco b) CrowdStrike c) McAfee 8. In August the Bank of England made its first interest rate cut in four years down from 5.25 per cent. Before then rates had risen to the highest level in how many years? a) 10 years b) 8 years c) 16 years Most read in Business BOOZEY BET BrewDog founder James Watt reveals he played game of golf with MILLIONS at stake RATE EXPECTATIONS Bank of England divided over timing of interest rate cuts WILLING & CABLE Scottish Power recruiting 1000s of young workers to roll out cable lines BANKS FOR NOTHING Wage surge dashes hopes for interest rate cuts as inflation fears grow 9. Lord Stuart Rose was damning about Asda, the supermarket he chaired, saying he was “embarrassed” by its performance. Put the below in order of exits: a) Mohsin Issa , boss b) Zuber Issa , co-owner c) Stuart Rose, chairman 10. Rachel Reeves said she would take a penny off a pint in the Budget. But how much did pub chain Fuller’s boss Simon Emeny say her tax raid would add to the price of a pint? a) A quid b) 50p c) 10p 11. Jaguar’s rebrand was widely ridiculed for putting out an advert that didn’t feature a car. What was the rebrand’s new slogan? a) Copy nothing b) Sell nothing c) Show nothing 12. Billionaire Mike Ashley wanted a new job this year. What did he apply for? a) Chief ales taster at Wetherspoons b) Head of Department for Government Efficiency c) CEO of online fashion retailer Boohoo Beer prices to fall by 1p Rachel Reeves reveals in Budget - but drinkers will be hit by more expensive booze ANSWERS 1. a) Toby Jones. 2. b) and c) A door peg on the plane blew out mid-air with the pressure ripping a teenager’s shirt off their body. 3. b) Seven - (George Osborne, Philip Hammond, Sajid Javid, Rishi Sunak, Nadhim Zahawi, Kwasi Kwarteng, Jeremy Hunt). 4. c) Czech Sphinx. 5. b) Scarlett Johansson. 6. a) Nvidia. 7. b) CrowdStrike. 8. c) 16 years. 9. b) Zuber Issa in June a) Mohsin Issa in September c) Stuart Rose in November. 10. c) 10p. 11. a) “Copy Nothing.” 12 . c) To become Boohoo CEO as part of his activist campaign Jobs risk in Aviva's takeover 2 Aviva has clinched a £3.7billion takeover of rival insurer Direct Line OVER 2,000 jobs are at risk after Aviva clinched a £3.7billion takeover of rival insurer Direct Line. Aviva yesterday announced it had agreed a recommended cash and share deal, two days before a Christmas Day bid deadline. Boss Amanda Blanc said it was “excellent news for the customers and shareholders of Aviva and Direct Line”. Direct Line also owns the Green Flag and Churchill insurance brands, which will beef up Aviva’s business in home and car insurance. Direct Line has struggled to turn around its business and already slashed 550 jobs in November to cut costs. Aviva said it was aiming for at least £125million in cost synergies and planned to reduce the combined workforce by 5 to 7 per cent. This would be equivalent to between 1,600 and 2,300 job losses over three years. Aviva has over 23,000 employees, and Direct Line just over 10,000. Range in rebrand THE RANGE will rebrand up to 70 former Homebase stores throughout 2025 but keep the latter’s website up and running. Controlled by Plymouth-based billionaire Chris Dawson, The Range snapped up Homebase after it fell into administration last month. The retailer said it will continue to use the Homebase brand name for garden centre concessions in Range stores, kitchen installations and some home improvement products. Honda accord? JAPAN’S top motor firms are in talks over a merger to help them survive the rise of cheap Chinese electric cars. Honda and Nissan, the country’s second and third biggest car-makers, are leading talks with Mitsubushi to decide by January if a three-way agreement can go ahead. All are suffering from weak demand for their EVs, and have been hit by soaring costs of investing in new technology. The three firms have a combined £46billion valuation — well below Japan’s No1 car firm Toyota on £186billion. Read more on the Scottish Sun DECEMBRRR Scots blasted with snowfall days before Christmas as storms cause transport chaos FLOOR PHILLER Rangers boss Philippe Clement spotted dancing in popular Glasgow bar BOOHOO has offloaded its office in Soho, London, for £49.5million to help repair its balance sheet. The online fashion retailer bought the office for £72million three years ago when it was riding high on the back of an internet sales boom. Winner served A GROWING appetite for fried chicken has delivered a £400million fortune to the trio who brought fast food chain Wingstop to the UK. The brand has now been gobbled up by US private equity firm Sixth Street — which will result in a big windfall for entrepreneurs Tom Grogan, Herman Sahota and Saul Lewin. Six years ago they made a cold call to Wingstop’s US parent company, asking if they could bring it to Britain. It now has expanded to 57 UK sites, which employ 2,500 staff.
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( MENAFN - IANS) New Delhi: The call for 'Digital India' coming from Prime Minister Narendra Modi provides a timely push to business transactions by encouraging corporates to switch over to online work, use computerisation for speedy delivery and facilitate an outreach to customers that was not so easy to achieve earlier. An ultimate advance of Information technology symbolised by Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now sweeping the business world in a manner that makes it necessary to administer a word of caution to all concerned against presuming that AI is the quick-time panacea for all their problems -- big and small. The important point here is that India on its way to becoming the third largest economy in the world in the foreseeable future, is benefitting a great deal from the strategic initiative of speeding up with 'digitisation'. This policy flowed right from the top and gave this country a significant competitive advantage in today's globalised world enabling it to move ahead of others in the 'knowledge economy'. India is a leading power and a storehouse of talent so far as IT is concerned and it will not be presumptuous to conclude that it will guide the world in the area of AI applications, too. These applications will expedite growth, improve efficiency and also take care of the issues of security that 'digitisation' would create for all stakeholders. There cannot be a one-fit for all, however, and a progressive understanding of the specific needs of an organisation will go a long way in giving that particular business a competitive advantage. AI will never replace human jobs completely. It can free human hands of routine tasks that do not bank on creativity, strategic thinking and leadership qualities. A company that makes its employees do their jobs better or 'more swiftly' than earlier, is adding to their 'efficiency' by improving the output per unit of 'time' -- time being a recognised 'resource' now. This does not necessarily entail laying down any part of the workforce -- the new requirement is to make the existing manpower more productive. This is not all that easy to achieve since it calls for deep planning for 'customising' the AI applications to the employee's tasks and duties. AI is adopted for creating business value and this has to be done in an innovative and ethical way to win customer's confidence. Human intelligence and imagination are needed while planning for an AI application -- it can be said, therefore, that AI is a 'product' not a 'substitute' of the human mind. AI aims at enhancing operational efficiency and has to be built into the concerned 'processes'. Its validation takes time and cannot be fixed in a moment. AI applications also get linked to a possible organisational resetting, training regimen and investment of time because they worked for long-term advantage -- often altering the decision-making protocols. It is advisable to start with AI applications for small management projects and make them a part of the evolution of the larger organisational growth. It has to be understood that AI lays the path of steady progress and cannot be 'ordered' to produce instant results except in the area of 'data analytics' where algorithms can be devised to read the 'patterns' for further deductions and 'machine learning' introduced to help a certain degree of 'automation'. AI is important but there is something unnatural about the way every business is feeling pressurised to embrace it like a blind spot for success in terms of achieving an immediate enhancement of 'productivity' and 'return on investment'. When the Information Technology revolution appeared on the scene in 1991, the world transitioned from the Industrial Age to the Information Age and a new level of globalisation set in because of instant communications that could be made across geographical frontiers and the advent of a level of competitiveness that had not been encountered earlier. Businesses got new opportunities for reaching out to customers and prospects of diversification, mergers and acquisitions multiplied. With the advent of AI, it became possible to analyse a large amount of data that was humanly impossible to examine earlier. Also, 'machine learning' could be used for improving 'processes' and making transactions cost-effective in terms of time utilisation, which would boost 'productivity' and consequently enhance 'profitability'. There is literally a transformation of the Age of Information into the Age of Intelligence because AI does add to the ability of business houses to have a peep into the future and read the 'risks and opportunities' ahead of others. Analysis of what is available in the public domain always helped to produce 'intelligence' that could provide this insight. Analysis is the instrument that allowed for the advantage of human imagination and far-sight to be built into AI applications. Digitisation in general and AI in particular has produced a new socio-economic atmosphere that gave intensive for launching start-ups and innovating 'products' and 'services'. On the other hand, in the strategic sphere, it has allowed 'proxy wars' to replace open military attacks -- social media emerging as a particularly powerful instrument of combat. Misinformation, 'deepfakes' and indoctrination are used for narrative building against a regime. They were affecting people's lives by exposing them to newer kinds of cyber fraud and also creating a new risk profile for businesses. Just as Information Technology fundamentally altered the lifestyle of people, AI is likely to impact the cultural outlook of society -- creating new normals for businesses, inter-personal interactions and even social values to an extent. The Information Age had mandated that being well-informed is the key to success in any field and Artificial Intelligence has further added to the importance of being aware of what was happening within the society and also in the world outside. Business-customer relations, people's approach to the ruling elite and life in the universities are all impacted by AI offerings. 'Writing assistants' are helping the 'cost-effective' management of organisations. What has gained in importance is the discipline of accepting and acting only on reliable information. One should not run into the erroneous belief that whatever appears on the internet is trustworthy. There are both promises and perils associated with AI and this is a sobering thought for all well-informed people. It is interesting to recall that the awardees of the Nobel Prize in Physics this year are two pioneers of Information Technology -- John Hopfield of Princeton University and Geoffrey Hinton of the University of Toronto. Hinton warned that AI -- which he compared with 'another Industrial Revolution' -- could produce unforeseen consequences creating a situation where 'things could get out of control'. Hopfield was even more forthright in declaring at a university Conclave that 'AI could create an apocalypse'. Hinton praised GPT4 -- an AI offering -- saying that 'if I want to know the answer to anything I would just ask it' but added with a twist that 'I do not totally trust it because it can hallucinate'. AI is subject to the fundamental principle of 'garbage in garbage out' that did not apply to human intelligence because the latter could invoke 'logic', 'power of recall' and 'imagination' which were not available to the former while absorbing information. AI applications are situation-specific, anchored on processes and meant to produce a long-term gain for the organisation. They are used after deep consideration and planning and have a strategic perspective -- there is nothing tactical about them. In the times ahead successful CEOs would be leaders that were well-versed in AI and the personnel working for them would be individuals who had been up-skilled about AI applications -- even though they might not be 'technologists' themselves. The new-age businesses would be different from the traditional-looking ones in as much as they would be far more competent and aggressive about exploring the 'opportunities' and averting the 'risks'. (The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal) MENAFN28122024000231011071ID1109038420 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.The people of Telangana State suffered losses amounting Rs. 1,866 crore due to cyber frauds in 2024. This translates to an average daily loss of nearly Rs. 5 crore. The most common cyber frauds reported in 2024 included business investment/stock frauds, part time jobs, digital arrest, fake customer care and debit and credit card frauds. The highest complaints related to cyber crime were from Cyberabad followed by Hyderabad and Rachakonda. Shikha Goel, Director, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) said 1,14,174 complaints of cyber frauds were reported at National Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP 1930) facility from Telangana State during this year as compared to 91,652 complaints the previous year. “Cybercrime is up by 18 per cent compared to last year. It is because of the adept usage of internet by the people and new modus operandis adopted by the (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); fraudsters to cheat people,” said Shikha Goel. The official said due to proactive measures an amount of Rs. 244 crores was withheld and after proper procedures refund of Rs. 174 crore was facilitated by the bureau to the victims. During the year, across the State 24,643 cases pertaining to different cybercrimes were registered and investigation followed up. Shikha Goel, said the TGCSB is maintaining a zero tolerance against cyber criminals. A total of 1057 cyber criminals involved in 19,653 cases in Telangana and altogether 1, 16,421 cases in the country were arrested by the police. To curb the misuse of SIM cards and mobile phones, the TGCSB blocked 14,984 SIM cards and 9,811 IMEIs. “If IMEI is blocked the entire gadget becomes useless and cannot be used for commit cybercrimes. It is a way ahead and more result oriented than blocking SIM cards,” said the official.Rs 125 crore, 16,000 victims, 21 scamsters: Gurgaon police uncover huge cyber fraud
Three centuries ago, a little known, but extraordinary military operation was pulled off in Sweden. It entailed transporting a fleet of large naval ships across miles of inhospitable terrain — with the help of hundreds of men, horses and greased logs — in order to orchestrate a surprise attack against Norway. Now, evidence of the daring overland odyssey has been discovered. Using ground-penetrating radar technology, archaeologists have uncovered the path that the fleet took, which was previously unknown, according to a Dec. 20 news release from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research. The excavation was carried out in the town of Blomsholm, located on the east coast of Sweden, just a few miles from the Norwegian border. The overland odyssey In 1718, King Charles XII of Sweden instructed his military to haul 12 ships from Strömstad to Iddefjorden, a distance of about 15 miles, per the release. The purpose was to stage an unexpected attack against a Norwegian fortress in Iddefjorden, which was situated on a fjord that was inaccessible from the sea. Transporting the ships, some of which weighed 30 tons, required a massive and lengthy operation, according to the release. The journey, which began on June 26, involved hoists, horses, 800 soldiers and greased logs — over which the vessels were pulled. The labor was “backbreaking” and the terrain was difficult, as it was covered in wetlands and inhabited by mosquitos and flies , according to the Borderland Ecological Museum in Norway. But, eventually, after several months, the ships made it to Iddefjorden and were used to wage war against Norway. However, after two months of combat, Charles XII was shot in the head and killed, bringing the campaign to a halt, according to the museum. New discovery In December, archaeologists deployed a georadar-equipped vehicle over a swath of land near the battlefield, according to the release. This survey revealed multiple linear structures that ran parallel to one another and which matched up with historical accounts of the ship transport route. The structures are believed to be the remains of logs which were laid down along the route. They measure up to 500 feet long and up to 26 feet wide, archaeologists said. In addition to these structures, they discovered the remains of prehistoric burial mounds and settlements. Google Translate was used to translate a news release from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research.A 25-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly his involvement in supplying over 500 SIM cards to cyber fraudsters, Mangaluru CEN police said on Monday. Inspector MP Sathish said that the accused, identified as Kanatala Vasudeva Reddy from Odisha, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly supplying over 500 SIM cards from various Indian telecom companies to people involved in cybercrimes. He said: “The investigation, triggered by a cyber fraud case on June 19, revealed that Nadavulu Veeravenkata Satyanarayana Raju (32), an accomplice, had used fake links sent through WhatsApp to deceive victims into transferring large amounts of money. Over time, he defrauded people to the tune of ₹ 10,84,017. Satyanarayana Raju, who was arrested June 29, admitted during interrogation that he was involved in a SIM card scam.” “After the case was registered on June 20, Raju went absconding and fled to Dubai. We issued a look out circular against him. He had later come back to India and when he was on his way to board a flight to Dubai against, on a tip-off, Delhi airport police arrested him on June 29 and handed him over to us,” he said. The police seized over 300 SIM cards from Satyanarayana Raju and are working to identify further links to the criminal network operating in Dubai The fraudsters, including Satyanarayana Raju, had been using SIM cards issued in places like Visakhapatnam and Godavari districts. “These cards were obtained in the names of different individuals and supplied to a company in Dubai named Vinsect, which is reportedly based in China. The company ran a call centre in Dubai, where fraudsters convinced victims to invest money in stock markets as part of the scam,” the officer said. Following Satyanarayana Raju’s confession, the police issued a lookout notice for Kanatala Vasudeva Reddy, who was arrested at Delhi airport while attempting to board a flight to Dubai. Immigration officials detained him, and further investigations are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects. Authorities have frozen the bank account that received the fraudulent transfers and are continuing to trace the network involved in the scam. Muthu Shiva (29), another accomplice, was arrested on July 4 in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing to uncover more details.
UNC GREENSBORO 105, VIRGINIA-LYNCHBURG 50
RIDGEWOOD, New Jersey (WABC) -- A New Jersey high school basketball star is doing everything to dominate cancer just as he's continued to do on the hardwood. Johnny Jackson, a senior at Ridgewood High School, is battling stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which first came about last year. "Obviously I still don't feel the greatest, I'm still in the midst of a battle on my hands," said Jackson. "I mean it's just amazing I'm back on the court at this moment." Jackson was battling fatigue after every game and kept going to doctors searching for answers. He was diagnosed with mono. It seemed to linger after numerous visits to the doctor. "Within 10 minutes of talking to the allergist, he said you have to go see an oncologist," said Joe Jackson, Johnny's father. "Every parents worst nightmare to hear that." The 18-year-old's family was shaken by the diagnosis, but his will and determination hasn't been deterred. "You can't help him in this, added Lynsey Jackson, Johnny's mother. "And that's the hardest thing as a mom. But, Johnny has been great the whole time and he's fighting. He told us we need to be strong for him." Jackson is hoping to reach the milestone mark of 2,000 points this season, and on the right track after three games. He is also hoping to lead Ridgewood to a Sectional Championship. "He is inspiring," said Paige Jackson, Johnny's sister. "No one can ever understand. I think this is the hardest thing will ever have to go through as a family." Jackson was honored before a Coaches vs Cancer game on Monday, an event that's gone on for the past 15 years in Ridgewood. ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More New Jersey news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTubeWASHINGTON , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It is with deep sadness that Universities Space Research Association (USRA) announces the passing of Dr. Berrien Moore III , an internationally recognized leader in Earth Science and an invaluable member of the USRA Board of Trustees. Dr. Moore passed away on December 17, 2024 , in Norman, Oklahoma . He was the Dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences and Director of the National Weather Center at the University of Oklahoma . Dr. Moore was elected to the USRA Board of Trustees in 2019 and re-elected for a second term in 2022. He served in multiple leadership capacities on the Board, including Chair of the Compensation Committee, inaugural Chair of the University Engagement Committee, and, since 2021, Vice Chair of the Board. Gen Lester Lyles , Chair of the USRA Board of Trustees said, "We are profoundly grieved by the loss of Berrien Moore , a treasured member of our Board. Berrien was a strong leader and a dedicated advocate for Earth Science. With his wit and charm, Berrien was more than just a colleague, he was a true friend to everyone. On behalf of the entire Board, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Berrien's family and loved ones during this challenging time." Dr. Jeffrey Isaacson , President and CEO of USRA commented, "At USRA, we are deeply saddened by this news. This is a terrific loss for our Association, but we are grateful to have had the privilege of working with Berrien and are indebted by his many contributions. All of us at USRA extend our heartfelt condolences, prayers, and support to his family." Dr. Moore served in several capacities with NASA including as Principal Investigator of NASA's Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCarb) mission that placed University of Oklahoma at the forefront of climate research. He also served as chair of NASA's Space and Earth Science Advisory Council, as a member of the NASA Advisory Council, and was on several other committees. As a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he contributed to the body of work that garnered the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. His honors include NASA's highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Medal for outstanding service, the NOAA Administrator's Recognition Award, and the 2007 Dryden Lectureship in Research medal by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Dr. Moore is survived by his wife Lucia and his daughter Leila. About USRA Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology, and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities and conducts other major research and educational programs. It is an association with 121 university members. It engages the broader university community, employs in-house scientific talent, and offers innovative research, development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu . PR Contact: Suraiya Farukhi sfarukhi@usra.edu 443-812-6945 View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/usra-mourns-the-loss-of-dr-berrien-moore-iii-a-distinguished-member-of-the-board-of-trustees-302337533.html SOURCE Universities Space Research AssociationHarwood International Celebrates Exceptional Year with Nearly 350,000 Square Feet Leased in the Harwood District