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We've all been there before. You open that gift from a well-meaning loved one, and it's just not right for you. Maybe that T-shirt or blouse isn't your colour, or you already bought that tech device. or signup to continue reading Is selling unwanted gifts a way to make an unexpected windfall this summer? Could the gift you put so much thought into for your grandson or granddaughter end up on an online shopping platform? According to research commissioned by online retail platform eBay, many Australians are selling their unwanted and raking in the dough. The research suggests Aussies could make up to $1 billion from selling gifts this festive season. A survey revealed Aussies received an average of two unwanted gifts last year, and 52 per cent had previously sold or planned to sell gifts this holiday season. Fashion items and tech accessories were the most likely to be sold, with Gen Z (58 per cent) and millennials (57 per cent) the most likely to put their goods up for sale. Data also revealed a clear spike in items being sold after Christmas Day. When comparing data from December 1-25 with data from December 26-31, listings for boys' children's clothing went up by 162 per cent, girls' children's clothing by 69 per cent, tops by 29 per cent, pants by 22 per cent and dresses by 20 per cent. Listings for tablets went up by 50 per cent, smartwatches by 45 per cent, video game console controllers by 41 per cent, headphones by 31 per cent, and video game consoles by 23 per cent. But is selling gifts online ethical? eBay Australia's Zannie Abbott believes it is a way to ensure someone gets joy from a gift that may otherwise have been left to sit and gather dust in the cupboard. "Selling gifts that aren't quite right isn't just about making money; it's also about reducing waste and making sure those gifts get the right home, eventually," she said. The news people are turning to online platforms to sell their gifts comes amid a financial expert's warning for Aussies not to spend beyond their means this year. According to the Australian Retailers Association, Australians are expected to spend $11.8 billion on gifts this festive season. University of South Australia-based economics professor Tony Cavoli warns overspending on presents and other holiday expenses could compound existing cost-of-living pressures. Professor Cavoli said Australian shoppers should practice "financial literacy" by planning and budgeting carefully to avoid compounding financial pressure over the holidays. He described financial literacy as the ability to understand and effectively use financial management and budgeting skills. "Studies show that Australians who understand financial basics are more likely to set spending limits and stick to them, avoiding financial stress," Professor Cavoli said. He said practising financial literacy could also help people avoid accumulating debts from credit card usage or buy now pay later schemes by paying upfront or choosing low-interest options. "Financially literate individuals know how to shop wisely by comparing prices and finding discounts, especially online. These skills can lead to significant savings during Christmas shopping." Charity the Warrior Woman Foundation has offered up the following tips to help Australians budget more carefully over Christmas: . Hi, my name is Rowan Cowley and I'm a reporter for The Senior newspaper. I have special interests in the areas of entertainment, the arts and history and would like to hear from anyone who feels they have a good story idea. Hi, my name is Rowan Cowley and I'm a reporter for The Senior newspaper. I have special interests in the areas of entertainment, the arts and history and would like to hear from anyone who feels they have a good story idea. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement
BERKELEY — Berkeley is taking another step in its goal to “Keep Innovation in Berkeley” through a change in zoning laws that is meant to encourage companies conducting research and development to find a lasting home in the city. The Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday to permit labs studying biosafety levels 2 in mixed-use light industrial zoning areas while prohibiting level 3 and 4 uses in all parts of the city. A biosafety level 1 rating is given to labs that study toxins or agents not known to cause diseases in healthy adults, while level 2 has a moderate risk, . Biosafety level 3 and 4 labs study agents that pose a greater risk to the public and are subject to stricter safety precautions. The approval, which includes a reduction in parking requirements, also calls for clearly stating that research and development labs are permitted in Berkeley’s mixed manufacturing district. Research and development labs under 20,000 square feet will be permitted with an administratively approved zoning certificate in areas around U.C. Berkeley, including the University Avenue commercial corridor, North Shattuck Avenue, Telegraph Avenue and downtown. Spaces larger than 20,000 square feet would need an administrative use permit which would require a public review process. Of the city’s top 25 employers, six conduct research and development in various areas including biotechnology, climate technology and sound equipment manufacturing. More than 400 innovation sector businesses currently operate in Berkeley, . “We’re really lucky we have such a diverse economy,” said Elizabeth Redman Cleveland, chief strategist of sustainable growth with the city’s Office of Economic Development, during the council meeting Tuesday. “It’s really exciting to have so much innovation in our city.” Tuesday’s decision completes a referral put forward by former Councilmember Rigel Robinson and adopted by the council in September 2022. Zoning changes are just the latest effort by Berkeley councilmembers to encourage growth of the city’s innovation sector. In November, on government grants given to small research and development businesses to also include grants from philanthropic groups. Under the changes, companies with no more than $100,000 in gross receipts qualify for the exemption, which now applies to all grant amounts instead of just the first $1 million received. Over the last five years, about $45,000 in tax breaks were given out to 21 businesses that qualified for the initial exemption with staff asserting the expanded exemption would result in nominal financial losses to the city. Meanwhile, the amended zoning regulations could possibly lead to a modest increase in business license and sales tax revenue while also reducing city expenditures on staff time, according to a staff report. “It’s important to realize that Washington (D.C.) is going to upend our economy of the state and the city,” Councilmember Ben Bartett said. “It kind of behooves us to do all we can to strengthen our economy right now as soon as possible.” While supportive of the measure, Councilmember Ben Bartlett stressed the importance of adequate oversight, especially given that a due to a staffing shortage. Cleveland assured the council that there are numerous oversight agencies, including the city’s Toxics Management Team. Councilmembers lauded the proposal as a common sense approach to retaining innovative businesses and shared confidence in the city’s ability to prevent and respond to any threats. “I want to reassure folks anyway,” Councilmember Mark Humbert said. “It may sound glib, but I think it’s actually fair to say a restaurant with poor safety poses more of a risk than a lab working with BSL 1 and 2 agents.”
BC.GAME CONTINUES ONGOING EFFORTS IN STRENGTHENING ITS GLOBAL COMPLIANCE STRATEGYNone
First Lady Distributes 1,000 Bags Of Rice To Northern Christian Political Forum In KogiPittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein was carted off the field with 5:32 left in the first quarter with an apparent left ankle injury during Saturday's Atlantic Coast Conference game against host Louisville. The freshman was sacked at the Panthers' 49-yard line by Louisville's Ashton Gillotte, who rolled on the quarterback's ankle. Holstein was in a walking boot as he was helped to the cart. Holstein missed last week's game against Clemson after suffering a head injury in the loss to Virginia two weeks ago. Holstein was 3-for-5 passing for 51 yards and an interception before exiting. Nate Yarnell, who threw for 350 yards in the loss to Clemson, replaced Holstein. --Field Level Media
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While rent price growth has slowed in the past year, the cost of renting remains significantly higher compared with pre-pandemic times. However, there are still suburbs close to the city with affordable rental properties. According to recent data from PropTrack, national weekly rents rose by 7 per cent in the past year, reaching $620 in November SIGN UP NOW FOR OUR FREE REAL ESTATE NEWSLETTER This was just half the growth rate of the prior year, marking a slowdown in market conditions. In Adelaide, annual rent growth from November 2023 to November 2024 was 9 per cent, down from 10 per cent the previous year. Yet, weekly rents remain 1.5 times higher than February 2020. Finding an affordable property has become more difficult, but homes in a number of inner-ring suburbs, those within the closest third in terms of distance to the CBD, still offer reasonably priced options. PropTrack economic analyst Megan Lieu. Supplied For suburbs within 8km of Adelaide CBD, Kilburn, Croydon Park, and Enfield offer the cheapest rental houses at $525, $550, and $580 per week, respectively. Enfield, Everard Park and Kurralta Park topped the list for the most affordable rental units among inner-ring suburbs. The cost of renting a unit was $395, $395 and $400 per week respectively. The increase of rental stock has been one key factor easing rental conditions. Since November 2023, total rental listings have risen by 7.1 per cent, likely due to a return of investors and more people opting to purchase their first home instead of renting. You can still get an affordable rental close to the city. Picture: Stephen Brookes However, on a historic basis, demand is high and supply remains low. As cost-of-living pressures mount and rents continue to outpace wage growth, more people will seek out cheaper rentals which could result in stronger price increases in budget-friendly areas. This will further decrease the availability of affordable rentals. To ensure that all Australians have access to affordable housing, the government must prioritise building more well-located homes to meet the demands of our growing population. – Megan Lieu is PropTrack’s economic analyst.SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Persistent high surf and flooding threats along California’s coast had residents on high alert a day after a major storm was blamed for one man’s death and the partial collapse of a pier , which propelled three people into the Pacific Ocean. The National Weather Service on Christmas Eve warned of dangerous, large-breaking waves of up to 35 feet (10.7 meters). Its latest high surf warning will be in effect until 6 p.m. Tuesday. “Large waves can sweep across the beach without warning, pulling people into the sea from rocks, jetties and beaches,” the weather service said in a Christmas Eve bulletin. In Santa Cruz, where a municipal wharf under construction partially collapsed on Monday, most beaches were cordoned off as they were inundated with high surf and debris. Residents received an alert on their phones Tuesday morning notifying them to “avoid all beaches including coastal overlook areas such as rocks, jetties or cliffs.” It warned powerful waves could sweep entire beaches unexpectedly. Local officials said there could be further damage to the wharf, but no more pieces broke off overnight. The wharf collapsed and fell into the ocean midday Monday, taking three people with it. Two people were rescued by lifeguards and a third swam to safety. No one was seriously injured. Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley said in the weeks and months ahead officials will have to assess long-term solutions for protecting the coastal city from the impacts of climate change . “Hallelujah that no one was hurt in this, which could have been orders of magnitude worse in terms of any injuries to human beings and damage to property onshore and offshore,” he said at a media briefing Tuesday. “But I think we have somewhat of a question mark as we move through time,” he added. “And I don't think we're by ourselves. I think this is what coastal communities around the world are probably dealing with.” The structure was in the middle of a $4 million renovation following destructive storms last winter about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of San Francisco. “It’s a catastrophe for those down at the end of the wharf,” said David Johnston, who was allowed onto the pier on Monday to check on his business, Venture Quest Kayaking. Tony Elliot, the head of the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department, estimated that about 150 feet (45 meters) of the end of the wharf fell into the water. It was immediately evacuated and will remain closed indefinitely. Some of the wharf’s pilings are still in the ocean and remain “serious, serious hazards” to boats, the mayor said. Each piling weighs hundreds of pounds and is being pushed by powerful waves. “You are risking your life, and those of the people that would need to try and save you by getting in or too close to the water,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said on the social platform X. Building inspectors were looking at the rest of the pier’s structural integrity. Some California cities ordered beachfront homes and hotels to evacuate early Monday afternoon as forecasters warned that storm swells would continue to increase throughout the day. In Watsonville along the Monterey Bay, first responders were called to Sunset State Beach, a state park, around 11:30 a.m. Monday for a report of a man trapped under debris. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office believes a large wave pinned him there. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital. The storm’s high surf also likely pulled another man into the Pacific Ocean around noon Monday at Marina State Beach, nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) south of Watsonville, authorities said. Strong currents and high waves forced searchers to abandon their efforts roughly two hours later as conditions worsened. The man remained missing Monday evening. Further south in Carmel Bay, a man remained missing as of Tuesday afternoon after reports that someone was swept off the rocks into the ocean at Pebble Beach on Monday, local emergency responders said. The U.S. Coast Guard will "transition to a recovery search as ocean conditions improve in the coming days,” officials said in a statement. In a post on X, the National Weather Service office in Portland, Oregon, said, “It will likely go down as some of the highest surf this winter.” Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento and Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed.Timeline: Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024