Intersection of Religions and Education in IndiaArizona AG sues Saudi firm over 'excessive' groundwater pumping, saying it's a public nuisance PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes says she is suing a Saudi Arabian agribusiness over what she calls “excessive pumping” of groundwater. She alleges that the Fondomonte alfalfa farm in western Arizona is violating a public nuisance law even though the area has no groundwater pumping regulations. Mayes said Wednesday that Fondomonte's use of groundwater threatens the public health, safety and infrastructure of local communities in rural La Paz County. It's Arizona's latest action against foreign companies that use huge amounts of groundwater to grow thirsty forage crops for export. The Associated Press emailed Fondomonte seeking a response to the lawsuit. US inflation ticked up last month as some price pressures remain persistent WASHINGTON (AP) — Fueled by pricier used cars, hotel rooms and groceries, inflation in the United States moved slightly higher last month in the latest sign that some price pressures remain elevated. Consumer prices rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier, up from a yearly figure of 2.6% in October. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core prices increased 3.3%. Measured month to month, prices climbed 0.3% from October to November, the biggest such increase since April. Wednesday’s inflation figures are the final major piece of data Federal Reserve officials will consider before they meet next week to decide on interest rates. The November increase won’t likely be enough to discourage the officials from cutting their key rate by a quarter-point. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as he's named Time's Person of the Year NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange for the first time and be named Time magazine's Person of the Year. Thursday's events will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who has long seen praise from the business world and media as a sign of success. Four people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press that Trump was expected to be on Wall Street on Thursday to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, while a person familiar with the selection confirmed that Trump had been selected as Time's Person of the Year. Supreme Court allows investors' class action to proceed against microchip company Nvidia WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing a class-action lawsuit that accuses Nvidia of misleading investors about its past dependence on selling computer chips for the mining of volatile cryptocurrency to proceed. The court’s decision Wednesday comes the same week that China said it is investigating the the microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. The justices heard arguments four weeks ago in Nvidia’s bid to shut down the lawsuit, then decided that they were wrong to take up the case in the first place. They dismissed the company’s appeal, leaving in place an appellate ruling allowing the case to go forward. Apple's latest iPhones get the gift of more AI as holiday shopping season heats up SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Apple is pumping more artificial intelligence into the latest iPhones during the holiday shopping season. It comes in the form of a free software update that includes a feature that enables users to create customized emojis within a matter of seconds. The Wednesday release of the iPhone’s upgraded operating system extends Apple’s expansion into AI months after rivals such as Samsung and Google began implanting the revolutionary on their devices. The update builds upon another one that came out in late October. The latest round of AI tricks includes “Genmojis,” Apple’s description of emojis that iPhone users will be able to ask the technology to create and then share. EU targets Russia's ghost fleet shipping oil in a new round of sanctions BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union envoys have agreed a new raft of sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine. The EU's Hungarian presidency said Wednesday that the measures will target in particular a vast shadow fleet of ships that Moscow is exploiting to skirt restrictions on transporting oil and fuel. The sanctions are aimed at about 50 of what are routinely decrepit ships. The sanctions will hit more officials and entities alleged to be helping Russia to improve its military technology by evading export restrictions. EU foreign ministers are set to formally adopt the sanctions package on Monday. Can ordinary citizens solve our toughest problems? BEND, OREGON (AP) — Research shows Americans are frustrated with what they perceive as aloofness and gridlock within civic institutions. Citizen assemblies may be able to help. The groups which have direct involvement in decision-making can help “overcome polarization and strengthen societal cohesion,” says Claudia Chwalisz, founder of DemocracyNext. Her nonprofit, launched in Paris in 2022, champions such assemblies worldwide, hoping they can “create the democratic spaces for everyday people to grapple with the complexity of policy issues, listen to one another, and find common ground.” In Europe, examples of such changes abound. In the United States, results are spottier. Making a $1B investment in the US? Trump pledges expedited permits — but there are hurdles WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is promising expedited federal permits for energy projects and other construction worth more than $1 billion. But like other Trump plans, the idea is likely to run into regulatory and legislative hurdles, including a landmark law that requires federal agencies to consider the environmental impact before deciding on major projects. Environmental groups called the plan a clear violation of the National Environmental Policy Act. The chief policy advocacy officer at the Natural Resources Defense Council says Trump should be careful what he wishes for. She said, "What if someone wants to build a waste incinerator next to Mar-a-Lago or a coal mine next to Bedminster golf course?” Trump says he'll name Andrew Ferguson head of FTC and Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has made another flurry of job announcements. He said Tuesday that he had selected Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Kimberly Guilfoyle as the ambassador to Greece and Tom Barrack as the ambassador to Turkey. Ferguson is already one of the FTC's five commissioners and will replace Lina Khan. She became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior. Guilfoyle became engaged to Don Trump Jr. in 2020, adn Tom Barrack is a longtime friend who was also the former Trump inaugural chair.
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IRVING, Texas (AP) — A rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL's entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show, won’t impact the league's relationship with the music mogul. “We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday after the conclusion of the league's winter meetings. "We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt . The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation, one of his companies. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game on Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable with not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
WINNIPEG - Mike O’Shea stood in front of reporters Friday and kept his cool while answering questions about the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts last weekend. The head coach was asked if he made a mistake keeping injured quarterback Zach Collaros in the game, why star running back Brady Oliveira didn’t get the ball more and whether a flawed game plan led to Winnipeg’s third consecutive championship loss. “As an entire team, we didn’t have our best game,” O’Shea said in his end-of-the-season press conference. “We didn’t lack effort. We didn’t lack desire. “We didn’t have our best game as an entire team. Three phases. Coaches — everybody. Me especially.” O’Shea admitted he missed calling a timeout in the fourth quarter when there were only 11 Blue Bombers on the field instead of 12. “I don’t get the count over the headset as quickly as I probably need to, we can’t count. As I’m seeing a guy come off, that’s the right time for that timeout that I should have used,” O’Shea said. He also said he should have used a challenge flag earlier on a play he didn’t identify, and checked on his players more during the game. But hindsight wouldn’t change his decision to put Collaros back in the game after the index finger on his throwing hand was cut deep when it hit a defender’s helmet. “He absolutely deserves every opportunity to lead this team,” O’Shea said. “From what I saw and from chatting with him very briefly, I felt really comfortable with that. I didn’t think it was going to be easy, but I thought it’s Zach, so...” The injury to Collaros’s finger happened late in the third quarter when the Blue Bombers were trailing the Argonauts 17-10. The veteran left the game and returned with a bandaged finger that needed five stitches and a numbing agent. He wore a glove on the hand and told reporters earlier this week it was difficult to grip the ball. Collaros said he warned receivers in the huddle his throws might not have the usual zip and they should be prepared to come back for the ball. “(I) saw him delivering the ball on the sidelines. Then you see him deliver a couple balls out there and some of them are pretty damn good, right?” O’Shea said. “The awareness of Zach to say to the receivers, ‘hey, work a little harder for me,’ I think it’s natural and what should be said. I think they already know that.” When Collaros re-entered the game, he threw interceptions in back-to-back series. “On one of them he got rid of the ball and I thought it was a good ball and the defensive player made a good play,” O’Shea said of the picks. “One slipped right out of his hand or I don’t know if it got tipped or not. You’ve got to give him that opportunity.” Oliveira was questioning his lack of opportunities in the game when he spoke to reporters earlier in the week. The CFL’s newly minted most outstanding player and top Canadian only had 11 carries for 84 yards and one late touchdown. About 17 or 18 run plays were called, O’Shea said. “One starts off with a procedure penalty in the first and then six of those get pulled because there’s X number of guys in the box or the read says this is not a run play anymore, this is now a pass play,” he said. “You call that many runs and then a pile of them get pulled because of the structure of the defence. That’s OK with me at that point.” O’Shea said Bombers offensive co-ordinator Buck Pierce has been granted permission to talk to CFL teams with head-coaching job openings. The B.C. Lions are reportedly interested in Pierce. The Edmonton Elks also have a vacant head coach spot. If Pierce doesn’t become a head coach, O’Shea said he wants him to stay in Winnipeg. He believes Pierce had the offence “extremely well-prepared” for the Grey Cup. “I’m never going to question the play-calling, and I think what’s going on here is we’re questioning,” O’Shea said. “We’re trying to find blame and fault when that’s nowhere in our DNA of how we built this eight, nine, 10 years ago. We’re starting to try and find all these answers and question all these people that were 0-4 and 2-6 and then 10-1, and we just didn’t play our best game.” The Bombers finished 11-7 and claimed the West Division title that earned them a fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup. They won the championship in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2023. “We’re the same group that got there, that went on a phenomenal run after a bad start, and a bad start for a lot of reasons that we overcame,” O’Shea said. “I just, I don’t question any of it. I look for answers, too. I watch the film over and over and over again. And look to already make notes on how we’re going to be better, how we’re going to get back there again.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024.Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave a touching Christmas message Saturday after winning a spot in the coming NFL playoffs. After the game, Harbaugh told reporters that it was important to him and millions of others to focus on what the coming holiday actually means, Fox News reported. “I read this to the team in our postgame prayer, and it’s this – this is Mary. Mary, the mother of God, said this when she was with Elizabeth,” Harbaugh said. “She said this, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.’ So, I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, happy holiday season, and rejoice,” Harbaugh continued. ️ pic.twitter.com/34kdUq73IZ — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 22, 2024 “Rejoice. Rejoice in life. Rejoice in your circumstances. Rejoice in the tough games. Rejoice in the losses. Rejoice in the wins like we’re blessed to do today as a football team, and just rejoice in the people that you love, the people that are close to you. Rejoice,” he recited. “We aren’t here on this Earth to worry about every little thing and spar with one another. We’re here to rejoice in one another and with one another and love one another. Let’s try to remember that this week. This is a big football week – it’s also a big life week. It’s a big spiritual week,” Harbaugh explained. Harbaugh and the Ravens bested the Steelers on Saturday and will next play the Houston Texans on Christmas Day. The Steelers are not out of the hunt, though. They will also play on Christmas Day against the Kansas City Chiefs. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston , or Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston
Lux Optics has released a loose product roadmap for its next big iPhone photo app, Halide 3.0 (which it’s calling Halide Mark III). After being more forthright than usual in the development of its , which was recently by Apple, Lux is giving the next version of its popular photo app a touch of the Steam indie dev treatment. Not only is Lux already hyping key upcoming features in by cofounder Ben Sandofsky, but it also plans to open up the development process via a , where users can give feedback once they start trying Halide Mark III. So far, Lux has detailed three upcoming features for Halide Mark III that subscribers will be able to try early: Color Grades, HDR photos, and an app redesign. Color grades will operate a lot like they do in Kino, with users able to quickly load an aesthetic look / color palette based on Lux’s own creations, film stocks, and imported recipes cooked by other users. In addition to what sounds like Lux’s take on Fujifilm’s film emulations, Halide Mark III will also include the developer’s take on HDR photos — now that iOS 18’s Adaptive HDR feature is making it easier to view HDR images on more platforms. Not much has been revealed so far about Halide 3.0’s redesigned interface, but Sandofsky said in the blog post that form follows function, and “if Halide’s version of Instant Grade goes as smooth as we think it will, we’ll make grade-picking central to the UI, just like Kino.” Sandofsky’s blog post also didn’t go into further detail about when Halide Mark III will ship beyond sometime in 2025, and it didn’t say how much Halide Mark III will cost. But the on Threads that Mark III will be included for Mark II users, and an upgrade for v1 users. /A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and prevent an artificial intelligence "dictatorship" is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker's ongoing shift into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging it had betrayed its founding aims as a nonprofit research lab benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. The world's richest man, whose companies include Tesla, SpaceX and social media platform X, last year started his own rival AI company, xAI. Musk says it faces unfair competition from OpenAI and its close business partner Microsoft, which has supplied the huge computing resources needed to build AI systems such as ChatGPT. “OpenAI and Microsoft together exploiting Musk’s donations so they can build a for-profit monopoly, one now specifically targeting xAI, is just too much,” says Musk's filing that alleges the companies are violating the terms of Musk’s foundational contributions to the charity. OpenAI is filing a response Friday opposing Musk’s requested order, saying it would cripple OpenAI’s business and mission to the advantage of Musk and his own AI company. A hearing is set for January before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland. At the heart of the dispute is a 2017 internal power struggle at the fledgling startup that led to Altman becoming OpenAI's CEO. Musk in an email outlined a plan where he would “unequivocally have initial control of the company” but said that would be temporary. He grew frustrated after two other OpenAI co-founders said he would hold too much power as a major shareholder and chief executive if the startup succeeded in its goal to achieve better-than-human AI known as artificial general intelligence , or AGI. Musk has long voiced concerns about how advanced forms of AI could threaten humanity. “The current structure provides you with a path where you end up with unilateral absolute control over the AGI," said a 2017 email to Musk from co-founders Ilya Sutskever and Greg Brockman. “You stated that you don't want to control the final AGI, but during this negotiation, you've shown to us that absolute control is extremely important to you.” In the same email, titled “Honest Thoughts,” Sutskever and Brockman also voiced concerns about Altman's desire to be CEO and whether he was motivated by “political goals.” Altman eventually succeeded in becoming CEO, and has remained so except for a period last year when he was fired and then reinstated days later after the board that ousted him was replaced. OpenAI published the messages Friday in a blog post meant to show its side of the story, particularly Musk's early support for the idea of making OpenAI a for-profit business so it could raise money for the hardware and computer power that AI needs. It was Musk, through his wealth manager Jared Birchall, who first registered “Open Artificial Technologies Technologies, Inc.”, a public benefit corporation, in September 2017. Then came the “Honest Thoughts” email that Musk described as the “final straw.” “Either go do something on your own or continue with OpenAI as a nonprofit,” Musk wrote back. OpenAI said Musk later proposed merging the startup into Tesla before resigning as the co-chair of OpenAI's board in early 2018. Musk didn't immediately respond to emailed requests for comment sent to his companies Friday. Asked about his frayed relationship with Musk at a New York Times conference last week, Altman said he felt “tremendously sad” but also characterized Musk’s legal fight as one about business competition. “He’s a competitor and we’re doing well,” Altman said. He also said at the conference that he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence with President-elect Donald Trump. OpenAI said Friday that Altman plans to make a $1 million personal donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration. —————————— The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives.
Bronx DA urges lawmakers to tighten cannabis and retail theft laws to protect small businesses
AKRON, Ohio and KANSAS CITY, Kan., Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Truck Master Warranty, a leader in commercial medium and heavy-duty truck protection plans, donated hundreds of toy trucks to Ohio's Akron Children's Hospital and Children's Mercy Hospital of Kansas City. This initiative aims to brighten the holidays for children spending Christmas and Hanukkah in the hospital and bring smiles to their faces during a challenging time. "A toy truck is a timeless gift," said Rob Fox, Truck Master Warranty CEO. "I got one as a child, my kids got them, and even my grandkids. It's a classic holiday gift that has never ceased to bring a smile to kids' faces." Truck Master Warranty aims to not only serve its customers but also contribute to the communities where its employees live and work. As the company's growth has expanded its employee base nationwide, Truck Master Warranty has more opportunities to give back to local communities, proudly sharing its success by supporting local hospitals and other institutions spreading goodwill. Representatives from Truck Master Warranty personally delivered the toy trucks to both hospitals and spent time interacting with the children as they enjoyed their presents. The donations reflect a heartfelt commitment to giving back to the community and spreading joy to families during the holiday season. "We certainly appreciate this large gift of toy trucks from Truck Master Warranty and delivered just in time for Santa's visit with our patients," said Vicki Parisi, director of Volunteer Services for Akron Children's. "The community support for our patients and the doctors, nurses and other providers who care for them is something we never take for granted and it becomes even more special and magical during the holiday season." Truck Master Warranty invites other businesses and individuals to join in spreading holiday cheer by supporting local charities and hospitals. To learn how to donate to Akron Children's Hospital, visit www.akronchildrens.org or to Children's Mercy Hospital, visit www.childrensmercy.org . For more information about Truck Master Warranty, visit truckmasterwarranty.com . Media Contact: Shaun Petersen Chief Legal Officer Truck Master Warranty 800 326 5204 www.truckmasterwarranty.com About Truck Master Warranty: Since 2013, Truck Master Warranty has served the needs of the pre-owned Medium Duty (classes 3 through 6) and Heavy Duty (classes 7 and 8) Truck markets by offering the most comprehensive, industry leading, and feature rich service contracts. Truck Master Warranty is the exclusive provider of the Heavy Truck industry's only "Certified Pre-Owned" 90 Day limited warranty called CPO90. Truck Master Warranty combines technologically advanced dealer tools and resources to better serve a truck dealership's most valuable asset – their customers. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truckloads-of-cheer-truck-master-warranty-donates-toy-trucks-to-childrens-hospitals-for-the-holidays-302338637.html SOURCE Truck Master Warranty
Apartments are in high demand Families priced out of Brisbane’s red-hot housing market are driving a surge in apartment demand, with units costing as little as a quarter of the median house price. Exclusive data has pinpointed the suburbs where units deliver the best value — not only slashing costs compared to freestanding houses but also offering generous living space. Research by SuburbData also highlighted a divide between luxury suburbs, where apartments were far cheaper than houses, and more affordable areas, where unit prices were as much as 70 per cent of houses but had comparable floor space. This Auchenflower unit sold for $741,000 Leading the list of 29 suburbs was ritzy Teneriffe, where a typical unit priced at $908,000 was just 22 per cent of the jaw-dropping median house price of $4.11m. Buyers in Paddington and Auchenflower also benefitted, with units priced at 34.6 and 33.8 per cent of houses, providing proximity to the city without the hefty outlay. SuburbData’s analysis shows units in key family-oriented areas still delivered on space, with those in Taigum and Highgate Hill offering 38.5 and 36 per cent of the typical house block size. In Taigum, units averaged 2.4 bedrooms compared to 3.6 for houses, with a typical buy-in of 71.6 per cent of the median house price of $809,000 — a balance attracting young families seeking space without breaking the budget. A three-bedroom apartment in Kedron sold for $675,000 More affordable markets were Redbank Plains in Ipswich, where units cost $513,000 and typically offer one quarter of the space of freestanding houses, and Michelton, where the average apartment value of $597,000 was half the price of a house. The research considered relative house and unit prices in each suburb, as well as typical floor space or house block size and number of bedrooms in the respective dwelling types. The growing preference for units reflected broader lifestyle changes, according to industry experts. PropTrack’s latest Home Price Index showed Brisbane apartment prices surged 17 per cent over the past year to a median value of $670,000 in October, outpacing houses which were up 12 per cent to $970,000. A three-bedroom apartment in Kedron sold for $675,000 MORE NEWS ‘Unfair’ bank policy stopping thousands from owning a home Surprise factor making homes 10pc cheaper Revealed: the lifestyle hotspots in line for 100 new homes SuburbData analyst Jeremy Sheppard said the research showed where some of the best unit buying opportunities were in the current market. “There’s the potential for buyers to get good value in a location where they want to live but can’t afford a house,” Mr Sheppard said. He noted that the gaps between unit and house prices were at record highs in some areas, suggesting apartment buyers could get more value than usual. A common theme among the markets where units were selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars less than similarly-sized houses in the area was a long history of house subdivisions nearby. Highgate Hill apartment sold for $825,000 “Unit sizes tend to be fairly similar across areas, while houses can vary,” he said. “Often the best value units are in established areas where most of the houses are on smaller blocks.” But Mr Sheppard also cautioned buyers to be highly selective in the types of units they targeted. “One of the problems with units is that oversupply can be a real killer of the long-term value,” he said. “It’s best to try to avoid units in high-rise buildings and rather focus on boutique blocks where there are only a few apartments there. “A good sign is if there’s no lift. It means there will be less apartments jammed into the same building and the strata fees are often lower.” Hotspotting director Terry Ryder said inner-city unit markets were leading growth. Picture: Supplied Hotspotting director Terry Ryder said the trend mirrored other states, with inner-city areas leading the charge. Bowen Hills was recognised as Australia’s top Supercharged Suburb by the Hotspotting Spring 2024 Price Predictor Index, indicating potential for future price growth. “In areas like Newstead, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, and the Brisbane CBD, units are in high demand and often preferred over houses,” Mr Ryder said. “This precinct is desirable for its close proximity to the CBD and is benefitting from ongoing improvements to connectivity and amenities, such as the $6.3b Cross River Rail project.” TOTAL Property Group managing director Adrian Parsons said younger, high-net-worth buyers aged between 35 and 45 were leading demand for luxury apartments, while working families were drawn to convenience, lifestyle and affordability. ABS figures show 32 per cent of interstate arrivals were aged between 25 and 44 years. Total Property Group director Adrian Parsons said younger buyers were active in the luxury apartment sector. Picture: Glenn Hampson. “The market in southeast Queensland has matured and there’s now a significant focus on apartment living, which has become more desirable because of the high level of luxury amenities developers are adding within the apartment buildings,” Mr Parsons said. “The way people are living has changed. Technology has given us the freedom to live and work where we want to, while on the other hand we have become increasingly busy. “People in their prime working years either don’t have time, or do not want to maintain a house and yard and this has changed the way younger people view their living environments. “The introduction of larger, two and three-bedroom apartment residences in key locations is attracting young families, who traditionally would have purchased a house with a yard. It makes sense these days as children are spending less time outdoors and when they do go outside, they are happy to play at a local park or the beach,” he said. Elisa McMahon said house-sized apartments were selling fast. Picture: Josh Woning McMahon Estate Agents principal Elisa McMahon has just settled 11 house-sized apartments in Park Lane Residences, a project in Lutwyche — all to owner-occupiers. “The majority of apartments are three-bedroom plus a multi-purpose room, or four bedrooms,” Ms McMahon said. As well as downsizers, the buyers were made up of families with school-aged children looking for a more affordable option in an inner-city market, she said. “What I’m finding interesting is apartments seem to be accelerating in price growth at the same pace as houses, or actually outperforming them in some markets.” Ms McMahon said many young, professional singles and couples were also opting for an apartment over a house because of affordability and lifestyle preferences. “Since 2014, we’re really seeing people starting to make the downsizing move (to an apartment) earlier as Brisbane’s lifestyle and entertainment precincts improved,” she said. “We’re now delivering beautiful, owner-occupied stock compared to the investor-driven apartment product on the market 10 years ago.” Unit in Teneriffe sold for $810,000 TOP VALUE UNIT MARKETS Suburb/units typical value/unit prices as % of houses TENERIFFE/$908000/22.1 KANGAROO POINT/$821000/39.8 HIGHGATE HILL $903000/ 44.5 PADDINGTON $789000/ 34.6 AUCHENFLOWER $691000/33.8 WEST END $790000/ 47.4 WOOLLOONGABBA $709000/ 46 GORDON PARK $667000/ 39.6 CLAYFIELD $696000/ 36.7 WINDSOR $614000/ 38.6 KEDRON $635000/ 45.3 CANNON HILL $651000 /53.4 ALDERLEY $744000/ 49.6 SHERWOOD $690000/ 44.4 LUTWYCHE $656000/ 56.2 TAIGUM $580000/ 71.6 NORMAN PARK $776000/55.8 WOODY POINT $780000/ 103.6 WYNNUM $801000/ 64.8 MITCHELTON $597000/ 54.1 NUNDAH $629000/ 55.7 GREENSLOPES $673000/ 51.5 WYNNUM WEST $666000/ 70.5 MORNINGSIDE $714000/ 77.7 REDBANK PLAINS $513000/ 73.5 CARINA $809000 /72.6 REDCLIFFE $712000/ 83.8 COORPAROO $698000/ 52.5 ANNERLEY $662000/ 61.3 * source: SuburbData
Comelec reports kinks in online voting system for 2025 polls
Anyone who has done a stint in retail will know the Christmas period is chaotic, but when I worked at Boots, let me tell you, nothing brought me greater joy than helping customers find the perfect Christmas present during the holiday season. I spent five years as a sales assistant at the health and beauty retailer, and would spend every Sunday helping shoppers get the most bang for their buck when it came to gift sets and fragrance deals. Even now I still get asked by friends and family about where to shop for the best deals and how to give a gift that looks like you spent more than you actually did. And the first place I tell them to look is the health and beauty retailer’s Star Gifts . Boots Star Gifts launch online each Wednesday, so you have to be quick when it comes to shopping for them as they quite often sell out, OK reports . Many of these gifts can be reduced to better than half price, so it’s a great way to snag an expensive-looking gift without breaking the bank. READ MORE: Boots reduces £66 designer perfume to £24 that's both 'classy and long-lasting' READ MORE: Beauty buffs 'floored' by before and after results from sagging eye cream now 40% off for Black Friday With so many to choose from, I’ve taken a look at this week’s deals and pulled together a definitive list of must-have presents from the high street favourite. From stocking fillers for the makeup obsessed or skincare enthusiast to fragrance picks for both him and for her, here’s what I - an ex-Boots employee and current shopping writer - would be adding to my Christmas shopping basket. If you're on the hunt for the ultimate volumising mascara, look no further than NARS Cosmetics' Climax Eyeliner and Mini Mascara Duo . Priced at £25, this duo delivers dramatic volume and comes with a carbon black liner pencil for striking eye looks. They promise to last up to 16 hours, perfect for transitioning from day to night or office to Christmas party. NARS Cosmetics' Climax Eyeliner and Mini Mascara Duo From the esteemed Japanese beauty brand Shiseido, consider the Deep Hydration Ritual Kit. At £53, it includes four hydrating heroes to keep skin smooth and moisturised during the winter months. Inside, you'll find the Essential Energy Hydrating Cream, packed with hyaluronic acid, alongside Shiseido's Clarifying Cleansing Foam, Treatment Softener, Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate, and GINZA Night Eau de Parfum Intense. The result? Dewy, soft skin and a seductively warm, woody perfume. Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for your man? Check out Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme, priced at £58.65. This gift set includes the eau de toilette and a matching shower gel. The fragrance is a blend of yuzu accord and ultra-fresh marine notes, enhanced by a warm, spicy accord and a rich infusion of sandalwood. Issey Miyake is known for creating unique and long-lasting scents, making this set ideal for those who want to replenish their favourite fragrance or try a new classic. Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey Pour Homme For £79.90, down from £94, shoppers can also get Narciso Rodriguez's Musc Nude Eau de Parfum along with a body lotion and shower gel that prolong the scent. Together, they create a musky oriental scent that's both romantic and radiant, featuring notes of precious rose oil, orange blossom, tonka bean and an iconic heart of musk. The name Drunk Elephant is sure to excite any skincare enthusiast. If you're looking for a bargain that includes this iconic brand, the Lay It All On The Lines Set, priced at £48, comes packed with five essentials for smoother, firmer skin. Inside, your skincare-loving friend will find the Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser, Protini Polypeptide Cream, T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum, B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, and A-Shaba Complex Eye Serum – a line-up that hydrates dry skin while combating dullness, fine lines and congestion. There's a plethora of alternative beauty and fragrance skincare sets available on the high street this Christmas. We're fans of the ESPA Winter Wellness Men's Collection gift set , priced at £40.40 from LookFantastic , as well as the Clinique Fan Favourites Beauty Gift Set, now just £50, down from £100 at M&S . For all of Boots' Christmas offers, including its Star Gifts, visit the website here.
Defence Minister Bill Blair says long-awaited U.S.-made missile defence systems that the Canadian government helped to purchase have been delivered to Ukraine. Blair told the House defence committee Thursday morning that the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) Ottawa pledged $406 million for almost two years ago are now in the hands of the Ukranians. "I can't give you more information on that because of operational security, but we have been able to deliver at long last — and I think it's going to make a difference because it will enable them to protect communities," Blair told the committee. Canada took 4 months to send money after deciding to buy air defence system for Ukraine New Putin says Russia fired 'hypersonic ballistic missile' at Ukraine in response to use of U.S., British weapons Analysis Ukraine can fire U.S. missiles into Russia. The Kremlin changes its nuke policy. Is this what everyone feared? The government tried to expedite the delivery by piggybacking on a larger purchase the U.S. government was making. The planned $406-million purchase was announced in January 2023 — but as the Department of National Defence told CBC News in September, the federal government didn't transfer funds to Washington to pay for the system and start the process until March 2023. Washington couldn't begin to negotiate a contract with the manufacturers until it had both its own funds and Canada's money in hand, and also needed to seek congressional approval to buy the NASAMs. Congress gave the green light in May 2023. WATCH | Putin says Russia used new medium-range ballistic missile: Putin says Russia used new medium-range ballistic missile 4 hours ago Duration 0:39 Russian President Vladimir Putin says his military launched a strike on Ukraine using a new intermediate-range ballistic missile in response to Ukraine's use of U.S. and British long-range weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Moscow fired a new medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile at a military facility in the south-central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, in response to what he calls Western aggression after Kyiv got the green light to fire missiles into Russia. According to Ukrainian officials in Dnipro, two people were injured in the missile attack when it hit an industrial facility and what they described as a rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities. The U.S. recently gave Ukraine permission to fire American-supplied long-range missiles at targets on Russian soil and the U.K. has given the same green light. On Tuesday, Russia published changes to its nuclear doctrine which lower the threshold for what would prompt the Kremlin to authorize a nuclear attack.