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hasn't given up on its trusty just yet, with the popular large SUV's second facelift originally not intended for our market now confirmed for launch during the first half of 2025. or signup to continue reading Revealed in September, the 2025 Volvo XC90 is the third iteration of the second-generation model first launched globally in 2015, boasting a more comprehensive set of design revisions and Volvo's latest technologies to bring it in line with the Swedish brand's newest models like the all-electric . Headlining the changes are a new face more akin to Volvo's new electric range of 'EX' models, as well as a new 11.2-inch high-resolution infotainment system running the brand's latest interface. Volvo has applied some less obvious changes, like improved storage space in the centre console, a relocated wireless smartphone charger, redesigned gear selector and additional sound insulation to make the cabin quieter. Beyond that, "the best-ever Volvo XC90" is more or less the same under the skin – and it already had proven and capable underpinnings. Volvo is keen to label the available T8 plug-in hybrid version as an "electric car with a back-up plan", quoting over 70km of WLTP-certified electric driving range, and a further 800km of range from the turbocharged petrol engine (based on fuel economy of 8.6L/100km once the battery is depleted). Globally, the existing B5 and B6 mild-hybrid versions also carry over. It's unclear if all three powertrain variants will continue in Australia into 2025, or whether the T8 will become more widely available. Full pricing and specifications for our market will be detailed closer to launch but, for reference, the existing range is priced from $99,940 plus on-road costs for the Ultra B5 Bright, climbing to $128,390 before on-roads for the Ultra T8 Plug-in Hybrid flagship. Given the expected upgrades, we could see the upgraded XC90's starting price in Australia start above six figures, unless base pricing reduces closer to the $86,990 entry point from a few years ago when the more affordable Momentum grade was offered (which could be called Plus in today's nomenclature). Stay tuned to for more details. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . Advertisement
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Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Thursday that he wouldn’t rule out inside linebacker and leading tackler Roquan Smith for Monday night’s game against the host Los Angeles Chargers “by any stretch.” Two days later, that remained the case. Smith, who in last week’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and hasn’t practiced all week, is listed as questionable for the critical AFC showdown. Smith leads Baltimore (7-4) in tackles (110) while contributing an interception, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The two-time All Pro has also been incredibly durable, having not missed a regular-season game because of injury since 2019, his second year in the league with the Chicago Bears. If he can’t play, the Ravens’ options are less than ideal, particularly with a defense that has struggled in the middle of the field. Baltimore could shift linebacker Malik Harrison to more of an inside role to fill in for Smith. They also have Chris Board, who plays primarily on special teams, and Kristian Welch, whom they signed to the 53-man roster after . Or the Ravens could deploy a dime linebacker look, though that would make them more vulnerable against the run against an offense led by former Baltimore coordinator Greg Roman and running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. “If ‘Ro’ can’t go, it’ll be linebacker by committee, depending on what we want to run and what they want to run, as well,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said Friday. “You’ll see a mixture of guys in there.” The only players the Ravens will definitely be without are cornerback Arthur Maulet (calf) and rookie safety Sanoussi Kane (ankle). Related Articles Defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle) is listed as questionable after being limited during Saturday’s walk-through practice. Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum (back) was also limited and is questionable. The Chargers (7-3), meanwhile, will be without former Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst (hip) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin), who ranks third on the team with 54 tackles. Outside linebacker Khalil Mack (groin), wide receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder), outside linebacker Bud Dupree (foot), safety AJ Finley (ankle) and cornerback Cam Hart (concussion/ankle) are all questionable. The 33-year-old Mack, who has 4 1/2 sacks in a resurgent season, missed last week’s game.Mastercard has launched a digital payments-focused partnership with Türkiye-based FinTech company Dgpays . The collaboration is aimed at promoting the adoption of digital payment solutions for consumers and businesses in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EEMEA), per a Wednesday (Dec. 18) news release . As part of the partnership, Mastercard and Dgpays will develop payment technologies and loyalty solutions designed for needs of markets across the region. Mastercard will also make a minority investment in Dgpays, the release added. The focus of the effort will be on streamlining access to digital payments, ensuring secure and practical solutions to improve convenience and build trust among consumers and businesses. “By combining Mastercard’s global network with Dgpays’ local expertise, we are creating a platform for innovation that will transform how payments are made and experienced across the EEMEA region,” said Dimitrios Dosis , Mastercard’s president for the region. “We extend our sincere thanks to the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye for their valuable support in making this collaboration possible.” The partnership follows a recent collaboration between Mastercard and Equifax designed to provide fraud management tools to businesses in Latin America (excluding Brazil). The companies will offer these tools to financial institutions, payment service providers, acquiring banks and merchants in the region via Equifax’s Kount Payment Fraud solution, providing identity verification, fraud risk assessment, order validation and alerting services. In other digital payments news, PYMNTS wrote Wednesday about a challenge facing the industry : enhancing user experience while fighting sophisticated fraud. “There’s a lot of emphasis on doing things as frictionless as possible,” Sunny Thakkar , head of global fraud, disputes and authentication products at Worldpay , told PYMNTS during an interview for the “ What’s Next in Payments: The Payments Circle of Trust and Risk ” series. “People have become used to really instant payments ,” Thakkar said, adding that risk management historically required deliberate processes to secure accuracy. “The challenge is maintaining a fast user experience while managing the inherent risks of eCommerce.” Technological advancements are key to this effort, that report said. By tapping passive signals like device information, geolocation and behavioral biometrics, companies can develop risk models without saddling users with excessive verification steps. These innovations not only bolster security but also meet consumers’ expectations for frictionless transactions, Thakkar told PYMNTS.Magic's Franz Wagner out indefinitely with torn oblique, the same injury that sidelined Paolo Banchero
The dismissal of a class-action lawsuit over rules governing the cross-border live bee trade is casting a spotlight on political division within Canada’s beekeeping community. A federal judge has ruled against awarding commercial beekeepers damages from a decades-old partial ban on shipping live honeybees across the Canada-U.S. border, which is in place out of concerns that could bring in aggressive pests and diseases. Beekeepers from Western Canada involved in the suit claim the government’s risk assessments that inform the tight restrictions are hurting their businesses and are blown out of proportion. Michael Paradis of Paradis Honey Ltd., a seven-generation family beekeeping business based in Girouxville, Alta., and one of the representative plaintiffs in the case, said he’s disappointed with the ruling, saying it puts beekeepers in a “dangerous position” since the industry is already in crisis mode. “Canada does not have enough bees and cannot replenish its own stock at all,” he said. “It’s going to mean a lot more hardship for the industry if we cannot get access to the U.S. bees.” Beekeepers were slammed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when fewer airline flights made it harder to import bees and they suffered a nightmare year of winter losses in 2022. Manitoba commercial beekeeper Brent Ash, one of the witnesses in the case, said the ruling will hamper the industry, and makes it especially tough for apiaries in colder parts of the country like the Prairies, where most of Canada’s beekeepers are located. “Climate makes the regional divide difficult to keep those bugs alive over the course of the winter,” he said, noting honeybees are not native to North America. But Steve Moore, president of the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association, said his group worries about the risks of accidentally bringing in antibiotic resistant mites, the import of Africanized honeybees commonly known as killer bees, and a small hive beetle that’s capable of damaging colonies. “In Ontario here, we feel quite strongly that we don’t want to take the risk of it becoming even more challenging if some of these new and emerging threats come into the country in packages,” he said. But he empathizes with the plaintiffs. “When we go into our apiaries, we get stung by our bees. When we come home, we might be stung by a low honey price, stung by rising cost of production or stung by high overwintering losses, with the threat of new and emerging pathogens. So, we’re all facing the same challenges and it’s a challenging time to be a beekeeper,” he said. Even though a ban on U.S. live bee imports expired in 2006, Ottawa has not issued permits for the live worker bee boxes to be brought over the border since. The plaintiffs argued Ottawa owes them duty of care — and hundreds of millions in damages. The judge disagreed. “There is no duty of care owed and no negligence,” Justice Cecily Strickland wrote in a lengthy ruling, adding the plaintiffs failed to establish that Ottawa hurt their businesses. The case has a long history, dating back to a court filing from 2012, and was only certified as a class action in 2017. The problem is even older. Headlines from the 1980s screamed about fears that deadly infectious mites from U.S. states could level Canadian bee populations. Risks to bee health have only compounded since then. A 2003 risk assessment by the regulator found that importing queen bees was less risky, since they are easier to inspect. So, Canada allows imports of queen bees and their worker-bee attendants from the U.S., Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Italy and Malta. “Bee packages carry a higher risk of disease introduction because they are shipped with the contents of their hive, which may include mites, parasites and bacteria,” said a statement from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency that welcomed the judge’s ruling. Canada does, however, also allow imports of worker bee packages from Italy, Chile, Australia and New Zealand, which sent Canada some 69,364 kgs of packaged bees in 2023, according to statistics from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. But importing from these countries also dramatically drives up import costs due to transportation. One of the plaintiffs, John Gibeau, wrote to CFIA a decade ago complaining that importing more than 1,200 packages for $170,000 would have cost half that if he could have purchased them from California instead. Gibeau said he wasn’t ready to comment since he hasn’t yet digested the ruling. Paradis said the larger issue for him than cost, though, is the quality of the bee stock and the timing of when shipments arrive. “We are looking at bees in the U.S. that are spring bees — young, invigorated bees,” he said, adding that gives them longer lifespans in Canada. While he was disappointed, Paradis said one of the main reasons for the lawsuit was to “bring CFIA to the table and to actually have some discussions” on the import ban, something he said has only happened recently. Canada’s honeybee pollination is estimated to contribute $3.18 billion directly to the economy, but that rises to $7 billion a year when canola pollination is factored in. Canada has some 794,341 beehives.Jimmy Carter To Receive State Funeral: Trump Calls Him 'Truly A Good Man,' Biden Mourns Loss Of 'Extraordinary Leader'None
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court is set to hear on Monday, December 15 a plea filed by BJP legislators seeking direction to the Delhi government to forward 12 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports to the Lt Governor (L-G). As per the cause list published on the website of the Delhi HC, a bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula will resume to hear the matter on December 16. In an earlier hearing held last week, the Delhi government told the Justice Narula-led bench that Chief Minister Atishi had forwarded CAG reports to the office of L-G. After the counsel appearing for L-G said that Raj Bhavan had received some of the reports late on Wednesday, the Delhi HC decided to post the matter for hearing on December 16. In its affidavit, the Finance Department said that the reports under reference were not pending before it but were with the office of Chief Minister Atishi, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister. Earlier on October 29, the Delhi High Court agreed to examine the matter and issued notice to the Delhi government, the office of the Legislative Assembly Speaker, the L-G, CAG, and the Accountant General (Audit), Delhi. The petition claimed that CAG reports relating to pollution and rules and regulations related to alcohol were not placed before the L-G by the Finance Ministry and remain pending with Chief Minister Atishi, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Minister. “Despite the Lt. Governor’s repeated requests and constitutional obligation, these reports were not sent to the Lt. Governor and consequently could not be tabled in the Delhi Legislative Assembly,” said the plea filed by BJP MLAs Vijender Gupta, Mohan Singh Bisht, Om Prakash Sharma, Ajay Kumar Mahawar, Abhay Verma, Anil Bajpai, and Jitender Mahajan. It added that the opposition leaders tried their best to table the CAG reports when the Vidhan Sabha session was held on September 26-27 after a long gap, but ‘no action was taken for such tabling of the reports.’. The petition said that this deliberate suppression of vital information not only violates democratic principles but also prevents proper scrutiny of government action and expenditures, raising serious questions about the government’s financial propriety, transparency, and accountability. It further said that the delay was not merely a procedural oversight but a serious violation of constitutional obligations when the CAG had been forwarding the audit reports for laying before the Delhi Assembly. It said that the CAG is a “constitutional watchdog” created with the objective of providing independent and credible assurance to the public, the legislature, and the executive that the public funds are being collected and used effectively and efficiently. Future of Fiber Optic Bundles Market: Analysis and Leadership by Sumitomo Electric Lightwave, IDIL Fibres Optiques, SQS Vlaknova Optika, Molex, Armadillo SIA, Le Verre Fluore, Fibertech Optica, CeramOptecTudor and Cashel Township held a Lunch and Learn at their community centre on Nov. 26, where the township’s Historical Society presented to attendees on how Tudor and Cashel came to be through time. Made possible by the Ontario Seniors Accessibility Grant, there was also a hot lunch of soup, sandwiches and dessert provided by Wattle and Daub Café. Councillor Elain Holloway comments on this look back into Tudor and Cashel’s past to Bancroft This Week. The Lunch and Learn on Nov. 26 was facilitated by the Tudor and Cashel Historical Society’s Bob Clarke, Marie Whittaker and Gina Sikama, although Sikama was unable to attend due to another commitment, but sent her regards. Holloway told the crowd that they were an amateur historical society and what they know and what they found out they collected themselves through research and conversations through their lives here over the decades. “Their hope is to encourage you to become more involved, if not with the township’s history but with that of your own families. There’s a history that goes away if you don’t have that history and hang on to it,” she says. Clarke said that there was so much history and so much had changed over the past 175 years and that as they go through it, hopefully they’ll answer some of the attendees’ questions. “We’re just going to skim the surface today. If there’s an interest in another one of these presentations that deals with logging or mining, we’ll certainly give it an effort to do that,” he says. Clarke told Bancroft This Week back in 2020 in the Bancroft This Week article “Tudor and Cashel’s history illuminates residents’ souls,” that they’d gotten the idea to pursue the historical society from the history section on the township’s website in 2017, as resident Joan Donaldson had preserved quite a bit of the area’s history. “The history of the area here is quite a story, going back to the 1850s. A lot of the older folks are passing and their stories are going to be lost and have been lost. But there’s a lot of their siblings and relatives in the area so that that history can still be preserved. So basically, we live here on the Heritage Trail and the old hotel which used to be called Rickett’s Hotel and the railroad went right by and the station was out front of the place. Well, the history kind of grows on you and I started collecting a bit of information on the railroad and then it kind of snowballed,” he said at the time. On Nov. 26, Holloway presented what Sikama would have said that day, based on some notes provided, called “where it began to now,” going from Upper Canada to the establishment of Canada in 1867, and from the initial farming that didn’t pan out too well, to mining and logging that sustained Tudor and Cashel over the years. “Today, people travel to Bancroft to Belleville to Trenton and points in between to make a living. They could work closer to home but they don’t and this is their home. It’s where they want to live, hunt and fish. The lumber industry will continue, mine exploration, and maybe someday land will be cleared and farmed again using new machinery and technology. Whatever the occupation, families live in Tudor and Cashel because their roots are here and because the rocks, trees, wetlands and lakes draw their heart strings,” she says. Whittaker went next, giving the crowd a taste of what it was like toward the end of the farming era (1850 to 1950) and what family life was like, based upon her own personal experiences. She said life was never dull and there was always something to do. She recalled many memories of life on the Ridge at her family’s farms. “I have vague memories of using coal oil lamps in my Uncle George’s house. I’m not sure when the hydro came to the Ridge, but it was quite an event when the telephones came in. Each house got their own ring and very little privacy,” she says. Clarke finished off the presentation by looking at the early settlers to Tudor and Cashel and the reasons why they came and persevered in the area, like free 50 to 100 acre lots, hope for a better life, and the logging and mining industries. He then looked at the histories of Tudor Township, established in 1865 and Cashel Township, established in 1869 before they amalgamated in 1897 and the history of Tudor and Cashel since then. For instance, Clarke talked about the history of the Central Ontario Railroad and the effect it had on Tudor and Cashel, initially transporting iron ore and later logs through the area, and the effect that the building of Hwy 62 had on the railroad traffic over time, until the last train came through in 1975 and the tracks were removed in 1980. Clarke concluded by says that there’s just so many stories they could spend days telling folks what they’ve been able to pull together from various sources over the years. “We’re going to try to come up with some way to preserve this for the next generation. Most people really aren’t that interested in it until later in life when they think ‘oh, wonder what that was all about?’” he says. Clarke told Bancroft This Week that he hoped the presentation answered a few questions for people in attendance and that it was just interesting. “What we’re trying to do is get an interest in this just so that this stuff preserves. We’re even doing a book that’s in the editing stages but it just skims off the top of what we could put in it and if there’s interest we could do more. It’s to get the next generation thinking ‘okay, we’ll carry on with this,’” he says. Holloway told Bancroft This Week that the Historical Society Lunch and Learn was the best attended, drawing residents including those from neighbouring townships. “The presentation was excellent, very informative giving a glimpse at how Tudor and Cashel came to be. I believe the participants were equally captivated, evident with their interaction and comments, leaving wanting to learn even more. There is so much more yet to share and Bob Clarke, Marie Whittaker and Gina Sikama are eager to come again. The Ontario Seniors Accessibility Grant has provided excellent opportunities for our residents, reducing isolation and encouraging ongoing participation,” she says. “It was an excellent presentation.”
The wettest and rainiest night of the year proved to be both a bad omen and a huge hindrance to the Woodland Christian football team as the downpour that made its way through the area washed away any chance the Cardinals had to repeat as section, regional and state champions. Amid gusts of wind, a muddy field and rain that never let up, the Cardinals’ bid to repeat as champions ended Friday night at the hands of Sonora, who were able to thrive in the wet and wild environment to get back on the bus home with a resounding 28-0 win, advancing them to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI Championship game. Unfortunately, the weather elements that seemed to magnify the visiting Wildcats’ biggest strength—running the ball up the gut with authority—held the Cardinals’ usual high-octane passing attack in check as they faced a battle on two fronts. “I was not expecting us to be unable to throw or catch the ball,” Cardinals head coach Mike Paschke said. “Having the passing game taken away from us was really unfortunate. That’s how we won a lot of our games this year. The weather really made us one-dimensional. The rain made both teams one-dimensional, but everything Sonora likes to do is hand the ball off under center and run. I thought we had a good game plan, but for whatever reason, it just didn’t work out. There wasn’t anything we could have done differently. “Last year, we were more run-heavy, and this year, we were pass-heavy, so we just couldn’t throw the ball in these conditions. We struggled right out of the gate with turnovers and were immediately behind the Eight-ball.” The Cardinals came into the semifinals knowing how hard the jump up into D6 playoffs was following a tough, battle-testing 21-7 win over No. 7 seed Liberty Ranch last week. Two late touchdowns from star senior Devin Herrera and a stout defensive performance sealed the deal for the Cardinals, who advanced to the section semifinals for the fourth year in a row. No. 3 seed Sonora came into the showdown following a 64-7 beatdown over Calaveras last week after also enjoying a first-round bye alongside the Cardinals the week before. The Wildcats earned the No. 3 seed after a 9-2 season overall, going 4-2 in the Trans Valley League, finishing in second place behind Division V No. 1 seed Hughson. “They were good and very well coached,” Paschke said. “One of the best-coached teams we have seen all year. Their tailback just churns and punishes people for even trying to tackle him. Sonora beat the No. 1 seed in Division III in Oakdale and will now take on Bradshaw Christian, who are just as good. That is going to be a heck of a game.” The Wildcats jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after getting the ball back on an interception on the defense’s second drive, which eventually led to a 46-yard rushing touchdown by running back Tommy Sutton. After trading punts, the Wildcats pounced on another throw from Cardinals quarterback Isaiah Hunt for the defense’s second interception of the night. This led to Sutton doubling his touchdown total via a 3-yard run to make it 14-0. With the field now looking like a demolition derby arena, the Cardinals had the monumental task of not only battling back from a 14-0 deficit but also battling the elements and field conditions. After another stalled drive and trading of possessions, both teams went into halftime with completely different priorities. The Wildcats received the second-half kick and mounted a nice drive, highlighted by a 40-yard-plus play to set them up inside the red zone. Once inside the 5-yard line, they’d punch in a 2-yard run to go up 21-0. The Cards’ next drive ended on a turnover on downs, which then directly led to another long Wildcats drive, topped off with a 2-yard touchdown from Brody Speer to make it 28-0. While there were still 11 minutes in the game, the Cardinals found it hard to get going on offense before punting the ball back to the Wildcats. They were able to recover a fumble with about seven minutes left in the game to give the home crowd something to cheer about, but with limited time left and half the playbook actually feasible due to the conditions, the game felt like a foregone conclusion. “I didn’t think the rain was going to affect us as badly as it did,” Paschke recalled. “It’s my fourth year here, so I guess I haven’t seen it all. We prepared a lot this week to throw the ball because that’s where we thought we could attack them. To have that taken away is really tough.” After a few more possessions were traded off, the Wildcats got control of the ball and ran the final few minutes off the clock before composing themselves for the traditional handshakes and then gleefully sliding into a mud patch near midfield. “After the game, it was really about the seniors,” Paschke said. “I’ve been with a lot of these kids since they were 9 years old. I came up and learned with them. This was a great group of young men. This group of men will be successful in life beyond football. I’m so grateful they won a state championship last year. As a coaching staff, we are really close to them and pour everything we have into the kids. They are godly men who will be really good fathers someday. “It makes it easier for us when the kids are policing themselves,’ he continued. “We set the rules, but they have to want to follow them. We can mold them, but they shape themselves. When you have it good at the top, it’s easy. From top to bottom, we had great leadership this year.” Sonora will meet D6 No. 1 seed Bradshaw Christian next Friday for the section championship. That game is set for Friday, Nov 29, at 11 a.m. at Sac City College.