President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America's tallest peakThe union representing about 55,000 striking postal workers said it is “disappointed and frustrated” with Canada Post’s proposals as the labour disruption drags into its fourth week. However, in a statement Sunday afternoon, the Crown corporation told the Star that it has yet to receive a formal response from the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) through the federally-appointed mediator after its latest proposal on Friday. “We continue to operate within a confidential process, which was agreed to by Canada Post and CUPW,” Canada Post wrote in a statement. “While we strongly disagree with the responses the union has shared publicly, we encourage CUPW to share their positions through the formal process.” In an email to the Star, CUPW said it “respects” the bargaining process and noted that its representatives met with the mediator Saturday afternoon to discuss the proposals, which they argue contain “drastic changes and rollbacks that no union in the world would ever accept.” CPP and OAS cheques will still be delivered. However, cheques for many social assistance “We urge Canada Post to bring forward proposals that reflect the value of its workforce,” the union said. “While no counterproposal has been made yet, CUPW negotiators remain committed to working toward a fair deal and are ready to return to the table.” Details of the proposals exchanged between the two sides during the mediation process have not been shared publicly. The Crown corporation said it remains committed to getting people “back to work.” “Our proposals include significant moves to close the gap on key issues like weekend delivery, pensions and wages to reach new agreements,” a Canada Post spokesperson said. The strike began on Nov. 15 and will hit the four-week mark this Friday. In the last three weeks, most mail and parcels have not been processed or delivered, except for some . Both parties have been informally communicating via the meditator to find a solution, but have not been back to the official bargaining table since were suspended last week. As the strike continues, especially amid a crucial holiday period for many small businesses and customers, pressure has been building on the federal government to step in. But in a statement on Saturday, Ottawa signalled it’s not planning to intervene and force the postal employees back to work through binding arbitration. “We urge the parties to get back to the negotiating table,” Matthieu Perrotin, press secretary to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, stated in an email to the Star Saturday morning. “Parties must do the work necessary to reach a deal, as Canadians are counting on them. Those with passports being held by Service Canada can arrange to pick them up in person, “Negotiated agreements are always the best way forward,” he wrote. CUPW president Jan Simpson told the Star in an interview Saturday that the government not intervening is a “good thing.” The union had called for a cumulative wage hike of 24 per cent over four years, while the company previously countered with wage increases totalling 11.5 per cent over four years and additional paid leave, while protecting the defined benefit pension and job security provisions. “The proposals that they put forward are not adequate. This strike highlights there’s so many unresolved systemic issues. And it’s not an overreach of the unions to try to fix these,” Simpson said.( MENAFN - UkrinForm) In the de-occupied Kherson region, 80% of settlements are provided with power supply services. The relevant statement was made by Kherson Regional Military Administration Head Oleksandr Prokudin during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “Despite the challenging security situation, continuous enemy strikes, 80% of settlements (i.e. 180 settlements) are now connected to the power grid,” Prokudin told. As for centralized heating services, they are now available in the city of Kherson. According to Prokudin, 32 out of 35 boilers are running and providing heating services for 920 houses (out of 975), 96% of social facilities, and 100% of hospitals. With regard to other settlements, regional authorities are trying to provide them with heating resources. “Currently, 33,000 families have obtained firewood, pellets or funds to purchase heating resources, and the work continues,” Prokudin noted. In his words, mandatory evacuation was announced in 50 settlements across the Kherson region. In most of them, there are no families with children but lonely elderly people who refuse to move out. A reminder that Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated the right-bank Kherson region, including the city of Kherson, from Russian occupiers in spring 2022. MENAFN26122024000193011044ID1109033760 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 cafe owner, the fund manager and the $35 million windfallGuwahati: Assam governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Monday highlighted how Swagadeo Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha , who established the Ahom kingdom , continues to influence the state’s development trajectory on the occasion of Asom Diwas . Since 1996, Dec 2 has been observed as Asom Diwas, marking Siu-Ka-Pha’s historic journey from Mong Mao in today’s Yunan province, China, through the Patkai Hills to present-day Assam approximately 800 years ago. Acharya shared a video message stating, “This day is a day of pride for every Assamese, which remembers us about the rich past we had. During the Ahom’s reign, Assam flourished in different dimensions. The bravery, love for the motherland of Ahom kings was phenomenal. Taking inspiration from them, we have been marching ahead to make Assam one of the best states in the country.” The governor noted the state’s progress in digital technology, infrastructure, and socio-economic advancement. He said, “Along with development, the state has been working to flourish its rich heritage. I am sure with collective efforts of every citizen Assam will be able to become one of the ‘viksit states’ of Viksit Bharat.” Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma honoured the Ahom dynasty founder, stating, “Swargadeo exemplified leadership, strategic thinking and courage and his tales of bravery will continue to inspire the upcoming generations.” The All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (Atasu) organised traditional ceremonies and activities in Golaghat district. Atasu representative Manuj Gogoi requested annual presentation of the Siu-Ka-Pha award instead of biennial. We also published the following articles recently Siu-Ka-Pha remembered on Asom Diwas On Asom Diwas, Assam governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya highlighted Swagadeo Chao Lung Siu-Ka-Pha's enduring influence on the states development. Acharya noted Assams progress in digital technology, infrastructure, and socio-economic aspects. Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma honored Siu-Ka-Pha's leadership. The All Tai Ahom Students' Union urged for ST status for the Tai Ahoms and annual Siu-Ka-Pha award. Assam approves state holiday list The Assam cabinet has approved the holiday list for 2025, including 36 gazetted holidays, 37 restricted holidays, one half holiday, and 19 holidays under the NI Act. Additionally, special casual leave has been granted on November 20 and 21 for 'Matri Pitri Vandana'. Ready to ban beef in Assam if Congress writes to me: Himanta Biswa Sarma Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed willingness to ban beef if Congress president Bupen Kumar Borah formally requests it. Sarma responded to allegations that the BJP used beef to win in the Samaguri constituency, suggesting a unified ban on beef consumption in the state. The Assam Cattle Preservation Act already restricts beef in certain areas.
EDITOR'S NOTE: On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. No one wants to see any player take a vicious hit like the one that knocked Trevor Lawrence out of the game. It’s easy to agree on that point. Eliminating violent shots is the hard part. The NFL has instituted several rules to protect quarterbacks but football is a physical sport and players have to react instantly and make split-second decisions going at high speeds so injuries keep occurring. Lawrence was carted off the field in the first half of Jacksonville’s 23-20 loss to Houston on Sunday after Azeez Al-Shaair leveled the defenseless quarterback with a forearm to the facemask. The late hit put Lawrence in the fencing position — both fists clenched — and he stayed on the ground for several minutes, while a brawl ensued. Lawrence didn’t require hospitalization for his concussion but it’s unknown when he’ll return. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out/been praying for me,” Lawrence wrote on X. “I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all.” Al-Shaair was ejected from the game and faces a fine and potential suspension after his latest unsportsmanlike penalty. The Texans' linebacker was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard last week. He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline that wasn’t flagged. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. Al-Shaair once got away with grabbing Tom Brady by the throat on a pass rush in a game between the 49ers and Buccaneers. Outraged Jaguars players called Al-Shaair’s hit “dirty” and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans made it known he didn’t condone it. “It’s not what we’re coaching,” Ryans said. “Want to be smart in everything we do and not hurt the team, get a penalty there. Have to be smarter when the quarterback is going down. Unfortunate play. Not representative of who Azeez is. He’s a smart player, really great leader for us. We felt his presence not being there. His loss really affected us on the defensive side. Just not what we’re coaching. Didn’t want to see the melee and all the aftermath. That’s not what we’re about. Not representative of us. I’ll talk to Azeez, address him personally, and we’ll move forward from it.” Fox Sports color analyst Daryl Johnston, a former fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, didn’t hold back his criticism, calling it a “cheap shot.” “It’s everything you’re not supposed to do,” Johnston said. “Everything. You’ll see this in slow motion and Azeez Al-Shaair does everything you’re trying to prevent in this situation. It’s reckless. It’s disrespectful. There’s an honor that you give to your opponent on the football field and you respect him. And there’s opportunities to be physical and give big hits and play this game in that manner. And there’s other times when there’s a respect that you grant to your opponent.” Some former NFL quarterbacks blasted Al-Shaair on social media. “There is no place in the game of football for dirty hits like this one,” Robert Griffin III wrote on X. Chase Daniel called it “one of the dirtiest hits” he’s ever seen on a quarterback. Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, right, jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence, bottom, during the first half of a game on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla. Even defensive players struggled to defend Al-Shaair. “That was uncalled for,” Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan said on Fox’s studio show while fellow Hall of Famer Howie Long agreed. But the play also sparked debate about the quarterback slide. Lawrence slid feet first, which signals that he’s giving himself up on the play. The NFL rulebook states: “A defender must pull up when a runner begins a feet-first slide.” But defensive players aren’t automatically penalized if they make contact with a sliding quarterback if they already committed and the contact is unavoidable. The rules state it’s a foul when “the defender makes forcible contact into the head or neck area of the runner with the helmet, shoulder, or forearm, or commits some other act that is unnecessary roughness.” Al-Shaair did that so he was penalized and will face other repercussions. Still, given the hard-hitting nature of the sport, it won’t be the last time this happens. When Caleb Williams took the field for the Chicago Bears' first regular season game against the Tennessee Titans, the anticipation for the rookie's debut game—possibly the most ever—was on full display. Despite a tough debut for the quarterback, the Bears secured a 24-17 win, a notable feat for the rookie. The victory made Williams the first #1 overall pick with a Week 1 win in over 20 years. Going forward this season, Williams is expected to eclipse C.J. Stroud's record-breaking 2023 rookie campaign with the Houston Texans. However, Stroud's success is an anomaly. Drafting a successful quarterback, especially one who is effective right away, is difficult. When teams have a high first-round draft pick, and they're coming off an unsuccessful few seasons, it's assumed that they will use their first pick on a quarterback . That player will assume the title of "the face of the franchise" and will get the central attention, win or lose. To see which quarterbacks have faced that challenge and triumphed, ATS.io compiled a ranking of the 10 best rookie quarterbacks since 1960 using data from StatHead . Rookies were defined as players who are in their first season of professional football and have not been on the roster of another professional team. Quarterbacks were ranked according to adjusted net yards per pass attempt, which quantifies efficient passing skill. Ties were broken using passer rating. Only rookie quarterbacks with at least 10 games played and 200 total passing attempts were considered. Since 1967, 130 quarterbacks have been drafted in the first round. Of those drafted, only 61 have won a playoff game as a starter, according to The Athletic, which used data from NFL Research . The biggest reason this success rate is not guaranteed is because there are differences between college and pro offensive systems. In the collegiate game, the ball is snapped at different points on the field, passing windows are wider, and defenders and linemen are not as quick, making the adjustment to the pro level more difficult. NFL scouts and general managers are gambling on what skills can be transferable and how long those adjustments might take, which is why some teams prefer redshirt quarterbacks to ease the transition. However, just because a team may not want to use their first-round pick on a quarterback, doesn't mean they can't find a diamond in the rough later in the draft. Think about Tom Brady, Russell Wilson, and Dak Prescott, all of which were not first-round picks, but have gone on to make a name for themselves in the NFL. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.44 - Passer rating: 91.2 - Season stats: 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, 6 interceptions Coming out of college, Gardner Minshew was not a highly sought-after quarterback for NFL teams. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft—a draft that was headlined by Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Daniel Jones. Nonetheless, Minshew's rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars was filled with many accomplishments. He won Rookie of the Week seven times despite not winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Minshew also had the highest passer rating of any rookie quarterback that started in 2019. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.77 - Passer rating: 93.7 - Season stats: 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, 14 interceptions Pressure was high for Baker Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. When he joined the Cleveland Browns, there was an expectation that once the team figured out the quarterback position, it could be playoff-ready. After trading for Jarvis Landry, a young wide receiver from the Miami Dolphins, in the offseason, the Browns were on their way. Mayfield's rookie season was filled with many firsts, and the Landry-Mayfield connection filled the stat sheet. Mayfield set the record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in 2019 with 27 surpassing prior marks from Payton Manning and Russell Wilson. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.84 - Passer rating: 98.3 - Season stats: 4,336 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Justin Herbert was the third quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL draft behind Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. As the No. 6 overall pick, expectations were high, but there was also an assumption that it would be a few years before Herbert's development would take shape. Then, Chargers starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was accidentally punctured in the lung by a team doctor administering a painkiller before the second game of the season, and it wasn't clear what Taylor's status would be moving forward. When Herbert was given the nod to start minutes before the game, fans didn't know what to expect. Herbert shocked viewers when he threw for over 300 yards and only one interception in that game. He continued his strong rookie showing throughout the season and went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 6.93 - Passer rating: 98.1 - Season stats: 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions Ben Roethlisberger was the third quarterback selected in his draft class behind the likes of Eli Manning and Philip Rivers—though fans wouldn't have been able to tell. From the moment Roethlisberger was called up by the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in his first game—Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens—it was clear he had a special arm, gaining the nickname "Golden Arm." While the next several games were bumpy for Steelers fans, it was clear that Roethlisberger was the future of the franchise. The Steelers had a solid running game and its receiving core, led by Hines Ward, was one of the best in the league . Once Roethlisberger gained his footing a few games in, he was unstoppable. He led Pittsburgh to its best record ever: 15-1. He also started the season on an eight-game winning streak, becoming the first rookie to do so. Additionally, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 87.7 - Season stats: 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, there were high expectations on Matt Ryan's shoulders heading to the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were coming off back-to-back losing seasons and off-the-field legal troubles with its starting quarterback Michael Vick overshadowing the team's play. Ryan was expected to pick up the pieces. He did that immediately, leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record in his rookie season and becoming the clear favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year halfway through the season, which he went on to win. The tag team of Ryan and running back Michael Turner was one of the best offensive forces in the sport that season. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.01 - Passer rating: 100 - Season stats: 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Russell Wilson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Considering Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck headlined the NFL Draft that year, it was not believed that Wilson would be a starter come Week 1, but that quickly changed. Going into the 2012 NFL Draft, Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback, and the team signed NFL veteran quarterback Matt Flynn as an insurance policy on the injury-prone Jackson . It was assumed in the short term that either Jackson or Flynn would lead the franchise. Once training camp arrived, however, the Seahawks' quarterback position was uncertain. Jackson was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Flynn was underwhelming at camp, forcing Head Coach Pete Carroll to take a gamble on his rookie quarterback, Wilson, in Week 1. Carroll, nor Wilson, ever looked back. Wilson was one of the best passing quarterbacks that season. He led the Seahawks to an 11-5 record and went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.39 - Passer rating: 96 - Season stats: 2,210 yards, 20 touchdowns, 6 interceptions When Dan Marino was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, the NFL looked very different. Running the ball was the name of the game. The quarterback would either run the football himself at the line of scrimmage or hand it off to the running back, and the offensive linemen would claw and push the pile forward as the runner powered his legs. It was not a pretty sight. However, Marino took a different approach, throwing the ball with a unique quick release for that era. He led the Dolphins to a 9-1 record after replacing David Woodley midway through his rookie season, ending with a 12-4 record. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and was the first rookie to start a Pro Bowl. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 100.8 - Season stats: 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions When C.J. Stroud was drafted No. 2 by the Houston Texans last year, there were a lot of questions, not about his ability, but about the organization that he would be playing for. The Texans were coming off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022, finishing with the worst record in the league, and a lot of volatility in its front office. The team fired its head coach and a top executive before the draft. Weeks later, the team hired former Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its next head coach. While Ryans is a defensive-minded coach, Stroud was seen as a key ingredient to the team's success since Ryans hired his coaching staff around the quarterback. Stroud led the NFL in yards and TD-to-interception ratio during his rookie season, which is an efficiency statistic considering he didn't get his first interception until his sixth regular-season game against the New Orleans Saints. While Stroud was a part of the league MVP conversation for most of the season, he didn't ultimately win the title. However, he was named 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and his rookie season is seen as one of the best in NFL history. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.47 - Passer rating: 102.4 - Season stats: 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, 5 interceptions Leading into the 2012 draft, it wasn't a matter of whether Washington would pick a quarterback, it was a matter of who. After several seasons of mediocre quarterback play and losing seasons from the likes of Jason Campbell, Donovan McNabb, and Rex Grossman, it was time for a new face to lead the offense. At No. 2, Washington selected Robert Griffin III making him the second quarterback selected in the 2012 NFL draft behind Andrew Luck. Griffin started his rookie year campaign with one of the best performances football fans have ever seen. He completed 19 of his 26 pass attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns, beating the New Orleans Saints. That game earned him the highest passer rating by a rookie ever, 158.3. He now shares that record with Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. Griffin III went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012. - Adjusted net yards per pass attempt: 7.86 - Passer rating: 104.9 - Season stats: 3,667 yards, 23 touchdowns, 4 interceptions Dak Prescott is statistically the best rookie quarterback ever, racking up the best passer rating as a rookie. After losing his first game, he led the Cowboys on an 11-game winning streak. That season, he led the team to its fourth-best season ever with a 13-3 record. Prescott was the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and became the first NFL quarterback to be drafted in the fourth round or later to start all 16 regular season games. Data reporting by Karim Noorani. Story editing by Shanna Kelly. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on ATS.io and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America's tallest peak
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Apple Sued for Knowingly Hosting Child Sexual Abuse Material on Its Products, Failing to Protect Survivors
President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America's tallest peak
Trump acolyte and self-proclaimed “proud Islamophobe” Laura Loomer is threatening to tell MAGA to “stay home” during the next midterm elections amid an escalating feud with “tech bros” Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy over Silicon Valley’s reliance on foreign-born workers. Loomer has engaged in a multi-day social media tirade over President-elect Donald Trump ’s recent appointment of Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as a senior policy adviser for AI, prompting the loyal MAGA supporter to rage about Krishnan’s support of H-1B visas for Indian immigrants. With the Trump administration promising an immediate crackdown on immigration, Loomer has launched a series of attacks on Indians described as “racist” following Krishnan’s appointment, which she called “deeply disturbing.” Describing workers from India as “third-world invaders,” Loomer also took issue with Musk and Ramaswamy defending the tech industry importing “super talented engineers” from overseas. “The average IQ in India is 76,” Loomer tweeted at one point, along with several other posts disparaging Indians and their home country. Loomer, who previously sparked backlash for making bigoted remarks about Kamala Harris’s Indian heritage, has found support among what some have described as “OG MAGA” in her civil war against Trump-supporting tech entrepreneurs. In particular, she has received quite a bit of backing from “groypers,” the followers of notorious white supremacist Nick Fuentes. Meanwhile, Loomer has directed much of her ire directly at Musk, labeling him a “stage 5 clinger” and questioning whether the DOGE government efficiency advisory committee he co-chairs with Ramaswamy would “cut spending” or just redirect funds “toward the pet projects of tech billionaires.” Musk, for his part, has dismissed Loomer as a “troll” who should be ignored. In response, Loomer has suggested that the X (formerly Twitter) owner and “first buddy” would soon find himself on the outs with Trump. While Loomer has been raging about Krishnan’s appointment all week, the criticism from her and other MAGA activists ramped up after his previous suggestion that Musk look at removing the caps on green cards for skilled immigrants resurfaced online. According to Loomer, Krishnan and other tech entrepreneurs want foreign students to “come to the US and take jobs that should be given to American STEM students.” After an Indian immigrant called her opposition to high-skilled immigration “fundamentally anti-American,” Loomer’s commentary became more bigoted and offensive. “Our country was built by white Europeans, actually. Not third world invaders from India,” she tweeted on Christmas Eve. “You know, it was white Europeans who created the American Dream, and we didn’t create it so that it could be exploited by pro open border techies like you. PS: why are people in India still sh*tting in the water they bathe and drink from?” David Sacks, the incoming AI and crypto czar, pushed back on Loomer’s complaints that Krishnan and other Trump-backing Silicon Valley execs were “career leftists,” adding that “supporting a limited number of highly skilled immigrants is still a prevalent view on the right.” Loomer reacted by falsely accusing Krishnan of donating to Harris’s campaign. (It was a different person with the same name .) While Ramaswamy cited 1990s sitcoms as a key reason why there aren’t enough qualified American-born engineers, claiming that was why the tech industry needed more workers from India, Musk sounded off that the “number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low.” Reacting to a right-wing activist saying it was “wild” that MAGA was “turning against” him and DOGE, Musk stated : “Loomer is trolling for attention. Ignore.” While simultaneously firing off about Musk, Loomer was also incensed that Krishnan appeared to have a friendly relationship with Democratic congressman Ro Khanna. “Should MAGA stay home in 2026? I want @TeamTrump to let us know who is a priority,” she posted . “The MAGA base or an anti-Trump Democrat congressman who gets donations from tech bros and voted to impeach Trump? I just want to know what to tell voters in 2026 when they ask me if they should vote.” As for the world’s richest man, Loomer accused Musk of being “compromised” by the Chinese government and that Trump needs to push him out of his inner circle. “The elephant in the room is that @elonmusk, who is not MAGA and never has been, is a total f*cking drag on the Trump transition,” Loomer tweeted on Thursday. “He’s a stage 5 clinger who over stayed his welcome at Mar a Lago in an effort to become Trump’s side piece and be the point man for all of his accomplices in big Tech to slither in to Mar a Lago.”President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America's tallest peak
The ultimate good health gift guide: Boost your loved ones' wellbeing for 2025 with our health gurus' Christmas picks By MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 16:54 GMT, 8 December 2024 | Updated: 17:06 GMT, 8 December 2024 e-mail View comments From a blender that makes healthy ice cream at push of a button to goggles that show how far you've swum, we've created the ultimate 2024 gift guide for you to treat your health-conscious loved ones this Christmas ... Must-have tech Fitbit Sense 2 advanced smartwatch £219 The latest smartwatch from health and fitness line Fitbit is brand's most advanced – able to identify users' stress patterns as well as advise on managing users with guided breathing exercises and meditation. It also analyses sleep patterns, monitors heart rate and much more. ee.co.uk Fitbit's latest smartwatch (left) is able to identify users' stress patterns, while Suri's electric toothbrush has taken social media by storm for its compact size and sustainable make-up Suri Sustainable Electric Toothbrush, now £63.75 This award-winning device took social media by storm this year. It's half the size of traditional electric toothbrushes – making it portable – and is also made from sustainable materials. trysuri.com DeluxeSkin Period Pain Relief £79.99 This battery-operated device uses a combination of heat and massage therapy to relieve period pain and cramping. It is cordless and can be worn discreetly under clothes – a vast improvement on clutching a hot water bottle to your stomach. Battery life is about three hours. deluxeskin.uk DeluxeSkin's device uses a combination of heat and massage therapy to relieve period pain and cramping, while OpenSwim's headphones using bone-conduction technology that converts sound to vibrations which travel into the inner ear OpenSwim Pro bluetooth waterproof on-ear headphones £135 These miraculous headphones by Shokz are 100 per cent waterproof – using bone-conduction technology that converts sound to vibrations which travel into the inner ear. They work in depths of up to two metres for two hours, as well as on dry land. argos.co.uk Fit for Christmas Form Smart Swim 2 goggles £249 These futuristic goggles provide real-time metrics as you swim – displaying heart rate, time, distance, pace and stroke rate on the lenses. Wearers can opt in to personalised coaching, as well as workout and training plans, which provide motivating lap-by-lap instructions in the goggles. They have a 14-hour battery life. selfridges.com These Form Smart Swim 2 futuristic goggles provide real-time metrics as you swim, while WholyMe's Target relief balm uses natural ingredients to soothe aches in muscles and joints WholyMe Target relief balm £34.99 Packed with 12 powerful natural ingredients, including arnica, juniper and frankincense, this organic balm – free of ultra-processed ingredients – soothes aches in muscles and joints. boots.com Cork foot massage tools set £37 This set, made by classic German sandal company Birkenstock comes with two massage balls and a roller to ease tension and soothe achy soles. birkenstock.com Birkenstock's massage tools set includes two balls and a roller to ease tension and soothe achy soles, while Gen Z's favourite runners, Hokas, have ultra-padded soles and are amazingly light Hoka Clifton 9 £130 Gen Z's favourite running shoe Hoka have ultra-padded soles but they are amazingly light – making for an even more effortless walk or jog. And the colour range would please any runner wanting to impress. jdsports.com Treats for food fans Wonder Oven £155 The latest offering from cult cookware brand Our Place is a six-in-one oven that can air fry, bake, roast, grill, reheat and toast. It requires far less oil than other methods, which produces much healthier meals. selfridges.com Our Place's Wonder Oven is a six-in-one oven that can air fry, bake, roast, grill, reheat and toast, while Tenderheart is a cookbook that can help you achieve your five-a-day with delicious dishes Tenderheart by Hetty Lui McKinnon £35 This cookbook can help achieve your five-a-day, with each chapter dedicated to a different fruit or vegetable. It is full of healthy yet delicious dishes that can turn veg from a side dish into the main event. waterstones.com Ninja Creami ice cream & frozen dessert maker £149.99 This ice-cream maker can transform frozen fruit into sorbet in minutes. For healthier alternatives to the naughty tub of Ben & Jerry's, you can also use the machine to create your own frozen yogurt, smoothies and more. johnlewis.com Ninja's ice-cream maker can transform frozen fruit into sorbet in minutes, and drinking rose chai tea can ease pain and inflammation, aid digestion, relieve cramps and protect cells JP's Originals Rose Chai Tea £12 Natural health advocates claim rose tea can ease pain and inflammation, aid digestion, relieve cramps and even protect cells from 'damage'. It also smells gorgeous and is wonderfully soothing and relaxing to drink. harrods.com Grandkids go-to Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil £19 This TikTok-famous hair oil comes with tween and teen approval. The serum combines Mirsalehi honey, coconut and sweet almond oil to quench dry hair and repair damage right at the cuticle. Hair looks shinier, less frizzy and more supple – and we think it's the bee's knees. selfridges.com Gisou's TikTok-famous hair oil comes with tween and teen approval, as does the Owala Freesip water bottle Owala Freesip water bottle £23 Move over Stanley, the Owala is the new cult water bottle. The stainless-steel flask has triple-layer insulation to keep drinks cold, can be sipped or swigged, and comes with a flip-top that can be locked shut to keep germs out and stop leaks. It also comes in a dazzling array of colours. owalalife.com Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence gel £24.99 This serum, which went viral earlier this year, is made from snail slime – and is surprisingly effective. It reduces redness, hydrates the skin, smoothes blemishes and is safe for most skin types – including sensitive and young skin. selfridges.com Cosrx's serum reduces redness, hydrates the skin, smoothes blemishes and is safe for most skin types. Pickleball has taken Britain by storm, and is great for getting the kids moving Nettie Pickleball Set £140 Get the kids in your life moving with this fun pickleball set – the racket game that took Britain by storm this summer. The kit comes with two brightly coloured paddles, pickleballs and sweatbands – plus a handy tote bag to carry all the gear around. freepeople.com Beauty bonus boost Dermalogica Pro-Collagen Banking Serum £89 Y2K (the trendy term used by Gen Z to describe the 2000s) skincare brand Dermalogica is having a comeback with its heralded collagen serum – said to firm skin and protect it from pollution damage. selfridges.com Dermalogica's Pro-Collagen Banking Serum is said to firm skin and protect it from pollution damage, while Isamaya and Facegym's Sculpt tool helps release tension while contouring Isamaya x Facegym Sculpt 01 £50 It may look like a torture device, but Facegym's latest tool is nothing but pleasurable. Each part of the facial massager targets a different area of the face and scalp, releasing tension while contouring the jaw and lifting the brows. facegym.com Dyson Airwrap i.d. multistyler and dryer £479.99 Dyson's futuristic Airwrap – which uses hot air to curl or straighten hair without causing heat damage – produced with a new edition this year. This has six different brushes, dryers and curling barrels in two colours. dyson.co.uk Dyson's Airwrap uses hot air to curl or straighten hair without causing heat damage. Biodance's Bio-collagen Real Deep Mask is said to give flawless 'glass skin' Bio-collagen Real Deep Mask £28 These Korean collagen face masks by Biodance wowed fans on the internet this year – and are said to be the ultimate ticket to flawless 'glass skin'. The full-face mask turns clear when the ingredients have soaked in and peels off in a satisfying sheet. Box of four. superdrug.com Dream gifts Body Compression Sock £96 Ever heard the phrase 'sleep like a baby'? Now (at a price) you can. Swaddelini's adult swaddle helps cradle you to sleep, with soft fibres that allow for breathable compression. It's gone viral on TikTok thanks to those who've used it to help nod off during red-eye flights. swaddelini.com Swaddelini's adult swaddle helps cradle you to sleep, while Ross J. Barr's sleep patches go on your temples 15 minutes before bed to help ease you into sleep Ross J. Barr Sleep Patches £15 Pop these patches on your temples 15 minutes before bed to ease into sleep quickly and help deeper rest. They work best when you massage in the essential oils to release the herbs, and can be left on all night. rossbarr.com Ostrichpillow Heatbag £60 Did you know hot water bottles have a two-year lifespan – and ignoring this risks one bursting with disastrous consequences? This microwavable heatbag is great for soothing aches and pains, snuggling on the sofa, or keeping toes warm without the same dangers. ostrichpillow.co.uk Ostrichpillow's microwavable heatbag is great for soothing aches and pains. Briiv's air purifier uses natural materials to filter out toxins as you sleep Briiv Air Filter £329 ( briiv.co.uk ) Some studies estimate that indoor air pollution can be three-and-a-half times worse than outdoor pollution in British towns and cities, so it's vital to ensure the air in our homes is as clean as possible. This air purifier uses natural materials – equivalent to hundreds of houseplants – to filter out toxins as you sleep. TikTok Share or comment on this article: The ultimate good health gift guide: Boost your loved ones' wellbeing for 2025 with our health gurus' Christmas picks e-mail Add commentWall Street stocks were little changed on Thursday while Asian equities rose in thin Boxing Day trade, extending their "Santa Claus Rally" with several bourses still shut for the holiday. Japan's Nikkei index closed up 1.1 percent, boosted by comments from the Bank of Japan governor and share price gains for top-selling automaker Toyota. China's plans for massive bond issuances in 2025 also bolstered investor sentiment. "Even though many in the region are still shaking off a bit of a holiday hangover, with several markets closed for Boxing Day, Asian stocks opened higher, riding a favorable wave from China's financial bond juggernaut," said Stephen Innes from SPI Asset Management. In New York, major indices veered in and out of positive territory in a sleepy post-Christmas session. The broad-based S&P 500 finished down less than 0.1 percent. Large technology companies that have led the market in much of 2024 mostly took a breather. These included Netflix, Tesla and Amazon, all of which declined. "What's interesting today is that we're seeing small stocks bounce back a little bit," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers, noting that the Russell 2000 index put on 0.9 percent. Holiday consumer data showed a 3.8-percent increase in US retail spending from November 1 to December 24, according to a Mastercard SpendingPulse review of a key period for retailers. London Stockton, an analyst at Ned Davis Research, noted that the "Santa Claus rally could still be alive, with strong seasonality into the end of the year." Stock markets have traditionally fared well in the last five trading days of the year and the first two in the new year, a trend known as the "Santa Claus rally." Among a number of possible reasons advanced by experts include the festive holiday mood and purchasing ahead of the end of the tax year. Innes said remarks from Bank of Japan governor Kazuo Ueda in which he refrained from signaling a potential interest rate hike next month also "influenced bullish regional sentiments." Japanese market heavyweight Toyota ended nearly six percent higher after reports in the Nikkei business daily said it aimed to double its return on equity -- a key measure of a company's financial performance. New York - Dow: UP 0.1 percent at 43,325.80 (close) New York - S&P 500: DOWN less than 0.1 percent at 6,037.59 (close) New York - Nasdaq: DOWN 0.1 percent at 20,020.36 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 percent at 39,568.06 points (close) Hang Seng: UP 1.1 percent at 20,098.29 points (Tuesday close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,398.08 points (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0424 from $1.0414 on Tuesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2526 from $1.2538 Dollar/yen: UP at 158.00 yen from 157.06 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.19 pence from 83.05 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.7 percent at $69.62 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $73.26 per barrel bur-jmb/aha
New Delhi: The year 2024 saw India’s aviation industry grow on the back of American aircraft manufacturer Boeing's white tail planes - those that are built without any pre-existing customer. However, the new year is likely to see slower deliveries of Boeing aircraft, leading to Indian airlines inducting fewer planes than they did in 2024. Still, India's largest air carrier IndiGo could add to its fleet in the Indian skies if it's able to get some of its grounded planes airworthy with the availability of engines. According to media reports, Indian carriers were expected to induct around 150 aircraft in 2024. Data shared by Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, showed Indian airlines have already taken delivery of 97 commercial aircraft so far in 2024, with ten scheduled deliveries in the remaining days of December. By contrast, Cirium’s fleet data indicates Indian airlines expect to add 86 new commercial aircraft in 2025. In 2024, deliveries by two main global manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, were affected due to global supply chain challenges, precipitated by geopolitical tensions. However, deliveries by Airbus to Air India group and IndiGo remained in line with expectations. But deliveries by Boeing were affected by the weeks-long workers' strike at its manufacturing facility in the US. As per data available on Boeing's website, the American firm delivered only 30 B-737 MAX aircraft to Air India group and Akasa. In 2025, Indian air carriers will not be able to induct white tail aircraft. According to a Cirium official, "Neither Airbus nor Boeing has any stock of white tail aircraft remaining, so this is unlikely to be a route to fleet expansion for Indian carriers." Of the of 86 aircraft that are likely to be delivered in 2025, a majority - about 55 - will go to IndiGo, followed by Air India. As per Cirium, Indigo will get deliveries of 22 A320neo, 30 A321neo (including 5 A321neoXLR) and 3 ATR 72-600). Air India is likely to induct 19 new aircraft in 2025. This would include 8 A320NEO, 6 A321NEO, 1 A350-1000 and 4 A350-900. From Boeing, the Air India group is expected to get only 3 deliveries of B-737 MAX 8 aircraft for budget carrier Air India Express. IndiGo currently has over 60 grounded A320NEO and A321NEO, due to issues with Pratt & Whitney's PW-1700G engines. The airline anticipates that groundings will moderate going forward. The number of grounded aircraft is expected to reduce to a little over 40 aircraft in the first half of 2025. Boring deliveries Currently, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed a cap on the production of 737 MAX. As per this cap, in 2025 Boeing, will be able to manufacture only 38 MAX aircraft a month. It is expected to attempt to ramp up MAX production in 2025. Cirium said, "Potentially, Boeing is expected to expand production beyond 38 aircraft every month once certain conditions are met. With that in mind, we expect to see increasing numbers of 737 MAX by 2026, including 22 for Akasa Air and four for Air India," Cirium analysts said. Forecast for 2025 Cirium’s data indicates that both Indian domestic and outbound international capacities are expected to grow 12% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025. Cirium’s fleet forecast projects the passenger aircraft fleet in service to reach almost 900 aircraft at the end of 2025. Experts believe that revival of the grounded fleet, which is around 90 in the country, is a more important area to focus on in 2025. Mark D. Martin of Martin Consulting believes that the government needs to take a stern action against Pratt & Whitney. "India fleet induction and deliveries need to be fast-tracked. Along with it, OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) need to work on component and engine reliability. The catch-22 we deal with today is brand new aircraft being inducted and simultaneously getting grounded as a result of the Pratt and Whitney GTF engine," he told . "Today, there around 90 aircraft grounded because of engines failing, and now it's time the government did something about this by taking up stern action on Pratt and Whitney, said Martin.
Justin Tucker's erratic season isn't getting any better, and it's hurting Baltimore's outlook
Cade Metz NEW YORK: OpenAI revealed details Friday about its plans to adopt a new corporate structure that will remove the company from control by a nonprofit that has been the focus of contention. OpenAI’s leaders have been privately discussing a change for several months but had provided few specifics. In a company blog post published Friday, OpenAI said it planned to restructure as a public benefit corporation, or PBC, which is a for-profit corporation designed to create public and social good. OpenAI rivals like Anthropic and Elon Musk’s xAI use a similar structure. “The PBC is a structure used by many others that requires the company to balance shareholder interests, stakeholder interests, and a public benefit interest in its decision making,” the company said. “It will enable us to raise the necessary capital with conventional terms like our competitors.” A year ago, the board of the nonprofit tried to fire CEO Sam Altman. It failed, but the incident spooked OpenAI’s investors, including Microsoft. In the months since, Altman and his colleagues have been working toward a new structure. With the change in structure, Altman and his colleagues must find ways to compensate the nonprofit for its loss of control. OpenAI said the nonprofit would receive shares in the PBC but added that the value it would receive was still being negotiated by independent financial advisers. The plan “would result in one of the best resourced nonprofits in history,” the company said in its blog. OpenAI’s latest funding round valued the company at $157 billion. OpenAI set off the generative artificial intelligence boom in late 2022 with the release of its online chatbot ChatGPT, which can answer questions in a near humanlike manner. In the months that followed, startups and tech giants like Google, Meta and Amazon raced to build similar technologies. Altman founded OpenAI as a nonprofit in 2015 with several AI researchers and entrepreneurs, including Musk. The aim, Altman and his co-founders said, was to build AI for the benefit of humanity — not for corporate shareholders. But by 2018, OpenAI’s founders realized that building powerful AI technology would require far more money than they could raise through a nonprofit. Early that year, Musk left the lab. When Altman took over as CEO, he created a for-profit company able to take on investors and promise them financial return while still answering to the nonprofit board. Eventually, it raised more than $13 billion in funding from Microsoft and others. As OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft also negotiated a partnership that has tightly bound the two companies as they compete with other AI companies. Microsoft supplies the raw computing power needed to build OpenAI technologies and it has an exclusive license to use these technologies in its own products. But Microsoft and other investors grew unhappy with the nonprofit’s control over the startup when its board tried to remove Altman in November 2023. The board said it no longer trusted Altman to build AI for the benefit of humanity. Musk sued OpenAI this year, claiming that the company and two of its founders, Altman and Greg Brockman, breached the company’s founding contract by putting commercial interests ahead of the public good. OpenAI has denied the claim. (The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming copyright infringement of news content related to AI systems. The two companies have denied the suit’s claims.)Letters for Dec. 3: Protect emerging tech innovation from overregulationEvery week on Well+Being with The Washington Post , psychiatrists and psychologists suggest ways to improve our mental health . Here are 10 popular columns of 2024 with a summary of the advice shared by experts. Cope with anxiety Anxiety can be overwhelming and all consuming, writes Christopher W.T. Miller, a psychiatrist. If certain cues set off a cascade of worry and stress, we may fixate on them and magnify their meaning, keeping our mind and body in overdrive. This can make it hard to think our way through situations. Our thoughts can be emotion-driven, negative, repetitive and hard to change (what has been termed “perseverative cognition”). There are many ways in which anxiety can manifest, and oftentimes people’s experiences don’t fit neatly into a certain category. Social anxiety , generalised anxiety , panic attacks and phobias are some common ways in which anxiety can be felt. But we can cope with anxiety with some helpful strategies such as giving ourselves a break and finding a middle space. Read more: The five-step wellness model that really works
Protecting or restricting? The effect of social media bans on the big dreams of young Australians - The GuardianThis Christmas, I’ll keep it simple for Santa. As much as I’d like a new iPhone or a warm island getaway far from Michigan, I’ll settle for one thing. Wouldn't it be great if Americans could be proud of their elected leaders? (OK, maybe that isn’t such a simple request.) In the past week alone, we’ve heard reports of “missing” Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger, 81, a Republican, found dealing with “dementia issues.” And on Monday, a about former Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, 42, which confirmed he’s as off-putting as we all already knew. Congress shouldn’t give us the heebie-jeebies, nor should it resemble a nursing home. We’re a country more than 340 million strong. You’d think it wouldn’t be so hard to find 535 qualified, fully functioning individuals to represent us. This month, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, 82, , sustaining injuries. And former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 84, after a fall on a work trip abroad. (Despite giving up her leadership post, Pelosi was just – her 20th – last month.) Perhaps as citizens of this country, we should more closely consider whom we choose to represent us. I respect my elders and certainly don’t hold their age against them. Yet, age affects all of us differently. Just look at President-elect Donald Trump, who at never seems to run out of energy. That’s not the case for everyone that age. At 82, President Joe Biden’s (which he and his administration tried to hide) prevented him from fully serving the American people, and . The problem seems to be that once elected, our politicians have an extremely difficult time knowing it’s time to call it quits. For instance, Granger, who has , announced last year she wouldn’t seek reelection in 2024. She served as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, a coveted post, . The rationale for that decision seems clear now. Granger cast her last House vote in July, and her unexplained absence from Washington essentially means her constituents have been left without representation for months. New reporting from a Dallas outlet . She’s been dealing with dementia, according to her son, and living at a senior facility. I feel for her and her family. But she should have been forthcoming about what she was dealing with – and she should have stepped down from Congress earlier this year to allow for someone else to step in and represent the district. Now, will be marred by a disgraceful exit. Gaetz, the former congressman, may have relative youth on his side, but not much else. After Trump that Gaetz would be his nominee for attorney general, Gaetz immediately resigned from Congress, much to the delight of pretty much everyone in that chamber. Gaetz later withdrew his name from the Cabinet position, after it became clear he couldn’t get the support necessary from fellow Republicans in the Senate. The impending release of a House ethics report always seemed at the heart of Gaetz’s decision to step down so suddenly. After he resigned, the idea was the House Ethics Committee would refrain from releasing the report – at least, that’s what Gaetz had hoped. Yet, the bipartisan committee changed its mind and decided to release the findings now. The committee , including “prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use.” Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? . Gaetz had asked a judge to block the report's release, claiming it was an “unprecedented overreach.” A previous Justice Department investigation did not lead to any charges. The report only confirms what’s been obvious to anyone following Gaetz’s political career – he’s untrustworthy and obnoxious. And his pompous behavior made him no friends, even among Republicans. Between Granger’s disappearing act and Gaetz’s cringeworthy behavior, surely our country deserves better. Let’s give ourselves a collective Christmas present this year by choosing our elected officials with more care. .or signup to continue reading Progress and technology are quite literally part of 's motto, and those two words are the focus of the new . A key part of Audi's transition to electric power, the new all-electric model shares its architecture with the new SUV but sits lower and is offered in a choice of five-door body styles. There's a Sportback sedan (liftback) and an Avant station wagon, and both come with lots of technology and big battery options to tempt buyers away from combustion-engined models and challenge the established premium EVs. The and large electric sedans provide stiff competition, but Audi says it has worked on the chassis and the cabin quality to compete head-on with any rivals. To find out whether it really can, we headed to the Spanish Canary Islands to put Audi's latest electric offering to the test. Audi hasn't yet confirmed prices for the A6 e-tron in Australia, but it costs the equivalent of around A$140,000 in Germany, with the Avant commanding a premium of around A$10,000. Those figures may or may not translate when the car is launched here, but we'll find out more closer to the car's arrival on these shores next year. Although so many car manufacturers are heading down the minimalist interior design route, Audi has taken a slightly different path. While it's true that buttons have largely been eschewed in favour of touchscreen interfaces, the design is still quite busy. It looks and feels premium, though, with lots of upmarket materials that all seem to be neatly bolted together. There are some slightly cheap-feeling plastics knocking about, including the cover for the centre console and the buttons on the steering wheel and the door cards, but they're minor issues in what is generally a very classy cabin. It's a fairly roomy one, too, with plenty of space in the front and decent rear legroom, although it isn't especially easy to fit your feet under the front seats. But headroom is the more limiting factor, particularly in the rear of the Sportback with its swooping roofline, where tall adults will find their hair grazing the roof lining. The Avant has a bit more headroom, though, and if you regularly carry grown-ups in the back, they'll thank you for choosing the wagon. According to the official figures, they won't have any more space for their luggage. Both the Sportback and Avant versions of the A6 e-tron have 502 litres of luggage capacity, which is fractionally less than you'll get in a BMW i5. However, the numbers only tell part of the story because luggage space is traditionally measured to the window line, and the Avant offers more space above that line than the Sportback. That means loading bulky items is easier, and there's more space when the rear seats are folded down, too. No matter which model you choose or which options you specify, the A6 e-tron comes with a big central touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster, both of which live in a huge, curved housing. Both screens look sharp and modern, and have smart graphics, but they aren't quite as brilliant as we were hoping. The instrument cluster doesn't quite have the configuration options of the display in the old A6, for example, and the touchscreen isn't quite as easy to navigate. That's partly because the touchscreen has so much work to do. The almost total removal of buttons from the dashboard means a huge amount of functionality has been delegated to the screen, including climate control and driving mode selection. In fairness, the air-conditioning 'switches' are some of the most user-friendly touchscreen controls we've come across, partly because they're always accessible no matter which display you're using. However, proper buttons would still be more ergonomic. The same goes for the optional virtual door mirrors, which are vastly improved compared with the camera-based system of the original Audi e-tron (now known as the Q8 e-tron). Audi is now using sharper cameras and positioning the displays higher up, putting them in a more natural position, but they're still a bit awkward and clunky. You can't adjust the field of view simply by moving your head, and they play havoc with your depth perception, but thankfully they're an optional extra, not a standard feature. We've no complaints about the other screens available in the Audi's cabin, though. The optional passenger display seems a bit superfluous at first, but it's nicely integrated into the central operating system and its pared-back nature makes it slightly easier to use than the central screen. And the head-up display is even better, projecting graphics across a large area of the windscreen, allowing it to superimpose turn directions over the applicable part of the view outside, and enabling it to pick out hazards to help with the safety systems. Audi is offering four different battery-and-motor combinations for the A6 e-tron, regardless of whether you choose the Sportback or Avant. The base option combines an 83kWh battery with a 240kW electric motor that drives the rear wheels, while the Performance variant has a bigger 100kWh battery and a 280kW electric motor. Above those two models sit the quattro, which, as the name suggests, uses two electric motors to offer all-wheel drive, and ups the peak power output to 340kW. And the range is crowned by the S6 e-tron, which squeezes up to 405kW from its two motors. Unsurprisingly, some versions are more efficient than others, and some have more range than others. The base model will cover around 615km on a charge, according to the official figures, and that rises to an impressive 745km for the Performance version with the bigger battery. Opt for the quattro, meanwhile, and the figures suggest a range of around 700km, while the S6 manages about 650km of range. And when that range is finally exhausted, the 100kWh models will charge at up to 270kW, allowing them to recharge their batteries to 80 per cent in around 20 minutes, assuming you can find a suitable ultra-rapid charge point. Audi had a chance to wipe the slate clean with the new A6 e-tron, and – using the same architecture as the Q6 e-tron SUV – Audi says it has been tuned to make it better to drive than the old A6 without being any less comfortable. And to a degree, the plan has worked. Although the A6 e-tron isn't the most exciting or engaging car on the road, it feels solid and stable, with predictable handling that makes it safe and reassuring. The steering is a bit lifeless, but the response from the front wheels is smart enough and there's a pleasantly linear feel to it, even if you don't get much in the way of feedback. That said, the body control is good, keeping the car from rolling too much in corners, but it isn't as level and planted as rivals such as the BMW i5. That's despite our test car coming with the optional air suspension, designed to offer the maximum breadth of capability and merge comfort with handling. We don't know whether air suspension will be available in Australia, but it does a fairly decent job of softening the impact of potholes and other imperfections on the road surface, even if it's not quite perfect. Because it's quite soft and sometimes a little sluggish on the uptake, it doesn't always sort itself out that quickly after hitting a pothole, and if it hits another bump too soon, it can get caught on the hop. That said, in sportier settings, it tightens itself up and displays a little more composure over broken surfaces, even if the initial impacts aren't soaked up as competently. The ride improves as the speed increases, too, with the A6 e-tron gliding a little more easily over cats' eyes and potholes on faster roads than it does around town. There are differences between the standard A6 e-tron models and the S6 e-tron, too, which is a little stiffer and benefits from tighter body control. That means it feels a little more keen to turn into corners and a bit more stable when you drive it fast, but no version of the A6 e-tron really rewards you for grabbing it by the scruff of the neck. The steering never gives you the feedback that keener drivers crave and the car doesn't have the agility and performance of a BMW i5. Not that the A6 e-tron is slow. Even the base model gets from 0-100km/h in about six seconds, and the S6 can do it in under four. But neither of them feels as fast as those numbers suggest, despite the quiet relentlessness and immediacy of the electric motors. The car bounds forwards when you press the accelerator, but it doesn't feel as though it has found some previously unheard-of warp speed. It's quick, rather than rapid. But if it's fun you're after, then the Performance model is, in a weird way, one of the more exciting options. Unusually for an Audi, it's rear-wheel drive, and that means hitting the accelerator in mid-corner will cause the rear-end to step out of line, albeit in a docile, benign kind of way. And the brakes are impressive, too, despite the car's kerb weight of more than two tonnes. Australian specifications are yet to be confirmed, but in Europe the A6 e-tron is offered in a choice of three different trim levels. Base models come with LED headlights, heated front seats and climate control, as well as alloy wheels, fabric upholstery and the digital instrument display and big touchscreen. Moving up the trim levels to the S line version adds bigger wheels, privacy glass and sportier interior and exterior design cues, as well as leather upholstery and sports seats. And if you go for the range-topping Edition 1 model, you get LED lights that can be configured to offer a choice of different signatures, with the tail-lights also getting dynamic light signatures that can adapt to the situation. If you do an emergency stop, the lights will display a warning triangle, and they'll show another icon when parking or opening the door. It'll even show other drivers if they have pulled too close to your rear bumper. Other features, including the passenger infotainment screen and head-up display, are also available as options, along with the virtual door mirrors. The A6 e-tron has not yet been through either the ANCAP or Euro NCAP crash test procedure, but we would expect it to fare well. Audi has come out with some very safe models in the past few years, including the Q6 e-tron SUV that's based on the same architecture as the new A6 e-tron. And although Audi Australia hasn't confirmed standard specifications yet, there's lots of safety equipment included in European-spec cars, including automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning, as well as all the usual suspects, such as anti-lock brakes and a full array or airbags. All Audis sold in Australia come with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, as well as an eight-year/160,000km battery warranty on EVs. The official figures suggest the Performance version of the A6 e-tron – the version with the longest range – will cover around 750km on a single charge, which is an enormous range for an electric vehicle. Admittedly, that figure is reduced for the two-motor S6 e-tron and A6 e-tron quattro models, as well as the standard e-tron with the smaller battery, but all four variants are capable of impressive efficiency. That means most customers will be able to do most of their journeys without having to charge away from home, and if you can do that, the A6 e-tron will be a cheap thing to run. The A6 e-tron is not the most exciting electric executive car on the market, but that doesn't mean it won't appeal to lots of customers. The range is huge, and it's crammed with technology, while the quality and design live up to the usual standards set by Audi. The BMW i5 is still a better car to drive, but in pretty much any other aspect, the A6 e-tron claims the bragging rights, and that should make it one of the best cars in its class. 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