wow 888
NoneUS sanctions founder of Georgia’s ruling political party
Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin will help drive modernisation of Australia’s financial system, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has declared while revealing the re-election of Donald Trump has already forced a rethink of the emerging sector’s importance. Chalmers said while there were legitimate concerns such as the use of crypto by criminal elements, the possible advantages from the creation of new investment opportunities should not be curtailed by overzealous regulation. Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have attracted even more interest since the re-election of Donald Trump. Credit: Bloomberg Cryptocurrencies, which encompass digital currencies that are effectively policed by investors rather than authorities such as governments or central banks, were already one of the world’s fastest-growing investment opportunities before Trump’s election victory in November. Trump has promised to be a “crypto president” by loosening regulation around products, creating a stockpile of bitcoin – the value of which has surged by a third since November – and making it easier for crypto investors to gain access to traditional banking systems. In Australia, broad investment in cryptocurrencies is still well short of traditional sectors such as equities and property, but there is growing interest, particularly among younger people. Chalmers said he believed crypto, and the infrastructure surrounding it, could be a key feature of an improved financial system. “I think crypto has a role to play, and it’s part of modernising and innovating in our financial system,” he said. “We need to make sure there are appropriate protections and guard-rails, but we need to make sure we don’t overdo that and stomp on part of the industry which, I think, will be important in the industry.” Last month, RBA governor Michele Bullock, who previously headed up the bank’s payments arm, was less bullish than Chalmers about cryptocurrency and said she didn’t see a role for it in the economy. “I don’t really see a role for it in, certainly in the Australian economy or payments system,” she said. Governments, central banks and policymakers around the world are watching Trump’s policy agenda with particular interest, given he has promised to impose wide-scale tariffs , deport millions of undocumented workers and possibly intervene in official interest rate settings . Chalmers said Trump’s approach to crypto was also uppermost in the government’s mind. “Of the list of changes in policy emphasis we expect from the incoming Trump administration, this is one of the ones we’ve spent a lot of time thinking about,” he said. “We think about trade and tariffs, we think about financial regulation, we think about deregulation more broadly. We think about the energy transformation, and we think about crypto.” The government is planning to introduce legislation next year that would create licensing arrangements for businesses that offer digital assets such as crypto and stablecoin – a type of cryptocurrency pegged to the value of another currency or commodity. The licensing is in part due to growing crypto-related scams that were estimated last year to have cost Australians about $180 million in losses. AUSTRAC this month warned that it believed specialist crypto ATMs were being used by criminal organisations in South-East Asia to launder the money of Australian-based criminals. Treasurer Jim Chalmers believes cryptocurrencies will drive modernisation and innovation across the nation’s financial system. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Chalmers said regulations around crypto had to balance security issues for potential investors in the asset class against being overly onerous. “Our interest here is to recognise it’s legitimate, it’s important, it’s growing,” he said. “We need to make sure that people are protected, but we don’t want to overdo it in a way that stifles an industry we believe in. “Obviously, the multinational crime element of it is something people are focused on with good reason, but I think we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we overfocused on the downside and didn’t sufficiently focus on the upside.” One of the downsides is the use of crypto by criminals attracted to the way its underlying technology makes it difficult to track major financial transactions. In some cases, criminals have demanded ransom payments in crypto. This masthead can also reveal that cryptocurrency assets are increasingly being seized by the Australian Federal Police as part of their inquiries. Between July and November this year, the AFP had collected more than $20 million worth of crypto. Over the same period, more than $28 million in cash was seized by the AFP’s criminal asset confiscation taskforce. All seized cash goes into an account used for community safety programs. The AFP has collected $62 million in crypto since the middle of 2019. The value of that crypto may be growing. Once the AFP collects it, the agency does not track the ongoing value of the crypto (which is managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority). Since July 1 this year, the value of bitcoin has soared from $US63,352 to $US97,742. As recently as December 17, bitcoin had reached $US106,470. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter .1. Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)Bengals' Joe Burrow addresses privacy concerns after burglary
AI Investment Secrets. Is This the Hidden Gem for 2025?Through his journey, the young man learned valuable lessons about following one's heart, taking risks, and cherishing the moments that truly matter in life. His story inspired many others to pursue their own dreams fearlessly, reminding them that love and passion are powerful forces that can lead to unexpected but fulfilling paths.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Snoop Dogg has nearly as many ties to football as he does to rap music. The entertainer coached youth football for years and created the Snoop League, an after-school program for inner city Los Angeles youths. Snoop has been a guest analyst on football broadcasts and his son, Cordell Broadus, played Division I football. When Snoop took his latest step, becoming the sponsor of a bowl game, he had a demand: Find a way for all players in the game to receive name, image and likeness (NIL) money. “This was Snoop's idea,” said Kym Adair, executive director of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice. “He was having conversations with people he knows in the college football world and I got a call that said he wants us to be the first bowl to make this commitment and that's what we did.” The beneficiaries are Colorado State and Miami (Ohio), who will conclude their seasons Saturday at Arizona Stadium in the Arizona Bowl. The bowl is classified as a 501(c)(3), so all revenue goes to charity. And, being one of the few bowls not tied to ESPN, it opens the door for unique sponsorship opportunities. The bowl was previously sponsored by Barstool Sports and the digital media company used its own cast of characters on the broadcast, which was streamed on its digital platforms. Snoop Dogg takes over this year. The rapper/entertainer is the latest celebrity to sponsor a bowl, following the footsteps of Jimmy Kimmel and Rob Gronkowski at the LA Bowl. And, Snoop being Snoop, he wanted to put his own spin on his own bowl. “College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences,” Snoop said in a video posted on social media. “So it’s time that we get back to the roots of college football — when it was focused on the colleges, the players and the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry.” With that will be an NIL component. The bowl can't pay players just for playing in the bowl, but both teams participated in football clinics on Friday and will get paid for their services. Other bowls have given single players NIL opportunities, but this is believed to be the first to offer it to every player on both teams. “I love the fact that the Arizona Bowl is unique and tries new things, and obviously having Snoop here is unique,” Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. “The NIL component, it’s the future. It’s what football has become now. We think it’s fantastic for our kids and then the interaction with the kids is the hidden gem of the whole thing.” The NIL component of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl comes a month after a similar effort in The Players Era Festival basketball tournament in Las Vegas. The eight-team tournament said it paid out $9 million in NIL money to participating players for activities outside the competition. It also offered $50 million in NIL opportunities over the next three years for services and activities compliant with NCAA regulations. Are the Players Era Festival and Arizona Bowl the start of a new future? It is not out of the question in big-time college athletics, where schools are already preparing for the era of revenue sharing with players next year. “Revenue sharing between the players and the athletic departments is already on the horizon, so whether that takes the place of these types of arrangements or they're completely separate has yet to be determined," Adair said. "We're just trying to be flexible, ahead of the curve and make an impact any way we can.” Just the way Snoop wants it. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
A Stoughton woman believed to have fled home with her three children triggered an Amber Alert on Friday night. The kids were found safe less than an hour later. Yet across Massachusetts, people continued to receive alerts that the women and children were missing throughout Saturday. Technology issues were to blame, a Massachusetts State Police spokesperson said. There was no lingering threat to the children, ages 8, 9 and 10. Other similar stories
For those unfamiliar with Overwatch, the 303 tactic refers to a strategic approach where players focus on controlling key chokepoints on the map, using a combination of offensive and defensive maneuvers to gain a competitive advantage. This tactic has long been hailed as a game-changing strategy in Overwatch, allowing skilled players to outmaneuver their opponents and secure victory.BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Adam Jones ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Montana State ran over Montana 34-11 on Saturday to reclaim the Brawl of the Wild trophy. The Bobcats (12-0, 8-0 Big Sky Conference) wrapped up the 123rd meeting in this rivalry with 420 yards, 326 on the ground. Montana State capped its first unbeaten season and can match the school record for consecutive wins with a playoff win in two weeks. The Bobcats, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll, should be the top seed in the playoffs after top-ranked North Dakota State lost its finale to fifth-ranked South Dakota. Montana (8-4, 5-3), ranked 10th, is expected to add to its record 27 FCS playoff appearances but will not have a first-round bye in the 24-team bracket. Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott was 6-of-12 passing for 94 yards with a touchdown in poor conditions and added 50 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He has helped the Bobcats score at least 30 points in every game this season Mellott had a 5-yard touchdown run on MSU's first possession and Mellott found Jones for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter for a 14-3 lead. Myles Sansted had two field goals in the final two minutes, including a 49-yarder as time expired for a 20-3 halftime lead. Jones dominated the second half and scored two short touchdowns. Eli Gillman scored on a 1-yard run for Montana's touchdown between the Jones' touchdowns. The Grizzlies had just 234 yards and went 2 of 12 on third down. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
The excitement surrounding the release of "The Fading Light" has been building for months, with fans eagerly speculating about its features, storylines, and possible twists. The confirmation of its appearance at TGA has only served to heighten the anticipation, with players counting down the days until they can finally immerse themselves in this epic adventure.
JD Airlines Joins International Air Transport Association, Expands Routes to South Korea and Southeast Asia( MENAFN - Newsfile Corp) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 27, 2024) - Inspiration (CSE: ISP) ("Inspiration" or the "Company") announces the granting of stock options to certain directors and consultants of the Company to purchase an aggregate of 350,000 common shares of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.07 per share, expiring in two years from the date of grant. The Options were issued pursuant to the terms of the Company's stock option plan and the requirements of the Canadian Securities Exchange. About Inspiration energy Corp. Inspiration Energy Corp. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop properties of merit and to conduct exploration on the Company's properties. For more information, please refer to the Company's information available on SEDAR+ ( ). On Behalf of the Board of Directors Charles Desjardins CEO, President and Director Phone: 604-808-3156 Email: ...gy Neither the Canadian Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR+ in Canada (available at ). To view the source version of this press release, please visit SOURCE: Inspiration Energy Corp. MENAFN27122024004218003983ID1109035929 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 way that freshman guard Brooke Carlson has started her college basketball career at Colorado State could have been hard to predict by some people. If Carlson were just an average player, perhaps that would be the case. The way that Batavia coach Kevin Jensen knows Carlson, however, her initial success is no shock at all. “I can’t say that any of us are surprised,” Jensen said. “Athletically, she’s so gifted. We were a nice piece to the puzzle with how she developed, but so many times behind the scenes, she was putting in hours and hours of work that very few knew about. It’s paying off now.” Especially since Carlson has emerged as Colorado State’s top option off the bench. Carlson, Batavia’s all-time leading scorer, is averaging 6.2 points in her first taste of college action. She also has 25 assists, 14 steals and 12 rebounds for the Rams (9-4). “It’s been 100% better than what I felt like I was coming into,” Carlson said. “It’s been a lot, but it’s been fun. I was kind of expecting to figure my way out, but I found what I can do already.” The highlight game for Carlson came Dec. 8 against Gonzaga. She scored 18 points in 27 minutes, both career highs. While those statistics are striking, what stands out most is what Carlson accomplished countless times at Batavia. When the game is in the balance, Carlson finds a way to take over. Batavia’s Brooke Carlson (2) drives past Wheaton Warrenville South’s Emily Troia during the Class 4A Bartlett Regional championship game on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News) She hit a layup with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give Colorado State a 66-65 lead against Gonzaga, which eventually forced a tie and sent the game into overtime. With only 2 seconds left in OT, another layup by Carlson gave the Rams a dramatic 74-72 win. “The bigger the stage, the better she’s going to look,” Jensen said. “That’s holding true still.” Colorado State coach Ryun Williams fell in love with Carlson’s game during the recruiting process, but translating that skill to the next level can often be tricky. Carlson, however, has made quick strides with the Rams. Mike Mantucca / The Beacon-News Batavia’s Brooke Carlson (2) goes up for a layup against Geneva’s Leah Palmer (22) during the Class 4A Glenbard West Sectional final in Glen Ellyn on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Mike Mantucca / The Beacon-News) “First of all, just an elite competitor,” Williams said. “Her motor really stood out. She’s a fearless player. That really stood out to me and the staff. Obviously, she’s very skilled. She can put pressure on the rim and can shoot it. “We surely hoped we could get her on the floor early in her career. She’s the one that got herself to that floor. We expect that to keep growing. She’s just different than anyone else on our team. I think she’s a kid that can lead us.” Carlson knew that the level of play would jump up significantly in college. Those hours that Jensen talked about behind the scenes helped her build to that level. She’ll experience another level of play Sunday when Colorado State begins Mountain West Conference play at Utah State. “It’s definitely a lot more pressure and more intense, I would say,” Carlson said. “At the end of the day, it’s just basketball, so you have to figure out how to make it like it’s always been.” Jon Langham/The Beacon-News Batavia’s Brooke Carlson (2) scoops in a layup after splitting the defense of Geneva’s Kinsey Gracie (24) and Leah Palmer during a DuKane Conference game in Batavia on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News) Williams also has seen all the traits he observed about Carlson in high school manifest quickly. “She’s got that little swag,” Williams said. “She’s a confident young lady. She believes in her ability, and fearless is the word. She’s had a great first semester for us, and she’s been rewarded for it. “I’m sure there’s more of that to come, but we’re just trying to get her to be really consistent and solid every single day. She’s buying into how she needs to really impact our team.” Carlson has a simple plan for the rest of the season. “I just feel like finding myself, being 100% comfortable in what I’m doing and winning are the goals,” Carlson said. “It’s a lot of hard work, that’s for sure.” Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
In conclusion, the fire at Alibaba Cloud's data center was a wakeup call for the tech industry and a test of the company's resilience and response capabilities. While the incident caused disruptions and raised concerns among customers, Alibaba Cloud's proactive response and commitment to improving their infrastructure and practices are steps in the right direction towards regaining trust and confidence in their services.Jones, Mellott help Montana State run over Montana 34-11
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Friday named Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor in his second administration, elevating a Republican congresswoman who has strong support from unions in her district but lost reelection in November. Chavez-DeRemer will have to be confirmed by the Senate, which will be under Republican control when Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2025, and can formally send nominations to Capitol Hill. Here are things to know about the labor secretary-designate, the agency she would lead if she wins Senate approval and how she could matter to Trump’s encore presidency. Related Story: Chavez-DeRemer’s Pro-Labor Record Chavez-DeRemer is a one-term congresswoman, having lost reelection in her competitive Oregon district earlier this month. But in her short stint on Capitol Hill she has established a clear record on workers’ rights and organized labor issues that belie the Republican Party’s usual alliances with business interests. She was an enthusiastic back of the PRO Act, legislation that would make it easier to unionize on a federal level. The bill, one of Democratic President Joe Biden’s top legislative priorities, passed the House during Biden’s first two years in office, when Democrats controlled the chamber. But it never had a chance of attracting enough Republican senators to reach the 60 votes required to avoid a filibuster in the Senate. Chavez-DeRemer also co-sponsored another piece of legislation that would protect public-sector workers from having their Social Security benefits docked because of government pension benefits. That proposal also has lingered for a lack of GOP support. Related Story: Labor Leaders Remain Cautious Chavez-DeRemer may give labor plenty to like, but union leaders are not necessarily cheering yet. Many of them still do not trust Trump. The president-elect certainly has styled himself as a friend of the working class. His bond with blue-collar, non-college educated Americans is a core part of his political identity and helped him chip away at Democrats’ historical electoral advantage in households with unionized workers. But he was also the president who chose business-friendly appointees to the National Labor Relations Board during his 2017-21 term and generally has backed policies that would make it harder for workers to unionize. He criticized union bosses on the campaign trail, and at one point suggested members of the United Auto Workers should not pay their dues. His administration did expand overtime eligibility rules, but not nearly as much as Democrats wanted, and a Trump-appointed judge has since struck down the Biden administration’s more generous overtime rules. And though Trump distanced himself from the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 during the campaign, he has since his victory warmed to some of the people involved in that conservative blueprint that, broadly speaking, would tilt power in the workplace even more toward employers and corporations. Among other ideas, the plan also would curb enforcement of workplace safety regulations. After Trump’s announcement Friday, National Education Association President Becky Pringle lauded Chavez-DeRemer’s House record but sounded a note of caution. “Educators and working families across the nation will be watching ... as she moves through the confirmation process,” Pringle said in a statement, “and hope to hear a pledge from her to continue to stand up for workers and students as her record suggests, not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler praised Chavez-DeRemer’s “pro-labor record in Congress,” but said “it remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as Secretary of Labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda.” Labor Department’s Potential Spotlight Labor is another executive department that often operates away from the spotlight. But Trump’s emphasis on the working class could intensify attention on the department, especially in an administration replete with tremendously wealthy leaders, including the president-elect. Trump took implicit aim at the department’s historically uncontroversial role of maintaining labor statistics, arguing that Biden’s administration manipulated calculations of unemployment and the workforce. Related Story: If she is confirmed, Chavez-DeRemer could find herself standing between the nonpartisan bureaucrats at the Bureau of Labor Statistics and a president with strong opinions about government stats and what they say about the state of the economy — and the White House’s stewardship. Her handling of overtime rules also would be scrutinized, and she could find herself pulled into whatever becomes of Trump’s promise to launch the largest deportation force in U.S. history, potentially pitting Trump’s administration against economic sectors and companies that depend heavily on immigrant labor. Adding Diversity to the Cabinet Chavez-DeRemer was the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Oregon. She joins Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, the Florida senator, as the second Latino pick for Trump’s second Cabinet. Trump’s first labor secretary, Alexander Acosta, also was Latino.Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. Nearly three-quarters said they visit YouTube every day. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. This small decline could be due to pandemic-era restrictions easing up and kids having more time to see friends in person, but it's not enough to be truly meaningful . X saw the biggest decline among teenage users. Only 17% of teenagers said they use X, down from 23% in 2022, the year Elon Musk bought the platform. Reddit held steady at 14%. About 6% of teenagers said they use Threads, Meta's answer to X that launched in 2023. The report comes as countries around the world are grappling with how to handle the effects of social media on young people's well-being. Australia recently passed a law banning kids under 16 from social networks, though it's unclear how it will be able to enforce the age limit — and whether it will come with unintended consequences such as isolating vulnerable kids from their peers. Meta's messaging service WhatsApp was a rare exception in that it saw the number of teenage users increase, to 23% from 17% in 2022. Pew also asked kids how often they use various online platforms. Small but significant numbers said they are on them “almost constantly.” For YouTube, 15% reported constant use, for TikTok, 16% and for Snapchat, 13%. As in previous surveys, girls were more likely to use TikTok almost constantly while boys gravitated to YouTube. There was no meaningful gender difference in the use of Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Roughly a quarter of Black and Hispanic teens said they visit TikTok almost constantly, compared with just 8% of white teenagers. The report was based on a survey of 1,391 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 conducted from Sept. 18 to Oct. 10, 2024.
In a recent live cooking show, Xiang Zuo and Zhao Xiaohua's synergy in the kitchen reached a new level. Their dishes were not only well-prepared and beautifully presented but also infused with a sense of excitement and adventure. The couple's playfulness and chemistry shone through as they bantered and laughed, showcasing their love for cooking and each other.One of the key indicators highlighted by Guotai Junan is the stabilization of economic fundamentals. As economies gradually recover from the impact of the pandemic, corporate earnings are expected to improve, providing a solid foundation for stock market growth. Additionally, government stimulus measures and monetary policy support have bolstered market sentiment and liquidity, creating a favorable environment for investment.
The first-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe was arguably the second-worst thing to come out of the year 2020. It was BMW’s first front-wheel-drive car ever sold in the United States, and everything from its styling to its driving experience was viciously criticized by the press. Fast forward to the present, and we’ve learned how to navigate life with the horrors brought upon us by that wretched year. Now BMW has unveiled the second-generation 2 Series Gran Coupe . Is it going to be the vaccine that cures the ills of the first-generation car, or is it just a new variant? I got to sample the new car very briefly at BMW Test Fest this year , and initial impressions are good. Full Disclosure: BMW flew me out to its facilities in South Carolina for the annual BMW Test Fest event. I sampled upcoming tech and drove several models, but I was only given about five minutes on a closed course in the new 2 Series Gran Coupe. This isn’t a full review or even a first drive story; it’s more of a preview of a first drive. We will let you know as soon as we get more time with it. I drove a 2025 BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupe for five minutes on a closed course at BMW’s test track in South Carolina, and from those five minutes I could tell the new car is a more cohesive vehicle than the first-gen model. When performing a few high-speed lane changes and long fast turns the M235i was stable, solid and responsive. It felt playful, and mercifully it didn’t understeer into oblivion; if anything it was more eager to oversteer. The new interior is slightly more upscale than the outgoing car’s, and it feels more spacious. One of the biggest demerits against the first-gen 2 Series Gran Coupe was its frumpy styling. The new car isn’t what I’d call a looker, but it is an improvement, especially at the rear. The new design better masks the platform’s front-wheel-drive roots, with a slightly lower nose and more flattering body lines that feel more cohesive than before. The silhouette is aided by a more graceful slope to the C-pillar, and an ass-end that looks less like a swollen forehead over awkward creased design elements. Overall it’s more closely related to the rest of the BMW lineup. All new 2 Series Gran Coupes will come standard with an M Sport exterior design package to keep the theme sporty and elevated, where the previous design’s base trim looked more like an economy car than a luxury car. Dimensions remain mostly the same as before, though it’s grown an inch in height and just under an inch in length. Beyond improving the looks, BMW gave most models more power, too. The base 228i now comes with a turbocharged 2-liter Miller cycle inline-4 that produces 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which is up 13 horses and 37 torques when compared to the first-gen car. The M235i also has a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but with 312 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, up 11 horsepower and actually down 37 pound-feet of torque versus the previous model. Both engines are mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. BMW claims the 228i now goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, 0.2 second faster than before, while the M235i takes the same claimed 4.7 seconds as the outgoing car. Of course the tech quotient is up, with the 2 Series now featuring BMW’s latest curved driver’s display and infotainment screen running the newest version of BMW iDrive. New standard features for all 2 Series Gran Coupe models include a 12-speaker Harmon/Kardon stereo, keyless entry, wireless charging, phone-as-key technology, adaptive suspension, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, a parking assistant, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. M235i models get a standard M Sport Brake package that features four-piston front calipers developed for full-fat M models, a package that’s optional on the 228i. Most new 2 Series Gran Coupes will start going on sale in March, though base front-wheel-drive 228i models will arrive a few months later. Prices for that base FWD 228i will start at $40,775 including the $1,175 destination charge. Adding xDrive brings the price up to $42,775, while the top-of-the-line M235i xDrive starts at a pricey $50,675 before options. The second-generation BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is an improvement over the outgoing car, but is it going to light driving enthusiast’s hearts on fire? Not likely. It is a solid entry-level luxury car with a reinvigorated sporty edge, and new looks that do a good job of righting the wrongs of its predecessor. If I was in the market for a new 2 Series Gran Coupe, though, I would much rather buy a used 3 Series if I really needed four doors, or I’d buy a proper rear-wheel-drive 2 Series coupe.
Slowly but surely, cracks started to appear in Booker's facade. His once-impeccable work ethic wavered, his focus shifted, and his priorities became skewed. He fell victim to distractions and temptations, losing sight of his true goals and values. The people who had once supported him now watched from a distance, dismayed by the dramatic downfall of someone they had once admired.
In recent months, the Beijing real estate market has experienced a notable increase in the transaction volume of second-hand homes. This surge in activity has sparked discussions among analysts and potential buyers alike, as they try to decipher the underlying reasons behind this trend.Amidst the ongoing conflict in Syria, recent developments have raised eyebrows and sparked speculation amongst analysts and observers. Reports suggest that the Syrian opposition forces have sensed an opportunity, taking bold actions on the ground, while Turkey appears to be giving tacit approval to these moves. The shifting dynamics of the situation have left many wondering about the implications for the region and the future of the conflict.Grange Hill creator rips into TV bosses saying ‘courage has gone out of broadcasting’ amid rumours BBC show could RETURN