Off the couch and into the fireNone

Katherine Schwarzenegger Shares First Pic of Son With Chris Pratt

Presidenta mexicana ofrece diálogo a Trump, pero amenaza con responder también con arancelesAcross the Middle East and beyond, the fall of Syria’s authoritarian government at the hands of jihadi fighters set off waves of jubilation, trepidation and alarm. Expatriate Syrians and many residents across the Middle East exulted at the overthrow of a leader who led his country through 14 years of civil strife that left half a million Syrians dead and displaced millions to countries around the world. Others worried about still more instability rocking a region in turmoil. Governments — whether allies or opponents of Assad — scrambled to absorb the sudden, stunning development and assess the implications for the Middle East and the world. In Lebanon, thousands of Syrians headed for the Masnaa border crossing to return to their home country, despite the uncertainty. “Anything is better than Bashar,” said Sami Abdel-Latif, a refugee from Hama who was heading back to join his wife and four children. “This is a feeling we’ve been waiting 14 years for,” said Malak Matar, who was preparing to return to the capital Damascus. Now, he said, “Syrians have to create a state that is well organized and take care of their country.” Many citizens in Syria’s neighboring countries reacted with joy to news Assad was gone. In Jordan’s capital, Amman, resident Muhab al-Majali said his fall marked the end of “unjust and tyrannical rule.” “I believe that the future is beautiful and prosperous for the Syrians,” he said. Others were not so sure, in a region that saw the energy of the 2011 Arab Spring democracy movement collapse into conflict and authoritarian rule. Saeed Sawy, an engineer in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, predicted that Syria’s rebel groups would descend into infighting over the country’s future. “We saw this happen before,” he said. “We saw this in Libya, in Tunisia, in Yemen and Sudan. People rejoice over the fall of tyrants, then they disagree and fight, and a civil war starts.” Syria’s neighbors stepped up security along their borders. Lebanon said it was closing all but one of its land border crossings with Syria. Jordan also closed a border crossing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had — temporarily, he said — seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement, after Syrian troops abandoned their positions. Airstrikes were reported on a military airport near Damascus, which has previously been targeted by Israel, and on other Syrian military sites. Iran, a key ally of Assad, said the Syrian people should decide their country’s future “without destructive, coercive foreign intervention.” The Foreign Ministry in Tehran said Iran supports Syria’s unity and national sovereignty, and hopes to see “the end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist activities and the start of a national dialogue” with the participation of all groups. The Iraqi government, which is close to Iran, said it “supports all international and regional efforts seeking to open a dialogue” for Syria. Egypt’s foreign ministry urged a “comprehensive political process” to establish a new era of peace in the war-torn county. The head of Yemen’s internationally recognized government welcomed the fall of Assad as “a historic moment.” Yemen’s government is at war with the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran. Turkey has backed anti-Assad fighter groups in Syria, and could play a key role in what happens next. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the fall of Assad brought “hope.” He called on the world to help “unite and reconstruct” Syria. Fidan, who met in Qatar on Saturday with diplomats from Russia and Iran, the main backers of the Assad regime, said regional and global powers should try “to act with prudence and calm.” The war sent millions of Syrians fleeing to Europe and expatriates took to the streets in celebration in cities including Paris, London, Stockholm, Helsinki and Athens. Many European governments welcomed Assad’s departure while urging a rapid return to stability. “The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development,” said Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s newly appointed foreign policy chief, in a post on X. “Our priority is to ensure security in the region. I will work with all the constructive partners, in Syria and the region.” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement that the end of Assad’s rule was “good news,” adding that “what matters now is that law and order are quickly restored in Syria.” France’s foreign ministry welcomed the fall of Assad, saying “the Syrian people have suffered too much.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also welcomed the end of Assad’s “barbaric regime.” “We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days,” he said. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called for calm and urged work to ensure an “orderly political transition to renewed institutions.” Russia, which backed Assad with troops and warplanes, said it has been following the “dramatic events” in Syria “with extreme concern.” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha of Ukraine, which is at war with Russia, wrote on X that the ousted Syrian leader had suffered the fate of “all dictators who bet on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him.” In Washington, President Joe Biden was meeting with his national security team Sunday for an update on the situation in Syria. President-elect Donald Trump said in a social media post Saturday, before Assad’s fall was confirmed: “Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!” The U.S. has about 900 troops in Syria, including U.S. forces working with Kurdish allies in the opposition-held northeast to prevent any resurgence of the Islamic State group.None

London police make 500 arrests using facial recognition tech LONDON: London ́s Metropolitan Police force said on Friday that it had used facial recognition technology to make more than 500 arrests in 2024 for offences ranging from shoplifting to rape. The force uses live facial recognition in specific areas of the UK capital, positioning a van equipped with cameras in a pre-agreed location. The cameras capture live footage of passers-by and compare their faces against a pre-approved watchlist, generating an alert if a match is detected.Bill Belichick, the former NFL head coach who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl wins, will be the new head coach of the University of North Carolina's football program. The school announced the news on social media Wednesday night. He's agreed to a five-year deal with the Tar Heels, which is pending approval from the university's board of trustees and board of governors. A press conference was held at the school on Thursday to formally announce Belichick as the new head coach, which he described as a dream come true. UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham jokingly gifted Belichick a Tar Heels sweatshirt with his trademark short sleeves. RELATED STORY | Bill Belichick 'moves on' from coaching New England Patriots "I grew up in college football with my dad," Belichick said, showing off one of his father's old sweatshirts from when he was an assistant coach at the school for a couple of years before he went on to coach at the U.S. Naval Academy for over three decades. He said Carolina was home and his family always joked when he was growing up that his first words were "beat Duke" — the Tar Heels' rival school. Belichick won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants before continuing his career with the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. But he's known for his career with the Patriots, where he was the head coach for 24 seasons and won 13 AFC championship titles and made nine Super Bowl appearances. He retired from the NFL as the second-winningest coach in NFL history.

Tetairoa McMillan, one of the best wide receivers in Arizona history, will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the 2025 NFL Draft, he announced on social media on Thursday. Projected as a top-10 draft pick, the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan finished his illustrious career at Arizona with 3,423 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Bobby Wade (3,351). In three seasons, the Hawaii native also posted the fourth-most catches (213) and third-most touchdowns (26) in school history. "Wildcat Nation, this journey has been everything I dreamed of and more," McMillan wrote on Instagram. "From the moment I committed to the University of Arizona, to every second spent wearing that Arizona jersey ... it's been an absolute honor. "The University of Arizona has provided me with the platform to grow and chase my dreams. ... Thank you from the bottom of my heart. To the best fans in the country, I appreciate you for all of the love and support you have given me these last 3 years. I will always be a Wildcat." In 2024, McMillan totaled 84 grabs (ninth in Division I) for 1,319 yards (third in Division I) and eight touchdowns for the 4-8 Wildcats. He also ranked third in Division I with 109.9 receiving yards per game. McMillan is a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the most outstanding receiver in college football. --Field Level MediaOff the couch and into the fireFeels like 1979: Nottingham Forest moves into 2nd place behind rampant Liverpool in Premier League

United, Apple rolling out new way to track lost luggage with AirTagsNeighbors Urge Mayor To Delay Or Deny Permit To Pilsen Metal ScrapperNEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin extended its streak of record highs after ticking above $99,000 for the first time. The cryptocurrency has rocketed more than 40% in just two weeks. Now, bitcoin is at the doorstep of $100,000, just two years after dropping below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX . The dramatic rally rolls on as industry players expect the incoming Trump administration to bring a more “crypto-friendly” approach toward regulating the digital currency. Bitcoin was trading at $99,526 Friday afternoon, according to CoinDesk. As with everything in the volatile crypto markets, the future is impossible to know. And while some are bullish, other experts continue to warn of investment risks. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But, chances are, you've heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Crypto industry players have welcomed Trump’s victory, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, recently pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. How of this will actually pan out — and whether or not Trump will successfully act quickly on these promises — has yet to be seen. “This is not necessarily a short-term story, it’s likely a much longer-term story," Citi macro strategist David Glass told The Associated Press last week. "And there is the question of how quickly can U.S. crypto policy make a serious impact on (wider adoption).” One step Trump must take in the short-term is name a new head of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which shares oversight of cryptocurrencies. Gary Gensler, current chair of the SEC, has led the U.S. government’s crackdown on crypto over recent years, penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. But he's also faced criticism from industry players in the process, like the chief legal officer of Robinhood , who described Gensler's approach toward crypto as “rigid” and "hostile.” Gensler will step down in January when Trump takes office. Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, thinks the industry is craving “just some sort of clarity.” Much of the approach to regulating crypto in the past has been “enforcement based,” he notes, which has been helpful in weeding out some bad actors — but legislation might fill in other key gaps. Despite crypto’s recent excitement around Trump, McCarthy said that 2024 has already been a “hugely consequential year for regulation in the U.S.” — pointing to January’s approval of spot bitcoin ETFs, for example, which mark a new way to invest in the asset. Spot ETFs have been the dominant driver of bitcoin for some time now — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. According to Kaiko , bitcoin ETFs recorded $6 billion in trade volume for the week of the election alone. In April, bitcoin also saw its fourth “halving” — a preprogrammed event that impacts production by cutting the reward for mining, or the creation of new bitcoin, in half. In theory, if demand remains strong, some analysts say this “supply shock” can also help propel the price long term. Others note it may be too early to tell. History shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of Federal Reserve rate hikes. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs. But experts still stress caution, especially for small-pocketed investors. And lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to," McCarthy said — adding that there isn't a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. Assets like bitcoin are produced through a process called “mining,” which consumes a lot of energy. Operations relying on pollutive sources have drawn particular concern over the years. Recent research published by the United Nations University and Earth’s Future journal found that the carbon footprint of 2020-2021 bitcoin mining across 76 nations was equivalent to the emissions from burning 84 billion pounds of coal or running 190 natural gas-fired power plants. Coal satisfied the bulk of bitcoin’s electricity demands (45%), followed by natural gas (21%) and hydropower (16%). Environmental impacts of bitcoin mining boil largely down to the energy source used. Industry analysts have maintained that clean energy has increased in use in recent years, coinciding with rising calls for climate protections Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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Hamilton bows out of Mercedes era with cheers, tears and a rousing driveEnergy bulls are looking for top energy stocks that pay good and offer a shot at decent long-term total returns. Oil and gas price outlook Natural gas is trading near its high point for the year, while oil prices continue to face headwinds. Analysts expect the trend to continue into 2025. International demand for Canadian and U.S. natural gas soared after the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Europe historically relied on natural gas from Russia to fuel its manufacturing and household energy needs. In an effort to secure reliable supplies, Europe and other international buyers are seeking out liquified natural gas (LNG) shipments from North American producers. The United States already has several LNG export facilities in operation. Canada is in the process of building new sites on the coast of British Columbia. Increased access to global markets should be positive for Canadian natural gas producers. Domestic natural gas demand is also expected to be strong. Gas-fired power generation is forecast to grow due to rising electricity demand from new artificial intelligence data centres. Oil’s outlook over the medium term is less positive. Weak demand from China is combining with growing supply from non-OPEC countries, including the United States and Canada. OPEC just announced it will delay a planned supply increase until next spring, citing the soft demand outlook. That being said, an escalation in the conflict in the Middle East could quickly send oil prices higher. For example, an attack by Israel on Iranian oil facilities or the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran would severely disrupt oil markets. Given the market uncertainties, it makes sense for energy investors to look for companies that have diversified revenue streams and solid balance sheets to ride out volatility. Suncor ( ) is known for its oil sands production, but the company also owns refineries that turn crude oil into gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, plastics, and asphalt. In addition, Suncor operates Petro-Canada retail locations. The downstream businesses, as the refineries and service stations are known, provide a good hedge against dips in oil prices that reduce margins on the production side of the business. Suncor is making good progress on its turnaround efforts. Costs are down, production is growing, and the refineries are running at near capacity. The slowdown in the adoption of electric vehicles by consumers will prolong the need for gasoline and diesel fuel. Airlines are adding planes and routes, so jet fuel demand should remain robust. Suncor recently raised its dividend by 5%. The stock is down from $58 a few weeks ago to about $44 at the time of writing. Investors who buy SU stock at the current level can get a dividend yield of 4.2%. Canadian Natural Resources ( ) is a major natural gas producer in Canada, along with being an oil giant. The company has production operations that span the hydrocarbon spectrum, including oil sands, conventional heavy oil, conventional light oil, offshore oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas. CNRL recently announced a US$6.5 billion deal to buy Chevron’s Alberta assets. The purchase will boost revenue and reserves. The anticipated cash flow growth should support the 7% dividend increase the board is giving shareholders for 2025. Investors who buy CNQ stock at the current level can get a dividend yield of 4.9%. The share price is down about 7% in the past six months, so there is an opportunity to take advantage of a pullback. The bottom line on energy stocks In the current market conditions, it makes sense for energy investors to look for big names that pay solid dividends. If you are searching for energy stocks to add to your portfolio, Suncor and CNRL deserve to be on your radar.

(Image: Private Media/Zennie) It is bad enough that 2024 was a record high for global greenhouse gas emissions. It is extra bad because the number we’ve ended up at is higher than all of the old projections of what this year would end up at. That is to say: we are underestimating our ability to stop using fossil fuels. There have been incredible advances in renewables and climate policies, but also, “fossil fuel subsidies remain at an all-time high and funding for fossil fuel-prolonging projects quadrupled between 2021 and 2022”. Why? What is justifying this weird refusal to back away from the fossil fuel economy? It’s many things, but a big one is the false promise of a machine that cleans up fossil fuels, rather than us needing to find a replacement for them. Is Labor’s carbon capture fantasy even dumber than Dutton’s nuclear dream? Read More Back in 2022, I contributed an essay to Greta Thunberg’s Climate Book . It was about the weaponised false promise of carbon capture and storage (CCS). I wanted to talk about it not as a technological phenomenon but a rhetorical one. A tactically deployed promise that is never meant to come true . Failure as a feature, not a bug. The second coming hasn’t come yet After a surge of planned projects in the late 2000s and early 2010s failed to turn into operational carbon capture sites, there was a lull. But since 2020, the volume of planned CCS has increased very significantly, as we can see from the latest update from the Global CCS Institute (GCCSi), a CCS reporting and advocacy group that publishes annual data: As with so many previous years, the change in “operational” CCS is small. The pipeline for CCS has been surging for a half-decade now, and the amount of operational CCS has only grown by a few megatonnes of capacity. We were promised a CCS revolution, and we aren’t getting one. Each year’s database puts an estimated “start date” on these CCS projects, so if we compile every report from each year, we can get an idea of what should be operational, and compare it to what is : In 2024, the amount of operational CCS should be several times higher than it actually is, based on the promised start dates of projects in older reports. Some projects are being cancelled, others are pushing out those dates further into the future due to frequent delays . Carbon capture isn’t a technology that likes to be built. It’s almost a cruel chart to make, but compare the percentage growth in operational CCS to the growth in wind and solar over the same time, and you get an idea of the different dynamics we’re dealing with here: Why do we keep believing the promise when it keeps failing to materialise? There are many reasons, but I want to dive into a specific one in this post: a range of different future scenarios, from a range of different sources, has leant hard on CCS as a way to minimise projected reductions in fossil fuel use, and therefore politically soften any potentially scary visions of the “disruptive” elimination of fossil fuels. What the future looks like Media has gone missing in action on Labor’s carbon capture fraud Read More Fossil fuel companies (both power generation and extractive) love using the false promise of CCS to justify massive, high-emitting projects. It’s worth diving into this incredible July 2024 investigation by Drilled’s Amy Westervelt, specifically on how fossil fuel companies were actively aware that their promises on CCS were hollow. Fossil fuel companies have, for a long time, performed a sort of strategic science fiction exercise, where they publish fossil-heavy and CCS-reliant scenarios to try and own the space of what the future looks like. Using the data made available in the latest Global Energy Outlook , I’ve made a little illustration of how fossil fuel companies use assumptions about CCS in their scenarios that are weirdly disconnected from the material realities of ultra-slow deployment: Equinor, my friendly local state-owned fossil fuel company, are comfortably the worst offender here. From 2018 to 2021, their CCS projections were verging on possible. In 2022, 2023 and 2024 , the 2030 assumptions for CCS are deeply bonkers and far exceed Shell and British Petroleum’s assumptions. This is despite Equinor being notably off track even for their own company CCS targets. Consider the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) “World Energy Outlook” , a major annual global energy system model, whose future scenarios drive investment decisions and government policies. I’ve created a compilation of each year’s recent CCS assumptions in their most-ambitious “net-zero” scenario, and you can immediately see that as far as CCS is from even realising its own pipeline of planned projects, the gap between the assumptions in the IEA’s net-zero scenario is significantly worse: If CCS development were truly following the IEA’s 2022 net-zero scenario, operational capacity today would be about 12 times what it ended up being this year. The IEA’s 2024 scenario, released a few weeks ago, assumes that CCS capacity will be around 25 times greater in 2030 than it is today. It’s worth acknowledging the IEA can be circumspect about this. Its 2020 “CCUS” report looked back on an old ambitious scenario : CCUS deployment tripled over the last decade, albeit from a low base — but it has fallen well short of expectations. In 2009, the IEA roadmap for CCUS set a target of developing 100 large-scale CCUS projects between 2010 and 2020 to meet global climate goals, storing around 300 MtCO2 per year. Actual capacity is only around 40 Mt — just 13% of the target. Can you put a number on how badly Trump will screw the climate? Yes, many. Read More The IEA’s net-zero scenario was a big deal, when they first gave it a go in 2021 after pressure from climate groups. It was the first scenario the group published that started with a temperature goal, and then solved backwards. But to solve that equation, it has consistently relied on a volume of CCS deployment that doesn’t seem to be matched by real-world manifestation — and models need to change to reflect the persistent reality. To continue the comparison with wind and solar, these two technologies exhibit the exact opposite effect: the IEA’s scenarios have historically underestimated the deployment of the technologies (across all their scenarios). The two graphics below compare the 2014 “World Energy Outlook” scenarios, and their assumptions on wind and solar power generation, to the 2024 edition’s projections, overlaid with what both actually generated each year: Again, it’s worth defending the IEA here. It is keenly aware of how the technology is being proffered particularly by the fossil fuel industry in an absurd, over-stated context. It said as much in its 2023 “oil and gas transitions” report , where it pointed out CCS in a scenario with no change to the oil and gas produced would require “26,000 terawatt hours of electricity generation to operate in 2050, which is more than global electricity demand in 2022”, and would also require “over US$3.5 trillion in annual investments all the way from today through to mid-century, which is an amount equal to the entire industry’s annual average revenue in recent years”. The IEA has also been at pains to point out it is not the worst offender when it comes to leaning on CCS to model climate ambition, showing that its reliance on CCS in net-zero models is a lot lower than the IPCC’s reliance on CCS. It’s not wrong. To give you an idea — here are 146 1.5c-aligned IPCC scenario assumptions showing the total amount captured by CCS each year, compared to the actual installed capacity from the GCCSi database: Who’s paying for our trillion-dollar climate transition, and why are there so many oil lobbyists at COP29? Read More A recent study by Tsimafei Kazlou, Aleh Cherp and Jessica Jewell published in Nature showed that if you consider a reasonable but optimistic feasibility of CCS growth, that is still significantly slower than what 90% of IPCC 1.5c mitigation pathways assume (noting that the recent AR6 report does go to some lengths to include some CCS-free scenarios). “We show how realistic assumptions about failure rates, based on the history of CCS and other historical benchmarks, can identify a feasible upper bound of CCS capacity in 2030 (0.37 Gt yr)”. That is, to give you an idea, about 10 times smaller than the amount of CCS Equinor assumes in its “ambitious” climate scenario. The net result of a heavy dose of CCS assumptions in authoritative scenarios, projections and models — one that doesn’t reflect the real-world dynamics — is a significantly increased risk of missed targets, and a false impression of ambition. I have truly lost count of the number of times a fossil fuel company references either the IPCC, or the IEA, when justifying heavy, load-bearing promises on CCS. Here’s one nice, recent example. This is from ExxonMobil’s latest “Global Energy Outlook” , showing carbon capture growing at three times the rate of wind and solar, from 2022 to 2050. This isn’t Exxon’s own scenario assumption — this is ExxonMobil referencing the IPCC’s “below two degrees” scenarios: “See?? Even the climate scientists that you love and trust agree with us that leaning heavily on carbon capture is a totally fine thing to do”. I don’t know if it’s well recognised in the climate modelling community just how widespread stuff like this is, within fossil fuel company climate and sustainability claims. This is a truncated extract of a recent blog post by Ketan Joshi. Read the full version here . Have something to say about this article? Write to us at letters@crikey.com.au . Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say . We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.

Trump-Biden Transition Agreement: Unveiling the Path ForwardFortunately for income investors, they have a lot of options to choose from on the Australian share market. So many it can be hard to decide which ones to buy over others. To help narrow things down, let's look at a three ASX dividend shares that analysts rate as buys. Here's why they could be top options next week: ( ) If you are not averse to investing in the mining sector, then mining giant BHP could be an ASX dividend share to buy. That's the view of analysts at Goldman Sachs, which believe the miner is well-positioned to benefit from a copper bull market. They said: We remain bullish on copper due to ongoing supply side challenges and increasing demand and expect BHP's copper EBITDA to increase by ~US$3bn to ~US$10bn by FY26E (~45% of group EBITDA). Under our base case, copper EBITDA is expected to reach US$14bn by FY35E and ~US$19bn with all copper growth, at GSe long run copper of US$4.44/lb (real $, from 2028). Goldman Sachs expects this to underpin fully franked dividends of 99 US cents (~A$1.54) per share in FY 2025 and US$1.08 (~A$1.68) in FY 2026. Based on BHP's current share price of $40.70, this implies of 3.8% and 4.1%, respectively. Goldman Sachs has a buy rating and $47.40 price target on its shares. ( ) Another ASX dividend share that could be a buy is Smartgroup. It is an industry-leading provider of employee benefits, end-to-end fleet management, and software solutions with over 400,000 salary packages and 64,000 novated leases under management. Bell Potter likes the company due to its defensive business, favourable tailwinds, and attractive valuation. It said: SIQ looks well priced given a fwd P/E of ~14.5x, a defensive client base, earnings tailwinds from the Electric Car Discount Bill (exempts low or zero emission vehicles from Fringe Benefits Tax), an ROE of ~30% and a strong balance sheet. In respect to dividends, the broker is forecasting fully franked dividends of 53.3 cents in FY 2024 and then 59.7 cents in FY 2025. Based on its current share price of $8.17, this would mean dividend yields of 6.5% and 7.3%, respectively. Bell Potter has a buy rating and $10.00 price target on its shares. ( ) Another ASX dividend share that has been given a buy rating is telco giant Telstra. Goldman Sachs thinks income investors should invest due to its defensive earnings, positive growth outlook, and asset monetisation opportunities. It said: We believe the low risk earnings (and dividend) growth that Telstra is delivering across FY22-25, underpinned through its mobile business, is attractive. We also believe that Telstra has a meaningful medium term opportunity to crystallise value through commencing the process to monetize its InfraCo Fixed assets – which we estimate could be worth between A$22-33bn. As for dividends, Goldman is forecasting fully franked dividends of 19 cents per share in FY 2025 and then 20 cents per share in FY 2026. Based on the current Telstra share price of $3.99, this represents dividend yields of 4.75% and 5%, respectively. The broker has a buy rating and $4.35 price target on its shares.

ATI Inc executive chairman Robert S. Wetherbee sells $1.47 million in stockUnrivaled signs LSU star Flau'jae Johnson to NIL dealTORONTO, Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winter sports enthusiasts across Canada eagerly anticipate the first snowfall, signaling the start of a season filled with fresh air and fun in a snowy wonderland. However, a changing climate is making those first flakes increasingly unpredictable, challenging an industry that supports communities and promotes healthy lifestyles nationwide. In response, the Canadian Ski Council has launched snowissnow.ca , a resource showcasing the industry’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. The initiative provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Canada’s ski areas are adapting to ensure snowy days remain a hallmark of winter for generations to come. Why is it Important for Canadians to Know that Snow is Snow? “Responsibility and resilience are at the heart of the ski industry’s investment in snowmaking,” says Paul Pinchbeck, President and CEO of the Canadian Ski Council. Snowmaking is essential for ski operations across Canada, providing consistent snow coverage that enhances the experience for recreational skiers. “It ensures visitors can enjoy the slopes even during fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable weather while supporting the communities that rely on winter tourism,” Pinchbeck adds. Snowmaking also plays a vital role in kickstarting the winter season, offering early access to slopes before natural snowfall is dependable. This early-season reliability not only attracts visitors eager to embrace winter activities but also supports competitive athletes by providing critical training opportunities. As a foundation of operations, snowmaking bolsters the resilience of Canada’s ski industry and its capacity to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. Snowfall Trends and the Need for Adaptation Snowfall data from Environment Canada reveals that winter in Canada is changing. While snow cover has decreased in regions like the Pacific Coast and the Rockies, areas in southern Canada and central British Columbia have seen an increase in days with snow cover. Meanwhile, the Weather Network’s 2024/2025 Winter Forecast predicts near- to above-normal precipitation across most of Canada, ensuring an active winter ahead. The Economic and Health Impacts of Snowmaking Ski areas are at the heart of many communities, supporting the economy through job creation and attracting millions of visitors annually. For example, Canada’s ski areas welcome 17.9 million skier visits annually, including 2.4 million active skiers and riders, and generate $4.4 billion in spending. Beyond economics, skiing and snowboarding deliver significant health benefits. Outdoor activity improves cardiovascular health, balance, strength, and coordination while supporting mental well-being. Studies show that skiers may be at a lower risk of anxiety disorders like Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) and benefit from natural boosts to sleep, metabolism, and immune function. Snowmaking: A Modern, Sustainable Solution The stakes are high, and the industry is taking a proactive approach to adapting to the many challenges it faces. Snowmaking technology has evolved dramatically, becoming more efficient and environmentally friendly. The snowissnow.ca resource seeks to provide insights into the snowmaking process while debunking myths about made snow. Key facts about snowmaking: Machine-made snow is not ‘fake’ or artificial: Snowmaking equipment mimics nature’s process of producing snow crystals. Water is separated into small particles that quickly freeze as they move through the cold air. New and Improved: Snowmaking has evolved with cutting-edge, energy-efficient technology. Environmentally Friendly: Today’s processes minimize water usage and emissions. (90% of the water used in snowmaking is returned to the watershed source) Essential for Winter Fun: Extends the ski season even when nature doesn’t cooperate. With conscientious innovation and a commitment to community, Canada’s ski industry ensures that snow is snow – preserving winter recreation, supporting local economies, and ensuring snow sports remain a cornerstone of Canadian winter culture for years to come. About the Canadian Ski Council The Canadian Ski Council is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting skiing and snowboarding across Canada. Through a variety of programs and initiatives, the Council works to make winter sports accessible to all Canadians, fostering a love for the outdoors and encouraging active, healthy lifestyles. Visit www.skicanada.org for more information or follow the Canadian Ski Council on social media: X: @CDNSKICOUNCIL | Instagram: goskiinggosnowboarding | Facebook: GoSkiingGoSnowboarding | LinkedIn: canadian-ski-council | YouTube: CanSkiCouncil #SkiCanada #GoSkiingGoSnowboarding #SnowStartKidzPass #CanadianLiftPass #Winter20242025 MEDIA CONTACT: Leslie Booth Communications & Media Liaison Canadian Ski Council leslie@skicanada.org 416.427.1588United, Apple rolling out new way to track lost luggage with AirTags