Property losses are expected to mount after an out-of-control bushfire claimed at least three homes and nearly a dozen outbuildings. or signup to continue reading Emergency crews will continue impact assessments to affected areas in the Grampians region in Victoria where a blaze with a perimeter of more than 380km and has so far scorched more than 75,000 hectares. Dry conditions and difficult, mountainous terrain mean the fire is likely to burn into the new year but cooler, settled conditions are providing fire crews the opportunity to try to contain the blaze. Three homes were confirmed lost in Moyston, a rural farming community on the edge of the Grampians National Park, as of early Saturday evening. Another 11 outbuildings were also destroyed by the fire across Moyston and Pomonal, which was devastated by fire earlier in 2024. State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty said there was still a lot of work to be done to confirm the fire's damage. "These numbers will continue to evolve over the next couple of days," Mr Hegarty said. There have been significant livestock losses, particularly sheep. Emergency Management Commissioner Rick Nugent said the week ahead would bring more favourable conditions for fire crews. "Weather over the next week looks relatively stable," he said in a statement late on Saturday afternoon. "This will allow us time to stabilise the fires and continue backburning operations, and look to support the community further." Three watch and act alerts remained in place in and around western Victoria's Grampians National Park as night fell on Saturday, with the area from Long Gully Road to College Road remaining safe. Residents from Halls Gap have also been allowed to return home. Conditions in western Victoria are expected to remain mild until Sunday before westerly winds give way to warmer northerlies on Monday. Hardship payments have become available for people with homes in evacuation areas or who have suffered property damage, via the state and federal-funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Federal Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister said the assistance included a one-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child up to a maximum of $2380 per eligible family to help cover essentials such as food, clothing, medication and accommodation. As fire crews in Victoria enjoy the cool change, a total fire ban was issued for NSW's northern slopes region as dry conditions, gusty winds and temperatures into the high 30s descended on Tamworth, Inverell and the Liverpool Plains. No total fire bans are in place in NSW on Sunday but high fire danger remains for the Northern Slopes, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Greater Hunter and Sydney regions. "We do have heatwave conditions continuing, and warnings current for northeastern parts of NSW and much of Queensland," weather bureau meteorologist Sarah Scully said. A number of fires are burning or have recently been contained in NSW. On the other side of the nation, residents were urged to leave their homes on Saturday as an out-of-control bushfire raged in Western Australia's Mid West region amid hot and windy conditions. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementRevolutionary Role-Playing Meets Automotive Innovation. Enter the World of “テスラかぶ”Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard said he "could name 100 things" he could do better amid his slow start to the 2024-25 season. "I don't know, man," Bedard said Friday, per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski . "It has been frustrating, for sure. I just don't feel like I'm really doing anything. So just keep chipping away at it, I guess, and hopefully find my game again." Bedard continued: "It's been a tough stretch. You just feel like you don't have it or whatever, and you lose a bit of confidence. And it just kind of goes on." After leading all rookies with 22 goals in 68 games last season, Bedard has been held to three goals in the first 20 games of his sophomore campaign. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .

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Ben Davies is the latest to fall into that category, with the Welsh international initially primed to return for Sunday’s visit of Wolves but no longer available. Davies suffered a setback in training this week, which means Spurs could be without a fit centre-back after Radu Dragusin was forced off in the latter stages of Thursday’s 1-0 loss at Nottingham Forest with an ankle issue. Postecoglou is already without first-choice central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven after both failed to make it through their comeback fixture against Chelsea on December 7. “Yeah, that’s been our major problem this year. Guys who are coming back from injury rather than us losing players as such,” Postecoglou said. “We’re looking at those things and why they’re happening. It’s certainly happened too often this year where guys have come back and they’re the ones who are missing. “I think just about all of them, apart from Vic (Guglielmo Vicario), are recurrences of an injury. “Even with Romero, it was a different injury but it’s still a guy coming back, so it’s something we’re looking at.” There could be good news on the horizon with attackers Mikey Moore and Richarlison expected to return to training next week. Richarlison suffered his own setback in November when his short-lived return after a calf issue was cut short when he injured the same area against Aston Villa. Moore, meanwhile, has been sidelined by a virus for the best part of two months but the 17-year-old could provide a much-needed spark in the new year when Newcastle visit on January 4. Postecoglou said: “Him and Richy are in the final phases. Next week they can start training. We’ve got a bit of a gap before the Newcastle game. “The plan is Mikey and Richy come back into first-team training next week.” Anticipated returns for Moore and Richarlison will fail to help Postecoglou against Wolves, with makeshift centre-back Archie Gray potentially set to partner up with fellow midfielder Yves Bissouma if Dragusin cannot recover. Pressed on the issue of fixture scheduling, with Spurs definitely missing eight players for Sunday’s fixture, Postecoglou said: “It is challenging. “All clubs are going to have to get their heads around it and authorities are going to have to get their heads around it. “One of two things need to happen: either you somehow change the fixture schedule, which doesn’t seem feasible, or you allow clubs bigger squads. Then you have other issues with that, as well. “The attrition rate you’re seeing and it’s not just us. We’re going through a particularly badly moment. Newcastle went through it last year and it affected them pretty badly. They were obviously in the Champions League as well and probably didn’t have the squad to cope with it. “It hits certain clubs at different times and is probably becoming more prevalent, and for all of us it’s a challenge as to how we navigate this process to keep our players healthy. “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing. For us it’s been constant since August and we’re not even halfway through the year. And they’re not going to get a break now, so these things we’re constantly assessing.”

By ERIC TUCKER WASHINGTON (AP) — A ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans, a top White House official said Friday. Biden administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies , as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, the deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, told reporters Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. The update from Neuberger is the latest development in a massive hacking operation that has alarmed national security officials, exposed cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the private sector and laid bare China’s hacking sophistication. The hackers compromised the networks of telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals.” Though the FBI has not publicly identified any of the victims, officials believe senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures are among those whose whose communications were accessed. Neuberger said officials did not yet have a precise sense how many Americans overall were affected by Salt Typhoon, in part because the Chinese were careful about their techniques, but a “large number” were in the Washington-Virginia area. Officials believe the goal of the hackers was to identify who owned the phones and, if they were “government targets of interest,” spy on their texts and phone calls, she said. The FBI said most of the people targeted by the hackers are “primarily involved in government or political activity.” Neuberger said the episode highlighted the need for required cybersecurity practices in the telecommunications industry, something the Federal Communications Commission is to take up at a meeting next month. “We know that voluntary cyber security practices are inadequate to protect against China, Russia and Iran hacking of our critical infrastructure,” she said. The Chinese government has denied responsibility for the hacking.SA News Don't miss out on the headlines from SA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Row erupts over taxpayer funded spin doctor An official new chief spin doctor’s taxpayer-funded salary will be cut by more than $100,000 after the Premier admitted it failed the “pub test”. The Department of Premier and Cabinet had promoted a Government Advertising and Insights Hub executive director job with an annual pay band of between $257,462 and $429,104 . But after a fierce public backlash, Peter Malinauskas intervened, forcing his department chief Damien Walker – the state’s highest paid public servant – to scrap the job advert. DPC will readvertise a “far more reasonable” annual salary less than $300,000, he said. The Premier, who said his government was cutting “spin doctor” numbers, told FIVEaa Radio on Wednesday: “What’s stunned I think me is the prospect this person could get paid over 400 grand a year. Does it pass the pub test? No. That’s why it’s not going to happen.” Multiple rows later erupted as the opposition kept questioning and the premier rejected Liberal calls for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to oversee advertising spending. The Premier, who said the marketer would “never” earn almost as much as his $436,000 salary, told MPs DPC hired an executive on the same pay band under the Liberal government that “wasn’t an open selection process”. “The difference between then and now, apart from that band being less if you adjust for inflation, is, of course ... it wasn’t a merit-based appointment,” he told parliament. Taxpayers spend up to $40m a-year on advertising but that has been cut in 2024 by $7.9m. Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia said on Wedneaday night: “For the Premier to back pedal and say the salary will be reduced is telling.” He said during a cost of living crisis, and record ramping levels, Labor was “more focussed on spin”. The premier said he was not aware of the salary or involved in job hiring. Mr Malinauskas told FIVEAA on Wednesday morning the salary range on the ad was not accurate, and that it would be withdrawn and replaced with a one that’s “far more reasonable.” When pressed, he said it would be under $300,000 and “more likely in the mid 200s”. The Premier told parliament on Tuesday that the government was working on a new, centralised PR unit, and that the position would be heading up the department. “We are consolidating and actually reducing the number of people that are characterised as spin doctors across government to realise a whole of government saving,” Mr Malinauskas said. He said the high reported salary “fundamentally” didn’t pass the pub test. A political row erupted over the job after the opposition criticised it as “tone deaf” during a cost of living crisis. Mr Malinauskas, who the Liberals dubbed “Mali from marketing”, said a new centralised unit was reasonable and responsible public spending after an internal review recommended the changes. Industry sources said a similar private sector job pays $180,000, meaning the proposed city-based public service bureaucrat, for a yet to be launched advertising unit, would earn a higher remuneration than chief executives of several public service agencies. Records show taxpayers paid $52,170 to BDO Services to review hub plans before its launch in early 2025. Outgoing DPC chief executive Damien Walker, whose department will manage the unit, earns $760,035. Recreation and Sport chief executive Kylie Taylor earns $298,486, SA Productivity Commission boss Steve Whetton earns $343,489 and Premier’s Delivery Unit head Rik Morris is paid $386,173. More Coverage Mali challenges Albo and Dutton over social media age ban Paul Starick ‘Mali from marketing’: Row erupts over taxpayer funded chief spin doctor Andrew Hough Originally published as Peter Malinauskas says advertised spin doctor salary incorrect and ‘doesn’t pass the pub test’ Join the conversation Add your comment to this story To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout More related stories SA News Men charged after terrifying armed robbery at IGA supermarket A duo who allegedly robbed an IGA supermarket while brandishing what appeared to be a firearm have been arrested and will face court today. Read more SA News Don’t stop the music: Parents’ plea after NDIS funding cut Music therapy gave four-year-old Arlo a voice but NDIS funding changes mean he will no longer have access to the life-changing therapy. Read moreBy Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments. The start of a new year can bring a surge of motivation around setting new goals, including financial resolutions. One way to help those goals become reality, financial experts say, is to make them as specific as possible. Then, track your progress, while allowing flexibility for unexpected challenges. “It’s easier to track progress when we know where we are going,” says Sylvie Scowcroft, a certified financial planner and founder of The Financial Grove in Cambridge, Massachusetts. That’s why she encourages her clients to set clearly defined goals, often related to paying off a specific debt, saving a certain amount per month or improving their credit score. Here are more tips from financial experts about crafting 2025 financial goals : Trying to accomplish too much can feel overwhelming. Instead, pick your priorities, says Cathleen Tobin, CFP and owner of Moonbridge Financial Design in Rhinebeck, New York. She suggests focusing on those big, often emotionally-driven goals to find motivation. “It’s more compelling than just a number,” she says. For example, do you want to make sure you’re on track for retirement or save money for a house? “Start there.” Scowcroft says she sees clients get tripped up by selecting overly broad goals, such as “get better with money.” Instead, she encourages people to select specific action items, such as “sign up for a budgeting tool and set aside time each month to learn where my money is going.” That level of specificity provides direction so you know what steps to take next, she adds. For example, if your top priority is to become debt-free, then your specific goal might be to pay off an extra $200 of your debt balance each month. Tobin says labeling savings accounts so they correspond with goals can also help. An emergency fund could be named something like “Peace of mind in 2025,” so you remember why you’re saving every time you make a transfer. “It’s more motivating than just ‘emergency fund,’” Tobin says. Measuring your progress as the year unfolds is also a critical component of successful goal setting, Tobin says. She compares it to weight loss. If you want to lose 20 pounds by June, then you need to lose about a pound a week for the first six months of the year. Similarly, she says it helps to break savings goals into microsteps that specify what you need to do each week. Schedule a weekly or monthly check-in with yourself to make sure you are meeting those smaller goals along the way. You might want to review your debt payoff progress or check your credit score , for example. “Being able to break it down into steps that can be done each week or twice a month really helps,” Tobin says. If your goal is to save more money , then setting up an automatic transfer each month can help turn that goal into reality, as long as you know you have the money in your checking account to spare. “It reduces the mental load,” says Mike Hunsberger, CFP and owner of Next Mission Financial Planning in St. Charles, Missouri, where he primarily supports veterans and current members of the military. He recommends starting small to ease into the change. “I wouldn’t jump to double what you’re currently saving,” he says. For example, when it comes to saving in a retirement account, if you’re starting with a 3% contribution, you might want to bump it up to 4%, then slowly increase it from there. “My number one piece of advice is to start small, but make sure you scale over time,” Hunsberger adds. “Because it’s gradual, you probably won’t notice it impacting your lifestyle.” “Stay flexible,” Scowcroft says. “Part of it is just being kind to yourself and not being too rigid.” When unexpected challenges come up, such as a big unplanned expense, you might have to pause making progress on your goal and reset. You might even need to change your goal. Scowcroft says that doesn’t mean you “failed,” just that life changed your plans. Dwelling on any negativity won’t help your forward progress. Sharing your goals with a friend can also make it easier to reach them, Scowcroft says. “It really helps to have an accountability buddy,” she says. She suggests putting a regular “money date” with your friend on the calendar so you can ask each other how you’re doing, brainstorm any challenges or even budget together side-by-side . “It’s a fun excuse to meet up with a friend.” More From NerdWallet Kimberly Palmer writes for NerdWallet. Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kimberlypalmer. The article The Secret to Making Successful Financial New Year’s Resolutions originally appeared on NerdWallet .

Percentages: FG .522, FT .722. 3-Point Goals: 14-26, .538 (Pinzon 4-5, Withers 4-9, Evans 3-5, Farris 2-5, Mitchell 1-2). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: 1. Blocked Shots: 6 (Cramer 3, Withers 2, Mitchell). Turnovers: 20 (Pinzon 7, Withers 4, Evans 2, Farris 2, Mitchell 2, Timberlake 2, Cramer). Steals: 5 (Mitchell 2, Farris, Pinzon, Withers). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .425, FT .731. 3-Point Goals: 4-19, .211 (Lorick 1-1, C.Williams 1-2, Weston 1-5, Wood 1-5, Jackson 0-3, Nkrumah 0-3). Team Rebounds: 6. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 2 (Langlais, Nkrumah). Turnovers: 10 (Lorick 3, Langlais 2, Weston 2, C.Williams, Jackson, Wood). Steals: 14 (Weston 6, Jackson 3, C.Williams 2, Lorick 2, Nkrumah). Technical Fouls: None. A_268 (10,928).