Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says denying health care coverage can be seen as ‘act of violence’Predictive Maintenance (PDM) Market to grow by USD 33.76 Billion from 2024-2028, driven by AI and cloud adoption in SMEs - TechnavioAverage rate on a 30-year mortgage in the US slips to 6.81%Companies Don't miss out on the headlines from Companies. Followed categories will be added to My News. A new wave of entrepreneurs is on the rise: Australia’s million-dollar teens. Driven by social media, a desire for independence and extra income, today’s teenagers are launching businesses that were once the domain of older generations. From creating skincare lines and food products to developing video editing tools, these young ‘teenpreneurs’ are proving age is no obstacle to building successful, million-dollar ventures. University of Sydney’s financial economist Associate Professor Dr Shumi Akhtar said the past four years has seen an “exponential rise” in the number of teen entrepreneurs. Dr Akhtar said accessibility to digital tools, e-commerce platforms, and social media are factors contributing to the increase. Sienna Jovcevski noticed a gap in the preadolescent skincare market and now runs a business projected to make $1m in revenue in 2025. She added that more young Aussies are wanting independence, rather than to “work for someone else.” “Social media is playing a significant role for building (young entrepreneurs’) own ideas or strategies and also marketing their business across different platforms,” Dr Akhtar said. “Technology allows teen entrepreneurs to connect with each other, so those who have capital will collaborate with those who have unique ideas. “There has also been a cultural shift to focus more on entrepreneurial skills, as well as an increase in economic opportunities for teen entrepreneurs, such as accessibility to crowd-funding.” Judy Sahay, managing director of Crowd Media Group, said teenagers growing up with technology have a “natural edge” over their older counterparts – although some are “lacking the commitment, foresight, and resilience” needed to truly run a business. “Growing up in an environment where general participation or coming last in a race is often rewarded, they’re often unfamiliar with failure and the grit it takes to bounce back,” Ms Sahay said. “Most teenagers are looking for instant gratification, results and success. “The rise of influencers and online entrepreneurs inspires teens to pursue similar paths, often seeing peers achieve success through social media and online businesses. “Viral trends and the ability to reach global audiences make starting an online business exciting and potentially lucrative. “Platforms like Facebook, Etsy, YouTube, and Instagram enable teens to start a business with minimal upfront investment and technical expertise.” The ease of entry into the business world has also played a significant role in fuelling the success of these ambitious teens – although it must be noted some have gotten their start with advice and funding from their mums and dads. “With free or affordable tools for website creation, marketing, and operations, starting an online business is more accessible than ever,” Ms Sahay said. “Many teens start small with dropshipping [in which a product is shipped directly to the customer rather than via the retailer, affiliate marketing, or selling digital products, requiring little to no upfront investment.” Here are some of the Aussie teen bosses taking the business world by storm. Company: Tweeny Skin Age: 15 At just 15, Sienna Jovcevski is running a skincare business projected to reach $1 million in sales next year. The Sydney schoolgirl is the creative force behind Tweeny Skin, a brand tailored to help teenagers manage preadolescent breakouts. Her venture began at the age of 11 after finding a gap in the skincare market for pre-teens. “The biggest thing that inspired me to start was my own personal struggles with my skin and the lack of products on the market that were suitable for my age group,” Ms Jovcevski said. “During Covid, being stuck indoors and not doing much, I began to notice changes in my skin. I think the stress of everything going on, combined with my age, contributed to it. “I tried a few different products, but they didn’t seem to be doing anything and others were quite irritating on my skin. “Being a tween there just wasn’t anything out there specifically formulated for young, delicate skin.” Ms Jovcevski started out after realising there was a gap in the skincare market for pre-teens. Ms Jovcevski’s Tweeny Skin business is projected to reach $1 million in sales next year. Despite her age, Ms Jovcevski invested her savings of $15,000 to start the business and began finding manufacturers and suppliers herself to produce the products. And, with the booming rise of tween skincare, she couldn’t have chosen a better time. The biggest month on record was in November, with the brand turning over $80,000. “Our product is predominantly sold online, although we do have some stockists throughout Australia which we are looking at expanding on in the New Year,” Ms Jovcevski said. “We are also in talks with some other major retailers, but I can’t say too much about that yet. “It’s proof that young people can make a difference and turn their ideas into something real, no matter their age. “The support I’ve received from my family, customers, and the community has been overwhelming, and it really motivates me to keep pushing forward and growing Tweeny Skin.” Company: The Turtle Tribe Age: 17 Like all great ideas, Ned Heaton’s concept for The Turtle Tribe was born from a problem he saw first-hand on family holidays: ocean plastic pollution. Six years ago, he founded the bamboo toothbrush business that has since earned him industry accolades, both in Australia and abroad. Mr Heaton is also the co-author of a children’s book Say No To Plastic , which he wrote with his dad Shane. “I started selling a range of plastic-free items I sourced from a wholesaler on my local community Facebook group and a simple website, and after 30 days I had $1134,” the 17-year-old Queenslander said. “Then I started offering free bamboo toothbrushes and, with some exposure, my business grew and grew. “I needed so many toothbrushes I was able to get them made at a factory in China with my own branding, and now have suppliers in China, New Zealand and Australia.” Ned Heaton’s concept for The Turtle Tribe was born from a problem he saw first-hand on family holidays. In 2022, both of Mr Heaton’s parents sold their family business to begin working for the company that is now worth six figures. “Some companies judge any proposal only in financial terms, and when you’re on a mission to save the planet, that can be really frustrating,” Mr Heaton said. “I think young people often have a longer-term view of the world than adults.” The teen’s organisation is now one of Australia’s largest suppliers of bamboo toothbrushes. Ned Heaton believes young people often have a longer-term view of the world than adults. He recently landed a successful trial partnership with Woolworths, with the product stocked at six stores across Sydney and Melbourne. “Running a business isn’t for everyone. There’s no straight line to success,” he said. “There are a lot of ups and downs, but if you’re doing something you’re really passionate about, it helps you get through the tough times.” Company: Sam’s Popcorn Age: 17 Running a business is challenging for anyone — but imagine doing it while still in primary school. For Sam Weavers, that was his reality. At just 10 years of age, he started his business, Sam’s Popcorn, after struggling to find good quality versions of the snack. Sam Weavers spent a year developing recipes and getting his head round the legal requirements for starting and running a business. Sam’s Popcorn started out small, selling at markets before growing into a thriving business. Fast forward seven years, and the 17-year-old — who has just finished high school — has expanded rapidly, selling different flavoured popcorn online across the country, as well as at 45 stores in South Australia. “There were a few goals I had in mind when starting my business, but one of the main things I wanted to do was sell my popcorn to large-scale grocery stores,” Mr Weavers said. “You can probably tell that I had big dreams for my business, even though my parents were pretty sceptical at first. “I spent a year developing my recipes and sorting out the legal requirements of my business, but I was working with a product that I enjoyed developing, which really helped. Sam’s popcorn now sells online across the country and in 45 stores in South Australia. Since finishing his school studies, Mr Weaver is working on pans to expand in 2025. Sam’s Popcorn now generates an annual turnover of approximately $100,000, with the business valued at a quarter of a million dollars. “At first, I had trouble due to my age. There were many times during the set up year of my business when potential suppliers would just hang up on me because they didn’t think I was a serious business owner,” he said. “Later in my business, I started to have trouble with time constraints. I’ve needed to run my business while managing my schoolwork and test revision, all while trying to get time to myself along the way. “I have plans for an expansion next year into larger premises which will enable me to substantially increase my production, hire staff and explore new areas of growth.” Company : Harry E (e-commerce & film) Age : 20 Harry Edwards turned a side hustle when he was just 13 into a million-dollar business run through Fiverr – a multinational online marketplace for freelance services. After leaving school at 15, the Melbourne teen began exploring different ventures, which eventually led him to run successful e-commerce stores and a thriving video editing business. Today, the 20 year old’s video editing business has generated over $1.5 million in revenue, and he now employs 16 people globally. Harry Edwards started an e-commerce business and video editing platform at 13. “It all started because I wanted to buy a computer powerful enough to edit my videos, as I had an intense passion for filmmaking,” Mr Edwards said. “Around that time, I made a graduation film for my primary school and sold CDs of the film for $10 each, and that was the first time I heard the word ‘entrepreneur’. “I continued the standard school life until I was 13, but the desire to earn enough money to buy a top PC led me to search for ‘how to make money online’. “My curiosity led me to try Amazon FBA, but it required $1000-plus to buy inventory, which I naturally didn’t have. So, instead, I moved to e-commerce and dropshipping and I could support the rest myself with organic marketing. “This was back in 2018 and from there the business started to grow.” However, despite his success at such a young age, Mr Edwards admits the path towards entrepreneurship is “full of ups and downs” and has no “clear, linear journey”. “It’s all about experimentation, and from experimentation come incredible highs and tough lows. “One of the biggest challenges I faced was my own personal drive and motivation. When I left school and moved out of home at 16 with a highly successful business, I felt unstoppable. “I thought I had everything figured out. But this early success made me complacent. “Now, I’ve found comfort in trusting my own path. Looking back, I’ve learned that it’s not about conforming to anyone else’s advice or expectations. It’s about figuring out what works for me.” More Coverage ‘I was spiralling, overwhelmed’: Aussie mum’s ADHD journey Rebecca Boyd Why saying ‘Merry Christmas’ is so shocking Julie Cross Originally published as The rise of young teenpreneurs: How Gen Z is shaping the future 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 Companies Aussies making $100k a year doing nothing Australians are criminally neglecting a common household item that could be making them rich. Read more Business New rights for travellers hit with flight delays, lost baggage Airlines will face penalties for losing passengers’ bags or failing to provide refunds under Australia’s first aviation customer rights charter to be introduced in the New Year. Read more

Most Populous Employers in Data Science in the US Data science is an essential area in this data-driven world of today. Since companies depend on insights based on data, the need for individuals with experience working with data has been on the rise. Some exceptional American companies are operating innovatively in this sphere and offering interesting opportunities for data scientists and analysts: Google is still one of the top companies to use data to advance business decisions and technological innovation. It is very famous for its artificial intelligence and machine learning projects, among others. Google offers cutting-edge tools and massive datasets to its data scientists and encourages creativity in the working environment, which makes it highly sought after by professionals who wish to work on innovative projects. Amazon has revolutionized all aspects of e-commerce, cloud computing, and logistics. Data science closely follows the company. Amazon hires more professionals in data to optimize its supply chain, customize the customer experience, and streamline product recommendations. With such a variety of opportunities from its departments, Amazon will continue drawing top talents into data science. Microsoft is well known for its contribution to software, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Data scientists at Microsoft are working on projects like predictive analytics in Azure and machine learning applications in Office 365. The inclusive and collaborative culture of the company contributes to its being an attractive leader as an employer. IBM has been a leader in artificial intelligence and data analytics for decades. The company has made gigantic strides toward harnessing the power of data through initiatives like IBM Watson. Data professionals at IBM handle various projects ranging from healthcare and finance to business optimization. Innovation guarantees exciting challenges for its employees. Meta , formerly known as Facebook, survives and thrives based on the data it can use to improve its platforms. Data scientists at Meta involve themselves in social network analysis, modeling user behavior, and content recommendation. The firm's focus on state-of-the-art research and development attracts people passionate about working on impactful projects. For example, data science in Apple refines the company's products and services, such as Siri, and analytics in the App Store. The company values users' privacy while extracting insights meaningful to a unique and challenging workplace. Here, data professionals influence product development directly. Tesla is at the leading end of innovation in the automotive and energy sector, and data science at Tesla provides the impetus to work on autonomous vehicles, advance battery technology, and enhance energy optimization. A faster-paced and mission-driven professional environment attracts people interested in pushing technological boundaries. Capital One has become a technology-driven financial company highly invested in data science and AI. It uses analytics to detect fraud and assess credit risk and provides customized banking experiences. Therefore, this firm has a very dynamic and challenging environment for anyone interested in fintech. Data allows Airbnb to personalize and tailor the marketplace for hosts and guests. Data scientists at Airbnb try to understand user preferences, trends, and pricing strategies to deliver increased customer satisfaction. The culture of innovation at Airbnb makes it a more attractive workplace for data professionals. The benchmark at Netflix has been about how data science could change the entertainment industry: it needed to look at the preferences of its viewers to personalize recommendations and produce material that each viewer would like. Working at Netflix as a data scientist means analytics meets creativity. Besides innovative projects, other major things define these companies: the opportunities they provide for people to grow professionally. They offer access to advanced tools, a supportive environment, and real-world problems to be solved. Data science is something that's not exclusive to tech giants: startups and small companies, too. They sometimes offer unique opportunities in niche projects in the line. However, the companies listed above remain popular for the scale of projects, resources, and the impact they usually bring. Demand for skilled data professionals will surely rise in the next few years. Companies such as Google, Amazon, and Netflix constantly innovate and make data science further integral to their business cores. Organizations such as these will be great platforms to flourish and create a significant impact for those who aspire to have influential careers in data.

Our Experts With 5+ years of mattress testing experience, we use our different sleeping position and body type perspectives to offer well-rounded, honest reviews. Score Breakdown Pros and Cons One of the biggest budget bed-in-a-box brands is Tuft & Needle. In a time when mattress shopping was largely done at brick-and-mortar locations, Tuft & Needle was one of the brands that brought the shopping experience online and offered affordable options that were convenient to make your home comfortable. The products can also be found at Target and Crate and Barrel. The Tuft & Needle Nod, exclusive to Amazon, is the epitome of affordable mattresses and will fit just about any budget. It's simple and doesn't come with any fancy bells and whistles, but that's all a part of its charm. If you want a comfortable, budget-friendly mattress that won't cost an arm and a leg, read our Tuft & Needle Nod mattress review to find out more. First impressions The original Tuft & Needle Nod is what you'd expect a basic mattress to look like. It does come with a cover, a feature that some low-budget mattresses go without. It's on the thinner side and made only with foam, so it doesn't have steel coils in the base to add extra support like the Tuft & Needle Nod Hybrid. I'd say this mattress is ideal for a dorm room, a kid's room or as a temporary option when you're in a bind and need a cheap mattress. It's comfortable and feels quality, but I don't see it lasting as long as the Tuft & Needle bed. I could see a lot of people liking its feel, though -- it's soft but it doesn't suck you into the bed like memory foam does. It's a lot more neutral and responsive to pressure, a plus for people who switch positions during the night. The Tuft & Needle Nod boasts an impressive 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon. Reviewers like that it's an affordable mattress with great motion isolation and no off-gassing, that unboxing is easy and it's comfortable. Some say this mattress may require a mattress topper to adjust to the preferred firmness level, however, and that it may not provide proper support for heavy people. Firmness Tuft & Needle did a good job giving this mattress a balanced feel that appeals to a wide range of sleeping positions. It has a medium firmness level (or a 5 out of 10, with 10 being the firmest). It's soft enough for side sleepers but firm enough for most back and stomach sleepers who need proper spinal support. It cradles your hips and shoulders and simultaneously keeps your lower back from sagging into the bed. Comfort A lot of online mattresses that come in a box are around 10 inches thick or more, but the Tuft & Needle Nod comes in two height options: either 6 or 8 inches tall. It's also only two layers: a bottom layer for support and density with comfort foam in the top layer. The two layers that make up Tuft & Needle Nod. Here's a breakdown of the 8-inch Tuft & Needle Nod mattress's layers: It's a simple, straightforward design -- like pretty much everything else about this mattress. Feel Some people dislike the restricting feel and resistance of memory foam, especially when trying to move positions. Luckily for those people, the Tuft & Needle Nod mattress doesn't feel like memory foam at all. Poly foam is a more responsive, lighter foam with better aeration and less density. It gives the comfort of memory foam without the "stuck" feeling, and it's a generally comfortable foam that most people end up liking. It's like cloud foam found in slide sandals; it molds to your body and provides pressure relief with ample support. Motion isolation Considering the fact this bed is all foam, I wasn't surprised to see that it was great at stopping movement across the mattress. It absorbs motion from your partner (or pet), so you won't bounce and jiggle every time they change positions or get up in the middle of the night. Edge support This is where the Tuft & Needle Nod mattress takes a back seat. It's thin and not great for support, so the edges aren't as sturdy as the Tuft & Needle Nod Hybrid or the regular Tuft & Needle mattress. If you share a mattress with a partner and you usually have to sleep near the very edge, you won't feel like you're falling off. Still, you probably aren't going to feel comfortably supported unless you're more petite. Temperature I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that the Tuft & Needle Nod mattress isn't going to actively cool you down. The good news is it's not going to heat you up, either. I think it's good at keeping most people's temperature neutral because it doesn't retain heat like a traditional memory-foam mattress. If sleeping hot is a problem for you, make sure to check out our best cooling mattress to get a more comfortable night's sleep. Who is this bed best for? When deciding whether or not a mattress is right for you, take your sleeping position and weight into consideration. Believe it or not, it matters. Side sleepers typically like medium to soft mattresses that provide pressure relief to the hips and joints, while back and stomach sleepers often sleep best on medium to firm beds that provide ample back support. Tuft & Needle Nod has a medium firmness level that appeals to each of these sleeping positions. Remember, though, the lighter you are, the firmer a mattress is going to feel, and vice versa. For example, if you're a petite side sleeper, you will probably want a softer mattress because this will feel more like a medium-firm. I recommend Tuft & Needle Nod to people under 230 pounds. It's only two layers and 8 inches thick, so it won't be very supportive or durable for a heavier individual. It also won't last as long as a mattress should, which is an important consideration when you're spending hundreds of dollars on something. People over 230 pounds should consider the Tuft & Needle Nod Hybrid bed. It's still a budget mattress but is made with steel coils in the foundation to provide a bit more support. Price Here's the main reason why you'd want to buy a Tuft & Needle Nod mattress: the attractive price tag. It's one of the most reputable low-cost mattresses on the market, so you can trust you're getting a quality mattress for cheap. It has over 3,000 reviews on Amazon and almost a five-star rating, so the proof is in the pudding. A queen size 8-inch Tuft & Needle Nod is about $499, almost $400 cheaper than the Original Tuft & Needle model. Tuft & Needle Nod Pricing Shipping, trial and warranty Even though you're buying from Amazon, you'll get the perks that Tuft & Needle offers its mattress-buying customers. You'll receive: Be forewarned, the mattress will have a new-car like smell when you first open it from the box. It happens with every bed-in-a-box mattress unless it's made with organic materials, and the smell goes away after a few days. You can sleep on it right away, but your Nod mattress will take around 48 hours for the bed to fully inflate. Final verdict Not everyone wants a big, fancy mattress with high-tech abilities or new cooling technology. Some just want a simple, affordable bed that'll help you sleep well at night, and that's exactly what the Tuft & Needle Nod offers. It's a safe pick for anyone on a tight budget. It's also a great starter mattress for your kid who outgrew their toddler bed because of its value and simple construction.The Most Anticipated Books of 2025(BPT) - Consumers are facing increasing costs on virtually every purchase these days and auto insurance is no exception. While skyrocketing costs of this auto-related expense can be attributed to everything from parts replacement to service — even health costs as a result of accidents — consumers can better manage these increases with thoughtful study and attention to detail. Some of the common causes for higher insurance rates are Inflation, car accidents, extreme weather conditions such as hail, hurricanes and wind, along with increased vehicle theft claims. Mercury Insurance has partnered with financial literacy influencer Sam Jarman to highlight specific ways consumers can address these rising costs. "Your car is the second biggest expense for most people, right behind your home, and car insurance is a big part of that," said Jarman. "Checking rates and coverage with your Mercury Insurance agent makes sense along with choosing a car with low maintenance costs." According to Consumer Price Index data released earlier this year, car insurance rates are up almost 21% year-over-year for the 12 months which ended in February. The last time car insurance rates rose that much on an annual basis was 1976. Here are some auto insurance statistics recently released from Forbes : "Our goal is to help our customers get the best rates possible because we know that every dollar counts." said Justin Yoshizawa, Director, Product Management, State. "We encourage consumers to build a close relationship with their agent and discuss what discounts they may be eligible to receive. The answer might be surprising." Mercury offers the following tips for lowering your insurance costs: Review your deductibles with your insurance agent – It is recommended that you review your coverage and deductible with your Mercury agent at least once a year. Their wisdom and experience can help you make wise decisions regarding your insurance. Explore car insurance discounts – In addition to bundling your home and auto insurance, Mercury offers discounts for multi-car, good drivers, good students and auto pay. Your agent may have additional discounts to offer. Let Your Insurer Track Your Driving – Most insurers offer discounts for customers who install telematics. This technology allows your insurance company to collect information regarding your mileage and driving habits. This can also provide valuable information regarding your driving as well as saving you money. Drive a safe car with low repair costs – According to Bankrate , some of the cheapest cars to insure are the Subaru Outback, Honda CR-V and Honda Pilot. Also, look for cars with lower repair costs such as the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius and Tesla Model 3. Doing some research before you purchase a vehicle can save you money over the length of ownership. Install an anti-theft device on your car – Drivers may receive an additional discount on your auto insurance if you install an anti-theft device on your car. Before you buy a car, compare insurance costs – You can get a fast and easy quote from your Mercury Insurance agent. To receive a quote, you can reach us at 844-514-2893. To learn more about common types of auto insurance discounts, visit https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/resources/auto/understanding-types-of-auto-insurance-discounts.html . For more information on your auto insurance, you can reference the Insurance Information Institute .Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after a bumpy week

Target PT Cut to $160 from $180 at Morgan StanleyBennett's secret meeting ahead of his return to politicsTHANKSGIVING is almost here, and no feast is complete without a classic turkey centerpiece. Shoppers can elevate their turkey and side dishes with a versatile grocery store staple - dairy - for just $2. Gone are the days of dry Thanksgiving turkey thanks to the magic of dairy. By incorporating dairy products such as milk and buttermilk into your Thanksgiving recipes, Americans can whip up a tender and juicy bird. Both cost around $2 at the grocery store and will add layers of richness and flavor to your Thanksgiving turkey. A turkey brine recipe from Dairy Farmers of America utilizes both dairy products to guarantee a moist and delicious Thanksgiving turkey. Read More on Thanksgiving Milk and buttermilk break down the protein in meat, ensuring every bite is juicy and tender. The brine also adds an umami flavor and enhances the browning of your turkey. The recipe also calls for spatchcocking the bird, which involves removing the backbone so the turkey can be flattened. This reduces oven time and ensures more even cooking. Most read in Money Many seasoned chefs have raved about the wonders of milk and buttermilk for brining a turkey. “I was blown away by how juicy and delicious my turkey came out after brining it in milk overnight,” said five-time cookbook author Dan Whalen. TikTok chef Darryl Postelnick, who boasts 2.9 million fans on his Cooking with Darryl channel, agreed. “A milk and buttermilk brine is a really simple and straightforward way to completely elevate your turkey game," he said. “The acid in the buttermilk leads to moist, tender meat throughout, while the sugars result in a gorgeous golden-brown skin that is crispy and flavorful. And while I like spatchcocking my turkey to cut down on time, this technique will work with a traditional whole bird as well." DAIRY DEVOTION Milk and buttermilk aren't just for brining - they are staples in tons of Thanksgiving side dishes. From creamy mashed potatoes to decadent macaroni and cheese and a sweet potato casserole, many staple Thanksgiving dishes are elevated with dairy. 65% of Americans can't imagine the holidays without dairy, according to a report from DFA. Start at a higher temperature to crisp the skin, then reduce the heat. After cooking, let the turkey rest for 20 minutes under foil. This allows the juices to redistribute into the meat. Avoid basting the turkey while it cooks. This can increase the cooking time and dry out the turkey. If you forget to remove the giblets before cooking, you can wrap them in paper and cook them safely inside the turkey. Don't leave a raw turkey out at room temperature for more than two hours. A whopping 90% of Americans say their favorite holiday dishes contain dairy, and at least 41% of Americans plan to buy five pounds of milk or more for the holidays. One in three Americans said they would sacrifice Thanksgiving football before giving up a dairy dish, and 53% would give up golf. Many Americans - an astounding 86% - choose dairy for its familiar taste and the confidence that the texture and flavor of their dishes won't be compromised. TMX contributed to this article. Read More on The US Sun If you're looking to cook up a Thanksgiving meal on a budget, check out places you can get a free turkey – it’s not just supermarkets. Plus, Walmart confirmed its 29-item Thanksgiving meal is "on deck" with budget recipes – it’s $217 cheaper than Costco.

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan has revealed that he will speak with the Labour Party to discuss a left alliance before considering any coalition talks with the big three parties. The SocDems look set to scoop up more seats around the country than they had in the 2020 election thanks to transfer votes. Numbers indicate a likely Fianna Fail and Fine Gael coalition, the Greens have been ruled out as a major player in the election as Roderic O’Gorman admitted the party “has not had a good day”. However, O’Callaghan said his party would be in talks with other small left wing parties before entering coalition talks with Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, or Sinn Fein , who are also polling high. He told reporters: “We certainly intend talking to the Labour Party and other parties over the coming days and week, that’s our intention. "Where those discussions go remains to be seen. “We’re delighted, we’re in for a number of seats around the country, we’re delighted with the results and the support people have given us in the election. “We are hoping to be transfer friendly, and a lot of the contests we’re in are going to be for final seats, we’re hoping to get transfers from all directions.” O’Callaghan admitted the party don’t know how many seats they might get but emphasised that they are hopeful. He said: “We don’t know at this stage, we’re certainly very hopeful of making gains and coming out of this election with more seats than we went in.” The party previously laid out their five red line issues, stating they would not enter into a coalition with anyone who would not deliver in the deal breaker areas. They proposed delivering high quality public childcare , building 50,000 affordable houses, a full rollout of Slaintecare, reaching climate targets and appointing a minister for disability. O’Callaghan slapped down the suggestion that their red line issues might hurt the SocDems chances of being a coalition partner. He said: “The reason we picked five deal-breakers was to define how we’re going to go into government, not rule us out of government, but to show people what we wanted to do if we do get into government, so this is about defining our negotiations and our talks with any parties once the election counts are over.”

December 21, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked trusted source written by researcher(s) proofread by Elisabeth Duursma, Amy Conley Wright, Helen Simpson and Natalia Kate Hanley, The Conversation Many Australians know December 21 as "Gravy Day." This is a reference to Paul Kelly's song and new film How to Make Gravy , where a prisoner named Joe writes a letter to his family four days before Christmas. In it Joe, missing his wife and relatives, asks, "Won't you kiss my kids on Christmas Day?". It's estimated half the men in Australian prisons are fathers . While they are incarcerated, maintaining contact with their children is vital, both for the dads and the kids . It allows fathers to keep contributing to their children's lives and provides important social support. It can also reduce psychological distress for children. One important way to do this is via "video visits," which were spurred on by COVID restrictions. In our recently published research , we look at how families experienced video visits in two New South Wales prisons. Our research Video visits can be challenging if there is a lack of facilities in homes and prisons or problems with technological support. But our study set out to understand how they might support father-child relationships, given their widespread use during lockdowns. We looked at one prison in an urban area and another in a regional area. A total of 27 fathers participated in interviews, of whom 11 identified as Aboriginal and four identified as culturally and linguistically diverse. We also interviewed 17 caregivers, who were mostly mothers. They looked after children ranging from infants to teenagers. Recognizing each other One way video visits support father-child relationships is allowing children to see and get to recognize their father's faces and for the father to see the growing child. As one caregiver said, "She knew and recognized over the last two years that daddy's on the phone, daddy's on the iPad [...] So, even though it was once a week she got familiar, seeing his face." Fathers valued the visual contact with their children as well, to allow them to see how their children were changing and growing: "[...] there's a huge difference, such a big difference between a phone call and a video call . The visual contact, you can't hear a smile. You can hear laughter, but you can only see someone's joy in their face by seeing them visually." Another caregiver added, "As you know, five years is a long time, especially for a little kid. So, he got to watch him grow every week." Part of family life Caregivers appreciated the flexibility of video visits and how they could integrate them into daily life. Visits could take place at children's sports activities or the beach. They could show their fathers their rooms, their art or the dance they just learned. One caregiver said they organized events like blowing out candles on a birthday cake around video visits. When organized in the home, it means video visits are happening where children are secure and familiar. As one caregiver told us: "[The child] does better on video than he does in person. On video, you know he's in his home. He's in his comfort [zone]. He can do whatever he likes. He can show [his father] his room. He can get new toys [...] his options are a lot more there." A father told us, "They're happy, they're comfortable, they're not shy, they actually want to talk to you. It's not like they have to stay here and talk to you. They can run off and come back." Another caregiver described how video visits enabled the child's fathers to observe some of his "firsts." "When [the child] first learned to crawl. I put the phone up against the lounge and I moved [the child] maybe about half a meter away from the phone and I said to [the child], 'go on, crawl to Daddy,' and [the child] crawled straight up to the phone and gave the phone a kiss." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . Better for kids? Several caregivers pointed out that the prison environment could be distressing for children. Not only did this sometimes involve hours of travel, but there were people they did not know, long waits and security processes to go through. As one caregiver said, "it's not somewhere you bring kids." Another told us: "[the child] was really quite scared at the other inmates around. And yeah, so he actually prefers the video calls." There are challenges Interviewees also described some challenges with video visits, noting younger children quickly lose interest and "run off." They also said children could be upset at the end of a visit, particularly when it ended abruptly. "You know you'd get a beep, and then it'd switch off [...] But you know there was times where that was very difficult, with [the child] in the middle of something like chatting about her day, and then, all of a sudden it will cut off, and she will get quite upset and not understand." What next? Our study strongly suggests these types of visits are important for families. Future work should focus on ways to improve the quality of visits and ask children for their views about what they want. This is not to suggest video visits should replace in-person visits but they can help fathers and their children maintain a genuine relationship. If they can't be together, at least dads can give their children a virtual kiss on Christmas Day. Provided by The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

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