slot game paypal LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Jimmy Carter was honored with a moment of silence before the Atlanta Falcons’ game at the Washington Commanders on Sunday night, hours after the 39th president of the United States died at the age of 100 in Plains, Georgia. Beyond being a Georgia native who led the country from the White House less than 8 miles (12 kilometers) away during his time in office from 1977-81, Carter was the first president to host the NFL's Super Bowl champions there when he welcomed the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980. Falcons owner Arthur Blank in a statement released by the team before kickoff said he was deeply saddened by the loss of his dear friend and mentor, calling Carter “a great American, a proud Georgian and an inspirational global humanitarian.” “He lived his life with great civic responsibility and took it upon himself to be the change he wished to see amongst other,” Blank said, recalling meeting Carter at The Home Depot. “President Carter’s kind and uniting spirit touched so many lives. He was a man of deep faith, and did everything with principal and grace, doing things the right way for the right reasons." AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflIt’s the most wonderful time of the year, and these festive neighborhoods will prove it. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, or Kwanzaa, there is joy in strolling a nearby block or hopping in the car where you can blast holiday tunes. You can even explore holiday lights in some of these neighborhoods via a boat. We compiled a list of 10 Southern California destinations known for their lit holiday hoods! Naples Island It wouldn’t be Southern California without some beachside holiday cheer and displays. Visitors can start their stroll at the marine or Mothers’ Beach for the best expedition. The neighborhoods surrounding Naples Island take the holidays to heart with some breathtaking Christmas light decorations that will guide Santa Claus in the dark night skies. Long Beach also puts on a beautiful Christmas tree lighting display and offers holiday light tours on a double-decker Big Red Bus that rides passengers around the best decorated private homes, the famous floating Christmas trees in Alamitos Bay, and near a Ferris Wheel. If you’re planning a more romantic festive date, Gondola Getaway Inc. provides gondola rides paired with a cup of hot chocolate for you and your sweetie. Where: Holiday Light Tours pick up is at Marni’s OC 620 Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach. When: The Holiday Light tours are scheduled at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday through Dec. 19, with the final night on Dec. 23. For tickets and reservations, call 562-852-9888 or email events@bigredbus.com. To book a Gondola ride, visit gondolagetawayinc.com . Venice Canals We’d be remiss, not to mention the other beautiful neighborhood nestled just steps away from Venice Beach. There is something so charming about shimmering lights over the neighborhood’s wooden framed bridges. Inspired by Venice, Italy, these man-made canals are a cozy display of Christmas lights where residents light up their homes and even some small boats that transform the area into a holiday paradise. It’s perfect for a nice winter stroll by the water. Don’t miss the Venice Canals Christmas Boat Parade on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4:30 p.m. The annual tradition since the ’80s is a community celebration that showcases some of the city’s best-decorated boats. Where: Right off 25th St., Venice Beach. When: Now through Dec. 29. Symphony Street While caroling may not be as prominent as it once was, there are still ways to enjoy those holiday jingles alongside some Christmas lights. This Orange County neighborhood allows visitors to drive-thru and tune into 89.1 FM for Christmas music. Keep up with the Lights on Symphony St Facebook page for the most up-to-date information. Where: 1816 N Symphony St., Anaheim. When: 5-10 p.m. now through Jan 1. Upper Hastings Ranch Holiday LightUp Organized by the Upper Hastings Ranch Association (UHRA) for more than 70 years, the neighborhood often drizzles its lawns with faux snow and decked-out decorations with no shortage of Christmas lights, attracting families from near and far to experience the festivities. The organizers’ Facebook page includes videos of live bands and community shows that have occurred in past celebrations. Where: Hastings Ranch Drive and Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena. When: 6-11 p.m. Dec. 6 through Dec. 31. Thoroughbred and Jennet Streets Holiday Lights The annual holiday tradition features over 125,000 lights, holiday figurines and decorations that bring people to the Inland Empire neighborhood every year. The city of Rancho Cucamonga restricts pedestrian access at this event to ensure safety and crowd control and passed a resolution to make it drive-thru only. Where: Thoroughbred, Sapphire and Jennett Streets, Rancho Cucamonga. When: 5-11 p.m. Dec. 6 through Dec. 24. Lights on Display in Sherman Oaks Curated by Sherman Oaks resident Mike Ziemkowski, Lights on Display returns with an impressive showcase of holiday magic. This display features a combination of computer-controlled lighting, DMX-driven intelligent lights, and synchronized animatronic characters—all set to a festive playlist. Perfect for all ages, this free experience delights visitors Wednesday through Sunday, weather permitting, from November 29 to New Year’s Day. Where : 3901 Longview Valley Rd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 When : Wednesdays-Sundays, beginning Nov. 29 through Jan. 1. Holiday Road Hosted at the picturesque King Gillette Ranch, the fifth annual Holiday Road transforms Calabasas into a holiday wonderland. Featuring over 1 million Christmas lights, a mile-long walking trail with over 20 immersive scenes, live Santa, carolers, and festive bars, it’s a must-see event for holiday enthusiasts. New highlights this year include cutting-edge projection mapping, innovative light technology, and exclusive Maker’s Mark and Minus One Nine Six Vodka Seltzer activations. Where : 26800 Mulholland Hwy, Calabasas, CA 91302 When : 5-10 p.m., Nov. 29 through Dec. 28. Sparkle DTLA at The Bloc Celebrate the season in a vibrant display of lights at Sparkle DTLA, where 18 million hues illuminate the night in sync with festive music. Located at The Bloc, this event features one of the city’s largest multi-colored interactive holiday displays, making it a unique experience for all ages. The nightly light show starts at 5 p.m. and runs through December 31. Where : 700 W 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90017 When : 5-10 p.m., nightly through Dec. 31. 123 Farm Christmas Nights Bring the holiday spirit to life at 123 Farm Christmas Nights, where twinkling lights meet festive fun in a charming Christmas Village setting. Stroll the farm while savoring seasonal foods and drinks, surrounded by holiday displays perfect for a family outing. Where : 10600 Highland Springs Ave., Beaumont, CA 92223 When : 5-10 p.m., Tuesdays-Sundays through Dec. 23. Christmas Tree Lane Experience a mile of magic on Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena, where towering cedar trees are adorned with twinkling lights and festive music fills the air. Beginning December 7 at 6 p.m., this annual tradition transforms Santa Rosa Avenue into a glowing wonderland, perfect for a stroll or a drive. Where : Santa Rosa Ave., between Altadena Dr. & Woodbury Rd., Altadena, CA 91003 When : Nightly starting Dec. 7.Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Jedward have warmed hearts as they opened up about spending the festive season with showbiz pal Gemma Collins , after revealing a poignant family situation. Chatting to The Mirror at Tulleys Christmas Light Festival just last Friday, John and Edward Grimes shared how they find comfort in their friendship with Gemma during a time when most of their relatives are no longer here . The twins said: "Christmas is really sad, this year we're going to be spending it with Gemma because most of our family have sadly passed. Gemma's a real one, you know, having someone like Gemma in our lives has definitely been hugely uplifting. We spent Christmas with Gemma last year." They noted the absence of their grandparents makes the holiday season bittersweet, reflecting on the nostalgia of past Christmases: "I feel like Christmas is sad because we don't have our grandparents but we have all our memories so at Christmas time, those feelings come rushing in and you hold that during the holidays." Jedward also spoke candidly about the struggle they face during what should be a cheerful time, touching on their personal losses: "It's very hard. I feel like as much as people think we bring the energy, we do find ourselves in low moments." Their mum sadly died in 2019 . They elaborated on the emptiness felt during the festivities, saying: "It's a hard time, our mum's not around, our granny and grandad and people that meant a lot to us aren't around, so that alone hits you hard during the holidays when everyone is complaining about their family members or whoever, at least they have them around", reports the Mirror . Jedward are getting into the festive spirit with their BFF Gemma, sharing how they plan to spend Christmas together and offering tips on tackling the winter blues. The dynamic duo advised fans, "You've got to keep living until the sunlight gets back." Their holiday season will be full of joy and companionship, as they revealed, "We're going to be spending it with Gemma, she's already invited us. She got us Christmas decorations for our tree. During the festive season, she'll literally be staying at ours. She got us customised stockings. It's really sweet, it's nice that Gemma's able to rise to the occasion and be such a great friend." Holiday cheer is in the air with Jedward's new Christmas anthem, LOVEmas, which they'd happily perform at any festive wedding or engagement—throwing in Kerry Katona's name as a potential wedding to serenade. Gemma and Jedward are practically family, enjoying their past Christmases together, including a memorable one where Gemma showcased the twins crooning 'Feliz Navidad' on Instagram and expressed her affection for them: "It's OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS when @jepicpics (the twins' Instagram page) come to stay for the whole time. The kindest people to me and real friends."

For years, patients in the U.S. health care system have grown frustrated with a bureaucracy they don’t understand. Doctors are included in an insurer’s network one year but not the next. Getting someone on the phone to help can be next to impossible. Coverage of care and prescriptions is often unceremoniously denied. This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling — exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness — from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants. In particular, the words written on ammunition found at the shooting scene — “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” echoing a phrase used to describe how insurers dodge claim payouts — amplified voices that have long been critical of the industry. “All of a sudden, I am fired up again,” said Tim Anderson, describing how his wife, Mary, had to deal with UnitedHealthcare coverage denials before she died from Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in 2022. Anderson said they couldn’t get coverage for machines to help his wife breathe or talk — toward the end, she communicated by blinking when he showed her pictures. The family had to rely on donations from a local ALS group, he said. “The business model for insurance is don’t pay,” said Anderson, 67, of Centerville, Ohio. “When Mary could still talk, she said to me to keep fighting this,” he added. “It needs to be exposed.” For Anderson and others, Thompson’s death and the message left at the scene have created an opportunity to vent their frustrations. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic, as police efforts to find the gunman keep the case in the news. Hans Maristela said he understands why the chatter is bubbling up. The 54-year-old caregiver in California was moved to comment on Facebook about UnitedHealthcare’s reputation of denying coverage. As a Catholic, he said, he grieves Thompson’s death and feels for his family, especially with the holidays around the corner. But he sees frustration with insurers even among his clients, most of them wealthy older people who’ve not been shielded from high out-of-pocket costs. “And then you know the CEO of this company you pay a lot of money to gets $10 million dollars a year, you won’t have a lot of sympathy for the guy,” Maristela said, citing Thompson’s compensation package that included base pay and stock options. “Health care is a business, I understand, but the obsession with share price, with profit, has to be reevaluated.” University of Pennsylvania researcher Michael Anne Kyle said she’s not surprised by the growth of conversation around insurers. “People are often struggling with this by themselves, and when you see someone else talk about it, that may prompt you to join the conversation,” she said. Kyle studies how patients access care and said she’s seen frustration with the system build for years. Costs are rising, and insurers are using more controls such as prior authorizations and doctor networks to manage them. Patients are often stuck in the middle of disputes between doctors and insurers. “Patients are already spending a lot of money on health care, and then they’re still facing problems with the service,” she said. Insurers often note that most of the money they bring in goes back out the door to pay claims, and that they try to corral soaring costs and the overuse of some care. In Ohio, Anderson said his initial reaction to the CEO shooting was to question whether it was connected to a coverage denial, like the ones he’d experienced with his wife. “I definitely do not condone killing people,” he said. “But I read it and said, ‘I wonder if somebody had a spouse whose coverage was denied.'” It’s something Will Flanary, a Portland-based ophthalmologist and comedian with a large social media following, saw online a lot in the shooting’s immediate aftermath and found very telling. “It’s zero sympathy,” he said. “And the lesson to take away from that is not, ‘Let’s shame people for celebrating a murder.’ No, it’s: ‘Look at the amount of anger that people have toward this system that’s taken advantage of people and do something to try to fix that.'” Flanary’s content, published under the name Dr. Glaucomflecken, started out as niche eye doctor jokes and a way to cope with his own experiences with two cancer diagnoses and a sudden cardiac arrest. But it has evolved, featuring character skits that call attention to and satirize the decisions of large health insurers, including UnitedHealthcare. He said he’s never seen conversations around health insurance policy take off the way they did this week — and he hopes these new voices can help bring about change. “I’m always talking about how powerful social media can be with advocacy,” he said, “because it really is the only way to put a significant amount of pressure on these corporations who are doing bad things for patients.” Story by Tom Murphy and Devi Shastri, Associated Press More articles from the BDN

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A group of veterans who played key roles in the private evacuation of thousands of Americans from Afghanistan in 2021 spoke out in defense of Pete Hegseth , President-elect Donald Trump 's defense secretary pick. Hegseth's nomination has come under heavy scrutiny, putting into question the viability of him passing the Senate. Several leading veterans have come to his defense, including former Force Recon Marine Chad Robichaux. WHAT MAGA AND THE GOP WILL LOOK LIKE IN A POST-TRUMP ERA Robichaux's and his team evacuated over 17,000 people in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, an act recognized by Congress. In an interview with the Washington Examiner, he threw his full support behind Hegseth. He took particular aim at senators hesitant on voting for his confirmation, hitting them for not being hesitant when confirming current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. HOW TRUMP COULD IMPACT THE PENTAGON "That's the same Senate that's saying that [Hegseth] maybe had a few too many drinks, or whatever he did, is the same one that was silent when [Austin] left Americans behind, and when I say left Americans behind — thousands of Americans behind, in Afghanistan, when he left thousands of Americans stranded in Africa when he left thousands of Americans stranded in Ukraine," he said. Robichaux said that he had seen a groundswell of support for Hegseth, among groups previously apolitical. "There is a huge push from the military . Well, I've never seen this before," he said. "I've been around the military for 30 years. I've never seen [people] in the Marine Corps for four years, putting on social media who they want to be their secretary of defense. Most of the time, they don't even know who their secretary of defense is." "Everyone wants him in, mainly because he doesn't have a star," Robichaux said, referring to generals' stars. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, CONGRESS, AND UNIONS TRY TO ‘TRUMP-PROOF SCIENCE’ He argued that generals were too separated from the regular troops to carry out their mission effectively, and that soldiers preferred one of their own. "Pete doesn't have to doesn't have to have lead at a strategic level. He doesn't have to have a star. He's a leader. He's he's got the right vision," Robichaux said. "And when he sits in this situation room and the nation needs him to make a decision, he's not going to do it in a silo." "He's going to be surrounded by the right people to make the right decision, to do their jobs, and that's very important for the American people to understand. He's not a Fox News host. He's a guy that served his country and in combat twice, Iraq and Afghanistan," he said. Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) echoed this sentiment, praising Hegseth's qualifications while bashing Austin. “Pete Hegseth is exactly the kind of leader we need as Secretary of Defense. He’s a combat veteran who’s led men in battle, holds degrees from Princeton and Harvard, and has the courage to take on the root causes of our military recruitment crisis, like the destructive and divisive focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion," he told the Washington Examiner. TRUMP’S ‘NO TAXES ON OVERTIME’ PROPOSAL: WHAT TO KNOW Mills put the full blame of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan on Austin, over which he filed articles of impeachment against him. "I filed articles of impeachment against Austin for his dereliction of duty because leadership matters. When Austin failed to do his job, veterans like myself who stepped in to rescue American families left behind. Pete Hegseth’s leadership, integrity, and experience are exactly what this nation needs to restore accountability and strength to the Department of Defense," he concluded. Benghazi contractor Mark "Oz" Geist also lent his support to Hegseth. "As a warfighter, Pete Hegseth stands out because he gets what it takes to win on the battlefield—he’s lived it. His firsthand experience in Iraq and Afghanistan means he understands the realities of combat, the importance of morale, and the need for a lethal, well-trained force ready to fight and win," he told the Washington Examiner in a statement. Geist contrasted Hegseth to Austin, arguing that Austin's focus had been on "bureaucracy and social agendas" to the detriment of combat effectiveness. "He knows that strength, clarity of purpose, and a no-nonsense approach are what it takes to dominate any adversary, making him a leader who would ensure the military is always ready for the next fight," he said. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER After former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz dropped out as Trump’s attorney general nomination, the primary target of scrutiny landed on Hegseth. Reports emerged of past sexual assault allegations, financial mismanagement, and a drinking on the job. On Sunday the New Yorker published an article based on a whistleblower’s seven-page report detailing numerous allegations against Hegseth while he served as the president of Concerned Veterans for America from 2013 to 2016. He's pushed against the allegations, but promised Senators that he wouldn't drink if confirmed for the post. Trump’s team has publicly stood by him, decrying the accusations as false and politically motivated.The past week has seen significant developments in the tech industry, with AI at the forefront. OpenAI announced its transition to a for-profit entity, President-elect Trump appointed a new senior AI advisor, and Google faced intense scrutiny following the release of ChatGPT. Here’s a quick recap of the top stories. OpenAI’s For-Profit Transition Microsoft Corp.-backed MSFT OpenAI has revealed its plans to evolve into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). The company aims to balance shareholder and stakeholder interests while maintaining its public benefit mission. The transition is part of OpenAI’s mission to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of all humanity. Read the full article here. Trump’s New AI Advisor President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Sriram Krishnan, a former general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, as senior policy advisor for AI. Krishnan will work closely with David Sacks, recently named Trump’s "AI and crypto czar." The move is part of Trump’s efforts to ensure America’s technological dominance and foster scientific breakthroughs. Read the full article here. See Also: Microsoft Invested Nearly $14 Billion In OpenAI But Now It’s Reducing Its Dependence On The ChatGPT-Parent Google’s ‘Code Red’ Following the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Alphabet Inc. GOOG GOOGL Google declared a “Code Red”. The tech giant faced criticism for lagging behind rivals like Microsoft in integrating ChatGPT-like capabilities into its products. However, Alphabet’s latest advancements in AI and quantum computing are rebuilding its reputation and investor confidence. Read the full article here. Palantir: The ‘Next Oracle’ According to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives, Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR could emerge as "the next Oracle" in the AI revolution. Despite its stock surging 395.42% in 2024, Ives maintains a strong conviction in the company's growth trajectory. Read the full article here. Microsoft’s Reduced Dependence on OpenAI Microsoft is reportedly planning to reduce its dependence on OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT. The company is working on integrating internal and third-party AI models into its AI product, Microsoft 365 Copilot. Read the full article here. Peter Thiel’s Bet on AI Former PayPal CEO Peter Thiel has shared his perspective on the evolving role of AI and its potential impact on math skills. Thiel suggested that the rise of AI could reduce the emphasis on math proficiency and lead to a societal transformation. Read the full article here. Read Next: NIO Announces Repurchase Opportunity For Convertible Senior Notes Due 2027 Photo courtesy: Shutterstock This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Rounak Jain © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Nel ASA: Receives another 10 MW purchase order from Samsung C&T The first contract with Samsung C&T signed earlier this year was for an off-grid project based on solar power, while the client will now set up a demonstration plant to validate the commercial model for nuclear pink hydrogen. The aim is to produce hydrogen from excess nuclear power generation, allowing to utilize energy that is otherwise wasted in periods of oversupply, increasing overall energy efficiency President and CEO of Nel ASA, says: Samsung C&T (Construction and Trading) focuses on global engineering, procurement, and construction. The company has signed several green hydrogen agreements and continues to strengthen its energy transition business portfolio. Samsung C&T’s Head of Energy Solution Business Unit, , says : “There is no doubt that Nel’s technology can meet our expectation. We are thrilled to partner with Nel again in pink hydrogen production project. Samsung C&T hope to strengthen the partnership with Nel to develop more opportunities in clean hydrogen business,” This is a firm purchase order for alkaline stacks and balance-of-stacks (BoS). The electrodes will be produced in the Herøya facility in Norway, the world’s first fully automated electrolyser production line. the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Nel ASA: Receives another 10 MW purchase order from Samsung C&T, ITD District 6 Leads Innovation with HyMax Hydrogen Fuel Cell Deployment, Ensuring Safer and Smarter Roads in Idaho With the first deployment of HyMax hydrogen fuel cells, ITD District 6 ensures uninterrupted traffic... SFC Energy is participating in a pilot project (GH2GH) with a fuel cell energy solution as part of the Export Initiative Environmental Protection in Tema, Ghana • Energy supply for Sub-Saharan Africa with EFOY Hydrogen... Korea – Gov’t selects Gyeongju as home to country’s largest hydrogen fuel cell plant SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) — The finance ministry said Thursday it has selected the southeastern city of Gyeongju...

Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoys winning start with Leicester

NASA delays Artemis moon missions once againShares of Plus500 Ltd. ( LON:PLUS – Get Free Report ) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as GBX 2,670 ($33.60) and last traded at GBX 2,670 ($33.60), with a volume of 46259 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at GBX 2,652 ($33.37). Plus500 Stock Up 0.7 % The company has a 50 day moving average of GBX 2,499.45 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 2,430.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.38, a current ratio of 2.70 and a quick ratio of 3.89. The company has a market cap of £1.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,030.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.20. Plus500 Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Plus500 Ltd., a fintech company, operates technology-based trading platforms in Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, and internationally. The company develops and operates an online trading platform, including over the counter (OTC) products comprising the contracts for difference (CFDs) sector enabling its international customer base of individual customers to trade CFDs on underlying financial instruments comprising shares, indices, commodities, options, ETFs, foreign exchange, and cryptocurrencies internationally. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Plus500 Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Plus500 and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Smith & Wesson (NASDAQ:SWBI) Misses Q3 Sales Targets, Stock Drops 12.8%

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Davion Bailey had 19 points in Incarnate Word's 65-53 win against East Texas A&M on Saturday. Bailey had four steals for the Cardinals (5-4, 1-1 Southland Conference). Dylan Hayman went 5 of 11 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range) to add 11 points. Jalin Anderson had nine points and shot 2 of 9 from the field, including 0 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 7 from the line. The Lions (1-9, 0-2) were led in scoring by Scooter Williams Jr., who finished with 10 points. Mykol Sanchez-Vega added nine points for East Texas A&M. Josh Taylor finished with eight points. The Lions prolonged their losing streak to six in a row. NEXT UP Incarnate Word next plays Tuesday against Duke on the road, and East Texas A&M hosts South Alabama on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .Oliver Glasner: Crystal Palace are heading in right direction after Ipswich winNBA plans to return to China for pair of preseason games

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Affordable pockets under 11km from the CBD are still able to be found. Photo: iStock While rent price growth has slowed in the past year, the cost of renting remains significantly higher compared with pre-pandemic times. Renters are facing tough conditions, however, there are still suburbs close to the city with affordable rental properties available. National weekly rents rose by 7 per cent in the past year, reaching $620 in November, according to recent data from PropTrack. This was just half the growth rate of the prior year, marking a slowdown in market conditions. RELATED: Blues footy boss makes multimillion-dollar Hawthorn move Saints legend ‘Aussie’ Jones selling entertainer’s paradise with putting green Portelli slammed: Block is dud investment In Melbourne, the easing is even more apparent. Annual rent growth was only 6 per cent from November 2023 until November 2024, which was well below the 17 per cent recorded in the same period a year earlier. While the slowing of growth offers some relief for renters in the city who have had to endure substantial rent rises, weekly rents are still about 35 per cent higher than February 2020. Finding an affordable property has become more difficult, but homes in a number of inner-ring suburbs, those within the closest third in terms of distance to the CBD, still offer reasonably priced options. For suburbs within 11kms of the Melbourne CBD, Brooklyn, Heidelberg West and Avondale Heights had the cheapest rental houses, where weekly median rents were $550, $550 and $570 per week, respectively. Braybrook and Coburg North were also affordable with median house rents less than $600 per week. Level 4, 3/12 Powlett Street, Heidelberg is up for rent for $470 per week. MORE: Melbourne has most homes for sale in the nation Gardenvale, Caulfield East and Kingsville topped the list for the most affordable rental units among inner-ring suburbs. The cost of renting a unit was $390, $410 and $420 per week respectively. Units in Fairfield and West Footscray had weekly rents below $450 as well. The increase of rental stock has been one key factor easing rental conditions. Since November 2023, total rental listings have risen by 7.1 per cent. This is likely due to a return of investors and more people opting to purchase their first home instead of renting. However, on a historic basis, demand is high and supply remains low. As cost-of-living pressures mount and rent growth continues to outpace wage growth, more people will seek out cheaper rentals which could result in stronger price increases in budget-friendly areas. This will further decrease the availability of affordable rentals. To ensure that all Australians have access to affordable housing, it is crucial that the government prioritises building more well-located homes to meet the demands of our growing population. Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. RELATED: ‘Man from Snowy River’ high country haven gets international interest Trick that got family into home for $35k less than they thought Bailey Smith splashes $4m on Surf Coast hinterland home

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday made history by becoming the first Defence Minister to visit Mhow in 24 years, where he lauded the Indian Army's training institutes for their outstanding contributions. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday made history by becoming the first Defence Minister to visit Mhow in 24 years, where he lauded the Indian Army's training institutes for their outstanding contributions. Singh's visit was a significant milestone, as he acknowledged the crucial role these institutes play in shaping the military strategies and warfare skills of Indian Army personnel. He was on a visit to the three Premier Training Institutes of the Indian Army - Army War College (AWC), Infantry School and Military College of Telecommunication and Engineering (MCTE) - in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, accompanied by the Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and other senior officers of the Indian Army. Singh was briefed by the Officiating Commandant on the establishment of the Advanced Incubation and Research Centre and the various MoUs towards enabling the absorption and transformation of technologies. He visited the Army Marksmanship Unit to witness their contribution towards national sports. Singh also visited the Infantry Museum, where he was briefed on the history of the Infantry as well as the induction of modernised equipment into the Infantry. Addressing the troops, he commended the courage and vigilance of the Indian Army personnel in safeguarding the borders and ensuring national security. "Your dedication and devotion to duty are an inspiration to all of us. It is due to your hard work and commitment that our country and its borders are becoming increasingly secure and strong," he said. Singh called upon the Armed Forces to continue keeping a vigilant eye on the current geopolitical scenario, and always remain alert and ready to deal with any kind of threats. During his address at Mhow Military Station, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, " Our jawans are not ordinary but very special. Whenever you want to do something you don't calculate but instead you think that no matter what we need to do it. This dedication of yours inspires the entire citizens of this country...as the Defence Minister, I want to say that we will have to keep ourselves alert always..." He emphasised that there are times when India faces challenges on the borders as well as on the internal front, which makes it imperative for the soldiers to keep a close eye on the activities of the adversaries and take timely and effective steps against them. Singh asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government's aim is to make India a developed and self-reliant nation by 2047, and the Armed Forces will play a crucial role in achieving this goal. "You are the protectors of our borders and the forerunners in nation-building. I am sure that you will continue securing our borders with courage and dedication, and contribute to realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047," he said. Earlier, the Defence Minister visited the Bhim Janm Bhoomi, a memorial dedicated to Dr BR Ambedkar in Mhow, and paid homage to the Bharat Ratna and the architect of the Indian constitution at his birthplace. He described Dr BR Ambedkar as an epitome of selfless service, who dedicated his life to social equality and empowerment. Stay informed on all the latest news , real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news and world News on Zee News.