From empty lots to massive store openings, we unpack 2025’s biggest stories in business.

Three kayakers and two paddle boarders have been rescued from waters across Victoria's coastline in three separate incidents on Christmas Day.

Police were first called to Corinella jetty, near French Island, off the Mornington Peninsula following reports three kayakers were in trouble about 2.10pm.

A mother and her two teenage daughters were trying to retrieve an adrift kayak when the current and strong winds swept them into Western Port Bay, police said.

READ MORE: Police release details of arson suspect after car with Hanukkah signage firebombed

The women, who were all wearing life jackets, ended up in the water about a kilometre from the shoreline.

They were winched to safety by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter after police spotted them in the water.

Around 3pm crews were called to Lake King in Paynesville, East Gippsland to help another kayaker in trouble.

Witnesses said they saw a 41-year-old man struggling before his kayak rolled, hours earlier.

READ MORE: Aussies expected to spend $3.1b in Boxing Day sales despite cost-of-living crisis

The Air Wing spotted the Hoppers Crossing man and dropped a smoke marker highlighting his location, where he was picked up by the coast guard.

He was returned to shore unharmed.

On the other side of the state, police were called to a caravan park jetty in Port Arlington around 3pm, where a pair of paddleboarders had set out two hours earlier.

A family member called Triple-Zero after the 51-year-old woman and 17-year-old boy failed to return.

A search was launched with local police units, Air Wing, Life Saving Victoria and Queenscliff Coast Guards all trying to find them.

Air Wing officers spotted them lying on their boards and waving near Wyndham Harbour about 6.20pm, more than 10 kilometres from where they set off.

The pair were cold and exhausted but otherwise uninjured.

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NSW Police warned they will have "zero tolerance" for anyone threatening to protest ahead of a planned "bashing day" at the place where race-fuelled riots happened 20 years ago.

Alleged organiser Ryder Roy Shaw, 20, is facing court over a "violent call to action" for protesters to rally at Cronulla Beach, south of Sydney, after the December 14 terror attack at Bondi Beach.

Police say they are aware of tomorrow's plan and reminded the public that unauthorised gatherings are restricted under new state laws that were rushed through this week.

READ MORE: Aussies warned of travelling to Turkey over terrorism risk after attack plans uncovered

Acting Assistant Commissioner Brendan Gorman said police will have no tolerance.

"Everyone in NSW deserves to be safe and feel safe," he said.

"Now is not the time for any behaviour that will cause division in our community."

Officers will be patrolling the beach to respond to anyone who incites violence or hatred, commits violent offences, or participates in anti-social behaviour, harassment or intimidation, he said.

"Action will be taken against anyone who engages in criminal activity that is motivated by hate," Gorman said.

READ MORE: Sydney to Hobart crews pay tribute to Bondi victims by scattering rose petals

The new law allows Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon to make a declaration restricting unauthorised public gatherings for 14 days following a terrorism incident.

His declaration started on Wednesday and will remain in place until January 7.

Police can issue move-on directions and force people to remove face coverings.

Premier Chris Minns told reporters this week that anyone seeking to stir racial hatred, violence or division in the community would be met by police.

"There is zero tolerance for it right now," he said.

Anyone who is a victim or witness hate crime is urged to contact CrimeStoppers.

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Their celebration was shared with some 15,000 racegoers at Ellerslie today.

The earlier 4.7 quake at 7.16am was felt from Wellington to Whanganui.

Police have released details of a man they believe may be able to assist with their investigation after a car adorned with Hanukkah decorations was torched in Melbourne on Christmas morning.

A Rabbi's car displaying a Happy Hanukkah sign was firebombed in his driveway on Balaclava Road in St Kilda East about 2.50 yesterday morning.

A woman and three children were evacuated from the house after the car erupted into flames just metres from their bedroom.

READ MORE: Sydney to pause for Bondi terror attack victims on New Year's Eve

Following investigations, police have released an image of 47-year-old John Argento, urging him or anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact them.

Argento is known to police and has an outstanding warrant related to deception offending.

"He  is wanted on a warrant at this stage for [allegedly] using a stolen credit card,"

"We will allege he may have been involved in other property offences as well, so stealing from cars."

Police suspect Argento may be connected to the damage of a car that was broken into in a nearby street about 20 minutes after the arson attack.

Detectives believe he frequents Melbourne's inner southern suburbs, including St Kilda, St Kilda East and Caulfield, as well as the northern suburbs.

He moves around frequently and doesn't appear to have a permanent address at the moment, police said.

He is about 185 cm tall, has a thin build, blue eyes, grey hair and a fair complexion.

"If you see him, contact Triple-Zero and someone will be sent around," Southern Metro Region Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert said.

Detectives believe the suspected arson attack was targeted, but said he does not pose a specific risk to the Jewish community.

"We understand the devastating impact this type of offence has on our Jewish community, and we are continuing to prioritise this investigation. We won't fully understand the motives of this arsonist until we get them into custody

"At this stage, we do not believe there is a broader threat to the Jewish community. We want to thank people in the area for their assistance in this investigation so far."

READ MORE: Crane hits Gold Coast building after snapping in storm

Despite a thorough search overnight including operation Trinity units, Public Order Response team and uniform police, they have been unable to locate the suspect.

The vehicle will be forensically analysed by an arson chemist.

The home belongs to a well-known local Rabbi, who is in New York with one of the couple's children.

He is now scrambling to get home to be with his shaken family.

"There is no doubt that they are a family who's now in fear," Gilbert said.

"I've had some of my senior team go and meet with them today to reassure them that their safety is well and truly in our thoughts."

Officers will be patrolling the area and providing public reassurance.

"We have a lot of staff that are currently working here in the area and right across the state today in terms of public safety," Gilbert said.

"We are here in numbers, we're here to support [the Jewish community] we're here all day and night."

Shadow Housing Minister for Victoria, David Southwick, called for a recall of parliament.

"The community is absolutely on edge. This is the last thing we'd want coming off the Bondi attack," Southwick said.

"Its time to recall parliament – the premier's been talking really tough about a whole lot of things, well now, we need action."

The incident comes just weeks after the Bondi terrorist attack, and also a year after a synagogue in nearby St. Kilda was a fire bomb, and the wake of the October 7 terror attack in Israel.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

Opunake surf lifeguard credited with being part of two Christmas Day rescues.

One Waipātiki Beach lifeguard managed to rescue three people in one go.

How do you determine what the greatest movies of all time are?

Nobody can be wrong about their own opinion.

Lists compiled by IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes don't typically reward the greatest movie, but the one the fewest people dislike.

And critic lists tend to reward the obscure art movies that only they like.

In 2022, Sight and Sound named famously slow Belgian art film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles as the best movie ever made.

There's no way to work it out mathematically. It just comes down to gut feeling.

Which is why the task has fallen to this journalist to compile their ultimate list – based on nothing more than watching a lot of movies and thinking very hard about it.

To avoid casting too wide a net, this list only includes English-language movies.

20. Alien (1979)

What to do when you're in an inescapable and tiny space with something that wants to kill you?

It's the most basic of a horror movie premise, but Alien manages to be both subtle and terrifying.

The film also undermined the audience's expectations by having the sole survivor among the cast be the only one who wasn't yet famous.

19. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Every movie in the 1990s that didn't star Arnold Schwarzenegger was either a courtroom drama or a rom-com.

And every rom-com was setting out to recapture the charm of When Harry Met Sally.

The concept of the movie will seem very familiar to people who have never seen it, but that's because it set the standard.

But no rom-com did it better.

18. All The President's Men (1976)

Film buffs love to talk about the elaborate, single-take long-shot.

But the script is so tight in All The President's Men that you don't realise you have been looking at nothing but Robert Redford's face non-stop for six minutes.

Made in close consultation with the real-life subjects, the film is not only a vehement defence of the importance of journalism, but a primary source in one of the biggest political scandals in history.

17. Monsters Inc (2001)

The sheer audacity of making a movie with one of the most complicated conceits ever attempted – and making it for children.

The movie tells the story of two monsters who find themselves in charge of the most hazardous and terrifying thing in the world – a small child.

And despite its high concept, it is great fun the whole way through.

16. 12 Angry Men (1957)

Twelve men, one room, no air conditioning.

It's a simple concept but a masterful execution.

A jury deciding the fate of an accused murderer is deadlocked because of one stubborn man.

But over the course of 90 minutes, he causes each of them to question everything they've seen in a trial the audience saw nothing of.

15. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

A few minutes into a bank robbery, the phone rings.

"It's for you," the manager says, and hands the phone to one of the robbers.

Too often, Hollywood makes films about criminal masterminds.

This is a movie about two men who don't know what they are doing, trapped in a bank, surrounded by police, with a group of hostages they are becoming increasingly attached to.

14. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

The charming Nazi psychopath tasked with finding Jews doesn't know there's a family secretly underneath the floorboards while he drinks a glass of milk.

Or does he?

Most of Quentin Tarantino's movies could be included on this list, but Inglorious Basterds manages to be his most tense and his most funny.

And as the movie reaches what appears to be its thrilling crescendo, Brad Pitt utters the word "Buongiorno".

13. West Side Story (1961)

Street toughs doing ballet and modern dance moves seems like the silliest idea for a movie ever.

If this movie wasn't fantastic, it would be terrible.

It's billed as a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, but the best parts are the scenes with neither of the stars.

12. Lady Bird (2017)

There's no tragedy in Lady Bird.

It's the story of the last few months of a girl's high school experience.

It's a movie about disappointment, friendship and discovery.

But more than anything, it's a movie about a daughter and her mother.

No film captures the experience of growing up with greater wit, charm and truth.

11. Schindler's List (1993)

Oskar Schindler was an unlikely real-life hero – a Nazi industrialist philanderer who made his fortune off Jewish slave labour.

But over three harrowing hours, Steven Spielberg made one of the most affecting films ever – about Schindler and the thousands of lives he saved.

It's a story about a tiny flicker of hope within the worst atrocity of all time, and it is a masterpiece.

10. Singin' In The Rain (1952)

It's the 1920s, and the two biggest stars in Hollywood are switching from silent movies to talkies. 

But there's a problem.

The actress has a very annoying voice, and no-one's brave enough to tell her.

There's lots of singing and the dancing is incredible, but nobody tells you ahead of time just how funny Singin' In The Rain is.

9. There Will Be Blood (2007)

For the first 15 minutes of There Will Be Blood, there isn't a word spoken.

But we see Daniel Day-Lewis as a ruthlessly determined would-be oil tycoon, the violence within him a tightly coiled spring.

When he loses control, it is terrifying and mesmerising.

Perhaps the greatest ever performance put to film.

8. Get Out (2017)

Chris is nervous about meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time, in no small part because he is black and they are white.

What starts off as a surgical satire on race and manners takes a turn midway through, and it is gripping.

With dozens of mediocre and cliched horror movies made each year, Get Out is clever, funny, unsettling and thoroughly original.

7. Jurassic Park (1993)

It's nearly impossible to make a perfect movie, but Steven Spielberg managed two in one year.

Jurassic Park is the perfect popcorn movie – thrilling, charming, dazzling and fun.

It was also the movie that showed that CGI made anything possible – and it still looks better than movies that came out two decades later.

6. Some Like It Hot (1959)

Two men witness a mob hit, and in order to get out of town unnoticed, they join an all-female orchestra, but in disguise.

It's a familiar conceit, but no film pulls it off better than Some Like It Hot, which is hilarious the whole way through.

The final line is "Nobody's perfect".

But this movie just might be.

5. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Realising that a mental hospital is a cushier life than prison, a convict pretends to be insane in order to get himself committed.

But this chronic troublemaker clashes with the head nurse, who had every inmate in the unit wrapped around her finger.

One of three films to have won Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay at the Oscars, and it's hard to imagine any film beating it.

4. Casablanca (1942)

Rick is a cold and broken bar owner happy to take the money of desperate refugees trying to flee the Nazis, and the Germans looking for dissidents to arrest.

And in walks the woman who broke his heart, and the fugitive Resistance fighter she is in love with.

Made at the height of World War II, much of the supporting cast consisted of refugees.

As Madeleine Lebeau sang La Marseillaise in the most powerful scene of the movie, her desperate and determined tears were real.

3. No Country For Old Men (2007)

While out hunting, small-town welder Llewelyn stumbles across a mass of bodies from a drug deal gone wrong, and a briefcase full of money.

The innocent bystander finds himself chased by a cold-blooded killer tasked with getting the briefcase back – and by an out-of-his-depth sheriff desperate to stop more bloodshed.

There's few moments in film history as tense as Javier Bardem's character talking to an oblivious petrol station owner – the audience knowing he has murdered every other person he has interacted with.

2. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Over the course of four hours, we see the real-life war hero T.E. Lawrence go from being too effete for the British Army, to too savage for a band of Arabian militia.

Along the way, we get a scathing view of colonialism and masculinity in a world completely removed from women.

But even without the subtext, the film is magnificent.

You could watch it without the sound on and it would still be incredible.

1. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

It makes little sense that perhaps the scariest and most unsettling scene in the history of cinema is merely two people talking.

There's no raised voices, no threats, and they are separated by unbreakable glass.

But what makes Silence of the Lambs a masterpiece is how it can fill the audience with terror on the strength of extreme close-ups of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster.

By every conceivable metric, the movie is perfect.

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On a Christmas Day when the war in Ukraine casts a shadow over Europe, concerns over immigration divide societies, and some politicians fan anger and resentment, King Charles III called on people to focus on kindness instead of conflict.

Delivering his annual holiday address from Westminster Abbey, Charles said on Thursday the Christmas story of wise men and shepherds traveling through the night to find their saviour shows how we can find strength in the "companionship and kindness of others."

"To this day, in times of uncertainty, these ways of living are treasured by all the great faiths and provide us with deep wells of hope, of resilience in the face of adversity," Charles said.

READ MORE: White Christmas for parts of Tasmania as sun shines on Bondi

"Peace through forgiveness, simply getting to know our neighbours and by showing respect to one another, creating new friendships."

"In this, with the great diversity of our communities, we can find the strength to ensure that right triumphs over wrong," he added.

The speech, which concluded with a Christmas carol sung by a Ukrainian choir, comes as European leaders rally support for Ukraine amid signs that US President Donald Trump is losing patience with America's traditional European allies.

At home, British politics have become increasingly bitter as Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government struggles to control unauthorised migration and bolster creaking public services.

Charles, the titular head of the Church of England, chose Westminster Abbey as the site of his Christmas Day broadcast to underscore the theme of pilgrimage that ran through the speech.

The abbey, known as the site of coronations and royal weddings, is also the focus of an annual pilgrimage honouring Edward the Confessor, an early king of England who was canonised as a saint in 1161.

"Pilgrimage is a word less used today, but it is of particular significance for our modern world, and especially at Christmas,'' he said.

"This is about journeying forward into the future, while also journeying back to remember the past and learn from its lessons."

Charles and his family made their own pilgrimage on foot earlier in the day to St. Mary Magdalene Church on the King's private Sandringham Estate, about 100 miles north of London.

Charles and Queen Camilla, along with Prince William and his wife, Kate, and their children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, and extended family walked to the church and greeted the crowds of people after the service.

Events earlier this year marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II underscored the need to learn from the past, Charles said.

While there are fewer and fewer living veterans of that conflict, we must remember the courage and sacrifice of those who fought the war and the way communities came together "in the face of such great challenge," he said.

"These are the values which have shaped our country and the Commonwealth," he said.

"As we hear of division, both at home and abroad, they are the values of which we must never lose sight.''

The monarch's annual holiday message is watched by millions of people in the UK and across the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, most of which have historic ties to Britain. The pre-recorded speech is broadcast at 3pm London time (2am AEDT Friday), when many families are enjoying their traditional Christmas lunch.

The speech is one of the rare occasions when Charles, 77, is able to voice his own views and doesn't seek guidance from the government.

This year's address comes just two weeks after Charles made a deeply personal television appearance in which he said "good news" from his doctors meant that he would be able to reduce his treatment for cancer in the new year.

The King was diagnosed with a still undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024. Buckingham Palace says his treatment is now moving to a "precautionary phase" and his condition will be monitored to ensure his continued recovery.

The speech was accompanied by a video of members of the royal family, from the King to his grandchildren, George and Louis and Charlotte, meeting with the public and carrying out their royal duties.

That included scenes from the King's historic trip to the Vatican as he works to forge closer relations between the Church of England and the Catholic Church.

The event was the first time since King Henry VIII severed ties with Rome that the leaders of the two Christian churches, divided for centuries over issues that now include the ordination of female priests in the Church of England, have prayed together.

The King's message was clear. Even if some years had passed, there's always hope to start over. Peace is possible.

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