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Showing posts from October, 2021

I dont think I know French President Macron says Scott Morrison lied to him

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Rome: French President Emmanuel Macron says Scott Morrison lied to him over the cancellation of a mammoth submarine contract, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two leaders. Asked by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age at the G20 summit in Rome whether he could trust Morrison again, Macron replied: “We will see what he will deliver. “I have a lot of respect for your country, a lot of respect and friendship for your people. I just say when we have respect, you have to be true and you have to behave in line and consistent with this value.” When also asked if he thought Morrison lied, Macron said: “I don’t think, I know.” Morrison and Macron had the day before shook hands briefly, but Macron’s anger on the closing day of the Rome summit suggests the rift caused by the new AUKUS pact will be long-lasting. The two leaders have been at odds since September, when the federal government axed a deal for France to design and help build 12 diesel submarines in favour

Didi expands inDriver monetizes to rival Uber Bolt in Africa

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The on-demand transport space in Africa has evolved since San Francisco-based ride-hailing firm Uber first set up operations in South Africa in 2013, setting the stage for its foray across the continent while radically transforming the entire taxi industry. Almost a decade later, Africa’s taxi industry is now dominated by tens of local and international tech-led ride-on-demand platforms, with the latest additions being global giants Didi Chuxing from China and Russia’s inDriver. Looking to edge out its competitors, Chinese behemoth Didi is currently expanding across the continent, stepping up competition for market leaders Uber and Estonia-based Bolt. Evidence shows it is preparing to enter Nigeria, having begun operations in South Africa in March and Egypt just last month when the company posted a job opening for a driver centre manager in Lagos â€" the same role it first advertised for when entering South Africa and Egypt. A key indicator of the compa

Army Of Thieves To Solidify Zack Snyders Netflix multiverse

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Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead universe has expanded with its first prequel Army of Thieves which is a thoroughly entertaining genre-busting heist movie with elements of a rom-com and lots of humour. Let’s break down the whole film, which drops on Netflix worldwide on the 29th of this month. WATCH: ARMY OF THIEVES | OFFICIAL TRAILER [embedded content] Video Credits: Netflix ARMY OF THIEVES IS A HIEST MOVIE WITH A ROM-COM THEME Netflix’s Army of Thieves is a heist movie but with a rom-com and satire theme to it compared to Zack Snyder’s zombie heist movie earlier this year. The film starts off by showing Sebastian (aka Ludwig) is at a very boring desk job and is bored of his life. He is shown to have an insane knowledge of safe cracking and starts a youtube channel about it but nobody seems to be interested in seeing his content. Then suddenly one day he gets a single view on his video and there is a mysterious commentator saying if he wants to take it to the next l

The Best Instant Cameras for Every Situation and Budget

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Despite nearly dying off a decade ago, instant photo printing has come roaring back.

Its endemic Nearly two-thirds of audited real estate agents underquote

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Almost 60 per cent of real estate agents recently audited by the state’s consumer watchdog have been hit with fines for underquoting, with the industry put on notice as property sales ramp up following lockdown. Inspectors from Consumer Affairs Victoria arrived unannounced at 29 metropolitan and regional estate agents’ offices in May following tip-offs from the public about underquoting. The average house price in Melbourne has risen by almost $150,000, or 16.8 per cent, over the past year.Credit:Jessica Shapiro The Age can reveal that 17 of these agents were found to have flouted Victoria’s underquoting laws and were fined more than $300,000. Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne said home buyers should not be deceived when making one of the biggest decisions of their life. “Underquoting is not a smart sales tactic â€" it’s illegal. These outcomes serve as a strong warning to agents that if you do the wrong thing, you’ll be caught,” she said. Concerns about underq

Climate deal hangs in balance as world leaders look to soften targets

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Rome: Political leaders from the world’s largest economies are in dispute over a collective goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, dimming the prospects for an agreement ahead of a United Nations climate change summit due to start on Monday. Talks at the G20 summit in Rome appear likely to scale back the ambition of the meeting in a final statement that seeks to limit the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius but avoids time frames that would force immediate action. The negotiations on Saturday appeared to soften the target to cut emissions to net zero by removing a reference to 2050 as the preferred deadline and replacing this with a “mid-century” timeframe. Prime Minister Scott Morrison walks towards a bilateral meeting during the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy, on Saturday 30 October 2021.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged the differences but said Australia did not believe in imposing its views on others when every member

Amid plans of mass protests Sudans military suggests ousted prime minister can return to power

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Days after armed forces detained the Sudanese prime minister and dissolved his government, the leader behind the military takeover, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, appears to be backtracking on some of his actions. During a speech on Thursday, Burhan said they would be forming a new government, and that Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who has since been released, could once again be at the helm. Regardless, civil disobedience continues across Sudan and mass, nationwide protests are planned for Saturday. Related: Sudan’s ousted ambassador to the US says resorting to ‘the gun’ doesn’t aid the revolution International pressure has been mounting against the military in recent days from the United States to the African Union. On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council, currently helmed by Kenya, called on the military to restore Sudan’s joint military-civilian transitional government that was tasked with steering the country to democratic elections. “The natural inclination fr

G20 leaders sign off on global minimum 15 corporation tax deal

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The leaders of the world’s 20 largest economies have signed off on an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) deal for a global minimum 15 per cent corporation tax rate, the United States has announced. Ireland had been one of the holdouts against the agreement to reform how multinationals are taxed, but ultimately agreed to change its long-time flagship 12.5 per cent corporation tax rate earlier this month. US treasury secretary Janet Yellen announced that every leader of the countries representing 80 per cent of the world’economy had supported the reform at the Rome summit. “Today, every G20 head of state endorsed an historic agreement on new international tax rules, including a global minimum tax that will end the damaging race to the bottom on corporate taxation,” said Ms Yellen. â

Portsmouth 1 Bolton Wanderers 0 - Live matchday blog and highlights

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Weakness arouses evil Mike Pence slams Bidens Iran policy says US enemies emboldened

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The Biden administration’s decision to pursue a new round of nuclear negotiations with Iran is the latest in a string of foreign policy missteps that could embolden America’s enemies “to test our resolve” around the world, former Vice President Mike Pence said at the “Free Iran Summit” event in Washington on Thursday. In his remarks, Mr. Pence also took direct aim at Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who assumed power over the summer. Mr. Pence said the new Iranian leader â€" already under American economic sanctions because of his involvement in the deaths of thousands of Iranian political prisoners in 1988 â€" should be removed from office by the people of Iran.

Scandal-plagued Facebook hoping for a fresh start and younger customers with Meta

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Mark Zuckerberg says changing the name of his company from Facebook to Meta is all about recognising a shift in its priorities, from social media to the metaverse, which it sees as the future of the internet. But it’s hard not to notice the odd timing of the announcement. Facebook has, essentially, never stopped being under intense legal, social and regulatory scrutiny for at least the past five years. It has seen scandal after scandal drag its name through the mud â€" the latest a series of leaks showing just how disorganised internal attempts to address harassment and misinformation have been â€" against a constant undertow of shady data collection practices. And Facebook’s worries go beyond just the current and ongoing controversies. Newly leaked internal documents have shown the company is concerned about its ageing userbase; with Facebook as a platform failing to attract the valuable younger demographics, the service risks going extinct. Making a Facebook account man

Ups and Downs of Cryptocurrency from the Beginning of 2021

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Spread the love Undoubtedly, it’s impossible to hear the term “cryptocurrency” and do not remember about Bitcoin. In May 2010, a Florida programmer paid 10,000 BTC for two large pizzas at Papa John’s pizzeria. At that time, Bitcoin was valued at $0.08 per coin. And what to say about the Ethereum price, had you bought when it started, you’d already be a millionaire if not a billionaire. However, eleven years later, Bitcoin went from an underground dime-valued asset to the spotlight of the financial market. In April 2021, Bitcoin reached its historical price peak of more than $63,000, becoming one of the most valuable assets in the world. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, as the Bitcoin price eventually went down. In this article, you will have a full overview of the crypto market from early to mid-2021. Chasing the Digital Gold â€" Is the Bitcoin Run Over in 2021? Bitcoin is not only the world’s most valuable crypto asset but also the most resilie

Blackhawks ask Hall of Fame to cover assistants name on Cup

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CHICAGO (AP) â€" Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz wants the Hockey Hall of Fame to cover the name of an assistant coach engraved on the Stanley Cup after the assistant was accused of sexually assaulting a player during the team’s run to the 2010 championship. In a letter addressed to Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald, dated Thursday, Wirtz writes that Brad Aldrich’s conduct disqualifies him from being included on the Cup, and the team made a mistake by submitting his name. “I am humbly requesting that the Hockey Hall of Fame consider ‘x-ing’ out his name on the Stanley Cup,” Wirtz wrote. “While nothing can undo

Seniors 80 years and older should get COVID-19 booster shots NACI recommends

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Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is recommending COVID-19 booster shots for all adults 80 years of age and older, and is also opening the door for certain other groups who may be at increased risk of lowered protection over time since their initial vaccinations.   "Populations at highest risk of waning protection following their primary series and at highest risk of severe COVID-19 illness should be offered a booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after completing their primary series," NACI's new guidance released Friday said, noting that seniors 80 years and older "should" be offered a booster shot.  NACI also said other people "may" be offered a booster shot, because they "may be at increased risk of lower protection over time since vaccination, increased risk of severe illness or who are essential for maintaining health system capacity." Those groups include: Adults between t

How The Pandemic Severed One Of Southern Africas Main Economic Lifelines

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Before the borders closed, Michele, 31, made a modest income buying clothes and electronics in South Africa and reselling them for profit across the border in Zimbabwe. But when the pandemic shut down most traffic between the two countries, she said, her revenue dried up and she had to try “other means to earn a living.” Thousands of other cross-border traders in southern Africa face the same dilemma. For decades, this informal commercial network has provided steady work for people, mostly women, in the area’s borderlands. The United Nations has estimated that the industry makes up 40% of the $17 billion trade market among the 16 countries in the Southern African Development Community. But the pandemic has kicked down this essential economic pillar for communities where job opportunities are slim and there is limited access to COVID-19 vaccines, sparking a financial downturn with no end in sight. Nearly 70% of traders in Zimbabwe are women, according to the UN, and they’ve had

Millions missing out on remote learning during emergencies UNICEF

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Thursday, October 28, 2021 UN News At least 200 million boys and girls, live in 31 countries which do not have the resources to deal with remote learning during any future emergency school closures, the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said in a study released on Thursday.  More than half, or 102 million, are students in 14 countries which either fully or partially closed their classrooms for at least half of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Remote Learning Readiness Index.  Every child must be able to continue learning during emergency school closures. Yet, at least 200 million students live in countries unprepared to deliver remote learning, leaving many without any form of education. https://t.co/3q3RqdVefD â€" UNICEF (@UNICEF) October 28, 2021 “Even in the midst of an ongoing emergency, we know there will be another one, but we aren’t making enough progress to ensure the next time students are forced out of the classroom, they have better options,” said

Violence against Brazils indigenous people rose last year report finds

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BRASILIA : Violence against Brazil's indigenous people increased last year as land disputes and invasions of their reservations rose and the government failed to provide protection, the Catholic Church's Indigenous Missionary Council said on Thursday (Oct 28). Its annual report on violence against the descendants of Brazil's original inhabitants said there were 182 murders of indigenous people in 2020, compared to 113 murders in 2019, a 61 per cent surge. There were 263 reported land invasions, an "alarming" increase of 137 per cent over incursions on indigenous territory the previous year. The report blamed the government for failing to protect indigenous communities, while pushing legislation that would open their reservations to commercial mining, oil and gas exploration and the building of hydroelectric dams. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who once praised US Army cavalry colonel George Armstrong Custer for clearing the prairies of indigenous

CIA plot shows US promises on Assange cant be trusted court told

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Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size London: Lawyers for Julian Assange have told Britain’s High Court that the reported CIA plot to kill or kidnap the Australian shows that the US government’s pledge to safely extradite the WikiLeaks founder can’t be trusted. Assange is wanted by the US over the theft by hacking of hundreds of thousands of classified US cables, which WikiLeaks published a decade ago. Protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London demand that Julian Assange be freed.Credit:Getty Images Assange’s lawyers said he was too unwell to attend the second and final day of his court hearing on Wednesday after taking a higher dosage of medication. Assange had intermittently appeared via video link from Belmarsh Prison on Tuesday, but the court was told this was only due to his mistaken belief that the court had ordered him to attend. The US is appealing January’s ruling that barred his extradition on the basis that being held under extreme pris

WATCH Paddy McGuinness returns to Bolton in TV show segment

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Bolton comedian, Paddy McGuinness, has returned to his hometown in an exclusive segment for BBC’s The One Show. In the special film, Paddy visited his childhood home, the social club used for Phoenix Nights, and Horwich Leisure Centre, in order to explain exactly what these locations meant to him growing up. This comes ahead of his book launch of ‘My Lifey’ which is available to purchase now. Introducing the One Show segment, Paddy describes Bolton as the “jewel of the North” and a place where “dreams are made”. His first stop took him to 26 Auburn Street where he grew up.   Just one hour to go until #TheOneShow, tonight @PaddyMcGuinness will be taking a look at Bolton, where he grew up. Here's a sneak peek ðŸ"º 7pm, @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer ðŸ"º Watch live ðŸ'‰ https://t.co/qeJpEUjsnt pic.twitter.com/aGmnjtrwLK â€" BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) October 26, 2021   Paddy explained:

Macklem plays down wage-and-spending surge but promises faster hikes if inflation spikes

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That increase in mortgage rates that everyone has been warning you about may be coming faster than you thought. Depending on who you listen to, it may be a lot faster. Yesterday's decision by the Bank of Canada to stop stimulating the economy with bond buying is already having a small effect on lending rates, said people who watch the mortgage market. But perhaps even more important is the fact that the Governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem has dramatically changed his message from one of relative complacency â€" that inflation would look after itself â€" to one where the central bank has committed itself to actively drive inflation down with cuts to stimulus. Threading a careful path The strategy is a tricky one, because Macklem wants to thread a careful path between scaring business investors and home buyers â€" with threats of high interest rates that could discourage new investment â€" while taking a hard enough line to convince everyone that the

Another 25 Victorians have died with COVID-19 as state posts 1923 new local cases

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The latest deaths take the toll from the current outbreak to 272. About 77 per cent of Victorians aged 16 and over are now fully vaccinated. There were 82,648 tests processed and 22,189 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at state-run hubs on Wednesday. The latest figures come as authorities warn there's a high risk of a thunderstorm asthma event in the state's southwest, Wimmera and Mallee districts, while Melbourne may be moderately affected. The combination of high grass pollen levels, severe thunderstorms and strong winds on Thursday means a "large number of people" may develop asthma symptoms quickly, the health department said. "Our hospitals are experiencing significant demand due to COVID-19, so it's important you stay well," an alert said. Those at risk are being advised to avoid being outdoors during storms and the winds that precede them, and remember to take preventative medication. A thunderstorm asthma event in 2016 killed nine people and s

Streamers should be forced to make more Aussie drama report

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Streaming services such as Netflix, Stan and Disney+ should be forced to spend at least 20 per cent of their local revenue on new Australian drama, documentaries and children’s programs, a major new Federal Parliament report on the country’s creative industries recommends. The report also called for a new national Indigenous art gallery to be built, dedicated to established and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, which would work with a new national network of Indigenous art galleries to address a “gap” in our cultural infrastructure. Netflix launched in Australia in 2015, and released its first Australian original series Tidelands in 2018.Credit:Netflix “For the only art truly unique to this country, this deserves consideration and greater recognition,” the report said. The long-awaited bipartisan report from a parliamentary committee, looking at the state of the creative industries and aiming to hammer out a way forward, comes after the committee heard