Monday, July 27

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British tourist who fell ill from methanol poisoning dies after ‘free shots’ giveaway in Laos resort | UK News
Business

British tourist who fell ill from methanol poisoning dies after ‘free shots’ giveaway in Laos resort | UK News

A British tourist being treated after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos has died, according to UK officials.Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, fell ill after reportedly drinking "free shots" from a local bar in Vang Vieng - a resort popular with backpackers.Four people had already died following the suspected poisonings - an Australian named Bianca Jones, 19, from Melbourne, as well as two Danish women in their 20s and a 56-year-old US citizen.They are believed to have consumed drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes added to mixed drinks as a cheaper alternative to alcohol, but can cause severe poisoning or death."We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities," the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth a...
Fifth person dies after suspected methanol poisoning in Laos
World News

Fifth person dies after suspected methanol poisoning in Laos

Australian teenager Bianca Jones died in hospital in Thailand. Photo: Facebook A New Zealander who is unwell may be a victim of methanol poisoning in Laos, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says. MFAT confirmed it has been contacted and was providing consular assistance. No further details would be provided for privacy reasons. MFAT is advising travellers to be cautious about drinking alcoholic beverages, especially cocktails and drinks made with spirits that may have been tainted with harmful substances. "Know the signs of methanol poisoning and seek immediate medical attention if poisoning is suspected." Lawyer Simone White has become the fifth person to die after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos, British media are reporting. Melbourne teenager Bianca Jones died in hospital in...
Thales faces bribery and corruption investigation | Money News
Business

Thales faces bribery and corruption investigation | Money News

An investigation is under way into the France-based defence company Thales for suspected bribery and corruption, the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has announced.A statement, released shortly after French financial markets had closed for the day, said a joint investigation involving the SFO's French counterparts PNF was under way. It did not detail any allegations beyond the suspected offences though the Reuters news agency, citing a French judicial source, said it was related to claims of bribery of a foreign public official, influence trafficking, handling stolen goods and money laundering.It concerned an arms contract awarded in Asia, the person said.Money latest: JD Sports faces wrath of shareholders Although based in Paris, the multi-national aviation and defence electronics group em...
TV personality Andre Rerekura captures snake on the plane
World News

TV personality Andre Rerekura captures snake on the plane

By Gareth McKnight, Rosanne Maloney, Mya Kordic and Tabarak Al Jrood Andre Rerekura re-entering the plane after taking a non-venomous Stimson's python off the aircraft. Photo: ABC / Screenshot A snake was found on a plane before it took off from the West Australian town of Broome on Thursday morning. In bizarre scenes, Disney TV personality Andre Rerekura was the passenger who took the non-venomous snake off the aircraft before it embarked for Perth. The airline said the flight took off as planned following a 20 minute delay. In scenes reminiscent of a Hollywood blockbuster, a television personality has helped wrangle a stowaway snake on a plane in Western Australia's north. Virgin flight VA1482, scheduled to take off from Broome at 10.30am and destined for Perth, was delayed by...
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro among 37 people facing charges of attempting coup | World News
Business

Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro among 37 people facing charges of attempting coup | World News

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro is among more than 30 people facing charges of allegedly attempting a coup after his electoral defeat in 2022.Federal police have delivered the results of their investigation to the country's supreme court, which must decide whether to refer them to prosecutor-general Paulo Gonet to bring formal charges. The former right-wing president has denied claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow defeat to rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - the leftist politician who won with 50.9% of the vote.Mr Bolsonaro posted on X that investigators and the supreme court judge overseeing the case had been "creative" and done "everything the law does not say".The final police report completes a near two-year investigation into Mr Bolsonaro's role in a m...
Tabi shoes are turning heads from Hollywood to Melbourne. What makes this Japanese footwear so special?
World News

Tabi shoes are turning heads from Hollywood to Melbourne. What makes this Japanese footwear so special?

By Seena Katayama, ABC Photo: 123RF These oddly shaped shoes are turning heads from Hollywood to Melbourne's Swanston Street. First released in the late 1980s, high-end French fashion brand Maison Margiela's cloven-hoof-like tabi shoes were inspired by the Japanese footwear of the same name. Designer Martin Margiela said he first saw them being worn by construction workers during a visit to Japan. The brand's range these days include loafers, boots and ballet flats - the most popular retailing for A$1430 (NZ$1590) a pair. They even have a rhinestone cowboy-boot style with a price tag of A$12,790. In the West, Margiela's polarising designs have long been a symbol of wealth and style. But recently a new generation of celebrities have discovered the tabis, bringing them into the public...
Will the Liberals’ ‘tax holiday’ pay political dividends? What it signals – National
Politics

Will the Liberals’ ‘tax holiday’ pay political dividends? What it signals – National

The Liberal government announced a suite of affordability measures Thursday that Ottawa says aims to put more money in Canadian bank accounts, a move experts say is likely to boost Canada’s economy and could register with voters who are still feeling the pinch of a higher cost of living. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Toronto to unveil a GST/HST “holiday” on select grocery items and other consumer goods ranging from video games to Christmas trees. He also announced the Working Canadians Rebate — a plan to send $250 cheques this spring to every individual who worked in 2023 and made up to $150,000.“We’ve been able to get through the past couple of years. Everyone had to tighten their belts a little bit, and now we’re going to be able to give a tax break for all Canadians,” Trudeau sai...
Intuit (INTU) Q1 earnings report 2025
Business

Intuit (INTU) Q1 earnings report 2025

Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi speaks at the opening night of the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Aug. 15, 2024.Rodin Eckenroth | Filmmagic | Getty ImagesIntuit shares fell 6% in extended trading on Thursday after the finance software maker issued a revenue forecast for the current quarter that trailed analysts' estimates due to some sales getting delayed.Here's how the company performed in comparison with LSEG consensus:Earnings per share: $2.50 adjusted vs. 2.35 expectedRevenue: $3.28 billion vs. 3.14 billionRevenue increased 10% year over year in the quarter, which ended on Oct. 31, according to a statement. Net income fell to $197 million, or 70 cents per share, from $241 million, or 85 cents per share, a year ago.While results for the fiscal first quarter topped estimates, second-quarter gui...
What’s next after ICC issues warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders?
World News

What’s next after ICC issues warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders?

By Stephanie van den Berg, Reuters ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others. Photo: AFP / GIL COHEN-MAGEN Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief and a Hamas leader for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The move comes after the ICC prosecutor Karim Khan announced on 20 May that he was seeking arrest warrants for alleged crimes connected to the 7 October attacks on Israel by Hamas and the Israeli military response in Gaza. Here is a look at what could happen next, and how the ICC prosecutor's move might affect diplomatic relations and other court cases focused on Gaza. Will Netanyahu and the Hamas leader be arrested? All 12...
Citadel’s Ken Griffin says Trump’s tariffs could lead to crony capitalism
Business

Citadel’s Ken Griffin says Trump’s tariffs could lead to crony capitalism

Ken Griffin, chief executive officer and founder of Citadel Advisors LLC, speaks during an Economic Club of New York event in New York, US, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.Yuki Iwamura | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesCitadel CEO Ken Griffin issued a warning against the steep tariffs President-elect Donald Trump vowed to implement, saying crony capitalism could be a consequence."I am gravely concerned that the rise of tariffs puts us on a slippery slope towards crony capitalism," the billionaire investor said Thursday at the Economic Club of New York.The Citadel founder said domestic companies could enjoy a short-term benefit of having their competitors taken away. Longer term, however, it does more harm to corporate America and the economy as companies lose competitiveness and productivity, he said.C...