Blog - Viral News

28Oct

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World News

Australian woman jailed for faking own death to collect insurance payout

By Briana Shepherd, ABC Karen Salkilld claimed she died in a car accident in Broome and provided documentation to the company, Insuranceline. Photo: Supplied A woman who faked her own death to claim a life insurance payout of more than A$700,000 (NZ$786,693) has been sentenced to three years in prison. Karen Maree Salkilld was sentenced in Perth's District Court, having earlier pleaded guilty to gaining benefit by fraud and to knowingly using a false record to defraud. In February, the 43-year-old received more than A$718,000 (NZ$806,922) from an insurance company after claiming she died in a car accident in Broome in December 2023. Salkilld provided a death certificate, funeral documentation and a letter from the coroner's court to the company, Insuranceline. She made the applicatio...

Increased old age security pensions set to roll out. How much? – National

28Oct

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Politics

Increased old age security pensions set to roll out. How much? – National

Canadian seniors are set to receive a scheduled top-up in benefits as the Liberal government faces pressure to increase payments for those under the age of 75 years. October payments of the old age security (OAS) pension will roll out on Tuesday to eligible Canadians aged 65 years or older.OAS amounts are reviewed each year in January, April, July and October to reflect cost-of-living increases, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).For the month of October, the benefits are increasing by 2.8 per cent compared with the previous year, based on CPI changes.For the October to December period, OAS benefits are rising by 1.3 per cent, according to the government.The OAS pension was permanently increased by 10 per cent for seniors aged 75 and above in July 2022. Story continues b...

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte admits having ‘death squad of gangsters’ | World News

28Oct

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte admits having ‘death squad of gangsters’ | World News

The former president of the Philippines has admitted to having a "death squad" of gangsters while he was a city mayor.Rodrigo Duterte, 79, was giving evidence to a senate inquiry into drug-related killings during his presidency from 2016 to 2022. He denied authorising police to shoot thousands of suspects during a brutal crackdown on illegal drugs at that time - but commented on his time as mayor of the southern city of Davao instead.He told the senate on Monday: "I can make the confession now if you want. I had a death squad of seven, but they were not policemen, they were also gangsters."I'll ask a gangster to kill somebody. 'If you will not kill (that person), I will kill you now.'" The inquiry's chairman, senator Aquilino Pimentel III pressed Mr Duterte for more details, but he refused...

When will we know the US presidential election result?

28Oct

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World News

When will we know the US presidential election result?

US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Photo: DUSTIN FRANZ / AFP After one of the most unpredictable election years in American history, the country is finally nearly ready to choose its next president. Here's what you need to know about when to expect results. Election Day is Tuesday, 5 November US time, and will decide whether Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Vice-President Kamala Harris will lead the country. Trump would be the first former president to win a non-consecutive term since Grover Cleveland back in the 1890s, while Harris would be the first woman president. When are results going to start rolling in? For us watching in Aotearoa, voting will begin overnight New Zea...

Inside Gerard Depardieu sexual assault court hearing – as trial postponed because of health concerns | World News

28Oct

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Inside Gerard Depardieu sexual assault court hearing – as trial postponed because of health concerns | World News

There is intense interest in the trial of Gerard Depardieu in Paris.Warning: This article contains details of alleged sexual assaults that some readers might find distressing. Members of the public queued to get access to the criminal court, despite the fact Depardieu's lawyer had said that the actor was too ill to attend on Monday.There wasn't a free seat in the courtroom as proceedings began.In the front row, flanked by their lawyers, were the women who allege the French film star sexually assaulted them on the set of a movie in 2021. To their left, the slick city legal team representing the 75-year-old actor.Depardieu is accused of two sexual assaults. If found guilty it could carry a sentence of five years in prison and a fine of €75,000 (£62,000).Both women allege that on separate oc...

Volkswagen plans to shut factories and lay off tens of thousands of workers | Money News

28Oct

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Volkswagen plans to shut factories and lay off tens of thousands of workers | Money News

Volkswagen is planning to shut at least three factories in Germany and lay off tens of thousands of staff.Its remaining plants in Germany are also set to be downsized, according to the head of the company's works council Daniela Cavallo. Europe's biggest carmaker has spent weeks negotiating with unions over its plans to revamp its business and cut costs, which have spiralled thanks to labour and energy prices.The German firm employs about 300,000 people in its home country and operates 10 plants, but has said a major restructuring is needed.Ms Cavallo told workers at VW's biggest plant in Wolfsburg that the company was "absolutely serious about all this" and the proposals were not "sabre-rattling". Image: Daniela Cavallo speaks to employees a...

Poilievre wants to scrap GST on new houses sold for under $1M – National

28Oct

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Politics

Poilievre wants to scrap GST on new houses sold for under $1M – National

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is proposing to scrap the federal sales tax on new build housing, claiming that this will help lower mortgage costs and speed up homebuilding. Poilievre said in a news conference in Ottawa on Monday that as prime minister, he would axe the goods and services tax or harmonized sales tax on new houses that are sold for less than $1 million.Poilievre claimed that this tax cut could save Canadians $40,000 in total or $2,200 per year in mortgage payments on a $800,000 house and help build 30,000 new homes each year.In Canada, homebuyers only have to pay the GST/HST when they purchase a new house directly from the developer.According to the Canada Revenue Age...

Colin Farrell finishes Dublin Marathon in support of ‘courageous’ friend | Ents & Arts News

28Oct

By Aditi PawarNo Comments

Business

Colin Farrell finishes Dublin Marathon in support of ‘courageous’ friend | Ents & Arts News

Colin Farrell has helped raise nearly £600,000 for a charity supporting people with a rare genetic condition, completing the Dublin Marathon by pushing his friend over the finish line in her wheelchair.The Hollywood star said Emma Fogarty - who is Ireland's longest survivor with the genetic condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB) - is "what courage is all about". Image: Pic: PA Born with no skin on her left foot and right arm, Miss Fogarty experiences excruciating blisters from the slightest touch - a condition also known as butterfly skin.Farrell, 48, finished the 42km (26-mile) run in four hours, six minutes and 45 seconds.Each of the final four kilometres of the race represented a decade of Miss Fogarty's life. Now aged 40...

World Stroke Day 2024: Can standing for long periods raise risk of stroke?

28Oct

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Health

World Stroke Day 2024: Can standing for long periods raise risk of stroke?

People whose occupations require them to stand for long hours, like retail workers, hairdressers, or factory employees, are more susceptible to suffering strokes, according to experts on Monday, ahead of World Stroke Day. World Stroke Day is celebrated annually on October 29 to raise awareness about the condition to prevent and treat it fast. The number of people worldwide having a new stroke rose to 11.9 million in 2021 -- up by 70 per cent since 1990. Stroke-related deaths rose to 7.3 million -- up by 44 per cent since 1990. While stroke is now the third leading cause of death worldwide (after ischaemic heart disease and Covid-19), the condition is highly preventable and treatable). “Standing for extended periods can increase the risk of blood pooling in the legs, which slows circul...

How to look younger, healthier and more vibrant: A masterclass with celebrity facialist Michaella Bolder

28Oct

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Life Style

How to look younger, healthier and more vibrant: A masterclass with celebrity facialist Michaella Bolder

They say that good skin never goes out of style, and let’s face it – who doesn’t want radiant, healthy skin? Yet the demands of our busy lives get in the way, leaving our skin looking stressed out, tired and even older beyond our years. It’s no wonder we invest in all kinds of solutions to tackle our skin concerns. From Botox to potions for fine lines and wrinkles, to serums for redness and acne, ageing spots and firmness—with thousands of products promising the magic fix, we can be left out of pocket, confused, and even make the problems worse. In the UK alone, we spent £9.56 billion on skincare in 2023. But what if we told you that you could achieve better skin, spend less, and ditch the Botox – all from home? Enter master facialist and skin expert Michaella Bolder. In this facial massag...